VOL. 2, Issue 2

Feb 2023

Scottish Rite

The Ashlar

Valley of Columbus, Orient of Georgia

Serving Scottish Rite Masons in the Chattahoochee Valley

Personal Representative's Message


Joseph F. Oelgoetz

32° KCCH

colpr@gascottishrite.org

Personal Representative 

to the SGIG


Greetings Brethren,


We enjoyed a wonderful Burns Night (seventh annual) at our January Lodge of Perfection meeting on January 20th.  Our Knights of Saint Andrew, led by our Knight Commander, Bayardo Reyes, did an outstanding job.  This event was well attended.  Special guests included our cast for “It’s a Wonderful Life”, our Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Orient of Georgia, Illustrious Ted C. Collins, 33°, and the Third Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Georgia & Personal Representative for the Scottish Rite, Valley of Middle Georgia, Honorable Brother David Baxter, 32° KCCH were in attendance.  As well as our Ladies.  Just a fun filled and special night.  Brother Knights, I congratulate and thank you.


Our annual Burns Night is also our annual awards.  First of all, we recognized our Officers for the preceding year with presentation of Past Officer Jewels: Honorable Torrey Knight, 32° KCCH, Venerable Master, Lodge of Perfection, Illustrious John Ohrt, 33° Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix, Honorable Brother Bob Lyons, 32° KCCH, Commander, Council of Kadosh, and Honorable Brother Sidney Cooley, 32° KCCH, Master of Kadosh of the Consistery of Columbus.  Thank you for your service.  


We presented our Beehive awards to many Brethren, ladies, and children for their many contributions in support of our Valley.  Such as working our annual Dove Shoot in support of RiteCare, working at our Scottish Rite Little Theatre during our performances of “It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play, working at our first ever Fireworks fundraiser, as well as other events during the past year.  We also provided each recipient with a new “Beehive Award” lapel pin.  Thank you, all for your support of our Valley.


We presented our special guests – the cast and crew of It’s a Wonderful Life Radio Play with the Golden Microphone recognition, Beehive award and picture of the team.  Newfound friends and now family of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus.  Their presence was special.


The first annual “Illustrious Phil Harris, 33° Firecracker Award”, for outstanding support and work at our 2022 Fireworks fundraising event was presented to Brother Jonas E. Barlow, 32° for his incredible leadership, support, and work at our New Year’s Fireworks fundraiser.  As I stated upon presenting this to him, we would have had to close the stand, on several occasions, if Jonas had not stepped up during these crucial times.  Well deserved, my brother.


We also instituted a new and long overdue special award for our Ladies.  “The Illustrious Paul E. Wells, 33° Lily of the Valley Award”.  This is presented to Ladies of the Valley that have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their support of our Valley.  Those who shall always be designated as a “Lily of the Valley” are Ivy Harris, Kathleen (Kat) Adams and Donna Buterbaugh.  This is special and we are so very thankful for their service.  


Finally, it was my honor and pleasure to present the 2022 Personal Representative Award to Brother Bayardo Reyes, 32°,  For his many contributions over the past year.  Thank you, my brother.


2023 marks the 100th Anniversary of the Valley of Columbus!  We have wonderful plans to celebrate this important milestone over the weekend of September 22-24, 2023.  This year marks the year of Honormen.  I look forward to welcoming those that have been selected to Knight Commander Court of Honor and those that will be Coronated into the 33rd Degree.  We have an Orient wide membership event on February 11th as well as an Orient wide Reunion in Atlanta on Jun 3rd.   Mark your calendar for the Grand Masters Reunion on June 3, 2023.  Let’s introduce Master Masons to the benefits of being a Scottish Rite Mason and invite them to this Reunion to be initiated into the Rite.  We plan continued support of our RiteCare partner, The Autism Learning Center of Columbus, and to provide help in scholarships for our young people of Columbus.  This will be a wonderful year, and we need your support and enthusiasm to be successful in all we do.


Warmest Fraternal Regards,  Joe


Joseph F. Oelgoetz III, 32° KCCH

Personal Representative to the

Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the

Orient of Georgia


Key Notes from the Valley

Scottish Rite Valley of Columbus - 2023 Officers 

Lodge of Perfection

Chapter Knights Rose Croix

Council of Kadosh

Consistory

Baron L. Conklin, 32° KCCH

Fraternally yours,

Baron L. Conklin, 32° KCCH

Venerable Master

Valley of Columbus

Venerable Master

Comments

Dear Brethren of the Valley of Columbus,

January was truly memorable for our Burns Night celebration. The event was well attended, including our SGIG, and dignitaries from other jurisdictions, such as our new Third Grand Steward. Our Knights of Saint Andrew outdid themselves, and my ‘cannon’ has joined my many other memorabilia on the shelves of my office.

Our meeting on the 17th, three days after Valentines Day, will focus on honoring our ladies, who not only allow us to do our work, which often takes us away from them, but do their part in helping make our center comfortable and well decorated. I will be presenting some thoughts on Saint Valentine, hearts, and love, and may add a song or two. Brethren, be sure to bring your better half!

I hope some of our members will attend the ‘Continuing Your Masonic Journey’ on the 11th, with Illustrious Brother, Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, Grand Cross, one of the truly great scholars of Freemasonry, and will bring with them some prospects for our statewide reunion coming up in June. We need our biggest roster ever.

Stay safe, stay warm, stay healthy, and stay away from those that aren’t. General Beauregard Lee says spring is just around the corner. As one of my favorite choir anthems says, “The darkest night means dawn is just in sight.” BTW-My cast comes off on the 27th!

General Secretary

Comments

Brethren, 

A big well done to Brother Bayardo Reyes, 32°, Commander, and the Knights of St Andrew for having a great Burn's Night celebration at our last meeting.  This has to be one of the best Burn's Nights we have had.  We had special guests to join us, such as IB Ted Collins, 33°, SGIG and Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Georgia and HB Dave Baxter, 32°, KCCH, Personal Representative for the Valley of Middle Georgia and the Third Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge of Georgia.  Our Personal Representative, HB Joseph Oelgoetz, 32°, KCCH presented many awards that evening.  Of special note is that the Scottish Rite Mason of the Year went to Brother Reyes.  HB Oelgoetz established a new award to honor the ladies who have gone above and beyond in supporting the Valley of Columbus called the Lily of the Valley Award.  The first recipients are Ms. Kathleen "Kat" Adams, Ms. Donna Buterbaugh, and Ms. Ivy Harris.  I also presented the Double Eagle Awards for points earned in 2022.  Thanks to everyone who made this evening a success.  The bar is set high for next year's Burn's Night.

Our next Lodge of Perfection meeting will be February 17.  We will celebrate St. Valentine's Day.  The Venerable Master will give a program about St. Valentine's Day, and we will honor the ladies.  So, Brethren, bring your special someone to the meeting.  Our March Lodge of Perfection meeting will be about St. Patrick's Day.

There will be a Scottish Rite Membership Meeting on February 11 at Tyrian Lodge #111 in Warner Robins.  IB Artura DeHoyas, 33°, from Supreme Council will speak on the history and symbolism of the Blue Lodge.  IB Dean Alban, 33°, from Supreme Council will speak on membership.  The target audience includes non-Scottish Rite Master Masons.  We hope to pique their interest and perhaps get a few petitions out of the meeting.  Pre-registration is required, see the QR code in this newsletter to register.

There will be a state-wide Reunion, called the Grand Master's Reunion, on June 3 at the Atlanta Masonic Center.  Candidates from throughout the state will receive their Scottish Rite degrees.  The Valley of Columbus 14th Degree Team, headed by IB Paul Wells, 33°, will portray the 14th Degree.  Now is a good time to invite those Master Masons to become Scottish Rite Masons to be a part of this state-wide Reunion.  See the additional information in this issue of the Ashlar about the Reunion.

The Valley of Columbus will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its chartering on September 23, 2023.  Mark your calendars now to attend.  The Sovereign Grand Commander, IB James Cole, 33°, has accepted our invitation to attend the rededication ceremony of our Scottish Rite Center that morning, along with MWB Michael Kessler, Grand Master of Masons in Georgia, and Mayor Skip Henderson.  That evening we will have a formal Masquerade Ball at the Bibb Mill Event Center.  More information is forthcoming.

Remember, Brethren, if you need anything, let me know.

Fraternally yours,


Roger Buterbaugh, 32° KCCH

General Secretary

Valley of Columbus

Sir Knight 

Bayardo Reyes, 32°

Upcoming KSA Meetings, Events, & Important Dates

Fraternally,


Sir Bayardo “Rey” Reyes

Knight Commander

Knights of St Andrew 

College of Freemasonry

Short Talks   by Joseph Fort Newton

Between the years 1923 and 1927, Brother Joseph Fort Newton, at the request of the Masonic Service Association, wrote a series of talks designed to be read at Lodge meetings. They proved to be so popular that they were collected and published in book form in 1928 as Short Talks on Masonry. Throughout the coming year, the College of Freemasonry will re-publish many of these talks in email format because, while the material in the book was written many years ago, we find that it has enormous relevance in the world today. 

George Washington's Birthday

George Washington's Birthday

by MW Hugo Thomas, PGM, American Canadian Grand Lodge within the United Grand Lodges of Germany (VGLvD) Brotherhood of Freemasons. Original Source

The following speach was presented on 26 February 1977 as Solomon Lodge No. 822 (George Washington Ball). For more about the George Washington Charity Ball credited as the “Premier Social Event of the Grand Lodge” hosted annually by Solomon Lodge No. 822, read this interview with RW Bro. Paul MacKenzie in 2015. 

"All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of one small candle. "

Fraternal Greetings, 

to all Brothers and Sisters, Ladies and guests, who share our joy in commemorating the 245th Birthday of a Brother, a General and Statesman, and the first President of the United States 

the Honorable George WASHINGTON 

born on the 22nd of February, 1732 in Wakefield, on the banks of the Potomac river, 38 miles from Fredericksburg, his boyhood home, not too far from Mount Vernon, the stately home of his later years. 

And we celebrate the Birthday of the 16th President of the United States of America 

Abraham LINCOLN 

born on the 12th of February, 1809. 

George Washington was still a child at his father's Augustine sudden death in 1741. By stern example and admonitions, his mother Mary Ball-Washington, toned and shaped her six children's personality: discipline and adherence to moral principles during their formative years; that the soft and easy way is very often not the right way, and that they owed a duty to themselves to persist until their goals had been attained, providing due consideration was given to others. 

In those demanding years Washington' s preparation for life and for living was immeasurable augmented by his becoming a Freemason in early manhood, when he was Raised on the 4 Nov. 1752 in "Fredericksburg" Lodge No. 4; and served as Wor[shipful] Master of the now known "Alexandria-Washington" Lodge No. 22 in 1788. He wisely used the working tools Freemasonry presented to him, and strove for perfection in everything he undertook. Bro. Washington was a developer  of great men, and he galvanized every man who came in contact with him. Whatever they had of ambition, purpose or personality, he magnified by the tremendous force of his character, by his fathomless reservoir of strength-in-repose. Men who caught his spirit, became imbued with his courage: 

The observance of the Birthday of Bro. George Washington by such an honored group of Brothers, members of the Masonic Order, whose own roots predate the time of George Washington, is gratifying.  Needless to say, I am delighted to be here for this great day and to participate , with you in celebrating G.W. birthday and the spirit for which he stands. 


Certainly no group or association could bring a greater background of support and participation to the formation of this country, than the Masonic Order. Our ancestral brotherhood was well-known, active and influential in both Colonial America and in the revolutionary movement which brought freedom  200 years age. It is, therefore, deeply rooted into the national fiber that spiritual values and a belief in God are essential to our well-being. George Washington was a part of it. 

In expressing this "self-evident truth" of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, our forefathers knew that in the exercise of patriotism, God and country go together. They also new the Value of citizen virtue: such ,things as honesty, rectitude, integrity and striving  for excellence. We, being at the rear end of a long procession winding its way through history, benefit now from the examples set by so many Brothers of 200 years ago. By and large, they were a people of self reliance who valued integrity and excellence. George Washington and his Brothers knew that the ultimate purpose of government was to preserve the greatest measure of freedom for the individual. 

In order to keep George Washington's spirit alive and to honor his Masonic way of life at his Birthday, we must renew those tenets of our forefathers which stressed faith, honor and patriotism, and a decent dose of patriotism can give meaning to our citizenship, and keeps firmly in mind the rich record of our past.  As Brothers, we affirm anew the need for a strong moral fiber in all our dealings. Similarly, we must set a goal of excellence in our work while earning our own way, as we are able to provide. 

This is Bro. George Washington's heritage. Our ideals must remain high and our resolves strong. It might sometimes seem to be difficult to attune modern thinking to the events of the past. The importance lies in the understanding and implementation of our timeless tenets and fundamentals, in the understanding of individual liberty, worldwide fraternity, and Masonic morality. Masonic history can serve to remind us of the sacrifice which went into the creation of this good land, the mother country of most of our members of our ACGL, and the bedrock of national idealism upon which it was founded. Perhaps most important is the perspective George Washington's birthday gives us for the future and the course we should follow. That is the charge we should heed, so aptly expressed by James Russell Lowell, that our countries "will last as long as the ideals of its Masonic founders remain dominant." Then we can, indeed, look ahead with appreciation and confidence, and with a firm understanding of our past achievements. This is the formula for greatness in the foundation of a nation; it always starts with the guiding principles of freedom and individual esteem, under God. And Thomas Pains summed it up, when he wrote: "These are the times that try mens souls... he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."

This Birthday Celebration following the Bicentennial year should be a time for all of us to unite in observance and rededication; it is a time for renewal of Masonic patriotism, which is an abiding spirit of freedom and courage, blended with respect for the ideals and principles, with respect for all mankind, set forth by George Washington and his Brothers. 

"To whom much is given, of him shall much be required." And blessing implies responsibility... "that we might live in a land of the free and the home of the brave." And we proudly repeat Bro. George Washington's reminder: "It is impossible to govern a nation wisely without the Bible". 

And so mote it ever be in all future centuries; ever bearing in mind our Masonic commandment: 

"I pledge allegiance to Freemasonry"

MW Hugo Thomas, PGM

American Canadian Grand Lodge within the United Grand Lodges of Germany (VGLvD) Brotherhood of Freemasons. (1976-1977)

On February 3rd, 1969, Dr. Hugo Thomas was rejected when his first petition for the degrees of Masonry was placed for ballot.  The motivation behind that rejection will never be known.  The following day his recommender, in what turned out to be a futile attempt to have the 12-month waiting period before re-petitioning waived, called me to arrange a meeting with Dr. Thomas.  February is an extremely busy time of the year in our Grand lodge office, and although I rarely take lunch and was very reluctant about getting involved in the matter, I relented, and subsequently met Dr. Thomas for lunch in a quiet restaurant in downtown Frankfurt.

At about the time the dinner crowd started arriving, we both realized it was long past the time to take our leave.  We had been thoroughly engrossed in non-stop conversation, oblivious to everything around us, for approximately six hours.  It was a fascinating encounter I will never forget.  Thirteen months later, Dr. Thomas's second petition to Frankfurt on the Main Lodge No. 861 was accepted, and he was initiated on March 23rd, 1970.

M.W. Brother Dr. Hugo Thomas' subsequent service in the various stations in our Lodge, and later in our Grand Lodge, culminating in his serving as Grand Master during 1976-77, is well documented.  To even attempt a summary of those years or to expound on his continuing intense dedication and love for Freemasonry, or comment on what evolved into a lifelong friendship, in the Foreword to this edition of some of his writings, would be foolhardy.  His works and words speak for themselves.

With unabated enthusiasm for his works, copies of his various papers have been requested by many Brethren over the years.  His consummate ability to project and convey his ideas and thoughts in a language other than German, his mother tongue, is remarkable in itself.  Of even greater significance, evident in all his writings, are his humanity, his humility, and undying love for Freemasonry and its principles.  Read on, dear reader, and join M.W. Brother Dr. Hugo Thomas as he takes you by the hand on an enlightening experience through the realm of what the essence of Freemasonry is all about.


Frankfurt, Germany - April 4, 1994


Fraternally,

Jess Minton, PGM (1967-1968)

Grand Secretary

100th Anniversary Celebration 

Mark your calendars for the Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Valley of Columbus, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry – Saturday, September 23, 2023.  We have gained acceptance of our invitation to Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious James D. Cole, 33°, Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite of the Southern Masonic Jurisdiction, who will be in attendance for this event.  Additionally, we have gained acceptance to attend by Most Worshipful & Illustrious Michael A. Kessler, 33°, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Georgia.  The Grand line will also be in attendance.

The current overall elements of the celebration event would be the following:

We are being led in our planning of this very special event by Brother Bayardo Reyes, 32°.  He is looking for others to join the planning committee.  Brethren and Ladies are welcome to be a part of the planning of this once in one-hundred years event.  If interested, please do not hesitate to contact either our General Secretary: Honorable Brother Roger Buterbaugh, 32° KCCH at colsec@gascottishrite.org, or Brother Bayardo Reyes, 32° at bayardo.reyes.32@gmail.com.


Committee Reports

Membership

The Scottish Rite Orient of Georgia invites all Master Masons to continue their Journey. Join us for an informative day and hear from  Illustrious Brothers Arturo De Hoyos and Dean Alban. 

Location: 


Tyrian Lodge, No. 111

650 Tallulah Trail

Warner Robins, Ga. 31088

This event is for Master Masons in good standing who are members of Lodges operating under the Jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Georgia or other Jurisdictions in Amity with the Grand Lodge of Georgia. A current dues card will be required for admission.

Lunch Menu: Baked Chicken and Fried Pork Chops with assorted vegetables and dessert. 

Continuing Masonic Journey Flyer-final.pdf

Click HERE to register or use the QR Code below.

Orient Wide  Reunion

For the Hotel (Note: we could only block 10 rooms, they will add more if needed and available. Reserve your room ASAP) Atlanta Marriott Northeast / Emory Area | 2000 Century Boulevard NE | Atlanta, GA 30345|P: 404.348.1134 | F: 404.325.4920

Here's your reservation link your guests can use to make reservations:

Book your group rate for Scottish Rite of Free Masonry June

Event Summary:

Hotel:


Scan the petition QR code above or click here to share or get started on your Scottish Rite journey.

Brethren,

For those interested, take a look at the Sovereign Grand Commanders Scholarship which is open for both University and Trade School scholarship. Applications for this scholarship is not due until 5 April 2023. Click here for more information.   

300th Celebration Silver Coin

300th Anniversary Coin commemorating the first constituted Grand Lodge from 1717-2017. 1 oz .999 Fine Silver Masonic coin. [One side stamped with Square and Compass and Genesis 1-3. Other Side with Appendant Bodies of masonry and coin sequence Number]. Each are serial number stamped 1-150. Can ask for specific number and availability but requires coordination with Bayardo Reyes at colsm@gascottishrite.org. 

Vol. 2, No. 2 - Feb 2023