August 2001
Membership Development Workshop In Omaha | God Bless And Tailwinds Always! | Fred B. Wilkins, 33°, Remembered | New Virginia Mobile Health Clinic | Quota International Of Fairbanks, Alaska, Supports S.R. Speech Clinic | Warren D. Lichty, 33°, Installed As Grand Sovereign | José R. López, 33°, Appointed Deputy In Puerto Rico | Dedications At GWMNM | International Meeting In The House Of The Temple | Arkansas S.R. Man Of The Year | Scottish Rite Journal Wins First Place | Bicentennial Celebration In Las Vegas | Bicentennial Anniversary Celebrated In Washington, D.C. | Meeting Of The Past And Present In Savannah, Georgia | Pensacola Presents JROTC Awards | Gen. Douglas MacArthur Commemoration In Tokyo
Ill. Forrest D. Haggard, 33°, G.C., opened the conference with prayer, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to our flag and brief welcoming remarks to the "Cornhusker State" by Ill. Warren D. "Duke" Lichty, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Nebraska. Just before lunch, Ill. Harold Daub, 33°, Mayor of Omaha, spoke on "The Importance of Voluntary Organizations to Civic Community."
The morning began with Ill. Morris who set the tone for the meeting when he spoke on "The Vision and the Reality—Where We Are, Where We Want To Be, and Where We Are Heading." This was followed by breakout sessions where the attendees could share what worked in their Valleys and what their needs were. With these sessions as background, presentations were as follows: "Who Are the American Males and What Do They Want?" by Ill. Morris; "How to Build an Organization That Attracts Master Masons," Ill. Robert G. Davis, 33°, Secretary of Guthrie, Oklahoma; "Staying Ahead of the Curve: How DeMolay Reinvents Itself for Each New Generation," Bro. Ben Johnson, 32°, Executive Director, DeMolay International; "The Art of Effective Communication," Ill. James T. Tresner II, 33°, G.C.; "Incentives and Recognitions That Work," Ill. E. John Elmore, 33°, Secretary of Greensboro, North Carolina; and "Why We Must Recreate Our Message Every Time," Ill. James H. Kirby, 33°, Special Assistant to the S.G.I.G., Florida. The workshop ended on an inspiring high note provided by Ill. Ronald A. Seale, 33°, Lieutenant Grand Commander and S.G.I.G in Louisiana, who spoke on "Launching The New Scottish Rite—A Blueprint for the New Century."
Of particular interest to all attendees were two new programs launched by the Supreme Council. The Automatic Debit Dues Payment (ADDP) program encourages our Valleys to have members arrange to pay their dues by automatic debit from their checking account or by credit card. Valleys should arrange with their banks the details of these banking arrangements. For every member a Valley signs up for ADDP before December 31, 2002, the Supreme Council will transfer $5 to their appropriate foundation. This means that a Valley with 3,000–5,000 members could generate $10,000 or more for its foundation!
A second new program is the Structured NPD (Non-Payment of Dues) Restoration program. No man should be dropped from membership in the Scottish Rite without personal contact from his Valley to determine his circumstances and to see if there may be some personal problem that makes his membership a burden. Valleys have an obligation to help such Brothers when appropriate. Some Valleys, in the haste of their annual dues processing, drop members without taking the time for that crucial personal contact. Such Valleys can make amends with a Structured NPD Restoration program, offering dues amnesty to qualified suspended members. If the Valley determines that a Brother is current in his Blue Lodge, forgives all arrearages, and initiates a personal contact, the Grand Commander will waive the first year's per capita of restored Brethren.
One other service now offered by the Supreme Council is that of our newly appointed Web Coordinator, Bro. Paul M. Bessel, 32°, K.C.C.H. Elect. Bro. Bessel is widely known to Masons who frequent the web. He maintains sites for the Masonic Leadership Center, the Valley of the District of Columbia, and his own Masonic research site. He can be reached at paul@bessel.org. Internet communication is essential to the Fraternity today, and Bro. Bessel is well qualified to assist Valleys with their web sites or to create them.
These and other programs will be shared in detail with the Valleys and Orient Membership Chairmen. Everyone in attendance at the Omaha Workshop expressed the enthusiasm and dedication of men undertaking an exciting and critically important task. All Scottish Rite Masons can be proud of the positive steps being taken by the Scottish Rite to address the many complex issues surrounding membership.
At age 70, most Brethren are settling into a comfortable retirement routine. But not Bro. Derrell J. Brown, 32°. He aims to fly around the United States for the benefit of children treated at Scottish Rite clinic centers in both the Southern and Northern Masonic Jurisdictions. To advertise and support this effort, he has designed a handsome zinc alloy 4-inch belt buckle (below) which states: "Scottish Rite Pilot Circling the USA, Scottish Rite Masons Help Children Communicate, Winging Around America For Afflicted Children." Bro. Brown, originally from Fremont, Missouri, is a dual member of Sunflower Lodge No. 86, Wichita, Kansas, and Columbia Lodge No. 388, San Francisco, California, as well as the Valleys of Wichita and Burlingame, California. He is also a Noble of Midian Temple, Wichita. He lives in Whittier, California, and works in the film industry. Bro. Brown hopes to kick off his effort at the upcoming Biennial Session in Charleston, S.C. Bro. Brown and co-pilot Bro. Frank Dersic will be flying a Piper Saratoga.
Flight for Afflicted Children |
We regret to note the passing of
Ill. Fred B. Wilkins, 33°, on May 10, 2001, in Hilton Head
Island, South Carolina. Born in Cowpens, S.C., on April 21, 1910,
Ill. Wilkins, was a member of Acacia Lodge No. 94, Columbia, S.C.,
and, since 1973, the Scottish Rite Bodies of Charleston, S.C.
His many services to our Order were recognized by his investiture
as a Knight Commander Court of Honour in 1987 and his being coroneted
a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1999. With his brother,
Ill. Thad D. Wilkins, 33°, of Wilkins Brothers Inc., Bro.
Fred was very helpful over the years in developing and supplying
various custom-made rings, jewels, and other tokens of recognition
or appreciation to our Order throughout the Southern Jurisdiction.
Most notably, he was a community leader in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where he was one of the first five oceanfront property owners of Sea Pines and a full-time resident since 1963. As a local newspaper noted in a recent article remembering his many services, "His fingerprints are on many institutions that are today taken for granted, and that few foresaw when he first arrived by mail boat." Bro. Fred's passion for tennis and golf helped shape the Hilton Head Island community, and he was a leader in such events as the Family Circle Cup and the Heritage Golf Classic as well as a key member of the Sea Pines Country Club and First Presbyterian Church in Sea Pines. His late wife, Irene, was also a community leader and the founder of The Bargain Box, a thrift store that today channels more than half a million dollars a year back into community nonprofit agencies. In the passing of this fine couple, Hilton Head Island and Scottish Rite have lost a dynamic team whose commitment to others will long live on in the many community services they supported or founded.
| Pictured (l. to r.) with the Orient of Virginia's new mobile clinic are: Ill. Louis K. Campbell, 33°, Personal Representative, Roanoke; Bro. George E. Dewese, 32°, K.C.C.H., member of Roanoke; Ill. David Kruger, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Virginia; Ill. Walter S. Downs, 33°, G.C., Personal Representative and Secretary, Valley of Alexandria; and James M. Scearce, Jr., 33°, Grand Junior Warden, Grand Lodge of Virginia. |  |
On May 4, 2001, Ill. David Kruger, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Virginia and Grand Secretary General of the Supreme Council, along with four other distinguished Virginia Brethren, traveled to rural Craig County, Virginia, to visit the new Mobile Health Clinic co-sponsored by the Scottish Rite Foundation of Virginia and Radford University. The 36-foot-long interdisciplinary clinic travels throughout Southwest Virginia providing speech and audiology services, in addition to other health services, to children and their families. One side of the mobile clinic carries Virginia's new stick-figure logo along with the words:
Special Thanks To Scottish Rite Care, Masons Helping Children Speak, Hear, and Read. Childhood Language Disorders Program of Virginia, 1-800-SRMASON.
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The "Community Snapshots" section of the Fairbanks Daily News–Miner of May 23, 2001, featured this photo (left) and noted that Quota International of Fairbanks, in recognition of Better Speech and Hearing Month (May), recently donated $500 to the new Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Quotarians gathered to present the check to Ill. Mitchell R. Miller, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Alaska (center), are (l. to r.): Shelley Showalter, Gay Alexander, Mary Weymiller, Lynn Heffner, and Lisa Simon. |
 Ill. Warren D. Lichty,
33°, known to all as "Duke," was recently installed
as Grand Sovereign of the United Grand Imperial Council, Knights
of the Red Cross of Constantine and Appendant Orders for the
United States of America, Mexico and the Philippines, and was
invested with the Rank and Dignity of Knight Grand Cross. This
occurred on June 2, 2001, in Hartford, Conn., at the close of
the 129th Annual Assembly of the Imperial Council. Ill. Lichty,
of Lincoln, Nebraska, is First Grand Equerry and S.G.I.G. in
Nebraska of the Supreme Council, 33°. He is also a Past Master
of Craftsman Lodge No. 314 in Lincoln and is a Past Grand Master
of Masons of Nebraska. The Red Cross of Constantine, an invitational
Masonic Body, is part of the York Rite. In Nebraska, its two
Conclaves are Coeur de Lion of Omaha and Shiloh of Alliance.
Ill. Lichty served as Sovereign of Coeur de Lion Conclave in
1983. He will preside at the 130th Annual Assembly, which will
be held at the Old Market Embassy Suites Hotel in Omaha on May
30 to June 1, 2002. |
On May 18, 2001, Grand Commander
C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, appointed Ill. José R. López,
33°, as Deputy of the Supreme Council in the Orient of Puerto
Rico, effective May 14, 2001, succeeding Ill. Joseph L. Martinez,
33°, who passed away on May 12, 2001.
Ill. López was born in Lares, Puerto Rico, on May 19, 1949, and has distinguished himself in his profession as an industrial chemist. He was initiated as a Mason on March 14, 1974, in Lodge Faro de Borinquen No. 22, in Lares, serving his Lodge as Worshipful Master for five years and as Secretary for ten years. His very active Masonic career includes the following. In the Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico, he served as Instructor General, Grand Almoner, Senior Warden, and Representative in Puerto Rico of the Grand Lodge of Ontario, Canada. He has been a member of Abou Saad Temple in Panama since 1980 and is a member of the Royal Order of Scotland; Red Cross of Constantine–San Juan Conclave; San Juan York Rite Bodies; and Patron, Order of the Eastern Star–Arecibo Chapter in 1998, and Representative of the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, Maryland, USA.
A member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, since 1975, in recognition of his many services to our Order, Bro. López was invested with the K.C.C.H. in 1991 and coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1995. He has been the Personal Representative of the Deputy in the Valley of Arecibo for eight years and was appointed his Personal Representative by Ill. Martinez for the Orient of Puerto Rico in 2000. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Clinic in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On June 9, 2001, Ill. Charles S. Iversen, 33°, S.G.I.G. Emeritus, Valley of Washington, D.C., represented Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, at the dedicatory ceremonies of special markers at The George Washington Masonic National Memorial (GWMNM) in Alexandria, Virginia. One marker honors the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire for supplying the exterior granite for the Memorial in the 1920s. M.W. Jeremy J. Sawyer, 33° Elect, Grand Master of New Hampshire, conducted the unveiling of the marker. A second marker, dedicating the huge Square and Compasses that now marks the grounds of the Memorial, was donated by The Masonic Charity Foundation of New Jersey in honor of M.W. Edgar N. Peppler, P.G.M., 33°, Past President, GWMNM Association (1995–1999).
M.W. James D. Cole, 33° Elect, Grand Master of Virginia, conducted this dedicatory ceremony before a large assemblage made up of many Masonic dignitaries and distinguished guests from across America including Ill. Warren D. "Duke" Lichty, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Nebraska and First Vice President, The George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association.
On June 8, 2001, the House of the Temple was pleased to host a meeting sponsored by Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15, Washington, D.C., as part of its Trends Shaping Humanity Lecture Series. Well over 150 Brethren from many countries attended. Benjamin B. French Lodge itself has members from 30 different nations. Its Worshipful Master is Akram R. Elias, 33° Elect, originally from Lebanon, and the moderator for the evening was Kwame Acquaah, 32°, K.C.C.H. Elect, originally from Ghana. Just five of the many Masonic dignitaries participating were M.W. Grant R. Berning, 33°, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia; and M.W. José Manuel Collera Venato, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Cuba; Jesus Armada Pena, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, the Supreme Council of Cuba; and M.W. Gustavo Raffi, Grand Master, Grand Orient of Italy; and R.W. Giuseppe Stuart, Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Italy.
| Among the many Masonic dignitaries attending a special "Brotherhood Week" meeting of Benjamin B. French Lodge, No. 15, in the Temple Room of the House of the Temple, Washington, D.C., were (l. to r.): M.W. Grant R. Berning, 33°, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia; W.M. Louis Bailey, Jr., Master, Social Lodge No. 1, Mother Lodge of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Jurisdiction of the District of Columbia; W.M. Akram R. Elias, 32°, K.C.C.H. Elect, Master, Benjamin B. French Lodge, No. 15; Bro. Victor A. Petrossian, 32°, K.C.C.H. Elect, Marshal, Benjamin B. French Lodge; and Ill. George R. Adams, 33°, P.G.M. District of Columbia and Deputy of the Supreme Council in the District of Columbia. |
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After a formal opening, held in the Temple Room of the Scottish Rite headquarters building, the Lodge was recessed, and the ladies of the Brethren present were invited to enjoy the very informative and interesting program.
The evening's presentation, titled "Freemasonry: Universal by Age and Geography," featured three main speakers: Ill. S. Brent Morris, 33°. G.C., Director of Membership Development for the Supreme Council; W. Brother John Belton, Past Master of Internet Lodge No. 9659, United Grand Lodge of England; and M.W. José Manuel Collera Vento, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Cuba.
Among the several topics, addressed, Ill. Morris discussed the growth of affinity Lodges based on language, type of ritual, or some other special focus of membership interest, such as research or philosophical study.
W.Bro. Belton presented the results of his statistical studies of Masonic membership throughout the world and noted that Lodges must ask their members, particularly younger ones, what they want to see their Lodges doing. Only by responding to the perceived needs of members, can Lodges sustain present members and gain new ones.
Finally, M.W. Collera Vento sketched the history of Masonry in Cuba. Today, despite difficult political circumstances, Cuba has over 300 Masonic Lodges and 30,000 Brethren.
During the meeting, the Worshipful Masters of Benjamin B. French Lodge No. 15 and Social Lodge No. 1, Prince Hall Affiliation, of D.C., signed a resolution to continue to work together for the good of Freemasonry and to seek out more activities on which they could cooperate. Interestingly, Social Lodge No. 1 is the oldest continuing P.H.A. Lodge to be established south of the Mason–Dixon line, June 6, 1825.
Following the meeting, the Brethren adjourned to enjoy a delicious buffet dinner in the George Washington Memorial Banquet Hall of the House of the Temple and to share international Masonic fellowship.
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Mr. Hugh McDonald, the Chief Executive Officer of Entergy Arkansas, was named Man of the Year by the Arkansas Scottish Rite during ceremonies following a luncheon on May 18, 2001, at the Albert Pike Memorial Temple in Little Rock. Ill. Dwane F. Treat, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Arkansas, presented the award to Mr. McDonald (photo left). Checks were given in Mr. McDonald's honor to the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Programs at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock and at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. |
Every year, the Printing Industry of Virginia (PIVA), Virginia's professional printing association, holds a "Best In Print Competition" to honor outstanding publications in 40 different print categories divided into three classifications based on size and market. 2000 was the 41st year of the annual event, and 59 companies submitted 1,932 entries. This is the only printing competition in Virginia which uses paid professional judges from the Graphic Texts Technical Foundation.
Recently, Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, was pleased to congratulate the magazine's staff (pictured below) for the Scottish Rite Journal winning First Place in Category 17, "Books, Other Than Hardcover." Similarly, Cadmus Journal Services of Richmond, Virginia, was honored for its printing of the magazine.
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Grand Commander Kleinknecht is pictured right holding the First Place "Best In Print Award" recently given to the Scottish Rite Journal by the Printing Industries of Virginia. Also pictured are members of the Journal office staff (l. to r.): Elizabeth A. Williams, Desktop Publishing Specialist, Lois Schulze, Clerical Assistant, Ill. John W. Boettjer, 33°, G.C., Managing Editor; and Jason A. Naughton, Desktop Publishing Specialist. Photo: Ill. Marion K. Warner, 33° |
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The Journal has worked with Cadmus to keep the magazine on the leading edge of technical developments in the printing industry, and it is gratifying for our Rite's accomplishments in this field to be recognized by so prestigious an award.
The historic date of May 31, 1801, in Charleston, South Carolina, the birthplace of the Scottish Rite in North America, is being celebrated this year throughout the Southern Jurisdiction. On June 2, 2001, the Las Vegas, Nevada, Scottish Rite Valley held a gala celebration of our Order's bicentennial, perhaps making Nevada the first state to begin the 200th anniversary celebrations. A delicious dinner, dancing, and an outstanding guest speaker marked the historic milestone.
Ill. David J. Morgan, 33°, Deputy of the Supreme Council in Nevada, gave the opening remarks and then introduced the evening's guest speaker, Rear Admiral William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., Grand Executive Director. He is in charge of supervising the operations of the House of the Temple and the Southern Jurisdiction's 216 Valleys. In addition, he is the Business Manager of the Scottish Rite Journal. Ill. Sizemore served his country in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1982. The Nevada Brethren were pleased to learn of his personal ties with the state. His son, Ill. William G. Sizemore II, 33°, is a Commander at the Navy Top Gun School in Fallon Nevada. Interestingly, the Nevada state flag motto is "Battle Born."
Rear Admiral Sizemore delivered a stirring message about where the Scottish Rite was 200 years ago, then 100 years ago, and today. His vision of the next 100 years is one filled with opportunities for Freemasonry, though challenges to our legacy do exist. Through a well-charted course, he said, we will be rewarded for our dedication with a successful journey in the future.
Among those attending the Bicentennial festivity were six Nevada Past Grand Masters, the head of each Las Vegas Scottish Rite Body, the State Master Councilor, Order of DeMolay, the State Queen, Jobs Daughters International, Nevada Grand Lodge Representatives, and many honored Brethren and ladies.
Submitted by Carl L. Banks,32°, K.C.C.H. Elect, Las Vegas, Nevada, S. R. Bodies
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The Bicentennial Anniversary of May 31, 1801, the day the Supreme Council, 33°, was founded in Charleston, South Carolina, was celebrated in the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., exactly two centuries later. On May 31, 2001, Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, hosted a gathering of House of the Temple staff members in the George Washington Memorial Banquet Hall. The event began with a spontaneous chorus of "Happy Birthday" followed with comments by Ill. Kleinknecht. He noted that the formal observation of the Council's 200th birthday will take place at the Bicentennial Biennial Session in Charleston, September 30–October 3 this year. However, he felt some moment, such as this gathering, should mark the historic event on the exact day of the founding and in the present headquarters of the Supreme Council, 33°. Everyone agreed, and then shared in fellowship, fruit punch, and a special sheet cake decorated with icing in the form of the Scottish Rite's double-headed eagle. Photo: Adelaide Cross, House of the Temple Staff |
On the historic occasion of the first Scottish Rite Reunion of the new millennium in the Valley of Savannah, Georgia, the history of the past millennium was brought to mind. The Valley was honored to have Bro. Phillip Wishnant as a member of the class. Bro. Wishnant is the great, great, great, great grandson of Dr. Issac Auld, sixth member of the nine Founding Fathers of the Supreme Council, 33°, of the Scottish Rite in Charleston in 1801. Ill. Dr. Auld was also the third Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council.
| Bro. Phillip Wishnant (l.) was a class member of the recent Scottish Rite Reunion in Savannah, Georgia. During the Reunion, he received a framed picture of Shepheard's Tavern, Charleston, S.C., from his uncle, Bro. Fred Auld, 32° (r.). Both Bros. Wishnant and Auld are descendants of Dr. Issac Auld, one of the nine Founders of the Supreme Council which was first opened on May 31, 1801, at Shepheard's Tavern in Charleston, South Carolina. |  |
Also in attendance was Bro. Fred Auld, 32°, the uncle of Brother Wishnant and great, great, great grandson of Dr. Issac Auld. Bro. Fred Auld is a member of the Valley of Greenville, South Carolina. In the picture below, Bro. Auld (r.) is making a presentation to his nephew (l.) of a framed print of the painting by Allyn Cox of Shepheard's Tavern, the site of the founding of the Supreme Council in Charleston. The occasion was extremely meaningful in light of the upcoming Supreme Council Bicentennial Biennial Session in Charleston later this year (Sept. 30–October 3) and the 200th anniversary of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in Savannah and Georgia in 2002.
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Bro. Thomas L. Baker, 32°, K.C.C.H. Elect, Valley of Pensacola, Florida, presents the Scottish Rite's JROTC Education and Americanism Award to Cadet Donald Russ at a high school assembly attended by Cmdr. W. C. Lawless. |
During May 2001, the Pensacola, Florida, Brethren presented the Scottish Rite's Americanism and Education Awards to outstanding Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) cadets (photo next page) at the following 13 high schools: Escambia, Pensacola, Pine Forest, Tate, Washington, and Woodham in Escambia County; Baker, Choctawhatchee, Crestview, and Niceville in Okaloosa County; and Gulf Breeze, Milton, and Pace in Santa Rosa County. This annual program recognizes students who have demonstrated academic ability and patriotic or civic service during their JROTC training as well as in their daily school and community activities. The presentations are made by members of the local Scottish Rite Bodies during formal school assemblies and so contribute to the positive civic profile of our Order in local communities.
On April 17, 2001, in the Golden Hall of the Tokyo Masonic Center, a large gathering participated in ceremonies commemorating the 50th anniversary of Ill. MacArthur's departure from Japan in 1951. Ill. James L. Johnson, 33°, Personal Representative in Tokyo, and himself a veteran of the American occupation of Japan, addressed the assemblage and shared some details of General MacArthur's Masonic background and activities. Made a Mason at sight in Manila Lodge No. 1 on January 17, 1936, General MacArthur was a Shriner, National Sojourner, and an Honorary Member of the Grand Lodge of Japan and of several Blue Lodges. Made a 32° Mason by the Philippines Scottish Rite, he was coroneted an 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1947 and was then elevated to the Active 33° in 1950 by the Grand Commander of the Philippine Scottish Rite.
Throughout his time in Japan, Gen. MacArthur encouraged Masonry, and in 1949 a Scottish Rite Degree Team from the Philippines came to Tokyo and initiated 221 Candidates in the Arthur MacArthur class, named after General MacArthur's father who had been made a Mason while assigned to the Little Rock Barracks in Arkansas.
Following Ill. Johnson's inspirational remarks, several Honor Guard Masons and others asked to be given a tour of the beautiful Tokyo Masonic Center. After the event, David J. Valley, Commemoration Chairman, Gen. Douglas MacArthur Honor Guard (1945–1951) Association, expressed the feeling of all present: "To say we were impressed would be an understatement."
To support this unique effort,
these 4-inch belt buckles can be purchased for $25.00 each (s/h
included) by sending checks or money orders to: