Jack E. Nixson, 33°
S.G.I.G. in Wyoming and Grand Almoner
P.O. Box 698, Wheatland, Wyoming 82201–0698

Scottish Rite Freemasons support their communities through many different philanthropic activities.

Freemasonry is well known for its philanthropy, giving over $2 million a day to good causes throughout the United States. The Scottish Rite is an important part of these efforts. All Scottish Rite Masons, by virtue of their membership, are participants in the charitable work of the national Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., U.S.A., Inc., which supplements and complements the foundations of the Scottish Rite Orients (states) and Valleys (cities).

Incorporated since 1955 and inaugurated with a substantial gift from the Supreme Council, the Scottish Rite Foundation was established for benevolent and educational purposes. It offers, for instance, relief to victims of disaster and scholarships to college students as well as graduate fellowships to public school administrators. From the 1920s, before the Foundation was incorporated, the Scottish Rite was active regionally in university dormitory construction, hospital building (focused on children, many of them polio victims), and education of the hearing impaired.

In the 1950s, a new field of service opened to the Rite, one well matched to our mission of helping children. The treatment of children with aphasia, a condition which inhibits the timely development of childhood language skills, fit perfectly the Foundation's purpose and goals. Building on the original efforts aimed at aphasia, other language learning dysfunctions among children, such as dyslexia and stuttering, are today being treated with the latest therapies in 150 Scottish Rite Clinics, Centers, and Programs in the Southern Jurisdiction. Together with local and state Scottish Rite organizations, the Foundation brings thousands of language-or learning-impaired children from silence and isolation into the world of words and the joy of clearly understood or expressed ideas.

Children sometimes enter the Scottish Rite language programs unable to utter an intelligible syllable. Yet often after treatment, they can speak distinctly, which usually includes no more moving words than "Thank you, Scottish Rite." Early detection of difficulties, perhaps something as innocuous as stammering, can prevent the later onset of dyslexia, which reduces a child's potential for learning. Many research advances in this field are directly related to the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders Program.

In addition to caring for children's language and learning problems, the Scottish Rite has an active scholarship and fellowship program at The George Washington University in the District of Columbia for general studies and the Bichan Scholarships for speech and language disorders. Also, the Shepherd Scholarships assist college students around the country, and the Public School Administration Awards support outstanding administrators to obtain their doctoral degrees. In addition, the annual Kach Essay Contest for DeMolays encourages moral and intellectual growth through its annual competition. Finally, the Scottish Rite's newest Americanism and Education program recognizes JROTC cadets for academic excellence and community service.

These philanthropies are just part of the many fraternal activities of the Scottish Rite. They are pieces of the mosaic created by individual contributions from Scottish Rite Masons. Each member contributes in his way to the whole, and all take pride in the significant benefits our Order brings to so many.

Jack E. Nixson serves as the Grand Almoner of the Supreme Council and has served as Grand Master of Wyoming; Grand High Priest, Illustrious Grand Master, and Grand Commander of the Grand Bodies of the York Rite; Grand Patron of the Eastern Star; Associate Guardian of Job's Daughters; and a Chapter Advisor for DeMolay. Ill. Nixson currently serves on the Masonic Renewal Committee of North America for the Grand Lodge of Wyoming and for the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J.