Passing of Ill. Deary Vaughn, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, United Supreme Council AASR (PHA) SJ

Photo: Ill. Deary Vaughn, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, United Supreme Council AASR (PHA) SJ

Brethren,

The role of the workman has been called and, one Master Mason, Ill. Deary Vaughn, 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, 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.

December 14, 2020

On behalf of the Supreme Council, 33°, A.& A.S.R. of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, I extend my condolences and heartfelt prayers to the family of Illustrious Deary Vaughn, 33°, who served as Sovereign Grand Commander of the United Supreme Council AASR (PHA) SJ from 2003 until his passing today.

To my Brethren and friends of the United Supreme Council AASR (PHA) SJ, I offer to you my prayers and my pledge of continuing support. You have lost a great leader and an outstanding Mason.

As with all who met him, I count it an honor to have called Deary my friend and Brother. He extended the kindest courtesies to me whenever I was in his presence, and he truly walked the Masonic path.

To his successor, Illustrious Corey D. Hawkins, 33°, and the other officers of his Council, I have pledged our continued support and best wishes as they deal with this significant loss.

I will miss my good friend. May his memory continue in our hearts as we continue our Masonic journey that he himself traveled so well.

Sincerely and fraternally,
James D. Cole, 33°,
Sovereign Grand Commander, A. & A.S.R. of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A.

Passing of Brother James Godier, 32° K.C.C.H.

Brethren,

The role of the workman has been called and, one Master Mason, Worshipful Brother James Godier, 32° K.C.C.H., 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.

December 12th our Brother James Godier 32 K.C.C.H. passed to the Celestial Lodge at the age of 81 years old. He had been a Mason for 49 ½ years and was due to receive his 50 year pin May 18, 2021. He has served as the Worshipful Master of Hermiston Lodge No. 138 and the Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of A.F.&A.M. of Oregon. He went through the degrees of Scottish Rite in 1974 and in 2003 received his Red Hat in the K.C.C.H. WB Godier will be greatly missed.

Fraternally,
Timothy J. Best, 32°
General Secretary
Pendleton Valley

Holiday Speech & Language Charity News

Speech & Language Charity News

The holidays are upon us and year’s end fast approaches. With the cold and inclement weather outside let us review some of the bright spots resulting from your Scottish Rite Speech & Language Charity.

Both University of Oregon and Portland State University Speech and Language programs have continued and thrived during the Covid pandemic. Over the past years the Scottish Rite Speech & Language Charity has provided funds for screenings, evaluations and speech therapy to young children throughout Oregon.

Our support has included funding for Tele-Practice development which has enabled both Universities to transition from in-person therapy to 100% remote service, and expanded the geographical range state wide of that service. Children on the coast, central, southern and eastern Oregon now receive speech therapy one to two times a week.

The Scottish Rite of Free Masonry Speech & Language Charity funding is helping to support the training of 84 Master’s students at PSU and 72 at the U of O. These Speech Language Pathologist’s (SLP’s) in-training know that Scottish Rite of Oregon is assisting in their development and will carry that knowledge into the field when they have completed the program. While a few will leave Oregon, the vast majority remain in state providing service to Oregon children.

The two universities are conducting free therapy one to two times a week for over 120 children between 2 and 17 years old.

Your Speech & Language Board is looking ahead to encouraging both Universities to expand therapy, screening and evaluation services for children even further state-wide. Your individual and Valley support of this Scottish Rite charity is needed now more then ever. Please consider us in your Valley budgets and individual tax and estate planning.

In Brotherhood,
Bill Anton 33°
Chairman Orient Charities

Oregon “Two-Week Freeze” implements new restrictions on Fraternal Meetings 12/01/2020

Grand Master’s Guidance Nov. 30, 2020

The current FAQs regarding Fraternal Orders can be found at: https://sharedsystems.dhsoha.state.or.us/DHSForms/Served/le2390r.pdf

And additional resources and information can be found at:
https://govstatus.egov.com/or-covid-19?gclid=Cj0KCQiAzZL-BRDnARIsAPCJs73dkvh8vmbEC_0-NZu_h6C5_YDiGwrcXZYdh5_B2nWgZUAXEzCDAU0aAsl1EALw_wcB

More information will be available on December 3rd, 2020 from the State Governor’s office.

Elks Lodge fire relief efforts need support

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

Appointment of the Orient Personal Representative for the S.G.I.G. in the Orient of Oregon

Ill. Br. Vanderpool

Dear Brethren,

It is my honor and privilege to introduce to you my new Personal Representative for the Orient of Oregon, Illustrious Brother Dale Vanderpool, 33º, Inspector General Honorary. Br. Dale brings great leadership skills and insights from the workings of the Scottish Rite Valley of Eugene. He has been a valuable member of the Masonic Community and served on the Scottish Rite’s charity and Orient committees for many years. Please welcome him, and thank you, Brother Dale, for your service to the Craft.

Fraternally,
Gary Kuney, 33°
Grand Chamberlain &
S.G.I.G. in Oregon

November Stated Meeting of the Medford Valley Scottish Rite

Hello Brothers,
We will be holding our November Stated Meeting on Nov.09,2020 at 7:00pm
at the Medford Scottish Rite Center.
This has been a trying year for everyone, but we are going try and get
back on track and have a successful year.
Please try and come if you are able, as we will be discussing the
proposed budget.
If you can’t come you can request a copy of the proposed budget by
calling the Secretary and a copy will be sent to you.
We look forward to a great turnout and we will see you soon.

Ed Davis
General Secretary

Cancelation of the 4th & 14th Degrees in Portland

Dear Brethren,

Due to the increasing concern for the health and safety of our Members and attendees the decision has been made to cancel the conferral of the 4th & 14th Degrees that was scheduled a few weeks from today on November 21st in Portland.

I am very sorry to be the bearer of this news, I know that many of our prospective candidates are anxiously awaiting the next opportunity to join the Scottish Rite and I along with all our ritualists are looking forward to a time we will be able to perform our beautiful degrees in one of our Fraternity’s oldest stately edifices designed for an entertaining and educational initiatory experience.

This was a difficult decision but the safety of our Members and candidates is our chief priority and not something we can take lightly.

I am hopeful that later this month we will be able to return to meeting in downtown. At this time it is still planned to hold our Elections and Installation of Officers on November 24th but that meeting may shift to an online Zoom meeting if safety concerns are still present. Please keep an eye out for updates on upcoming meetings.

Until then I hope we can remember the lessons of the 14th degree that “Perfect Elus are both bound and free: bound by their obligation and free from prejudice, intolerance and envy“, and the lesson of the Stoic Marcus Aurelius, “waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.

Sincerely & Fraternally,
Bro. Nathan Neff, 32°, KCCH,
Personal Representative
Portland Valley, Orient of Oregon