THE NORTHERN LIGHT Our Editors in Brief by Joann Williams-Hoxha, Content Manager

Our Editors in Chief Brief by Joann Williams-Hoxha, Content Manager

In January 1970, in Volume 1, No. 1, of The Northern Light, George E. Burow, 33°, the magazine’s first editor, pledged to his Scottish Rite brethren that the staff would use “the very best of our abilities in bringing you the best publication possible, one in which you can take justifiable pride.”

Since that time, The Northern Light has been a source of light, knowledge, news, and information, not only for the members of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction but for Masons the world over.

In its 50-year history, the magazine has had only four editors which is a testament to its stability and sense of purpose. Let’s meet the men who have shaped the magazine and helped make it what it is today.

Ill. George E. Burow, 33°

Ill. George E. Burow, 33°

Editor, 1970-1977

Ill. Brother George E. Burow, 33°, served as the sole editor of The Northern Light since its inception in 1970, until 1975. In 1976, Bro. Burow, 33°, served as co-editor of the magazine with Richard H. Curtis, 33°.

Brother Burow was born in Danville, Illinois, and stayed close to his hometown. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University, earning a B.A. degree in 1931. He continued his education at the University of Illinois, earning a Master’s degree in 1937. He also did graduate work at Syracuse University.

He became a DeMolay in 1929 and was raised a Master Mason in Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, A.F. & A.M. in Danville, Illinois, in 1939, serving as Worshipful Master in 1945. He was so proud to have raised his father, his brother, and his son to the degree of Master Mason as well, all in Olive Branch Lodge.

Ill. Brother Burow started as a cub reporter for the Bloomington Daily Pantagraph followed by a summer job at Danville Commercial-News in 1931. He recalled that he was not sure whether the summer position even paid anything, but was still overjoyed at the prospect of becoming a newsman in the midst of the Great Depression.

From 1931 to 1946, he was a high school teacher, coach, and principal at Warsaw High School, and later a teacher and swim coach at Danville High. In 1942, he became a part-time editorial writer for the Commercial-News. He took the position of managing editor in 1949, a job he held for 20 years.

His “retirement” in 1969 certainly did not slow him down, rising high in the Masonic ranks and establishing The Northern Light magazine. In 1974, he became Deputy of Illinois for the Scottish Rite, a post he resigned when appointed as Grand Minister in 1981. He served on several Scottish Rite Committees, including Fraternal Relations and Benevolences. He also led fundraising efforts for the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library.

In addition to his commitment to Masonry, he taught water safety for 41 years at his local Red Cross Chapter, volunteered with Boy Scouts of America for 20 years, and served on the board of the YMCA for 15 years. He was a lifetime member of St. James Methodist Church of Danville where he was a trustee, Sunday school superintendent and teacher, and board member.

Ill. Brother Burow joined the Celestial Lodge on December 28, 1984. A colleague wrote in a remembrance column in the Danville CommercialNews, “We are reminded that men like Ill. Brother Burow do make a difference in this world; that they endow our lives; that they leave for us a quality of character, a spirit, and a commitment to follow always the highest and the best.”

Ill. Richard H. Curtis, 33°

Ill. Richard H. Curtis, 33°

Editor, November 1976-November 2006

Ill. Richard H. “Dick” Curtis, 33°, was a lifelong resident of Reading, Massachusetts, and served as editor for The Northern Light for 30 years.

Born in nearby Stoneham, Massachusetts, Dick graduated with degrees from Boston University and Nasson College in Springvale, Maine. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army as a Specialist 4th Class from 1962-64.

Very active in his community, Brother Curtis was a member of the Quannapowitt Players community theatre, a Town Meeting official, a Library Trustee Chairman and the producer of several programs for his town’s access cable TV station.

Brother Curtis was raised a Master Mason in Good Samaritan Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Reading in 1961, where he served as Master from 1973-74. He was an original member of the Reading Masonic Building Association, serving as its President until his passing.

Dick was very active in the different bodies of Masonry. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Boston and served as Past Commanderin-Chief of Massachusetts Consistory. He was a member of the York Rite and was High Priest of Reading Royal Arch Chapter in 1969, and was a member of the Aleppo Shriners of Wilmington. He was coroneted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33° Honorary Member of the Supreme Council in 1980.

Brother Curtis was awarded the Joseph Warren Medal for his distinguished Masonic service and was highly active in both DeMolay and Reading Rainbow, serving on advisory boards for both organizations.

Ill. Brother Curtis joined the Celestial Lodge on September 14, 2013. Brother Alan Foulds, 33°, who was a close friend and served as Editor of TNL following Dick’s retirement, said Ill. Brother Curtis “saw every project as a new adventure, attacking them with the zeal of a young person.”

Ill. Alan E. Foulds, 33°

Ill. Alan E. Foulds, 33°

Editor, February 2007-November 2019

Brother Alan Foulds recalls quite vividly the moment his career path changed so dramatically from computer programmer to assistant editor of The Northern Light. It was the spring of 2003, and the day began quite simply as a meet-up at his wife’s coffee shop to work with Brother Dick Curtis, 33°, on a commemorative book for their town’s 350th anniversary. Alan was contemplating a career change, since the company he worked for had gone out of business as a result of the dotcom crash.

“Dick [Curtis] heard about it, met me at the coffee shop, and asked if I had ever thought about changing careers. He felt we made a good team working on the book,” Alan said. “At the time the IT world was quite shaky, so I answered, ‘Every day, Dick.’ The following Monday, I was second in command of The Northern Light.”

Ill. Alan E. Foulds, 33°, worked as editor of The Northern Light from 2007 until his retirement in January of this year.

He graduated from Northeastern University with a Bachelor’s degree in Business and then earned his Master’s degree at Suffolk University.

In 2006, Alan was raised a Master Mason at Good Samaritan Lodge in Reading, Massachusetts, where he currently resides with his wife. If you live in the area, you may find him on one of his daily runs around the neighborhood, a hobby he thoroughly enjoys, in addition to his commitment to local civic service.

Brother Foulds served as President of the Massachusetts Moderators Association in 2006 and has served as Town Meeting moderator in Reading since 1997, running unopposed for each of those years. Alan is the author of Boston Ballparks and Arenas, a comprehensive look at the venues and teams that comprise Massachusetts’ long-standing history in the world of sports.

Ill. PJ Roup, 33°

Ill. PJ Roup, 33°

Editor, February 2020 – present

Ill. Paul Jeffrey Roup, 33°, known to most of his friends and Brothers as “PJ,” is the newest editor for The Northern Light. A contributing columnist for the Valley of Pittsburgh’s magazine, The Rite News, for eight years, as well as writing his own Masonic blog for more than 10 years, he is no stranger to writing for a Masonic audience. PJ has a gift for storytelling that speaks to the modern Mason of the 21st Century, seeking ways to apply Masonic values into our daily lives and relaying those lessons in non-traditional ways.

Brother Roup was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and still resides in his hometown. He graduated from Penn State University in 1990, with a Bachelor’s degree in mathematics.

For the last 15 years, PJ has run a successful insurance agency. If that was not enough, he started Dreamscape Video Productions shortly thereafter, where he is both owner and artistic director. Whether it is acting, directing, or screenwriting, PJ keeps busy in all facets of theatre and film production. He even did the voiceover for our new 4th degree video!

Ill. Brother Roup was raised a Master Mason in 1998 at Plum CreekMonroeville Lodge No. 799. He is also a member of Lodge Ad Lucem No. 812. Like Ill. Brother Burow, PJ also had the honor of raising his father, Paul, as a Master Mason.

Pennsylvania Masons know PJ well. He was Worshipful Master of his lodge in 2002 and District Deputy Grand Master from 2007 to 2016, as well as serving as Director of Communications for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania from 2016- 2017. In the Scottish Rite, PJ served as Thrice Potent Master for the Valley of Pittsburgh in 2015 and as Treasurer from 2016-2019. Brother Roup, 33°, is currently an Active Member of the Scottish Rite, NMJ, for the state of Pennsylvania.

Outside of Freemasonry, he enjoys writing, cooking, running, cycling, golfing, and fly fishing.