Speech was given by Bro. Larry Roberts 32° KCCH on May 23rd 2016 at the Portland Valley Scottish Rite.
Welcome brothers and friends.
Today we are here to celebrate the historic evolution of our Scottish Rite Memorial Library and to recognize and dedicate the library to one of the Scottish Rite’s most prolific Masonic scholars, Illustrious Brother Norm Peterson 33°.
First I would like to briefly discuss the history of our growing library.
The Portland Valley Scottish Rite Memorial Library first began its modest collection in 1870 in the same year the Scottish Rite was chartered in Oregon.
When the current building was constructed in 1902 a small library collection was housed originally in the Candidate’s Room. It later moved up to the second floor on the northeast corner of the building to what was originally dedicated as a Blue Lodge room.
The new Library was then dedicated to Illustrious Brother Joseph Simon, 33° who donated funds in 1935 “which serve as the libraries corpus for both acquiring and installation of a Masonic Library.”
In the 1950’s it was supervised by the Chief Librarian Illustrious Brother F. McNeal Fahrion, 33° who obtained further funds and directly purchased volumes to contribute to its growth. Upon Brother Fahrion’s passing the Library was rededicated as the Simon – Fahrion Scottish Rite Memorial Library.
In 2014 when the climate control and damage from light exposure became an issue for preservation it was decided to move the collection it to its new home in the Members Lounge on the basement level.
The Brothers of the Scottish Rite Library Club:
Specifically brothers:
- Nathan Neff 32° KSA
- Matt Turcotte 32°
- Eric Arneson 32°
- Michael Robinson 32° KSA
- Michael Shabora 32° KSA
assisted over several months to sort, pack and move the collection while the construction of the first section of shelves was underway by Illustrious Brother Walt Johnson, 33° and Brother Earl Tradup, 32° KCCH.
Once the first section of shelves was installed a portion of the collection was put out on display in 2015. At present the Portland Valley Scottish Rite Library Club continues to grow and collect new volumes under the supervision of the Chief Librarian Larry Roberts, 32°, KCCH.
Currently there are plans underway to raise the necessary funds to complete the remaining shelving required to display and catalogue the entire collection.
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Today we are very pleased to rededicate the Scottish Rite Memorial Library in honor of Illustrious Brother Norm Peterson, 33°.
Brother Peterson at the young age of 14 joined La Grange, which was a Masonic like fraternal organization founded after the civil war by 4 masons and 3 Odd fellows. Both his mother and father were also members of this organization.
- He received his E.A. degree on Feb 8th 1954
- His Fellow Craft on April 26th 1954
- And Master Mason on May 28th 1954 within his father’s home in Washington state…..lodge Malden #188
While in college he worked part time as a library clerk giving him access to many books and introduced him into one of his passions…indexing.
Norm has a BA and Masters in Psychology
BA in education, with a minor in math and a minor in Biology.
And has taught classes at the University of Portland.
He is a member of the Vancouver Valley Scottish Rite
Life Member of the Research Lodge of Oregon #198
Member of the Scottish Rite Research Society
And a Fellow of the Philalethes Masonic Research society.
He has made contributions to many Masonic works of literature and donated hundreds of books to our Library’s collection over the years.
He began his Masonic scholarly writing In 1957 when he wrote two articles for the Scottish Rite magazine then called “NEW AGE”. He has since published numerous articles in various Masonic publications including Heredom, Philalethes and Quatuor Coronati.
His research papers written specifically for the Portland Valley Scottish Rite and Research Lodge of Oregon are far too numerous to list here but are now being collected and archived in the library you see before you today for future Masonic research.
Norm at the young age of 88 still writes Masonic articles and indexes and is currently working on a number of projects both independently and with other Masonic scholars.
His contribution to Masonic education cannot be overestimated and it is with great joy and honor that we here at the Portland Valley now re-dedicating the Scottish Rite Memorial Library in his name.
Henceforth to be known as the Simon – Fahrion – Peterson Scottish Rite Memorial Library
Please join me in congratulating Illustrious Brother Norm Peterson 33° for his vast contribution to this prestigious fraternity and his honorable Masonic career.
Larry Roberts 32° KCCH, Portland Valley Executive Director/Treasurer. Member of Modesto Lodge 206, Esoterika Lodge 227 and Research Lodge 198.