Fall Reunion is fast approaching!
Our 2013 Fall Reunion is just around the corner. It will be held over two weekends and we will confer 28 of the 29 Scottish Rite Degrees. The reunion dates are October 25/26 and November 8/9. Following the 32nd degree on November 9th will be the Double Eagle Gala.
We call our degree conferrals "Reunions" because the brethren come together to share the special lessons of the Scottish Rite degrees with a new class of candidates. As we meet to witness and perform these degrees, the teachings of the Scottish Rite are exemplified to our new brothers and reinforced in us anew.
Our first weekend will begin on Friday, October 25th. We will confer the 4th to 8th degrees. Dinner ($10) will be served at 5:00 pm with the opening of the reunion at 6:00 pm. If you haven't been to a reunion in the past few years, please consider making a special trip to attend. The opening has been completely rewritten. It is also important that our new Scottish Rite Masons see familiar faces on their special night.
October 26th will begin promptly at 8:00 am with the 9th Degree, Elu of the Nine. You might recall our old friends from the 3rd degree reappear. This is a great example of how the Scottish Rite expands on the drama of the Symbolic Lodge. We will portray all of the Lodge of Perfection and Chapter Rose Croix degrees and will finish the day with the 18th degree, Knight Rose Croix. Following the work, we will have a social hour for all in attendance.
The 2nd weekend of the reunion will take place November 8/9, 2013 with the Council of Kadosh and Consistory degrees. The 2nd Friday is always a great night with the 20th, 21st, and 22nd degrees. These degree are always well performed and a great deal of fun to watch. Dinner on Friday, November 8th is at 5:00 pm.
November 9th will be the culmination of our Fall Reunion. We will begin with the 23rd degree, Chief of the Tabernacle, at 7:45 am. The 23rd to 26th degrees are recent additions to our reunion schedule, each having been portrayed only a few times. They are the "religious" degrees of the Council of Kadosh and give insight into the early years of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. If you haven't seen them yet, you are always welcome to be a sideliner during a degree.
The end of the day will bring the 32nd degree, Master of the Royal Secret. This degree shares with our new brothers the Holy Doctrine and the Royal Secret. It also gives a brief synopsis of all 32 Scottish Rite degrees.
Following the 32nd degree, it will be time to celebrate. All Scottish Rite Masons, their ladies, and friends are invited to celebrate with our new class of candidates at the Double Eagle Gala. This great event will feature our new class, an amazing banquet, music and dancing. "Freestyle" led by Ed Kelly is a great dance band and plays music for all ages. It has become the premier event of our Scottish Rite year.
Fall Reunion Schedule
October 25/26 and November 8/9
FRIDAY, OCTOBER25, 2013
5:00 PM DINNER BUFFET
5:45 PM CLASS ASSEMBLES
6:00 PM RECEIVE CLASS
LODGE OF PERFECTION DEGREES
6:20 PM 4th Degree Secret Master
7:10 PM 5th Degree Perfect Master
7:55 PM 6th Degree Confidential Secretary
8:35 PM 7th Degree Provost and Judge
9:05 PM 8th Degree Intendant of the Building
9:45 PM DISMISSAL
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2013
7:45 AM CLASS ASSEMBLES
8:00 AM 9th Degree Elu of the Nine
10th Degree Elu of the Fifteen
8:55AM 11th Degree Elu of the Twelve
9:40 AM 12th Degree Master Architect
10:25 AM 13th Degree Royal Arch of Solomon
11:15AM 14th Degree Perfect Elu
12:05 PM LUNCH
CHAPTER OF ROSE CROIX DEGREES
1:00 PM 15th Degree Knight of the East
2:00 PM 16th Degree Prince of Jerusalem
2:55 PM 17th Degree Knight of the East & West
4:15 PM 18th Degree Knight Rose Croix
5:30 PM SOCIAL HOUR
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2013
5:00 PM DINNER
5:45 PM 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
8:25 PM 22nd Degree Knight of the Royal Axe
9:05 PM DISMISSAL
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2013
7:30 AM CLASS ASSEMBLES
7:45 AM 23rd Degree Chief of the Tabernacle
8:20 AM 24th Degree Prince of the Tabernacle
9:10 AM 25th Degree Knight of the Brazen Serpent
9:55 AM 26th Degree Prince of Mercy
10:45 AM 27th Degree Knight of the Sun
11:45 AM 28th Degree Knight Commander of Temple
12:20 PM LUNCH
12:55 PM CLASS PICTURES
1:05 PM 29th Degree Scottish Knight of St. Andrew
2:00 PM 30th Degree Knight Kadosh
CONSISTORY DEGREES
3:20 PM 31st Degree Inspector Inquisitor
4:30 PM 32nd Degree Master of the Royal Secret (1st Section)
5:25 PM 32nd Degree Master of the Royal Secret(2nd Section)
6:30 PM SOCIAL HOUR
7:15 PM CLASS BANQUET & FALL GALA
Scottish Rite Honors (explained)
In August of 2013 the active members of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council met in session in Washington, D.C. One of the many important items on the agenda was to recognize certain Scottish Rite Masons for their efforts and dedication to the Fraternity. This article explains briefly the three honors that are recognized by the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America. Earlier articles in this newsletter announced the recipients of the Knight Commander of the Court of Honour and the Inspector General Honorary.
Knight Commander of the Court of Honour
The Rank of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor is not a Degree, but an Investiture, bestowed upon members deserving recognition for faithful services to the Rite or to mankind. At the biennial session of the Supreme Council, certain Masters of the Royal Secret are chosen to be invested with the Rank and Decoration of Knight Commander of the Court of Honour. The respective Sovereign Grand Inspectors General or Deputies nominate members for this honor, and they must also be unanimously approved by The Supreme Council. This Investiture is a prerequisite to receiving the Thirty-third Degree. The Rank of K.∙.C.∙.C.∙.H.∙. may not be requested, and if requested must berefused. The cap of the Knight Commander Court of Honour is red with a darker red band trimmed in gold. In the center front is a representation of the Knight Commander Jewel, a Passion Cross with fancy arms, featuring in the center a trefoil embroidered in green encircled by "Kt\ Comm\Court of Honour" embroidered in gold.
33°- Inspector General Honorary
The Thirty-third Degree is conferred by the Supreme Council upon members of the Rite in recognition of outstanding work in the Rite or in public life. At its biennial session the Supreme Council elects members of the Rite to receive the Degree. Members unanimously so elected become honorary members of the Supreme Council. The Thirty-third Degree may not be requested, and if requested must be refused. The Degree is granted solely out of recognition for outstanding services. These 33° Masons are Inspectors General honorary and honorary members of the Supreme Council. The active members of the Supreme Council are chosen from among them. The cap for an Inspector General Honorary is white with a white band edged in gold, featuring the symbol for this honorary Degree, a red slanting Patriarchal Cross.
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour
This is the highest individual honor that The Supreme Council bestows. It is voted very rarely to Thirty-third Degree Masons only for the most exceptional and extraordinary services. The Grand Cross cap is white with a blue band. On the front is a replica of the Grand Cross jewel, which is composed of a Teutonic Cross, with an embroidered crimson rose with green leaves at its center. Senator Charles Grassley is the only Iowa Scottish Rite Mason that is a member of the Grand Cross.
This is just a brief overview of the Scottish Rite Honors.
For a more complete overview see: Vested in Glory (The Aprons, Cordons, Collars, Caps, and Jewels of the Degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry) by Jim Tresner 33° Grand Cross.
Paintings by Robert White 32°
