The annual Grand Lodge Sessions in Reno featured another important event you might not have heard about – an initiation for Xanadu Sanctorum #321, our local AMOS chapter.
If you haven’t heard of it, AMOS is a male-only, fez-wearing fraternal order that is not technically endorsed by the IOOF, but does require its members to be Odd Fellows in order to join. It stands for the Ancient Mystic Order of Samaritans, and its chief purpose is having fun, while also finding ways to do good works and support worthy causes. Our chapter started in 2014 when Past Grand Master Michael Greenzeiger began recruiting and found a number of fellow members who liked the idea enough to join him.
Xanadu #321 is still the only AMOS chapter in California, but after their initiation on May 7th in Reno, that may not be the case much longer! In addition to a number of wonderful members from Southern California (including our now Grand Master, Carlos Juarez), several new brothers from the south were initiated. In no particular order, these new brothers are: Larry Guenther, Dustin Hall, Jay Thomason, Steven Soenke, Jesus Ochoa, Victor Ceballos, Anthony Guillen, David Fleck, James Miles, Tony Castaneda, and Jesus Paz. The degree team and candidates combined proudly represented lodges of Northern and Southern California, Oregon, Nevada, and New Jersey. Considering how many new members came from the south, there may be a Southern California sanctorum chartered in the near future.
With 11 candidates, certain modifications to the degree were necessary. Heavy machinery had to be rented at last minute, extra ballots had to be prepared, additional trained animals pressed into service, and the Sovereign Grand Master had to be called on to assist (at least one of those statements is even true). While the candidates themselves were mostly dismal to look upon, it was generally agreed they might be useful for something. Two of them, in particular, were awarded great prizes for their feats of physical and athletic prowess: Larry Guenther and Victor Ceballos. As for the rest, they all survived, and that is as much as will be said of them for now.
Grand Monitor Adam Potolsky regaled us with his masterful vocal repertoire. Grand Chief Guide Mason Wolf and Vice Monarch Tom Blackburn skillfully led the candidates over, through, and around numerous dangers. And at the end, Grand Monarch Joseph Ouellette Jr said a number of lovely words of great import, which elicited joyous remarks from all assembled. The punishments he meted out were harsh but fair, and (unlike last year) none of the service animals perished. In short, the degree really was as successful as could be hoped for, given the circumstances.
For women who would be interested in a women’s-only, fez-wearing side order (because there are certain jokes that simply don’t work in mixed company), there is a sisterhood called “LOTO”, or “Ladies of the Oracle”. Our local chapter is Inanna Zuanna 9, and they’ll be having an initiation ceremony of their own at the Three Links Camp Festival at the end of June! To learn more, talk to Debra LaVergne or Debbie Wolf.
— by Mason Wolf