April - Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, USA

Grand Master’s MessageThisEaster will be a landmark forKnights Templar. For the first time,the resurrection of our Lord and SaviorJesus Christ will be celebrated by the GrandEncampment of Knights Templar in two placesa few hours apart. The 81 st Easter Sunrise Servicewill be held, as it has been in the past, atthe George Washington Masonic Memorial inAlexandria, Virginia. Three hours later, it willbe celebrated again at the Shrine Temple in LosAngeles, California. Our Chapeaus are off to theGrand Commandery of Knights Templar of Californiafor planning this celebration.As we celebrate Easter with our families thisyear, I would ask that you consider what theworld might have been if Jesus Christ had neverlived. Certainly we live in challenging times, butperhaps we always have. Consider the good menand women we meet every day of our lives whoare living by the example left by Jesus. We see those people and marvel at the kindnessand wholesome qualities they exhibit, and in our hearts we know that therewill be a special place for them at the end of life’s toilsome journey. As we witnesstheir example, many times we find ourselves being just a bit kinder and gentler in ourdealings with our fellow-man.Chivalry – Christianity – Templary, a way of life, should be the by words of this season.Perhaps our good example may animate someone watching us to be just a littlebetter, and he another until kindness and goodness prevail.As we approach Easter, perhaps we should remember that among all the reasons wecelebrate the resurrection of our Savior, he lived by example the tenets of the veryreligion he founded, Christianity.On behalf of the officers of Grand Encampment, I wish you a most happy Easterwherever you’ll be spending it.William H. Koon, II, GCTGrand Masterknight templar5