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?…
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…
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…
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…
Here at the Valley of Portland, we join our masonic brothers around the world in being serious-minded about becoming our best selves and in offering caring, devoted service to others. As we discussed in our recent blog “What is Masculinity? A Valley of Portland Response,” we emphatically believe the world needs more men of honor—more…
Here at the Valley of Portland, we strive every day to “walk the talk” regarding our Scottish Rite values. Because Service to Humanity is one of those core values, we Masons are givers and doers—continually donating our time, talent, and resources to help others. This values-driven mission helps Scottish Rite Masons positively impact thousands of…
The debate has raged since the 1960s, if not before: What is masculinity? What should a man do and be? What is a “real man” versus a man who embodies “toxic masculinity?” One look at national bestseller lists reveals that, if anything, interest in the topic is growing stronger by the day. Titles that tackle…
The Quarterly Meeting of Yates Lodge of Perfection, Portland Council Princes of Jerusalem, Dunlap Chapter of Rose Croix, and Maine Consistory will be held at the Portland Masonic Temple, 415 Congress Street, Portland on Friday, October 7, 2022, at 7:00 PM for the consideration of the Reports of the Officers and several Committees, and such…
Here at the Valley of Portland, we enjoy the comradery of brotherhood while maintaining a deep devotion to our core Scottish Rite values. One of the most important is Service to Humanity. We uphold this value by seeking—each day of the year—to enhance our local Maine communities by teaching and emulating the principles of Brotherly…
As you go through your life, it’s important to ask yourself these critical questions: Do I live the ‘Rite’ way? How am I incorporating the Scottish Rite’s core values into my daily life? How can I support its charities? Let’s take a moment to focus on one Scottish Rite core value—Service to Humanity—and see how…