Scottish Rite Journal (SJ) Update

SCOTTISH RITE AWARD WINNER SELECTED TO ALL FOUR U.S. SERVICE ACADEMIES

Cover Photo: Cadet Matlock receives an award from Lt. Col. Bill Bialozor, who was Senior Army JROTC Instructor at Walla Walla High School when this image was taken. (Brother Bill is a 32° Master of the Royal Secret in the Scottish Rite Valley of Walla Walla.)

by Duane “Dutch” Meier, KCCH, Valley Secretary

A Walla Walla High School (WWHS) senior who won the Scottish Rite Junior ROTC Award a year ago has just joined the Air Force Academy Cadet Wing ... after receiving appointments to all four service academies!

Cadet Lt. Col. Luke B. Matlock graduated from WWHS with the class of 2020 and was Army JROTC cadet battalion commander. He had applied to all four U.S. service academies beginning more than a year ago and in the months preceding graduation, learned he had been selected for admission to the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard academies. Matlock entered the USAFA on June 25 and was enrolled as a member of the Class of 2024. When he graduates, he’ll be commissioned as an Air Force second lieutenant.

“That’s pretty much a dream shot for applicants to the service academies because it’s such a rigorous process just to be selected for even one,” said a Walla Walla veteran who learned of his appointments. “To be selected by all four academies is an almost unbelievable achievement."

“In the Blue Devil Battalion, the Scottish Rite Award has become one of our most sought-after awards,” said current USAF 1st Lt. John Gossett, who was a previous Scottish Rite Award winner as a WWHS Army JROTC. His grandfather was a Master Mason in a Walla Walla Lodge.

RESOURCE RELIEF FUND

—Sheri Mistretta, Executive Director, The LIGHT Foundation

On May 4, 2020, the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri (www.moscottishrite.org) and The LIGHT Foundation (www. light.foundation) launched the Resource Relief Fund to support Missouri families affected by the COVID-19 crisis. One of the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri’s charitable pillars is disaster relief. The core focus of the LIGHT Foundation is to create youth opportunities. Together, these two charitable organizations have brought critical financial help to those in need across the state.

As of July 15, 2020, the Resource Relief Fund has provided cash aid to twenty-five families, and one at-risk preschool was provided with necessary Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to re-open in June.

For information, please contact the Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri, Paul DeMerath (srf-stl@sbcglobal.net), or the LIGHT Foundation, Sheri Mistretta (sherim@light.foundation; 314.287.3633).

The Masonic Book Club Is Restarted!

The Masonic Book The new MBC will have a Club (MBC), formed different business model from in 1970 by Brothers the old. Most significantly, Alphonse Cerza and Louis there will be no dues; being Williams, has been restart- a member entitles you to ed fifty years later by the purchase books at a prepubSupreme Council, 33°, SJ USA. lication discount. The books After forty years of service to will be selected by an editorial the Craft, the directors in 2010 committee (Arturo de Hoyos, decided to dissolve the original S. Brent Morris, and others). MBC. In 2017 MW Barry The first publication should Weer, 33°, the last president be announced in mid-2021 of the MBC, transferred the with anticipated shipment 3–4 MBC name and assets to the months later. Supreme Council, 33°, SJ USA. For more details, check out The revived Masonic Book the Masonic Book Club page at Club has the goals of publish- https://scottishrite.org. ing classic Masonic books and of supporting Scottish Rite SJ USA philanthropies.

The new MBC will have a different business model from the old. Most significantly, there will be no dues; being a member entitles you to purchase books at a prepublication discount. The books will be selected by an editorial committee (Arturo de Hoyos, S. Brent Morris, and others). The first publication should be announced in mid-2021 with anticipated shipment 3–4 months later.

For more details, check out the Masonic Book Club page at https://scottishrite.org.