About Our Members

Being a Scottish Rite Mason has many advantages.  It builds your character and opens up your social network to a wide variety of men from many different walks of life.  After you have become a Master Mason it is natural to continue your education through the Scottish Rite.  Starting the 4^th Degree with the Secret Master reflecting on duty and honor to God, Country and yourself. 

Degrees continue from the 4^th Degree continuous to the 32^nd Degree where a man becomes a Master of the Royal Secret.  Learning the most important duty is to yourself.  These degrees are performed as a play during a Reunion (initiation).

If the apron is a badge of a Mason in Blue Lodge, the cap can be said to be the public badge of a Scottish Rite Mason. It is considered a part of the uniform and the different colors indicate the degree of the wearer (these are prayer caps and are only worn within the Valley during meetings and Reunions.).  They are listed as follows:

• Black Hat
  When a Scottish Rite Mason has taken the 32° Master of the Royal Secret he is entitled to wear a black hat with gold ribbons and the Double Headed Eagle symbol.
• Red Hat
  A Scottish Rite Mason who is over 35 years of age, a member of the Valley at least 46 months may be nominated for extraordinary service to the Valley, Public or in his community.  If elected he is invested as a 32° Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (32° KCCH).  The hat is red with gold trim and a Cross in the front.
• White Hat
  A 32° KCCH Mason that has held that honor a minimum of 46 months may be nominated to become a 33° Honorary Inspector General (33° or 33° IGH).  Again nominations are made for extraordinary service within the Valley, in Public or in his community.  The hat is white with gold trim and a double cross.
• White Hat with a blue band
  The 33° Grand Cross is a special designation given to a few Scottish Rite Masons who have given service to the Supreme Council or been a leader in a Valley for many years.  There are usually only about 50 living 33° Grand Cross members in the Southern Jurisdiction.
• White Hat with a red band
  A Scottish Rite member within the Orient may be appointed a 33° Deputy of the Supreme Council.  He is the Orient leader with all authority for leadership within his Orient as stated in the Supreme Council Statutes.
• Purple Hat with gold trim
  A Deputy of the Supreme Council in an Orient may be nominated to the Supreme Council.  If elected he becomes 33° Sovereign Grand Inspector General in his Orient and a member of the Supreme Council.  There are only 33 active members of the Supreme Council.

Omaha Valley Leadership

A Mason starts in a local Masonic lodge where through ritual
they learn the lessons of life.  Starting as the rough ashlars
(like a child), in the Entered Apprentice degree a man with little Masonic knowledge moves through
the Fellowcraft degree to the Master Mason degree.  Many Master Masons join the Scottish Rite to
continue the ritual learning more lessons, smoothing the “stones” of life as we go, striving for the
“perfect ashlars.”  These lessons provide background in ethical and moral conduct as reinforcement

Scottish Rite Masons, with lessons in hand, become leaders within the Valley.  Often these same men are
also leaders at work, church and within community.  Click in an Officer's photo to find out more.

Charles V. Sederstrom, Jr., 33° Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Nebraska	Paul D. Rutherford, 33° Personal Representative to the SGIG in the Omaha Valley	Frank W. Kroupa, 33° Cathedral Board Association President
Curtis M. Edic, 33° General Secretary	Dwight (Rick) E. Whitesides Venerable Master of the Lodge of Perfection	Anthony (A.J.) T. Johnson, 32° KCCH Wise Master of Rose Croix
Scott D. Reuman, 32° KCCH Eminent Commander Council of Kadosh	Cary L. Manson, 32° KCCH Venerable Master, Consistory