Greetings, Sir Knights! We are but 242 days from the start of the 69th Triennial and three days to the start of winter here in the Northern Hemisphere. Typical of Maryland, it will be in the 50s for the first day of winter. Not much hope for a white Christmas, though.
I’ve received some feedback about the three-parts on Ritual proficiency and the three “Renewing Templary” documents recently posted. It’s been interesting, because so much of it has been positively received.
However, a couple of comments have been constructive in being transparent and clear. I don’t think I hit the “clear” part as well as I should have (and I just may go in and update the documents, just to address this feedback). In the meantime, let me use this space for some thoughts regarding these documents that I hope provide that clarity.
Each of these documents and messages are intended to be conversation starters, and not intended to be “this is the only way I would do this” documents. We have a lot of issues facing Templary, and there is no way the ideas and thoughts of one man should dictate the solutions. Read the messages and papers and discuss them. Discuss them with me. Discuss them with other Knights. Discuss them with your lodge brothers (the concepts are generally applicable to all bodies). Identify things that would be helpful in your situation. Share suggestions that might improve the overall concept presented. It’s even OK to say “That is the dumbest idea in the history of ideas!”
The one thing I ask of you is to discuss the topics with someone. We cannot improve and strengthen our Order if we don’t discuss what works and doesn’t work, and how we can spread the good and stop doing the bad. We all know there are areas where we can improve. I hope, through these messages and the papers now online and to come, we can have that dialog and begin to take steps toward a larger, stronger, and more impactful Order.
One final thought: Beginning in January 2024, I will be hosting a series of online “town hall” style conversations. To facilitate access by as many as possible across the Grand Encampment, I will do my best to schedule them at various times of day convenient to not just USA members, but our foreign members as well. These will be held in English, but I will do my best to have translators available when I can. I want to hear from you, and hope these online meetings will be one path to doing so.
On that note, I wish you and yours a joyous and merry Christmas. May the celebration of the Christ Child bring the spirit and promise of hope to you this holy season and every day,