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Plumbline Added to “Brother to Brother,
A Masonic Reading Program”

There are many reasons why a Brother cannot read! He may be visually impaired because of macular degeneration, glaucoma, or perhaps he was seriously injured in an accident. He may have a learning disability like dyslexia or be suffering from the infirmities of old age.

A sense of isolation or helplessness is created when a Brother is no longer able to read, as printed materials are often the best, most comprehensive, and available method of securing in-depth information. If he is unable to read, then who will read to him?

The Brethren of the Valley of Dallas, Texas, have partnered with Reading and Radio Resource and Ill. Thomas R. Hall, 33¾, to bring the Scottish Rite Journal and now the Plumbline, the quarterly newsletter of the Scottish Rite Research Society, to Brothers who are reading impaired. Reading and Radio Resource is a volunteer, 501(c)3 non-profit corporation dedicated to providing alternatives for the reading disabled since 1969.

The partnership between the Valley of Dallas and Reading and Radio Resource is an ideal venture. The Valley of Dallas will provide the enthusiastic volunteers, who are Scottish Rite Freemasons, to do the reading.

Help is needed from everyone who reads the Scottish Rite Journal or the Plumbline. It will be your job to find the Brethren who need this type of help and to notify either the Secretary of your local Scottish Rite Valley or contact Fred E. Allen, 33¾ (photo above), at the address below. Our visually impaired Brothers cannot read this article; they are depending on you. Can your help a Brother in need? Your help will be a great service to them and to Masonry. Probably, each of us knows Brothers who need this assistance. Please contact them and, if necessary, help them fill out the required form and return it to us so that we can render this wonderful service. Remember, this service is FREE, but we need the filled-in application form. This form is available on the Supreme Council’s Web site (www.srmason-sj.org). Click on the NEWS link, the July 12- July 25 segment, to download a printable form which you can fill out and mail to: Fred E. Allen 500 South Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201. Or request this form by writing to the same address or contact Ill. Allen by e-mail at fredallen2726@cox-internet-com.

Submitted by Fred E. Allen, 33¾, Personal Representative, Valley of Dallas, Texas

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47th European Conference of Supreme Councils

Unique gavel presentation to the Supreme Council for France
Photo: Michael E. Noonan, The Scottish Rite Journal

Ill. Bros. Henri Baranger, 33°, SGC, Supreme Council for France, and Ronald A. Seale, SGC, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., reaffirmed their fraternal ties at the 47th European Conference of Sovereign Grand Commanders. Above, SGC Seale (right) wears a special medal, presented to him by Ill. Baranger, recognizing SGC Seale as a Member of Honour of the Supreme Council for France.

Sovereign Grand Commander Ronald A. Seale, 33°, with his wife, Saundra, and Sovereign Grand Commander Walter E. Webber, 33°, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, with his wife, Leslie, were pleased to participate in the 47th Conference of Sovereign Grand Commanders of Europe and Associated Countries meeting in Paris, France, May 16-23, 2004.

The delegates to the conference, most accompanied by their wives, from the Southern Jurisdiction were Ill. Bros. Seale, SGC; Curtis N. Lancaster, Lt. SGC; Robert L. Goldsmith, Grand Minister of State; Robert W. Woodward, GC, Deputy, Orient of American Military NATO Bases; and William G. Sizemore, GC, Grand Executive Director of the Supreme Council.

Aside from the many general sessions, during which issues of mutual interest were discussed, and several delightful social occasions, a highlight of the conference was the commemoration of the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Supreme Council for France, 33°, 1804-2004. To recognize this historic occasion, SGC Seale presented Sovereign Grand Commander Henri Baranger, 33°, Supreme Council for France, the host of the conference, with a unique gift (pictured on the previous page). It consists of a gavel made of wood from Shepheard’s Tavern, Charleston, S.C., birthplace of the Mother Supreme Council, May 31, 1801. The custom-made gavel, enclosed in a Plexiglas® box, is complemented by a sounding block made of granite from a foundation wall of the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., and a wood base made from an oak staircase being renovated at the House of the Temple. Finally, this very special gift has two inscribed brass dedication plaques.

The 47th Conference of the Sovereign Grand Commanders of Europe and
Associated Countries met in Paris, France, May 16-23, 2004.

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Alexander G. Spanos, 33°, Receives Grand Cross of Honour

In a brief and elegant special ceremony on April 5, 2004, in the corporate office of the A. G. Spanos Companies headquartered in Stockton, California, H. Douglas Lemons, 33°, SGIG in California (right in photo), presented Alexander G. Spanos, 33° (left), with his Grand Cross of Honour cap and patent. Ill. Spanos was elected to receive this highest honor of the Southern Jurisdiction at the 2003 Biennial Session; however, due to his busy schedule, he was unable to be at the gala dinner honoring newly elected Grand Crosses on October 7, 2003, at the Capital Hilton Hotel. Actually, Ill. Spanos and his wife, Faye, were in Washington, D.C., that evening, but, before being aware of his election to the Grand Cross Court of Honour, Ill. Spanos and his wife had accepted an invitation for that same evening to dine with President and Mrs. Bush.

Preferring a simple ceremony, Ill. Spanos welcomed only some 39 family members and very close friends to witness Inspector Lemons present him with the Grand Cross cap and certificate. Ill. Spanos is the only member of the Stockton Valley ever to receive this recognition. Among those present were the Mayor and Mayor-elect of the City of Stockton, the Chairman of the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors, California State Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian, and Representatives of United States Congressman Richard Pombo, all of whom presented special certificates of recognition to Brother Spanos on this historic occasion. In addition, Ill. Spanos received congratulatory letters from the Governor of California and from President Bush who wrote “I applaud your compassion and generosity in assisting others at home and around the world.” President Bush added a handwritten postscript saying “Thanks for all you do!”

All members of the Scottish Rite and, in particular, the Brethren of the Valley of Stockton offer Ill. Spanos, Grand Cross, our sincere congratulations.

Submitted by W. Ronald Coale, 33°, Former Personal Representative, Valley of Stockton, Calif.

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“Greatest Generation” Banner Welcomes Visitors
to Special Americanism Displays

Photo: Elizabeth A. Williams, The Scottish Rite Journal

From Memorial Day through Labor Day 2004, a large color banner (12’ x 42”) welcomed Brethren and the general public to visit special patriotic displays in the House of the Temple in our nation’s capital. The banner’s text read “Freemasons of the Greatest Generation, Americanism Museum Tours.” Aside from viewing the new Americanism Museum dedicated in 2003, visitors were invited to tour the Southern Jurisdiction’s headquarters building, in particular the Scottish Rite Hall of Honor and other display areas where portraits of Brethren who served during World War II were decorated with red-white-and-blue ribbons. The banner and its related displays are typical of Scottish Rite’s outreach to the general public both by the Supreme Council in Washington, D.C., and by Valleys throughout the Southern Jurisdiction.

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Lonnie A. “Bo” Pilgrim, 33°, Portrait Received
into Dallas Hall of Honor

The portrait at right has been placed in the Scottish Rite Hall of Honor, Dallas, Texas, to honor Lonnie Alfred “Bo” Pilgrim, 33°, an outstanding individual in Industry, Community, Church, and Masonic Leadership.

From a single Pittsburg, Texas, feed store in 1946, his company, Pilgrim’s Pride, has become the second-largest poultry company in both America and Mexico as well as the largest in Puerto Rico. Today, Pilgrim’s Pride employs 40,000 people, processes about 2.5 billion pounds of chicken, 300 million pounds of turkey, and 3 billion table eggs each year. Ill. Pilgrim, the company’s Chairman, a major stockholder, and cofounder with his brother, operates by placing his religious principles first. Currently he teaches Sunday school in the Baptist Church of Pittsburg, Texas. “I’m a trustee of the Lord,” Brother Pilgrim says. “The Lord owns everything on this Earth. When I give, I am giving what belongs to Him.”

Accolades and honors paying tribute to Brother Pilgrim reflect his contribution as an entrepreneur and agriculturist. Among them are: 1995 Dallas Baptist University Russell H. Perry Enterprise Award; 1997 Man of the Year in Texas Agri-culture by the Texas County Agriculture Agents Association; and 1999 Texas A&M Distin-guished Texans in Agriculture. He has served on the Dallas Baptist University Board and received an Honorary Doctor of Humanities Degree from that university.

In 1991, the Grand Lodge of Texas honored Brother “Bo” with the “Sam Houston Medal,” a very high honor presented in the past to Walter Cronkite, Burl Ives, and Bob Crosby. In the 164-year history of the Grand Lodge of Texas, less than 30 of the Medals have been presented. Ill. Pilgrim received the 33° on November 15, 2003, in the Valley of Dallas.

Clearly, “Bo” Pilgrim is a dedicated family man, Mason, and Churchman. The great ideals taught by these entities are his guiding lights, and he truly lives up to the integrity to which all good men and Masons aspire.

Note: The above is extracted from a much longer tribute to Ill. Pilgrim which appeared originally in the May 2004 Scottish Rite News for the Valley of Dallas (www.dallasscottishrite.org). The original text may be viewed in the “Internet Articles” (Sep.-Oct. 2004) segment of the Supreme Council’s Web site: www.srmason-sj.org.

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New Historical DVD Available from the Supreme Council

The 2004 Scottish Rite Leadership Conferences began with a six-minute video production which was so successful that it is now available as a DVD for general use. Titled An Introduction to the Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, the DVD traces the development of Freemasonry and our Order from eighteenth-century England to present-day America. The short program makes a dynamic presentation at any Masonic meeting and is available for $10 (plus shipping & handling). Please send checks payable to The Supreme Council to: The Supreme Council, 1733 16th St., NW, Washington, DC, 20009-3103, order through the Online Store at www.srmason.sj.org, or call 202-777-3136 between the hours of 8 am and 3 pm, EST, Monday through Friday.

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Gregory L. Kimberling, 32°, Elected Grand Master of DeMolay International during International Supreme Council Session

On June 19, 2004, in Denver, Colorado, upon his election as Grand Master of DeMolay International, Bro. Gregory L. Kimberling, 32° (center), received the hearty congratulations of Sovereign Grand Commanders Ill. Walter E. Webber, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite (left in photo) and Ill. Ronald A. Seale, Southern Jurisdiction (right).

Bro. Gregory L. Kimberling, 32°, Valley of Lewiston, Idaho, was elected the 73rd Grand Master of DeMolay International on June 19, 2004, at DeMolay’s International Supreme Council Session in Denver, Colorado. He joined DeMolay, E-Dah-Ho Chapter, in Moscow, Idaho, in November of 1971, later serving as State Master Councilor, the highest position a youth can hold at the state level. On the International level, he has served as Chairman of the Budget & Finance and Convention Planning Committees, Chaired the Executive Officer’s Conference, and served on the Investments Committee for DeMolay. He served twice as Executive Officer of Idaho and was honored in 1994 with the DeMolay Eagle Award for Most Improved Jurisdiction, in 2001 for Executive Officer of the Year, and in 2003 for Member of the Year.

His fraternal affiliations include Paradise Lodge #17, Grand Lodge of Minnesota, the York Rite Bodies, Calam Shrine, Order of Eastern Star, Red Cross of Constantine, Royal Order of Scotland, and Job’s Daughters.

An agent with Farmers Insurance, Bro. Kimberling owns Kimberling Insurance in Orofino, Idaho, is affiliated with Newsome & Kimberling Insurance in Moscow, Idaho, and has received a number of awards from Farmers Insurance Group. The former Mayor of Wallace, Idaho, he continues to be involved in a number of community-based organizations.

Grand Master Kimberling says, “My participation in DeMolay has opened many positive doors for me in my lifetime. My current involvement with DeMolay gives me the same opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our future leaders.”

Note: The full DeMolay press release on Bro. Kimberling’s election may be read in the NEWS section (Jul. 26-Aug. 8 segment) on the Supreme Council’s Web site www.srmason-sj.org.

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SGC Seale Initiated as Member in Perpetuity
in National Sojourners, Inc.

On July 21, 2004, in the Lodge Room of historic Gatsby’s Tavern in Alexandria, Virginia, SGC Ronald A. Seale, 33°, was initiated as a Member in Perpetuity during a regular monthly meeting, attended by more than 70 members and guests, of Old Dominion Chapter #364, National Sojourners Inc., an American Military Masonic Body. Ill. Seale has served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. He was accompanied by Ill. William G. Sizemore, 33°, GC, Grand Executive Director of the Supreme Council, 33°, and Dean R. Alban, 33°, Director of Information Systems for the Supreme Council. Ill. Alban was initiated an Honorary Member in Perpetuity of National Sojourners. Also attending was RW John R. Quinley, 32°, KCCH, Deputy Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Virginia. Pictured above after the initiation are (l. to r.): Ill. Bros. Alban, Seale, Bro. Hans S. Pawlisch, 32°, President of the Old Dominion Chapter #364, and Sizemore.

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Minnesota Opens Second RiteCare Clinic

Photo: Fred W. Pagenkopf, 32°, Valley of Minneapolis, Minn.

The formal dedication of the new Elk River RiteCare Childhood Language Clinic took place in Elk River, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on June 26, 2004. Approximately 500 people were present for the cornerstone ceremony conducted by MW Gerald E. Rhoads, 33°, Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota. Jerry B. Oliver, 33°, SGIG in Minnesota, presided over the day’s activities, and James O. Burlingame, 33°, Personal Representative in Minneapolis, was Master of Ceremonies.

Colorful Masonic units, such as Minnesota Chapter 25 of the National Sojourners, Inc., Heroes of ’76, participated in the dedication of the Elk River Clinic. Photo: Fred W. Pagenkopf, 32°, Valley of Minneapolis, Minn.

In addition to other Masonic notables, the festivities were attended by Patricia “Pat” Rasmusson, Most Worthy Grand Matron, General Grand Chapter, OES; W. Nathaniel Howell, Former U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait; and Earl E. Ihle, Jr., 33°, Director of Development for the Supreme Council, S.J., as well as representatives from several Lodges, OES Chapters, Zuhrah Shrine Nobles, and National Sojourners Heroes of ’76.

Clinic Director Mischelle Blenkush noted that the beautiful new clinic building, donated by the Marafie Foundation USA, is a state-of-the-art facility and is already screening more than 50 applicants seeking treatment. Thanks to the public relations efforts of Carl F. Nelson, 33°, and his wife, Leslie, the dedication was featured in local newspapers and has already brought an outpouring of financial support, kicking off a major fund-raising campaign chaired by Daniel M. Bros, 32°.

The Elk River clinic is the result of two good-hearted men who just happened to move into the same condominium building, Amir Marafie, who is not a Mason, and Ill. Carl F. Nelson. Mr. Marafie and his wife, Lulu, have a burning desire to help others, especially children. As a result, the Marafies offered the new building to house a clinic in a real estate development the Marafie Foundation USA is completing in Elk River. In addition to donating the building, the Marafies decorated it with several child-friendly original works of art and even supplied dishes and kitchen-ware. Mrs. Marafie was an active participant in all aspects of the clinic’s completion, even to choosing the interior colors and furnishings. Due to the support of the Marafies and the Minneapolis Brethren, many more children will have the chance to reach their full potentials in communication and learning. See the inside front cover of this issue for more photos from the dedication of the Elk River RiteCare Clinic.

(Click here to view more photos from the dedication.)

Submitted by Gary A. Odegard, 33°, President, S.R. Childhood Language
Clinics of Minnesota, Inc., Acting Senior Grand Warden, Grand Lodge of Minnesota

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Update on the Scottish Rite National
Disaster Relief Scholarship Fund

During a visit on July 28, 2004, to the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C., Ill. Robert J. Dole, 33°, Grand Cross, received a check for $50,000 from Grand Commander Ronald A. Seale, 33°. Thanks to the generosity of the Brethren of the Southern Jurisdiction, each year, for up to 20 years, the Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., will contribute $50,000 to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund of Scholarship America in support of 9/11 disaster victims. Photo: Elizabeth A. Williams, The Scottish Rite Journal

Scholarship America (formerly, the Citizens’ Scholarship Foundation of America) launched the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund on September 17, 2001, in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The Fund’s purpose is to provide education assistance for post secondary study to dependents of those killed or permanently disabled as a result of the terrorist attacks and during the rescue activities relating to those attacks. The beneficiaries of the Fund include airline passengers and crew, World Trade Center and Pentagon workers and visitors, and firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and law enforcement personnel injured in the attacks and related rescue efforts.

On September 9, 2002, the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc. joined in this effort by launching the Scottish Rite National Disaster Relief Scholarship Fund and allocating to it $1,000,000 to be used for scholarships. Each year, for up to 20 years, the Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., will contribute $50,000 to the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund of Scholarship America. This money will be distributed as scholarships to eligible individuals. Scholarships will be for $5,000 each, and up to 10 scholarships can be funded each year. In a brief ceremony on September 9, 2002, the first check for $50,000 was presented to Ill. Robert J. Dole, 33°, Grand Cross, former Senate Majority Leader and Chair of the Families of Freedom Scholarship Fund.

Through December 31, 2003, 20 $5,000 scholarships have been awarded to 15 individuals for study at accredited schools during the period from the fall of 2002 to the winter/spring of 2004. The total amount that has been awarded to all recipients as of December 31, 2003, is $100,000. The awards have been for study at the college and graduate school levels.

Ten of the scholarship recipients are the children of victims; four are spouses of victims; and one was engaged to a victim. Multiple scholarships have been awarded to three of the recipients, helping to fund two or three semesters of study for those students. The recipients are majoring in the following disciplines: Medicine, Public Health, Social Work, Physical Therapy, Speech and Language Pathology, Nursing, Medical Technology, Epidemiology, Biology, Law, Accounting and Finance, English, Social Work, Education, and Visual Arts Administration. The Scottish Rite Brethren should be very proud of providing these scholarships to help individuals who lost so much on September 11, 2001. Brethren who wish to contribute to the Scottish Rite National Disaster Relief Scholarship Fund may send checks earmarked for this purpose to: The Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., 1733 16th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009-3103. Thank you very much!

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