Volume LXIX:1 August 2006 CONCERT IN THE GOLD ROOM Bloomington Scottish Rite Consistory Presents a night with Mariachi Entertainment by Pablo Medina and Mariachi Esmeralda Mariachi Band from Chicago When: September 30, 2006 Where: Gold Room, Bloomington Masonic Temple 302 E. Jefferson VALLEY OF BLOOMINGTON AASR, 32 MASONS Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm Food court in dining room: 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm Tickets: $14.00 each Advanced ticket sales only For ticket information contact Bill Burden: (309) 530-0099 This event is the annual fund raiser for the Valley of Bloomington Scottish Rite. Take a night off to enjoy this wonderful music and a taste from the food court. Please Support Your Valley Fund Raiser REMINDER Effective in September the Valley of Bloomington STATED MEETING START TIME IS 7:00 PM, NOT 7:30 PM Commander-in-Chief 2 Ross Funk Receives MSA 3 Upcoming Events 4 Quilt Raffle & Silent Auction 4 Deaths 4 Scottish Rite Playground Equipment 5 Welocme Home Fall Reunion is Coming 5 Newsbriefs 6 Scholarship Awards 7 LeRoy s 150th Rededication 8
Commander-in-Chief Corner Summer and the Sun s Shining in the Valley As the summer winds down, we begin to look forward to the friendship and fellowship of our friends in Scottish Rite. The summer has been especially busy for the Trustees and I thought you might be interested in some of the things that have been happening. With the death of the Sovereign Grand Commander Walter E. Webber, the Valley has decided to plant boxwoods at the Bloomington Masonic Temple in his honor. That will take place sometime in the fall and a plaque will be placed in the Scottish Rite meeting area commemorating this event. At our June stated meeting the brethren voted to change the meeting time from 7:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. One of the reasons for this was to allow those brethren living outside of the Bloomington area to attend and get home at a reasonable time. Also, without a building to maintain, the business of the Valley is limited to fraternal matters. This has allowed us to shorten the Trustee meeting so we can get done in an hour and start the meeting at 7 p.m. We hope you will like this arrangement. Several committees have been appointed, but two are of special note. The first is a committee to look at the advancing lines of each of the coordinate bodies of the Valley of Bloomington. Currently each line begins at the tyler position and progresses up to the head of that body with the exception of the Consistory Line. It is becoming increasingly more difficult to recruit and retain good men for a eight or nine year commitment. Therefore, this committee will be making a recommendation to the trustees at our September meeting. The second committee is to plan a welcome home party for our Fall Reunion. This committee will be making recommendations on how to bring our current members back to this reunion and what we should be doing during this reunion. We have several things to celebrate during our Fall Reunion. We will be returning to our home in the Center for the Performing Arts (formerly the Scottish Rite Temple) after a one year absence and we want everyone to see how beautiful the renovations have made this building. Second, we are dedicating this class to Michael Fowler, current Potentate of Mohammed Temple and the immediate Past Commander-in-Chief of Bloomington Consistory. There will be a Shrine Ceremonial (with ladies invited) immediately following the close of the 32 nd Degree and before the banquet. Please make your plans to attend this gala event now. The dates are November 17-18. If you have not been to the Scottish Rite Recreation area recently, you will find that there has been an addition to the camp. Thanks to a generous gift from Viggo Frost, we now have modern playground equipment for the kids. This addition is a real boon to our camp and when you see Viggo, thank him for his gift. In Friendship and Brotherly Love, Ron Blue, 33 Commander-in-Chief Valley of Bloomington Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Scottish Rite Office (309) 828-6077 Commander-in-Chief Ronald K. Blue, 33 Thrice Potent Master Jay A. Keeran Sovereign Prince Michael J. Bergelin Most Wise Master Charles H. Ross, Jr Executive Secretary David Young, 33 Treasurer Earnest Vittitoe, MSA Board of Trustees Barry D. Weer, 33 1st Lt. Commander Billy M. Burden 2nd Lt. Commander K. Randall Wilson Deputy Master John R. Barringer High Priest Dale F. Arbour Sr. Warden Kenneth M. Aucutt, MSA, Trustee Steven L. Barr Trustee Barry G. Carney Trustee Jim L. Grimm, 33 Trustee Committees Audit Ron Guthoff Membership John Dorner Finance Barry Weer, 33 History Dale Arbour Insurance Joe Jackson Legal Russell DePew Permanent Fund Ron Blue, 33 Planning Bill Burden Properties Walden Crouch, 33 SRRA John Hulett, MSA Charity Greg Clark, 33 Community Concerns Norman Meade, 33 Bill Tanner Family Life Robert Trefzger 33 Scholarships Jim L. Grimm, 33 Webmaster John Dorner Learning Center Janet Blue Newsletter Dale Arbour The Cathedral News is printed bi-monthly for the purpose of informing the members about events in the Valley. Page 2 CATHEDRAL NEWS
Ross Funk Receives MSA The Meritorious Service Award was conferred on Ross Funk, Past Thrice Potent Master of the Bloomington Lodge of Perfection at the annual Council of Deliberation meeting held in Springfield in June. Ross was born in Gridley, IL on December 12, 1938. He was raised to the degree of Master Mason in Bloomington Lodge #43 on July 28, 1969. Ross served as Master of Bloomington Lodge #43 in 1977. Barry Weer, 33 & Lawrence D. Inglis, 33, Deputy for Illinois at the Illinois Council of Deliberation. Ross joined the Valley of Bloomington in March of 1978 class and has participated in many of the degrees portrayed by the Valley, most with speaking parts. He served as Thrice Potent Master in 1993-1994. Brother Funk has been the degree master of the 14th Degree for the past several years. At the IL Council of Deliberation we also received word that Donald G. Anderson, Past Sovereign Prince, would receive the MSA in 2007. Donald G. Anderson Ross Funk receiving his jewel and cap from Ill. Benny Grisham, 33 Active for Illinois. Stanley P. Boyd VOLUME LXIX:1 Page 3
Upcoming Events August 2005 1 Trustee Meeting No Stated Meeting 2-6 McLean County Fair, Robert Trefzger 12 Constitution Trail Clean-up, John Dorner 12 Scholarship Award Reception at Blm. Temple 24 Mohammed Shrine 2006 Golf Stag, Pine Lakes Country Club, Washington, IL 27-30 Supreme Council Grand Rapids, MI September 2005 5 Stated Meeting Lodge of Perfection Presides 23 Heart Walk-John Barringer, Chair 23 Family Putt Putt at Gradys, Eric Barringer 23-25 Great Lakes Shrine Meeting 30 Fundraiser at Bloomington Temple, Mariachi Band October 2005 4 Stated Meeting Zerrubbabel Council Presides 6-7 Grand Lodge Springfield November 2005 December 2005 1 Stated Meeting Rose Croix Chapter Presides 18-19 Fall Reunion 4 D.D.D Club Christmas Dinner 5 Salvation Army Bell Ringing 6 Stated Meeting Consistory Presides Scottish Rite Campers Club QUILT RAFFLE & SILENT AUCTION Saturday, September 2, 2006 8:00 a.m. until Noon. The annual fund raiser for the Scottish Rite Campers Club will feature a homemade quilt to be raffled and a collection of items for a Silent Auction. Tickets for the quilt raffle will be available from several members of the campers club. The Silent Auction will be held at the Scottish Rite Recreation Area at Lake Bloomington. Deaths These brothers have traveled to the home of the Supreme Architect of the Universe, that house not made with hands eternal in the heavens. Our sympathies go to their families and friends. W. Leslie Miller, Towanda, IL 7-19-06 Wayne E. Zimmerman, Ottawa, IL 7-15-06 William L. King, 7-14-06 Robert L. Meade, 6-23-06 Alfred J. Zimmerman, Devon, PA 6-20-06 Charles M. Setchell, 6-14-06 Robert D. Hellweg, 6-9-06 H. J. Phelps, Sun City, AZ 6-7-06 Dale R. Harshbarger, Decatur, IL 5-28-06 John M. Weddle, Golden, CO 5-25-06 William J. Peddie, Mulkeytown, IL 4-4-05 Richard L. Antons, Bourbonnais, IL 2-13-05 George E.Whitmore, Mendota, IL 1-20-03 Donald J. Vacca, Coal City, IL 7-9-02 Edward F. Lukes, Carmel, IN 01-01-97 The morning of festivities will start off with coffee and doughnuts while the bidding begins and continues to noon. Please come out and enjoy family activities. All Silent Auction bids and quilt raffle winner will be announced at 1:00 pm on the day of the fund raiser after a potluck lunch. We are also asking for donation of new items for the auction. If you have a business or service and can donate an item or gift certificate, please contact John Hulett at (309) 452-4292 or Mike & Cindy Veselak At 309-829-4596. Page 4 CATHEDRAL NEWS
Scottish Rite Recreation Area New Playground Equipment The new playground equipment is now in place and ready for children to play. The Sunshine Clubhouse series was assembled by members of the Scottish Rite Campers Club. The Sunshine Clubhouse includes two slides, 2 swings, a tire swing and a picnic table on the lower level. It is cedar with bright yellow and red accessories. The clubhouse and equipment was dedicated to Viggo Frost, MSA. This addition to the Scottish Rite Recreation Area could not have been possible without Viggo s generosity. At Left, left to right: Sherwood Smith, John Hulett and Mike Veselak building the playground equipment. Below: Children playing Join us for the Bloomington Scottish Rite Fall Reunion November 17 & 18, 2006 To The Newly Remodeled Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts 110 Mulberry St. Class named in honor of Mike Fowler, 33 Past Commander in Chief and Potentate Mohammed Shrine Shrine Ceremonial to follow conferral of the 32 nd degree Ladies are welcome to attend the ceremonial For information contact Greg Clark: (309) 827-2758 Or The Scottish Rite Office: (309) 828-6077 Help us Celebrate our Return from Whence We Came. VOLUME LXIX:1 VIII:1 Page 5
Valley Newsbriefs Tickets for the Valley of Bloomington Fund Raiser are on sale now. This unique concert is September 30, 2006 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Bloomington Temple featuring a Mariachi Band. Direct questions regarding tickets to Bill Burden at 530-0099. The tickets are $14.00 each. The event also features food vendors in the dining room from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm. Support your Valley Fund Raiser, come and enjoy some beautiful music from South of the Border. Bernie Maharg assisting parent at DNA sample station Left: Charles Ross at video station Below: Bill Tanner in front of video backdrop Masonic bodies conducted the ILCHIP (Child Identification Program) during the Sugar Creek Arts Festival. We held the event in the basement of the Normal Lodge building. Children go through 4 stations: registration, fingerprinting, DNA sample and the photo and video clip station. Electronic components are burned to CD and everything goes home with the parents. A total of 57 children were identified in this worthy and free service sponsored by the Grand Lodge. Theron Noth serving guests at the Family Picnic The Scottish Rite Family Picnic was held Saturday, June 17 at the Scotttish Rite Camp at Lake Bloomington. A delicious picnic was catered by Times Past and those attending enjoyed the great summer weather, games, great fellowship, and swimming. Door prizes added excitement and fun. We look forward with anticipation to next year's picnic!!! Guests enjoying the meal at the Family Picnic June 17th Page 6 CATHEDRAL NEWS
The Valley of Bloomington, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry congratulates these scholarship recipients: AMERICAN PASSION PLAY SCHOLARSHIPS Troy P. Clark David M. Wells Jayme L. Ayers Granite City, IL GRAND LODGE OF ILLINOIS SCHOLARSHIPS Rebecca C. Wiegand Britney K. Cagle Danvers, IL LEON M. ABBOTT SCHOLARSHIPS Andrew W. Hoffman Kristina L. Gaddy Tana L. Moore Sarah E. Young LOUIS L. WILLIAMS SCHOLARHIP Kayla S. Kindred Farmer City, IL Lexington, IL Grandhaven, MI ROBERT B. PERKINS SCHOLARSHIP Kelsey J. DePew SHERWOOD & EVELYN KRESIN SCHOLARSHIP Rebecca A. Maurer HEALTHCARE SCHOLARSHIPS Kristen M. Aberle Linda M. Aukerman Christina A. Biggs Jessica L. Blanchard Saybrook, IL Thawville, IL Monticello, IL The Scottish Rite Masons of Central Illinois award an excess of $50,000 in scholarships annually to deserving students. For more information contact your school counsel or or the Scottish Rite at (309) 828-6077. Information can also be found at www.aasrbloomington.org (including scholarship applications). Please join us in congratulating these students on their accomplishments. Sammy P. Catarinicchia Cylie J. Cole Alicia J. Crabtree Melissa K. Donnan Caelie M. Dowdall Margaret L. Edwards Kandis L. Ferguson Jill M. Floyd Elizabeth M. Froelich Rochelle K. Gerber Brandon A. Gibs Jacqueline C. Gill Elizabeth A. Guth Kourtney L. Haas Erica J. Halcomb Samantha E. Hayes Aaron M. Ifft Nicole M. Kirby Jessica L. Koons Lean E. Maurer Jeanette N McWhorter Sydne L Miller Ashley N. Monson Lindsey N. Morgan Ashley M. Marsinko Alyssa D. Noak Vanessa M. Osborne Sara K. Payne Jessica R. Pearson Sara L. Peiper Brittanie N. Pitkins Megan C. Plunk Stormie N. Prather Sarah J. Ruff Sadie J. Sanders Kaleigh J. Schlipf Sarah J. Shambaugh Cassandra A. Sorensen Sara B. Strauch Calvin J. Teubel Jessica A. Walker Susan M. Waltrip Stephanie L. Wargo Amanda B. Wassom Ayla M. Westray Jessica M. Whalen Kelsey S. Zebarth Minonk, IL Farmer City, IL Lake Villa, IL Forrest, IL Forrest, IL Heyworth, IL Hudson, IL Champaign, IL Lexington, IL Fairbury, IL Carlock, IL Cullom, IL Cerro Gordo, IL Hammond, IL Streator, IL Towanda, IL Seneca, IL Fairbury, IL Morris, IL Mansfield, IL Gridley, IL Gridley, IL Lovington, IL LeRoy, IL Forrest, IL LeRoy, IL Streator, IL Monticello, IL Monticello, IL Lincoln, IL Melvin, IL VOLUME LXIX:1 Page 7
Bloomington Consistory Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite PO Box 3695 61702-3695 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED We re on the Web www.aasrbloomington.org Vol. LXIX:1 August 2006 Non-Profit Organization US Postage Paid Permit No. 37 The Grand Lodge of Illinois officers conducted a 150 year rededication program of LeRoy Lodge No. 221, A.F. & A.M. on July 22, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. at the Masonic Temple at 122 ½ North Chestnut in LeRoy. Most Worshipful Grand Master Noel C. Dicks, accompanied by the Grand Lodge Officers, conducted the ceremony. One of the highlights of the event was a special award to William Sims who served as treasurer of LeRoy Lodge for many years. He was given a certificate designating him Treasurer Emeritus by Most Worshipful Grand Master Dicks. LeRoy Lodge began on the 26 th of January, 1856, when nine citizens of the town of LeRoy and surrounding community, recommended by Bloomington Lodge No. 43, to be Master Masons in good standing, received from W.B. Herrick, Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the State of Illinois, a dispensation for the purpose of organizing a Masonic Lodge in LeRoy, Illinois and granted the right to initiate new members. On October 7, 1856 the Lodge was granted its Charter and assigned the number 221 to designate it as the 221 st Lodge to be established in the State of Illinois. The first meeting of LeRoy Masonic Lodge No. 221 was held on October 28, 1856. Several buildings were used for meetings then on March 11, 1902 the present Masonic Temple was purchased for $1,650.00. During the 150 years over 96 members have served their Lodge as Worshipful Master. Above: M.W. Grand Master Noel C. Dicks w/ William Sims Below: Grand Lodge Officers Rededication Ceremony