September 21, 2001

TO:	Active Members, Deputies of the Supreme Council, Personal Representatives, and Secretaries
FROM:	C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander
RE:	Scottish Rite Support of Disaster Relief

Our nation is digging out from the destruction caused by the cowardly acts of terrorism last week. As in the past, Freemasons are at the forefront of caring for their fellow citizens. The Scottish Rite Masons of the Southern Jurisdiction have joined our Brethren in this noble and glorious undertaking: individual Lodges are making contributions and holding blood drives, the Grand Lodge of New York has pledged $1 million to aid the rescuers, and the Masonic Service Association is conducting a national Masonic appeal.

The Scottish Rite Foundation-SJ and the Supreme Council, NMJ have each pledged $1 million for aid to New York, Virginia, and the rescue workers. Additional pledges have been received from various Orients: California, $200 thousand; Colorado, $50 thousand; District of Columbia, $15 thousand; and Missouri, $25 thousand. This is a total of $2.3 million from Scottish Rite Masons, and we expect many more similar contributions in the next few days.

I am writing to ask each of you to redouble your efforts in supporting relief activities in the aftermath of this horrible unprovoked attack. Support the relief programs of your House of Worship, your community, your Lodge and Grand Lodge, and your Scottish Rite Valley and Orient. I want every Valley in the Southern Jurisdiction to contact their community disaster relief organizations—the Red Cross, the United Way, the Salvation Army, and so on—and offer their buildings for support activities related to the September 11 disasters—blood drives, fund raisers, emergency housing, and so on.

We cannot all search for victims, remove rubble, or give blood, but every one of us can make some financial contribution. Donations to our Supreme Council's relief program may be sent to 1733 16 St., N.W., Washington, DC 20009–3103. Please make checks payable to "Scottish Rite Foundation-S.J." and mark them "National Disaster, September 11, 2001."

Freemasons stand firm in their support and defense of our country. I am reminded of the tenets of our profession:

Brotherly Love	We extend fraternal condolences to our Brethren of New York and Virginia.
Relief	We are preparing aid for the distressed.
Truth	The truth is very simple: America will never yield to terrorists.