Passing of Illustrious Brother John D. Livie, 33°, PGM

Brethren,

The roll of the workmen has been called, and Illustrious Brother John D. Livie, 33°, IGH, Past Grand Master, born May 14^th, 1935, at Juneau, Alaska, has not answered to his name. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on August 15^th, 1957, in Gastineaux Lodge No. 124, F.&A.M. of Alaska. On December 25^th, 2021, the Great Architect of the Universe smiled upon him and taking him by the hand, gently led him to that “house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens.” There is no death. All that is beautiful and good and true in human life is no more affected by the shadow called death than by the darkness that divides today from tomorrow. In this, our Brother’s hour of victory, we should rejoice that we can see far enough into the future to know that all is well with him. He is but a step-in advance of us and we thank our Creator that we had and loved him for a while.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 15, 2022, at 10:00am at the Scottish Rite Center, 4090 Commercial St. SE, Salem, OR 97302

Excerpt from his obituary: “John was born May 14, 1935, in Juneau, Alaska. After graduating from Juneau High School, he joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Anchorage, AK. During his second year of service, he married his high school sweetheart, Carol (Lawrence) Livie on July 23, 1955. After finishing his tour of duty in Anchorage, he and Carol moved to Salem, Oregon where they raised their three children, Debra Bedell (Duane), Keith Livie and Cathy Smith (Randy). After graduating from Willamette University, John went to work for Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., where he worked for 37 years. John and Carol lost their oldest daughter, Debra, in November from Cancer. Besides his wife, Carol, and their two other children, he is survived by four grandchildren, Doug Bedell (Terry), Tony Bedell, Aimee Rodriquez (Matt) and Hailee Smith and three great grandchildren, Nick, Ella and Sawyer Bedell.”

Masonic History from Men of Honor in the Oregon Scottish Rite, by Michael D. Robinson:

John Douglas Livie (PGM 2000-01) (U.S. Army, Pepsi Bottling Co. regional service manager.) was born on May 14, 1935, in Juneau, Alaska. He was raised in a small gold mining town five miles out of Juneau, called Thane. As a teen he was active in Rifle Club and DeMolay. He was initiated into Royal Arch Gunnison Chapter DeMolay on May 17, 1949, and received his DeMolay degree on May 26, 1949, serving as Master Councilor in 1953. He graduated from Juneau High School in May of 1954. He married Carol Lawrence in Juneau on July 23, 1955. He spent 2 years in the U.S. Army in Anchorage, Alaska, then moved down to Salem, Oregon so he could attend Willamette University. He went to work for Pepsi Cola Bottling Co., working for 34 years in delivery, sales and as service manager for Marion, Polk, and Yamhill counties in Oregon. After retiring he worked as a shuttle driver for Robertson Motors for 2 years. He was Initiated an EA on June 28, 1957, Passed to FC July 25 and Raised a Master Mason on August 15, 1957, in Gastineaux Lodge #124 F.&A.M. in Douglas, Alaska. He demitted and affiliated with Ainsworth Lodge #201 in Salem, Oregon on March 13, 1979. He was Master of that Lodge in 1991 and received the Hiram Award for outstanding service to Ainsworth Lodge on May of 1996. He was Secretary of Ainsworth Lodge 2005-2013. He joined Glacier Lodge #10 of Anchorage, Alaska in 1997. While visiting his Mother Lodge, now known as Mt. Juneau-Gastineaux Lodge #21 in Juneau on his 66th birthday in 2001, he was made an Honorary Past Master of that Lodge. He was made a Life member of Warren Lodge #10 in Jacksonville, Oregon on March 16, 2020. He received his 50-year service Award on February 2, 2007, his 60-year Award on April 11, 2017, and completed the Fellows of the Craft December 3, 2013. In Grand Lodge he was appointed District Deputy GM for District #16 for 3 years 1992-95. He was appointed Grand Pursuivant in 1995-96 and appointed Senior Grand Deacon in 1996-97. He was elected Junior Grand Warden (1997-98), Senior Grand Warden (1998-99) and Deputy Grand Master (1999-2000) before serving as the 151st Grand Master of Oregon 2000-01. He received the Scottish Rite degrees in the Salem Valley, 4º-14º May 8, 1980, 18º May 15, 30º May 22, and the 32° on May 8, 1980. He was Invested Knight Commander of the Court of Honour (K.C.C.H.) on November 12, 2005, in Portland, Oregon. He was Coronated Inspector General Honorary 33º November 14, 2009, in Salem, Oregon. He served as General Secretary and Treasurer of the Salem Valley. In York Rite, he was a member of Multnomah Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch Masons; Hodson Council No. 1, Cryptic Masons of Oregon, DeMolay Commandry No. 5, Knights Templar of Oregon, and a member of the Saint Janus Red Cross of Constantine. He was a Member Al Kader Shrine and Willamette Valley Chapter No. 529, National Sojourners. He was Worthy Patron of Ainsworth Chapter No. 176 (now consolidated with Trinity Chapter No. 175) in 1977-78, and 1981-82, and Worthy Patron of Adah Chapter No. 34, Order of the Eastern Star in 1984-85; and was a member of Cherry Court, Order of the Amaranth. In the 1960s, he was active with the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, and served as Cub Master for Pack No. 103, in Salem, Oregon in 1969. In the 1970s, he was active with the International Order of Job’s Daughters and served as Bethel No. 48, Associate Guardian in 1970-1971. He was the DeMolay Advisory Board Chairman of Chemeketa Chapter, Order of DeMolay, in Salem, from 1996 through 1999 and received the “Guild of the Leather Apron” in 1998 and the DeMolay “Legion of Honor” in 1999. He also served on the DeMolay Foundation Board of Trustees. He was made a “Member of Honor” of the Grand Guardian Council of the International Order of Job’s Daughters in May 2000. In June 2001, he received the Grand Cross of Color, from the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls. In December of 2021 he received his 65-year service award from the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Oregon.

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Medford Reunion Highlights

On March 22 and 23, 2019 the Brethren of Medford Valley Scottish Rite hosted the 10^th annual Southern Oregon Reunion in Medford. The event began on the 22^nd as Coos Bay Valley, with the assistance of the Brothers in Medford, conferred the 4° on the Reunions only candidate Kacy Morse of Medford Lodge #103. This was followed by a fine rendition of the 14° by the members of the Medford Valley. In the morning of the 23^rd the members of Eugene Valley presented the 18^th degree, followed by the Roseburg Valley and the 30°. The Brothers from Klamath Falls Valley presented the 32° bring to a close the degree portion of the Reunion. Much thanks to the Medford Valley KSA for their usual hard work in putting together the Reunion and to the Brethren of all the Valleys who worked hard to put on the degrees for this Reunion. Ill. Bro. Gary Kuney S.G.I.G. in Oregon was in attendance on the 23^rd, also in attendance were the PR’s from Portland Valley, Larry Roberts 32° K.C.C.H.; Eugene Valley, Dale Vanderpool 33°; Coos Bay Valley, Fritz Thomas 33°; Roseburg Valley, James Rogers 32° K.C.C.H.; Klamath Falls Valley Lyle Logan 33° and Medford Valley, Bruce Kundert 32° K.C.C.H.

After the capping Bro. Art Borland 32° K.C.C.H. Master of Kadosh, presented the candidate with “The Bridge to Light” and Bruce Kundert 32° K.C.C.H., the Medford PR presented him with the 14° ring.

Rich Maris 32° K.C.C.H. communicates the 15° – 17° to candidate Kacy Morse

 

Members of Eugene Valley presented the 18° Art McGhehey, Rich Maris 32° K.C.C.H., Michael Robinson 32° K.C.C.H. candidate Kacy Morse, Steve Karner, Alex Casper and Terin Mueller

Brethren attending the 32°

William Grabach: A Scenic Artist by Michael D. Robinson 32° KCCH

William Grabach

William Grabach was born on July 20, 1857 in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio. He was the son of Augustus Grabach and his wife Maria Elisabetha Setzler. Augustus Grabach was born in Germany in 1818. At the age of 22 he boarded the ship Graville in La Havre, France and sailed to New York City, arriving on May 31, 1840. He married Elizabeth Setzler by 1842 and settled in Ohio, where all of their children were born. Maria Elisabetha Setzler was born on November 16, 1821 in München, Bavaria (Bayern), Germany and came to the United States in 1834. She had 10 children, 8 of whom were still living in 1900. Augustus had a small farm in Fremont, Sandusky, Ohio, valued at $200 in 1850, but increased his holdings to $1,000 in Real Estate by 1860 when they were recorded in as living in Adams, Seneca, Ohio. He got a fever in March of 1860 and died a week later on March 16^th. He was said to have been a Master Mason on the census at the time of his death. His eldest son John was a Masonic Apprentice on the 1860 census. This undoubtedly refers to operative Masonry and John was likely apprenticing with his father at the time. They must have just moved to Adams, as the probate papers for August said the deceased was formally of Fremont, but he died in Adams (Adams is about 10 miles from Fremont and about 8 miles from Clyde). William was not yet 3 years old when his father died. Soon after the Civil War broke out, William’s older brother’s John and Augustus joined Company D of the 3rd Ohio Veteran Volunteer Cavalry regiment. From 1862 to 1865 they fought in many major engagements including Gallatin, Murfreesboro, Stones River, Chickamauga and Kennesaw Mountain. Augustus was captured by Confederate forces at Lovejoy Station on August 20, 1864, he died in 1869. John moved to Portland, Oregon and was a member of the Portland GAR Post 12. In 1870 the family was found on the census as Greyback. They were mostly still in Adams, Seneca, Ohio, with John having left the household and Augustus dying on May 13, 1869. Elizabeth had increased the family holdings to $2,000 in Real Estate, with $400 in personal assets. George was now 21 and was working as a Day Laborer; Philip age 17 was a Farm Laborer and William age 14 was a Salesman, Charles age 12 was still in school.

William Grabach was not found on the 1880 Census, which leaves a 30 year gap in the Federal record (1870-1900). Piecing together what happed during that time was a challenge as William seems to have moved frequently. As best as can be determined William Grabach married Maggie Harrison in about 1882. The couple had three known children: Maggie May in 1883, William in 1885 and Paul born on January 2, 1886[1] in Clyde, Sandusky, Ohio. According to her marriage record Maggie May Grabach was born in Springfield, Illinois in 1883. There is a Decorator named William Grabach living at 295 English Ave. in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1884, but we have no proof it is the same man. The Directories for Clyde, Ohio for 1886 and 1887 show that during this time William and his younger brother Charles were working under the name “William Grabach and Brother”. They offered practical fresco work and scenery for Opera house and theatrical companies.[2] There is another Directory record that shows a William Grabach, Painter rooming at 82 Abbott in Detroit, Michigan in 1891. Here again the connection is tenuous. It is apparent that William relocated often, he was said to have been in Missouri, and he was certainly in Minnesota for a while. By 1896 William had gone to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was a Scenic Artist at the Creighton Theatre. He was living at 1817 Davenport in Omaha. “The current site of the Omaha Orpheum Theatre was previously home to the Creighton Theater. John A. McShane organized a stock company to build the original theater in 1895. The architects for the original theater were Fisher & Lawrie and the general contractors were Rocheford & Gould. Paxton and Vierling installed the iron curtain that weighed 11 tons. The theater was named after John A. Creighton, a local philanthropist, and a large portrait of Count Creighton decorated the proscenium arch. The Creighton Theater was eventually added to the Orpheum Circuit, which by 1900 had expanded to nine western cities: Omaha, Chicago, Kansas City, New Orleans, Denver, Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento. The reference to Creighton was eventually dropped from the theater’s name.” [3] The 1897 Julius Cahn’s Official Theatre Guide shows William Grabach was doing the Scenic work for both the Creighton and Boyd Theatres. In 1898 the Artist William Grabach was residing at 203 24^th St. in Omaha The 1900 Census shows that Maggie Harrison was no longer in the picture, and it is assumed she died. A record in Butler, Ohio shows that a William Grabach married Carrie Zeller on February 10, 1887. It is not clear if this was the wife of William Grabach shown on the 1900 census, but what can be decrypted is questionably consistent with the possibility.  

Boyd Theatre, Omaha, Nebraska CA. 1900

On June 23, 1899 Maggie May the daughter of William Grabach and his wife Maggie (Harrison) was married in Glenwood, Mills, Iowa, which is about 15 miles from Omaha. It is from this record that we learned the name of the mother of William Grabach’s children. Maggie Grabach, was born in Springfield, Illinois, according to her marriage. She married John L. Glazier, a Newspaperman living in Omaha.

The 1900 Census shows that the wife of William Grabach, whose name is difficult to decipher, had no children and the couple had been married for about 12 years. Also in the household was a son Paul Grabach, born February 1884. This record shows that the birthplace of Paul and his father William was New York. This was most certainly not the case. William’s birthdate is also wrong and is shown at Jan. 1855 and Paul’s birthdate was January 1886 not Feb. 1884. We might suspect that we are on the wrong track; however, later records rejected that theory, and the Census records are notorious for having erroneous information.

1900 U.S. Census Omaha, Nebraska

 

William Grabach was in Omaha through 1901, and then it appears he went to Chicago. On July 20, 1903 William Grabach married to Romelia M. Burton Hayes. William was living in Chicago, Illinois and Romelia lived across Lake Michigan in Benton Harbor, Michigan. The wedding took place in nearby St. Josephs, Michigan. William is noted to be the son of August Grabach and a Scenic Artist, and his bride was born in Minnesota. Each were said to have been married once before, but in the case of William it appears it should be twice previous. It is believed that Grabach worked for Sosman & Landis while in Chicago.

 In 1905 William Grabach took his family and moved to Portland Oregon where he painted scenery for the Belasco Theatre. He opened the Pacific Coast Scenic Co. as can be seen on the back of one of the drops at the Scottish Rite in Portland and in various Directories during that time. He soon after started working for the Portland Scottish Rite, and was producing drops by 1906, if not sooner. In 1906 he was rooming at 488 Washington in Portland. His studio was at 43 14^th N. in Portland, as shown in 1906-1908 records. However his residence in 1907 changed to 432 Manzanita.

His studio was at 383 ½ 5^th St. in 1909. In 1910 his business and home residence was at 634 Front St. in Portland as shown in the Directories and the 1910 Census. The information for William Grabach in the 1910 Census was more accurate than in 1900, but there were still a few anomalies. His wife is listed as Emma, apparently a nickname for Romelia. William again claimed that this was his 2^nd marriage, but it says that they were married for 15 years instead of 7 as would be expected. Emma is shown to have had 3 children, none of whom are living, unlike the wife of William in 1900 who had no children at all, and neither of those relationships accounting for the three children of William Grabach and their mother Maggie (Harrison). Most of the rest of William’s family were also living with him in Portland in 1910. The eldest daughter Maggie May was going by the name Marie Glazier and was a Vaudville Actress. His son William Grabach, Jr. was a Farmer living with his father and his wife Edna. William, Jr. married Edna Myrtle Hopkins on January 8, 1906 in Pueblo. Colorado. Paul Grabach again shows up but this time his birthplace was listed as Ohio. Paul worked as a stage hand and Carpenter and in 1909 he was a Flyman at the Star Theatre in Portland.

1910 Portland Directory

The children of August Grabach 1st row left to right -Katie, George, Lizzie, Philip 2nd row Charles and William ca. 1910

Their mother Maria Elizabeth Setzler Grabach 1821-1909

 

The Pacific Coast Scenic Company worked up and down the Pacific Coast, as the name implies. A year before William’s death the following notice was found in the Oakland Tribune in California on September 12, 1912. The Orpheum Theatre was showing “The Call for the Wild” in Oakland and announced that the “new scenery for the production was painted by William Grabach in his Portland Studio”. Going back to 1906 William’s wife Emma was the Vice President of the Company. After his death she continued on as the President. On Wednesday July 26, 1933 The Evening Herald from Klamath Falls, Oregon noted that “Scenic Pictures of Klamath Filmed by R. R. Howard, photographer for the Pacific Coast Scenic company at Medford, has been in Klamath Falls filming prominent features of the Klamath country. The pictures have been taken exclusively for Louie Polln, who will act is agent for the company in this region. Activities of the Pacific Coast Scenic company extend through the northwest.”[1] And so the Company thrived long after Williams death. The 1920 Census shows his widow Emma was a Seamstress for the Company.

William Grabach died at his home at 634 Front St. in Portland on October 2, 1913, the following notices were placed in the papers in Portland and in Cylde, Ohio.
SCENIC PAINTER IS DEAD
William Grabach Succumbs to Paralysis, Aged 56 Years.
A victim of paralysis, William Grabach, a noted scenic painter, died at his home in this city Thursday.
Mr. Grabach was 56 years old. He came to Portland in 1905 to paint scenery for Belasco & Mayer when they opened the Belasco Theater, afterward known as the Portland and the Hellig. When they abandoned his field, Mr. Grabach remained and opened the Pacific Coast Scenic Studio, which occupies a large plant in South Portland.
Sr. Grabach is survived by his widow, a son and a daughter, who is on the stage. Funeral services will be held at 12:30 P.M. Sunday at the Scottish Rite Cathedral by the Masonic Blue Lodge.
[The Oregonian, 4 Oct 1913, p9]

The Clyde Enterprise October 6, 1913 Sandusky, Ohio

William Grabach was buried in River View Cemetery, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, in plot Sec 105, Lot 114, Grave 1. findagrave.com

 

Masonic History

William Grabach was Raised a Master Mason in Minnesota Lodge #224 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[1] He remained a member of that Lodge for the rest of his life. He never joined a Blue Lodge in Oregon, but he did join the Scottish Rite. He was recommended by Philip Schuyler Malcolm and was proposed and elected June 10, 1907. He received the 4° – 14° on June 10, and the 15° -32° on June 11, 1907 with the 9^th Cathedral Class (16^th Semi-Annual Reunion).[2] He Joined Al Kader Shrine on January 18, 1908

[1] Social Security application Dec. 1942 (Pearl/Paul) parents William Grabach and Magie Harrison.

[2] Artists in Ohio, 1787-1900: A Biographical Dictionary page 346 By Jeffrey Weidman, Oberlin College. Library also(Ohio Dir 1887, Clyde Dir. 1886).

[3] Wikipedia Orpheum Omaha. “Orpheum Theater”. The Omaha World-Herald Newspaper. Omaha, Douglas County, NE, USA. March 28, 1974.

[4] Publication: The Evening Herald Location: Klamath Falls, Oregon Issue Date: Wednesday, July 26, 1933 Page 2

[5] Portland, Oregon Scottish Rite Membership/Degree Records Vol. II 1906-1919, page 10a line 12.

[6] Ibid, page 10b line 12

 

About the author:

Michael D. Robinson 32° KCCH, earned his degree in History at Colorado State University. He was the second Master Mason Raised in Esoterika Lodge #227, and the first member Raised in that Lodge to serve as Worshipful Master. He was presented with the Hiram Award by Esoterika Lodge in 2012, and was elected Master in 2013 and 2014. He served as District Deputy for District #13 in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and was appointed Grand Historian for 2018-19. He is also serving as Historian for Research Lodge #198 and Eugene Lodge #11. Brother Robinson received the Scottish Rite degrees in 2010 and was the recipient of the “Novus Astorum” from the Portland Valley Scottish Rite that year. He was appointed Historian of the Scottish Rite Orient of Oregon in December of 2014. In March of 2015 he was made Secretary of the Eugene Valley, and Director of the Work for that Valley in January of 2017.

Newly Transcribed Letter From Albert Pike to Irving Washington Pratt. Compiled by Bro. Michael Robinson 32° KCCH

 

 

 

May 27, 1879

My Dear Bro. Pratt.

I wish that, instead of talking to you across the continent by letter, I could walk this morning into Portland, and take you and Bro. Baily and a score of other dear friends by the hand. The desire to see Oregon again is very strong in me, as is the longing to pass a month in Puget’s Sound, and if our abominable Government would but borrow from some convict what little honesty remains in him, and appropriate to itself some remnant of worn-out consciences, so as to have a little common honesty and at least the rags of a decayed conscience and pay its honest debts. I would soon afterward be once more on the Pacific.

But after all, to get what is the one, not the chief object in life. I should be sorry to think it was: for, if it were, I should have lived to little purpose these last ten years.

I am so near three score and ten now, as to have no good reason to hope for more than five or six more working years of life; and in these, so far as I can I wish to labor in propagating the Rite, whose servant I have been for a quarter of a century. There are no more books to be prepared: and as we now have all the means for teaching the great truths that we proclaim, I must “take the field” and be the apostle of our Masonic faith while there is strength in me to do so.

What goes farthest to dishearten me is that our Brethren do not care to read. We have just reprinted, separately from the ritual, the several readings of the 32°, which will be sold for cost of printing, and which any 32° can buy. They contain the fruits and results of all my studies for twenty five years, much of it never known before to any one since the days that are forgotten. They represent an immense labor and have in them the very pith and manor and substance and essence of our doctrine. – and there is not one 32° in a hundred, or one 33° in twenty (active members of our Supreme Council included) who will even care to read them.

It would be a wise law to be enacted by the Supreme Council that a 32° asking for a patent, should be required to answer on his honor, after these readings have been a year within his reach, “Have you read carefully and thoroughly the Morals and Dogma? Have you read the readings of the 32°? Do you read the bulletin? and to provide that if his answer to either question is “no”, to refuse him a patent and the right to visit, and even the name of “Master of the Royal Secret,” which applied to him, is a lie.

But as among church members only about one in a hundred knows anything about the subjects on which he is required to profess a belief, and not more than one in a hundred care anything about questions which, many consider, are for the Reachers and Teachers only, it is unreasonable to expect more in Masonry.

This only is absolutely certain. It is not enough to write and print books. One in a hundred may read these: and where ten read them, nine of the ten will wonder what it all has to do with the making of money. The only way to reach the intellects is by the voice. Masons, will listen, and though most of them will soon forget what they hear, some few will and profit by it.

After all if we can take care of ourselves it is enough for most of us to work at, and if one can make even one other man wiser and better, God will not think that he has lived in vain. I have done more than that I know.

Always truly yours

Albert Pike

Bro. W. Pratt, 33°

 

About the author:

Michael D. Robinson 32° KCCH, earned his degree in History at Colorado State University. He was the second Master Mason Raised in Esoterika Lodge #227, and the first member Raised in that Lodge to serve as Worshipful Master. He was presented with the Hiram Award by Esoterika Lodge in 2012, and was elected Master in 2013 and 2014. He served as District Deputy for District #13 in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and was appointed Grand Historian for 2018-19. He is also serving as Historian for Research Lodge #198 and Eugene Lodge #11. Brother Robinson received the Scottish Rite degrees in 2010 and was the recipient of the “Novus Astorum” from the Portland Valley Scottish Rite that year. He was appointed Historian of the Scottish Rite Orient of Oregon in December of 2014. In March of 2015 he was made Secretary of the Eugene Valley, and Director of the Work for that Valley in January of 2017.