Walk With Me

GIVING TUESDAY 2020 WALK WITH ME

As part of our Giving Tuesday Telethon, viewers enjoyed updates from our Scottish Rite Charities showcasing the life-changing work that your support makes possible. If you missed it, here are some highlights from these segments.

Supreme Council Executive Director Brother Michael C. Russell, 32°, discussed the aid that the Grand Almoner’s Fund provides with Grand Almoner, Illustrious Peter J. Samiec, 33°:

Grand Almoner, Ill. Brother Peter J. Samiec, 33°

MICHAEL RUSSELL: THE VISION OF SCOTTISH RITE IS TO FULFILL OUR MASONIC OBLIGATION TO CARE FOR OUR MEMBERS. HOW IS THE GRAND ALMONER’S FUND DOING THAT?

Pete: By meeting the needs of every Brother that needs our support. We all knelt at the altar and promised that we would help aid and assist a worthy Brother in distress. That’s what we do, and we do it quickly.

MR: THERE ARE SO MANY IMPACTFUL STORIES THAT HAPPEN WITH OUR GRAND ALMONER’S FUND. DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE?

Pete: I think one of my favorites is a situation we had during the holidays a few years ago. We got a call from a family who was really destitute as a result of employment issues, and it looked like it was going to be a really terrible Christmas for the kids. We were able to pitch in. They were able to have a nice Christmas because of the Grand Almoner’s Fund and because of all the Brothers out there supporting the Fund.

Executive Director Michael Russell, 32°

First Lady Monica Glattly reflected on how the White Flower Society supports Masonic widows in need:

MR: YOU’RE REALLY LEADING THE CHARGE IN HELPING OUR MASONIC WIDOWS. WHAT HAS IT MEANT TO YOU TO BE ABLE TO START THIS INCREDIBLE VENTURE, AND HOW IS IT GOING TODAY?

Monica: Masonic widows have always been dear to my heart but especially this past year. 2020 was hard for many of our members and many of my ladies, so I’m happy to have the ability to help them out in this difficult time.

MR: FOR THOSE WHO DON’T KNOW, WHAT IS THE WHITE FLOWER SOCIETY, AND WHY IS IT CALLED THAT?

Monica: The name for the White Flower Society goes back to a DeMolay ritual: If somebody had passed, you would take a white flower. But I think it’s grown to mean more than that. I think the white flower means hope and need and giving a hand out, so that we can support each other as a group.

First Lady Monica Glattly

MR: HOW CAN MEMBERS AND LADIES SUPPORT THE PROGRAM?

Monica: Definitely through their donations and contributions to the White Flower Society but also by reaching out to our widows. Some of them are home by themselves during this quarantine, and they’re lonely. I’ve written many cards and made many phone calls just to check on them and make sure they’re okay.

Brother Michael Kuniej, 32°, shared his experience as a Leon M. Abbott scholarship recipient and how the program has helped his pursuit of higher education:

Brother Michael Kuniej, 32°

MR: THE ABBOTT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM MEANS A LOT TO SO MANY OF OUR SCOTTISH RITE BRETHREN. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?

Michael K.: For me, the Abbott Scholarship is really the foundation upon which I’m able to build my educational future, not just for myself, but also to give back to the Masonic fraternity.

MR: WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR BROTHERS TO CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE ABBOTT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM?

Michael K: The Abbott Scholarship program is so important to support, because we, as Masons, have to encourage education. We have to encourage enlightenment not just within our membership but within the wider world.

MR: WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES DO YOU THINK STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE THE ABBOTT SCHOLARSHIP LIKE YOURSELF ARE GETTING WHEN THEY RECEIVE THAT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE?

Michael K: For myself, the Abbott Scholarship has really given me a chance to give back to the Masonic fraternity. I’m able to take that education I’ve gotten with the Abbott Scholarship and really help Masonry, and Scottish Rite Masonry especially, express themselves to the wider world.

Illustrious Richard W. Elliot, 33°, talked about his new role as the Executive Director of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library:

Illustrious Richard W. Elliot, 33°, Executive Director of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library

MR: WHAT IS YOUR VISION HERE AS THE NEW DIRECTOR FOR THE MUSEUM & LIBRARY?

Rich: Well, I think that Commander Glattly has a vision to better educate our members, knowing that education and knowledge is empowerment, and that’s what we will be working to do—bringing the resources, the history, and the tradition of both America, Masonry, and fraternalism to our members.

MR: HOW CAN MEMBERS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE MASONIC MUSEUM & LIBRARY HERE IN LEXINGTON?

Rich: The first way that they can do that is by becoming a member of the Museum, and by doing so, they can build their knowledge and their character. An educated member is truly a more valuable member to us in our organization, and we hope to enhance that part of our program so that the world itself becomes closer to Freemasonry through our educated members.

MR: TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MASONIC MUSEUM & LIBRARY, WHERE DO PEOPLE GO?

Rich: They go to SRMML.org. There they will be able to find out about the physical plant that we have here, the Museum & Library, and they’ll be able to view online exhibits and displays. We hope that every Scottish Rite Mason decides to support this great endeavor that we have here that belongs to them.