Angelo Q., PM, 32°
Dear Scottish Rite Brothers,
I am new to the Orange County Valley but joined the Scottish Rite in 2012 in the Dearborn Valley of Michigan. Moved to southern Cal in 2014 and became a member of the S.R. here in 2016. However, due to heart bypass surgery, Covid-19, my wife’s shoulder surgery etc. etc., I have been inattentive from both my blue lodge and the Scottish Rite. I returned to my blue lodge, Orange Grove 293, about 6 months ago and recently began attending the Scottish Rite here in Orange.
If you attended the June Orange County S.R. business meeting, you heard me speak a little about my experiences in the Michigan Scottish Rite. I was asked by Venerable Master James McCallion to speak about a conversation we had a few weeks ago when I mentioned to him how the degrees were performed in Michigan. I inquired if he might be interested in visiting a Reunion of the Michigan Valley. As I was not sure of the relationship between the Northern & Southern Jurisdictions, I emailed the Secretary, Tim Marshbanks, at the Michigan Valley and ask if some of us from Orange S.R. could attend their next Reunion. He responded that they would be honored to host some of our brothers from Orange County. He said their next Reunion will be March 29, 2025, and they are scheduled to confer the 4°, 6°, 15°, 28°, 29°, & 32°. Tim also said he can have a room block setup at the Hampton just up the street as well, and to let him know if we firm anything up so he can reserve rooms.
I am excited to tell you that in the Dearborn Valley of the Northern Jurisdiction, all 29 degrees are performed live. It is possible for a newly made member to complete all 29 degrees in four years or less by attending the Reunions of neighboring Valleys. That said, many brothers will travel to far reaching Valleys to help complete their Passport.* In 2013 three other S.R. brothers and I traveled to the Valley of Marquette, Michigan, Upper Region Valley of Marquette, (the Upper Peninsula of Michigan) to attend a Reunion and partake in degrees we had not yet attended. I believe our Brothers here in the Orange County Valley would gain much by visiting our Northern Brothers and attending their reunion. It is my hope that the Southern Jurisdiction might adopt the policy of having all 29 degrees “performed” bi-annually among ourselves and the neighboring Valleys.
If you are interested in attending the Reunion in the Dearborn Valley on March 29, 2025, please inform Venerable Master James McCallion of your interest.
Fraternally,
Angelo Q., PM
*Passport: Similar to a U.S. traveling passport in size, shape, and color (blue), it is a book with pages for each of the 29 Degrees to be stamped after completing a Degree. You receive your blue Passport at your first Reunion. Once you’ve seen all 29 degrees, you are eligible for a Gold Passport. To receive your Gold Passport, your Valley Secretary validates your passport by completing the last page in the book. The validated passport is sent to the Supreme Council, which recognizes your accomplishment and sends a certificate and Gold Passport to your Valley to be presented to you.
