THE UNATTENDANT OF THE BUILDING

Written By SGIG Eric Konohia, 33°

In May 2021 when I received official notification that I was appointed as Deputy for this Orient I knew immediately one of the things I wanted to change. As I traveled throughout the Southern Jurisdiction as a Grand Inspector General and the President of the John D. Howard Commanders of the Rite I noticed that there was a prevailing issue in some of the Orients. Sublime Princes were left to their own devices.

At one time I was that Sublime Prince hungry for the further LIGHT I asked for and anticipated. I had heard about all of the stalwart Scottish Rite Masons that had roamed the streets of Washington, D.C. placing its citizenry in awe of their presence. The mystique of these gentlemen that was painted in my mind was what I wanted to experience. “Surely they knew the secrets to unlock the mysteries of life….” These were the King Makers and even if I was never to be a King Maker, I wanted to know the mysteries if ever called upon. There were, and still are, no rituals available for new members. I immediately found out that each consistory only had three: Commander-in-Chief, and 1st and 2nd Lieutenant Commanders. The only other read book (Ritual) in the Orient belonged to the Deputy for the Orient. If I couldn’t get a copy of that book I needed to find someone holding the lessons of the A.A.S.R. and sit in front of him to learn. THERE WAS NO ONE. Just like the symbolic lodge, our Orient was replete with ritualists but no speculative or esoteric Fraters. I immediately went to the well of my studies of the Craft degrees and asked that group of well-informed and learned brothers if they could light the candle of the A.A.S.R. for me. And that is what they did. I immediately learned the names of each of the degrees and slowly committed to memory the passwords, sacred words, and tokens/grips. I was hell-bent on transitioning from obtainment to attainment.

As time went on, I was opened to a circle of well-informed and extremely bright fraters. These were the King Makers!!!!!!!!! I sipped and gulped liberally from Pierian Spring and started my quest to pass down the lessons. Soon after my elevation to the 33⁰, I was appointed as the President of the John D. Howard Commanders of the Rite which gave me the platform to give back to the Orient and break the cycle – THE WORKSHOPS, and in September 2021 –The Eagle’s Club.

Attached is the directive which consecrated the Eagle’s Club. The cycle is broken. Now it’s up to you.

Written By KCCH Tyrone S. Hurley, Jr., 32°

To tell this story of my journey to this prestigious honor, we must return for a moment to September 25th, 2021. On this day, at 5:30 am, I arose from my sleep, got on my knees and prayed to the Almighty with one request: Like footprints in the sand, I needed Him to carry me through today.

This day weighed heavily on my heart as it became the epicenter of some very significant milestones in my life. The day marked my first venture from ancient craft masonry in my Lodge into the vast expanse of masonry. I had been a Master Mason for 10 years at that point, recently acknowledging the milestone 8 days prior. However, it had only been 2 years since I returned to my lodge to perform our good work. I had been on hiatus for about 5 years, taking time away to become a husband, a father, and a better provider for my family. Once I found that balance, I returned because I felt I owed it to my lodge to come back and aid in the great work it performed. However, as it pertains to seeking more light in masonry, I was ready to continue my travels and the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite was my next destination.

However, with this excitement also brought sadness and turmoil for me as the day also marked the anniversary of my mother’s passing. She was my rock in this world, and the pain of losing her never truly goes away. It plagued me to the point where I was uncertain if I would even make it out of the door that day to the temple to advance and have the degrees conferred. In that moment of prayer, I heard my mother’s voice. And in her strong Bajan accent, she told me, “Get up off the floor son, get yourself together and go. Life goes on, and so does my love for you. “As I rose from my prayer position,

I dressed in the masonic standard attire and departed for the temple to advance...

And I am so glad that I did. I was unaware, but the experience of becoming a Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret awoke a fire in me. As the degrees were conferred, it felt as if I was finally given the code to unlock the rest of an ancient book bestowed upon me a decade prior. Where it just sat there, patiently awaiting my return, until I was brave enough to dust it off and finally delve into its lost pages and learn the unabridged story that was only partially revealed to me as a Master Mason. With that fire, I began to commit to the tasks and duties when received.

Whether called upon by our President of the Eagles Club, Knight Commander Kevin Moultrie, 32° (a Sublime Prince at the time); our Illustrious Overseer of the Works, Sovereign Grand Inspector General Marcus D. James, Sr., 33°; or our Illustrious Deputy for the Orient of Washington, D.C., Sovereign Grand Inspector General Eric F. Konohia, 33°; I felt it necessary to be present an accounted for as well use whatever skills I possessed to move the mission of the Orient forward. As a young Sublime Prince, I wanted to know everything. Rehearsals, I was present; Workshops, I was among the Fraters eager to learn; Ritualistic work, I study and practice. As long as I could be a part and give back for the honor of receiving this rank, I was ready to contribute. This included my attributes in the