200 Years of Brotherhood Volume 44, Number Three I N T H I S I S S U E
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e l e b r a t i n g C200 Years of Brotherhood Volume 44, Number Three I N T H I S I S S U E Message from the 3 Sovereign Grand Commander The magazine for Scottish Rite Masons of AmericaSM Notes from the 18 Scottish Rite Journal COVER STORY Brothers on the Net 19 Leigh E. Morris, 33° 8 Essays from our members. Scottish Rite Charities 20 Steven R. Pekock, 32° Stamp Act 21 Robert A. Domingue Book Nook The 22 Thomas W. Jackson, 33° 24 HealthWise Members 25 1813 - 2013 On the Cover Views from the Past To mark the 200th anniversary of the jurisdiction, the centerpiece is 26 Speak a double-headed eagle, the symbol of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. As this issue is dedicated to the members, we have created a unique background. If you are a 33° Honorary Member with sharp 27 Quotables eyes, start looking. You may be surprised at what you find. ARTICLES 28 Today’s Family 29 More Than Just Books Collecting for the Readers Respond 4 Next 200 Years 30 Masonic Moments Aimee E. Newell, PhD 31 Et cetera, et cetera, etc. 16 The Sovereign Grand D I R E C T O R Y Commanders EDITOR Alan E. Foulds, 32° GRAPHIC DESIGNER Beth E. McSweeney STAFF WRITER Jerry A. Roach Jr., 32° PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Sonja B. Faiola CONTRIBUTORS MEDIA ADVISORY COMMITTEE Richard V.Travis, 33°, chairman Eric Ginette, 33° Donald M. Moran, 33° Donald G. Duquette, 33° Alan R. Heath, 33° Douglas N. Kaylor, 33° SUPREME COUNCIL, 33° Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U.S.A. SOVEREIGN GRAND COMMANDER John Wm. McNaughton, 33° THE NORTHERN LIGHT (ISSN 1088-4416) is published quarterly in February, May, August, and November by the Supreme Council, 33°, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite,Northern Masonic Jurisdiction,U.S.A., as the official publication. Printed in U.S.A. Periodicals postage paid at Aimee E. Newell, PhD, Robert A. Domingue is Leigh E. Morris, 33°, Thomas W. Jackson, Boston, MA, and at additional mailing offices. is the director of collections historian for St. Matthew’s works in corporate 33°, was formerly Grand POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Northern Light,PO Box at the Scottish Rite Ma- Lodge, Andover, MA, and communications for a Secretary for the Grand 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519. sonic Museum and editor of The Philatelic major utility company. He Lodge of Pennsylvania. He Copyright © 2013 by Trustees of the Supreme Council of the Ancient Library, located at Freemason. is a member of the Valleys is Executive Secretary for Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Supreme Council head- of Milwaukee and the World Conference of Jurisdiction, U.S.A. quarters in Lexington, Springfield, IL. Masonic Grand Lodges. Mailing Address: MA. PO Box 519, Lexington, MA 02420-0519 Editorial Office: Other Contributors: 33 Marrett Road (Route 2A), Lexington, MA 02421 781-862-4410 • Fax: 781-863-1833 Jeffrey Croteau is manager of library and archives at the Van Gorden-Williams Library. Steven R. Pekock, 32°, is director email: [email protected] of development for the Supreme Council, 33°, AASR, NMJ, USA. S. Brent Morris, 33°, is the editor of The Scottish Rite Internet: Journal, a publication of the Southern Jurisdiction, USA, located at Washington, DC. www.ScottishRiteNMJ.org SOVEREIGNGRANDCOMMANDER John Wm. McNaughton, 33º The Northern Masonic Jurisdiction in Forward Motion he long awaited time is well upon us. Our most are hundreds of cases where good Brothers received TIllustrious Brother, J.J.J. Gourgas, known to us immediate help from our Almoner’s Fund, which many as, “the conservator of the Rite,” once commented of you Brothers helped to fund. that the Ancient Accepted Scottish Right has been Of the hundreds of thank you notes received by the “the greatest missionary of Freemasonry.” At the dedicated Scottish Rite Masons who helped to publication of this commemorative issue of The distribute the funds as well as by this office, I would Northern Light, we are filled with joy and pride in our like to share part of one of the most moving letters past growth and inspired with a productive, promising from a member whose daughter was killed and whose and nurturing present leading this “miracle of children came to live with him for their upbringing. “We Freemasonry” into our next 200 years. were speechless when we received the check from Paul Young writes in his inspirational novel, Cross Scottish Rite. We sat with tears running down our Roads, “You can’t steer a docked ship.” What a faces and shaking our heads in disbelief. You have no perfect time to be a member of our Scottish Rite. The idea what you have done for us today. I assure you winds of change are growing stronger daily. The ropes that the money will be used to pay off the bills holding our ship close to the dock are loosed, and we associated with the death of our daughter. I hope it’s are moving into an exciting future and are pleased to okay, but I would really like to go out tomorrow and have you on board. purchase a bed for our granddaughter, as she has Anniversaries, those of our own family as well as our been sleeping with us or on the floor since December.” organization’s, are times to look back and reminisce I’m sure that we all would tell this grateful recipient, about what was, about where we are now, and, more it’s okay. importantly, where we are headed. We cannot stand hat a grand anniversary gift. How good it is still. Our rite has been well conserved, but not Wto be practicing that which we swore openly preserved for a museum display. that we would do, by putting into action the words Brotherly love and affection We are very much alive, vibrant, and energetic. Our . We thank the many of you mission has been well chosen. As Freemasons we who have steered our ship away from the dock and realize our first duty – after that which we owe to our who are joining us for a long cruise to a beautiful and families – is to “our Brothers, widows and oprhans.” rewarding future. “Relief” is the password to a rich and meaningful Our best wishes to all of you in this celebration of future. Among the many changes that are taking place the long awaited 200th anniversary. Let us enjoy in this jurisdiction, one that stands out predominantly, together this memorable voyage remembering that the is the overwhelming success of the Almoner’s Fund. journey is indeed the destination. Monies from this fund have been used for many purposes, among which was to provide relief to those who were affected by Hurricane Sandy. However, there Sovereign Grand Commander The Northern Light / August 2013 3 COLLECTING FOR THE NEXT 200 YEARS By AIMEE E. NEWELL, PhD iconic objects in considering additions to the collection. We seek the collectionne of ofthe the most Scottish Rite Masonic objects that have supporting information in the OMuseum & Library in Lexington, MA, is the form of provenance or history explaining how the stained glass window in the lobby. Photographed object was made, used or transferred, while also by visitors and enjoyed by families, the large requiring that proposed acquisitions are in good window was donated to the museum in 1975, condition. shortly before it opened. Yet, when people think The museum has a special interest in of museums, they often don’t consider an object preserving and interpreting the history of the like this window as “historic” or even part of the Scottish Rite, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. A collection. But, as we celebrate the Northern notable gap in the museum’s current collection is Masonic Jurisdiction’s 200th anniversary, that of Scottish Rite regalia, props and Museum & Library staff are already thinking accessories. In large part, this is due to the about the next 200 years – and how to collect and Scottish Rite’s success over the past one hundred interpret that future. years. Valleys used their costumes and props until The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & they wore out. So, instead of having items to give Library seeks to be the “historical society for away, they used them up and purchased American Freemasonry.” To accomplish this, it replacements that they continued to use regularly. places a priority on strengthening its collection of But, now, in the 21st century, as some of the American Masonic and fraternal objects. degrees have started to be presented on DVD, Curatorial staff employ specific criteria when and as costumes and props are reevaluated, many 4 August 2013 / The Northern Light Valleys are consolidating their space and may when I find something that is coming up. The have surplus regalia and ritual items. We hope committee discusses whether or not the object fits that they will contact the museum before our collecting criteria and reviews the throwing anything away. Some of the weaknesses recommended bid that I would like to submit by of our current collection, which we would love to considering what similar objects have cost and strengthen, include: the state of the museum’s acquisitions fund. The • Scottish Rite costumes, 1900 to the present committee also reviews the condition report • Scottish Rite props, 1900 to the present provided by the auction house. In the case of the Masonic • Lodge furniture (with a history of where it was Eldred’s auction, there were several items that we Stained Glass used), 1760 to the present wished to bid on, so I went to the auction with a Window, 1975, Dr.