September is here and it is time for our first Thursday Dinner.
We will celebrate the Feast of Tishri, Thursday night, September 3, at 6:30 pm.
It will be the Past Grand Master’s Salmon Bake.
MWB John will prepare Salmon, or Chicken for the Land Lubbers, and Jan is practicing her Chocolate cake for the Jerry Frank Cake Contest at the fair.
Please let me know if you will be joining us by replying to this e-mail or calling at 503 363-9240.
Hope to see you there,
Dave
Mankind throughout history has found light to be the dispeller of both internal and external darkness. Early civilizations believed that knowledge was imparted by the god of the sun through its descending rays of light. Hence light and knowledge are now, in many cases, synonymous terms.
Light is the primary symbol in Freemasonry. It is the first significant symbol that is offered to the entered apprentice and is paramount in the first ritual of every brother’s Masonic career. This initial instruction is the very essence of Speculative Masonry, which at its foundation, is the contemplation of inner light and universal truth.
Light is the essence of humanity. It is this inner light that emanates in the form of positive emotions like love, compassion, hope, gratitude and awe. It is when we are experiencing this inner light that we are closest to our creator. We kindle this internal light through benevolent labors such as charity, forgiveness, friendship and self-sacrifice to name but a few.
“What light is to the outer physical world, intellect is to the inner world of consciousness”
Arthur Schopenhauer
We learn in masonry that even though there may be no outer source of light there is always an inner source, which lay beyond the body or the five senses. Spirituality is simply our inner search for understanding and happiness, which can only be gained by searching for the inner light that is within us all.
“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Matthew 5:15
Once we understand that God’s divine spark is within us all and that we are a reflection of this divine consciousness, we begin to understand that the light from this enlightened individual positively affects not only himself but also all those that surround him.
When we, as masons, seek and find this inner light within us, we have the capacity like God, to bring physical light into a dark world. In fact, when we are acting most like God, is when we are sharing both physical and spiritual light with our fellow man.
The Kabbalists would call this “the will to bestow” and it is in this realm that we learn about the universe through our “6th” sense or rather, learn about those things which cannot be sensed with the five senses.
“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.”
Plato
The power of light can be proved with a single candle. For example, Lets imagine a room that is void of light and in complete darkness. All one must do is light a candle and the darkness flees. Regardless of how much more darkness you put into the room it cannot defeat the light of a single candle. Conversely, the more light one has within a darkened room the less darkness there is. Light always concurs darkness.
Our duty as masons is to share the truth of this inner light with mankind through deeds, words and actions.
I pray that the light always shines on you, through you and in you my brothers.
Larry Roberts 32°, Portland Valley Treasurer. Member of Modesto Lodge 206, Esoterika Lodge 227 and Research Lodge #198.
The ceremony for the 33° was presented at the Washington DC Scottish Temple on August 25, 2015.
Pictured below from left to right, Dale Vanderpool 33°, Gary Kuney 33° S.G.I.G., Bill Anton 33°, Rick Komraus 33°
Congratulations brothers!
click on picture to enlarge
All Masons and their ladies are invited. Reservation in advance is required for this event by no later than Friday August 28th. Just email officemanager@portlandsr.com or call the Valley office at 503-226-7827 for reservations.
Schedule
5:30 pm Social
6:00 pm Seating
6:10 pm Commencement with festivities and Dinner to follow.
Those things that are most important in our lives cannot be “truly” obtained by shortcutting.
Last week I watched a documentary on the epidemic of cheating by college students. Some have purchased elaborate microphones and listening devices so that they can whisper the question into a tiny microphone and have someone else not even in the same building doing the answers for them and relaying it back to the student who is wearing a listening device that is so small it cannot be detected in the testing students ear.
More than 40% of students had admitted to cheating in college leaving me to believe that the number is much higher. When those that admitted to cheating were asked why, nearly all of them stated that the pressure of getting good grades has forced them to cheat in order to get access to the right jobs and graduate programs.
The problem with this type of cheating is that those cheating student who are getting their diploma will be one day be placed in their vocation and expected to perform at a level of competency that they have not yet acquired. Let’s presuppose that one of those cheaters is your doctor…do we really want him doing your operation. Given that 40% of students admit to cheating the possibility of your doctor being one of those students who cheated in order to get his diploma is pretty high.
All of us are very aware that the higher one moves up the social ladder the less likely they are to be held liable for their dishonest behavior. Nowhere do we see this more than in big business and politics. To this day nobody in the banking business that nearly destroyed the strongest financial system in the world in 2008 have even been charged with a misdemeanor. Even more recently the M. F. Global CEO Jon Corzine took over a billion dollars out of individual’s personal accounts and then gambled on Greek debt derivatives, leaving many of the investors without their money. Given that he is a personal friend of the President no charges have as yet been filed for this theft.
Entropy exists in every aspect of our world and those that build their lives upon a less than honorable foundation will find that the probability of chaos and deterioration upon their current environments will be greatly enhanced.
Lastly, we as Knights of the 29th degree believe that we are building a sacred temple within ourselves and its construction is far more important than a large house and a yacht to ski behind. We also know that this internal temple must be constructed with a solid foundation of finished ashlars, the ashlars take time and effort to chisel away the rough parts. It takes sweat, determination and the understanding that there is no shortcuts during the construction of this internal temple suitable for the habitation of God.
Larry Roberts 32°, Portland Valley Treasurer. Member of Modesto Lodge 206, Esoterika Lodge 227 and Research Lodge #198.
For all Oregon Scottish Rite members wishing to attend, Bro. Paul Blackburn 32° KCCH will be giving a Directors Class on Saturday, August 8th 10 am to 2 pm.
Have you ever thought of being a director of a Scottish Rite Degree?
Now you have the chance to learn!
On Saturday August 8th at 10:00 am the Portland Valley Scottish Rite will be having a Directors Class for aspiring actors and directors.
Of all the activities and events the Scottish Rite has to offer the Degrees are at the Heart of what we do at the Rite.
Come find out the ins and outs of the Portland Valley Stage craft and how to manage the action behind the scenes that keeps the heart of the Scottish Rite pumping with new Life and Light.
We will be having a number of current directors as well as members of the stage crew on hand to share their experience.
Schedule
10:00 am Doors Open
12:00 noon Lunch
Please RSVP as soon as possible. 1-503-226-7827
Oregon Scottish Rite is proud to announce our 2015 S.G.I.G. award recipients:
Baker – Lynn A. Halliday 32°
Baker – Martin RaVell Patterson 32° KCCH
Coos Bay – Fritz H. Thomas III 32° KCCH
Portland – Edwin H. Radford 32° KSA
Salem – Don L. Broxson 32° KCCH
Salem – Richard E. MacKinnon 32°
Salem – Creighton R. Marlette 32°
Salem – Claude A. Weldin 32°
Click on the pictures below to enlarge
My Brethren,
The roll of the workmen has been called, and one Master Mason of Beaverton Lodge No. 100 and member of the Portland Valley Scottish Rite, Illustrious Brother Edward D. Bednarz, 33°, has not answered to his name. He has laid down the working tools of the Craft and with them he has left that mortal part for which he no longer has use and traveled to that undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns.
Illustrious Brother Ed passed on Saturday, July 11th, 2015. As further details are available updates will be posted.
Brother Dale Vanderpool 32° KCCH of the Eugene Valley presents a $5,000 check from the Walter and Shirlee Peters Scholarship to Amanda Boechler who will be attending Oregon State University this fall. Amanda will be majoring in chemical engineering.