Saturday, September 24, 2005
Highest Masonic degrees are bestowed on four area Masons.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- The 33rd Degree, the highest honor of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, was bestowed on four area Freemasons at an annual August meeting of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council in Grand Rapids.
Among the 236 recipients of the degree at the week-long meeting were Gregory B. Anstrom, 65 E. Midlothian Blvd., a funeral director; Allen G. Bohr Sr., 262 Idlewood Road, a retired auto worker; Daniel A. Brown, 3241 Hewitt Gifford Road SW, Warren, a retired steelworker; and Frank T. England, 5014 County Line Turnpike Road, Southington, a retired optician.
The degree was conferred on the four in recognition of their dedicated service to Scottish Rite Freemasonry and for service reflecting credit upon the fraternity.
During the course of the meeting Mark C. Roth of Canterbury, N.H.; Edward R. Trosin of Tonawanda, N.Y.; James R. Fillez of Minerva, Ohio; Benny L. Grisham of Springfield, Ill.; and Michael A. DeWolf of Wausau, Wis., were elected as active members to the governing board of the Supreme Council.
Named as new deputies were Richard W. Elliot for New Hampshire; Donald G. Hicks Jr. for Massachusetts, William L. McCarrier for Pennsylvania, Neil M. Smalley for Ohio; and Lawrence D. Inglis for Illinois.
New officers are John W. McNaughton, grand lieutenant commander; James L. Tungate, grand treasurer general; and Stephen E. Carpenter, grand master general of ceremonies.
The group of more than 2,100 33rd Degree Masons attending the council meeting received an update on Masonic charitable endeavors that are supported by voluntary contributions from 32nd Degree Masons throughout the jurisdiction.
Local residents who were among those selected to receive 33rd Degree status at next year's council in Chicago were Robert E. McBride II, John T. Remias and Steve J. Schlosser Jr., all of Youngstown.
The National Heritage Museum in Lexington, Mass, was built through their efforts to provide changing exhibits on American history.
Learning centers for children with dyslexia have been providing free one-on-one tutoring at 53 locations, and the number of centers will increase to 59 in the next few years. The Masons also provide scholarships for college students and fellowships for schizophrenia research.