July 12- July 26, 2004

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

Fred E. Allen, 33°

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 such as 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 cannot read, then who will read to our Brothers?
The Brethren of the Valley of Dallas have partnered with the Reading and Radio Resource and Ill. Thomas R. Hall, 33°, 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, 501c3 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 Masons, to do the reading.
Help is need from everyone who reads the Scottish Rite Journal or the Plumbline, but 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, 33°, at the address below. Our visually impaired Brothers cannot read this article; they are depending on you. Can your help a Brother in need? They are depending on you! Probably, of us knows a Brother who needs this assistance. Please contact them and, if necessary, help them fill out the required form and return 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 in PDF format. Click here to download and print the form for mailing to: Fred E. Allen, Valley of Dallas, 500 South Harwood, Dallas, Texas 75201. Or you can send a request for this form to the same address or contact Ill. Allen by e-mail at fredallen2726@cox-internet.com

Submitted by Fred E. Allen, 33æ
Personal Representative
Valley of Dallas, Texas

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Civic Leadership Program Students Visit
House of the Temple

Photo: Michael E. Noonan, The Scottish Rite Journal

On May 5, 2004, as on several previous annual visits, a large group of students and their teachers from the Glenelg Country School, Glenelg, Maryland, visited the House of the Temple. David C. Weeks, Director of the school’s Civic Leadership Program, is a member of Sharon Lodge #182, Reisterstown, Maryland, initiated this introduction to Freemasonry for the students and faculty of his school.. The visit related to the theme of symbols reflected in architecture. Just as so many government buildings, like the U.S. Capitol and Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., reflect Greco-Roman ideals—such as democracy, rationality, and individualism—in their architecture, the House of the Temple has these symbols in addition to other elements from other cultures, both Eastern and Western. Together, these represent, in limestone and marble, the Scottish Rite’s blending of the wisdom of many ages and cultures. The students and teachers were greeted on the steps of the House of the Temple by Ill. Bros. Arturo de Hoyos, Grand Archivist and Grand Historian; S. Brent Morris, GC, Director of Membership Development; and Dr. John W. Boettjer, GC, Managing Editor, The Scottish Rite Journal (pictured l. to r. at far right of the photo above). Each of these Brethren welcomed the group to the House of the Temple and spoke to the interests of the students as they toured the national headquarters building.

Masonic Family Service in Time of War

Vanessa Cardona	Ivan Cardona	Herminio F. Cardona

The Masonic way of life has influenced me and my children to serve our country, even if it meant placing ourselves directly in harm’s way. I’m a member of the Alexandria, Virginia, Scottish Rite Bodies, my daughter is a former Jobbie (Bethel #45, Springfield, Virginia), and my son is a former DeMolay (Woodlawn Chapter, Woodlawn, Virginia).
My daughter Vanessa is a U.S. Marine Intelligence Analyst who served in combat with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force during Operation Iraqi Freedom and is now back in Iraq on a second combat tour. My son Ivan is an U.S. Army combat medic who is scheduled to go to Afghanistan this year. In addition, my brother Victor is an Explosives Ordinance Disposal expert just returned from serving in Afghanistan.
When I became a single parent, I relied on my Masonic affiliation and my children’s participation in Masonic youth groups to help me instill in my children the values of service to God, country, and the military. I share our story to show that ordinary people, motivated by Freemasonry’s core values, can do extraordinary things. My family is proof of the power of Masonry in making positive, life-defining choices.

Herminio F. “Herm” Cardona, 32°

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Color a Smile

Recently, children attending the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center in Richmond, Virginia, had the opportunity to brighten the days of people needing a smile. Organized by Claire Urban (pictured leftabove), a 16-year-old junior at Douglas Freeman High School, “Color a Smile Day” involves school-aged children in spreading cheer to others. The project was developed by Claire to assist her in achieving the renowned Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Senior Girl Scout may earn. In order to receive it, the Senior Girl Scout must complete five required components. The Gold Award Project is one of these requirements. Fifty hours or more must be spent planning and implementing the chosen project. Claire worked hard organizing the service day, and her efforts were a success.
“Color a Smile” is a non-profit organization that distributes crayon drawings from children to individuals in need of a smile. Many recipients are senior citizens, but anyone in need of cheer is eligible for one of the approximately 2,000 crayon masterpieces created each year. The drawings created at the Center will be included in future mailings and will soon brighten refrigerator doors across the country. For Claire Urban, bringing a smile to others seems to come naturally. Thank you, Claire, for including the Scottish Rite Childhood Language Center at Richmond, Inc., in your plans to spread joy to others.

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Dr. S. Brent Morris, GC, Appointed Grand Abbot

Ill. S. Brent Morris, G.C.	Ill. Arturo de Hoyos

Since 1991, Dr. Wallace E. McLeod, serving as Grand Abbot, headed the Society of Blue Friars, an international fraternity of outstanding Masonic scholars, usually having no more than 20 to 30 members. The “Blue” represents Freemasonry, and “Friars,” derived from the Latin word Frater meaning “Brother,” also alludes to the monks of the Middle ages who kept scholarship alive by copying and thus preserving the surviving records of classic Greece and Rome. On March 28, 2004, after 13 years of illustrious service, Bro. McLeod appointed Ill. S. Brent Morris, GC, as Grand Abbot. He, in turn, appointed Ill. Arturo de Hoyos, another outstanding Masonic scholar, to the post of Deputy Grand Abbot, and Ill. Richard E. Fletcher, Executive Director of the Masonic Service Association of North America, to the post of Secretary General. Ill. Morris, the Director of Membership Development for the Supreme Council, is editor of Heredom, the annual transactions of the Scottish Rite Research Society, and the author of many scholarly articles and books. Similarly, Ill. de Hoyos, Grand Archivist and Grand Historian of the Supreme Council, is well known for his authoritative Masonic papers. Ill. Bros. Morris and de Hoyos co-authored Is It True What They Say about Freemasonry? An updated version of this definitive response to the critics of Freemasonry, originally published by the Masonic Information Center in 1993, was recently republished by M. Evans and Company of New York City.

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Masonic License Plate in Washington State

Recently, Governor Gary Locke (seated) signed a bill authorizing a Masonic license plate for use in Washington State. Attending the ceremony were (l. to r.) Donald R. White, 33°, Personal Representative in Olympia; David P. Owen, 32° Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Washington; Julian Harris, 33°, Grand Master, PHA; Jennifer Dana, Department of Licensing; Gordon L. Walgren, 33°; Lynda Henricksen, Department of Licensing; Dan Lunsford, 33°, PHA, Past Grand Master and Deputy for Washington; Senator Marilyn Rasmussen, 2nd District; William R. Miller, 33°, SGIG in Washington, and his wife Maralyn; John D. McNab, 33°, Grand Master, F&AM of Washington, and his wife Barbara. Senator Mary Margaret Haugen, 10th District, principal sponsor of the bill, is not pictured. Photo: Washington State Senate© 2004

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Waco Brethren Support “Camp Success”

Representing the Waco, Texas, Scottish Rite, Ill. Claude O. Ervin (above, holding check) and several other Waco Brethren presented a check for $29,240 to Baylor University’s Communication Disorders Clinic to benefit “Camp Success,” a summer camp that helps Central Texas children overcome language and literacy problems. Michaela Ritter, Camp Success Coordinator, accepted the check and noted that 23 children, under the guidance of 18 graduate clinicians, were served by Camp Success last summer. Through the program, children can achieve as much progress in four weeks as a typical student would progress in one year. Over 75 percent of the funds for Camp Success were raised through a golf tournament hosted by Waco Scottish Rite Bodies.

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Kempsville Lodge #196 Celebrates “Navy Night”

Left to right: Bros. Brian Parton (JS), Chris Rodriguez (CH), Jaime Cabeza (SW), Mike Golden (SD), David Silvey (Candidate), Jim Sheppard (JD), John Caole (WM), Fred Ferguson (JW), Gerry Yumul (Tiler), Walt Gray (SS)

In commemoration of the Memorial Day season, the regular Officers of Kempsville Lodge #196, Virginia Beach, Virginia, abandoned ship and turned over the helm to a young group of active Navy Sailors on June 1, 2004. Brother David Silvey, a Lieutenant JG from the Portsmouth Navy Hospital, was initiated by his fellow sailors—all outfitted in their dress blue uniforms. The opening, closing, and Degree were all conferred with dignity and expert proficiency. The evening was concluded by Brother Ernest Aubrey Graham, a retired Navy Veteran, giving the Entered Apprentice lecture in fine form.

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The Ties Have It!

On May 12, during the 2004 Spring Reunion of the Valley of Denver, Orient of Colorado, the Brethren “honored” attending Sovereign Grand Commander Seale with a lighthearted spoof of Ill. Seale’s signature bow tie. Each member of the 30-member Class of new Masters of the Royal Secret, 32° (pictured above), sported a gaudy oversized bowtie. Seated to Grand Commander Seale’s right above, also wearing one of the gag bowties, is Ill. Dwight A. Hamilton, SGIG in Colorado and Grand Treasurer General of the Supreme Council, 33°.

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