Chief Adept's Message May 2009

The Northeast Corner
It above title somehow seemed appropriate for several reasons for my first message as Chief Adept of New Hampshire College.  During a business Convocation of the College, that is the Chief Adept’s proper location.  I suppose one interpretation could be that the Chief Adept is the first stone laid in the foundation of a new College, and the remainder of the foundation builds on him.  Should this be true, to be accorded such an honor is both humbling and a new personal growth cornerstone.  I hope I prove worthy of your and the Supreme Magus’ faith in my abilities.
Symbolically, on May 8, 2009 we laid a cornerstone in the Northeast Corner of a new foundation of New Hampshire Masonry.   Masonic Rosicrucianism brings to the State an organization dedicated to researching and gaining a better understanding of the philosophical, theological and natural influences on the development of early Masonry.  Our Masonic predecessors were the product of their environments, cultures and beliefs, and to not understand those influences on the development of our Fraternity is to not fully understand Masonry.
I am especially proud of those Fratres who recommended Aspirants and those Aspirants who accepted the invitation to become members of New Hampshire College, Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis.  I gave the four active Fratres in New Hampshire two charges.  The first was to find those Masons who were dedicated to and active in the Craft to an extent that their contributions were noteworthy in some manner.  They had to convince me of that fact before an invitation was given.  The second was that membership in bodies outside of Craft Masonry was not to be a sole consideration for recommendation.  I did not and do not want this College to be perceived as a York or Scottish Rite body.  It is a Masonic body for those who seek, learn and teach.  I look at our members and see a strong foundation of Seekers, Learners and Teachers.
Following the Constituting ceremony, Most Worthy Frater Koon made the comment that SRICF is more of an autocracy than a democracy.  While my disagreements with M.W. Frater Koon have usually, but not always, revolved around the quality and palate of blends (Bill) v. single malts (me)(I’M KIDDING!!), I will not argue with him on this one.  The regulations of the Society grant me the right of final say in many areas.  However, my intent is not to do anything without significant input from all the Fratres of the College, and especially my Advisory Council, to the extent possible while still preserving the integrity of the Office.  This is our College, not mine, and I am very proud to be associated with each and every Frater individually and all of you as a whole.
May God keep and watch over you and yours until our next Convocation.
Yours in the Mxxxxx Cxxxxx,
Richard F. Cole, Jr., IX°, Chief Adept
New Hampshire College, SRICF
Absque sinceritate ego nihili habeam