Researched and Written By: Don Goss Before turning to the branch of the family known in this work as the Danville Goss Connection, it is helpful to look at several notable Goss families who lived in early New England. Whether or not they are directly related to the Danville line, their stories form an important …
Researched and Written By: Don Goss The name Goss is old—older than memory in some places—and it has wandered across continents the way rivers wander across a map. You can find it in many countries, carried by families who share no blood with one another, each with their own tale of how the name first …
Researched and Written By: Don Goss Chief Poland, also referred to as Polin, was a distinguished Native American leader in the mid-eighteenth century. He held the position of King within the Rockemekas lineage of the Abenaki tribe. Similar to many Native Americans of the region, he traveled throughout southwestern Maine and was regarded by settlers …
Read more “Chief Polin, Stephen Manchester, and the Goss Family: A Frontier Legacy”
April 29th, 2026 Written by: R∴W∴ Don Goss Here’s some background: My grandfather was the patriarch of our family. I grew up surrounded by relatives—numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and even second cousins, mostly from my father’s side. My grandparents lived just three miles away from our home in Fort Myers, FL, so we saw them …
April 14th, 2026 Written by: R∴W∴ Don Goss The Royal Ark Mariner Degree is one of the oldest, most symbolically rich, and most mysterious degrees in Freemasonry, with origins that appear in scattered records as early as the 1700s and a tradition centered entirely on the story of Noah, the Ark, and the Great Flood. …
By R∴W∴ Don Goss — District Deputy Grand Master, District 6 2025 There are moments in Masonry that rise above titles, schedules, and formal obligations—moments when the Craft pauses to honor a life whose quiet consistency has shaped generations. Such an evening occurred during my second scheduled Official Visit to Curfew Lodge No. 73, where …
Read more “Birthday Celebration for Worshipful Robert “Bob” Dietz”
Written by: Don Goss 32° KCCH Tonight I’d like to share a brief reflection on the Scottish Rite—not as a collection of degrees, but as a school of personal transformation. Many of us first encounter the Scottish Rite as a place of impressive ritual, dramatic presentations, and philosophical depth. But at its heart, the Rite …
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Companions, as we gather for our Chapter’s annual church service, we are reminded that our fellowship extends beyond the walls of our Lodge and into the sacred space of worship. Tonight, we come not only as Masons but as seekers of divine truth — united in faith, charity, and brotherly love. It is a special …
Read more “No Crib for a Bed: The God of Every Circumstance”
Written by: Don Goss 32° KCCH Where does “knight” come from? The English word “knight” has its origins in the Old English term “cniht,” which meant boy, youth, servant, or attendant. It’s connected to German words like “Knecht” and Dutch “knecht,” both of which refer to a servant or bondsman. At first, the word didn’t …
Read more “The Word Knight: From Servant to Symbol of Masonic Chivalry”
Written by: R∴W∴ Don Goss Freemasonry’s transformation from a guild of working stonemasons into a fraternity of moral and philosophical builders is one of the most remarkable evolution’s in Western history. It didn’t happen overnight, nor was it the result of a single event. Instead, it emerged from a convergence of social, economic, and intellectual …