Scottish Rite Officers - July 2025

From the Venerable Master (July 2025)

Greetings Brethren,

At our reunions, Brother Ernest Borgnine gives the prologue to the Fourth Degree.

He was born Ermes Effron Borgnino on January 24,1917 in Hamden, Connecticut the son of Italian immigrants. His mother, Anna Boselli was from Carpi, near Modena, while his father Camillo Borgnino was a native of Ottiglio near Alessandria.

In 2000, Borgnine received his 50-year pin as a Freemason at Abingdon Lodge No. 48 in Abingdon Virginia. He joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Los Angeles in 1964, received the Knights Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH) in 1979, was crowned a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1983 and received the Grand Cross of the Court of Honor in 1991.

Borgnine joined the United States Navy in October 1935, after graduation from high school. He served aboard the destroyer/minesweeper USS Lamberton and was honorably discharged from the Navy in October 1941. In January 1942, he reenlisted in the Navy after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During World War II he patrolled the Atlantic Coast on an antisubmarine warfare ship, the patrol yacht USS Sylph. In September 1945, he was once again honorably discharged from the Navy. He served a total of almost 10 years in the Navy and obtained the grade of gunner's mate first class. His military awards include the Good Conduct Medal, American Device, Service Medal with “A” Device, American Campaign Medal with 3⁄16" bronze star, and the World War II Victory Medal.

July 8th will be the Grand Masters Visitation, at our stated meeting. We will then honor him with a Festive Board. The Dress is Formal If you haven’t called in your reservations you will not be seated, as this is a sit down dinner and the number of meals to be served is needed.

San Jose Lodge of Perfection Richard Rosenberg, 32° KCCH 2024 Venerable Master

From the Wise Master (July 2025)

Hello my brethren, hope all is well and you’re all enjoying the great weather.

As I’ve aged, I’ve noticed some degradation of memorization skills and find myself relying more on reading than memorizing various parts of our work. It’s frustrating because I know I’m capable of giving the second degree staircase lecture with minor practice. Maybe that’s because I’ve done it so many times. I found this great guide to memorization. Some of it’s familiar to my methodology, and other parts are new to me. I hope this is helpful to you, if you’ve had similar struggles with memorization.

Memorizing long presentations or ritual work in Freemasonry—or any formal tradition—requires structured mental techniques and consistent practice. Here’s a breakdown of effective methods tailored to Masonic ritual work but useful for any memorization-heavy context:

Core Strategies 1. Break It Into Sections

• Divide the material into logical parts (paragraphs, sentences, or even phrases).

• Focus on one section at a time before moving on.

• Example: Work line-by-line through a lecture, not the whole lecture at once.

2. Use Repetition with Recitation

• Recite each section out loud until it flows naturally.

• Don’t just read silently—hearing your own voice builds memory pathways.

• Repetition should be active: test yourself rather than passively reading.

3. Utilize Call-and-Response

• Practice with a partner who can prompt you (especially for ritual Q&A).

• If no partner is available, record yourself reading the prompts and then respond.

4. Write It Out

• Handwrite the ritual or lecture by memory.

• This helps reinforce phrasing, structure, and muscle memory. 5. Use Mnemonics or Key Words

• Create a “prompt list” of the first few words of each paragraph or key sentence.

• This works like a mental anchor: the first few words help unlock the rest. Advanced Memorization Techniques Visualization (Memory Palace)

• Assign phrases or segments to mental locations in a room or path (like your home).

• As you “walk” through the space in your mind, recall the associated line or passage.

• Chunking

• Group lines into 3–4 sentence “chunks” that you can work on as a unit.

• This is especially helpful in long or rhythmically complex parts like catechisms or lectures.

• Rhythm and Cadence

• Masonic ritual often has a natural rhythm—lean into it.

• Use that rhythm as a cue to help with memorization. Practice Tips Short, frequent sessions are better than long cram sessions.

• E.g., 15 minutes twice a day beats one hour once a week.

• Early morning or right before bed are great for memory retention.

• Recordings of yourself (or a trusted Brother) can help reinforce the cadence. Timeline Example

Day 1-3

• Learn and recite the first 3 paragraphs.

Day 4-6

• Review those and add 2 more.

Day 7

• Recite all 5 together, repeat weak spots, and solidify.

Repeat this cycle until the entire piece is memorized. Once learned, regularly rehearse without looking at notes to build recall strength.

Would you like a printable ritual memorization tracker or a specific script broken into cues and responses?

San Jose Chapter of Rose Croix Chris Boyes, 32° KCCH 2024 Wise Master

From the Commander of Kadosh (July 2025)

Hello Brothers,

We had a great time at the barbecue on May 18th, and if you were unable to attend, we missed you! It was a wonderful event, and we wish you could have been there to enjoy it with us.

These events are planned with your enjoyment in mind, and your participation means a lot to us. We put our hearts into organizing them.

Looking ahead, we're excited about our upcoming bocce ball event at Campo Di Bocce in Los Gatos. Stay tuned for more details. Please consider gracing us with your company. We would love for you to join us.

San Jose Council of Kadosh Max Mora, 32° 2024 Commander of Kadosh

From the Master of Kadosh (July 2025)

I would like to congratulate the brethren who received their 50th years membership in the Scottish Rite, Ill. Richard Fisher, 33° and Worshipful Bro. Neofito Santos, 32° who was there on the June stated meeting and all the brothers who are not able to come. Your dedication and commitment to the principles and ideals to the fraternity are truly commendable.

July is here, and as summer progresses, the warm days and the importance of cherished time with family and friends are remembered. The spirit of Freemasonry and the bonds that unite all should not be forgotten. The virtues should be practiced, and each other should be supported in their endeavors.

A short story of what is the consistory in the Scottish rite in southern jurisdiction:

A consistory, in the context of the Scottish Rite, is a body that confers specific degrees. In the Southern Jurisdiction, this refers to the body responsible for conferring the 31st and 32nd degrees.

These are considered some of the highest degrees within the Scottish Rite, building upon the lessons and philosophies presented in the earlier degrees.

The term "consistory" itself comes from the Latin word meaning "assembly place". Historically, this term has been used to describe councils of advisors to Roman emperors or meetings of the College of Cardinals in the Roman Catholic Church. However, in Freemasonry, it designates an assembly of Masonic officers that grants degrees under the authority of the Supreme Council.

The degrees conferred within the consistory, particularly the 32nd degree, "Master of the Royal Secret," are designed to deepen a Master Mason's understanding of Masonic philosophy, ethics, and leadership, emphasizing themes like justice, duty, and service to humanity. The 32nd degree encourages members to apply these lessons in their daily lives to improve themselves and their communities. Many consider it a culminating point in the Scottish Rite journey, preparing members for potential advancement to the honorary 33rd degree, awarded for exceptional service.

Ultimately, the consistory aims to help develop morally upright and socially responsible individuals dedicated to the principles of Freemasonry.

San Jose Consistory Eddie Hermano, 32° 2025 Venerable Master of Kadosh

From the Chief Knight

(July 2025)

Brethren,

I hope everyone is having a great summer.

We had a fantastic barbecue on May 18th, with about 35 in attendance with accolades beforehand. Thank you to all those who joined us and to those who helped set it up, cook, and clean up afterwards.

For those interested in various tartans and the symbolism of the colors presented in them, I have an example for my kilt, that is a Universal Masonic Tartan. There are many, many other colors to choose from that can have a unique meaning to the wearer, beyond mere aesthetics. They can symbolize Clan (family), University, military, or clubs and fraternities like masonry.

The Universal Masonic Tartan is a symbolic tartan designed to represent Freemasons worldwide, regardless of jurisdiction, degree, or affiliation. While not officially recognized by any single Grand Lodge, it has gained popularity among Masonic groups—particularly among Knights of St. Andrew and other Scottish Rite bodies—for use in regalia, kilts, sashes, and ceremonial garments.

Universal Masonic Tartan – Color Symbolism and Design The tartan typically features a combination of blues, greens, golds, and black, each representing important Masonic values and traditions. Blue

• Symbolizes truth, loyalty, and faith.

• Represents Blue Lodge Masonry, the foundation of Masonic degrees (Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, Master Mason). Green

• Represents hope, renewal, and the evergreen of immortality.

• Tied to the idea of growth and the continuation of moral and spiritual development. Gold

• Symbolizes light, wisdom, and divine guidance.

• Reflects the Golden Rule and the inner spiritual wealth pursued by Masons. Black

• A reminder of mortality, humility, and the chamber of reflection.

• Represents the seriousness of Masonic obligations and introspection. Pattern Details

• The tartan is typically designed in a modern sett (repeating square pattern) style.

• It does not correspond to any particular Scottish clan, making it universal and inclusive.

• Used on kilts, ties, stoles, and banners in many KSA chapters and Masonic commemorative apparel. Notes

• There is no single “official” Universal Masonic Tartan—several versions exist, with similar color themes.

• Some lodges or jurisdictions may have their own custom tartans (e.g., Grand Lodge of Scotland, individual KSA chapters).

• The tartan is non-exclusive and intended for fraternal unity and identity, not genealogical heritage.

If anyone is interested in learning more about Knights of St. Andrew, or would like to join us, please let me or any of our members know. We have a lot of fun and, as always, kilts are optional. San Jose Knights of St. Andrew

Chris Boyes, 32°

2025 Chief Knight, KSA

The Knights of Saint Andrew 2025 Officers

Chief Knight	Bro. Chris Boyes 32º
First Knight	Bro. Alan Porjesz 32º
Knight of the Watch	Bro. Mike Lammer 32º, PCK
Secretary	Bro. Tim Lynch 32º
Monk Knight	Bro. Angelo Encarnacion 32º
Sentinel	Bro. John Absalon 32º