Brethren and Friends: I hope this edition finds you well. We have a few new folks visiting the "The Web Edition" for the first time and to them I say, WELCOME!!!
I have received the information regarding the funeral and Masonic Service for Bro Dale H. Fera, 32, MSA.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at the North &Southampton Reformed Church, 1380 Bristol Road, Churchville, PA 18966 (215-357-5636). Friends and relatives may pay their respects beginning at 9:30 AM, Masonic Service at 10:45 AM, Religious Service at 11:00 AM. Lunch will be served at the Church following the Service. Interment will be private.
Thanks to all the "keen eyes" out there! Yes, I had a typo in the last Edition. The Fall Special Rendezvous will occur on Friday, November 4th and NOT on Wednesday, November 2nd! But if you want the full run down regarding the 2011 Fall Reunion, click here.
There are still PLENTY of tickets remaining for the Valley's Family Life outing at the Camden River Sharks, Sunday, August 26, 2011. For more information on this great family event, click here.
Our Sovereign Prince, Bro. Steve Bradley, 32, has announced the Valley's Fall Bus Trip. The trip will be to Autumn Day at the Masonic Village at Elizabethtown. For more information, click here.
Well that will do it for this Edition. Enjoy this wonderful weather while it lasts, the Dog Days are coming!!!
May the Grand Architect continue to watch over you and yours.
God Bless Bro. Dale.
Sincere fraternal regards,
Steven A. Morrison, 33
Valley Secretary
Brethren and Friends: It is my sad duty to report the passing of Bro. Dale Fera, 32, MSA. He passed away this past Saturday after a long illness.
A dedicated Freemason, Dale was a Past Master of Concordia Lodge No. 67 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master of Masonic District E.
He served the Valley of Philadelphia as Sovereign Prince of DeJoinville Council, Princes of Jerusalem, 16. Dale received the Meritorious Service Award (MSA) from the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation in 2010.
I have placed Memorials to him on both the Valley of Philadelphia MSA's webpage and the DeJoinville Council webpage
I do not have the details regarding his funeral or Masonic Service at this time, but will get them out to you once I have them.
May the Grand Architect have our Brother in His Holy Keeping and offer His Divine Comfort to the family and to all of us at this most difficult time.
God Bless our Brother, Dale.
Sincerely and Fraternally,
Steven A. Morrison, 33
Valley Secretary
WOW is it ever HOT???
Brethren and friends: The details regarding our 2011 Fall Reunion are now available for me to share with you.
The Fall 2011 Class Honoree will be our Right Worshipful Grand Master, Ill. Thomas K. Sturgeon, 33.
The Reunion will begin on Friday, September 16, 2011 with the Special Communication of Philadelphia Lodge of Perfection, 14. The Degrees to be presented that evening include the 4th Master Traveler (in DVD format) and the 14th Grand Elect Mason, which will be presented by the Lodge of Perfection Officers. One other Lodge of Perfection Degree will also be presented. Our Director of Work, Ill. David Reppert, 33, MSA, will that announce shortly. Stay tuned!
The Reunion will continue on Friday, October 21, 2011, with the Special Convocation of DeJoinville Council, 16 and Kilwinning Chapter of Rose Croix, 18. The 15th Knight of the East and the 18th Knight of Rose Croix will be presented.
The Reunion will conclude on Friday, November 2, 2011 with the Special Rendezvous of Benjamin Franklin Consistory, 32. The Degrees to be presented that evening are, the 27th Knight of Jerusalem (SCOTTISH RITE PASSPORT ALERT!), the 31st Knight Aspirant, and the 32nd Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret. Our R.W. Grand Master is expected to be in attendance at the Rendezvous.
So you're probably thinking, "Steve, it's the beginning of the Summer. Why are you telling me about the Fall?" Well first, let me just say, you look really good in that shade of blue and secondly, glad you asked. As our Reunion will begin in September instead of October as it usually does, you need to know this, so that you don't miss any of it, and to give you enough notice to begin procurring that most important element behind every Reunion, CANDIDATES! Do you have one (or two, three, four, etc.) yet? What are you waiting for?
As always petitions are available 24 hours per day at http://www.philascottishrite.org/valley_petition.htm Feel free to print out as many as you need!
Or, you can stop in the Scottish Rite Office to pick some up, or I can leave them for you with the Masonic Temple guards, or I can mail them to you.
Well there you have the details regarding the Fall Reunion. Now lets get to work (Easy does it. It's very HOT today!) and make our Fall Class one of the best ever!
May the Grand Architect watch over you and yours now and until next time.
Sincere fraternal regards,
Steven A. Morrison, 33
Valley Secretary
Brethren: Well, here it is, the second issue of "Across My Desk, The Web Edition." I see that we have a few "followers" already and that is great! Spread the word!
I hope this edition finds you and yours well. WOW! We've had some very nice weather the past few days, but the HEAT is on its way back!
I received word this morning that Past Sovereign Prince, Bro. Dale Fera, 32, MSA is in grave condition. As many of you know, Bro. Dale has been very sick lately and is awaiting a liver transplant. He has been in and out of the hospital. Please keep our Brother and his wife, Mary and the family in your prayers. If you would like to have more information regarding our Brother for sending a card or note, please call the Scottish Rite Office at 215-563-1814 or email at phila.aasr@juno.com
We still have a number of tickets available for our Family Life event at the Camden River Sharks on Sunday, June 26, 2011. Our seats are in the Campbell's Field Picnic Pavilion. The day begins at 12:00 P.M. with a half-hour of food prior to the game and an hour and a half of food during the game. The River Sharks are taking on Atlantic League rival, The Road Warriors. The cost per person for Valley members and their families and friends is $12 for ages 13 and up and $6 for ages 12 and under. Make your check payable to, "Scottish Rite Bodies" and send it to the Scottish Rite Office, Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA, 19107-2520. Please be sure to put "River Sharks" on your check's memo line.
Last year's event was a SELL OUT! Don't miss out on this great Family Life event! Come on out for a great day of baseball and Scottish Rite fellowship.
The Masonic Blood Donor Club will be holding a Blood Drive on Thursday, July 7, 2011 at the Tacony Masonic Temple, 4400 Magee Avenue in NE Philadelphia. The drive begins at 1:00 PM and ends at 7:00 PM. Blood supplies are always at critical levels during the summer months. If you are able to donate blood, please consider attending this event to make a donation. Do it in honor of our Bro. Dale Fera, Past Sovereign Prince.
Well that will do it for this edition of "Across My Desk, The Web Edition." Be sure to talk to your Masonic friends about our Valley. They're missing so much by not being a Scottish Rite Mason. Be their hero! Give them a petition! Petitions are always available by going to http://www.philascottishrite.org/valley_petition.htm. Spread the word about "The Web Edition." Everyone can check it out, Valley Members, their Families and Friends, local area Masons, anyone!
As always, I pray the Grand Architect watches over all of you and your families. Have a safe, happy and healthy summer!
Sincere fraternal regards,
Steven A. Morrison, 33
Valley Secretary
http://www.philascottishrite.org/
Hello Brethren: Welcome to the first edition of "Across My Desk-Web Edition!" This new feature will allow me to communicate with you right from our Valley web site and also will allow visitors, especially non-Scottish Rite Masons a unique opportunity to see what they're missing and perhaps interest them in becoming a member of our Valley.
First things first: I want to start this off by congratulating all of our new Valley Officers on their election and installations to office. 2011-12 is going to be an exciting year for the Valley of Philadelphia. Our new Commander-in-Chief, Ill. Ray Brown, 33 has some great ideas that he will be unvieling soon.
Also I want to thank everyone for their vote of confidence in re-electing me as Valley Secretary. It is truly an honor for me to serve you and our Valley. I've heard Scottish Rite referred to as the "Fraternity of Choice," and it truly is. Some of the finest Masons I've met are active in the Scottish Rite, whether it be in our Valley or another. I have often said that Scottish Rite compliments my Masonic membership and I definitely believe that to be true.
So why I am tooting the horn for Scottish Rite? Well, because I am extremely proud to be a Scottish Rite Mason and because as we enter the Summer season, I ask each of you to turn your thoughts to Fall. Before you know it our Fall Class will be upon us. As you attend your Lodge's June Stated Meeting, or the Lodge's Picnic or any Masonic outing this summer, be sure to let your Masonic friends now about our Valley and how much you enjoy being a part of it. Be sure to offer them a petition! Petitions are available 24 hours per day at: www.philascottishrite.org/valley_petition.htm
We have plenty of tickets remaining for our Valley's Family event at the Camden River Sharks on Sunday, June 26, 2011. Last year's event sold out. Don't miss out on this great family event! Once again we have seats in the Picnic area, which means your ticket entitles you to a half-hour of food before the game, and an hour and half of food during the game. This Family Life event is open to all Valley Members and their families. The cost per person is $12 for ages 13 and up and $6 for ages 12 and under. Campbells Field is very family friendly with its "Kid's Zone," with lots of fun activities for the the kids to enjoy including a carousel, moon bounce, and rock climbing wall!
The River Sharks will be taking on Atlantic League rival, The Road Warriors. Come on out for a great day of fellowship and fun baseball action. Make your check payable to "Scottish Rite Bodies," and send it to: Scottish Rite Office, Masonic Temple, One North Broad Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107-2025.
Congratulations to Bro. Jim Rae, 32, our Family Life Chairman on yet another great idea! Jim is working on a event for the Fall, "Christmas in Hershey." Details will be available soon! Check here and the Summer issue of THE DOUBLE EAGLE for more information.
Speaking of Bro. Jim Rae, he and Bro. Paul Mandelaro, our Make up Director, will receive the Meritorious Service Award this July at the Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Council of Deliberation. This year's Annual Meeting takes place at the Seven Springs Resort (www.7springs.com/ ), in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania. Congratulations to these two very deserving Brothers!
The Supreme Council will hold its Annual Meeting this August in Chicago. Our Valley Brother, Len Bezar, will receive the 33rd Degree. Bro. Len has served our Valley as Sovereign Prince, Most Wise Master, Delco Scottish Rite Club President and on our Membership Committee in the past. Currently he is our "Coast Guard" Representative to the Valley's JROTC/ROTC Representatives Committee. Congrats Bro. Len!
Well that will do it for this first edition of "Across My Desk, The Web Edition." I wish each and everyone of you and your families, a safe, happy and healthy Summer!
May the Grand Architect continue to watch over you.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Steven A. Morrison, 33
Valley Secretary
