Four elements spell success for a Reunion: Brotherhood +
Ritual + Organization + Membership.

Three Scottish Rite brothers and myself, on the way to our Valley's monthly business meeting, got into a spirited discussion concerning the criteria for judging the success (or lack thereof) of our Valley's recently completed Reunion.

One Brother offered that the opportunity for our Scottish Rite members to meet and renew old friendships, strengthening the bonds of Brotherhood, certainly had to be considered when determining the criteria for a successful reunion. So, Success = Brotherhood.

A second Brother stated that the practice and presentation of our Scottish Rite Ritual, renewing those bonds that join all Scottish Rite Brothers, should be the prime criteria for judging the success of a Reunion. So, Success = Ritual.

The third Brother felt, like the first, that opportunity for our members to gather together in Degree Teams and crews from the various departments required to host a Reunion was important to maintaining our organizational proficiency and actually to conduct a Reunion. So Success = Organization.

The fourth Brother, pondered the discussions of the other three and finally voiced his thoughts that membership was the overriding consideration in judging the success of our Valley's Reunions. He went on to say that when our Valley's annual membership losses due to death, demit, and suspension for non-payment of dues were much greater than our annual membership gains, our efforts could not be considered a success by any standard. Continuing, he offered that unless our annual membership gains exceeded our annual membership losses, our efforts fall short of the mark.

We agreed Success = Brotherhood + Ritual + Organization + Membership.

As the four Brothers rode thoughtfully through the night, each tried to think how he, as an individual, might make it happen.

Bennett T. "Tom" Dingwall III is a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Tucson, Ariz., where he has served as Venerable Master and Wise Master. He is Past Master of King Solomon Lodge No. 5 of Tombstone, Ariz. Ill. Dingwall holds the Knight of the York Grand Cross of Honour two quadrants where he serves his Priory as its Prior. In addition, he is a Knight Companion of the Red Cross of Constantine and Appendant Orders, serving his Conclave as its Viceroy. Ill. Tom is a Senior DeMolay who holds the Chevalier Degree and Legion of Honor.