University of Freemasonry: The SGIGs of Iowa

Tonight, our Master of Kadosh, John Clearman, 33, gave a detailed history of the SGIGs of Iowa. He started with the legendary T.S. Parvin, and concluded with our present SGIG, Gary Sissel, 33.

Below is the powerpoint he shared.




(KMH)

Scottish Rite Express

University of Freemasonry Program

Join us March 28th at 7pm for the University of Free Masonry. The program will feature the early history of the Des Moines Consistory as an organization and those members who built our beautiful Scottish Rite Building. Names like Sherman, Meredith, Nollen, and Koch that are well known in Des Moines had a major impact on Scottish Rite as well. Learn about some of the men whose pictures hang in our 2nd floor hallway and Albert Pike room. Program begins at 7:00 pm with dessert following. This event is open to all.

Special Reunion to Honor "The Committeemen"

Master of Kadosh, John W. Clearman, 33° has chosen to honor at our Spring Reunion: Howard T. "Pete" Coll  32°  KCCH , Larry E. Blom 32° KCCH, Isadore J. Andriano 32° KCCH and Robert E. Steenrod 32°KCCH.  Each of these men were very active in putting on our Scottish Rite Reunions in days gone by.       Brothers Coll, Blom, and Andriano were committeemen serving behind the scenes at our reunions.  Pete served as Chairman of the Wardrobe committee for several years.  Larry Blom was a member of both the Sound and Stage committee.  While Brother Andriano served on our famous "Kitchen Krew".  Bob Steenrod was Adolph the Saxon in the Prussian Knight Degree for many years.      We recognize our departed Brothers by naming reunion classes in honor of them.  It is then up to us to fill the auditorium with candidates at the reunion.  We have several events coming up for you to invite potential Scottish Rite Masons to attend to help you in your recruitment efforts.  Petitions are available by calling the SR office or on our website.

"The Committeemen"

Isadore Joseph Andriano, 32° KCCH Isadore was born in Des Moines, Iowa on April 4, 1914.  He was a United States Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict.  He retired from John Deere May 1976 after 27 years of service.  He was a member of Windsor Presbyterian Church and Izaak Walton League. Isadore was raised a Master Mason in Acanthus Lodge # 632 in 1955.  He became a Master of the Royal Secret on November 20, 1976.  Isadore was a Co-Chairman of the Dining Room Committee for 10 years.  He received the Knight Commander Court of Honour in 1989.  He also belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star, and Za-Ga-Zig Shrine.    Isadore passed to the Grand Lodge above on January 3, 2007. Larry Everett Blom, 32° KCCH Larry was born in Newton, Iowa on May 14, 1936.  Following his high school graduation in 1955 in Newton, he joined the Army and served from October 15, 1958 to October 14, 1960.  Larry worked for the Department of Education for the State of Iowa for 33 years as a Data Processing Manager retiring in 1997.     Larry was very active in his community.  He was on the PTA for Newton Community Schools of 15 years.  He was a coach for YMCA Pee-Wee Basketball, YMCA Flag Football, and YMCA Soccer and an All Star coach for Newton Little League and Newton Babe Ruth League.  Larry was also chairman of the Christmas Food Baskets and Children's Party for the needy.     He became a Master Mason on April 24, 1970 in Newton Lodge #59.  He served on the Lodge Service Committee, Grand Lodge of Iowa.  He was a member of Jasper County Shrine Unit, White Shrine and York Rite.  He joined Scottish Rite in 1989 and received the Knight Commander Court of Honour in 1997.     Larry passed to the Grand Lodge above on August 30, 2011. Howard Teddy "Pete" Coll, 32° KCCH Pete, as he was known, was born in Linden, Iowa February 20, 1926.  Following High School, he joined the United States Navy, serving from 1944 to 1947.  After serving our country, he went to work for John Deere, 1948 to 1953 and from there he went to work for Iowa Power & Light, retiring in 1985 after 30 years of service.  He was a Peak Plant Operator.    He was raised as a Master Mason, in October 1955, in Union Park Lodge #658.  He served as Master of the lodge twice, 1983 and 1997.  He became a Master of the Royal Secret on April 7, 1979.  He was Chairman of the Wardrobe Committee for many years.  Pete received the honor of Knight Commander Court of Honour on October 10, 1993.    Pete passed to the Grand Lodge above on August 4, 2008. Robert E. Steenrod, 32° KCCH Bob was born in Rochester, Minnesota May 25, 1942.  He grew up in Iowa Falls, Iowa and graduated from Iowa Falls High School.  Following graduation he attended the University of Iowa graduating with a major in Psychology in 1964.  From 1969 to 1972 he was the public address announcer for the Hawkeye marching band and the Scottish Highlanders at Kinnick Stadium.    Following college he moved to Des Moines and worked for Bankers Life Company, now Principal Financial group from 1967 to 1996.  He was certified as a Project Management Professional and a member of the Project Management Institute.    Bob was raised to the degree of a Master Mason in the spring of 1970 and joined Scottish Rite that fall. He was active in the 21° degree for over 20 years.  Bob received the Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 2005.  He was also an active member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine and was General Chairman of the Shrine Circus in 1985.    Bob passed to the Grand Lodge above on October 25, 2005.

2012 Committee Chairman & Degree Masters

2012 Spring Reunion Schedule

FRIDAY, APRIL 20, 2012 4:30 PM COMMITTEEMEN CLASS ORIENTATION 5:00 PM DINNER BUFFET 5:45 PM RECEIVE COMMITTEEMEN CLASS LODGE OF PERFECTION DEGREES 6:05 PM 4th Degree Secret Master 7:00 PM 5th Degree Perfect Master 7:50 PM 6th Degree Confidential Secretary 8:30 PM 7th Degree Provost and Judge 8:55 PM DISMISSAL SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 2012 7:45 AM COMMITTEEMEN CLASS ASSEMBLES LODGE OF PERFECTION DEGREES 8:00 AM 8th Degree Intendant of the Building 9:00 AM 9th Degree Elu of the Nine 10th Degree Elu of the Fifteen 9:50 AM 11th Degree Elu of the Twelve 10:40 AM 12th Degree Master Architect 11:25 AM 13th Degree Royal Arch of Solomon 11:50 AM LUNCH 12:35 PM 14th Degree Perfect Elu CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX DEGREES 1:35 PM 15th Degree Knight of the East 2:35 PM 16th Degree Prince of Jerusalem 3:30 PM 17th Degree Knight of the East & West 4:50 PM 18th Degree Knight Rose Croix 6:00 PM SOCIAL HOUR FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012 5:00 PM DINNER 5:45 PM COMMITTEEMEN CLASS ASSEMBLES COUNCIL OF KADOSH DEGREES 6:00 PM 20th Degree Master of the Symbolic Lodge 7:10 PM 21st Degree Noachite or Prussian Knight 8:20 PM 22nd Degree Knight of the Royal Axe 9:00 PM DISMISSAL SATURDAY, MAY 5, 2012 7:30 AM COMMITTEEMEN CLASS ASSEMBLES COUNCIL OF KADOSH DEGREES 8:00 AM 23rd Degree Chief of the Tabernacle 8:45 AM 24th Degree Prince of the Tabernacle 9:30 AM 27th Degree Knight of the Sun, or Prince Adept 10:35 AM 28th Degree Knight Commander of the Temple 11:40 AM 29th Degree Scottish Knight of St. Andrew 12:10 PM LUNCH 12:55 PM CLASS PICTURES 1:10 PM 30th Degree Knight Kadosh CONSISTORY DEGREES 2:30 PM 31st Degree Inspector Inquisitor 3:45 PM 32nd Degree Master of the Royal Secret  (1st Section) 4:40 PM 32nd Degree Master of the Royal Secret (2nd Section) 5:45 PM SOCIAL HOUR 6:30 PM CINCO DE MAYO FIESTA

Now Taking Tee Times "fore" the Scottish Rite Golf Outing

It is time to plan for the annual Scottish Rite Golf outing.  This is your chance to take a Friday afternoon off and spend some time on the course.  Our friends at Terrace Hills Golf Course in Altoona, have generously allowed us a Friday afternoon to have our outing.  The cost is $80 per person.  It will include 18 holes of golf (cart included), prizes, and a steak dinner following play.  The event is an outing, so keep score if you want but the idea is to have fun.  It is open to all.  This might be a great chance to invite your non-Masonic golfing buddy along for a chance to see what we are all about.  When?  Friday June 29, 2012                                       Where?  Terrace Hills Golf Course, Altoona How Much? $80 (Fees, cart, dinner, & prizes)     Time?  Shot gun start at 12:45 PM. Why?  To have fun and raise money for Rite Care & the Consistory Building Trust              . Please call the SR office (515-288-8927) to reserve your place or to be a sponsor.