Dear Brethren, 

We conducted our annual Remembrance and Renewal Service at our Lodge of Perfection meeting on April 19.  We paid last respects to the seventeen Brethren from the Valley of Columbus who passed away since our last service in April 2023.  Many of them were active in the Valley and contributed immensely to our success.  We will miss them.  Thanks to HB Bill Block, 32°, KCCH, Wise Master and the members of the Columbus Chapter Knights Rose Croix for such a meaningful service.

Our next Lodge of Perfection meeting will be our Spring Reunion May 17-18.  So far, we have three Brothers who have petitioned to become Masters of the Royal Secret and will receive their degrees during our Spring Reunion.  It’s not too late for petitions.  We need to backfill the seventeen Brethren we lost last year, so take a look around your Lodges to see who would make a good Scottish Rite Mason and would like to continue his search for more Masonic Light by receiving the 4° through the 32°.  Unlike Blue Lodges, you can ask a Master Mason to become a Scottish Rite Mason.  Petitions can be found in this issue of the Ashlar, at our website at www.scottishritecolumbusga.com, or contact me and I will give them to you.

We are always looking for Brethren to help with the Reunion, by participating in the portrayals, helping with the stage, and more.  Double Eagle Award points are awarded for helping with a Reunion.  If you are interested in helping contact HB Rossi Ross, 32°, KCCH, our Director of Work, or me.

We have 46 Brethren who are one or more years in arrears in their dues.  Our Retention Committee, chaired by Brother Richard Luna, 32°, is reaching out to them.  Supreme Council usually sends out dues’ notices in the August timeframe, so we would like to get those Brothers to pay their dues before the next dues notices go out.  If any Brother has a financial hardship that is preventing them from paying their dues, please contact me.  There are options to assist you in paying your dues.

A reminder that pavers are still available for our Paver Garden.  The program did not end with our Centennial Celebration last year but continues.  This is an excellent way to memorialize a loved one or yourself.  You can purchase a paver on line at our web site listed above or by clicking on the paver button in this issue of the Ashlar.

We will be conducting our Fireworks Fundraiser again this year for Independence Day.  We will have our same location at the Victory Drive Walmart.  Look for more information about the fundraiser from Brother Matt Burgess, 32°, our Fireworks Chairman.

We changed our Internet provider and have a much stronger signal now to Zoom our meetings.  We used the new provider to Zoom our last Lodge of Perfection meeting and the feedback is positive – best audio and video ever.  So, if you cannot join us in person for a Lodge of Perfection meeting, join us by Zoom!

Dear Brethren,

It was a tremendous honor and a truly enriching experience to meet with our Lodge of Perfection, Venerable Master & General Secretary, Ill Brother Roger Buterbaugh, 33° and Lady Donna, in Strasbourg, France on 4 May 2024. As the European Representative, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to connect with one of the Valley’s esteemed leaders during his visit to Europe. This meeting not only strengthened our bonds but also highlighted the global unity and commitment of our fraternity. Simultaneously, as the President of the American Military Scottish Rite Bodies – NATO under the Valley of Washington, D.C., I look forward to further collaboration that continues to inspire and lead our Fraternity forward.

As the Valley of Columbus prepares for the Spring Reunion beginning Friday, 17 May 2024, the European Brethren gear up for the Emirat Shriners Spring Ceremonial and Potentate’s Ball. The event is set to take place at the Pullman Hotel Fontana in Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany, Friday, 10 May through 11 May 2024. This significant event promises to be a vibrant celebration of our fraternity’s enduring spirit and commitment to philanthropy. The Spring Ceremonial and Potentate’s Ball is not only a time to honor new and existing members but also an opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to the humanitarian goals that define the Shriners. 

Nearly every European-based Valley of Columbus member is an Emirat Shriner including two Past Potentates, Illustrious Sirs, Brother Arda Çilingir, 32° and Scottish Rite Candidate Brother Frank Ullmann. Having begun my Noble journey as a Shriner through the Columbus / Fort Benning Shrine Club under Al Sihah Shriners, I am also an Emirat Shriner and have had the great honor and pleasure since 2023 to serve on the Divan as the Temples Oriental Guide.     

Emirat Shriners' story began in 1953 in Heidelberg, Germany, where the first Shrine Club was formed. This initial step marked the beginning of a significant movement in Europe, drawing Freemasons from the continent and the Near East to the Shriner's noble causes. The momentum continued, and in 2010, an essential gathering in Ludwigshafen, Germany saw the establishment of the European Shrine Center, initiated by 41 Master Masons from diverse backgrounds including Germany, USA, Italy, Romania, and Turkey.

Just a short time later, in 2011, Shriners International officially recognized the newly established Emirat Shrine, making it the first Shrine Temple in Europe. Since then, Emirat Shriners have dedicated themselves to a poignant mission — to support qualifying children by facilitating their transportation needs to Shriner hospitals in the U.S., where they receive treatment free of charge. To date, over 100 children, accompanied by family members, have been supported through this program, underscoring our commitment not just to healing but also to providing comprehensive care during these challenging journeys.

No matter if you are a Scottish Rite Masons or a Shriner, we are all Master Masons and our noble cause to charity is an expression of the fundamental Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief, and truth. It serves not only as a means of helping those in need but also as a way for us to live out our values and make a meaningful difference in the world. That is what makes the Scottish Rite Foundation of Georgia "Power of 3" campaign so important. Focusing on the crucial need for accessible speech and language therapy for children, the campaign aims to raise $3 million over the next three years, and seeks to expand the RiteCare program, ensuring that more children across Georgia can receive these essential services at low or no cost. This initiative not only highlights the power of communication but also reaffirms our belief in the potential of every child to thrive and succeed. It's a call to action for all of us to support a cause that can transform lives and build a brighter future for our children.

Reflecting on my recent meeting in Strasbourg with Ill Brother Roger Buterbaugh, 33° coupled with the upcoming events in Stuttgart and our Spring Reunion in Columbus exemplify the unity and compassion of our fraternity. These gatherings truly reinforce our commitment to the Masonic values of brotherly love, relief, and truth. As we approach the Spring Reunion and the Emirat Shriners Spring Ceremonial, let's continue to drive our charitable and membership endeavors forward. I'm grateful for the chance to serve in this noble community, confident that together, we'll make a lasting impact. Let's remain dedicated and work towards a brighter future for all.

searching for more light!

Dear Brethren, 

What does this mean to the Freemason? 

The Holy Bible or other Volume of Sacred Law, rests open upon the Altar of Freemasonry and means that Freemasons must have some Divine Revelation. The Freemason must seek truth and wisdom from a source greater than that from human minds. Freemasonry makes no attempt at a detailed interpretation of the Bible. The Volume of Sacred Law lies upon the Altar open for all to read, open for all to study and interpret for himself. It unites men not by creed or dogma, but upon the broad truth of a belief and faith in God, the Supreme Grand Architect of the Universe. 

As a Master Mason, you improve yourself spiritually and mentally thus reflecting on your personal demeanor, character and being an example. To continue one’s growth as a man and as a Mason, this can be done by personal reflection, individual research and experiencing additional degrees available after the 3° of a Master Mason. In the Blue Lodge, we learn the profound secrets and lessons of Freemasonry. For most, it is a life-changing experience driven by self-realization, self-improvement, and spiritual awakening in order to make you from good to better men.

By experiencing the Scottish Rite 4° to the 32° – your journey expands with Masonic teachings in order to help good men become the most noble versions of themselves. Masons are known as travelling men. Masons are charged with travelling from the west to the source of light in the east. Light in Masonry is knowledge, and from that knowledge comes awareness, understanding, and wisdom.

Scottish Rite Freemasonry is guided by six Core Values:

Reverence for God | Integrity | Justice | Tolerance | Service to Humanity | Devotion to Country

Collectively, the Core Values represent our guide stars for our dealings within Freemasonry and outside the fraternity. A large part of the Journey On campaign explores the power of these values in everyday life. These degrees reflect the mentioned Core Values and provide a rich path to “more light”. Through the degrees, educational resources, and shared experiences with Brethren from across the nation, there is no end to the symbolic journey a Master Mason can take within the Scottish Rite. As a Master Mason, you just need to speak to a Scottish Rite mason to join. Meetings have different events compared to blue lodge. To include having meetings nights where family members can join and attend nonritual presentations. 

As a reminder, there is no higher degree than the Sublime 3° Degree of a Master Mason, but Scottish Rite degrees help the fine tunning of that spiritual stone of oneself.

As a personal note, I extend a personal invitation to one of our open meetings. I am always open for questions and happily to help with your “Journey”.