Winter, 2014 Volume 3, Issue 4 We will strive to be a fraternity that fulfills our Masonic obligation to care for our members. Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Special points of interest: Scottish Rite News C-in-C Notes P 2 I m in the Valley of Nashua? P 2 Social Night P 6 Birthdays P 6 Fall Reunion Welcomes Sixteen New 32 Masons New Thirty-second Degree Scottish Rite Masons are presented with their Valley and 200th Anniversary jewels at the November 2 Fall Reunion by Illustrious Kenneth A. Clay, Jr., 33, Commander-in-Chief of New Hampshire Consistory. With him are Illustrious Mark C. Roth, 33, Deputy for the State of New Hampshire, with Illustrious Richard W. Elliot, 33, Active Member of Supreme Council, and Illustrious Robert E. Hansen, 33, Active Emeritus Member of Supreme Council. Photo Bud Durling Seventeen candidates attended the New Hampshire Consistory Fall Reunion in Penacook on Saturday, November 2 to witness the 25. Sixteen were also able to witness the 31 and 32. New Thirty-second Degree Masons, and their Home Valley, are: Valley of Lancaster-Littleton Valley of Keene Valley of Concord Keith E. Bronson Kyle A. LeBrie Michael H. Brisson Stephen E. Burchell Anthony C. Malloy Joseph E. Coleman Gary P. Meakin John F. Faro Valley of Portsmouth-Dover Gregory W. Theroux Scott C. Ives Kevin C. Walsh Oliver Peter Frates Bruce W. Hussey Nicholas R. Pesarik Kevin M. Koechel Martin W. Koechel Congratulations to all! We look forward to seeing you at our future Reunions and Events.
Page 2 Scottish Rite News Scottish Rite News, Vol. 3, Issue 4, is published quarterly by NH Consistory, 196 Main St., Nashua, NH 03060 Telephone: 603-882-4931 office@nhconsistory.com www.nh32degreemason.org Editor Robert M. Porter The Bodies of the Scottish Rite, sitting in the, State of New Hampshire, acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council, 33, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America whose Grand East is in Lexington, MA, and whose Officers are: Ill John William McNaughton, 33, Sovereign Grand Commander, Ill Mark C. Roth, 33, Deputy for New Hampshire, and whose other Active Members for the State of New Hampshire are: Ill Richard W. Elliot, 33, and Ill Philip L. Hall, 33, Emeritus, and Ill Robert E. Hansen, 33, Emeritus Inside this issue: Notes from Stated 3 Scholarships 4 Dyslexia Centers 4 In Memoriam 4 Reunions 5 Recognition 6 From the Museum 7 Commander-in-Chief s Message Dear Brethren, A very busy but invigorating New Hampshire Scottish Rite Fall 2013 season has now come to a close. As your Commander-in-Chief, I have done my very best to spread awareness of New Hampshire Consistory, both within our Rite, and throughout the appendant bodies. Here s a brief summary of my recent activities: Attended the Order of Rainbow for Girls, Grand Assembly Presented at the New Hampshire Grand Chapter, Order of Eastern Star Spoke at the Rainbow Grand Officers Reception Masonic Restoration Foundation Symposium event sponsor Sponsored the purchase of polo shirts for New Hampshire DeMolay Conclave Hosted Honorary and Active Members of Supreme Council and their guests in Washington, DC Attended the annual DeMolay Chevalier ceremony Attended Degrees in the Valleys of Concord, Nashua and Portsmouth-Dover In August 2013 the annual Supreme Council Session was held in Washington, DC. My wife Tammy and I hosted New Hampshire based Honorary and Active Members of Supreme Council and their guests. We also welcomed Illustrious brothers Becker, Larson, Lobdell and Porter along with their wives as these distinguished brethren were coroneted as Honorary Members of Supreme Council, 33. This was a highly enjoyable event, and truth be told, all credit goes to Tammy for her tremendous organizational and catering skills. Our Fall 2013 season culminated with our Reunion held on Saturday, November 2, 2013 at Merrimack Valley High School in Penacook, NH. Seventeen candidates witnessed the exemplification of the 25, and sixteen received the 31 and 32 Degrees. On behalf of the candidates, dignitaries, guests and myself, I extend a sincere thanks to the cast, stage crew, lighting team, musician, costume, makeup, directors, secretaries and everyone associated with this wonderful day. Now it is time to look to the future. Planning for the Spring 2014 Reunion has already begun. But in the meantime, let us cherish our time in our great Fraternity. I wish you and your families a very safe and Happy Holiday season and thank you for your continued support to New Hampshire Consistory. Fraternally, Ken Clay Kenneth A. Clay, Jr., 33 Commander-in-Chief Whuddaya Mean, I m A Member of Nashua? Why am I getting information from Nashua? I m a member of the Valley of (pick one) Concord, Keene, Lancaster-Littleton, Portsmouth-Dover. That s a question the office is continually asked. As a 32 Scottish Rite Mason, you are a member of the. Why? First, let s review how Scottish Rite is organized. In the U.S. there are two Supreme Councils, the governing bodies for Scottish Rite. You are part of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction which is headquartered in Lexington, MA. There are fifteen states that make up the Jurisdiction. States are governed by a Council of Deliberation. Within the state, there are regional groups called Valleys. Continued on Page 3
Page 3 Volume 3, Issue 4 I Belong to Nashua, Too? Your Home Valley is the Valley that has your Lodge of Perfection. That s important because, in addition to the dues, your Home Valley s Lodge of Perfection collects your assessment for Supreme Council. That means even if you decided to belong to all five Lodges of Perfection in the state, you only pay the assessment to Supreme Council once, through your Home Valley. Now to your membership. With the Bookend Concept of Scottish Rite, any member who has witnessed the 4 is a Scottish Rite Mason. After seeing three more degrees that have one of our Core Values, he may see the 32, when he becomes a Thirty-second Degree Scottish Rite Mason. That means that when you ve seen the 4, you ve joined the Lodge of Perfection, responsible for the 4-14 ; the Council of Princes of Jerusalem for the 15-16 ; the Chapter of Rose Croix, covering the 17 and 18 ; and the Consistory, for the 19-32. If your Home Valley doesn t have a Chapter or a Consistory, you join one in a nearby Valley. We have only one Consistory in the state of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Consistory, which is chartered in the. So if you are a member of any New Hampshire Valley, you are also a member of the for New Hampshire Consistory as either a Scottish Rite Mason, or as a 32 Scottish Rite Mason. Core Values Subject of November Valley Stated Continu e d f ro m Page 2 At the Valley s Nov 19 Stated Business Meeting, Thrice Potent Master, John W. Jackson, paused the usual agenda, for the members to see the new screen version of the 6, Master of the Brazen Serpent. Even members who aren t convinced about the use of a video format for our degrees commented, How do you think they did that? to a special effect, and, Wow, no prompting. Following the presentation, a discussion took place about our degrees, the Core Values within them, and the need to explain to our cast members, our current members, and our candidates, what they are and how they are relevant in our daily lives. One member said he got more out of the discussion, than he had being an actively involved member of the degrees. Ill Robert G. Bianchi, 33 Deputy s Representative for the, said that going forward, discussions with members and candidates will be an important part of our degree work and our Reunions. CORE VALUES At its 2010 Annual Session, the Supreme Council adopted, as the Core Values of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, N. M. J.: Reverence for God Integrity Devotion to Country Justice Tolerance Service to Humanity Support Your Blue Lodges They re why we exist! Ill Robert E. Hansen, 33 speaks to candidates and members at New Hampshire Consistory Fall Reunion. Photo Bud Durling
Page 4 Scottish Rite News Scholarships Open to Members, Children, and Grandchildren 2014 marks the third year of the William E. Bryant Scholarship Program. Named for the late Commander-in-Chief of New Hampshire Consistory, the scholarships may be awarded to Scottish Rite Masons, their children or grandchildren, and to Masonic youth. To be eligible for a Bryant Scholarship, an applicant must meet the following requirements: Supreme Council & NH Consistory s Scholarship Process Starts January 1 Be currently enrolled as a freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior at an accredited college or university. Have a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale. Be one of the following: Scottish Rite Mason in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, or The child or grandchild of a Scottish Rite Mason in the N.M.J. A member of a Masonic sponsored youth organization of the N.M.J. The Supreme Council s Abbot Scholarship requirements are similar to those of the Bryant Scholarship. However, grandchildren of Scottish Rite Masons are not eligible. The other requirements for an Abbott Scholarship match those for a Bryant Scholarship. Applications for both scholarships can be filled out online, then printed and signed. Go to www.nh32degreemason.org, click on Charities, and choose the Scholarships link on the left side of the page, for links to both scholarship applications. Children s Dyslexia Centers Creating Brighter Futures Called from Labor In Memoriam Robert H Bascom Elmer Clyde Boutwell Kenneth F Cegelski David Richard Crockett Kenneth M Cunliffe Nathan Winslow Driscoll Clarence L Grant Clifton Edward Hayes John B Nay Loren D Noland Robert S Ordway Leslie T Reed Owen Richard Sponagle George Louis Whitcraft Dyslexia affects one out of every five people, but until Scottish Rite Masons took action, no other national charity had addressed the issue and its cost to individuals and society in a systematic way. Dyslexia is an inherited neurological disorder that affects the way people learn to read and speak as well as how they process things mathematically. Famous dyslexics include Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, Leonardo DaVinci, Walt Disney, Tom Cruise and Whoopi Goldberg. It affects boy and girls equally. Children left with untreated dyslexia often suffer devastating personal consequences. It is the number one reason teenagers drop out of school, and is a primary factor in juvenile delinquency. Research reveals that children with untreated dyslexia can become underachieving adults unable to contribute to society at their fullest capacity. Dyslexia is, however, a treatable condition. Working with the world-renowned Massachusetts General Hospital, the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of Scottish Rite saw the critical need and launched the Children's Dyslexia Centers, providing tutoring at no charge to children from early elementary through high school who have been diagnosed as dyslexic. The goal of our Centers are: To help children with dyslexia learn to read and to reach their full potential; To help their families end the frustration, guilt and disruption caused by dyslexia; To help communities by developing Children s Dyslexia Centers to help youngsters succeed in and out of school. Since 1994, over 50 Dyslexia Centers have opened in 13 states. New Hampshire has two centers, located in Nashua and Rochester. The Centers not only help children with dyslexia, but also train tutors in the Orton-Gillingham approach to teaching, so they become certified to teach children in the school systems. The Centers also provide research information, to continually improve their methods. How can you help? Donate your time or your money to a Children s Dyslexia Center Walk or Golf Tournament; become a Center Volunteer; or donate through the Supreme Council s Blue Envelope Appeal or mail a check payable to Children's Dyslexia Centers, Inc. to: Children's Dyslexia Centers, Inc., Attn: William G. Ziemer, 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, MA 02421
Page 5 Volume 3, Issue 4 Valley Spring Reunions Monday, February 24, 2014 Masonic Temple, 200A Main Street, Nashua, NH Aaron P Hughes Lodge of Perfection Presents the 4 & 7 6:30 pm Dinner 7:15 pm Candidates report to Marshal 7:30 pm Open 7:05 pm 4, Master Traveler 7:35 pm Reception of Deputy 8:30 pm 7, Provost and Judge 9:45 pm Close Wednesday, February 26, 2014 Masonic Temple, 200A Main Street, 4th Floor, Nashua, NH Aaron P Hughes Lodge of Perfection Presents the 6 Oriental Council, Princes of Jerusalem Exemplifies the 15 6:30 pm Dinner 7:15 pm Candidates report to Marshal 7:30 pm 6, Master of the Brazen Serpent 8:15 pm Reception of the Deputy 8:30 pm 15, Knight of the East Saturday, April 26, 2014 Merrimack Valley High School, 105 Village St, Penacook, NH New Hampshire Consistory Exemplifies the 20, 31, & 32 11:00 am Registration 12:00 pm Box Lunch Served 1:00 pm Candidates Report to Marshal 1:30 pm Consistory Opens; Ladies Depart for Ladies Program 1:35 pm Inspirational Video 1:50 pm Break 2:00 pm 20, Master Ad Vitam 2:45 pm Break 3:00 pm Reception of the Deputy & Dignitaries 3:15 pm Combined 31, Knight Aspirant, & 32, Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret 4:45 pm Presentation to Candidates 5:00 pm Buffet Dinner by Reservation Valley of Keene Masonic Temple, 525 Washington St, Keene, NH Thursday, February 13, 2014 6:30 pm Keene Lodge of Perfection Exemplifies the 14, Grand Elect Mason Saturday, March 15, 2014 8:30 am Coffee & Donuts 9:15 am Candidates Obligated 9:30 am Keene Lodge of Perfection Exemplifies the 4, Master Traveler Keene Council, Princes of Jerusalem Exemplifies the 16, Prince of Jerusalem 12:00 pm Luncheon Valley of Portsmouth-Dover Masonic Temple, 351 Middle St., Portsmouth, NH Saturday, January 25, 2014 Ineffable Lodge of Perfection Presents the 4 & 12 9:30 am Social Time 9:45 am Candidates report to Marshal 10:00 am Candidate Information Program and screen presentation of the 4, Master Traveler 11:00 am 12, Master of Mercy 12:00 pm Luncheon by Reservation Saturday, February 22, 2014 The Valley of Portsmouth-Dover Presents a Mystery Degree 9:45 am Candidates report to Marshal 10:00 am Mystery Degree 12:00 pm Luncheon by Reservation Friday, March 28, 2014 New Hampshire Chapter of Rose Croix Exemplifies the 18 6:30 pm Dinner 7:15 pm Candidates Report to Marshal 7:30 pm 18, Knight of the Rose Croix Valley of Concord Masonic Temple, 53 Iron Works Road, Concord, NH Saturday Morning, March 1, 2014 Alpha Lodges of Perfection Present the 4 & 14 Ariel Council, Princes of Jerusalem Exemplifies the 16 8:00 am Coffee and donuts 8:45 am Candidates report to Marshal 9:00 am Open 9:05 am 4, Master Traveler 9:35 am 14, Grand Elect Mason 10:35 am Break 10:45 am Reception of Deputy 11:00 am 16, Prince of Jerusalem 12:00 pm Close Monday, March 24, 2014 Acacia Chapter of Rose Croix Exemplifies the 18 6:30 pm Dinner 7:30 pm 18, Knight of the Rose Croix 8:45 pm Social and Presentation of 50 year awards Sunday, April 13, 2014 Acacia Chapter of Rose Croix Presents a Memorial Service, The Feast of the Paschal Lamb 3:00 pm Memorial Service 4:30 pm Lamb Dinner served following the Service All times listed are subject to change. Last minute adjustments may occur. Check with your Valley Secretary for any updates or changes to these programs.
Page 6 Scottish Rite News Two Recognized With Most Seniority In the Fall issue of the Scottish Rite News, Brother John Stephen Gikas was noted for his 70 years in Scottish Rite. Brother Gikas has the most longevity of any member of all four bodies in the. Brother Gikas, a member of Washington Lodge #61 in Manchester, received his degrees in April of 1944. Brother Nelson K Ward, though, has the record. While his Home Valley is Portsmouth-Dover, Brother Ward joined New Hampshire Consistory in the in April of 1943; 71 years ago. Brother Ward is a member of St. John s Lodge #1 in Portsmouth. Congratulations on 65 Years in Scottish Rite The is proud to congratulate Illustrious Brother Davis P. Thurber, 33 for his attaining 65 years of membership in the Scottish Rite. His Scottish Rite degrees were conferred in April of 1949. Ill Brother Thurber is a member of Rising Sun Lodge #39 in Nashua, and received the Thirty-third degree on September 27, 1972. Happy Birthday, Brothers! Congratulations to the following Brethren celebrating their 95th Birthday! Vladimir Borodavchuk Charles Roscoe Eaton Jr. John Stephen Gikas Arthur Harley Goldfield William G Poor Gordon M Stone Gilbert L DeRocher We offer a Special Birthday wish to our two Centenarians, both of whom celebrate birthdays in February. Daniel W Fleetham Sr. will be 102 years old, and Russell J Ellsworth will be 104. Brother Fleetham is a member of Social- Summit Lodge #50 in Canaan. Brother Ellsworth is a member of Horace Chase Lodge #72 in Penacook. The Valley of Concord is the Home Valley of both. Valley Hosts Social Night Fri, Jan 17 Stop in at the Masonic Temple, 200A Main St, Nashua on Friday, January 17, for the next Valley Social Night. There will be Wii bowling and cribbage tournaments. Not to mention a story or two to be shared. Drop in any time from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm for some snacks, and a chance to get together with your Scottish Rite Brothers for an evening of fun.
Page 7 Volume 3, Issue 4 Toasting an Historic Pitcher Hilary Anderson Stelling, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library In past centuries, American Masons socialized, celebrated and toasted together all activities that called for drinking punch, wine and other festive beverages. Brethren used pitchers, like this one, and other vessels to share libations in a convivial setting. One lodge historian noted that in the early 1800s, members of Saint Paul Lodge in Groton, Massachusetts, made a drink to the health of every candidate who was initiated, crafted or raised. Lodge inventories taken around the same time show that many lodges were well-prepared to offer hospitality. One Bostonarea lodge numbered three two-quart pitchers and six pint pitchers as well as a dozen punch glasses and sixty-three wine glasses among its possessions ample supplies for a lodge of about thirty members. English ceramics manufacturers, working in Staffordshire, Liverpool, Sunderland and other locations, crafted a dazzling variety of transfer-printed earthenware pitchers for the domestic and American markets. Among the thousands of vessels they produced and ornamented, they decorated many with images calculated to appeal to Freemasons, be they beautifying their lodges or their own homes. This pitcher, made around 1800 and colored with a bright, canary yellow glaze, featured two transfer-printed images that were likely interesting to Masonic consumers. On one side, makers ornamented the pitcher with figures representing a lodge Master and lodge Wardens, along with a selection of Masonic symbols and a variation of the arms of the Moderns surround by a fanciful border of flowers, elaborate curves and flowing ribbons. Beneath the figures and symbols, are lines from The Entered Apprentice s Song by Matthew Birkhead (d. ca. 1723): "The World is in pain the secret to gain for a Free and Accepted Mason that reminded brethren of their obligation. The image on the other side of the pitcher celebrated a feat of engineering and the accomplishment of a prominent Mason. This transfer print showed a bridge, noted as the Iron Bridge Over Wear near Sunderland, also known as the Wearmouth Bridge or the Sunderland Bridge. This all cast-iron bridge spanned, according to the notation on the pitcher, 236 feet and reached 100 feet in height. It linked two communities that had previously only been connected by ferry. When builders finished the bridge in 1796, it was the world s largest single-span cast iron bridge. With an unimpeded arch-shaped span, the bridge allowed tall masted ocean-going ships to travel freely on the river. These ships carried coal, an economically important product in the area, to London and other areas by sea. Local landowner, Member of Parliament and Mason, Rowland Burdon (ca. 1757-1838) supported the construction of the bridge financially and politically. He also participated in the Masonic ceremonies marking both the laying of the foundation stone of the bridge in 1793 and the opening of the bridge in 1796. The latter celebration took place before, what one newspaper of the time described as an immense concourse of people (computed at 50,000 persons). Pitcher, ca. 1800. England. Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library, Special Acquisition Fund, 78.12. Photograph by David Bohl. Detail, from pitcher, ca. 1800. England. Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library, Special Acquisition Fund, 78.12. Typically the artists who created transfer prints for ceramics manufacturers used published sources such as book illustrations and membership certificates as their inspiration. As a well-publicized engineering marvel and a source of regional pride, the Iron Bridge both captured the public s and many artists imaginations. Scholars have estimated that over twenty different illustrations of the bridge can be found on different ceramic forms produced in the early 1800s. The engraver who created this image seems to have signed his work with his initials, E. A. As yet, research has not identified this maker. Like all fashions, the vogue for transfer-printed pitcher for use in the lodge or at home, eventually faded. Not only did consumers seek new forms and novel kinds of decoration, but lodge sociability changed. By the early 1820s, many lodges decided to stop serving alcohol in deference to the emerging temperance movement. Many lodges once-prized transfer-print pitchers also fell victim to loss or damage during lodge closures in the anti-masonic era from 1825-1840. Luckily, many of these intriguing pitchers escaped the scrap heap and, eventually, regained status as valued possessed in lodges and museum collections throughout the country. If you or your lodge have questions about a historic pitcher, please feel free to get in touch with the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library at www.monh.org, and we will be happy to tell you more about your lodge s treasures.
THE SCOTTISH RITE BODIES 196 Main Street, Suite 16 Nashua, NH 03060-2914 NOTICE OF REGULAR CONVOCATIONS AND RENDEZVOUS A Regular Convocation of Aaron P. Hughes, Lodge of Perfection, Oriental Council, Princes of Jerusalem, and St. George Chapter of Rose Croix, AASR will be held in the Masonic Temple, 200A Main St, Nashua, New Hampshire Tuesday, March 18, 2014, at 7:30 o clock p.m. A regular Rendezvous of the New Hampshire Consistory, SPRS, 32 will be held jointly with the Convocations. REGULAR CONVOCATIONS AND RENDEZVOUS will also be held Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 7:30 o clock p.m. (Installation of Officers) Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at 7:30 o clock p.m. ANNUAL AND REGULAR CONVOCATIONS AND RENDEZVOUS will be held Tuesday, September 16, 2014, at 7:30 o clock p.m. C Consistory; COD Council of Deliberation; LC Learning Centers; VC Valley of Concord; VK Valley of Keene; VLL Valley of Lancaster-Littleton; VN Valley of Nashua; VPD Valley of Portsmouth-Dover; SC Supreme Council Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite January 2014 2 LC- Board of Governors; Nashua 7 VN Executive Committee; Nashua 8 VLL- Valley Stated Meeting; Lancaster 17 VPD Valley Stated Meeting; Portsmouth VN- Social Night; Nashua 21 LC- Board of Governors; Rochester 25 VPD- Reunion; 4 & 12, Portsmouth February 2014 6 LC- Board of Governors; Nashua 8 COD - Workshop; Concord 13 VK Reunion, 14 ; Keene 18 LC- Board of Governors; Rochester 20-23 LC- Gaming Casino Charity Day, Hampton Bch 22 VPD- Reunion "Mystery Degree"; Portsmouth 24 VN- Reunion, 4 & 7 ; Nashua 26 VN Reunion, 6 (screen version), 15 ; Nashua 28 VPD Valley Stated Meeting; Portsmouth March 2014 1 VC - Reunion, 4, 14 & 16 ; Concord 6 LC- Board of Governors; Nashua 15 VK Stated Meeting; Reunion, 4 & 16 ; Keene 17 COD - Deputy Rep Meeting; Concord 18 LC- Board of Governors; Rochester C, VN Valley Stated Meeting; Nashua 21 VPD Valley Stated Meeting; Portsmouth VN- Social Night; Nashua 24 VC Reunion, 18 ; Concord 28 VPD- Reunion, 18 ; Portsmouth 28-29 COD- Leadership Conference; Supreme Council