Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

Transcription

1 Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Carl Smith, 33 Personal Representative of the S.G.I G. (360) Harry Sherman, 32 Secretary P.O. Box 1112 Everett, WA (425) Valley of Everett Orient of Washington Volume 14 JANUARY 2005 Issue 01 With the New Year now upon us it is a time to reflect back on the year that has been and take a look ahead at what we want to accomplish in the future. It also is a time for rededication, a rededication to the values and fundamental principals, which we Masons practice. What are the values and fundamental principals Masons practice? I think I found a good answer in a story called Understanding, written by the well-known Masonic author Carl Claudy in I repeat it here because I believe that as we begin the New Year the story will renew our dedication to the Fraternity. UNDERSTANDING I ve been a Mason for a year now, remarked the young Brother to the old Past Master, and while I find a great deal in Masonry to enjoy, like the fellows and all that, I am more or less in the dark as to what good Masonry really is in the world. I don t mean that I don t appreciate its fellowship, or its charity, but it seems that I don t get much out of it; I can t really see it has any function outside of the relationships we enjoy in the Lodge room and the little charitable acts we do. The old Past Master smiled and said: Yes, you say you have been a Master Mason for a year. I think I could prove to the satisfaction of a jury of your peers who would not need to be Master Masons; that while you are a Lodge member in good standing; you are not a Master Mason. I don t understand, puzzled the young Mason. I was quite surely initiated, passed and raised. I have my dues card. I attend Lodge regularly. I do what work I am assigned. If that isn t being a Master Mason, what is? You have the body but not the spirit, retorted the old Past Master. You eat the husks and disregard the kernel. You know the ritual and fail to understand its meaning. You do not understand the full underlying principle, which makes Masonry the great force that she is. And yet, in spite of it, you enjoy her blessings which is one of her miracles, that man may love and profit by what he does not comprehend. Why.I I just don t understand you at all. I am sure I m a good Mason. No man is a good Mason who thinks the fraternity has no function beyond pleasant association in the Lodge, and charity. Man, there are thousands of Masons who never see the inside of a Lodge after their degrees and therefore miss the fellowship. And, there are thousands who never need her charity. Yet they take freely and largely from the treasure house which is Masonry. Masonry, my young friend, is an opportunity. It gives a man a chance to do and to be, among the world of men, something he otherwise could not attain. No man kneels at the Alter of Masonry and rises again the same. At the Alter something is taken from him never to return; his feelings of living himself alone. Be he never so selfish, never so selfcentered, never so much an individualist; because at the Alter he leaves behind some of the refuse of his profane make-up. Where there was the egotism is put love for one s fellow man. You say that the fraternity has no function. Man, the Fraternity performs the greatest function of any institution at work among men, in that it provides a common meeting ground where all of us, be our creed, our social position, our wealth, our ideas, our station in life, what ever they may be, can meet and understand one another. Masonry has no function? Why son, Masonry gives us a chance to do and to be; to do a little, however humble the part, in making the world better; to be a larger, a little fuller in our lives, a little nearer to the Supreme Architect of the

2 From the Personal Representative (Continued from previous page) universe and unless a man understands this, and believes it, and takes it to his heart and lives it in his daily life, and strives to show it in his daily life in his every act, I say he is no Mason. The young Brother, looking down, unfastened the Masonic pin from his lapel and handed it to the old Past Master. Of course, you are right, he said, lowly, Here is my pin. Don t give it back to me until you think I am worthy to wear it. The old Past Master smiled. I think you had better put it back now, he answered gently. None are more fit to wear the Square and Compass than those who know themselves unworthy, for they are those who strive to be real Masons. Brethren, please plan to attend the Public Installation of Officers to be held on January 14 th at 7:30 p.m. The Valley has a full slate of officers in each of the Bodies for the first time in a long time so let s encourage them by our support. Best wishes to all for a peaceful, prosperous, and Happy New Year!!! Carl B. Smith, 33 Personal Representative of the S.G.IG. It's the Valley of Everett, Scottish Rite Hockey Night at the Everett Event Center, Saturday, February 19, The game begins at 7:05 PM, so bring yourself, family and friends and help root on our home team as they defend the home turf against the Red Deer Rebels. Everyone is invited to join in on the fun! Sign up your friends and family. Ticket reservations can be made with our Secretary Harry Sherman and the cost is $11.00 per person. To place your reservation or for further information contact Harry Sherman at or see him at a Friday Night Rite event. FROM THE MASTER OF PERFECTION I would like to take this opportunity to thank all that came to the Christmas party and for making it such a success. I would like to thank all the brethren for the opportunity to have served as Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection for the year! It has been busy and sometimes trying, but very rewarding as well. Scottish Rite is growing in the Valley of Everett and I am just proud to part of it. Thank you once again, and I hope you will give the same support to the incoming Master as you have shown me. Walt Moody, Venerable Master Masonic Humor - It was a very hot night at the initiation of a new candidate. The air conditioning was out at the Lodge and the air was heavy. At a certain time during the evening the WM asked the candidate what he most desired. The man answered a beer. The SD leaned over and prompted him and the candidate then answered OK, a Lite Beer. I m a little rusty on my Morse Code but I think he s asking What Lodge?

3 . HONORING YEARS OF SERVICE Harry Sherman, 32 DUES ARE DUE Yes, Brothers the beginning of the year 2005 is here and it is time to renew our dues. A special "Thank You" goes out to those who have already taken care of this matter. It is a tremendous help to me, as the Secretary when this requirement is taken care of early in the year. The Everett Valley is doing great things. The degree work is improving every day and the enthusiasm of the members makes the meetings very enjoyable. There are many areas where anyone who wishes to become a part of the great fellowship or work in the important functions of the Valley of Everett that may fit your abilities. Come to the meetings and enjoy the fellowship and enthusiasm that can become contagious. A TIME TO ASK SOMEONE Brothers, the start of a new year is a time to seek out those Brothers who would be interested in seeking more light in Masonry. The only way for others to know about the privileges and programs of the Scottish Rite is from good communications. The person who is just waiting for someone to invite them to join is out there. Enclosed in this Bulletin is a petition for either the degrees or for affiliation. Why not see if you can't get some use out of it and seek out that Brother who is just waiting to be asked. NEW 32º MASONS It was a great occasion at the Christmas Party and Awards Ceremony on December 17 th. The following Brothers were honored by the presentation of their 14 th degree ring and their 32º Cap. Brother Robert Wisk is also one of the Brothers who also has received all the necessary degrees and but due to his job requirements could not be present but will be presented his ring and cap at a later date. Those being present were: Thomas J. Overton Matthew Todd Powell Timothy Sewell Congratulations to all four of these Brothers on becoming 32º Masons. Congratulations to the following Brothers for their continued support of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. All these Brothers are 32º Scottish Rite Masons. 50 YEARS Chester L. Beard Lynn M. Bjerke Charles L. Maynard James W. Sweet 25 YEARS Lowell O. Cole Victor A. Ellis George R. Haage Elmer S. Jamison Steven A. Juntwait William R. Norton Williard L. Overturf H. Leslie Pospical Max Premseler William H. Read Joseph S. Styger John T. Welch Gerald W. Wheeler William Bertrum Robert M. Wright VALLEY OF EVERETT INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS The Everett Valley will have an open installation of officers on January 14, 2005 at 7:30 P.M. It is open to Masonic Lodge members, wives, guests and any other persons interested in getting to know something about the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. Light refreshments will be available after the installation. The Valley of Everett meets in the Everett Masonic Center located at 234 Olympic Boulevard in Everett Washington.

4 JANUARY WORK January promises to be a very busy month with Installation practice, Installation and the presentation of the Eighteenth Degree all taking place. Installation practice has been scheduled for Friday, January 7, Everyone who will be holding an office in 2005 should be there. Some small changes are being made in our Installation ritual to update and enhance this most important ceremony. If at all possible we plan to have all of the Officers in full regalia for the ceremony and install the Officers of each Body separately. We are going to discontinue the practice of a blanket installation where the Officers of all of the Bodies are installed together. By separating the Bodies we can be much more specific in our ritual and end up with a much more meaningful and colorful ceremony. Remember this Installation is open so be sure to invite your friends and family. This ceremony gives a great many insights of what we do and what we are all about. While we don t have a dinner with Installation we do promise an outstanding desert buffet after the ceremony. January 21 we will present the Eighteenth Degree for the candidates of this year. The 18 th Degree is one of our outstanding degrees. Most of the cast members have performed their parts for many years and Bro. George Petrie 32 has been doing the same part in this degree for over 40 years. Mark your calendars to attend the presentation of the 18th Degree, which is the kick-off of our winter/spring degree work. Masonic light is often found under strange baskets Contributed by Steve Osborn A Cherokee Indian elder was teaching his grandchildren about life. He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me... it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside of you, and inside every other person, too." The children thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?" The old Cherokee elder replied simply... "The one you feed." Peace is not an absence of war; it is a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition for benevolence, confidence, and justice. Baruch Spinoza

5 Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, May your Eid be Blessed by Steve Osborn It saddens me that, with so much to worry about in the world today, so much energy is wasted on trivia. We read of the edict by a county official that no one shall wish anyone Merry Christmas, but that it shall be happy holidays instead. The reasons given, with many letters pro and con in the paper seem to revolve around some sort of insult to non-christians by wishing all a Merry Christmas. Were I to be approached by someone who said, May your Eid be Blessed, I would thank them and return the compliment, probably offering some of my pocket money to be put in the poor box. It would never occur to me to be offended because someone else of another faith than mine offered me their blessing or good wishes. Likewise, I have always returned a Happy Chanukah in the spirit in which it is meant. Merry Christmas is always offered in the same spirit of good will that any blessing or well wishing should be offered. In Western religions, Moslems, Christians and Jews are all considered People of the Book. They all worship the same God of Abraham albeit in different ways, with different rituals. Since the time of the Crusades, hecatombs of people have been slaughtered over these differences. The slaughter still goes on. In our schools, religion is not only forbidden as part of the curriculum, which goes along with the separation of church and state, but is forbidden as a private act amongst students on the school grounds. This may be overtly effective, but there are no atheists in foxholes or final exam rooms, believe me. Now we forbid signs of anyone s beliefs in public buildings and on public property. Businesses follow suit and soon, through the holiday season, all will be as grey and bland as it is during the rest of the year, so no one can take offense, or share in the joy, but we will all be politically correct. Books are written on creationism versus evolution. Now there seems to be a great debate regarding evolution versus intelligent design. Faith, by its very nature, is belief in something unprovable. Otherwise it would not be faith. Worship requires faith in a Supreme Being, whatever it is called and wherever it is worshiped. Ancient religions worshiped a Supreme Being, then venerated or worshiped many other lesser beings or gods which watched over or regulated specific things in the world. This is derided as idolatry by modern Western religions, but look at the Catholic Church, dedicated to God, but patron saints are prayed to regularly, to help with particular problems they are considered to be in charge of. As to intelligent design, what could be more indicative of God than to have a Supreme Being who could put together a set of natural laws that could make the universe and our world evolve in so wonderful a way. We cannot prove that God exists, that is an act of faith, but the fact that the world exists and carries on despite what we manage to do to it and ourselves is, to me, a pretty good proof that somewhere out there is Something, much greater than we are. If we, truly wish to honor and serve God, perhaps we (who, rightly or mistakenly, consider ourselves to be His final act of creation on this planet), should do so by learning to love one another and respect our differences, rather than killing each other over minutiae and suppressing outward forms of worship. As Tiny Tim said, God bless us, every one.

6 Free and Accepted Masons Scottish Rite Bodies P. O. Box 1112 Everett, WA Non- Profit Org U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 372 Everett, WA January 2005 What is Scottish Rite? Although there is no higher degree than that of Master Mason, the 29 degrees of the Scottish Rite serve to enrich the philosophy of the Symbolic Lodge. A Mason who chooses to further his Masonic experience by becoming a 32 Scottish Rite Mason will be expanding upon the fundamental principles of Freemasonry. The moral and ethical lessons will allow him to be constantly reminded of his duty to God, family, country, and fellow man Valley of Everett - Orient of Washington Calendar of Coming Events January 07 - Lodge of Perfection Stated Masonic Education January 09 Executive Council Meeting January 14 - Installation of Officers January 21 - Chapter Rose Croix 18 th Degree January 28 Consistory Masonic Education February 11 - Lodge of Perfection Stated - Sweetheart Night February 13 Executive Council Meeting February 18 Kadosh Stated - Masonic Education February 25 - Chapter Rose Croix Valley of Everett, Installation Of Officers The Everett Valley will have an open installation of officers on January 14, 2005 at 7:30 P.M. It is open to Masonic Lodge members, wives, guests and any other persons interested in getting to know something about the Scottish Rite Masonry. Light refreshments will be available after the installation. The Valley of Everett meets in the Everett Masonic Center located at 234 Olympic Boulevard in Everett Washington.