Howard R. Caldwell

Before I begin with my service to masonry I would like to talk A little bit about a special person in my Masonic career, and also a special friend to both Leota and myself and his name is, Jack B. Phillips, and also his wife Lois. Jack was an inspiration to many masons because of his dedication to life and to the fraternity. We joined Arvada lodge no. 141 on the same night and enjoyed many wonderful nights in service to the fraternity together and also we made several jeep trips together with his son and my two sons to The San Juan mountains in the south west part of Colorado. Jack also passed on and he is surly missed by all.

There are many great men I have come in contact with in my Masonic career and there is no way I could list them all but there are a few I would like to mention, all of them have become very good friends.

First, Pat Derr, who helped me to become a mason and did indeed many others. Pat became a district lecture and worked with the Grand Lodge of Colorado and was an inspiration to many. I felt he should become Grand Master of Masons in Colorado but was never chosen to go through the line. Colorado masons lost a great deal by Pat being passed up. He touched many lives.

Another person I have respected admired and spent many good and great times with at Masonic meetings and elsewhere and that is William Henry Thornley, Jr. “Bill”. Bill has helped many young aspiring masons and some like me who started kind of late. Bill has held many Masonic positions and guided masonry from the blue lodge to the Scottish Rite and has held the highest position in the York Rite, that being, most eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment to Knights Templar of the United States of America. Bill helped me and encouraged me to greater heights than I would have ever thought possible. Bill and I have traveled many miles together and speaking for myself I enjoyed every minute of it.

I did have the pleasure however of being part of the conferral of the order of the Temple on “Ernest Borgnine, Royal Danno, Norm Cosby the comedian and other stars I can’t think of at this moment. We conferred the Red Cross of Constantine, another Masonic Degree on Gene Audrey who had a ranch just east of Pueblo, CO where he broke his broncos, many years ago. Gene Audrey and I talked for some time because I was from Colorado. This is when I was in California on a masonic trip.

I began my Masonic service as a member of Arvada Lodge no. 141, A.F. & A.M., by being raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason on January 27, 2965. I served my lodge as Worshipful Master in 1974. The lodge honored me as Mason of the year in 1990. I was appointed Grand Representative of Colorado, near the Grand Lodge of Utah in 1990. I have been on the personal representatives committee for the Grand Lodge of Colorado since 1990. I joined the York Rite of Freemasonry, receiving the Capitulars Degrees as a member of Golden Chapter no. 4, R.A.M., on March 4, 1996. I served my chapter as high priest in 1972 and the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Colorado as Grand High Priest in 1980. I belong to the Order of High Priesthood; I am also the Grand Representative of Colorado, near the grand chapter of Utah and many honorary memberships in many chapters.

Also, I have several honorary memberships in other Grand Chapters of other Grand Jurisdictions. I was chosen Ambassador for Colorado for the General grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons International for the years 1999 thru 2002. I continued my progress in the York by receiving the Cryptic Degrees on June 9, 1966. I served as Thrice Illustrious Master of Jefferson Council no. 24 in 1974. In 1985 I resigned as Grand Treasurer of the Grand Council. I served the office of most Illustrious Grand Master of Cryptic Masons of Colorado 1992-93.

I am a member of the order of the Silver Trowel and I am the Grand Representative of Colorado near the Grand Council of Oklahoma and several honorary memberships in other councils. Also, I have honorary memberships in other Grand Councils in other Grand Jurisdictions.

I am a member of the Roanoke Council no. 1 R. & S. M. in the state of Virginia. I received the degrees of ancient and accepted Scottish Rite, S.J., in Rocky Mountain Consistory as a member of the Symbolic Class of 1966. I served the Scottish Rite as Wise Master of Sangre De Christo Chapter of Rose Croix in 1986, and at the Supreme Council session in October 1985, I was elected to and receive the rank and decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor.

At the Supreme Council session on October 1964, I received the 33 and last degree with the rank and dignity of Inspector General Honorary. Also, I served on the Ritual Committee and participated in and directed several degrees including the 5th and 13th degrees both directing and taking part and also participating in the 32nd degree second section.

I was created a Knight Templar in Georgetown Commandery no. 4 on March 4, 1967. I served as Eminent Commander in 1973 and Treasurer in 1974. It was my pleasure to serve the Grand Commandery of Colorado as State Chairman of the Knight Templar Eye Foundation for a thirteen year period and Colorado was among the first three nationally in per capita contributions to the Knight Templar Eye Foundation during that time.

I was appointed Grand Warder by then Grand Commander Dr. Fahey D. Law, at the annual Conclave in 1981 and have advanced each year until reaching the position of Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar of Colorado in 1987, at the 57th Grand Encampment Triennial it was my pleasure to be appointed Department Commander for the Northwest Department by Sir Knight Marvin E. Fowler most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knight Templar of the U.S.A. I am a member of the Post Commanders Association; and am presently serving as Grand Representative of Colorado near the Grand Commander of New Mexico. I have been honored by the rank and distinction of Knight Commander of the Temple and also Grand Commander of the Temple.

I have served as Commander of St. Bernard Commandery no. 41. Again, I have several honorary memberships in both the local Commandery and Grand Commandery in other jurisdictions in the appendant bodies; I have membership in El Jebel Temple Aaonms, where I served as President of the El-Jebel jeep patrol, Demolay Knights of El-Jebel and Past Masters Club of El-Jebel. I also served as Secretary of Demolay Knights of El-Jebel; Royal Order of Scotland; Pikes Peak Priory no. 21; K.Y.C.H., Past Prior; served Convent General Knights of the York Cross of Honor as Grand Master General 1992-93; this is National Office Crown of Thorns Tabernacle no. XXVII, HRAKTP, Past Preceptor; Mount of the Holy Cross of Constantine, 1991-92; Kincora Council no. 8 Past Excellent Chief; Grand Council of Knight Masons, U.S.A. most Excellent Grand Chief; this is also a national office, Pikes Peak Council no. 186, A.M.D., Past Sovereign; Front Range Council number 288, Past Sovereign; York Rite College no. 87, Past Governor, Deputy Grand Governor in Colorado; period of 10 years, Royal Order of Jesters.

National Sojourners, Inc; in the Order of Demolay, I received the Cross of Honor, Honorary Legion of Honor; honorary member, International Supreme Council Order of Demolay; Past Dean, Colorado Priory; Philalethes Society; Grand College of Rites; Kentucky Colonel; Masonic Order of the Bath; Scrif. Societas Rosicruciana Invitatibus Foederatis, 8th degree; Grand Priory of America, Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cite Sainte. Member of the Grand College of Rites, Washington, D.C.

These are the things that have taken up much of my spare time and I truly enjoyed nearly every minute of my Masonic career.

Memorial contributions may be ,made to:

Knights Templar Eye Foundation, Inc.

1033 Long Prairie Road, Suite 5

Flower Mound, TX 75022

Phone (214)-888-0220

Fax (214)-888-0230

http://www.knightstemplar.org/net