Brethren,
The role of the workman has been called and, one Master Mason, Illustrious William “Bill” Southwell, 33°, IGH, 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.
Illustrious Brother William George Southwell, 33°, Inspector General Honorary, was born on March 8th, 1930, in Klamath Falls, Oregon, and passed to the Celestial Lodge in Lake Oswego, Oregon, on June 7th, 2021. Ill. Br. Bill was initiated on April 8th, 1970, passed to the Fellow Craft on May 20th, 1970, and raised a Master Mason on June 24th, 1970, in Waluga Lodge No. 181, consolidated in 2020 as Milwaukie Waluga Lodge No. 109 A.F.&A.M. of Oregon, he also held dual membership in the Research Lodge of Oregon No. 198. He served as Master of Waluga in 1994, received the Hiram Award in 2001, served as Treasurer of Waluga in 2007, and Senior Deacon of Research Lodge from 2013 to 2015, he received his Service Award for 50 years from the Grand Lodge of Oregon in 2020. He joined the Portland Valley of the A.&A. Scottish Rite of Freemasonry on November 4th, 1995, he was elected as a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour October 3rd, 2001, honored on November 3rd, 2001, and Coroneted an Inspector General Honorary 33° member of the Supreme Council in Portland Valley on September 8th, 2007. Ill Br. Bill was an active member of the Rite participating in many of the Degrees over the years and served as the Master of Kadosh for the Portland Valley’s Oregon Consistory No. 1 from 2001 to 2003. He is survived by his loving wife Alta.
Memorial service arrangements will be provided when available. In lieu of flowers, Ill. Br. Bill’s wife is asking for consideration of donating to either the Scottish Rite Speech & Language charity https://oregonscottishrite.wordpress.com/oregon-scottish-rite-speech-and-language-charity/ or the Knights Templar Eye Foundation https://www.ktef.org/