|
|
History of the Formation of the Order |
The formation of the Order, Knights of the York Cross of
Honour (KYCH), was in Monroe, North Carolina on March 13,1930.
The idea of this organization was conceived by John
Raymond Shute II, of Monroe, NC. On March 13, 1930, he
called together in his home town, four qualified
brethren, namely, Walter E. Crowell Jr., Edward Allen,
Lee Griffin and S. Henry Green. They discussed an idea
presented to them by Brother Shute – that a group of
past presiding officers of the four York Rite bodies be
formed. Another meeting was held on May 20, 1930,
attended by additional qualified brethren, and Lily of
the Valley Priory No. 1, Knights of the York Cross of
Honour was formed.
On June 6, 1930, again at Monroe, NC, the Convent
General KYCH was formed. Since starting in 1930
with one Priory, KYCH has grown to eighty-four Priories
in 2013. The total number of Knights admitted to the
Order since its founding is over 36,000 with some 12,000
still members of the Order today.
|
History of Indiana Priory No. 8 |
Fred H. Pocock returned from the 1938 session of the
General Grand Chapter of York Rite Masons of which he
was an officer, bringing with him information regarding
the Convent General KYCH on a National basis,
including five petitions from the Grand Registrar - of
membership into the (New Jersey) Shrewsberry Priory No.
4. These petitions were signed by Fred H. Pocock, Wm.
J. Adams, W.E. Neuenschwander, R.L. Larimore, and Brown
Cooper, all of whom were duly created Knights on
September 15, 1939. These same Knights petitioned the
Grand Master General to grand a Warrant to open a Priory
in Fort Wayne to be named Indiana Priory, said Warrant
being approved, this Priory was given the number "8".
A special Conclave of Convent General was held in
Charleston, South Carolina on October 24, 1939 when
Deputy Grand Master General George O. Linkletter,
assisted by the Registrar-General Harold V.B. Voorhis
and Past Grand Master General J. Raymond Shute II,
Indiana Priory No. 8, KYCH was consecrated.
The Priory was chartered on October 10, 1939 with Fred
H. Pocock as the first Eminent Prior, William J. Adams
as Deputy Prior and W.E. Neuenschwander as Treasurer, as
named in the Warrant.
Fred H. Pocock being duly Commissioned, called a
conclave and constituted the Priory with Brown Cooper
elected as Warder. Officers appointed and installed on
January 12, 1940 were as follows: H.A. Graham as Knight
Prelate, A.J. Smith and Knight Orator and E.E. Miles and
Knight Herald.
Over 1,200 Knights have been elected members of this
Priory since 1939, of which over 200 are still current
members, making this on of the largest Priories in the
Convent General. Priory No. 8 has been the mother of six
other Priories and has been fortunate in having not only
a very conscientious and hard working list of Officers,
but a very loyal and sincere group of Freemasons for its
membership.
The Priory has had two Most
Eminent Grand Master Generals. The
first, Marvin L. Isley, was elected and installed at a meeting of
the Convent General held at Reno, NV on
September 22, 1979. He was a member of Indiana
Priory No. 8 and former administrator of the Indiana
Masonic Home. The second,
Knight
Donald E. Friend, was elected and installed in
1995. In addition, Fred H. Pocock was Deputy Grand
Master General at his passing on January 21, 1945.
The objects of this Order shall be to further and
encourage friendship, helpfulness, friendly social
intercourse, and loyalty among its members with zeal and
fidelity, to promote the welfare of the York Rite, and
the whole system of Freemasonry.
The York Cross
of Honour is a fitting climax to the Honors of the York
Rite bodies, after having been bestowed the recognition
of faithful service given to the Craft, and is one of
the few Masonic groups in which membership must be
earned, and even then there is no guarantee of election.
Entrance to the Order is by invitation only
and mere possession of the minimum qualifications as a
past Presiding Officer of the Lodge, Chapter, Council
and Commandery does not automatically entitle a man to
the rank and dignity of Knight of the York Cross of
Honour. Some of the other important requirements are
congeniality, Masonic Conduct, and willingness to work
for the advancement of our Fraternity in all the
branches of York Rite Masonry.
In our opinion, it is
not proper to elect a man to that of Presiding Officer
and have him server a 'token' one year position in any
of the York Rite bodies solely that he might be eligible
for the honor of KYCH. Nor is it proper for anyone to
go 'through the chairs' basically for the same purpose.
We welcome into our ranks those who are entitled to
this honor, and urge those who lack some of the
requisites to renew their devotion to the Craft. Such
devotion should not be for the sake of the honor, for it
is only by devotion to the Craft that this honor can be
attained. A member who has made little contribution to
the York Rite and has used the various bodies only as a
'stepping stone' will find little comfort in the Order,
should he attain it.
The common hope that makes us men,
Were His in Galilee;
The task He gives are those He gave,
Beside the restless sea,
Our Brotherhood still rests in Him,
The Brother of us all;
And O'er the centuries we hear,
The Master's winsome call.
"For this is the message that ye heard from the
beginning, that we should love one another." - 1st John,
3:11
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Indiana
Priory No. 8 and the following Knights for their
assembling of this History. Em. Knight Charles X.
McCalla II who was Eminent Prior when the roster was
printed in 1968. Em. Knight Brown Cooper and Em. Knight
J. Herbert Nichols who assisted in getting the
information for the 1968 printing. Em. Knight M. Curtis
Kennedy, Em. Knight Kenneth Renz and Knight Francis Hale
for their updating the information for the 1974
printing. Em. Knight Ehrmal Odom, P.P., Em. Knight
Thomas L. Hale for updating the information for the 1980
printing. Em. Knight Kurt A. Begue, P.P. for updating the
information and making this history available on our
website in 2013.
As we rapidly approach the 75th Anniversary of the
Indiana Priory No. 8, we feel it is fitting and proper
that all those Knights during the past 75 years who have
contributed a lot of their time and energy throughout
the years to make the Priory what it is today, deserve a
vote of confidence for their loyal dedication to the
Order. And may the Order 75 years from now be as strong
and prosperous as it is today.
|
|
|