Masonic Life Network

Our charity stated meeting dinner for the Coachella Valley Rescue Mission was a great success!

CVRM would like to thank the Coachella Masons Lodge #476 for their support of the Mission. The Lodge hosted a dinner and collected 250 lbs. of canned goods for our pantry. Thanks for your support!

DECEMBER 24, 2013 BY DIANE A. RHODES

The San Jacinto Masons provided gifts and food for needy families of students attending Megan Cope Elementary School in San Jacinto. (CONTRIBUTED IMAGE)

The San Jacinto Masons has always donated time, resources and financial assistance to local schools as a way to help young people succeed.

Programs such as Raise a Reader, Teacher of the Year, Constitutional Observance and scholarships have become regular events at local schools thanks to the group. This year the Masons helped sponsor a student of the month program.

In 2010, the administrators at Megan Cope Elementary School in San Jacinto, asked the fraternal organization to do a cornerstone for the new school.

“Master of the Lodge, Jim Ridley, and the Masonic family came together to make it happen,” said Michael J. Sekera, School Advisory Board/Grand Lodge of California and Senior Warden of San Jacinto Masonic Lodge No. 338. “We adopted (the school) since the laying of the cornerstone, meaning we help them with school supplies they need for the year.”

A relationship between the San Jacinto Masons and Megan Cope Elementary School has been very successful. Those involved with this year’s Christmas Cheer program included from left, Megan Cope Elementary health clerk, Beth Johnson; Supervisor Abeer Sekera; San Jacinto Masonic Lodge representative Michael Sekera; school principal Ken Swanson and assistant principal, Lauren Armijo. (CONTRIBUTED IMAGE)

For the past two years, the group has helped four needy families from the school as part of its Christmas Cheer program. The group raised $2,000 and purchased gifts and food.

Abeer Sekera said she enjoyed shopping from the provided wish lists knowing that each person would receive a gift they really wanted.

“Meeting these families was great – the expression on their faces of joy was so rewarding,” Michael Sekera said. “It was very emotional to hear their stories and how thankful they were to the Masons for helping them out.”

The Masons have been involved with schools since the 1600s, even starting school systems in many states. The first superintendent of schools in California was a Mason, according to information provided by Sekera.

In the past two years about $75,000 has been donated to the San Jacinto area from the Grand Lodge of California and the San Jacinto Masons. Sekera said there are about 200 Masonic members in the San Jacinto Valley.

“It is very important that people in our communities realize that people do care and that someone out there is trying to make a difference,” Sekera said. “I, myself, feel very humble when having the opportunity to see firsthand these people receiving help.”
Information, www.sanjacintomasons.org.

FILED UNDER: LOCAL SCHOOLS, NEWS

TAGGED: MEGAN COPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, SAN JACINTO MASONS

CITY: SAN JACINTO

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A Few Words on Celebrities' Favorite Words

March 16, 1997 | DENNIS McLELLAN, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Celebrities are used to being approached by strangers wanting something from them. But what Vick Knight Jr. asked of hundreds of famous people over the past several decades had nothing to do with pictures or autographs: "May I have a word with you? More precisely, may I have a word from you?" The words generated by Knight's unusual request are enough to fill a book. Knight's "My Word!"

KNIGHT, Vick, Jr. 1928 – 2013 Educator and playful, witty rascal. Born Lakewood, Ohio, rooted for many years in Hollywood, California. Attended Gardner St. School, Bancroft Jr. High and Hollywood High. In the forties, he delivered the Hollywood Citizen News and also flowers for Benny the Parisian Florist where he socialized and perfected his gift of gab. Enlisted in US Navy and served with Armed Forces Radio Services in Hollywood during WW 2. With help from the GI Bill, Vick went to USC (their biggest fan!) and was affiliated with Skull & Dagger, Phi Sigma Kappa, Theta Nu Episilon and E Clampus Vitus. Vick's career in California public education dates to 1952 when he first taught sixth grade in Pico Rivera. He taught in Whittier, Placentia and Yorba Linda and also served as Principal, Superintendendent of Schools and University Dean. Vick was named Distinguished Citizen, awarded the Kiwanis International Legion of Merit and one of California's Fine Outstanding Young Men. He was a popular and effortless public speaker and created The West Atwood Yacht Club where he served as Commodore J. Herringbone Tweed. Among his books are Send for Hayam Solomon, My WORD and the irreverent spoof Snakes of Hawaii. After retirement, Vick served Children's Hospital of Orange County as Director of Development. Like fine wine, Vick got better as he aged. He became an Outstanding Old Man, a life-long learner who completed his doctorate and went on to study Ancient Mayan culture at numerous Central American sites, travelling with UCLA, Howard University and New York State University. A new chapter began when he moved to Canyon Lake where he served 13 years on the Lake Elsinore Unified District Board ofTrustees and was elected to the Riverside County School Board in 2004 where he later served as President and retired in 2012. Dr. Knight Founded the Friends of the Library at UC Irvine. Predeceased by his parents Vick and Janice Knight (Hollywood). – See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/latimes/obituary.aspx?pid=168386536#sthash.kST23Tg8.dpuf

His father started the March of Dimes.

Randall T. Freeman, PhD

Early Childhood Education

On December 16th Big Bear Lodge No. 617 held it's  83rd installation of Officers in a closed ceremony.

For those of you who have never visited the Big Bear Lodge, it is , as most Lodges, steeped in local history. The furnishings came from cedar trees on land cleared by Bill Knickerbocker who provided the original meeting place for Masons in Big Bear above his Carriage house. He was also the first keeper of the original dam that formed Big Bear Lake.

This years installation was conducted by Past Master AGL Frank Lee as Installing Officer; PM Inspector Lynn Parker as Master of Ceremonies; Installing Chaplin was PM and officers coach for Big Bear Lodge, Jim Weyant.  Also in Attendance were Worshipful Chet Olsen from Rim of the World and Inspector John Channon.

Installed for Masonic Year 2014 were: Johnny Wells – Master; Kevin Mc Hugh – Senior Warden; Joe Tambe PM – Junior Warden; Steven Combs PM – Treasurer; Robert Dow, PM – Secretary; Bruce Black – Asst Secretary; Eric Schwartz – Junior Deacon; and William Meyrs PM – Tiler.

The incoming Master invited all present to draw-up two memories: 1. The day the decided to become a Mason and all the feelings and dreams they had attached to this decision. 2. For those who were Past Masters; the first moment the too stood in the East and received the gavel. The dreams and goals they had for "their Lodge", the changes they were looking towards and the difference they were going to initiate to make Their Lodge more of force for good in the community. To remember not only the energy they were willing to expend to make these happen, but the rewards too attached to their successes.

He then encouraged all Masons to rekindle those feelings and dreams, because in the year to come, for the Lodge to continue to grow and prosper, we can use all the "Masters" we can find to make it happen.

Dessert in the Lodges' "Theatre" followed with good fellowship and camaraderie.

Johnny R Wells
Worshipful Master

Dr. Stanley L. Channon: family patriarch, husband (65 yrs) , father, grandfather, Past Grand Master of Masons in California & Hawaii, has moved on to be with our Supreme Grand Master. He passed, with family at his side, on November 9, 2013 8:15AM in Pleasanton, Ca., at the age of 89, after being hospitalized with a series of illnesses .

Stanley is a native of Australia . His father, John Lyall Channon and mother, Margaret (Merrigan) were both teachers in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia.. Stan earned his Bachelor's degree, then moved to America to continue his education, completing a Masters degree at University of Utah and a Ph D in Metallurgical Engineering from University of Illinois where he met Elizabeth (Beth) Callaway. They were married in 1949 in Tuscola, Illinois. They moved, within a few years, to Spokane Washington and then to Riverside where they resided for 40 years before designing and building their retirement-dream home in Valley Springs, Ca. They shared that home for 15years until their recent move to Pleasanton.

Stan and Beth have three children: John , Nancy, and Bryan, and five grandchildren: Alivia, Christina, Kyle, Marci, and Kevin. Stan has two nephews in Australia.

Stan's careers were many. His professional career involved metallurgical research and development in aluminum, titanium, magnesium and steel fabrication and composite materials and management of aerospace technology teams. Dr. Channon held management positions at Hunter Engineering, Rohr Aircraft, Aerospace Corp. , and Institute for Defense Analysis.

He earned the rank of King Scout in Australia (the equivalent of Eagle Scout here). That scouting urge bit him to become Cub master, and later, Scoutmaster of Troop 112 in Riverside in the years when both sons were in scouting.

He was raised as a Master Mason in 1959 and served in the line of Evergreen Lodge thru 1965 when he led as Master of the lodge. In 1966 , he was appointed Inspector and served in that position for 12 years. During this time, he chaired the Evergreen Lodge Building Committee and was President of the Evergreen Temple Board. He supervised the design and construction of the new Evergreen Masonic Center throughout its construction from 1974 – 76 including its cornerstone laying. Evergreen honored him with the Hiram Award in 2001.

In 1983, he was appointed a Trustee of the Masonic Homes of California and was chairman of the Expansion Program at both Homes from 1985 to 1989. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1985 and progressed through the Grand Lodge chairs to become Grand Master for the 1988-89 year.

After completing his term as Grand Master, Stan served on the Long Range Planning committee, Policy and General Purposes Committee and Code Revision Committee of Grand Lodge. Additionally, he served on the Steering Committee for the Masonic Information Center in Washington DC.

From 1993 -2001 Stan Channon chaired the Tournament of Roses Parade Float committee raising funds , designing and planning the Masonic Family Floats for 9 years . Several of these floats were afforded awards. Media coverage, volunteers , video promotion tapes were all carefully coordinated.

Upon their move to Valley Springs, Stan joined Calaveras Lodge and subsequently chaired their 150 yr celebration committee. He was also involved with the homeowners' assoc in the community and managed to enjoy a few games of golf in the course across the street from the house. One of his pride and joys was his tomato and plumb tree garden, the produce from which he donated to many local groups.

He was awarded the Masonic Golden Veteran's certificate and pin at an Australian-themed ceremony at Evergreen Lodge in 2009 . Stan Channon was a Mason for 55 yrs.

Memorial Services will be held at the Union City Masonic Home on December 7, at 5 PM and at Evergreen Masonic Center, 5801 Chicago Ave, Riverside on December 15 at 2 PM.

The family is accepting flowers at the memorial services . Condolences may be sent to the family at 1858 Old Bridge Rd, Riverside, 92506.