The Installation of Officers for Scimitar Lodge, A.F. & A.M. was held on Wednesday evening, September 8th. The office of Worshipful Master was being held open at this time until a special election could be held by dispensation of the Most Worshipful Grand Master.

The installing suite consisted of Rt. Wor. Harlan L. Woods, Jr., Installing Master, assisted by Rt. Wor. Charles R. Austin, Installing Marshal and Wor. Thomas J. Foster, Installing Chaplain. The officers elected and appointed to serve Scimitar Lodge are: Bro. Paul D. Watts, Jr., Senior Warden; Bro. David C. Aker, Junior Warden; Rt. Wor. John J. Maihos, Secretary; Wor. Richard D. Turner, Treasurer; Rt. Wor. Evangelos Liapis, Asst. Secretary; Wor. Bruce H. Parker, Asst. Treasurer; Wor. Thomas J. Foster, Jr., Chaplain; Rt. Wor. Charles R. Austin, Marshal; Bro. Teofilo ‘Phil’ M. Pereira, Senior Deacon; Bro. Robert C. Spear, Junior Deacon; Bro. Robert E. Dalrymple, III, Senior Steward; Bro. Brian C. Maccini, Inside Sentinel; Rt. Wor. Bogos W. Peligian, Organist; Bro. David P. Veo, Tyler; and Bro. Brian H. Fallon, Electrician. All officers are members of Aleppo Temple, currently participating in several of the Shrine’s Units and Clubs.

On Wednesday evening, October 13th, it was reported that the dispensation from the Most Worshipful Grand Master had been granted to hold a special election for the office of Worshipful Master and to install said Master once elected. The East was resigned to Rt. Wor. Woods in order that the special election be held. Upon report by the Nominating Committee, Wor. J. Steve Dalrymple was proposed to serve a third term as Worshipful Master; the election was held and Wor. Steve was elected. Rt. Wor. Woods then proceeded with the installation of the Worshipful Master and the Junior Warden, Asst. Treasurer, Senior Steward and Tyler. The installation was followed by the charge to the Master, officers, and lodge members given by R.W. Woods.

The East, again occupied by Wor. Dalrymple, thanked the lodge’s members for the honor to serve as Master for his third term. He discussed his plans for the lodge, including a membership drive for additional candidates. Every candidate raised a Master Mason by Scimitar Lodge is a candidate for membership into Aleppo Shrine Center.

Scimitar Lodge meets in the Wilson Room on the second floor of the Aleppo Shrine Center on the second Wednesday of each month. The lodge was organized in September 2015 to have a masonic lodge residing within the Aleppo building; giving a prospective Masonic and Shriner candidate the opportunity to progress through both organizations at the same location. It also affords the candidate to have a mentor in both organizations to be a single point of contact guiding him through initiation in both organizations.

Scimitar Lodge affords the perfect opportunity to see membership rising in the Blue Lodge as well as in Shrinedom. In the 2015 organization of the lodge, it was stated that – “By providing a simpler path to the Shrine for non-Masons; Freemasonry and Aleppo membership roles have a better chance to increase. The Shriner, who was raised in the Blue Lodge and resides some distance from Wilmington, might be inspired from his experience and affiliates with a lodge near his home, becomes active there as well and promotes the Shrine among its members. A Shrine interest may be sparked in Brethren coming to the Blue Lodge for Fraternal and Official Visits, meetings and lodge functions by being exposed to Aleppo’s facilities and Units.”

The officers and members of the lodge want all members of Aleppo Temple to be welcomed to attend meetings of Scimitar Lodge and to encourage non-Masons looking to join the Shriners to consider this unique opportunity in membership.