Once again, I make use of the pedagogic and poetic styling of the late Mr. Edgar A. Guest --For they tend to describe in a most profound and prolific way the basis of the It I desire to herewith and herein project, --and to encourage you, my dear Fraters. Somewhere along the way I believe that you have heard the clear admonition which We find in our Volume of Sacred Laws and which was so adroitly stated by that Teacher of teachers - - “And whoever exalts himself will be abased, --and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Matthew 23: 12) It bears repeating, --"That all that goes out of this world leaves behind – some duty accomplished --for surviving mortals to find and to finish. --That the humblest of creatures, --our praise is deserving. --For they, --and we all, --from the lowly to wisest among us, --It is the MASTER we are serving! --It is NOT our will. --But THINE will be done!

1

It is with due reverence to Almighty GOD, --and by the strengthening power of HIS Holy Spirit, --I do greet you once again in the name that is greater than any other, --Jesus, the Christ. --I deem it no less than a privilege and a pleasure for the seventh time to officially greet you as we are convened for this, --the 124th Annual Convocation of the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation, --Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free Masonry, (P.H.A.), Northern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., Incorporated. And to GOD be the glory!
To our Sovereign Grand Commander, the Honorable Algie S Oldham, Jr., 33°, --or with no less regard to his assigned representative, the Sovereign Sir, Lorenzo Cruger, 33°. Respectfully to and with regards for the presence of our Most Worshipful Grand Master, the Honorable Earl C. Abrams, Sr., and to his entourage. To the Elected Officers of our United Supreme Council, --All of our Invited Guest, --To the Sovereign Sirs, and the Grand
Inspectors General, --the Officers of our Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation, --The Illustrious President of the Pennsylvania Commanders of the Rite, --Illustrious Thomas W. Harrison, 33°, --Illustrious Commanders-in-Chief, --Most Wise and Perfect Masters, --Thrice Potent Masters, --Particular recognition of our Host Consistory , St. Cyprian #4, and its Illustrious Commander-in-Chief, Sublime Prince Donnie D. Morris, 32°, --Officers of the Concordant Scottish Rite Bodies, and Praters All! --

Good Morning!

The Apostle Paul exhorts his protege in the ministry , Timothy, --"First of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and the giving of thanks be made for all men." I therefore request that the Illustrious Grand Prior and/or his assistant would lead us as we go to the throne of grace.

(PRAYER)

NECROLOGY

"When I'm growing old and feeble -- Stand by me. When I'm growing old and feeble -- Stand by me. When my life becomes a burden, And I'm nearing chilly Jordan.
0' Thou Lily of the Valley,--------- Stand by me."

As of the date of the writing of this report, the record reflects that a total of 34 of our Praters, inclusive of two Sovereigns and eight Illustrious Sirs have completed their travails over the tempestuous sea of life, and then they were gently wafted over that chilly Jordan where they were safely moored in that peaceful harbor, --in that place where the wicked shall cease from troubling, --and their wearied bodies shall find rest. The Master of the Seas have taken them away from our midst, --but never from our memories. --The Lord gives, --and the Lord that takes away. --' Blessed be the name of the Lord.

S.G.I.G. Thomas J. Lashley, Jr., 33°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --January 14,2005
S.G.I.G. Shelley T. Strickland, 33°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --August 7,2005
G.I.G. Keffilit C. Downes, Jr., 33°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --December 21,2004 G.I.G. Bennie Patterson, 33°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --January 3,2005
G.I.G. Curtis L. Vaughn, 33°- -Whitney M. Young, Jr. Consistory No.88 --February 24,2005 G.I.G. Selvin F. Bailey, 33°- -DeMolay Consistory No. 1 --May 10,2005
G.I.G. Aaron Wilson, Jr., 33°- -Charles E. Gordon Consistory No.65 --August 15,2005
G.I.G. Horace G. Williams, 33°- -Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory No.86 -September 4, 2005
G.I.G. George N. Jones, 33°- -St. Cyprian Consistory No.4 --September 4,2005 G.I.G. Carl L. Hairston, 33°- -DeMolay Consistory No. 1 --October 28,2005

And not to the least of these were the Praters and Brothers that I could do no less than to list them all because the loss of them was not any the less than all of the rest. I would just opt that it not be obligatory upon me to herewith read them all as you can do that for yourself as we reminisce.

S.P. Phillip Lowman, Sr ., 32° --St. Cyprian Consistory No.4 --September 18, 2004 S.P. Waverly Woodley, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --September 24,2004 S.P. Roy Murphy, Jr., 32°- -St. Cyprian Consistory No.4 --September 26,2004
S.P. William L. McMillian, 32° --DeMolay Consistory No.1 --September 30, 2004 S.P. Ronald McKelvey, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No. 1- -October 17,2004 S.P. Walter Wofford, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --October 21,2004
S.P. Lester J. Robinson, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --October 22,2004
S.P. Noffilan C. James, Jr., 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --October 25,2004 S.P. Daniel S. Brooks, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --November 27,2004 S.P. Clarence Fields, 32° --St. Cyprian Consistory No.4 --November 27,2004 S.P. Irvin L. Parr, 32° --St. Cyprian Consistory No.4 --December 4, 2004
S.P. Stuart A. Fields, 32°- -Martin Luther King, Jr. Consistory No.86 --December 9,2004 S.P. James Hamm, 32°- -Charles E. Gordon Consistory No.65 --December 17,2004 S.P. Ernest L. Sellers, Jr., 32° --DeMolay Consistory No.1 --March 7,2005 S.P. Waverly E. Short, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --March 10,2005 S.P. Herbert M. Gross, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --March 14,2005
S.P. Robert Dixon, Sr., 32°- -Charles E. Gordon Consistory No.65 --March 22,2005 S.P. Raleigh W. Witcher, Jr., 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --April 10, 2005 S.P. Isaiah Poole, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --April 13, 2005
S.P. Henry Lucas, 32° --St. Cyprian Consistory No.4 --April 16, 2005
S.P. Chester H. May, 32°- -St. Cyprian Consistory No.4 --Apri121, 2005 S.P. Wesley C. Walker, 32°- -DeMolay Consistory No.1 --May 21,2005
S.P. Anthony G. Robinson, 32°- DeMolay Consistory No.1 --May 31,2005 S.P. Joseph Dawson, 32°- -DeMo1ay Consistory No. 1- -June 14,2005
S.P. Donald R. Morris, 32°- -St. Cyprian Consistory No.4 --June 29,2005
"For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." (1 Thessalonians 5 :9-10) So Mote It Be --Amen!

STATE OF THE ORIENT

As I pondered the thoughts that this particular report would and/or should contain so
many things came to mind that I thought to be quite pertinent as well as relevant. They were so myriad that I opted to describe my own cursory view and their relevance to us as men, --and as Masons of the Prince Hall Scottish Rite Body, particularly of the Orient of Pennsylvania in these present days and times. And so I chose to merge that which I perceived to be the State of the Nation and the State of the Orient and report them herewith under the one overall appendage.
Our administrative year began as we customarily engage in making our contribution along with the Pennsylvania State Grand Assembly ofa total of $l,OOO submitted to the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania from the Scottish Rite Fund. Our concern was also addressed that we, predominantly as a People of Color within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, should be making Cheyney and Lincoln University which are located in Pennsylvania, at least a part of the recipient of the annual contribution we make to the United Negro College Fund and to the Supreme Council Benevolent Fund, which has been another $1,000 plus. We will continue to echo this sentiment, as well as to continue in our donations.
In the month of January we attended the Conference of Deputy's and Overseers which was held in the Orient of Illinois. It was a most informative gathering and much had been taken under advisement in an effort to, hopefully, affect even more uniformity among the 26 Orients of the Northern Jurisdiction. It may surprise you to find out how diverse we are in the practice of some of our ritualism, especially in the area of our last rites services. I was saddened to learn, while I was in attendance at this Conference, and an emotional pall blanketed the gathering when I was made the announcement to all in attendance that our Illustrious Grand Secretary , Sovereign Grand Inspector General Thomas J. Lashley, Jr., 33° had finally surrendered to the ravages of life that had been pecking away at him for so many ofhis latter years. He was a fighter indeed, and he was a dedicated servant to this Orient, as well as to the United Supreme Council. We were indeed fortunate, however, to have Grand Inspector General Eugene L. Saunders, 33°, who was willing as well as able to fill in the gap and to serve as our Illustrious Grand Secretary (Pro- tempore ). I'm most assured that he will meet with your approbation as he has with mine as he continues to proficiently serve as our Grand Secretary .
During that same month of January, I was caused to have to undergo a rather serious operation and which required only a relatively brief period for recovery and recuperation. It did, however, curtail some of our proposed in-person visitations to some of our Consistories and our ladies' Assemblies withing the Orient. I'm most appreciative that GOD again has proven to me, albeit I was already in the firm conviction that, --"If we would trust and never doubt --HE would surely bring us out. And if He. bring you to it, --He". I have a testimony! As you will undoubtedly agree that, in general, after hearing the reports from the Commanders-in-Chief, the Most Wise, and the Thrice Potent Masters, our consistories are holding rather steady with a few even showing a slight increase in membership and fiscal stability .

A SYNOPSIS TO THE STATE OF THE NATION

I am somewhat perplexed as to the direction our nation is going, and which I will submit, does have a correlating effect on every facet and entity of our Country , including this noble and glorious one of ours. The Chief Executive has stated in a speech relative to his position regarding the conflict in Iraq --(the W AR had already been declared over) --The President stated that there is no indication that he is even looking seriously at winding up the war. He further declared that the U.S. --And I quote; "We will never back down, --never give in, --and - never accept anything less than complete victory." --:There is no peace without victory!" -- Considering the real improbability of even attaining any semblance of victory unless victory is redefined. I am perplexed and pessimistic relative to the mounting casualties; the escalating loss of lives --U .S. as well as foreign; --the monetary cost driving our Nation even deeper in debt, - -and our leaders are seemingly oblivious of an "Exit Strategy," i.e., how to get out with dignity and the restoration of the peace, instead of just a lot of tough talk to appease some negative thinking non-compassionate members of our society! We became engaged in a conflict as a result of maliciously false information at the outset. This Nation has grabbed the proverbial tiger by the tail and can't let it go. --And that appears to be just the tip of the iceberg. Hurricane destructions, especially "Katrina", and all of the aftermath, much ofwhich could have been avoided if appropriate and timely action would have been taken by those at the helm, --the escalating cost of energy resources, especially in consideration of the on-set of the winter months, and the pessimism continues. --If we ever needed the Lord before, --we sure do need Him now!

LOOKING AHEAD

There is a bright side --somewhere. We are grateful for the most appreciative assistance rendered to our Education and Scholarship Committee by the Grand Inspector General and State Representative W. Curtis Thomas, 33°, l81st Legislative District (Philadelphia). The report you will hear being rendered by the Chairman of that Committee, Grand Inspector General Otis Guinyard, 33°, and the scholarship stipends presented at our Awards Banquet virtually tells the story for our optimism. The help we render to our children is not an award but truly an investment in our future. One of our young, male, and recent recipients asked that I would share his written sentiments with you. I extracted portions of the missive he sent to me as well as a synopsis of a brief conversation I had with Mr. Levi Lee on the telephone. He related, "My heart beats with unexplainable love for your organization. --Your organization keeps many dreams alive for young men (like me ). --Thank you so much for the award. The same day I received your letter I was expressing to my mother how was I going to pay for college. --Then I received a letter saying that I received a scholarship from the United Supreme Council. That letter (brought) tears to my eyes. All I could do was thank the Lord. That scholarship paid for my books and some other possessions I needed for school. --Thank you so much." --I felt that I needed to relate no further, as I'm sure you get the picture. --My thanks to the entire Education and Scholarship Committee on behalf of the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation. --I ask that you would listen closely, and then give your positive response and dorsement to the proposal that they are requesting so that we can continue and even to escalate our good works.