Ill.
Harold L. Gwatney, 33°, G.C., Invests In Our Future
| On November 2, 2002, during
a special reception held at the Little Rock, Arkansas, Scottish
Rite Memorial Temple, Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred
Kleinknecht, 33°, gratefully accepted a donation of
$2 million from Illustrious Harold L. Gwatney, 33°,
G.C., and his wife, Syble. |
 |
During a reception held in honor of Ill. Harold
Lloyd Gwatney, 33°, Grand Cross, and his wife, Syble, at
the Albert Pike Scottish Rite Memorial Temple in Little Rock,
Arkansas, on Wednesday, November 18, 2002, Ill. Gwatney and
his wife generously presented a $2 million gift to the Scottish
Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, in Washington, D.C.
To date, this is the largest single charitable trust donation
that has been made to the Foundation.
Present at the reception to receive the gift was
Sovereign Grand Commander Ill. C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°.
Also attending were Ill. William G. Sizemore, 33°, Grand
Cross, Grand Executive Director, and Ill. Earl E. Ihle, 33°,
Director of Development, from the Supreme Council, Washington,
D.C. Others attending were Ill. Sidney S. McMath, 33°, G.C.,
and Former Arkansas Governor; the Honorable Patrick Henry Hays,
32°, K.C.C.H., Mayor of North Little Rock; M.W. John H.
Kidwell, 32°, K.C.C.H., Grand Master F.&A.M. in Arkansas;
M.W. James L. Weatherall, 33°, P.G.M. and Grand Secretary,
M.W. Grand Lodge of Arkansas; Bro. William H. Bowen, 32°,
K.C.C.H.; Ill. Don O. Kirkpatrick, 33°; Ill. C. Franklin
Collier, 33°; Bro. Wayne Hartsfield, 32°, K.C.C.H.;
Ill. Gus "Buddy" Blass, 33°; and Bro. James W.
Benafield, 32°, K.C.C.H.
As a result of their significant donation, Harold
and Syble Gwatney will be recognized in the Pillars of Charity
Alcove. Also, an original oil portrait of Ill. Gwatney will
be displayed in the Supreme Temple Architects Hall of Honor
at the House of the Temple, and Mrs. Gwatney's portrait will
be displayed in the Pillars of Charity portrait gallery. The
donation eventually will be distributed to the local Scottish
Rite Foundations in the form of matching grants, which will
double the amount to the benefit of many children in need.
Through the RiteCare Childhood Language Program,
the Foundation supports the treatment of children with dyslexia,
language, and speech disorders. The Foundation also sponsors
scholarships in the field of learning disorders and advanced
degrees in the field of public school administration.
Ill. Gwatney owns several auto dealerships, which
are run and operated by his sons: Russell operates a car business
in Memphis, Tennessee, and Bill, a State Senator, runs Harold
Gwatney Chevrolet in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Harold and Syble
Gwatney now live in North Little Rock.
Submitted by Ill. Robert L.
Spangler, Jr., 33°, Executive Secretary, Valley of Little
Rock
Sovereign
Grand Commander Ralston Cited
For "Heroic And Humanitarian Actions"
On
September 16, 2002, Ill. Robert O. Ralston, 33°, Sovereign
Grand Commander of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, Scottish
Rite of Freemasonry, U.S.A., assisted in the rescue of a man
from a car that had plunged down a steep 20-foot embankment
and into the Shawsheen River. Brother Ralston witnessed the
incident, and he and another man went into the water and, with
much difficulty, pulled the semiconscious driver through the
car's window to safety. For this act, Brother Ralston was honored
by a proclamation from the Massachusetts State House, as cited
from the Lexington [Massachusetts] Minuteman,
"for his heroic and humanitarian actions for saving one
life and, through this selfless act, enriching all of our lives."
Good work, Brother Ralston! Grand Commander Ralston (right)
is pictured above with Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht at
the Annual Meeting of the N.M.J., held earlier in Boston, September
1-2, 2002.
Text adapted from The Philalethes
magazine (Dec. 2002)
St.
Anthony Hall At The House Of The Temple
Members
of St. Anthony Hall, the Fraternity of Delta Psi, ascend the
Grand Staircase to the Temple Room of the House of the Temple
where they held their 2003 Grand Chapter meetings.
Photo: Bro. Dean R. Alban, 32°, K.C.C.H.
On January 10 and 11, 2002, the Supreme Council,
33°, hosted the annual Grand Chapter meeting of St. Anthony
Hall, the Fraternity of Delta Psi. Over 200 undergraduate and
alumni members met in the Temple Room to conduct business and
to hear literary and oratorical presentations. Delta Psi is
a national college fraternity formed in 1847 at Columbia University.
During the past 156 years, the fraternity has expanded to nine
campuses. In 1967 Delta Psi became the first national fraternity
to give its local chapters the option to admit women. Today
six chapters are co-ed and three are still male only.
The fraternity was founded on January 17, St.
Anthony's Day, because the founders were inspired by the Knights
of St. Anthony. The fraternity's pin is a St. Anthony or tau
cross engraved with a Hebrew motto, superimposed on which is
a shield with the Greek letters delta and psi (DY). While known
to the outside world as "The Fraternity of Delta Psi,"
members refer to themselves as "St. Anthony Hall."
Dr. Jack D. Shaw, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense
for International Technology Security and presiding officer
of St. Anthony Hall, asked our Supreme Council if St. Anthony
Hall could hold its annual Grand Chapter meeting in the House
of the Temple. Sovereign Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht,
33°, immediately agreed as a gesture of fraternal goodwill
and because of the common heritage college fraternities share
with Freemasonry. John Anthon, one of the early members of Delta
Psi, went on to become M.W. Grand Master of New York. Furthermore,
the ceremonies of many college fraternities, including Delta
Psi, were inspired by Masonic ritual.
Some of the traditions preserved by Delta Psi
at their Grand Chapter meeting are literary and oratorical exhibitions
and contests by undergraduates. Most college fraternities and
sororities were originally formed with a mission of encouraging
academic achievement among their members, though social aspects
often dominate today.
Dr. S. Brent Morris, 33°, G.C., Director of
Membership Development and a member of the Delta Sigma Phi Fraternity,
was invited to speak to the Grand Chapter during a recess. His
presentation, "Cut from a Common Cloth: Freemasonry and
the Fraternity of Delta Psi," highlighted the fraternal
legacy that Delta Psi inherited from Freemasonry. The Delta
Psi members in attendance appreciated the hospitality of the
Supreme Council and were most impressed by the grandeur of the
House of the Temple. All agreed it was one of the finest Grand
Chapter meetings they have ever had.
New
Award Honors Masons Serving Scouting
The
Grand Lodge of Masons in Pennsylvania, in cooperation with the
Boy Scouts of America, has created a national Masonic recognition
award for Freemasons who are active in serving youth through
Scouting.
The Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award,
named after Freemason and Founder of the Boy Scouts in America,
was approved by the national headquarters of the Boy Scouts
of America as part of its recently created Community Organization
Award to recognize those who serve Scouting and are affiliated
with a community-based organization. The award will be presented
to a Master Mason who is currently a registered Scouter and
active in a Scout unit, district, council or national affiliate,
and has displayed outstanding dedication to the Scouting program.
The Daniel Carter Beard Masonic Scouter Award
consists of a certificate, a Boy Scouts of America approved
Masonic neck medallion, and knot patch to be worn with a Scout
uniform. The neck medallion is a silver metallic medal of the
Square and Compasses resting upon a sunburst and supported by
a blue-and-silver ribbon. The knot patch is a gold colored square
knot supported by a purple background with a gold border.
The
award is being administered nationally through the Grand Lodge
of Pennsylvania, per request of the Boy Scouts of America, for
convenient administrative purposes. The Grand Lodge of Pennsyl-vania
is providing all materials for the award at cost and allowing
the use of its staff to handle all the necessary administrative
work and communications with the Boy Scouts of America headquarters.
The idea originated from Bro. Dale A. DeLozier,
32°, a Pennsylvania District Deputy Grand Master. A faithful
Scouter for more than 20 years at local and district levels,
he discussed his plan with then Deputy Grand Master Robert L.
Dluge Jr., 33°, and was encouraged to develop his proposal.
Bro. DeLozier, an Eagle Scout and recipient of the Order of
the Eagle, is a special agent with the Norfolk Southern Police
Department. He is a Past Master of Juniata Lodge No. 282, Holidaysburg,
Pennsylvania, and a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Altoona.
The image of Daniel Beard used in the promotional
material appeared in the Scottish Rite 1999 Timeless Brotherhood
calendar and is used with permission of the Supreme Council,
N.M.J.
For information about the program or to receive a copy of the
brochure (shown on facing page), contact the Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania (1- 800-462-0430, ext. 1901), or visit http://www.pagrandlodge.org/pyf/pgm/scouter/index.html
where there is an application for the award and other related
materials.
Scottish
Rite Masonry In Russia Celebrates 10th Anniversary
On November 17, 2002, Ill. Robert G. Watkins,
33°, our Supreme Council's Official Liaison Representative
to the Supreme Council, 33°, of Russia, flew to Moscow to
participate in the Grand Convocation and associated events celebrating
the Tenth Anniversary of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in Russia.
The evening of November 18, Ill. George B. Dergachev, 33°,
Sovereign Grand Commander, hosted an informal dinner to welcome
Ill. Watkins. They were joined by Ill. Alexey Y. Usenko, 33°,
and his wife, Anya. A short midnight tour of Red Square, with
St. Basil's Cathedral, and the area around the Kremlin capped
a memorable first day in the capital city.
 |
On November 17, 2002, during
ceremonies in Moscow celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of
the reconstitution of Scottish Rite Freemasonry in Russia,
Ill. Robert G. Watkins, 33°, (photo above) presented
a ceremonial gold medallion of the Scottish Rite eagle to
the Russian Supreme Council on behalf of our Supreme Council. |
After a number of informal meetings the following
day, Grand Commander Dergachev convened the Supreme Council
to conduct the Fourth Degree, and several Brothers, including
some from Vilnius, Lithuania, were initiated into the Lodge
of Perfection. This was followed by formal ceremonies marking
the Tenth Anniversary of the reinstitution of Scottish Rite
Freemasonry in Russia. Many delegations from foreign countries,
as well as other distinguished international Brethren, were
introduced. Ill. Arnold Hermann, as head of the U.S. delegation,
spoke briefly to convey the best wishes of Grand Commander Kleinknecht,
and Ill. Watkins (see photo above) presented a ceremonial gold
medallion of the Scottish Rite eagle to the Russian Supreme
Council on behalf of our Supreme Council. Following the formal
opening, the ladies joined the Brethren for an informal reception
and delicious banquet of traditional Russian foods.
On November 20, Ill. Bros. Hermann and Watkins
met with the Russian Grand Master, M.W. Dmitry Gerasimovich
Denissov, 33°, and the Deputy Grand Master, M.W. Alexander
V. Kondyakov, 33°, to discuss the general situation of Craft
Masonry in Russia, especially the challenge of expanding membership
in the Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite. During the afternoon, which
was devoted to other informal meetings, Ill. Watkins presented
the second shipment of books from the Grand Lodge of Virginia
to the Russian Grand Lodge Library. See "Grand
Lodges of Virginia and Russia Initiate Education Program,"
Scottish Rite Journal (June 2002). That evening, after
a reception at the Meridien Hotel, immediately across from Red
Square, Brethren, ladies, and guests enjoyed an impressive Masonic
concert in the historic Moscow Conservatory of Music. The orchestra
and choir numbered nearly 300, and about 5,000 people attended.
The concert was open to the public, but a section was reserved
for the Brethren and their guests. This marvelous musical performance,
which was prominently covered in the Russian press, was an inspiring
conclusion to the anniversary celebration and marked another
milestone in the development of Masonry and the Scottish Rite
in Russia.
Arnold
Palmer Golf Club Donated To Americanism Museum
Recently,
the Supreme Council opened its renovated Americanism Museum
in the House of the Temple. (See the November
2002 Scottish Rite Journal.) Created by notable museum
design specialists, the Museum uses innovative cases and unique
devices in an exciting manner to present artifacts related to
Freemasonry and our national history. Among the many rare items
displayed are a walking stick belonging to General Douglas MacArthur,
33°; a flag bearing the Scottish Rite insignia carried by
Ill. Edwin E. Aldrin, 33°, during his walk on the moon;
and the World War II dog tags of Ill. Audie Murphy.
The new Museum's displays will be updated as notable
artifacts are donated to or obtained by the Supreme Council.
Recently, Grand Commander Kleinknecht was effective in securing
a new item of special significance for the Museum, an Arnold
Palmer AP40 putter used by Ill. Arnold Palmer, 33°, in tournament
play during the middle part of his golfing career.
In December 2002, Grand Commander Kleinknecht
wrote to Ill. Palmer saying, "As an Honor member of the
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry and a living legend in American
sports, your oil portrait hangs in the Hall of Honor here at
the House of the Temple. Including you in our Americanism Museum
would be an additional honor for us." On January 2, 2003,
this inquiry resulted in the donation of the putter (pictured
left), which will be placed on display in the Americanism Museum,
along with other sports memorabilia, as evidence of the influence
of Freemasonry and Freemasons on every aspect of American life.
