February News

Calendar

Feb. 07 Trustees Meeting 6:30 p.m. / Executive Committee Meeting to Follow
Feb. 21 Presidents Day with Family and Friends: “Last Full Measure” Program
Social 6:00 p.m. / Dinner 6:30 p.m. / Program 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 28 Central City Lodge of Perfection 7:30 p.m. / Confer 7th Degree “Provost
and judge”
Mar 7 Executive Committee 7:00 p.m. / Rehearse 14° “Grand Elect Mason”
Mar 14 Lodge of perfection 7:30 p.m. / Confer 14° “Grand Elect Mason”
Mar 16 CNY 32nd Degree Masonic Learning Center Board of Governors 12:00
Noon / Corporation Trustees Meeting to follow
Mar 21 Consistory rehearsal / 26° “Prince of Mercy” 7:00 p.m.
Mar 24 Deadline to submit 2011 Scholarship applications / Contact the office to obtain forms or if you have questions
Mar 26 Council Princes of Jerusalem / Chapter of Rose Croix / Confer 3 Degrees:
16° “Prince of Jerusalem”, 17° “Knight of the East and West”, 18° “Knight of
the Rose Croix of H.R.D.M.

Consistory

As we embark upon the New Year, your officers are beginning to plan for the 2011-2012 term which will begin on May 23rd.
We are looking for brothers who might have an interest in leadership opportunities and / or getting involved with our degrees (both speaking parts (large and small) as well as non-speaking parts. Perhaps you have a hobby or unique interest in something where you might like to share in a meeting night. Perhaps you have a talent that you would be willing to share with the Valley.

If you would like find out how you might help your Scottish Rite valley, please let one of our body heads know or call Jim Swan (our acting secretary) at 315-452-7976.

Please mark Monday night, Feb. 21 on your calendar. Our Chapter of Rose Croix will be putting on the “Last Full Measure” ). This production is open to the public. More info will follow. Hope to see you there.

Sandy

Council

Brethren,
Greetings from the Council Princes of Jerusalem.

Winter picked up in January where December left off. February may continue. But, I digress. January was busy with the holding of the “Brother Bring a Brother” event on the 10th. The program for the evening was presented by the Right Worshipful, brother Richard Powell, 32 degree, DSA, member of the board of trustees of the Robert Livingston Library. It was an informative program, complete with power point presentation. I like “visuals”!

The 4th Degree was presented on the 17th of January, beginning the journey of the George Black Class candidates. And, rehearsals for upcoming degree presentations occurred on Jan 24th and Jan 31st.

February will kickoff with the Trustees meeting and Executive Committee meeting on the 7th, the President's Day with family and friends where the “Last Full Measure” will be performed as the evening program and, the month will finish with the presentation of the 7th Degree on Feb 28th.

Also, keep our Military in your hearts in minds, those far away, those close to home and especially those in harm's way.

Milo Peterson


Hospitaler

Brothers and Sublime Princes, The press deadlines for a monthly newspaper like this leave out many things that happen between the deadline and when the article appears. Such is the case with this article.

Many things happened in the Valley of Syracuse in December that only now appear in print in February. At the top of the list is our need to share condolences with the families of Bros. Ed Sinay Sr., Reggie Butler, Harry Alheid, Roy Neer Jr. and Robert Morse, all members of the Valley who laid down their working tools during the last month of 2010.

The harsh weather of December took its toll on Leo Searfoss, Sr. MSA, who fell while assisting a Knights Templar project collecting money for the Salvation Army. Leo fractured his wrist and needed surgery to set the break. He is recuperating at home. Bro. George Laird spent a short time in an area hospital after a fall in Syracuse during the record-setting snows. We continue our prayers and best wishes for all our brothers and members of the Scottish Rite family who experienced hardship, injury or sickness during the end of the past year.

The last item relates to the sending of dues notices. Ill. Jim Swan, the Valley Secretary, shares with me the occasional story of a Brother in his 70's, 80's or 90's who asks for a dimit from Scottish Rite. The story often includes things like illness, reduced income from pensions or investments and increased medical and living expenses. The brother may have moved away and is not active in a Master Mason lodge in the new community, let alone the Valley of Syracuse. Driving at night is a serious issue for others. The end of the story comes as the Brother says he no longer feels like he can carry out his obligations or good intentions as a member of his lodge or the Valley.A brother’s request for a dimit is a Masonic right, but we hear the stress of the situation and want to our best for Brothers who have been loyal to the Craft and the Valley for years.

One thing the Hospitaler does–without revealing any details–is help a Brother in such circumstances maintain his good standing in the Valley if he is a member in good standing with his Lodge. We believe that loyalty to the Craft and the Rite deserves our loyalty in return–if that is a Brother’s situation in life and desire.

Allan Ferguson,Hospitaler


Lodge of Perfection

Greetings from the Lodge of Perfection. I want to thank all cast members for their outstanding performance of the Forth Degree, on January 17th. I would like to encourage all brothers to attend these degrees, even if you have already received them. You can gain something new each time you see it. Many of our newer brothers are participating in degree work, and that is very good for them, and our Valley.

I also want to remind the cast for the Seventh Degree that February 28th will be here soon. Rehearsals are scheduled for January 24th and 31st, at 7:00pm. If you have any conflict with the degree date or rehearsals, please contact me at 315-243-8784, or santmyer@oswego.edu. If we need to, we will schedule a rehearsal in February.

This degree has not been done by the Valley in about ten years. It is an interesting degree, and I would suggest that any member who has not seen this degree, join us on Feb. 28th.

Scholarships

ABBOTT SCOTTISH RITE SCHOLARSHIPS 2011 APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE

Applications to apply for the 2011 Abbott Scottish Rite Scholarship Program are available in the Valley of Syracuse Business Office. Applications can be obtained by written request, letter or e-mail, a telephone call, or a personal visit. Members, Children, Grand children of current and deceased members, members of the Masonic Youth Groups, (DeMolay, Rainbow, Triangle, Constellation) and graduates of the Dyslexia Learning Center Program are eligible to apply for one of these scholarships. You must be attending school full time, completing one or more years of college study by June 2011, and have an accumulated grade point average of 2.75 or higher on a 4.0 grade scale to apply.

Completed applications, including all of the required associated documentation, must be received at the Valley of Syracuse Office before close of business at 4:00 p.m. on March 24, 2011 to be considered.

Contact the office at secccbaasrny017@twcny.rr.com or (315) 452-7976 if you have any questions.