Scottish Rite - Princes of Jerusalem Feasts Circa 2000-2001 Major Domoed by Barry J. Lipson,...

8/10/2019 Scottish Rite - Princes of Jerusalem Feasts Circa 2000-2001 Major Domoed by Barry J. Lipson, Sovereign Prince

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ContentsA. Princes Of Jerusalem Table Council

B. Changing Of The Guard Feasts

1. Babylonian Feast Thomas W. Fodor To Barry J. Lipson

2. Out Of The Box Feast

Barry J. Lipson To Dennis R. Johnston


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A. Princes Of Jerusalem Table Council

First AnnFirst AnnFirst AnnFirst Annualualualual

Princes Closed Educational Table COUNCIL Princes Closed Educational Table COUNCIL Princes Closed Educational Table COUNCIL Princes Closed Educational Table COUNCILScottish Rite Valley of PittsburghScottish Rite Valley of PittsburghScottish Rite Valley of PittsburghScottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh

Grotto HallMarch 29, 2001

Opening Prayer -- Dennis R. Johnston, High Priest

Flag Ceremony Donald E. Sauer, Senior Warden

Report From Holy Land -- Barry J. Lipson, Sovereign Prince

State of the Princedom -- Barry J. Lipson, Sovereign Prince

Toast to King Cyrus David A. Beery, Past Sovereign Prince

Toast to King Darius Albert L. Kappeler, Jr., Past Sovereign Prince

Toast to Zerubbabel Carl C. Reuter, Past Sovereign Prince

Toast to Sovereign Prince -- Dennis R. Johnston, High Priest

Toast to Incoming Sovereign Prince -- Barry J. Lipson, Sovereign Prince

Toast to Sovereign Grand Commander John A. Habel, Jr. PSP, Chair

DINNER Royal Court/Family Style

Recollections, Wisdom & Advice Past Sovereign Princes by SeniorityComments, Questions & Plans Present Officers by Rank

Introduction of Prospective Master of Entrances -- Dennis Johnston, H. P.

Closing Remarks -- Barry J. Lipson, Sovereign Prince

Closing Prayer -- Dennis R. Johnston, High Priest


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REPORT FROM HOLY LANDREPORT FROM HOLY LANDREPORT FROM HOLY LANDREPORT FROM HOLY LAND ---- Our Realm In JerusalemOur Realm In JerusalemOur Realm In JerusalemOur Realm In JerusalemYour Sovereign Prince has recently returned from an inspection tour of the Realm of the

Princes of Jerusalem, preceded by a tour of the Princes original ancestral land of servitude.

The Pyramids, built with the blood, sweat and tears of the ancestors of the Princes, but withoutstraw, it has been reported, still stand! Our inspections, which included a long climb through steepnarrow passages to the Burial Chamber of the Great Pyramid, however, shows great deteriorationand looting. The smooth outer surfaces of the Pyramids have been stripped away for use in laterconstructions. The treasure chambers have also been stripped bare. Nothing remains to aid thePharaohs in their afterlife.

Indeed, the land of the Nile is no longer the domain of the Pharaohs, their race is not theancestors of the modern Egyptians, and their Gods have been replaced by a religion worshippingOne God. While this religion is not that of the First and Second Temple, it accepts both Moses andJesus as prophets, second only to the Prophet Mohammad.

As the ancestors of the Princes traveled from Egypt to Israel, so did your Sovereign Prince.While these ancestral Princes walked through the parted Red (really Reed) Sea, your Sovereign

Prince flew over this Sea unparted. He then swam in the mineralized Dead Sea (after the ritualsulfur and mud baths), and lived on to tell this tale, much revitalized. His travels took him to theold Walled City of Jerusalem, the Second Temple, newer Jerusalem, the ancient Port City of Jaffa,and its recent offspring Tel Aviv.

In troubled times, he traveled under the shadow of the Golan Heights, along the borders ofLebanon and Jordan and through the West Bank. He visited Jewish antiquities, a re-built RomanColiseum, immense vaulted Christian Crusader Halls serving as a basement to a Moslem Turkish

prison, and viewed Synagogues, Churches and Mosques.

Regretfully, it must be reported that all that remains of the Second Temple that Cyrus theGreat, himself, had sent the Princes to re-build, and that Darius, also the Great, had financedthrough the Princes, is the Western or Wailing Wall. The rest of the Second Temple was destroyed

by the heathen Romans in the first century of the present era.

Jerusalem is undisputedly the City of the One God, the Grand Architect of the Universe. Eachof the three major monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, claim it as holy to theirfaith. Still, there is much unrest between these kindred peoples, who worship the same God, but indifferent ways. As the ancient Palestinians of the time of Cyrus and Darius fought the return ofthe Princes to reposes the City of the God of Abraham, so the modern Moslem Palestinians fightthe repossession of Jerusalem by the operative descendants of the Princes.

But there is a difference. There were no symbolic Masons among the ancient Palestinians of

the time of Cyrus and Darius. Today, there are Jews, Christian and Moslems who are symbolicMasons. Hopefully, this brotherhood between members of these three kindred faiths will help lightthe way to universal brotherhood.

Barry J. Lipson Sovereign PrincePrinces of Jerusalem


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STATE OF THE PRINCEDOM STATE OF THE PRINCEDOM STATE OF THE PRINCEDOM STATE OF THE PRINCEDOMCIRCA 540 B.C. | 2000-2001 A.D.

HEAR YE, HEAR YE, IN THIS OUR MILLENNIUM YEAR, AD 2000HEAR YE, HEAR YE, IN THIS OUR MILLENNIUM YEAR, AD 2000HEAR YE, HEAR YE, IN THIS OUR MILLENNIUM YEAR, AD 2000HEAR YE, HEAR YE, IN THIS OUR MILLENNIUM YEAR, AD 2000----2001, BY ORDER OF THE MOS2001, BY ORDER OF THE MOS2001, BY ORDER OF THE MOS2001, BY ORDER OF THE MOS SOVEREIGN OF PRINCES, WE HEREBY PUBLISH AND PROCLAIM T SOVEREIGN OF PRINCES, WE HEREBY PUBLISH AND PROCLAIM T SOVEREIGN OF PRINCES, WE HEREBY PUBLISH AND PROCLAIM T SOVEREIGN OF PRINCES, WE HEREBY PUBLISH AND PROCLAIM THIS OUR STATE OF THE PRINHIS OUR STATE OF THE PRINCEDOHIS OUR STATE OF THE PRINCEDOHIS OUR STATE OF THE PRINCEDO MESSAGE: MESSAGE: MESSAGE: MESSAGE:

THE THE THE THE Pennsylvania Council, Princes of Jerusalem, and the Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh generally,with the encouragement of the Active, Thomas K. Sturgeon 33 , the Secretary of the Valley, David S.Kielman 33 , and the newly elected Chair of the Trustees, Charles W. Doege, Jr. 33 , have madesignificant strides forward in making our Valley more responsive and user friendly. Our latestinnovation has been, on motion made by your Sovereign Prince, to formally invite all elected andappointed Officer of the Valley to each Executive Committee meeting, so that they can become betteracquainted with, and feel a part of, the Valley of Pittsburgh from their first day in office.

YOUR YOUR YOUR YOUR Sovereign Prince presides over the Valley of Pittsburgh, together with the co-equal PresidingOfficers of the three other Scottish Rite Bodies. The Valleys legislative function resides in the recentlyrevitalized Executive Committee, whos Chair is elected from among the four Presiding Officers by themembers of Executive Committee. To assist in the training of the elected and appointed Officer of theValley, the annual summer Sandscrest Officers Retreat has been supplemented and expanded by anannual winter Beaver Falls Officers Retreat. At both retreats, which are heavily participated in by theofficers of the Princes Line, elected and appointed officers are able to bond, brainstorm and learn aboutthe Valley and their duties and responsibilities. Past Sovereign Prince John Habel has been a movingforce behind these retreats.

THEN TOO, THEN TOO, THEN TOO, THEN TOO, ongoing planning and review are important. Accordingly, the present Presiding Officers,with your Sovereign Prince as informal chair, started at the beginning of their year as second-line officersto meet and plan for this Scottish Rite Year. Furthermore, with the encouragement of your SovereignPrince, the Long Range Planning Committee has been activated; and, on motion of your SovereignPrince, the annually review of the elected and appointed Line Officers, to aid them in the performance oftheir duties, has been expanded to include the Secretary and Treasurer of the Valley. The CharityCommittee, chaired by Past Sovereign Prince Bill Weigand, is also functioning smoothly.

THE THE THE THE Princes of Jerusalem have focused this Millennium Year on re-building an esprit de corps withinthe Line. This commenced at the annual Princes Changing of the Guard Dinner on June 29, 2000 at theEngineers Society in Downtown Pittsburgh, where the scepter was passed from outgoing SovereignPrince Tom Fodor to incoming Sovereign Prince Barry J. Lipson. For the first time the festivities tookthe Princes back over 2500 years, to a Royal Feast in the style of the Court of King Cyrus, during thetime of the Fifteenth Degree. The object of this evening was fun, frolic and socialization. To this end it isrumored that King Cyrus sent Nicolinus of the Fifteen (or was it Sixteen) Veils, his personal favorite, toentertain the Princes of Jerusalem and their Princesses at this FEAST FIT FOR AFEAST FIT FOR AFEAST FIT FOR AFEAST FIT FOR A PRINCE PRINCE PRINCE PRINCE .

AAAA duty call was issued for a very important meeting and rehearsal at the Masonic Center onSunday, August 27, 2000 at 2 PM, for all Elected and Appointed Officers of the Pennsylvania Council ofPrinces of Jerusalem. At this very well attended meeting, Past Sovereign Prince Larry Breletic 33

briefed the Officers on the history and traditions of the Princes, and Officer Review Committee ChairBill Kratzenberg 33 , discussed the mission and workings of his Committee. Plans for the year were


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reviewed and discussed. The PRINCELY OFFICERSPRINCELY OFFICERSPRINCELY OFFICERSPRINCELY OFFICERS then joined Director of Work Jack Copeland 33 , to beduly and properly prepared for the conducting of the September meeting.

THE THE THE THE first Stated Meeting of this Scottish Rite Year on Thursday, September 7, 2000, was presidedover by the Princes Line. The theme of this meeting was Building Bridges with Prince Hall Scottish RiteMasonry. This PRINCE HALL INITIATIVE PRINCE HALL INITIATIVE PRINCE HALL INITIATIVE PRINCE HALL INITIATIVE was initiated by the PRINCES LINE PRINCES LINE PRINCES LINE PRINCES LINE , when your Sovereign Prince(as High Priest) made contact with their Commander-in-Chief Raymond Bradford, to explore thepossibility of Prince Hall exemplifying one of their Scottish Rite degrees for the Valley of Pittsburgh.

Prince Hall dignitaries, including Commander-in-Chief Bradford, were received and the forging of closebonds of fellowship continued at this meeting. This fraternal evening ended with the presentation to thePrince Hall Masons of Valley of Pittsburgh Bibles, and the expression of Prince Halls hope that theywould be exemplifying a Prince Hall degree for us at a later date. Your Sovereign Prince has organized avisit by the Valley of Pittsburgh Officers to the Prince Hall Scottish Rite for their Stated Meeting ofFriday, May 4, 2001.

ATATATAT the September 2000 meeting with Prince Hall, Commander Bradford was brought up on mockMasonic charges, based on Prince Halls alleged lack of the Princes of Jerusalem Line. However, as yourSovereign Prince, on April 15, 2000, had previously attended the complete conferral of all Prince HallScottish Rite Degrees, he was able to defend Commander Bradford, and obtain an acquittal, on the

grounds that their Prince Hall Most Wise Master actually acted as the SOVEREIGN PRINCE SOVEREIGN PRINCE SOVEREIGN PRINCE SOVEREIGN PRINCE in a part oftheir Thirty-Second Degree ritual.

THIS THIS THIS THIS year bridges were also built with the Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite, again at theinitiative of the Princes. Your Sovereign Prince (also when High Priest) had met and hugged IllustriousC. B. Hall 33 , Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the Orient of West Virginia, at the Valley ofWheeling Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction conferral on May 6, 2000, which he attended to explore thepossibility of their exemplifying a Southern Jurisdiction degree in the Valley of Pittsburgh. Not being oneto drop the ball, this contact was continued and resulted in our Southern Jurisdiction Scottish Ritebrethren from Charleston, West Virginia exemplifying in exemplary fashion their Fourteenth Degreeat the second Stated Meeting of our Millennium year, on Thursday, November 2, 2000. Such an evening

had only been accomplished once before in Boston, a decade ago. Master of Entrances John Corey, aCharleston native, was most helpful in making these Prince-less brethren feel like PRINCESPRINCESPRINCESPRINCES in our home.

AT AT AT AT this Southern Jurisdiction exemplification, your Sovereign Prince had the distinct honor of beingthe exemplifying candidate and of giving to and receiving from their Venerable Master, non-sectariancommunion, of which all in attendance partook. The Valley of Pittsburgh will be returning the favoron April 28, 2001, when the Valley of Pittsburgh, including your Sovereign Prince, will actually conferour Twenty-Ninth Degree on Southern Jurisdiction candidates in Charleston, West Virginia; and spreadthe light of PRINCES OF JERUSALEM SCOT PRINCES OF JERUSALEM SCOT PRINCES OF JERUSALEM SCOT PRINCES OF JERUSALEM SCOTTISH RITE MASONRY TISH RITE MASONRY TISH RITE MASONRY TISH RITE MASONRY to yet another Scottish Rite Jurisdictionlacking this PRINCELY LINE PRINCELY LINE PRINCELY LINE PRINCELY LINE .

THE THE THE THE Scottish Rite Childrens Christmas Party has traditionally been the pleasure and responsibility ofthe Princes, with the Senior Warden chairing this event. When your Sovereign Prince had this honor heupgraded the entertainment by introducing Handyman Joe Negri from Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. HighPriest Dennis Johnston also very successfully continued the Negri tradition, and this year Senior WardenDon Sauer not only continued the Negri tradition, but also introduced two immensely popular Elves, hisvivacious twin daughters. According to our public, as reported in The Rite News, The ChildrensChristmas Party on December 9, 2000 at the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center was wonderful in everysense of the word! Hopefully, Junior Warden Dave Koenig, Master of Ceremonies Rich Fedosick, and


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our future officers, will be able to continue and introduce Joe Negri and Elves-type PRINCELYPRINCELYPRINCELYPRINCELY TRADITIONS TRADITIONS TRADITIONS TRADITIONSin their years!

ININININ December 2000, the Princes continued the bonding process. First, for the Valleys final ChristmasLuncheon at the Allegheny Club on December 2, 2000, your Sovereign Prince requested and obtained aspecial table for the Princes. Then, on December 15, 2000 the Princes feasted, socialized and bonded atthe home of Past Sovereign Prince Larry Breletic 33 , who was thanking the Princes and other brotherswho had assisted at the Information Booths for the Supreme Council meeting held in Pittsburgh

September 23-26, 2000. Brother Breletic very efficiently chaired this most important informationfunction, for which the Princes were responsible, while Past Sovereign Prince John Habel planned andstaffed the PRINCELY HOSPITALITY AND FEAST HALL PRINCELY HOSPITALITY AND FEAST HALL PRINCELY HOSPITALITY AND FEAST HALL PRINCELY HOSPITALITY AND FEAST HALL for the Princes and other workers at this SupremeCouncil meeting.

THE THE THE THE Director of Work Jack Copeland 33 , had wanted to start a Scottish Rite Blue Lodge DegreeTeam, but needed a request from a Worshipful Master to get this project off the ground. Your SovereignPrince had the honor of becoming Master of Germania Lodge No. 509 F. & A. M. on St Johns Day last.Having two sons, one in school, and the other on assignment, out-of-state, who were ready to join theFraternity, he was in a position to and did make such request. Accordingly, on Saturday, March 10, 2001,the newly formed Scottish Rite Blue Lodge Degree Team, by special dispensation from the GrandMaster, conferred all three degrees on Steven J. Lipson (age 23) and David J. Lipson (age 21). PastSovereign Princes Bill Johnston and Dave Beery participated on the team in exemplary fashion, whilePast Sovereign Princes Carl Rueter and John Habel watch to make sure that the Third Degrees met andexceeded the Princes ROYAL PRINCELY STANDARDSROYAL PRINCELY STANDARDSROYAL PRINCELY STANDARDSROYAL PRINCELY STANDARDS. In all, fifteen Blue Lodges were represented,including State of Maine Orono Lodge No. 66.

TO TO TO TO further promote the re-building of an esprit de corps within the Princes Line, it was determinedthat a new educational, sharing and fun tradition should be established. To this end the First AnnualPrinces Closed Educational Table Council, was convened by your Sovereign Prince, and held in theGrotto Hall on Thursday, March 29, 2001. Past Sovereign Prince John Habel, because of his proven trackrecord, was asked to chair this historical event and graciously accepted. In addition to toasting KingCyrus, King Darius, Zerubbabel, and others, the Past Sovereign Princes by Seniority are asked to sharetheir Recollections, Wisdom and Advice; and the Present Officers by Rank to share their Comments,Questions and Plans. Also, the new prospective Master of Entrances is introduced; and this State ofthe Princedom message delivered. It is hoped that this Table Council will become a permanent part ofthe PRINCES TRADITIONSPRINCES TRADITIONSPRINCES TRADITIONSPRINCES TRADITIONS.

ANOTHER ANOTHER ANOTHER ANOTHER area of the Scottish Rite that your Sovereign Prince has been dedicated to is the ScottishRite Valley of Pittsburgh Legion of Honor, of which he is a Charter Member and was the Commanderfor the 1999-2000 calendar years, overlapping his term as Sovereign Prince. As Commander he providedthe Color Guard for the Scottish Rite Stated Meetings; inaugurated the awarding of the Scottish RiteLegion of Honor Medallions to distinguished veteran Masons; arranged for Jewelry Display CabinetSignage; and caused the prominent placement of the Legion Charter and Scottish Rite Legion of HonorBanner (in front of which Sovereign Grand Commander Robert O. Ralston 33 , was photographed forThe Rite News) at the entrance to the Pittsburgh Greater Masonic Center, informing all that thisPPPPRINCELY PALACE RINCELY PALACE RINCELY PALACE RINCELY PALACE is the home of the Scottish Rite Valley of Pittsburgh.

YOUR YOUR YOUR YOUR Sovereign Prince also conceived and chaired, on behalf of the Valley of Pittsburgh, and theValley of Pittsburgh Legion of Honor, the May 1999 Antebellum Feast/Civil War Degree presentation,the May 2000 Colonial Feast/George Washington Degree presentation, and the [forthcoming] LatschawBroadway-style Big Band Salute to Veterans production and dinner on Thursday, May 3, 2001, all


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held in recognition of those Masons who have served their country in the Armed Forces at home andabroad in PRINCELY FASHIONPRINCELY FASHIONPRINCELY FASHIONPRINCELY FASHION, a report on which was given by your Sovereign Prince at the PennsylvaniaCouncil of Deliberation in Hershey on July 8, 2000.

FINALLY,FINALLY,FINALLY,FINALLY, to help make the Fifteenth and Sixteenth Degrees more meaningful to the newly admittedPrinces, your Sovereign Prince has had distributed to recent Scottish Rite Classes, at the conferrals,historical, biblical, mythological and Masonic accounts of the lives and times of KINGS CYRUS AND DAR KINGS CYRUS AND DAR KINGS CYRUS AND DAR KINGS CYRUS AND DARIIUSIUSIUS THE GREATS THE GREATS THE GREATS THE GREATS. These first-person accounts, as told to him, had previously appeared in The Right

News and The Northern Light , publications of the Valley of Pittsburgh and the Northern Jurisdiction,respectively.

YOUR YOUR YOUR YOUR Sovereign Prince would also like to extend heartfelt gratitude and thanks to his PRINCELYPRINCELYPRINCELYPRINCELY SCOTTISH RITE DAD SCOTTISH RITE DAD SCOTTISH RITE DAD SCOTTISH RITE DAD, Past Sovereign Prince Carl Rueter, for his example, faith and advice; and to the MOST PRINCELY MOST PRINCELY MOST PRINCELY MOST PRINCELY Past Sovereign Prince Ed Sells 33 , for his annual illuminated labor of love, presentedannually to the outgoing Sovereign Prince.

BARRY J. LIPSONBARRY J. LIPSONBARRY J. LIPSONBARRY J. LIPSON SOVEREIGN PRINCE SOVEREIGN PRINCE SOVEREIGN PRINCE SOVEREIGN PRINCE

The Rite News - April 2001 Page 13

The Scottish Rite Princes Of Jerusalem Table Council is based on the time-honored Blue Lodge tradition of the Masonic Blue Lodge Table Lodge , toasts and all,expanded to be an occasion for sharing and planning between the Past Sovereign

Princes and the current officers, and on contributing to re-building an esprit decorps within the Line. As out-going Sovereign Prince Barry J. Lipson commented at

the Changing of the Guard Dinner on July 10, 2001, this past year has been a yearof Thinking Out of the Box for the Princes of Jerusalem and the Valley of Pittsburgh. I will not bore you with a blow by blow repeat of the State of the Princedom message, as this was delivered at the First Annual Princes Educational TableCouncil, and reprinted in its entirety in the April 2001 issue of the Valley of

Pittsburgh Rite News, where you can read it at your leisure. It is hoped that thisTable Council and the State of the Princedom message will become permanentannual Princes Traditions.


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B. Changing Of The Guard Feasts

1. Babylonian Feast Thomas W. Fodor to

Barry J. Lipson

Babylonian Feast at Princes Dinner Babylonian Feast at Princes Dinner Babylonian Feast at Princes Dinner Babylonian Feast at Princes DinnerThis year The Princes of Jerusalem Changing of the Guard Dinner will be in the style of

a feast in the Court of King Cyrus during the time of the Fifteenth Degree. Do not expect New World fare such as tomatoes, potatoes or maize (corn), announced Thomas W. Fodor32 , retiring Sovereign Prince.

The Babylonian Feast is being produced by District Deputy David A. Teorsky 32 , atthe Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania, 337 Fourth Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh

(near Smithfield Street, across from the Dollar Bank Lions), where he is General Manager.Dont be scared off by Downtown Pittsburgh, District Deputy Dave assured, street parkingis free after 6pm, garages have nominal rates then, and the streets are safe.

It seems only fitting to honor the incoming Sovereign Prince, Barry J. Lipson 32 , withthis special meal, as he has been King Cyrus in the Fifteenth Degree; and, as Commanderof the Scottish Rite Legion of Honor, he conceived and hosted, in conjunction with the Valleyof Pittsburgh, the May 1999 Antebellum Feast and the May 2000 Colonial Feast.

The Babylonian Feast will commence at the Engineers Society, at 6:30pm on

Thursday, June 29, 2000 (the fifth Thursday), with a cash bar. All Scottish Rite members andtheir ladies and guests are welcome. The cost will be $22.95. Please make out checks toThomas W. Fodor, and send to David Teorsky, Engineers Society, 337 Fourth Avenue,Pittsburgh, PA 15222; or call 412/261-0710, extension 10.

The Rite News June 2000 Page 9


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Princes Dinner Fit for KingPrinces Dinner Fit for KingPrinces Dinner Fit for KingPrinces Dinner Fit for KingKing Cyrus sent Nicolinus of the Fifteen (or was it Sixteen) Veils, his personal

favorite, to entertain the Princes of Jerusalem and their Princesses at the Changing ofthe Guard Dinner. This annual dinner, for the first time, was in the style of aBabylonian Feast at the Court of King Cyrus, over 2500 years ago, during the time ofthe Fifteenth Degree.

The Feast was produced by District Deputy David A. Teorsky 32 , atthe elegant Engineers Society Building, on Fourth Avenue in DowntownPittsburgh, where he is General Manager. The setting was the palatialmain dinning hall, reminiscent of King Cyrus Court. As Deputy Teorskyattested, the royalty attending were treated to a Babylonian-style feast,with foods prepared as though King Cyrus himself was in attendance.

The ancient banquet-style service consisted of different foods whose origins date backto Biblical times.

The reason for these festivities was to thank retiring Sovereign Prince Thomas W.Fodor 32 for a job well done; and to honor the incoming Sovereign Prince, Barry J.Lipson 32 , with this special meal, as he portrayed King Cyrus in the FifteenthDegree, and, as he, as Commander of the Scottish Rite Legion of Honor, conceived andhosted, in conjunction with the Valley of Pittsburgh, the May 1999 AntebellumFeast/Civil War Degree presentation and the May 2000 Colonial Feast/GeorgeWashington Degree presentation, both held in recognition of all Masons who haveserved their country in the Armed Forces. Incidentally, a gratifying over sixty percent ofthe new Special Millennium Class, attended the latter event, which was held shortlyafter they became Princes of Jerusalem and Scottish Rite Masons.

Guests at the Babylonian Feast were treated upon their arrival to a variety ofappetizers including classical Greek-style hummus and pita bread, melons, grapes, curedolives and feta and goat cheeses. As was the custom of the times, we even noticed alittle wine being enjoyed by the Princes and their ladies!

The banquet service began with a soup course, a lentil, bean and barleyed beefcompote flavored with sage, cumin and turmeric. The salad course consisted of mixedfield greens topped with vegetables and citrus toboulli and crumbled goat cheese.Baskets of pita, ciabatta bread and sour dough rolls were presented.

The entree selections included large platters of curried shredded beef and roastedspring leg of lamb, garnished with mini roasted vegetables and flavored with a coriandercoulis. Side dishes included bowls of an onion-leek compote, and bowls of cous coustopped with an eggplant relish. For dessert, guests enjoyed a warm bread buddingsweetened with dried fruits and a secret sauce, together with flavored hot beverages.


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The evenings festivities concluded with the presentation of a framed, hand

illuminated, job well done parchment to Thomas Fodor; the presentation of anengraved and embellished personal Gavel of Authority to Barry J. Lipson; and the presentation of belly jewels to Princes hand selected by Nicolinus of the Flowing Veilsfor education in her mystic arts.

The Rite News September 2000 Page 6

Meet Nicolinus! (As told to Sovereign Prince Barry J. Lipson)

Hi! Im Nicolinus of the Fifteen (some say Sixteen) Veils, one of King Cyrus personalfavorites. I entertained the Princes of Jerusalem and their Princesses at their recentBabylonian Feast, held in the style of the Court of King Cyrus, over 2500 years ago,during the time of the Fifteenth Degree.

I was hand selected for this command performance at the Ambridge Nationality Days, where I, two of my sisters and a Snake out of the Grass, unknowingly competed for thisgreat honor. Neither Queen Esther nor Queen Vashti, both of whom subsequently dancedfor the Royal Court, was in the running, as neither was yet born. Esthers KingAhasuerus, known unpronounceably as Xerxes I, followed King Darius of the SixteenthDegree in about 486 B.C., and ruled until 465 B.C. (King Cyrus had passed on in 528B.C.)

As you will remember, you read all about this Babylonian Feast in the last Valley of Pittsburgh Rite News , where it was reported that I presented belly jewels to Princeshand selected by me for education in my mystic arts. But what was missing was thethousand word substitute, MY PICTURE! But read on .


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Finally, in the January 2001 issue of the Valley of Pittsburgh Rite News (page 6) appeared:

And more And more And more And more


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2. Out Of The Box FeastBarry J. Lipson to

Dennis R. Johnston

Invitational & Reservation Letter Invitational & Reservation Letter Invitational & Reservation Letter Invitational & Reservation Letter

Dear Scottish Rite Officers and Past Officers:

I would like to personally invite each of you to join with us at this years Princes of Jerusalem Changingof the Guard Dinner. As you know, it is now time to welcome in-coming Sovereign Prince Dennis R.Johnston, to pass on to him the scepter, and to let him know that he has our support for the ensuingScottish Rite year.

While we will not be traveling back to Babylonia this year, we hope to have a pleasant surprise or two forour Honoured Guestes. We will again be meeting in the Palatial Chambers that last year echoed theGlories of King Cyrus. For your prior personal perusal and enjoyment, a copy of the Banquet Event Orderis enclosed.

This years Feast is again being produced by District Deputy David A. Teorsky 32 , at the EngineersSociety of Western Pennsylvania, 337 Fourth Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh (near Smithfield Street, acrossfrom the Dollar Bank Lions), where he is the General Manager. District Deputy Dave assures us that street

parking is free after 6pm, nearby garages have inexpensive rates then, and the streets in this vicinity are verysafe.

Our Feast will commence at the Engineers Society, at 6:30pm on Tuesday, July 10, 2001, with a cash barand nibblies. All Scottish Rite Present and Past Officers and their ladies and guests are welcome. The costwill be $24.00. Please, at you earliest convenience, make checks out to Barry J. Lipson, and send to DavidTeorsky, Engineers Society, 337 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; or call 412/261-0710, extension 10.

Fraternally yours,

Barry J. LipsonSovereign Prince

***************************************************************************************

I, ______________________________, hereby certify that I am Alive; that I am a Current or Past ScottishRite Officers or Friend of the Scottish Rite; that verily I enjoy Good Food and Good Fellowship; and that I,therefore, hereby, without any metal reservation, Reserve at the Princes Changing of the Guard Dinner

______ Feasts @ $24.00 per Feast, enclosing my cheque herewith in the total amount of $_____________. ________________________LS


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THINKING OUT OF THE BOX THINKING OUT OF THE BOX THINKING OUT OF THE BOX THINKING OUT OF THE BOX

As presented at the Princes of Jerusalem, Valley of Pittsburgh, Changing of the Guard Dinner at the Engineers Society on July 10, 2001 by out-going Sovereign Prince Barry J. Lipson

This past year has been a year of Thinking Out of the Box for the Princes of Jerusalem

and the Valley of Pittsburgh. As you will remember, at last years Princes of JerusalemChanging of the Guard Dinner, we returned to the Era of the Courts of Kings Cyrus andDarius, where Zerubbabel had challenged each King in turn to act Outside of the Box. LetMy People Go, he demanded, and while youre at it, why not pay to re-build the Temple aswell.

Last year King Cyrus had sent Nicolinus of the Fifteen (or was it Sixteen) Veils, his personal favorite, to entertain. She sends her regards and is ready to award more Belly Jewelsto Sovereign Princes and other Valley Officers who will step far enough Out of the Box toaccept them. We will explore Thinking Out of the Box further, before we are done.

I will not bore you with a blow by blow repeat of the State of the Princedom message, asthis was delivered at the First Annual Princes Educational Table Council, and reprinted inits entirety in the April 2001 issue of the Valley of Pittsburgh Rite News, where you can readit at your leisure. It is hoped that this Table Council and the State of the Princedom messagewill become permanent annual Princes Traditions.

To briefly re-cap some of our recent Out of the Box experiences, after learning how toBelly Dance from Nicolinus, we were instrumental in opening up and strengtheningrelationships with the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction and the Prince Hall Scottish Rite,


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and in exchanging degree performances with the Southern Jurisdiction; in activating theValley of Pittsburgh Scottish Rite Blue Lodge Degree Team, which conferred all three BlueLodge Degrees on my two sons, Steven and David Lipson, who, not so incidentally, are bothnow 32 Masons; and in NOT souring our Kids Xmas Party tradition, but instead making agood program even better, thanks to Senior Warden Don Sauer. According to our public, asreported in The Rite News, The Childrens Christmas Party on December 9, 2000 at theGreater Pittsburgh Masonic Center was wonderful in every sense of the word! His utilizationof his two vivacious, immensely popular, twin daughters as costumed Elves, was certainlyOut of Box thinking.

Then too, we were also instrumental in presenting, in recognition of those Masons whohave, in Princely Fashion, served their country in the Armed Forces at home and abroad, theLatschaw Broadway-style production of A Big Band Salute to Veterans. This major eventattracted over 400 Brothers and their ladies to the Greater Pittsburgh Masonic Center fordinner and the show. Please box in your calendars for Thursday, March 7, 2002, for asimilar Latschaw Salute to Vietnam Era Veterans.

I hope you all enjoyed still Most Wise Master Sammy Knappenbergers Trumpet Sing-Along and test of Musical Knowledge. I am told that such use of a Trumpet Solo to entertainis a way Out of the Box use of such Musical Notes. You will also note that the Scottish RiteEagles awarded to our musical test winners did not come hidden in boxes and are NOT two-faced; that they honor the American flag, the flag of the land where the Scottish Rite was re-

born, certainly an Out of the Box re-birth; and that if you could hear their cry you wouldhear a distinct Southern accent, as the Southern Jurisdiction is where this re-birth occurred.

Speaking of the Southern Jurisdiction, I would like to devote the next few moments toseveral Out of the Box membership growth opportunities that evolved at or out of theSouthern Jurisdiction Omaha Membership Development Conference I recently attended,

because of an Out of the Box membership enhancement program we have adopted in theValley of Pittsburgh, the hiring of a professional Membership Manager. (By now you mayhave guessed that the theme of this Conference was Thinking Out of the Box which I amoften ACCUSED of doing.)

The first such idea is the chartering of the 32 Degree Masonic Dads Society. In OmahaI was surprised to learn that most of those present had grown up in Masonic families.

Nowadays, relatively few sons follow in their Dads Masonic footsteps. How better toacknowledge our Brethren who have nurtured their Sons and Grandsons from birth to fullScottish Rite Brotherhood, then by awarding them Membership, and their Sons andGrandsons Associate Membership, in the 32 Degree Masonic Dads Society, withappropriate Ceremonies, Jewels, Emblems and/or Pins, proclaiming their invaluable service to

the Brotherhood. Next, we can reconsider our under-valuation of the 32! To the Blue Lodge Mason and the

general public, the 32 means that the person possessing this degree has accomplishedsomething special by earning the right to be a 32 Mason. We, however, give it away,sometimes in one day, lumped together with 28 other degrees. Maybe we should initially stopat the 31 and then, later, have a special conferral of the 32 with appropriate criteria, pressreleases, pomp and circumstance, etc.


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How about, appointing Blue Lodge Ambassadors with appropriate Jewels, Emblems, pomp and circumstance?

What about automatically awarding free first year Scottish Rite membership (maybe notall the way up to the 32) to all newly raised Master Masons, especially now that they do nothave to be voted on (the latter applies in the North only, they must still be voted on in theSouth)?

What about, with appropriate communications, giving members suspended during the pastthree to five years forgiveness and a years free membership, to reconsider? (Surprise theyare doing this down South and Supreme is forgiving the per capita.)

And Past Sovereign Prince Tom Fodor, your rejected Out of the Box idea of introducingScottish Rite 32 Hats into the Valley of Pittsburgh and using them to build memberrecognition and pride, was also favorably discussed.

This is just a taste of Thinking Out of the Box. I would hope at Sandscrest or anothernear term Officer Retreat, either with or without the assistance of S. Brent Morris 33, G.C.,Membership Development Director for the Southern Jurisdiction, I will have the opportunityof developing this further.

It is now time for Dennis R. Johnston, our in-coming Sovereign Prince, to approach theEast. Brother Dennis, I have here a Traveling Police Whistle that can be blown when anyonedares to think Outside of the Box, or the Traveling Jewel of the Sovereign Prince. Which doyou prefer? [Chooses the Princes Traveling Jewel.]

You have made the Rite choice. With the full expectation that you are willing, readyand able to Think Out of the Box and to faithfully lead the Princes of Jerusalem for theensuing Scottish Rite Year, from St Augusts Day First, I do hereby present to you your

personalized Gavel of Authority which need never be surrendered to the Commander andChief of this Valley as presently constituted, or any other Valley Dignitary. Do you accept it

and the office it represents and agree to lead the Princes of Jerusalem of the Valley ofPittsburgh to new heights?

As you have accepted this charge, I also pass in to your care, for one year only, theRecognition Pin of Gold of the Sovereign Prince of the Valley of Pittsburgh, which is uniquein the entire World. Do you solemnly pledge to keep it safe and pass it on in a timely mannerto your successor, and to do so under the same pledge?

Brother Sovereign Prince-Elect, having satisfied all of these requirements, the floor isyours. Let ye not be Boxed In by the tied and trite.

Barry J. LipsonSovereign Prince

2000 -2001


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Scottish Rite - Princes of Jerusalem Feasts Circa 2000-2001 Major Domoed by Barry J. Lipson,...

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