Supreme Council, S.J., Presented ASHA
Distinguished Service Award for RiteCare Childhood Language
Program
During its
annual meeting on November 19, 2004, in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, the American
Speech-Language-Hearing
Association (ASHA) presented its Distinguished Service
Award for 2004 to the Supreme Council, Scottish Rite
of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, in recognition
of the fraternity’s RiteCare Childhood Language
Program. The award, designed to recognize significant
contributions to the professions of speech-language pathology
and audiology, is given annually to an individual or
an organization for major contributions to ASHA in consumer
advocacy, legislative or other governmental affairs activity,
public awareness, research, or service to the association.
On behalf of Grand Commander Ronald A.
Seale, 33°,
and the Supreme Council, Ill. William G. Sizemore, 33°,
GC, Grand Executive Director of the Supreme Council,
accepted
the award and expressed the gratitude of all the Southern
Jurisdiction’s Scottish Rite Masons for this significant
recognition by America’s leading speech-language-hearing
association. It was noted that the clinics, centers,
and programs supported by the Scottish Rite Masons have
grown
from one clinic in Denver, Colorado, in 1953 to over
170 across the United States today. Recent statistics
indicate that annually 61,077 children are evaluated
and/or treated through the fraternal order’s RiteCare
Childhood Language Program.The Scottish Rite is determined
to continue and expand this outstanding philanthropy
as
a service to America’s children and the nation.
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Grand
Chapter of Mississippi, Order of the Eastern Star,
Visits the House of the Temple
Photo: Elizabeth A. Williams, The
Scottish Rite Journal
On November 9, 2004, 95 members of the
Order of the Eastern Star, Grand Chapter of Mississippi,
visited the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C. Marie
Smith, Worthy Grand Matron, headed the group. One of
her projects this year is the support of the RiteCare
Childhood Language Program of the Scottish Rite. She,
Grand Patron James R. Godard, 32°, Valley of Jackson,
Mississippi, the Grand Family, and all the members of
the group enjoyed an extensive tour of the House of the
Temple. Toward the end of their tour, Mrs. Smith and
the Grand Family (above) were photographed on the staircase
leading from the Atrium to the Temple Room. The tour
included brief musical selections played on the Temple
Room organ by two members of the group, Mary Nell Gore
and Naomi Lewis.
The headquarters of the Supreme Council,
Southern Jurisdiction, is open to the public and welcomes
both small and large groups (25 or more), the latter
with advance notification to the Grand Executive Director’s
office (202-232-3579). Generally, tours last 90 minutes,
but can be adjusted to time available. Only shortened
tours are available after 2:00 PM. Regular tour hours
are from 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM weekdays and 10:00 AM to
3:30 PM the first Saturday of every month. The Temple
is closed on Sunday except by special arrangement (30
days notice desired). The rear entrance to the House
of the Temple is handicap accessible.
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MSA
Hospital Visitation Program
The
Masonic Service Association of North America (MSA) has
invited me to write to you about its annual Green Envelope
Appeal. As a Veteran, I am honored to do so. Your support
of this worthy cause is most appreciated and needed.
We know of the sacrifice of our men and women in uniform,
both in past and present conflicts.
I could tell you of the helicopter crewmen
who flew into hostile territory to rescue Lt. Fields,
a pilot in my squadron. Another was a Navy corpsman who
ran into the middle of a fierce firefight to lie on top
of a wounded Marine. We continue to hear heroic accounts
of the bravery of our military personnel in Iraq and
Afghanistan.
The volunteers of the Hospital Visitation
Program of the MSA give more than a quarter of a million
hours of time each year bringing a Masonic presence to
these, our brothers and sisters, who have been wounded
or injured serving our nation. This need grows each year.
The MSA needs your financial support to carry on this
worthy mission. We need you to dig deeply into your pockets
to support the Green Envelope Appeal, a major source
of funding for the Hospital Visitation Program. Our brothers
and sisters who have served bravely—in our place—deserve
our support. My prayer is that each of us will go “the
second mile” to support this important appeal.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Bro. Gary H. Leazer, KCCH
Grand Chaplain, Grand Lodge of Georgia
Please make checks payable to: Masonic
Service Association and mail to:
Masonic Service Association
8120 Fenton Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Contributions are tax deductible.
Thank you for your participation.
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Historic
Meeting between Catholic Knights of Columbus and
Freemasons in Lenexa Kansas
Pictured above
(l. to r.) are: WM Gaylon R. Jones, 32°, Master
of Lenexa Lodge #135; Grand Knight Wayne Zetsman,
Knight of Columbus of Kansas; Lady Liz Zetsman; RW
Barry G. Albin, KCCH, District Deputy Grand Master,
Fourth District of Kansas; and John E. Mowen, 33°,
Past Grand Master of Kansas and Personal Representative,
Valley of Northeast Kansas, Louisburg, Kansas
Recently, Lenexa, Kansas, Freemasons and
the Knights of Columbus joined forces to serve their
community. On October 25, 2004, the members of Lenexa
Lodge #135 and the Knight of Columbus (Council of Palms,
Holy Trinity Catholic Church) became partners to support
each other in their social and community events.
On that night, Mr. Wayne Zetsman, Grand
Knight, Knights of Columbus of Kansas, visited Lenexa
Lodge and was received with a special dinner to honor
him and WB Wesley H. Fry, 32°, a 50-year Lenexa Lodge
Brother, member of the Valley of Northeast Kansas, and
a parishioner of Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lenexa.
Lenexa Lodge just celebrated 130 years
of continuing service to the community and is an active
participant in the Relight the Torch Program of the Grand
Lodge of Kansas. This year, members of the Lodge have
performed almost 4,000 hours of volunteer service in
this program, which allows Masons to put Masonry before
the public by serving the city, county, and State. The
program is a great tool to bring our Fraternity to the
world, to interest new members, and to rescue “missing-in-action” Brothers.
The Coordinator of this meeting was Bro.
Angelo H. Mino, 32°, Junior Deacon, Lenexa Lodge,
Chairman of the Lodge’s Relight the Torch Program,
and a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church. As a token
of friendship and respect, WM Jones presented Grand Knight
Zetsman with a Lenexa Lodge and City of Lenexa history,
Growing Together, and a forget-me-not lapel pin, along
with an explanation of the pin’s significance to
the Masons.
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America’s
National Treasure
Joby E. Dixon, Ph.D., KCCH
As background
to this critique of and philosophical statement about
National Treasure, the recent popular film, please
see “New Movie—National
Treasure.”
National Treasure, the new movie
starring Nicolas Cage, follows the search for a fantastic
treasure supposedly hidden by America’s Masonic
Founding Fathers in the Revolutionary War era. The adventure
follows the exploits of a team trying to protect the
treasure from thieves and discover its true nature for
themselves. The tale’s solid action and adventure
are worth your time, if you’re looking for nothing
more than a pleasant afternoon or evening's diversion.
Even with critical and public reaction very mixed, National
Treasure was the top film in ticket sales ($35.3
million) during its first weekend of release, November
20-21. Interestingly, it portrays Masonry in a very positive
light, though accenting the least historically accurate
aspects of the Craft. More fiction than fact, it is,
nevertheless, on target in depicting Freemasonry as a
benevolent Order seeking to protect something of great
value for all humankind.
Do we really safeguard something that’s
extremely precious for all humanity? Most certainly!
It isn’t, however, a horde of precious antiquities
that, at market price today, would purchase grand homes,
exotic cars, and an endless stream of other luxury items.
Our treasure is far, far more valuable. It consists of
the symbols, values, and lessons Masonry bestows on its
members and gave to the beginning of our Republic through
the influence of our Masonic Founding Fathers. These “jewels” lie
beneath the deepest levels of American society and culture,
even if they have been forgotten by many of her citizens.
As the film illustrates, the Declaration of Independence
and our other founding documents are physical maps and
keys to the values, symbols, and true treasure that are
America’s gift to the world. This gift is the example
of how a modern democratic nation can come into being
and serve as a beacon for others to follow through the
centuries. That’s truly a priceless present for
the world, and America’s greatest national treasure.
So how can each of us, as Scottish Rite
Masons, honor and protect our portion of our heritage?
First, and foremost, by never giving up on the personal
quest to find “that which was lost,” the
deep connection to ourselves, our community, and our
God that makes life worth living. Others may scoff at
our decision to value things many in the larger society
no longer care about. We may feel profoundly alone on
a seemingly never-ending journey through life. The search,
the journey, is well worth the time and effort! Our Masonic
teachings provide the maps and clues needed for success.
They teach us to have faith and venture bravely into
life!
We should also live our lives so that
we would be honored if others used them as maps and guides
for their lives. Brothers Washington, Franklin, and others
certainly did. Striving to emulate their examples will
show the citizens of today the true significance of their
legacy and demonstrate to others the true national treasure
of Masonry. If you accept the challenge, you may join
a long line of knights and caretakers of our most sacred
inheritance.
 |
Joby E. Dixon, Ph.D., KCCH
is the 5th great-grandson of Lt. Col.
Frederick Hambright, a Mason and patriot who fought
in numerous battles during the American Revolution.
Dr. Dixon is a member of Gaston Lodge #263, N.C., Parsons
Lodge #222, Austin, Tex., Scottish Rite Bodies of Austin,
Scottish Rite Research Society, Royal Order of Scotland,
and several other Masonic Bodies. Contacts: 207 West
18th Street, Austin, TX 78701-1308; jobydixon@yahoo.com |
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