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FALL 2023
VOL. 54 | NO. 3
DOINGTHERIGHTTHING Brother Enoch Woodhouse and the Tuskegee Airmen p22
A M A G A Z I N E O F 3 2 ˚ S C O T T I S H R I T E F R E E M A S O N R Y TM
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NEWS
8 Supreme Council Confers Tompkins
Inside this issue… 4 Leadership Report
A Fond Farewell
6 From the Editor’s Desk
Burn Share After Reading
Medal on C. Michael Watson, 33° 8 Valleys of Excellence 10 Two Worthy Brothers Awarded Harry S. Truman Award 11 TNL Wins Bronze
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CULTURE 12 Recent Acquisitions at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library 16 The Disappearance of Homer G. Hubbell
21 Southern Jurisdiction
Scottish Rite Journal FEATURE
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EDUCATION
18 10th Degree
Hauts Grades Academy On Judgement
22 Beyond the Quarry: Labors of Love
Doing the Right Thing
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FALL 2023
VOL. 54 | NO. 3
DOINGTHERIGHTTHING Brother Enoch Woodhouse and the Tuskegee Airmen p22
A M A G A Z I N E O F 3 2 ˚ S C O T T I S H R I T E F R E E M A S O N R Y TM
On the Cover The Fall 2023 issue of The Northern Light features an interview with Brigadier General and Brother Enoch O’Dell Woodhouse. A member of the Valley of Boston, Woody is one of the last surviving members of the legendary Tuskegee Airmen. Recently, he sat down with our editor, PJ Roup, to talk about the challenges he faced as a Black man coming of age in 1940s America. His story is an inspiring tale about positivity, strength, and always doing the right thing.
CHARITIES 30 Introducing Scottish Rite,
NMJ’s Oral History Project Share Your Story! 32 The Grand Almoner's Fund Faces of Hope
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MEMBERSHIP
34 Around the Jurisdiction 38 A Historic Season of
Thursday Night at the Rite Concludes 40 TNR Q&A
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MASONRY 43 New Annotated Manuscript Released 44 Moments in Time 46 Remarkable Freemasons: Astronauts
You can read Woody’s moving story on page 22.
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A Fond Farewell
by Peter J. Samiec, 33˚, Sovereign Grand Commander
As I end my tenure as your Sovereign Grand Commander, it is my turn to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of you, my Brothers and colleagues.
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hroughout my time serving as Sovereign Grand Commander, you have been a source of honesty, inspiration, and gratification. Each day, I learned valuable lessons from each of you, molding me into a better leader, a better Mason, and ultimately, a better man. I am truly thankful for the memories, the friendships, and the unbreakable bond of Brotherhood that will forever stay with me. When I joined the Craft in 1982, I could not have foreseen the profound connection I would develop with the Scottish Rite. From my remarkable staff and Valley leadership, to our Deputies, Active, and Emeritus Members, I have relied on your knowledge and energy, admired your compassionate hearts, strong characters, and unwavering dedication. Together, we have faced challenges with diligence and integrity, achieving remarkable accomplishments over the past two years, and I couldn’t be prouder of our achievements. During my tenure, we remained focused on the issues that sustain the Scottish Rite today, including enhancing the member experience, leadership development, and adopting new technologies. Our Journey On
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campaign, launched in February 2022, has received recognition from the wider Masonic world.
I am truly thankful for the memories, the friendships, and the unbreakable bond of Brotherhood that will forever stay with me. We remain committed to supporting the path forward for Blue Lodge Masonry through initiatives like “Not Just A Man. A Mason” and BeAFreemason.org. Updated research on the state of Freemasonry today is soon to be published, outlining a bright outlook for our Craft. Our commitment to charity has a great impact, with the Grand Almoner’s fund solidly endowed to help Brothers in crisis for years to come. The Children’s Dyslexia Centers opened a muchneeded center in New York City, and the Museum & Library is approaching its 50th anniversary, showcasing the acclaimed Masonic Hall of Fame. I take immense pride in the closer
bonds we have forged between the NMJ, the Southern Jurisdiction, and both Prince Hall Scottish Rite jurisdictions within our country. The signing of the Statement of Unity last September marks the powerful beginning of a collaborative journey that goes beyond mere recognition. To Commanders Cole, Bazemore, and Hawkins, I extend my heartfelt appreciation for the Fraternal bonds and personal friendships we have developed over the years. Our steadfast and resolute relationship has undeniably benefited all of our Jurisdictions. International Fraternal visits have provided me with the opportunity to renew existing friendships and establish new ones during sojourns to the Supreme Councils of Greece, Germany, and Switzerland. Despite the distances that separate us, we share a tangible sense of journeying together toward true Masonic light, invigorated by the ever strengthening Fraternal bonds we share. Freemasonry faces numerous challenges. But in recent years, the Scottish Rite has emerged as a beacon of leadership, offering a bright future for Freemasonry. Our purpose is to improve the lives of our Brothers, guiding them to greater light. Let us strive to regain our impact and influence in the culture at large. With Freemasonry at a critical crossroads, it is incumbent upon each of us to rise and lead this noble endeavor. Our service is not for personal glory but
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WELCOME
to effect positive change in the lives of others. Guided by wisdom, brotherly love, and reverence, we shall champion our highest ideals together. Hold steadfast to our Core Values and honor the creed of past Freemasons. We are the writers of the yet unwritten history of our beloved Craft.
onward, united in purpose and bound by the sacred ties of Masonic Brotherhood. Journey On.
The signing of the Statement of Unity last September marks the powerful beginning of a collaborative journey that goes beyond mere recognition. As this challenging and illuminating chapter draws to a close, the opportunity to serve the Scottish Rite alongside all of you has been one of the greatest privileges of my life and the capstone of my Masonic journey. In the words of Saint Paul, “I have run with perseverance and have finished the race.” Whether I can claim a triumphant conclusion to this race is not for me to judge. However, I can assure you that I have followed, and will continue to follow, the calling of my heart. My dedication to our beloved Craft and to each and every one of you will remain resolute and unwavering to the end of my days. So, my Brothers, this is not a goodbye but a continuation of our journey
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Burn Share After Reading I
know some of our members are compulsive collectors. Many of you can boast complete sets of The Northern Light neatly boxed and cataloged by decade. Some save issues with special meaning–perhaps because it made mention of your home Valley. Still others read them and toss them into the recycling bin.
As editor of The Northern Light, I occasionally get requests for extra copies of the magazine– some from Brothers who want to share stories with friends and some from those who have inadvertently thrown their copy away. It made me wonder about the fate of the nearly 100,000 copies we distribute every issue.
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In the iconic 1960s television series Mission: Impossible, each episode would open with Peter Graves’ character, James Phelps, receiving a recorded message with detailed instructions for his next mission. The message would always end with the same warning: This message will self-destruct in 5 seconds. Similarly, the phrase burn after reading was meant as an admonition to the recipient of sensitive documents; they should commit their contents to memory, and then destroy the paper trail. The idea for a story about what happens to our magazine once it gets to your homes was starting to take shape in my mind. I was unsure exactly where it would lead, when it would run, or how it would conclude, but I knew I wanted to talk about it. Call it fate or call it coincidence, but on the very day I began taking notes for said story, I was contacted by a Brother requesting extra copies of the most recent issue. I told him I was happy to help and asked, curiously, what he needed them for. “I’m an ambassador for the Valley, and our magazine is the perfect way to show our Blue Lodge members just what awaits them in the Scottish Rite.” Within days of that
by PJ Roup, 33˚, Editor Active for Pennsylvania
conversation, I was having a completely unrelated chat with a member of my own Valley. Unsolicited and apropos of nothing, he informed me that he regularly leaves his copy of the magazine in his doctor’s waiting room– with permission, of course. “I figure it can’t hurt to expose others to the good things we do. I have no idea if it ever inspired anyone to join, but I’d like to think it has,” he said.
We highlight Valley successes, take deep dives into our ritual, and feature Brothers who are doing exceptional things both in the Fraternity as well as in the world at large. Just as each of us serves as a billboard for Freemasonry as we live our lives, so too are we ambassadors for the Scottish Rite. If you feel woefully unequipped to talk to nonMasons about what our great Fraternity offers, you are not alone. In fact, I would venture to guess that you are in the majority. No matter your grand jurisdiction, you are probably left scratching your head about just what you are and are not allowed to share with someone on the outside. The same is probably true when it comes to the Scottish Rite: What can we share with Blue Lodge Masons who are deciding on whether to take the next step?
The Northern Light
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
T H E
N O RT HE RN LI G H T A magazine of 32˚ Scottish Rite Freemasonry
Fall 2023 | Vol. 54 | No. 3 SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER Peter J. Samiec, 33° EXECUTIVE EDITOR Linda R. Patch
Answer: this magazine. Tremendous effort goes into making this magazine relatable to all our members. We highlight Valley successes, take deep dives into our ritual, and feature Brothers who are doing exceptional things both in the Fraternity as well as in the world at large. As an aside, I will never stop being impressed at the diversity of talents, gifts, and resources of our members. I promise you that there is someone in your life who would enjoy the Scottish Rite like you do; he just doesn’t know it yet. If you’re comfortable talking about the benefits of membership, have a conversation with him.
EDITOR PJ Roup, 33°
If you’re not comfortable, introduce him to an ambassador or someone from your Valley who is. It’s okay to let someone do that lifting for you. The important thing is to start the conversation.
CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rodney E. Boyce, 33° CONTENT MANAGER Joann Williams-Hoxha
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is simple: Don’t toss this issue of The Northern Light into the trash. Instead, find it a new home. Hand it to a Blue Lodge Mason, drop it off at your lodge (after you’ve finished reading it), or leave it at your doctor or dentist’s office (with permission, of course). I firmly believe that any Mason who sees what we do–whether it is charitably, socially, or ritually–would want to be a part of Valley life.
DIRECTOR OF DESIGN Matt Blaisdell, 32° COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE Thomas R. Labagh, 33°, Chairman Richard V. Travis, 33° Donald R. Heldman, 33° Donald G. Duquette, 33° PJ Roup, 33° J. Brian McNaughton, 33° SUPREME COUNCIL, 33° Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A. THE NORTHERN LIGHT (ISSN 1088-4416) is published quarterly in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A., as the official publication. Printed in U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send address changes to The Northern Light PO Box 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519 EDITORIAL OFFICE 33 Marrett Road (Route 2A), Lexington, MA 02421 phone: 781-862-4410 email: editor@srnmj.org WEBSITE: www.ScottishRiteNMJ.org @TNLMagazine Copyright ©2023 by Trustees of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.
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Supreme Council Confers Tompkins Medal on C. Michael Watson, 33° The Supreme Council was pleased to award Illustrious Brother C. Michael Watson, of the Valley of Dayton, the Daniel D. Tompkins Medal on April 15, 2023, for his distinguished service to the Masonic fraternity at large.
The
Tompkins Medal may be conferred by the Supreme Council or the Sovereign Grand Commander upon a deserving Masonic or Scottish Rite Brother who has rendered exemplary service to his country or the Masonic Fraternity at large not often witnessed among the general membership. In the Scottish Rite, Ill. Bro. Watson served as Sovereign Prince of Miami Council, Princes of Jerusalem, Valley of Dayton from 1990-1992. He went on to become a trustee for the Valley of Dayton for many years and is now a trustee emeritus.
He served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Ohio from 1997-1998 and later served the Grand Lodge of Ohio as Grand Secretary for 11 years, retiring in 2021. While Grand Master, he was responsible for bringing the Masonic Model Student Assistance program to Ohio. “Dad” Watson also served as Executive Officer for DeMolay in Ohio from 1999-2003, then as the Grand Master of DeMolay 20082009. He also provided national leadership to the Grand Council of the Allied Masonic Degrees, serving as Sovereign Grand Master 20102011. In 2012, he was elected and installed Great Chief for the Grand Council of Knight Masons, USA. “Along with his service to DeMolay, first as Executive Officer for Ohio, and then as Grand Master of DeMolay International, Mike has shown leadership and unwavering commitment to helping young people,” said Ill. Douglas N. Kaylor, Active Member for Ohio.
Brother Watson shared his thoughts after receiving the Tompkins Medal.
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Valleys of 2022-2023 3
time winners
Schenectady
90.25
The Hudson
93.63
Toledo
92.21
Bridgeport
99.25
Chicago
92.22
Springfield IL
90
South Bend
90.31
George Rogers Clark
105
Northern New Jersey
105
Rochester
101.67
Rockville Centre
104.5
Columbus
93.73
Dayton
95.23
The Firelands
105
Harrisburg
94.3
Peoria
91.67
2
time winners
Steubenville
96.57
Youngstown
95
Erie
90.39
Allentown
92.63
Danville
92.31
Southern Illinois
93.61
Fort Wayne
90.6
Boston
103
Lowell
102.2
The Merrimack
95.36
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Excellence For more on Valley of Excellence scoring, visit scottishritenmj.org/valley-of-excellence.
Michigan
95.28
New York City
97.86
Syracuse
100.63
Cleveland
91.27
Canton
100
Akron
97.48 105
Philadelphia Scranton
91.36
Uniontown
91.08
Providence
92.06
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Harrisburg The St. Patrick’s Day bingo event was just one of many well-attended events that helped the Valley of Harrisburg garner its third straight Valley of Excellence honor.
first time winners
Norwich
92.48
New Haven
98.91
Lower Delaware
103
Moline
98.42
Springfield MA
90.12
Greenfield
98.18
Portsmouth-Dover
Cincinnati Loveland Castle was the backdrop for a successful Rite on the Road event at the Valley of Cincinnati which received its first Valley of Excellence award this year.
100
Nashua
97.52
Troy
95.59
Utica
102
Altoona
90.54
Portland
95.07
Concord
98.21
Cincinnati
91.08
Eau Claire
103.05
Fort Wayne A Sweetheart Dinner on Valentine’s Day weekend was a successful family event for two-time winner, the Valley of Fort Wayne.
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Two Worthy Brothers Awarded Harry S. Truman Award Valley of Schenectady
On
May 12, 2023, at the Valley of Schenectady’s open installation, Sovereign Grand Commander Peter J. Samiec presented the Harry S. Truman Medal for Outstanding Citizenship to Randall J. Meschutt, 32°. The Illustrious Harry S. Truman Award for outstanding citizenship may be conferred by the Supreme Council or by the Sovereign Grand Commander upon any person, male or female, for outstanding leadership and citizenship in the recipient’s locality, state, or country. This prestigious award also may be conferred upon a person rendering exemplary and conspicuous service to the Scottish Rite or Freemasonry at large.
“Brother Meschutt consistently goes above and beyond when it comes to being a leader in the Valley of Schenectady,” said Ill. Bro. David Barnes, Active for New York. “He has been the driving force behind the Valley’s qualification for the Valley of Excellence and is always prepared to do whatever needs to be done for the Valley.” Commander Samiec said he would be remiss if he didn’t mention Randy’s wife, Shari, as well. “Randy has motivated other members to become
Shari and Randy Meschutt at a Dinner Cruise with the Valley of Schenectady
more active, and the attendance at events he and Shari have organized has risen substantially. Randy and Shari have proven to be a breath of fresh air in the Valley,” Commander Samiec said.
Valley of Fort Wayne
On
June 10, 2023, at the Indiana Council of Deliberation, Brother Lonnie R. Cox, 32°, thought he was on stage to accept his Meritorious Service Award. He was surprised to learn that he was also being awarded the Harry S. Truman Award for Outstanding Citizenship. Brother Cox, 32°, MSA, and his wife Barbara reside in Fort Wayne, where he has been a Scottish Rite member for nearly 20 years. He served our country in the U.S. Marine Corps, and after retiring as an HVAC business owner, Brother Cox and
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Barbara founded The Shepherd’s House in 1998. The Shepherd’s House provides long-term transitional housing for homeless veterans with alcohol and/or chemical addictions. Brother Cox, 32°, recognized the sacrifice of other veterans who struggled with substance abuse and mental health disorders, many who self-medicated to hide their PTSD. The Shepherds House has helped over 800 veterans to date and has recently expanded to meet the needs of non-vets as well. Recipient Brother Lonnie R. Cox, 32° and his wife Barbara
The Northern Light
NEWS
Ill. Brother Oussayef Author in Residence at the SRMML On June 8, 2023, Sovereign Grand Commander Peter J. Samiec, along with Ill. Bro. Richard Elliot, Executive Director of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, presented a special Author in Residence distinction to Ill. Brother Kamel Oussayef, 33°, MSA. The framed proclamation recognizes Ill. Bro. Oussayeff for “his tireless efforts through the written word to contribute to the study of the genesis of the rituals for Scottish Rite Freemasonry and for his vision realized to bring different perspectives and beliefs to light.” Brother Oussayef, 33°, has volunteered at the SRMML for 20 years. Ill. Bro. Oussayeff is a Past Master of William Parkman Lodge and Converse Lodge. He is a member of the Valley of Boston and is the proud recipient of Scottish Rite, NMJ’s Meritorious and Sovereign Grand Commander Distinguished Service awards.
Ill. Brother Kamel Oussayef, 33°, MSA
Fall 2023
TNL Wins Bronze On June 27, The Northern Light received the bronze award for Excellence in Cover Photography at the 43rd Annual Excel Awards in Washington, DC. The EXCELS, awarded by Association Media & Publishing (AM&P), are the largest and most prestigious program recognizing excellence and leadership in association media, publishing, marketing, and communication. The bronze was awarded for the Fall 2022 cover, Reaching for the Stars. The photo depicting the Orion Nebula was taken by Brother Tim Herald, 32°, from the Valley of Ft. Wayne. Our editor, Brother PJ Roup, 33°, noted, “I continue to be awed by the amazing stories and collective talent of our membership. I can’t thank Brother Tim Herald enough for sharing just a portion of that talent with our magazine.”
Brother PJ Roup proudly celebrated The Northern Light’s Bronze Excel Award.
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Recent Acquisitions at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library Every month, the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library adds new objects to its collection. The goal is to expand the ways both we and our audience can explore and talk about the history of Freemasonry and fraternalism in the United States. Additions to the collection through purchase as well as generous gifts from donors help visitors, researchers, and museum supporters connect with the past and bring new stories to light. Here are some highlights of new acquisitions. The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library recently purchased a group of material that originally belonged to members of the Morse family of
Certificate Issued to George W. Morse, Concordia Lodge No. 67, 1805. Special Acquisitions Fund, A2022/241/002.
Philadelphia. George W. Morse signed this certificate issued by Concordia Lodge No. 67 in 1805. Morse, who earned his living as a ship’s captain,
also owned this attractive apron embroidered with Masonic symbols rendered in colorful silk thread. At the center of the square and compasses on the apron is the number of his lodge, 67. Records at the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania note that Morse took his degrees at the lodge in 1800 and demitted in 1812. Among our notable recent acquisitions, and also related to Freemasonry in Philadelphia, is an intriguing mark medal. Along with the name of its owner, Conrad Poshardt, this keystoneshaped badge was inscribed by the craftsman who engraved it, John Bower. In addition to Poshardt’s name and his personally chosen mark–a group of Masonic symbols contained within the letters HTWSSTKS–this medal bears the name of the owner’s lodge, “Herman’s Lodge N. 125,” and a date, “Feby 5812” (1812). The engraver signed the other side of the medal “Br. J. Bower, Sculp.” on the lower edge. In adding “Br.,” an abbreviation of the word Brother, and “Sculp.,” meaning engraved by, to his signature, Bower identified himself as a Freemason who ornamented this work. J. Bower is likely John Bower who took his degrees at Lodge No. 72 in Philadelphia in the first half of 1811, according to records at the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. In December of 1859, twelve men applied to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for permission to form
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by Hilary Anderson Stelling, Director of Collections and Exhibitions Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
Past Master’s Jewel, 1860. Massachusetts. Gift of Virginia B. Squair, 2021.008.5a-b. Photograph by Frank E. Graham.
Apron, ca. 1800. Special Acquisitions Fund, 2022.026.2. Photograph by Michael Cardinali.
Hammett Lodge in East Boston. After the Grand Lodge granted Hammett Lodge a charter in 1860, Elisha Cleveland served as the lodge’s first Master. To commemorate his service to the lodge, Cleveland’s Brethren presented him this Past Master’s jewel, inscribed with the message that it was given “by his friends, E. Boston, Apr. 6,
1860.” The lodge also gave Cleveland’s wife, Mary Ann Cleveland, a token of their esteem. This silver-plated cake basket bears engraving noting that it was given to her “by the members of Hammett Lodge of Free Masons” in Cake Basket, 1861. James Dixon & Sons, Sheffield, England. Gift of Virginia B. Squair, 2021.008.1. Photograph by Michael Cardinali.
Front, Mark Medal Made for Conrad Poshardt, 1812. John Bower, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Special Acquisitions Fund, 2022.068.3. Photo courtesy of Stack’s Bowers Galleries, Inc.
Back, Mark Medal Made for Conrad Poshardt, 1812. John Bower, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Special Acquisitions Fund, 2022.068.3. Photo courtesy of Stack’s Bowers Galleries, Inc.
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1861. Sometime after he received his jewel, Cleveland visited a photographer a few blocks from his home. In dressing for his appointment at the studio, Cleveland donned street clothes and pinned the jewel to his shirt. This portrait documents how Cleveland wore his Past Master’s jewel and suggests the pride he may have felt in wearing it.
Elisha James Cleveland, 1860-1866. William R. Hawkes, East Boston, Massachusetts. Gift of Virginia B. Squair, 2021.008.2.
Another recent acquisition is this impressive desk. Over six feet tall at its highest point, the largest portion of this desk–a generous recent gift to the collection–is a glass-fronted cabinet for books. The elaborate pediment on the desk’s cornice offers a nod to the Renaissance Revival style popular in the United States in the 1860s and 1870s. At the center of the pediment are an 14
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Desk, 1860-1880. Gift of Peter J. Samiec, 2022.037a-e. Photograph by Michael Cardinali.
inlaid square, compasses, and the letter G–a combination of Masonic symbols found on lodge buildings, in lodge rooms, and on many objects related to the Fraternity. The desk’s association with Freemasonry is clear, but it also has secrets. Behind and within several of its drawers and cubbies are multiple hidden drawers and secret compartments. Constructed, in part, of southern beech, this desk came to the museum with a history of having been used in Arkansas, and later, in Utica, New York.
Crafted by George M. Silsbee of Leadville, Colorado, this model features emblems taken from the first three degrees of Freemasonry and from Royal Arch Freemasonry. Each level of this three-dimensional model is rich with Masonic symbols shaped from stone, metal, wood, and painted plaster. On the keystone at the top of the model is the mnemonic associated with the Mark Master degree. What is likely Silsbee’s own mark–a square and compasses over a shield decorated with blue dots
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If you would like to learn more about the collections in the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, visit our online collections database at https://www.srmml.org/collections/.
and red strips, representing the colors and symbols of the American flag–is at the center of the circle. In creating this model, Silsbee, who worked as a miner and engineer while living in Colorado, demonstrated his artistic skills and his knowledge of Freemasonry. He had become a Mason in Wisconsin, at Kenosha Lodge, No. 47, in 1863. When he became familiar with Royal Arch Masonry and where he took the Mark degree is not known. Model, George M. Silsbee, 1887. Leadville, Colorado. Museum Purchase, 2020.010.1 Photograph by Frank E. Graham.
Fall 2023
Cooler, 1894-1901. White’s Pottery, Utica, New York. Museum Purchase through the Special Acquisitions Fund, and Maureen Harper, Patricia Loiko, and Hilary Anderson Stelling in Memory of Jill Aszling, 2023.001. Photograph by Michael Cardinali.
In the late 1800s, White’s Pottery (also called Central New York Pottery) of Utica, New York, created this substantial stoneware vessel. The words “Masonic Fair” highlighted in cobalt blue are impressed in three places within shieldshaped cartouches on the sides of the object. At first glance, this large vessel– over a foot and a half wide–looks like a punch bowl. It is, instead, a root beer cooler, likely part of a set that once included coordinating mugs. The mold for this vessel was first used to create a design marketed by a druggist and entrepreneur named Charles Ellis Bardwell, marked “Bardwell’s Root Beer.” Bardwell sold his “Unparalleled Root Beer” recipe, mugs, and coolers to fellow druggists for use at their fountain counters. A member of Mount Holyoke Lodge in South Hadley Falls, Massachusetts, Bardwell may have offered coolers customized with the words “Masonic Fair” to be used either to serve refreshments or to be offered as prizes at fundraisers for Masonic organizations.
This relatively modern Masonic apron was used by a District Deputy Grand Master of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The “1st Mas. Dist.” delineated in metal thread on the flap of the apron is the first Masonic District of Pennsylvania which is comprised of Prince Hall lodges that meet in Philadelphia. This apron and related purchases were added to the collection to help us better tell the story of twentieth-century Freemasonry in the United States. District Deputy Grand Master Apron, 1950-1970. Museum Purchase, 2022.056.2.
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The Disappearance of Homer G. Hubbell The
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library recently acquired this circular letter which gives details about a Mason who went missing in November 1865. Henry Carlisle, the Worshipful Master of Haswell Lodge, No. 39 in Sheldon, Vermont, issued the circular informing readers about the disappearance of Homer G. Hubbell who was Treasurer of the lodge and a cashier at the Missisquoi Bank in Sheldon.
A “lamentable calamity”
The letter describes Hubbell’s disappearance as a “lamentable calamity” and notes that Hubbell suddenly disappeared while on his way home to Sheldon from New York City. A description of Hubbell includes specific aspects of his appearance as well as noting that “his walk is peculiar–having a rather swinging gait.” The text of the circular implies that much has been done to try to locate Hubbell already: “Notwithstanding the efforts of his friends, aided by detectives, no trace of him has been discovered since he was seen in Albany. It is feared that he may have been either the victim of violence or mental derangement.” Addressed to “the Worshipful Master, Wardens, and Brethren of Free and Accepted Masons, whithersoever dispersed,” this document was a desperate appeal to help locate Hubbell.
Spreading the news
The circular was meant to share the news of Hubbell’s disappearance, and it did. A couple of weeks after the 16
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by Jeffrey Croteau, Director , Van Gorden-Williams Library and Archives
circular was issued, the December 9, 1865, Vermont Chronicle of Bellows Falls published the text of the circular verbatim under the headline “The Disappearance of Mr. Hubbell.” Other newspapers included short articles regarding when Hubbell was last seen. A notice in a Danville, Vermont, newspaper in December 1865 stated that a man in Chicago, who was a close friend of Hubbell’s, met Hubbell on the street and talked to him. After a month of his friends, fellow Masons, and family worrying about him, the truth of why Hubbell disappeared emerged.
The truth comes out
In the January 12, 1866, edition of the Vermont Record, an article stated that Hubbell had embezzled $75,000 from the bank that had employed him. The same article refers to Hubbell as a “fast liver, his expenses exceeding those of almost any man in Franklin County.” Indeed, the 1866 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Vermont include a vignette about the entire story written by the author of the circular, Henry Carlisle. In it, Carlisle refers to “our (as we all supposed) Worthy Brother, Homer G. Hubbell” and mentions the circular pictured here, copies of which he says he sent to “most of the Lodges through the United States and Canada.” Carlisle ends the story noting that “the sequel to Mr. Hubbell’s absence is a sorrowful tale. On Thursday, January 4, the President and Directors of the Bank came out publicly, charging Mr. Hubbell with being a defaulter to the amount of sixty thousand dollars or more.”
Newspaper articles that appeared shortly after he was publicly charged by the bank referred to Hubbell as a “defaulting cashier.” By late January 1866, newspapers as far away as Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., were running pieces about an auction of Hubbell’s personal effects. The list of Hubbell’s belongings at auction paints a picture of a person living far beyond his means. The list includes “an extraordinary amount of clothing and boots—such as twenty-five pairs of pants, twenty pairs of boots, but very little worn, fifteen vests, and a number of overcoats. In his safe, which was broken open, was discovered a $500 United States bond and a $400 promissory note. Over a wardrobe in his house was also discovered, covered with dust, $8,500 bills of the Missisquoi Bank, signed by the President and Cashier.” The list ends on a humorous note: “He had evidently provided against a ‘rainy day,’ for twenty-one umbrellas were among his effects.” Unsurprisingly, among “Expulsions” in the 1867 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Vermont, Homer G. Hubbell, formerly of Haswell Lodge, No. 39, is listed.
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Have questions? Drop us a line at library@srmml.org or give us a call at 781-457-4109.
Announcement of Missing Brother, 1865.
Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, A2023/099/001. Museum Purchase.
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The Van GordenWilliams Library & Archives is located in Lexington, Massachusetts, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library and is open to the public.
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HAUTS GRADES ACADEMY
On
Judgment 1 0 T H
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E D U C AT I O N
by Seth Anthony, 32°, HGA Valley of Reading
In the Blue Lodge, we are taught that man is a rough ashlar.
Regardless of the stock from which he may hail, he has flaws and imperfections. Through the allegorical use of the builder's tools, he may correct the imperfections found in his character. The life's work of a Mason is to hew his stone from rough to smooth, better fitting it for the spiritual temple that comes in the afterlife.
While this concept is readily accepted and easy to follow, it’s not terribly realistic. Men err. In an attempt to correct one flaw in our stone, we may apply our tools incorrectly, thereby creating a larger blemish than the one we were originally trying to clean. At its heart, this is the important lesson that the 10th degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite teaches: even the greatest and most talented workman can make a mistake. He may be the most skilled in the use of his tools, but hubris, impatience, and neglect can lead him to create a previously unfounded flaw in his character.
his vows to the one living and true God. Solomon stands perilously close to committing idolatry because of a woman.
The 10th degree follows Solomon, who having been established on the throne of Israel and long reigned in wisdom and glory, has made a profound mistake. His marriages to several wives have become the butt of jokes amongst his sons and subjects, leaving Solomon weakened in the world and debased in character. But, it is his marriage to the Pharaoh’s daughter that causes the most consternation. In an effort to win her favor and the favor of her family, Solomon authorizes the construction of an altar to her deities, forgetting
But not everyone is unhappy with the situation. Zadok, ever a loyal subject, defends the King’s methods. He cites that the world is peaceful and that Israel has entered a golden age under his rule. Who are the meek to question the will of the mighty, especially when it appears to be working? Nathan, however, is not convinced, citing an important Bible verse that is at the heart of this allegory:
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In an attempt to correct one flaw in our stone, we may apply our tools incorrectly, thereby creating a larger blemish than the one we were originally trying to clean.
“It makes no difference how high a man might rise as a leader if he does not obey
the commandments of the Lord his God; and then fails to make atonement for his transgressions, and receive absolution from the Lord; then his punishment shall be swift and certain, and shall follow him all of the remaining days of his life, even unto his children and his children’s children.” With these conflicting views in mind, Zadok and Nathan ask for an audience with Solomon and attempt to provide wise counsel. Of course, Solomon, unused to being questioned, does not take kindly to their insinuations. Solomon furthermore asks them why they had failed to stop him before he made a mistake. The conversation turns ugly with the King ordering the advisors to be seized, and he nearly puts them to death. But, at the last moment, an Oracle appears to Solomon, admonishing him not to justify his actions to lesser men. No, Solomon need only make amends with one being, God, who is not pleased with his servant. The degree goes on to depict the demise of the King and his regret at not having followed the commandments given by the Lord. But, for the purpose of this analysis,
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and what I believe to be the central tenant of the degree, we have the information we need.
No, Solomon need only make amends with one being, God, who is not pleased with his servant. While the overt lesson of this degree is a reminder that a Mason should follow the commandments of his faith and be true to his God (or suffer the consequences), the more important lesson is a reminder that all men make mistakes in life. Rather than trying to justify those mistakes to his fellow man or the Brothers of his lodge, a Mason
should first make himself right with God. Once that is complete and he has taken actions to rectify the situation he has caused, only then can his Brother believe that he is again working to smooth his ashlar. Every Mason, regardless of rank, title, livelihood, or experience, is going to fail in life from time to time. We, as his Brothers, shouldn’t be so hasty to judge. It is not our job to condemn or admonish his actions—only God can do that. Yes, sometimes our Brothers err so far that they must be removed from the Fraternity, for they have failed to learn the basic tenants we aim to instill. But those errors are few and far between. More common are the everyday failures of judgment that
lead men astray. As the Pennsylvania Masonic ritual states, in paraphrase: it is our duty to remind our Brothers, in the most tender manner possible, of their errors and to assist them in correcting them for the future.
Rather than trying to justify those mistakes to his fellow man or the Brothers of his lodge, a Mason should first make himself right with God. The Scottish Rite has oft been referred to as the “College of Freemasonry.” This comparison is true, especially when one considers the importance of a liberal arts education. I say this not in reference to the Masonic liberal arts but rather those courses in life that teach us deep-seated truths of reasoning, logic, and philosophy. The 10th degree is one of the best examples of such a course in the Rite. It imparts an important lesson that many Masons need to hear: judge not unless ye be judged, for your own ashlar still has imperfections for you to smooth.
! To learn more about HGA and sign up for the waitlist, visit
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Arts and Craftsmen
ecent issues of the Scottish Rite Journal have spotlighted artists and craft-inspired works. An article by James Patrick Greene, 32º, entitled “Masons at the Palette” explored how in the Russian Empire “Freemasonry attracted masters of the fine arts to its ranks, with knowledge and artistic skills passed from master to apprentice both within and without the Lodge.” Beautiful paintings by Russian painter Alexey Gavrilovich Venetsianov were presented alongside the article. We learned to our delight that the Rev. Dr. Robert J.F. Elsner, author of the Journal’s Bible Study for Freemasons series, is a painter! One of his oil portraits is of Sigmund Freud, the pioneer in psychoanalysis who himself took an avid interest in art, as witnessed in Freud’s essays on Leonardo da Vinci and the Moses sculpture of Michelangelo. Masonic decorative arts were sampled in a lovingly displayed creamware
These Freemasonry-inspired, twentysided dice for role-playing and tabletop games feature Masonic emblems. Photography: Cordelia Dreisonstok
The 2023 Bel Cantanti Opera production of Br. Mozart’s “other Masonic opera” The Abduction from the Seraglio. Photography: Alexandre Souvorov. Courtesy of Bel Cantanti Opera.
transferable pitcher, with Masonic Emblems represented in porcelain. These include the sprig of acacia, the trowel, the plumb, and the square and compasses upon the Holy Bible. This beautiful eighteenth-century pitcher is among the museum holdings of the House of the Temple, Washington, D.C. Presenting modern-day artisans, writer John M. Bozeman described dice with Masonic emblems crafted for board games by the husband-and-wife team of Graeme and Chelsea Eldeen. These intricate, beautifully carved Masonic dice demonstrate that the tradition of artisans working with Masonic themes continues unabated today. Moving from the miniature to colossal proportions, Tyler’s Place Podcast host Maynard Edwards, 32º, KCCH, interviewed “wall-to-wall Mason” Sam Welty, 33º. Ill. Welty paints large outdoor murals of historical themes, some reaching several stories high! Scottish
Rite Journal readers enjoyed images of his murals in St. Joseph, Missouri, of the pony express, stagecoach, steam locomotive, and even the covered wagons of westward-traveling pioneers. Theatre enthusiast Mark Beachy reviewed the life and philanthropy of Br. Eddie Cantor, famed movie and radio entertainer. Finally, a new production of Br. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “other Masonic opera” The Abduction from the Seraglio urged the revisiting of a Masonic analysis of this opera first presented in the Scottish Rite Journal three decades ago by Ill. Roger Firestone, 33º (“Mozart’s Other Masonic Opera”). The Journal’s recent explorations into the arts again bear testimony to the august tradition of Masonic artistry and how these creative endeavors continue to thrive in the present day. —Mark Dreisonstok, 32º, KCCH, Managing Editor, The Scottish Rite Journal •
BEYOND THE QUARRY: LABORS OF LOVE
DOING
THE RIGHT
THING Brother Enoch O’Dell Woodhouse, 32°
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by PJ Roup, 33˚, Editor, Active for Pennsylvania
When I first met Brigadier General and Brother Enoch O’Dell Woodhouse II, 32° , HE had just emerged from his car in his dress uniform. He donned his peaked cap replete with intricately embroidered “clouds and darts” reserved for general officers and smoothed the front of his jacket. When he seemed satisfied with his appearance, I offered my hand. “It’s an honor to meet you, General Woodhouse,” I said. He took my hand and pulled me in.
“WE'RE
friends, Brother PJ. Give me a hug.” At that moment, I knew that I was in the presence of a special man and Brother. Woody, as his friends call him, is one of the most pleasant men I have ever met–a gentleman and a scholar. More than that, he is one of the last surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen–an all-Black Army Air Corps squadron, founded by Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, which trained in Tuskegee, Alabama. At 96 ½ years old, Woody shows no signs of stopping. (He jokingly reminded me that when you are under ten and over 90, it is acceptable to count the half-years.) A retired attorney, he travels the country as a speaker telling his story to college students, assemblies, and most recently to the national convention of the NAACP held in Boston. Woody’s story is one of perseverance, hope in the face of adversity, and as he often reminded me, doing the right thing.
THE FORMATIVE YEARS
The adversity Woody faced from the outset didn’t make doing the right thing very easy. He was raised in Roxbury, Boston’s all-Black neighborhood. “It was a good
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neighborhood,” he recalled. “We knew everyone, and everyone knew us. We weren't concerned with the person's color, because most of the people we saw were the same.”
Woody’s story is one of perseverance, hope in the face of adversity, and as he often reminded me,
doing the right thing.
Both his father and grandfather were ministers; his grandfather was a circuit rider who would travel hamlet to hamlet to preach, and his father was an Anglican Episcopal minister. “You might say religion was a family business,” he laughed. “So I was fortunate to start out in a wholesome family environment with values. We did the right thing.” Woody was an exemplary, hardworking student. He had access to religious texts at an early age and understood both Latin and Greek by the time he was in middle school. His parents helped him work ahead
of the class–filling in the parts of the curriculum that weren’t being taught in his school–a function of the quality of the teachers sent to Roxbury. He had set his sights on Boston Latin School, but he would quickly learn that wasn’t in the cards. After hearing others had received news of acceptance, Woody became concerned and expressed that concern to his parents. His father visited the headmaster only to be told that their neighborhood was ineligible for admission to Boston Latin School. His dad did not tell him of the exchange but Woody kept pressing. “We've all experienced this, that when you ask a question to your parents, and Mom looks at Dad and Dad looks at Mom, you know, something’s going down.
“So my mother broke the word. She said, ‘You know, son, Dad and I have been thinking, Boston English High
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DOING THE RIGHT THING continued
to all she had in the world - her two boys? She'd want us to give up our lives for that, for America.
THE ARMY
School would be better for you than Boston Latin School, because it's closer,' which it wasn't. That was a lie, as I found out. 'But we will fix for you your nice sandwiches that you like.’ So I was happy.”
“So we went in to enlist to save America. People would say, ‘Well, gee, why would a Black man want to do that?’” To Woody, the answer was simple: you fought for your country in the hopes that a better America would emerge on the other side, that “we would get not great acclamation, but just get a fair shake.”
“I had like eight to ten dollars in my pocket, in the train station, alone, in uniform, in America– that I’m
going to defend.”
The fair shake he was hoping for did not come on his train trip to report for duty in Texas. The trip from Boston to St. Louis was uneventful. He and the other soldiers on their way to Texas were excited. Many of the young men
To no one’s surprise, Woody excelled at Boston English. He realized it was not as prestigious as Boston Latin, but that simple fact inspired him to work even harder. As one of only a handful of Black students, he was often singled out negatively by faculty, but he was not deterred. “So graduating from Boston English, that was my first lesson in persevering,” he said. Through that perseverance, he became the first Black man to be accepted to and graduate from Yale. When he received the news that he was accepted to Yale, his family was ecstatic. His grandfather, however, strongly cautioned him of the racism he would undoubtedly face. Before he could attend Yale, though, his mother had another request of him. It was 1944, and the country was still fighting on two fronts. “My mother said, ‘Boys, we're at war. I want you boys to serve your country.’ Can you imagine a Black woman saying that
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F E AT U R E
were enjoying their first beers in the dining cars, happy to be on their way to save America. Things changed in St. Louis though, when Woody was escorted off the train without explanation. He watched as the other soldiers, all white, pulled out of the station. He was left standing on the platform, confused and sad. “I had like eight to ten dollars in my pocket, in the train station, alone, in uniform, in America–that I’m going to defend,” he recalled.
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“So this Black porter comes up to me and says, ‘Son, what are you doing here?’ I said, ‘Well, I just got off the train. I’m going to Texas.’ “He said, ‘Well, have you been south before?’ I said, ‘Yeah, I've been to New York.’ He said, ‘No, I don't mean that. Have you been in the real South?’ I said, ‘No.’ He said, ‘Well, you know, we don't ride that train. That train’s not for us.’” The porter then explained that the train for Black passengers and coal would be along in a few hours.
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DOING THE RIGHT THING continued
Woody finally arrived in Texas, his uniform covered in coal soot, to a less than welcoming reception. In spite of all that he faced, Woody continued to do the right thing. He was admitted to Army Air Force officer training in 1946, and found himself as a Lieutenant at the age of 19. As a Black officer, the only place for him to go was to Davis’s 99th Pursuit Squadron–the Tuskegee Airmen.
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Things were good as an officer there. That all changed when Colonel Davis sent Woodhouse to finance school in Wichita. On arrival, he headed across the base to the officer’s club, where he waited more than an hour to be seated. He grew frustrated as he watched other officers come and go, while he just stood there. The only accommodation the maître d’ would offer was to allow Woody to eat behind a folding shoji screen, out of the view of the other officers. He ordered a steak, but when it came he wanted nothing to do with it.
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“What kept me steady was knowing who I aM and knowing the other people.” “So I left. Didn't have a glass of water, couldn't touch anything on the table. So I got up and left and went back to my barracks.” He had three weeks of this ahead of him. He wouldn’t eat at the officer’s club. He wasn’t permitted to dine in the enlisted mess hall. His
only option was the snack bar. So for three weeks, he took all of his meals there. Brother Woodhouse understands that there is a God-given piece of our nature that fortifies us against injustice–a spiritual backbone, he calls it. That spiritual backbone enabled him to complete the training and return to Tuskegee, where he became the paymaster for the entire squadron–a position he held until the end of his active duty.
YALE
Following his discharge, Woody returned north and began his studies at Yale. He quickly found out that his grandfather was correct about what he would face as a Black student at Yale. Not surprisingly, he had difficulty finding a roommate. The headmaster was sympathetic to his situation and put him in a vacant private suite usually reserved for the Yale elite. He was across the hall from the Gimbel twins (of department store fame) and down the hall from a Mellon. In spite of the fancy room, he regularly received unwelcoming notes slipped under his door. He again stiffened his spiritual backbone. “What kept me steady was knowing who I am and knowing the other people. And when I go out and speak, I have to say this: All of us have our own different lives and own different experiences. And all of us have to realize not everyone loves us.”
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DOING THE RIGHT THING continued
HIS MESSAGE
Brother Woodhouse’s story is one of perseverance to be certain, but it is also a story of hope. After all of the injustices he suffered along the way, it would have been easy to be jaded, cynical, and angry. But not Woody. Instead, he is affable, upbeat, and filled with hope. It shines through in his smile. You can hear it in his voice, and you can see it in his eyes. His values and his belief in a better world drive him. The talk he often delivers on the speaker circuit, entitled Looking Forward, is one of positivity and optimism.
“Freemasonry was not new to me, because
I've lived that all my life.”
Brother Woodhouse is careful not to glorify himself in his story. He tells it not for honor or accolade, but rather to show where we were and how far we have come. He believes in the importance of that message and shows no signs of slowing down. He credits his longevity in part to being non-confrontational – a trait that served him well all his life. “I can’t believe it,” he smiled. “I wake up in the morning, meditate and thank our Creator that I'm here, and I've met so many good people by doing the right thing.”
year ago, but feels it has been part of him for much longer. “Freemasonry was not new to me, because I've lived that all my life. It was the formality of being inducted. It's like you’d be married for the second time, or even better, to have your marriage ceremony repeated every day of your life. I'm just not a Mason during meeting time. This is the way I live.” And that’s true. He is the embodiment of the Scottish Rite Core Values of Integrity, Justice, Service to Humanity, Love of Country, Devotion to God, and Tolerance. At the conclusion of our time together, Woody told me, “I’ll wind up as I started: just do the right thing. I'm delighted and I'm proud to be in [the Masons] among good people, good people with good values. They have never let me down, I will never let them down. Count on it. I just have to say, just do the right thing.” Brother Woodhouse with Commander Samiec
At
the conclusion of our interview, Commander Samiec presented Brother Woodhouse with the Daniel D. Tompkins Award for Distinguished Service. “General Woodhouse, meeting you and being able to present you with the Tompkins Medal was truly one of the highlights of my term as Commander,” he said. “It’s just as big of an honor for me to meet you, and I thank you for all that you do as Commander of the Scottish Rite,” Woodhouse replied.
Woody joined the Fraternity a little over a
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In His Own Words Brother Woody is a consummate storyteller. Here’s one MORE STORY about his visit to the Vatican in 2018 in his own words:
!
View the full interview by visiting: https://srnmj.us/enochwoodhouse or by scanning the QR code below.
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I JOINED
the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. The oldest public military installation in the Western Hemisphere, third in the world, after the Swiss Guards in the Knights of Malta. So we go to Rome, and of course, whenever we go to any city in the world, we meet with the ambassador and the mucketymucks. Well, of course, in Rome, we have a lot of Catholics in the organization, and we had an audience with the Pope–the Holy Father, Pope Francis. So we all lined up, you know, and you go into the audience room where the Pope gives his audiences. It's just a very impressive honor that you never forget, but the room you go into is the most simple, austere room in the whole Vatican. Not a picture, not a statue, just a plain white room. So we were lining up to take communion. So all of my good friends, they were all Roman Catholics, you know, they knew where they were. So I stood up. I stood in line. And the guys were nudging
me, “Woody, you’re not a Catholic.” And I said, “No I’m not a Catholic, I’m an Anglican–same thing.” So we have communion and of course, the Pope makes the sign of the cross on your head and gives you the wine. So when the Pope came to me, I said, “Thank you, Holy Father, praise Jesus.” And he smiled and laughed . . . and the Pope embraced me, but he didn't embrace a lot of the other guys. So they said, “Woody, why did he embrace you?” That's because I greeted him in Polish! So, that is humanity at its best. He did not know I was not Catholic. Of course, I was religious, you know, but the way he embraced me, I will cherish that, because no one else in the company even got an embrace.
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C INTRODUCING SCOTTISH RITE, NMJ’S ORAL HISTORY PROJECT
Share Your Story!
by Walter F. Wheeler, 33˚ Director of Charities
What Is the Oral History Project? Through a partnership with Publishing Concepts, Inc. (PCI), the Supreme Council is gathering the unique stories of our members for a special Oral History Project. We want to hear your legacy stories, how you began your Masonic and/or Scottish Rite journey, and what being a Brother means to you! Should you choose to share your story, a representative from PCI will interview you and record your story, transcribe it, and most importantly, archive it for generations to come.
The Purpose & Goal We want to ensure the incredible legacies of our senior Brethren live on, and we want to share the stories of our young Brothers, too! Brothers like Timothy J. Curran, 32°, who told us that Freemasonry gave him hope and provided the brotherhood he missed so dearly after he received a medical discharge from the military. These stories of inspiration will be used to promote Freemasonry to other worthy men, while preserving our rich history.
“History is not the past, but a map of the past, drawn from a particular point of view, to be useful to the modern traveler.” —Henry Glassie, U.S. historian
What’s Next You will soon receive a yellow postcard in the mail from Publishing Concepts, Inc (PCI). There will be contact information on that postcard, asking you to opt in to participate in the oral history project. Participation is completely optional. Should you choose to participate, a representative from PCI will interview you over the phone. The call will be recorded for PCI to transcribe and archive. For questions, or to be removed from PCI’s contact list, call their customer service line at (800) 982-1590 or optout at https://scottishritenmj.org/PCI.
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CHARITIES
The Finished Product Once all Scottish Rite, NMJ member stories have been gathered from members who have opted in, a compilation of these narratives will be printed in a book, available for purchase to Scottish Rite, NMJ members only. Purchasing the oral history book is completely optional. You are not obligated to buy the book in order to share your story. Your recorded and/or transcribed stories may also be repurposed by Scottish Rite, NMJ for marketing purposes. Here is an example of what these oral history stories look like in video form: publishingconcepts.com/ story-videos. PCI, Scottish Rite, NMJ, and Your Privacy Scottish Rite, NMJ and PCI are committed to protecting your information. Our contractual agreement with PCI explicitly states that your information will be held confidential by PCI, except to the extent that it is used in, or in the preparation of, the publication, or except as required by law. Upon completion of the project, PCI will return all electronic files that have been supplied or produced by Scottish Rite, NMJ, in connection with the production of the oral history publication. We look forward to hearing your stories and encourage you to participate!
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Sample postcard (front)
Sample postcard (back)
Please Note: You may also receive a yellow postcard from PCI on behalf of your Valley, Grand Lodge, or other Masonic organizations you may be affiliated with. What this means is that these organizations have also partnered with PCI on a similar oral history project. These projects (and the completed books) are all separate from one another. Again, participation is completely optional. However, should you choose to opt out of receiving communications from PCI entirely, you must opt out of each project use case.
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C The Grand Almoner’s Fund
Faces of Hope
Since the Grand Almoner’s Fund was reinvigorated more than a decade ago, more than $10 million in aid has been distributed to Brothers and their families facing some of their darkest moments. Visit DonateRite.org to support the Grand Almoner’s Fund today. W H A T D O E S $ 1 0 M I L L I O N I N A I D R E A L LY M E A N ?
” IT MEANS
IT MEANS
Relief
Help
“I was sick. My insurance lapsed. I didn’t know what we were going to do. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
“I was losing my home. I was losing everything. Within days, all my bills were caught up. The Grand Almoner’s Fund truly makes a difference.”
Brother Alex
Brother Eric
”r IT MEANS
Security
Gratitude
Brother Brady
Brother Greg
“I can’t tell you what a paradigm shift this has been to get this kind of support. It just feels like I’m not doing it alone.”
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IT MEANS
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“Thank you to the people who made this happen and continue to make it happen.”
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CHARITIES
” IT MEANS
Care
IT MEANS
Support
“We can never repay the amazing gift you have given us. The Scottish Rite exemplifies all that is good and true in this great fraternity.”
“Without the incredible generosity of the Masons, and the amazing people who donate, I don’t know what my life would have been like. I am so eternally grateful for the help they have provided me.”
The Bridegroom Family
April, Masonic Widow
” I T M ”E A N S
Comfort
IT MEANS
Brotherly Love
“I can’t thank you enough for your generous financial as well as emotional support during these past months. It is so good to know that wives in my situation can know that we have not been forgotten.”
“I do not like to ask for help, but you all came to help me. I want to thank my Brothers for helping me in my time of need. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Joyce, Masonic Widow
Brother Frank
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Around the Jurisdiction Brethren from Uniontown Lodge of Perfection (plus two young helpers) assisted North Union VFW Post 8543 in placing flags on veterans’ graves in four Uniontown area cemeteries.
PA Valley of Columbus members and their families volunteered at the Mid-Ohio Food Collective in June.
MI OH
The Valley of Milwaukee installed its officers for 2023-2024.
MIWI
Vermont Scottish Rite Masons attended the annual Council of Deliberation at the Killington Mountain Lodge.
VT
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MEMBERSHIP
Ill. Jeff Simonton,33°, Deputy for Maine, presents Brother Scott Christiansen, 32°, with his HGA medal.
Scottish Rite Freemasons Go Over the Edge for Children’s Dyslexia Center of Nashua By Beth Nemchick and Karla and Mark Roth
ME On July 20, Brother James E. Granneman received a special conferral of the 33rd degree at the Indianapolis Scottish Rite Cathedral. Pictured with Brother Granneman are Paul StPierre, 33°, Deputy (left) and Greg Jordan 33°, Active for Indiana (right).
On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Scottish Rite Freemasons joined together to go “Over the Edge” with the United Way to raise funds for the Children's Dyslexia Center of Nashua. Roland Petersen, 33°, organized a team of six including Kenneth A. Clay Jr, 33°, Deputy for NH, Scott R. Borthwick, 33°, Deputy Grand Master of NH Freemasons, Wilmer J. Nemchick, 32°, Thrice Potent Master of the Valley of Concord, and friends of the Center Lisa Proulx, Administrator for NH Consistory, Tracey Callahan from the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, and Teressa Corson who led the team with the most funds raised. Each member of the team rappelled 24 stories down the Brady-Sullivan building in Manchester, New Hampshire. After suiting up and having a brief training session, the team stood there on the roof of the Brady-Sullivan building waiting for their chance to go. Eight hours prior, it was pouring rain and they were uncertain whether they would be permitted to descend. But the sun began to shine, and as they sat on the edge of the roof, in the distance they could hear supporters cheering them on. Soon each felt a rush of adrenaline as they began their descent down the side of the building. Wil Nemchick reflected, “Once safely on the ground, as we waited for the rest of our team to make their descent, we had a few moments to relax and contemplate the reason why we were here today, and that reason is charity. Charity, at its core, translates to love and compassion for others that extend to all humanity. Thank you to everyone who helped raise $20,000 toward the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Nashua by supporting our Over The Edge team.”
IN The Brothers of the Rite welcomed a new class at their Upper Regioin summer reunion.
Participants pose after the descent.
MI MI Brady-Sullivan building
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Adoring fans witness the descent.
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M Maine Valleys Partner for Unique Event On Saturday, August 5th, the Valleys of Augusta and The Androscoggin partnered for a one-of-a-kind presentation of the fourth degree, Builder. Brothers Brian Ellis, 32°, HGA, from the Valley of The Androscoggin, and Scott Christiansen, 32°, HGA, from the Valley of Augusta were the masterminds of this roundtable event. They began the discussion with an overview of the history of the fourth degree from its recorded beginning to its present form. While discussing the current version of the degree, Brian led the group in a deeper examination of the dialogue, such as when Master Hiram is asked, “But Grand Master, how do you determine what goes where, what everything should look like, and how it all fits together?” The roundtable format sparked amazing conversation, reflection, and insight. Scott Christiansen described the afternoon as follows: “Hosting this class was an amazing experience. Brian and I were able to spark a lively discussion about the history and depth of the fourth degree. The Brothers present were very engaged, and each offered ideas and individual viewpoints that kept everyone talking and left no one able to just sit on the sidelines.” The event lasted three hours, and at the conclusion, one Brother stated, “This is what I have been looking for!”
Around the Jurisdiction
continued
Ill. Steve Smith, Deputy from Rhode Island poses with dignitaries and guests at the Rhode Island Council of Deliberation.
RI The Valley of The Hudson held a Mini Digital Summer Reunion.
NY Members of the Valley of Nashua and New Hampshire Consistory were on-hand to help the CDC of Nashua celebrate their annual graduation. Congratulations to Aileen Cormier, Center Director (center), and the teachers, tutors and graduating youth.
NH Members of the Valley of Bridgeport greet their new class of Scottish Rite Masons. The Brethren were all smiles at the conclusion of the class.
Participants in the roundtable discussion of Builder
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CT The Northern Light
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Valley of Southeastern Massachusetts Performs Memorable Degree
Members and guests of the Valley of Concord enjoyed a New Hampshire Fisher Cats ball game in June.
by R. E. Desmond, 32°, MSA, Most Wise Master, St Andrew’s Chapter Rose Croix, Valley of Southeastern Massachusetts
To celebrate Memorial Day, on May 30, the Valley of Southeastern Massachusetts presented the 23rd degree, Knight of Valor, also known as the “Four Chaplains” degree, on board the USS Massachusetts at Battleship Cove in Fall River, Massachusetts. The degree was directed by Ill. Bro. Donald O. Hartson, CIC, Old Colony Consistory, assisted by Bro. Jacob Yanovich, Thrice Potent Master, Fall River Lodge of Perfection, and Bro. J. P. Masella, Sovereign Prince, Samuel C. Lawrence Council Princes of Jerusalem. The Brothers enjoyed a buffet dinner in the ship’s mess hall prior to the presentation of the degree.
NH In June, the officers of the Valley of Northern New Jersey held a planning and vision meeting.
NJ The Valley of Chicago congratulated their 2023 scholarship recipients.
USS Massachusetts
IL
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Members of the Valley aboard the USS Massachusetts
If you would like to have your Valley featured in Around the Jurisdiction, be sure to submit photographs and descriptions to
Communications@SRNMJ.org ScottishRiteNMJ.org
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A Historic Season of Thursday Night at the Rite Concludes What was once a temporary solution to the COVID-19 pandemic has turned into a hallmark member program of the Scottish Rite, NMJ. During each season of Thursday Night at the Rite, members continued their Masonic journey through a series of bi-weekly, online degree presentations. Streamed live for Scottish Rite Masons across our 15-state jurisdiction, each episode offers a chance for more light and Brotherhood.
Our
series continues to evolve each season as we continue our Path Forward, bolstering opportunities for members to delve deeper into the principles and teachings of our beloved Craft. Season four was no different, as shown in this wrap-up of our latest additions and highlights from our latest season.
Season Four Premiere: The Unveiling of the New 20° Thursday Night at the Rite kicked off on January 19, 2023, with the long-
awaited premiere of our new, cinematic production of the 20°, Master Ad Vitam. Our team at headquarters began production of the new degree in early 2022. After a nationwide casting call, we began shooting in Massachusetts. Each actor in this treasured degree is an active member of the Scottish Rite, NMJ and put countless hours into preparing for their respective role. The hard work put into the performance by the cast and production crew was
well worth it with members flooding our social media channels with praise!
New to Season Four: Degree Performances by NMJ Valleys In addition to the premiere of the 20°, each bi-weekly episode in season four included a degree performance from a Scottish Rite, NMJ Valley. Beginning in Fall 2022, the Supreme Council’s production team traveled across the jurisdiction to assist in producing and filming Valleys’ renditions of their chosen degree. Each cast exclusively consisted of local Brethren, helping to bring the magic of Reunions to the screens of fellow Scottish Rite, NMJ Masons (or as close to the magic as we can get!). Valleys that presented this season: • Valley of Bridgeport: 28°, Knight of the Sun • Valley of Portland: 5°, Perfect Master • Valley of Rochester: 9°, Master of the Temple • Valley of Boston: 7°, Provost and Judge • Valley of Michigan: 14°, Grand Elect Mason
Scottish Rite Masons from the Valley of Harrisburg performing the 21°, Patriarch Noachite
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• Valley of Harrisburg: 21°, Patriarch Noachite The Northern Light
MEMBERSHIP
by Joann Williams-Hoxha, Content Manager
Here’s what Brothers thought about this season’s degree performances: “I decided to take this journey to increase my Masonic learning, and I am very impressed with the quality of the degree work. Thank You to all involved and to the NMJ for offering this opportunity for more light in Masonry!”
This year, 300 Master Masons joined our Brotherhood through Join the Rite Night!
Thank you to all the Valleys and Brothers who participated in this season. We can’t wait to see you online for season five–stay tuned for details to come!
—Brother Norman P. Evans
“What an incredible night. Well done.” —Brother Ronald Foster
“Great presentation! I really enjoy TNR.” —Brother Stan Meister
“This was another fantastic TNR. My sincere thanks to all the Brothers who made it possible, both on stage and behind the scenes!” —Brother Peter Spadatto
Join the Rite Night Each Thursday Night at the Rite was accompanied by a Join the Rite Night, a special virtual initiation event where candidates could witness the 4°, a requisite for membership, and join our Fraternity. New members then had the option to stay online and witness another degree presented during that evening’s TNR, furthering their progress towards earning the revered 32°. Fall 2023
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TNR Q&A
by PJ Roup, 33˚, Editor, Active for Pennsylvania
Recently, I had the opportunity to sit down with Jim Dill, 33°, HGA, Director of Support Services for Supreme Council, to speak with him about the cutting-edge program, Thursday Night at the Rite, which just concluded a recordbreaking fourth season. The Northern Light: Wow! Let me start by saying congratulations on a spectacular season four. A lot of our members are familiar with Thursday Night at the Rite. Many, however, might not be aware of how it got its start. Can you walk us through the birth of this fantastic program? Jim Dill: Thursday Night at the Rite was born out of COVID. At the beginning of the pandemic, Grand Lodges, Lodges, and Valleys were being closed down nationwide. Because of that, there was no way for us to reach out to our members and continue our Masonic journey together. It was a collaborative process here at Supreme Council to figure out how we get into their homes since that’s where they’re trapped and continue to bring the message of Scottish Rite, the Core Values that we believe in, and our fundamental purpose, which is brotherhood. TNL: What were the challenges of getting such an ambitious program up and running in the middle of a pandemic? JD: Doing a television show is a collaborative process, and right from the beginning, we couldn’t collaborate.
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In my dining room, we set up a sound stage, and in Erik Fattrosso’s dining room, he set up a different process. Zoom really wasn’t what it is now, but we would find a way on the phones to collaborate, and I would record everything in the blind, and then Erik would try to adapt it in whatever way he saw it in his head when he would hear my words. So, the first season was totally blind. The only time Erik and I got to see each other was in the evenings when we did Thursday Night at the Rite. He would be in the studio, and I was on the other side of the building in my office– both double-masked so that we wouldn’t contaminate each other. Beyond that, we had a greater challenge that, fortunately, we had the infrastructure here to deal with: how do you create a platform so that 1,000 people can all log in at the same time? Our IT department pulled together. It wasn’t easy. We had many breakdowns the first season because we really didn’t anticipate how many thousands of people were going to try to all get on to the system at the same time. That’s a good problem to have, and luckily, our IT department was agile, and before the season was over, we were able to take care of those problems.
TNL: I know the membership embraced it from the beginning. When did you realize you had captured lightning in a bottle? JD: Ten minutes into the first episode. We monitor the chat from before the show begins to after it ends. From the very beginning, we realized how lonely our members had become so quickly. They clearly enjoyed this time together, and it was in that moment we knew all the work that we had put into it was worth it. At that time, we didn’t think that we would still be doing Thursday Night at the Rite four years later. We originally saw this as just a remedy for the time we couldn’t physically get together. Our members still enjoy it and engage with it, and leadership here is listening. TNL: Talk a little about the metamorphosis of the program. What changes were made in seasons two through four? JD: In the beginning, everything we used, with the exception of a couple of educational pieces, was from our library. We had heard rumors that a couple of Valleys were putting together these Zoom reading events, so we took it to the next stage. We went on the stage here at Maxwell Auditorium with plexiglass between every actor, and we did several degrees as old-fashioned radio plays. Through the chat as well as through the survey you did here at The Northern Light, we realized that the members were incredibly interested in life at
The Northern Light
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other Valleys. Let’s face it: Valley life in Bangor, Maine, is different from Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is different from Boston. That feedback was really
Fall 2023
the genesis of going out on the road and letting Valleys perform the work their way and opening it to the broader audience of the NMJ.
And ultimately, the segments about the Valleys were as interesting as the degrees. It was not just seeing a high-quality recording of a stage production but
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TNR Q&A continued
listening to what the Brothers wanted to share about the pride they had in their own Valley.
Supreme Council effort, and every single department has a part in it. Without any of those critical parts, it would fall apart.
TNL: I imagine it’s quite a thrill for the Valleys and their members to be in the spotlight on such a large scale throughout the jurisdiction. From a technical standpoint, how difficult is it to take your production crew on the road? How long does a typical shoot take?
TNL: What are the plans for season five?
JD: The shoot only takes two or three days, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. We now have a dedicated crew of six–three camera operators and three on the sound crew. There is a lot of planning to get all of that equipment on location, but after four seasons, we are pretty efficient. We know within a few minutes of arriving where we are going to place the sound crew and cameras. Typically, we have to do a little bit of restaging the actors since they are used to acting on stage. Things have to be a little different for video, but everyone has adapted well. We all look at it as an educational opportunity.
JD: From the beginning, our objective has been to fill the gaps in our library, so our first goal for season five is that by its conclusion, Valleys will have access to a proper stage production of every degree. Not just that, but bringing it back to Valley life, we’re also planning to visit every state in the jurisdiction. We’re also hoping to open the season with a little twist. There are Valleys that have produced some modern and interesting adaptations of our degrees. Our plan is to show the traditional
version followed immediately by a modern adaptation done by the same Valley. Our members can see the first one for passport credit and the other for enjoyment. Having them back to back should, we hope, enhance our understanding of the degree. TNL: Any parting thoughts? JD: I never thought that Thursday Night at the Rite was going to be a long-term part of what we do here. I’m happy that it is, though. We will continue to try to improve on what we do. We’ll keep bringing the membership experience to the show, and we will try to bring new wrinkles as well. I hope the members keep enjoying it the way they have through the first four seasons.
TNL: How much goes into producing a season of Thursday Night at the Rite? JD: It is an all-hands production. For the shoot, it is just the media department. Then we have to come back and put the show together– and it’s just not editing video of the degree. Marketing starts preparing for it, IT starts preparing for it, and the membership team too. So, by the time we get to show night, every department is represented on the line with us. That’s so important to know. This is a 42
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New Annotated Manuscript Released Freemasonry from the 1st to the 33rd Degree is the latest release of Author in Residence, Kamel Oussayef, 33°. The manuscript transcription of the document contained in this book was done during the reunion of several so-called “confederated Supreme Councils” of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. The meeting took place in Lausanne, Switzerland in 1875.
The
goal of this annotated translation is to help us, students, scholars, and historians of Freemasonry, to understand the evolution of the rituals. It will also guide the leaders of Freemasonry in the necessary reforms that will help them and us adapt to the future without losing the integrity of our teaching and the cardinal virtues of our conduct.
As the proverb says, “Today’s light always springs from the past to enlighten the future.” The original manuscript meticulously describes the candidate attire, the jewels and the decors of the lodge or the location where the degree takes place as well as the signs and passwords used. At the end of the manuscript, all the Degrees from the 1st to the 33rd are summarized and their symbolisms are fully explained. The document ends with a synopsis progressively stating the true goal of Freemasonry. Whatever the goal, we are, however, urged to remember that “sentiments are inclined to unconscious exaltations, and nothing is easier than becoming a fanatic against fanaticism, a tyrant against tyranny and intolerant against intolerance.”
The ritual committees of all the Scottish Rite Supreme Councils around the world are guided by a deep study and evaluation of the founding texts. Annotated translations such as this one show that the present form of the rituals is a direct result of the scholarly research done in the past. Be assured that this book does not overtly reveal anything to the public because Freemasonry is like a culture, it has its own vocabulary, its written and spoken language, its civic and spiritual habits. Its integrity is firmly protected by bodyguards of intentional innuendoes. The goal of translating and studying ancient rituals is to bring them out of the darkness of the “vaults” where they are kept to enlightening the generations to come. Fall 2023
Author in Residence, Kamel Oussayef, 33°
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Moments inTime
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The Northern Light
MASONRY
Just what is a photograph? When you think of it as merely a fraction of a second compared to all of recorded history, it could seem insignificant. Photographs, though, are so much more than that. They are our way of capturing memories. They are a living record of the seminal moments of our lives. Reminders of people, places, and events that shaped us. Often, when we look at a photograph, it opens a floodgate of memories of sights, sounds, and scents we haven’t thought of in years. We can remember a smile, hear the laughter, smell grandma’s spaghetti sauce as it simmers. This photo, taken in 1973 at the cornerstone ceremony of the Masonic Museum & Library, gives us a glimpse into our Masonic past. Those who were there may remember the word spoken and the time spent with their Masonic Brothers. If you have a special Masonic photograph, take a picture like this with it. Return to the location, stand where the photographer stood, and capture it then and now. Send it to us along with a few sentences about its significance to you. We just might feature it in a coming issue of The Northern Light.
!
High-resolution photos and descriptions can be emailed to editor@scottishritenmj.org.
Fall 2023
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MASONRY
REMARKABLE MASONS:
Astronauts
by Stacey Fraser, Assistant Curator Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
NASA
NASA
At least ten American astronauts have been members of the Fraternity. The Masons profiled here played a vital role in NASA’s success at putting a man on the moon.
Virgil Ivan “Gus” Grissom (1926-1967)
Donn Fulton Eisele (1930-1987)
Born
Born
in Mitchell, Indiana, Grissom was raised in Mitchell Lodge No. 228 in 1949. Grissom served in the United States Air Force stateside during World War II and flew one hundred combat missions overseas during the Korean War. After his return to the United States in 1952, Grissom worked as a flight instructor and USAF test pilot. NASA chose him for their newly created space program in 1959. Grissom became the second American in space when he piloted the second Mercury space flight in 1961. He returned to space as command pilot on the first crewed Gemini flight in 1965. He was then selected to lead the first crewed mission in the Apollo program, Apollo 1. Tragically, Grissom perished along with team members Edward White and Roger Chaffee when the Command Module of the spacecraft caught fire during a pre-launch test at Cape Kennedy in January 1967. At the time of his death, Grissom had logged over 4,600 hours of flying time in his career and achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He participated in all three early NASA space programs: Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo. Grissom was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
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in Columbus, Ohio, Eisele was a member of Luther B. Turner Lodge No. 732 in Columbus. After training at Annapolis, Maryland, he flew test flights for the United States Air Force in the 1950s and 1960s, recording more than 4,200 hours of flying time. Eisele joined NASA’s space program in 1963 and served as the Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 7 mission in October 1968. Eisele and his crew–which included fellow Mason Wally Schirra–logged more than 260 hours in space on this 11-day mission. During the mission, they also participated in the first live television broadcast from a crewed American spacecraft. Eisele was selected as backup Command Module Pilot for the 1969 Apollo 10 mission but did not serve on that crew. He then became a technical assistant for crewed space flight at NASA’s Langley Research Center until his retirement from public service in 1972. He went on to become the Country Director of the United States Peace Corps in Thailand, followed by years of working in private industry. Eisele died in 1987, and his ashes were buried at Arlington National Cemetery.
The Northern Light
SAVE
THE
DATE
T U E S D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 8 , 2 0 2 3
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE
6TH ANNUAL GIVING TUESDAY TELETHON, C E L E B R AT I N G O U R
SCOTTISH RITE CHARITIES AND THE LIVES WHO HAVE BEEN CHANGED BY YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT
Giving Tuesday – A Night of Charity will kick off with personal tours of our Masonic Museum & Library, a banquet dinner, featured speaker, and the opportunity to be a part of the live audience for the Telethon as it streams online to Brothers across the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. For more information, please visit: ScottishRiteNMJ.org/Charities/A-Night-Of-Charity
The Northern Light P.O. Box 519 Lexington, MA 02420-0519
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The Northern Light is available online. Explore every issue from the 1970s through today.
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