VOL. 3, Issue 1

Jan 2024

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 III, 33° 

colpr@gascottishrite.org

Personal Representative 

to the SGIG


Greetings Brethren,

As we enter a new year of 2024, I would like to first thank our officers that served our Valley for 2023.  Our past Venerable Master, Honorable Brother Baron Conklin, 32 KCCH, did an outstanding job in leading our Lodge of Perfection meetings and scheduling incredible programs for us all.  Honorable Brother Rossi Ross, 32 KCCH as our Wise Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix directed a wonderful Scottish Rite invocation of both the Remembrance and Renewal and our Feast of Tishri.  Our other two presiding officers, Honorable Brother Ed Lynch, 32 KCCH, Commander, Council of Kadosh, Illustrious Brother Roger Buterbaugh, 33 as Master of Kadosh of the Consistery of Columbus.  On behalf of the membership, I thank you for your service.  


To our new presiding officers, I welcome you to leadership and I offer my services and that of our Executive Committee in support of your efforts for our upcoming Scottish Rite year.  Specifically, congratulations to Illustrious Brother Roger W. Buterbaugh, 33, our new Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection.  To Honorable Brother Bill Block, Wise Master of our Chapter of Rose Croix, Honorable Brother Harold Culpeper, 32 KCCH, as Commander, Council of Kadosh (who will be installed later due to illness) and Honorable Brother Harry Ross, 32 KCCH as our Master of Kadosh of the Consistory of the Valley of Columbus, A. A. S. R., and Honorable Brother Torrey Knight 32 as Valley Treasurer.  On behalf of the membership, I congratulate you.  I look forward to working with this team of new officers in achieving our goals for the coming year.


We achieved some outstanding accomplishments in 2023.  A successful Centennial event and celebration was the KapStone of the year.  This also featured our Centennial monument unveiling at the front of the Scottish Rite Temple as well as the paver garden.  The paver garden will provide donations to the Building Fund.  A minimum donation of $100 was given by many in support of the Valley and in return a printed paver was inserted on the giver’s behalf into the paver garden.  


But there were other tremendous accomplishments during this past year.  Last year’s Burns Night was one of our best, directed by Honorable Brother Bayardo Reyes, 32 KCCH as Commander, Knights of Saint Andrew.  We continued our Fireworks fundraiser during the 4th of July and over the New Year’s period.  Thanks to Illustrious Brother Danny Dawson, 33 his Lady Sandy Dawson and Reine (Chance) Miller, 32 the Scottish Rite Little Theater performed two plays this year as a fund-raising effort: “Twelve Angry Jurors” and “A Christmas Carol”.  We had another successful Dove Shoot in support of our RiteCare partner, Autism Learning Center for Children of Columbus.  The success is due to no small part taken by our Illustrious Brother Phil Harris, 33


We introduced the “Lily of the Valley Award” this past year.  It is a special award given to those ladies of the Scottish Rite that have served this Valley above and beyond the call of duty.  This was bestowed upon Ms. Ivy Rowe Harris, Ms. Donna Buterbaugh, and Ms. Kathleen (Kat) Adams.  During our Centennial Celebration we bestowed Honorary Lily of the Valley awards on Ms. Mary Ann Cole, wife of our Sovereign Grand Commander Illustrious Brother James Cole, 33, Ms. Charlene Collins, wife of our Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Orient of Georgia, Illustrious Brother Ted C. Collins, 33, and Ms. LaVerne Knowles, the widow of Grand Master & Illustrious Brother Charles Knowles, 33, Past Personal Representative of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus.


Importantly, we created 10 new Masters of the Royal Secret in the year 2023.  At the Orient wide Reunion Timothy Brad Coleman, Sr, 32, Warren Clayton Daniel, 32, Raine Ascott Miller, 32, Joseph Steve Rooks, 32, and Joshua Michael Royster, 32 became Masters of the Royal Secret.  The Valley of Columbus’ Fourteenth Degree Team did an outstanding job at this Reunion.  And our newest members of the Valley of Columbus, A. A. S. R. who became Masters of the Royal Secret on October 7th in Genoa, Italy, thanks to Brother Cameron Davis, 32 for introducing the following members of Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 304 to our Valley.  Brothers Arda Cilinger, Tayfun Cilinger, Daniel Jap Lem, Tarik Eker and Christian Rohrick are our newest 32 Masons.  


And finally, the Valley of Columbus, Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite were honored by Supreme Council on bestowing the following with Honors.  Brothers Roger W. Buterbaugh and Joseph F. Oelgoetz, III with the Thirty-third Degree, Inspector General Honorary, and Brothers Jonas Barlow, Bayardo Reyes, Scott LaVelle, and Cameron Davis received the Knight Commander Court of Honor award.  All these brethren bring honor to the Valley of Columbus.


What a great year we had in 2023.  So much leadership from our officers, great programs, fun fellowship, and growth as Masons.  I thank you all for your love of this fraternity and your efforts in all the programs that were executed.  May the Grand Architect bless each one of you, and your ladies and families that helped us have a great Scottish Rite year here in the Valley of Columbus.


I look forward to 2024 in the Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus.  It starts out this month on January 19th at our annual Burns Night.  Knight Commander, Brother Russell Ward, 32 and all the Knights of Saint Andrew are planning an outstanding event.  So, wear your Tartan, invite your friends and family, and enjoy the fellowship.


Brethren and Ladies, help to make what we do for the Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus in 2024 to be fun, enlightening, and successful!


A famous quote that I consider each New Year is from Most Worshipful Brother Benjamin Franklin, Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania: 


“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.”


I truly wish each one of you and your families a Blessed, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!  



Warmest Fraternal Regards,  Joe

Key Notes from the Valley

Scottish Rite Valley of Columbus - 2024 Officers 

Lodge of Perfection

Chapter Knights Rose Croix

Council of Kadosh

Consistory

Roger Buterbaugh, 33°

Fraternally yours,


Roger Buterbaugh, 33° 

General Secretary

Valley of Columbus

Scan here for our online petition

Venerable Master &
General Secretary

Comments

Dear Brethren, 

Our last Lodge of Perfection meeting of the year was December 15, 2023.  IB Paul Wells, 33d, installed our new officers for 2024.  It was followed by a stirring Christmas program by HB Baron Conklin, 32d, KCCH.  What a wonderful way to start the Christmas season.

We had two successful fundraisers last month:

I am honored to serve as both your Venerable Master and General Secretary for 2024.  My articles for you for the next year will include a little bit of both positions.  I have the following planned for our Lodge of Perfection meetings:

Reminder, dues cards expired December 31, 2023.  If you haven't paid your 2024 dues yet, you can do so by giving me your dues, mailing your dues to our Post Office Box, or paying online through your account at scottishrite.org.

I pray that everyone had a joyous Christmas and New Year's, and I wish you all happiness and prosperity in the new year.

Cameron J. Davis, 32° KCCH

Fraternally,

Cameron J. Davis, 32° KCCH
European Representative
Valley of Columbus, Ga.
colkm@gascottishrite.org

President
AMSRB-NATO e.V.
Valley of Washington, DC
cameron.davis@amsrb-nato.com

European Representative

Comments

Dear Brethren,

Happy New Year and welcome to 2024! I hope that each of you had a wonderful holiday season and was afforded the opportunity to spend plenty of time with friends and family. The American Military Scottish Rite Bodies-NATO held its first meeting of the year this week, and it was great to see some of our European Valley of Columbus members in attendance. In Europe, we must take full advantage of every opportunity to see each other. Contrary to belief, many of the Valley of Columbus Brethren live long distances apart so aside from the occasional Zoom call, we must work to see each other through other Masonic events. For example, last week was the Annual Communication for Emirat Shriners Europe. At which, 4 of our 6 Brethren were able to enjoy a bit of time together. We are hopeful that the momentum will continue as many of us will be in attendance for the Solomon Lodge No. 822 annually hosted George Washington Charity Ball on 10 February 2024.

As we kick off the new year, I look forward to the continued collaboration between the Valley of Columbus and the AMSRB-NATO Club. As President of the AMSRB, this year, I hope to focus a bit of energy in 3 primary areas – Masonic Education, Mentorship, and expanding our Recognition Program. It is my hope and goal that by the end of the year we effectively establish a program that will allow each of us to both share and grow our Masonic knowledge. I am looking for ways to actively improve the AMSRB educational resources using the member access to our Club website and our email distribution list. Efforts that I am sure would bleed over to the Valley of Columbus. I am actively looking for seasoned Scottish Rite Masons from both sides of our organizations who would be willing to answer questions and help mentor newly made Masters of the Royal Secret. Lastly, inspired by the Valley of Columbus Double Eagle program, I hope to expand our recognition program to provide incentives for contributing Brethren to get recognized for their achievements and actions.

As I close this short message, I send the Fraternal Greetings of all or Valley of Columbus Brethren here in Europe and we all wish you a very happy new year! 

Sir Knight Russell Ward, 32°

Knight Commander

Comments

Sir Knights,

 The next meeting is Burn’s night. It will be a time where we will need as many knights as possible to help. We have many things to do for this meeting so I hope all of you can take the time to attend.  We will be serving and conducting toasts throughout the evening.

A always remember to spend time with those who are most important to you in your life.  Remember life is short, and enjoy the time while we have it with the ones that you love and live you. 

Thanks for all that you do.

Fraternally,

Sir Knight Russell Ward, 32°
Knight Commander
Knights of St Andrew

College of Freemasonry

The Twenty-four Inch Gauge

The Twenty-four Inch Gauge by H. L. Haywood
Symbolical Masonry: An Interpretation of the Three Degrees, 1923, The Masonic Services Association of the United States.

Introduction by:
Cameron J. Davis, 32° KCCH

As newly initiated Entered Apprentices, Masonically, we are first introduced to the concept of time with the introduction of the Twenty-four Inch Gauge. While this working tool dates to our operative Brothers and had (has) a specific purpose used to carry out a particular function, we symbolically use it today as a reminder to properly divide our time. The tool being allocated into twenty-four equal parts, we equate this emblematically into the twenty-four hours of the day and are taught to divide it into three equal parts of which are dedicated for the service of God and a distressed worthy Brother, work, and rest. But, time is an interesting scale. It is defined as the indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future regarded as a whole and measured in hours and minutes past midnight or noon.

Time is the most valuable thing in life, as all life is dependent upon time, and always ends in death. In life, we are only allocated a very finite amount of time, which, in itself should skyrocket its value. Sadly, many of us allow too much time to speed past us before we realize its true value.   

With the 24-inch gauge, we are taught to divide our time into three equal parts, however, equality of such time is unrealistic in our current evolution of time. We live in a fast and ever-changing world. Our lives are complex and as time affects everything that we do, the lexicon of this lesson should more accurately suggest the proper use of time and our need to apply adequate management of our time in comparison to our lives. Time is a dimension of life we can never get back. Once time has passed, it is gone forever.

Proper time management, then, is our burden to execute if we are to truly value the time allocated towards our life on this earth. Time management is the process of planning and exercising conscious control of time spent on specific activities — especially to increase effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity. Time management involves demands relating to work, social life, family, hobbies, personal interests, and commitments. Good time management depends on us to properly prioritizing our tasks, to end tasks when continued work no longer provides value to the end state in comparison to time spent to achieve 100%, and to divest ourselves from those task that no longer hold value in our lives. Ultimately, time is a social construct that we all use to navigate and better manage our lives. How we use our time should always be a point of great importance in our minds as we never know when it will end.  

In the short article to follow, written in 1923, H. L. Haywood highlights this very concept. We must respect time and be selective in the tasks we take on. If we do so and by using proper time management, all things are possible. From his perspective, the 24-inch gauge teaches us the need to transform time into life and further adds the idea of individual perspective. The value of our time must be measured across an individual scale and weighed against our own actions and behaviors relative to its effect on our very life.       

The Twenty-four Inch Gauge by H. L. Haywood

This is nothing other than an ordinary two-foot rule such as may be found in use among stonemasons of co-day; as such we need not go far to seek its origin or dive deep to find its meaning. Our Monitors make it the symbol of time well systematised, and our older writers have often referred to Saints Ambrose and Augustine, and to King Alfred, as exemplars of the wisdom of devoting eight hours to the ser vice of God and distressed worthy brethren, eight hours to their usual vocation, and eight to rest and to refreshment. This reading of the symbolism may be accepted without reserve, but is not this right use and dividing of time itself suggestive of that wider use of law and order so necessary in the life of the individual and the world?

What time is in itself we do not know, perhaps we shall never know. But in everyday life it is nothing other than our opportunity to live and work. We have our allotted span of existence; we have our allotted task; our wisdom consists in making one fit the other. Time flows over some men as water flows over a stone; to others a single hour may bring a new depth of experience and open our new vistas of vision. It is not the least among the secrets of genius chat it understands the value of the odd moment or the spare hour. Many Illinois lawyers between 1840 and 1860 found their days eaten up by their practice; Abraham Lincoln was as busy as the others but he managed in his spare time to learn White's Geometry by heart, to study the technique of politics, and to master every phase and angle of the slavery question. There were only twenty-four hours in one of Albert Pike's days even as in ours; he made of himself, in spite of a thousand handicaps, one of the profoundest scholars of his day-antiquarian, linguist, jurist, philologist, what not; he "found the Scottish Rite a log-cabin and left: it a palace''; he ploughed his influence into America, and all because he knew how to apply the gauge to his time.

Much of the waste and confusion of human existence arises from men's failure to measure their work by some standard or rule; they float down the stream like chips, take things as they come and go, and suffer themselves to be blown this way and chat like a derelict at sea. Their days are as mere heaps of stone to which no quarryman has ever brought his tools. He who has learned how to transform time into life, deals with circumstances as an artist uses his materials; he has ever before him a plan laid out on his mind's tracing-board; he selects his materials and appoints each to its appropriate function, fitting and shaping all according to his design.

What is the standard by which we may test our work? What is the measure of rightness? For many centuries we have been dividing our actions into two opposing tables, one made up of good actions, and one of bad. When we have desired to learn whether or not some proposed action was good or bad we searched for it in the two lists. But this morality by code is rapidly breaking down, for we find that a deed will be wrong under some circumstances, right under others. If l shoot a man for assaulting my family I may do right; if l shoot a friend in a quarrel I do evil. The one test which we can apply to any and every action is, "What is its effect on life?" If it enlarges, exalts, ennobles, if it makes life more musical, more worthful, more rich, it is good; if it cramps, corrupts, debases, defiles, it is evil. This is life morality and every evidence indicates that it is to be the morality of the future.

And it is also, I believe, the morality of Masonry, as symbolized by that Working Tool which would teach us how to transform time into life. He who learns this use of it need never regret the passing of "every year;' for every year will but add honor to his head and riches to his heart until the end comes when time will lead him to eternity.

"Old time will end our stay,

But no time, if we end well, will end our glory:'

Upcoming Events & Programs

As leaders of the Scottish Rite, we bear the responsibility of empowering the next generation to sustain and advance our Rite. This makes your participation in the 2024 Framing The Future Scottish Rite Leadership Conferences this spring vital. Join us to shape the future of the Scottish Rite.

This is your opportunity to hear from experts from across the Southern Jurisdiction on the subject of leadership, masonic education, communication, fundraising and more. There will be a Q & A with Scottish Rite historians and a town hall-style discussion with Grand Commander Jim Cole. Plus, you will be able to enjoy fellowship with Scottish Rite leaders and aspiring Scottish Rite leaders from across the country.

Conference Dates & Locations are:

To be mindful of time & budget, the conferences will begin on Friday mornings and conclude Saturday evening. Complete schedule and details will be released in January. For more information, CLICK HERE and to register now, click the button below. Space is limited, and we do expect these conferences to sell out so register now!

register_now!_2024_scottish_rite_leadership_conferences (Original).mp4

I look forward to seeing you this Spring!

Fraternally,

Bill Sloan
SGIG in Mississippi
Supreme Council Membership Committee Chairman

Paver Program

The Valley of Columbus is establishing a paver garden in front of the Scottish Rite Center. It will start at the bottom of the steps on both sides of the front porch and extend to the end of each side of the building. It will be similar to the pavers at the Masonic Children's Home in Macon. This is a great opportunity to support the Valley of Columbus Building Fund by purchasing a paver, and to honor those people or organizations that have a special meaning to you (to include yourself!). Complete the order form in this issues of The Ashlar or open in a new window HERE.

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. 

Committee Reports

Valley Membership Achievement Project

As we are at the years end, 2023. The Scottish Rite, Valley of Columbus Orient of Georgia, are actively maning the Scottish Rite Fireworks Stand. Although times are tough, membership and volunteering are down we continue to persevere through these times for a great cause with great success through great leadership, for our love of our community and Masonry. All of our hardwork through the continued sacrifices of the active,  Scottish Rite Brothers through their dedication throughout the years of fundraising hours are truly remarkable. In this Month of December the Scottish Rite has Hosted The Christmas Carol Radio show, Theatre play, Lodge of Perfection Christmas program and the Fireworks Stand to close out the year. May our Lord and Savior, Christ our Lord bless us. May Faith, Love and Charity propel us into the New Year. Live long and prosper! 


Fraternally,
Bro. Scott LaVelle

Vol. 3, No. 1 - Jan 2024