January 2002

Ill. Hans R. Wilhelmsen, 33°, Appointed Deputy In Maryland | Deputy Arthur J. Kerr, 33°, Honored By DeMolay | Like Father Like Son | Father White Caps Son At Biennial Session

On October 3, 2001, Ill. Hans R. Wilhelmsen succeeded Ill. Bernard E. Rothman, 33°, S.G.I.G. upon his retirement. This announcement was made at the Bicentennial Biennial Session celebration in Charleston, South Carolina, and became effective October 15, 2001.

Ill. Wilhelmsen was born on March 27, 1929, in Norway. He came to the United States as a teenager, and one of his first jobs was driving a taxicab to earn money to put himself through college. He received a B.S. in 1952 from Loyola College, D.D.S. in 1955 from the University of Maryland School of Dentistry Magna Cum Laude, and M.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and was voted President on his 2nd and 4th year. His professional training in 1959 and 1960 was a rotating Internship at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland; from 1960 to 1963, General Surgery Residency at the University of Maryland, Baltimore; and from 1963 to 1965, Plastic Surgery Residence at the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Wilhelmsen is affiliated with Maryland General Hospital, University of Maryland Hospital, Greater Baltimore Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, Good Samaritan Hospital, and Children's Hospital. He is an Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, and an Assistant Professor of Plastic Surgery at Johns Hopkins University. Ill. Wilhelmsen is a consultant for the State of Maryland, Division of Crippled Children's Services, a consultant for the State of Maryland, Chronic Hospital Division, Montebello Hospital, Paraplegic Rehabilitation Program, and a consultant at Veterans Hospital, Fort Howard, Maryland. He is the founder/chairman, Cleft Palate Clinic, James Lawrence Kernan Hospital, 1969 to 1994, and a consultant for the Associated Catholic Charities. Ill. Wilhelmsen belongs to many specialty colleges and medical societies. He has received numerous awards and citations from colleges, universities, and government officials and has an Endowed Lectureship in Cranial–Facial Surgery from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland. Illustrious Wilhelmsen has authorized and co-authored many articles for Medical Journal. Ill. Wilhelmsen belongs to many civic and fraternal organizations and is active in most. He belongs to Pythagoras Lodge No. 123, Cockeysville, Maryland. and was honored to be named as an Honorary Past Master as well as a 50-year member of the International Order of DeMolay. Ill. Wilhelmsen is a recipient of the DeMolay Legion of Honor. He is also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters and the Baltimore Boumi Shrine.

Ill. Wilhelmsen is married to Leah. They have two children, Kirsten Wilhelmsen Greenwell and Hans R. Wilhelmsen, Jr.

On October 2, 2001, during the Bicentennial Biennial Session held in Charleston, S.C., Ill. Arthur J. Kerr, 33°, Deputy of the Supreme Council, 33°, Orient of the Panama Canal (third from left), was presented the DeMolay Honorary Legion of Honor for his many years of service to DeMolay in the Republic of Panama and, particularly, for his role in sponsoring the DeMolay Chapters in Panama.

The Honorary Legion of Honor is the highest honor conferred by the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay and is awarded for performing unusual and meritorious service on behalf of DeMolay.

Legionaires on hand to assist in the presentation were (l. to r.): Ill. Donald P. Garrido, 33°, G.C., as Installing Officer; Ill. Thomas C. Peterson, 33°, as Installing Marshall; Ill. Charles R. Lavallee, 33°, as Commander in the West; Ill. Ralph K. Frangioni, 33°, as Commander in the South; and Ill. Emmett C. George, 33°. Also present were Senior DeMolays Ill. Jack R. Tutzauer, 33°, Ill. Robert T. Russell Jr., 33°, and Bro. Murry Faulk, 32°, K.C.C.H.

On October 10, 2001, Ill. Wayne E. Sirmon, 33°, Chairman, Committee on Masonic Education and Public Relations, Grand Lodge of Alabama, wrote to Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht saying, "I wish to thank you and the Supreme Council for electing me to receive the outstanding honor of being a part of the Bicentennial Class of Inspectors General Honorary. The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry has played an important part in my 28-year quest for Masonic Light.

"I was initiated in J. H. McCormick Lodge, whose namesake was a singular leader in the Valley of Mobile, Alabama. He moved to Mobile in 1902, serving as the Valley Executive Secretary until his death in 1943. In 2000, this Lodge combined with Mobile Lodge, No. 40, which can trace its history to the very beginning of Freemasonry in Alabama. The Mobile Valley has had only six 33° fathers who had 33° sons. Of the six fathers, one contributed his name to our Lodge. Four others have been members. All six of the sons have been members of McCormick–Mobile Lodge.

Ill. Wayne E. Sirmon, 33°, received his 33° ring from his father, Ill. William J. Sirmon, 33°, at the Bicentennial Biennial Session in Charleston, S.C., on October 3, 2001.

"Twenty-eight years ago my father, Ill. William J. Sirmon, 33°, traveled to Washington, D.C., to received the 33rd Degree. Last week, he traveled with me to Charleston to witness his only son receive the same honor. The journey began under an ill star. He had not been feeling well, and his physician prescribed medication prior to the 635 mile trip. Unfortunately, Dad was developing his first (and he hopes his last) case of kidney stones and could not eat nor drink from Sunday until his arrival at St. Francis Hospital on Tuesday afternoon (after accompanying me to the Scottish Rite Research Society's meeting) on October 2.
"When the urologist was informed of our purpose in Charleston, he presented us with the option of the insertion of a stent around the kidney stone. This temporary measure relieved the pain, and an overnight stay in the hospital gave my father sufficient strength to be in attendance at the Wednesday afternoon conferral of the 33°. After a safe return to Mobile, he scheduled an appointment with a local urologist.

"While our attendance did not afford the anticipated meeting of a large group of Internet Masons we correspond with on the Philalethes Society's e-mail list, our prime purpose was achieved. Another son has followed his father to the ranks of the white hats. Tonight, when I looked across the dinner table at my two teenage sons, my faith in the future of our Fraternity was renewed. The lessons of our Degrees give me hope in the goodness of men, while understanding that we are called daily to serve as knights in a war against the terrors of ignorance and superstition.

"I anticipate many future opportunities for service in Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite, and I can only hope that my service will equal the dedication demonstrated by my father."

Fraternally, Illustrious Wayne E. Sirmon, 33°

On October 3, 2001, at the Bicentennial Biennial Session in Charleston, S.C., Ill. Eldon Triggs, Sr., 33°, Secretary, Valley of Cheyenne, Wyoming (left in photo), had the honor of placing a white cap on his son Ill. Ronald E. Triggs, 33° (right), as an Inspector General Honorary.