VALLEY ECHOES Fall 2015

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Danville

The Valley of Danville is pleased to an-

nounce that Illustrious James L. Tungate,

33° Active Member and Grand Secretary

General of the Supreme Council Northern

Masonic Jurisdiction was presented the

Supreme Council Medal of Honor by Sov-

ereign Grand Commander, Illustrious John

W. McNaughton, 33° during the general

session of the annual meeting held in Indi-

anapolis on August 31, 2105. The Medal of

Honor may be conferred by the Supreme

Council or by the Sovereign Grand Com-

mander upon any person, whether or

not a member of our jurisdiction or a

member of any Body of the Rite, in

recognition of distinguished service to

Freemasonry, country, or humanity.

Our Illustrious Brother’s service has,

indeed, been distinguished and worthy

of honor.

An active Blue Lodge Mason, brother

Tungate is a member and honorary

member of several lodges. He is a

Past Master and Past Secretary of Mil-

ford Lodge No. 168 and has served

Watseka Lodge No. 446 as Treasurer

since 2001. He was the Mason of the Year

for the Grand Lodge of Illinois in 2000 and

has served the Grand Lodge in many ca-

pacities. Brother Tungate co-authored

Illinois House Bill No. 3169 that granted

real estate tax relief to fraternal related

properties. He continues to serve the

Grand Lodge as Chairman of the Commit-

tee on Legislation.

Brother Tungate served the Valley of Dan-

ville as chairman and member of several

committees as well as director of several

degrees. He served as a Board Member of

the former Temple Corporation and was

the Most Wise Master of the George E. Bu-

row Chapter of Rose Croix in 1997-1998.

He was elected an Honorary Member of

Supreme Council on September 28, 1999.

Brother Tungate was elected an Active

Member of Supreme Council in 2001. He

has been a tireless leader for Supreme

Council; chairing or serving on many com-

mittees. He is the Executive Producer of

the 33° and the Chairman of the Commit-

tee on the Annual Meeting. He served as

Grand Treasurer General from 2005-2007.

He continues to serve as Grand Secretary

General. Brother Tungate has produced

and directed the videos of the 4°, 12°, 19°,

20°, 22°, 24°, 29° and 32° Intro. He au-

thored the 4°, 19°, 32° Intro, as well as,

many articles for The Northern Light mag-

azine.

Brother Tungate is a member of Moham-

med Shrine (Peoria), Chicago Heights

Commandery No. 78, and St. Edward’s

Conclave Red Cross of Constantine. He is

a recipient of the DeMolay Legion of Hon-

or as well as Lodge Builder Awards. He

was awarded Knight Commander of the

Temple by Knights Templar of the United

States of America in 2010.

A long time Attorney, brother Tungate

graduated with Honors from Illinois Wes-

leyan University and earned M.A. and Ph.D.

degrees from Northwestern University, and

a Juris Doctor Degree from the University

of Illinois College of Law as a Harnow

Scholar. He has taught at Northwestern

University and Purdue University and was a

faculty member and Chairman of Commu-

nications for Loyola University, New Orle-

ans, before establishing a private law prac-

tice in Illinois with his wife, Susan Sumner

Tungate. He was one of the Founders,

Dean, and Lecturer of, ”The People’s Law

School”, which provides free annual law

classes to the public, funded by a grant

from the Illinois State Bar Association. He

is the President of the Iroquois County

Bar Association. He is a member of the

United States Supreme Court Bar as well

as a member of the Illinois Supreme

Court Committee on Fitness and Charac-

ter.

In addition to involvement in many other

community organizations, brother Tun-

gate has served on the Boards of Direc-

tors of the Iroquois Mental Health Center

and the Iroquois County Chapter of the

American Red Cross where he was an in-

structor in First Aid and CPR as well as

serving as that Board’s chairman.

Brother Tungate is a member of St. Paul’s

Episcopal Church of Kankakee and resides

in rural Cissna Park with his wife, now Cir-

cuit Court Judge Susan Tungate. Jim and

Susan have two sons, Edward and James,

who in addition to being life members of

their father’s Masonic Lodge are life mem-

bers of the Valley of Danville, where their

grandfather and great-grandfather were

also members.

Illustrious James L. Tungate, 33° presented Supreme Council Medal of Honor

Sovereign Grand Commander, Illustrious John Wm. McNaughton, 33° presented the award to

Illustrious James L. Tungate, 33°

Valley of Danville

109 W. North

Danville, IL 61832

217-446-7620

1-800-917-2277

Presents

“A hilarious interaction With the subconscious mind.”

$20 per person Tickets available at:

Masonic Center: 217-446-7620 Learning Center: 217-446-9377

K of C: 217-443-0032

THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING FOR MAKING A DONATION!

(July 1, 2015 - September 22, 2015)

Arthur Murray Frank Richards Julian Lorenz Robert Elgin Arthur Riley Franklin Daivs Keith Harrington Robert Miller Arthur Short Gene Eilers Kenneth Easton Robert Rayburn Brian and Janet Pettice Gene Hammac Kevin Reed Robert Ross Brian Clark George Greenwell Lawrence Edwards Robert Seed Bruce Stark George Reffett Leo Rayl, Jr. Robert Smitley Burke Ford George Satterwhite Lewis Winegardner Rolla Hensley, Jr. Carl Stipes Golden Eagles Matthew Sale Ronald Colwell Cecil Rabourn Grand Master's Class Merle Beddow Ronald Holmes Charles Garfield Gregory Knott Michael Brucker Ronald Martin Charles Lewis Harry Pogue Michael Dooley Scottie Ooton Christopher Hathaway Herbert Depke Michael McBride Shawn Dowler Clarence Goble Ivan Beeman Michael Puhr Steve Faulkner Clyde O'Connor Ivan Fender Michael Shirley Steve Matheny Cy Hubbard J. Douglas Newlin Mickey Addington Thomas Maas Dale Downs Jack Allen Norman Anderson Thomas Moore Dale Rascher James Conder Norman Hildebrand Timothy Robinson David Guttierrez James Hawkins Olive Branch #38 Troy Cary Dean Hesler James L. Tungate Paul Bretz Uptal Bhatt Denver Phelps Jeffrey Boyd Paul Greene Walter Hart Don Cochonour Jeffrey Lachenmyer Paul Murrah Warren Kilpatrick Earl Bell Jerome Hardesty Percy May Wayne Fleming Earl Buckner Jerry Askren Randy Casteel Wesley McCoy Earl Carson John Forsythe Richard Drennan Wesley Olson Earl Harrison John Lamb Richard Hawthorne William Barter Earl White John Larsen Richard Trowbridge William Decker Edward Durbin John McBride Ricky Alderson William Edwards Edward Johnson John Weaver Robert Beck William Musk Emerson Young Jon Harney Robert Ben Gossett William Pierson Eric Buzzard Joseph Elliott Robert Dannehl William Schmitt Erich Hannah Joseph Speiser Robert E. Jones William Shipley

BUILDING PROGRESS

Progress continues to be made on the build-ing. Painting is near completion. The front of the building will be power-washed and paint-ed with a clear coat. Awnings are being in-stalled on all windows to divert water from the lentils. We are moving forward to continuous-ly seal the outside of the building, including the roof. The beacon will soon be in operation! We can’t wait to get this working again. If you have a particular skill, trade or exper-tise you would like to donate and share with the Building project, it will be most welcomed!

Donations may be made to: AASR Valley of Danville, 109 W. North St., Danville, IL 61832. Please note “Building Project Fund: on your check. You may also have donations taken out of your credit card by calling the Valley Office at 217-446-7620 1 -800-917-2277.

Our Children’s Dyslexia Centers are at work every day saving lives. That may sound like an overstatement, but it isn’t. Dyslexia is the most common reading disorder, and children left with this disability untreated often suffer devastating personal consequences. It’s the number one reason teenag-ers drop out of school and it’s a pri-mary factor in juvenile delinquency. Research reveals that children with untreated dyslexia can become underachieving adults unable to contribute to society at their fullest capacity. The Scottish Rite is working to change that as dyslexia is a treatable condition. It cannot be cured, but it can be overcome.

Join the 32 Club! See next page for details!

Valley of Danville “The 32 Club” By Members, For Members, For Our Future

HOW DO I SIGN UP? Fill out the following form and mail it in to your Valley Office at 109 W. North, Danville, IL 61832

Payments may be made by mailing in a check, dropping by the office or calling the Valley Office to set up automatic credit card payments. Please write “The 32 Club” on your check memo.

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NAME: ______________________________________PHONE_______________CELL ____________________

ADDRESS: _________________________________________________________________________________ E-MAIL __________________________________________________________________________________

PAYMENT PREFERENCE: Weekly___Monthly___Quarterly___Semi-annual____Annual____ Signature_________________________________________________________________Date___/____/_______

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PLEDGE AND SUPPORT

WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? This will go towards upkeep and mainte-

nance of the building. See pictures on the previous page.

WHAT IS IT? A member pledges $2.25 per week

($.32 per day, i.e. the reason for the 32 Club) This can be paid weekly, monthly, quarterly,

semi-annual or annual.

WHAT IS THE ANNUAL COST? $116.80

WHAT DOES IT GENERATE? 2000 members participate equals $233,600 per year or $19,467 per month 1000 members participate equals $116,800 per year or $9,733 per month

500 members participate equals $58,400 per year or $4,867 per month 250 members participate equals $29,200 per year or $2,433 per month 125 members participate equals $14,600 per year or $1,217 per month

WHEN WOULD IT START? November 1, 2015 to October 31, 2016

WHAT DO YOU GET IN RETURN? (Please remember it’s a fund raiser)

An invitation to an Annual Catered Banquet

News from the Sovereign Prince

Brethren,

First of all, I hope you have all been well during this past quarter. I also hope to see, as many of you as are able to

attend, at our upcoming Fall Re-union. While the Reunion is an event built around the focus of the exemplification of our De-grees, thus conveying the princi-ples therein contained, and is the avenue through which we wel-come new Brethren into the fold of our Valley, it is also so much more. It is an opportunity for us to meet new Brethren, to get to know one another a little better, and renew acquaintances with friends and Brothers whom we may only see a couple times a year. Hence, why it is called a “reunion.” As such, your Scottish Rite “Family” is waiting to reunite with you in friendship, fellowship, and camaraderie; and I encour-

age, and invite, you to avail your-self of this wonderful opportunity.

Your Council Officers continue to work diligently to formulate ideas for activities and events that might pique your interest. As mentioned in the previous issue of the “Valley Echoes,” on July 12th we conducted the first annual “Council of Speculation.” This was the first time in the recent memory of our Valley that the Council has had a “Line” event. It was well attended for a first time event, and very well received, with a lot of positive remarks and feedback from those attending. It began with a simple, but nice, meal prepared and served by the present and past Officers of the Council Line, with the gracious assistance of Officers from the other Lines, while folk music ap-propriate to the occasion played softly in the background. The program commenced after dinner with some brief welcoming and

explanatory remarks, as well as the proposal of a philosophical question to be discussed later in the program. Following the open-ing comments, we proceeded with the observance of the tradi-tions associated with the celebra-tion of the Feast of St. John the Baptist, together with an explana-tion of the meaning and symbol-ism of those traditions, and the feast itself. Finally, in accordance with the traditions laid down in the Degrees of the Council of Princes of Jerusalem, a discus-sion, or debate, was held on the philosophical question proposed earlier in the program, with a prize being awarded to the per-son who was deemed to have answered most wisely. A partial video recording of this event is available on the Valley website in the photo and video gallery. There will be a similar event on January 23rd called a “Council of Reflection,” which will incorporate a brief celebration of the Feast of

St. John the Evangelist. The fly-ers for this event, as well as fur-ther information on it, will be forthcoming.

The Officers of the Council Line are still willing to take the 15° & 16° on the road. So please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to see these degrees exemplified at your Lodge. We have also discussed the possibil-ity of a fundraiser or two. While nothing is currently planned, fur-ther information will be forthcom-ing as talks proceed and deci-sions are made. Finally, please remember that your Council Of-ficers are here to serve you, and we welcome your input as to how we may best do this. I hope to see you all at the upcoming Fall Reunion.

Fraternally,

Jason Kinsolving Sovereign Prince

At a quick glance, this mahogany chair in the collection of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library resembles other fashionable armchairs pro-duced in New England during the late 1700s and early 1800s. A second look shows that a craftsman designed this chair with a Masonic customer in mind. He decorated the center of

the back of the chair, or splat, with cleverly carved overlapping com-passes, a square and a level. Two rosettes help anchor the symbols to the circle enclosing them.

While the symbols on the chair’s splat are Ma-sonic, its overall design follows the popular style of the day. In creating fashionable home furnishings in the late 1700s and early 1800s, American furniture makers often looked to English examples for models of stylish work. This chair, with its shield shaped back, short, curved arms and elaborately pierced splat shows some of the stylish elements codified in The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Guide; or Repository of Designs for every Article of Household Furniture in the Newest and Most Approved Taste. Alice Hepplewhite (dates un-

known), the widow of furniture maker George (d. 1786), first published this illustrated work in London in 1788. Some American furniture mak-ers knew about Hepplewhite’s and similar Brit-ish pattern books, such as Thomas Sheraton’s The Cabinet-Maker and Upholsterer’s Drawing-Brook, first published in 1791. These books were also one way Americans learned about the latest fashion. Americans formed their im-pression of the current modes viewing furniture in shops and homes and from up-to-date en-gravings and illustrations imported from Britain and Europe. Clients ordering furniture relied on craftsman to be conversant with fashions of the day, but made specific requests about style, materials and cost, to see their wishes in fash-ionable furnishings fulfilled. Unfortunately, we do not know who first or-dered this chair, or what purpose it was intend-ed to serve. Did the person who commissioned this chair want to use it at home, or was it made to beautify a lodge room? Judging from this chair’s style, manner of construction and materials, it was crafted in New England, per-haps in Boston, Massachusetts. An inscription on the frame of the upholstered seat notes it was “Originally the property of Genl. Amasa Davis.” Though intriguing, this note does not clarify this chair’s origin. Amasa Davis (1742-1825) of Boston, a merchant, was quarter-master general for Massachusetts from 1787 to 1825 and used the title of General. However, no record points to him having been a member of

a Masonic lodge. As well, several men named Amasa Davis made their home in Massachu-setts during the time this chair was first made. One even belonged to Morning Star Lodge in Worcester, Massachusetts, though little more is known about him. Fortunately records from Union Lodge in Dorchester, Massachusetts, speak to the chair’s later history. Member John Mears, Jr., (1821-1912), gave an “ancient ma-sonic chair” to Union Lodge in 1864. His gift was one of several presentations of furniture made to the lodge to mark the organization’s move to a new building in 1864. Mear’s gift was set aside for use of the lodge’s Tyler until at least the early 1900s. So, although the early history of this intriguing and fashionable chair still needs to be uncovered, it eventually added a touch of history and tradition to a Masonic lodge room. The Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library collects all kinds of Masonic decorative arts from the 1700s through the present day. If you would like to learn more about them, visit our website (monh.org) and explore our online resources or come see us in Lexington where examples are always on view. Article written by Hilary Anderson Stelling, Di-rector of Exhibitions and Audience Develop-ment, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Li-brary.  

Arm Chair, ca. 1790.  Probably Massachuse s.  

Special Acquisi ons Fund and in part 

through the generosity of Harold French, 86.40.  Photo by David Bohl.   

A Fashionable and “Ancient” Masonic Chair

Scholarship Recipients We had a great response for Scholarships this year! We had several new applicants as well as 39 renewals! Scholarship applications are due April 1 of each year and can be printed from our website, aasrdanville.org. We awarded forty-four Health Scholarships, five Abbott Scholar-ships, six Grand Lodge Scholarships and one each of: Perkins, Kresin and Williams.

Evan Blankenship Rhoda Bucker Brianna Butler Taylor Ellis Jenna Fryman Abbey Johnson Uriah Jones Katelyn Kindred Lexi Kramer

Rebecca Lewis Katelyn McTaggart Kodie Pedigo Jenna Ripley Trevor Schrock Andrew Sheppard Brooke Tabb

Renewals given include: Morgan Alewelt, Brianna Baine, Katlyn Baker, Haley Brown, Lauren Buttram, Leah Carter, Michael Chen, Brandy Cheuvront, Cody Deck, Victoria Drake, Hillary Duez, Emily Engelbrecht, Hunter Hettinger, Hunter Hicks, Jenna Hiser, Audrey Hoene, Lauren Houmes, Alisha Jewell, Allison Kerper, Emi-ly Kroeger, Rachael Lewis, Hailey Marvin, Amanda McDonough, Elizabeth Nisley-Nagale, Donald Nourie, Connor Perkins, Jayla Perrott, Anna Pristach, Rafid Rahman, Lindsey Sanders, Zoie Sheets, Kelsey Shipman, Jackie Smith, Justin Smith, Laura Smith, Danielle Swinford, Tara Thomas, Andrea Vickers and Brianna Wilkins.

Not pictured: Whitney Maninfior, Hope Regnier and Kendall Spicer

Brother ...Is there a Brother Master Mason you know of who has not enjoyed the honor

& fellowship of the Scottish Rite

Experience & in be-coming a 32nd Degree

Scottish Rite Mason? Provided here is a petition. Total is $290.00 ( $200.00 Ini-tial Candidate Fee & $90.00 Dues paid till

July 1st, 2016) Thanks from

the Membership Chair-man on behalf of the

Valley of Danville-AASR. See you at

Reunion in November & to meet your

Candidate. Remove and return to

the Valley Office

Contact Us AASR Valley of Danville

109 W. North Danville, IL 61832

(217) 446-7620 (800) 917-2277

execsec@aasrdanville.org Visit us on the web at

aasrdanville.org

SPECIAL NOTICE!

Please join us for our Traveling Board Meeting Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at Star Lodge #709, 206 W. Orange, Hoopeston, IL 60942. We will Debut the 19th Degree DVD, Directed by our Ac-tive, Illustrious James L. Tungate, 33°. Dinner will be at 6:00 p.m. Board meeting 7:00 p.m. 19th Degree following Board Meeting.

Candidates are welcome! Candidate fees are $290.00.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE

PROMPTLY PAID YOUR DUES!!

Ladies Events for Fall Reunion

Ambassadors still needed for Ridge Farm #632, Bement #365, Bloomfield #148, Paris #268, Jackson #53, Watson #602, Olney #140 and Flora #204. Call the Valley Office for more

info or contact Ambassador Chairman Michael Dooley at dooley-,@att.net or 217-722-8290.

The Valley of Danville would like to thank Larry Kuchefski for his efforts to sell the building. If you

have commercial property to sell, please consider giving Larry a call! Now licensed in Indiana!

Larry Kuchefski 201 W. Springfield Avenue,

Champaign, IL 61820 Phone: (217) 352-7712 Mobile: (217) 918-0871

lk@cbcdr.com

NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

PERMIT NO. 538

Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Danville PO Box 693 Danville, IL 61834 Forwarding Service Requested

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