                          Current Interest 




Thanks From Yugoslavia 

  On June 8, 1991, in Prague, Czechoslovakia, Sov Gr Cmdr 
C. Fred Kleinknecht, along with distinguished Scottish Rite 
delegations from the United States and the NATO Bases 
Scottish Rite Bodies, participated in a one-day international 
Reunion, the first to take place in Eastern Europe since the 
breakup of Soviet domination. 

  Bro Veljko Varicak, 32, one candidate in a class of 41 
members, responded to a letter of congratulations from Grand 
Commander Kleinknecht with the following comment. Brother 
Varicak's Masonic family history reveals the deep roots of 
Eastern European Freemasonry, roots that need only careful 
cultivation today to bring our Craft and Scottish Rite back 
to full bloom tomorrow. 
  
  Thank you for your congratulations on my becoming a Thirty-
  second Degree member of the Scottish Rite, which I am very 
proud of. 
  
     I only regret that my late father, 
  Dr. Vladimir Varicak, and my late 
  uncle, Prof. Dr. Bogdan Varicak, 
  who both were distinguished members of the Yugoslav 
Freemasonry 
  before World War II, did not live to 
  see me achieve this high Degree. In 
  my early youth, I had been brought 
  up by my father and my uncle, and 
  especially by their uncle, Dr. 
  Vladimir Katicic, who established 
  Pravednost Lodge in Zagreb, according to the principles of 
love 
  and respect for family, country, 
  democratic relationships among 
  people, and human kindness. 
  
     The intention of each of these 
  fine Brothers was to enable me to 
  follow their path into Freemasonry. 
  Therefore I am especially proud 
  of having become a Thirty-second 
  Degree Mason since I am the third 
  generation of Freemasons in our 
  family. 




Brethren Aid Romanian Orphans 

  "I hope this contribution will help the orphans of Romania 
and encourage other Lodges to do likewise." These brief, 
modest words of Bro Fred M. Guss, 32, Master of Omaha Lodge 
No. 299 of Omaha, Nebraska, accompanied a recent check sent 
to the Scottish Rite Foundation of the Southern Jurisdiction. 

  The contribution was the result of a special Sunday 
breakfast event in Omaha on November 3, 1991, when Brethren 
of the Lodge treated their families, friends, and the general 
public to an old-fashioned breakfast of eggs, pancakes, 
sausages, hashbrowns, and gallons of coffee. 

  This grass-roots and appreciated fundraising effort 
reflects the leadership position Scottish Rite, Southern 
Jurisdiction, has taken internationally in bringing Masonic 
relief to the newly liberated countries of the Eastern Bloc 
nations while, at the same time, rekindling Freemasonry 
generally in the area and re-establishing The Supreme 
Councils of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia. 

Stoll Estate Benefits America's Children 

   Before his death on January 16, 1990, Ill Harold K. 
Stoll, 33, arranged a bequest of over $2 million dedicated 
exclusively to the benefit of America's children through the 
Scottish Rite Foundation's Childhood Language Disorders 
Program. 

   On November 8, 1990, Ill Bro Peter Burich, 33, met with 
Sov Gr Cmdr C. Fred Kleinknecht (second from left) in the 
House of the Temple to transfer Brother Stoll's most generous 
bequest officially to the Foundation. 

   Attending this significant event were Illustrious W. Gene 
Sizemore, 33, GC, Grand Executive Director; Mr. Eric M. 
Core, representing the law firm of Zerch, Early, Roseman & 
Brewer; and Ill John W. Boettjer, 33, Managing Editor of 
The Scottish Rite Journal. 

   Through his foresight and generosity, Illustrious Brother 
Harold K. Stoll, 33, will be forever with us bringing 
happier, healthier lives to children with language and 
learning problems throughout the Southern Jurisdiction. 

Masons Camping Out 

   Scenic delights, entertainments, cookouts, games, craft 
shows, auctions - these are just a few of the excuses to 
share the fun and fellowship of National Camping Travelers! 

   NCT is not an official Masonic travel club but a group 
made up of 17,000 Masonic families who love to camp. With 
over 200 chapters across America, NCT probably has a 
representative near you or near your travel destination. One 
of the benefits of National Camping Travelers is knowing that 
most chapters have charitable projects, such as the Childhood 
Language Disorders Program of the Scottish Rite Foundation, 
Southern Jurisdiction. What a deal! You can simultaneously 
have a great time and benefit a good cause! 

   For information: call or write NCT's National Goodwill 
Ambassador, Bro Millard Wood, 32, P.O. Box 1166, 
Sutherline, Oregon 97479 (503) 459-2714; or National Camping 
Travelers, P.O. Box 2894, Chesapeake, Virginia 23320 (604) 
420-6829. 




Iversen Hosts Fiddler 

   Tradition - benefiting from it while learning how to bring 
it into contemporary life - was the appropriate theme for the 
evening of November 27, 1991, when Ill Charles S. Iversen, 
33, SGIG in the District of Columbia, hosted local 
Brethren and their families at a performance of the Broadway 
hit Fiddler on the Roof. 

   Hardly a seat was empty at the ample Burn Brae Dinner 
Theatre just outside Washington. Brethren who had labored 
throughout the year to benefit Scottish Rite were primed to 
enjoy this annual event, and they showed their appreciation 
with warm rounds of applause for Ill Iversen and Ill Martin 
D. Carlin, 33, GC, Personal Representative and Secretary, 
who arranged the evening's festivities. 

   Echoing the song "To Life" from the play, Inspector 
Iversen thanked everyone present for their good work. Also, 
confident of continued support, he looked forward to another 
year of Scottish Rite accomplishment in our nation's capital. 





DeMolay Thriving 

   The Order of DeMolay is thriving in Kirkwood, Missouri, 
under the leadership of Bro Robert L. Harder, 32, KCCH, 
and other dedicated Scottish Rite Masons. 

   Recently, Kirkwood Chapter opened its doors to mothers, 
fathers, and others to witness the initiation ceremonies of 
the Order.  Over 200 attended a barbecue steak dinner after 
which the officers of Kirkwood Chapter initiated eight young 
men into DeMolay. 

   The meaningful and impressive Rituals of the Initiatory 
and DeMolay Degrees were highlighted by the Flower Talk, an 
inspirational oration dedicated to the mothers of the DeMolay 
members.  Over 50 DeMolays stood before the Holy Altar to 
receive the Flower Talk and then presented their mothers, who 
watched them in the Lodge hall, with a red rose symbolizing 
the love of her DeMolay son. 

   The Order of DeMolay was begun in 1919 in Kansas City, 
Missouri, by Frank S. Land,  33,  and  has  grown from nine 
members to over 2,000,000 throughout the world. This 
international Masonic Fraternity for young men between the 
ages of 13 and 21 has been a guiding force and key to success 
of many leaders who reached prominence, including 1992 
Presidential candidate Governor Bill Clinton, U.S. Senator 
William Bradley, Olympic Decathlon Champion and Congressman 
Bob Mathias, newscasters Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, T.V. 
personality Gary Collins, baseball great Harmon Killebrew, 
and numerous other outstanding leaders in all fields of 
endeavor. 


Mr. International Mason 

   No wonder he is often called "Mr. International Mason"! 
Illustrious Brother Dr. Carlos Rodriguez-Jimenez, 33, is a 
past Grand Master of Venezuela and Japan, Life Sovereign 
Grand Commander of Honor of Venezuela, and former Minister 
and Ambassador to Japan. 

   Additionally, in 1991 this outstanding Brother received 
many richly deserved international accolades. On June 29, 
MW Brother Hideo Kobayashi, Grand Master of Japan, issued a 
proclamation announcing MW Brother Carlos Rodriguez-Jimenez 
Week throughout Japan. 

   Also on July 8, the Foreign Ministry of Japan presented 
Brother Rodriguez-Jimenez with a Hyoshojo, a certificate of 
distinction and merit for promoting mutual understanding 
between Venezuela and Japan, one of the highest honors the 
Japanese government can bestow on a member of the foreign 
diplomatic corps. Dr. Carlos Rodriquez-Jimenez, 33 

   Last, but certainly not least, on October 29, Illustrious 
Rodriguez-Jimenez and his wife celebrated their sixtieth 
wedding anniversary. (They were married in Tokyo in 1931!) 

   Clearly, our distinguished Brother Rodriguez-Jimenez is 
worthy of the title "Mr. International Mason" since, in 
addition to the above honors, he holds Masonic memberships in 
South America, Japan, the United States, and the United 
Kingdom. The receipt of these and numerous other awards and 
honors reflects a lifetime of devotion to government service 
and dedication to Freemasonry. 





Blood and Bone Brother 

   Blood brother, bone marrow brother, Master Mason Brother. 

   Bro Wayne Elmer Kelly of Norview Lodge No. 113, Norfolk, 
Virginia, is all of theseand more. 

   He was a professional fire fighter for the city of 
Norfolk. In 1979, while doing his job, a brick wall fell on 
him, and he was disabled. After many months, in and out of 
the hospital, he was retired in 1981, unable to perform all 
firefighting duties. 

   Prior to the accident he had been a blood donor, and after 
he regained most of his health, he started giving again. He 
also became an apheressis donor and has been in the National 
Bone Marrow Registry since its inception in 1987. 

   Wayne works in the patient service department at Mid-
Atlantic Red Cross in Norfolk. He was recently matched with a 
bone marrow recipient through the National Bone Marrow 
Registry. His bone marrow was harvested in mid-September and 
given to a 32-year-old man suffering from acute leukemia. The 
operation was a success. The recipient of the marrow accepted 
the transplant and is now recovering at his home. 

   Brother Kelly was thrilled to be able to make a "life-
saving difference," and his good work continues today as an 
inspiration to others. 

Editor's Note: 
   This material was submitted by Ill Goodwin B. Spencer, 
33, a Mason since 1957 and the Secretary of Norview Lodge 
No. 113 which, with 850 members, is the largest Lodge in 
Virginia. Ill Spencer is a member of the Scottish Rite 
Bodies, Valley of Norfolk, Virginia, and the Editor of the 
Scottish Rite Mirror, Norfolk. 








Scottish Rite Masons Support Alzheimer Research 

   As reported by Bro Richard M. Villhauer, 32, KCCH, 
Scottish Rite Masons of Iowa have provided a third $25,000 
grant for Alzheimer's research at University Hospitals in 
Iowa City. 

   Illustrious Harry S. Barrows, 33, SGIG in Iowa, and 
Charles C. Howard, 33, of Sioux City, head of the Scottish 
Rite Charitable and Educational Foundation of Iowa, recently 
presented the grant to Dr. Daniel Tranel of University 
Hospitals' Neurology Department in ceremonies attended by 
many hospital and Masonic dignitaries, including Ill Tom 
Eggleston, 33, of Cedar Rapids, Grand Master of Masons in 
Iowa. 

   Scottish Rite Masons of Iowa are in the process of raising 
from Fraternity members statewide a $1 million fund to 
provide for long-term funding of Alzheimer's research as well 
as for support of Alzheimer's families in Iowa.  Nearly  
$500,000  has   already been contributed. The University of 
Iowa is recognized as a leading research facility in 
Alzheimer's disease in the country. 

   The Fraternity also recently completed raising a $1 
million fund for college scholarship grants in Iowa. Those 
grants, open to any high school senior, may be applied for by 
contacting area Scottish Rite Temples in Sioux City, Des 
Moines, Cedar Rapids, Clinton, or Davenport. Also many high 
school aid offices and local Masonic Lodges have 
applications. 




Visitors Welcome 


    It is always a pleasure to welcome visitors to the House 
of the Temple, 1733 Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, D.C., 
which is open from 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday. 
Guided tours are available throughout the day from 8 AM to 2 
PM and take about 2 hours. Groups of 25 or more may visit on 
weekends and holidays, provided they make special 
arrangements in advance with the office of the Grand 
Executive Director. Visitors are requested to register at the 
door. 




