May - June 2010

NEWS AND VIEWS FOR OUR SCOT TISH RITE BROTHERS
SCOT T ISH RI T E PROGRESS
Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Valley of Washington, Orient of the District of Columbia
Volume 4, No.5
May-June 2010
202-232-8155
dcsr.org
SGIG’s MESSAGE . . .
I would like to highlight a few of our many upcoming Scottish Rite events and ask your support. • At our Tuesday gatherings each of our Body
Heads and their officers are working hard to provide interesting and relevant programs at each of
their meetings. Join those in attendance in appreciating their efforts.
• The Americanism Committee has new leadership and their first effort will feature cryptology in
American history with several speakers who have
worked in the field. • Our fund raising efforts in June include the
Golf Tournament and the Big Band Performance
Leonard Proden, 33º
at the Scottish Rite with both supporting our
Childhood Language Disorder Clinic. Both are open to family and friends.
• The Pen/Faulkner Foundation (based here in D.C. and named for William
Faulkner, who used his Nobel Prize funds to create an award for young fiction writers) in collaboration with the Scottish Rite will host a tribute to Frank McCourt. Frank (Pulitzer winning author of Angela’s Ashes and a New York public school English teacher) died last year and prior to his illness, we had planned to have him appear at our Education Program. However, his brothers Alphie and Malachy (author,
actor, radio show host and famous raconteur) and Mrs. Frank McCourt will all appear in a tribute to Frank. This special program is also open to family and friends.
• The Reunion---I would like to personally invite each of you to join me in both
the Lodge room and auditorium along with our candidates for our Spring Reunion. Attend, observe and re-learn from the Degrees presented and pay particular attention to the orations. Can you recall your Reunion? Do you remember the probing
questions in each Degree? Can you recall the concept of Duty in the 4th Degree or
the revelation of the True Word in the 14th? How about the profound 18th with
all it had to offer and the importance of tolerance and faith in God and mankind? What were your impressions as you were judged in the 30th Degree? And it all coalesced in the 32nd as we found that choices and answers exist for us as Scottish Rite
Masons as we strive toward a balance of life—or equilibrium. Please plan to
join me in May to review and answer the probing questions and remember
why we became Masters of the Royal Secret.
Thank you for supporting all of our programs and see you at the Rite.
Save the Date!
Please join The Scottish Rite Foundation and
the PEN/Faulkner Foundation for:
“A Family Tribute to Frank McCourt”
with: Malachy McCourt and Alphie McCourt,
brothers of the late Frank McCourt
Mrs. Frank McCourt (Ellen)
The evening will consist of short readings, reminiscences, storytelling,
and lively conversation followed by a reception with
light refreshments and Irish folk music.
June 1, 2010
Program 7:00 PM ~ Refreshments 8:30 PM
Scottish Rite Center
2800 16th Street, NW Washington, DC
2010 SPRING REUNION
MAY 7 AND 8, 2010 - SCHEDULE
FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2010
4:00 - 5:15 PM
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5:15 - 5:45 PM
5:45 - 6:45 PM
6:45 - 7:45 PM
7:45 - 8:00 PM
8:00 - 9:00 PM
9:00 - 9:15 PM
9:15 PM
Registration [Class Candidates Report]
Class Convenes: Posting of Colors;
Indoctrination: Introduction of the
SGIG of the Supreme Council
Conferral of 4°
DINNER
Communication of 5° - 13°
Conferral of 14°
Communication of 15° - 17°
Recess to Saturday
SATURDAY, MAY 8, 2010
8:00 - 9:00 AM - Light Breakfast
9:00 - 10:30 AM
10:30 - 10:45 AM
10:45 - 11:15 AM
11:15 - 12:15 PM
12:15 - 1:30 PM
1:30 - 2:45 PM
2:45 - 3:15 PM
3:15 - 5:00 PM
5:00 - 5:30 PM
5:45 - 7:00 PM
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Conferral of 18°
Break
Communication of 9°-26°, 28°, 29°
Conferral of 27°
LUNCH & BREAK
Conferral of 30°
Communication of 31° & Class Photo
Break
Conferral of 32°
RECEPTION - All Welcome
New Member Dinner and Festivities
(Invitation Only)
Dance to the Music of the
Olney Big Band
June 19, 2010
Fundraiser for the
Scottish Rite Center for
Childhood Language Disorders Clinic
Swing and More When You Hit the Floor
Dancing to Big Band Music
7:00 to 9:00 PM
Light Buffet Served
Scottish Rite Center
2800 16th Street, NW Washington, DC
Page 2
Scottish Rite Progress
Member’s Corner
Meet our new Almoner and Assistant Almoner
Yavuz A. Anahtar, 32º KCCH has been appointed
as our new Almoner and assisting him is William M.
Lanham, 32º KCCH.
Yauvuz is an architect and designed the cornerstone for the Commemorative Stone Laying for the
Scottish Rite Center for Childhood Language Disorders. He joined Scottish Rite in the Spring of 2001
and received his KCCH in 2007.
William Lanham, 32º KCCH, serves the Valley of
Washington as assistant Almoner. He is a past Master
of Kensington Lodge #198, in Maryland, and served
as the Potentate of Almas Temple in 2000. Bill is a
native of the Washington, DC area and had a career
with AT&T and Bell Atlantic for 38 years. He served
the community for many years in athletic and civic
associations and as a Scout Leader for local troops in
the Washington Council.
Mark A. Wright and Cloyd A. Bittner, Sr.
are our new Tilers
Mark Wright, 32º serves the Valley of Washington as Tyler and is a
member of the Knight’s of St Andrew. He received his degrees in the Valley of Tulsa, Orient of Oklahoma in 1980. He is a lawyer by trade but
frequently assists our Valley with his fine musical talent at the piano. He
is currently a member of Federal Lodge No. 1 in the District of Columbia
and sings in their Lodge choir. He is an active volunteer with the Nation’s
Capital DeMolay and is a member of the York Rite bodies, Grotto and
Shrine in Bartlesville, OK.
Cloyd A. Bittner Sr., 32º was born and raised in Fairhope Pennsylvania. He briefly worked on a farm and then moved to Montgomery
County Maryland in 1961 where he began his career with the County Highway Department. After a two year tour of duty in the Army
(1964-1966) he returned to Montgomery County and continued with
the County Department of Transportation serving in many capacities
for the next 34 years. He joined Montgomery Lodge No. 195 and
served as its secretary for 13 years. In 1989 Br. Bittner joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Washington and Almas Temple, serving as President
in 1999 of the North West Shrine Club. Since his Mother Lodge Montgomery-Cornerstone, meets on Tuesdays, Br. Bittner shares his Tuesday
nights with his Blue Lodge and the Scottish Rite.
SCOTTISH RITE PROGRESS
The Scottish Rite of Freemasonry
GENERAL OFFICERS
SGIG of the Supreme Council.............Ill. Leonard Proden, 33°
General Secretary...............................Ill. John Vergalla, 33°
Treasurer.............................................Ill. Paul D. Gleason, 33°
Assistant Treasurer..............................Carroll J. Collins, 32° KCCH
Almoner...............................................Yavuz A. Anahtar, 32° KCCH
Assistant Almoner................................William M. Lanham, 32° KCCH
Director of Work...................................Ill. Charles W. Wagner, 33°
Assistant Directors of Work.................Ill. Gordon Lee Ferguson, 33°
William T. Rule II, 33°
Chaplain..............................................Ill. Bilal M. Raschid, 33°
Associate Chaplains............................Rabbi Randall A. Schoch, 32° KCCH
Rev. Canon Daniel D. Darko, 32° KCCH
Rev. Canon Michael M. Marrett, 32° KCCH
Physician.............................................Sissay Awoke, 32° KCCH
Tilers....................................................Cloyd A. Bittner Sr., 32°
Mark A. Wright, 32°
May-June 2010
IN MEMORIAM
MITCHELL J. DIAMOND, 33º
1918 - 2010
Mitchell J. Diamond passed away on
March 13, 2010. He was born on April 23,
1918 in Brooklyn, NY. He was educated
in the public schools and attended Pace
Institute. He was a Veteran of the Second
World War. After the war he worked for
several companies in Advertising, Sales Promotion and Public Relations. He started his own company and
was elected President, CEO and Chairman of the Board by his
shareholders.
He was initiated, passed and raised in 2nd Nassau, Long Island, NY in February, March and April 1966 and was Master of
Evergrreen Lodge No. 1139 in 1973. He came to Washington,
DC in November 1997.
He became a Mason in the District in 1998 and joined Benjamin B. French No. 15 and Alianza Fraternal Americana No.
92 in 1999. He received his Royal Arch degrees in Mt. Pleasant Chapter No. 13 in 1999 and served as Deputy Master in
Adonirum-Zabud Council No. 2 Royal and Select Masters. He
became a Scottish Rite Mason in DC in 1998, was elevated to
KCCH in 2001 and coronated an Inspector General Honorary
(33º) in 2003.
JAMES R. TURNER, 33º
1930 - 2010
James R. Turner passed away on March
23, 2010. He was born on Sept. 27, 1930
in Kingston, NC and earned a degree in mechanical engineering from George Washington University. He was successful businessman, real estate broker, and Hotel owner. When Jim was working his way through
school he was an amateur and professional boxer. During the
Korean War, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps from 19511953. For the last 50 years Brother Turner served on the Stage
Crew in the Valley of Washington and attended without fail each
of the Scottish Rite Reunions. Brother Turner was raised in East
Gate Lodge No. 34 in 1955 and became a Scottish Rite Mason in
Washington DC in 1955. Because of his business opportunities
he spent much of his time in Los Angeles and joined the Scottish
Rite Bodies there in LA in 1974. He also served on their stage
crew from 1976-1982 and once paid for and installed a washer
and dryer in their robbing room because he said “They needed
them”. Brother Turner joined Masonic bodies in Kansas City. His Biography reads like a Masonic “Who’s Who” where he is
listed in 111 clubs in 13 Nations.
AMERICANISM PROGRAM
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Cryptology: “Protecting America since the
American Revolution”
with Brent Morris and a guest panel of experts
6:00 Dinner - 7:15 PM Program
Scottish Rite Center
2800 16th Street, NW Washington, DC
May-June 2010
Scottish Rite Progress
Page 3
Scottish Rite Calendar for May - November, 2010
MAY
4th
Mithras Lodge of Perfection
7:30 PM
7th
SPRING REUNION
8th
SPRING REUNION
th
11
th
18 25th
st
31
Registration
Recess to Saturday
4:00-5:15 PM
9:15 PM
Class Reports, light breakfast
Reunion concluded with Dinner
and Festivities
8:00 AM
6:00-7:30 PM
Evangelist Chapter of Rose Croix Robert De Bruce Council of Kadosh 7:30 PM
Albert Pike Consistory
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
MEMORIAL DAY - HOLIDAY - Office Closed
JUNE
1
st
SPECIAL LITERARY PROGRAM with 7:00-9:00 PM
PEN/FAULKNER FOUNDATION
8th Evangelist Chapter of Rose Croix
15th AMERICANISM PROGRAM
Dinner 6:00 PM
Program 7:30 PM
19th OLNEY BIG BAND DANCE MUSIC 7:00-9:00 PM
22th Albert Pike Consistory
SUMMER RECESS
No scheduled Meetings July and August
SEPTEMBER
6th LABOR DAY - HOLIDAY - (Office Closed)
7th Mithras Lodge of Perfection 7:30 PM
14th Evangelist Chapter of Rose Croix
7:30 PM
POOL
TOURNAMENT
8 BALL
(Scottish Rite Members Only)
Cash Prize - $500.00 for Winner
or LIFE MEMBERSHIP
2nd & 3rd Prizes to be announced
Tournament to begin on
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Register NOW!
Only 32 spots available for this tournament, so please sign up
now with J.D. Holt at 202-232-8155 or E-mail - jdholt@dcsr.org
before it fills up. First come, first to rack up. Previous champions
not eligible.
21st Robert de Bruce Council of Kadosh
28th Albert Pike Consistory
7:30 PM
7:30 PM
OCTOBER
5 11th
12th
19th
th
Mithras Lodge of Perfection 7:30 PM
COLUMBUS DAY - HOLIDAY (Office Closed)
Evangelist Chapter of Rose Croix
7:30 PM
Robert de Bruce Council of Kadosh
7:30 PM
26th FEAST OF TISHRI - (RSVP and CAPS Required)
TBD AMERICANISM PROGRAM - JROTC AWARDS
nd
2
9th
11th
12th
PROGRAM
NOVEMBER
Mithras Lodge of Perfection 7:30 PM
Evangelist Chapter of Rose Croix
7:30 PM
VETERANS DAY - HOLIDAY (Office Closed)
FALL REUNION
4:00-5:15 PM Registration
9:15 PM Recess to Saturday
13th FALL REUNION
8:00 AM Class Reports; light breakfast
7:30 PM Reunion Concluded with Dinner
16th Robert de Bruce Council of Kadosh
7:30 PM
23rd Albert Pike Consistory
7:30 PM
th
25 - THANKSGIVING DAY - HOLIDAY - (Office Closed)
26th
TBDSCHOLARSHIP-EDUCATION AWARDS PROGRAM
IN MEMORIAM
J. Franklin Barrett, 32°................................................... 12/23/2008
Charles L. Cardosi, 32°................................................. 3/17/2010
Nicholas G. Chacos, 32°............................................... 04/02/2010
Peter Cleland, 32°......................................................... 04/01/2010
Martin S. Dembo, 32°.................................................... 4/8/2010
Mitchell J. Diamond, 33°................................................ 3/13/2010
Bert H. Eastridge, 32°.................................................... 2/25/2010
F. Roger Headley, 32°................................................... 3/25/2010
James C. Lohr, 32°........................................................ 10/9/2009
Michael Myronick, 32°................................................... 4/11/2010
Bernard L. Nash, 32°..................................................... 03/07/2010
Samuel E. Rakestraw, 32°............................................ 1/31/2010
Abu B. Renner, 32°....................................................... 2/24/2010
William D. Schulte, Jr., 32°............................................ 4/10/2010
Donald K. Smith, 32°..................................................... 4/7/2010
Edward L. Smith, Sr., 32°.............................................. 4/6/2010
John W. Tippett, 32°...................................................... 2/24/2010
James R. Turner, 33°.................................................... 3/23/2010
Ralph T. Warburton, 32°................................................ 2/2/2010
William L. Wolf, 32°....................................................... 2/24/2010
Sick and Visitation
The following Scottish Rite Brethren welcome calls, visits and cards:
Warren I. Barrows – Call him at 410-795-0183 or send a card to 6514 Ridenour
Way E, # 1C Eldersburg, MD 21784.
Ill. Bill Bartlett has been moved to Methodist Home of DC. 4901 Conn. Ave. NW
DC 20008. His direct number is 202-777-3424 Cell: 703-599-3286.
Norman Barshai is in the hospital for treatment. Send him a card at 4977 Battery
Ln Apt 213, Bethesda, MD 20814-4916 or call him at 301-941-1314.
Charles R. Christiansen would appreciate a card of good cheer. Send it to 20535
Earhart Place # 244 Potomac Falls, VA 20165 or call him at 703-404-5419.
Ill. Armen Garabedian is at home with inner ear and balance problems, 1309
Juniper St. NW, Washington, DC 20012-1440; or call him at (202) 882-7528.
Jack Golomb is homebound and would like to hear from his Brothers. 15107
Interlachen Dr #705, Silver Spring MD 20906-5632 or call (301) 598-3583.
Bill F. Greschel is at home recuperating after hip replacement surgery. Send him
a card at 148 Willowbend Lane, Summerville, SC 29485-8446 or call him on his
cell 703-403-7616 and wish him well.
M. Jack Hirose is recuperating in Potomac Valley Nursing and Wellness Center
at 1235 Potomac Valley Rd., Rockville MD 20850. The center can be reached for
visits at (301) 762-0700 or 301-652-1122.
Norman N. Pisner, 50 year member, has been moved to assisted living: 13217
Sherwood Forest Dr. Silver Spring, MD 20904 301-469-7411. Would really enjoy
your call or visit.
Andrew J. Sabonis, Jr. is at Harmony Hall Assisted Living 6336 Cedar Lane,
Apt. 235 Columbia, MD 21044.
Jim Seawell, wife Dottie (home) 301-423-5060, 4816 Henderson Rd. Temple
Hills MD 20748-2107. He is suffering from dementia. Jim has been moved to the
Asbury Communities 11100 Asbury Circle Solomons, MD 20688 410-394-3029
Harold Taylor has moved to Summerville at Woodward Estates 14997 Health
Center Dr., Room 154 Bowie, MD 20716 301-464-4400, Room Phone: 301-2620043.
Ill. Royce A. Watson is at home after a stay at a nursing home. Send him a card
15022 Snowden Dr., Silver Spring, MD 20905 Phone 301-962-4595.
Ill. Solomon Zeidman is recovering at home. Send him a card at 13003 Evanston
St. Rockville, MD 20853-3028 or email him at solz@juno.com.
To report sick or home bound brethren, call Dan Brewer, Chairman 301-736-8959
or email willwk4badges@yahoo.com or the Scottish Rite office 202-232-8155.
Committee Plea:
We need your assistance with the Sick and Shut-in Committee. We are trying to divide the Orient Membership home
addresses into assigned areas of responsibility. We have the
Southern Maryland region covered but need more help with
Washington, DC, Central Maryland and Northern Virginia. Please contact Dan Brewer, Chairman (301) 736-8959 or email
willwk4badges@yahoo.com if you are willing to assist us in this
wonderful program.
Golf Tournment
Volunteers Needed
Please mark your calendars as this year the DC
Scottish Rite and Grand Lodge will host the Liberty
Mutual Invitational at newly completed Lake Presidential Golf Club in Upper Marlboro, on June 28th
2010, to raise money for The Children’s Language
Disorders Clinic. Lake Presidential Golf Course is
ranked by Golf Digest as the 9th top public golf
course in the United States. Organizing volunteers,
corporate sponsors, lodge sponsors, and individual sponsors are needed to help make this the charity
fund raiser of the year! If you can help or for more
information please call the DC Scottish Rite Office
202-232-8155 or Grant Berning 202-345-0216.
The Scottish Rite Foundation
When giving to Charity both in your annual considerations and in your Estate Planning, please keep the Children of the Language Disorders Clinic and the deserving
Students and Teachers of the Metropolitan Area in your hearts and minds.
The RiteCare®Childhood Language Program
A gift of Charity is a Legacy that lives on
through out time.
Send your contribution to:
The Scottish Rite Foundation
2800 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20009
In the early 1950s the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction started a program to help children with speech and language disorders. Today there are
170 RiteCare® facilities located throughout the United States that provide diagnostic
evaluation, treatment of speech and language disorders, and learning disabilities.
Our clinic, located at 1630 Columbia Road, NW, treats over 700 children (infants
thru 21 years of age) from the DC Metropolitan area. The clinic is fully operational
and open 5 days a week the entire year.
For further information or make a referral phone 202-939-4703.