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PROJECT LIST
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SCOTTISH RITE CHARITIES
Charity is one of the most important teachings of Freemasonry. The Masonic Family of Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite, and Shrine is the oldest and largest fraternal organization in the world. They together spend over TWO MILLION DOLLARS ON THEIR CHARITIES EACH DAY.
No Masonic organization helps more children in South Dakota and the surrounding region than the Scottish Rite! Our Scottish Rite Valleys through the Scottish Rite Foundation of South Dakota have a strong working relationship with the Communications Disorders Department at the University of South Dakota (the only such department in the state). Each year the Rite awards Graduate Fellowships to students at USD to assist in their pursuit of advanced degrees in the field of communications disorders. In 2008 eight such Fellowships totaling $8,500 will be awarded to recipients selected for their qualifications and willingness to practice in South Dakota and adjacent areas.
The Fellowships are funded as follows: six for $1,000 each by the South Dakota Scottish Rite Foundation (on behalf of the Valleys) are funded by member contributions; one for $1,000 funded by the Ralph T. Dennis, 32° bequest to the Yankton Valley; and one for $1,500 awarded in the name of Janet Bailin and funded by an endowment established by her husband, SGIG Emeritus Marvin K. Bailin.
This program was started by the Yankton Valley and has been adopted and supported by the entire Orient of South Dakota. Over the years, this Scottish Rite organization has supplied scores of Fellowships with more than 80% of the recipients now serving children in South Dakota and the immediate surrounding area.
Perhaps even more significant is the fact that Scottish Rite Masons now support approximately 170 Speech and Language Clinics in our 36 state Southern Jurisdiction, that are helping children with communication disorders. The cost of these clinics to the Rite in the last biennium was over $21 Million. The South Dakota Scottish Rite presently supports three such clinics: The USD/Scottish Rite Clinics located in Vermilion and Sioux Falls, and the Scottish Rite Clinic at the Children’s Care Hospital and School Outreach in Rapid City. Annual accounts show many thousands of sessions to treat or evaluate more than 3,000 different children; the numbers continue to rise dramatically. These services are cost free to the clients who are unable to afford the help needed.
Spread the news! Whether you or your loved one received evaluation or treatment for communications difficulties in one of our clinics, in a school, or in a private practice, there is a good chance that the person who provided the treatment was trained in a program that we support.
For more information on how you can assist the Scottish Rite in its charities, contact the Yankton office.
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Let’s have a party!
I recently logged on to Amazon.com and searched for books on Freemasonry. A quick count showed me that they had 19 listed that had been published since 2000. Thirteen of them had been published in the last two years alone. With today’s desire for brief and informative coverage of subjects, two that were listed first were Freemasons for Dummies by Bro. Christopher Hodapp, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Freemasonry by Bro. S. Brent Morris.
Brothers, Americans are showing a revitalized interest in Masonry. Only a decade ago, very few authors mentioned the fact that noteworthy Americans were Masons, or commented favorably on our fraternity. In recent publications, several paragraphs, pages, or even chapters of books about famous presidents, scientists, educators and military officers have been devoted to their membership in the Craft. Movies such as National Treasure and The Da Vinci Code have cast Masonry in a favorable light. A Google search of the Internet can open a vast library of good (and bad) information about Masonry. An increasing number of lodges report young men who have submitted petitions after only doing research on the Internet.
We need to respond quickly to the opportunity being handed to us. First, we need make our membership in the Craft known to those around us. Next, encourage others to become Masons, and be ready to tell the story of Scottish Rite to the Masons who have not yet become Masters of the Royal Secret. There is no sin or shame in recruiting non-Masons to become Scottish Rite members. Let those good men know how they can become 32° Masons, starting with a petition to a blue Lodge. Then sponsor and mentor them all along their path to Light.
One of the proven ways to recruit candidates is a house party. Simply put, it is a social meeting of couples in a member’s home. The host provides the meeting place and an environment where invited couples and individuals can meet and get acquainted with Masons and their spouses to learn about Masonry and the Scottish Rite. A short program that may include a video, question and answer session and handouts will be included in the meeting plan. Total time elapsed should be two hours or less. The key to success is the involvement of wives of both members and prospects. Your lady’s support of Masonry will have a positive effect on your prospect’s wife, and improve the chances of his submitting a petition at the end of the evening.
You can call Brian at 605-665-2414 for more information on how to set up a party in your home. He can provide literature and information for your party and arrange for brothers to help you with the details and presentation. It’s an easy and effective way to help spread the light to your friends and brother Masons. Set up your party today.
—Virgil Andersen 33°
Personal Representative of the SGIG
for the Orient of South Dakota and the Valley of Yankton
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Just for fun and a point of interest
The following passage is from a program for the Fourteenth Annual Reunion of the Yankton Valley which occurred on March 18-22, 1901. It was sent to us recently by Gurnee K. Bridgman, 33º, Secretary of the Fargo, ND, Valley. Our thanks to Brother Gurnee!!
“Frequently we hear the remark that all Freemasonry is contained in the first three degrees.
“If we refer to the great principals and tenets of the institution we might better say in the first degree. The foundation stones are Faith, Hope, and Charity, and the main tenets are Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth. Taking those for our guide, and being governed by the Golden Rule, we have all that can be given to man for his betterment.
“Hundreds of intelligent men have said to me that the degrees of Secret Master, Intimate Secretary, Provost and Judge, Master Elect of Nine, Master Elect of Fifteen, Sublime Knight Elected and Grand Elect, Perfect and Sublime Mason in the Lodge of Perfection of A. A. S. Rite, had given them a more comprehensive understanding of the three degrees of the Lodge and raised their good opinion of them much higher than ever before.
“I know that the more of the higher degrees I received and understood, the greater was my admiration of and for the grand old teachings of my mother Lodge. In using the words “higher degrees,” the idea is in a numerical sense. Nothing can be higher, in fact, than the third degree, and in a Masonic sense, the Grand Master is the highest Mason. The Lodge controls them all. When we lose standing in the Lodge, our “high” degrees are not of any use.
“The high degrees are useful, and my advice to those who can afford it, and feel inclined that way, is to take them as it is convenient to do so, and having done so, then to give all the time you can afford to the studies of their duties, teachings and application in your lives, and you will be better Master Masons, better men, and above all, live nearer the Great Father of Mankind and His word.”
Gil W. Barnard 33º, Chicago, Illinois – 1901
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You may have noticed the recent trend of increasing numbers of candidates at some of our recent Reunions. A big factor is the holding of informal Rush Parties in the homes of interested members. Prospective candidates and their wives are hosted in homes by area brothers and representatives of the Membership Committee. They receive a short presentation on the role and value of the Scottish Rite experience and how it increases their knowledge and enjoyment of Masonry. These events are constantly being planned. We also host summer picnics across the region, such as the one pictured here.
The same membership packet used at these events is available to you. They will be promptly mailed to you when you telephone your request to the office - 605 665-2414.
To schedule an event contact the Valley Secretary.
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Participation will enrich your life!
OPPORTUNITY FOR SERVICE
Wanted: Willing workers for positions on the Yankton Valley Stage Crew. No prior experience needed. Duties may range from staging, property management, lights, prompting and more.
Compensation includes the appreciation of your brethren of the Rite, candidates and onlookers.
This is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor in the activity that makes our degree work impressive and efficient.
For more information, or to volunteer, contact Brian at the office.
DOUBLE EAGLE CHORUS NOTES
Yankton Scottish Rite Double Eagle Chorus is active and available for fun entertainment.
To check performance availability contact:
Masonic Center @ PO Box 124 Yankton, SD 57078, (605) 665-2414
or
Ron Brown at 801 E. 15th St. #14, Yankton, SD 57078, (605) 664-8603.
If you enjoy fun, come sing with us on Monday nights
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What is Masonry?
Masons believe in independence, liberty, freedom and constitutional rights for all, and oppose special privileges for a few! As a way of life, Masonry may be explained as follows:
· In the home it is kindness.
· In the business it is honesty.
· In society it is courtesy.
· In work it is fairness.
· Toward the unfortunate it is pity.
· Toward the wicked it is resistance.
· Toward the weak it is help.
· Toward the strong it is trust.
· Toward the penitent it is forgiveness.
· Toward the fortunate it is congratulations.
· Toward God it is reverence and Love.
Yes, Masonry is good – so let’s talk about it always and clear up mistaken beliefs about this wonderful way of life, which teaches men how to live. A good education furnishes the tools to work with, and experience in Masonry teaches how these things can and should be done.
Freemasonry does ALL this ….and Much More
Freemasonry is a staunch supporter of the Public School System, of law and order, and patriotism.
Freemasonry develops your ability to speak before groups and to be a true leader of good men.
Freemasonry allows all good men – regardless of external qualifications to mingle in true Masonic fellowship.
Freemasonry teaches truths that are timeless. Her Ritual teaches the great and important lessons of brotherly love, relief, and truth.
Freemasonry lifts her members out of the hustle and bustle of today’s society and reveals the more important virtues of temperance, fortitude, prudence, and justice.
Freemasonry demands nothing of her petitioners beyond a deep rooted belief in a Supreme Being and a desire to be serviceable to their fellowmen.
Freemasonry teaches us to practice charity in word and deed, to forgive and forget the faults of our brethren, to hush the tongues of scandal…to care for the crippled, the hungry and the sick…and to be fair and just to our fellowmen.
Freemasonry tells us that regardless of where we travel in this world we and our loved ones are under the protection of every Mason on earth who has sworn to protect and defend us…just as we have sworn to protect and defend them.
Freemasonry promises that should we ever be overtaken by misfortune, sickness, or adversity through no fault of our own, the hands of every member of our great fraternity will be stretched forth to aid and assist us.
Freemasonry also promises (if we so desire) that when our final exit from the stage of life has been made – there will be gathered round our lifeless body – friends and brothers who will recall to mind our virtues – though they be but few – and will forget our faults – though they be many.
“Knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” —Matthew 7.7
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