You and Your Family Are Cordially Invited! Join your fellow Freemasons and their families as we come together to honor the outstanding leadership and dedicated service of our Most Worshipful Grand Master, Richard D. Varner.
Date: Saturday, August 22 Time: 1:00 PM Location: Veterans Memorial Building, 1626 Willamette Street, Eugene, Oregon Menu: Hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken, bratwurst, vegan garden burgers, mac and cheese, and tomato-cucumber salad.
This special event, hosted by McKenzie River Lodge No. 195 and Eugene Lodge No. 11, is a wonderful opportunity for members and their families to celebrate the values and fellowship that unite us in Freemasonry.
To ensure we can accommodate everyone, please submit a separate RSVP for each member of your family or party by August 10. Our venue can welcome up to 175 guests. RSVP here: bit.ly/GMreceptionRSVP
Parking Details: On-site parking is limited and reserved for guests with mobility concerns. If you are able, kindly use street parking in the surrounding neighborhood.
We look forward to sharing this memorable occasion with you and your loved ones as we honor Most Worshipful Brother Varner’s contributions to our Masonic family.
All Scottish Rite Freemasons and members of the Masonic Family of Oregon are cordially invited to join the Oregon DeMolay for a memorable evening of fellowship, celebration, and tribute.
On April 11, 2026, Oregon DeMolay will host a special Hall of Fame Gala and Tribute Banquet honoring three distinguished Oregon Masons whose lives of service, leadership, and dedication have left a lasting impact on DeMolay, Freemasonry, and their communities.
During this special evening, Oregon DeMolay will celebrate the lives and achievements of:
Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Joseph W. Jarvis, 33° Brother John P. Ley Brother Ronald Gamble, 32°
Most Worshipful Brother Joseph W. Jarvis, 33° will be formally inducted into the Oregon DeMolay Hall of Fame, recognizing his lifetime of extraordinary service and his unwavering commitment to mentoring young men and strengthening the bonds of our Masonic fraternity.
Together, we will honor these remarkable men whose leadership and example embody the highest ideals of service, integrity, and brotherhood.
The celebration will take place at the Al Kader Center in Wilsonville, Oregon, and will include a Gala Banquet, Tribute Ceremony, and special entertainment throughout the evening, featuring a command performance by renowned pianist Maria Setiawan and live music by the popular Oregon band Billy and the Rockets.
Spouses, family members, and friends are warmly invited and encouraged to attend, as we gather to recognize the enduring contributions of these outstanding members of the Oregon Masonic community.
Event Details April 11, 2026
Cocktail Reception and Music by Billy & the Rockets at 5:00 PM Dinner and Concert Performance by Pianist Myrna Setiawan at 6:00 PM Al Kader Center Wilsonville, Oregon
Gala Banquet Tickets Tickets for you, your spouse, family, and friends for the gala banquet and induction ceremony may be purchased online at: https://ordemolay.regfox.com/hall-of-fame-2026
Please join us for this special evening as Oregon DeMolay celebrates the lives, achievements, and lasting legacy of three extraordinary Oregon Masons.
Fraternally, Oregon DeMolay Celebrating the next 100 Amazing Years of DeMolay in Oregon
October 20, 2025 Medford Valley of the A. & A. Scottish Rite Feast of Tishri
This date is approaching quickly and we have not had a lot response from the membership on if you plan on attending the Feast of Tishri. RSVP’s are due next week on October 13th, 2025.
The Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection, Bro. Spiering, is the contact point for the event or you can call the Medford Scottish Rite Valley at (541) 772-2205. I hope to see you all there.
This is one of the four mandatory dinners of the Medford Valley.
Fraternally,
Ill. Bro. Bob Crum, 33° PR for the Medford Valley for the SGIG of Oregon
This Saturday, October 11th at 9:00 am (PST) the Scottish Rite Orient of Oregon will be holding a Leadership Workshop for all Orient Leadership.
Turning the Master’s Key: Unlocking Leadership, and Building Foundations
Guest Speakers:
Ill. Bro. Jorge Franchi, 33°, Supreme Council CFO – Valley Financial and Asset Management
Ill. Bro. Bob Weatherford, 33°, Supreme Council Manager of Member Information Services – Receiving the Masonic Loan
Bro. Erik Arneson, 32°, KCCH Elect – Managing a Google Calendar & Orient Website
Ill. Bro. Nate Neff, 33°, Orient Secretary General – Orient Orientation and Organization
Bro. Rich Nowacki, 32°, KCCH, Supreme Council Donor Officer Western Region – The Great Wealth Transfer (and what to do about it)
Bro. Rob Hale, 32°, KCCH – The Valley Membership Achievement Project
Ill. Bro. Rick Komraus, 33°, SGIG of Oregon – Valley Expectations
All Valley Officers are requested to attend.
Due to the issues of public access to Zoom, for this event you must register in advance in order to attend. Registration link below, this is only available to current Scottish Rite Masons in the Orient of Oregon.
With a little surprise in the Newly Elected SGIGs.
Congratulations to Illustrious Brother Richard Komraus on His Election to Sovereign Grand Inspector General and Active Member of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council at this Biennial!
We are proud to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Illustrious Brother Rick on his new election. This significant achievement is a testament to our Brother’s dedicated service, leadership, and unwavering commitment to our shared Masonic principles. It reflects the high regard in which he is held by his brethren and the confidence we have in his ability to uphold the values of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.
We celebrate this well-deserved recognition and look forward to his continued contributions and leadership within the Scottish Rite in Oregon and around the world.
Well done Brother Rick—your dedication and accomplishments are truly an inspiration to us all!
In case you want to skip to the end here’s Ill. Brother Grand Commander Cole’s closing remarks.
Tuesday Sept. 9th the Portland Valley welcomes Most Worshipful Brother Marc Strong
Date: Saturday, September 6th, 2025 Location: Wenatchee Masonic Center (811 No. Chelan Ave) and Hilton Garden Inn (25 N. Worthen St) Schedule: 8:00 AM 33° Rehearsal 9:00 AM Pastries and coffee available 10:00 AM KCCH Conferral 12:00 PM Light Lunch 2:00 PM Conferral of 33° 6:00 PM Social 6:45 PM Banquet Meals
Honours Ceremonies in the Orient of Oregon for 2025 will be held at the Portland Valley Scottish Rite Temple & the Portland Yacht Club on November the 1st, 2025. Ticket information to follow at a later date.
November 1st Agenda:
1:00pm – 33° Coronation, Lodge Hall [For 33° and Elect]
3:30pm – KCCH Investiture, Main Auditorium [All Masons and their Guests]
6:30pm – Honors & Awards Banquet, Portland Yacht Club [Honourmen, Award Recipients, Orient & Valley Leadership, and their guests.]
Fraternal Greetings members of the Orient of Oregon,
It is my pleasure to congratulate the newest honor men for 2025-2026. Please join me in congratulating these honors recipients!
The following Brethren have been elected by the Supreme Council to receive the 32°, Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, Red Cap,for the 2025 Biennium.
Baker Valley: Darrin T. Ward, & Christopher C. Warren
Eugene Valley: Brandon R. Curran, Andre J. Cvitanich, & Christopher S. Wig
Klamath Falls Valley: Jason T. Card
Medford Valley: John J. Lohrfink
Portland Valley: Erik L. Arneson, Lawrence P. Burbidge, & W. Garrett Haugen
Salem Velley: William M. McMillan
The following Brethren have been elected by the Supreme Council to receive the 33°, Inspector General Honorary, White Cap,for the 2025 Biennium.
Baker Valley: Timothy J. Best, & John F. Ferguson
Coos Bay Valley: Stephen N. Shannon, & Thomas P. Shine
Eugene Valley: Steven A. Karner
Klamath Falls Valley: Lance L. Lesueur
Medford Valley: Edward V. Davis
Portland Valley: Damon L. Van Beek
These men have shown qualities that make them leaders in their valleys and the Orient of Oregon.
It is obvious from my discussions with various valleys that some members have yet to be properly acknowledged for their contributions. Unfortunately, our system is not without its flaws. I would like to especially acknowledge Brother Billy Thompson and Brother Steve Larrance for their contributions to the Medford Valley. Their dedication and integrity have been a key factor in the Valley’s success.
Sincerely & Fraternally, Richard Komraus, 33° Deputy of the Supreme Council in the Orient of Oregon Supreme Council, 33° | Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ, USA
Supreme Council Biennial Session & 33° Conferral Aug. 17-19, 2025
Information for 33° Honorees is at the link button below.
It is strongly encouraged for all Orient of Oregon 33° Elect to attend the 33° Conferral & Biennial Session in D.C. Please note, the main hotel is full as of today but there are alternative hotels in the area. This is an international Masonic event, and a once in a lifetime opportunity to be coroneted, be sure to take advantage of it.
Honours Ceremonies in the Orient of Oregon for 2025 will be held at the Portland Valley Scottish Rite Temple & the Portland Yacht Club on November the 1st, 2025. Ticket information to follow at a later date.
November 1st Agenda:
1:00pm – 33° Coronation, Lodge Hall [For 33° and Elect]
3:30pm – KCCH Investiture, Main Auditorium [All Masons and their Guests]
6:30pm – Honors & Awards Banquet, Portland Yacht Club [Honourmen, Award Recipients, Orient & Valley Leadership, and their guests.]
The roll of the workman has been called and one Master Mason, Illustrious Brother Norman Peterson, 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 vice 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.
Brother Norman D. Peterson, 33°, was born in Spokane, Washington, February 9th, 1928, and passed to the Celestial Lodge in May of 2025 in Vancouver Washington.
At the age of 14, Brother Norm joined La Grange, a fraternal organization founded after the Civil War by four Freemasons and three Odd Fellows, utilizing the ancient Greek Eleusinian Mysteries as its basis, according to him. Both his mother and father were members of the Grange.
He received his Entered Apprentice degree on February 8, 1954; his Fellow Craft on April 26, 1954; and his Master Mason degree on May 28, 1954, within his father’s home in Washington state under Malden Lodge No. 188, F. & A.M. of Washington. He was also a member of the Walter F. Meier Lodge of Research No. 281, F. & A.M. of Washington.
While in college, Norm worked part-time as a library clerk, gaining access to many books and developing one of his passions—indexing. He earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in psychology, a Bachelor’s in education with minors in math and biology, and taught classes at the University of Portland.
His Masonic scholarly work began in 1957 when he authored two articles for the Scottish Rite magazine then called “NEW AGE.” Over the years, he published numerous articles in various Masonic publications such as Heredom, Philalethes, and Quatuor Coronati. His research papers for the Portland Valley Scottish Rite and the Research Lodge of Oregon are numerous and are now being collected and archived in the library for future study.
Brother Norm was a 33° member of the Vancouver Valley Scottish Rite. In 1966, he affiliated with the Research Lodge of Oregon No. 198, where he held a Life Membership. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and a Fellow of the Philalethes Masonic Research Society. A recipient of the 60-year Masonic Service Award in 2018, he also received the 70-year service award in 2024 and was made an Honorary Past Master of the Research Lodge of Oregon No. 198.
He was a generous contributor to Masonic literature, donating hundreds of books to the Portland Valley Library, which was re-dedicated in his honor in May 2016 as the Simon-Fahrion-Peterson Scottish Rite Memorial Library.
At the remarkable age of 97, Brother Norm was still actively drafting Masonic articles and indexes, working on various projects both independently and with fellow Masonic scholars.
His contributions to Masonic education are profound, and he will be deeply missed. Memorial arrangements are underway and will be shared when available.
It is the mission of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, to improve its members and enhance the communities in which they live by teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth, while actively embracing high social, moral, and spiritual values, including fellowship, compassion, and dedication to God, family, and country.
The Scottish Rite Creed
Human Progress is our cause Liberty of Thought our supreme wish Freedom of Conscience our mission, and the Guarantee of Equal Rights To All People Everywhere our ultimate goal.
The Orient of Missouri is having another broadcast of their Cinematic Reunion July 25-28, 2024. Current Scottish Rite members of the 32° or higher are welcome to signup for the broadcast. Prospective Members or Candidates who have not been conferred the 32° will need to be balloted on by their Valley and receive dispensation to participate in this experience.
As a reminder, if you attended any of the previous Cinematic Reunions, you may login with your same user credentials to view and participate in any upcoming Cinematic Reunion Experience.
