This electronic version of the SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL may be
distributed freely in this current unmodified form only. All
articles and materials are copyright 1995 and the property of The
Supreme Council, 33, S.J., USA. Permission to reprint articles
appearing in the JOURNAL will be granted upon written request
from recognized Masonic publications. Other written requests are
also welcome. Send requests to: Managing Editor, SCOTTISH RITE
JOURNAL, 1733 16 - Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20009-3199 Fax
202-387-1843.
The views expressed in THE SCOTTISH RITE JOURNAL do not
necessarily reflect those of The Supreme Council or its officers.
Table of Contents
The Family, America's Strength
C. Fred Kleinknecht
A Life Of Faith And Love
Remembering Norman Vincent Peale, 33o, G\C\
Ruth Stafford Peale
To A Life Beyond
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
Family, The Cornerstone Of Life
Jack E. Nixson
The Family Always Comes First
Cmdr. W. G. Sizemore II, USN
My Commitment To America
April Spring Bennett
The Service And Dolittle Families
William E. Gilman
Report Of The XV Conference Of Supreme Councils
H. Wallace Reid
Censorship And Rating Systems
Joshua J. Johnson
Ryan O'Loughlin
"The In Basket"
Current Interest
Sen. Burns Receives 33
Shepherd Scholarships
Nat. Sojourners Install Shaw
Williams-DeMolay G\M\
Teacher Of The Year
Partners in Americanism
Texas Rainbow Scholarships
Charitable Outreach
"Team 24" From Canada
Can You Top This?
Every Father's Dream
Youth I.D. Program
National Sojourners Award
Pensacola Awards
Preview Session Program
How To Do Well
J. Howard Rodman, Jr.
Beat The Drum
Melville H. Nahin
Aloe & Freemasonry
Alvin L. Gallin
The Rings of the Scottish Rite
Curtis G. Chezem
To Your Health
Richard L. Zweig
Squaring Off
Rosslyn Chapel
Judith A. Fisken
Book Reviews
Dr. S. Brent Morris
The Family, America's Strength
C. Fred Kleinknecht
"Take this spear, Odin, and snap it in two," says the Wise
Woman in one of the Germanic myths. Odin does so. The Wise Woman
then takes the two pieces, places them together, and gives them
back to Odin. "Do so again," she commands. Odin manages, although
just barely. She then takes the four pieces, places them
together, and says, "Yet a third time." When Odin tells her he
cannot, she says, "Thus it will be with men. Alone, they can be
broken. But the family is strong, and even you, a mighty god,
cannot break it."
Family is central to our civilization. It is the source of
security, the place where values are shared and transmitted to
the young, the place of refuge. More, it is the source of hope
for each generation.
It is easy to imagine how limited we would be if each generation
had to learn science and technology all over again, starting from
zero. It is likely we would never have the use of energy, let
alone medicine, telecommunication, or safe and warm homes.
Progress is possible only because each generation learns what
past generations knew and discovered.
But what is true of science is also true of ethics, morality,
compassion, honesty, integrity, and all the other things which
fall under the term "values." If those are not learned in the
family, they are seldom learned at all. No society can exist when
its people do not honor and appreciate such values. There simply
are not enough police and jails in the world to substitute for
honesty, honor, and integrity.
Those are, I believe, the things the Wise Woman of the legend had
in mind when she told Odin the family was so strong that even he
could not break it. For when a family functions as a family_when
it is the place in which values are passed from generation to
generation_those values give a strength nothing can break.
The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry has always stressed the
importance of family values. Albert Pike, for instance, heaps
scorn upon the man who abandons his family and, in contrast,
pours his highest praise upon those who hold the family together,
no matter what sacrifice may be called for.
Today, more than ever, these values are essential. Thus the
Scottish Rite in the Southern Jurisdiction has developed a Family
Life Program to enhance appreciation of the family and involve
family members in the activities of our Order. The Family Life
Proclamation on the front inside cover of this issue is just one
of the high-profile steps being taken as part of this program to
advance the family and all the values of respect, unity, and
service it represents.*
Also in this issue, see the article on page 10, " Family, the
Cornerstone of Life," by Ill\ Jack E. Nixson, 33, S\G\I\G\ in
Wyoming, and Chairman of The Supreme Council's Family Life
Subcommittee.
Unfortunately, temptations to "valueless living" have produced a
sense of alienation between many parents and their children.
There is a spiritual emptiness in some Americans, and this leads
to false "families," such as street gangs and religious cults,
and many other forms of extremism. There is no cure for these
ills that can be mandated by government or imposed by social
workers. Only by strengthening the American family and by
reinforcing its ancient role as the source and transmitter of
values can we assure either safe streets or secure lives.
Above all other duties save those owed to God, a Mason owes duty
to his family. And it is not only a duty, but the greatest source
of joy, comfort, and security. For, as the Wise Woman said, alone
we can be broken, but together we are strong.
A Life Of Faith And Love
Remembering Norman Vincent Peale, 33o, G\C\
Ruth Stafford Peale
Being a Freemason was an important part of the life of Norman
Vincent Peale, and the Scottish Rite meant a great deal to him.
He passed away on December 24, 1993, but I am keeping his message
flowing out through both Peale Center and Guideposts magazine.
At his funeral service at Marble Collegiate Church on Fifth
Avenue in New York, all three of our children spoke in tribute to
Norman, and I closed the service. I had a vision that his
influence might even be greater in the years to come. And in my
enthusiasm, I promised to send a free copy of The Power of
Positive Thinking to anyone who would write me.
So far we have given away 108,332 copies, and the requests are
still coming in. Truly this is a great memorial to Norman.
We were married June 20, 1930, in Syracuse, New York, at the
University Methodist Church where he was the pastor. We invited
special friends and also gave an invitation to the whole
congregation. So the church was packed. As we left the church and
entered the waiting limousine, I thought surely Norman would turn
to me and say something romantic. Instead he said, "We had such a
big crowd, it's too bad we couldn't take up a collection!" Right
away I knew that my life was going to be an exciting one.
Norman was called to the historic Marble Collegiate Church on
Fifth Avenue in New York in October of 1932. The church was at a
very low ebb, for it had been without a senior pastor for three
years. He worked hard, spoke to groups all over the city and at
business conventions.
Finally, the church filled and remained thus for 52 years. He
left the ministry there in 1984. He continued speaking all over
the country until 1992, and his last speaking engagement was the
commencement address at Ohio Wesleyan University on the 72nd
anniversary of his graduation.
Norman Vincent Peale wrote 46 books during his lifetime, the
first one published in 1937 and the last one published in
December 1993. The Power of Positive Thinking was completed in
1950.
The publisher didn't think it was very good, so Norman put in on
a shelf. A year later I got it out and took it to another
publisher. Norman had used the title "The Power of Faith." This
publisher didn't think that was a good title and said, "There is
a phrase in this manuscript that would make a better title."
"What is it?" Norman asked.
"The power of positive thinking," was the reply. Norman was not
really conscious that he had written that phrase in the
manuscript. Later, he said that God gave it to him.
The book was published by Prentice Hall in 1952 and has circled
the world in 46 languages. Letters started pouring in and have
continued to this day. They tell of changed lives. Here are two.
A young man in prison wrote recently:
"Dr. Peale, I found your book in the prison library, and started
to read it. Now, I didn't know anything about this man Jesus that
you talk about. But I asked for a Bible because you were always
talking about Jesus, and you were always referring to the Bible.
I read the references that you mentioned, and my life was
changed. I am now taking a course in prison. I expect to make
something of my life when I get out."
A woman in her 30s wrote:
"Dr. Peale, I have to tell you about myself. I went through it
all_liquor, drug abuse, all kinds of violations to my body. When
I reached the bottom, my sister gave me The Power of Positive
Thinking. I read it because it was so simple for me to
understand. And I realized that I didn't have to live this way.
That started me on the way back. I'm writing to tell you that I
am married to a wonderful husband, have two children, and a
beautiful life. It's all because you taught me, in The Power of
Positive Thinking, that I could be different."
There are also lots of letters from businessmen, from CEOs and on
down. And they talk about the pressures of life and the ethical
decisions life requires. And the answer is always the same: "Your
book showed me how to do it."
I want to close by giving a couple of Norman's favorite Scripture
passages. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth
me." (Philippians 4:13) And the one from his first sermon: "I am
come that they might have life, and that they might have it more
abundantly." (John 10:10)
To A Life Beyond
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
To many people, life after death remains an unsolvable mystery.
It is far too awesome for them to comprehend. I like to think,
however, that it is best understood as something very simple,
very natural.
Some years ago I conducted funeral services for Neil Collum, a
good friend, and a good man. I looked at Neil's casket and I told
the people gathered there that Neil Collum was not in that
casket; that that was only the body Neil had used on earth; that
he himself wasn't there. And then I shared these thoughts that
have always been meaningful to me, thoughts about God's love for
us:
Before Neil was born, when he was in the prenatal state, tucked
up under his mother's heart, he was already sensitive to
love_even unborn babies are_and this baby was happy there. But
suppose somebody had been able to tell this child, "Look, you
can't stay here. You're going to be born." That to him would have
been death, because it would have meant a change from a security
to an insecurity. We can imagine the baby thinking, "I don't want
to be born. I want to stay here. I like it here. I'm comfortable;
I'm fed; I'm loved."
But there came a day when that baby was born. He left where he
was and came into a new world. And here in this new world he felt
loving arms around him, and the first thing he saw was a
beautiful face looking down at him. Everybody ran at his
slightest wish to do just what he wanted.
Then he began to grow up and he had some troubles, some hard
knocks. But he loved life and he loved the world. Time passed and
he became an old man. And the thought came to him, "I'm going to
die." He said to himself, "I don't want to die. I like it here. I
love the stars at night. I love to feel the sun on my face. I
love the tangy smells of autumn and to sit in front of a fire on
winter evenings warming my old bones. I love my family and my
friends. I don't want to die."
But then he did die. Now, do you think that God, who provided all
that protection and love for his coming into this world and
getting started in it, was going to abandon him to gloom and
terror when he left?
"When Neil Collum comes to himself after death," I told Neil's
mourners, "what will he see? I believe he will see the kindliest
face he can imagine looking at him and feel loving arms around
him."
Why do I believe in this picture of a life beyond? Because I
believe in Jesus Christ. Why was Jesus raised from the dead? To
show that nothing can overcome the power of God_nothing_not even
death.
Family, The Cornerstone Of Life
Jack E. Nixson
The family, when properly fulfilled, is the cornerstone of life,
the breath of all that is. Obviously, this insight urges the
preservation, protection, and strengthening of family values. In
addition, it relates to an important element in the lessons of
the Scottish Rite_Duty is the one great law. Thus, above all else
and as part of one's service to God, our duty as Masons is to be
good fathers, husbands, sons, and Masonic Brethren faithful to
our families and country.
Families are the basic unit of civilization, but they don't just
happen. The family is nurtured by respect, understanding,
self-discipline, enthusiasm, togetherness and, most of all, love.
This takes time and effort and is aided by reflections from
previous generations of family, friends, and Brethren.
When we were children, we were enriched by that which our parents
and grandparents imparted to us. As parents, we in turn have
conveyed those values to our children. And Masonry, like the
family, passes on the values and wisdom of those who have gone
before to prepare those that follow. If what we teach are quality
values, they will aid in creating a more virtuous heritage for
future generations.
Unfortunately, that wondrous future which could be man's destiny
is clouded by cultural changes which are not always positive .
During this continuing transformation, society has,
unfortunately, witnessed a steady decline in family values.
Regardless of the nature of change, the future and its inherent
problems are not going to fade away. Only a wise adjustment to
the future will stay tomorrow's decay.
With the increased occurrence of man-made disasters as well as
other mischiefs, and with the developing lack of toleration for
the philosophies and religions of humankind, it's evident that
the values of society need modification. In matters of absolutes
and incalculables, they also need better understanding of
toleration.
Because the task is difficult is not, however, sufficient reason
to ignore the undertaking nor underestimate its potential for
good. What better way to face our entangled tomorrows than with
the entrenched values of Freemasonry? As individuals and
fraternal Brothers, we are rich in what we can contribute to each
other. It's also evident that each of us profits when we
spiritually and intellectually touch the lives of others.
This year, the Southern Jurisdiction joins the Northern Masonic
Jurisdiction in a "Family Life" program designed to celebrate and
energize the spirit of family. It's a beautiful and noble cause.
Masonic teachings actively seek to make good men into better men,
good families into better families and, ultimately, to create a
better world for all. This program will be a natural enhancement
of Blue Lodge ideals extended by Scottish Rite activity.
While it's absurd to think our Order or any organization can
totally impact on this problem, it would be irresponsible not to
try. In general, the family unit is in trouble and needs help.
The Supreme Council holds that the elements of a worthy family
and family life are not only ordained by a Supreme Being to
nourish the soul of every individual, but they also serve as the
bedrock and moral strength of any group, even of a nation and of
civilization itself.
Always and especially through this "Family Life" program, each
member of the Scottish Rite should realize how precious a family
is and, honoring the Supreme Being which created the family,
endeavor to respect and improve his own family as well as assist
the families of others. Similarly, members of all Masonic
organizations should be encouraged to join in the celebration of
good and wholesome family life by participating in their own
"Family Life" endeavors.
Within each Scottish Rite Valley, for instance, Brethren should
endeavor to foster those community programs and observances that
hold up the family as an invaluable asset to the state and
country. Many Orients and Valleys already sponsor family life
projects, and The Supreme Council has no intention of superseding
those endeavors. It would, however, like Valleys to enhance,
encourage, and expand their existing family programs, even
creating new ones. One of Freemasonry's favored youth
organizations, for instance, is the Boy Scouts of America.
Recently, that group commissioned a research study on "The Values
of Men and Boys in America." The findings are as significant as
they are obvious: "Men and boys of our country need more positive
role models, who embody strong moral values and personal
integrity." The study also suggests that the greater the
involvement by youth in upright organization (i.e., Boy Scouts,
Girl Scouts, DeMolay, Job's Daughters, Rainbow Girls, etc.), the
more positive the impact on values and achievements.
Clearly, the term family has many meanings. For example, there is
the Scottish Rite family, Childhood Language Disorders Clinic
family, Masonic Youth Group family, individual Masonic family,
and common ancestor family. All of these are families, and though
the main thrust of the Scottish Rite's "Family Life" program is
to help the common ancestor family, all of the above, and more,
are inclusive of that relationship. Let your imagination be your
guide. Walk the extra mile and involve yourself and your loved
ones in a variety of these special families and their activities.
Further information on specific suggested Scottish Rite "Family
Life" activities and awards will be sent to the Orients for
deliberation and dissemination. By your good work, let your light
shine towards a better tomorrow characterized by stronger,
happier families.
A wise poet once made the following observation. It speaks a
truth that is immemorial, and seeks support for that which is yet
to be:
No written word or mortal plea
Can teach young hearts what they should be,
Nor all the books upon the shelves
But what the teachers are themselves.
Let's be good teachers and promote the family_first, last, and
forever!
The Family Always Comes First
Cmdr. W. G. Sizemore II, USN
I originally planned to write an all-encompassing article about
the United States Navy that tied specific aspects and
peculiarities of military life to family values. After some
thought on the subject, I quickly saw that I was way over my
head. I came to the conclusion that family values aren't specific
to the military or any other vocation for that matter. Family
values are complex and individualized and cannot be grouped into
a single category based on vocation or environment but are
beliefs based on individual and personal experiences derived and
refined during one's whole existence. Individual family values
are further refined when two persons join together to raise a
family.
As a result, I stopped thinking of family values from a purely
lifestyle or environmental standpoint and now view these
influences as mere variables in a much larger family value
equation. The degree to which lifestyle and environment influence
family values is different for every person, family, and
situation. Therefore, I thought it appropriate to write, from a
Naval Aviator's personal point of view, how unique elements of
the military lifestyle and environment have affected my family's
system of values.
I saw two major differences when I compared my family's
lifestyle/environment to that of our civilian neighbors, friends,
and relatives. Most prominently, the military family must endure
prolonged separations due to long and arduous deployments in a
dangerous job environment. Also, there are frequent and
guaranteed job relocations. Both of these lifestyle elements are
certainly present in varying degrees in other vocations, but
nothing I encountered comes close to the total package one gets
in the military.
For example, in Navy carrier aviation, the typical career path is
two to three years of sea duty followed by two to three years of
shore duty repeated throughout a career. Sea duty is normally on
a two-year cycle consisting of six months of several short (four-
to six-week) at-sea training periods culminating in a six-month
overseas deployment.
Shore duty varies to a large degree but usually offers a respite
from the frequent separations of sea duty. What separation one
does encounter during shore duty is less severe since home is
only a phone call away_a big difference from at-sea separations
where the only lines of communication have historically been via
the mail which can result in up to a three-week delay to answer
the simplest of questions. The switch from sea to shore duty and
vice versa that occurs every two to three years often results in
a family relocation.
This lifestyle and environment result in a tremendous amount of
stress and require considerable sacrifice by each member of a
family. The parent who is left behind shoulders the whole load of
running the household and raising the family. Communication
delays also serve to put much of the major decision-making
responsibility solely on this parent's shoulders. He or she often
cannot pursue a career or must forgo an established career due to
family separation responsibilities and frequent relocations. The
parent who deploys loses touch with his or her family. She, or,
more frequently, he, loses out on the day-to-day, week-to-week
family activities and routines, often missing whole child
developmental periods such as learning to walk, talk, or ride a
bike. Children miss their deployed parent and suffer the lack of
balance of having both a full-time mom and dad.
How do persons in the military services cope, survive, and raise
a family in this type of challenging lifestyle/environment? We do
it and flourish through our system of family values which puts
the family first with every choice and at every opportunity. To
begin with, we endeavor to make the most of the time we spend
together, and we put an emphasis on doing things together. We
settle daily priority conflicts, whether at work or at home, by
putting family interests first and foremost.
For example, I prioritize my schedule to be physically at every
family function as much as possible, whether it is a routine
doctor's appointment or an important school activity or ceremony.
When away on shore duty assignments, I phone home frequently in
order to share our daily experiences and let my family know that
I am thinking about them and am there for them. When deployed at
sea, I write home every day even when nothing noteworthy has
occurred. My wife, in turn, gave up her career in order to devote
100 percent of her time and attention to the family. In short, we
unconditionally commit ourselves to each other and to the family.
Instilling this family value system in our children also helps
them deal with the difficult elements of the military lifestyle.
They understand that they are a part of a family team whose
members will always be there for each other, whether physically
together or not. They understand that their dad always wants to
be with them even though sometimes he is away due to his job. We
convey to our children that they have an obligation to each other
as sisters_that friends and schoolmates will come and go over the
course of their lives, but they will always be sisters. As a
result, our girls are extremely close. This helped them adjust
and acclimate quickly after our move last summer.
Our family is young, and we have many challenges ahead. We will
continue to refine our system of family values in order to
respond to the changes in our lifestyle and environment. One
thing, however, will remain constant and will enable us to
successfully cope and deal with any hardship or stress associated
with the military lifestyle/environment. That constant will
always be:
The Family Always Comes First.
My Commitment to America
April Spring Bennett
America was born as a revolutionary force in a world of
conservatism; conversely, for much of this century, America has
stood as a conservative force in a world of revolution. Today,
America has evolved into an open society responding to a variety
of revolutions around the world. But much that is revolutionary
remains in America's cultural-political legacy, and Americans
continue to pioneer revolutions against colonialism, racism,
sexism, ignorance and poverty, revolutions that have swept the
planet in the last half-century.
As the human population grows at an alarming rate, America's
revolutionary heritage faces new challenges. New opportunities
beckon in outer space, on inner-city streets, at the artist's
easel, in the concert hall, at the inventor's bench, in the
scientist's laboratory, and in the unending quest for social
justice, individual fulfillment, and international peace. With
such struggles facing America, what is my duty?
In his inaugural address in January of 1989, President Bush said
it was important "to be a loyal friend, a loving parent, and a
citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood, and his town
better than he found it." His words reflect the nature of my
obligation to this beloved continent.
My commitment to America is to acquire as much knowledge as
possible so that I may spread information about the changing
world and, therefore, help diminish the ignorance that causes
unnecessary upheavals and human distress. America has always,
since discovery, been considered "the land of the free and the
home of the brave." It has been blessed with a diversity of
cultures, cultures which share the legacy of the most powerful
country in the world. It is my duty to help educate others about
the past and to help today to instill the pride, ethics, and
morals that will benefit those of the future.
Aung San Suu Kyi, winner of the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize, stated
"Each man has in him the potential to realize the truth through
his own will and endeavor and to help others to realize it." This
is where my commitment lies. It is up to me to help my peers, the
leaders of tomorrow, realize that democracy, like liberty,
justice, and other social and political rights, is not "given";
it is earned through courage, resolution, and sacrifice. Our
ancestors knew this, as the dedication and bloodshed of those who
have fought for the beliefs of the American society have proved.
It is important, for the benefit of America's future, that I
understand and help others to understand the goals of our
forefathers and the importance of our heritage. Young adults all
over America have lost contact with their heritage. Family and
regional traditions have become virtually unimportant, and there
is little desire among the new generation to remember past
cultural and historical events. Education is essential to survive
in this ever-changing society, and my commitment is to educate
myself and, thus, be better able to assist others. If I can do
this, then, as the 20th century approaches its end, the people of
America will still proudly be able to claim, in the words of
Lincoln, that they and their heritage represent "the last best
hope of earth."
I owe it to America at least to try to save the world. Of course,
I realize that I must be realistic_not everyone will be affected
by what I say or do. However, if I make an impression each day on
those around me, and perhaps even change the attitude or outlook
on life of one person, then I know I have succeeded in my
commitment to make America a better place.
The Service And Dolittle Families
William E. Gilman
It is a warm pleasant summer afternoon, the annual 4th of July
community celebration. The Service family is seeing the
culmination of planning and preparation with which they have been
involved for several months. Herman, in addition to being
involved in numerous other civic and social activities, is this
year's 4th of July chairman. His wife, Helen, has worked by his
side while carrying on her own volunteer projects. Their son,
Joshua, a high school student, has made a significant
contribution to the holiday preparations in spite of being deeply
involved in many school and community activities.
Sam and Sophie Dolittle and their son, Jimmy, have also come to
the celebration to enjoy the activities. Sam is a serious bowler
who spends two or three evenings each week pursuing his favorite
pastime. Sophie is an avid canasta player, and Jimmy attends
school_as required.
These two typical families exemplify the contrast between an
involved citizenry and the apathetic masses. We find in one
family's members the underlying desire to serve their fellowmen
and fulfill their social and civic responsibilities. In the
other, we see the egocentric mindset which seeks pleasure for its
own sake from those avenues which have been paved by the labor of
others.
Having followed in his father's footsteps, Herman Service has
received Masonic Light on his pathway in life and has served in
various offices including Master of his Lodge. There he has
learned to think on his feet, achieve goals by coordination and
cooperation, and to serve others. He is also a member of the
Board of Directors of the community Red Cross, the council of his
church, and the local Chamber of Commerce.
Herman's wife Helen, a member of the Order of Eastern Star, has
improved herself and her community as a hospital volunteer, as
well as a member of the local Council for Exceptional Children
and the Community Chorus. His son, Joshua, is a DeMolay and
active in several school and community projects.
Sam Dolittle, in contrast to Herman Service's many interests,
mainly busies himself as league president for his factory's
bowling group. Similarly, Sophie is consumed by her pursuit of
canasta and has played in many tournaments with her friends of
similar temperament. Jimmy is an excellent athlete and devotes
all of his free time to practicing in the prevailing sport of the
season.
Ultimately, these families will perpetuate themselves as one
generation internalizes the mores of its precedent. As Joshua and
Jimmy adopt the lifestyles of their respective families, they
will manifest the ideas which have been passed from one
generation to another. For this reason, a family's outlook
becomes as important as genetic heritage, the difference being
that genetic heritage is random and fixed whereas attitude is
subject to alteration by variables such as independent thought.
The Fourth of July picnic lunches have been eaten and the
political speeches have begun. Herman and Helen are interested in
the presentations by the mayoral candidates. Sam is involved in a
game of horseshoes with some of his friends from the factory and
has a "leaner" pending the last pitch by his opponent. Sophie has
happened across a card game in progress and is prepared to sit in
on the next hand. It is a lazy, easy-going afternoon with time to
pass before supper and the fireworks which are scheduled to
follow a patriotic presentation by the local elementary school
children. Across the lake, ducks can be seen floating on the
placid waters.
While one family focuses its attention on the future of their
community, the other pursues its own self-serving interests. We
see in much of our current situation just such examples of
involvement by the few and apathy by the many. The turnout of
voters in recent elections has been declining due to the growing
feeling that "my vote won't make any difference."
Another example of derailed social consciousness is the
conspicuous consumption by many for the sake of material status.
Many families find it necessary to have a second income "to keep
up with the Jones'" while their children become victims of an
education system about which their parents have little knowledge
or concern.
Diverting our intellectual, social and spiritual resources,
however, will not carry us into the 21st century. Education,
involvement, dedication, awareness, and sound moral values will
be the vanguard which will propel our nation into the future. Our
words alone will not turn the tide. We must be willing to become
personally involved in our national, state, and local
development. We must turn apathy into action.
As the afternoon wears down, Sam and Sophie embark on a boat ride
around the lake. The celebrants have, for the most part, eased
themselves into waiting for the supper meal and the fireworks at
sundown. Herman and Helen are visiting with their neighbors and
beginning to plan for next year's observance of the birthday of
our nation's independence.
A scream is heard from the lake and all that can be seen is an
overturned boat and splashing. Both Joshua and Jimmy leave the
softball game, run for the pier, and dive into the water. They
are followed by Herman while the rest of the people on shore
watch in stunned awe. The two boys quickly find Sophie and pull
her to shore. Herman locates Sam who initially resists his heroic
efforts to rescue him. At long last, cheers can be heard from the
banks as Herman manages to manipulate his neighbor Sam to the
side of the overturned boat and ultimate safety.
Sam and Sophie have another chance at life. Will they do better?
Will you?
Report Of The XV Conference Of Supreme Councils
H. Wallace Reid
The XV World Conference of Supreme Councils of the
Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite was held in Lausanne, Switzerland,
May 28-31, 1995. Representing the Southern Jurisdiction as
delegates were: Sov\ Gr\ Cmdr\ C. Fred Kleinknecht accompanied by
his wife, Gene; and H. Wallace Reid, S\G\I\G\ in South Carolina
accompanied by his wife, Ann. Also attending as observers were H.
Douglas Lemons, S\G\I\G in California, accompanied by his wife,
Maxine; Harry S. Barrows, S\G\I\G\ in Iowa, accompanied by his
wife, Mary Elizabeth; David Kruger, S\G\I\G\ in Virginia; and
William Gene Sizemore, Grand Executive Director, accompanied by
his wife, Hellen.
The Conference provided a memorable experience of hearing some of
the successes along with the problems confronting Supreme
Councils from all corners of the world. There were
representatives and delegates present from 41
Supreme Councils, 30 observers, and other accompanying persons
which, the President stated, "provided a gratifying total
attendance of 161 men and women."
The meeting was called to order by Ill\ Arriaga Rivera, Past Sov\
Gr\ Cmdr\ of Mexico, who made brief remarks about the previous
meeting, extended greetings from Mexico, and emphasized the need
for Supreme Councils to work together for unity to help maintain
the universality of Freemasonry.
Ill\ Rivera explained the business of the Conference would be
conducted in the official languages of the Conference which were
English, French, and Spanish. Earphones were provided each
delegate so that he might select the translation most comfortable
to him. The first order of business was to select a President,
and Ill\ Jean-Pierre Grenier, Sov\ Gr\ Cmdr\ of Switzerland, was
elected.
Ill\ Grenier thanked the members of the Conference for electing
him, brought greetings from the Swiss Bodies, thanked Ill\ Rivera
for his work, welcomed all the new Supreme Councils which had
joined the Conference since 1980, and called attention to the
presence of representatives from the Supreme Councils of England,
Finland, and Wales who were attending the Conference for the
first time.
Special attention was also directed to other Supreme Councils who
were attending for the first time as observers and would not have
a vote on the affairs of the Conference. These Supreme Councils
were Romania I and II and Colombia I and II. Hope was expressed
that these Councils might be merged in their respective countries
in the near future.
Ill\ Grenier explained that, prior to the Conference, he had
requested the Councils participating in the sessions of the
Conference to make written submissions defining their views of
the "sense and mission of the Order" regarding: its aims, the
reason for its existence, its purposes, the problems it faces,
and proposals on how to solve these problems.
Ill\ Genier said this method of written presentation was an
experiment which could speed the discussions of important issues
confronting all Supreme Councils. He had appointed a Special
Committee of four to review each of the papers submitted and to
prepare a prcis of the main points of each for discussion by the
delegates.
Responses to the topics proved quite interesting and varied in
nature from philosophy and history to philanthropy and
recognition. Most papers encompassed the theme that Freemasonry
is a way of life which binds men in a brotherhood that transcends
all religious, ethnic, cultural, social and educational
differences building a better, happier and wiser world.
Other subjects which evolved during the discussions related to
greater involvement of family activities, youth organizations,
establishing organizations for women, and ways of disseminating
Masonic information between Supreme Councils.
Grand Commanders C. Fred Kleinknecht, S\J\, and Robert O.
Ralston, N\M\J\, USA, volunteered to assist in helping with this
problem by keeping communication avenues open through publishing
from time to time correct addresses of all Supreme Councils in
the Scottish Rite Journal and The Northern Light.
The Conference provided an opportunity for Scottish Rite Leaders
from all over the world to meet and share ideas. While no action
take by this Conference can be binding to hinder the autonomy of
each Supreme Council, it is well to remind ourselves not only of
that thread which binds us together in the Constitutions of 1786,
but also of the Ritual which embodies the heart of the Rite and
is the essential element which ignites the flame of universality
encouraging good men everywhere to seek moral, intellectual, and
spiritual freedom.
Censorship And Rating Systems
Joshua J. Johnson
Censorship is an emotional issue in today's society. It has been
ignored for far too long. It is time for the present generation
to speak out and let younger voices be heard. The Constitution
defends and protects the rights of U.S. citizens. Some-times
protection means censorship of material and denying the public's
right to "see and know" and some-times it means that the public
should be allowed to "see and know."
One time that censorship should be practiced pertains to the
lyrics in some music. When grown men "rap" about sexual
encounters on recordings that are easily accessible to young
children, the public needs to be protected. This music, if that
label is applicable, dehumanizes women and contains violent
messages and obscene images. That's how one judge felt in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida, when he ruled that the album, As Nasty As
They Wanna Be, by the once-popular rap group, 2 Live Crew, was
obscene. There is one problem with this ruling: How does one
define obscenity?
In one case, Miller vs California, the Supreme Court ruled that a
work must be "patently offensive" and lack artistic, literary,
political, social, or scientific value to be declared legally
obscene. The judge in Florida ruled that 2 Live Crew's album
lacked "artistic value." After the members of the group were
arrested and fined, Luther Campbell, 2 Live Crew's leader, told
an Update reporter, "that [the album] was meant to be funny, not
taken seriously." What could possibly be funny about hearing
young American teens trying to imitate and recite the album's
vulgar lyrics?
Some have proposed that federal legislators should set an age
limit, such as 18, for the purchase of compact discs or cassette
tapes with explicit lyrics. This type of law could be enforced,
just as the liquor laws are, at the place of business. A
proof-of-age might limit the sale of this type of "music" to
minors. Furthermore, the recordings should not be played in
public, just as smoking is also prohibited in many public places.
This type of music has no use in an already violent world.
Once censorship has been defined, the next step is to enforce it
equitably. That means the government needs to stay consistent,
which is one thing it hasn't done very well to date. 2 Live
Crew's Campbell claims that his rap group was singled out
unfairly. "Do you think it is a coincidence that [they've] gone
after a black group producing black music through a black
production company?" He referred to a white comedian, Andrew
"Dice" Clay who produced a questionably vulgar cassette tape and
asked, "This isn't obscene?" His point is well taken. Clay's
recording Dice has not been banned, but in many people's minds it
is just as offensive. To stop this apparently unfair scrutiny of
possible cases of discrimination, there must be a mutual
agreement in defining "censorship" in the law.
Jonathon Alter, in his article "Let's Stop Crying Wolf on
Censorship," says, "The word censorship has been thrown around
much too casually in recent years. If a record company executive
or an art gallery owner or a book publisher declines to
disseminate something, that's not censorship, it's judgement. It
might be cowardly judgement or responsible judgement, but it is
what they [the executives] are paid to do."
Once censors have made their "judgements" on what should be cut
out of various parts of books, movies, albums, or other visual
material, a "jury" should be chosen from the ranks of the
American people. Then they should decide if anything is "too
obscene" for our society before the product is available on the
shelves. Putting the responsibility and the restraint back in the
hands of the American people, not the government, is a bold new
step worthy of serious consideration.
Other domains under which censorship has been an issue include
contagious diseases. For example, in the case of AIDS, many
believe that the public does not have the right to know who has
contracted the disease. Not long ago, members of the Ray family
in Arcadia, Florida, were victims of a public announcement of the
names of AIDS patients. Three of the Ray boys tested positive for
the virus that produces the disease. Even though the school board
was persuaded to allow the boys to attend school, the Ray family
had to endure social ostracism, threats of violence, and public
protests. "It's tough enough having a fatal disease. The least
that school official can do for these children is save them from
becoming social outcasts," one defender of the Ray family said.
"Ethics suggest we do have to protect the confidentiality of the
child." The victim should have the choice whether the principal,
teacher, school nurse, or physician should know of his or her
condition. No other officials need to be informed, especially if
all employees treated all students as if they had the disease,
which would mean special precautions whenever bodily fluids are
present.
Another area of censorship involves the right of parents to ban
textbooks in schools. This should not be allowed. In one town, a
group of citizens wanted to outlaw an American classic,
Huckleberry Finn, because they objected to the treatment of
African-Americans in the novel. But, if this censorship were
allowed to occur, it would be like trying to hide the fact that
there were slaves in this country. If this prohibition of certain
classics would occur repeatedly, American children would not
learn of our country's past and not be educated that slavery was
wrong. We must remember the famous quotation, "Those who do not
learn from history are condemned to repeat it."
Another concerned parent complained about the "inappropriate
language" in the book called I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by
Maya Angelou, a well-respected author and poet. The parent asked
to have the book removed from the school curriculum_a case in
which the parent won. That particular book teaches some excellent
points that young adults could find quite valuable in years to
come. In cases like these, many local censorships consist of one
parent complaining about one book. School boards should be
allowed to have jurisdiction over the students in that district,
but they should also consider passing a rule that a significant
number of parents must express their reservations about a book
before it is considered for expulsion from the school libraries.
In conclusion, the people must act now and urge discussion of
these issues in society. The public should be protected whether
it is to keep vulgar language silent, to shield the privacy of
disease victims, or to allow the nation's children free access to
their own history. The only way to solve problems is to voice
opinions and write to Washington. Our representatives in Congress
need to know the wish of the citizens in their districts. The
rights guaranteed in the First Amendment should be protected, but
this nation's citizens need to be sensitive about how this law is
interpreted.
Finally, a quotation by Joseph Joubert in Censorship: Opposing
Viewpoints seems to sum up the need for discussions by free men
in a free society: "It is better to debate a question without
settling it than to settle a question without debating it."
Censorship And Rating Systems
Ryan O'Loughlin
Censorship is a very controversial topic in today's society. Are
we, as a nation, becoming too liberal in our judgement? Perhaps
we allow things to be on TV and in the movies that we shouldn't.
And then again, perhaps not. Are we too liberal or too
conservative, and what measures should be taken on this issue?
As many studies have shown, TV violence does affect young
viewers. Take the reported case of the young boy who burned his
house down and killed his sister, supposedly after watching an
episode of Beavis and Butthead. There are probably many other
cases that have not caught the attention of the national news
media.
Conservatives say this show should be taken off the air entirely.
They say this child had no way of knowing that cartoon characters
cannot be hurt but real people can. And they are probably right;
the child did not know the difference between reality and
fiction.
I have only one question, where were this child's parents? MTV
did take the show out of its prime-time spot and put it later at
night when most small, impressionable children are in bed. I
believe putting the show on later at night was the right thing to
do, but some still want to take this show off the air entirely.
We also have the statistics that tell us how many times sex or
violence or obscene language is used in television shows which
tell us that there is a problem. But keep in mind, numbers can be
manipulated to prove whatever you want them to.
Some extreme conservatists want books removed from libraries
because of their content. For example, they believe that Mark
Twain's masterpieces The Adventures of Tom Sawyer along with The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, should be removed because words
we now consider racist slurs are used. Mark Twain's work is
perhaps the pearl of American literature. I have read both of
these books, and I see nothing wrong with them. They merely show
the attitude of the times. We should know about the past and the
terrible mistakes we made there so that we will never forget and
repeat them. Will radicals say next that we should not teach
about the Holocaust because it is too violent?
If we ban books from libraries, we are not only breaking the
first amendment right to freedom of press, a right which we hold
sacred, but we would be no better than Hitler and the Nazis who
burned books because of their content. Radicals also want books
like The Wizard of Oz taken from the library shelves because they
depict witches. To remove these books, in my opinion, is just
plain wrong.
Then we have the other, liberal, side of the fence, those who say
we should not censor at all. They believe that TV networks should
put whatever they want on TV. They do not believe it is right to
remove or put warning stickers on obscene music. More or less,
they advocate total freedom of speech in every medium.
I am afraid the liberals are too liberal and the conservatives
are too conservative. My stand is in the middle ground, along
with most other Americans. I do not believe we should take TV
shows off the air or take books from the library shelves. But I
do not see what will be hurt by putting a warning sticker on
obscene music. We must all realize that we are a capitalist
nation. Whether we like it or not, sex, and sometimes, obscenity,
sells.
Believe it or not, there are solutions to this mounting problem.
As I stated earlier, where were that child's parents when he was
watching Beavis and Butthead? I believe most of the problems and
faults our nation is facing today can be linked back to one
thing, the loss of family and moral values. We are turning away
from God and sound morals, the very thing this nation was founded
upon. If we can fix this problem, I believe we can fix most, if
not all, the problems facing our country today. We need strong
families with good morals. Perhaps, if everybody had these
values, there would be no Charles Manson, or Jeffrey Daumer, or
Madonna, or 2 Live Crew_and the list goes on and on. It should
not be up to the federal or state government to decide what we
should or should not watch. It should not be up to some
censorship board to decide for us. We, the people, should decide
for ourselves what is appropriate for us and our children to
watch, and decisions should be based on good morals.
Technology today affords the opportunity to do this. There is a
device called the V chip. With this device installed in the TV
sets of America, we will have the ability to watch or block out
what we want. If we do not our children to watch a certain TV
show that we think is inappropriate for them, we just punch in
the little code and, presto, the show is blocked out. It is that
easy. Combine technology with morals_and the problem of TV
censorship is fixed. Television networks can put on whatever they
want, and we can decide if we want to watch it. It is that
simple.
As for libraries, let them put whatever books they want on their
shelves. Let us decide if we want to read them. We should have
the right to choose. As for public schools, let them teach books
with strong messages in them. We must not be afraid of the truth!
Having looked at both sides of the fence, is our society too
liberal or too conservative? You decide. I believe I stand in the
middle of the road. Censorship is good to a certain degree.
Putting warning labels on vulgar music is certainly acceptable,
and having controversial books in schools is an essential part of
education. TV networks should show what they want. But it is the
responsibility of the parents to regulate what the children
watch. The bottom line is this, we must have a return of family
values.
Current Interest
Senator Burns Receives Thirty-third Degree
Senator Conrad Ray Burns (Montana) was elected at the Biennial
Session of The Supreme Council in October 1993, to receive the
rank of Inspector General Honorary. Due to the Senator's many
commitments, he was unable to participate in the 1993 conferral,
but on June 21, 1995, a special conferral of the Thirty-third
Degree took place for him at the House of the Temple in
Washington, DC, with Ill\ Walter S. Downs, 33, G\C\, fulfilling
the role of Sovereign Grand Commander in masterly form.
Shepherd Scholarships 1995
The great need for scholarship support in America today is
underlined by the receipt of over 300 applications for the 1995
William E. Shepherd Scottish Rite Scholarships. Fortunately, the
Shepherd Scholarship fund this year, due to effective financial
management, allowed 13 awards to be given, ranging from one to
four years and from $1,000 to $2,000 per year each.
Listed alphabetically by last name, then curriculum and school,
the 1995 awardees are: Askren, Christine L., child development,
California State University, Bakersfield, CA; Avila, Carolina P.
S., speech pathology, Old Dominion Univ., Norfolk, VA; Busch,
Ryan C., physical therapy, California State Univ., Fullerton, CA;
Hildebrand, Susan L., child development, California State Univ.,
Chico, CA; Hope, Douglas, G., dentistry, Univ. of California, San
Francisco, CA; Jiron, James M., medicine, Univ. of Maryland,
College Park, MD; Leader, Deborah A., speech pathology, Towson
State Univ., Towson, MD; Lewin, Huston A., music ministry, Iliff
School of Theology, Denver, CO; Mullins, Stephanie L., speech
pathology, Southwest Missouri State College, Springfield, MO.;
Powers, Robert E., divinity, Emory Univ., Atlanta, GA;
Quesinberry, Jennifer L., law, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee,
FL; Ricchio, Ryan K., library science, California State Univ.,
Fullerton, CA; Tigard, Erik L., accounting, Coe College, Cedar
Rapids, IA.
Congratulations to all!
National Sojourners
Install Shaw As President
Ill\ Donald L. Shaw, 33, N\ M\J\, was installed as National
President, National Sojourners, Inc., on 23 June, 1995, at the
75th Annual Convention held at Hartford, Connecticut. A recipient
of the Sojourner Legion of Honor Medal in 1989 for his many
services, such as National Membership Chairman and member of the
Board of Directors of the Collingwood Library and Museum on
Americanism, Ill\ Shaw was raised a Master Mason in White River
Lodge No. 332, Shoals, Indiana, in 1955, became an active member
of many Masonic Bodies, and was coroneted a Scottish Rite I\G\H\
in 1994.
Ill\ Shaw entered the United States Air Force in 1948, was
promoted to many posts, received several decorations and awards,
and retired in 1978 while serving as a Special Agent with the
rank of Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army Military Intelligence.
After military retirement, he became a federal government
employee and retired in 1994 as a Special Agent with the Defense
Investigative Service (DIS).
Williams Installed As
DeMolay Grand Master
Bro\ Joe A. Williams, 32, K\C\C\H\, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Scottish
Rite Bodies, was installed as Grand Master of the International
Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay at the 75th Annual
Session in Bismarck, North Dakota, on June 17, 1995. Bro\
Williams was elected an Honorary Member of the International
Supreme Council in 1977 and became an Active Member in 1980.
A member of the Guymon Chapter of DeMolay in Guymon, Oklahoma,
serving as Master Councilor in 1954, Bro\ Williams was Past State
Master Councilor of Oklahoma in 1955 and served as DeMolay's
Executive Officer of Oklahoma from 1981 to 1993.
He was raised a Master Mason in Guymon Lodge No. 335 and is a
member of AKDAR Shrine, Sand Springs Order of Eastern Star, and
Red Cross of Constantine.
Brother Williams takes an active interest in community affairs
and has held key positions in such Sand Springs organizations as
the Lions Club, Museum Trust Authority, Education Foundation,
Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, United Way, and Salvation Army.
Congratulations, Bro\ Williams! Your installation as Grand Master
of DeMolay predicts continued success for this fine fraternal
order which builds young men into better citizens and leaders.
Teacher Of The Year
Mrs. Reta Bukin was named Teacher of the Year by the R.I.S.E.
Foundation. Mrs. Bukin, a special education teacher at Spring
Valley Elementary School, has taught in the Richardson
Independent School District for eighteen years. The R.I.S.E.
Foundation Excellence in Teaching Award for Exemplary Classroom
Innovation was presented to Mrs. Bukin at a ceremony on May 5,
1995.
The Recognizing Innovation for Student Education (R.I.S.E.)
Foundation was formed in 1976 by the Richardson Independent
School District with a grant from the Perot Foundation. Over
2,000 teachers in R.I.S.E. were considered for the recognition.
Mrs. Bukin was chosen for her outstanding innovations in special
education.
A Nebraska native, Mrs. Bukin is a graduate of Texas Women's
University and Southern Methodist University. Her husband,
Charles I. Bukin, 32, is a member of Richardson Masonic Lodge,
the Scottish Rite Bodies of Dallas, Texas, and currently serves
as Senior Warden of the Texas Lodge of Research.
Partners in Americanism
"We, the below listed organizations and businesses, avow to be a
part of Pensacola's 1995 Salute to Old Glory by participating in
or promoting the public's awareness of the National Flag Day
ceremonies to be held on June 14, 1995, in Seville Square." Over
50 Pensacola organizations and businesses signed this declaration
and became "Partners in Americanism" for National Flag Day 1995
which was sponsored by the Valley of Pensacola, Florida.
At 6:00 p.m. CDST, after all military color guards had been
assembled in front of Seville Square's gazebo in downtown
Pensacola, everyone participated in a mass Pledge of Allegiance
to the Flag. Following the pledge Ill\ Harold C. Detling, 33,
Personal Representative of the S\G\I\G\ in Florida, presented the
"Toast to the Flag."
Proclamations were read by the Mayor of Pensacola and the Board
of Commissioners of Escambia County. The keynote speaker was the
Honorable John Fogg, Mayor of Pensacola, and music was provided
by McGurie's Pipe Band.
This is the second year that the Pensacola Scottish Rite has
sponsored this public Flag Day celebration in Seville Square.
This year's participants included color guard units from the
Marine Detachment and Navy at Naval Air Station, Pensacola,
Knights of Columbus, York Rite of Freemasonry, Heroes of '76,
National Sojourners, Elks Lodge of Pensacola, Pensacola Police
Explorers, Hadji Shrine Temple, the Pensacola Scottish Rite
K\C\C\H\ Honour Guard, and the Daughters of the American
Revolution. Members of various other organizations as well as the
public also participated.
Texas Rainbow Scholarships Awarded
The Grand Assembly of Texas, International Order of Rainbow for
Girls, presented three scholarships, totalling $5,500, at the
Grand Assembly Session held in Fort Worth on June 11-14, 1994.
Pictured (l. to r.) above are: Mrs. Marlene Dibrell, Grand
Committee; Deborah Bane, Waco Assembly No. 18; Marilynn
Ostrander, Plano Assembly No. 320; and Mrs. Shirley Ferguson,
Grand Committee. Not pictured is Rhonda Weaver, recipient of a
Past Grand Officers Scholarship. Selections are based on
scholastic record, financial need, and Rainbow service.
Charitable Outreach
Thanks in large part to the generous bequest of Brother Lloyd D.
Van Horn and his beloved wife, Mae, Hay Market Lodge No. 313 of
Haymarket, Virginia, has awarded $45,000 from a newly created
non-profit, tax-exempt foundation to a number of charities.
Among them are the Shrine for a van to transport children to the
Shrine Hospitals and Burns Institutes, a $10,000 scholarship
award to a Stonewall Jackson High School senior, a special
education class at Liberty High School, the Coalition Against
Hunger, and H.I.K.E. (Hearing Impaired Kids Endowment) of Job's
Daughters.
Also benefitted were the following: Joe Gibbs Youth for Tomorrow,
Evergreen Lions Club's Melvin Jones Award, Shepherd of the Hills
Lutheran Church, Gainesville United Methodist Church, Haymarket
Baptist Church, SERVE Inc. for the assistance of needy families,
the Masonic Home of Virginia, and the George Washington Masonic
National Memorial, of Alexandria, VA.
Congratulations to the Brethren of Hay Market Lodge for this fine
demonstration of the scope and diversity of Masonic philanthropy!
"Team 24" From Canada
On March 4, 1995, the Brethren of "Team 24" from the Saskatoon
Consistory, Scottish Rite of Canada, following dinner at El
Zaribah Shrine Temple, presented the 24th Degree in full costume
before a large and appreciative audience. Many Canadian Brethren
winter in Phoenix, and the Degree was performed to underline
mutual Canadian-American support and cooperation.
The Director of the Saskatoon's "Team 24" cast is Ill\ Howard T.
Vallevand, 33, Deputy of the Supreme Council of Canada for the
Province of Saskatchewan. Ill\ Vallevand noted that since 1977,
when it was organized, "Team 24" has performed the Twenty-fourth
Degree at annual Reunions in Saskatoon and in several other
Canadian cities.
Funds raised from these performances have assisted the Consistory
purchase shares in the Saskatoon Temple Company, allowed the
purchase of officers' collars for both the Chapter of Rose Croix
and the Consistory, and permitted contributions in excess of
$3,000 to the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada.
Can You Top This?
Bro\ Clyde C. Mantooth, 32, of the Tampa, Florida, Scottish
Rite Bodies, is a proud grandfather, and justly so. His grandson,
Jared E. Mantooth, may be the youngest proficient DeMolay! On
March 8, 1995, Jared had his 13th birthday, and on March 11, he
received the Initiatory Degree and DeMolay Degree at the annual
area meeting held for Florida DeMolay's Zones C, J and F, a
meeting attended by the Florida State Staff along with Advisors
and DeMolay members. Jared studied hard in order to give back
accurate responses at the next stated meeting which was March 20.
This was also the night chosen by Brandon Lodge No. 114, Brandon,
Florida, as DeMolay Appreciation Night. Approximately 45 Masons
from the Scottish Rite, Egypt Shrine Temple, Brandon Lodge, and
other Masonic Lodges attended the meeting and witnessed Jared
meet his goals with the help of his instructor, Chad J. Oehmke,
Senior Councilor, Brandon, Florida, DeMolay Chapter. Chad is also
a grandson of Bro\ Mantooth! Chad tested Jared on his queries,
and Jared's performance was accepted by a unanimous vote; thus,
at age 13 years and 12 days, he became, according to the best
knowledge of the Supreme Council of the International Order of
DeMolay, the youngest proficient DeMolay and a proud new member
of the Brandon DeMolay Chapter.
Congratulations, Brother Clyde Mantooth and Jared Mantooth.
Together, you are setting an example of how to keep the tradition
of Freemasonry alive and well from generation to generation!
Every Father's Dream
Every Mason dreams of the day his son will follow in his
footsteps. Bro\ Tom E. Payne, 32, had his dream fulfilled twice
by raising both his sons on the same evening! The officers of
Liberty Lodge, No. 51 of Santa Rosa had the unique pleasure of
assisting the junior Past Grand Master of Masons in New Mexico
raise both his sons at Temple Lodge No. 6 in Alburquerque.
Youth I.D. Program
Wearing their colorful colonial uniforms and helping the Grand
Lodge of New Mexico's Youth I.D. Program seemed a natural mix to
members of Albuquerque's Kit Carson Chapter No. 447, National
Sojourners, Inc., Gen. Jonathan M. Wainwright Camp of Heroes of
'76. At a recent Ballut Abyad Shrine Circus, they distributed
I.D. booklets for parents to record their children's
fingerprints. Such programs are one more way Masons can serve
their communities.
National Sojourners
National Sojourners, Inc., annually gives scholarships to
deserving high school students and their advisors to attend a
Freedom and Leadership Youth Conference at Freedoms Foundation of
Valley Forge in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. This year two of the
recipients were Josef A. Hart, (center above) Master Counselor of
Metro Chapter, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Brother H. William
Hart, Chapter Advisor (right). Brother Robert W. Zarn, 32,
Southwest Representative of National Sojourners, (left) is
pictured presenting the winners with airline tickets to Valley
Forge.
Pensacola Awards
The Brethren of the Pensacola, Florida, Scottish Rite Bodies
continue a high positive profile in their community via a number
of community programs. On May 4, 1995, for instance, the historic
Scottish Rite Temple in Pensacola was the site of the fifth
annual Scottish Rite Recognition Awards Banquet held in honor of
local fire fighters, law enforcement officers, and members of the
U.S. Armed Forces. Among the nine individuals honored, after
being selected by their superiors for outstanding service, were
(top, l. to r.): ICO AC1 Betty Simms, U.S. Navy; Corp. Joseph E.
Redman, Florida Highway Patrol; Officers Jay Worley and Jim
Andrews, Pensacola Police Dept.
Also, on April 16, 1995, at their Americanism Program, the
Scottish Rite Brethren of Pensacola announced the winners of
their annual Americanism Scholarship Essay Contest which is open
to seniors in the public high schools of Escambia, Santa Rosa,
and Okaloosa Counties.
The winner of the top award, a $1,000 scholarship, was Erin E.
Hirsh of Woodhan High School. Erin also received a $100 savings
bond and honor plaque, as did each of the other ten winners,
pictured above.
Preview Session Program
Sunday, October 8
4:00 pm Albert Pike Memorial Service, conducted by Dr. W.
Kenneth Lyons, Jr., 33
Speaker: Bishop Carl J. Sanders, 33, Grand Cross,
Grand Chaplain
Monday, October 9
8:00 am Registration, Atrium, House of the Temple, dark suit
with cap
9:00 am Opening Session and Roll Call of The Supreme
Council, Temple Room
Address of Welcome by M\W\ J. Philip Smith, 32, Grand
Master, Grand Lodge of D.C.
Introduction of Distinguished Visitors by H. Douglas
Lemons, 33
Grand Master of Ceremonies and S\G\I\G\ in
California
Welcome by Ill\ Robert L. Goldsmith, 33, Grand Orator
and S\G\I\G\ in Florida
Report by William G. Sizemore, 33, Grand Cross, Grand
Executive Director
Presentation of Allocution by Sov\Gr\Cmdr\ C. Fred
Kleinknecht, 33
Committee Reports
11:30 am Executive Session, Executive Chamber
Election of Knights Commander of the Court of Honour
and 33 Inspectors General Honorary
12:30 pm Tours, National Museum of American History or
National Museum of Natural History
1:30 pm General Session, Temple Room
Roll Call of Supreme Councils and Masonic Grand Bodies
with whom we exchange Representatives
Tribute to the Illustrious Dead by Ill\ David O.
Johnson, 33
Chairman of Committee on Obituaries and
S\G\I\G\ in Oregon
Committee Reports
8:30 pm Entertainment at Lisner Auditorium, The George
Washington University,
by the U.S. Army Band and Chorus in honor of
the 50th anniversary
of the end of World War II, black tie preferred
Tuesday, October 10
8:30 am Tours, Mt. Vernon or points of interest in
Washington, D.C.
9:00 am Executive Session, Executive Chamber
10:00 am Scottish Rite Research Society Meeting, Temple Room
3:30 pm Conferral Ceremony for Thirty-third Degree Elects,
Scottish Rite Temple of D.C.
Closing of The Supreme Council: Elects, black tie;
Observers, dark suit with cap
7:00 pm Biennial Gala Banquet, Capital Hilton Hotel, black
tie
How To Do Well
J. Howard Rodman, Jr.
As of the writing of this article, the stock market is at record
highs. The Dow Jones Industrials is currently at 4451 (6/25/95).
Many individual company stocks are also at record prices, but
what do you do with them now? They look great on your monthly
statement, so when do you "take" profits, or should I say, how do
you lock in your gains?
A client recently approached me with the problem of what to do
with his Boeing stock. He owned the company for years. The
current market value had risen this year (1995) from $260,000 to
$400,000 and was producing only $6,500 a year (not a quarter, but
a year), or 1.5% in income.
After long periods of time with no upward movement, it had
finally had a good year. The client is 72, and he now wanted to
protect the current value, get more income, if possible, and
leave as much as possible to his two sons.
Traditional methods of loss protection such as selling some or
all of the stock, stop loss orders, or writing options against
the position would all work, but each would produce heavy capital
gains taxes (approximately $75,000). This would not protect the
value of the estate from an estate tax liability.
We arranged a meeting with the client's attorney to discuss the
idea of a Charitable Remainder Trust. After looking at several
ideas, we settled on a CRT with an 8.5% payout. This provides the
client with $34,000 annual income. This would also allow the full
$400,000 to be reinvested with no capital gains liability, and it
would produce a $108,000 charitable tax deduction. This plan
works well for the donors, but what about the two sons? Before
the trust documents were drafted, we applied for a $400,000
replacement insurance policy that would be owned by the sons. The
couple passed the insurance exams and was quoted a rate of
$12,000 per year for the policy.
In summary, we have now produced an annual income of $24,000
(34,000 minus the insurance premium of 12,000), a charitable
income deduction of $108,000, and guaranteed a tax-free
inheritance for the two sons. All of this was accomplished in
addition to creating a large bequest from the Charitable Trust to
the Scottish Rite. For more information, please give me a call.
The information you should have handy is the ages of you and your
wife, the value of the property, original cost of the asset,
desired income, whether you need or want to replace these gifts
for the children, your attorney's name and his/her phone number.
Brethren Benefit From Pooled Income Fund
What is one of the better ways you can benefit yourself and your
family and, at the same time, support the Scottish Rite and its
Childhood Language Disorders Program? The answer is simple: The
Scottish Rite Pooled Income Fund!
The Scottish Rite Pooled Income Fund allows you and, if you wish,
your wife and/or other beneficiary(ies) to receive a worry-free
lifetime income as well as attractive tax benefits by joining the
Fund via a financial gift to The Scottish Rite Foundation, S\J\,
USA. For more information call, 1-800-486-3331 or fax
202-387-1843.
Grand Commander Kleinknecht will personally respond to your
inquiry. If he is not available, please leave your name and
number, and the Grand Commander will return your call at his
earliest opportunity. Through the Scottish Rite Pooled Income
Fund, you can do well for yourself and your family while also
doing good for others!
Beat The Drum
Melville H. Nahin
There is a story that has come out of the Napoleonic Wars that is
worth repeating. In one of his battles, Napoleon was facing
defeat at the end of a long day of fighting. He turned to a
drummer boy and said, "Boy, sound a retreat."
The lad looked up at him and said, "Sire, I have never learned to
sound a retreat, but I can sound a charge that will make dead men
rise and fight." And Napoleon said, "Sound the charge!"
The drummer put his life in his sticks and drum. Tired men heard
it and forgot their weariness; wounded men heard it and forgot
their pain. They went forward to the charge and were victorious.
Some years ago in a speech delivered to the Grand Secretaries'
Conference Banquet in Washington, D.C., Dr. Thomas S. Roy, Past
Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, told the preceding story
and added: "Something similar spells our opportunity today. Let
the influence of Freemasonry be as a drumbeat in the ears of men.
Then fearful men will lose their fears; tired men will forget
their weariness; wounded men will defy their pains; lethargic men
will be aroused to interest; and we shall go forward together, in
the cause of democracy, to help men find nobility and dignity in
service to God and man." This speech was given in 1935. Now, 60
years later, the story is the same, and the principle is the
same.
In this day of diminishing Masonic membership in all of our Blue
Lodges, Appendant and Concordant Bodies, we hear the groans and
laments of our leaders that Masonry is suffering a great crisis.
It seems to me that we suffer that crisis every so often, but we
always sustain ourselves. The numbers diminish; the quality
remains.
We differ in the causes and effects of our Masonic membership
decline just as we often differ in how our country, our state, or
our community should by governed. But Freemasonry, like America,
perseveres. Be of good heart, then, and be sustained in the
knowledge and firm belief that what we of Freemasonry have to
offer is good and that mankind must always recognize us as such.
In the words of Kahlil Gibran, that great philosopher and author
of The Prophet, "Your daily life is your temple and religion.
Whenever you enter into it take with it your all. Take the plough
and the forge and the mallet and the lute, the things you have
fashioned in necessity or for delight."
Indeed, as Most Worshipful Dr. Thomas S. Roy reminded us, "Let
the influence of Freemasonry be as a drumbeat in the ears of
men_and we shall go forward together, in the cause of democracy,
to help men find nobility and dignity in service to God and man."
We know not of retreat or defeat. We know only that we must
regroup and move forward.
Aloe & Freemasonry
Alvin L. Gallin
Over the years, there have been articles in the Scottish Rite
Journal referring to situations in which people displayed trust,
confidence, and respect for men wearing a Masonic ring. These
people had no hesitance turning to Masons for help. This recently
happened to me, leaving me with a warm feeling for being a part
of the Craft.
I was at the prescription counter of a pharmacy in Titusville,
Florida. A young woman leading a crying daughter, about eight
years old, approached the pharmacist and asked for help. The
girl had burnt her hand, and the mother wanted a suitable
medication. The pharmacist recommended using the natural
gelatinous material from an aloe vera plant, if she had such a
plant at home. If not, he had some over-the-counter substitutes.
Since the woman had no aloe vera plants, I told her that my wife
did have some. I lived just five minutes away and, if she were
willing to follow me, my wife could be of help. She agreed to do
so. Arriving home, after I unlocked the door, mother and daughter
followed me in with some hesitation.
My wife had the aloe vera remedy and rubbed some on the girl's
hand, providing relief. Additionally, my wife gave the young
mother a plant to take home and put in the ground for the future.
The mother thanked us for our help and, on leaving, said, "I do
not follow men home, but when I saw your Masonic ring, I decided
your offer was genuine and that I could depend on you."
This true story reinforces the Masonic principles discussed in
the Journal's articles. But there is another ending to the story
which has less of a Masonic tradition. When we were alone, my
wife turned to me and said, "Look at yourself. You are wearing a
t-shirt saying 'Life is short, play hard!' You have dirty
sneakers and no socks. I would never have followed you home_ring
or no ring!"
Note: See the back inside cover of this issue for a color picture
and information regarding the new Scottish Rite signet ring
approved by The Supreme Council, 33.
The Rings of the Scottish Rite
Curtis G. Chezem
To our ancient Brethren, who were members of the Knightly Order,
three things in life were prized above all others, even before
life itself, for with the loss of either, life's aim had failed.
These three things, so dear to the ancient Knight, were the
purity of his honor, the integrity of his sword, and the
spotlessness of his shield: honor that never broke faith with
anyone, whether man or woman; the integrity of the sword, in
never failing to draw it in defence on innocence and right; the
shield never to be sullied by protecting oppression and wrong.
At the death of the knightly owner, he bequeathed his sword and
shield to the one nearest and dearest to him, the one he believed
would maintain both unblemished.
The Scottish Rite has adopted symbols that represent the sword,
shield, and armor of our ancient Brethren and clearly mark the
profession of Knighthood as did those:they are the rings of the
Fourteenth and Thirty-second Degrees.
The oldest of these is the ring of the Fourteenth Degree with its
motto: "Virtus junxit, mors non separabit"_"Virtue has united and
death shall not separate"_to be worn through life and, at death,
it was the custom of our ancient Brethren, to hand down the ring
to one most dear, in the belief that it would be kept pure and
unsullied. The ring of the Fourteenth Degree is a plain flat band
of gold, having imposed thereon an engraved or enameled plate in
the form of an equilateral triangle, and within the triangle the
Hebrew letter "Yod."
A signet ring of the Thirty-second Degree, however, was
commissioned and approved by The Supreme Council's Ritual and
Ceremonial Forms Committee during the 1993 Biennial Session. The
new Thirty-second Degree ring satisfies the Brethren's desire for
a tasteful, quality ring as an alternative to commercially
available, possibly inaccurate products. It carries the
double-headed eagle of the Scottish Rite with its Latin motto of
the Thirty-second Degree: "Spes mea in Deo est"_"My hope is in
God." This new symbol should also be honor-ably worn through life
and, at death, may be handed down to one most dear as is custom.
To Your Health
Richard L. Zweig
When the medical diagnosis comes back as cancer, and your doctor
refers you to surgeons, oncologists and radiologists, you realize
that the door of existence, as you've known it, will slam shut
with a thud of finality.
This is not a time for depression, nor of self-pity. It is a time
for reflections on the purpose of life, of faith in the
principles you've lived by, in the gratitude for
relationships_familial, social, and fraternal. You hope that the
inter- actions you've experienced made, and will continue to
make, a difference for good in the lives of loved ones,
associates in the business world, friends, and Brethren.
How fortunate, you tell yourself, that you've enjoyed a rich,
full life, surrounded by loved ones, opportunities to serve your
fellowmen, and the caring warmth of the Masonic Fraternity which,
along with a deep and abiding religious faith, has provided the
framework that guided your every thought and movement. You
realize that the Supreme Architect of the Universe has plans for
you and that He has succored you when friends and comrades have
met untimely deaths, misfortunes, setbacks and tragedies,
illnesses and crippling ailments that have burdened them and
tried their faith. You look back on your own trials, errors,
reactions and, thank God, your religion as well as the tenets of
Freemasonry that have brought you forward to this time.
Things and events do not happen by accident. There is a purpose
to every thought and action, a reason which we may someday
understand. With the proper treatment, medication, right
attitude, faith and regimen, you are told, you could fully
recover and continue, hopefully, to make meaningful contributions
to your family and fellowman. What a glorious opportunity has
been provided! There is time for reflection, for making amends
and atonements, for renewing faith, for rekindling friendships,
and for rededication to the sublime principles of Freemasonry
that help us to accept our fate and understand the meaning of it
all.
Squaring Off
Many Brethren have responded to the several articles in the June
1995 Scottish Rite Journal, as well as other issues, relating to
whether or not a constitutional amendment prohibiting desecration
of the American flag is necessary. Here is a sampling, pro and
con the amendment. As always, the Journal is pleased to be a
forum of differing opinions. Also, it should be noted the House
of Representatives, on June 28, by a vote of 312 to 120, adopted
a constitutional amendment that would allow Congress and the
states to "prohibit the physical desecration of the flag." The
measure must be approved by the Senate before going to the states
for ratification.
The Flag Of Our Country_Glorious, Victorious, Immortal
I just read the June issue of the Scottish Rite Journal, in
particular the Grand Commander's message "Protecting Our Flag."
At age 90, I just finished my first 50 years in the Scottish
Rite, missing only two Reunions in that half-century. At every
Masonic meeting I ever attended, we saluted and honored Old
Glory. Today, I am proud to join with you, Grand Commander
Kleinknecht, in supporting a constitutional amendment to prevent
desecration of our country's flag_glorious, victorious, immortal.
Ill\ George S. Swafford, 33
Little Rock, Arkansas, Scottish Rite Bodies
"Freedom Is The Real Issue"
The desecration of our flag is a reprehensible act to most
Americans. Public condemnation of such dastardly actions should
be swift and widespread, but to enact laws prohibiting freedom of
expression_whether for good or evil, popular or unpopular
reasons_is counterproductive and only affords the culprits
publicity they do not deserve. All Americans now have and should
always have the right to freedom of expression and protest as
guaranteed by the Constitution. To tamper with this great
document will only weaken it. If we are to amend the
Constitution, let us amend it to increase our rights as free
people, not to take them away. The Constitution is not broken.
Please let us not attempt to repair it.
Bro\ Dean L. Harvey, 32, K\C\C\H\
Charleston, North Carolina, Scottish Rite Bodies
Respecting Our Flag Is Respecting Ourselves
All American citizens owe a debt of gratitude to our flag.
She has led our troops, our ships, and our planes. She is a
symbol of pride and, yes, representative of the untold thousands
who died rather than see her colors bow to foreign powers. Anyone
who would attempt to destroy or desecrate such a symbol does not
understand the mighty forces our flag brings to bear on war and
peace. May the winds of change never cause us to think less of
our flag, much less cause us to defile it. She has led us from
success to success, victory to victory. She is us. In respecting
our flag, we respect ourselves.
Bro\ Hampton W. Anderson, Jr., 32, K\C\C\H\
McAlester, Oklahoma, Scottish Rite Bodies
"No One Ever Died For Our Flag"
I am dismayed by the activism in your pages [June 1995
Journal] regarding the question of a constitutional amendment
about our flag. No one has ever died for our flag. What many
brave Americans have laid down their lives for is our
Constitution. The words on that document give us our freedom.
Those words give us the right to debate issues freely. And those
blessed words will be tainted when we begin to limit our right of
free speech. If those mighty words are denigrated by limitation,
only then will the symbol of those words, our beautiful flag, be
truly desecrated. My patriotism, tempered by living many years in
many different parts of the world, cannot be affected by the
actions of a ridiculously small minority who burn the flag as an
expression of their views. However, my love of these United
States can be affected by the emotionalism of many whose actions
would silence us all.
Bro\ Jacob R. McPherson, 18
San Francisco, California, Scottish Rite Bodies
Upholding the Constitution
The following letter was sent by Senator Mitch McConnell
(Kentucky) to Bro\ Joseph J. Flashman, 32, Valley of Louisville,
Kentucky, in response to a letter from Bro\ Flashman and the
latter's campaign to advance an amendment to the Constitution to
outlaw desecration of the American flag. Bro\ Flashman then
shared this letter, along with several favoring the amendment,
with the Scottish Rite Journal. Senator McConnell writes:
I am no less a defender of the flag and no less disgusted by
those who would deface it [than you are]. However, the oath I
have sworn_to uphold and defend the Constitution_must temper my
strong emotional reaction against those whose exercise of
constitutional freedoms can be deeply offensive. To constrict
those freedoms diminishes the nation for whom the flag is a
much-loved symbol.
The bottom line is this: our flag, which withstood British
rockets and bombs [at Ft. McHenry in 1814], which stood out
against the smoke and fire of Pearl Harbor, and which flashed
proudly in the battle for Iwo Jima, does not ultimately need a
constitutional amendment to protect it. Our great flag will
always be protected best by a generation of Americans who
treasure freedom and revere this nation's heritage and history.
Put On Your Sunday Best
I'm impressed with the article "Father's Lodge" in the June
Scottish Rite Journal. In it, Ill\ Bro\ George A. Newbury states,
"On Lodge night, father would get dressed up in his Sunday best
and hie himself off to Lodge. It was an event he looked forward
to." When I was a small lad, I had a neighbor I admired very
much. His son was my best friend. When my friend's father would
leave home, on a weekday, in his best Sunday suit, I asked, "Jim,
where's your dad going?" His reply was, "Dad's going to Lodge!"
This made a real impression on me, especially during the
Depression. My father wasn't a Mason. He could not afford to be.
I'd say, "Someday, I'm going to be a Mason." And I have been, for
27 years.
I believe until Masons of all the Masonic Bodies start to respect
their organizations enough to put on their Sunday best to attend
meetings, our membership will continue to decline. We owe our
"Sunday best" to the organization in our dress and in our
actions.
Bro\ Sam C. Bales, 32
Wichita, Kansas, Scottish Rite Bodies
"I'd Rather Be A Could Be"
I want to thank you for the articles the Scottish Rite
Journal regularly features on membership enhancement. Certainly,
this subject needs constant attention since, without members,
Freemasonry's great traditions and manifold contributions to
individuals and to society will be lost.
These articles always remind me of an incident in my life. About
1983, when I was Worshipful Master of Boulder Lodge No. 45,
A\F\&A\M\, in Colorado, my father was in a hospital in Denver. In
addition to that anxiety, I was beginning to wonder if my various
time-consuming, sometimes apparently fruitless Masonic activities
were worth it.
I happened to notice a poem, handwritten on a piece of notebook
paper taped to a wall at the nurse's station. After reading it, I
thought to myself, "That explains it all!" I don't know the
author, and I don't recall the title. But for what it is worth,
here it is.
I'd rather be a could be if I couldn't be an are,
Because a could be is a maybe with a chance of touching par.
I'd rather be a has-been than a might-of-been by far,
Because a might-of-been has never been, but a has-been was an
are.
Bro\ Charles R. Travis, 32
Denver, Colorado, Scottish Rite Bodies
"Those Were Marines!"
In the article "A Symbol Worth Protecting," [June 1995]
there is this statement: "Fifty years ago, just days after
American troops had claimed victory at Iwo Jima, six soldiers
helped raise the American flag on the highest point of the
island. In the now-famous picture of that flag raising, you can
see a soldier on the far left with both arms reaching skyward."
Those were NOT soldiers. They were United States Marines! There
is a HUGE difference between a soldier and a Marine! Semper Fi.
Major Robert L. Jones, Jr., USMC (Ret.), 32
New Bern, North Carolina, Scottish Rite Bodies
Masonic Passport
"From Canada: A Fun Idea To Stimulate Visiting," a brief
item in the May 1995 Scottish Rite Journal, described the concept
of a "Masonic Passport." The idea is to stimulate Blue Lodge and
other visitation. Appearing like an official document, the
"Passport" has space for one's Blue Lodge dues card and contains
sections for other Masonic credentials or titles as well as a
"Journey Ledger" where each visitation to a Lodge or other
Masonic Body can be listed and officially recognized via an
officer's signature and the stamp of the Masonic Body visited.
Actually, this is an idea which was conceived and copyrighted in
the United States in January 1991 by myself and produced by
Passports & Papers of St. Paul, Minnesota. Since that time, the
"Masonic Passport," complete with accessory items, has been
embraced by the traveling Mason and promoted in the U.S. and
Canada via distribution by the J. P. Luther Co. of Berlin,
Wisconsin. For more information write: Passports & Papers, 711
Decorah Lane, St. Paul, MN 55120-1668.
Bro\ Alvin F. Bohne, Past Master
Shekinah Lodge, No. 171, St. Paul, Minnesota
Weary Of Vicious Attacks
I wish to thank all the Brethren who have responded so
positively to my article "On Freemasonry: One Southern Baptist To
Another" in the May issue of the Scottish Rite Journal.
For years now, I have grown weary of the vicious attacks on
Freemasonry by the likes of Dr. James Larry Holly (a resident of
my hometown of Beaumont, Texas) and others of his misguided ilk.
Incidentally, Dr. Holly is the only person, to my knowledge, who
has been excluded from the fellowship of the First Baptist Church
of Beaumont, a predominantly Fundamentalist congregation. The
venomous lies will doubtless persist; nevertheless, at least I
have gone on record with my position as a Southern Baptist
Freemason. Thank the Lord that only He shall judge us. See Romans
14:10-12 and 2 Corinthians 5:10.
My Brethren, keep up the good work and continue to fight the good
fight against fanaticism, tyranny, ignorance, and all forms of
spiritual oppression. With time, patience and perseverance, we
may overcome all things! I treasure each of you in my prayers.
Bro\ David V. Thomas, 32
Galveston, Texas, Scottish Rite Bodies
Kossuth, Bernyi, And Hungary
The May, 1995 Scottish Rite Journal contained the article
"Louis Kossuth, Hungarian Freedom Fighter and Freemason."
Unfortunately, this article listed an incomplete address for its
author. Several Brethren interested in more information on
Brother Kossuth, Freemasonry in Hungary, and the town of Kossuth,
Mississippi, wrote to note the error. We apologize for any
inconvenience caused by this oversight. The correct address is:
Dr. Zsuzsanna Agnes Bernyi
H-1072 Budapest, VII.
Dob u.16.II.39. HUNGARY
Henry Casper Groseclose, Mason and Founder of FFA
As the widow of Henry Casper Groseclose, I am deeply appreciative
of the things written about my husband in the July article,
"Freemasonry and the Future Farmers of America." My husband's
middle name, however, is Casper, not Clayton, as recorded in the
article. I would appreciate your setting the record straight.
(Mrs. Henry Casper) Marie C. Groseclose
International Order of the Eastern Star Bland No. 41, Bland,
Virginia
Rosslyn Chapel
Judith A. Fisken
Rosslyn chapel near edinburgh is one of the outstanding
architectural treasures in Scotland's remarkable heritage and has
been a focus of attention for the Masonic Craft since its
foundation. Also, for five centuries, it has exerted its mystical
appeal to generations of pilgrims and visitors of every
denomination, religion, and form of belief, including the Royal
Family of Great Britain, Thupton Tushi, the Dalai Lama's
archivist, and Cardinal Gray of the Roman Catholic Church. For
this small, half-hidden building is a temple to the divine gift
of spirituality and mysticism that both pervades and transcends
all of the great religions. All who visit here are entranced by
the love, veneration, and vision so clearly recorded by the
operative craft who built it "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam" _For the
Greater Glory of God.
We must remember, however, that the people for whom the artwork
was designed, would have found themselves more deeply moved, far
more involved in the symbolism of the art, than any modern
observer, however learned. Carvings, paintings, even the very
buildings themselves, were designed for men and women for whom
symbolism was the breath of a spiritual life. Therefore, we
should approach this building in the full and certain knowledge
that it speaks a language of its own, a language only fully known
to the initiated, and experienced at the core of one's being. Yet
the initiated are not the only people to be moved by these
mystical carvings; they jolt every visitor abruptly back to an
earlier age when mankind possessed an entirely different level of
consciousness, culture, and belief.
The feelings that arose within me, while standing for the first
time in Rosslyn Chapel, had more in common with a spiritual
experience than with any formal, intellectual conclusion I ever
could have reached. At a profound level, I felt there is more
to the innate quality of this quiet place than a craftsman's
competence or even architectural skill. Something spiritual, yet
almost tangible, is built into the very stone itself. Despite the
exuberance and profusion of the carvings, nothing stands out to
the detraction of the whole. There is an essential unity within
which nothing is thrust forward as ostentatiously artistic. The
harmony that, paradoxically, arises from the diversity of the
carvings, is far greater than the sum of its many parts can
possibly suggest. A deep, mystical, symbolic synergy shows its
presence here. The individual carvings are serene and masterly.
Apart from the occasional touch of humor, they seem non-personal
and more like works of nature. Their coral-like growths seemingly
arise as the manifestations of the inner spiritual harmony of
mystical men, petrified forever as symphonies in stone.
This spiritual harmony is the tangible result of two simple
factors combining together. Firstly, there is an all-pervasive,
inspired plan which originates in the conception of one supremely
spiritually gifted man who exerted total and complete control
over design, quality, and construction. Secondly, a comparatively
rapid rate of building left no time for outside influences to
contaminate the original conception. The chapel was founded in
1446 by Sir William St. Clair, third Earl of Orkney and Lord of
Rosslyn. Earl William has been described as "one of the
Illuminati," "a man of exceptional talents much given to policy,
such as buildings of Castles, Palaces and Churches," a patron of
craft Masonry throughout Europe, and as an adept of the highest
degree. He was appointed Grand Master of Masons in Scotland in
1441.
At first sight the chapel appears small, sqaut, and somewhat
grotesque with its strange curved roof flanked by lines of
buttresses. The original plans were for a cruciform collegiate
church, a majestic cathedral which would have outshone all the
other churches in Scotland. Within it, thirteen pillars form an
arcade of twelve pointed arches around three sides of the
building, and three pillars divide the main aisle from the
retro-choir. The roof is a stone vault, powdered in diaper work
with a profusion of stars, lilies, and roses_symbolism which may
contain the keys to the spiritual intent of its founder.
The insight and spiritual vision of the Earl William may tend to
explain the importance of many of the carvings for the worldwide
brotherhood of Freemasons, for symbolic representations of the
links between the Sinclairs and the Templars abound. The legend
of the "Murdered Apprentice" is well known, and the carvings of
the Apprentice, his Widowed Mother, and the Master Mason on the
clerestory walls have important significance to members of both
the Templar and the Masonic Orders, as do the three, distinctly
different, and superb pillars that separate the main body of the
chapel from the retro-choir, namely the Apprentice Pillar, the
Mason's Pillar, and the Journeyman's Pillar between them. In
these three magnificent pillars, we have, enshrined in stone,
symbolism of the spiritual insight and wisdom with which this
chapel is so abundantly blessed.
Restoration and certain additions were made in the last century,
thanks to the generosity of Victorian Freemasons. Superb
stained-glass windows in the clerestory display symbolism that
demonstrates both the history and continuity of spiritual insight
among the Masonic Brotherhood while also depicting various saints
of importance to the Craft, namely Saints Michael, George,
Longinus, and Mauritius.
The experience of this place of beauty demonstrates how
inadequate language is when faced with such magnificence. Rosslyn
Chapel may now be half-forgotten, but it is still of significance
to Freemasons worldwide. Rosslyn Chapel must not be left
mouldering and half-forgotten any longer. The Chapel must be
preserved for future generations. "The Friends of Rosslyn" is a
charity dedicated to this worthy end. Further information and
literature is available from:
Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin,
Midlothian EH25 9PU, Scotland
Book Reviews
Dr. S. Brent Morris
One of the enduring themes in Masonic Ritual is the influence of
the Knights Templar. The idea first appeared in the celebrated
1737 Oration of the Chevalier Ramsay, which referred only to "our
ancestors, the Crusaders," and not to the Templars. (Ramsay's
oration and a biography can be found in volume 1 of Heredom, the
transactions of the Scottish Rite Research Society.) Knighthood
legends can be found in the York Rite, the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite, the Rectified Scottish Rite, and the Swedish Rite.
The late John Robinson, Masonic researcher and author, created
much of the current interest in the Templars and the Craft with
his popular book, Born in Blood. John and I talked and
corresponded about his research, and ultimately agreed to
disagree about the influence of the Templars on the Craft.
My personal opinion is that Templar themes represent gradual,
rather modern accretions to our ceremonies by successive ritual
writers and rewriters. We may never know the truth, but studying
the evidence can be fascinating. Rosslyn Chapel near Edinburgh
(see p. 58) provides some intriguing data on the Templar issue,
and there are new guidebooks to help those interested in this
area of Masonic research. Rosslyn Chapel is perhaps best known
for its "Apprentice Pillar." This is a magnificently ornate
pillar that stands with the "Master Mason's Pillar" and the
"Journeyman's Pillar." According to the legend, which seems to be
nearly as old as the chapel, the master mason left Rosslyn to
study the design of other churches. While he was gone, an
apprentice carved a fluted pillar with vines entwining it, "a
perfect marvel of workmanship." When the master mason returned
and saw the pillar, whose beauty exceeded his skill, he asked who
had dared build it in his absence. He was told it was his own
apprentice. In a fit of jealous rage the master mason struck the
apprentice with a mallet and killed him on the spot. Carved
within the chapel are the heads of the master mason and the
apprentice, the latter with a large gash on its forehead.
An Illustrated Guide to Rosslyn Chapel, by Tim Wallace-Murphy,
1993. Paper bound, 37 pp., $12.00 postpaid, Friends of Rosslyn,
Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland EH25 9PU, telephone:
011 44 131 440 2159, fax: 011 44 131 448 2948.
This is a guide book typical for any tourist site. It gives a
brief history of Rosslyn Chapel and points out particularly
interesting parts of the building. It is illustrated with
seventeen photographs and five drawings. The exuberant splendor
of the stone carvings are shown in fine detail.
Mr. Wallace-Murphy seems convinced that there is deep, hidden
symbolism in the design of the chapel, and he offers several
fascinating interpretations of its details. He has, however,
followed the judicious methods of modern historians in
recognizing what is confirmed fact and what is speculation. He
says, "In time rational and measured scholarship will established
the true import of much that Rosslyn was originally and
deliberately designed to communicate to future generations by its
distinguished founder." (p. 33)
The Guilds, the Masons, and the Rosy Cross, by Robert Brydon,
1994. Paper bound, 20 pp., $11.00 postpaid, Friends of Rosslyn.
To order, see above book review.
This is a small, nicely-illustrated pamphlet describing
interesting tidbits about Rosslyn Chapel, Freemasons, and other
orders historically connected to the chapel. It does not pretend
to be a scholarly work, but it quite successfully intrigues the
reader with engaging stories that have grown up around the
chapel.
The book's sections are two to three paragraphs each. A listing
of a few of them gives a good idea of the contents: The Mystery
Traditions; The Operative Craft Guilds; The Ancient Rosicrucians;
The Rosslyn Manuscripts; Establishment of the Grand Lodge of
Scotland 1736; The Scottish Knights Templar in 1790; The Royal
Order of Scotland, and What Is a Freemason?
Born in Blood, by John Robinson, 1989. Hard bound, 376 pp.,
$15.16 plus $1.75 shipping ($3.00 foreign) for first title and
$0.50 ($1.00 foreign) for second title, 7.75% sales tax if
shipped to a California address, Southern California Research
Lodge, P.O. Box 6587, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone: (714)
821-1019.
This is the best exposition of the Templar theory_the book that
reignited interest in the Templar- Masonic connection. It is a
"good read" and has been extremely popular both inside and
outside the Craft. Ill\ Robinson's interest in Masonry began with
his study of the Peasants' Revolt in England. He concluded that
Knights Templar, who had been "underground" for centuries guided
the revolution.
Later they transmuted themselves into the fraternity of
Freemasons. If you want to explore the idea that our modern
fraternity descended from the Knights Templar, then there is no
better book.
Dungeon Fire and Sword, by John Robinson, 1991. Hard bound, 500
pp., $19.96, Southern California Research Lodge. To order, see
first book review, above.
Brother Robinson gathered much more information on the Templars
than he could include in Born in Blood (one-half of which was
devoted to Freemasonry). After the success of his first book, he
put this wealth of information together into a detailed history
of the Templars.
It is a wonderful companion volume to Born in Blood, even though
it has nothing central to the Templar-Masonic connection. The
reader is left with a great sense of the origins, organization,
activities, and betrayal of the famous Knightly order. This is
the book to read if you want all of the historical details on the
Templars.
It is always a pleasure to welcome visitors to the House of the
Temple, 1733 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009-3199.
Located on Sixteenth Street between R and S Streets, seven blocks
NE of the Dupont Circle Metro stop, Red Line, the Temple is open
to Brothers, guests, and the general public for tours from 8 a.m.
to 2 p.m. n weekdays. The Temple is also open on weekends and
holidays for groups of 25 or more provided special arrangements
are made in advance with the Grand Executive Director's office
(202)232-3579. Visitors are requested to register at the door.
|
|
Disclaimer: The file contained in the
box above or displayed in a separate window from a link in the
box above is NOT owned nor implied to
be owned by BeYoND THe iLLuSioN. Most files at BeYoND THe
iLLuSioN are originally from public Bulletin Board Systems
(BBS) which were popular in the days before the Internet or
from gopher, web, and FTP sites from the early days of the
Internet which no longer exist today. Essentially, all files
were acquired from the public domain in one for or another.
However, there have been occasions when copyright protected
material has appeared on BeYoND THe iLLuSIoN without permission
of the copyright holder. In these instances, we have and will
continue to remove the copyright protected file as soon as it
is brought to our attention. This can now be done using our Report Copyright Material form. Fill
out the form, and the webmaster will be notified of the
situation.
There are also times when files found on BeYoND THe iLLuSioN
have a real home somewhere else on the Internet. In these
instances, we will gladly replace the file with a link to its
true home whenever it is brought to our attention. If you know
of the true home of any of these files, you can use our Report Original URL form to bring it yo our
attention.
|
