Old Chicago York Rite

10/01/2021

Companions, in case anyone is so inclined, there is an excellent condition La Fayette No. 2 Chapter Penny Mark Token listed on eBay for a decent price. Link is posted below as those tend to expire.

02/21/2021

News article regarding warfare near the possible resting place of the Ark of the Covenant.

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Worshippers rushed to defend the Church of St Mary of Zion (pictured) in the holy city of Axom, where the Ark is said to be secured.

02/10/2021

A century ago this month, the uniformed Sir Knights from the St. Bernard Band Bass Section proudly gathered on the front steps of the Newberry Library for this group photo, just a few blocks east of their Asylum at the time, in the Central Masonic Temple, 912 North LaSalle Street.

01/25/2021

From the 1910 Triennial in Chicago, here's a souvenir scale from a set that had the weighing pan on top customized for presentation as gifts to dignitaries from various jurisdictions, in this case West Virginia. I have seen a few others over the years, each with the same base but different inscription. No need for anyone to acquire this (eBay link below), just thought the Sir Knights would find it an interesting piecfe of nostalgia, including our West Virginian S.K. Johnathan Barnes, EPC.

01/20/2021

Brothers, Companions and Sir Knights,

I hope that you all are well. Below is the zoom information for tonight's meetup. We hope to see you all online!

Fraternal affections,
Jack

Jack Recinto is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Old Chicago York Rite Meeting
Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime

Join Zoom Meeting
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Meeting ID: 242 816 3888
Passcode: 8KsNn0

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01/11/2021

From an antique Masonic Bible which was in disrepair and properly cremated, here is one of the picture pages that was salvaged: an old etching of the Departure From Egypt, showing the Israelites preparing to leave their bo***ge under Pharaoh. It would be a pleasure to have this vintage lithograph matted & framed for display in the Jefferson Masonic Temple, if a suitable place on the wall can be found, with permission of course from the Temple Board. So Mote It Be!

01/06/2021

Happy Birthday to St. Bernard's Excellent Prelate James W. Patton, seen here with crooked Crook!

12/01/2020

Brothers, Companions and Sir Knights,

I hope that you all are well. Below is the zoom info for our 7PM Tue Dec 1st meetup. We are still not allowed to conduct business as a Commandery, but we can come together, check in and discuss our book from our reading club. The book being discussed is "The Craft and its symbols" by Allen Roberts. If you were unable to get the book or read it, you are welcomed to still participate in the conversation.

Fraternal affections,
Jack

Jack Recinto is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Topic: Old Chicago York Rite Meeting
Time: 7PM - This is a recurring meeting

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2428163888?pwd=UlpzQXowR3ZEbEdXWWJFNFZhT2pJUT09

Meeting ID: 242 816 3888
Passcode: 8KsNn0
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11/24/2020

Companions & Sir Knights -- it was ten years ago that we presented to our Fratres at St. Elmo Commandery No. 64 this historic Chicago 1910 Triennial antique medal collection, arranged into a cross shape within a custom-built LED-illuminated triangle frame. The display included a brochure (see comments below) documenting the provenance of each medal, as a gift for a century worth of efforts on behalf of Templary. Please check it out next time you visit Mont Clare Masonic Temple!

09/30/2020

Companions, one of our most active and distinguished members Bradley Lincoln Baker OPC passed away Sunday, September 27.

The Masonic Service and Visitation for Brad will be held this coming Sunday, October 4, 2020, at Countryside Funeral Home, 950 South Bartlett Rd (at Stearns Rd), Bartlett IL.

Visitation hours are 3PM until services at 7PM.

Bradley who was better known as “Brad” was born April 5, 1946 in Erie PA.

Bro. Baker is survived by his wife of 44 years Linda. Loving father of Julia (Carl) DeHaven and Chelsea Baker (Dan Kasper) proud grandfather of Sidney and Lincoln; dear brother of Sherry (Joe) Bufalino, Janice (Larry) Goodrich, Neal (Pam) Baker and Barbara (Steve Semock) Baker.

Brad was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason in Tyrian-Commonwealth Lodge No. 362, F. & A.M. in Erie PA on April 2, 1976. Brad affiliated with Unity Lodge No 48 in 1995. He was currently serving the Lodge as Worshipful Master.

Bro. Baker joined the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Freeport in the Spring Class of 1989 and was a dual member of the Valley of Chicago, where he served as assistant Almoner helping our brothers through their difficult times. Brad also took many parts in the degrees presented by the Valley. The Presiding Officers presented him with the Valley award in 2011. He received the MSA from the Illinois Council of Deliberation in 2012. Brad was honored with the degree of Sovereign Grand Inspector General, Thirty-Third Degree on September 27, 2020, in observance of the day of his passing.

Brad's other memberships and associations include, but are certainly not limited to, the York Rite Bodies in Palatine and Lafayette Chapter No. 2, Chicago Council No. 4 and St. Bernard Commandery No. 35, Order of the Purple Cross YRSC, Medinah Temple, St. John's Conclave RCC, Frank S. Land Preceptory of the DeMolay Legion of Honor, St. Bridget Council No. 23 Knight Masons, Edwin M. Lambert Council No. 319 AMD. Brad was also an Eagle Scout and hiked the entire 2,200-mile length of the Appalachian Trail.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to Shriners Hospitals for Children at www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org or the Knights Templar Eye Foundation at www.ktef.org are appreciated.

The passing of our Brother from the cares and troubles of this transitory existence has removed another link in the fraternal chain that binds us together. May we who survive him be more strongly bound in the ties of friendship, morality, and brotherly love.

We do not have very many photos featuring Brad as he was often behind the camera, but here he is (yellow circle at right) as always helping out with the York Rite degrees. Brad was indeed a Human Triple Tau.

The Knights Templar Eye Foundation, incorporated in 1956, is a charity sponsored by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar to improve vision through research, education, and supporting access to care.

08/08/2020

Vintage Knights Templar sword listed on eBay, made by the Roundy Regalia Company of Chicago, engraved for a Sir Knight with a rather interesting name. I wonder if he had any problems due to this moniker?

08/05/2020

Companions: in case the mood strikes to make a generous contribution to the Old Chicago York Rite bodies, for your tax records, here are to the best of our current knowledge the respective Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN) -- sometimes known as Employer Identification Numbers (EIN) -- reported on their publicly-accessible 501(c)(10) not-for-profit fraternal organization Form 990-N e-Postcards, as filed with the IRS:

La Fayette Chapter No. 2: 36-2851835
Chicago Council No. 4: 23-7538115
St. Bernard Commandery No. 35: 23-7618425