Greetings Companions and Sir Knights,

As this unusual year is drawing to a close I hope that you are all well and healthy. Hopefully the New Year, which lays just before us, will be much better and we can eventually get out from under this Covid-19 cloud. The current rise in the number of cases is most depressing, as we were just starting to slowly get back to a semblance of normal. Most of the Blue Lodges were cautiously re-opening and some were doing Degrees, a few of the Chapters and Councils were trying to meet and get together to rehearse Degrees, the Commanderies were, unfortunately, under a lock-down Order from the Grand Encampment until next Spring. We, in the Concord Bodies, were able to get in a Council Meeting, bracketed by a couple of Chapter Meetings. We managed to do a Mark Master Degree at one and had the Official Visitation of our Most Excellent Grand High Priest / Most Illustrious Grand Master Patrick J O’Sullivan at the other. They were lightly attended, but that was fully understandable.

Currently, in accordance to our Bylaws, we are in Darkness until March, when we are scheduled to come out and have our Annual Meeting. I was previously thinking of maybe having a Special Meeting, or two, to do the PM and MEM Degrees on our Candidates during our period of Darkness, but with the current rise in Covid cases we’ll wait and see where we are when March gets here.

You may remember that a couple of weeks before Christmas I mentioned to you of a needy Companion. I am most pleased to report that during that 10 day period, and because of the generosity of those of you that were able to contribute, I received donations which enabled me to present to him a check for $1500. He was very overwhelmed and sends his most profound thanks to you all, even though it took me a lot of persuading before he would accept it. It’s really difficult for someone, who has always been on the giving side, to find themselves on the receiving end for a change. Please keep him, and his wife, in your thoughts and prayers while they are going thru this difficult time and their non-Covid related health issues.

We lost a few Brothers during the year, Companion Francis Viana, Sir Knight Charles Durgin and Sir Knight Harold Chase, Jr, that we are aware of. Keep their families in your thoughts and prayers. If you know of any others that SK Cole, or myself, may not of heard about, please let us know.

Finally Companions and Sir Knights, may the coming year bless you and yours, may the current pandemic pass you by and may we soon meet again in Fellowship. See you in March (hopefully). Until then, like and follow the NH York Rite Facebook Page and receive notices of various online enlightenment and other activities.

Sincerely and Fraternally,
Dennis A Tuttle, Sr

Excellent High Priest Trinity Chapter
Illustrious Master Horace Chase Council
Eminent Commander Mt Horeb Commandery