Medford Valley Scottish Rite welcomes our three new Knights of Saint Andrew; Sir Knights Kent Clinkenbeard, Jim Pringle and Tracy Morton to our KSA Chapter.
These three Squires have been in waiting due to the COVID restrictions for a long period. With the lifting of some of these restrictions we were able to proceed with their advancement to Knights status for the Medford Valley KSA Order. After the Knighting Ceremony Sir Knight Jim Pringle was installed as Senior Warden for the Medford KSA Chapter. Special thanks to Past Venerable Master Sir Knight Michael Harder for performing the Knighting Ceremony last Monday evening.
At one-thirty o’clock pm on Thursday, June 12th, 1902, on the second day of the 52nd Annual Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Oregon, Most Worshipful Brother William E. Grace called the Grand Lodge from labor to refreshment, a Lodge of Entered Apprentices was opened in Ample form with the Grand Officers in position and procession was made, with the accompaniment of Oregon Knights Templar Commandery No. 1 and all totaled about 500 Masons to the northeast corner of an open field at the intersection of Morrison and Lownsdale street (now 15th Avenue).
There they dispensed with ceremonies to dedicate the Cornerstone of a soon-to-be stately Masonic edifice to be erected on the site and serve as the future home and first of its kind Cathedral style model of Scottish Rite Masonic buildings.
At the occasion, Ill. Brother William Fenton, 33º (then K.C.C.H.), provided the oration, its entirety is available in the Proceedings of the Grand Communication from 1902, provided here are some excerpts: “This is an epoch in ceremonial Masonry. It is also a day of reflection, re-examination of fundamental truths and consecration to new ideals. In the brief moment devoted to this service a mere outline of our thoughts can be expressed. This corner-stone is to perform a double purpose and to mark alike the foundation of a great temple builded of brick, mortar and the handiwork of man, and also an unseen house not made with hands, erected in the hearts and consciences of men, swift in purpose and sure of endeavor… The Masonic lodge is a changing and mortal constituency. Its membership comes and passes out and into the Eternal. Its officers serve their terms and succeed each other, and each year, decade and cycle new men pass over the threshold and enter from the outer door. The temple of yesterday, last decade and of a former generation endures. This corner-stone looks young and new today, fresh from the hand of its craftsman—but it was made in the crucible of the world and will endure until the day ’in which the heavens shall pass away with great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.’… This cathedral, builded by the hand of man, fashioned and adorned by the genius of his brain, will stand as a mute sentinel guarding the fame and glory of our noble order… Individuals, communities, states and nations pass away—their good deeds alone survive the defacing finger of Time. This cathedral shall outlive all that are now present, and into its open doors shall go the unnumbered brethren who follow us. It shall live as a memorial, a witness testifying of our sacrifice, our love and consecration.”
This June 12th, 2021, marks the 119th anniversary of the laying of our Temple’s Cornerstone by the Grand Lodge of Oregon; although we are unable to unite at this time for this recurrence it is hoped the Members of the Portland Valley will still celebrate its steadfast endurance and soon again resume labor in our historic temple. If you are so inclined please consider donating to the Temple Preservation Foundation. All funds donated to the Portland Scottish Rite Temple Preservation Foundation go to support the Foundation’s stated mission: “To solicit and expend funds to protect, preserve, maintain, and restore the cultural and structural integrity of the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple in Portland, Oregon.” The funds donated to the Portland Scottish Rite Temple Preservation Foundation are not used for the day-to-day operations of the facility or fraternity.
The Active Members of the Supreme Council will meet in Executive Session on Saturday, August 21, to conduct necessary business. Elections for the Knight Commander Court of Honour and the 33rd Degree will be conducted in normal fashion.
The Orient of Oregon Ceremonies of Honour for the Orient recipients will be held on Saturday, September 11th, 2021, at the Salem Scottish Rite Temple. The times of practices, Investitures, and Coronations will be announced after further event planning takes place. The traditional awards banquet will not be held at this occasion.
Morals & Dogma Annotated Edition Audiobook Discussion with Art de Hoyos
Scottish Rite-SJ Members can now enjoy Morals & Dogma the Annotated Edition Audiobook FREE in the Members only section of ScottishRite.org. In this interview, Grand Archivist and author of the book Arturo de Hoyos discusses how the book came together and how serendipity brings us the full work on the anniversary of Albert Mackey communicating the degrees to Albert Pike.
Tuesday, March 30th, 2021, at 7pm the Portland Valley will premiere the Ainsworth Chapter of Knights Rose Croix Ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal for 2021 on our Valley’s YouTube channel.
Your online viewing attendance is encouraged as we honor our dear departed Scottish Rite Brethren of the preceding year and usher in hope for increasing light in the year to come.
Once the performance is premieres on March 30th at 7pm it will be available for streaming.
The role of the workmen has been called and, one Master Mason, Illustrious Brother Howard M. Woods, 33°, has not answered to his name. He has laid down the working tools of life and with them has left that mortal part for which he no longer has use. His labors here below have taught him to divest his heart and conscience of the vices and superfluity of life, thereby fitting his mind as a living stone for that spiritual building, that house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. Strengthened in his labors here by faith in God, and confident of expectation of immortality, he has been granted admission to the Celestial Lodge above. His Brethren mourn the passing of a great man and Mason. He will be missed.
Howard Mark Woods was born May 18, 1928 in Wheatland, Wyoming. He was a Barber in Eugene. He was a member and Past Master of McKenzie River Lodge #195 in Eugene. He served Grand Lodge as District Deputy for several years. He received the Scottish Rite degrees in the Eugene Valley 4º-14º October 25, 1966, 18º Nov. 15, 30º Nov. 21 and the 32º Nov. 29, 1966. He was elected Knight Commander of the Court of Honour on October 16, 1989 and Coroneted Inspector General Honorary 33º Nov. 11, 1995. He served as Eugene Valley Secretary, Treasurer and Personal Representative to the SGIG, for a while all at the same time. He was a Scottish Rite Mason for 65 years. He died February 21, 2021 in Eugene.
