This coming Tuesday the 16th of February, at 7:00 pm, the Portland Valley Scottish Rite will confer the 31st Degree of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, “Inspector Inquisitor” or “Initiate of the Egyptian Mysteries”.
All Scottish Rite Members of the 30th° or higher are welcome to attend. Visiting Brethren will need current dues card showing membership in the Scottish Rite.
The Duty of the Thirty-First Degree is “Judge yourself in the same light as you judge others consider both actions and motives.” The Lesson of the degree teaches “the good man is able to portray himself and his actions positively and not simply assert the absence of wrong in his life. Justice and mercy are two opposites which unite in the great harmony of equity. To aim at the best but be content with the best possible is true wisdom.”
Schedule
6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Degree
After the degree there will be a cast party and social in the Members Lounge.
Please RSVP for dinner reservations no later than 11:00 am on Monday the 15th. Any requests that come in after the cut off will go on the standby list. Email officemanager@portlandsr.com to RSVP.
It doesn’t matter how fast light travels, darkness is always there to meet it
I am very proud to say that my son, Cory Roberts, recently joined Portland Lodge 55 as an Entered Apprentice. Several days after his EA degree he began asking me questions about the ritual and its meanings. I must admit that it has been some years since I took out the EA tracing board, but every time that I do I’m amazed at the beauty and wisdom that is held within its sublime scene.
What first struck me was the black and white checkered floor. This floor represents our physical state of being, or rather the lower material element within us. These checkered floor tiles are all of equal dimension and are equally spaced between each other. This tells us that everything within our mundane world is split into two opposite aspects. Like the checkered floor within our blue lodges we see this power of opposites everywhere around us in the natural world and even within our own bodies… brain, lungs, kidneys, arms and legs all have opposites. In truth there is nothing earthly which with a bit of contemplation and clarity we cannot recognize its complementary opposite.
Some brothers might mistakenly think that we should endeavor to step only on the white tiles and avoid the black, but the answer to this is a resounding no. It is far beyond our power and ability to only step on the white tiles. The first real task of the mason seeking wisdom is to attempt to rise above this material dualism. In order to do this we must adjust our vision to see beyond the material, i.e. we must become masters of our lower nature and bodily tendencies. For example, when evil and despair dominate our environment the wise mason would recognize these as having the same educational values as that of a pleasant condition. Life is a hard teacher and if we are good masonic students it leads us from the material drudgery of the mundane to the spiritual value of true understanding.
Our ritual states that the black and white tiled floor is for the High Priest of the temple to walk upon. We should recognize that we are the High Priests of our bodies and that as we walk upon the black and white tiles of our existence, we must use the lessons learned to create within ourselves, that holy temple which, once properly constructed, is fit for the habitation of God.
When constructing the spiritual temple within ourselves, states the cabalist, it is to be supported by three great pillars…Wisdom, Strength and Beauty. Wisdom to construct the building; Strength to support the structure and Beauty to characterize its every aspect.
We must remember that it is both the light and the darkness which allows us to chip away at the rough edges of the ashlar in order to construct the Sactum Sanctorium within us. Only by traveling upon and then reflecting on the white and black tiles can we aspire to truly understand the Royal Secret of equilibrium.
I wish you well my brothers in the construction of your inner temple.
Larry Roberts 32° KCCH, Portland Valley Executive Director/Treasurer. Member of Modesto Lodge 206, Esoterika Lodge 227 and Research Lodge 198.
The following was written by our Portland Valley Scottish Rite Historian Michael D. Robinson 32° KSA and delivered by Wayne Ford 32° KSA at the unveiling of our most recent bust addition, which is a rendering of our current S.G.I.G. Garry W. Kuney, 33º Active.
A Bust is a sculpted or cast representation of the upper part of the human figure, so Wikipedia tells us. The making of such creations date back thousands of years, and can probably be attributed to man’s desire to be remembered and live beyond the grave. Gods, Heroes and men of renown were honored and their likenesses passed to future generations by these sculpted and cast works. If fortune favored them their stories lived on as well.
The first use of Busts in the Oregon Scottish Rite dates back to the mid 1920’s, in part because the Rite in its earlier days could not afford such works unless funded by individual members. Photography had developed in the mid nineteenth century allowing the common man to be remembered by his contemporaries and those who followed, and many such photos exist of our founding members. Painted Portraiture, another well-established manor of immortalizing those with the means, was still in use and a number of portraits of our nineteenth century brethren have been found, including those of all our past and present S.G.I.G.’s displayed here in our building.
The written history of the Oregon Scottish Rite did not record much about the busts of our Sovereign Grand Inspector Generals, among the few facts related was mention of a bust of the Grand Commander John Henry Cowles donated by Inspector Clarke. This is an error, as we find that the Portland Valley did receive a bust generously donated by Louis G. Clarke 33° in 1925, but it was of our great Ill. Brother Albert Pike. This piece was created in 1924 by the 32° Freemason Ulrich Stonewall Jackson Dunbar (1862-1927), whose cast bust of Albert Pike also graces many Scottish Rite Temples across the country.
The first bust of an Oregon S.G.I.G. was that of Philip Schuyler Malcolm. It is little wonder that this great Mason would be honored in such a manner. Through his efforts the Rite in Oregon went from considering relinquishing its charter in 1890, to building this magnificent building in 1902, to having in the neighborhood of 4,000 members by 1929. Unfortunately, the details of the commission and date of this work are yet uncovered. However, we do know that the work was carried out by the Italian sculptor Pompeo Luigi Coppini (1870-1957), another 32° Scottish Rite Freemason. Brother Coppini came to America at the age of 26 and sculpted many famous works across the United States, as well as a few in Italy and Mexico. His sculptures of Sam Houston and George Washington grace the doors of the San Antonio Scottish Rite, where he was a member. He likely came to the attention of the Portland Valley in 1927 when his statue of George Washington was placed in front of the former Friendship Masonic Center in NE Portland. It may be around this time that Brother Malcolm’s sculpture was commissioned, but as the date was not found on the work it is currently unknown.
The sculpture of Louis G. Clarke was created in 1938 by the sculptor Alonzo Victor Lewis (1886-1946). Mr. Lewis was based in Seattle and his works can be found primarily in the state of Washington. Among the many contributions of Brother Clarke, was the recording of the early events in the history of the Oregon Scottish Rite. He also worked tirelessly to have all Oregon children educated. He was a talented man and Mason, and was very successful in his life. Oregon Freemasons are still helped to this day by the Trusts created in his name, and many of our beautiful artifacts and pieces of furniture were donated by him to the Rite.
The bust of Leslie Scott was created by Gifford MacGregor Proctor (1912-2006) the son of the sculptor Alexander Proctor. G. Proctor’s work can be found in government buildings in Louisiana, Montana, Oregon and Washington State. This work is also undated. Brother Scott was the first of our S.G.I.G.’s to be born in Oregon. He was the son of the famous Editor Harvey Scott, Leslie wrote many books and edited many more including the chapter on Oregon Freemasonry in Gould’s Masonic History. “His activities at the Scottish Rite were quite extensive as would be expected of a strong leader.”
The sculptures of Clarence Phillips and David O. Johnson were created in 1991 and 1992 respectively by the same artist. Brother Phillips was a highly respected attorney. “The services rendered by Inspector Phillips to the community, state and Masonic Fraternity were both numerous and extensive.” Along with his service to the Rite he gave nearly 20 years ‘diligent work’ for the benefit of the Portland Shrine Hospital for children. He was honored by his successor, David O. Johnson, in a ceremony on September 3, 1991, when his bust, created by the artist and sculptor Francisco Reynders, was dedicated in the Scottish Rite Temple. Francisco Reynders (1929-1996) was a Dutch Fine Artist, Theatrical designer and renowned Mime. He settled in Portland and taught at Lewis and Clark College. Mr. Reynders created the bust of Ill. David O. Johnson in 1992 which was presented to the Rite that same year.
This brings us to tonight’s event and our current S.G.I.G. Ill. Gary W. Kuney, whose bust joins the honored members in this hall, to be remembered by the brethren of today and the future for his role in shaping the Scottish Rite in Oregon.
Michael D. Robinson 32° KSA, was the second Master Mason Raised in Esoterika Lodge #227, and the first member Raised in that Lodge to serve as Worshipful Master. He was elected Master in 2013 and 2014, and currently serves as Chaplin for that Lodge. Brother Robinson was appointed Historian for the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Orient of Oregon in December of 2014, and Secretary of the Eugene Valley in March of 2015. He also serves as Historian for Research Lodge #198 and Eugene Lodge #11. He is the recipient of the “Novus Astorum” from the Scottish Rite in 2010, and the Hiram Award from Esoterika Lodge in 2012.
Brother Robinson has a degree in History from Colorado State University, class of 1982
All Portland Valley Scottish Rite Members and a guest are invited to attend the Sweethearts Dinner on February 2nd at 7:00 pm.
This event is held in honor of St. Valentine’s Day.
Social hour 6:00 pm lounge
Dinner starts at 7:00 dinning hall
Bring your loved one- look forward to fun, entertainment, games/prize and gifts
All Portland Valley Scottish Rite Members and a guest are invited to attend the Sweet Hearts Dinner on February 2nd at 7:00 pm.
This event is held in honor of St. Valentine’s Day.
Schedule
Social 6:00 pm
Dinner 7:00 pm
Further details will be updated shortly but mark your calendars now for the date.
RSVP with dinner reservations by email at officemanager@portlandsr.com or phone at 503-226-7827
On Tuesday January 19th the Multnomah Council of Kadosh and the Portland Valley Knights of St. Andrew present the 29th Degree of the S.J. of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.
Staring members of the Oregon Consistory No. 1 and the Portland Valley Chapter of the Knights of Saint Andrew, this Degree teaches the duties to; reverence and obey the Deity, serve the truth, protect virtue and innocence and defend the people against tyranny. The lesson of the degree is that ideas and intuitions wax and wane in the great cycle of time which is but change.
The Portland Valley Chapter of KSA will also be Knighting all the Portland Valley Squires during this ceremony.
Evening Schedule
6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Degree Conferral
Following the degree will be a social and cast party in the Members Lounge.
For dinner the main entree will be Shepherd’s Pie catered by Bridge’s Café & Catering of Portland at the cost of $10 per person. Please RSVP with dinner reservations by email at officemanager@portlandsr.com or phone at 503-226-7827
Congratulations to our Illustrious Brother Gary W. Kuney 33º Active Supreme Council Member, who recently was honored with a life size bronze bust to immortalize his hard work and service to the Scottish Rite.
The work was done by local artist Martin Eichinger who gave a vibrant description of the process and Bryan Witt 33º KCCH emceed.
Ill. Brother Kuney was also joined by his lovely and very proud wife Nancy.
Tuesday January 12th will be the December Stated Meeting for the Portland Valley Scottish Rite.
The Oregon Lodge of Perfection will be opening in full form so all Scottish Rite members 4th° and higher are welcome to attend.
It will also be Taco Tuesday with a Taco bar provided by Bridges Cafe & Catering of Portland. Dinner will be $10 per person.
Schedule
5:30 pm Clarke Trust
6:00 pm Body Head Meeting
6:30 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Stated
8:00 pm KSA Stated
Following the Stated there will be a Social in the Membership Lounge.
Please contact officemanager@portlandsr.com or call the Valley office at 503-226-7827 for reservation for dinner.
