Paul M. Bessel’s website about
Scheduled events for “Masonic Weekend”
Allied Masonic Bodies Meetings
Feb. 17-19, 2000, in Washington, D.C.
Information about the schedule for Masonic Weekend in the year 2000 was obtained through the courtesy of Herbert A. Fisher, Grand Secretary of the Allied Masonic Degrees of the United States. (Please note that several changes were made on this webpage after receiving a revised schedule from Herb Fisher in early December 1999.)
Other background information on this page was obtained from the website of the Grand Council of Knight Masons, at http://members.aol.com/COUNCILMW/KMannual.html and also from Rev. Pat King, Past Grand Registrar of the Grand College of Rites USA. I have attempted to provide information that is as accurate as possible, but if anyone has suggestions for additions or changes, please let me know.
For most of the events listed, if you want to attend you either have to be a member of the organization indicated, or in some cases you can join at the time of, or just before the meeting. In some cases Masons who are members in good standing of Royal Arch Chapters are eligible to join, but some groups have more restrictive membership policies. For some events, such as the banquets, you have to purchase a ticket to attend, and in some cases you have to purchase these tickets before Masonic weekend begins.
For more details, or if you have any questions, check with the specific organizations or contact other Masons who might have more information to give you.
Almost all of the following meetings are held in the Hotel Washington, located in Washington, D.C., at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street, NW. Most of the meetings are held in the ballroom on the top floor of the hotel, but some events, such as banquets, are held in the ballroom on the basement level of the hotel. Hotel reservations can be made by calling 1-800-424-9540 or 202-638-5900 (mention that you are attending the AMD meetings, and reservations are recommended to be made before January 1, 2000).
If anyone wants to send me email, especially if any of the information on this chart is not correct and you want me to correct it, you can send me email by clicking on my name Paul M. Bessel.
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Date & Time |
Event |
Comments |
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Wednesday, February 16, 2000 |
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6:30pm |
Benjamin B. French Lodge #15 |
Annual Masonic Week Debate We’ll have three great presenters: Most Worshipful Brother George Adams Right Worshipful Brother Philippe Hiolle from France Right Worshipful Brother Leon Zeldis from Israel The subject is meant to be controversial and generate a lot of thinking. We have asked our presenters the following question: “If you were to reinvent Freemasonry for the 21st century, what would it be like?” The debate will be held at the Potomac Lodge Hall on Wisconsin Avenue and is anticipated to start at 6:30 PM. As this is a very popular event, members and non-members must make reservations. Costs: Members Free, Guests $25 each. Send checks to: Brother Ted Berry, 9806-D Gable Ridge Terrace, Rockville, MD 20850-4662 |
| Thursday, February 17, 2000 | ||
| 2:00pm | Supreme Magus College, MSRICF | Masonic Rosicrucians organization, membership by invitation, limited number. Its Constitution says it is for Christian Masons, but some say there are some non-Christian members. This particular group is for those recommended from states or countries where no College exists |
| 2:30pm | The High Council, MSRICF | Masonic Rosicrucians organization, membership by invitation, limited number. Its Constitution says it is for Christian Masons, but some say there are some non-Christian members. |
| 7:00pm | Annual Banquet, MSRICF | Masonic Rosicrucians organization, membership by invitation, limited number. Its Constitution says it is for Christian Masons, but some say there are some non-Christian members. All are welcome to this Banquet – tickets will be available in the hotel lobby. |
| Friday, February 18, 2000 | ||
| 8:30am | Registration for all groups in the Sky Room | |
| 9:30am | Grand Preceptors Tabernacle, HRAKTP | Knight Templar Priests organization, membership by invitation, for Past Commanders of Knights Templar only, numbers limited – this specific group is for Past Commanders recommended from states or countries where no Tabernacle exists |
| 10:00am | Grand College of America, HRAKTP | Knight Templar Priests organization, membership by invitation, for Past Commanders of Knights Templar only, numbers limited |
| 11:30am | Great Chief’s Council Knight Masons | Knight Masons organization – this particular group is for those recommended from states or countries where no Council exists |
| 12:00pm | Grand Council Knight Masons of the U.S.A. | Knight Masons is an invitation-only Masonic organization – for more information you can go to http://freemasonry.org/bessel/univcoun.htm and view the links there |
| 12:45pm |
Lunch – on your own The annual “soc.org.freemasonry” (a Masonic listserv or computer communication system) luncheon will be held in conjunction with the AMD convention in Washington on February 18 at 12:45pm at Old Ebbits Grill, located about a half block north of the Hotel Washington. All interested in attending should contact Scotty Fitzgerald at [email protected] |
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| 2:00pm | Society of Blue Friars | Blue Friars is an invitation-only organization for Masonic authors – all Masons are welcome at this meeting where you usually can hear an excellent paper by the latest Brother invited to become a Blue Friar |
| 3:00pm | Grand Masters Council, AMD | Those who want to join AMD can do so at this meeting This particular group is for Royal Arch Masons not in a local Council |
| 4:15pm | Grand College of Rites of the USA | This organization attempts to preserve and demonstrate Masonic degrees that have fallen into disuse I believe any Master Mason can join this organization at or just before this meeting |
| 5:15pm | Great Priory of America CBCS | Membership by invitation only, limited to 2 per state |
| 7:00pm (or 6:30pm) | Philalethes Society Feast and Assembly | Tickets are needed for this dinner, which will be followed by a talk by Leon Zeldis, FPS, PGM, PSGC, Editor of Haboneh Hahofshi – The Israeli Freemason, and also installation of Philalethes Society officers for 2000-2002. Tickets are $35 (which includes a collectable “Firing Glass”) and can be purchased in advance — send checks to: The Philalethes Society, PO Box 70, Highland Springs VA, 23075-0075 (USA), or to order tickets by credit card on the Internet go to http://freemasonry.org/psoc/feast — tickets can also be purchased on Feb. 18 in the hotel lobby until 12noon, but they are best purchased ahead of time from the Philalethes Society |
| Saturday, February 19, 2000 | ||
| 7:30am | Convent General KYCH Breakfast | KYCH is for those who have presided in the East over a Masonic Lodge, a Royal Arch Chapter, a Cryptic Council, and a Knights Templar Commandery, and is by invitation even for those who meet these requirements. All are invited to this breakfast – tickets are available at the door |
| 9:00am | Grand Council AMD | AMD – Allied Masonic Degrees organization. AMD is an organization for Royal Arch Masons, usually by invitation only (except for the Grand Masters Council). |
| 12:30pm |
Lunch on your own |
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| 2:00pm | Nine Muses Council No 13, AMD | AMD – Allied Masonic Degrees organization, AMD members may attend, paper presented |
| 2:30pm |
AMD degrees |
Red Branch of Eri, 1. Man of Arms; 2. Esquire, conferred by Georgia AMD Members, Open to all AMD members. |
| 3:30pm | Knight of the Red Branch of Eri | All present & elected Sovereign Masters may be candidates |
| 4:15pm- 4:45pm |
Installed Sovereign Masters | Conferred by M.W. Dominique M.J.M. Doyen, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of France, assisted by R.W. Andre A.G. Bassou, Deputy Grand Master AMD – Allied Masonic Degrees organization. AMD is an organization for Royal Arch Masons, usually by invitation only (except for the Grand Masters Council). |
| 6:00pm | Annual Banquet, Grand Council AMD | AMD – Allied Masonic Degrees organization. AMD is an organization for Royal Arch Masons, usually by invitation only (except for the Grand Masters Council). Anyone can attend this banquet, including ladies, there is usually a keynote speaker – tickets available in the lobby or the top floor of the hotel |
| 8:00pm | Ye Antiente Order of Corks | This is a fun degree and organization, which is open to members of any AMD Council |
| 9:00pm | Installed Supreme Ruler of the Secret Monitor | Degree conferred by Pennsylvania AMD Members |
| 10:00pm | Commander Noah degree | Degree conferred by Royal Ark AMD Members of North Carolina Only for past and present Sovereign Masters |
