Well, Brothers and friends, I don't have much to add this time. I have completed my time as head of the Royal Arch Masons of North Dakota and the State Rainbow Dad for the great kids who are the Rainbow For Girls in North Dakota. With the end of those terms, my time in leadership roles in Freemasonry is pretty much done. My job has taken away my flexibility to the point that I had to give up my position as the Wise Master of the Chapter Rose Croix of the Scottish Rite in Fargo. Just as well. Beyond the problems of restricted time and means, I don't think I have had an original idea for a couple of years. Treading water is no way to be a Masonic leader. I still serve as the Fargo Rainbow Dad - I hope I can do justice to the job.
Well, Brothers and friends, it has taken a while, but, since nobody cares about a PAST Grand Master's schedule, I am dropping the link to my calendar. A lot of you were instrumental in getting me through my service to the Grand Lodge of North Dakota. I hope I have found, or will find, the opportunity to thank each one of you. It is an experience I recommend any Brother to strive for who can spare the time. Thanks.
At the 2001 North Dakota Grand Assembly of the International Order of Rainbow for Girls, Mary and I were able to attend almost their entire session. They also allowed me to take some of their time. The link below will take you to a pretty good approximation of what I said (I'm afraid I made some changes after I printed out my notes that I've not been able to incorporate in the text).
This link will take you to my Rainbow Apron 2001 presentation.
In 2000 Mary and I visited the Rainbow's Mini-Grand Assembly in Grand Forks. I tried to explain to them a bit about Freemasonry, and their links to it. The link below will take you to that bit.
Well, kids, it took me about a year, but here it finally is, the Mini-Grand 2000 presentation.
At the 2001 Grand Assembly for North Dakota's International Order of Rainbow for Girls the new Worthy Advisor for Mandan/Flasher Assembly, and the new Grand Worthy Advisor for North Dakota presented me a beautiful model of a Masonic Lodge room they had built for me out of Legos. They knew I like to play with Legos, and could not have made me a finer present. THANKS!
You no longer have to RUN!! or HIDE!! I am no longer the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, A.F. & A.M. of North Dakota. MW Bro. Alan Malm is doing a great job in that office. The current Grand Officers make me confident that things can only improve for many years. Good luck to you all!
One of the most promising methods for istructing and socializing our new members is some kind of Mentor program. Many jurisdictions have them, but a lot of the Mentor programs are not being widely used.
This example, courtesy of the Grand Lodge, AF&AM, of Minnesota, by the assistance of Bro. Doug Campbell, their Grand Secretary and Bro. Bill and Mrs. Ann Papas, gives an exciting idea as to just how useful a well-applied coaching program can be.
Click here for the 26 page, 700k Word .doc file.
Click here for the 51 page, supplementary Quest Books file.
For the 100th Anniversary Celebaration of Welcome Lodge #54 of the Grand Lodge, AF&AM, of North Dakota in Churchs Ferry, Bro. Jim Tresner - noted Masonic scholar and author, with research assistance by Bro. Robert Davis, wrote a play that attempts to depict what may have happened during a Scot's operative Lodge meeting in the early 1500s.
The play arose from discussions between MW Bro. Jim Savaloja, Past Grand Master, North Dakota, and Bro. Tresner. Bros. Tresner and Davis developed, and the Brethren of the cast presented, what we all need to include in our Trestleboards - an interesting break from the usual.
Bros. Tresner and Davis came up from Oklahoma to help with the production, and the Brothers from Welcome Lodge, with a little help from nearby Lodges, made the costumes and props and rehearsed to a nice degree of proficiency.
After a nice Centennial ceremony in the Lodge hall (with presentations by the Grand Masters of North Dakota, Minnesota (AF&AM), and Manitoba, the Brothers adjourned to the old school auditorium where the play was presented for an appreciative audience.
This is just one of many entertaining, yet informative, programs that can be used for almost any Masonic occasion. The Masonic Service Association of North America has other plays available, and many other useful programs, too.
Take a look!
On Sunday, August 16, 1998 at 3:00 pm, CST, my Lodge, Sunrise Lodge #130, GL, AF&AM, North Dakota (U.S.A.), had the solemn duty of presenting the Masonic Memorial Service for our esteemed Brother and Honorary Past Master the W. Bro. Lyle D. Beck.
I ask all of you to read our ceremony by using the Word for Windows 6.0 file membeck.doc W. Bro. Lyle Beck's Memorial Service
I am also uploading a file which is a transcription of the letter explaining the beautiful gavels which he made and presented to our Lodge:
The story of the gavels presented to Sunrise by W. Bro. Beck
More pictures of Sunrise's Beck Gavels
shows my father, W. Bro. Clayton S. Christianson in the top hat on the right, me in the white sweater, and my brother, W. Bro. Gerald C. Christianson on the left.
Gerald and I took all of our Degree Work together.
Standing behind us is the current Master of our Lodge, W. Bro. Paul Burkhardt.
By 1988 all three of us had been Masters of Sunrise Lodge.
I am very active in my Masonic Lodge, Sunrise Lodge #130, Grand Lodge, AF&AM, of North Dakota (USA), in Fargo, North Dakota (USA), and
in the York Rite of Freemasonry, too.