Volume 63, No. 04
July - August 2016
South End S:.R:. Club
- pg 12
SR Jacket
Speaker
Ineffable Name
pg 5
pg 7
pg 8
2 Seattle Scottish Rite
Scottish Rite Communicator
Scottish Rite Facts
Valley of Seattle
www.seattle-scottishrite.org
SCOTTISH RITE OFFICERS Ill. Ronald A. Seale, 33° Sovereign Grand Commander Ill. Alvin W. Jorgensen, 33° S:.G:.I:.G:., Orient of Washington Ill. Sat Tashiro, 33° Personal Rep. of S:.G:.I:.G:. pr@seattle-scottishrite.org Ill. Greg Goodrich, 33° General Secretary Communicator Editor secretary@seattle-scottishrite.org Ill. Brian Thomas, 33° Treasurer Tom Lamb, 32° KCCH Almoner
PRESIDING OFFICERS Ill. E. Jeff Craig, 33° Master of Kadosh, Consistory Bryan Bechler, 32° Commander, Council of Kadosh Richard Brzustowicz, 32° KCCH Wise Master, Chapter of Rose Croix Steve Dazey, 32° Venerable Master, Lodge of Perfection
Did you know? Valley of Seattle Membership Statistics (As of Feb 2016) Age range
Num. of members
75 + 449 50-74 228 18-49 45 Total membership:
722
Further breakdown.. 95 + 37 90-94 74 80-89 227 70-79 198 60-69 85 50-59 56 40-49 27
Seattle Scottish Rite Center 1207 N 152nd St Seattle, WA 98133-6213 206 324-3330 voice 206 324-3332 fax The Communicator (USPS 485-660) is published by the Valley of Seattle, A&A Scottish Rite, 1207 N 152nd St., Seattle, WA 98133-6213, for the benefit of its members, bimonthly and is mailed as a non-profit publication to all members of the Valley of Seattle and to specified other interested parties. $2.00 per member is assessed for the publication of The Communicator. Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, Washington and at additional mailing offices. The material contained within this publication is intended for the education and enjoyment of the members of the Masonic Fraternity and all material published becomes the property of Seattle Valley of Scottish Rite. Postmaster: Send address changes to — The Communicator at 1207 N 152nd St., Seattle, WA 98133-6213.
30-39 17 18-29 1
Seattle Scottish Rite 3
News from the Personal Representative
T
he summer months are upon us, as we plan and take the break from our usual routine. We concluded the past two months with a visit from our Grand Master MW Donald Munks and his wife, Kathy. Over fifty were in attendance, including RW Warren Schoeben, SGW, and his wife, Mary Jo and Illustrious Al Jorgensen, SGIG and his wife, Nancy. Many of us also attended and participated in the Grand Lodge communications held in Wenatchee. MW James Mendoza was elected and installed as our Grand Master for 2016-2017. We look forward to another great year from the new Grand Lodge team. This is an opportunity to wish all members and their families a well-deserved break from Masonic obligations and to enjoy the family trips and vacations which is the norm for this time of the year.
As you read this Communicator, the class of 2016 will have completed the terminal degree of the 18th degree of the Rose Croix, and the 17th degree, Knight of the East and West. The South End Scottish Rite Club of the Valley of Seattle also presented the 13th degree at the Kent Masonic Center in early June. Several current members had the opportunity to participate in a degree which has not been performed in many years. The 30th degree will be scheduled in early September. Be sure to access our web-page for up-to-date information on the schedule of upcoming degree, as conflicts do arise and dates may change. During the period in April-May, the Seattle Valley participated in awarding recognition to a deserving ROTC cadet from Seattle University and from the University of Washington, and to a JROTC cadet at Liberty High School in Renton. This is an important part of the Americanism program, which is a major initiative of the Supreme Council. Your Valley has been a supporter of this program for many years. A cadet, recommended by the ROTC leaders at these schools, receive a certificate and a medal on behalf of the Seattle Valley of the Scottish Rite. At our September meeting we will have a speaker from Sound Transit to talk about the transportation needs of the area and program projected which will alleviate the gridlock traffic in Greater Seattle, and particularly in the north King County area. We will invite the public to attend. This is a part of our commitment to community outreach, which is important to our fraternity and, in general, to the community. The evening will be hosted by the body of the Consistory. The meetings of our two new clubs, one in the South-end of King County meeting at Kent Masonic Center (Verity Lodge) and the other in the Eastside, continue to grow. The Eastside club will be holding its next meeting in September. Contact the office when summer is over for the meeting site of the Eastside Scottish Rite Club. The meeting site will be changing in coming months. Your attendance at the club meetings is equivalent to attending our stated meetings. For those Scottish Rite members, who may miss the fellowship with their fellow members, within the Seattle Valley, at the Shoreline location but find the difficult-travel-miles to and from Shoreline a major problem, consider attending the clubs in your area. Fraternally, Sat Tashiro, 33° Personal Representative of the S:.G:.I:.G:.
4 Seattle Scottish Rite
O
nce again the class of 2016 has made another step in their Scottish Rite journey. The Seattle Chapter of Rose Croix conferred the 17th & 18th degrees this past June and the class has finished their first quiz of the Master Craftsman program. They are looking forward to the next set of degrees they will be receiving in September when we return from the summer break. We are excited to announce that we have a great speaker this month, Brother John L. Hairston. Bro. Hairston is a member of the MW Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction, Harmony Lodge No. 2 (Seattle, WA). He is the Editor of the The Quill and The Sword Masonic blog and has been published in several Masonic publications, including Working Tools Magazine, Living Stone, Washington Masonic Community Monitor, The Sentinel (NY) and the Prince Hall Masonic Journal (IL). He is a contributing writer to the Phylaxis anthology, The Greatest Prince Hall Masons of the 20th Century. In addition he is a Life member and Director of Masonic Sites for the Phylaxis Society and an active member of the Grand College of Rites. Bro. Hairston is the co-founder of the Golden Phoenix Society, an esoteric based community of researchers and lecturers. The program is open to all so friends and family are welcome to attend, see flyer on page 7.
I
recently became aware that 25 year membership certificates were available from the Supreme Council. I know it’s a little late, but if you would like a certificate and you have been a member for 25 years or more, please contact me and I will get one made and sent out to you. Going forward, the Valley will be awarding 25 year certificates to all those that qualify every year. Fraternally, Greg Goodrich, 33° General Secretary
Seattle Scottish Rite 5
Seattle Scottish Rite Jacket
This soft shell jacket resists wind and rain on the outside while keeping you cozy with breathable microfleece on the inside. • • • • •
Water resistant and breathable at the same time, the jacket regulates moisture from both sides. Full-zip front with zip-through cadet collar and chin guard give you a protective barrier. Stash personal effects or warm hands in the front zippered pockets. The clean silhouette, open cuffs and open hem keep the look cool and casual. Made with a 100% polyester woven shell bonded to a 100% polyester microfleece lining.
Available at the Valley office now!
$40.00
6 Seattle Scottish Rite
Seattle Council of Kadosh
T
he officers of the Seattle Council of Kadosh have been active these past months in the planning of the 29th & 30th degrees. We are looking forward to its presentation to the class of 2016 in September.
W
e were honored to have been the welcoming body during the visit of our Grand Master, M:.W:. Donald Munks, at our May stated meeting, where we also formally opened up the Council of Kadosh. This was the first, in many years, when the Kadosh served as the host body, and look forward to hosting it in future years. Consistent with our support for VMAP as laid out by the Supreme Council, this represented a new initiative in having an annual Feast of Kadosh. We are also planning for 2017 when we will be planning on presenting a minor Kadosh degree. Fraternally, Bryan Bechler, Commander; Jud Chapin, 1st Lt. Commander; Todd Pike, 2nd Lt. Commander
T
he House of the Temple hosted the 5th-annual Celebrating the Craft (CTC) on Saturday, May 21st, to raise money for the Rebuilding the Temple Campaign and our RiteCare clinics. We would like to thank the brethren listed below for their donations to the Rebuilding the Temple Campaign.
May 21, 2016 Donors: Ill. Sat Tashiro, 33° Ill. Jim Stephens, 33° Ill. Greg Goodrich, 33°
Seattle Scottish Rite 7
Landmarks of our Fathers:
The Critical Analysis of the Start and Origin of African Lodge No. 1 a lecture by
Member of the M:.W:. Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Washington and Jurisdiction
On March 6th, every year, for as long as can be remembered, thousands of Prince
Hall Masons, Eastern Stars and Prince Hall Affiliation members around the world fly their banners and post hearty images of pride to celebrate what is called “Founders’ Day” for Prince Hall Freemasonry. March 6th, 1775 is the day the “Immortal 15” were raised as Master Masons in Irish Military Lodge No. 441 in Boston, Massachusetts. Hundreds of books and publications written on the history of Prince Hall and African Lodge No. 459, provide March 6, 1775 as the start date for “African American Freemasonry,” and July 3, 1776, for the organization of African Lodge No. 1. As a grateful Prince Hall Affiliation member, the sacrifices, heritage, and lineage of African Lodge No. 459 should be celebrated. There is only one problem; neither Prince Hall nor any of the brothers associated with the start of African Lodge No. 1 were made Master Masons in 1775, and Irish Military Lodge No. 441 had nothing to do with their initiations or the organization of African Lodge No. 1!
All are welcome! ~ 9:30 am coffee reception, 10:00 a.m. lecture
1207 N 152nd St., Shoreline, WA - Ph: 206.324.3330
8 Seattle Scottish Rite
The Ineffable Name
by Albert G. Mackey 1882
A
nother important symbol is the Ineffable Name, with which the series of ritualistic symbols will be concluded.
The Tetragrammaton, or Ineffable Word,--the Incommunicable Name,--is a symbol--for rightly-considered it is nothing more than a symbol--that has more than any other (except, perhaps, the symbols connected with sunworship), pervaded the rites of antiquity. I know, indeed, of no system of ancient initiation in which it has not some prominent form and place. But as it was, perhaps, the earliest symbol which was corrupted by the spurious Freemasonry of the pagans, in their secession from the primitive system of the patriarchs and ancient priesthood, it will be most expedient for the thorough discussion of the subject which is proposed in the present paper, that we should begin the investigation with an inquiry into the nature of the symbol among the Israelites.
T
hat name of God, which we, at a venture, pronounce Jehovah,--although whether this is, or is not, the true pronunciation can now never be authoritatively settled,--was ever held by the Jews in the most profound veneration. They derived its origin from the immediate inspiration of the Almighty, who communicated it to Moses as his especial appellation, to be used only by his chosen people; and this communication was made at the Burning Bush, when he said to him, “Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel: Jehovah, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this [Jehovah] is my name forever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.” And at a subsequent period he still more emphatically declared this to be his peculiar name: “I am Jehovah; and I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of El Shaddai; but by my name Jehovah was I not known unto them.” It will be perceived that I have not here followed precisely the somewhat unsatisfactory version of King James’s Bible, which, by translating or anglicizing one name, and not the other, leaves the whole passage less intelligible and impressive than it should be. I have retained the original Hebrew for both names. El Shaddai, “the Almighty One,” was the name by which he had been heretofore known to the preceding patriarchs; in its meaning it was analogous to Elohim, who is described in the first chapter of Genesis as creating the world. But his name of Jehovah was now for the first time to be communicated to his people. Ushered to their notice with all the solemnity and religious consecration of these scenes and events, this name of God became invested among the Israelites with the profoundest veneration and awe. To add to this mysticism, the Cabalists, by the change of a single letter, read the passage, “This is my name forever,” or, as it is in the original, Zeh shemi l’olam, םלעל ימש הזas if written Zeh shemi l’alam, םלאל ימש הזthat is to say, “This is my name to be concealed.” This interpretation, although founded on a blunder, and in all probability an intentional one, soon became a precept, and has been strictly obeyed to this day. The word Jehovah is never pronounced by a pious Jew, who, whenever he meets with it in Scripture, substitutes for it the word Adonai or Lord--a practice which has been followed by the translators of the common English version of the Bible with almost Jewish scrupulosity, the word
Seattle Scottish Rite 9
“Jehovah” in the original being invariably translated by the word “Lord.” The pronunciation of the word, being thus abandoned, became ultimately lost, as, by the peculiar construction of the Hebrew language, which is entirely without vowels, the letters, being all consonants, can give no possible indication, to one who has not heard it before, of the true pronunciation of any given word.
T
o make this subject plainer to the reader who is unacquainted with the Hebrew, I will venture to furnish an explanation which will, perhaps, be intelligible.
The Hebrew alphabet consists entirely of consonants, the vowel sounds having always been inserted orally, and never marked in writing until the “vowel points,” as they are called, were invented by the Masorites, some six centuries after the Christian era. As the vowel sounds were originally supplied by the reader, while reading, from a knowledge which he had previously received, by means of oral instruction, of the proper pronunciation of the word, he was necessarily unable to pronounce any word which had never before been uttered in his presence. As we know that Dr. is to be pronounced Doctor, and Mr. Mister, because we have always heard those peculiar combinations of letters thus enunciated, and not because the letters themselves give any such sound; so the Jew knew from instruction and constant practice, and not from the power of the letters, how the consonants in the different words in daily use were to be vocalized. But as the four letters which compose the word Jehovah, as we now call it, were never pronounced in his presence, but were made to represent another word, Adonai, which was substituted for it, and as the combination of these four consonants would give no more indication for any sort of enunciation than the combinations Dr. or Mr. give in our language, the Jew, being ignorant of what vocal sounds were to be supplied, was unable to pronounce the word, so that its true pronunciation was in time lost to the masses of the people.
“This is my name, to be concealed.”
T
here was one person, however, who, it is said, was in possession of the proper sound of the letters and the true pronunciation of the word. This was the high priest, who, receiving it from his predecessor, preserved the recollection of the sound by pronouncing it three times, once a year, on the day of the atonement, when he entered the holy of holies of the tabernacle or the temple. If the traditions of Masonry on this subject are correct, the kings, after the establishment of the monarchy, must have participated in this privilege; for Solomon is said to have been in possession of the word, and to have communicated it to his two colleagues at the building of the temple. This is the word which, from the number of its letters, was called the “tetragrammaton,” or four-lettered name, and, from its sacred inviolability, the “ineffable” or unutterable name. The Cabalists and Talmudists have enveloped it in a host of mystical superstitions, most of which are as absurd as they are incredible, but all of them tending to show the great veneration that has always been paid to it. 127 Thus they say that it is possessed of unlimited powers, and that he who pronounces it shakes heaven and earth, and inspires the very angels with terror and astonishment. The Rabbins called it “shem hamphorash,” that is to say, “the name that is declaratory,” and they say that David found it engraved on a stone while digging into the earth. From the sacredness with which the name was venerated, it was seldom, if ever, written in full, and, consequently, a great many symbols, or hieroglyphics, were invented to express it. One of these was the letter יor Yod, equivalent nearly to the English I, or J, or Y, which was the initial of the word, and it was often inscribed within an equilateral triangle, thus:
10 S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e
T
he triangle itself being a symbol of Deity. This symbol of the name of God is peculiarly worthy of our attention, since not only is the triangle to be found in many of the ancient religions occupying the same position, but the whole symbol itself is undoubtedly the origin of that hieroglyphic exhibited in the second degree of Masonry, where, the explanation of the symbolism being the same, the form of it, as far as it respects the letter, has only been anglicized by modern innovators. In my own opinion, the letter G, which is used in the Fellow Craft’s degree, should never have been permitted to intrude into Masonry; it presents an instance of absurd anachronism, which would never have occurred if the original Hebrew symbol had been retained. But being there now, without the possibility of removal, we have only to remember that it is in fact but the symbol of a symbol. Widely spread, as I have already said, was this reverence for the name of God; and, consequently, its symbolism, in some peculiar form, is to be found in all the ancient rites. Thus the Ineffable Name itself, of which we have been discoursing, is said to have been preserved in its true pronunciation by the Essenes, who, in their secret rites, communicated it to each other only in a whisper, and in such form, that while its component parts were known, they were so separated as to make the whole word a mystery.
A
mong the Egyptians, whose connection with the Hebrews was more immediate than that of any other people, and where, consequently, there was a greater similarity of rites, the same sacred name is said to have been used as a password, for the purpose of gaining admission to their Mysteries. In the Brahminic Mysteries of Hindostan the ceremony of initiation was terminated by intrusting the aspirant with the sacred, triliteral name, which was AUM, the three letters of which were symbolic of the creative, preservative, and destructive principles of the Supreme Deity, personified in the three manifestations of Bramah, Siva, and Vishnu. This word was forbidden to be pronounced aloud. It was to be the subject of silent meditation to the pious Hindoo. In the rites of Persia an ineffable name was also communicated to the candidate after his initiation. Mithras, the principal divinity in these rites, who took the place of the Hebrew Jehovah, and represented the sun, had this peculiarity in his name--that the numeral value of the letters of which it was composed amounted to precisely, the number of days which constitute a revolution of the earth around the sun, or, as they then supposed, of the sun around the earth.
I
n the Mysteries introduced by Pythagoras into Greece we again find the ineffable name of the Hebrews, obtained doubtless by the Samian Sage during his visit to Babylon. The symbol adopted by him to express it was, however, somewhat different, being ten points distributed in the form of a triangle, each side containing four points, as in the annexed figure. The apex of the triangle was consequently a single point then followed below two others, then three; and lastly, the base consisted of four. These points were, by the number in each rank, intended, according to the Pythagorean system, to denote respectively the monad, or active principle of nature; the duad, or passive principle;
S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 11
the triad, or world emanating from their union; and the quaterniad, or intellectual science; the whole number of points amounting to ten, the symbol of perfection and consummation. This figure was called by Pythagoras the tetractys--a word equivalent in signification to the tetragrammaton; and it was deemed so sacred that on it the oath of secrecy and fidelity was administered to the aspirants in the Pythagorean rites. Among the Scandinavians, as among the Jewish Cabalists, the Supreme God who was made known in their mysteries had twelve names, of which the principal and most sacred one was Alfader, the Universal Father. Among the Druids, the sacred name of God was Hu--a name which, although it is supposed, by Bryant, to have been intended by them for Noah, will be recognized as one of the modifications of the Hebrew tetragrammaton. It is, in fact, the masculine pronoun in Hebrew, and may be considered as the symbolization of the male or generative principle in nature--a sort of modification of the system of Phallic worship. This sacred name among the Druids reminds me of what is the latest, and undoubtedly the most philosophical, speculation on the true meaning, as well as pronunciation, of the ineffable tetragrammaton. It is from the ingenious mind of the celebrated Lanci; and I have already, in another work, given it to the public as I received it from his pupil, and my friend, Mr. Gliddon, the distinguished archaeologist. But the results are too curious to be omitted whenever the tetragrammaton is discussed. Elsewhere I have very fully alluded to the prevailing sentiment among the ancients, that the Supreme Deity was bisexual, or hermaphrodite, including in the essence of his being the male and female principles, the generative and prolific powers of nature. This was the universal doctrine in all the ancient religions, and was very naturally developed in the symbol of the phallus and cteis among the Greeks, and in the corresponding one of the lingam and yoni among the Orientalists; from which symbols the masonic point within a circle is a legitimate derivation. They all taught that God, the Creator, was both male and female.
N
ow, this theory is undoubtedly unobjectionable on the score of orthodoxy, if we view it in the spiritual sense, in which its first propounders must necessarily have intended it to be presented to the mind, and not in the gross, sensual meaning in which it was subsequently received. For, taking the word sex, not in its ordinary and colloquial signification, as denoting the indication of a particular physical organization, but in that purely philosophical one which alone can be used in such a connection, and which simply signifies the mere manifestation of a power, it is not to be denied that the Supreme Being must possess in himself, and in himself alone, both a generative and a prolific power. This idea, which was so extensively prevalent among all the nations of antiquity, has also been traced in the tetragrammaton, or name of Jehovah, with singular ingenuity, by Lanci; and, what is almost equally as interesting, he has, by this discovery, been enabled to demonstrate what was, in all probability, the true pronunciation of the word.
12 S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e
13° - Royal Arch of Solomon O
n Tuesday the 7th of June brethren from the South End Scottish Rite Club conferred the Thirteenth Degree, Royal Arch of Solomon on three candidates at the Kent Masonic Center. The cast consisting of Joseph Marll, Kyle Grafstrom, David Flood, Byron Raynz, Luis Crisanto, Kirk Stensvig and Ill. Mark Conlee conferred the degree in full form and costume. There was a festive celebration with Pizza and Beer afterwards. Congratulations to the South End Club for such a marvelous degree! All members are invited to attend the meetings of the South End Club. Meetings are posted in the Communicator and online on our web page.
Royal Arch of Solomon
S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 13
Grand Lodge of Washington
2016-17 Grand Lodge Officers Grand Master
MW Jim V. Mendoza
Deputy Grand Master
RW Warren R. Schoeben
Senior Grand Warden
RW James H. Kendall
Junior Grand Warden
RW Charles E. Wood
Grand Secretary
MW Sam Roberts
14 S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e
Messages Happy Birthday!
Congratulations from all your Scottish Rite brethren to our members over 90 who have reached a very important birthday!
July
August
Marvin R Jackson 7/18/1920 John M Frodesen
7/30/1921
Russell F Rogers
7/10/1923
John R Jones
7/22/1923
Harold A Kusulos
7/01/1924
Joseph R James
7/15/1924
John A Howard
7/24/1924
Amos B Chapman 7/18/1925 Robert W Baker
7/09/1926
Virgil Mudd Bill Harris Marwin Holm Gerald Bryson Richard Mecartea William Broadhead David Belvin Joseph Roundhill John Larson Charles Draper Joseph Dunn Eugene Snyder Jerry Costacos
8/31/1917 8/27/1919 8/30/1920 8/06/1921 8/09/1922 8/28/1922 8/01/1923 8/01/1923 8/02/1924 8/06/1925 8/09/1926 8/11/1926 8/28/1926
Lodge of Sorrow Our brethren lie before us, overtaken by that relentless fate which, sooner or later, is to overtake us all.. Virtus Junxit Mors Non Separabit
Michael Jay Lewis 05/31/2016 Ray Limbo 2015 Manuel Lott 4/5/2016 Patrick Murphy 05/27/2016 John Loren Williams 2015
S e a t t l e S c o t t i s h R i t e 15
C a l e n d a r
MONTH
TIME
www.seattle-scottishrite.org
EVENT
July Saturday July 23rd 10:00 am John Hairston: Landmarks of our Fathers No Scottish Rite stated meeting in July
August No Scottish Rite stated meeting in August
* All events subject to change.
Scottish Rite Members Lounge (Great friends. Great Chats. Great Drinks.)
After all stated meetings stop in the membership lounge for further fellowship. Have a glass of wine or a pint of fresh poured draught. Come in and see what’s on tap! This is a great place to catch up with members after meetings, discuss ritual and enjoy the fellowship and all that the Seattle Scottish Rite has to offer.
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry 1207 N 152nd St. Shoreline, WA 98133-6247
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