Illustrious Illusions Filson the Flabbergasting

Transcription

1 103 Dunns Mill Road Bordentown, NJ December 2012 January & February 2013 Illustrious Illusions Filson the Flabbergasting Coming January 15th Join us Tuesday, January 15 for a fun evening of food and magic presented by Sovereign Prince Doug Policastro and the Princes of Jerusalem, and featuring our own Ill. Gary Filson, 33, MSA, and his travelling troupe of practitioners of prestidigitation! Come one, come all, come children of all ages! $14.00 per person, or $25.00 per couple Children 12 and under, $7.50; children under 3, free Social (half)hour: 6:30pm Dinner: 7:00pm Show: 8:15pm Reservations required! Please call the Valley at (609) or us at valleyofcentralj@comcast.net. Children s Dyslexia Centers of NJ Please keep the Children s Dyslexia Centers of NJ in your thoughts, your financial support, no matter the amount, goes to helping children who otherwise would not receive the education they justly deserve. Donations can be made to: Children s Dyslexia Centers of NJ and mailed to Valley of Central Jersey, 103 Dunns Mill Road, Bordentown, NJ Your donation will be acknowledged! NOTICE! Is your Lodge or Organization looking for a 15-minute presentation on the Children s Dyslexia Centers of NJ? Call the Valley of Central Jersey at (609) for detailed information and presenters.

2 2 Scottish Rite News December 2012 January & February 2013 A Message from Commander-in-Chief W. Roger Butler, MSA, 33 As we reach the midpoint of my term as Commander-in- Chief, I want to thank each and every one of you for the tremendous support you have shown to the Valley and to Scottish Rite Masonry. It is an honor and privilege for me to head the Valley at this exciting time of growth and resurgence. At each Reunion we initiate more new Scottish Rite Masons than we did at the prior Reunion. This is very encouraging. I would encourage each of us to talk about the benefits of being a Scottish Rite Mason when you are at your lodge or other Masonic function. Too often we hide our lights under a bushel basket. Speak proudly of the charity we do, not just to the public, but especially to our own brethren. This year we rescued one needy brother from being evicted from his apartment; we are paying the deductibles and co-pays for a distressed brother undergoing chemotherapy; and we have aided a number of financially stressed brothers with their dues. Brotherly love, relief, and truth are the true work of Freemasonry and of the Scottish Rite, and I am very proud to be a part of it. Look for Scottish Rite Valley of Central Jersey on Facebook Videos Event Updates Networking Like us today! We are on our way to meeting our goal! Over 260 of our brothers have contributed almost $18,000 to the campaign. As the Christmas season nears, please don t forget to include a contribution to the Capital Campaign Challenge on your list of gifts. Thanks to the a very generous pledge from a friend of the Valley, every dollar we raise up to $50,000 will be matched dollar-for-dollar! This is an unparalleled opportunity to help your Valley. The Challenge ends on February 1st, so we only have a few weeks left. Please consider a gift of $25.00, $50.00, or more. If you would like to give a larger amount and pay it Capital Campaign CHALLENGE UPDATE over time, you may use your Visa or MasterCard by filling out the information on the slip below. We also accept checks. Please, please do not send cash! We have received one envelope already with cash in it. We sincerely thank you for your support! Yes! I want to help my Valley s Capital Campaign Challenge! Enclosed is my contribution for: $ $ $ $50.00 Other: $ Please make checks payable to Valley of Central Jersey. Mail this slip and your payment to: Valley of Central Jersey 103 Dunns Mill Road Bordentown, NJ Name Address City State Zip Amount to be billed to your Visa MasterCard $ Name on Card Card Number 3-Digit Security Code (on back of card) Exp. Date Signature

3 December 2012 January & February 2013 Scottish Rite News 3 From the Secretary s Desk Sublime Princes and Illustrious Sirs, Greetings! It has been a very busy few months here at the Central Valley. We have had a several of family events our Valley picnic, the Cap & Jewel Dinner honoring our MSA s and 33 s, and the Rose Croix Dinner and Play (Morning of a Thousand Suns. As you know, we had to reschedule a specifically Scottish Rite event: our Fall Reunion honoring MW Glenn R. Trautmann, 33. Please see the new schedule elsewhere in this newsletter. The common element in all of these was the turnout for each event. The Valley of Central Jersey is becoming the place to be for an afternoon or evening of fun and fellowship. We very much appreciate the support of our members and their non-mason friends and relatives. There are two housekeeping items I would like to bring to the attention of the brethren. The first is a bit awkward. We are all very proud of both our brick-and-mortar facility and the work of the Rite which we do here. The hard truth is that it costs a lot of money to keep the facility in good shape and to keep the ritual sharp. Our two major sources of income are dues and rentals. In order to rent, we need to keep our facility spiffy. To make money, therefore, we have periodically to spend money. At present, 668 (or 36%) of our 1857 members have not yet paid their dues. This represents $71, of money we truly need to keep the Valley running. Dues are the major portion of our income. We will shortly be sending out second notices. If you have neglected your dues for whatever reason, please make every effort to pay them at this time. If you are experiencing true hardship at this time (as we know some of our members are), however, please do not hesitate to call or me confidentially. The contact information is below. Sovereign Grand Commander McNaughton is insistent that the RESCHEDULED Scottish Rite truly be the fraternity that cares for its members. And we here at the Central Valley strive to prove that every day. We have had a problem with strangers parking their vehicles in our lot. We have had occasion even to have an abandoned vehicle towed by the police. We are more than happy to accommodate brethren who would like to carpool to events and find our parking lot centrally located; we would, however, appreciate the courtesy of some prior notice so we can differentiate between brethren and the profane who do not respect private property. If you plan to carpool from the Central Valley, please let us know via phone at , or by at valleyofcentralj@comcast.net. Thanks for your cooperation. Fall Reunion Joint Reunion with the Northern Valley Saturday, January 19, 2013 at Valley of Central Jersey, Bordentown (Note: each degree will be followed by a brief discussion) 8:00am 9:00am 9:45am Registration and Continental Breakfast 4 Master Traveler (Video) 12 Grand Master Architect (the Story of Joseph) Northern Valley 11:00am Break 11:15am 25 Master of Achievement (Ben Franklin) Central Valley 12:30pm Lunch and 16 Prince of Jerusalem Northern Valley 1:45pm 24 Brother of the Forest (Video) 2:30pm 29 Knight of St. Andrew Central Valley

4 4 Scottish Rite News December 2012 January & February 2013 Brothers in Harmony It s Not Just Four Guys Singing Sweet Adeline The Central Valley is pleased to host a Mid-Winter Concert by the internationally renowned Brothers in Harmony on January 27th. If your only exposure to Barbershop Quartets is The Music Man, you will be both amazed and thrilled at the breadth of musical genres you will hear at this concert. The Brothers in Harmony are the Hamilton Square, New Jersey Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Since our start in 1998 as the Easton Pennsylvania Chapter, we have been providing our audiences with rich, vibrant, award-winning barbershop harmonies. The Brothers in Harmony Chorus entered the Northern Division competition in May 1998 and became the Northern Division champions with 36 men on stage. The Brothers in Harmony Chorus entered the Northern Division competition in May 1998 and became the Northern Division champions with 36 men on stage. In October of 2003 the Brothers, for the fifth consecutive year, won the Mid-Atlantic District Intermediate Chorus Championship. The Brothers in Harmony returned to the International Chorus Competition stage in July of 2006, 2007 and 2008, representing the Mid- Atlantic District of the Barbershop Harmony Society. Taking time-off to relocate to the Hamilton Square are in 2009, the Brothers worked very hard to again qualify to compete on the international stage in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in July The Brothers performed a memorable Vietnam package that will forever be one of the most stunning performances on stage with Billy Joel s Goodnight Saigon and George Straight s 50,000 Names. The Brothers in Harmony finished in the top ten chorus s in the world and are currently ranked 9th in the world. For a truly enjoyable afternoon, please join us on the 27th. Tickets are only $20.00 per person. Refreshments will be available during the intermission. For reservations, call , or us at valleyofcentralj@comcast.net.

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8 8 Scottish Rite News December 2012 January & February 2013 In and About the Valley January 15: Dinner and Magic Show (Princes of Jerusalem) 6:30pm $14.00/per person; 2 for $25.00 Mark Your Calendars March 24: Feast of the Paschal lamb (All Bodies) 3:00pm Annual Memorial Service Light refreshments afterwards January 19: January 27: Rescheduled Fall Reunion 8:00am Barbershop Quartet Concert 2:00pm $20.00/per person Refreshments at Intermission April 13: April 20 April 27: May 4: Spring Reunion Council of Deliberation Grand Master s Installation Statewide 32 at Historic Trenton Masonic Temple February 19: Dinner and Dancing (Lodge of Perfection) 6:30pm $14.00/per person; 2 for $25.00 May 11: May 21: June 18: Grand Master s Reception Annual Meeting of Central Valley Installation of Officers Your Fraternity of Choice by Mark E. Megee, 32, MSA Timing is everything and writing about a late summer picnic when we are planning our winter events seemed awkward at first. But when you look back at the events, it is all part of the big picture. The Scottish Rite, and our Valley, are committed to being your fraternity of choice. One aspect of the choices you have in the Scottish Rite is our family life events. Our Valley has a few of them throughout the year, and we encourage you to bring your friends and family to them. Our Annual Officer Installation in June and the Feast of the Pascal Lamb in the Spring are two events early on in the year, in which you can share the pageantry and ritual of the Scottish Rite with your friends and family. Also there are New Member Nights twice a year that allow members to get a better view of the Valley, and lets family and friends tour the building. Also in May of this year there will be a huge banquet for the new 32nd degree Masons up in Trenton. More details will be coming and I d make sure you get your reservations in early. There are big plans this year as we celebrate 200 years of Scottish Rite Masonry in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. Also, there are plays like the December Rose and the Morning of a Thousand Suns throughout the year. We ve had barber shop quartets, magicians, comedy nights, movie nights, and even Elvis has been seen in Bordentown. This year we brought back our annual picnic with hot dogs, hamburgers, a bouncy house, and pony rides, and next year s picnic should be even bigger and better. Scottish Rite Freemasonry is a big part of my life and being able to share it with my family makes it all the better. Consider making it part of yours.

9 December 2012 January & February 2013 Scottish Rite News 9 Masonic Philanthropy in Action Sovereign Grand Commander John Wm. McNaughton, 33 is fond of pointing out that no one joins Freemasonry so he can memorize ritual. Each of us joined for fellowship, the company of like-minded men, and an atmosphere conducive to self-improvement. If we didn t know when we joined, we learned very early on that Masons also oblige themselves to care for one another in times of need. The recent devastation wrought by Hurricane Sandy was a prime opportunity for New Jersey Freemasons and their brethren in other states to fulfill that obligation. Sandy was the first true hurricane to make landfall in New Jersey since September, The destruction left in her wake, particularly along the coast, is difficult to view and even harder to comprehend. Loss of power and impassable roads delayed relief efforts, but help began to come in earnest from easterly and westerly directions. Dedicated brothers from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota arrived in New Jersey with a 53 foot trailer filled with supplies of water, clothing, sleeping bags, food, and even dog food. Simultaneously, Brother Steve Pekock arrived from Supreme Council in Lexington, Massachusetts carrying $90, worth of pre-paid debit cards which the Sovereign Grand Commander had allocated for relief for our brethren, whether they were Scottish Rite Masons or not. All of these efforts were coordinated through Grand Lodge under the guidance of Grand Master Glenn R. Trautmann. RW Dieter Hees coordinated for Grand lodge, while our own Deputy Dave Glattly oversaw distribution of the cards at the rate of $1,500 per family. Half of the Minnesota supplies and Scottish Rite debit cards were distributed from Durand Lodge #179 in Point Pleasant, and the other half through Tuckerton Lodge #4 in Little Egg Harbor. This was a united effort of Blue Lodge Masons and members of appendant bodies, including the Grand Master, the Elected Line, DeMolay, and many Brothers and their ladies. Masonic families were served first, and then others in need. Seeing the extent of the need, Deputy Dave asked the Sovereign Grand Commander for an additional $30, to distribute. Commander McNaughton responded by authorizing an additional $60, for New Jersey, with the request that he be kept apprised of further need. Going forward, all distribution of funds will coordinated through the District Deputy Grand Masters. We sincerely appreciate the outstanding support of the Scottish Rite to assist the Masons in need of New Jersey said Grand Master Trautmann, And the outpouring of support and working together in brotherhood by our Masons of this state is heartwarming. This is a story you probably will not read about in the press, nor see on television, but it a story you should know and share with others.

10 10 Scottish Rite News December 2012 January & February 2013 Do You See Dead People? At the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library in Lexington, Massachusetts, staff and volunteers are currently working to digitize our collection of more than 1,000 historic photographs, dating from the 1840s to the present. Many of these images feature people, places, and events that are Masonic. One of the most intriguing photographs in the collection is shown here. It depicts a man who faces the camera. Above his head is a ghostlike figure of a woman. Called spirit photography, images like this one were created by unscrupulous photographers who claimed that they had captured the likenesses of deceased loved ones. W.H. Mumler of Boston, who took this photograph, produced this type of image for eight years, claiming all the while to be uniting the dead with the living. However, other photographers worked to debunk Mumler s claims, even publishing descriptions of techniques that could be used to make these pictures. Photographers used additional living people as part of the process, not visitors from the spirit world. Honest photographers sometimes used the ghost techniques for sentimental or humorous reasons, not claiming that they were in contact with the spirit world. Part of photography s appeal for mid-1800s Americans was its newness and its realism. The sitters could see themselves, and their friends and family, as they really were, not through the painter s brush or artist s pencil. Frenchman Louis Daguerre is credited with inventing a process to chemically record images in This product was named for its inventor and the daguerreotype was born. By the 1860s, carte-de-visites like this one were invented, allowing the photographer to print an image on paper. One of the keys to the popularity of these photographs was their compact size. While many portraits from the 1700s and 1800s were painted to be framed and hung on the wall, a carte-de-visite could be carried in a purse or a pocket. A handwritten note on the back of this photograph provides not only helpful information about the identity of the sitter, but also tells us that the subject was hoodwinked by his photographer. The inscription reads Portrait of Theo. Ross 33 Taken by a Spiritualistic Photographer + he made Ross believe that was his wife s spirit standing behind him. While we may find it hard to believe that Ross could have believed such a story, it helps to understand that the photo was taken at a time when Spiritualism was sweeping the nation. Spiritualism was a religious movement aimed at proving the immortality of the soul by establishing communication with the spirits of the dead. Historians have suggested that Spiritualism s popularity was a response to the widespread economic, social and cultural changes taking place in America in the mid-1800s. Theodore Ross with his wife s spirit, , W.H. Mumler, Boston, Massachusetts, Collection of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, c. Theodore Ross was born in Duchess County, New York, on November 23, 1827, and moved to Cleveland, Ohio, at a young age. He was made a Mason in Cleveland s Iris Lodge No. 229 and became a member of both the York Rite and the Scottish Rite. He received the Scottish Rite s 33 on May 23, At some point, Ross moved to New York City, where he passed away on May 30, But, his photograph remains, allowing us not only to connect his appearance to his life story, but also highlighting a fascinating part of the story of photography in America. You can browse and search the images that have been digitized by visiting our website ( Click on Collections and then click on Online Collections and Click here to start a search of our online collection. You will be taken to a new window where you can search for all of the photos by typing photo, or you can search for specific subjects, photographers, places or any other term. For more information about the Museum & Library, visit our website or call

11 December 2012 January & February 2013 Scottish Rite News 11 Membership Card Illustrious Brothers and Sublime Princes, Greetings! Please remember that your permanent Dues Card is only valid if your dues are paid for the Valley year. We have all received our dues notices, and we are gratified by the number of brothers who have paid their dues, and contributed to the Capital Campaign Challenge. As you know, our dues are based on a fiscal year starting August 1, running through July 31 of the following year. If you have not yet paid your dues, we respectfully request that you take a moment to do so. The regular expenses of running the Valley are ongoing, and we rely on your support to meet them. The AASR Supreme Council has now issued an Identification Card that resembles a credit card for your proof of membership. If you have not received it, please call the Valley office at , or us at valleyofcentralj@comcast.net. How Can I Help My Valley? In our Scottish Rite Valley there are many areas in which one can become active. Without the assistance of our members, we could not confer the degrees at our Reunions. There is always a need for Degree Personnel for speaking and non-speaking parts, Stage Crew, Make-Up, Wardrobe, Clean-up Crew and Light Maintenance of the Building. We want to re-activate the Stewards, can you help out? We are looking for active Masons who are willing to represent the Scottish Rite in your Blue Lodge. We have a Thursday morning work crew who can always use another pair of hands! Should you have the time and are interested in helping, please call us at the Valley Office at (609) or valleyofcentralj@comcast.net. Looking forward to hearing from you! Allegiance The Bodies of the Scottish Rite, sitting in the Valley of Central Jersey in Bordentown, New Jersey, acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council, 33, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, Whose Grand East is in Lexington, Massachusetts and whose officers include: Illustrious John W. McNaughton, 33 Sovereign Grand Commander Illustrious David A. Glattly, 33 Deputy for New Jersey Illustrious Robert J. Sheridan, 33 - Active Members of Supreme Council for New Jersey Active Emeritus Members of Supreme Council and Past Deputies: Illustrious Thurman C. Pace, Jr., 33 Illustrious Donald D. (Pete) Miller, 33 Illustrious Verdon R. Skipper, 33 IN MEMORIAM There is no death; the stars go down To rise upon some other shore, And bright in heaven s jeweled crown They shine forevermore William P. Baker 12/18/11 Richard V. N. Best 7/20/12 Kenneth P. Cramer 3/10/12 Robert K. Dane 5/24/12 Earl E. Ewers, Jr., 33 7/20/12 Edward G. Febinger 5/4/11 Job L. Gash 4/24/12 Raymond Goldkopf 8/18/12 Robert J. Hanson, Jr. 8/26/12 Walter B. Harbourt 11/16/11 Walter K. Hesse 2/26/12 Robert C. Hobson 10/15/12 David E. Kane 4/5/12 Frank T. Kolbek 1/29/12 Ralph C. Latham 9/6/12 Parker N. Leach, Jr. 9/15/12 George E. Lewis 7/17/12 Allen C. Mabee, Jr. 1/12/12 Donald E. McKelvey 7/25/12 Maloney Morgan 4/28/12 Paul F. Rebner 5/1/12 Alfred W. Reddy 8/22/12 Robert R. Swenson 7/28/12 Frederick R. Wyckoff 1/11/12 Thomas W. Wilson 10/17/12

12 12 Scottish Rite News December 2012 January & February and not told us? Mail is being returned to the Valley because members have not notified the office of a forwarding address. You may know where you now live BUT DO WE? Much time and expense is spent trying to locate these members. PLEASE NOTIFY US WHEN YOU RELOCATE!!! Call or valleyofcentralj@comcast.net SCOTTISH RITE NEWS (Official Publication Valley of Central Jersey) 103 Dunns Mill Road Bordentown, NJ Bill Morelli, 32, Ex. Secretary/Editor (609) valleyofcentralj@comcast.net New Business Hours at the Central Valley as of Tuesday, September 4, 2012: VALLEY OFFICE Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite William J. Morelli, MSA, 32 Executive Secretary (609) Monday-Wednesday: 9:00am-5:00pm Thursday: CLOSED Friday: 9:00am-3:00pm Saturday: By appointment FACILITIES OFFICE Catering and Rentals Ill. Dennis R. Bator, 33 Facilities Manager (609) Wednesday: 10:30am-3:00pm Friday: 10:30am-3:00pm Other times: By Appointment Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite 103 Dunns Mill Road Bordentown, NJ NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID TRENTON, NJ Permit No. 1505