Meridian Chapter No. 60, Royal Arch Masons of Oregon

A Stated Convocation of Meridian Chapter U.D., Royal Arch Masons was held in the Banquet Room at China Palace Restaurant, 968 NE Stephens St., in Roseburg, Oregon on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 A.D., A.I. 2539.

Officers present were:
Lawrence Stokes, Excellent High Priest
Russell L. Howard, II, Scribe
Jeffrey R. Day, Secretary
Richard Surroz, Captain of the Host
Tim Randall, Principal Sojourner
David Sherman, Royal Arch Captain
Robert E. Garcia, Master of the 3rd Veil
Mark de Rohan Barondes, Master of the 2nd Veil
Erik Arneson, Master of the 1st Veil
Robert Brickey, Sentinel

Also present were:
Gavin B. Reid, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Oregon
Carl G. Carlson, Member of Meridian Chapter, and Past Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Masons of Oregon.
Santino Lupini, Grand Scribe, and Member of Meridian Chapter
Jerold Cochran, Member of Meridian Chapter, and Past High Priest
Richard Strong, Member of Meridian Chapter, and Past High Priest
Thomas R. Harmon, Member of Meridian Chapter
Robert Hamilton, District Deputy to the Grand High Priest for District No. 4
Richard "Mac" MacKinnon, Grand Principal Sojourner, member of Woodburn Chapter No. 29
David Fuller, Grand Lecturer, member of Woodburn Chapter No. 29

Before opening, a banquet was held with ceremonial toasts offered to our Country, to the Craft, to the Grand Lodge of Oregon, to the Grand Chapter of Oregon, to Meridian Chapter, to our visiting Companions, and to the Initiates, and Most Excellent Companion Gavin Reid made a donation to the Chapter in token of our success.

The Chapter was opened at 7:55 P.M. on the Royal Arch Degree in due form, with Carl G. Carlson offering a prayer suitable to the occasion of constituting a new Chapter.

All remaining minutes from Meridian Chapter U.D. were read and approved, and an Election of officers for Meridian Chapter No. 60 for the remainder of the Capitular year was held.

The election results were:

Lawrence J. Stokes, E.H.P.
David R. Jones, King.
Russell L. Howard, II, Scribe.
Jeffrey R. Day, Secretary
Richard Surroz, Captain of the Host

The Excellent High Priest announced his appointive officers:

Robert E. Garcia, Principal Sojourner
Timothy Randall, Royal Arch Captain
Erik Arneson, Master of the Third Veil
Mark de Rohan Barondes, Master of the Second Veil
David Sherman, Master of the First Veil
Carl Carlson, Chaplain
Robert Brickey, Sentinel

All of the above named officers accepted their respective elected and appointed positions.

At 8:35 P.M., the Excellent High Priest turned over the hat and gavel to Most Excellent Companion Gavin Reid, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Oregon.

The Grand High Priest proceeded to assemble an occasional Grand Chapter with the following officers, and all others in attendance as listed previously:

Gavin B. Reid, Most Excellent Grand High Priest
Carl Carlson, Acting Grand King
Santino Lupini, Right Excellent Grand Scribe
Jeffrey R. Day, Acting Grand Secretary
Richard Surroz, Right Excellent Grand Captain of the Host
Dave Fuller, Acting Grand Royal Arch Captain
Richard "Mac" MacKinnon, Excellent Grand Principal Sojourner
Robert Hamilton, Acting Grand Master of the Third Veil
Robert E. Garcia, Acting Grand Master of the Second Veil
Mark de Rohan Barondes, Acting Grand Master of the First Veil
Robert Brickey, Acting Grand Sentinel

The Most Excellent Grand High Priest Declared an Occasional Convocation of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Oregon open in Ample Form.

The Acting Secretary was directed to read the Warrant of Constitution for Meridian Chapter, and it was read in full.

After the warrant of constitution was read, Most Excellent Companion Gavin Reid, Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Oregon declared Meridian Chapter No. 60, Royal Arch Masons of Oregon duly constituted at 8:45 P.M.

Installation of the elected and appointed officers commenced at 8:48 P.M. All officers were installed with the exception of David R. Jones, King, who was excused for a degree conferral.

At 9:00 P.M., the Grand Chapter was closed in Ample Form, and the hat and gavel were turned over to Lawrence Stokes, Excellent High Priest of Meridian Chapter No. 60, to conduct the business of his Chapter.

Most Excellent Companion Gavin Reid, who would ordinarily close the Chapter during his official visit, owing to the circumstances of this being a newly constituted Chapter, directed Excellent High Priest Lawrence Stokes to remain in his position and close Meridian Chapter No. 60 for the first time.

Meridian Chapter No. 60, Royal Arch Masons of Oregon was closed at 9:25 P.M. in due form.

The concluding toast to all Ancient Masons, wheresoever dispersed was proposed by Robert Brickey, Sentinel, with all the Companions chiming in for the chorus of "HAPPY TO MEET, SORRY TO PART, HAPPY TO MEET AGAIN!" before retiring.