Local Freemasons received the Thirty-third Degree, the highest honor of Scottish Rite Freemasonry. Those from Maine were, from left, front, Warren S. Chase, Lewiston, retired, U.S. Coast Guard; and Robert Landry, West Gardiner, retired ironworker; back, Larry Hersom, Brewer, funeral director; William Oliver, Orono, retired educator/administrator; and Leslie Newton Jr., Cape Elizabeth, retired loss control consultant. Not pictured, Raymond Cunningham, United Parcel delivery driver.

Masons receive degrees

LEXINGTON, Mass. – A Fort Wayne, Ind., Freemason was elected to head one of the major Masonic organizations in the country. John W. McNaughton was named sovereign grand commander of the Scottish Rite Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction at the group’s recent annual meeting in Chicago.

The Supreme Council is the governing body for the 230,000 Scottish Rite Masons in the 15 northeast and midwest states of the Northern Jurisdiction.

The weeklong meeting concluded with the conferral of the Thirty-third Degree upon 233 members who were selected for dedicated service to Scottish Rite Freemasonry or service reflecting credit upon the fraternity.

Those from Maine were Warren S. Chase, Lewiston, retired, U.S. Coast Guard; Robert Landry, West Gardiner, retired ironworker; Larry Hersom, Brewer, funeral director; William Oliver, Orono, retired educator/administrator; Leslie Newton Jr., Cape Elizabeth, retired loss control consultant; and Raymond Cunningham, United Parcel delivery driver.

The names of 175 nominees were announced to receive the Thirty-third Degree at next year’s meeting in Washington, D.C. From Maine are William Haas, Kennebunk, retired; Walter Hayes, Westbrook, educator; John Lord Jr., Readfield, retired; Richard Makahusz, Brewer, retired; William Stretton, Lewiston, retired; Jeffry Simonton, Scarborough, Verizon; and Richard Trott Jr., Bangor, real estate agent.