I want to thank the Grand Chapter of Arkansas for the incredible privilege of serving as your Grand High Priest. I love Royal Arch Masonry with all of my heart. Therefore, to be honored to serve as your Grand High Priest is a joy beyond what I can ever express with words. I pray that the Great Architect of the Universe will bless this year as we work together for the advancement of the Craft. I believe that every chapter in the state of Arkansas should grow. Beyond that, I believe that every chapter in the state of Arkansas CAN grow, as long as we remember there are different kinds of growth! We should be interested in growth for our chapters. But we shouldn’t just be interested in numerical growth. We should be interested in being a part of a chapter that is growing in different ways. NUMERICAL GROWTH: Certainly we want to exalt many to the Most Sublime Degree of Royal Arch Mason. However, while people are coming in the front door (joining the Chapter) others are going out the back door (no longer attending). So the number of “exaltations” is sometimes misleading as to whether or not a Chapter is truly growing. Pay close attention to the attendance at your meetings and if the attendance is low, explore why that may be. Meetings that are poorly planned, and last too long, can turn companions away from attending. Numerical growth is important. Make your meetings interesting so that companions will want to come. EDUCATIONAL GROWTH: This year, I want us to be reminded of a promise we made in the Most Excellent Masters Degree. The promise was that we would dispense true Masonic light and knowledge to our lesser informed brethren to the best of our ability. The degrees of Masonry are like an onion – there are many layers. Particularly, the chapter degrees hold a wealth of wisdom, yet to be mined by many companions. Plan a program of education at each chapter meeting. It’s critical. Sign up for the “Message from the Grand High Priest” that I’m e-mailing each day this year. Just e-mail me at: steventiner@levybaptist.com or call my office at (501) 753-7347 to be added to the list. ORGANIC GROWTH: This has to do with the internal structure of relationships within the chapter. Strengthen relationships by planning opportunities for fellowship in your chapter. CHARITABLE GROWTH: This growth is measured by the number of people we touch and make a difference to in our community. Remember a first lesson in Masonry, to give 8 hours to the service of God and others. I’m asking that each chapter this year make the Grand High Priest’s Official Visit night a high attendance night. Please help me in trying to get as many companions to these official visits as possible. I want to meet as many of our Royal Arch Companions across the state as I can and I hope that we can dialogue about restoring Royal Arch Masonry to all the splendor it deserves. At each of my official visits, I’ll be giving away a reproduction of the George Washington Inaugural Bible as a door prize. We’ll have a drawing and one companion will leave with an exact duplicate of the Bible on which Bro. George Washington was sworn in as president, except in smaller format. I know of no other way to attempt to meet every companion in Arkansas than simply by making an official visit to each chapter. Please help in reaching the goal of high attendance by attending the official visit at your chapter. I look forward to sitting in chapter with you! Fraternally, Steven G. Tiner, GHP