News

February 2023 Message from the Deputy of Oregon

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Scottish Rite Brethren,

I am a little late putting out the following information but some discretion was required.

Due to personal family issues, I will be moving from Sunriver to the Washington County/Portland Metro area. I will dearly miss the wonderful people and dramatic scenery of Central Oregon. I hope to complete this transition before Summer 2023.

Several changes have been introduced in the Valleys. In the Salem Valley there have been changes to all the Orient positions. In order to better utilize Valley resources Illustrious Dave Fuller, 33°, will concentrate on managing the Temple and the rental program. He has retired as Personal Representative. In the future he will retain the title of Personal Representative Emeritus. Illustrious Brother Dave has fulfilled many roles in the Salem Valley and has worked tirelessly to guide the valley through difficult times. I was remiss in not providing him the assistance he needed to better lead the Valley.  Going forward Illustrious Greg Jenkins, 33°, is appointed as Personal Representative; Scott Freeman, 32°, K.C.C.H., will assume the duties of General Secretary and Dave Fryday, 32°, K.C.C.H., will assist the Salem Valley as Treasurer.

In the Valley of Klamath Falls, Illustrious Lyle Logan, 33°, has retired as Personal Representative. In the future he will retain the title of Personal Representative Emeritus. John Monfore, 32°, K.C.C.H., is the newly appointed Personal Representative. Frank Drew, 32°, retains the position of General Secretary and Lance Lesueur, 32°, K.C.C.H., retains the position of Treasurer.  Illustrious Brother Lyle will still be called upon to mentor the Valley.

Illustrious Dale Vanderpool, 33°, has retired as the Orient Personal Representative. Illustrious Brother Dale has taken on a more active leadership role on the Board of our Speech and Language Clinics. The Orient Personal Representative position will not be filled at this time.

We are planning to have an Orient Leadership Conference on Saturday, July 15th, 2023, at the Portland Valley Temple. This will be preceded by a meeting of the K.C.C.H. members and 33° members on Friday, July 14th. Details of all meetings will be available soon.

Remember that two signatures are required on all checks. If a Valley has a special circumstance that would warrant a single signature this needs to be approved by the Orient C.F.O.

Please remember to register for Supreme Council’s VMAP.
The Orient has resources to help the Valleys develop a website and a calendar of events.

I strongly recommend that all Valleys participate in the Master Craftsmen Program. Please contact me if you need educational assistance to start the process.

Sincerely & fraternally,
Rick Komraus, 33°
Deputy – Orient of Oregon
Supreme Council, 33° | Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, SJ, USA | www.scottishrite.org

Deadline for Orient Education Foundation Scholarships March 1st, 2023

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We just received word that the Orient of Oregon’s Education Foundation Scholarship application period is open but it’s also closing on March 1st, 2023. Sorry for the late notice but we were just informed.

For a little background the Orient of Oregon has an Education Foundation that annually awards scholarships. Applicants for Scottish Rite Scholarship assistance must be residents of the State of Oregon entering as undergraduates at an accredited college, university or trade school. Grants are made on the basis of student need. Consideration is also given for exceptional qualities of leadership.

Applications are available at https://orsrscholarships.com/

Orient of Oregon seeking applicants for Grand Commander’s Fellows Program

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Planning for 2024, the Orient of Oregon is looking to expand our local members involved in the Fellows Program. If you or a member of your Valley is interested in participating please contact the leadership of your Valley in Oregon.

The Supreme Council’s Fellows Program is intended to expand education and communication within Scottish Rite. Thus far, almost a thousand Scottish Rite members have become Fellows.

In even-numbered years, each SGIG or Deputy who agrees to participate designates one or more Fellows from his Orient. Generally, such selections are made based upon the member’s perceived enthusiasm, dedication and eagerness to support the Rite. Each Fellow must agree to attend the in-person Fellow’s Workshop held in Washington, D.C. Valleys should consider receiving an oral report from each Fellow following his attendance at the in-person Fellows Workshop.

33° & KCCH Orient-wide Meetings Friday, July 14th, 2023

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Friday, July 14th, 2023, Orient Wide meeting of the Honourmen

Agenda:
• Knight Commander of the Court of Honor Meeting: 10am-Noon
• Hour break for lunch: Noon-1pm
• 33° Meeting: 1pm-3pm

Also the next day on Saturday, July 15th, 2023, there will be the annual Orient Wide Leadership Workshop from 10am-2pm

Click Here to register for KCCH Zoom meeting
Click Here to register for 33° Zoom meeting

This Friday Coffee and Donuts at the Portland Valley Scottish Rite 10am

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Greetings Brethren All,

Starting this Friday February 3rd at 10:00am the Portland Valley will once again begin hosting an informal event for members and Mason guests.

Come join us for Coffee & Donuts in the Membership Lounge!

This will be an excellent opportunity for any members who have difficulty getting down on Tuesdays evenings to come in, hangout and catch up on Fraternizing with fellow Brethren. We might even have a 33rd or two on hand to expound on the greater mysteries of the mystic bond. This will be a bi-weekly event, the next one to be held on Feb. 17.

Just a heads up to the early birds, there won’t be anyone available at the building until 10:00am just in case you typically like to show up early.

S&F,
Bro. Nate Neff
Orient General Secretary

Passing of Illustrious Brother Stanley Schmidt, 33°

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Brethren,

The roll of the workman has been called and, one Master Mason, Illustrious Brother Stanley Schmidt, 33°, I.G.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 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.

Illustrious Brother Stanley Eugene Schmidt, 33°, Inspector General Honorary, was born on December 14th, 1927, in Harrington, Washington, and passed to the Celestial Lodge on November 30th in Portland, Oregon. Brother Stan was initiated in Rose Lake Lodge No. 89, A.F.&A.M. of Idaho, affiliated with Orenomah Lodge No. 177, A.F.&A.M. of Oregon (Consolidated with Tigar Lodge No. 207, June 1998 under the new charter as Tigard-Orenomah Lodge No. 207), and later with Beaverton Lodge No. 100, A.F.& A.M. of Oregon. Brother Stan served as Worshipful Master in 1985, District Deputy to the Grand Master from 1986-90, Junior Grand Deacon 1990-91, Junior Grand Steward 1991-92, Grand Orator 1992-93, Grand Lodge Education Committee Chair 1993-95, and Grand Lodge Programs Committee Chair 1996-2007.

In the Scottish Rite he was Initiated as a Perfect Elu in the Oregon Lodge of Perfection No. 1, Knighted in the Ainsworth Chapter of Knights Rose No. 1, Knighted in the Multnomah Council of Knights Kadosh No. 1, and Invested as a Master of the Royal Secret in the Oregon Consistory No. 1 of the A.&A. Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Portland Valley, Orient of Oregon, on May 14th, 1977. Elected Knight Commander of the Court of Honour on October 16th, 1989, Invested on November 11, 1989, Honored on November 19th, 1989, he served as Commander of the Multnomah Council of Kadosh No. 1 1990-91, he was Coroneted an Honorary Inspector General 33° in Seattle, Washington on November 16th, 1997. He was President of the Education Foundation and there is currently a $5,000 scholarship awarded annually by the Foundation to a first-year students entering college in honor of Brother Stan and his wife Jayne.

Brother Stan is a graduate of the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science in Education, held a Master of Education in Administration from the University of Oregon, and a Master of Arts in Speech Communication from Washington State University. He was a member of the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity at the University of Idaho. He began his early professional career in northern Idaho as Superintendent, teacher, and coach the Rose Lake School District No. 35. After six years he accepted the position of Director of Forensics and speech teacher at Jefferson High School in Portland where he taught for ten years, and at Portland Community College in the position of Director of Forensics and subject-area chairman of the Communications Department from 1986-1990. He was also an adjunct professor of speech at the University of Portland from 1987-1993.

Other memberships: he was Chairman of the precinct committeeman for the Republican Party in Kootenai County, Idaho, from 1951-1953. President of the Kootenai County Teachers Association, from 1953-1954, the North Idaho Education Association from 1954-1955, the Oregon Speech Association from 1960-1961, the Oregon Community College Speech Association from 1971-1972. Member of the Northwest Communications Association, the American Forensic Association, the Oregon Speech Association where he served as President, the Speech Communications Association, the Western Speech Communications Association, the Oregon Retired Teachers Association, the American Rose Society, and the Portland Rose Society where he won Best Rose Garden for the Portland Grand Sweepstakes award in 2003. Member of the Shrine, and President of the Tualatin Valley Shrine club in 1991, Group Leader of the Guides from 1998-2006, Member of the Order of Quetzalcoatl, member of the Allied Masonic Degrees, the Royal Arch Masons, the Royal Ark Mariners, the Royal Order Scotland, the York Rite Sovereign College, the Red Cross of Constantine where he was the Recorder from 1993-1997, Director of the Work from 1989-2001, Sovereign for 2000-2001, in the St. Laurence Conclave. Member of the Order of Eastern Star where he was Worthy Patron in 1953, and 1970. Member of the York Rite Knights Templar where he was Knight Commander of the Temple of the Grand Encampment, member of the Cryptic Masons of Oregon where he was Grand Orator in 1994-1995, and Illustrious Master in 1997, member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, and a Royal Rosarian.

Great Architect of the Universe, you have called our Brother home. Let the loss of our brother increase our affection for those who are still with us and make us more punctual in our performance of those duties that Friendship, Love, and Honor demand. Be with us now and sanctify the solemnities of this occasion to our hearts, that we may serve you in spirit and understanding. There will be a memorial service for Illustrious Brother Stan on December 14th, 2022. More details will be provided when they are available.

In Memory of Ill. Bro. Stan Schmidt

Passing of Brother John D. Baldwin, Jr., 32°

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Brethren,

The roll of the workman has been called and, one Master Mason, Brother John D. Baldwin, Jr., 32°, 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.

Worshipful Brother John David Baldwin, Jr., 32°, was born on February 17th, 1925, in Portland, Oregon, and passed to the Celestial Lodge on November 22nd of 2022. Brother John was a Life Member and Past Master of Sunnyside Lodge No. 163 A.F.&A.M. of Oregon. In the Scottish Rite he was Initiated as a Perfect Elu in the Oregon Lodge of Perfection No. 1 on November 19th, 1996, Knighted in the Ainsworth Chapter of Knights Rose No. 1 on November 21st, 1996, Knighted in the Multnomah Council of Knights Kadosh No. 1 on November 23rd, 1996, and Invested as a Master of the Royal Secret in the Oregon Consistory No. 1 of the A.&A. Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Portland Valley, Orient of Oregon, on November 23rd, 1996.

Great Architect of the Universe, you have called our Brother home. Let the loss of our brother increase our affection for those who are still with us and make us more punctual in our performance of those duties that Friendship, Love, and Honor demand. Be with us now and sanctify the solemnities of this occasion to our hearts, that we may serve you in spirit and understanding.

His viewing will be at 11am, and his memorial service will be at 12pm at the chapel at Lincoln Memorial Park, 11801 SE Mt. Scott Blvd, on Sunday, December 4th, 2022.

Portland Valley Holiday Party & 2023 Officer Installations Tuesday Dec. 6th at 6:30pm

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Our newly Elected & Appointed Officers of the Oregon Lodge of Perfection No. 1, the Ainsworth Chapter of Knights Rose Croix No. 1, the Multnomah Council of Kadosh No. 1, the Oregon Consistory of Masters of the Royal Secret No. 1, and Portland Chapter of Knights of Saint Andrew for the Portland Valley will be installed at a joint installation at the Holiday party next Tuesday, December 6th, 2022

All Elected Officers will be installed in person on Tuesday, all Appointed Officers are also requested to attend to be installed at this ceremony.

Festivities begin at 6:30pm, all Officers are requested to arrive by that time.

Throw on your handsomest ugly Holiday sweater, bring your significant other, and come join in the annual Holiday Party!

Heavy hors d’oeuvres and desserts will be served for your dinning enjoyment and there will be holiday themed cocktails to bolster your wassailing.