Alabama Governor Bob Riley Receives KCCH

Left to right: Ill. Karl F. Reed II, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Alabama; Ill G.W. York, 33°, Ceremonial Grand Commander; Hon. Bob Riley, 32° KCCH, Governor of Alabama

Alabama Governor Bob Riley was invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor on May 9, 2005, in a private ceremony held at the Alabama Governor’s Mansion. Bro. Riley had been honored by the Supreme Council at its 2003 session but was unable to attend the regularly scheduled Investiture.

Governor Riley’s service to the people of Alabama and his dedication to public education were cited as reasons for his selection for this singular honor. His support of education complements that of the Scottish Rite Masons in Alabama. Through the Alabama Scottish Rite Foundation, they work with the education community throughout the state to assist dyslexic children.

The Valley of Huntsville had the honor and pleasure of performing the investiture ceremony for Bro. Riley which was witnessed by Ill. Karl F. Reed II, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Alabama; M.W. Gene Anderton, 32°, KCCH, Grand Master of Masons in Alabama; several other Grand Lodge Officers, Mrs. Patsy Riley, invited guests, and wives. Following the Investiture, a reception was hosted by Governor and Mrs. Riley.

Submitted by William J. Burfitt, 33°

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SGC Seale meets with attendees of the 2005 Annual Session in Orlando, Florida.

As he does every year, SGC Ronald A. Seale, 33°, participates in DeMolay International’s annual session. Most recently this was in Orlando, Florida, where he took the opportunity to encourage the young men of the DeMolay Congress to lead their respective jurisdictions with a “can do” attitude. He pledged the Southern Jurisdiction to support and more importantly to listen and be responsive to DeMolay leaders. Ill. Seale closed his words of encouragement to the DeMolay leaders from across the nation and the world by saying, “I am a DeMolay and will always be. I value and cherish the connection that I have with the Order of DeMolay.”

SGC Seale was initiated into Pelican Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1962 and worked his way up the officer line to serve as Master Councilor. As an active DeMolay, he was honored with the degree of Chevalier and the Distinguished Service Award. As a Senior DeMolay, he served as an Advisor in Pelican and other Chapters and was honored for his service with the Cross of Honor and membership in the Legion of Honor. In recognition of his increasing responsibilities and contributions, he was elected a Deputy Member of the Order of DeMolay’s International Supreme Council in 1990 and in 1995 appointed Executive Officer of Louisiana and an Active Member of the International Supreme Council.

Bro. Greg Kimberling, 32°, Grand Master of DeMolay, received his KCCH cap from Darren G. Thatcher, State Master Councilor of Idaho, and Christopher G. Ellis, International Master Councilor of DeMolay.

Following his remarks to the DeMolays, he announced the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite recently designated the Grand Master of DeMolay, Greg Kimberling, to receive the rank and honor of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, which he equated to the DeMolay Legion of Honor. In recognition of his long and faithful service in the ranks as a DeMolay Advisor, Bro. Kimberling, 32°, was escorted to the altar, knelt, and was honored, constituted, and consecrated a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor. Darren G. Thatcher, the State Master Councilor of Dad Kimberling’s home state, and Christopher G. Ells, International Master Councilor placed the traditional red cap on Bro. Kimberling’s head.

Submitted by William “Buck” Fischer 32°, KCCH

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Freemasonry in Iraq

Patch of the Rainbow Division

In June 2004 the 42nd Infantry (Rainbow) Division began to mobilize in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom III. The division spans a range from Maine to the American Samoas, and includes Active Reserve and National Guard units. Our mission is to assist in the national reconstruction of the country of Iraq. Although this seems like an insurmountable task to many, we are making progress each and every day.

The 42nd Infantry Division received the name “Rainbow Division” in 1917 during its organization at Camp Mills, Long Island, New York. The Chief of Staff of the Division at that time was Col. Douglas MacArthur, 33°. As they discussed the organization of the Division and reviewed the National Guard units from 26 states that would make up the Division, Col. MacArthur commented that “The 42nd Division stretches like a Rainbow from one end of America to the other.”

Throughout the summer and fall I met many Masons from around the Division. On several occasions the topic of opening a lodge in Iraq came up. I set this as a personal goal of mine: to support the interest of my Brethren. In late fall, when we started to deploy through Kuwait to Iraq, I began to compile a list of those who would be interested in becoming charter members. Prospective candidates for initiation were also emerging. Contact was made with the Grand Secretary of New York who informed me to “petition the Grand Lodge for dispensation.” On May 3, 2005, during the Grand Lodge Session in New York City, this dispensation was unanimously granted.

Currently Land, Sea and Air Lodge No. 1 has about 30 Brothers who desire membership in this historic body, and the interest is growing. Now that we have the dispensation, we have established several goals and objectives. First: conduct the required degrees in which to induct new members. Second: successfully pass the leadership of the lodge to our replacements (follow-on forces). Third: see an Iraqi Mason participate in labor with us. This third goal would truly prove that the strength of Masonic teachings can withstand anything, even tyranny.

This article by Bro. E. Daniel Walther, IV, Master of Land, Sea and Air Lodge No. 1, is edited from Emessay Notes, published by the Masonic Service Association of North America.

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Carved Eagle Donated to the Supreme Council

Hand-carved eagle by artist Janos Zitvay donated by the Lingo family in memory of William A. Lingo, 32°.

The family of Bro. William A. Lingo, 32°, donated a hand-carved eagle to the Supreme Council, 33°, in his memory. The eagle was carved by artist Jano Zitvay, and is an amazing example of woodworking skill. Bro. Lingo was born August 30, 1923, in Fellows, California, and died on May 26, 2005 in Bakersfield, California. He spent the majority of his life in the California oilfield, with the exception of his service in the Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946.

Bro. Lingo was raised in Bakersfield Lodge No. 224 on September 14, 1956, and joined the Scottish Rite in 1961. He was a fourth generation Mason following his father, Winfield Scott Lingo, Grandfather, William Edmon Lingo, and great-grandfather, Tyre Martin Lingo, who were all Freemasons. Fifth generation Mason and son, Arthur S. Lingo, 32°, KCCH, hopes that Masons will enjoy the eagle for years to come while visiting the House of the Temple.

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The House of the Temple was the site of an exhibit of paintings during the Biennial Session, October 2–4, 2005. Simeon Petkov and Dimitar Mavrov were researching at the House of the Temple library while working on a project for the Grand Museum of Egypt, in Giza. Assistant to the Librarian Larissa Watkins recommended several books which made them curious about the architects of Washington, D.C., They subsequently located biographies, pictures. and photographs of the architects of the historic buildings and collected records, facts, and interesting stories from local libraries and archives.

Brothers Dimitar Mavrov (left) and Simeon Petkov pose with a portrait of Albert Pike set in front of the sphinx “Wisdom” at the House of the Temple.

Their research then led to an interest in Freemasonry, and both were initiated in Alexandria Washington Lodge No. 22, in Alexandria, Virginia. With their growing interest in the Craft, Brothers Petkov and Mavrov employed six artists in their company, Astrohome Design LLC, of Vienna, Virginia, an interior and exterior design company specializing in murals, fine art, faux finishes, and Venetian plaster. The artists have created a series of paintings representing some of the buildings and the architects of Washington, D.C., as well as treating some of the legends of Freemasonry.

An artist puts finishing touches on a painting of Pythagoras.

The exhibition’s primary objectives are (1) to honor the memory of the great architects and express the utmost respect for their genius, and (2) to restore the glory of the Operative Masons who created the masterpieces of art and architecture from ancient times. Brothers Petkov and Mavrov hope that their collection will reawaken the memory of great artists and architects of the past. One of their themes includes great people who played historic roles in the United States as well as the architects of famous buildings in Washington D.C. Many of these architects were Masons. The second theme represents legends associated with Freemasonry and the symbolism of the different degrees.

The paintings include such figures as George Washington; John Russell Pope, architect of the House of the Temple; James Hoban, architect of the White House; Eliot Woods, architect of the House of Representatives Caucus Room; Albert Pike; Prince Hall; Benjamin Franklin; and others. The second theme includes paintings of a Fellowcraft Mason in Egypt, a Knight Templar, the Druids and Stonehenge, the Weeping Virgin, Pythagoras, the Master Architect Degree of the Scottish Rite, St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, King Solomon, Hiram King of Tyre, and Hiram Abiff.

Several of the paintings made their debut appearance at the House of the Temple during 2005 Biennial Session. They will travel to other venues in the future, and Masons are welcome to visit the showroom and office at 311 W. Maple, Suite B, Vienna, Virginia 22180, or call 703-319-8070 to schedule a showing. See their webpage at http://www.astrohomedesign.com.

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Ill. James L. Johnston, 33°, Deputy for Japan and Korea, presented the Supreme Council’s JROTC Education and Americanism Award to Cadet 2 Lieutenant Rachel Wright. She will be going to college to pursue a nursing career. The presentation occurred during the Thirteenth Annual Pass-In-Review for Yokota High School Army JROTC Panther Battalion. The Scottish Rite’s JROTC Award program to recognize outstanding Cadets began during the 1997–1999 biennium when 2,191 awards were distributed. It has grown to 4,217 presentations during 2003–2005.

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Left to right are Orient Board of Directors Vice-President, Ed Weber, 33°; Dr. Hart-Paulson; Michelle Gifford, MA, CCC-SLP, Spokane Center; Nikki Cole, MA, CCC-SLP, Spokane Center Coordinator; Ms. Robyn Nance, Emcee and Volunteer of The Year; John Wiess, 32°, President, Valley of Spokane SRCCLD Board of Directors; Alana Willmann, Spokane Center Office Manager.

The Commandery Room of the historic, one-hundred-year-old Masonic Temple in downtown Spokane, Washington, was the venue for the recent Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Learning Disorders’ (SRCCLD) Clinic Night, an annual event to honor donors to the Spokane Language Center. This years’ guest speaker was Dr. Lucy Hart-Paulson, manager of the Western Montana RiteCare Language and Literacy Clinic at the University of Montana. She is also a research faculty member in the Division of Educational Research and Service, sharing responsibilities for teacher training, supervising, outreach work, and research. In addition to her numerous speaking engagements, Dr. Hart-Paulson is the lead author of Building Early Literacy and Language Skills and Good Talking Words, the latter a social communication skills program for preschool and kindergarten.

Mistress of Ceremonies for the evening was Ms. Robyn Nance, co-anchor for local ABC-TV affiliate, KXLY Channel-4 News. Ms. Nance received the SRCCLD Volunteer of the Year Award for her TV coverage of the Spokane Language Center, as well as for her local series on “Children at Risk.”

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