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Utilizing
A Common And Consistent Format
Curtis N. Lancaster, 33°
S.G.I.G. in Utah
555 West 2525 South, Syracuse, Utah 84075–8570
Implementing the Revised Standard Pike Ritual
is not an insurmountable challenge.
Illustrious Curtis N. Lancaster, 33°, delivering
the report of the Committee on Ritual and Ceremonial Forms to the
2001 Bicentennial Biennial Session of the Supreme Council;
Photo: Bro. George J. Stoklas, Jr., 32°, K.C.C.H.
We, your Committee on Ritual and Ceremonial Forms,
are pleased to report the accomplishments and status of revising
and updating the Albert Pike Ritual used in the Valleys of our
Supreme Council. After more than six years of arduous effort on
the part of many dedicated Brethren, portions of this task are
complete, and materials are being distributed to the Valleys for
implementation.
Before proceeding further, we would like to recognize
the dedicated effort of the late Ill. Bro. Paul T. Million, Jr.,
33°, former S.G.I.G. in Oklahoma, as a determining factor
in the success of this endeavor. He chaired this committee for
over four years, and he was totally committed to the project of
developing a Revised Standard Pike Ritual. His tireless and professional
leadership is responsible for shaping and coordinating the efforts
of many people engaged in this very difficult and demanding task.
We are indebted to Bro. Paul for the great contribution he made
on our behalf.
At the 1999 Biennial Session, the Supreme Council
approved the core text of the revised Degrees. This was the authority
for the committee to proceed with completing the instructional
material for each Degree. The Resource Team focused on the five
mandatory Degrees and began incorporating the staging notes, description
of properties and effects, music suggestions, cast list, acting
techniques, and regalia definition. The text was formatted to
include staging instructions for both auditorium and Lodge Room,
including music cues. Ill. Earl K. Dille, 33°, S.G.I.G. in
Missouri, offered the services of a group of professional musicians
in the Valley of St. Louis to prepare the music for these Degrees.
Authorization was granted for this effort, and work began under
the direction of Bro. Michael Brooks, 32°, K.C.C.H.
Work progressed on the five mandatory Degrees with
input from various members of the Resource Team. In May of 2000,
Ill. Rex Hutchens, 33°, G.C., informed the committee that,
under the terms of his contract, he would not be responsible for
incorporating the instructional material and getting the scripts
to a point of being ready for publication. At this point, a special
team was assembled to complete the scripts and get them published.
Ill. Bros. Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, and John W. Boettjer, 33°,
G.C., accepted the responsibility for preparing and incorporating
material into the scripts of the mandatory Degrees, using the
Scottish Rite Journal office for desktop publishing. Bro.
Brooks provided music cues to Ill. Jim Tresner, 33°, G.C.,
who included them with his staging direction for each Degree.
Ill. Sean D. Graystone, 33°, provided a synopsis of each Degree.
It must be pointed out that the efforts of Ill. Bros. de Hoyos
and Boettjer were in addition to their regular duties at the House
of the Temple. Likewise, Brother Tresner spent many hours in creating
and providing the staging directions for the Degrees. The committee
is sincerely grateful for the determination and dedication of
these four Brethren. Without their stepping up to this task, the
work would have come to a standstill. The completed scripts for
the mandatory Degrees have been distributed to the Valleys for
use. This special team, which now includes Ill. S. Brent Morris,
33°, G.C., replacing Ill. Boettjer, is working on completing
the remaining 24 Degrees.
The music for the five mandatory Degrees has just
been completed, and will be produced in compact disk format and
distributed to the Valleys. Production of the music for these
Degrees was a long and arduous task. Music was arranged and, in
some cases, specifically written for each Degree. It was then
recorded, using the St. Louis Valley Choir and Scottish Rite Brass
ensemble. The results are truly professional and inspiring, and
will greatly enhance the Degree presentation.
It is encouraging to note that many Valleys are
starting to incorporate the new Degrees in their respective Reunions.
The Orient of Kentucky performed all five revised obligatory Degrees
in spring Reunions, and the Orients of Utah and Virginia will
use all five in fall Reunions this year. The Orient of Colorado
exemplified 19 of the revised Degrees in May of this year, will
exemplify 24 in November 2001, and will exemplify all 29 new Degrees
in the spring of 2002. We applaud the Valley of Denver for their
transition to the new work.
It is recognized that the Revised Standard Pike
Ritual is being met with resistance in some Valleys. The attitude
that "the way we have been doing it is much better"
is a natural phenomenon. We knew this would happen when the Supreme
Council elected to undertake this project years ago. We must remember,
however, that most of our Valleys are using scripts that have
been repeatedly modified over the years. For the good of the Rite,
we must utilize a common and consistent format for presenting
the work in the Southern Jurisdiction. There are many problems
associated with utilizing the new Degrees, but they are not insurmountable.
The Orient of California is taking a positive approach in facing
the problem of seasoned Brethren not wanting to relearn parts
and electing to retire. Ill. H. Douglas Lemons, S.G.I.G. in California,
is creating a program where these Brethren will become "ritual
mentors" for the new Brothers who will assume the responsibility
for performing the new Ritual in the same proficient manner as
was done in the past. We remind you that the Revised Standard
Pike Ritual is not "set in concrete." The committee
solicits your comments and input after your Valleys have completed
several performances of the Degrees in the next several years.
This input will be considered for incorporation in the final edition
of the Degrees. It is the goal of this committee to publish the
remaining 24 Degrees by the Biennial Session in 2003 in the same
format as the current five obligatory Degrees.
In 1887, Grand Commander Albert Pike presented a
copy of the Ritual to the Sovereign Grand Commander of the United
Supreme Council, S.J., Prince Hall Affiliation. In keeping with
that precedent, on April 18, 2001, Sovereign Grand Commander C.
Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, presented copies of the Revised Standard
Pike Ritual to Ill. Samuel Brogdon, Jr., 33°, and Ill. Edgar
Bridges, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commanders of the Northern and
Southern Jurisdictions, respectively, Prince Hall Affiliation.
Nine other members in their delegations attended the ceremony,
as well as several S.G.I.G.s, officers, and staff members of our
Supreme Council. This was truly a landmark meeting and exhibited
the fundamental principle of Freemasonry that embraces all good
men in the bond of Masonic brotherhood. The visiting Grand Commanders
thanked Illustrious Kleinknecht for all the courtesy and friendship
extended to them and for his thoughtfulness in presenting them
the revised mandatory Degrees.
A review of the Orient reports concerning Ritual
matters concludes that our Valleys continue to observe the traditional
feasts, as well as the Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday services.
It was noted that many Valleys are combining the Maundy Thursday
and Easter Sunday ceremonies into one observance. This is a very
practical solution to the problem of conflicting with the traditional
services held by many churches on those occasions. Several Valleys
presented the new Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal in place
of the Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday observances. Reports
indicate this new ceremony was very well received by members and
guests. Many expressions of appreciation for removing the conflict
with church services were made. The committee urges all Valleys
to consider this ceremony (available in Forms and Traditions for
the Scottish Rite by Ill. C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, Sovereign
Grand Commander) as an alternative to the Maundy Thursday and
Easter Sunday observances.
Forms and Traditions of the Scottish Rite
is apparently being widely used and is a welcome addition to the
source material available for use in our Valleys. Many Valleys
are opening their ceremony of investiture for Knights Commander
of the Court of Honour to all members and families, and they are
experiencing increased attendance for those events. These opportunities
to showcase the beauty and expand the understanding of the Scottish
Rite to the public are worthwhile endeavors.
Two areas of concern, the proliferation of public
presentation of the Degrees and the course of action for completing
the Ritual revision project, are presented as an addendum to this
report.
Curtis N. Lancaster, Chairman
Sam E. Hilburn
David Kruger
Warren D. Lichty
H. Wallace Reid
William B. Brunk
Committee
Addendum
1. It is the goal of the committee to publish the remaining 24
Degrees in the same format as the current five obligatory Degrees
and have them ready for distribution by the Biennial Session in
2003. The music for these Degrees will be contained in a set of
four compact discs that include two CDs of modal instrumental
music, one CD of patriotic selections, and one CD of largely vocal
anthems. Most of the selections will be "domain free,"
and will therefore require less time and fewer resources to produce.
The music director in each Valley will be able to select appropriate
pieces from these CDs to fulfill the musical requirements in each
Degree. It is planned to provide each Valley with one set of the
music CDs. Additional sets will be available from the Supreme
Council at a nominal fee. [Approved]
2. In the past year there has been an increasing
interest in publicly performing certain Scottish Rite Degrees.
Previously Grand Commander Kleinknecht had authorized the performance
of the 17th and the 27th Degrees on special occasions, using a
text that was prepared by Ill. James Tresner, 33°, G.C., of
Oklahoma. There recently was a request to perform a modified 20th
Degree, and there were reports that perhaps some Valleys have
publicly exemplified portions of other Degrees without seeking
permission from the Grand Commander. This practice is unauthorized
and contrary to our Statutes. The Grand Commander has referred
this situation to the Committee on Ritual and Ceremonial Forms
for a recommendation and subsequent action by this Supreme Council.
After careful consideration of the positive and negative aspects
of publicly performing any of our Degrees, the committee has reached
a unanimous opinion for your consideration. There are numerous
Masonic plays and presentations that have been published to acquaint
the public with the principles and teachings of Masonry. There
is, therefore, no compelling reason to modify or adapt the Scottish
Rite Degrees to showcase the beauty of Masonry. The committee,
therefore, recommends that no existing or revised Degrees of the
Albert Pike Ritual used by this Supreme Council be modified for
public performance. The Committee on Ritual and Ceremonial Forms
submits this recommendation for consideration and action by the
Supreme Council. [Approved]
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