October - December 2011

Volume 1, Issue 9 Valley of Newport News, Orient of Virginia, AASR

2011 Honour Men

2011 Honours—32o, KCCH

Newport News Harold Keen Carney

Robert Humrich Robert Lynn Parker

Nicholas Wright Raffaele J. Richard Rawls

Steve Randall Wiggington

Norfolk Larry Dale Bateman Wayne Sawyer Flora Roy Thomas Gregory Gunnar Gudjonsson

Michael Duane Johnstone Robert G. McBride

Walter Holcomb Pope, Jr.

Portsmouth Stephen Ives Bruce, Jr.

Hugh Dewitt Byrd Petro Bill Ficare

Robert Kelly Lewis Randall Dean Reed

2011 Honours—33o, IGH

Newport News George Allen Hollingsworth, III

James Allan Freeman

Norfolk Edward Rogers Gearheart

Aaron Sheldon Zeno

Portsmouth Laury Arturo Carter

Charles Joseph Whitmore, Jr.

Valley Personal Representative Message Ill. C. A. Parker, IGH

Inside this Issue

Page 2 - Valley Rep Message

Page 3 -Upcoming Activities

Page 4 -“From the Secretary’s Desk”

Page 5 -Venerable Master’s Message

- Knights of St. Andrew

Page 6 - Scottish Rite Degrees

Page 7 - George Hollingsworth , IGH

- J. Richard Rawls, KCCH

Sincerely & Fraternally,

Skip Parker

Page 2

The summer months were very busy for our Valley. Congratulations are in order for our

two new 33º Inspector General’s Honorary: Ill. James Allan Freeman and Ill. George Allen

Hollingsworth, III. These Brethren were coroneted on August 23rd, 2011, at the D.C. Scottish

Rite Center in Washington, D.C.

Congratulations are also in order for our six new Knight Commanders of the Court of

Honour. They are Harold Carney, Robert Humrich, Robert Parker, J. Richard Rawls, Nicholas

Raffaele, and Steve Wiggington. These Brethren received their conferral at our auditorium on

September 24th, 2011, as part of our Annual Scottish Rite Conference. The ceremony was open

to the public and many family member and friends were in attendance.

A very special Thank You for all who helped out with the conference and as always the

Hospitality Crew did an outstanding job attending to the needs of our visiting brethren.

Congratulations are most deserving for Ill. Jack L. Smith, IGH for the outstanding

performance as Conference President. Our Valley continues to lead in many areas of

development.

One of the shining lights of our Valley is the educational classes being offered in

support of the successful completion of the Master Craftsman educational course. Almost 5% of

the Valley membership has completed the course. Brother Patrick Murphrey has been leading

the discussions and all of the participants have contributed to the success of the program. If you

are interested in participating with the group, please contact the Valley Secretary, Ill. Pete Eure,

for additional details.

Our Fall Reunion is planned for October 28th & 29th. If you know of someone who may

be interested in joining the Scottish Rite, please have them complete an application as soon as

possible.

As we enter the Fall Season, we will be celebrating many holidays. Take the time to

reflect on the many bountiful treasures we have in our family and friends and enjoy the time we

are with each and every one of them.

Enjoy the Fall.

Congratulations to Ill. George Hollingsworth, III, 33o IGH,

for being elected Vice President for the Valley of Newport

News to the Scottish Rite Conference in the Orient of

Virginia. This means that Ill. George will serve as President

of the 95th Conference in 2019. Ill. George is looking for

Valley members to take the place of our Hospitality Crew

who have retired after serving the Orient for 16 years. We

thank them for their service and ask that our Valley members

consider taking over this responsibility for the upcoming

Scottish Rite Conferences in the Orient of Virginia. The 2012

Conference will be held in Lynchburg and we need to have

our Hospitality Crew ready for this event on September 21-

22, 2012. If you feel you can help, please let Ill. George

Hollingsworth know. Ill. George is also open to suggestions

for the 2019 Conference which will be hosted by the Valley of

Newport News. Let him know your thoughts.

Valley of Newport News

Ill. James D. Cole, 33º Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Virginia

Ill. Clifford A. Parker, IGH Personal Representative of the SGIG in Virginia

Ill. Adrian L. “Pete” Eure, IGH Secretary for the Valley of Newport News

Ill. Danny O. Belott, IGH Assist. Secretary for Valley of Newport News

Ill. Gerald E. Burks, IGH Treasurer for the Valley of Newport News

Bro. Harold C. Joyner, KCCH Almoner for the Valley of Newport News

Ill. James E. Lassiter, IGH Chairman of the Trustees

Newport News Lodge of Perfection

Ill. James A. Freeman, IGH Venerable Master

Newport News Chapter of Rose Croix

Bro. William L. Luthie, KCCH Wise Master

Newport News Council of Kadosh

Bro. Randolph L. Rogers, KCCH Commander

Newport News Consistory

Ill. James A. Freeman, IGH Master of Kadosh

Knights of St. Andrew

Bro. William F. Overby, 32º Venerable Master

Chartered October 12, 1912

Upcoming Activities

October 8 - Family Day at the Masonic Home of Virginia

October 25 - Knights of St. Andrew

Feast of St. Andrew 6:00pm

October 26 - Valley of Newport News

Stated Meeting 7:30pm (dinner at 6:30pm)

October 28-29 - Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite

Fall Reunion

October 30 - Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite Fall

Reunion Ring Ceremony 3:00pm

November 9 - Valley of Newport News

Stated Meeting 7:30pm (dinner at 6:30pm)

November 10-12 - Grand Annual Communication of the

Grand Lodge of Virginia (Richmond)

November 29 - Knights of St. Andrew Annual Meeting -

Election of Officers

December 14 - Valley of Newport News

Stated Meeting 7:30pm (dinner at 6:30pm)

December 21 - Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite

Annual Christmas Dinner and Concert

Happy Holidays Everyone

Our stated meetings are held on the fourth

Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm. A

deliciously prepared Dutch Treat dinner is

served at 6:30pm prior to all meetings w/e of

July & August. The Ladies of the Scottish

Rite meet at all meetings w/e of the July &

August Stated meetings.

Editor: Bro. J. Richard Rawls, KCCH Asst. Ed.: Ill. David A. Burkus, IGH

Offices: 65 Saunders Rd.

Newport News, VA 23601 Phone: 757 599 6617

Fax: 757 599 0021

Email: nnsrtemple@verizon.net

Please support your Blue Lodge, your

Scottish Rite and all other Masonic Bodies

you are a member of.

They all need your support.

Page 3

Due to recent changes in the US Postal Code, we are no

longer able to provide business cards in our publication

and maintain our Bulk Mail permit. Thanks to all that

previously listed their business cards in our Quarterly

Newsletter and donated to the Scottish Rite to help with

the costs associated with producing it.

From the Secretary’s Desk Ill. Adrian L. Eure, IGH

Orient of Virginia Membership J. Richard Rawls, KCCH, Director of Membership

Ill. Adrian "Pete" Eure, IGH

Secretary

Page 4

Freemason Network: www.FreemasonNetwork.net

Update your Scottish Rite Information: http://update.scottishrite.org

Pay your dues online: https://secure.scottishrite.org/OnlineDuesPayment/DuesPayment1.asp

Valley of Newport News: http://newportnewsscottishrite.org

Orient of Virginia: http://www.orientofvirginia.org

Have you ever been thinking of a good Brother and wonder how he is doing? Have you thought about a

Brother while attending a Scottish Rite function and wonder why he isn’t there? The Scottish Rite has a

program called the “Brother to Brother” Program and the essence of the program is actually quite simple. The

next time you wonder about a Brother you have not seen or heard anything about, simply pick up the phone and

call him, send him an email or send him a card asking him how he is doing. Being a “Brother to a Brother”

means nothing more than reaching out to a Brother and showing him you care. Find out if his health is good,

find out if he is having financial problems or find out how you might be able to help him. Show him you care !

That is the simplest definition of the “Brother to Brother” Program I can provide and it is something that every

one of us can easily do. Be a “Brother to a Brother” and prove to him that you are concerned about him and

care.

Note from Supreme: Scottish Rite members may now use the Online Dues Payment Service at: http://

dues.scottishrite.org to pay their 2012 dues along with any outstanding balance. Please note that the regular dues

statements have been printed for Valleys participating in the Valley Membership Services Program (Valley

Billing) and will go into the mail soon. These notices will not reflect any recent online payments. However, in

an effort to make all those paying online aware of this, we have placed the following notice on the online dues

payment screen and also on the payment confirmation screen. The 2012 dues invoices you will receive shortly

in the mail will not reflect this online payment. However, your Valley will be notified of this payment.

It is the time of year when we must start thinking about our dues to the Newport News Scottish Rite. As you

know, our dues were increased last year, due to two reasons: first, the cost of operating our building and making sure that Newport News Scottish Rite can have one of the best facilities for its members. Second, we

have approximately 75 members who have not paid their dues for 2011. We do not want to lose any of our

members, because of dues problems. Please look at your dues notice and please don't lay it down and forget

about it. If you have any problems, please call the office and let us talk about those dues. Our membership is

declining because of the age of our members and dues problems. I don't want to sound like a broken record,

but, we cannot operate as we should without our members paying their dues. So, call me and let’s talk!!

This secretary would like to thank the many Brethren who come out during the office hours and help out

during the morning. Without these dedicated Scottish Rite Masons, we could not operate as smoothly and

proficiently as we do. I will not try to name every person that has helped because I will surely miss someone

and I don't want to do that. Our lawn, building and facilities always look "top notch" because of these men. If

you want to help out, come down one morning and we will put you to work!!! Our hours are 9:00am to 12:00

Noon, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. We are closed on Thursday.

Congratulations to Ill. Jack L. Smith, 33º, IGH, President of the Scottish Rite Conference of Virginia, for an

excellent conference held September 23-24, 2011. Ill. Jack made the Valley of Newport News look good!!!

Thanks Jack, for all your hard work and thanks to all those who helped you including the Hospitality Group,

Ladies of the Scottish Rite, the Knights of St. Andrew and everyone who had a part in this outstanding

conference. Great Job!!!!

Venerable Master’s Message Ill. James Allen Freeman, IGH

Knights of St. Andrew William Overby, Venerable Master

Brethren, the dog days of summer are over and we have entered the Fall of 2011. We survived the earthquake, the swamp

smoke, the hurricane and the rains. We have so much to be thankful for. We have supported the family picnic, the spaghetti

dinner, every Scottish Rite Stated meeting and the Scottish Rite Conference. For all of you Sir Knights that have so

graciously given of your time and efforts, I want to say a big THANK YOU. But we can’t slow down now because we

have the Fall Reunion coming up and we need all of our Sir Knights to help us with putting on the 29th Degree. We also

need NEW Scottish Rite Masons and SIR KNIGHTS. So at your next Blue Lodge meeting, get the word out. Also, don’t

forget that elections are coming up at our next Stated meeting on November 29th. Please attend if at all possible for my last

full meeting.

Don’t forget our Feast of St. Andrew on October 25th at 6:30pm. Our Senior Warden, Vince Mundie, will be in charge

since I will be out of town. Please call me at 757-592-1998 prior to Oct.15th if you will be attending. If you don’t call we

may not have any food for you.

I have enjoyed serving as your Venerable Master this year and I thank each of you for your attendance and support.

Fraternally Sir Knight William Overby, Venerable Master

Page 5

I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to the 2011 Honour Men of the Valley of Newport News Scottish

Rite. We had 6 members invested with their KCCH and 2 coroneted as 33rd Degree Inspector General Honorary. They

are listed at the beginning of this newsletter. Congratulations to them all.

Please note that our November and December Stated Meetings of the Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite will be

held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month so that you can enjoy Thanksgiving and Christmas with your families.

Please mark your calendars for November 9 and December 14 and plan to attend.

Annual Holiday Christmas Dinner and Concert

On December 21, 2011, the Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite will have their Annual Christmas Dinner at

6:00pm followed by a two-hour musical Christmas Concert at 7:00pm in the auditorium. The Officers of the Valley of

Newport News Scottish Rite will begin selling tickets starting October 1st and you are encouraged to purchase yours

early so we can get an accurate count for dinner. There is no cost for the Christmas Concert. This concert is being

hosted by myself and 4 members of the Freeman family. We will be singing both classic and contemporary Christmas

and country music. We hope you will join us for this Christmas Concert to help kick off your holiday season. The

music will be provided by Mrs. Peggy Winfree and the lighting will be provided by Most Worshipful Frank Perdue.

We are looking forward to seeing you on December 21st for this special Christmas Dinner and Concert at the Valley

of Newport News Scottish Rite Masonic Center. Bring your friends and family for what will be an entertaining

evening !

May the God of Heaven and Earth keep us and guide us,

James A. Freeman

Venerable Master

Congratulations to our four Sir Knights who received their KCCH Honours in

September: Sir Knight Nicholas Raffaele, Sir Knight Robert Parker,

Sir Knight Steve Wiggington, and Sir Knight J. Richard Rawls.

New Picture Not Available

Scottish Rite Degrees - Consistory 31° - 32° Degrees, Court of Honour, Inspector General Honorary

Page 6

31° - Inspector Inquisitor In this degree the apprentice learns prayerful self-examination. The mistakes

today should not be committed tomorrow. Simply, the daily look at ones self to learn to live with the

future. No apron is worn in the Supreme Tribunal, but the traditional apron displayed is of pure white

lambskin with a Teutonic Cross of black and silver embroidered upon the flap. The jewel is a silver

Teutonic cross. The jewel is suspended from a white collar, with a gold triangle with a "31" inside it. The

duty is to judge yourself in the same light as you judge others, considering both actions and motives.

SPES MEA IN DEO EST

"MY HOPE IS IN GOD"

32° - Master of the Royal Secret The lessons taught in this degree are that genuine brotherhood requires

mutual regard, opinion, esteem and charity. We always look for the good in all and make allowances for

other's shortcomings. We trust the Supreme Architect to lead us to friendship, morality and brotherly

love. The apron of this degree is white, lined in black, with a double-headed eagle and a plan of the Camp

of the Princes. The jewel worn is a golden Teutonic Cross. In the center are the letters XXXII, surrounded

by a green wreath. The cap of a Master of the Royal Secret is black silk with a black band trimmed in gold.

In the center front is a double-headed eagle emblem with a rayed equilateral triangle above in gold. The

triangle is red, has 32° in its center and is trimmed with gold. The duties are: a Soldier of the Light seeks

truth and knowledge; a Soldier of Freedom demands for the people free vote and voice and attains freedom

of voice, vote and opinion for himself; a Soldier of the True Religion combats spiritual tyranny with

reason and truth; a Soldier of the People encourages men to be self-reliant and independent; a Soldier of

Scottish Rite Masonry is zealous and ardent in the performance of his duties to God, his country, his

family, his brethren and himself.

Knight Commander of the Court of Honour The Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the

Court of Honor is not a degree, but an investiture bestowed upon members deserving recognition for

faithful services to the Rite, Freemasonry or to mankind. At the biennial session of the Supreme Council,

certain Masters of the Royal Secret are chosen to be invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight

Commander of the Court of Honour. The respective Sovereign Grand Inspectors General, or Deputies,

nominate members for this honor and they must also be unanimously approved by the Supreme Council.

This Investiture is a prerequisite to receiving the Thirty-third Degree. The rank of K.∙.C.∙.C.∙.H.∙. may not

be requested, and if requested must be refused. The cap of the Knight Commander Court of Honour is red

with a darker red band trimmed in gold. In the center front is a representation of the Knight Commander

Jewel, a Passion Cross, fitched, featuring in the center a trefoil embroidered in green encircled by "Kt.∙.

Comm.. Court of Honour" embroidered in gold.

DEUS MEUMQUE JUS

"GOD AND MY RIGHT "

33° - Inspector General Honorary The Thirty-third Degree is conferred by the Supreme Council upon

members of the Rite in recognition of outstanding work in the Rite or in public life. At its biennial

session, the Supreme Council elects members of the Rite to receive the Degree. Members unanimously

so elected become honorary members of the Supreme Council. The Thirty-third Degree may not be

requested, and if requested must be refused. The Degree is granted solely out of recognition for

outstanding services. These 33° Masons are Inspectors General Honorary and honorary members of the

Supreme Council. The active members of the Supreme Council are chosen from among them. The cap

for an Inspector General Honorary is white with a white band edged in gold, featuring the symbol for this

honorary degree, a red slanting Patriarchal Cross.

George Allen Hollingsworth, III , Newly Coroneted 33 Degree, IGH, 2011

Page 7

Brother John Richard Rawls was born in Newport News, Virginia, April 12, 1953 and graduated in the last class of

Newport News High School in 1971. He continued his education at Thomas Nelson Community College, Christopher Newport

University, Old Dominion University and Western Governors University.

Brother Rawls was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason at Poquoson Lodge No. 49 on August 15, 1992. He serves

as the 2011 Worshipful Master of Poquoson Lodge and is the editor of the Lodge Newsletter. He is also a member of William J.

McMahon Lodge No. 303 where he serves as Marshal and Lodge Instructor of Work. He is a Life Member of both Poquoson Lodge

No. 49 and McMahon Lodge No. 303.

Brother Rawls joined the Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite in the Spring Reunion of 1998. He is a member of the

Knights of St. Andrew and is the Degree Captain for the 29th Degree. He is also a member of various other degree teams and serves

on the following committees: Public Relations/Communication (Chair), Membership, and Scholarship. He is the editor of the Valley

of Newport News Scottish Rite Newsletter, administers the Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite Facebook Page, Assistant Web

Master for the Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite web site, and serves on the Editorial Board for the Virginia Light Newsletter.

He was selected to be a Scottish Rite Fellow for 2010-2011 and attended the National Leadership Conference in New Orleans in

2010 as the Valley Representative. He also attended the Fellows Reunion at the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C. in 2011.

He is a Life Member of the Valley of Newport News Scottish Rite. Brother Rawls serves the Orient of Virginia as the Director of

Membership and attended the Membership Conference in Washington in 2011.

Brother Rawls is also a member of the following Masonic organizations: Warwick Royal Arch Chapter No. 80, Hampton

Commandery No. 17, Langley-Monroe Chapter No. 310 National Sojourners, Hap Arnold Camp of the Heroes of ’76, Scottish Rite

Research Society, Hampton Roads York Rite College No. 95, Mariner Forest No. 147 Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Emerald Isle Council

No. 30 Knight Masons, Acacia AMD Council No. 505, Khedive Shrine Center A.A.O.N.M.S., Peninsula Shrine Club, Tidewater

Shrine Club and the Beach Bum Brothers Shrine Unit.

Brother Rawls is married to Johanna S. Rawls and together have raised 5 children (2 of his own and his sister’s 3 after her

death). Bro. Rawls retired from NASA in 2008 after 37 years of service. He is the CEO of Rawls Aerospace Consulting and serves

as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at his church. He enjoys spending time with his family and his 7 grandchildren. In his spare

time, he enjoys playing golf, cruising around on his Segway, bicycle riding and traveling.

John Richard Rawls , Newly Invested KCCH, 2011

Illustrious George A. Hollingsworth was born in Charleston, South Carolina December 24, 1944, but lived most of his

life in Mississippi. George and his wife, Sharon, live in Williamsburg, Virginia where he owns and operates the Colonial

Capital Bed & Breakfast and she is a Registered Nurse Manager at Eastern State Hospital. They are members of Bruton

Parish Episcopal Church and sing in the Chancel Choir. George is a retired psychotherapist, having worked for Riverside

Healthcare in Hampton since he and Sharon moved to Williamsburg from Jackson, Mississippi in the mid 1990s. He is a

graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi and has done post graduate work both there and at The College of William

and Mary. He is a Vietnam Veteran who served as a platoon Sergeant (E-6) in Co. D, 2/12 Inf. Reg., 25th Inf. Div. and is a life

member of the 25th Infantry Division Association.

George was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in 2000 in Bremond Lodge No. 241 where he went through

the chairs and served as Master in 2005. He is a Life Member of Bremond Lodge No. 241, Williamsburg Lodge No. 6,

Chickahominy Lodge No. 286 and Peyton Randolph Research Lodge No. 1774. He has also served as Master of

Williamsburg Lodge No. 6, Peyton Randolph Research Lodge No. 1774 and Junior Warden of Chickahominy No. 286.

Currently he serves as the District Educational Officer for Masonic District 57.

George is a Life Member of Warwick Royal Arch Chapter No. 80 and Hampton Commandry No. 17, a member of

Alex M. Conner Council No. 201 Allied Masonic Degrees and a member of Hampton Roads York Rite College No. 95. He

has served as High Priest of Warwick RAC No. 80, District Deputy Grand High Priest of Royal Arch Capitular District No. 3

and Sovereign Master of his AMD Council. George is also a member of Khedive Shrine Center, A.A.O.N.M.S. and the

Peninsula Shrine Club.

He is a Life Member of the Newport News Scottish Rite Valley and has served as the Venerable Master of the Lodge

of Perfection, Master of Kadosh of the Consistory and Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix. He is currently the 2nd Lt.

Commander of the Council of Kadosh. George was the Valley Representative to the National Leadership Conference in 2004.

He was invested with KCCH in 2005 and has served as a Trustee for the Valley for the past 4 years. This year he was elected

to be the incoming Vice President for the Valley to the Virginia Scottish Rite Conference. George has been very active in the

Valley Reunions serving as a member of the Thirteenth Degree team and team leader/Master of the Fourteenth Degree team.

Nonprofit Organization

U. S. Postage Paid

Newport News, Virginia

Permit No. 54 Valley of Newport News

Orient of Virginia

65 Saunders Road

Newport News, Virginia 23601

Return Service Requested

Our Departed

Brethren

Their spirit to God,

their memory in

our hearts.

Earl Douglas Murphy, Sr., 32o

June 7, 2011

Richard Herbert Stetson, Sr., 32o

August 4, 2011

Eugene Milton Mull, Jr., 32o

August 14, 2011

William Sydney Freeman, 32oKCCH

September 17, 2011