
                         Current Interest 


Kenneth E. Waddell Elected Grand Cross 

   On October 18, 1991, Ill Kenneth E. Waddell, 33, Past Deputy 
in Missouri, was elected to Scottish Rite's highest honor, the 
Grand Cross. Ill Waddell is well-known as a distinguished doctor 
of medicine, but it was his lifelong contribution to Freemasonry 
and, in particular, the Scottish Rite which brought this great 
distinction. 

   During the 1991 Biennial Session, Ill Earl K. Dille, 33, 
SGIG in Missouri, paused to congratulate Ill Waddell on 
attaining the Grand Cross. Appropriately, these two Masons posed 
for the camera in front of a portrait of Ill Harry S. Truman, 
33, Grand Master of Masons in Missouri. Donated by the Scottish 
Rite Foundation of Missouri, the Truman portrait was the very 
first original oil painting mounted in the House of the Temple's 
elegant new Temple Architects Hall of Honor. 

   Since then, eight other distinguished Scottish Rite Brethren 
have been inducted as Supreme Temple Architects in the Hall of 
Honor: John Edgar Hoover, 33, GC; Dee A. Strickland, 33; Gene 
Autry, 33, GC; General James H. Doolittle, 33, GC; Charles 
E. Webber, 33; Norman Vincent Peale, 33, GC; S. Barry Casey, 
33; and Bishop Carl J. Sanders, 33, GC. 


Rose Parade Features Famous Masons 

   As reported by Ray Rosenbaum, 32, a member of the Los Angeles 
Scottish Rite Bodies, a space-age explorer and two world-famous 
entertainment personalities will ride the "Family of Freemasonry" 
float in the Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, 1992. 

   Astronaut Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, 33, Academy Award-winning star 
Ernest Borgnine, 33, GC, and famed character actor Royal Dano, 
33, will be aboard the 55-ft. float when it rolls through 
Pasadena, California. 

   As Bro Stanley Cazneaux, newly elected Grand Master of Masons 
in the state of California, points out, all three celebrities are 
highly respected and long-time members of the Masonic Fraternity. 

   Brother Dano will portray Charles Lindbergh on the "Voyagers 
of Discovery" float, Ill Aldrin will be in the astronaut suit he 
wore aboard the Apollo, and Ill Borgnine will be dressed as 
Benjamin Franklin flying his famous kite. 

   The float, supported by California's 140,000 Masons and by 
members of the Masonic Fraternity throughout North America, will 
feature a giant eagle with 16-foot-wide wings and an open history 
book with depiction in flowers of Lindbergh and Aldrin. 

   Hundreds of Masons and members of Masonic youth groups will 
affix the colorful blossoms in place over every inch of the 
ornate float just days before the January first roll-out date. 

   Congratulations to all involved in creating this unique float 
as a tribute to American Freemasonry! 



New Home For Norfolk Clinic 

   Dr. David Kruger, 33, SGIG in Virginia, and the Scottish 
Rite Foundation of Norfolk have announced a new clinic 
sponsorship at Old Dominion University's Language Disorders 
Clinic. The Foundation will begin support of the clinic 
immediately, and the clinic will be named the Scottish Rite 
Language Disorders Clinic. 

   In addition, the Scottish Rite Foundation of Virginia supports 
two $7,500 fellowships for students of speech pathology to obtain 
a master's degree in the University's well-known Speech and 
Language Disorders Department. 

   The Foundation has also pledged a $100,000 donation to the 
Child Study Center's $2 million dollar expansion drive. When the 
new section is completed, one wing will permanently be the 
Scottish Rite Language Disorders Wing. 

   The Scottish Rite in Virginia is excited and optimistic about 
this new opportunity to better serve children in the Hampton 
Roads area of the state and to help in assuring high quality 
future speech pathologists for Virginia. Richmond Center Open 

   At 4:00 PM on October 28, 1991, the Richmond, Virginia, Valley 
formally opened its Childhood Language Disorders Center at 
Richmond, Inc. to serve its first group of young clients. The 
participation of Ill Earl H. Wicker, 33, and his wife Ruth was 
a special pleasure. 

   Ill Wicker, the principal benefactor of the center, had just 
turned 90 and was pleased to receive heartfelt birthday wishes 
from the large gathering of Brethren and their ladies as well as 
Sov Gr Cmdr C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33, who thanked Brother 
Wicker for his "wonderful support that skyrocketed the center to 
completion." The building that houses the center is named for 
Ill Earl H. Wicker, 33. 

   The festivities were commenced by Julian Pugh, 32, KCCH, 
Venerable Master of the Valley, calling the gathering to order 
with a few remarks welcoming everyone. Ill L. Aubrey Stratton, 
33, Personal Representative from the Valley to the SGIG in 
Virginia, was present and also extended greetings to the members 
and guests attending the opening. 
 
   Participating in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony were, 
among other distinguished guests: Ill David Kruger, SGIG in 
Virginia and Grand Secretary General of The Supreme Council, 33; 
Ill James B. Wilkinson, 33, Orient Personal Representative and 
Secretary of the Childhood Language Center at Richmond, Inc.; M 
W William F. Perdue, Grand Master of Masons in Virginia; M W 
George W. Farley and M W John P. Stokes, Past Grand Masters of 
Masons in Virginia; and Dr. George H. Williams, Chairman, 
Department of Otolaryngology, Medical College of Virginia 
Hospitals. 

   A delightful reception followed the official opening and 
formed the festive capstone of a truly memorable day in the 
history of the Scottish Rite in Virginia. 



Golf Ambassadors 

   On October 5, 1991, Brethren from Spartanburg, South Carolina, 
as well as guest Brothers from across the Palmetto State gathered 
at the Links O' Tryon in Spartanburg to participate in the annual 
Scottish Rite Ambassadors Charity Golf Tournament. Heading the 
list of distinguished participants was Ill H. Wallace Reid, 
SGIG in South Carolina. 

   Ill Joe C. Forrest, 33, who helped organize the event, 
pointed out that all proceeds go to benefit the Scottish Rite 
Foundation of South Carolina and are used specifically to support 
South Carolina's Scottish Rite Childhood Language Disorders 
Centers. 

   Clearly, organizing a Scottish Rite golf tournament is a fine 
way to share fellowship and benefit a good cause. 



Verso La Luce 

  Verso La Luce, Italian for "Toward the Light," is the title of 
the new Italian edition of A Bridge To Light, the outstanding 
book by Dr. Rex R. Hutchens, 33, that accents the background and 
significance of the Scottish Rite Degrees. The new Italian 
edition, previous to general publication, was officially 
presented to Sov Gr Cmdr C. Fred Kleinknecht, 33, on October 
22 during the 1991 Biennial Session. 

   Past Sov Gr Cmdr of Italy Ill Elvio Sciubba, 33, who was 
elevated to the rank of Grand Cross during the Session, played a 
central role in bringing about the Italian translation. 

   "This is a giant step forward for Scottish Rite in Italy and 
around the world," he noted, "and one which underlines the fact 
that the principles of our Order relate to good men everywhere, 
of whatever language." 



Happy 75th! 

   On January 19, 1991, Brother Gershon Canaan, 32, KCCH, 
celebrates his 75th birthday! 

   This outstanding Brother, a Berlin-born architect and former 
student at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation at Taliesin in both 
Wisconsin and Arizona, was a teacher at the University of Texas 
at Austin and is well known in Dallas for founding "German Day in 
Texas" in 1963 and fostering German-American friendship during 
his 25 years (1962-87) as Honorary Consul for the Federal 
Republic of Germany. 

   Brother Canaan also worked as a special architectural advisor 
for the U.S. Government and was awarded a Presidential Citation 
for his development of programs serving native American Indians 
and the elderly in Texas. 

   In recognition of these and other longtime civic and cultural 
services, especially his three decades of fostering German-
American relations, Bro Canaan will receive an honorary citation 
from President Bush in 1992. 


Telethon Features Masons 

   Freemasons in the greater Sacramento, CA, area have been 
assisting their local public television station, KVIE-TV Channel 
6, with fundraising efforts as part of the Sacramento Scottish 
Rite Community Involvement Program. 

   On three separate occasions, August 10, 12, and 20, 1991, 
Masons from Blue Lodges and the Scottish Rite Bodies of the 
Valley of Sacramento appeared on camera as they manned the 
phones. The Masonic volunteers recorded pledges for the 
television station and, generally, gave a high-profile, on-camera 
demonstration of dynamic Masonic activity. 

   Each Brother proudly wore a Masonic insignia on his hat or 
shirt, and  a  spokesman  for  the  volunteers was interviewed 
each evening. The three telecasts afforded a great opportunity to 
introduce the general viewing public of central and northern 
California to the Fraternity and its principles. 

   When is the next public service telethon in your community? 
Are Masons on board - and on camera to assist in spreading the 
good word of our Fraternity? 



Masonic Unity Day 

  "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell 
together in unity."  Psalms 133 

   This Old Testament verse certainly reflects the spirit of the 
"Masonic Unity Day" held September 28, 1991, in the Valley of 
Wheeling, West Virginia. A joint effort of the Valleys of 
Clarksburg, Martinsburg, Morgantown, and Wheeling, working with 
the Grand Commander of Knights Templar and the Potentate of 
Osiris Temple, resulted in a great unity day enjoyed by all. 

   Also, history was made since the Masonic Unity Day was the 
first time the Scottish Rite and York Rite Ritual and a Shrine 
Ceremonial were all performed in the Scottish Rite Temple on the 
same day. 

   It is noteworthy that each of the four Scottish Rite Valleys 
participated by putting on one or more of the Degrees.  The 
Degree teams were motivated by the excitement of the day, and 
their performances were great. 

   When the Degree work was completed, a beautiful patriotic 
program was presented by members of Osiris Temple, and during 
this ceremony, representatives of the Eastern Star, Rainbow 
Girls, Job's Daughters, and DeMolay were introduced and escorted 
in. 

   The day ended with a wonderful dinner served at Osiris Temple 
and a brief talk given by Ill Charles E. Forsythe, 33, Most 
Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of West Virginia.  The 
festive evening was a fitting conclusion to a wonderful day of 
Masonic unity. 


Three Generations Join Rite 

   Brother Maiuu A'ce, 32, of Pomona, California, Lodge No. 246, 
was the first signer for eleven petitions to the Russell C. 
Eikenberry Scottish Rite Reunion Class of October 5, 1991. What 
is even more amazing is that four of these petitions came from 
three generations of one family! 

   The Thompsons are truly a Masonic family. The grandfather, 
Bro Bruce Lyle Shaw, and the father, Bro Gerald Dale Thompson, 
are members of Compass Lodge No. 590; and the twin sons Bro Dale 
Edward Thompson and Bro Duane Bruce Thompson are of Pomona Lodge 
No. 246. 

   Also, Jackie Shaw, grandmother, and Geri Shaw Thompson, 
mother, have been very active in many Masonic organizations, 
especially Job's Daughters, for many years. 

   In addition, twelve-year-old great-grandson Gregory Stogner 
and two-year-old great-grandson Nicholas Boettcher will, no 
doubt, be DeMolays and then Master Masons in a few short years! 

