Photo: 2005 Commemorative Medallion

All photos were taken by Elizabeth A. Williams, unless otherwise noted.

The members, their ladies, and our guests began arriving several days in advance of the session. Committees met, reports were polished, and speeches were rehearsed in anticipation of the official opening of the 2005 Biennial Session of the Supreme Council.

Preliminary activities began at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 2, with tours of the Octagon House Museum’ special exhibit, “The Initiated Eye: Secrets, Symbols, Freemasonry, and the Architecture of Washington, D.C.” The exhibit consists of 21 commissioned Masonic-themed paintings by history painter, Peter Waddell, each highlighted by Masonic and historical artifacts. The exhibit was sponsored by the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia and was a special treat to attendees at the session.

Rev. Dr. W. Kenneth Lyons, 33°, G.C., Grand Chaplain was the Officiant for the Vesper Service held on Sunday, October 2, 2005.
As no man should engage in any great and important undertaking without first invoking the blessing of Deity, the first formal activity of the session was the Vesper Service on Sunday afternoon at the National City Christian Church. The magnificent church was designed by John Russell Pope, the architect of the House of the Temple. Rev. Chris H. Andrews, First United Methodist Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, delivered the message to the congregation, and the Officiant was the Reverend Dr. W. Kenneth Lyons, Jr., 33°, G.C., Grand Chaplain of the Supreme Council.

Following the service and its inspiring message, members and guests adjourned to the House of the Temple for a reception and the dedication of the new Masonic Philanthropies Room. This new exhibit highlights Masonic charities from the first days of our republic to the present with special emphasis on Scottish Rite philanthropies, including the Alabama and Tennessee shoe program, our many scholarship programs, and out network of 165+ RiteCare Clinics. The new room, developed by Joan Sansbury, Librarian/Curator, was described by SGC Ronald A. Seale, 33°, as an opportunity for the House of the Temple to show its many visitors what Freemasonry does in the community. Past Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, and RADM William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., Grand Executive Director, cut a ribbon for the symbolic opening of the museum, and the guests at the reception went to see the display.

During the Opening Session of the Supreme Council on Monday, Oct. 3, SGC Ronald A. Seale took a moment to remember Ill. Dwight A. Hamilton, Past Grand Treasurer General and Past SGIG in Colorado, who died June 26, 2005.
The formal opening of the 204th anniversary session of the Supreme Council, 33°, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the U.S.A., Mother Supreme Council of the World, began at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, October 3, 2005. For just the second time in our history, the impressive formal ceremonies were open to the public. (The first time was at our 200th anniversary in Charleston, S.C.) Grand Chaplain Lyons offered prayer and SGC Seale declared the meeting open and welcomed all present. The session was held in the Presidential Ballroom of the Capital Hilton Hotel because it had so much more space than the Temple Room of the House of the Temple. All attendees were able to witness the opening and to be seated—something that hasn’t happened in a long time!

SGC Seale called on Ill. Stephen Munsinger, SGIG in Colorado to present a tribute to the memory of Ill. Dwight D. Hamilton, Past SGIG in Colorado. Ill Seale then introduced the following flag and general officers: Major General Armen Garabedian, U.S. Army (Retired), KCCH; Brigadier General Paul D. Gleason, U.S. Air Force (Retired), 33°; Rear Admiral William G. Sizemore, U.S. Navy (Retired), 33°, G.C.; Vice Admiral James R. Sanderson, U.S. Navy (Retired), 33°; Brigadier General Joseph O. Martin, Jr., U.S. Air Force (Retired), 33°; Major General H. Lloyd Wilkerson, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), 33°; Major General Tom Wilkerson, U.S. Marine Corps (Retired), 33°. At the request of the Grand Commander these Illustrious Brothers led all present in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Following the Pledge, the Emeritus Members of the Supreme Council present were recognized: C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, Past SGC; H. Lloyd Wilkerson, 33°, Past Lt. Grand Commander and SGIG in North Carolina; David Kruger, 33°, Past Grand Secretary General and SGIG in Virginia; Daniel F. Levenduski, 33°, Past SGIG in Minnesota; Charles S. Iversen, 33°, Past SGIG in the District of Columbia. Ill. William B. Brunk, Grand Master of Ceremonies and SGIG in North Carolina introduced our distinguished guests: 22 sitting Grand Masters; 29 active members from 13 Supreme Councils, and representatives of 10 allied Masonic bodies.

A poignant moment came when SGC Seale introduced Ill. Bros. Thomas C. Raum, Jr., Grand Chancellor and SGIG in Kansas, H. Douglas Lemons, Grand Orator, Past Lt. Grand Commander, and SGIG in California, and Jack E. Hightower, SGIG in Texas. This was the last Supreme Council session that these Illustrious Brothers would attend, as the statuary age limitation requires their retirements before the next session in 2007. The Grand Commander recalled their long service to the Supreme Council and held them forth as an example for all Masons to emulate. All present rose for a standing ovation recognizing these outstanding Brethren.

Stephen M. Ashman, International Master Councilor, DeMolay International, addressed the Supreme Council during the Opening Session.
The committees of the Supreme Council presented summaries of their reports, a full version of which will appear in the Transactions. Ill. H. Douglas Lemons, Grand Orator delivered the Grand Oration, summarizing his vision for Freemasonry. SGC Seale announced that two new SGIGs had been elected: Stephen M. Munsinger, SGIG in Colorado, and Charles N. Kaufman, SGIG in South Dakota, and that a new Deputy had been appointed for the District of Columbia, Leonard Proden, 33°. The Grand Commander then delivered his thoughts on preparing his first Allocution. (See page 9.) Ill. Seale called upon the Reverend W. Kenneth Lyons, Jr., Grand Chaplain, who delivered the benediction. No further business appearing, the Supreme Council was closed until the next biennial session in 2007, which would be held in Washington, D.C., when the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction will also be meeting in the city.

Monday evening the Brethren, their ladies, and their guests converged on the historic Warner Theatre for a wonderful performance by the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artists Program at the Washington National Opera, Plácido Domingo, General Director, and members of the Youth Orchestra of the Americas, Placido Domingo, Artistic Advisor, and Carolos Cesar Rodriguez, Conductor and Pianist. During the intermission, SGC Seale and Admiral Sizemore presented Maestro Domingo with a scholarship check in support for the Young Artists Program.

L. to r.: Plácido Domingo, Carolos Cesar Rodriguez, SGC Seale, Ill. Bros. Akram R. Elias, 33°, William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., visited backstage during the Gala Concert.
Tuesday morning the Supreme Council met in Executive Session to install new SGIGs and the officers of the Supreme Council. Tours of Washington sights were available for the ladies and the Scottish Rite Research Society held its annual meeting. William B. Brunk, SRRS President, had the pleasure of announcing the new contributing members, Fellows, and Mackey Scholars. Jay M. Kinney, 32°, Valley of Oakland, California, became the Society’s 13th Fellow. He also was named a Mackey Scholar for his paper in Heredom, “Tales from a Trunk: Edwin A. Sherman, a Masonic Whirlwind.” Aaron T. Kornblum was also named a Mackey Scholar for his paper in Heredom, “The New Age Magazine’s reportage of National Socialism, the Persecution of European Masonry, and the Holocaust.” There was no Mackey Scholar for Lifetime Achievement named this biennium. Following the awards, Prof. Steven Bullock of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, author of Revolutionary Brotherhood, delivered the 2005 SRRS Lecture.

That afternoon the Thirty-Third Degree Elects assembled in the Washington, D.C., Scottish Rite Temple for the conferral of the 33°. This highpoint in the fraternal careers of these brethren was conducted by a team headed by Walter S. Downs, G.C., Valley of Alexandria, Virginia, who fulfilled the role of Grand Commander.

The 2005 Biennial Session closed on a fitting high note at the Gala Banquet. The dinner opened with the singing of the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance. Over 1,000 Scottish Rite Masons and guests enjoyed an elegant dinner and entertainment by the Stereo Strings headed by Louis F. Coppola. After dinner, SGC Seale presented Grand Crosses to the newly elected honorees present.

Ill. Norm Crosby, 33°, G.C., as M.C., entertained attendees of the Gala Banquet.
The Master of Ceremonies was Ill. Norm Crosby, 33°, G.C. who entertained the crowd with his comical stories and hilarious malapropisms. Dr. Tommy L. Robinson, Jr., Director of the Washington, D.C., Rite-Care Clinic, brought one of his young patients who shared with the attendees her successes that grew out of her treatment at the RiteCare Clinic. The emotional highpoint came from the Karelitz family. The father, Steve Karelitz, told of their despair when they learned their daughter, Jill Elizabeth, was born profoundly deaf. The Scottish Rite in Charleston provided intensive speech therapy that was the foundation of her achievements in school. Following Steve’s emotional speech, Jill stepped to the podium with poise and addressed a rapt audience. She is a sophomore college student majoring in Health Promotions, with skills and confidence from the Scottish Rite. She ended her moving talk by saying, “I know whatever I do, I will be successful in life because of the foundations you gave my life.”

After this wonderful evening of fellowship, fine dining, excellent entertainment, and moving reminders of the effects of Scottish Rite philanthropies, SGC Seale announced it soon would be time to depart. He called on Grand Chaplain W. Kenneth Lyons, Jr. to pronounce the benediction. The Grand Commander invited everyone back in 2007, bid all a safe journey home, and closed the 2005 Biennial Session.