Consistory Shines in Chicago

 
Massachusetts Consistory traveled to the Valley of Chicago the weekend of September 20 to perform the 22°, Prince of Libanus, also known as the Woodchoppers Degree. The degree was performed for the annual meeting of the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction's Membership Committee. It was attended by the Membership Committee Chairman and their representatives of 83 valleys. The degree was directed by Bro. David R. Lucas, 32º, and produced by Ill. William E. Holland, 33º, MSA.
 
The Woodchoppers Degree took place during the session's lunch break on Saturday. It was a privilege for the cast to perform the degree in the Valley of Chicago's brand new facility. Thirty-eight members of Massachusetts Consistory made the trip. They were joined by eight members of Illumination Lodge #5 of Bloomingdale, Illinois who were in Boston just a week before to perform the Master Mason Degree, Illinois style, at Faneuil Hall
 
The degree, previously set in the forest of Lebanon, has been reformatted with a setting in an early 20th-century American forest. The purpose of this degree is to teach the nobility of labor. It is the only musical degree in the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction. 
 
This particular version of the degree attempts to involve everyone in the audience by having them sing along with the cast. The cast, dressed in blue jeans and flannel shirts, performed flawlessly to the delight of all present. The energy the cast brought to the degree was infectious and was rightfully rewarded with a standing ovation. The comments heard after the performance were nothing short of tremendous. Several valleys made inquiries about having the degree travel to their valley. Perhaps the best comment was made by a presiding officer from one of these valleys who said that the Woodchoppers Degree would be the highlight of his term in office. It just doesn't get any better that that!
 
Massachusetts Consistory has performed the Woodchoppers Degree over the past two years for the Valleys of Worcester, MA; Portland, ME; Providence, RI; and a combined meeting of the three Valleys of Connecticut at their state-wide observance of the 200th anniversary of the NMJ in New Haven. Every performance of the Woodchoppers Degree has received a standing ovation – a feat to be very proud of.
 
A highlight for the Commander in Chief was to see his nephew James Inglis start his Scottish Rite journey the day before and be the sole candidate at the Woodchoppers Degree. Cast member R. Scott Inglis, James' brother, was also present to welcome James aboard.


© 2024 Scottish Rite Boston | 186 Tremont Street, Suite 705, Boston, MA 02111-1095 | (617) 426-8228
webmaster@scottishriteboston.org | All Rights Reserved
The Bodies of the Scottish Rite, sitting in the Valley of Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council, 33°, of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America, whose Grand East is in Lexington, Massachusetts.