~ A Bridge To The 21st Century ~

John W. Boettjer, 33°, G.C.
1733 16th Street, NW
Washington, D.C., 20009–3103

Grand Commander C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, welcomed the illustrious Brethren attending the 1999 Biennial Session of the Supreme Council, 33°, October 3–5, saying, in part: "We are at a crucial moment in history, the threshold of the 21st Century. Will Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite begin the next millennium as symbols of the past or as signposts to the future? Clearly, our past is rich in tradition and accomplishment. For three centuries, our Fraternity has established a firm historical record of advancing a fundamental tenet dear to the hearts of all good men, the Brotherhood of Man under the Fatherhood of God. On this sound foundation, built through both deed and doctrine, generations of outstanding Masons have bettered their lives, benefited their communities, and improved their countries.

"During this Biennial Session, we will honor many of these men by electing them Knights Commander of the Court of Honour or 33° Inspectors General Honorary. With them, we will pledge to continue Masonry's progress into the next century, for our work, dedication, and accomplishment must not simply celebrate the past. We must also chart the future and make it happen. Through such work, Freemasonry will be both a monument to previous achievements and a bridge to a brighter tomorrow for the Craft and for all humankind!"

Following three days, September 30–October 2, of executive sessions and committee meetings by Active Members, the formal General Session began with the traditional Albert Pike Memorial Service at St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, on Sunday, October 3, at 4:00 PM. Fifteen minutes prior to the service, however, there was a special ceremony that touched the hearts of all present. The Rev. Dr. W. Kenneth Lyons, Jr., 33°, District Superintendent, Baltimore Washington Conference, United Methodist Church, and Assistant Grand Chaplain of the Supreme Council, announced to the capacity gathering that a child would be baptized. The nine-week-old infant, Christian Robert Sansbury, is the first child of Robert L. and Joan K. Sansbury. The latter is, of course, the Librarian/Curator of the Library of the Supreme Council as well as the daughter of Grand Commander Kleinknecht and his beloved wife, Gene. Robert Sansbury's mother, Mary Louise Sansbury, and many members of both the Kleinknecht and Sansbury families were also on hand in the front pews of the church to witness this moving ceremony.

Bishop Carl J. Sanders, 33°, G.C., delivers the sermon at the Albert Pike Memorial Service, St. John's Church, Lafayette Square, on October 3, 1999.

Dr. Lyons first spoke of the significance of baptism in the Christian religion as well as in other faith traditions. Then, as Christian's beaming parents and godparents, Gene Ellen Dunbar and Nicholas Robert Sansbury, stood close by, Dr. Lyons gently cradled the infant in his left arm and sprinkled the child's head with water, thus dedicating him to the Creator's care and the love of his church and family. Upon being sprinkled, little Christian burst into a loud cry, causing Dr. Lyons to protest to the gathering that the water "wasn't even cold!" He then held up the infant for the admiration of the audience, and more than one tear was shed during the audience's affirming applause. Once the child was returned to his mother's arms, his crying stopped. The Albert Pike Memorial Service began with Dr. Lyons issuing the call to worship. A responsive reading followed and was concluded with an invocation, in unison, of Brother George Washington's famous prayer:

"Almighty God, we make our earnest prayer that you will keep the United States in your holy protection, that you will incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States at large. And, finally, that you will graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy, and to demean [conduct] ourselves with that charity, humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of the divine author of our religion and without which we can never be a happy nation."

Following a hymn and a choral response by the choir of St. John's Church, Sovereign Grand Commander Kleinknecht gave the Scripture reading (Isaiah 6:1–3,8) which ends with Isaiah answering the Lord's call with these words: "Here am I; send me." Following the reading, Ill. Gerald Connelly III, 33° Elect, Tenor, Senior Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy, sang a beautiful solo rendering of "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." Then Bishop Carl J. Sanders, 33°, G.C., Grand Chaplain, using the words from Isaiah as the keynote of his sermon titled "A Man Sent From God," spoke eloquently of Brother and President George Washington. Using incidents from Washington's life to prove how vitally important this great man and Mason was to America, Bishop Sanders concluded his moving remarks saying: "Beyond his military genius as Commander-in-Chief of the American Forces, beyond his wise and courageous leadership as the first President of the United States, beyond heavy responsibilities and daily decisions of great magnitude, beyond all this is the unblemished record of this Master Mason whose character was his credential."

The service concluded with a benediction by Bishop Sanders, the singing of a favorite hymn, "O Beautiful for Spacious Skies," a silent prayer, and a special postlude for organ duet of Ill. John Philip Sousa's immortal "Stars and Stripes Forever." The rousing arrangement was played by Samuel Carabetta, Choirmaster and Organist, and Chuyoung Suter, Assistant Organist, of St. John's Church.

Following this moving service, special buses carried the Brethren and their ladies to an elegant reception at the House of the Temple.

During the reception, Grand Commander Kleinknecht, Ill. Robert O. Ralston, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, the Supreme Council, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, along with several other distinguished national and international Masonic leaders, conducted the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the crypt of Albert Pike next to the Pillars of Charity Alcove in the House of the Temple.

On Monday, following the registration of attendees, the General Session of the Supreme Council began in the Temple Room at 9:00 am. Following a roll call of all Active Members, Grand Commander Kleinknecht moved from labor to refreshment in order to allow the filming of the proceedings. This is the first time a Biennial Session has been filmed in full. The Scottish Rite is cooperating with Henninger Video of Arlington, Virginia, to develop an hour-long documentary, for possible national broadcast, on the history of American Freemasonry, with a focus on the Scottish Rite, as its influence helped shape our American heritage.

Acting for the Grand Chaplain, Ill. J. W. Fagan, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Mississippi, delivered a moving invocation eloquently citing the previous day's sermon by Bishop Sanders and calling on each member present in the crowded room to answer the call to service issued by Masonry and the Scottish Rite today in America. Admiral William G. Sizemore, USN (Ret.), 33°, G.C., Grand Executive Director of the Supreme Council, then lead the gathered Brethren in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Performing in his role as Grand Master of Ceremonies of the Supreme Council, Ill. John E. Moyers, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Kentucky, with the assistance of Ill. Earl E. Ihle, Jr., 33°, Director of Major Gifts, called the 16 Grand Masters present to the floor of the Temple Room to be recognized by the assembly and personally greeted by Grand Commander Kleinknecht. (Click here for a complete list of the Grand Masters attending the Biennial Session.)

Following welcoming words to each Grand Master, Ill. Kleinknecht requested several Masonic dignitaries to come forward and receive his fraternal greetings and recognition. Among those who received special comment by Grand Commander Kleinknecht, responded to his greeting, or were invited to sit in the East were the following.

• M.W. Clotaire Coffie, 33°, Grand Master of Masons for the Grand Lodge in Cote D'Ivoire and Honorary Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council for the Ivory Coast, garnered praise for his leadership of the Rite in West Africa and his insistence on Masonic regularity.

• Ill. Raoul L. Mattei, 33°, Past Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme Council for France and an Emeritus Member of Honour of our Supreme Council, was described to the audience by Grand Commander Kleinknecht as "one of the greatest Sovereign Grand Commanders that France has ever had."

• Ill. Georgios Halkiotis, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander of Greece, was lauded for "abiding by the principles of Masonic regularity and unity" in Europe.

• Ill. Elvio Sciubba, 33°, Past Sovereign Grand Commander of Italy, was greeted by the Grand Commander as a personal friend and commended for publishing A Bridge to Light and, soon, Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle in Italian.

• Ill. Yacouba Ballo, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council for the Ivory Coast, was honored for his advocacy of international Masonic regularity.

• Ill. Arnold Hermann, 33°, S.G. I.G. of the Supreme Council of Romania, was singled out for his groundbreaking work to establish Freemasonry in Romania and other Eastern European countries.

The heads of all Appendant Bodies attending the Session were then recognized and personally greeted by Grand Commander Kleinknecht. (See complete list, click here.)

At this point, the Grand Commander called three Illustrious Brothers to receive Certificates of Honor from the Supreme Council and to share their comments with the assembled Brethren. The first so honored was Ill. Mario Martin Guia, 33°, Lt. Grand Commander and Grand Secretary for International Affairs, Supreme Council for Portugal. Ill. Kleinknecht spoke warmly of Ill. Guia's outstanding leadership within the European Scottish Rite.

Grand Commander Kleinknecht then presented a Certificate of Honor to Ill. Richard E. Fletcher, 33°, the long-time Executive Secretary–Treasurer of the Masonic Service Association and the Masonic Information Center. Ill. Fletcher has promoted the Hospital Visitation Program, offered the best of Masonic education through a wide variety of publications, and organized fraternal disaster relief. Thanking Ill. Kleinknecht for this great honor, Ill. Fletcher noted the Scottish Rite's promotion of and good relations with all the Masonic Bodies and thanked the Grand Commander for his own selfless service to the Craft.

Imperial Sir Ralph W. Semb, 33°, President and CEO, Shrine of North America, also received a Certificate of Honor and was asked to respond for all the Appendant Bodies. In eloquently doing so, he urged all Masons to share their Masonic dedication and so bring the Craft into the new millennium as a unified body of Shrine–Scottish Rite–York Rite Masons at every level of our Fraternity.

The Grand Commander then called Ill. Robert R. Lyons, 33°, to the floor of the Temple Room. Because Ill. Lyons could not attend the Gala Banquet to be decorated with the Scottish Rite's highest honor, the Grand Cross, Ill. Kleinknecht took advantage of his presence at the General Session to extend this high honor. He noted that Ill. Lyons, a CPA, has provided the Supreme Council with expert tax advice for many years and drafted the articles of incorporation for the House of the Temple Foundation, Inc., and the Scottish Rite Research Society. In addition, as a Deacon in the Catholic Church, he has worked with Hospice and other important humanitarian groups to bring relief to those most in need of assistance and compassion. Ill. Lyons responded to his receipt of the Grand Cross saying that adults, just like young people, need role models. To him, Freemasonry and its leaders, like Grand Commander Kleinknecht, have provided him with models of personal integrity and high conduct in service to humankind.

Because Ill. Robert R. Lyons, 33°, could not attend the Gala Banquet to be decorated with the Grand Cross, the Grand Commander called him to the floor of the Temple Room in order to congratulate him personally on receipt of the Scottish Rite's highest honor.

At this point, the Grand Commander noted that three distinguished Brethren had been named Emeriti Members of Honour of the Supreme Council, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., in recognition of their service to international Freemasonry. They were Ill. Bros. Carlos R. Reyes Geenzier, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council for the Republic of Panama; Rosendo C. Herrera, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council of the Philippines; and Jose Carlos Nogueira, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council for Portugal.

Ill. Robert O. Ralston, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, the Supreme Council, N.M.J., was then invited to respond on behalf of all Supreme Councils in Amity. First, he brought the fraternal greetings of all N.M.J. Brethren to the participants of the Session. Then, he noted a unique quality of the Scottish Rite. Because our Order's structure tends to sustain effective officers in top positions over the years, the experience so gained, he noted, can be turned to the benefit of all the Craft. Summarizing, he said together we can advance Masonry into the next century in every branch of the family of Freemasonry.

Following the recognition of these and other distinguished Masons, Ill. Dan L Frederick, 33° Elect, Grand Master of the District of Columbia, was invited to speak and then join the Grand Commander in the East. After welcoming the Brethren to America's capital city, he quoted Edgar Allan Poe, applying the great poet's words to Masonic Brethren—past, present, and future—who "have dreamed dreams no mortal every dreamed before." Continuing, he said: "The dream I am thinking of is what Freemasonry has to offer the world in the new century. We can carry into our communities all that is good and right in the world today, for these are found in a Masonic Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Council, Commandery, Scottish Rite Valley, Shrine Temple, or any of the Masonic organizations. Masonry has much to offer, and we are doing exactly that in Washington, D.C., with the 'Share the Light' program. The program's eight key words epitomize what every Mason can bring to his community: Commitment, Change, Attitude, Passion, Pride, Regard, Toleration and, most important of all, Vision. United, we can dream what never was, say 'Why not?' and then make it happen!"

Ill. Robert L. Goldsmith, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Florida and Grand Orator of the Supreme Council, was then called upon to deliver the 1999 Biennial Session's Grand Oration. Titling his address "Now More Than Ever," Ill. Goldsmith used dramatic moments from the life of Brother George Washington to demonstrate that this great Mason's legacy of personal character and selfless service is central to the success of our Order and America today. Ill. Goldsmith's eloquent words were warmly received by the assembled Brethren, and the Grand Oration is reprinted in this issue of the Journal.

After the Grand Oration, the Grand Commander singled out two other Brethren, each receiving a standing ovation, for public commendation: Ill. John W. Boettjer, 33°, G.C., Managing Editor, Scottish Rite Journal, and Ill. William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., Grand Executive Director. Grand Commander Kleinknecht praised their outstanding performance during over a decade of service to the Supreme Council, and each responded thanking the Brethren for their confidence and support and the Grand Commander for his leadership. Ill. Sizemore then shared an abbreviated version of his report to the Supreme Council as Grand Executive Director and Custodian of the House of the Temple. The biennium's challenges were outlined along with a brief statement of the appropriate response, for instance, the extensive renovations ongoing to the roof, rotunda, atrium, and computer network of the House of the Temple.

Ill. Sam E. Hilburn, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Texas and Grand Treasurer General of the Supreme Council, then gave a report on the financial status of the Supreme Council. He noted that the Council has not only remained fiscally stable during the past two years of volatile market changes but also substantively improved its stock portfolio while staying within budget. Grand Commander Kleinknecht thanked Ill. Hilburn and his committee for the careful and successful stewardship of Council investments and announced to the Brethren that Ill. Hilburn and his wife, Millie, had just contributed $1 million to the Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., U.S.A. All Brethren greeted the news with an enthusiastic standing ovation in the Temple Room.

During the General Session, Ill. Sam E. Hilburn, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Texas and Grand Treasurer General of the Supreme Council, gave the report of the Committee on Finance.

Taking note of a celebrity in the audience, Grand Commander Kleinknecht called Bro. Michael Richards, 32°, K.C.C.H. Elect, to the microphone. For nine years, Bro. Richards played the role of "Kramer" in the hit television series Seinfeld. Bro. Richards said his time in Masonry has been very inspirational and that he had never before had the opportunity to meet so many good men. He later elaborated on these statements when addressing the Brethren at the Gala Banquet.

The Grand Commander then called on Ill. Earl E. Ihle, Jr., 33°, Director of Major Gifts for the Supreme Council, to share with the assembled Brethren some of the new programs developed to enhance the Scottish Rite's fiscal strength on the Valley and national level. Among them are a second pooled income fund for use by Valleys, a comprehensive estate and financial review offered gratis to the Brethren by the Supreme Council, estate planning seminars to be offered in the Valleys, and a new Scottish Rite charitable gift annuity program. (For information about these programs, contact Ill. Ihle at 1–800–486–3331, Ext. 143.)

Abbreviated presentations of their committee's reports were then given by Ill. H. Wallace Reid, 33°, Chairman, Committee on Fraternal Relations, and Ill. Goldsmith, Chairman, Committee on Jurisprudence and Legislation. Following these reports, Ill. T. Michael Fegan, 33°, Past Grand Master of Kansas and Chairman of the Masonic Renewal Committee of North America, was invited to share his thoughts about the goals, publications, and programs of the Masonic Renewal Committee. Most notably, Ill. Fegan presented extracts from a study of Freemasonry in Salina, Kansas, which proved the efficacy of one-day classes in obtaining and retaining Masonic membership.

Closing a long and productive morning session, the Grand Commander gave a short summary of his 1999 Allocution and urged Brethren to pick up a printed copy of the two-year report as they left the Temple Room following a closing prayer by Ill. Fagan, acting for the Grand Chaplain. Ill. Kleinknecht then adjourned the General Session and moved with the Active Members to the Executive Chamber to elect Knights Commander of the Court of Honour and Thirty-third Degree Inspectors General Honorary. It is of special interest to note that the World War II hero Audie Leon Murphy, Valley of Long Beach, California, was posthumously elected a 33° Inspector General Honorary.

After a buffet luncheon served in the George Washington Memorial Banquet Hall for all Biennial Session participants, Brethren, ladies, and guests were offered bus transportation to the FDR and Korean War Memorials, with return by 4:40 pm. Most Brethren, however, returned to the General Session when it resumed in the Temple Room at 1:30 pm. As the first order of business, Ill. H. Douglas Lemons, 33°, Chairman, State of the Order Committee, gave the report of his committee.

Grand Commander Kleinknecht then invited Ill. Glenn M. Martin, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council of Canada, to address the assemblage. Ill. Martin thanked the Grand Commander for promoting "a sound sense of Brotherhood among Brethren everywhere" and "leaving a legacy more lasting than bronze or stone" to Scottish Rite Freemasonry in the world.

Grand Commander Kleinknecht and Ill. Robert W. Woodward, 33°, Deputy for American Military Scottish Rite Bodies, NATO Bases, welcome the Masonic delegation from the Ivory Coast to the Biennial Session.

Ill. Paul T. Million, Jr., 33°, S.G.I.G. in Oklahoma and Chairman of the Committee on Ritual and Ceremonial Forms, then shared highlights of his committee's report. Now that the text of the Standard Revised Albert Pike Ritual has been unanimously approved by the Supreme Council, it is necessary to add stage directions and do a final review of the text for format and consistency. This fine-tuning should be accomplished within a year. Then, the Brethren must carry through with the job and begin gradual implementation of the ritual in Valleys across the Southern Jurisdiction. Without losing the core of Pike's great teachings or the essence of his noble language, the Revised Standard Pike Rituals are now shorter and more easily understood. As such, they provide a sound basis for our Order in the next century.

Following this report, Grand Commander Kleinknecht called on the following Illustrious Brethren to stand, be recognized, and receive an Acknowledgement of Thanks from the Supreme Council: Julian W. Fagan, S.G.I.G. in Mississippi and Second Grand Equerry; William M. Hutcheson, S.G.I.G. in Georgia and First Grand Equerry; and Charles S. Iversen, S.G.I.G. in the District of Columbia. This year marks the last Biennial Session for each of these Brothers as Active Members. The Grand Commander thanked each for his long, productive service to the Rite and expressed the hope that their advice and guidance would continue long after they leave office, due to statutory age limitation, later in the biennium.

Also, Grand Commander Kleinknecht paused there to give an official accolade to Ill. H. Douglas Lemons, 33°, S.G.I.G. in California, upon his retirement as Lieutenant Grand Commander. Ill. Lemons will continue to serve the Supreme Council as Past Lieutenant Grand Commander. A Supreme Council Resolution has appropriately honored him noting, in part: "In all his appointments and capacities, from Master of Ceremonies to Lieutenant Grand Commander, he has served honorably, faithfully, and with distinction." In response, the Brethren rendered a spontaneous standing ovation for Ill. Lemons.

Grand Commander Kleinknecht then invited Bro. James C. McGee, 32°, K.C.C.H., Grand Master, International Order of DeMolay, to address the assemblage. Grand Master McGee thanked the Scottish Rite for 80 years of consistent support and urged all the Grand Masters and heads of Appendant Bodies present to support existing DeMolay Chapters and establish new ones. In appreciation of the Rite's support of DeMolay, he then presented the Grand Commander with a framed print of Ill. Harry S. Truman, 33°, for display in the Museum of the Supreme Council.

During the Biennial Session, Bro. James C. McGee, 32°, K.C.C.H., Grand Master, International Order of DeMolay, addressed the Supreme Council and then presented Grand Commander Kleinknecht with a framed portrait of Ill. Harry S. Truman, 33°, for display in the Museum of the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C.

Ill. William M. Hutcheson, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Georgia and Chairman of the Committee on Obituaries, then paid tribute to all the Illustrious Brothers who have passed on during the biennium. Brief descriptions of eleven especially distinguished Brethren were shared: Judge Herbert Alden Ronin, S.G.I.G. in Nebraska, Past Lieutenant and Past Deputy Grand Commander; James Richard Rogers, S.G.I.G. in Alabama and Past Grand Minister of State; William Nash, S.G.I.G. in Arkansas and Past Second Grand Equerry; Judge Elmer D. Strickler, S.G.I.G. in West Virginia and Past Grand Sword Bearer; Thomas S. Perry, S.G.I.G. in Georgia and Past Grand Chamberlain; John Douglas Blankinship, S.G.I.G. in Washington and Past Lieutenant Grand Commander; Judge Charles R. Richey, G.C.; Gene Autry, G.C.; Clarence Leroy Bartholic, G.C., Orient Personal Representative for Colorado; Curtis LeRoy Carlson, G.C., entrepreneur and philanthropist; and Major General Chester E. McCarty, USAF, soldier of freedom and Freemason of world renown. At the conclusion of Ill. Hutcheson's report, "Taps" as a trumpet solo was played by Ill. Robert E. Redding, 33°, Director of Music, Valley of Washington, D.C., and then sung by Ill. Gerald Connelly III, 33° Elect, Tenor, Senior Chief Petty Officer, USN, who also sang "The Lord's Prayer."

The Grand Commander then invited Ill. Rosendo C. Herrera, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council for the Philippines, to speak. Ill. Herrera extended the best wishes of the 4,000 Scottish Rite Masons of the Philippines, and, on behalf of the 14,000 Masons in the Philippines, he invited Brethren to attend the upcoming 50th anniversary of Philippine Freemasonry.

Inspector Moyers, as Chairman of the Visitations Committee, followed with an abbreviated oral version of his committee's report as did Ill. John H. Ramlo, 33°, S.G.I.G. in North Dakota and Chairman of the Committee on the Library of the Supreme Council. Ill. Earl K. Dille, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Missouri and a member of the Library Committee, followed up with details about several improvements accomplished during the biennium. Among them were ceiling restoration in the main reading room, electronic cataloging, and enhancement of the Library's collections made possible by the Friends of the Library program. Sovereign Grand Commander Kleinknecht then suggested that individual Brethren and Valleys consider having valuable or rare works from their personal or Valley collections placed on permanent loan in the Library of the Supreme Council so that these works can be available to all Brethren and properly maintained.

Ill. Warren D. Lichty, 33°, S.G.I.G. in Nebraska and Chairman of the Committee on Publications, then gave a shortened form of his committee's full report. Among several other important points, he noted that Valleys should consider appointing a Scottish Rite Journal reporter to prepare and convey "Current Interest" items to the national publication and, thus, keep all Brethren up to date on recent happenings throughout the Southern Jurisdiction.

The following Subcommittee on 2001 Bicentennial report presented by Ill. Reid, Co-Chairman with Ill. Sizemore, was of timely interest to the assembled Brethren. Ill. Reid described several of the special events planned for the Supreme Council's Bicentennial Celebration is Charleston, South Carolina. He urged all present to spread the word, arrange to attend the 200th anniversary of the Council, and so make this a truly historic and memorable event. (To view the report, click here.)

Grand Commander Kleinknecht then invited Ill. Georgios Halkiotis, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, Supreme Council for Greece, to address the assemblage. Ill. Halkiotis conveyed the fraternal greetings of some 4,000 Greek Scottish Rite Masons and expressed his pride in being the recipient of two great and similar heritages. Both the culture of Greece, stemming from ancient democratic sources, and the tradition of the Scottish Rite, with its strong accent on toleration, support the harmony that can exist among men, an important landmark and guide for the unity and enlightenment of all humankind as we enter the 21st century.

Just prior to the close of the afternoon General Session, Sovereign Grand Commander Kleinknecht asked the newly elected S.G.I.G.s to stand and be honored: Ill. A. James Wriston, Jr., Hawaii; Ill. Mitchell R. Miller, Alaska; and Ill. William B. Brunk, North Carolina. Also, the Grand Commander noted the unanimous election by the Active Members of the Supreme Council of Ill. Ronald A. Seale, S.G.I.G. in Louisiana, to the post of Lieutenant Grand Commander. It should also be noted that Ill. Vern S. Wertz, elected 33°, Inspector General Honorary at the Session, was appointed a Deputy in the Orient of Oregon effective October 5, 1999. Ill. Fagan, acting for the Grand Chaplain, then closed the day's General Session with an inspirational prayer.

That evening, Brethren, their ladies, and guests nearly filled the 1,500 seats of The George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium to enjoy the Biennial Session's Gala Concert. The featured artist was songstress Patti Page, backed by a 12-piece band, performing a medley of her famous songs such as "Mockin' Bird Hill," "Changing Partners," and "Tennessee Waltz." From her opening remarks congratulating the members of the audience for their philanthropic accomplishments as Scottish Rite Masons to her closing tour of the auditorium, greeting the Grand Commander and shaking hands while still singing some of her most memorable melodies, Ms. Page overwhelmed the audience with her personal charm and gentle humor. It was an evening all will remember warmly for years to come.

Songstress Patti Page entertained at the 1999 Biennial Session Gala Concert. (Photo: Gurtman and Murtha Associates, New York, N.Y.)

At 8:30 am on Tuesday morning October 5, interested Brethren, their ladies, and guests were offered a choice of tours, Mt. Vernon or a bus tour of the city with brief stops at various points of interest, including the Vietnam War Memorial. At 9:00 am, the Supreme Council met in Executive Session. Also, the Executive Board of the Scottish Rite Research Society, President Forrest D. Haggard, 33°, G.C., presiding, met at 9:30 am in the Building Superintendent's conference room. At 1:00 pm, Ill. Haggard chaired a General Membership Meeting of the Scottish Rite Research Society in the Robert Burns Room of the House of the Temple. The guest speaker was Joan K. Sansbury, Librarian/Curator of the Supreme Council. She gave a very interesting slide-illustrated lecture on the history and development of the library along with a description of recent programs involving enhancement of the collection, construction of a special collections vault, a book restoration program, and the Children's Hour reading program. Members attending were invited to ask questions and tour the library.

At 3:30 pm, the Supreme Council and all attending newly elected 33° Brethren gathered at the Scottish Rite Temple of the District of Columbia for a conferral of the Thirty-third Degree. The Honorable Cecil Harlan Underwood, Governor of West Virginia, was the Active Candidate, and the Degree Team from the Valley of Alexandria, Virginia, was letter-perfect under the leadership of the Degree's Sovereign Grand Commander, Ill. Walter S. Downs, 33°, G.C., Personal Representative and Secretary, Valley of Alexandria, Virginia. After the conferral, responding for all the electees, Governor Underwood noted that "what has made America great is not solely her natural riches. Rather, our truest strength as a nation lies in the values believed in and lived by the citizens of this land. Significantly, these principles of service, patriotism, reverence for Deity, mutual respect, and community improvement are exactly the same values espoused by Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite. In so far as we, as Americans and Masons, continue to live by these principles, we will remain a great nation and Fraternity and so deserve the honor generously bestowed by the Supreme Council on us today."

Ill. Downs then invited Grand Commander Kleinknecht to the stage for a few words. The Grand Commander congratulated the Alexandria Valley Degree Team for a flawless performance and thanked Governor Underwood for his inspirational words. Ill. Kleinknecht said he took special pride in this particular class of Thirty-thirds since he could count two sons, Scott Nelson Kleinknecht and Henry Frederick Kleinknecht, among its members from the Valley of Washington, District of Columbia.

Following the Degree, over 1,000 Brethren, their ladies, and guests gathered at the Capital Hilton Hotel for the Gala Banquet. Impressive opening ceremonies included a patriotic presentation by the U.S. Army Band Brass Quintet, Presentation of the Colors by the Armed Forces Color Guard, the National Anthem sung by soloist, SSG Neil Ewachiw, U.S. Army Chorus, and the Pledge of Allegiance led by Ill. William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy (Ret.).

Ill. Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, 33°, G.C., President of The George Washington University, was the Master of Ceremonies and began the busy program with moving words on the significance of the moment and occasion. (See "Facing the Millennium with Confidence," in this issue.)

Bishop Sanders gave the blessing, and music during dinner was provided by Louis F. Coppola and the Stereo Strings. As dessert was served, Tommie L. Robinson, Jr., Ph.D., Director of the Scottish Rite Center in Washington, D.C., made a heartwarming special presentation, assisted by one of the clinic's children, Briana Mendez. (See "A Commitment to Children," in this issue.) Briana's remarks about how the Scottish Rite had helped her improve her speech so touched the audience that they gave her a standing ovation.

President Trachtenberg then began the evening formal program by introducing the head table guests and attending Grand Masters. He then introduced Grand Commander Kleinknecht who very warmly welcomed everyone to this grand occasion and then asked Ill. H. Douglas Lemons to introduce the Grand Crosses present, asking them to stand, and then the newly elected Grand Crosses at the head table. In his usual masterful manner, Ill. Lemons characterized each of the attending new Grand Crosses as each came to the podium to be recognized and receive the jewel of his rank, with personal congratulations, from Sovereign Grand Commander Kleinknecht. They were:

• Ill. Bros. Sam A. Kapourales, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and key founder of the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center in Charleston, West Virginia.

• Charles E. Grassley, Senior U.S. Senator from Iowa, leading member of several important Senate committees, and active Brother in the Des Moines Scottish Rite Bodies.

• Henry O. Dormann, Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of LEADERS magazine and trusted advisor to the Supreme Council on national policy and international relations.

• Joe L. Allbritton, Chairman of the Board and CEO of Riggs National Corporation, very active in civic affairs, and a contributor to the Scottish Rite.

• Fred W. McPeake, Secretary of the Knoxville, Tennessee, Scottish Rite Bodies for 43 years and a leader in a variety of civic, philanthropic, and educational endeavors.

• Donald P. Garrido, Chief Pilot of the Panama Canal Commission, philanthropist, and key leader for over 25 years in the Scottish Rite in Panama.

• Ned E. Wick, outstanding educator, public administrator, chaplain, and longtime Personal Representative in the Valley of Deadwood, South Dakota.

• S. Brent Morris, noted Masonic author, scholar, past book review editor of the Scottish Rite Journal and editor of Heredom, the transactions of the Scottish Rite Research Society.

Illustrious Morris was asked to respond for all the Grand Crosses. Clearly moved by the occasion, he said, in part: "Having now been honored with the Grand Cross, I'm reminded of a caution by Mark Twain: 'On the whole, it is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not deserve them.' Prior to tonight, we newly elected Grand Crosses had the luxury of thinking we may have been deserving but unrecognized. From now on we will have to worry about having honors and perhaps not deserving them. The best thing for us to do is to get right back to doing what we have been doing, but with even more dedication and zeal. Sovereign Grand Commander and members of the Supreme Council, we whom you have honored tonight sincerely thank you for the recognition you have given us and ask only for the opportunity to be of further service."

Sovereign Grand Commander Kleinknecht congratulates Ill. S. Brent Morris, 33°, upon his receiving the Grand Cross.

As Ill. Morris left the podium, the audience spontaneously stood for an extended ovation honoring all the Grand Cross honorees.

Other Grand Crosses elected at the Biennium Session but unable to be at the Gala Banquet were Ill. Bros. James W. Keebaugh, businessman and longtime Personal Representative, Valley of Alliance, Nebraska; Mel Tillis, country entertainer and philanthropist; Admiral E. A. Barham, military hero and Scottish Rite benefactor; Robert R. Lyons, CPA and trusted advisor to the Supreme Council on tax issues.

Following his congratulations to each of the newly decorated Grand Crosses, Grand Commander Kleinknecht recognized two distinguished head table guests for special awards. Bro. Michael Richards, 32°, K.C.C.H., who plays the character "Kramer" in the Seinfeld television series, shared his impressions of Freemasonry and the Scottish Rite with the audience. He is particularly interested in the philosophy of the Craft as it relates to and extends to other philosophical traditions. It was a pleasure, he stated, to share these interests with the many Masonic scholars he met during the Session, in particular Ill. Rex R. Hutchens, 33°, G.C.; Ill. Art deHoyos, 33°, Grand Archivist and Grand Historian of the Supreme Council, and Ill. Sean D. Graystone, 33°, Valley of Santa Fe, New Mexico, a member of the Resource Team consulted by Ill. Hutchens during his work on the Standard Revised Pike Ritual.

At the Gala Banquet, Grand Commander Kleinknecht invited Bro. Michael Richards, 32°, K.C.C.H., to speak. Bro. Richards played the character "Kramer" on Seinfeld, the very popular television series.

The Grand Commander then called Ill. Matthew N. Mezzanotte, 33°, Valley of Washington, D.C., hotel owner in the capital city and West Palm Beach, Florida, to receive a Certificate of Honor from the Supreme Council in recognition of his support of Freemasonry and, in particular, the Scottish Rite.

Ill. William G. Sizemore, 33°, G.C., then took the microphone for the singular personal pleasure of introducing the keynote speaker for the evening, his own son, Ill. William G. Sizemore II, newly crowned 33° Scottish Rite Mason and Commander in the United States Navy. Father and son, both clad in formal Navy white uniform, reflected the patriotic heritage of our Order and their personal dedication to America. Similarly, Commander Sizemore's subject, the U.S. Navy's Fighter/Attack Air Forces and, in particular, its "Top Gun" program which he directs, instilled the audience with pride in the men and women of the American military forces who sacrifice so much that we may remain a free and strong nation. Both Admiral Sizemore and his son were clearly moved by the enthusiastic reception and standing ovation that followed this climactic portion of the evening's program.

Among the head table guests conferring before the evening's Gala Banquet program were (l. to r.): Ill. James F. Hollingsworth, 33°, Lieutenant General (Ret.), U.S. Army, President, Hollingsworth Consultants, Inc.; Admiral William G. Sizemore, USN (Ret.), 33°, G.C., Grand Executive Director of the Supreme Council; and Commander William G. Sizemore II, 33°, Commander, U.S. Navy, Keynote Speaker for the Gala Banquet.

Returning to the podium, Grand Commander Kleinknecht then delivered his Gala Banquet closing remarks saying: "Together, we have accomplished much during the 1999 Biennial Session—elevating those fully deserving of honor, enjoying sparkling entertainment, and sharing in the warmest of fraternal fellowship. Now, however, it is time to return to our homes and to fulfill the promise of these days. To the new honor men, my congratulations and best wishes. To all other Brethren present, accept my gratitude for the high services you have rendered to our Council and its many beneficial programs. You are ALL appreciated—and ALL needed.

"As Illustrious Brother General Douglas MacArthur said: "There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity." Grasp opportunity, Brethren, and continue to make the Scottish Rite the finest Masonic Fraternity on earth! God bless you and your loved ones. God bless this wonderful Fraternity. And God bless America!"

Grand Commander Kleinknecht then called on Bishop Carl J. Sanders, G.C., for the closing prayer and paid a special tribute to him as he concluded 10 years of service as Grand Chaplain of the Supreme Council.

John W. Boettjer (pictured addressing the 1999 Session) is a former professor of The George Washington University, Virginia Military Institute, and Michigan State University. A member of Cypress Lodge No. 295, Naples, Florida; the S.R. Bodies of Alexandria, Virginia; Kena Shrine Temple, Fairfax, Virginia; Adoniram–Zabud Council No. 2, Washington, D.C.; the Royal Order of Scotland, and National Sojourners, Inc., Illustrious Boettjer is a 1993 recipient of "The Distinguished Service Award" from The Philalethes Society. He has been Managing Editor of the Scottish Rite Journal since 1989.