Louisiana Scottish Rite Foundation
P. O. Box 64, Shreveport, Louisiana 71161

Amy Parham Johnston, CCC-SLP, and Christopher Williamson, clinic client.

This semester at the Ill. Admiral E. A. Barham, 33°, Scottish Rite Childhood Learning Center, located at the Monroe, Louisiana, Temple, we were pleasantly reminded of the impact of our Masonic legacy. Mrs. Amy Johnston, CCC-SLP, a speech language pathologist for Monroe City Schools and an adjunct Clinical Supervisor for the University of Louisiana-Monroe (ULM) Department of Communicative Disorders, was assigned by ULM to supervise here. According to Mrs. Norma Johnson, CCC-SLP, ULM Clinic Director, "Mrs. Johnston's fine clinical expertise as a speech-language pathologist with years of experience working with children with communication problems and their parents, combined with her caring spirit and poised nature, make her a perfect match for the mission of the Clinic. She is greatly respected by her colleagues, our students, and the families she has helped."

One day, while talking to Norma and Dr. Beryl C. Franklin, 33°, Scottish Rite Clinic Administrator, Amy mentioned that working with Scottish Rite clients was especially rewarding to her, as her deceased father had been a Mason. Following is a letter to Monroe Scottish Rite from Amy that will explain further:

"Thank you so much for the opportunity to be part of the great things going on at the Admiral E. A. Barham Scottish Rite Speech and Hearing Clinic! As a parent, I know it means so much to have such a quality clinic supported by a group of caring individuals such as yourselves. To have the opportunity to supervise here takes me back because, you see, my father was a Mason. In fact, he was a Mason in our hometown of Mangham, a Shriner at the Barak Temple, and a member of the Scottish Rite here in Monroe. My father was Henry Parham (pictured left).

"While I didn't know a lot about Freemasonry or what being a Mason meant, I did know that this part of Daddy's life was very important to him. Oh, I remember weekly Lodge nights, and I can remember Daddy bringing the whole family for a chicken spaghetti dinner at the very same place where I am now a Clinic Supervisor! As a child, I couldn't possibly understand the deep commitment of the men to this organization. I feel it is the same for the children who are served by your clinic. They can't possibly understand when they come through the doors the strong commitments of the men of Scottish Rite. All they know is that they come to a place where they can have fun and get better at the same time.

"In closing, thank you once again for giving me an opportunity to be a part of something so special to my Dad. While I may never know all about being a Mason, I do think I am fortunate to have had a role model who exhibited the care and compassion needed to be a member of this organization. For this reason, I feel I chose a profession that allows me the opportunity to have a positive impact in the life of a child. I know my Dad would have been proud!"

We at the Scottish Rite Clinic also know that Bro. Parham would be so proud of his daughter Amy and her very important role in our clinic. Our thanks again to Amy and also to her mother, Mrs. Henry Parham, who recently made a generous donation to the clinic in memory of our Brother Henry L. Parham, 32°.