George Washington
University Scholars Luncheon
Grand Commander Seale (l.) and Ill. Stephen
Joel Trachtenberg, GC, President of The George Washington
University (r.)
pose with 17 Scottish Rite Scholarship recipients attending
a special luncheon in their honor at the House of the
Temple on January 19, 2005. Photo: Elizabeth A.
Williams, Scottish Rite Journal
On January 19, 2005, in the George Washington
Memorial Banquet Hall of the House of the Temple, SGC
Ronald A.
Seale, 33°, hosted a special luncheon to honor students
attending The George Washington University (GWU) as Scottish
Rite Scholarship recipients. Delicious food, from main
course and salad to dessert, was prepared and served
by Fran Johnson, Executive Assistant to the Sovereign
Grand Commander. In welcoming the assembled scholars,
GWU representatives, House of the Temple staff involved
in our Order’s scholarship programs, and special
guest Ill. James D. Cole, PGM, SGIG in Virginia, Ill.
Seale noted that the purpose of the luncheon, now an
annual event, was to “affirm who you as Scottish
Rite scholars are and what you are doing.”
Ill. William G. Sizemore, GC, Grand Executive
Director and Director of Education and Americanism for
the Supreme
Council, also greeted the students and noted that the
Scottish Rite Scholarship Program at GWU, open to any
qualified student with a Scottish Rite family background,
is only one of many scholarship programs funded by the
Scottish Rite Foundation, S.J., U.S.A., Inc., and by
individual Valleys or Orients across the Southern Jurisdiction.
Heather K. Calloway, Director of Internships,
then introduced four of the present staff of nine interns,
many of them
GWU students, who greet visitors and conduct tours of
the House of the Temple. Intern Marie Kalinina, a Scottish
Rite Scholar at GWU, then spoke of the benefits offered
by the intern program, which was initiated by Grand Commander
Seale, and invited the students present to consider becoming
House of the Temple interns.
Grand Commander Seale then introduced
Ill. Stephen Joel Trachtenberg, GC, President of GWU.
President Trachtenberg,
whose portrait is displayed in the Scottish Rite Hall
of Honor, commented that as soon as he was installed
as head of GWU in 1988, he began strengthening the bonds
between GWU, Freemasonry, and the Scottish Rite. “Each
year since,” he noted, “the relationship
between Masonry and the University has grown more robust,
the number of Scottish Rite Scholarships has grown, and
the benefits of these awards has become incalculable
and consequential to many lives. I am delighted to be
here to celebrate the bond between George Washington
University and the Scottish Rite, one of the most selfless
entities I have ever known. Made up of a group of people
bonded together with only one purpose, to do good, Masonry
is an organization whose members truly do the work their
lips proclaim.”
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Oakland
Scottish Rite Temple
to Become a Green Building
No, we’re
not going to paint the building green! But we are going
to make it an environmentally friendly
structure by installing solar photovoltaic panels on
the roof which will produce enough electrical power to
run our building and allow us to sell the surplus back
to PG&E, the local electric utility company.
The Oakland Temple Association Board of
Directors has voted to enter into a contract to install
these panels
and take advantage of a special offer from PG&E,
which will pay half the cost of the project. The Oakland
Scottish Rite Temple happens to have a very large flat
roof which is perfect for this type of operation. The
panels will lie flat on the roof and cannot be seen unless
you are in a helicopter. When completed, this will be
the largest solar panel electrical generation facility
in Oakland. The system will include panels to generate
99.7 kilowatts of electrical energy. It will produce
more electricity than we use during the summer months.
and our electrical meter will actually run backwards
at times. The extra energy that we produce will be held
as a credit so that in the winter time, when we don't
have as much sunshine, we can apply the credit against
our electric bill. Our net PG& E electrical bill
should be close to zero. The Lodge of Perfection voted
to accept the recommendation of the Temple Association
Board at the December 2004 Stated Meeting.
The initial system is not cheap. The total
cost of the project will be about $800,000, but with
half of that
cost being picked up by PG&E, our net cost will be
about $400,000. though this is still a lot of money,
the Board of Directors weighed costs against advantages,
and after much discussion, decided that, in the long
run, it will be cost effective to enter into this program.
Electrical power is one of our largest operating expenses.
Last year it totaled almost $45,000 and it keeps going
up every year.
By taking out a bank loan at a favorable
rate of interest, we will be paying about the same amount
on the loan each
year as we have been paying for electricity. After the
loan is paid off, we will be enjoying free electricity
for the life of the installation, which is estimated
to be at least 40 years. It turns out to be a win-win
situation for the Oakland Scottish Rite because it will
save us hundreds of thousands of dollars in energy costs
over the next 25 years (projected to be $1.1 million
over 26 years). It also helps reduce our dependence on
foreign oil imports to generate electrical power.
One of the great advantages to this program
is that PG&E must buy back the
extra electrical power at the same rate they charge us. We are on a time-of-day
schedule which means that we pay less during off-peak times and more during the
peak hours (noon to six, Monday through Friday). Our building is used mostly
at night and on weekends, so we consume most of the energy at the lower rate.
The solar panels will produce most of the power during the daytime, so PG&E
will be buying our extra power at the higher rate while we are consuming at
the lower rate.
Work on this project will begin soon after
the first of the year. You may see a large crane in our
parking lot to lift the panels up to the roof. There
should
be no interruption in our program, so it will not be an inconvenience for
our members or clients. As mentioned before, this will
be a very expensive venture
for us, if you would like to help out, donations to our Building Fund would
be greatly appreciated.
Submitted by
John D. Beringer, 33°, General Secretary
Oakland, California, Scottish Rite Bodies
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New Art Tour Offered at the George Washington
Masonic National Memorial
Allyn Cox mural
in Memorial Hall of Washington attending a St.
John’s Day ceremony
in Philadelphia (46' x 18') is one of the highlights
of the new art tour at the George Washington
Masonic National Memorial. Photo: Bro. Arthur
W. Pierson, 32°,
Pierson Photography, Falls Church, Va.
The George Washington Masonic Memorial
in Alexandria, Virginia, recently formally announced
a new, weekly Art
and Architecture Tour that debuted at the Memorial
in November 2004. Developed and conducted by Bro. Harry
P. Shaffer, KCCH, Valley of Alexandria, Tour Guide
Director
at the Memorial and a retired Art/Art History teacher,
the tour highlights the sculptures, murals, and painting
within the Memorial. The artwork relates to George
Washington as a man and Freemason. Architecture, both
inside and
outside, is viewed and discussed, along with photographs
of the Memorial being built from 1922 to 1932. Also
included is a brief discussion of Freemasonry. The tour
is conducted
every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m.
Reprinted with permission from The
Messenger,
a publication of the George Washington Masonic National
Memorial
(Vol. 10, No. 4).
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Hall of Honor Carpet
Restored
Photo: Elizabeth E. Williams,
Scottish Rite
Journal
A custom-made, semi-circular, oriental-design
carpet has graced the Scottish Rite Supreme Temple Architects
Hall of Honor since the Hall was inaugurated in 1990.
Year by year traffic throughout the House of the Temple
has increased significantly, and recently it was determined
the Hall of Honor carpet needed careful cleaning, minor
repair, and new backing.
Ibrahim Kandemir, an expert in the field
of antique and specialty rugs, was commissioned to do
this work which,
given the 65-foot length of the carpet, had to be done
in the House of the Temple itself. Above, Mr. Kandemir
is pictured at work in the George Washington Memorial
Banquet Hall, where the Hall of Honor carpet was moved
for restoration. Mr. Kandemir and his entire family continue
in America a tradition established in their homeland,
Turkey, and he feels privileged to work on this unique
House of the Temple carpet (see http://kandemirantiquecarpets.jozan.net).
Such necessary maintenance and restoration could not
be possible
without
support
by Scottish Rite Brethren of the annual House of the
Temple Calendar Program. Thank you very much for helping
us keep the House of the Temple, John Russell Pope’s
and the Scottish Rite’s finest architectural masterpiece,
in mint condition!
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Centenarian Brother Honored in Virginia
Photo: Louis K. “Kerry” Campbell,
33°, Roanoke, Va.
On September 29, 2004, Ill. Hunter H.
Akers, who at age 103 is one of Virginia’s most
senior Scottish Rite Freemasons, received a visit from
two distinguished
guests, MW James
M. Scearce, Jr., 33°, then Grand Master (right above),
and Ill. James D. Cole, 33°, SGIG in Virginia and
Past Grand Master in Virginia, 2001 (left above). They
traveled to the Richfield Retirement Community, Salem,
Virginia, to bestow honors on Ill. Akers who was born
on July 3, 1903. He received the 32° in the Valley
of Roanoke, Virginia, in 1930, was invested with the
KCCH in 1941, and coroneted a 33° Inspector General
Honorary in 1951. Ill. Akers had been a college friend
of MW Charles E. Webber, 33°, SGIG in Virginia (1959-1981),
and often traveled with him to various Masonic functions
throughout the Commonwealth.
Indicative of his pride in the Fraternity,
Ill. Akers has his 33° patent framed on the wall of his room,
and he is eager to share his interest in the Craft with
others whenever he can. During the visit, Ill. Akers
expressed his concerns about building Freemasonry in
the “Old Dominion” state and shared several
good ideas regarding membership with Ill. Bros. Scearce
and Cole. Earlier, Ill. George E. Dewese, 33°, whose
portrait is in the House of the Temple’s Hall of
Honor, also visited Ill. Akers. Ill. Dewese conveyed
his congratulations to Ill. Akers on his lifetime of
service to Freemasonry.
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First Annual All-Masonic Prospective Lunch
On April 3, 2005, at 2:00 PM, the First
Annual All-Masonic Prospective Mason, Shriner, and Appendant
Bodies Lunch
will be held at Khedive Shrine Center, 645 Woodlake
Drive in Chesapeake, Virginia. Anyone with an interest
in ANY Masonic organization is invited to this free
lunch. Following the meal, there will be five-minute
talks on all Masonic groups, including youth and ladies
organizations, by members of that organization. Non-Masons
are especially invited so that they can learn about
Blue Lodge Masonry. Following the talks, representatives
of all organizations will be available at tables with
brochures and other information.
Submitted by Stormy Thorson, 32°
Plural member Portsmouth and Norfolk, Virginia, and
SRRS
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Masonic
Center Rededication Ceremony
in Deadwood, South Dakota
Following
the December 18, 2004, Rededication Ceremony of
the Masonic Center in Deadwood, South Dakota, Grand
Lodge Officers gathered around the plaque, which
will
be installed marking the event. MW William A. Coffield,
33°, Grand Master, Grand Lodge of South Dakota,
is pictured sixth from left, while Grand Chaplain
Ill. Ned
E. Wick, Grand Cross, is at the far right.
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Worshipful
Master Mike Rodman of Deadwood Masonic Lodge
#7, welcomed everyone to the impressive Rededication
Ceremony of the Masonic Center.
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December 18, 2004, will forever be an important
date in the history of Freemasonry in South Dakota. On
that
day, the Deadwood Masonic Center, which was originally
dedicated on July 18, 1900, was rededicated by Grand Master William A. Coffield,
33°, Valley of Deadwood, and the Masonic Grand Lodge Officers of South
Dakota. In addition to being an outstanding historic landmark in South Dakota,
the Masonic
Center is home to three dynamic Masonic organizations: Deadwood Lodge #7, the
NAJA Shrine, and the Black Hills Scottish Rite. Each organization was impressively
represented during the rededication ceremony.
The Worshipful Master of Masonic Lodge
#7, Bro. Mike G. Rodman, 32°, Valley
of Deadwood, opened the historic event by greeting all of the guests and dignitaries
and outlining the day’s program. MW Coffield then noted that the rededication
ceremony of this important Masonic structure confirms the commitment of the organization
to make the building much more accessible to the general public in the years
to come. He also commented that he was pleased with the presence of Deadwood’s
Mayor, the Honorable Francis Toscana; Historic Preservation Officer, Jim Wilson;
and President of the Historic Preservation Committee, Troy Love.
Along with members of the Masonic Center
Association. also present were Dave and Greg Akrop whose
family has been involved in the preservation and restoration
of Deadwood since 1914; Mr. Bob Ruth and Bro. David R. Ruth, Jr., 32°,
Valley of Deadwood, whose family has been involved in Masonic activities
since the late
1800s; and numerous other local dignitaries and personalities.
During the ceremony, various State Grand
Lodge Officers performed the rituals of the Square, the
Level, and the Plumb on the new plaque (pictured above)
which commemorates the official rededication of the Center. Placing the
following
items
on the plaque, other Officers brought forth corn as a symbol of plenty,
oil representing joy, and ceremonial wine symbolic of
good cheer and fellowship.
State Chaplain,
Ill. Ned E. Wick, Grand Cross, Valley of Deadwood, opened the ceremony
with an eloquent invocation and closed it with a memorable
benediction.
Submitted by Bro. Jim Coyle
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Brethren Represent Freemasonry in Inaugural
Parade
Brothers
George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette were aboard
The Lincoln Highway Museum and Archives Float
during inaugural festivities on 20 January, 2005. Bro.
Oliver O. Harris, Alexandria-Washington Lodge #22, Alexandria,
Virginia, in period costume (left above) carried one
of two keys to the Bastille Lafayette brought to America.
On February 21, 1825, Lafayette gave one key to Alexandria-Washington
Lodge #22 during the Lodge’s Washington Birthday
celebration. The other key, he presented directly to
Bro. Washington, and it is now on display in the Museum
at Mount Vernon. Bro. Harris was accompanied on the
inaugural float by Ill. Robert G. Watkins, 33°, in
period costume as George Washington (right above). The
key to the Bastille symbolizes the close connection of
Freemasonry with the blessings of freedom that all Americans
enjoy.
This float’s thematic representation of liberty
was the brainchild of Craig Harmon, Founder and Director
of the Lincoln National Highway Museum and Archives,
Galion, Ohio, who integrated this idea with the participation
of about 50 firemen (photo above) from states that the
Lincoln Highway passes through. Harmon became aware of
the Bastille key and the Lodge’s ownership of it
from a Scottish Rite Journal article (Feb. 1998) written
by RW Frank R. Dunaway, KCCH, Valley of Alexandria, when
he was Chairman of the Archives Committee, Alexandria-Washington
Lodge #22.
The Lincoln Highway, completed in 1917,
was America’s
first transcontinental roadway. Constructed at a time
when the automobile was emerging as an important mode
of transportation, it was the forerunner and model of
the system of national highways which later developed.
This creative initiative provided the U.S. with a model
of transportation efficiency which gave economic and
personal freedoms to accompany the political and religious
freedoms represented by Lafayette, Washington, and Lincoln
on the inaugural float.
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