Florida DeMolay

Dear Brother and Friends,

Passing of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General

Illustrious Robert L. Goldsmith, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Florida, and the Grand Prior of the Supreme Council passed away on Friday, January 22nd, 2010 in Jacksonville, Florida.

Illustrious Goldsmith had a long and distinguished career in Freemasonry. In addition to his work in the Scottish Rite, he also served as Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge F&AM of Florida in 1983.

He petitioned Harbor City Lodge #318 F&AM and was raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason on December 10th, 1969. He served as Worshipful Master in 1973.

He is a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Lake Worth, receiving the 32° in May of 1970. In 1981 he was elected Commander in the Council of Kadosh. In 1985 he served as Master of Kadosh

He was invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 1977 and on December 10th, 1983, he was Coroneted an Inspector General Honorary 33°.

On May 3rd, 1989 he was appointed Deputy of the Supreme Council (Mother Supreme Council of the World) of the Thirty-Third and Last Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., in the Orient of Florida.

On October 13th, 1989 he was unanimously elected Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Florida and on October 18th, 1989 was Crowned an Active Member of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of the Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A. At the Supreme Council Meeting in October 2005, he was elected Grand Prior of the Supreme Council.

He was a life member of the Cocoa York Rite bodies, a recipient of the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor, and an Honorary Member of the DeMolay International Supreme Council.

He moved to Melbourne, Florida in 1953 and in 1957 married Evelyn Claire Meadows. They had three children; two daughters, Roxie and Robin and one son Robert Lee. They have seven grandchildren, and one great grandson. Evelyn passed away on August 30, 1991 of cancer.

On July 30, 1999 he married his lovely wife and constant companion, Joan, and made the move to Jacksonville, Florida where they resided.

A Public Viewing will be held at the Valley of Orlando on Monday, January 25th from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on Tuesday, January 26th from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. A Masonic Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, with refreshments to follow. Graveside services will be held in Melbourne on Tuesday afternoon.

Human progress is our cause, liberty of thought our supreme wish, freedom of conscience our mission, and the guarantee of equal rights to all people everywhere our ultimate goal.– The Scottish Rite Creed

For those interested, the list of “Grand” Masonic Conventions within Florida will be added to the Calendar of Events page as they are received by your Webmaster.

So far, the following conventions have been posted:
– Grand York Rite (Grand Session of the Florida York Rite Bodies)
April 15 through 17, 2010 in Lake Mary, FL
– Grand Chapter (Grand Chapter of Florida, Order of the Eastern Star)
April 20 through 22, 2010 in St. Augustine, FL
– Grand Court (Grand Court of Florida, Order of Amaranth)
May 25 through 30, 2010 in Jacksonville, FL
– Grand Lodge (Most Worshipful Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Florida)
May 30 through June 2, 2010 in Orlando, FL

Please visit our Calendar of Events page for more information.

For those interested, Dad Roger has issued the following as the tentative schedule for Mini Conclave. Obviously, changes to this schedule are possible (probable), and your patience and understanding is appreciated. But, we will try to stick as closely to this schedule as possible.

We wish you safe travels to Daytona from your hometowns. See you on Saturday!

SATURDAY Jan. 16th
9:00am – Noon – Registration
9:00am – Noon – DeMolays Assemble
Noon – 1:00pm – Lunch (On your own)
1:00pm – 2:00pm – J.B.U. Class – Understanding Ritual & Ritual Competition
2:00pm – 3:00pm – J.B.U. Class – Delegate Sessions
2:00pm – 3:00pm – Sweetheart Meeting
3:00pm – 4:00pm – J.B.U. Class – Girls, Girls, Girls
1:00pm – 5:00pm – Ritual Competition
3:00pm – 5:00pm – Chess Competition
4:00pm – 5:00pm – State Chapter Elections
6:00pm – 7:30pm – Dinner
8:00pm – Basketball Competition
Midnight – CURFEW

SUNDAY Jan. 17th
7:00am – 8:30am – Continental Breakfast
8:00am – 8:30am – Devotional Service
8:30am – 10:00am – Flag Football
9:00am – 10:00am – J.B.U. Class – Mock Investigation
10:00am – 11:00am – J.B.U. Class – Knighthood
11:00am – Noon – J.B.U. Class – Guns, Guns, Guns
8:30am – Noon – DAD Class
10:00am – Noon – 8 Ball Doubles Competition
Noon – 1:00pm – Lunch (On your own)
1:00pm – 2:00pm – Initiation
2:00pm – 3:00pm – Initiation
3:00pm – 4:00pm – Advisors Meeting
3:00pm – 5:30pm – Ritual Competition
4:00pm – 5:30pm – Special Class
6:30pm – 7:30pm – Dinner
8:30pm – SMC Fun Time
Midnight – Knighthood Meeting/Investiture
Midnight – CURFEW

MONDAY Jan. 18th
8:00am – 9:30am – Awards Breakfast
9:30am – Checkout