The All-Ohio IN-Gathering was held July 23rd, 2011 at the Grand Lodge of Ohio Building in Worthington. The guests of honor this year was our Most Venerable Grand Master Douglas L. Jordan and Nancy.         The program began with registration at 9:00 am, and the Installed Sovereign Master Degree exemplified by William J. Reese Council No. 141 led by Venerable Brother Pat King. At 10:00 am the welcome by our State President Most Worshipful Brother Michael Himes was given to all and the following introductions were made. York Rite Grand Officers: Worshipful Brother Edwin Herrick, Grand Marshal of the Grand Council of Royal & Select Masons of Ohio. Worshipful Brother Robert Blankenhorn, Grand Royal Arch Captain of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Ohio Worshipful Brother Thomas Gault, Grand Senior Warden of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Ohio. Brother Theodore Korn, High Prelate of the High Council of the Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis. Grand Lodge of Ohio: Most Worshipful Brother Michael Himes Past Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Neil Smalley Past Grand Master Most Worshipful Brother Terry W. Posey Past Grand Master Right Worshipful Brother Steven Cokonougher Grand Orator of The Grand Lodge of Ohio Right Worshipful Brother Douglas Kaylor, Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge Of Ohio Grand Council AMD: Right Venerable Brother Michael D. Cecil Grand Superintendent of Ohio Right Venerable Brother Randy Spradling Past Grand Superintendent of Florida Right Venerable Franklin C. Boner Grand Secretary Grand Council AMD Most Venerable Brother George O. Braatz Past Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council AMD and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Of Ohio And the Honored Guest of the Day-Most Venerable Brother Douglas L. Jordan Grand Master of the Grand Council Allied Masonic Degrees U.S.A.         The Grand Master was escorted to the East and given Ohio Grand Honors by all. He gave a few remarks and retired to the near east to enjoy the degree work. At this time the degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr was presented by Key to the Sea Council No. 112 in a very impressive manner. A short break was given for social time and set up, and at 11:00 am the Royal Ark Mariner Degree was presented by Jacques Demolay Council No. 371, also in an impressive manner. Remarks were given by the York Rite representatives, the Grand Council AMD representatives and the Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.         The State president invited our Grand Master, MVB Jordan to the east for remarks. A very interesting paper on St. Lawrence the Martyr was presented by our Sovereign Grand Master, who gave closing remarks. We than retired to the dining room for a very nice lunch. Most Worshipful Brother Himes presented First Lady Nancy Jordan with a crystal candy dish, and presented MVB Jordan with a very nice clock. Planning has started for next year's In-Gathering after a very successful meeting. Respectively Submitted, Michael D. Cecil, KGCRBI Grand Superintendent of Ohio

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New Jersey Statewide A.M.D. In-gathering - July 16, 2011
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Brethren, The Harold V.B. Voorhis New Jersey Statewide A.M.D. in-gathering was held by Da Vinci Council No. 477 (http://www.DaVinci477.org) on Saturday July 16, 2011 in Westfield, NJ. Our guest of honor was M:.V:. Douglas L. Jordan, Sovereign Grand Master of the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic degrees of the United States of America, who was accompanied by M:.V:. Thurman C. Pace Jr., Past Sovereign Grand Master, R:.V:. Charles Wagner, Past Grand Superintendent of Virginia, and R:.V:. Paul M. Ferreira, Past Grand Superintendent of New Jersey. Over 60 members of the Allied Masonic Degrees, representing 14 councils from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia participated in our in-gathering. The day started at 8:30 a.m. with breakfast coffee and juice, followed by the opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m. and the official reception of the Sovereign Grand Master and the Grand Council officers. Three well researched papers were presented in the morning session as follows: - V:. Scott Gothe, Sovereign Master of J. Howard Haring Council No. 116 on "Why Beauty" - Bro. Henry Abel, Secretary of Alexandria Council No. 478 on "Elucidating St. Lawrence the Martyr: History, Ritual and Meaning" - Bro. Michael Neuberger of Da Vinci Council No. 477 on "The Grave Scene of Hiram Abiff" The work was called from labor to refreshment at noon time for the space of one hour, and the brethren retired to the collation room for a delicious lunch and refreshments. The work was resumed at 1 O'clock with an exemplification of the Master of Tyre degree by the members of Da Vinci Council No. 477 performed in full costume. M:.V:. Douglas L. Jordan presented each of the brethren in attendance with a MOT Certificate, while M:.V:. Thurman C. Pace Jr. presented them with a MOT custom made jewel, specifically designed for that day. The degree was followed by a presentation by V:. Howard Z. Kanowitz, PSM of J. Howard Haring Council No. 116 on "Alchemy and the Modern World". Certificates of appreciation were then presented to the speakers and the workers who made the in-gathering a true success. The members of Da Vinci Council No. 477 then surprised M:.V:. Douglas L. Jordan with a framed certificate of honorary membership in the council in token of appreciation of his continued support. Finally, it was announced that the 2012 Harold V.B. Voorhis New Jersey Statewide A.M.D. in-gathering will be hosted by Alexandria Council No. 478 on Saturday July 14, 2012. The guest of honor will be R.W. Glenn R. Trautmann, who if elected, will be serving as the Grand Master of Masons of the state of New Jersey at that time. V:. Trautmann is currently the sitting Sovereign Master of Harold V.B. Voorhis Council No. 260 A.M.D. The day's ceremonies were concluded at 3:00 p.m. and the brethren retired once again to the collation room for refreshments and fellowship. Pictures will be emailed once they are ready. Fraternally yours, RVB. Mohamad A. Yatim, KGCRORBE Grand Superintendent of New Jersey http://www.njamd.com

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NEWSLETTER - June 23, 2011 My brethren, I thank you for permitting me to advance through the line to this final station. It is an office that lies far beyond any I ever thought I might attain in Masonry. When I review the names of my predecessors, I am humbled at the thought of assuming this office. Ray Shute, Ed Allen, Harold Voorhis, Bill Peacher, Harold Elliott – just to name a few – were legends in their own time. I am afraid that I will not be a legend either in my own time or later. However, as Sovereign Grand Master I will strive to give to the Grand Council the leadership needed to assure its continued growth and increasing prestige among Masons. MV Edward R. Saunders, Jr. appointed me to the Grand Council line, but unfortunately Ed was in poor health for the past few years and died in May. However, through Ed I have had long time friendships with David Hargett and Allen Surratt. I met David when I was Chairman for Ed’s session of the Convent General where David entered the KYCH line. And it was with Ed that I helped institute Smokey Mountain College with the assistance of Allen Surratt. Thus I had no real problem in selecting the installing team of MV Brothers David Hargett and Allen Surratt and I thank them for a most impressive installation ceremony. “Education” has become the watchword of Masonry in recent years. If you look at our history, you will realize that the AMD is the premier educational organization in American Masonry. Although we trace our history to Rev. Hartley Carmichael’s Sovereign Grand College of Allied and Christian Degrees, founded in 1892, our true origin traces to round table discussions of Masonry in Ray Shute’s home in Monroe, North Carolina in the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. These discussions ultimately led to the creation of our order. Thus, I charge the various councils to be leaders of Masonic education in their area. It is a role we naturally fill and a charge we should be fulfilling. In many Jurisdictions an AMD In-gathering is held annually where some of the degrees are exemplified, papers are given, and a good deal of Masonic fellowship and food is enjoyed. I am aware of such activities in California Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, and Texas and I am sure there are others. This year I am asking each of the Superintendents to see that such events are organized in their area. I realize that scheduling can be difficult, or perhaps impossible. But I feel that there can be many positive benefits from such events. I especially ask that I receive early information concerning the dates on which In-gatherings are planned. I will make every effort to attend if the dates will fit into my schedule. I also encourage the Councils to hold joint activities with other Councils in their area. I plan this year to visit a number of Councils, but lack of information concerning meetings makes this a difficult task. I ask that the Councils add my email address to their list if they publish meeting notices on the Internet, or add my address to their mailing list if they do not. Again, timely notice will aid my fitting such dates into my schedule. So far I have visited seven councils and constituted one – Ke La’a Kea Council 502 in Honolulu. I have seen councils have good fellowship and education in restaurants and in lodges. I have seen formal dinners and “Bring your own bag” dinners and no dinner at all. The common denominator was a small group of Masons having fellowship and learning something of our Craft – proving that an AMD council is what the members want it to be. It is interesting that an Order that claims jurisdiction over some 20 degrees prints its basic ritual on two pages. Learning thousands of words of AMD ritual is not a requirement for our members and officers. It is a requirement to hold interesting meetings that make the time spent worth while.