Our Next Reunion

Our Spring 2020 Reunion

Brethren, Friends and Visitors: Please read the following statement from our Commander in Chief, Ill. Gerard R. Sealy, 33 °, regarding our 2020 Spring Reunion:

To the Members and Candidates of the Valley of Philadelphia:

I hope that you and your families are healthy. I know that the COVID-19 crisis has challenged everyone, and my prayers are with you all.

I have asked the Secretary of the Valley to share with all of you a letter from our Deputy of Pennsylvania, the Illustrious Robert J. Bateman 33°, RWPGM. I echo his words and ask each of you to reflect on your journey through Freemasonry and the commitments aid our Brothers, families and society. As noted in the Deputy’s letter, we will be suspending the collection efforts until June 1st to afford some temporary financial relief to our members.

If you are ill or need other assistance in managing through this crisis, please contact our Valley Secretary. The Valley Secretary is working remotely, is checking messages left at the Valley office (215-563-1814). He will serve as the central point of contact for assistance requests, will contact myself or the Valley Almoner as required and work to find Brothers in your area to help if needed.

Previously, I had communicated to you all that the March and April Reunions had been cancelled. Due to the uncertainty of the nature of the COVID-19 virus and the ability to project when the risk of exposure/infection will pass, there is no way to plan for a date to confer the degrees that were planned in the immediate future. Consequently, I have decided to postpone the conferral of degrees until the Fall Reunion Season. If there is an opportunity that presents itself to present the 4th degree to our candidates in advance of the Fall, we will communicate that to all of you immediately.

This was a difficult decision, because of all the preparation by the degree teams. But it is was a necessary decision when I considered the impact that this crisis is having on our members and their families. When this temporary challenge to our lives passes, the first thing we should all be focused on is helping our families restore “normalcy”, The last thing I want our members to be choosing between is the conferral of degrees and their families.

In addition to the conferral of degrees, I have cancelled our Annual Worker’s and New Members celebration until further notice. The Valley Officers and I will continue to look for opportunities to celebrate fellowship and family focus in the Fall season.

As you know, our Annual Meeting is scheduled for May 15th. I believe that meeting may also be in jeopardy of being postponed to June. I will keep you notified if any change is required to that meeting date, but I ask that you reserve the evening of June 19th on your calendars as a contingency.

I certainly wish that situation and consequences were different, but our priority will always be the safety and well-being of all our Brothers.

Sincerely and Fraternally,

Ill. Gerard R. Sealy, 33°

Commander-In-Chief, Valley of Philadelphia AASR

For More Information

Please call 215-563-1814 for more information

Pennsylvania Scottish Rite & COVID-19

Dear Brethren,

As you are all aware the Corona Virus has tightened its grip on our country. Our economy has taken a beating these last few weeks. Many have contracted the virus and all our Brethren, and their families are feeling its results. We are here to help, aid and assist our Brethren and their families the best we can during this crisis. We must keep in touch with our members and our widows. We must find out if any are in distress and assist if possible. Brethren this is our time to show how Scottish Rite Masons work together in a crisis. We may not be able to resolve all the issues related with this sickness, but we can surely help the members of our Scottish Rite Family. If you have or know someone who has extra medical supplies that may help first responders or medical staff, please consider donating them.

Brethren currently we need to concern ourselves with the well being and financial needs of our Brethren and our families. Therefore, all dues collection efforts are suspended until June 1, 2020 and NO MEMBER WILL BE SUSPENDED FOR NON- PAYMENT OF DUES DURING THIS TIME PERIOD! We will keep you all posted as this pandemic and our needs change.

Please stay healthy, keep following the directions of your Local, State and Federal Government and “MAY GOD HOLD YOU IN THE PALM OF HIS HANDS”.

Respectfully and fraternally,

Robert J. Bateman, 33°

Deputy for Pennsylvania

We will strive to be a fraternity that fulfills our Masonic obligation to care for our members.

Scottish Rite Northern Masonic Jurisdiction