Object of Meeting, Lodge of Research.
Midyear Meeting 2010
Speaker, WB Robert Davis
On this date 16 January, 2010, The South Dakota Lodge of Masonic Research held its mid-year meeting at Pierre, South Dakota. The meeting was attended by 41 members and officiated by The Grand Master of Masons, South Dakota AF&AM, The Most Worshipful Jack Welker.
Following the regularly scheduled meeting the group was adjourned to the dining room where many of the members’ wives were in waiting to share the wonderful dinner prepared there for the enjoyment of those attending. After all had partaken in the meal, Worshipful Brother Robert Davis, the feature speaker was introduced.
Robert gave a wonderful talk centered on manhood and growth in the Masonic fraternity, leaving all in attendance with much to think about. The speech was centered on the idea that we as men and dedicated Masons are tasked with the divine direction to build those who come into the fraternity anew, with a firm foundation of morals and a strong strength of character.
WB Robert Davis is Executive Secretary of the Guthrie Scottish Rite Bodies in Oklahoma. He is a Past Master of three Masonic lodges, and served as the charter Master of Guildhall Lodge #553, a traditional practices lodge in Oklahoma. He is a KYCH, a 33° Mason, and recipient of the Grand Cross. He has been employed by the Scottish Rite in Oklahoma for 22 years. He is a Past Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Oklahoma, and serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Oklahoma Masonic Charity Foundation. He is a Past Sovereign of the Red Cross of Constantine, Past Sovereign Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees , and Past Governor of the Oklahoma York Rite College. Nationally, he is on the Education Committee of the York Rite Sovereign College of North America, the Masonic Education and Research Committee and Rituals and Ritualistic Matters Committee of the United Grand Imperial Council of the Red Cross of Constantine, and serves as the Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Scottish Rite Research Society. He also serves on the Steering Committee of the Masonic Information Center of the United States. He is past President and Fellow of the International Philalethes Society and serves as the editor of the High Council publications of Masonic Rosicrucians. He is a member of the Nine Muses Council No. 13 in Washington, D.C.
Robert is well known both in the areas of Masonic Research and Masonic Renewal. For his work in Masonic Renewal, he was awarded the Paul Horn Memorial Medal by the Grand Lodge of the State of Washington. He was the first person to receive this highest award of that state who is not a Past Grand Master. In 1999, he was selected to receive the Grand Master’s Award of the Grand Lodge of Kansas (the highest honor given by that Grand Lodge) for his work in Masonic Leadership.
Davis also holds the Cross of Honor and the Legion of Honor in DeMolay and is an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council of the International Order of DeMolay.
Before moving to Guthrie, Davis served 14 years in the City Management and City Planning professions. He is past president of the Guthrie Education Foundation and the Lions Club. He just completed two terms on the City Council of the City of Guthrie, where he served as Chairman of the Finance Committee and Chairman of the Guthrie Industrial Development Authority. In addition to being employed with the Guthrie Scottish Rite, Davis is also a freelance writer and a grant writer for governmental entities, Native American tribes, and non-profits.
His hobbies include history, sociology, the esoteric traditions, men’s studies; and writing about all of these. He is currently writing a book on the history and evolution of the Masonic ritual, and has just published a book on manhood in America--focusing on the fraternal quest for the ideal in masculinity. Robert is married. He and his wife Sharon have two daughters and three grandchildren.
Much more of his thoughts and work can be found at http://robertgdavis.blogspot.com/.
Taken from the Blogspot of WB Robert Davis
In my profession I give many speeches and write numerous articles; mostly about Freemasonry, men's issues, and the quest for the ideals of manhood. I also enjoy penning private musings on topics that interest me. I am happy to share this potpourri of thoughts with other seekers. I hope you enjoy them.
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Lodge of Masonic Research Hosted Very good Speakers in 2009.
Greetings, Brethren. The South Dakota Lodge of Masonic Research is having an exciting eventful year.
On January 17, 2009, a very special midyear meeting was held in Pierre. After a short-and social-business meeting, Rex Hutchens, a very well-known Masonic author, scholar, and historian spoke at our dinner. Rex is the author of A Bridge to Light for the Scottish Rite, as well as other works, and has earned virtually all of the titles you can have in Blue Lodge, York Rite and Scottish Rite.
On June 19, 2009, Chris Hodapp, author of Freemasons for Dummies was our speaker for our South Dakota Grand Lodge Session held in Sioux Falls. The Grand Lodge took recess at about 3:00 PM, as soon as election of officers had been completed. The Lodge of Masonic Research held a short business meeting to elect and install officers for the year at hand, then closed Lodge and invited all other interested Masons and their ladies to hear Chris Hodapp speak. Each member of the Lodge of Masonic Research in attendance received a free autographed copy of Freemasons for Dummies. The meeting was well attended and went off without a hitch.
Now this was a great deal! Not only did they all receive a $20.00 book free, signed by the author, but they also heard a very entertaining speaker and well thought of researcher.
If you are not currently a member of the Lodge of Masonic Research, you can join by completing the application form and mailing it with your $8.00 dues to MWB Richard Luther.Be sure and join us for the next mid-year meeting to be held in Rapid City.
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