Valley of Portland

Values-Based Listening Skills for Masons

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 As Masons, we are crystal-clear—and deeply passionate—about our moral values. Go to our Valley of Portland website and you’ll see it plainly laid out: “We believe in teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth.” And though we often don’t think specifically about listening skills in this connection, the fact is that listening skills are a powerful pathway to embodying those values. Let’s take a moment to see why …

The Incredible Power of “Active Listening”

To begin, look at those values again—Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth. Now think of your listening skills in terms of their impact on others. When someone feels LISTENED TO, they feel more loved, understood, and cared about. They feel that their emotions and thoughts are validated, and this opens the door to you being able to more deeply understand and connect with them. It’s not difficult to see how your own brotherly love, tolerance, charity, and search for truth are directly empowered by listening skills.

But what KIND of listening skills are we talking about? How do we truly listen well, and in the most VALUES-CENTERED way? First, we need to understand that there is a distinct difference between “hearing” and “listening.” Hearing is the process that involves simply perceiving sound, but listening requires that you perceive this sound with deliberate intention. In its best form, this is known as “active listening.”

From Passive Hearing to Active Listening

When you are an “active listener,” you make a sincere effort to truly take in what the other person is saying. You put distractions such as your phone away, and offer full attention to the speaker. With your posture and facial expressions, you communicate that you care enough about the person to focus on what he or she is saying.

Active listening does NOT mean remaining completely silent. In fact, it’s important to offer the speaker feedback—such as saying “uh, huhs,” or by nodding, or by asking clarifying questions—to show you are paying attention and are not just passive in the discussion.

 Spiritual Teaching and Masonic Values

Though “active listening” may have a modern ring to it, the role listening skills play in Brotherly Love, Tolerance, Charity, and Truth has been known for centuries. Proverbs 18:2 says, “Fools have no interest in understanding; they only want to air their own opinions.” This scripture emphasizes the importance of putting yourself aside in order to fully understand the views of others. And in the Book of James (1:19) we read: “Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.”

As Masons, we seek to manifest the kind of masculine power, strength, and grace that comes from building one’s life on the bedrock of moral values. As we’ve seen, developing active listening skills is one of the most powerful tools you can use in that journey.

Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland can be found on the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Scottish Rite website and on our membership page. Interested in learning more about local events? Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in joining the Valley of Portland can do so by completing this online application.

How to Promote Freemasonry to Friends and Other Prospects

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It’s one of the tougher challenges we face: How can we successfully promote Freemasonry to others? How can we most effectively communicate to others the deep enrichment we receive by being brothers—and the enrichment we bring to others in our community?

Let’s take a couple of minutes to shine light on a few of the very best ways for you to help promote Freemasonry.

Identify Your Best Prospects

Like an archer roaming through the Maine woods, there’s no point having a great bow and arrow if you don’t know what your target is. So grab a cup of coffee, sit down in your favorite easy chair, and start brainstorming: Who do you know at work … at church … in your neighborhood … or in another organization … who shares your values? Which of your male colleagues seems to have a passion for empowering others and the local community? Who do you know who may benefit from the values-centered friendship and brotherhood he would gain by being a Mason?

Inviting Prospects to Learn More

Once you’ve identified likely prospects, begin to reach out to them in a variety of ways. One of the best ways is to simply talk about your experiences with them. Remember that speaking simply, openly, and honestly is ALWAYS more effective than engaging in “hard sell” techniques. Simply say something like, “I’ve been involved in Masons for X years, and it has really enriched my life … in a way that also enriches others. Would you like to hear about my experiences sometime?” If your prospect says, “Yes,” be sure to let him know about The Valley of Portland website (ValleyofPortland.org) as you speak to him.     

Community Events Promotion

Another great way to promote Freemasonry is by using various community events to help spread the word. Consider hosting a “What Are Masons All About?” event at your lodge, and invite male prospects from around your local community. If the event will be held in Portland, use the FREE “Events listing” feature offered by the Portland Press Herald to get the word out to many potential prospects at no cost. This free advertising method can, of course, be used to promote any other Masonic events to which the public may be invited, as well.

Social Media Power

In this day and age, “it’s all about social media,” so be sure to use such things as blogs, emails, and posts to achieve maximum outreach. After you talk with prospective Masons at your workplace, church, civic organization, etc., about your personal experience, ask them if they would like to be placed on The Valley of Portland’s email list. In this way, they will receive our monthly blog, plus other news and updates. Use all social media in which you are engaged (Facebook/Meta, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube) to spread the word about your personal experiences as a Mason and about upcoming events that could attract new brothers. You never know who will see something you’ve posted and say, “That sounds great—exactly like something I’d like to be involved with!”                                                                                                                                  

Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland can be found on the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction Scottish Rite website and on our membership page. Interested in learning more about local events? Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in joining the Valley of Portland can do so by completing this online application.

Why Maine Men Should Become Masons

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When you think of “Maine men,” what do you think of? The stereotype might be a guy with a northern New England accent, wearing a plaid shirt and expertly handling a lobster roll. But it goes way beyond that. Maine men come from a distinctive culture—with a distinctive set of values—that makes them perfectly suited to becoming Masons. What is that culture? And why does it so perfectly serve as a foundation for Maine men to become Masons? Let’s take a couple of minutes to explore this.

Thinking for Ourselves

In a world where we are bombarded by social media, cable TV, and all manner of things designed to get us to “think like the group,” the best Maine men and Masons refuse to go along for the ride. We take pride in thinking for ourselves—whether it’s to elect a Governor or U.S. Senator who is NOT a Democrat or Republican (as we’ve done numerous times)—or to elect FAR more women to important political positions, and to have done it far earlier than most other states. (Exhibit A: Margaret Chase Smith).

Thinking for yourself means daring to resist tribalism and all the toxic elements it can bring into a society, including intolerance, disrespect for others, and a refusal to “walk a mile in the other man’s moccasins.” In this way, thinking for yourself is a foundational value that perfectly aligns with the values of Masons and their affirmation of brotherly love, kindness, and honor.   

Uplifting and Empowering Our Neighbors & Our Communities

Maine men come from a centuries-old culture that “walks the talk” regarding genuinely manly, courageous, loving serving to those less fortunate. Have you heard of Elijah Lovejoy—who was born in Albion, Maine, graduated from what is now Colby College, and wrote passionate anti-slavery editorials in the 1830s that were admired by people like Abraham Lincoln? Or how about Harold Alfond—who organized the first private foundation in Maine and who, between 1950 and 2003 alone, contributed more than $100 million to charitable causes across Maine? Lovejoy and Alfond are merely two examples—out of thousands we could mention—that illustrate how the best Maine men build their lives on a firm foundation of loving, manly service to others. In that way, they are perfectly suited to becoming Masons, who raise more than $2.6 million EVERY DAY worldwide to help those in need.

Maine Men, Masons: Cut from the Same Cloth

The distinctive culture of Maine, and its great impact on shaping Maine men, puts a firm foundation under a man’s life here. Day in and day out, the culture imparts to Maine men the old-fashioned yet timeless values of love, brotherhood, and “the need to help those in need.” Is it any wonder that Maine men and Masons are so often on the same wave-length, and that Maine men are so perfectly suited to the “love in action” values of Masons?

Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland is available here and at our website here. Interested in learning more about local events? Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in completing the application process can do so by filling out the online application here.

Why Masonic Values Lead to Charitable Giving

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In the Gospel of Mark (12:28), a scribe asks Jesus, “What is the most important commandment?” Jesus answers: “You shall love your God.” But then—very importantly—Jesus says there is a related commandment that is also of utmost importance: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” How do Masonic values help bring power and impact to this teaching? Why is there such a powerful cause-and-effect between Masonic values and charitable giving?

The Meaning of “Love Your Neighbor as Yourself”

In today’s pop psychology world, too many people have focused on the “love yourself” part of “Love your neighbor as yourself.” While that is vital for your wellbeing, many Biblical scholars have pointed out that Jesus’ statement really places the emphasis elsewhere. When you are hungry, do you need food? When you are thirsty, do you need water? When you are wet and cold, do you need shelter? When you grieve or suffer, do you need comfort?

Well, just as you need these and other things, so does your neighbor. And just as you seek these things for yourself, you should seek to offer them to your neighbor, if he or she is not able to do so for themselves. That’s the kind of mindset and devotion Jesus was talking about when he said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.”  

Masonic Values in Action

From its earliest days, Freemasonry has been empowered precisely by that values-centered mindset, as demonstrated by its ardent focus on care for orphans, the sick, and the aged. This devotion continues today—more powerfully than ever. Each day of the year, Masons worldwide raise more than $2.6 million to help those in need, through large donations to national and local charities.

Uplifting Souls and Communities in Maine

Here at the Valley of Portland, we join each day with our Masonic brothers worldwide to empower each other and support our neighbors in need and our local communities. The Valley of Portland’s Mission Statement calls for “teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love.” That’s why—for more than 20 years—we have so passionately supported such organizations as the Children’s Dyslexia Center of Portland, which offers children with dyslexia the skills they need to approach learning with eagerness and without fear. And it’s why we so devotedly engage in year-round charitable giving through such efforts the Blue Envelope Appeal.  

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that “every good tree bears good fruit.” In that way, the “tree” of Freemasonry—based on brotherly love, kindness, and honor—bears the “good fruit” of charitable giving that has changed countless lives for the better.

For more information about the Valley of Portland’s charitable efforts for others, we invite you to visit here.

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Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland is available here and at our website here. Interested in learning more about local events? Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in completing the application process can do so by filling out the online application here.

Why Mentoring Young Men Through DeMolay, etc. MATTERS

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Today, young men are often described as being “in crisis.” During the past 50 years, at exactly the same time when women have made massive advancements, young men have been falling behind. This is true not because women’s success comes at young men’s expense, but because young men are facing new and very serious challenges. What are these challenges? And why does mentoring young men through programs such as DeMolay and in other ways point to a powerful solution? Let’s take a couple of minutes to explore this crucial topic.

Statistics Paint a Challenging Picture

If we review statistics and trends pertaining to young men in education, relationships, the workplace, etc. right now, a shadowy picture comes into focus. Today, the top 10 percent of America’s best students are 2/3 female; the bottom 10 percent are 2/3 male. Boys are far more likely to fail to graduate from high school. More than 60 percent are single. Nearly 75 percent of “deaths of despair”—suicides or overdoses—occur among men, many of them heartbreakingly young.

Seeds of Despair … Flowers of Hope

Why is this happening—and happening now? Though the causes are complex, many sociologists, writers, and political leaders identify a breakdown of the family and the resulting absence of positive male role models for young men as a key destructive force. A blog post by Pediatric Associates spotlighted the critical impact of having a positive role model for a young man versus not having one: “Boys will seek approval from their fathers from a very young age. As human beings, we grow up by imitating the behavior of those around us; that’s how we learn to function in the world. If a father is caring and treats people with respect, the young boy will grow up much the same. When a father is absent, young boys look to other male figures to set the ‘rules’ for how to behave and survive in the world.” It’s therefore critical—in a world where so many fathers are absent from young men’s lives—that these “other male figures” have a positive effect on a young man’s growth. That’s where mentoring young men—through formal organizations such as DeMolay Maine and in less structured settings—comes in.  

An Impact That Lasts a Lifetime … or More

Put very simply, our young men don’t need more TikTok videos … or bad habits … or dead-end pathways set before them. They need a positive male mentor who can identify with their experience, be their friend, and provide an example to look up to. They need someone who will help them navigate through negative experiences and empower them for future challenges. They need someone who will help them build self-confidence and deepen their sense of purpose and ethical conduct in life.

Statistics from mentoring.org show that mentored young people are 90 percent more likely to become a mentor themselves. Given the serious new challenges they face, isn’t mentoring young men a great way to pass the torch and create a brighter future for our young brothers?

Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland is available here and at our website here. Interested in learning more about local events? Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in completing the application process can do so by filling out the online application here.

Fascinating Facts about the Portland Masonic Event & Wedding Venue

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Just how amazing is the Portland Masonic Event & Wedding Venue? Pretty darn amazing! In fact, the Portland Press Herald hailed it as “some of the most magnificent interior spaces in Maine.” Let’s take a couple of minutes to walk through Fascinating Facts pertaining to the “Portland Masonic” as we take a guided tour through some of what this wonderful venue offers!

The Reading Room

Fascinating Fact:  During World War II, the Scottish Rite Reading Room served as an Armed Forces Recreation Area, sponsored by the USO.

If you’re a certified Mainer, you’re very familiar with common Maine surnames such as Deering, Preble, Allen, and Drummond. Well, The Scottish Rite Reading Room is dedicated to Scottish Rite Masons in those venerable Maine families, as well as other Masonic families throughout Maine history. Featuring a majestic fireplace and an antique conference table, the Reading Room also includes original pool and snooker tables.

The Armory

Fascinating Fact:  The Armory displays the first American flag ever flown by a Masonic Commandery in the United States of America.

Home to hundreds of lockers where York Rite Masons store their uniforms and personal effects, the Armory features a gorgeous Tiffany stained glass portrait of the Knight’s Templar (a large organization of devout Christians during the medieval era). During World War II, the Armory’s floor was replaced so it could be turned into a beautiful parquet dance floor for USO dances, so our soldiers could be sent off in style—dancing the night away—before going off to war.

Corinthian Hall

Fascinating Fact:  Corinthian Hall is home to one of the largest working pipe organs in Maine, rivaled only by the one in the Merrill Auditorium next door.

One of Maine’s most majestic halls, Corinthian Hall—named after its architectural style—features striking Corinthian pillars that adorn the area’s two stories. The north side of the hall features a memorial to Augustus G. Schlotterbeck, a merchant and Mason whose will left the Portland Masonic the $1 million necessary to pay off the mortgage. Two eye-catching Tiffany stained glass portraits flank the Schlotterbeck memorial.

The Drummond Auditorium

Fascinating Fact:  The Drummond Auditorium has—until now—featured resplendent plays only attended and enjoyed by Masons. But that could change. (See below.)

Between its terrace and the balcony, the Josiah H. Drummond Auditorium can comfortably accommodate up to 400 audience members. The scene of countless Masonic plays over the years, the stage features striking, hand-painted canvas scenery pieces, antique props, and costumes. The auditorium boasts a full pipe organ, a balcony for the orchestral ensemble, and a fully functioning light and sound system.

The Masonic Temple Foundation is raising funds needed to open the Drummond Auditorium to the general public. They need your help! To donate, please visit here.

Photos courtesy of Portland Masonic Gallery

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Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland is available here and at our website here. Interested in learning more about local events? Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in completing the application process can do so by filling out the online application here.

What Does Masonic “Dedication to God” Look Like?

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Although Freemasonry is not a religion, Masons are a very “God-centered” brotherhood. If you go to the Mission Statement on the Valley of Portland’s website, you’ll see that Masons ground their lives by passionately embracing “dedication to God, family, and country.” What does this Masonic dedication to God “look like”?  What impact does it have? Let’s take a few minutes to explore this.

An Inclusive Brotherhood

While it is true that Freemasonry embraces core religious principles in a Creed, it is welcoming and tolerant in its admission of men of many religious faiths. To become a Mason requires that you believe in (a.) God, the Creator of all things, who is recognized as the Grand Architect of the Universe and, (b.) eternal life, to which our present life is a preparation.

Let’s take a look at each of those two articles of faith, one at a time.

God, the Creator of All Things

For a Mason, the supremacy of God as Creator calls us to love God’s Creation deeply and ACTIVELY. As the saying goes, “Love is a verb.” And, for a Mason, that means that loving Creation means loving your fellow men and women, being a good role model for children, helping those in need, and more. That’s why, for example, the Valley of Portland’s Mission Statement calls for “teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly Love.” And that’s why the Valley of Portland so ardently supports such efforts as the Blue Envelope Appeal, which allows Masons and members of the community to donate funds in a high-impact way that changes countless lives for the better. Through this crucial annual effort, we (a.) assist distressed Master Masons, their widows, and their orphans financially and physically through the Grand Almoner’s Fund, (b.) equip children with dyslexia with the skills they need to approach learning with eagerness and without fear, (c.) provide financial support to hundreds of students each year to help with the high cost of college, and more.

All of this comes directly out of Masonic dedication to God. All of it is about ACTIVELY loving and supporting God’s Creation, particularly those most in need of love and support.

What Eternal Life Asks of Each of Us

The Masons’ second article of faith—a belief in eternal life—is not just a belief, but a calling. Masons believe that scriptures from various religions can offer profound truths, one of which is found in the story offered in Mark 10:17 of the Christian Bible, when a young man asks Jesus of Nazareth, “What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” Masons observe that Jesus’ answer stressed how crucial it is to ACTIVELY help the poor and those less fortunate.  

So what does Masonic dedication to God look like? Here at the Valley of Portland, we strive each day to make it look like a dedication centered on SERVICE—to our brothers, the local community, and to the profound spirit of “In God We Trust.”  

Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland is available here and at our website here. Interested in learning more about local events? Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in completing the application process can do so by filling out the online application here.

American Founding Fathers Who Were Masons

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You’ve heard their names all your life: George Washington … Benjamin Franklin … Samuel Adams … Ethan Allen … Paul Revere. You knew these astonishingly brave and gifted men were some of America’s great Founding Fathers. But did you know they also were Masons?

As it turns out, Freemasonry had a crucial role to play in shaping the character and actions of many Founding Fathers. In fact, nine of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence were Masons—including John Hancock—and at least seven other signers are believed by historians either to have been Masons or people who had ties to the brotherhood.

But things didn’t stop there. The profound influence of Founding Fathers who were Masons continued well beyond 1776. As we fought against the British in the Revolutionary War (1775 to 1783), 33 of the 74 generals of the Colonial Army were Masons. And when America created its Constitution—a beacon of hope to all who cherish freedom—13 of the 39 signers of the great document were Masons.

A Foundation of Character That Helped Create a Great Nation

While they had a critical role in helping to launch America, the Founding Fathers who were Masons—particularly the most famous ones, such as George Washington and Benjamin Franklin—rarely, if ever, talked openly about the connection between their political views and their masonic association. Nonetheless, historians almost universally assert that it was Masons—famous Founding Fathers plus more obscure brothers—who were the ones pushing their American homeland to break free from Great Britain and become its own constitutional republic. As historian James Brown wrote about Benjamin Franklin and his contemporaries: “What influence Freemasonry may have had on the life and character of Benjamin Franklin can only be conjecture, but that it did influence him and his contemporaries in the great struggle for American independence seems beyond doubt.”

Ideas and Values That Were Ahead of Their Time

What is also beyond doubt is that the Founding Fathers who were Masons were men ahead of their time, deeply committed to living and sharing values and ideas that would become cornerstones of democracies around the world. One succinct way to describe what Freemasonry is all about is: “Creating better men and a better world.” America’s great Founding Fathers who were Masons did this by fighting for separation from Great Britain, which they saw—correctly—as the one vital way to create religious freedom and other liberties throughout America.

Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland is available on our about page.  New brothers interested in completing the application process can do so by filling out the online application here.

Best Freemasonry Podcasts and Blogs

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If you’re like most Masons, you feel you are on an earthly and spiritual journey to become everything you can be as a man, a friend, a family member, and a member of your community. How can you deepen and enrich your understanding of that journey—and your place within it? One of the most appealing and valuable ways is to listen to freemasonry podcasts and read Masonic blogs. Here are some of the best!

 

PODCASTS

Masonic Central Podcast

Billed as “the podcast about Freemasonry by Freemasons,” Masonic Central Podcast features illuminating, character-building conversations with some of Freemasonry’s most engaging thinkers, writers, leaders, entertainers, and other newsmakers. Featuring both one-on-one interviews and round-table discussions, the podcast helps the listener delve into many of Freemasonry’s most engaging and interesting intellectual and spiritual aspects, including its meaning, works, and ideas.

The Freemasons Podcast

Begun in 2019, this podcast features members of various lodges in Connecticut offering sometimes-edgy, often-playful discussions of a wide variety of topics of interest to Freemasons. Most of the guests are younger brothers who specialize in needling themselves as well as some of the other Masons who appear on the program. This Freemasonry podcast is hosted by Right Worshipful Brother George Mudry. To watch the podcast and its memorable guests—rather than simply listening to it—you can visit its YouTube channel here.

 

BLOGS

Freemasons for Dummies

This highly enriching “read” is the official blog of author Christopher Hodapp, author of the popular book Freemasons for Dummies. Since first arriving on the scene in 2005, Freemasons for Dummies has been the top-selling introductory guide to the Masonic fraternity and its many related organizations. Among other topics, Mr. Hodapp’s blog features some of the material featured in the revised 3rd Edition of his best-seller, including updated information, statistics, websites, and more.

The Midnight Freemasons

This blog features a group of Master Masons illuminating key topics of Masonic interest—each from his own unique perspective. Among the many interesting and eye-opening topics you’ll find discussed in the blog are history, trivia, travel, book reviews, and great quotes. More often than not, things are spiced up with a bit of humor!

Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland is available here and at our website here. Interested in learning more about local events? Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in completing the application process can do so by filling out the online application here.

How Did Masonic Values Impact U.S. History?

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There’s no doubt about it: From George Washington to Mark Twain to Louis Armstrong to Cy Young, Masons have contributed mightily to American culture. But the most lasting contribution of these Masons—and countless others—is the Masonic values that helped govern their lives, and which, in turn, helped shape the great nation whose story they are such a part of. Let’s take a moment to explore just how Masonic values have impacted our beloved country.

Foundation Values for the American Colonies

Though national bestsellers such as Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol have spun fanciful versions of Masons’ contribution to American history, the actual impact has been much richer. As a values movement that emerged from the Reformation, Freemasonry was the first highly influential organization to espouse religious toleration and liberty—core Masonic values that Masons helped spread throughout the American colonies.

“Yearning to Be Free”

Even prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Masonic values were fully taking flight—in ways that often were impressively ahead of the times. To cite just one example: Freemasons in Boston in 1775 were part of a British garrison that granted local Black freemen the right to affiliate as Masons under the banner of African Lodge No. 1. Its leader, a freed slave named Prince Hall, later signed some of the nation’s earliest anti-slavery petitions. In this way, African Lodge No. 1 represented the first black-led abolitionist movement in American history. Nearly two centuries later, Masonic values and membership were embraced by both the father and grandfather of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as the quest for civil rights in America deepened.

Masonic Values of the Founding Fathers

It is no coincidence that some of America’s greatest Founding Fathers—including not only Washington but also Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and seven other signers of the Declaration of Independence—were Freemasons. All these heroes rejected the European notion that one overarching authority should dominate the exchange of ideas.

To this day, this revolutionary new outlook is found in one of the greatest symbols associated with Freemasonry: the eye-and-pyramid of the Great Seal of the United States, as seen on the back of the one-dollar bill. Begun on July 4, 1776, The Great Seal’s design commenced as an order from the Continental Congress. Its Latin maxim—Annuit Coeptis Novus Ordo Seclorum—is commonly translated as “God Smiles on Our New Order of the Ages.”

An Enduring Legacy and Impact

The Masonic values that served as such a profound influence on our Founding Fathers and our early republic have endured and been strengthened by later Masons–who became everything from Presidents of the United States to musical giants to great athletes to great writers and thinkers. Just as they all owed a debt to the Masonic values that helped shape their lives, we now owe a great debt to them for the ways in which their values helped forge and shape America.

Want to Learn More About the Valley of Portland?

Additional information about the Valley of Portland is available here and at our website here. Interested in learning more about local events? Visit our website and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date and informed about upcoming events.

New brothers interested in completing the application process can do so by filling out the online application here.