Valley of Cleveland Scottish Rite Chorus goes to Scotland

Our own Valley of Cleveland has made its unique presence felt in Edinburgh, Scotland, at Freemason's Hall (see photos) . Our own Early Learning Center is now quite nicely represented by a presentation to the Curator of the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Scotland, Brother Robert L. Cooper.

This visit came about because I am a member of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and accompanied them to Scotland in August on a Concert Tour.

The visit to the Grand Lodge of Scotland Museum was arranged by W. B. Roger Lynch, Master of Euclid Lodge no. 599 who has been a friend of Brother Cooper for several years. They have a beautiful headquarters building for the Grand Lodge of Scotland, and a very nice museum about the same size as our Cleveland Masonic Library (although Brother Cooper is not nearly as handsome as Dick Ingham). They have many fascinating artifacts displayed there, both of Scottish Freemasonry and of world-wide Freemasonry, as evidenced by the prominent location of the clock donated by P.G.M. Vernon E. Musser. Brother Cooper was also presented with, among other items, pins from our recently departed Grand Master Ronald R. Rogers, and our Past Grand High Priest, Charles McCarty.

The chorus performed two concerts. One with the Orchestra at Usher Hall, and one at St. Giles’ Cathedral. Other than the two concerts, the highlight of the trip, for me, was the several hours that I spend with Brother Cooper.

I did not know that in Scotland, the flaps on Masonic aprons are not in a triangle shape as we know them here, but in a semi-circle. I was unaware that, in Scotland, every individual Lodge operates by it’s own unique ritual--there is no one “official Grand -Lodge-wide ritual” for these fiercely independent Scots’ Lodges. I could have sat there for days listening to Brother Cooper, and engaging in discussion with other brethren in the three hours’ time I spent there. Other visitors that came in were from Missouri, California, Australia, New Zealand, and Nova Scotia. We sat as brethren and discussed “all-in-one-day” degree conferrals, relaxing the memorization requirements, how to attract new members, continued insight into our beloved Craft and its present workings, as well as some potential future works.

However, as much as I enjoyed my all-to-brief time with Brother Cooper, the sublime highlight of the entire journey, was the trip I made to Rosslyn Chapel in Midlothian. The entire history of the Chapel and its founding family, the Earls of Sinclair, speaks of the highest principles of Masonic, community and national leadership. The sacristy was consecrated as a church in its own right, so that lepers, who were not permitted in the Chapel itself, had a place to worship and to pray. When Jews were outlawed in England, they found

Museum Curator Robert L. Cooper. a VERY knowledgeable and congenial Brother, in his office with the latest fashion accoutrement. Who knows....some day it may replace the kilt.

shelter at Rosslyn. When Gypsies were outlawed in Scotland, they found shelter at Rosslyn, and camp there annually . The Knights Templars, persecuted and martyred in France, fled to Scotland and Rosslyn, and fought for Scotland at the battle of Bannockburn, one of the few battles the Scots won in their bloody fights for independence from England. In all cases, and in all times, and regardless of political or military consequences, Rosslyn Chapel and the Masonic Earls of Sinclair were a beacon of hope to the oppressed, a candle of tolerance in the dark night on tyranny, and a blazing torch of liberty. By these ideals, the Sinclairs of Rosslyn and their Chapel stood, and by the grace of G. A. O. T. U., the family and the Chapel still stand more than 550 years after the Chapel was built.(E-mail address: www.ROSSLYNCHAPEL.org.uk or Rosslynchapel@aol.com)

As we grope in what seems to us to be impenetrable darkness, we must remember our own history. When the first Earl William of Sinclair founded the Earldom in the 1100s, was his society, the world he lived in, even one bit more gentle than the world we face today or tomorrow? It was not. Did the darkness that the Earls of Sinclair faced stop them in their Masonic duty to be moral leaders of their community, to bring light out of darkness, and to give hope to the world long after they were themselves dust in the vaults below?? Of course not--and I know because I was fortunate enough to be able to see their handiwork for myself, and to take hope therein.

If the events of today’s news , tell us only one thing, it is that Freemasonry--and WE--are needed more than ever before. Our Valley of Cleveland, our Early Learning Center, our ritualistic conferrals, our own individual moral and social and communal activities, are the only hope of the society from whence it came. Only through our own individual effort can we as a fraternity continue to be a beacon of hope in Cleveland for the next 550 years that Rosslyn Chapel has been in Scotland--550 years and counting. For us, too. So mote it be.