Innovation

INNOVATION Pittsburgh Hosts Virtual Class

by David W. Morgans, 33˚, Secretary, Valley of Pittsburgh

The Valley of Pittsburgh made Masonic history by inducting 31 new members in the first ever virtual Scottish Rite reunion. The event, held on Saturday, May 16, was also viewed by more than 100 current Scottish Rite members from as far north as British Columbia and as far south as Florida.

Director’s live screen capture during virtual broadcast

The entire event was prerecorded and then broadcast on a secure link.

Ill. Samuel C. Williamson, Commander in Chief, said that the idea came together rather quickly. “A few of our officers had some casual conversations about how to keep our current candidates in the loop after we cancelled the normal Spring Reunion,” he said, “and the question was asked, ‘Why not a virtual class?’”

After receiving permission from the Sovereign Grand Commander, Ill. David A. Glattly, they jumped right into planning it. “My only direction was that they not do the 32nd Degree. That should be saved for a time when we can all meet again in person,” Commander Glattly said. Because of the social distancing measures that were in place, the format of the reunion had to be adapted. The entire event was prerecorded and then broadcast on a secure link which was provided only to the candidates and members who requested access.

The morning began with a welcome from Ill. PJ Roup, Active for Pennsylvania, who obligated the class. Each of the four presiding officers spoke about some facet of the Scottish Rite experience and introduced the degree which followed his talk. The class also heard from Kiley Sexton, TPM, Uniontown Lodge of Perfection, as well as Ill. William D. Johnston and Ill. William G. Johnston from the Director’s Staff.

The degrees conferred included the 4th Degree, Builder; Pittsburgh’s own modern 8th Degree, Solomon Ascending; the 17th Degree, Knight of the East and West; and the 31st Degree, My Brother’s Keeper. The reunion closed at 11:15 a.m. when the brethren in attendance were invited to an informal Zoom “Afterglow” where they could greet each other and talk about what they had just experienced.

“We saw that in spite of, and maybe even because of, the quarantine, men wanted to continue their Masonic journeys,” Roup said. “This was far from the typical Scottish Rite class, but we are living in times where everything is far from typical, so we had to adapt. I couldn’t be more pleased with the results.”