Greetings Sir Knights,

            Here we are already. The summer has come and is almost gone, and our masonic and templar years are beginning again. It is hard to believe how quickly the sands of time move, how the seasons pass ever so quickly. I hope that you all had fulfilling summers and were able to enjoy all that the Lord provided you.

            During the summer, your Grand Commandery and Grand Officers continued to be at work throughout. Summer is a busy time for many organizations with picnics, conferences and outings. In the past three months, I have been able to support the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island and the Order of DeMolay within both states as well. Our Grand Commandery held its annual picnic at the Masonic Youth Center in Warwick Rhode Island and was another resounding success. Congratulations to Sir Knight Peter Randall, our Eminent Grand Generalissimo and his team for an extremely successful picnic.

            At the beginning of August, the Eminent Grand Captain General and I ran a Leadership and Management Training day for our constituent commanderies. This program is to help give the current and future leaders of our commanderies useful tools and guidance to make their terms more successful. It was well attended and speaking with those who attended, informative and helpful.

            In support of our Grand Lodges, I traveled to the Family Fun Day in Massachusetts on August 11^th. This was in support of the York Rite of Massachusetts where we had a tent with information available about joining the York Rite. It was my extreme pleasure to be able to join with the Most Illustrious Grand Master of Grand Council and the Most Excellent Gran High Priest of the Grand Chapter that morning to spread more masonic light. Unfortunately, I had to depart after only a few hours. The same day, in Rhode Island, the Grand Lodge of Rhode Island held its Annual Family Picnic. That also was a great day, and I was able to answer several brothers’ questions relating to our great order and was informed that two were going to be joining soon!

            During August there was also a training day held for your Grand Officers and was run under the direction of Sir Knight Peter Mooraidian, REPGC. I want to thank S.K. Mooraidian for putting this together and to the officers for attending this training. It is always important to remember that we are never too old, too experienced or too elevated to not be learning. A fundamental teaching within masonry is that we should always be learning, and that applies to every servant leader. Finally for August, was the Grand Encampment Triennial. This was held in Salt Lake City Utah and saw Sir Knight David Kussman, Most Eminent Grand Master be elected to the same station for another three-year term. We would like to congratulate Sir Knight Kussman and look forward to what he and the rest of our Grand Encampment Officers have planned to grow Templary!

            Sir Knights, finally I want to discuss something of a personal matter. As many of you know, my family and I, as well as our Grand Commandery lost my mother, Eunice Ogilvie on June 3^rd. That is a day that changed my family’s lives, and the Grand Warder’s and my life forever. Mom was a devoted friend, mother and wife who put others before herself in all that she did. Her service to our Grand Commandery as well as many other masonic bodies is well known and her absence will be felt. She was a Companion of the Temple and a Lady of the Knights Templar. I can not express to you all the thanks I have to all the Sir Knights, Commanderies and brothers who have expressed their love and prayers for us. We appreciate it more than I will ever be able to express. Just know we appreciate it immensely.

            In closing, after speaking of the loss my family has experienced, I ask you all to please hold those you love close to you. Hug them tighter and longer. Make time for that phone call or visit. Most importantly, try not to take for granted the time that you have with someone. God’s plan is his and we know not when he will call us home. God grants us blessings that we might not realize are blessings until much later, sometimes that blessing is time.

Fraternally,
James Ian Ogilvie
Grand Commander