Category: Portland Valley Scottish Rite

At one-thirty o’clock pm on Thursday, June 12th, 1902, on the second day of the 52^nd 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 12^th, 2021, marks the 119^th 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.

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. 

The Scottish Rite 
congratulates Illustrious Brother Duane Hugulet!  

The Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Oregon and MWBr. Ron Eggers, 33º, Immediate Past Grand Master, has seen fit to honor Ill. Bro. Duane Hugulet, 33º, as the Mason of the year for 2020.

The Brethren of Portland Valley of the A.&A. Scottish Rite of Freemasonry wholeheartedly agree and congratulate Ill. Bro. Duane on this momentous occasion.

Well earned and done Illustrious Brother! 

Click to access OMN_March_2021.pdf

Brethren,

The role of the workman has been called and, one Master Mason, Tomey R. Greer, 32°, H.P.G.M., 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.

Honorary Past Grand Master, M.W. Brother Tomey Ray Greer, 32°, was born on March 11th, 1946 in Seattle Washington and passed to the Celestial Lodge in Rainier Oregon on January 30th, 2021. M.W.Br. Tomey was raised on November 17th, 1975 in Rainier Lodge No. 24 A.F. & A.M. of Oregon and served his first time as Worshipful Master there in 1979, he was also a Blue Lodge member of Clatskanie Lodge No. 133, St. Helens Lodge No. 32, and Tigard-Orenomah Lodge No. 207 A.F.&A.M. of Oregon. He held many positions in Masonry over the years including District Deputy of District No. 1 and was voted to the position of Honorary Past Grand Master in 2010. M.W.Br. Tomey joined the Scottish Rite Portland Valley in 2006. He was also a member of Al Kader Wilsonville Temple of the A.A.O. of the Mystic Shrine.

Memorial Service information will be shared as soon as the family has a chance to make the arrangements.

Valleys and Lodges Can Help Provide Meals for Victims and First Responders of the Santiam Canyon Fire

Since the onset of the catastrophic Oregon wildfires of 2020, Silverton Elks Lodge #2210 has been providing meals and other aid to members of the community, fire fighters, and first responders impacted by the Santiam Canyon Fire. The lodge’s funds are dwindling and help is needed. Portland Lodge No. 55 and the Portland Valley Scottish Rite Acacia Fund recently each donated $2,000 to the cause and asks that other Valleys and lodges with available funds follow suit.
For more information, please visit www.silvertonelks.com or email silverelks@wavecable.com.

RWB Adam Bayer
Portland Lodge No. 55
A.F. & A.M. of Oregon