As we trudge through the doldrums of summer, we must keep our goal of building our York Rite Bodies into a strong Masonic Order. We must utilize these summer months for planning our recruiting efforts and visiting our local lodges. Our fall festival period is getting close.
It is possible to get new members. In fact, there will be no growth unless there are new members into your organization.
No matter how successful a group is, if they do not continue to bring in new members, it stands a generation away from death. But if your York Rite Body is knocking on death’s door, how do you attract new members?
I once asked a real estate broker what his secret of success was. How did he improve his sales? His answer: ask for the order, ask for the order, ask for the order. As the Bible says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find and knock, and the door will be opened to you.” Companions and Sir Knights, if we do not ask, they may not come.
Some things you can do include the following:
Talk Positively About Your York Rite Body, and York Rite in General
No one wants to join a dying group. Keep internal problems within your tiled Body. That is where problems belong.
Always Carry a Petition for Membership with You
Be prepared.
Be Aware of Sojourning Members in Your Area
If they are already members but belong to a York Rite Body in faraway places, encourage them to help out by affiliating with your York Rite Body. They can either transfer, or if permitted by our jurisdiction, have a plural membership. If they are Masons but not York Rite members, encourage them to join and participate.
Suggest Membership to People You Know
You may not be able to directly ask them to join, but you sure can plant the idea.
Encourage Your Members to Do the Same
This starts with your officer corps. The more people who are out promoting your York Rite Body in getting new members, the more success you will have. Once you get the first new member, the others will follow.
Encourage New Members to Invite Their Friends
New members have the highest percentage of non-member friends. Once they are excited about the degrees and ritual work, they will invite their friends to become members.
Mentor New Members
New members take a lot of work to get. Do not let them slip away. Assign a member to be their mentor, teaching the new member about York Rite, and how to get the most out of it. The mentor will undoubtedly become the first friend they make in our York Rite. Choose your mentors well, matching personalities and interests up.
New members: there is not a problem in your York Rite Body that cannot be solved by getting more new members.
We cannot wish away our declining membership; we must be individually accountable for growing our business. Do not wait for someone else to do what you can do now.
There is no substitute for an all-out campaign to strengthen and build our membership.
Excerpts from the Grand Chapter of Florida
Chapter Thirty-Four — Balloting
34.01 Chapter to Be Open.
All balloting shall take place in the Royal Arch Degree, and all Degrees conferred in a Chapter are balloted for at one and the same time.
34.02 Ballot Not to Be Reopened.
A dark ballot cannot be reopened on account of any irregularity, and neither permission nor authorization from the Grand High Priest shall be granted for such purpose.
Chapter Thirty-Five — Rejection of Candidates and Effect Thereof
35.01 Refund of Fees.
Rejection of a Petition shall be followed by notification to the Petitioner of such action, and the refund of any and all fees accompanying such Petition.
35.02 Jurisdiction Retained.
A Chapter retains jurisdiction over rejected material. A Petitioner rejected by a Chapter may not petition another Chapter absent waiver of jurisdiction. A rejected Petition may not be resubmitted within twelve months of date of its rejection.
Membership by Chapter for 2026
| Dist | Location | # | Dist | Location | # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palm Beach (Boca-Delray) | 6 | Cocoa | ||
| Ft Lauderdale | Melbourne | ||||
| Miami | Fort Pierce | ||||
| 2 | Manatee/Bradenton/Trinity | 7 | Jacksonville | ||
| Sarasota/Venice/Fort Myers | Fernandina | ||||
| Ft Myers | Palatka | ||||
| 3 | Tampa (Ivanhoe) | 8 | Lake City | ||
| St Petersburg (Sunshine) | Middleburg | ||||
| Clearwater (Springtime) | Gainesville | ||||
| 4 | Lakeland | 9 | Tallahassee | ||
| Plant City | Marianna | ||||
| Sebring (Highlands) | Panama City | ||||
| 5 | Daytona (Halifax) | 10 | Fort Walton Beach | ||
| Lake Sumter | Crestview | ||||
| Sanford | Pensacola | ||||
| Orlando |
MMS is now on Google Chrome.
New Membership by York Rite District 2026
| Dist | Date | Location | Knighted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |||
| 2 | |||
| 3 | |||
| 4 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 6 | 10-11 Apr | Ft Pierce | |
| 7 | |||
| 8 | |||
| 9 | |||
| 10 | |||
| Total 2026 Knightings | |||
| Total 2025 Knightings | 117 | ||
Also, as soon as your area determines the dates for the Fall Festival, please let me know so they may be included.
Fraternally,
Henry A. Adams, KYGCH
Every Christian Mason Should Be A Knight Templar
Some excerpts from the Grand Commander’s Handbook, published by the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the United States, reprint from Aug 2009, introduction; Grand Commandery of Florida, Beaderstadt, Jon L., “Making Members,” pp. 73-75; and from the Grand Commander’s Handbook given to the Grand Line Officers, Membership Development, Grand Encampment, 2003-2006.
Hm Ph: 321-726-6971 Cell: 321-795-8316 Fax: 321-951-9680 Email: hadams1@aol.com
