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WINTER 2024 VOL. 54 | NO. 4
Sovereign Grand Commander
Walter F.20Wheeler p
A M A G A Z I N E O F 3 2 ˚ S C O T T I S H R I T E F R E E M A S O N R Y TM
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THE NORTHERN LIGHT
Winter 2024
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NEWS
7 “A Brighter Future” Wins Gold 8 Annual Meeting Held in Louisville, KY 8 Leadership Update 12 Medals and Awards
Inside this issue… 4 Leadership Report
Growing Freemasonry: Look to the Beehive
6 From the Editor’s Desk
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CULTURE 14 Outfitting the Fraternity
from Head to Foot: Regalia Illustrations on Display 18 300 Years of Anderson’s Constitutions
Why I Am
43 Southern Jurisdiction
Scottish Rite Journal
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EDUCATION
28 31st Degree
FEATURE
20 One Extraordinary Mason Our New Sovereign Grand Commander: Walter F. Wheeler
Masonry In Action: My Brother’s Keeper
31 Resisting Temptation:
Revised 32nd Degree Released
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WINTER 2023 VOL. 54 | NO. 4
Sovereign Grand Commander
Walter F.20Wheeler
CHARITIES 32 New Inductees Honored
in the Exhibition “The Masonic Hall of Fame: Extraordinary Freemasons in American History” 37 The Commander’s Tour 2024
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MEMBERSHIP
38 Around the Jurisdiction
On the Cover At this year’s Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, Ill. Walter F. Wheeler was elected as your new Sovereign Grand Commander. Our feature story will give you a chance to get to know a little more about our new Commander – his family, his philosophy, and his feelings about the future of our Fraternity. Meet this extraordinary Mason and learn about a whole lot more in this edition of The Northern Light.
Winter 2024
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MASONRY 44 Moments in Time 46 Remarkable Freemasons:
Veterans of the 54th Regiment
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GROWING FREEMASONRY:
Look to the Beehive Change is abundant – particularly this year, as my wife, Vickie, and I settle into our new home in Massachusetts. While I am a traveling man, Michigan has been a constant all my life up until this point – I grew up there, I met my wife there, and raised my children there. My other constant has been within the familiar ties of Freemasonry, where I find truth, inspiration, and most importantly, family. In early September, Vickie and I took a walk around the Supreme Council headquarters in Lexington. I couldn’t help but notice the bees were busy and abundant, buzzing to and from the last abundances of summer.
Just as the bees work together to create a harmonious and productive environment, let us do the same.
And
while one constant in my life has changed from Michigan to Massachusetts, I know that Scottish Rite Freemasonry will always remain a constant, a true North, to help me navigate this journey as Sovereign Grand Commander. I hope that you feel the same way about this beloved Fraternity of ours. I truly believe the Scottish Rite, NMJ, can help grow Freemasonry and sustain it for generations to come.
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I was reminded of the analogy of the beehive in the third degree, where in the lecture it states: “The beehive is an emblem of industry, and recommends the practice of that virtue to all created beings, from the highest seraph in the heavens, to the lowest reptile of the dust. It teaches us, that as we come into the world rational and intelligent beings, so we should ever be industrious ones; never sitting down contented
by Walter F. Wheeler, 33˚, Sovereign Grand Commander
while our fellow creatures around us are in want, especially when it is in our power to relieve them, without inconvenience to ourselves.” Much like the bees who work in unison, as Masons, we also strive for unity, harmony, and productivity in our lodges, Valleys, and daily lives. Within the beehive, we see an intricate society, each bee diligently fulfilling its role for the greater good of the hive. This unity in purpose and shared responsibility is a guiding principle we, as Masons, should continually emulate. It seemed no coincidence that the beehive analogy came to me during a walk around NMJ headquarters, where diverse individuals come together to work harmoniously toward a common goal: the betterment of the Scottish Rite. Like the bees, our Supreme Council staff knows our success is closely tied to our ability to work together with respect and cooperation. Unity, the cornerstone of the beehive, extends to the strength of our Brotherhood as a whole. Just as bees work collectively for the good of the hive, we, too, should recognize the value of every Brother and respect their unique qualities and contributions. The bees follow the principle of order, fulfilling their respective duties without hesitation or deviation. Similarly, as Scottish Rite Masons, we are bound by our Core Values, keeping our obliga-tions, and dedicating ourselves to self-improvement and service to others.
The Northern Light
WELCOME
Extending beyond the reaches of the whole Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, the beehive symbolizes the impact our collective efforts can have on the wider world. Bees, through their pollination, play a vital role in the cycle of life, fostering growth and abundance in nature. Similarly, the Scottish Rite, and certainly Freemasonry as a whole, is a force for good, where the unity and industry of our members lead to positive change, making the world a better place.
Extending beyond the reaches of the whole Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, the beehive symbolizes the impact our collective efforts can have on the wider world. The applications of the beehive symbolism are abundant, and the call to action is a simple one. I truly believe that we, as Scottish Rite Masons, can have a profound effect on the future of Freemasonry. We have a role to play – a job within the greater hive – in the success of not only our Scottish Rite Valleys, but our Blue Lodges as well. Every Valley has a vested interest in making sure that our symbolic lodges prosper.
stronger. And our marketing programs are helping to bring men to their doors. Your Supreme Council will continue the work of those who came before us. We will continue to innovate, educate, and invigorate our membership for the good of Freemasonry. But we cannot do it without your help!
of a bee chasing an ice cream cone? Bribe me with ice cream, and I can assure you, I’ll come running.
I ask each of you to find your place in the hive and help your Valley prosper. Just as the bees work together to create a harmonious and productive environment, let us do the same. By doing so, we will have the tools to carry the light of Freemasonry forward. As I’ve said recently to the team here at headquarters, we have a lot of smart people on our team, and we can accomplish amazing things with all our combined talent. But to do so, we need the support of every member of Scottish Rite and our partners to propel us forward. I’ll leave you with one final visual as a takeaway: What would it look like if we all Journey On with the passion and tenaciousness
Our leadership and educational programs build crucial skills and foster excitement in our members that filter back to the lodges, making them
Winter 2024
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FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
Why I Am
by PJ Roup, 33˚, Editor Active for Pennsylvania
When I initially sat down to write this column, I had intended to pen a tongue-in-cheek story about becoming a Mason so that I could be a part of the vast cabal that secretly ran the world from a bunker hidden deep underground in Dayton, Ohio or Charleston, West Virginia or Pittsburgh. Conspiracy theorists: if you draw lines connecting those three cities, they form a square! Gasp! a part of something bigger than myself, but for drastically different reasons.
While
I will admit that the mystique that has surrounded Freemasonry for centuries may have drawn me in at first, it is not what keeps me involved. The origin stories that held us up as descendants of Noah, Solomon’s labor force, or Templars born anew made me feel initially like I was part of something special – something bigger than myself. That feeling grew stronger when I looked at all the historical figures who associated themselves with Freemasonry. If these astronauts, inventors, statesmen, heroes, and intellectuals found it a worthy pursuit, then I certainly would. But my feelings quickly changed. I still feel very much
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Spiritually, being a Mason has satisfied what I can only describe as a soul-deep yearning. When I decided to join, I knew that I wanted something more out of life. I needed something more. I had to find out what my purpose was. And Freemasonry has helped me connect those dots from the corporeal to the eternal. It did so by showing me that there exists a spark of the Divine in everything. Understanding, or at least attempting to understand that, has made me want to strive even harder for Truth.
In spite of all of our faults, foibles, and fears, we can come together and achieve great things. It was in this striving that I found what is, for me, the best part of being a Mason: sharing the journey with like-minded souls. It didn’t take me long to realize that I was in the company of men that I would never have met had I not
knocked on the door. Our lives were too disparate. Some had large families; some were alone. Our vocations would not have brought us together. Our hobbies would not have brought us together. Most of us would never have met, and if we had, we may have only been acquaintances at best. But the Craft – this mystical bond of Brotherhood – has united us all. We have come into each other’s lives and played the role of teacher, student, mentor, sounding board, rudder, shelter, caretaker, compass. We help without question, love (although imperfectly at times) without condition, and support without hesitation. And here in the Scottish Rite, I found even more. More chances to look deep within to find the man I want to be. More tools to shape myself. More people to walk alongside as we journey toward the same destination. More opportunities to be of service. More. This is why I am. I belong because, in spite of all of our faults, foibles, and fears, we can come together and achieve great things. With industry and energy reminiscent of the symbol of the beehive, we lift those who can’t lift themselves; we teach children to read; we help heal the sick; we better ourselves; and we better the world. That is bigger than me. And it makes me a better me. I love that about Freemasonry, and I wouldn’t give it up for all that Templar treasure that we have stored in that secret bunker. Shhh!
The Northern Light
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NEWS
N O RT HE RN LI G H T
“A Brighter Future” Wins Gold
A magazine of 32˚ Scottish Rite Freemasonry
Winter 2024 | Vol. 54 | No. 4 SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER Walter F. Wheeler, 33° EXECUTIVE EDITOR Linda R. Patch
“A Brighter Future”, the video first unveiled in Louisville showcasing the Scottish Rite Benevolent Foundation, has won a Gold Award from the 2023 International MarCom Awards!
This
is the second Gold Award that Supreme Council has won. “Journey On” received the honor in 2022.
EDITOR PJ Roup, 33° CREATIVE DIRECTOR Rodney E. Boyce, 33° CONTENT MANAGER Joann Williams-Hoxha DIRECTOR OF DESIGN Matt Blaisdell, 32°
Fattrosso, Bridget Steele, Jim Dill, and Marcus Abbott. Special thanks to Commander Samiec and Commander Wheeler in his capacity as Director of Charities, as well as the entire Scottish Rite Charities team for helping to put this ambitious project together and create a deeply impactful piece highlighting the value of each of our charities.
! This project was created entirely by an in-house team consisting of Erik
T H E
To watch the video, scan the QR code.
COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE J. Brian McNaughton, 33°, Chairman Donald G. Duquette, 33° PJ Roup, 33° Richard J. Powell, 33° Donald M. Moran, 33° SUPREME COUNCIL, 33° Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A. THE NORTHERN LIGHT (ISSN 1088-4416) is published quarterly in the Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter by the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A., as the official publication. Printed in U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Boston, MA, and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER Send address changes to The Northern Light PO Box 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519 MAILING ADDRESS PO Box 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519 EDITORIAL OFFICE 33 Marrett Road (Route 2A), Lexington, MA 02421 phone: 781-862-4410 email: editor@srnmj.org WEBSITE: www.ScottishRiteNMJ.org @TNLMagazine Copyright ©2024 by Trustees of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A.
Jim Dill, Bridget Steele, Erik Fattrosso, and Marcus Abbott pose with their 2023 International MarCom Gold Award.
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Annual Meeting Held in Louisville, KY At the Annual Meeting in Louisville, Kentucky, the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, installed Ill. Walter F. Wheeler as Sovereign Grand Commander.
This
change in leadership comes on the heels of Sovereign Grand Commander Peter J. Samiec, 33°, stepping down, having committed to a two-year tenure at the Annual Meeting in 2021.
the state of Michigan and Active Member for Supreme Council, as well as Grand Treasurer General for Supreme Council. The role of Deputy for the state of Michigan will now be assumed by Illustrious Timothey S. Marshbanks, 33°.
Commander Wheeler most recently served as Director of Charities at Supreme Council, Deputy for
The Director of Charities role will be filled at a later date.
Ill. Steven E. Smith, 33°
GRAND LIEUTENANT COMMANDER
Ill. Brother Smith of Rhode Island serves as Grand Lieutenant Commander, replacing Mark C. Roth, 33°. He has served as Deputy for the state of Rhode Island since 2016.
Ill. G. Michael Morris, 33°
GRAND TREASURER GENERAL
Illustrious Walter F. Wheeler, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander
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Ill. Brother Morris of New York serves as Grand Treasurer General, replacing Walter F. Wheeler, 33°. He has served as Deputy for New York for two years. The Northern Light
NEWS
Additional Leadership
New State Deputies
Ill. Laurel “Arby” Humphrey, 33°
DELAWARE Ill. Ricky L. Swalm, 33°,
GRAND MINISTER OF STATE
Ill. Brother Humphrey serves as Grand Minister of State, replacing Richard W. Elliot, 33°. He has served as an Active Member for Wisconsin since 2016.
became the Deputy for the state of Delaware.
MICHIGAN Ill. Timothey S. Marshbanks, 33°,
became the Deputy for the state of Michigan.
MASSACHUSETTS Ill. Scott D. Inglis, 33°,
Ill. Douglas R. Policastro, 33°
GRAND SECRETARY GENERAL
became the Deputy for the state of Massachusetts.
Ill. Brother Policastro was re-elected to continue his term. He has served as Deputy for New Jersey for five years and Grand Secretary General since 2017. Winter 2024
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New Active Members
Deputy Changes
ILLINOIS Ill. Henry A. Haisch Jr., 33°,
MASSACHUSETTS Ill. Donald M. Moran, 33°,
was elected as an Active Member for the state of Illinois.
was elected as an Active Member for the state of Indiana.
retired as Deputy for Massachusetts, but will remain an Active Member.
MICHIGAN Ill. Richard D. Tonda, 33°,
PENNSYLVANIA Ill. Mark A. Haines, 33°,
DELAWARE Ill. Herbert J. Atkinson, 33°,
was elected as Active Member for the state of Michigan.
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INDIANA Ill. Roger S. VanGorden, 33°,
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was elected as Active Member for the state of Pennsylvania.
retired as Deputy for Delaware and became an Active Emeritus Member.
The Northern Light
NEWS
Active Emeritus Members The following changes were made constitutionally by age requirement. The following Active Members became Active Emeritus Members:
ILLINOIS Ill. James L. Tungate, 33°
NEW HAMPSHIRE Ill. Mark C. Roth, 33°
RHODE ISLAND Ill. Robert F. Ogg Jr., 33°
MASSACHUSETTS Ill. Robert C. Schremser, 33°
NEW JERSEY Ill. Daniel M. Wilson, 33°
DELAWARE ILLINOIS Ill. Herbert J. Atkinson, 33° Ill. Randall R. Milone, 33°
VERMONT Ill. William G. Basso II, 33°
RHODE ISLAND Ill. Dennis W. Pothier, 33°
NEW JERSEY Ill. Gerald J. Sharpe, 33°
Winter 2024
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Medals and Awards Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service
Daniel D. Tompkins Medal
ON AUGUST 25, Commander Peter J. Samiec, 33°, was pleased to present the following Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medals for Distinguished Service at the Annual Meeting in Louisville during his Commander’s Dinner: Jeffrey L. Bryden, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite - Valley of Milwaukee; Alan R. Heath, 33°, MSA, Valley of Rockland - Scottish Rite Masons of Maine and Valley of Portland Scottish Rite; Douglas N. Kaylor, 33°, Valley of Dayton.
ON AUGUST 25, Sovereign Grand Commander Samiec presented the Daniel D. Tompkins Medal to Richard J. Kessler, 33°, MSA, Valley of Buffalo, for his distinguished and exemplary service to the Masonic Fraternity at large not often witnessed among general membership.
(l to r) Alan R. Heath, 33°, MSA; Jeffrey L. Bryden, 33°; Commander Peter J. Samiec, 33°; and Douglas N. Kaylor, 33°
Commander Peter J. Samiec, 33°, with Richard J. Kessler, 33°, MSA
Youth Advisors of the Year
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THE YOUTH ADVISOR OF THE YEAR award honors the contributions of those who commit themselves to supporting the development of our Masonic youth. All adult advisors in the Order of DeMolay, International Order of the Rainbow for Girls, and The International Order of Job’s Daughters, and The Organization of Triangles (New York only) are eligible to be nominated to receive this distinction.
Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. The 2022 Youth Advisor of the Year recipient was David W. Berry, 33°, a plural member of the Valleys of Harrisburg and Lancaster.
Two Youth Advisors of the Year were recognized at Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction’s Annual
Congratulations and thank you one and all for your service to Supreme Council!
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The 2023 Youth Advisor of the Year went to Lois Taylor of Nashua, New Hampshire, for her contributions to both New Hampshire Rainbow and DeMolay for more than a decade.
The Northern Light
NEWS
James N. Edwards, 33°, Awarded the SGC Medal for Distinguished Service Ill. James N. Edwards, 33°, was surprised
Medal of Honor ON AUGUST 30, during General Session, Sovereign Grand Commander Samiec presented the Medal of Honor to Douglas R. Policastro, 33°, and Richard W. Elliot, 33°. The Medal of Honor may be conferred by the Supreme Council or by the Sovereign Grand Commander upon any person, whether or not a member of our jurisdiction or a member of any body of the Rite, in recognition of distinguished service to Freemasonry, country, or humanity.
to have been presented the Sovereign Grand Commander’s Medal for Distinguished Service at Maine’s Council of Deliberation (COD) meeting on June 2, 2023. Bro. Edwards, 33°, most recently served as COD treasurer and is a plural member of the Valleys of Augusta and Portland. Brother Edwards is a past Sovereign Prince and serves on the Finance Committee for the Valley of Portland. “His professional background in banking has been invaluable to the Scottish Rite,” said Ill. Bro. Jeffry A. Simonton, Deputy for Maine. “His many years of guidance as chair of the finance committee has led to great gains in our investments, which has directly resulted in our ability to execute on several of the programs we offer, to the betterment of Scottish Rite in Maine,” Ill. Bro. Simonton added.
Douglas R. Policastro, 33°
Richard W. Elliot, 33°
Actives for Maine Jeffry Simonton, 33° (left), and A. James Ross, 33° (right), congratulate Ill. James N. Edwards. David W. Berry, 33°
Winter 2024
Lois Taylor
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C OUTFITTING THE FRATERNITY FROM HEAD TO FOOT:
Regalia Illustrations on Display In the 1900s, selling regalia and costumes to fraternal groups became big business. Regalia companies seeking to attract customers produced richly illustrated catalogs and colorful advertising material to highlight the costumes and uniforms they manufactured. Companies used posters, displays, and illustrations, like those now on view at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, to sell their products. These items can help us better understand how companies marketed and sold fraternal regalia between 1900 and 1970. The number of Americans who were members of fraternal groups grew to more than six million by the beginning of the 1900s. Regalia companies attempted to outfit this large consumer base with everything they needed, from head to foot. The artwork and advertising material displayed in this exhibition were produced by the Cincinnati Regalia Company (1895-1998) and the Ihling Bros. Everard Company (18691995). These two companies, located in Ohio and Michigan respectively, operated for over 225 years combined. They and other regalia makers produced uniforms, regalia, and accessories for Masons, Shriners, Elks, and additional fraternal groups.
shoes. Fraternal groups used these catalogs to order uniforms and regalia for their members to wear for meetings, ritual work, parades, and other activities. As stated in an Ihling Bros. Everard Company catalog published
around 1970, “In order that a beautiful and appropriate presentation of the degrees may be complete, your Master of Wardrobe should insist that each character be completely costumed… with particular attention being focused on the feet and to the use of wigs and beards, thus enhancing the illusion.” Some of the colorful illustrations shown here were sent to customers to present color and design variations to supplement the black-and-white images in catalogs. In this drawing (left) from the Cincinnati Regalia Company, the model wears a purple evening wear suit and a Benevolent and Protective Order
Some of the artwork displayed in this exhibition was created to be reproduced in catalogs. These catalogs, printed in black and white, featured a variety of items, including hats, shoulder braids, jackets, pants, robes, tights, and
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Outfit, ca. 1900. The Cincinnati Regalia Company. Cincinnati, Ohio. Special Acquisitions Fund, 88.42.156.37.
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The Northern Light
C U LT U R E
by Stacey Fraser, Assistant Curator Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
of Elks fez. In some catalog illustrations, every detail was drawn by hand. In others, like this one, an artist inserted a photograph of a face into the drawing and colored the lips, cheeks, eyebrows, and hair by hand to add visual interest. Regalia companies catered to both women’s and men’s fraternal groups. They produced catalogs specifically designed for women’s organizations which displayed the regalia and costumes of particular orders. Because of this costume’s distinct American flag-inspired design (middle), it was likely created for a patriotism-themed group, such as the Daughters of America, a Junior Order of United American Mechanics auxiliary. This illustration (right) appeared in an Ihling Bros. Everard Company catalog, printed around 1970, that featured costumes and accessories for the Knights Templar. This group, part of the York Rite of Freemasonry, draws inspiration from the crusading knights of medieval Europe. This model is presented in a “Pilgrim Warrior” costume, which, in addition to a pointed helmet, a sword, and a cape, included a full suit of what Ihling Bros. Everard Company called “armor cloth.” This cloth was patterned to look like scale mail, protective metal clothing worn by medieval knights and soldiers. This illustration appears in its Women’s Fraternal Costume, ca. 1900. The Cincinnati Regalia Company. Cincinnati, Ohio. Special Acquisitions Fund, 88.42.156.6.
“Pilgrim Warrior” Costume, 1940-1970. Ihling Bros. Everard Company. Kalamazoo, Michigan. Gift of Ihling Bros. Everard Co., 98.003.121.
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C REGALIA ILLUSTRATIONS... continued
final form (below) in a regalia catalog in the collection of the Van GordenWilliams Library and Archives.
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If you would like to learn more about the collections in the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, visit our online collections database at https://www.srmml.org/collections/.
Inspired by the growth of two national Shrine organizations, the Ancient Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine
(with 87,000 members by 1904) and the Ancient Egyptian Arabic Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (which had established more than 60 temples across the US by the start of World War I), Ihling Bros. Everard Company offered many types of Shrine regalia. Shrine organizations took inspiration from traditional Middle Eastern clothing for their ritual and regalia. This taste is illustrated in this flyer (far right) by the turban, wide-leg pants, and curved-toe shoes worn by the model. This large pen and ink illustration (below) presents a Shriner in a tuxedo and cape standing near a mirror. The reflected image depicts how the uniform could be customized. Ihling Bros. Everard Company. Catalog No. 93, ca. 1970. Ihling Bros. Everard Company. Gift of Wallace Marsh Gage, A2001/050/004. Shrine Tuxedo Patrol Outfit, 1950-1980. Ihling Bros. Everard Company. Kalamazoo, Michigan. Gift of Ihling Bros. Everard Co., 98.041.146.
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C U LT U R E
“From Head to Foot,” after 1931. Ihling Bros. Everard Company. Kalamazoo, Michigan. Gift of Ihling Bros. Everard Co., 98.041.138.
Regalia makers often illustrated their products with the names of existing temples or other groups to show customization options. This uniform was created for the Orak Tuxedo Patrol, a Shrine parade unit based out of Orak Temple in Michigan City, Indiana. This large pen and ink illustration (below) for Ihling Bros. Everard Co. displays 27 uniform accessories. Accessories included smaller items like gloves, spats, leggings, cummerbunds, and hats, as well as parade-related accessories such as flag-carrying belts and rain covers for flags and flagstaffs. Some of the items bear the name of Saladin Temple, a Shrine Temple in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Though the regalia illustrations on view in From Head to Foot: Fraternal Regalia Illustrations have been in the museum’s collection for many years, Uniform Accessories, 1950-1980. Ihling Bros. Everard Company. Kalamazoo, Michigan. Gift of Ihling Bros. Everard Co., 98.041.150.
this exhibition is the first time many have been gathered together and displayed for the public to enjoy. These attractive advertisements, on view in
Winter 2024
Lexington until July 2024, offer insight into the vibrant regalia industry during the 1900s.
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300 Years of Anderson’s Constitutions The
year 2023 marked the 300th anniversary of the printing of The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, a book that codified the earliest rules and regulations of organized Freemasonry. To mark this anniversary, the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library’s Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives is displaying early editions of this important book in its reading room. In the 1700s, beautifully rendered frontispieces, rich with symbols, distinguished new editions. On view are three editions printed during the 1700s, along with two reprints of the 1723 edition published during the
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1800s and another published for the 200th anniversary in 1923. The Grand Lodge system of organized Freemasonry can be traced back to the 1717 founding of the Grand Lodge of England in London. The group published its first Constitutions in 1723. This work contained a mythologized history of Freemasonry, as well as the group’s Charges and Regulations, a set of rules governing lodges, and the expected behavior of Masons. Although often referred to as “Anderson’s Constitutions” after one of its authors, today, the 1723 Constitutions is viewed as the work of three people — the
by Jeffrey Croteau, Director , Van Gorden-Williams Library and Archives
Reverend James Anderson (1679-1739), the Reverend Dr. John Theophilus Desaguliers (1683-1744), and George Payne (ca. 1685-1757). The 1723 Constitutions begins with a “traditional history” of Freemasonry written by Anderson. This narrative fancifully traces Freemasonry back to the biblical Adam in the Garden of Eden. Anderson’s history was intended — and should be read — as literary hyperbole, created to burnish the young organization by giving it a place within a well-known narrative. Following this is a section setting out rules and regulations stipulating who could join, as well as
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The Van Gorden-Williams Library & Archives is located in Lexington, Massachusetts, at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library and is open to the public.
the Enlightenment principles of meritocracy and egalitarianism governing Freemasons. The ideas behind these rules and regulations still govern Masons today. They include civic responsibility, emphasis on personal merit above wealth or social standing, civility and morality, as well as a belief in a Supreme Being. Payne, who served as the Grand Lodge’s Grand Master in 1718 and 1720, wrote the General Regulations which laid out the governance and operation of the Grand Lodge and its subordinate lodges. Three centuries after its publication, the Constitutions still contain ideals and sentiments that Masons look to today. Although the United Grand Lodge of England’s Constitutions have undergone extensive revisions over the years, its Constitutions and those that help govern Grand Lodges throughout the world can still be traced back to Anderson’s 1723 Constitutions.
The Constitutions of the Antient and Honourable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, 1756. Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, RARE 31.A547 1756
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Have questions? Drop us a line at library@srmml.org or give us a call at 781-457-4109.
The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, 1723. Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, RARE 31 .A547 1723, c.2
Winter 2024
Constitutions of the Antient Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, 1784. Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, RARE 31.A547 1784
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The Northern Light
F E AT U R E
by PJ Roup, 33˚, Editor, Active for Pennsylvania
One Mason OUR NEW SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER: WALTER F. WHEELER It has been said that some men have Freemasonry in their blood. That statement surely applies to our new Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious Walter F. Wheeler, 33°, who was elected to that position at Supreme Council’s Annual Meeting in August.
I
Temple when I was just a little tyke and wandering around and looking through the various halls and closets and going up back stairways and sitting in the Master’s chair at the lodge as just a little kid.”
recently had the chance to sit down with our new Commander and former Director of Charities here at the Scottish Rite to find out more about his family, his Masonic career, and his vision for the Scottish Rite. Walt has an engaging smile, a tremendous outlook, and a great sense of humor. It takes only a second to see that he eats, sleeps, and breathes Freemasonry, and that he is, without a doubt, in the position he was meant to have. Humble Beginnings
Brother Walt was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on May 12, 1956. The only child of Dale and Helene Wheeler, he has been a resident of western Michigan his entire life. “I used to tell my mother that because when I was born I was perfect, they had no need for other children. She didn’t tend to agree with that statement,” Walt mused. Winter 2024
“I SAY FREQUENTLY IT CHANGED MY LIFE.”
Walt in high school
“We had, I would say, a typical middleclass neighborhood. I had a good raising. My parents worked very hard.” “I’ve been involved with the Masonic Fraternity for as long as I can remember,” he recalled. “My dad was a very active Mason, and I remember going to the Masonic
His father knew early on the benefit of getting Walt involved in the Masonic family. “My dad introduced me to DeMolay when I was 14 years old, and I immediately got involved in it. I will say that when I first was told that I was going to join DeMolay by my dad, he said if I didn’t like it, I didn't have to keep going. But when I joined, I just immediately loved it and I got involved right away.” Thus began his lifelong relationship with the Craft. He is quick to credit DeMolay with making him into the man he is today. “I say frequently it changed my life. I was at ScottishRiteNMJ.org
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ONE EXTRAORDINARY MASON... continued
introduced herself because I was much too shy to talk to girls back then, and we found out we were going to be going to the same high school.” He got to know her during the following school year and eventually persuaded her to run for Chapter Sweetheart. “Fifty-two years later,” he smiled, “we’re still together.” Walt at a DeMolay Installation
(l to r) Justin, Andrew, and Tyler
a point in my life as a young teenager where I could have [gone] down this path or that path, and I think DeMolay helped me go down the right path.” He is still active with the organization today as a Chapter Advisor and an Active Member of the DeMolay Supreme Council. There’s another important thing that DeMolay did for Walt that he quickly pointed out. Walt met his wife Vickie at a DeMolay event when they were 15 years old. “Her Job’s Daughters Bethel was visiting my Chapter, and when she walked in the door…” he noticed her. “I kept watching her during the installation and later at a party following the installation, she came over and
“My youngest son, Tyler, is attending Michigan State University. He will be graduating in April with a double doctorate in nuclear astrophysics and computational mathematics. He’s married to Kari, and they have one son, Max, who is five.” He admitted that adjusting to the move from Michigan to Massachusetts is going to be a difficult one since the whole family is there. “My wife and I have lived in West Michigan our whole lives, and now we are residents of Massachusetts. And so being away from the family, it’s going to be a little bit hard to get used to, but the opportunity to help the Fraternity and to make a difference in Freemasonry, we feel, was worth the sacrifice.”
Walt and Vicki
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Walt and Vicki at their wedding
Family
Their 47-year marriage has given them three sons. He beamed with pride as he talked about his boys. “Andrew is our oldest son. Justin is our middle son, and Tyler is our youngest son. Andrew is 45 years old; lives in the Grand Rapids, Michigan area. He and his wife, Kate, have two daughters – Emma, who is 17, and Lizzy, who is seven. Andrew is the parts and inventory manager for a chemical company. “My middle son, Justin, has been living in the Grand Rapids area his whole life,” he continued. “He’s an attorney specializing in business law and real estate law. He’s married to Becky, and they have two sons – Logan, who’s 12 and extremely tall, and Lucas, who is seven and not extremely tall,” he quipped.
The Wheeler family
The Northern Light
F E AT U R E
“I’VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE MASONIC FRATERNITY FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER.”
Career
Masonic Resume
Brother Walt’s Masonic resume is just what you’d expect from a man with Masonry in his blood. He joined Grand River (now Grand Rapids) Lodge No. 34 in 1977 and was Worshipful Master in 1985. He has presided over three Scottish Rite bodies, all three York Rite bodies, Red Cross of Constantine and the Allied Masonic Degrees. He is also a member of York Rite Sovereign College, High Twelve, Shrine, Eastern Star, Grotto, and the Rosicrucians, just to name a few. Most importantly, he served as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Michigan in 2006-2007. Incidentally, he is the first Sovereign Grand Commander who has held the office of Grand Master since Stanley Maxwell.
Walt’s father, Dale, and Walt at Scottish Rite
Dale presents Walt with his Grand Master’s apron
Walt’s first job was as a travel agent, a job he would keep for 10 years. “We did all kinds of travel – airplane, bus, railroad, booked hotels, cruises. I was actually a tour guide. We used to do bus tours through New England, and I was the tour guide and I enjoyed that business very much.” He then had the opportunity to become a partner in a small business. They built a bowling alley. “And when I say built it, we built it from scratch,” he recalled. I can tell you with absolute certainty that every lane has 40,000 nails in it, because we pounded a lot of them.” And they didn’t start small. “It was a 40-lane bowling center. We had a restaurant and lounge, and then from there we expanded. We bought a 20-lane center with another restaurant and lounge, and then we had a small trucking company and a marketing company. We did a lot of shirts for the bowling industry, for companies like AMF, and we actually
Walt at the NFL Detroit Lions complex
Walt as Grand Master of Michigan
owned the rights to the professional bowling logo.” Following his term as Grand Master, he served three years as Grand Treasurer prior to taking the helm of the Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation, where he managed the 18 different charities continued on page 26
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MUSIC The Beatles
Meet the Grand MOVIES Animal House and The Godfather BOOK Shane by Jack Schaefer
FOOD Ice Cream
FAVORITES
PLACE Italy
Genealogy
HOBBIES
Golf
Last movie watched at a Theatre – The Matrix Resurrections Presidential Trivia buff Has had a hole-in-one
FUN FACTS
FAVORITE DEGREES 20th and 32nd
SCOTTISH RITE
Traveled to 47 states so far
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LEAST FAVORITE DEGREE None
VISION That the Scottish Rite will be the premier appendant Masonic body.
The Northern Light
F E AT U R E
d Commander Deputy for Michigan
Grand Master Grand Lodge Michigan
Director of Charities Grand Treasurer
Executive Director of Michigan Masonic Charitable Foundation
INSIDE SUPREME COUNCIL
OUTSIDE SUPREME COUNCIL
JOBS HELD
Grand Treasurer Grand Lodge Michigan
Travel Agent Business Owner Bowling, Restaurant, Lounge, Marketing, and Trucking
PET PEEVE
Rude People
BEST ADVICE
NEW SCOTTISH RITE MASONS Find a mentor.
VETERAN SCOTTISH RITE MASONS Be a mentor. OFFICERS Find a mentor and be a mentor.
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F E AT U R E
ONE EXTRAORDINARY MASON... continued
under that umbrella. He held that position from 2009 until 2020, and then assumed the position of Director of Charities at the Scottish Rite, NMJ.
Walt as Active for Michigan
His Vision for the Rite
It’s easy to see how the experiences of our new Commander’s life have led him to the position he now holds. So what does he see in the future? Quite simply: Promise. “I have said many times that I believe that Scottish Rite is one of the best hopes for Freemasonry, for the future of the Fraternity,” he said. “And I believe that. And I believe that working with the Southern Jurisdiction of Scottish Rite, and the Shrine of North America, and working with our Grand Lodges, that we can fundamentally change our Fraternity, and we can move our Fraternity into the 21st century.” He went on to explain why he thinks the role of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction is so crucial to the continued success of the Craft. “I believe that the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction plays a big role in that, because we have the staff, we have the resources, we have the skill 26
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sets necessary to make that transition happen. And I believe that we’re one of the few organizations that do. And so we have to take the lead in that pursuit.” Walt understands that there are many aspects to taking the lead. First, there is the public-facing aspect of the Fraternity. “The Masonic Fraternity has not always had a good online presence, but the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite does,” he said. “We’ve started innovative programs like ‘Not just a man. A Mason’ and BeaFreemason.com to help our Grand Lodges and to help Freemasonry grow and prosper, which in turn will help us grow and prosper. I believe that Scottish Rite will be the innovators in the future for continuing that online outreach to make a difference in Freemasonry and to help spread the word of what a great organization we belong to.” He realizes that all of that, though, does us no good if we don’t make the member experience a priority, and that will be one of the first things he focuses on. “Everything about Freemasonry, including Scottish Rite, happens on the local level. So, in our case, it’s on the Valley level. I think it’s incumbent upon the Supreme Council and leadership of our Supreme Council to work with the Valleys on educational opportunities, on leadership opportunities, on Valley operations – how to be more efficient, how to be more member-focused. And I think that we need to be out in the Valleys helping them, so that they can be the organization that their members are looking for.” He realizes that that is a big ask, but is optimistic that all of us are up to the challenge. “We can do it,” he said with a smile, “but it’s going to take some time, and it’s going to take some effort on the part of everybody.” He has vision, he has energy, and he
has a commitment to Freemasonry like few others. His goal is simple: He wants to ensure that those who follow will always have the light of Freemasonry to guide them.
“THE MASONIC FRATERNITY HAS NOT ALWAYS HAD A GOOD ONLINE PRESENCE, BUT THE NORTHERN MASONIC JURISDICTION OF THE SCOTTISH RITE DOES.” “If I had a crystal ball and tried to look at the future and what Freemasonry might look like when my grandchildren hopefully become members of the Fraternity,” he reflected, “I would hope that it was a vibrant organization, a relevant organization, an organization that continued at that time to make a difference in people's lives. Our Core Values of Scottish Rite say it all. If a man can live by those Core Values, then I think he’s going to be a successful person, and he’s going to live a good life. And I hope that that opportunity is there for future generations. And that's what we’re here to ensure.” As we wrapped the interview and the cameras were being put away, I thanked the Commander for his time. “You know, PJ,” he said, “it really is as simple as this: 29 degrees plus six Core Values equals one extraordinary life!”
!
View more of our interview with the Sovereign Grand Commander by scanning the QR code. The Northern Light
The Blue Envelope Appeal As the Scottish Rite’s oldest jurisdiction-wide fundraising appeal, the Blue Envelope is a tangible way for our Fraternity to join together and fulfill our commitment to our Brothers and our communities. Donations to the Blue Envelope directly support our Scottish Rite Charities.
Just as you have a profound impact on our Scottish Rite Charities, Blue Envelope donations have a positive impact on your Valley. Every Blue Envelope donation helps your Valley get one step closer to becoming a Valley of Excellence.
D O N AT E O N L I N E AT D O N AT E R I T E . O R G
E
Masonry In Action
My
HAUTS GRADES ACADEMY
Brother’ s eeper K 31S T D EGREE
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E D U C AT I O N
by Laurence Charles Dittmer, 32°, HGA Valley of Rockville Centre
I have chosen to write about this degree for two reasons. The first is that this degree mirrors in many ways the time of my hospitalization and subsequent convalescence from September 2017 to February 2018. Aside from the expected visitations from family, friends, and coworkers, most of the visitations I received from my Masonic Brothers were from my Scottish Rite Valley. In addition to that, our Deputy’s Representative showed up at the door to my home and offered financial assistance to my wife. These were examples of Masonry in action. The second reason why I chose to write about this degree is that it puts forward the greatest lesson of the Scottish Rite. The core of Masonry, to my mind, is that Masonry is not about what goes on within our meetings and buildings but rather in the outside world. This degree teaches how to be. It teaches us how to be not just with our Brothers but to be among all human beings as well. All Freemasons come from the profane world. We started there, and it is to that place that we must truly apply ourselves. The impact this degree had on me is that it provided vindication in my long-held belief that there is a profound difference between ‘Freemason’ and ‘Brother.’ It’s ironic that the character of Samuel Brown, a Freemason no less, should give the prologue about being one’s keeper and helping and aiding, in view of the fact that his behavior was not that of a real Brother, nor did he help or give aid. The two real questions we should always be asking ourselves are, “Am I a real Brother?” and “Are you my
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Brother?” Paul Revere was correct about the difference between Freemasonry and Brothers; Being a Brother is about how we think about people and how we treat people – all people, not just Freemasons.
The core of Masonry, to my mind, is that Masonry is not about what goes on within our meetings and buildings but rather in the outside world. In the degree, the deacon and the senior warden were both Freemasons, but they did not conduct themselves as Brothers should. Thomas Dawes and Dr. Warren, however, in very stark contrast, were not only true Freemasons but also real Brothers. They both offered their assistance without even knowing or asking anything of the injured John. In real life, as soon as they could, my Scottish Rite Brothers showed up at my
bedside, and our state Deputy’s Rep. showed up at our door ready to help, aid, and assist. What being a Brother is really all about is living the teachings of Freemasonry in every aspect of our lives, especially when someone – anyone – is in distress and in need of help like I was. The Core Values of this degree are Integrity and Service. I could not agree more. Every Brother conducts himself with respect and decorum while in lodge, but what about when he steps outside that outer door? A late usher in my church had a saying about some of our congregants. He would quietly say to me, “Gooder than gold in here, dirtier than dirt out there.” That is what integrity is all about. It’s simple to be a Freemason among our fellow Masons, but what of our time with the rest of the world? It would do us good to remember that from there come our future Brothers. Sometimes, their impression of our Masonic world is derived solely from their interaction with just one person. I have my own thought about this: Although no one
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E MY BROTHER’S KEEPER... continued
HAUTS GRADES ACADEMY man can speak for all of Freemasonry, ALL Freemasons are representatives of it. We need to act as we are taught, and in all places, because there really is never a second chance to make a first impression.
What being a Brother is really all about is living the teachings of Freemasonry in every aspect of our lives, especially when someone – anyone – is in distress and in need of help like I was. As for Service, that is the other side of the coin. Integrity is how we are – the inside part. Service to Humanity is the follow-through, the outside part. The moment comes when we must act without hesitation or thought. In the degree, the deacon and the senior warden had that opportunity. Yes, their act would have made them late, but what they failed to realize is that had either one of them helped John, the deacon’s congregants or the senior warden’s Brothers, upon learning of the explanation for the lateness, would have not only understood the reason for their tardiness, they would have all rejoiced because they had lived
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and carried out the words and ideals taught to them. What good is teaching someone to be helpful when the moment comes to render aid, and they choose not to help? Dawes and Dr. Warren acted; they acted immediately, without hesitation or any kind of forethought.
! To learn more about HGA and sign up for the waitlist, visit
ScottishRiteNMJ.org/ hauts-grades-academy
The way I apply the teachings of this degree is simply to continue to be the person that I was taught to be within the inner door and continue to do so beyond the outer door. In fact, I have always felt that Freemasonry is the ultimate humanities lesson. It teaches us how to be the best we can be around both our fellow Freemasons and all other human beings. We need to be examples to those who know us, and most especially, to those who do not.
The Northern Light
E D U C AT I O N
RESISTING TEMPTATION:
Revised 32nd Degree Released by PJ Roup, 33˚, Editor Active for Pennsylvania
In
response to feedback received by the membership, the Ritualistic Matters Committee has revised the 32nd degree to bring it more closely in line with the desire of the members of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. The revised degree was ratified by the Active Membership of the Supreme Council at a special meeting held on July 5 and is available for immediate use. In recent years, the committee has sought to simplify the degrees, removing the outdated ceremonials in favor of leaner dramas. In the 32nd degree, this resulted in the exclusion of some of the more beautiful symbols of the Scottish Rite. The new degree reestablishes much of the symbolism removed in recent revisions and returns the familiar characters from the 1981 ritual. While it has been modified slightly to facilitate staging and modern language, it will be familiar to many of our veteran Scottish Rite Masons. It is our hope that members new and old will find not only a beautiful message in the allegory of Constans, but also some deeper messaging as they seek to explore the images, symbols, and icons of the new 32nd degree.
! The new script is available to Valley secretaries via the portal in
Journey 365.
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New Inductees Honored in the Exhibition “The Masonic Hall of Fame: Extraordinary Freemasons in American History”
by Hilary Anderson Stelling, Director of Collections and Exhibitions, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
Buffalo Bill In his early 20s, William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s (1846-1917) exploits as a scout and hunter were featured in a novel and in a stage show—in which he played himself. Drawing on his theatrical experience, in 1883, Cody produced his own show. This outdoor extravaganza showcased animals, cowboys, sharpshooters, frontiersmen, and Native American warriors in thrilling demonstrations of skill and dramatic re-enactments of historical events. Millions enjoyed his nostalgic presentation of the frontier; his vision helped shape the national view of the American West. Buffalo Bill used his celebrity to share his views, including his support for the preservation of Native American culture, wildlife conservation, and women’s suffrage. Cody became a Mason in North Platte, Nebraska, his long-time home base, in 1870. He joined the Scottish Rite in 1894 in New York City.
William Frederick “Buffalo Bill” Cody enclosed these tickets in a letter inviting a friend to come see “the best show we have ever put together.” Tickets, 1912. Gift of Robert W. Harbeson Trust, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library, A1983/018/008.
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“…the West of the old times, with its strong characters, its stern battles, and its tremendous stretches of loneliness, can never be blotted from my mind.” —Buffalo Bill Cody, 1879
William Frederick Cody, ca. 1875. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.
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CHARITIES
Theodore Roosevelt Fueled by boundless energy, Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) reached great heights in multiple endeavors. A writer, historian, conservationist, soldier, hunter, and politician, Roosevelt was also President of the United States from 1901 to 1909. In that office, Roosevelt attacked corruption, warred against powerful business monopolies, and supported labor and consumers, seeking “a square deal for every man, big or small, rich or poor.” He sought to position the United States as a power on the world stage. Roosevelt advocated for U.S. naval strength and for the construction of the Panama Canal. He won a Nobel Peace Prize in 1906 for helping negotiate the end of the Russo-Japanese War. In 1901, Roosevelt was initiated into Matinecock Lodge No. 806 in Oyster Bay, New York. The following year, he described his admiration for the egalitarian ideas of Freemasonry, observing that in the lodge, “…I meet the plain, hard-working man…and meet them on a footing of genuine equality, not false equality, of genuine equality conditioned upon each man being a decent man, a fair dealing man.”
“Far and away, the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” —Theodore Roosevelt, 1916
In 1907, President Theodore Roosevelt participated in the cornerstone laying of the Pilgrim Monument in Provincetown, Massachusetts. At the event, he wore this apron. Apron, ca. 1907. Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, GL2004.1092. Photograph by David Bohl.
Theodore Roosevelt, ca. 1905. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.
Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, GL2004.7560. Photograph by David Bohl.
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Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin After graduating from West Point, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin (b. 1930) joined the Air Force and flew 66 combat missions during the Korean War. He earned a doctorate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before he joined NASA’s astronaut program. Aboard Gemini 12, his first space flight, Aldrin undertook three spacewalks, during which he spent nearly eight hours outside of the capsule. During the historic Apollo 11 mission in July 1969, Aldrin served as the Lunar Module Pilot and was the second person to walk on the Moon. After he left NASA in 1971, he developed the Aldrin cycler, a spacecraft trajectory to make travel to Mars more efficient. Aldrin was raised in Colorado’s Lawrence N. Greenleaf Lodge No. 169 in 1956. He received a commission to open a Representation of the Grand Lodge of Texas on the Moon in 1969. Tranquility Lodge No. 2000 is based in Texas “until such time as the Lodge may hold its meetings on the Moon.”
“From space there were no observable borders between nations, no observable reasons for the wars we were leaving behind.” —Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, 2009
In 1999, Hasbro released a Buzz Aldrin action figure to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the moon landing. Colonel Buzz Aldrin Action Figure, 1999. Gift of Robert V. Monacelli, 2019.015. Julia Featheringill Photography.
Astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, July 20, 1969. Photographed by Neil Armstrong. NASA.
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CHARITIES
Elijah Cummings A sharecropper’s son who served nearly four decades in state and national legislatures, Elijah Cummings (1951-2019) used his position to advocate for all Americans. After earning degrees in political science and law, he founded a law practice in Baltimore, where he worked until his election to the United States Congress in 1996. Cummings–a lifelong Democrat–strove to increase bipartisan collaboration in Congress through both legislation and committee work. Of the more than 4,000 bills he sponsored in his time in Congress, over 20 percent were co-sponsored by Republican or independent colleagues. A member of Baltimore’s Corinthian Lodge No. 62, Cummings exemplified Masonic values of relief and service. He spent more than 20 years on government oversight and reform committees, working to make the American government better for its constituents. After his death, Cummings lay in state in the Capitol Building. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers have paid homage to Cummings’ legacy through legislation named for him that reflected his voting rights and healthcare priorities.
“The true measure of our union is the state of the least among us.” —Elijah Cummings, 2004
Elijah E. Cummings. US House Office of Photography.
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CHARITIES
?
“The Masonic Hall of Fame: Extraordinary Freemasons in American History” will be on view at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library through October 26, 2024.
Mel Blanc American actor and radio personality Mel Blanc (1908-1989) is best known for bringing beloved cartoon characters to life with his voice. Melvin Jerome Blanc got his start in radio. Blanc began working with Warner Bros. on animated shorts (which were shown in theaters before feature-length movies) in 1937. Blanc began voicing both Porky Pig and Daffy Duck that year. He would later go on to voice many Looney Tunes characters, including Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Sylvester, Tweety, Yosemite Sam, and Foghorn Leghorn. In 1960, he began working for Hanna-Barbara, most notably as Barney Rubble on The Flintstones, the first animated television show broadcast during prime time. Mel Blanc’s lifelong association with Freemasonry began in 1925 when he joined DeMolay’s Sunnyside Chapter in Portland, Oregon. Blanc became a Mason at Portland’s Mid Day Lodge No. 188 in 1931. Twenty years later, Blanc joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Los Angeles and Al Malaikah Shrine Temple. Blanc died in 1989. His gravestone at Hollywood Forever Cemetery famously reads: “That’s All Folks.”
“Returning to the Los Angeles Shriners hospital for the first time since my accident was very emotional for me. I’d always taken my talent for granted before, but as I sat talking in Sylvester’s voice to a darling little girl, I thanked God for not revoking this undeserved gift.” —Mel Blanc, 1988
That’s Not All Folks, Mel Blanc and Philip Bashe, 1989. Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library.
Mel Blanc recording Bugs Bunny’s voice, ca. 1945.
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The Northern Light
The
Commander’s Tour 2024
!
es m i t ood
G
Catching
up
AZ ‘23 Arizona - ‘23
We’re on our way!
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ew n s ’ t a Wh
Join us for a reception with Sovereign Grand Commander Walter Wheeler, 33°, and other Supreme Council Staff in Arizona or Florida. Space is limited, so register today to connect with other Brothers and hear updates from your Scottish Rite, NMJ!
a
Arizon
ARIZONA
Arizona
January 30 Sun City
ScottishRiteNMJ.org/Arizona
FLORIDA March 5 The Villages
March 7 Tampa
ScottishRiteNMJ.org/Florida
March 9 Bonita Springs
March 12 Sarasota
Florida
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Around the Jurisdiction More than 60 New Hampshire Scottish Rite members, family, and friends gathered for a luncheon cruise on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire, hosted by the Valley of Keene.
NH In October, the Valley of The Hudson celebrated the feast of Tishri.
Ill. Richard Jackson, 33°, MSA, was all smiles as the Valley of Northern New Jersey presented him with his white cap.
NJ
MI NY Delaware celebrated with their new Honorary Members of Supreme Council.
NJ
DE
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MEMBERSHIP
The Blue Knights of Washington County donated $2,000 to the CDC-Pittsburgh.
Valley Volunteers Give Back Members of the Valley of Chicago had an amazing day at Feed My Starving Children! Over 50 volunteers from the Valley of joined forces to pack lifesaving meals for those facing hunger. In just 90 minutes, they and other volunteers helped pack more than 52,000 meals – enough to provide 144 children with meals for an entire year! It was a great opportunity for the Valley of Chicago and its members to give back to their community.
PA Actors from the Valley of Evansville celebrated a successful fall reunion.
IL Members and friends from Valley of Chicago volunteered to help pack meals for Feed My Starving Children.
Performance in Portland
IN Scottish Rite Masons held their annual Dyslexia Awareness Walk and Fundraiser in Waterbury, Connecticut on October 1, 2023.
The Valley of Portland hosted a play called The Fight. Set in colonial Boston, The Fight is based on the historical events leading up to the Boston Tea Party which occured 250 years ago this past December. In it, members of the Lodge find themselves with opposing views on the King of England. Tensions rise, but eventually, Masonic virtue prevails. The audience, comprised of both Masons and non-Masons, very much enjoyed the evening.
ME CT
Winter 2024
The cast of The Fight
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Around the Jurisdiction
continued
Eldorado Golf Course was the backdrop for the Valley of Michigan's Annual Almoner's Fund golf outing.
MI
New Hampshire Held Joint Reunion On Saturday, November 4, 2023, Valleys from New Hampshire hosted the Sovereign Grand Commander at a joint reunion held in Portsmouth, NH.
Valley of Portsmouth Dover exemplified the 25th degree and was presented with the 2022-2023 Valley of Excellence award.
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Valley of Nashua exemplified the 17th degree and was presented with the 2022-2023 Valley of Excellence award.
Illustrious Bob Seibold presented a program on Rite Guide and was joined at the Joint Valley Reunion by our Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious Walter Wheeler.
Our Sovereign Grand Commander addressed the New Hampshire Scottish Rite class of candidates.
Valley of Concord exemplified the 13th degree and was presented with the 2022-2023 Valley of Excellence award.
ScottishRiteNMJ.org
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MEMBERSHIP
The cast of the 18th degree from the Valley of Lancaster Littleton
Brother Tom Fisher, 33°, (left) and Valley Secretary Fred Kile, 33°, (right). Ill. Bro. Fisher was the honoree at the Valley of Cambridge Reunion on November 11, 2023.
NH
OH
Members of the Valley of Oil City participated in the Oil Heritage Festival parade.
On September 25, 2023, the Valley of Syracuse held a White Hat Ceremony for four most deserving Brothers: Ill. Leon A. Bulriss, 33°; Ill. Garrett A. Wikoff, 33°; Ill. Terry A. Byard, 33°; and Ill. William H. Toth II, 33°.
PA The Valley of Columbus hosted 92 members and guests at their Steaks & Stogies event.
NY
OH
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MEMBERSHIP
Around the Jurisdiction
continued
Members of the Valley of Milwaukee were all smiles following their successful fall reunion.
WI On November 9, 2023, a Veterans Recognition Program was held at the Valley of Canton, complete with bagpipers, a buffet, guest speaker Brigadier General Thomas P. Luczyski Retired, and a white hat and jewel presentation to Ill. Donald E. Ballard, 33°, Medal of Honor. Fifty-five veteran members were presented with a recognition ribbon, garden flag, and license plate.
OH
! If you would like to have your Valley featured in Around the Jurisdiction, be sure to submit photographs and descriptions to
Communications@SRNMJ.org
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The Northern Light
Ill. Rex Hutchens, 33º, GC — Beautifying the Temple in the 21st Century, Crossing the Bridge to Light
W
hen we think of what a Socratic soul might be, Dr. Rex R. Hutchens surely comes to mind. Perhaps best known for his “textbook” of the Southern Jurisdiction A Bridge to Light, Ill. Br. Hutchens, 33º, who passed in December 2022, spent his last few years on the creation of a new Egyptian-themed lodge room within the body of the existing Tucson, Arizona, Scottish Rite Temple, built in 1915.
Beautifying the Tucson Scottish Rite Temple for the twenty-first century Photography: Andrew Hammer
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While not yet complete, the work (which Ill. Hutchens and a few artisans took upon themselves) inspires any Brother who sees it to think about the role of aesthetics and artistic expression within his own temple walls. Starting with the first three verses of the Book of Genesis as a motif, these words are inscribed in the arches of the library in seven different languages (Hebrew, Greek, Latin, English, French, German, and Gaelic) and in seven distinct Dr. Rex R. Hutchens, Scottish Rite Temple, calligraphic styles. Br. Rex’s efforts speak Tucson, Arizona. Above him are the opening to the universality of Freemasonry and verses from the Book of Genesis in Hebrew. prove that beautiful works of architecture Photography: Andrew Hammer do not merely belong to Freemasonry’s study then is to acquire a greater knowlpast but are fully possible in the twenedge about ourselves [...] what we can ty-first century. become.” Our worthy Brother has indeed In his 1995 book Pillars of Wisdom, crossed the greatest bridge to light and is Dr. Hutchens wrote: “The purpose of studying philosophy is not to acquire one, no doubt, at last, receiving the answers to since almost everyone already possesses a many of his profound questions from the guiding set of assumptions about the uni- Grand Geometrician of the Universe. verse and their place in it. The purpose of —Andrew Hammer, 32º, KCCH
Omnism, Universalism, and Freemasonry
r. John P. Gilbert, 32º, has been wrestling with how to define Freemasonry, opting for the term “omnism.” He writes that this is a term coined by the Victorian English poet Philip James Bailey (1862–1902) that is a recognition and respect for all religions and an acknowledgement that they all point to and strive towards a single
of aphorisms All Religions Are One: “The
tries to avoid this implicit particularism,
Religions of all Nations are derived from
well-meaning though it may be.
each Nation’s different reception of the Poetic Genius...”
In a companion article, religion scholar John M. Bozeman cautions against mistaking “omnism” for Universalism. Dr. Bozeman writes: Historically, Universalism has often been
transcendent cause. As Bailey’s fellow poet
associated with specific religious groups
William Blake (1757–1827) expressed it
and their particular visions of human
even more poetically in his 1788 collection
supernatural destiny. […] Freemasonry
Winter 2024
Br. Gilbert closes his article noting that the “enlightened notion” of omnism “can better define what the philosophy of Freemasonry is.” To follow this intriguing discussion more, see p. 8 in the July/August 2023 Scottish Rite Journal: https://scottishrite.org/blog/ journals/july-august-2023/. Mark Dreisonstok, 33º ScottishRiteNMJ.org
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The shelves were bare in 1973, but now they are filled with one of the finest collections of Masonic books, papers, and records in the world.
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ScottishRiteNMJ.org
Moments inTime The Northern Light
MASONRY
2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library. Here is another image of the opening celebration ceremony superimposed on today’s building.
In the last issue of The Northern Light, we began a new feature called “Moments in Time” in which old pictures are held up to their current location to note the passage of time.
If you have a special Masonic photograph, take a picture like this with it. Return to the location, stand where the photographer stood, and capture it then and now. Send it to us along with a few sentences about its significance to you. We just might feature it in an upcoming issue of The Northern Light.
!
High-resolution photos and descriptions can be emailed to editor@scottishritenmj.org.
Winter 2024
ScottishRiteNMJ.org
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MASONRY
REMARKABLE MASONS:
Veterans of the 54th Regiment
by Stacey Fraser, Assistant Curator Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library
Massachusetts’ 54th Regiment was the first northern military regiment to enlist African American soldiers during the Civil War. This unit, led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, existed from February 1863 to August 1865. Profiled here are two Masonic members of the regiment, one from Massachusetts and one from Pennsylvania. We salute their service to the United States.
William H. W. Gray and wife Martha Bush Gray, ca. 1864. South Carolina. Carl J. Cruz collection, New Bedford Historical Society, Inc. Photographed by H.C. Foster.
William H. W. Gray (ca. 1825-ca. 1881)
Albanus S. Fisher (1831-1900)
First
Sergeant
Sergeant William H. W. Gray (ca. 1825-ca. 1881) had been a sailor on at least three New Bedford whaling vessels prior to his February 1863 enlistment in the regiment. He served as an officer – Third Mate – on the Triton II, which may have been why he was promoted to First Sergeant immediately upon enlistment. During the Battle of Fort Wagner on July 18, 1863, Gray was wounded in the left leg. He soon returned to active service but filed an invalid pension application in 1876 due to the wound’s effects. In the fall of 1863, Gray founded a Masonic lodge, chartered by the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, on Morris Island, South Carolina. The lodge met in “a dry spot in the marsh near our camp, where boards were set up to shelter the members.” In June 1865, the lodge moved to Charleston when the regiment relocated to the mainland. Members, numbering 25 to 30, met in a house across from the Citadel. Gray chose to remain in South Carolina after the war’s end. He served as a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1868 and a member of the state House of Representatives from 1868 to 1870.
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Albanus S. Fisher’s military record. U.S. Colored Troops Military Service Records, 1863-1865. National Archives.
ScottishRiteNMJ.org
Albanus S. Fisher (1831-1900) was employed as a laborer when he first enlisted in the regiment in April 1863. After Colonel Shaw’s death during the Battle of Fort Wagner, Fisher showed his affection for the abolitionist regimental leader in a letter he wrote to Captain George Pope on July 31, 1863: “I still feel more Eager for the struggle than I ever yet have, for I now wish to have Revenge for our galant Curnel [sic].” Before and after the war, Fisher was an active member of Mount Pisgah Lodge No. 32, PHA, in Norristown, Pennsylvania. He served as Senior Warden in 1860 and Master in 1898. He was also a member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 17 in Norristown, and in 1867, served as the District Deputy Grand Master of Pennsylvania’s First Independent African Grand Lodge of North America. Fisher was also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic Post No. 80 in Philadelphia, Captain of the Norristown chapter of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and a trustee at Mt. Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church in Norristown. Upon his death in 1900, Fisher left his “weapons, books, papers, effects relating to the secret orders to which he belonged” to his son, Willard.
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