Page 17 - MFM July Aug 2022 W.indd

Bozeman York Rite Sponsors Annual 1717 Banquet

Mark Killip, Junior Wƒ”†‡ ‘œ‡ƒ ‘†‰‡ ͙͗͠Ǥ

ƒ•– ƒ›ǡ –Š‡ ‘œ‡ƒ ‘” ‹–‡ „‘†‹‡• Š‘•–‡† –Š‡‹” Such is the picture we must keep before our eyes when
third annual Masonic 1717 event in Bozeman, and what an we think of Masonry as it was in the beginning of the
event it was. The food was outstanding, and the period, eighteenth century. Here and there, scattered about
micro-brewed beer was second to none. Providing the over the Kingdom, were isolated lodges; in some cases
main course of whole hog complete with apple in mouth the membership was wholly Operative, so that every
was Worshipful Brother Brian Engle from Big Timber’s member was engaged in the building trade; in other
‘”‹ ‘†‰‡ ͗͛͝ǡ ‘™‡” ‘ˆ ‹‘‡‡” ‡ƒ–•ǡ ™Š‹ Š ™ƒ• cases non-Operative (Speculative) members made up
†‡˜‘—”‡† ‹ ‹–• ‡–‹”‡–›Ǥ ‘’’‹‰ –Šƒ– ‘ơ ™ƒ• •—’‡”„ ”ƒˆ– a portion of the membership, and in a very few cases
beer brewed by our very own Brothers Colin Rue and Will all of it. The general unity of the Craft was somewhat
Š‘’•‘ ˆ”‘ ‘œ‡ƒ ‘†‰‡ ‘Ǥ ͙͠Ǥ ” Š‡•–”ƒ–‹‰ maintained by adherence to the old customs and by
this event was Worshipful Brother use of the Old Charges, which, in many cases one may
Mark St. John, who worked suppose, functioned much as charters do now.
tirelessly at putting this together
and making it happen once again. – ™ƒ• ‹ –Š‡ ‹†•– ‘ˆ •— Š ‹” —•–ƒ ‡• –Šƒ– –Š‡ Ƥ”•–
Behind the scenes cooking up the ”ƒ† ‘†‰‡ ™ƒ• ‘”‰ƒ‹œ‡† ‹ ‘†‘ǡ ͙͙͟͟Ǥ ‘ǡ ‘ –Ǥ
root vegetables was Worshipful ‘Š –Š‡ ƒ’–‹•–ǯ• ƒ›ǡ ‹ –Š‡ ͛† ‡ƒ” ‘ˆ ‹‰ ‡‘”‰‡
”‘–Š‡” ‹„ —”–‹•Ǥ ƒ•–‡” ‘ˆ I, A.D. 1717, the Assembly and Feast of the Free and
Ceremonies was Worshipful ‡’–‡† ƒ•‘• ™ƒ• Š‡Ž† ƒ– –Š‡ ‘‘•‡ ƒ† ”‹†‹”‘
Brother Matt Sonnichsen who led Ž‡ǦŠ‘—•‡ ‹ ‘†‘Ǥ – ™ƒ• Š‡”‡ ƒ– –Š‡ ‘‘•‡ ƒ†
the gathering in several rounds of ”‹†‹”‘ –Šƒ– –Š‡ ˜‡”› Ƥ”•– —ƒ”–‡”Ž› ‘—‹ ƒ–‹‘
toasts. Brother Matt also opened ‘ˆ –Š‡ ”ƒ† ‘†‰‡ ‘ˆ ‰Žƒ† ™ƒ• Š‡Ž† ‘ –Š‡ ͚͜–Š ‘ˆ
the lodge recreating ancient June, 1717.
Masonic symbols drawn in the dirt
ƪ‘‘” ‘ˆ ƒ Žƒ”‰‡ ”‡ –ƒ‰—Žƒ” „‘š ȋƒ• Almost the only source of knowledge we possess of
was the tradition back then) under –Š‡ ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ –Š‡ Ƥ”•– ”ƒ† ‘†‰‡ ƒ”‡ –Š‡ ’ƒ‰‡•
the glow of candles illuminating the ‘ˆ †‡”•‘ǯ• ‘•–‹–—–‹‘•ǡ –Š‡ ͙͛͟͠ ‡†‹–‹‘Ǥ ˆ–‡”
entire dining room. Bryan Kirkland ƒŽŽǡ ‹– ™ƒ• ͙͛͟͠ ƒ† –Š‡•‡ ’‘‘” •‘—Ž• Šƒ† ‘ ƒ ‡•• –‘
computers or the internet.
The 1717 event serves as Bozeman’s York Rite fundraiser
with the proceeds going to support the activities of the There were doubtless numerous lodges in or about
chapter. ‘†‘ǡ „—– ‘Ž› ˆ‘—” ™‡”‡ ‹˜‹–‡† –‘ ’ƒ”–‹ ‹’ƒ–‡ ‹ –Š‡
ˆ‘”ƒ–‹‘ ‘ˆ ”ƒ† ‘†‰‡ǡ ‘” ‡Ž•‡ ˆ‘” •‘‡ ”‡ƒ•‘ –Š‡
In attendance were names of other participating lodges were omitted from
Masons from all parts of –Š‡ ”‡ ‘”†•Ǥ ‘”†‹‰ –‘ –Š‡ ‰”ƒ˜‡† ‹•– ‘ˆ ͙͚͟͡
Montana for a total of –Š‡ Ž‘†‰‡ ™Š‹ Š ‡– ƒ– –Š‡ ‘‘•‡ ƒ† ”‹†‹”‘ ™ƒ•
over 80. It was a great constituted in 1691. 1691. That was awhile ago.
time for refreshment and
camaraderie, and just It was an interesting time in Masonry as we shifted from
great getting to know the Operative model to what we are today.
some really outstanding
people. If you missed it,
don’t worry. We have
already scheduled the
fourth one for May of
͚͚͛͘Ǥ Š‹• „ƒ“—‡– ‹•
open to all Masons from
the youngest Entered
Apprentice up to the
”ƒ† ƒ•–‡”Ǥ
Bro’s. Jay & Troy

The year 1717 is a date that lives in infamy for Masons
around the globe. That was the year Masons began to
organize, and that organization started in England.
There was much less standardization and uniformity in
presentation.