Rite Words Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry

V alley of Tucson ~ Orient of Arizona

160 S. Scott Avenue - Tucson, AZ, - 520.622.8364 - www.TucsonScottishRite.org

Volume 50, Issue 2 March / April 2012

Let’s Look Forward Together,

While Honoring Our Past By Bro.·. Paul R. Nordstrom, 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.,

Venerable Master

B rethren, thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve you. I consider it a great honor to be part of the

lustrous history of this Valley, a pride we can all share. The men who built this Valley were the pillars of our community and it is something we share in common with the men who inhabit our Valley today.

They realized that “Freemasonry” is more a verb than a noun. They knew by being a Freemason others looked to them to set the ethical example and take leadership roles in all their endeavors. The same holds true today.

They knew the Blue Lodge to be the foundation of our Fraternity and active participation in the lodge room was essential in the welfare of all the other bodies. If you look at the history of the Tucson Scottish Rite, you will find its leadership played prominent roles in their lodges as well as the Grand Lodge. Therefore, we must never neglect our duty to our Lodge. To this end, I serve as Treasurer in my lodge; I am the 2011-2012 Chairman of the Masonic Ladies & Widows, Grand Lodge Committee and I frequently attend other lodges. If you are not active in a Blue Lodge, I strongly encourage you to change that.

The membership of our past had to face the same challenges we face today: declining membership, financial challenges, and the occasional internal strife. The difference is they rose to the occasion and met those challenges. The question remains: will we?

While the motivation for membership may have changed over the generations, today the Scottish Rite serves a vital

role in our community. As I look out over our current generation, I realize they are adrift. They are lacking many of the social structures we grew up with. The teach-ings of our craft are just as relevant and needed today as the day they were written. We owe it to our future genera-tions to maintain our teaching in their fullest potency.

We owe it to our Valley to grow its membership without lowering our standards, and it is just as important to main-tain the membership we have. We should never allow anyone to feel like they are a stranger in our group. We are all brothers and we all meet on a common level.

Our Valley has seen the very best and the worst of finan-cial times and yet our fraternity and building has remained. Now it is our turn to maintain them and pass them on to the next generation. If it is within your power to contribute, or to remember the Scottish Rite in your will, it is more than appreciated. It will be a gift which will keep on giving.

I am always reminded that it is the man who makes the Mason, not his apron. Our highest accolades are the affec-tion and esteem we receive from our brothers. Our highest rewards come in the form of personal growth and our highest achievement is the example we set and the useful-ness we are to those around us. As for my honors, they are to me symbols of the qualities I wish to achieve and a reminder of how very far I have yet to go. I know many who do not have the outward symbols but display in their character great accomplishments. I admire most of all those who seek an appreciation of the intrinsic qualities of others above all other distinctions, and those who seek cooperation, harmony and promote brotherhood. They are my mentors and in my opinion have a deep understanding in the purpose of the Scottish Rite.

(Continued on page 2)

Rite Words Valley of Tucson ~ Orient of Arizona

All Scottish Rite members whose names appear in the Rite Words are of the thirty-second degree, unless otherwise indicated. Articles appearing in this publication express only the private opinion or assertions of the writer and are not necessarily those of the Scottish Rite Bodies. Articles submitted must be informative and relate to Masonry and/or be of general public interest. Articles must be limited to 750 words and are subject to editing. When possible, photographs illustrating these articles should accompany the submission. The Rite Words is published six times annually, in January, March, May, July, September and November. Deadline for submission of articles for the next publication is April 5, 2012.

EDITOR Peggy Atchley

ASSISTANT EDITOR Ill.∙. Bro.·. Charles R. Bollenberg, 33°

PHOTOGRAPHERS Bro.∙. Al Camacho, 32°, K.∙.C.∙.C.∙.H.∙.

Bro.·. Carlos Tolsa, 32º

Send articles, comments or suggestions to: patchley@TucsonScottishRite.org

Fax No. 520-269-7704

Mail Change of Address To:

Rite Words P.O. Box 391—Tucson, AZ 85702-0391

Scottish Rite Office Hours:

Mon. — Thur. 9:00am—1:00pm Office Phone Number: 520-622-8364

Office Fax Number: 520-622-8660

Illustrious Brother Robert F. Hannon, 33°, is the Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Southern Jurisdic-tion, U.S.A. in the Orient of Arizona. Illustrious Brother J. Michael Atchley, 33°, G.·. C.·., is the Personal Representative of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Arizona for the Valley of Tucson and Chairman of the Advisory Conference. Illustrious Brother James W. Sebastian, 33°, is the Assistant Personal Repre-sentative of the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Arizona.

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Brother Vernon McGee, Sr., 32°, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·. for having successfully completed the Master Crafts-man Correspondence Program, Part I.

2012 Dues were due January 1, 2012.

The dues remain at $75.00 for 2012. If you

haven’t mailed your check, please take a

few minutes and drop it in the mail today or

call the office at 520-622-8364 and pay with a credit or debit card.

PLEASE DO NOT PAY ON-LINE TO

SUPREME COUNCIL

If you pay your dues directly to Supreme

Council, it takes five to six weeks before we

receive the funds and they charge our Valley a fee for processing your payment.

(Continued from page 1) Those who have given to us such a rich heritage have passed responsibilities to us and we have been entrusted to be good stewards of the legacy of our Valley.

Like all generations before us, we are at a crossroads. I am happy to report much progress has been made, but only by working together can we promise the best is yet to come.

WWhhaatt lliieess bbeehhiinndd uuss

aanndd wwhhaatt

lliieess bbeeffoorree uuss

aarree ttiinnyy mmaatttteerrss

ccoommppaarreedd ttoo

wwhhaatt lliieess wwiitthhiinn uuss..

Rite Words2 March / April 2012

Miracles By Ill.·. Bro.·. Billy G. Hall, 33º

M iracles—what are they? Do they exist anywhere except in the human mind?

When I was a young boy, hanging out around my father’s blacksmith shop in order to be there when he needed me to swing a sledge hammer to cut the hot iron, I listened to the conversations between my father and his customers who were for the most part, “Bible Belt Christians”. When the subject of the power of God, mira-cles, etc. would arise, my father, who was an avid student of the Bible, would ask the customer “do you think all things are possible with God? He created the world and everything in it.” Then my father would ask: “Then, if all things are possible with God, do you think He could create a stone so large he could not move it?” This absurd ques-tion would mystify the customer. Not being able to come up with an answer, he would pay his bill, pick up his plow shares and walk away shaking his head. The question also mystified me until at the age of 31, I joined the Scottish Rite and was presented with my copy of Albert Pike’s Morals and Dogma.

I have three Webster’s Dictionarys from which I get these three definitions: Miracle: 1. Supernatural event, marvel; 2. a supernatural event or happening regarded as an act of God; 3. an event or action which apparently con-tradicts known scientific laws.

In Morals and Dogma, Albert Pike says: “Miracles are the natural effects of exceptional causes. This immediate action of the human will, on bodies, or at least this action exercised without visable means, constitutes a miracle in the physical order.

The influence exercised on wills or intellects, suddenly or within given time, and capable of taking captive the thoughts, changing the firmest resolutions, paralyzing the most violent passions, constitutes a miracle in the moral order.

The common error in relation to miracles is, to regard them as effects without causes; as contradictions of nature; as sudden fictions of the Divine Imagination; and men do not reflect that a single miracle of this sort would break the universal harmony and re-plunge the universe into chaos. There are miracles impossible to God himself; absurd miracles are also. If God could be absurd for a single in-stant, neither He, nor the Universe would exist an instant afterward. To expect of the Divine Free Will an effect whose cause is unacknowledged or does not exist, is what is termed tempting God. It is to precipitate one’s self into

the void.” Pike goes on in his elaborations of Gods will, absolute reason etc. for many more pages but the solving of the mystery cast upon the customer and myself was brought to fruition in the above writing.

At least, that’s my opinion. What do you think?

For the Good of the Order By Bro.·. Vernon McGee, 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.

W hat made the Masonic order different from other Fraternities?

When we stand back and take a good look at our Frater-nity and try to understand what made the difference be-tween us and them, we have to admit there is not much.

After thirty-five years of traveling as a Master Mason, I have concluded what made the difference is our method of one-on-one instruction—that bonding which takes place between two Brothers and hopefully in the Lodge build-ing. If the instructor will have the young Mason meet him at the Lodge building for instruction, he will begin coming to Lodge, just like going to Church. This too, is fast slip-ping away from us.

The second thing is our long standing protocol or system of government in and out of the Lodge. Small things like standing, addressing the Master in a correct manner. Every Master wants each member to say what is on his mind and will give each member an opportunity. We are accepting laziness in Lodge work, i.e., how fast can we get out of here, is taking over.

The third thing which makes us different from others, is our obligation and how the older Masons held each other accountable. We are fast getting away from doing this as well.

The fourth thing is our method of electing officers to serve our Lodge. As we all know, we have one Master of the Lodge at a time and he will select a prompter at the beginning of the meeting. All who have served as Master know how hard it is to keep everything in order so as Past Masters we should set the example in Lodge by NEVER making statements from the sidelines unless asked to do so. We should give good advice one-on-one with the Master in private only. Every Master I have known wants good advice and will accept it in the manner it is given. This too, we are getting away from.

Ask permission of the Master to address another member in the Lodge and never put down a Brother even if that

(Continued on page 5)

Rite WordsMarch / April 2012 3

“Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing it is not fish they are after.”

By Henry David Thoreau

N ow that I have your attention, bear with me please. We are about to enter the Spring season at our

Scottish Rite Temple. There are two upcoming events of importance I would like to mention. One being the Ceremony Of Remembrance and Renewal taking place on Thursday, March 22nd. This ceremony enables us to remember those Brethren who have gone before us, who performed their duties well and gifted us with the oppor-tunity to continue the Masonic traditions.

The second event is our Spring Reunion, held on May 4th and 5th. The degree teams are rehearsing and the many departments are eagerly awaiting their chance to show their skills. This is when we welcome our new Brethren into the Fraternity, not only enriching their lives with new Masonic knowledge, but also giving us the opportunity to show off our gorgeous Temple and what it has to offer for each and every one of us. That being said, it is important to have those Brethren on the sidelines supporting the Candidates as well as those participating.

If you are able, please make an effort to attend these events. Enough said, let’s go back to fishing!

By Bro.·. James E. Wolfe, 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.

Cochise Scottish Rite Club

By Bro.·. Thomas E. Jones, IV, 32º

T he Valley of Tucson honored one of our club members last month, Brother Charles H. Fortner,

32º with a 50-year cap and pin. The Cochise Scottish Rite Club is also preparing for degree work for the Spring Reunion on May 4th and 5th. Help is always needed, actors, make-up, stage props, lighting and sound. The candidates and actors always appreciate sideliners.

If you are interested in becoming a Scottish Rite Mason, please contact Brother Bruce F, Wood, 32º, K.·.S.·.A.·.; Illustrious Brother Andrew M. Anderson, Jr., 33º or myself. There is always a need to expand our club with new Scottish Rite Brothers. Dues are $10.00 and are payable at the April meeting.

Our next scheduled regular meeting will be April 7, 2012. Breakfast will be served by the High Twelve Club.

Take a few minutes and visit our new Facebook page, thanks to Brother Phillip R. Shulsky, 32º, K.·.S.·.A.·..

It’s a New Day at Yuma Lodge #17

By Bro.·. Vernon McGee, Sr., 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.

C ome to Lodge, join us in making the changes we need to make, in the way we do things. Come and

be a positive force in this Lodge.

With a new Master and a fine set of officers, Yuma Lodge #17 is off to a great start. Plans for a positive change are on the way. Do not sit on the sideline or at home, come and have your voice heard.

If you have not been to Lodge in a long time and you cannot remember what to say or do, we will help you and there may be someone there who remembers you.

We have most all of the Masonic Bodies in Yuma so we have something for every member of the Fraternity. Come and be a part of this growing Lodge.

There is a reason you joined the Masons and a reason you pay your dues so, come on down. We would love to see you there.

A very special Thank You to Norma Sebastian for her hard work cleaning up and reorganizing our

Rummage Room. Norma devotes her time and energy every Tuesday morning to this project and her dedication and hard work is very much appreciated.

Speaking of the Rummage Room, we are pleased to announce the reopening of the monthly Saturday sale dates: the second Saturday of each month beginning at 8:00am. This has been made possible thanks to the ladies of Eastern Star, Sauguaro Chapter #48, led by Kay Miller. The ladies opened the Rummage Room for the first time on February 10th and sold over $500.00 worth of items.

Great job ladies! Please remember to donate your slightly used items to our Rummage Room.

We have a great special running: Fill a Bag for $5.00.

Rite Words4 March / April 2012

Tucson Scottish Rite

2012 Calendar of Events

March 22, 2012 Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal

April 26, 2012

19th Degree Dissertation by Brother David W. Kucera, 32º

May 4-5, 2012

Tucson Spring Reunion

May 24, 2012 Scottish Rite 211th Birthday Celebration

June 28, 2012

Pot Luck Dinner / Game Night

July 26, 2012 Pot Luck Dinner / Ice Cream Social

August 23, 2012

Pot Luck Dinner / Game Night

September 27, 2012 Past Venerable Masters’ Night

October 25, 2012

Feast of Tishri

November 2-3, 2012 Tucson Fall Reunion

November 8, 2012 Election of Officers

December 13, 2012 Holiday Celebration

(Continued from page 3)

Brother is wrong. I see this too often and it takes away from Masonry.

Proper protocol is a must if we are to maintain control and have an organization we can pass on to those who follow us.

We are selling our organization short and we cannot pass on less than what was passed on to us.

I t was about 3:30pm on January 26, 2012. The furnace in our house had been out for about three days, and I

was waiting for the heating company to arrive and repair it. At about 4:30pm they arrived and began repairing the furnace. I had already called the Scottish Rite and told them I might not be able to make the meeting. A short time later Peggy Atchley called for my wife, Janice. Unknown to me she told Janice they really needed me at the meeting.

At about 5:30pm the service company finished repair-ing the furnace and I told Janice I was not going to the meeting tonight. She advised me we both had a rough week, she needed a break, and I was going to the meet-ing. I then rushed to take a shower and change into my suit. After rushing around I made it in time to have dinner and attend the Installation of Officers meeting. I was installed in my office and all was going well.

After the installation, Illustrious Brother J. Michael Atchley, 33º, G.·.C.·. announced we were going to present a couple of awards, one of which was the Scottish Rite Mason of the Year. Illustrious Brother J. Michael began talking about the Brother who was going to be the 2012 Scottish Rite Mason of the Year. I began looking around to see if I could pick out who he was talking about when Illustrious Brother James Sebastian, 33º, walked up behind me and placed his hands on my shoulders. As I looked up at him he said, “well I guess you had better stand up”. I was really confused and couldn’t figure out why he wanted me to stand up. Much to my surprise I discovered Illustrious Brother J. Michael was talking about me. I had just been named Scottish Rite Mason of the Year.

This was such a surprise I was left speechless, which does not happen too often, and which leads me to the purpose of this article. This is one of the greatest honors anyone could bestow upon me. Although I could not think of what to say that evening, I think I can now.

The Scottish Rite Mason of the Year award was given to me that evening. However, it belongs to each and every Brother who has dedicated himself to the Scottish Rite. I am honored and humbled you would place your confidence in me and allow me to maintain the steward-ship of this prestigious award for a year. Many of you deserve it much more than I. I assure you, I will make every attempt to earn your confidence.

Again, from the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

Brother Bobbie R. Creech, 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.

Tucson Scottish Rite Mason of the Year

Rite WordsMarch / April 2012 5

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What’s Next?

By Ill.·. Bro.·. J. Michael Atchley, 33º, G.·.C.·.

Personal Representative—Valley of Tucson

S ince we have experienced a growth in our overall membership for the year 2011, what’s next? Do we

sit back and rest on our laurels or do we charge ahead and make 2012 even bigger and better?

We have several opportunities before us. Our Member-ship Director, Brother Gil Schlierer, 32º, is putting an active Ambassador Program in every lodge, but he needs your help. I encourage you to give him a call at: 203-434-0149 and find out how you can contribute to this program. Brother Jim Wolfe, 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·., Director of the Work, is forming new degree teams so we may enjoy those degrees we have missed over the years. I’m sure if your lodge were to take on a degree, Brother Jim would find one for you.

Our Spring Reunion is just around the corner and we need Candidates. All of us need to work on the theme “2 to Grow”: one to replace yourself and one to grow on. If all of us would adopt this platform, what a difference it would make in our Valley.

Congratulations to the “Knight of the Double Eagle Service Award” recipients:

Basic Medallion with a Red Hanging Bar

Ill.·. Bro.·. Don Galyon, 33º

Brother James L. Moline, 32º

Basic Medallion

Brother Trevor J. Gillespie, 32º

Brother Barry F. Lane, 32º

Ill.·. Bro.·. Robert F. Langmead, 33º

Brother Robert E. Meisenheimer, 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.

Brother Richard J. Miller, 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.

Brother Arthur J. Montgomery, 32º

Brother Arnold C. Rouse, 32º

Ill.·. Bro.·. Vernon S. Snodgrass, 33º

T his beautiful painting of the Yuma Lodge was created by Mrs. Nancy Phipps McGee, wife of

Brother Vernon McGee, Sr., 32º, K.·.C.·.C.·.H.·.

The painting was sold to Brother H. Stewart Bradshaw, PM of Yuma Lodge #17. Brother Stewart was the highest bidder at a BBQ fundraiser held at the Lodge on February 19, 2012.

The Double-Headed Eagle

T he accepted symbol of our Rite is the “Double-Headed Eagle of Lagash”, the official insignia of the

Scottish Rite Mason as adopted by the Supreme Council of 1971.

It is the oldest crest in the world, according to fraternal scholars. It was a symbol of power more than two thousand years before King Solomon’s Temple was built. No other heraldic identification and no other emblematic figure can boast such antiquity.

The Double-Headed Eagle originated in the metropolis of Lagash, in ancient Sumaria. It was known to the kings of that era as the “Storm”. From the Sumarians it was passed on to the rulers of Addad and from them to the Suljukian sultans. It was brought to the emperors of the west and east by the Crusades.

Charlemagne first made use of the crest in 802AD when he assumed control of the ancient and powerful German Empire. He used the two heads to denote the union of Rome and Germany.

Reprinted from the Scottish Rite Booster News Valley of Clinton - Orient of Iowa

Rite Words6 March / April 2012

Tucson Lodge of Perfection Tucson Scottish Rite

Valley of Tucson Orient of Arizona

P.O. Box 391

Tucson, Arizona 85702-0391

Cathedral Location: 160 S. Scott Avenue

Tucson, Arizona 520-622-8364

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. Postage

PPaaiidd Tucson, Arizona Permit No. 658

Masonic Tools

T he twenty-four inch gauge is an instrument made use of by operative masons to measure and lay out their

work. But we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of dividing our time. It being divided into twenty-four equal parts, is emblematical of the twenty-four hours of the day, which we are taught to divide into three equal parts, whereby we find eight hours for the service of God and a distressed worthy brother, eight hours for our usual vocations, and eight hours for refreshment and sleep.

The common gavel is an instrument made use of by operative masons to break off the rough and superfluous parts of stones, the better to fit them for the builder’s use. But we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of divesting our hearts and consciences of the vices and superfluities of life, thereby fitting our minds, as living stones, for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The plumb is an instrument made use of by operative masons to try perpendiculars; the square, to square their work; and the level, to prove horizontals. But we, as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of them for noble and glorious purposes. The plumb admonishes us to walk uprightly in our several stations before God and man, squaring our actions by the square of virtue, to “that undiscovered country, from which no traveler returns.”

The trowel is an instrument made use of by operative masons to spread the cement which unites the building into one common mass. But, we as Free and Accepted Masons, are taught to make use of it for the more noble and glorious purpose of spreading the cement of brotherly love and affection—that cement which unites us into one sacred band, or society of friends and brothers, among whom no contention should every exist, but that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree.

Reprinted from:

A Masonic Thought for Each Day of the Year

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