Category: Masonic

Written by: Don Goss 32° KCCH Brethren, when we speak of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in the United States, we are really speaking about two sister jurisdictions that share a common heritage but have grown into distinct expressions of the same Masonic tradition. These are the Southern Jurisdiction (SJ) and the Northern Masonic …

Read more “Southern vs. Northern Jurisdictions — and Why It Matters for the Valley of Tallahassee”

April 30th, 2026Written By: R∴ W∴ Don Goss Including the Masonic Legacy of Its Namesake, Past Master J. Edwin Larson When the Grand Lodge of Florida convened in the spring of 1967, one item on its agenda would quietly shape the Masonic landscape of the state capital for generations to come. On April 27, 1967, …

Read more “Historical Narrative of J. Edwin Larson Lodge No. 361”

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 …

Read more “Why I became a Mason”

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. …

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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 …

Read more “Scottish Rite—A school of personal transformation”

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 …

Read more “From Stone to Symbol: Why Operative Masonry Became Speculative—and What It Teaches Us Today”

Written by Don Goss 32° KCCH / Eminent Grand Warder Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of the State of Florida The higher Degrees in Freemasonry are intriguing to me as they expand upon the Hiramic Legend in the Master Mason Degree. While some authors argue that true Masonry includes only the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, …

Read more “Intriguing History of York Rite and Scottish Rite Freemasonry and how they both are Crucial to a Master Mason’s Journey to Enlightenment”