Valley Echoes Published by the Scottish Rite Bodies of the Valley of Danville, Illinois

Spring 2010

April 9 & 10 Spring Reunion

The H. Dale Brown Class

Inside Spring Reunion Details

Remembering Past Valley Leaders

Scholarships

Todd Creason’s Latest Books

Message from the Commander-in-Chief

Rex Richards 33°

As we begin our new year, your Valley is planning several events for the membership. These events are listed elsewhere in this newsletter. What I want to address is the need for the each of our members to come forward with your talents, skills and fellowship. Do you re-member at the end of the Thirty-Second degree when you came onto the floor of the preceptor and received a handshake and congratula-tions from the officers?

That was the conclusion of your Masonic Journey through the Scot-tish Rite degrees, but it is only the beginning of your Masonic Life.

You would not buy an automobile and leave it parked in the garage why buy into a Masonic life only to let it sit idle! We would welcome each and every member to become active in your Valley.

This is your Valley and you can make it better by your involvement. Yes, it is sometimes a lot of work, but more often, it is a chance to make new friends and have fun doing it.

You do not have to be a professional to take a part in our activities. You just need to have the desire to come forward and make a differ-ence. Don’t wait for someone to call you. If you want to become active, call the office or call me and we will help you get started. We look forward to hearing from you.

Rex

Brother Richards serves as Commander-in-Chief of the Danville Consistory, the body responsi-ble for the 19th through 32nd Degrees.

Rex is Past Master of Further Light Lodge No. 1130 in Danville. He served as Thrice Potent Master of the Danville Lodge of Perfection, 1998-99.

He is employed at Bunge Milling in Danville and was coroneted a 33rd Degree Mason in Providence, Rhode Island on August 26, 2008.

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Spring Reunion April 9 & 10

H. Dale Brown 33° Class

Illustrious H. Dale Brown, 33°, Past Sovereign Prince of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem and Past Com-mander-in-Chief of the Valley of Danville, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, will be the honored guest at the Valley of Danville’s Spring Reunion that will be held on April 9 and 10 in Danville.

Illustrious Brother Brown joined the Valley of Danville in the Spring of 1963 and was coroneted a 33° Honor-ary Member of the Supreme Council, on September 28, 1977. He is a Life Member of the Valley of Danville and a member of Star Lodge No. 709 in Hoopeston, Illinois.

Illustrious Brother Brown will be officially received at the reception, Saturday April 10, 2010

Spring Reunion Schedule

Friday April 9

3pm Registration 5pm Class Orientation

5:30pm 4th Degree, 6:15pm Dinner

7:00pm 13th Degree 8:00pm 14th Degree Saturday April 10

7:00am Donuts and Class pictures 8:30 am 16th Degree 10:30 am 18th Degree

11:45am Lunch 12:30pm Class Officer Elections

12:45pm 30th Degree 2:30m Reception

3:30pm 32nd Degree 4:30pm 31st Degree 5:30pm Afterglow

Afterglow and Ladies Program Candidate Fees $150 + $69 dues through June, 2011 total of $219

Room Reservations Days Inn Hotel 217-443-6600

Ask for Scottish Rite Block $69.00 plus tax

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Brother Todd Creason Releases two more Books

Valley of Danville member and Author Todd Creason has re-leased two more titles in his series of books on freemasonry.

In his first volume, Brother Creason introduced us to a unique telling of the American experience through the lives of some of America’s most famous citizens and Freemasonry’s most cele-brated members. In Famous American Freemasons: Volume II, he continues that story in a whole new collection of biographical profiles of great leaders, talented artists, unique characters and a few one-of-a-kind personalities that have defined the American way of life, and have helped to create our uniquely American culture and spirit.

Brother Creason has selected an eclectic mix of famous Free-masons from a variety of fields and backgrounds. These stories celebrate our great victories, mourn our losses, and celebrate what it means to be an American. It is a story of who we are, where we’ve been, and reminds us that even during the darkest and most dangerous times, the indomitable spirit of the Ameri-can people have met every challenge.

His other book A Freemason Said That is a book of quotes attrib-uted to famous members of the Masonic Fraternity. It is the perfect compliment to his other books.

What others are saying about Brother Crea-son’s Books

“Some were heroes, some politicians and some simply Brothers who contributed to American lore. Each occu-pies a niche in the fabric of our country...I found the book to be interesting easy reading with information that I had not read elsewhere. I think you will too.”

Thomas W. Jackson, 33° Book Reviewer

Northern Light Magazine

Todd E. Creason is the father of two daughters, Jaclyn and Kathryn, and lives with his wife Valerie, near his hometown.

He is currently the Senior Warden of Ogden Lodge No. 754. He became a Master Mason in 2005, and shortly after, began researching and writing the Famous American Freemasons series. The first book was release in 2007.

Brother Creason is a member of the Valley of Danville as well as the Champaign Chapter R.A.M. and Urbana Commandery No. 16, Knights Templar. He is also a member of several research organizations, including the Illinois Lodge of Research, the Philalethes Society and the Scottish Rite Research Society.

He was named the 2009 Mason of the Year by the Valley of Danville.

More information on these books can be found on the internet at

www.toddcreason.org

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Valley Members to be Honored

Brother Jerry Askren has been elected to receive an Honorary 33° at the 2010 annual meeting of the AASR NMJ Supreme Council to be held in Philadel-phia, PA on August 29-31, 2010.

Brother Askren has served the Valley of Danville in numerous capacities including as Past Thrice Potent Master of the Danville Lodge of Perfection, a Direc-tor of several degree presentations and as currently Master of Ceremonies for the Danville Consistory.

He is a member and Past Master and Secretary of Further Light Lodge No. 1130.

Congratulations on this well deserved honor.

Brother Daniel H. Schlorff, has been nominated to receive the Meritorious Service Award (MSA) at the Illinois Council of Deliberation 2010 meeting to be held in Normal, Illinois on June 26, 2010.

Scottish Rite Golf Outing

Will be held

May 22, 2010

At the Harrison Park Golf Course in Danville, Illinois

Sign Up for your foursome with

Jerry H. Askren at 217-497-2533 or Earl Lomax 217-662-9919

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The Valley of Danville 32°

Learning Center for Children

Update

To begin, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your generous and continued support of the Learning Center program. Currently, the staff is working with 23 dyslexic boys and girls from cities within the Valley of Danville including Hoopsten, Georgetown, Fisher, Monticello, Oakwood, Champaign, Urbana, Westville, Mahomet and Danville. Without the support each of you has given, none of these children would be receiving the multisensory instruction they so des-perately need to become competent, self-reliant readers, writers and spellers.

Next, I thought you would like a financial update on the Learning Center. This fall we had two fundraisers. First, as you know, the Board of Directors sent out a letter to 4,000 Masons in the Valley of Danville explaining the budget cuts from Lexington and asking for donations to the Learning Center. In response to our plea, we received $10,343 in donations to add to the operating budget. Needless to say, we were thrilled with the response!

Second, we held a Tony Pace Concert at Danville High School on September 19th. We had a net profit of $6,292 from sponsors and ticket sales. We were very pleased with the outcome of both fundraising projects. Again I thank all of you for your generosity.

With that said, an additional $20,000 is needed in order to keep the Learning Center operational from now through August 31, 2010. In order to try to meet that goal, the Learning Center Board of Directors has decided to host a dinner theater at the Beef House on March 12, 2010. A similar event held last year was well attended and well received. The Valley of Danville Players will perform “The Big Five Oh”, a very funny comedy written by Brian Mitchell. Tickets will be $25 per person.

It should be a fun evening so we hope to see many of you there!

On another note, the Board of Directors is proud to announce that it’s first graduation ceremony will be held on Sunday May 16th at the Masonic Temple in Danville. All Learning Center students and their families will be invited to attend the celebration along with the Learning Center staff, board members and members of the Valley of Danville. Each graduating student will address the board with a brief description of their experience at the Learning Center.

Certificates will be presented and refreshments will be served. The celebration will culminate more than two years of hard work for both the students and their tutors.

Again on behalf of the students and families served by the Learning Center, thank you for your on-going support and enthusiasm for this wonderful program.

Sincerely,

Allison Enslein, Director

Valley of Danville Learning Center

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The Valley of Danville Players

Presents

“The Big Five-Oh”

Dinner Theater

The Board of Directors of the Valley of Danville 32° Learning Center for Children will host a dinner theater at the Beef House in Covington, IN on Friday March 12, 2010 at 6:00pm Illinois time.

Join them for an evening of fine dining and com-edy as the Valley of Danville Players present “The Big Five-Oh” a hilarious production writ-ten by Brian Mitchell.

The menu for the evening consists of roast beef, fried chicken or fried cod, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn and chocolate cake for des-sert, and of course the famous Beef House rolls!

Tickets are $25 per person, including Dinner and the Play. Tickets can be purchased at the

Tony Pace

Is Returning to Danville

September 18, 2010

Don’t Miss

This Great Show

Upcoming Events

Feast of the Paschal Lamb—Sunday March 28

Scottish Rite Masons, families and friends, both Masonic and non-Masonic are invited to attend the impressive observance of the “Feast of the Paschal Lamb”. Sunday March 28, 2010 at 4pm.

The “Feast” is the annual Memorial Service honoring brethren who have laid down their earthly working tools forever and have been called to eternal refresh-ment in the Paradise of God.

This non-sectarian service is conducted by the George E. Burrow Chapter of Rose Croix and is open to all Masons and non-Masons. Families of those Brethren being honored are especially encour-aged to attend this memorial service.

Stated Board Meetings

2nd Wednesday of Each Month

Feast of Tishri

September 29, 2010

Officers Open Installation

Tuesday May 18, 2010

Golden Eagles Scottish Rite Club

Mystery Meal

March 27, 2010

6:30 pm

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Danville Lodge of Perfection

The beginning of a New Year is a great time to undertake new projecxts and reevaluate the goals we have been working on through the past year. We can also set new goals and suggest activities and events that will be beneficial to the Valley.

The calendar isn’t the only reason for new beginnings. January and Feb-ruary are usually months most people use to recover from the hectic holiday season. Instead of resting on our laurels and watching the NFL playoffs, we could use the time to plan for warmer weather. We can get an early start on preparing for the Spring Reunion or annual Golf Outing for example.

The men charge with getting events for 2010 organized have already started work and could use your help.

If you have a special talent, contact the Valley office. They will put you in touch with the people that can help you get involved. There are doz-ens of job that need to be done and most can be extremely rewarding. We can use new faces in the degrees, help on the stage crew, new people in make-up, or even a couple of more people to greet other members arriving at the Reunion. These are only a few of the opportunities avail-able to members of the Valley.

Without your involvement, the Valley has a difficult time providing ser-vices and presenting degrees. I believe that no one has ever joined Scot-tish Rite with the intention of not taking part in the Valley’s activities. That is one of the reasons it may be time to reexamine what your part in the Valley is and consider becoming involved.

I would like to extend to every member of the Valley of Danville the warmest wishes for Happy and Prosperous New Year from the Danville Lodge of Perfection.

Bradford Cronk— Thrice Potent Master

Brother Cronk serves as the Thrice Potent Master of the Danville Lodge of Perfection, the body responsible for the 4th through 14th Degrees.

Brad is a member of Urbana Lodge No. 157 in Urbana and currently serves as Lodge Secretary.

Walter A. Stevens Council Princes of Jerusalem

John T. Orme, MSA

Sovereign Prince

Brother Orme serves as Sovereign Prince of the Walter A. Stevens Council Princes of Jerusalem, the body responsible for the 15th and 16th Degrees.

John is a Past Master of Watseka Lodge No. 446 and owner of Orme Chiropractic Clinic in Watseka. He joined the Valley of Danville in the Fall of 1987 and received the Meritorious Service Award (MSA) from the Valley and the Illinois Council of Deliberation in 2005.

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George E. Burrow Chapter of Rose Croix

Scott Ripley—Most Wise Master

Brother Ripley serves as Most Wise Master of the George E. Burrow Chapter of Rose Croix, the body responsible for the 17th and 18th Degrees.

Scott is a member of Watseka Lodge No. 446.

Lost Members

We Have Lost Contact with the Following Members—Please contact the Valley Office if you have any information on them.

Wayne Sylvester Maddox, Jack Wilbur Bolden, Robert J. Campbell, Charles Thomas Graham, Charles E. Graves, Murvel G. Gray, Robert E. Hicks, Gordon H. Johns, Robert C. Martin, Donald D. Robinett, Frank L. Rosenthal, Randall M. Stoltz, James William Sullivan, John A. Welch, Charles H. Wells, Robert C. Youngblood, Thomas R. Foreman, Martin O. McCorkle, Charles C. Ashworth, Carl D. Sigler, Harry R. Stevenson, Eric Pollard

Executive Secretary’s Corner

Dues—Annual dues are $69 for each member of any or all of the Four Coordinate Bodies payable in advance before July 1 of each year.

Affiliation—There is no fee for af-filiation for the transfer of a member-ship of a Scottish Rite Mason to the Valley of Danville.

John E. Larsen, 33° Executive Secretary

Valley of Danville AASR

109 W. North Street, Danville IL 61832

Phone 217-446-7620 or 800-917-2277

Fax: 217-446-7622

Email: secretary@aasrdanville.com

Web: www.aasrdanville.org

Support your local Blue Lodge!

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Remembering Past Valley Leaders

Jackson D. Cline 33°

Illustrious Brother Cline passed away January 20, 2009. He was Sovereign Prince of the Walter A. Stevens Coun-cil Princes of Jerusalem, 1985-86 and was coroneted a 33° on September 27, 1988

John A. Lamb, MSA 33°

Illustrious Brother Lamb passed away on June 18, 2009. A member of the Fraternal Relations Commit-tee, he received his MSA in June, 1984 and was coroneted a 33° on September 26, 2000.

Robert E. Carter, MSA

Brother Carter passed away Decem-ber 11, 2009. He served as Most Wise Master of the George E. Bur-row, Chapter of Rose Croix, 2000-01 and received his MSA in June 2005.

Arthur Lloyd Sinclair, 33°

Illustrious Brother Sinclair passed away May 22, 2009. He was a Past Most Wise Master of the George E. Burrow, Chapter of Rose Croix and was coroneted a 33° on September 29, 1976.

Theo McConnell, MSA

Brother McConnell passed away October 1, 2009. He was a Past Master of Potomac Lodge No. 782. He received his MSA for outstanding service in June 2006.

Lloyd E. (Red) Hall, 33°

Illustrious Brother Hall passed away December 30, 2009. He served as Most Wise Master of the George E. Burrow, Chapter of Rose Croix, 1959-60. He was coroneted on September 26, 1973.

Scholarship Applications Available Online

The Valley of Danville awarded 33 scholarships for the current year. The recipients of this years schol-arships are:

Leon M. Abbott— Kaylee Siverston, Eastern Illinois University (EIU) (renewal); Molly Bennett, Berea College; Mitchell Cronk, EIU; Nicholas Easton, Lakeland; Joshua Giroux, Kankakee Community College; and Evan Ponder Illinois State University (ISU).

Robert B. Perkins—Elizabeth Orme, University of Illinois or EIU

Kresin Memorial —Michael Buzzard (Renewal), Southern Illinois University—Edwardsville

Illinois Grand Lodge—Ashley Rich, University of Evansville and Michael Suchoff, Indiana University

Scottish Rite Health Careers—Michelle Brewington, Indiana State U.; Sara Cassady, Lakeview College of Nurs-ing; Molly Genta, U of Illinois; Megan Gingerich, EIU; Brittani Gentry, Parkland College; Hannah Hogan, ISU; Ashley Houmes, U of Indianapolis; Callie Huffman, SIU-E, Heather Hyland, Notre Dame; Tasha Kelly, Olivet Nazarene; Abigail Orme, U of Illinois; Kimberley Roth, EIU; Lara Seelhoefer, EIU; Angela Sloat, Lakeland Com-munity College; Charles Wieland III, SIU-E, Lisa Curry Danville Area Community College; Megan Goatley, Lake-land, Holly Hyland Marquette University; Brittany Marqua Lincoln Trail; and Emily Ponder, St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

Applications for the Scottish Rite Scholarships are available online at the Valley’s website www.aasrdanville.org

For additional information, visit the Valley website or contact John Tosh, Scholarship Chair-man at 217-474-0469 or jtosh@att.net

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Fall 2009 Reunion a Success

Illustrious Robert E. Jones 33°

Class Sponsor

Members of the Illustrious Robert E. Jones Class

Members of American Legion Funeral Detail

From Left to Right: Jerry Connolly, Sr., John Dickerson, Sam Cox, Robert Meadows, Richard Huckstadt, John Moreman, Jim Pierce, Torch Prentice, Jerry Arnholt Jr., and Art Howie. Not Pictured Ralph Reed Jr.—Funeral Commander

Illustrious James L. Tungate, 33° Active

Illustrious Robert E. Hopkins 33° and

Illustrious Robert L. Blacketer, 33°

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