     GENERAL DOOLITTLE
            AND
        GENE AUTRY
          RECEIVE
     GRAND CROSS CAPS

   January 1990, was a most memorable month for two very distin-
guished California Scottish Rite Members, Ill James A. Doolittle,
33, and Gene Autry, 33, for this was the month both officially
received the Cap, Jewel and Patent of the Grand Cross.

   Brother Doolittle was unable to attend the 1989 Biennial Session
of The Supreme Council to receive his award, and it was felt
inadvisable due to health reasons for him to travel even a small
distance to a Scottish Rite Temple for that purpose.  For these
reasons plans were made by Ill H. Douglas Lemons, 33, SGIG in
California, to make the presentation in the Doolittle home in
Carmel, California.  John Doolittle, the son of the recipient, was
greatly instrumental in making the necessary arrangements, and
Inspector Lemons invited several of General Doolittle's close
friends and associates to accompany him to Carmel for the
presentation.

   General Chester Earl McCarty, 33, GC flew to Carmel from
Portland, Oregon.  The Assistant Grand Secretary General, Ill W.
Gene Sizemore, 33, and his Lady Helen flew from Washington, D.C.,
to Carmel, and from the Los Angeles area, there was SGIG
Lemons and his wife, Maxine, together with the film actor, Brother
Don DeFore, 32, KC CH and his wife, Marion.

  General McCarty was a fellow soldier in arms with General Doo-
little, and had also been the Commanding Officer of the unit in
which Doolittle's son John had served actively in war time. Brother
Don DeFore became a close personal friend to Doolittle when he had
a starring role in the post-war film "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo,"
the story which depicted the famous Doolittle raid over Japan in
the early days of World War II.

  Upon arrival of the entire group at the Doolittle home in
mid-afternoon, they were met by General Doolittle and his son,
John, together with the General's aide and housekeeper.

   Ill Lemons greeted all on behalf of The Supreme Council, 33,
and officially opened the presentation with a brief explanation
of the history of the Grand Cross of the Court of Honor.

   Brother Lemons presented the Cap of the Grand Cross to Brother
Doolittle, together with the Jewel, and the Patent was officially
read and presented to him by Ill W. Gene Sizemore, 33.  Brother
Doolittle was then honored by the Battery of Three Times Three,
the public Grand Honors of Masonry rendered by the Brethren
present, and a toast offered as tribute to The Supreme Council,
33, Southern Jurisdiction, and to the recipient.

   Following the completion of the ceremony, Brother Doolittle
spoke about his illustrious career in aviation, both in war and
peace.  He expressed his great pleasure at being elected to receive
the Grand Cross, and remarked how delighted he was to be so
honored in the same year as his close personal friends General
McCarty and Ill Gene Autry, 33.

   This ceremony provided everyone present with a warm feeling of
cordiality, and the entire afternoon was enjoyed by all who had
traveled to Carmel to honor this famous American hero and Mason.

   Also in January 1990, Inspector Lemons went to the Hollywood,
California, office of Ill Gene Autry, 33, GC for the purpose of
officially presenting the Cap of the Grand Cross.

  In attendance at the presentation were Mrs. Jackie Autry, wife
of the recipient; Brother Bill Ward, 32, Vice President of the
Golden West Broadcasting Company (who also served as official
photographer for the occasion); a writer/ reporter from the Los
Angeles Business Journal, and Mrs. Maxine Hansen, personal
secretary to Brother Autry.

  It seemed entirely appropriate that this presentation was made in
Gene Autry's office which is in the front wing of the
Administration Building on the old Paramount movie lot where Gene
Autry made many Western movies and gained the title of "The
Original Singing Cowboy."  The walls of his office are literally
covered with gold records, plaques, honors and awards which Brother
Gene has received over the many years of his fabulous career as a
television and motion picture star, Western entertainer and
songwriter, businessman and, regarding the California Angels,
major league baseball club owner. Brother Autry responded to the
capping ceremony by saying how thrilled and honored he was to have
been chosen for this distinguished honor, and he expressed his
deep gratitude to The Supreme Council for this high mark of dis-
tinction.  He also spoke of his pleasure at now being included in
the peer group of such distinguished recipients of the Grand
Cross as former President, Ill Gerald Ford, 33, GC; Ill Nor-
man Vincent Peale, 33, GC; and his very dear friend, Ill James
A. Doolittle, 33, GC.

 Following the presentation, Brother Autry was interviewed by the
Business Journal writer who asked him to what extent his Masonic
membership had affected his business career.  Brother Gene answered
that he had never at any time in his career ever used his
membership in Masonry to further himself in business, but that his
phenomenal success in life was due in great measure to the moral
teachings of Masonry, especially that we should deal with one
another upon the square, and treat others the way we would like to
be treated by them.

   He further stated that, in his opinion, "the world would be a
lot better place if all men were Masons!"

   Ill Gene Autry's White Cap and Jewel, together with his Red Cap
of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor, will soon be placed on
display in the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles,
California, for people of all ages to see.


   In their respective areas of life, General James Doolittle and
   Illustrious Gene Autry represent American achievement and
   service at their very best.







