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Ill. Robert W. Cockerham, 33°, Appointed Deputy in Missouri
 SGC Ronald A. Seale, 33°, appointed Ill. Robert W. Cockerham, 33°, as Deputy in Missouri, succeeding Ill. Earl K. Dille, 33°, SGIG, who has retired. Ill. Cockerham was born May 28, 1958, and began his involvement with the Masonic family when he joined George L. Walters Chapter, Order of DeMolay. He served as Master Councilor in 1975, received the honor of Chevalier in 1976, presided as State Master Councilor of Missouri in 1978, and was honored with the Legion of Honor in 1986. He has given further service to DeMolay in Missouri by serving as State Ritual Director, 1979–1992; Deputy Executive Officer, 1987–1992; and Executive Officer, 2003 to present. Since 1991 he has been an Active Member of the International Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay and presently serves on the DeMolay International Foundation Board.
In 1976 Bro. Cockerham joined Clayton Lodge No. 601 and served as Worshipful Master in 1987–1988 and 1995–1996. He is also Life Member of Rose Hill-Polar Star Lodge No. 79, and has served on the Jurisprudence and Appeals & Grievance committees of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. He was appointed and served as District Deputy Grand Master in 1991. He is a member of St. Louis-Missouri Chapter No. 1, RAM, Hiram Council No. 1, Cryptic Masons, and Ivanhoe Commandery No. 8, KT. He also belongs to St. Louis Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, Bruce Harmon Hunt York Rite College No. 162, the Royal Order of Scotland, High Twelve, Missouri Lodge of Research, Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Moolah Shriners, and many other Masonic organizations.
With his many Masonic activities, Ill. Cockerham found time to be active in the Scottish Rite. He became a 32° Master of the Royal Secret in 1977 in the Valley of St. Louis and served as Master of Kadosh in 1987. He received the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 1989 and the 33°, Inspector General Honorary, in 2005.
Bro. Cockerham earned a BFA from Webster College in 1980, an MA from the University of Missouri in 1982, and a JD from St. Louis University in 1984. He began the practice of law and soon distinguished himself in civil trial litigation and appellate advocacy. He is a Senior Principal of Brown and James, P.C., has tried more than 125 civil cases, and is listed in the Top 20 Defense Verdicts in Missouri.
Robert is married to Stacy Cockerham, and they have seven children: Erika, 21, Alicia, 19, Ryan, 17, Brandon, 14, Quentin, 11, Sabrina 9, and Abigail, 6. Stacy is a Leader for Bible Study Fellowship International. The Cockerham Family has been most active at Manchester United Methodist Church, especially with the Youth and Leadership programs. Robert enjoys wakeskating, wakeboarding, water and snow skiing, on and off road motorcycle riding, and numerous other sports. He is an avid photographer, guitar and sword collector, and amateur magician.
TSRHC Announces Lyndon Olson, Jr., 33°, as Chairman of its Board of Trustees
 (Courtesy TSRHC Media Services
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) in Dallas announced the recent election of the Honorable Lyndon L. Olson, Jr., 33°, as the new chairman of its board of trustees. Olson will represent TSRHC in the community and throughout the state to support the hospital’s mission of providing the highest quality treatment for Texas children with orthopedic conditions, certain related neurological disorders, and learning disorders, such as dyslexia, at no charge to patient families.
As Judge Jack Hightower, 33°, SGIG, immediate past chairman, and J. C. Montgomery, Jr., 33°, Grand Cross, president of TSRHC said, “Lyndon Olson is probably the only Scottish Rite Mason that has unanimous support from not only every Mason in Texas but every patient, supporter, and friend the hospital has ever had. We’re fortunate to have a world leader like Lyndon Olson whose passion and love for the hospital will make him a great leader in a complex healthcare environment. We love Lyndon Olson, and Lyndon loves everything related to the hospital.”
Ill. Olson has served on the TSRHC board of trustees since 1995. He is the former United States Ambassador to Sweden and continues his affiliation with the country as chairman of the board of directors of the Swedish American Chamber of Commerce and a member of the board of the American Scandinavian Foundation, both in New York City. His experience as a young patient at TSRHC has been a significant part of his life, shaping his lifelong philosophy of caring for those in need.
Currently a senior advisor with Citigroup, Inc. in New York City, he has served as president and chief executive officer of Travelers Insurance Holdings and the Associated Madison Companies. Olson is a former member of the Texas House of Representatives and has demonstrated a long commitment to civic, political, cultural and philanthropic organizations in Texas.
Bro. Olson is a graduate of Baylor University and attended Baylor Law School. He is a past president of the university’s alumni association, has served on the board of visitors of its school of business and school of music, and was on the board of visitors of Yale University’s Music School. He resides in Waco, Texas, with his wife, Kay Woodward Olson. He is a 33° Inspector General Honorary, present Master of Orient Lodge No. 905 in Knox City, Texas, and a member of Lockwood Lodge No. 1343 in Waco and the Scottish Rite Bodies in Waco and Austin.
Letter to the Editor
The very well written article entitled “Why Do They Quit” [Sept-Oct ’06, pp. 3–5] by the Deputy for Louisiana, Ill. William J. Mollere, 33°, hit very close to home.
I am one of the Masons that Brother Mollere accurately described and who joined the Scottish Rite in order to follow the rules that were in effect at that time to become a Shriner. My story was strikingly similar to that accurately discussed in the article—I attended a few Scottish Rite meetings but felt like an outsider. The “good old boys” who had been members for many years stood in their own groups and left me out, making me feel like an outsider. I quit attending these meetings which, to me, were cold and boring.
It was only through the wonderful Scottish Rite Journal that I learned of the marvelous work of the organization. Programs like the Rite-Care Childhood Learning Centers touched my heart. Even though the meetings were of no meaning to me, how could I turn my back on an organization that was doing so much for so many? Thus, I became a Life Member. I knew, in my heart, that the financial arrangement for becoming a Life Member would benefit many young children. In this way, my negative experiences of attending Scottish Rite meetings would not result in any reduction to the superb work that the Scottish Rite is doing for so many.
Fraternally,
Marvin Feldman, 32°
marvfeldman@yahoo.com
The Synergism of Increasing Lodge Attendanceand Updating Scottish Rite Records
Supreme Council Membership Services has stumbled upon a way to increase lodge attendance. Not only that, they found this method could kill two birds with one stone … or every now and then, a blind pig can find an acorn!
I was talking with a brother one day when the discussion turned to increasing lodge attendance. He asked if we could generate a list of our Scottish Rite members who lived in his Masonic district. The idea was that his lodge would call these members who were not affiliated with his lodge and invite them to lodge events.
In return for this list of Scottish Rite Masons in his Masonic district, the good brother helped us with our records. So both the Blue Lodge and the Scottish Rite benefited through this synergism. Synergism is “the interaction of elements that when combined produce a total effect that is greater than the sum of the individual elements, contributions, etc.” The information that the lodge obtained allowed us to update our records with vital information that is most useful. It included the Scottish Rite brother’s email address, his telephone numbers, his wife’s name, and his lodge name, number, and state.
The lodge was overwhelmed by the response from the brothers they called. Eleven were interested in attending the next stated meeting. Three joined! Others are in various stages of upgrading their participation in the fraternity. Many were members who had moved and were not aware of a lodge near their new home. Others were “rusty trowel” Masons who welcomed the call from a nearby lodge. Not everybody became activated, but the 10 per cent who did became a boon to lodge attendance! This program to increase lodge attendance and membership became a huge success!
Here’s how you can help your lodge and the Scottish Rite: email Membership Services at Membership@scottishrite.org for the names in your lodge’s location, giving us the ZIP codes that you want to cover. Once you receive the roster, call the names on the list, identify who you are and your lodge, and explain you are helping to upgrade their file for the Scottish Rite. Ask them for the answers to the pertinent questions already listed in this article. Don’t forget to ask them if they would be interested in getting together with your lodge brothers by attending the next lodge function. You’ll be surprised at the good results to your invitation.
You may have to divide up the names on the roster among several brothers to make the work easier, but it’s worth the effort. The roster is official business, so do not give it to anyone who is not involved in upgrading the information. The data is confidential to our Fraternity. Return your completed list to us right away by emailing it to Membership@scottishrite.org, and be ready for new attendees at your next lodge function. It’s as easy as that.
Of course, you don’t need to try this if you already have too many attending your lodge meetings!
-Dean R. Alban, 33°, Director of Membership Services
Philip A. Tilson Installed as National President of National Sojourners, Inc.
 Wor. Philip A. Tilson, 32°, was installed in June 2006 as the National President of National Sojourners, Inc., at its 86th Annual Convention in Austin, Texas. The National Sojourners, formed in 1917, is composed of Master Masons who are commissioned officers or warrant officers or senior non-commissioned officers of the uniformed services of the United States. Bro. Tilson joined the Sojourners in Carlisle Chapter No. 130 in 1965 and served as President of Dayton Chapter No. 67. He is serving now as a Director of Collingwood Library and Museum on Americanism.
Bro. Phil was raised a Master Mason in 1960 in Anchor Lodge No. 149, New Jersey. He is a member of Frank P. Moncure Lodge No. 279, Virginia, is a Past Master, Past District Deputy Grand Master, Past High Priest, Regional Deputy Grand Monarch of the Grotto, Past Grand Commander, Knights Templar of Maryland, and Most Illustrious Past Grand Master R&S Masons of Maryland. He also is a member of the Scottish Rite, Knight Masons of Ireland, Masonic Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis, Knight York Cross of Honor, HRAKTP, Gordian Knot, and Kena Shrine Temple. He is a 4° Knights of Columbus, and a recipient of the Purple Cross, York Rite.
Bro. Tilson is a retired Colonel of the United States Air Force and has logged more than 150 combat missions. His military awards include GCM, BS, JSCM, MSM, DFC (2ol), AM (3ol), VCG (with Palm) and LofM (2ol). He earned two Bachelors Degrees, two Masters Degrees and a Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology.
Twenty-three Past Grand Masters from Eight JurisdictionsHonor PGM Stewart Miner
Twenty-three Grand Masters and Past Grand Masters honored PGM Stewart W. Miner on August 17, 2006. MW Stewart Miner is seated third from left.
MW Stewart Wilson Miner, PGM of Virginia, 1987, was honored by his mother lodge, Cherrydale No. 42, on August 17, 2006, at what can only be called a “grand event.” Every chair in the lodge was filled by a Past Grand Master or current Grand Lodge officer, and a total of twenty-three Past Grand Masters were present. Bro. Miner served Cherrydale Lodge as Worshipful Master in 1965 and went on to serve as Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia from 1987–2004.
Bro. Richard Earle Robinson, WM of Cherrydale Lodge, planned this exceptional event to honor an exceptional Mason and succeeded well beyond his expectations when twenty-three Past Grand Masters came out to honor MW Miner. The grand lodges represented included Virginia, the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Virginia, the District of Columbia, Missouri, South Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, Oklahoma, Ohio, and Vermont.
Roy Clark Helps North Carolina Capital Campaign
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Left to right, Bros. William B. Brunk, 33°, SGIG in North Carolina, Roy Clark, 33°, and Dewey Preslar, Jr., 32°, KCCH hold $100,000 check from the Food Lion Foundation for the RiteCare Clinics of North Carolina.
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Sometimes, good things happen when they are least expected. The Orient of North Carolina is well into its $5.5 million capital campaign to permanently endow the three RiteCare Clinics in the Orient. In order to help publicize the campaign and to bring together the brethren of North Carolina, Ill. Roy Clark, 33°, agreed to do a special concert to benefit the campaign on Friday, September 22, 2006, at Reynolds Auditorium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Falling in the middle of the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of North Carolina, the evening provided a unique time to promote the fund-raising campaign and the Scottish Rite to the Grand Lodge delegates.
Bro. Clark, an entertainment legend and icon who received his Thirty-third Degree during the 2001 Bicentennial Session of the Supreme Council in Charleston, South Carolina, graciously agreed to provide a special performance to benefit the Orient’s fund-raising campaign, but the brethren of the Orient had no idea of what was to come. During the intermission of the show, Ill. William B. Brunk, 33°, SGIG in North Carolina, introduced two parties who had made significant donations to the campaign: the Food Lion Foundation, represented by Bro. Dewey R. Preslar, Jr., 32°, KCCH, Senior Vice-President of Food Lion Corporation, and Ill. Charles E. Scott, Jr., 33°, Personal Representative for the Valley of Winston-Salem and his wife, Geneva. The Food Lion Foundation donated $100,000 to the campaign, and Bro. Scott and his wife gave over $300,000. As the introductions were completed, Bro. Clark said to Bro. Brunk, “I’m not in their league, but I would like to make a contribution.” Bro. Clark is now among the top ten donors!
Following the concert, Ill. Clark came out to spend time with a number of brethren, their wives, and families, and engaged in conversation and photo opportunities. Bro. Brunk observed, “We knew that Bro. Clark was an extremely talented, warm, and friendly individual, but we had no idea he could be so bighearted in his giving. We are extremely grateful for the generosity and kindhearted brotherly love that he has extended to all of us here in North Carolina. He is truly a wonderful human being and an extraordinary example of what a Scottish Rite Mason should be like.”
FREEMASONRY Q & A
What is the ranking of Brothers who are Worshipful, Illustrious, and Excellent?
There is no comparative ranking of these terms; it’s an “apples to oranges” comparison. A Brother who has presided as Master of his Blue Lodge can use the honorific title Worshipful, a traditional English title of respect meaning honored. The presiding officer of a Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, the High Priest in the United States, is Excellent, and Illustrious is reserved for 33rd Degree Masons or Past Masters of a Council of Royal and Select Masters (Cryptic Masons). When the word Most is used with one of these titles, it usually indicates the presiding officer of a grand body. Other officers may use Right or Very depending on their rank and their grand lodge. A very partial list of honorific adjectives for presiding officers of Masonic bodies is given below.
Eminent: Knights Templar; Knights of the York Cross of Honor; Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests | Excellent: Royal Arch; Knight Masons | Grand: Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Forest| Honorable: Masonic Order of the Bath | Illustrious: Royal & Select Masters (Cryptic Masons); 33rd Degree, Scottish Rite; Red Cross of Constantine, Imperial Council; Grand College of Rites | Preeminent: York Rite College | Puissant: Red Cross of Constantine, Conclaves | Sovereign: Allied Masonic Degrees | Supreme: Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Supreme Forest | Worthy: St. Thomas of Acon; Masonic Societas Rosicruciana In Civitatibus Foederatis; Order of the Eastern Star | Worshipful: Craft, Symbolic, or Blue Lodge (1°–3°)
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