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About Us - San Fernando Valley - 2007
San Fernando Valley Scottish Rite
has “All-Star” Installation
On January 19, 2007, the recently constituted San Fernando Valley (SVF) Scottish Rite held its installation of officers with an “all-star”
installing team. Douglas Lemons, 33º, Past Lt. Grand Commander and Past Master of Masons in California and Hawaii (1980-1981) was the
Installing Officer; Ernest Borgnine, 33º, Grand Cross, the Installing Chaplain; and Earle J. Hino, 33º (Northern Jurisdiction), Past Grand Master
of Masons in New York (1995-1998), Installing Master of Ceremonies; with R.W. Richard W. Hopper, Deputy Grand Master, representing M.W.
Melvin B. Stein, Grand Master of Masons in California as special guest.
David P. Ottinger, Jr., 33º, Personal Representative of William F. Stovall, Deputy for the Orient of California, was the Honorary Master of
Ceremonies. He escorted Earle J. Hino, Jr., 33º, PGM, into the lodge room at the direction of the retiring Venerable Master, (98-year old,
Guinness Book of Records candidate), Robert T. Gilmore, Jr., 33º, who lead the SFV Scottish Rite in its first year.
All honored guests were received under an Arch of Steel with swords and lights. H. Douglas Lemons, 33º, Past Lt. Grand Commander, was
received with the appropriate number of swords and lights, with swords clashing and mallets beating in cadence as
he passed under the Arch of Steel—in a ceremony not previously seen by most in attendance.
Scott T. Porter, 33º, was installed as Venerable Master along with a full core of officers for all four Bodies. There
was not a single empty seat in the Van Nuys Masonic Hall where installation took place.
The SFV Scottish Rite was an outgrowth of the San Fernando Valley Scottish Rite Club that operated for a number of
years prior to Letters Temporary being issued in 2004. The keystone of the Club’s success was the fun and good
fellowship enjoyed among the members.
Fun and good fellowship was clearly evident in the evening’s festivities—as was the serious side of the installation.
Introductions and presentations were held to a minimum to accommodate remarks by the honored guests
following the installation. Personal Representatives and/or Secretaries from San Diego, Santa Ana, and Ventura
Scottish Rite Valleys were introduced. Group recognition was given to visitors from some ten other
Valleys—including Buffalo, NY and Richmond, VA.
Earle J. Hino, Jr., 33º, PGM, Ernie Borgnine, 33º, Grand Cross, & H. Douglas Lemons, 33º, PGM, and R.W. Richard W.
Hopper, DGM, shared their views on Masonry—each with their unique perspective and all with their love for Scottish Rite Masonry and for
the Blue Lodge. It was a truly memorable night that will be long remembered by all those in attendance.
Tokens of appreciation were presented to each of the honored guests. These were sculptures designed and commissioned by Joyce M.
Porter, wife of Scott T. Porter, 33º, depicting two eagles perched on the top of craggy peaks over looking a family
consisting of a buck, a doe, and a fawn—and other flora, fauna, and wildlife—symbolizing Masons, particularly
Scottish Rite Masons, watching and protecting the Family of Freemasons. This is in keeping with the SFV Scottish
Rite’s theme for the coming year—Watching Over You. Joyce has been involved with the fraternity for some 45
years, was a Masonic Widow when she and Scott met and married, and has experienced first hand the fraternity
watching over you.
Stated Meetings for the Valley of San Fernando are held on the third Friday of the month at the Van Nuys Masonic
Center, 14750 Sherman Way, Van Nuys, California 91405-2214.
Visit the website of the San Fernando Scottish Rite at:
https://sites.google.com/site/sanfernandovalleyscottishrite/
http://www.sfvalleyscottishrite.org/welcome.htm
Visit the Orient of California website at:
http://www.scottishritecalifornia.org
Photos: (Top) Brothers De Luna, Lemons and Borgnine at the Installation of Officers for 2007. (Second) 98-year old, Guinness Book of
Records candidate, Robert T. Gilmore, Jr., 33º, who lead the SFV Scottish Rite in its first year. (Third) Presentations given to honored guests.
(Fourth) Brothers Hino, Borgnine and Porter relax before the installation. (Fifth) Officers escorted through an arch of steel. (Last) The Van
Nuys Masonic Center where the Scottish Rite of San Fernando meets.
Top image submitted by Jim Lewis, 32nd, KCCH. Story submitted by Scott T. Porter, 33rd. Other images all taken by Thomas K. Sheehan,
32nd.
Reprinted with permission of the Scottish Rite Journal, March-April 2007
Copyrighted © 2017, Orient of California, all rights reserved