NOVEMBER

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DECEMBER 2016

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 VOL. CXXIV
NUMBER 6
Editor-in-Chief
Ronald A. Seale, 33

Managing Editor
ARTICLES
S. Brent Morris, 33, GC
(Right) A detail
Publications Committee from one of four
Gary W. Kuney, 33, Chairman beautifully intact

Photography : Elizabeth A. W. McCarthy

John L. Farmer, 33
David O. Martinez, 33
Charles I. Ottem, 33
C. James Graham, 33
Staff Writer/Editor
Gregory S. Kearse, 33
creative director
Elizabeth A. W. McCarthy
The Scottish Rite Journal (ISSN 10768572) is
published bimonthly by the Supreme Council, 33,
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry,
Southern Jurisdiction, USA.
The views expressed in the Journal (formerly
titled The New Age Magazine, 19031989) do not
necessarily reect those of the Supreme Council
or its officers. The Scottish Rite Journal holds a
registered trademark with the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office.
2016 by the Supreme Council, 33
A&ASR, SJ, USA. All rights reserved.
Follow us
punch bowls the
museum received
this year from
the Masonic
collection of the
late Ill. Claude H.
Harris, Jr., 33.
10
2016 Fellows Conference Fathom the Bowl
10
an Out-of-the-Park Success! Joshua Aaron Poole . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Stuart C. Pool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
What One Man Can Do
Rebuilding the Temple Campaign: Leon Zeldis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Building on a Firm Foundation
We Are in the People-Brotherhood
Matthew T. Szramoski. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Business, not the Thing
Do You Know What Treasures Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Are Inside the Supreme Council
Become an Intendant of
Library? Joan Kleinknecht . . . . . . . . . . . 9
the Building Jessica E. Blossfeld . . . . 24

FEATURES
Grand Commanders Message Notes from the Northern Light . . . .20
Facebook Twitter Freemason
(Scottish Rite (@TheScottishRite) Network Reunion vs. Degree Conferral
Freemasonry) Ronald A. Seale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Lodge Catering w/ Bro. Larry
Holiday Delights
Chips from the Quarry Larry von Weigel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
1948s Masonic
COVER CREDITS:
Presidential Election Book Reviews
Page 1: Elizabeth A. W. Holiday Treats
McCarthy, The Scottish Rite Gregory S. Kearse & Ted Bastien . . . . .15
Journal James T. Tresner II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Page 2: Affinity Marketing
Assoc., Devon, Penn. Current Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Page 3: Scottish Rite
Online Store
Page 4: Scottish Rite Office Is your Valley or Orient doing something exciting? Let us know!
of Development
The deadline for the Jan.-Feb. Scottish Rite Journal is Nov. 15, 2016!

SUBSCRIPTIONS & ADDRESS CHANGES: Tel. 2027773115; mbennett@scottishrite.org. Pricing: Domestic$15 for 1 year; $40 for 3 years; Foreign$37
for 1year; $105 for 3 years; Single copies$3 each (domestic checks only). SUBMISSIONS & GENERAL INQUIRIES: Scottish Rite Journal, 1733 16th Street,
NW, Washington, DC 200093103; Fax 2024640487; journal@scottishrite.org. Submitted articles should be 700 to 1,400 words, and whenever possible,
relevant high-resolution images with proper usage permissions and credits should be included. Articles are subject to editing and, if published, become the
property of the Supreme Council,33. No compensation is given for any articles, photographs, or other materials submitted or published.

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 1

@K:G=<HFF:G=>KLF>LL:@>
ReUNION
vs. DEGREE CONFERRAL
I dont often share
my page, but this
message from Ill. Bill
Mollere is timely and
addresses the crucial
difference between a
fraternity and a club. Read
it and see what applies to
you and your Valley.
RAS Ronald A. Seale, 33
W
hen you became a Scottish Rite
Mason, you attended a reunion at
your home Valley and had between five
and twenty-nine degrees conferred on
you. Have you ever thought about the
difference between the twoa reunion
and a degree conferral? It is that time of
the Scottish Rite year again to gather for
reunion around our Orient of Louisiana
and confer degrees. It is agreed that de-
gree conferrals occur at reunions, but do absorb those lessons from your earlier
reunions occur at degree conferrals?
A reunion is an act of reuniting with
persons after separation (Websters). A
degree conferral is the act of bestow-
ing, honoring or awarding persons with
a new rank, title, position, step, grade
of membership attained through study,
work, or level of distinction (Websters). At the end of the reunion and degree
As a Scottish Rite Mason, most of our conferral, they are all tired, worn-out,
newer members today attended a week-
end or one-day reunion and were given
the fire-hose of degree conferrals
open wide, here they come, all at once.
Well, we all werebut did you get
any of those lessons in the Fourteenth
Degree? How about the meaning of the
Eighteenth Degree? Did you walk away
knowing the Royal Secret? Did you
sit, visit, or talk with your brothers dur-
ing your one- or two-day reunion with
2 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL
the degree conferrals? Do
you remember who they
were, their names, where
they lived, and what they
did for a living? When
you left that Scottish Rite
building at the end of the
Thirty-second Degree
with the Bridge to Light
book, perhaps a black
cap and maybe a cap case,
some brochures, some type of 14 ring,
hopefully a Master Craftsman set, a
Valley pocket Jeweldid you return
for the next monthly meeting? Were
you told when it was being held? Did
you fill out Lesson No. 1 of the Master
Craftsman Course and mail it in, and
did you return to the next reunion
where degree conferrals would occur
to watch, observe, consider, and try to
fire-hose experience?
Those who work at reunions and de-
gree conferrals put in a full several days
of work preparing, cooking, cleaning,
rehearsing, and making everything work
as close to perfect for every candidate
as possible and usually twice a year.
hoping to just go home and rest, relax,
and not think about reunions or degree
conferrals for another five or six months.
The major problem with that is that
these well-intentioned, hard-working,
dedicated Scottish Rite Masons have
left behind on the curb, outside the
Valleys building, a new group of excited
and eager Thirty-Second Degree Scot-
tish Rite Masons. They probably want
more Masonry, and some of these new
Masters of the Royal Secret, 32 Scot-
tish Rite Masons, never return and yet
proudly claim to be Thirty-Second De-
gree Masons for many years. Some pay
their annual dues for two or three years
and then decide not to re-upthey
become suspended for non-payment of
duesNPD. Some attend on the occa-
sion of a special eventin the Spring,
Maundy Thursday; at Easter, the Service
of Remembrance; in the Fall, the Feast
of Tishri; or maybe a family night. Some
do return and become active; they work
in the kitchen, on the stage, in degrees,
helping in the administrative areas;
some become involved as Knights of St.
Andrew and form a group in each Valley
working and providing pure service to
their Valley. And then some come and
just enjoy reunion. Those brothers do
not rush in to perform their part in a
degree and then depart; they are the
ones who sit and visit, talk, meet and
make new friends, watch several degrees,
share a meal or two, enjoy drinking too
much coffee, and at the end of that one
or two-days understand reunion. They
reunited after being separated.
Ah, some will say that those are the
retired brothers with nothing else to do
but to go and spend a day or two out at
the Consistory. Perhaps some are. As a
young Mason, my fondest memories of
those four-day reunions were out at the
Scottish Rite watching some the twenty-
eight degrees conferred, but also wander-
ing into the kitchen and watching all of
those dedicated brothers preparing meals,
sitting in the lobby drinking too much
coffee and ice-cold Delaware Punch in
glass bottles and eating entirely too many
Jacks Butter Cookiesall the while
November/December 2016
 listening, hearing stories, learning, and
sharing the Brotherhood of Freemasonry.
Then eventually being recruited in the
kitchen and learning to make coleslaw
for 200, being pulled at the last minute
into a degree to be a stump sitter (sit
there, keep your head down, dont say
anything). Those were the best days.
That was reunion when seeing men of all
looking
ages come back together and laugh and
work and tell talesand confer some for a Good
incredible degrees.
I still have my class picture of my
reunion hanging on the wallperhaps
New Years
seventy in that class, and I was elected
vice president (sit there, keep your head Resolution?
down, dont say anything)and as I
look over that picture, that wonderful
memory, I may be one of only one or Do you want
two still a member or living. Long ago
yes, 47 yearsbut I still remember that to be a more
fire-hose introduction to Scottish Rite knowledgeable
and I returned, again and again and again.
Mason in 2017?
Those lessons called to me to return after
being apart, return after being separated,
and listen and return to learn more, to
hear again.
Have you ever seriously asked yourself Help us help you.
why you became a Scottish Rite Mason?
Consider joining the Scottish Rite Research Society (SRRS).
Was it to be called a 32 Mason? Years
ago, was it to be eligible for the Shrine? The SRRS was founded in 1991 to promote deeper study
Was it for the fellowship, friendship, and and reection on the timeless lessons contained within Masonry.
additional brotherhood? Have you re- Since then, the SRRS has grown into the largest and most dynamic
turned to a reunion recently? You can plan American Masonic research group today. Drawing from an
to return and attend that one- or two-day esteemed and international cadre of Fellows and Scholars, the SRRS
degree conferral where reunion can occur. annually publishes some of the most important works in Masonic
Have you attended a special event? The research. In addition to Heredom, our annual hardback
Feast of Tishri is about to occur. Have you collection of papers, and The Plumbline, the Societys
attended a monthly meeting recently and quarterly research journal, members recently
enjoyed a meal with your brothers, visited, have received Pillars of Wisdom, Rex R. Hutchenss
talked, listened? There is probably a full essays on the themes of Morals and Dogma. In
pot of coffee sitting over near the kitchen. addition to annual publications, members also
Your brothers are waiting to welcome you. receive a 10% discount on Society books and certain
Whatever your level of activity in Scot- items available through the Scottish Rite Online Store.
tish Rite may be now, never forget that
reunion is waiting for you down at your All of this is available for only $55 a year.
Valleys building.
Thank you for continuing to be a Please visit www.scottishriteresearch.com,
Scottish Rite Mason! email srrs@scottishrite.org,
or call 2022323579 to nd out more.
Reprinted from the Louisiana Scottish Rite
Trestleboard, Aug-Sep 2016, p. 12.

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 3

VMAP: SCOTTISH RITE FELLOWS
2016 Fellows Conference
an Out-of-the-Park Success!
Fellows are new Scottish Rite
brothers selected by their
Valley and Orient leadership to
learn VMAP best practices and
bring them back home.
Stuart C. Pool, 32
Assistant Director of Public Relations
his past August, here at the
House of the Temple, we host-
ed a conference of some of our
newest Scottish Rite members for the
purpose of helping them to discuss and
acquire practices to better assist their lo-
cal Valleys, Orients, and the Southern
Jurisdiction as a whole. These dedicated
brothers were selected by their respec-
tive Personal Representatives and Sover-
eign Grand Inspectors General (SGIGs)
to attend this conference. The members
who attended were new mem-
bers to the Rite, and who had
not yet received any honors.
These new brothers were also
selected because they had
shown a strong desire for want-
ing to get involved with and ac-
After the conference, Fellows and guests gathered at
Nationals Park for a baseball game.
4 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL
Photography: Stuart C. Pool, 32
tively participating in the degrees, hold- Above: Sixty-two new Scottish
ing offices, and serving on committees Rite Masons, selected to be Grand
Commanders Fellows, met in
of their local Valleys. Indeed, they had
August at the House of the Temple
shown passion in wanting to help better
in Washington, DC, to discuss VMAP.
their group, Orient, and the Southern
Jurisdiction
J in general. These Fellows followed by dinner with the Grand Com-
Conferences have taken mander Ronald A. Seale, 33, Lt. Grand
place since 200405. Commander Jim Cole, 33, Grand Execu-
This year we had a tive Director Adm. Bill Sizemore, 33, and
great turnout of 62 Ma- other Temple staff. The reception and din-
sons who attended the ner provided the Fellows with a unique op-
Fellows Conference. We portunity to meet members of the staff and
had some from as nearby to get to learn about some of the House of
as local Washington, DC, the Temples day-to-day operations. After
and one brother from as dinner the 90 Fellows and guests were tak-
far away as the Valley of en on an evening tour of the House of the
Honolulu, Hawaii! Al- Temple. On Saturday the conference itself
though we did not have took place, and later that evening Fellows
participants from every who bought tickets accompanied Ill. Seale,
Orient in the Southern Cole, and Sizemore for a night out at Na-
Jurisdiction, we did have tionals Park for a baseball game against the
representatives from 19 Atlanta Braves. The Nats won!
of the 39 Orients. The Fellows Conference was not meant
An enjoyable cocktail to simply be another series of lectures;
reception kicked of the rather, it provided us with an opportunity
conference, which was to have a meaningful dialogue about what
November/December 2016
Heres the story of Bro.
Marty Lewis, who had a
little extra time before the
Fellows Conference, so
our Membership Services
team put him to work!
Bro. Marty turned out to
be a real Lewis key*!
* The son of a Mason is called a Lewis, for
a reason which is set forth in Brownes
Master Key, which purports to be a
verbatim account of a part of the original
Prestonian lecture. It reads:
What do we call the son of a Freemason? / A
Lewis. / What does it denote? / Strength. /
How is a Lewis depicted in Masons Lodge? /
As cramp (clamp) of metal, by which, when
fixed into a stone, great
and ponderous weights
are raised to a certain
height, and fixed upon
their proper basis,
without which Operative
Masons could not so
conveniently do.
Short Talk Bulletin, Masonic Service
Association of North America (Feb. 1935)
would help the local Valleys with their
VMAP (Valley Membership Achieve-
ment Project) best practices. This
conference mainly consisted of the
fellows breaking into two groups and
discussing what they had learned from
the workshops and what they thought
could help their Valley grow its mem-
bership while better serving the South-
ern Jurisdiction. There were also open
discussions with Ill. Seale and Cole.
This provided the Fellows with an op-
portunity to get a better understanding
of how to improve their organizations.
These Scottish Rite members came
from throughout the Southern Juris-
diction and were able to share what
was successful in their Valleys. Brothers
could then take this information home
and work with their secretaries to im-
prove their own Valleys.
November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL
An Amazing Personal Journey
Marty Lewis, 32
I currently serve as Chief Ambassa-
dor for the Valley of Covington, KY. I
recently had the privilege to attend the
National Fellows Conference held at the
House of the Temple in Washington,
DC.For those who are unfamiliar with the
Fellows Program, it is a way for newScot-
tishRitemembers to meet and share ideas
about what programs are working for
them to achieve success. We discussed
and exchanged various
ideas about how the Rite
could improve, and how
programs mightbe imple-
mented in our individual
Valleys to make member-
ship in the Rite a more
positive and benecial
experience.
During the conference,
Grand Commander Ronald
A. Seale, 33, graciously
took the time to intro-
duce me to Ill.Bro.Dean
Alban, 33, Director of Membership Ser-
vices.Brother Alban immediately dropped
what he was doing and asked if I would
like to see what is possible to accomplish
by reaching out to some of our members
of the Rite! I had the feeling that he wasnt
going to accept no for an answer.He
showed me how to useour Valleys Senti-
nel System (theScottish Rite database)to
nd brothers who hadnt been to ourVal-
leymeetings or events. We were also able
to search for brothersnotseen since they
joined the Valley.I also learnedhow to
search for Scottish Rite Masons whowere
members of my own blue lodge.I was
surprised to discover that some of my blue
lodge brothers were also members of the
ScottishRite!
Bro. Dean personally trained me how to
use the new Sentinel Version 2 database. It
is amazing how much information is avail-
able at the touch of a ngertip. He then
introduced me to the Sojourner program.
This Program allows Valleys to search the
database for Scottish Rite Masons who
belong to other Orients but who live near
our Valley. I then used it to do a search
for Scottish Rite Masons in Kentucky who
didnt belong to the Orient of Kentucky.
Brother Deansaid it was time to put
the computer work aside and get to the
real work of Membership Engagement.He
turned the computer off,put me at a desk,
gave me a#2 pencil and ayellow pad to take
notes on, a list of names and numbers, and
told me to start calling brothers!He said
to invitethem to my Valleys functionsand
other Masonic events that might be
closer to them.Ialso advised them about
the different clubs and
study groups that were
Photography: Courtesy Bro. Marty Lewis, 32. Lewis Key illustration: C. W. Leadbeater, The Hidden Life in Freemasonry (Madras, India: Theosophical Publishing House, 1926), 113.
conveniently located near
their homes. I chatted
with several brothers
with whomI planned to
attend Blue Lodge. Our
overall goal was to get the
brothers more involved
with and connected to the
Scottish Rite.
I found a brother who
is now living in Maysville,
KY, who didnt belong to
the Orient of Kentucky. The brother had
moved there from Palm Springs, CA. After
speaking with him on the phone, I asked
him what Blue Lodge he attended regu-
larly. He informed that he didnt know of
any local lodges in the area. I told him about
the Maysville Lodge No. 52, one of the most
beautiful lodges in the state of Kentucky. I
invited him to go to lodge with me.
Before I knew it, it was closing time at the
House of the Temple. Ill. Brother Alban, 33
remindedme that the otherFellowswere
getting ready to attendthe Washington Na-
tionals vs the Atlanta Braves baseball game.
It was a great night of fellowship among
Brothers. I plan on keeping in touch with
the new Brothers I met on this trip.
I had an amazing time on this trip
and was very honored and excited that I
was invited. I look forward to sharing the
information and knowledge among my
Brothers of the Valley of Covington who
were not able to attend. This was truly
an experience that I will always fondly
remember, and I am eternally grateful to
all those friends and brothers who made
this trip possible.
5
GIVING & DEVELOPMENT

Rebuilding the Temple Campaign

Building on a
Firm Foundation
Matthew T. Szramoski, 33
Director of Development

The Rebuilding the Temple

Photography: (Temple) Elizabeth A. W. McCarthy; (Boiler) Sean D. Graystone, 33, GC

Campaign is a fundraising
effort that supports the
current initiatives of the
House of the Temple Historic
Preservation Foundation, Inc.

J
ust as Solomon oversaw the build-
ing of the Temple in Jerusalem, it
seems appropriate to review our Re-
building the Temple Campaign (RTC)
for the House of the
Temple. In 2016, we Campaign to Date
have continued to
make progress in our
efforts to raise funds,
promote awareness 71%
of the unique char-
29%
acter and heritage gifts with the remaining stipulated that all work on the House
of the House of the 71% in planned gifts such as of the Temple would be completed
Temple and its con- bequests, trusts, and gift an- as the funds are raised. To date, the
tents, and continue Cash: $13,400,000 nuities. We only count these cash we have received has been used
working to ensure Planned: $32,928,527 planned gifts upon receipt to pay for all of the architectural and
the preservation of of documentation from the engineering studies and plans; repairs
this national Masonic treasure on 16th donor that the gift will be made. This to the elevators; replacing two of the
Street in Washington, DC. documentation would include things three roofs; building permits and more.
Our goal is to raise $97 million for such as a copy of the trust, or
the expansion of our museum, library the portion of the will designat-
and archive spaces in addition to the ing the House of the Temple as a
overall preservation and renovation of beneficiary.
the House of the Temple. To date, I am The Supreme Council, in
pleased to announce that we have raised approving the campaign also
more than $46 million towards that goal!
Due to the generosity of Brethren from One of the most recent
throughout the Southern Jurisdiction renovation projects at the
we are making progress in this vital mis- House of the Temple was the
sion. Of the amount raised so far, ap- installation of a new boiler (r.)
proximately 29% has been through cash on the basement level.

6 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

Since 2011, the Celebrating the Craft
webathon has educated and entertained
Scottish Rite brethren around the world
while raising money for the RTC and local
Valley 501(c)(3) charities.

Our planned gifts, 71% of what we have

raised to date, are vital components of
our campaign. However, we cannot
spend these funds until they are re-
ceived, which is upon the passing of

Photography: Bethany J. Rowe

the donor. Due to these points, raising
cash gifts still remains a critical part of
our campaign.

Orient Chairmen
& Major Donor Officers
We have been assisted great-
ly by our Orient Chairmen. to invite this Brother to your Val-
These Brethren, who have ley to provide a program on the
been selected by their SGIG or House of the Temple.
Deputy to assist with the cam- We now have three major do-
paign, have provided an invalu- nor officers who assist in raising
able service. Their mission is to funds for both the House of the
educate the brethren in their Temple Historic Preservation
respective Orients about the campaign, of this landmark edifice to all Masons. Foundation, Inc. and the Scottish Rite
assist in identifying potential donors, If you do not know who your Orient Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA,
serve as ambassadors for the House of Chairman is, please contact your SGIG Inc. In addition, they are tasked with as-
the Temple, and explain the importance or Deputy to find out. I encourage you sisting to raise funds for Orient and Val-

Rebuilding the Temple Campaign At-a-Glance

The RTC supports the growing needs of the TEMPLE ENDOWMENT (20%)
House of the Temple Historic Preservation
Foundation, Inc. Funds raised through the
Begin a fund to provide for
RTC go toward crucial, multi-million the future maintenance of the
dollar rehabilitation objectives and House of the Temple
renovation projects.
ACCESSIBILITY & SAFETY (11%)
RESTORATION & Meet modern building, re, and
CONSERVATION (37%) life safety codes
Restore original furnishings, Install new staircases, handicap
building masonry, exterior GOAL: entrances, and elevators
metal, bronze and wood framed
windows, tile ceilings, and
stone ooring
$97 Million EDUCATION &
COLLECTIONS (21%)
Redesign and build new exhibits
STRUCTURAL REHABILITATION for a national Masonic museum
(11%) Develop a state-of-the-art
Modernize the internal and Masonic education center
external features of the building available to all
Complete general architectural Construct an archival
reconstruction including research room
roong, plumbing, electrical Install humidiers and ltration
modications, and new HVAC units to protect collections

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 7


(Right and below) Since 2008, the Valley
of Omaha, NE, has held a Scottish Rite
Friends Dinner and Auction to raise funds
for the Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha
and the House of the Temple.
ley 501(c)(3) Charities. These Brethren:
Ill. James Chuck Morgan, 33, Don
Heath, KCCH, and Tom Broderick, 32,
have done outstanding service for the
Rite. Combined, they have raised several
million dollars for our campaign, and sig-
nificantly more than $1,000,000 in 2015
for Orient and Valley foundations.
Development Office
Fundraising Programs
In 2017, we plan to promote and expand
programs that provide funding opportu-
nities for both the Rebuilding the Temple
Campaign and Orient 501(c)(3)s. These
programs include our annual webathon,
Celebrating the Craft (CTC), and
our Scottish Rite Friends Dinner
(SRFD) program.
CTC has become a national event.
Not only does it provide an opportunity
to raise funds for the RTC campaign,
but 50% of funds raised, if designated
by the donor, are returned to the Orient
to assist with RiteCare. The Supreme
Council covers the full expense of the
program out of their 50% of the share.
In essence, 50 cents of every designated
dollar actually is returned to the Orient.
Our goal is to make CTC the largest an-
8 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL
nual fundraising event for the House of
the Temple and RiteCare. This program
also provides an excellent opportunity
for membership recruitment. Many
Valleys host CTC parties around a meal
or snack and watch the webathon as a
group. Inviting non-Masons as well as
Masons who are not yet in the Scottish
Rite provides an awesome venue to edu-
cate them about Freemasonry in general,
and the Rite in particular. Several Val-
leys have gained new members through
programs such as this.
Our SRFDs are a fundraising din-
ners and auctions. The Valley that hosts
an event retains 2/3 of the net proceeds
for their local 501(c)(3) Scottish Rite
The PDF booklet, Scottish
Rite Friends Dinners: A How-to
Guide, contains useful tips
for setting up your rst SRFD
including a sample timeline
(left). You can download a free
copy at https://scottishrite.org/
development/giving/sr-friends/
Photography courtesy the Valley of Omaha, NE
charity with 1/3 going to the House of
the Temple. The Supreme Council sup-
ports the local Valley by providing 20
25 items at no charge to the local Valley
for the auction. In addition, we provide
a tool kit for conducting the event and
will send a staff member to the first
SRFD hosted by the Valley to assist in
getting it off to a good start!
Every donation for the RTC cam-
paign is important, from the $5 gift that
we receive in the mail to the individual
that is fortunate to be able to make a
$1,000,000 donation. We thank each
of you for your support, at whatever
level you are able to assist us! There are
many options available for how you can
make a gift, including estate planning
(see related article, p. 24). For more
information on giving opportunities,
please contact the Development Office
at mszramoski@scottishrite.org or by
phone at 2027773143.
November/December 2016
 LIBRARY & MUSEUM

Do You Know What Treasures

Are Inside the Supreme Council Library?
architectural genius John Russell Pope? ganically, more powerfully, more beauti-
Joan Kleinknecht, Librarian
Well, among the treasures of the library fully. Pope has done many noble build-

M
any people know the Supreme are books that will help you appreciate ings but the temple of the Scottish Rite
Council building, the House of Popenot only the House of the Temple, remains, in my opinion, his masterpiece.
the Temple, was completed in but also his other masterpieces. My favor- Pope was an extremely busy and pro-
October 1915. Many also know that the ite picks on Pope in the Library are The ductive architect. Some of his noble
Supreme Councils Library was the first Architecture of John Russell Pope, a three- buildings include: Union Station, Rich-
library open to the public in Washington, volume set, and The Architectural Review, mond, VA., Theodore Roosevelt Memo-
DC, and still remains open to the public January 1916, volume 4, number 1. rial, Washington, DC, Plattsburgh City
Within the three volumes Hall, NY, Lincoln Memorial, KY, Con-
of The Architecture of John Rus- stitution Hall of the Daughters of the
sell Pope are 101 plates of the American Revolution (DAR), Washing-
works of Pope. As stated by ton, DC; University Baptist Church, Bal-
Royal Cortissoz in volume two, timore, MD, Yale University, Dartmouth
College, and The John
John Russell Pope was hired in 1910 Hopkins University.
to design the House of the Temple Pope was also the archi-
tect of many private es-
which today is one of the grandest tates and residences!
Masonic buildings in the world. The Architectural Re-
view, January 1916, is my
second favorite choice. The Architectural
Review was printed soon after the House
of the Temple (the Temple of the Scot-
tish Rite) was completed in October
1915. It contains all sorts of information
and details regarding the building from
the construction of the roof, to the con-
tractors, to the flooring, marble company,
stone company, architectural woodwork,
and decorative painting. Additionally,
there are floor plans and pictures of the
different rooms within the building.
The plate above from The Architecture
These two favorites of mine in the Li-
of John Russell Pope showcases the
brary take the reader back to the time of
magnicent Temple at night. (Right) John
Russell Pope, architect.
Pope [has a faculty] which gives him his the construction of this magnificent edi-
Photography: (Pope) Bain News Service, Publisher. John
place apart in the architectural history of fice and chronicle how John Russell Pope
Russell Pope. [no Date Recorded on Caption Card] Image. the United States. He has the resourc- stood out from all the other architects
Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.
gov/item/ggb2006013780/. (Accessed October 05, 2016.)
es of an architect born to work in the who submitted design drawings. What
grand style. In referring to the House is truly amazing is that the building has
today! Perhaps many also know that the of the Temple, he states of Pope, In this not changed much since its conception.
architect of this grand building was John building a creative artist speaks out loud When looking through the Architectural
Russell Pope. But who really knows what and bold, in clear, vibrant tones. We have Review the Temple looks exactly the same
treasures reside inside this magnificent in America no monumental structure in as it did 101 years ago, and that was the in-
library? Or, who appreciates the works of which line and mass are fused more or- tention of these forward-looking men!

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 9

MUSEUMS & ARCHIVES

Photography: Elizabeth A. W. McCarthy, The Scottish Rite Journal

Fathom
the

I
Joshua Aaron Poole, 32, Museum Curator

t is hard to believe the holi- and a member of the Valley of Alexandria.

day season is upon us. Many of Claude was a lifelong collector of Mason-
us will soon be attending family ic memorabilia, and he purchased these
dinners and work parties and beginning to punch bowls from several estate auctions
plan our New Years resolutions as we real- in England. In addition to the bowls, he
ize how much food and drink we have de- donated a large collection of books to the
voured over the weeks. With
all the upcoming festivi- Earlier this year, the House of the Temple
tieswhere at some point Museum received a bequest of some
you are bound to have some
form of punchI thought it wonderful antique Masonic punch bowls
would be a great time to fea- from the estate of Ill. Claude Harris, 33.
ture some Masonic punch
bowls that were donated to our museum. library that included several rare Masonic
Earlier this year, WBro. Mark Under- books from the 1700s.
wood, 32, WBro. Mike Bible, 32, and Bowls of this nature are English white-
Bro. Doug Snow, 32all members of warecommonly referred to as English
Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 and whiteor French faience. This type
the Valley of Alexandria, Virginiapre- of pottery both originates from the late
sented these Masonic punch bowls to the 18th century and is the response to Chi-
Scottish Rite House of the Temple Mu- nese porcelain, until the secret of creat-
seum. These bowls were a donation from ing porcelain was learned. The purpose
the estate of Worshipful and Illustrious of these bowls would have been used to
Brother Claude Harris, 33, a Past Master serve punch that was highly intoxicating.
of Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22 According to the Library and Museum of

*Library and Museum of The Grand Lodge of Maryland, Punch Bowl, c. 1795. http://www.
mdmasonicmuseum.org/collection/punch-bowl-c-1795-2/

10 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

The four beautifully
intact punch bowls
shown above and on the
facing page are gifts from
the Masonic collection of Ill.
Claude H. Harris, Jr., 33. Notice how the
rendering of the Masonic symbols varies by piece.

the Grand Lodge of Marylands website,
this punch was traditionally made from
five canonical ingredients: lemon or lime
juice, sugar, water, spice (usually nut-
meg), and liquor.* While some of the
punch you may have this holiday season
might be a little bit on the boozy side, it
could not hold a candle to the ABV of
the punch of yesteryear (although you
probably should not have held a candle
anywhere near this punch!). The tradi-
tion of this intoxicating drink and how
the punch bowls would have been used
can be seen in countless drinking songs
of the 18th century. Some that come to
mind are: Fathom the Bowl, When I
Drain the Rosy Bowl, and Landlord Fill
the Flowing Bowl.
While most of us Masons like our
drinks, it is more than likely that these
particular bowls were decorative pieces
and not used as actual punch bowls. This
is evident in the fact that the masonic
designs on the bowls were hand painted.
(I highly doubt someone would ruin
such a beautiful piece of work just to
get drunk.) Although the bowls are dif-
ferent in sizewith diameters ranging
from 10.5 inches to 15.75 inchesthey
all pretty much share the same Ma-

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 11

Ceramics are relatively low maintenance, and
there are a few simple points to follow to keep
them in good condition. (& not have it
end up like this one !)
sonic symbols. These symbols are: the
All-Seeing Eye, the moon, the sun, the
two pillars of King Solomons Temple,
the letter G, the beehive, and the work-
ing tools of a Mason. If you ever come
across any Masonic punch bowls, you
will probably notice that they will have
these same symbols. The only differ-
ences will probably be the decorative
border and, possibly, major cracks.
These bowls are very fragile and are
more often found with major cracks on
them or with chipped edges because of
how they are handled. Before we received
the bowls from Bro. Harriss
donation, we had a Ma-
sonic punch bowl on dis-
play in the House of the
Temple Museum; how-
ever, it was broken and, at
some point in time, was
put back together through
a stapling technique (a technique no lon- Another bowl from our collection is
ger used). We are so fortunate to have the a little worse for wear having been
Harris bowls in pristine condition, and I repaired in numerous places with
adhesives and staples, the latter of
look forward to displaying them in our ex-
which are showing signs of rust.
hibits to show off these truly immaculate
pieces of art. tive parties. These artifacts are a reminder
So as the Holiday Season quickly ap- of yesteryears cultural history and tradi-
proaches us, lets remember that there is tions that continue to play a role in our
a lot of history behind the punch bowls celebrations of the season. So give me
that we continue to visit during our fes- the punch ladle, Ill fathom the bowl.

Caring for Antique Ceramics

I
f you have antique ceramics in your home, you may be wondering How do I
take care of them? Luckily, ceramics are pretty low maintenance. The best things
for them will be storing them in a stable place and keeping their surfaces clean.

CLEANING YOUR CERAMICS HANDLING & STORAGE

Physical Cleaning: Remove dirt, dust, and other detritus from your
ceramics with brushes. Begin with softer bristled brushes and work
up to stiffer bristles. Paint brushes found at arts and crafts stores
work well for this. Pay careful attention when cleaning over decora-
tive additions, like patterns painted over the glaze or additions that
may be weak at the seam where it connects to the body.
Chemical Cleaning: Unless you are certain that your ceramic
piece is non-porous, I do not recommend chemical cleaning. High
quality ceramics are most often non-porous stoneware or porcelain
that is safe to chemically clean. They have thin, uniform walls and
make a clear ring when tapped. However, some pieces of ne earth-
enware can resemble stoneware and are nearly indistinguishable
without breaking the pieces and examining the paste. Chemicals,
ranging from water to industrial cleaning supplies, can pass through
weak spots in the glaze and be absorbed into the porous paste of
the earthenware body, causing darkening and stains. Decorations
painted over the glaze may react poorly to chemical cleaning even if
the body does not.
If you have determined that your ceramic piece requires chemi-
cal cleaning, use a cotton swab to spot clean with water and a gentle
detergent. Allow the piece to air dry.
The greatest threat to any ceramic is physical damage, which can be
caused by improper handling or storage. There are a couple of things
you should check for before picking up an antique ceramic. First, take
a moment to analyze it for any weak points. For example, on a teapot,
the handle and the spout are its weak points. For ceramic bowls and
cups, a weak point will be the rim. Examine the object for any cracks
or fractures. Check to see if the object has been repaired in the past,
where it looks like the object was reinforced or pieced back together.
Any repairs will be a weak point in any object. Avoid putting pressure
on any area of a ceramic that looks cracked. NEVER pick up a cup or
bowl by the rim. Pick up a ceramic with both hands, one hand on the
side and the other supporting the base.
In terms of the environment, the
ideal is 70F with a humidity of 50%,
but a stable environment is what
is most important. Also, just like UV
damages your skin, it can damage your
ceramics, too. It can cause any decora-
tions and colors to fade, so avoid
placing them in areas that get a lot
of sunlight.

By Kelly Manno and Abigail Turner, House of the Temple Museum interns

12 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

 MASONS IN HISTORY

WHAT ONE MAN CAN DO

Brother Joel R. Poinsett
who helped make the
poinsettia Americas
Christmas owerput his
principles into practice.

Leon Zeldis, 33

J oel R. Poinsett was an extraor-

dinary man and Mason who made
an unforgettable contribution to
the development of the United States
and its neighbors. We do not know
when Poinsett became a Mason, but
he is recorded as being a Past Master
of two South Carolina lodges: Re-
covery Lodge No. 32, Greenville, and
Solomons Lodge No. 1, Charleston.
In 1810, Poinsett was appointed as
the first American diplomat to Argen-
tina and Chile, at a time when South
American countries were struggling to
gain their independence from Spain.
Chile was being governed by a revolu-
tionary junta headed by
Jos Miguel Carrera. `

Bro. Joel R. Poinsett,

Secretary of War.

Illustration: Possibly Robert Walter, Weir., Official DoD portrait. Wikimedia Commons

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 13

 The Chileans were divided, some of themthe Spanish-born ident was the conservative Nicols Bravo, a Scottish Rite Ma-
wealthy land ownerswanted to remain under Spanish rule, while son, who had been elected in a futile move designed to bring
most of those born in Chile thought otherwise. Poinsett arrived peace between both camps. Soon after his arrival, Poinsett was
in November 1811 during a critical time in the struggle for inde- approached by members of the newly formed York Rite lodges.
pendence. Although Chileans had declared their independence in These included politicians and military men who wanted to get
September of the previous year, Spanish soldiers still occupied the rid of the conservative faction in order to establish a firm re-
far south, and in Peru, the viceroy for Spain was preparing to send publican form of government. Poinsett deviated from his role as
an expeditionary force to regain control of the country. diplomat by helping the York lodges form their own grand lodge,
Brother Poinsett became the friend and adviser to Carrera, which became the center of the opposition political force. Al-
also a Mason. He was invited to join an important project to- though later Poinsett would claim that he did not expect the York
ward independence: writing a constitution for the new repub- Masons to act beyond their legitimate functions of benevolence
and charity, he could not have ignored the intense political forces
that were behind the creation of the competing Masonic Body.
Bro. Joel R. Poinsett,
Secretary of War. Poinsett believed that freedom must be defended
[No Date Recorded on Shelflist
Card] Image. Retrieved from the and despotism fought. He risked his career and his
Library of Congress, https://
www.loc.gov/item/2003656274/. own life to give testimony that his ideals were not
(Accessed October 05, 2016.)
abstract philosophy, but vital rules of conduct.
As Guadalupe Victorias presidential term came to its close in
1828, the conservative vice-president, Nicols Bravo, a central-
ist, rebelled and issued a proclamation, known as the Montano
Plan, which, among other rulings, prohibited all secret societies.
Poinsett had overstayed his welcome by becoming too involved
in Mexican political life. Plus, he was neither able to acquire
Texas nor redraw the border. He returned to Charleston and
became an active defender of the Union when the nullifica-
tion dispute developed in South Carolina. Poinsett became the
leader of those defending the authority of the federation. In
the end, South Carolina remained in the Union.
Bro. Poinsett was always interested in the progress of sci-
ence and art. He was actively involved in the creation of the
National Institute for the Promotion of Science, the forerun-
ner of the Smithsonian Institution, and became its first presi-
dent! Also, on his return from Mexico, Poinsett brought back
lic. Poinsett used the recently enacted U.S. Constitution as his plants of a bright red flower known in Mexico as the Noche-
model. In addition, he proposed the cultivation of cotton and buena, the flower of Christmas Eve. We now know it as the poin-
other crops that could be valuable for international trade. settia, named in honor of the man who brought it to America.
After Poinsetts return to the United States in January of 1816, Brother Poinsett gives us an example of how a man, dedicat-
he entered South Carolina politics, being elected to the state legis- ed to giving others the benefits he himself enjoys at home, goes
lature for two terms, where he sponsored a bill to limit the impor- out of his way to put into practice the principles he professed to
tation of slaves into the state. In 1821, both his Masonic and his uphold. Poinsett believed that freedom must be defended and
political lives took dramatic turns. That year he was elected Deputy despotism fought. He risked his career and his own life to give
Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of South Carolina, and he was testimony that his ideals were not abstract philosophy, but vital
elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, where he took a place rules of conduct.
on the Foreign Affairs Committee. In March 1825, Poinsett re- Leon Zeldis is a Past Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council, 33, for
signed from Congress to accept an appointment as the first Ameri- the State of Israel, and Honorary Assistant Grand Master, Grand Lodge of
can ambassador to Mexico. His instructions were to acquire Texas Israel. Contacts: 46153 Herzlia, Israel, lzeldis@netvision.net.il.
and convince the Mexicans to redraw the borderline farther south. Note: The above article, originally printed in the Scottish Rite Journal
In Mexico, Poinsett met the new president, Manuel Felix (2004), is reprinted with permission from the California Freemason
Fernndez, better known as Guadalupe Victoria. The vice-pres- magazine (Winter 2003).

14 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 15
 DISASTER RELIEF

We are in the People-Brotherhood

Business, not in the Thing Business.
The Story

B eginning on Thursday, August 11, 2016,

rains caused flash flooding in south-central
and southeast Louisiana like few rainstorms
before. Flooding has now been compared to the
thousand-year flood maps. Freemasonry has been
dealt an especially vexing blow, but members have
vowed to return, stronger than before. In total, As-
cension Lodge in Donaldsonville, Herd Merrell and Milford Lodge No. 117, Baton Rouge, from the back. The building
Denham Springs Lodges in Livingston, Baker, Cen- sustained 3.03.5 feet of water throughout.
tral, and Milford Lodges in EBR Parish were all flood-
ed, receiving between three and four feet of water. Additionally, Al Azar Grotto and the Baton Rouge Scottish Rite were flooded.
With the Scottish Rite, Eastgate Lodge, Baton Rouge Amaranth, and an Eastern Star Chapter were also flooded. The Rainbow
Assembly at Denham Springs Lodge and Pelican DeMolay at Baker Lodge also received damage to their artifacts.
By August 15, the floodwaters began to recede and we began to take stock of what was left and what was gone and made plans to move
forward. Those artifacts that were not damaged and those with minor damage were removed from Milford and stored at members homes.
The next step was to remove those items which could not be saved and begin the demolition process.
Milford Lodge No. 117, Prairieville, LA. From the Milford Gazette, Aug.Sep. 2016

Carrying On Enduring Masonic Spirit

In spite of the disaster which has engulfed
our city, the normal work of the lodge contin-
ues, and there are a few upcoming events to be
aware of:
Monday, Aug. 29St. James Lodge will have
a special meeting to confer the Master Mason
Photography courtesy Milford Lodge No. 117
Brothers All
The Baton Rouge Scottish Rite had four feet of
water yesterday. Most of the Masonic Lodges
in the area have suffered flooding. These are
buildings that have things in themsome
things that we cherish, but things. As Masons,
we are in the people-brotherhood business,

(Above) Bros. Shane
Marchand, 32, and Chase
Yates II of Milford Lodge on
the lookout for those in need
of rescue from ooded areas.
degree on one candidate. This is the degree that
was rescheduled due to the initial flooding. The
degree will commence at 6:30 pm, we will not be
serving refreshments prior to this meeting.
Thursday, Sept. 1This will be an OPEN
meeting for our Fall Guest night. Please take
a moment to invite a good man who might be
interested in Masonry and in joining our labors.
We will have a meal at 6:30 pm and the program
will commence at 7:30 pm.
Jeff Maynor, KCCH, WM
St. James Lodge No. 47, Baton Rouge, LA.
From St. James Update, August 24, 2016
not in the thing business. We have Brothers
who are without homes, cars, clothes, food,
work places, churches, and do not know what
today or tomorrow will bringmany have
lost almost everything.
As the water begins to go down slowly, we
need to remember who we are as Masons.
Caring for each other, offering assistance,
and stretching forth that hand of charity is
what we do. We need to realize what we can
offer as help, aid, and assistance.
William J. Mollere, 33, PGM
SGIG in LA. From the Louisiana
Scottish Rite Orient Express

Grand Commander Ronald A. Seale, 33, is extremely grateful for the generous support for the Masons in Louisiana from around the country, including:
the Masonic Service Association of North America, Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri, and the Supreme Council, 33, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. He
wants to particularly acknowledge the NMJ for reaching across jurisdictional boundary and extending the hand of fraternal assistance.
`` Want to help? Send donations to the Louisiana Scottish Rite Foundation, Inc., PO Box 65, Shreveport, LA 71161 and mark your check Flood Relief.
 CURRENT INTEREST

Fly Taste Tested, Fly Approved

Masonic Service Assoc.
A t the January Joplin Valley Coun-
cil meeting, I stood up and said,
Lets cancel the July meeting and have
of North America
Announces New
an old time picnic. I thought this would
Executive Secretary
be a lot of fun and I would be sure to at-
tend. The idea was put into a motion and
it passed. The next words I heard from
the Personal Rep were directed to me: Set it up and if you need any help, let us know.
Following several discussions with various brothers, a wonderful place was found to
hold the picnic: covered pavilion, running water, shade trees, playground equipment,
a running river, and centrally located with good roads to it.
Fraternity and brotherhood come together to make this
picnic a success. Various Valley clubs pitched in to help, do-
nating hamburgers, hotdogs, brats, buns, paper goods, drinks,
condiments, and candy for the children. A local business vol-
unteered the ice cream. All the things needed for an awesome
picnic were acquired from the various clubs!
July 17 came, a hot Sunday afternoon. Workers fell into place
starting from 10:30 AM all the way up to 1:45 PM with about
250 individuals showing up. Tents were pitched, cookers fired
up and shade trees were occupied. Hamburgers, brats, hotdogs
were cooked. Homemade potato chips were made and passed MWBro. Simon LaPlace
around while we waited for the meal. Kids played, people visited and food was set out!
We even had a thoughtful brother who brought ten fly swatters for use. Games were
played, a nice bass fish caught by a young girl, horse shoes thrown, and stories told. Ev-
S imon R. LaPlace has been
selected as the new Executive
Secretary of the Masonic Service
eryone helped with the cleanup and reloading of equipment into various vehicles. Association of North America. MW
In closing, the flies were very pleased (except those under the swatter) and eagerly Bro. LaPlace is a Past Grand Master
await our return. of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut
Submitted by Dale R. Roller, 33 and succeeds MWBro. George O.
Braatz, who is retiring at the end of
Valley of Cayey Supports VMAP with New Valley Newsletter 2016 after five years of service in the
position. The selection of Brother

T he Valley of Cayey in the Ori-

ent of Puerto Rico has developed a
newsletter to keep their members bet-
ter informed about the Valleys activi-
ties. This was suggested by Area 1 of the
2016 VMAP notebook. This project has
the full commitment of Ill. Jose R. Lo-
pez-Rivera, 33, Grand Cross, Deputy
of Supreme Council, and Ill. Ramon Si-
erra-Laporte, 33; Personal Representa-
tive in the Valleys of Cayey. The newslet-
ter is called El Valle (The Valley) and has
been welcomed with great enthusiasm
by the Brethren.
Submitted by Pedro Jos
Cruz-Segarra, KCCH
VMAP Chairman, Valley of Cayey
LaPlace was made by the MSA
Board of Commissioners at its mid-
year meeting earlier this month.
The MSA formed in 1919 and
now headquartered in Burtonsville,
MD, provides educational materials,
statistical reports, disaster relief, and
administers a hospital visitation pro-
gram across North America.
Brother LaPlace, who is com-
pleting his term as a member of the
board of directors of the George
Washington Masonic Memorial in
Alexandria, VA, has been active for
many years in Masonic activities at
local, state, and national levels.

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 17

CURRENT INTEREST

Las Cruces KSA Chapter

Installed by El Paso KSA

O n September 20, 2016, the Val-

ley of El Paso, Orient of Texas,
was honored to be instrumental in
establishing the first chapter of the
Knights of Saint Andrew in the Orient
of New Mexico.
The El Paso Chapter of the Knights
of Saint Andrew Knighted the char-
ter members of the new KSA chapter
in the Valley of Las Cruces. An elite
group of the Consistory, the KSA ex-
ists to serve its Valley in a number of
ways including greeting, serving as Newly Knighted charter members of the KSA, Las Cruces Chapter, are in the front row
guides, assisting in degree work, and with claymores. In back the row are the installing officers from the KSA, El Paso Chapter.
other functions as the Valley requires
or requests. Knights of St. Andrew also take upon themselves the responsibility of acquiring quality membership for the
Valley as well as the KSA. Submitted by Larry V. Kane, 33, General Secretary, Valley of El Paso

High Plains Ancillary Lodge of Perfection in Amarillo, Texas

Celebrates Its Second Feast of Tishri

O n September 22, 2016, the High

Some of the bowlers from the Valley
of St. Paul and Montgomery Lodge
No. 258.
Plains Ancillary Lodge of Perfection
No. 2 (HPALOP) held their second Feast
of Tishri observance. The HPALOP is a
formally recognized Scottish Rite organi-
zation located in Amarillo, Texas, and af-
filiated with the Valley of Lubbock, Texas,
in April 2015. The Ancillary Lodge of
Perfection structure was adopted by the
Orient of Texas under the guidance of
Ill. Douglas M. Adkins, 33, S.G.I.G. for
Texas. The intent of the program was to
serve the Scottish Rite and its members
across the extended geographic regions

Bowling for Dollars for

RiteCare in Minneapolis

T he Scottish Rite Valley of

Saint Paul and Montgomery
Lodge No. 258, AF&AM co-hosted
a community bowling event. They
brought together their members
and neighbors from the east side
of Saint Paul to raise money for
their RiteCare clinic. They sold
150 bowling tickets and during the
event sold raffle tickets for prizes.
When all was said and done, the
community-building event raised
$6,147 for RiteCare of Minneapolis (Front row, l. to r.) Jared Whittington, 32, General Secretary, M. M. Skipper, 33, Lubbock
and St. Paul. Venerable Master, Jeff King, 32, HPALOP Venerable Master, and Stephen Cross, 33, Personal
Representative. (Back row) Members of the High Plains Ancillary Lodge of Perfection.

18 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

 CURRENT INTEREST

that comprise Valleys in the Orient of
Texas. The ALOP provides additional
leadership/membership opportunities
to SR members in remote locations, de-
velops a stable platform for Scottish Rite
activity and philanthropy, and facilitates
recruiting and retention within the Ori-
ent of Texas. The HPALOP is located ap-
proximately 120 miles north of Lubbock
and maintains membership from the
northern-most counties in the Valleys
area of responsibility.
The second Feast of Tishri was a
success. The traditional observance
Letter to the Editor:
College Fraternity and Masonic Similarities
was planned by VM Jeff King, 32,
and conducted by member Bob Blin-
derman, 32, and Larry Bachelear, 32.
Over forty people (including members,
prospective members, and family) par-
ticipated in the fully catered meal with
an extended historic program. The pro-
fessionalism and care placed in to the
event demonstrates that the HPALOP
is a leader in the Valley of Lubbock and
Orient of Texas.
Submitted by
Jared R. Whittington, 32,
General Secretary, Lubbock, TX
Free Masonic Graphics
and 3D Printing Templates
B lendon Lodge No. 339,
Westerville, OH, has announced
the release of free resources to Ma-
sonic bodies for their immediate
use. The resources include specially
made high-resolution graphics for
use with websites, social media, etc.
These can be downloaded at http://
www.blendon339.com/masonic-
graphics/.
Additionally, 3-D printable Ma-
sonic designs are available for down-

I found the article, Greek Rite, in the current [Sep-

tember-October 2016] issue of The Scottish Rite Journal,
to be excellent. Written by Jace S. Gentil, Scottish Rite In-
tern, it tied together two important areas of my life and Im sure it did the same
for many readers.
I was pleased that my college fraternity, Kappa Sigma, was mentioned, includ-
ing one of our founders, Stephen Alonzo Jackson, who was a Virginia Mason, and
whose name I had to memorize many years ago. After being initiated into Kappa
Sigma, and later becoming a Master Mason, I could definitely see, shall we say, a
number of familiarities, and I know a number of my Kappa Sigma/Mason broth-
ers have made similar comments.

Fraternally,
George O. Braatz, PGM load, including working tools, a mod-
Executive Secretary, Masonic Service Association of North America el of King Solomons Temple (shown
above), and more. 3D Printing is a
high-tech process where computer
FREEMASONRY Q & A aided designs (CAD) can be made
Photography: From Wikimedia Commons, publicity photo of Mel Blanc.

into physical objects for little cost.

Q: How are Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Woody Woodpecker, and Marvin the Martian
connected to Freemasonry?
A. The gifted voice actor Mel Blanc (Melvin Jerome
Blank, 19091989) provided the voices for these
and virtually every major Warner Brothers cartoon
charter (except for Elmer Fudd). Shortly after provid-
ing the original voice of Woody Woodpecker in 1940
for Walter Lantz, Blanc was signed to an exclusive
contract with Warner Brothers and remained with
Bugs and his friends. He was known as The Man of
1,000 Voices and began his career in the NBC Radio
Orchestra. Bro. Mel was a member of Mid Day Lodge
No. 188, Oregon.
Printing can be done in plastic, vari-
ous metals, chocolate, concrete and
more. There are 3-D printing vendors
located across the globe, including
many public libraries. These files are
3-D print ready as-is. 3-D printable
template files are available for down-
load at http://www.blendon339.
com/masonic-3d-printing/.
Editors Note: I am reminded of my
excitement decades ago when I was given a
file that slowly, line by line, printed an image
of the Mona Lisa from a dot-matrix printer!

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 19

 Notes from

A Publication of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction

David A. Glattly, 33, Named Next Sovereign Grand Commander

I n August, Sovereign Grand

Commander John Wm.
McNaughton announced to
the membership that Active
Member, Ill. David Glattly, 33,
will succeed him as leader of
the Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction upon his retirement
in August 2017.
"To our valued members
and Brothers," said Grand
Commander McNaughton, "I
could not be more pleased to
inform you that the Supreme
Council's nominating committee
has named David A. Glattly
as your next Sovereign Grand
Commander. Bro. Glattly has
Ill. David A. Glattly, 33
been an active and honored
Freemason for more than 40
years, and a member of the
Scottish Rite for nearly three
decades. Our fraternity will
be led by a good man who
serves from his heart. He will
shoulder great responsibility
with intelligence, experience,
dedication, and grace."
The appointment of Bro.
Glattly marks the first time a new
Scottish Rite leader has
been named a year prior to
taking office.
"These are challenging times
for Freemasonry," said Grand
Commander McNaughton. "Your
Scottish Rite leadership and I
feel it is important to have a
thorough and seamless transition
for our fraternity."

Digitized Documents Available Online

T he Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
recently launched the Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives Digital
Collections website (http://digitalvgw.omeka.net), which was created in
order to provide Scottish Rite members access to some of the riches of the
Library & Archives collection.
The site currently includes roughly 500 documents from the Library
& Archives collection and continues to grow. Among the items that have
been digitized so far are a large variety of Masonic certificates, a number of
founding documents of the Scottish Rite, and a variety of other materials
reflective of the depth and breadth of the Library & Archives collection.
The digital collections website gives users access to high resolution images
of each document. Robust cataloging for each document insures that users
searching for materials will find them.

20 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

 LODGE C ATERIN G W/ BRO. L ARRY

Truffle-Basil
Prosciutto Purses

All photography: Bro. Larry von Weigel, 32

doeuvres. They are bite-sized and easy-

Larry von Weigel, 32
to-eatreducing potential messy spills.
n the blink of an eye spring and summer have passed, Orange-Date Parcels can be made
ahead ready to bake within minutes for
the rich, glorious colors of autumn have faded leaving your unexpected pop-in visitors full of
some with anticipation and others trepidation for winters holiday cheer. The parcels exude an air
of effortlessness on your part and allow
approach allowing time for reflection on the cycle of life represented the opportunity to warm the spirits of a
in the four seasons. Inclement winters offer a time for introspection of Grinch challenged by holiday mayhem.
personal labours while nestled in our comforting homes. There are fewer flavors more pow-
erfully seductive than caramel which
These recipes were selected with the that can be better spent with loved ones. shamelessly boasts perfection when
busy and often exhausting holidays in These will be hits at any Masonic func- married with fragrant warm date cake.
mind a less is more mantra. Allow- tion (or at your home with guests). Some things are better left alone, but
ing the simplicity of a few quality ingre- Truffle-Basil Prosciutto Purses quick- if you want to rock the boat, the Sticky
dients to elegantly shine offers you time ly will become your go-to party hors Toffee Pudding Cake includes the ad-

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 21

dition of toasted almonds to finish be- Directions for red pepper coulis: In a cup melted butter
fore serving. small saut pan heat olive oil and saut cup. confectioners sugar
minced shallot until translucent. Add tsp. ground ve spice
roasted peppers, vegetable stock, and 1 egg, beaten
Trufe-Basil fresh lemon juice and reduce until all
liquid is almost evaporated. Place all In a small saucepan add the dates, palm
Prosciutto Purses ingredients in a blender and puree until sugar, and oranges juice. Simmer over
Yields approx. 45 pieces smooth. Season with salt and pepper. medium heat until almost dry. Add the
orange zest. Remove from heat and let cool.
30 slices of Prosciutto di Parma, Before you begin assembly it is
thinly sliced Sweet Orange-Date important to have all ingredients and
24 oz. mascarpone cheese kitchen equipment in place since the
9 Tbsp. fresh basil, chiffonade (roll
Phyllo Parcels phyllo dough will dry very quickly. Have
a bunch of leaves together, hold Yields approx. 20 pieces plastic wrap already cut to the size of
tightly and shave paper thin) the sheets to immediately cover while
3 Tbsp. truffle oil 1 cup pitted dates, diced working with the remaining dough.
3 Tbsp. shallot, very nely minced cup orange juice Heat oven to 400 F. Melt the butter in
60 whole fresh chives Zest of half an orange using a small bowl.
1 cup roasted red peppers microplane Place one sheet on the work surface
6 Tbsp. olive oil 2 tsp. palm sugar and quickly brush lightly with melted
cup vegetable stock 1 package phyllo dough sheets butter. Quickly add another sheet on top
2 tsp. lemon juice
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
Sea salt to taste
This issues recipes were selected with the busy and often
exhausting holidays in mind with less is more as a mantra.
Directions for blanching the chives: Allowing the simplicity of a few quality ingredients to
Fill a small bowel with iced water. Bring a
elegantly shine offers you time saved that can be better
separate small pot of salted water to a boil.
Drop the chives into the pot and press spent with precious loved ones. These will be hits at any
under the water with slotted spoon for Masonic function (or at your home with guests).
57 seconds. Immediately strain out
and put in the iced water to stop
the cooking process. Then layer
on paper towel and pat dry. Sw
weet Orange-Date Phyllo Parcels

Directions for the truffle-basil

mascarpone mix: In a small mixing
bowl combine the cheese, basil
chiffonade, truffle oil, shallots, and
mix well. Season to taste with salt
and pepper.
On a clean cutting board lay a
slice of prosciutto and cut in half
crosswise. Spoon in 12 tsp. of
truffle cheese mix and gently bring
all the sides up, making sure to not
have any air pockets, and pinch
at the top to form a purse shape.
Tie one chive around the top of
the parcel. Reduce or increase the
amount of mix to reach the desired
size of prosciutto purse.

22 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

and repeat the process. Make sure that
your reserve unused dough is covered
will with plastic wrap.
Cut the phyllo lengthwise in 3-inch
strips. Lightly brush the edges with egg
wash. Add 12 tsp. date mix and begin
rolling dough around it being careful to
remove any air bubbles. When nished
make sure you press sides to form the
shape of a piece of candy in a wrapper.
Place parcel seam side down on baking
sheet pan lined with parchment paper or a
non-stick Silpad. Lightly brush with butter.
When completed, place in the
center of the oven until golden brown
(approx. 58 minutes and then remove
immediately and cool.
In a small bowl sift the confectioners
sugar with the powered Chinese ve
spice. Then through a ne mesh strainer
dust the tops of the pastry parcels and
serve immediately.
SR Sticky Toffee Pudding
Serves 30
3 cups coffee
27 oz. dates, nely chopped
2 cup light brown sugar, packed
November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL
1 cup + 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, room almonds. If using individual pans, bake
temperature for approximately 10 minutes or until a
3 cups all-purpose our skewer placed in center of cake comes
9 eggs out clean. If using 8-inch baking pan,
1 Tbsp. vanilla bake for approximately 40 minutes
1 Tbsp. baking soda or until skewer comes out with a few
crumbs or clean. Cool on wire rack for
30 minutes, then run knife around edge
SR Stickyy to release cake. Let cool completely.
Toffee Puddingg When sauce nished pour a layer over
with Toffee Saucee the cake and let it soak into the cake.
Serve room temperature.
For toasted almonds: Spread evenly on
baking sheet and bake until light golden
brown. Remove from oven and baking
sheet immediately onto plate.
All photography: Bro. Larry von Weigel, 32
Toffee Sauce
1 cup granulated sugar
cup water
1 cup dark brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, cut into small
pieces
cup black treacle
4 cups whipping cream
1 Tbsp. baking powder 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt 2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tsp ground allspice
1 cup sliced almonds (optional) Directions for toffee sauce: In a large
sauce pan add the granulated sugar, water,
Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter and lemon juice over medium-high heat.
individual 24 inch loaf pans or 8 Brush down the sides of pan with brush
inch square baking pan. dipped in water to remove grains of sugar.
In a saucepan add the chopped Cook until sugar becomes straw color and
dates and 1 cup of coffee and bring to a then add of the cream and whisk well.
boil. Add baking soda and stir until the (Caution it will steam violently for short
dates break down and become soft and period and rise considerably).
thicken a little. Continue cooking for 23 minutes
In a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk more whisking slowly. Add the butter,
together the our, allspice, baking powder, brown sugar, and remaining heavy cream.
and salt. In a large mixing bowl beat the Whisk well and continue to cook for 2
sugar and butter with electric mixer until minutes more. Add vanilla extract, stir
light and uffy, 34 minutes. Add the and then remove from heat and cool to
eggs one at a time and mix well between room temp. Refrigerate leftover sauce for
additions and add the vanilla until well another use.
combined. On low setting mix in the our
Bro. Larry von Weigel, 32, is Junior Warden
and dates alternating in three additions at Federal Lodge No.1 in Washington, DC. He
starting and ending with the our. creates recipes for his food blog cravinsome.
Pour batter into individual baking com, and was Assistant General Manager of the
tins, sprinkle with roughly chopped Occidental Grill.
23
PLANNED GIVING

Become an
Intendant of the
Jessica E. Blossfeld

What
Building
Development Communications & Events Coordinator

is it?
Named after the Scottish Rites 8th Degree, which promotes
benevolence and charity, the Intendant of the Building Soci-
ety honors brethren and others who include the House of the
Temple or Scottish Rite charities in their will, trusts, or any estate
plans. Through agenerous gift like this, you join a group of dis-
tinguished individuals who serve as role models and help ensure
the House of the Temple is restored to perfection and that your
Scottish Rite Foundation will exist for generations to come. What inuenced you to include the
Where can you give? Scottish Rite in your giving plans?

I made a couple of
charitable gifts a while back
and met several wonderful
House of the Temple Scottish Rite people along the way.
Your LOCAL Scottish
Historic Preservation Foundation, Southern
Rite foundation
Everything they did, they
Foundation, Inc. Jurisdiction, USA, Inc.* were most kind. I go to
*This includes the RiteCare Scottish Rite Childhood Language Program (SRCLP), Biennial Session knowing

How does it work?

Scholarships, and Disaster Relief. Ill be taken care of. We
have strong relationships
with Matt [Szramoski] and
To join, notify us you have made alegacy giftto: a Scottish Rite char- Barbara [Golden]; theyve
ity in your will or living trust; charitable remainder trust; a charita- stayed with us when they visited!
ble gift annuity; pooled income fund; transfer on death account; Martin Fischer, Valley of Asheville, NC
life insurance policy; or retirement plan (For more on legacy gift
types, see chart on facing page.) Include a copy of the page in the I have had a commitment
document that names the Scottish Rite charity you have chosen to to the Scottish Rite and
support, a copy of the cover page, and of the signature page to: The to our charities for many
Supreme Council, 33; Development Office; 1733 16th Street NW years and I think we need
Washington, DC 20009. to leave something for the
When we receive your notification and document copies, we futureto continue the
will recognize you as a member of this elite group of donors good things we do. I hope
Intendants of the Buildingentitled to the special privileges of that other people will join
Society members. We also will honor requests for anonymity me in doing it. I dont do it
or to name a legacy gift in honor of a loved one. Members will so much for what I can get
receive a certificate, a lapel pin, and their choice of a neck-tie or out of itbut to encourage
scarf (both if the bequest is from the spouse as well). others to give as well.
For more information, contact Jessica Blossfeldat 202777 Bryce B. Hildreth, Valley of Des Moines, IA
3187 or jblossfeld@scottishrite.org.

24 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

 The Intendant of the Building Society honors
brethren and other individuals who have included
the House of the Temple or other Scottish Rite
charities in their estate plans.

INCOME TO PAYMENT TAXATION VALUE TO THE

GIFT TYPE* BENEFIT TO DONOR
DONOR OF INCOME OF INCOME SCOTTISH RITE (SR)
1. Provides estate distributions as desired Bequest payable to the SR
Bequest in Will None None None
2. Avoids estate and inheritance taxes Foundation.
1. Tax deduction on premiums paid,
Benet payable to the SR
Life Insurance None None None dividends assigned
Foundation.
2. Avoids probate and estate taxes.
1. Avoids estate and inheritance taxes Proceeds payable to the SR
Retirement Plan None None None
2. Avoids income tax Foundation.
Appreciated 1. Tax deductible on value of gift Immediate receipt of property,
None None None
Property 2. Avoids capital gains tax e.g., stocks and security.
1. Initial tax deduction on gift portion
Pooled Income Variable income Annual income SR Foundation receives
Quarterly 2. No initial capital gains tax
Fund from principal reportable principal at death.
3. Avoids probate and estate tax
1. Initial tax deduction on gift portion
Fixed percent Small portion
Charitable Gift 2. Substantial tax exemptions on income payments SR Foundation receives
based on Quarterly of income
Annuity 3. Reduced capital gains tax principal at death.
actuarial tables reportable
4. Guaranteed retirement income
Charitable Fixed income 1. Initial tax deduction on gift portion
Income & capital SR Foundation receives
Remainder based on initial Quarterly 2. Deferred or spread out capital gains tax
gains reportable principal at death.
Annuity Trust value of trust 3. Avoids probate and estate tax
Charitable Variable income 1. Initial tax deduction on gift portion
Income & capital SR Foundation receives
Remainder based on annual Quarterly 2. Deferred or spread out capital gains tax
gains reportable principal at death.
Unitrust value of trust 3. Avoids probate and estate tax
1. Annual tax deduction on income to Foundation
Charitable Lead SR Foundation receives annual
None None None 2. Reduction in gift and estate tax
Trust income for duration of trust.
3. Principal to donors heirs at end of trust term
*This chart is for illustrative purposes and is not intended as legal advice. Please consult your attorney or nancial advisor.

November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL 25

BOOK REVIEWS

t hardly seems possible that Also, for gifts for the

another year has rolled into histo- Brethren on your list,
ry. The festive decorations appear, visit the Supreme Coun-
good will is in the air (at least I seem cil website (scottishrite.
less grumpy than usual), and its time org) and click Store at
to treat ourselves a little. The books the top of the page. You
here would make good gifts for your fa- will find clothing with
vorite Mason or for your Lodge library. Masonic emblems, especially shirts and
And this is a good season to take a little ball caps, along with many other items.
time to read. Browse aroundits worth it.
As is my custom, I want to start with The books in this issue cover a wide
the best bargain in range of topics. And the first is one of the
all Masonic books. most important books to come out in a
Gift yourself with long time.
a membership in
the Scottish Rite Fuchs, Peter Paul, The Bulls Apron:
Research Society. the Aesthetic Theory of Masonic Art and
With membership, Material Culture. Alexandria, Virginia:
not only do you re- The Association of Masonic Arts. 2015,
James T. ceive Heredom, the softbound, large format, copious color
Tresner II, 33, outstanding col- illustrations, 219 pages, ISBN-13:
Grand Cross lection of current 9781513603056. The book is (Top) Volume 23 (2015) of Heredom, the
Book Review Research Societys annual collection of
Masonic Research, available through the gift shop at the
Editor Masonic papers, contained a reprint of M.
and the quarterly George Washington National Masonic
C. Lilley & Co.s Knights of Athens. Below: The
member newslet- Memorial. Go to www.gwmemorial. Fall 2016 Plumbline ran an interview with Dr.
ter The Plumbline (shown here), but bo- org and click on gift store. The cost is Aimee Newell, of the Scottish Rite Masonic
nus books as well! Compared to the value $30 plus shipping. Museum & Library in Lexington, MA.
received, the annual membership fee of This is a wonderful book, but it is not
$55 is a pittance indeed. To join, simply the easiest book to read. The reason some really sublime art results. Broth-
visit scottishritestore.org and in the left- centers on the very nature of the topic. er Fuchs references Brother Mozart
hand column under Masonic Education, Many of us have noticed, as the author as an example. The same can be said
click Scottish Rite Research Society and points out, that when a truly great art- of Brothers Sibelius, Chagall, and J. S.
then select the type of membership you ist makes use of Masonic tropes (im- Bach among many others. But, at the
would likeannual or life. ages, ideas, metaphors, symbols, etc.), same time, the arts produced for use in

26 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016

the Lodge room were, generally, rather
run of the mill.
Twas puzzlement. But Brother Fuchs
suggests it can be understood in the na-
ture of the Gentleman Mason in the early
years. It was the fashion at the time for
gentlemen to laud and practice the virtues
of the Country Gentleman. This included
a rustic simplicity, even if the gentlemen
were highly educated. Sometimes sub-
standard grammar was deliberately used.
A less refined taste was preferred. As Fuchs
points out, even the King participated in
this country-rustic behavior pattern.
Perhaps the best example of the rustic-
sophisticated style is the first known
Masonic opera, written by Brother W.
R. Chetwood, in 1731The Generous
Free-mason, or, The Constant Lady:
with the Humours of Squire Noodle,
and his Man Doodle: a Tragi-Comi-Far-
cical Ballad Opera: in Three Acts: with
the Musick Prefixd to Each Song. It
alternates between scenes which might
charitably be described as rustic sim-
plicity (slap-stick and nearly bawdy
might be more accurate) to scenes in
the high style, including an area and
chorus in praise of England and Ma-
sonry, sung by Neptune. It includes a
parody of a Masonic initiation as well
as songs honoring virtue.
As Brother Fuchs remarks, it is not
always easy to tell when a theme or idea
November/December 2016 THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL
is Masonic in origin. There is much less of it being his year and his Lodge.
of a problem when one is talking about Generally, he can decide whether to al-
religious symbolism or ideas. Religions low a motion to come before the Lodge
come with a dogma, and it is usually easy for a vote. He controls deliberation,
to identify a reference to a dogma in a who is allowed to speak, and the agenda.
work of art. But Freemasonry deals less And it is a common observation that the
Religions come with a dogma, and it is usually easy to identify
a reference to a dogma in a work of art. But Freemasonry
deals less in dogmas than in ideas, and many of its tropes are
not far removed from those of ordinary life.
in dogmas than in ideas, and many of its Lodge tends to take on the personality
tropes are not far removed from those of of the Worshipful Master.
ordinary life. It is more often in their cu- This book is a sort of chronicle of
mulative effect than individual instance Arts and Sciences Lodge No. 792 in
that they are most noticeable. The book Columbus, Ohio. A group of Masons
deals with complex ideas, and does so wanted to charter a new Lodge, and
very well. The illustrations are numerous wisely spent considerable time talking
and well-chosen, and the printing and and thinking about the kind of Lodge
they wanted. They decided they wanted
layout of the book are first class. It is not,
a Lodge which encouraged member par-
as I said, an easy read, but it is ultimately
a most rewarding one. Incidentally, the ticipation and interaction. They wanted
author has an excellent program on You- real Masonic education to be a defining
Tube, which discusses the major ideas characteristic of the Lodge. They want-
of the book. You can find it by googling ed a Lodge which could adapt to the
The Bulls Apron. changing realities of the world without
losing its Masonic identity. There was
Hrinko, Daniel D., The Craft Driven more, but when they had agreed to the
Lodge, Richmond, VA: The Macoy nature of the Lodge they wanted to cre-
Publishing and Masonic Supply ate, they petitioned for and were grant-
Company, 2014, paperbound, 168 ed a Charter.
pages, illustrations, ISBN-13: (As a side note, that basic question is a
9780880531085, available on the most important one. Lodges which find
Internet for about $35. themselves in a decline would be well ad-
Brother Hrinko raises an interesting vised to ask What kind of Lodge do we
questionhow does a Lodge come to want to have? and then work toward it!)
reflect the interests of its members? It And how does the lodge adapt to time
certainly is not built into the structure and change? Brother Hrinko answers it
of a Lodge meeting in most Jurisdic- this way:
tions. While there are variations, elec-
tions for Lodge officer positions are gen- Arts & Sciences is a Craft Driven
erally held without nominationthe Lodge. By definition, this means that
Brethren simply write down the name of the will of the Craft, communicated
to the Master and Lodge management,
the Brother they wish to hold an office,
ultimately directs the activities of the
and the votes are tallied. In many states,
Lodge. As a result, the nature of Arts
a Brother cannot let others know he & Sciences Lodge will evolve over time
would like to hold an office, although he as the membership evolves. As new
can refuse the office if elected. Moreover, Brothers join, they will bring ideas, de-
the Worshipful Master is very nearly a sires, and needs into the Lodge which
benign dictator. It is customary to speak the Lodge will need to accommodate.
27

As Brothers move on due to death,
geography, or other reasons, certain
desires, ideas, and needs will leave the
pool of active members making some
activities less important if not unnec-
essary. This results in an organization
that is constantly evolving. For this
Lodge to succeed across time there
needs to be a constant flow of informa-
tion from the members of the Lodge to
the management, and from the man-
agement to the Brothers of the Lodge.
Should Brothers feel that they are not
being heard and have no sense of input
into the activities of the Lodge, they
will become disconnected, apathetic,
and eventually disappear.
However, if a formal mechanism is
created where every Brother has a voice
if they are willing to use it and feels con-
fident that their opinions matter, then
they will be connected, energetic, and
invested in the life of the Lodgebeing
willing to take whatever actions are rea-
sonable to contribute to its success.
It does not take much time to read
this little book, but there is food for
many hours of thought and conversation
here! When I joined the Craft, there was The chapter titled, Claimed Life and Masonry has the potential to present
no thought of the Lodge meeting your Changes since Becoming a Freemason is a clear path. And I think that it is not any
needsyour task was to accommodate especially enlightening. Many Masonic type of stricture.
the Lodge. For many of us, that was fine, writers have said that Freemasonry is a
but far too many Brethren, not find- transformative experience, that it pro- which gives a harder edge and focus to
ing what they sought in Lodge, simply duces real changes and development the things many of us have thought and
stopped attending. Think about the sug- within men. Brother Kenney uses the felt for decades!
28
gestions in this text, and then set out to tools of sociology to gather these expe-
make the Lodge experience all it can be riences among Masons. Not surprisingly,
for everyone. It can be great! the title rings true.
Kenney, J. Scott, Ph.D., Brought to How do you take yourself out of this
Light: Contemporary Freemasonry, fragmented social world? There is a sort
of isolation, whether its a spiritual -- I
Meaning and Society, Wilfrid Laurier
dont mean that you cut yourselves off
University Press, 2016, paperbound, from other people, but that it gives you
308 pages, ISBN-13: 9781771121 this sort of spaceit all sounds very
941, Available on the Internet, new insularthat you have sort of a walled
and used, from about $18.00. area where you can regenerate. And I
Brother Kenney is an Associate Professor dont think thats a bad thing. For a lot
of Sociology at Memorial University at St. of Masons, its actually a driving force.
Johns, Newfoundland. This is an intrigu- I grew up without a father and I was
ing book, written by a scholar but entirely looking to the Masons as maybe some
sort of supportive family-type thing
accessible to the layman. Let me give you
that was missing before. Yes, I think I
the some of the chapter designations
was. Once youre a Mason, you can go
sometimes, as in this case, they provide a pretty well anywhere in the world, find
good overview of the contents: another Mason, and theyre sort of ob-
1. Contemporary Freemasonry: A ligated, if youre in need, to help you.
Neglected Field Just to have that family unit all over the
2. Paths to Masonry world as well is a big benefit I think.
3. Predisposing Factors Its definitely an attraction for me.
4. The Social Interplay between
Secrecy and Curiosity Freemasonry taps into
5. Organized/Organizing the spiritual hunger today
Encounters that research shows exists
6. Attractive/Attracting despite decline in main-
Aspects of the Craft line denominations. Its
7. Unattractive Factors/ the opposite of our dis-
Hurdles to Get Over
posable society. Men are
8. Overcoming the
searching for something,
Hurdles
9. Taking the Degrees
without knowing what
that is. The Masonic tradi-
10. Social Atmosphere
tion continues to intrigue
and Member
Involvement men because theres a lack
11. Organizational Factors and in our society, especially
Member Involvement presently, of a stable institution. The
12. Further Factors in Member
church no longer has that kind of power.
Involvement and an Overall
There isnt really anyone addressing some
Explanatory Framework of the larger spiritual questions that ev-
13. Claimed Life Changes Since
eryone considersespecially younger
Becoming a Freemason
people. When you get to a certain age,
14. Contemporary Freemasonry: The
you start to ask some of the bigger ques-
Direction Forward
tions and want to explore larger ideas,
This is a very thought-provoking book,
THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL November/December 2016
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Who will be our 2017 Talent?

The 6th-annual fundraising webathon, Celebrating the Craft (CTC), will premiere Saturday, May 20,
2017 from 6 pmMidnight (Eastern). Scottish Rite Has Talent is a competition where brothers with
exceptional talents are encouraged to submit a video entry of their skills for the opportunity to
perform live during the CTC. Past submissions include: singers, dancers, pianists, comedians,
magicians, actors, and more. We are always looking for unique talents, so submit yours today!
For more information, including the complete guidelines and rules, visit https://scottishrite.
org/development/giving/celebrate/talent. The SRHT submission deadline is March 1, 2017!

How Do You Enter?

Film your talent. Make sure entry Go to SRHT page Fill in the form Follow instructions Receive an email Questions? Email
(5 min. or less) is in compliance at scottishrite.org on Hightail SRHT to upload & conrming receipt. jblossfeld@
with rules.* & click Submit. submission page. submit video. (24 days) scottishrite.org.

*For full rules & submission information, visit https://scottishrite.org/development/giving/celebrate/talent.