On Tuesday April 8th the Portland Valley will hold it’s regular meetings of the Clarke Trust Fund and the Body Heads.
Now is a great opportunity to join the Scottish Rite. The Portland Valley is offering a reduced lifetime membership fee of $500 for new members. This offer is good up to one year after completing the Reunion. If you know of a good candidate please “spread the word”.
- 4/08 – Meetings / Clarke Trust / Body Heads
- 4/11 – Spring Reunion 4th and 14th Degrees
- 4/12 – Spring Reunion 18th, 30th, 32nd Degrees
With our Portland Valley Scottish Rite Spring Reunion happening this week I looked back on one of my journal entries when I first joined the Scottish Rite several years ago. I hope that some may find if of interest particularly some of our new brothers that may be having some of the the same thoughts and questions I had when first joining this legendary fraternity.
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Within our own conscience and inner self, do we think we are practicing Masonic philosophy or do we admit that we are only theorists? This question is far from superfluous because the answer we give will allow us to determine if we are wholly studying and practicing Masonic teachings or just playing at masonry.
Can we clearly bring up the practical application on Masonic philosophy in everyday conversation? What is our aptitude to explain clearly our conception of the mystical laws and principles taught in the degrees. Since Masonic philosophy is present at all levels of existence, is it natural to include it in even the most minor occurrences of our daily life? During discussions with others, are we able to call upon analogies to make certain philosophic and esoteric messages understood? If this is not the case it seems we must cultivate the art as it forms the basis of the positive influence that we can exert upon others in both mystical matters and Masonic philosophy.
How then are we to practice the craft daily, in our everyday conversations with our neighbors, friends, co-workers, mail-person, fellow masons, etc? Living an honorable life may lead some (likely few) to respect our masonic discipline, but how then are we to progress the craft in an era where time is the most valued commodity, where virtue is synonymous with suckers and money is the only deity the world seems to prostrate themselves before?
In all honesty my sins are purely hedonistic in nature, all I want to do is chase Hermes…sit in my study… read, ponder, contemplate, experiment and ask questions of those more knowledgeable than myself. I have quite literally taken far more from masonry than I have given…but it again begs the question-how do we give effectively and without harm?
“…If you do not feel pure enough or disinterested enough to be faithful to this sacred pact, if corrupt roots are still mixed with germinating seeds that must bear fruit in this fertile soil, do not undertake to bring people back to reason; you would only add to their ignorance and to their madness. On the contrary, refrain from giving such harmful assistance; they will stray far enough without you help.” Louis Claude De Saint-Martin
I wonder whether there can be any compromise in matters of Masonic philosophy, where it seems only purity of action and intentions can make us an efficient agent of the craft. I’m not quite sure how to live up to those expectations.
I am a man without lineage, legacy or education. All that I know I have learned from solitary study of books, attentive listening and reasoning. Social awkwardness is my closest companion and imagination and daydreaming my only God given talents. I must seek, with these few talents I possess, a way to contribute and make a positive and lasting contribution to the craft?
Larry Roberts
Click here to down load a copy of the Portland Valley Scottish Rite Petition for Membership: Scottish Rite Petition
Degree Rehearsals Schedule for Spring 2014 Reunion
FOURTH DEGREE:
Monday, March 24, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Monday, March 31, 7 pm (Candidates’ Room)
Monday, April 7, 7 pm DRESS (Auditorium)
Friday, April 11, [Time?] CONFERRAL (Auditorium)
FOURTEENTH DEGREE:
Thursday, March 27, 7 pm (Beaverton Masonic Temple, after officers’ meeting)
Tuesday, April 1, 7 pm (Blue Lodge Room)
Thursday, April 10, 7 pm DRESS (Blue Lodge Room)
Friday, April 11, 8 pm CONFERRAL (Blue Lodge Room)
EIGHTEENTH DEGREE:
Monday, March 3, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Monday, March 10, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Monday, March 31, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Thursday, April 10, 7 pm DRESS (Auditorium)
Saturday, April 12, [Time?] CONFERRAL (Auditorium)
THIRTIETH DEGREE:
Wednesday, March 19, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Wednesday, March 26, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Wednesday, April 2, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Wednesday, April 9, 7 pm DRESS (Auditorium)
Saturday, April 12, [Time?] CONFERRAL (Auditorium)
THIRTY-SECOND DEGREE:
Thursday, March 27, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Tuesday, March 1, 7 pm (Auditorium)
Tuesday, March 2, 7 pm DRESS (Auditorium)
Saturday, April 12, [Time?] CONFERRAL (Auditorium)
Seven Day Cruise to Alaska
To Honor
ILL Gary Kuney, SGIG
To experience the real Alaska, come to where the mountains are taller, the rivers mightier and the wildlife more plentiful than any place else on Earth. This is cruising Alaska. A rugged, untamed wilderness where the forests go on forever and the Summer days never end. Alaska is a pristine Wilderness of beautiful blue glaciers, snow caped mountain peaks and huge whales breaking the surface of crystalline waters. Depart Vancouver B.C. Sunday, June 22, 2014. Check in starts @ Noon, departure @ 5:00 pm.
- MONDAY – Scenic Cruising all day of the Inside Passage
- TUESDAY – Visit Ketchikan, Alaska from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm
- WEDNESDAY – Visit Juneau, Alaska from 9:00 am to 10:00 pm
- THURSDAY – Visit Skagway, Alaska from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm
- FRIDAY – Cruise Glacier Bay
- SATURDAY – At sea all day
- SUNDAY – Arrive at Seward (Anchorage), Alaska 6:00 pm
Bus transportation will be available from Portland to Vancouver on Sunday June 22nd. Side trips will be available to Denali National Park. Fishing trips are also available. Return to Portland via air not included.
$1340 per person inside cabin.
$1760 per person outside, no balcony
$2260 per person outside cabin with a balcony.
We will cruise on the beautiful HOLLAND AMERICA (OSTERDAM). For more information contact Walt Johnson /11845 Belvidere Place/Portland, Oregon 97225 – (503) 795-4909 OR walt@waltshop.com.
Send a deposit of $350 per person by November 1st, 2013 to the above address with choice of accommodation.
It is hard to conceive of any Masonic Ritual more beautiful or inspiring. We meet together to break the bread of fraternity, to reconcile ourselves with those we have offended, and to drink the wine of refreshment and renewal. This year we will be “Memorializing” our recently departed Brethren.
We hope you will join us for an excellent meal, beautiful harp music, and an “Inspiring” Ceremony to honor our recently departed Brethren.
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Dear Brothers, please take note of the new email addresses for the Portland Valley Business Workgroup.
- PR@portlandsr.com (Brian McDowell) Portland Valley Personal Representative
- clarktrust@portlandsr.com (Eric Gazow) Clark Trust
- orientcfo@portlandsr.com (Eric Gazow) Orient of Oregon CFO
- treasurer@portlandsr.com (Larry Roberts) Treasurer Portland Valley
- blog@portlandsr.com (Larry Roberts) Blog Administrator
- buildingmanager@portlandsr.com (Michael Shebora) Portland Building Manager
- officemanager@portlandsr.com (Patrick Knowles) Portland Office Manager
- secretary@portlandsr.com (Rick Komraus) Portland General Secretary
- exc.director@portlandsr.com (Walt Johnson) Executive Director for the Orient of Oregon
- orientpr@portlandsr.com (Warren Gray) Orient of Oregon Personal Representative