The Bulletin
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David D. Jones, 32°, K |
Brethren and friends, As this Masonic year draws to a close, I would like to thank the officer who pitched in and made this year an easy one for this Venerable Master. I would especially like to thank Ill On November 10th, we will be presenting the 32nd degree using the new Pike Ritual. As a participant in the degree I am impressed by the way the Supreme Council prepared and organized the degree. The 32nd degree now ties together elements of the 4th, 14th, 18th and 30th degrees into a final capstone degree. I would encourage you to come see the new 32nd degree with us on November 10th. We still have a few significant events on the social calendar. The Thanksgiving Dinner is scheduled for November 25th in association with Burlingame Lodge No. 400. Our annual Holiday Party and auction benefiting the SR Childhood Language Disorder Clinic will be on December 8th. Please plan to attend and bring your wallet. Finally, we will have our Installation of officers on Monday, January 5th.
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 Ill  Lee T. Porebski, 33°Wise Master Chapter of Rose Croix  |
We learn together, have fun together and work together. As time goes on we’ve seen more members, ladies and families at our dinners and events. We value our older members who have done so much for our Valley and welcome our newer members into our corp, both hold such deep importance. We’ve have more and more new members who have become involved in our Valley and our Children’s Language Center in one way or another. We’ve had Brethren of in the past who built a solid base, Brethren who have stretched out to help on an ongoing basis, Brethren who helped whenever they could and now the new Brethren eager to learn and help.
We are Small but Mighty Valley. Reviewing the year, January we had the Installation of Officer and a Go Cart outing, in February we held our annual Super bowl Party and Sweethearts Brunch. Looking into March we had a St. Patrick’s Dinner and the ceremony of Remembrance and Renewal. In March we held our annual Public Schools Fete, were involved in Rebuilding Together, a Saber Cats arena football game and a Masonic Book presentation at the Masonic Home in Union California. May and June we were busy with degree work, but took time in June help at the City of Burlingame Gala, helped Burlingame Lodge at their Child ID booth and had a Hawaiian Party. July — we rested. August found us at Bay Meadows Racetrack and at another Child ID booth in Burlingame. September we took two buses of our members and members of Burlingame Lodge to a performance of Beach Blanket Babylon, and our Venerable Master and Almoner participated at a Kayak outing on San Francisco Bay. Finally we held our annual Halloween Party. November will be the completion of the New Pike Ritual Degrees with the 32nd degree and a Ring and Cap Ceremony. December is our Election of Officers Annual Holiday Party and Silent Auction for the benefit of the Childhood Language Center. We are a Small but Mighty Valley. Our thanks go out to Ill Yes, We are a Small but Mighty Valley thanks to all of us. Let’s give ourselves a big hand. What about next year? That is up to you, but with your help we will see more growth, our new Masonic Education Team, Events for Fun, a stronger Language Center and maybes a few surprises, who knows? Maybe we can make that statement of pride our motto for 2009: We are a Small but Mighty Valley And then soon drop the word “Small.” |
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 Alberto J. Rivas, III, 32° K CCHCommander Council of Kodosh  |
“What is past is prologue”-
William Shakespeare, The Tempest. From Aspirant to Hierophant. Part III. On Masonic knowledge. The acquisition of Masonic knowledge is a long-term experience. We as Master Masons have learned during our Masonic journey the great definition of “Masonry is a progressive Science thought by degrees only.” However, Masonic intellectual inquirer requires “Patience and Fortitude” in order to exercise the value of Masonic knowledge. For example Sir Francis Bacon in his book titled “Advance of Learning” published in 1605 proposed the importance of learning in his main educational project with the purpose “to illuminate the borders region of knowledge.” During one the Scottish Rite Fellows meeting the main voice from the Fellows who attended the gathering was focused in three ambitious proposals to Brother S.G.C., Ronald A. Seale. Briefly, the proposals were “Building Masonic libraries [similar to the Alexandria Library, or Pergammum Library] where Masons/Non-Masons will be able to expand their knowledge. Enhancing the value of Masonic education by using different “technological tools” and the final proposal was “Providing leadership tools to Scottish Rites members for expansion of our legacies and glorious noble purposes.” I have found interesting the proposals and the challenges behind them that might help the existing Valleys including our Burlingame Scottish Rite Valley. In relation with libraries; For example the Alexandrian Library and Museum founded by Ptolemy I. Soter where philosophers, astronomers, poets, mathematicians and critics deposited 700,000 papyrus scrolls was full of research material, books from different locations and cultures with the main purpose of disseminating the value of knowledge. Books and knowledge has many factors in common. The expansion of reasoning and fight against superstition, ignorance and obscurantism as we have learned by reading “The Scottish Rite Ritual Monitor and Guide” chapters dedicated to “The Philosophical and Chivalric Degree of the Council of Kadosh” degrees. The importance of “knowledge through books” was important for the Egyptians. Diodorus Siculus (90-21 BC) a Greek historian indicated that in the chamber where King Ramses I (1500 B.C) stored his books, he founded the following motto “ΨΥΧΗ ΙΑΤΠΕΙΟΝ” or “House of Healing for the Soul.” I do not have doubts that our manuscripts and rituals posses the same value as “food for our soul” and for this reason I invite you to participate actively in our degrees. Also, by promoting the discussion in our meetings, or suggesting interesting material to read and allocating them in our library. The combination of Masonic knowledge and “technological tolls” is circumscribed during the Fellowcraft degree by the practice in the “studies of the liberal arts and sciences.” In our present time, the process of how we gain knowledge has been changed rapidly. New “technological tools” have recreated the past of our institution and the immense digitalized material is creating a discovery from the past. For example; the Scottish Rite SJ is moving in the direction of engaging “our members” by sharing the importance of our Masonic values with the Master Craft program by reading the Scottish Rite Ritual. Monitor and Guide (A. de Hoyos) and more recently with the WSB membership interacting with Facebook for the SRSJ members. In the 17th century the controversy figure of Tommaso Campanela (1568-1639) proposed the importance of knowledge and discernment that is in part how we perceived our Scottish Rite degrees and action as Masons. To quote Campanella, “The senses, then, our own and others are in certain measure narrators and witnesses for the soul, which is the inventor, builder and master of the sciences.” Finally the importance of leadership for expanding our legacies and glorious noble purposes is to reach the “Higher degree of Wisdom” during our Masonic journey. Effective leadership requires the use of “practical knowledge,” and we as Mason have perceived the importance of self-development. Baltazar Gracian (1601-1658), a thinker and philosopher indicated in a simple manner the importance of leadership and knowledge as “a compass for sailing toward excellence.” Our Masonic institutions as organizations are facing the impact of economical transformation, social changes and political changes in our time. We as potential leaders are responsible for the engagement of our community with our Masonic values. I am optimist that the new generation of Masons are aware that the ambitious proposal introduced in the beginning of this article someday will become a reality. So mote it be. References
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| Glenna Milleman, M.A., CCC-SLP Director  |
Hello Friends!
The Holidays are upon us once again! That means it’s time to mark your calendars for December 8th, our annual Holiday Dinner and Auction benefiting the Childhood Language Center. This event has grown every year in size, enthusiasm and financial support for your Scottish Rite Philanthropy. I truly hope you plan to enjoy this special evening and partake in the great fun had by all. More details will follow concerning ways to contribute to the success of this special event. Thirty-three hardy souls turned out for our Kayak for Kids Fundraiser on September 19th. It was a beautiful morning; the sun was shining, a gentle breeze was playing on the water, people were laughing and excited to get started. Everyone was given instructions, life jackets, paddles and kayaks. At 11:45 we entered the water and took off like pros! We paddled around the end of the pier and off to McCovy Cove, under the pedestrian bridge, into the calm Mission Creek waters and on to the end of the canal. Ted Choi, owner of City Kayak, kept a watchful eye on his brood of “kayaking ducklings” from his motorboat. Colleen Przybyla (our speech pathologist and professional kayaker) offeredtips along the way from her kayak, which she shared with a young client from our center. David Jones and his family did a great job staying in the midst of the group, as did John Kohler. Our adventurous kayakers returned 1 ½ hours later, much wetter, but full of laughs and stories to tell. Most were quite proud of themselves for completing the course. Kevin Conragan “shot” the whole event using his marvelous camera with his telephoto lens. We send our warmest thanks to him and his professional “eye” for capturing the spirit of this unique event. Best of all — We had fun and raised $1,261.22 for the Center! Outstanding and Bravo to all who participated either by kayaking or sponsoring. We are so proud to be associated and supported by you! As a final note, our fiscal year 2007-2008 statistics have been compiled. This year your Childhood Language Center served an average of 80 children per month. 68 were seen for therapy and 12 more were administered assessments each month. We provided over 5400 hours of therapy. 37 children graduated from their programs, having met their goals. None of these life-altering services could have happened without your support. On behalf of the children and their families, we send our heartfelt thanks for the multitude of miracles you continue to make possible. See you on December 8th! |
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The cause of human progress is our cause,
the enfranchisement of human thought our supreme wish, the freedom of human conscience our mission, and the guarantee of equal rights to all peoples everywhere, the end of our contention. |
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