Tampa Scottish Rite Masonic Center

7/28/2019 Tampa Scottish Rite Masonic Center

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Tampa Scottish Rite Masonic Center

5500 Memorial Highway y Tampa, FL 33634 y (813) 886-0578

Meets 2nd Monday of Each Month

Volume 36 No. 3 y May - June 2013

www.srtampa.org www.helpforkidspeech.org/sr

VALLEYOF TAMPA ORIENTOF FLORIDA

BulletinBulletinBulletinBulletinBulletinSCOTTISHRITE

Join The Tampa Scottish Rites

Annual FlagDay Celebration!

Monday, June 10, 20135500 Memorial Hwy. Tampa

4:00 PM Flag Waving5:00 PM FREE Barbecue Dinner7:00 PM Patriotic Program

Open to the public Entertainment by Valerie Gillespie Flag folding ceremony by Trinity Commandery No. 16 Guest Speaker

Info: Scott McAlister, 32 KCCH, (813) 404-7439


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May - June 2013 Page 3

The Scottish Rite Foundation Helps Children

General

Secretaryby Ill. John E.

Drewett, 33

From The General Secretary

We extend a hearty welcome and a warm hand of

fellowship to those Masters of the Royal Secret who

has joined us by Affiliation and Reinstatement since

publication of our last bulletin. Scottish Rite Freema-

sonry welcomes all its members and visitors within its

portal visit us as often as time permits, we guarantee

good fellowship, new friends and an opportunity towork with us for the benefit of Freemasonry and

Scottish Rite in particular.

AffiliationWallace W. Wasmund, 32

ReinstatementDelbert D. Rawlinson, 32

Calling all Volunteers

The Scottish Rite is

looking for volunteers toassist with several

projects around the

Masonic Center.

We are looking to

formalize a list of members names and phone num-

bers, along with any special talents or interests that

you may have.

If you are indeed interested in being a volunteer,

please call the Masonic Center to sign up.

Scottish Rite Masonic

Funeral/Memorial Service

The Scottish Rite does have an absolutely beautiful

funeral/memorial service that is available to its

members. Most members are totally unaware that it

exists, and are only aware of the basic Masonic

Funeral/Memorial Service available from the Blue

Lodge. The service is available to all Scottish Rite

Masons who are current with their dues.

Unfortunately, we have attended way too many

funerals and/or memorial services where it wasnteven mentioned that the deceased was a very active

Mason. This occurs because the brother has not

properly expressed his wishes for a Masonic service

in writing to members of his family.

Please dont let this happen to you. If you would

like to have a Scottish Rite Funeral or Memorial

Service, document it in writing and give it to your

loved ones.

If you should have any questions, please feel free

to contact the General Secretary.

Donations to the Building Fund

In addition to our Foundation and Almoners Fund,

please dont forget about supporting the Building

Fund. It takes money to keep up a thirty-nine year

old building the size of our Masonic Center.

Please consider making a donation so that we

may continue to operate out of this magnificent

building that we are blessed to own.

Good for YouThe following Brothers recently received certifi-

cates and lapel pins:

Twenty-Five Year

Certificates & Lapel PinsJon S. DeCaluwe, 32

Stanley H. Rakita, 32 KCCH

Fifty Year

Certificates & Lapel PinsKenneth H. Johnson, 32Cecil I. Raymond, 32

George F. Russell Jr., 32

Millionaire

Certificate & Lapel PinAll R's Pest Management, Inc.

Larry D. Barnes, 32

Pinellas Scottish Rite Club

Sun City Center Scottish Rite Club

Valley of Tampa eNewsletter

We encourage you to sign up for our eNewsletter

which will keep you informed of news and events at

Tampa Scottish Rite. Please visit ,click on Tampa eNews and then click on eNews

signup.


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Page 4 May - June 2013


Support your Scottish Rite Club

Scottish Rite Clubs

Lake Region Scottish Rite Club3rd Thursdays, 6:30 p.m.

in April, May, September and November.

(dark June, July and August)

Lakeland Lodge No. 91505 N Mass. Avenue, Lakeland, FL

North Pinellas Scottish Rite Club2nd Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.

Reservations preferred, phone (727) 460-1824

Kally-Ks Steakery Fishery

1600 Main Street, Dunedin, FL

Pinellas Scottish Rite Club

1st Friday, 11:00 a.m.Perkins Family Restaurant

8841 Park Blvd., N, Largo, FL

Information & Reservations (727) 577-5923

Sarasota Scottish Rite Club2nd Friday, 11:30 a.m. in odd numbered months

(dark July)

Sahib Shrine

600 N. Beneva Road, Sarasota, FL

or1st Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. in even numbered months

(dark December)

Scottish Rite Club Building

240 S. Tuttle Avenue, Sarasota, FL

Sun City Center Scottish Rite Club3rd Monday, 11:30 a.m.

(dark June, July, August, October and December)

Freedom Plaza Club

Sun City Center, FL

Deadline for July/August Bulletin

June 3 - Contributor deadline

June 12 - Office contributor deadline

June 14 - Transmit print file to our printer

The Almoners

Purseby Coleman L.

Hill, 32 KCCH

Brethren, the first

requirement we encoun-

tered in Freemasonrywas the belief in a single,

all-knowing, all-powerful

God. Minutes later, we

hear our obligation(s)

with special reference to Charitynot only Charity

to our Brethren, but Charity to our fellowman. This

is not just a value God would appreciate, it is a

requirement written in the Volume of the Sacred

Law by every major religion. All of the religions that

trace their roots to Abraham make Charity a funda-

mental underlying principal of their religion. Theseinclude Judaism, BaH, Christianity and Islam

just to name the major such religions. This value is

also present in Polytheistic religions, such as Druid-

ism and Hinduism. It is a fundamental part of civi-

lized society and has been so for millennia.

Christianity provides repeated references to

Charity in the Gospels. However, references are also

found in the Torah: especially in Deuteronomy,

Leviticus, Proverbs, and several of the prophets

(e.g. Ezekiel and Isaiah). Despite the nauseating

actions of terrorists, obligatory Charity (Zakat or

Zakaah) is the third of the five pillars of uncorrupted

Islamic belief; it is not just a belief, it is an obliga-

tion which is rigorously enforced and is the most

frequently referenced duty in the Quran. The ten

percent tithe referenced in the Bible is based on

income. However, in Islam, the tithe is two and a

half percentnot of incomebut of total posses-

sions, including land, crops, livestock, buildings,

money, et al.

What most of use fail to realize is that there areat least nineteen interpretations of the Bible. Half of

them interpret the original Greek and/or Hebrew

word for Love as Charity. This is because the an-

cient Aramaic used the words interchangeably

depending upon the context. We are told to love one

another; how best can we express that love other

than by charity?

Like many of, you, I have been a Mason for

yearsand years. In that time I have presided over


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... continued on page 6

numerous bodies and become a member of many

others. In every Masonic body I encountered, Char-

ity occupies a special place among the virtues en-

couraged/taught by that particular body. All of us

are familiar with 1st Corinthians 13:13. And now

abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the

greatest of these is Charity (King James Bible,

Cambridge Ed.).In years past, the office of the Almoner has been

occupied by some of the finest Masons I have ever

known. Each of them regarded this as the highest

office they ever held, despite their numerous other

honors and recognition. I, too hold the position as

an incredible honor but, more importantly, as a

sacred trust.

However, for the past several years, the duties of

the office have assumed new responsibilities. Instead

of simply awaiting requests for assistance, we are

now identifying that need and addressing it on acase-by-case basis. By doing so, the existence of the

Scottish Rite is reaching the community in a way it

has never done before. Instead of requests coming

only from those who are, or who know, a Mason,

those who find themselves at a turning point where

some assistance will determine whether they can get

back on their feet or will become homeless or reliant

on welfare, are now included among the recipients

of your generosity. The upside of this is that we are,

for the first time reaching out to the community

instead of waiting on them; as a result, the existence

and charity of the Scottish Rite is now reaching a

much broader segment of the community with a very

favorable impression. The downside is that the funds

that originally met these needs are no longer suffi-

cient to achieve the results required. We can no

longer afford to contribute a pittance and pat our-

selves on the back; now we come down to the full

meaning and responsibility of 1st Corinthians 13:13,

cited above. Recently, we have given, and given

generously to provide such assistance.One that stood out was a family that was sitting

on bare mattresses and eating off of plates placed on

the floor between them; we bought them an inexpen-

sive dining set. We have received several notes/

letters of gratitude. However, the one I will always

remember is one from a child. His brother was two

years old and had Chronic Pulmonary Disorder. Due

to complications, he required an emergency trache-

otomy; he did not survive the surgery. The mother,

whose income is marginal despite the fact that she is

employed, used part of her rent money to pay for

the childs cremationshe could afford nothing

more. Her landlord threatened eviction if her rent

was not paid in full. We reimbursed her for her

expenses related to the death of her child and she

and her surviving son remain in their sparsely fur-

nished apartment. She continues working, and wereceived a note of thanks from her five (now six)

year old:

Dear Scottish Rite,

Thank you for helping my Mommy so we can stay

here.

For Thanksgiving and Christmas, our Chef Luis

provided, at his expenseunasked, and without

expecting any recognitiondinners for identified

needy families who had little to celebrate and,

otherwise, would have had even less with which to

celebrate it.Bless you my beloved Brethren, for your efforts

and assistance. However, the Almoners fund is on

life support. Can youwill youhelp?

Rite Clinics and Programs for

Childhood Language Disorders

In the early 1950's in Colorado, the Scottish Rite

of Freemasonry of the Southern Jurisdiction of the

United States initiated a program to help children

with speech and language disorders. The results

obtained from this program led to the establishment

of Scottish Rite Clinics to provide diagnostic evalu-

ation and treatment of speech and language disor-

ders, as well as learning disabilities.

Today, there are fourteen clinics in Florida and

many more throughout the United States. In these

clinics, there are special programs for children. Each

facility is staffed by speech-language pathologistswho must hold a Master's Degree in Speech Pathol-

ogy. Through the support of Scottish Rite Masons

and friends of the Foundation, these clinics and

programs continue to increase.

The value of this philanthropy has long been

apparent. Thousands of youngsters have received

significant help in our Florida clinics, while tens of

thousands more across the United States have been


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Page 6 May - June 2013


Director

of Workby Ill. C. Donald Prosser, 33

Brethren, another suc-

cessful Reunion is in the

Books, and I congratulate

all the Brethren who work-ed so hard to insure that our

candidates and members

received the lessons of

Scottish Rite Masonry.

To our new Masters of the Royal Secret, my

Brothers during the Reunion you heard different

committee members speak to you about aiding your

Blue Lodge Brethren to Further Light, by inviting

them to become members of our Fall Class. You

were also asked to volunteer for becoming involved

in the ritual degree work, sound and lighting, cos-

tumes and wardrobe committees. We need your

assistance in each and every one of those commit-

tees. If you are interested, please contact our secre-

tary and inform him of where you would like to be

involved. I know that you will find that being active,

will be an enjoyable part of your Scottish Rite

Masonic life. Regular attendance at our monthly

meetings will add to the knowledge of the Scottish

Rite because a portion of each meeting is devoted to

Masonic Education by a knowledgeable Brother.The monthly meetings are preceded by excellent

suppers that are inexpensive at 5:45 p.m. You will

need to contact the General Secretarys office for a

dinner reservation.

To our regular members, we still have five degrees

that need complete casts. Your Lodge or Scottish Rite

Club or just a group of Brothers can accept the challenge

to revive these five degrees that have not been conferred

for at least 10 years, by contacting our General Secretary

and picking the degree you would assume to revive.

Valley of Tampa Historyby Ill. C. Donald Prosser, 33

The year 1923 began with the first "Convocation"

held on March 19, 20, 21 and 23, 1923. Fifty-four new

Masters of the Royal Secret were added to our mem-

bership roles. During the "Convocation" Brother

Charles K. Rogers on April 2, 1923, presented the

...continued from Page 5 Rite Clinics and Programs...

Annual Flag Day Celebration

Please plan to attend our Annual Flag Day cel-

ebration which will be held on Monday, June 10.This event is free and open to the public.

This year, the festivities will begin with flag

waving in front of the Tampa Scottish Rite Masonic

Center at 4:00 p.m.

The free barbecue dinner (chicken and pulled

pork with all the traditional sides) will start being

served at 5:00 p.m.

As usual, Valerie Gillespie and her group will

entertain us in the auditorium before our patriotic

program begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Knights Templar of Trinity CommanderyNo. 16, who conducted the flag folding ceremony so

beautifully last year, will be back to do so again this

year.

It's sure to be an enjoyable evening. So bring

your family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Let's

show our community that Masons are patrioticwe

love our country and the flag for which it stands!

helped. With the good work of dedicated clinicians

and parents, the Scottish Rite has achieved suc-

cesses that could only be imagined a few years back.

Children who might have remained educationally

handicapped for a lifetime can now talk, read, and

lead useful lives.

Program eligibility

As a rule, the Scottish Rite Clinics for Childhood

Language Disorders accept pre-school children who

have difficulty speaking or understanding the spoken

word, or school age children who have difficulty

learning to read. Inquiries on age group program

offerings in specific areas should be addressed to the

Trustee at the local Scottish Rite facility listed on

the back of the foundation brochure. Get the bro-

chure at: www.scottishritefoundationofflorida.org/brochure.pdf

Equally important, all services are available

regardless of race, creed, or the family's inability to

pay.


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Coming Masonic Events

Please note ALL Scottish Rite Masons may attend

the Executive Committee Meetings. The Executive

Committee Meetings start at 4:30 p.m., NEW dinner

time is 5:45 p.m. and regular meetings at 7:30 p.m.

unless otherwise noted. Visit the Valley of Tampa

Website for the latest information on meetings and

events.

May 13, 2013:

Executive Committee Meeting,

Dinner and Regular Meeting

Breaded Fish; Roasted Potatoes;

Corn; Hush Puppies; Salad; Brownie.

June 10, 2013:

Annual Flag Day Ceremony and Program

Bar-B-Q Chicken; Pulled Pork;

Baked Beans; Pasta Salad; Cupcakes.

July 8, 2013:

Executive Committee Meeting,

Dinner and Regular Meeting

Baked Ziti with Sausage; Caesar Salad;

Spanish Casserole; Ice Cream.

Prelateby Ill. Lou Ortt, 33

"Remove far from me

falsehood and lying; give

me neither poverty nor

riches; feed me with food

that is needful for me." Proverbs 30:8.

It is that time of the

year when the smells of

new blossom, the sight of our favorite flowers

beginning to bloom excite our being. Those warm

days when we relax and let our minds wander. Are we

thinking about how thankful we are for the beautiful

things we have, or are we dreaming about what we

would like to have or where we want to go?

I am reminded of a story about a fisherman whoone day was relaxing on his boat and enjoying the

surroundings. An executive from a major company

came by and asked the fisherman why he wasn't

fishing. The fisherman replied, "I've caught enough

fish for today." The executive then asked, "Why

don't you go catch some more?" The fisherman

asked, "What would I do with them?" The answer

came back, "You could earn more money and then

fix your boat so you could go into deeper water and

catch more fish, buy better nets, make more money

and, perhaps, even buy another boat or even a fleet.

Then you could be rich like me." The fisherman

replied, "What would I do then?" The executive

said, "Then you could really enjoy life. The fisher-

man replied, "What do you think I am doing right

now?"

Some of us are very happy with where we are and

what we are doing and that is okay; but as we dream,

let us put our minds in front of the mirror of eter-

nity, our souls in the bright light of glory, our hearts

with our heavenly Father and our lives will be chartedfor us. Maybe as we complete our labors we just

want to sit in our boat and soak up the sunshine and

give thanks for where we are and what our Father

has allowed us to do.

Valley of Tampa with two handsome Japanese vases,

decorated with the "Rose Croix" emblem, which are

still on display in our Temple. A resolution was passed

by the Brethren and sent to the Speaker of the Florida

House of Representatives, in support of legislation

supporting Bill No. 71. This bill an act of the State of

Florida to furnish "Free Texbooks" to the pupils of the

Free School System of Florida. The second Convoca-tion of the year was held on July 24, 25 and 26 with 45

Brothers receiving all 29 degrees for a total of 124 new

Masters of the Royal Secret for 1923. Brother George

W. Scofield presented the Valley of Tampa with a

portrait of Honorable Brother President George

Washington; this portrait is still on display. The last

"Convocation" was held on November 6, 7, 8 and 9,

1923 with 45 Brothers receiving the 29 Scottish Rite

Degrees. Following the Convocation a Court of Honor

was held for the investiture of the 32 KCCH, to the

following Brothers, Cary B. Fish, Asabel W. Gage,Rev. John C. Timms, Frank Townsend, and James T.

Swann. The year closed with the announcement of

the death of Ill. Olin S. Wright 33 on December 17,

1923.


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In Memoriam

Sunset and evening star, and one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the

bar, when I put out to sea, but such a tide as moving seems asleep, too full for sound andfoam, when that which drew from out the boundless deep turns again home. Twilight and

evening bell, and after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, when I

embark; for tho from out our bourne of Time and Place the flood may bear me far, I hope

to see my Pilot face to face when I have crossed the bar. Tennyson

Paul R. Bennett, 32

January 19, 2013

Samuel E. Brooks Jr., 32

March 3, 2013

James C. Crowder, 32

March 3, 2013

Laurance S. Fernald, 32

December 23, 2012

Harold F. Fultz, 32

March 18, 2013

Charles H. Guth, 32

February 27, 2013

Carrelton R. Hess, 32

February 28, 2013

Richard C. Holt Sr., 32

March 22, 2013

Backman J. Jones, Sr., 32

March 24, 2013

William A. Morgan Jr., 32

January 19, 2013

Stanley E. Moulton, 33

February 20, 2013

Ken Owen, 32

February 12, 2013

Scottish Rite Masonic Center

5500 Memorial Highway

Tampa, Florida 33634-7336

Non-Profit

Organization

U. S. Postage Paid

Permit #1

Manasota, FL

Scottish Rite Bulletin

Volume No. 36, Issue No. 3

May - June 2013

Elman V. Peterson, 32

December 25, 2012

Frank P. Sloan, 32

March 21, 2013

William D. Tritt Jr., 32

March 2, 2013

Jackson P. Weldon, 32

March 31, 2013

Leonard M. Whalen, 32 KCCH

April 9, 2013

Albert Williamson, 32

March 20, 2013


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