The Orient of Alabama has had 7 distinguished Brothers, worthy of the dignity, receive the GRAND CROSS OF HONOUR and entitled to wear the Jewel of the same!
1880
Ill. Stephen Henry Beasley, 33°, Past Deputy of the Supreme Council
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour at age 46 years, 10 months, and 6 days
Tenure 29 years, 5 months, and 24 days
Nomination by Alabama Scottish Rite Bodies
Born: January 15, 1834 – Died: April 15, 1910
Life span: 76 years and 3 months
Insurance Agent
Progress in Scottish Rite Masonry:
– 4°-14°: date, place and by whom Degrees were communicated unconfirmed; 15°-32°: September 20, 1877, communicated by Ill. Frederick Webber, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Kentucky;
– KCCH: May 6, 1878; 33°, IGH: elected May 6, 1878; coroneted May 7, 1878; Deputy: May 1878 – resigned, date unconfirmed.
The said Brother is adjudged to be worthy of the dignity of Grand Cross of the Court of Honour and is entitled to wear the Jewel of the same: October 21, 1880.
Scottish Rite Biography:
The State of Alabama for years showed no progress in the Rite… Bro. Beasley has planted anew and cultivated, and wheat beautifies the land. Earnestly, faithfully he labors. Last spring Bros. Pike, Batchelor and Ireland went to his support, and found him, like the Scottish Highlander, “ready, aye ready.” He has done his duty and deserves well of the Rite.
Bibliography:
– Archive of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J.
– Note. Transactions. 1882:37.
1991
Ill. Carl Julian Sanders, 33°
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour at age 79 years, 5 months, and 4 days
Tenure 15 years, 4 months, and 19 days
Nomination by Dothan, Alabama Scottish Rite Bodies
Born: May 14, 1912 – Died: March 7, 2007
Life span: 94 years, 9 months, and 23 days
Bishop of the United Methodist Church
Progress in Scottish Rite Masonry:
– 4°-14°: November 21, 1976, invested by Birmingham Lodge of Perfection, Birmingham; 15°-18°: November 21, 1976, invested by Birmingham Chapter of Rose Croix, Birmingham; 19°-30°: November 21, 1976, invested by Birmingham Council of Kadosh, Birmingham; 31°-32°: November 21, 1976, invested by Birmingham Consistory, Birmingham.
– 32° KCCH: October 17, 1983; 33°, IGH: elected October 19; coroneted by Ill. James R. Rogers, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Alabama: December 12, 1987; Grand Cross of the Court of Honour: October 18, 1991.
Scottish Rite Biography:
Ill. Sanders became a Mason in 1937 and 32° Master of the Royal Secret in 1976. He received the rank and decoration of a KCCH in 1983, was coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary in 1987, and received the highest honor of the Supreme Council, the Grand Cross of the Court of Honour, in 1991. The Supreme Council elected him Grand Chaplain in 1989, which position he held until 1999. He was honored as a Supreme Temple Architect in 1991 and his portrait hangs in the Hall of Honor in the House of the Temple in Washington, D.C.
Bibliography:
– Archive of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J.
– In Memoriam. Transactions. 2007:245.
2003
Ill. Joseph Daniel Brackin, 33°
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour at age 74 years, 1 month, and 14 days
Tenure 1 year, 1 month, and 24 days
Nomination by Dothan, Alabama Scottish Rite Bodies
Born: August 19, 1929 – Died: November 27, 2004
Life span: 75 years, 3 months, and 8 days
Electric Technician
Progress in Scottish Rite Masonry:
– 4°-14°: March 7, 1964, invested by Dothan Lodge of Perfection, Dothan; 15°-18°: March 7, 1964, invested by Montgomery Chapter of Rose Croix, Montgomery, 19°-30°: March 8, 1964, invested by Montgomery Council of Kadosh, Montgomery; 31°-32°: March 8, 1964, invested by Montgomery Consistory, Montgomery; October 21, 1975, member of the Dothan Scottish Rite Bodies, Dothan.
– 32° KCCH: October 18, 1971; 33°, IGH: elected October 20, 1975; coroneted by Ill. James Richard Rogers, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Alabama: December 13, 1975; Grand Cross of the Court of Honour: October 3, 2003.
Scottish Rite Biography:
Ill. Brackin’s distinguished Masonic career includes being a longtime Master of Pythagoras Lodge, No. 659, Dothan. A member of the Scottish Rite Bodies of Dothan, he was honored for his outstanding service by his election to the rank of KCCH in 1971, his election to receive the 33° in 1975, his appointment as Orient of Alabama Personal Representative in 1999, and his election as a Grand Cross in 2003. He was only the second Alabama Scottish Rite Mason to receive this highest honor of our Order.
Bibliography:
– Archive of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J.
– In Memoriam. Transactions. 2005:264.
2005
Ill. Frederick William Clarke, Jr., 33°, Past Deputy of the Supreme Council
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour at age 82 years, 8 months, and 3 days
Tenure 7 years, 2 months, and 4 days
Nomination by Mobile, Alabama Scottish Rite Bodies
Born: February 27, 1923 – Died: December 4, 2012
Life span: 89 years, 9 months, and 7 days
Banker
Progress in Scottish Rite Masonry:
– 4°-14°: April 28, 1953, invested by Mobile Lodge of Perfection, Mobile; 15°-18°: April 29, 1953, invested by Mobile Chapter of Rose Croix, Mobile; 19°-30°: April 30, 1953, invested by Mobile Council of Kadosh, Mobile; 31°-32°: April 30, 1953, invested by Mobile Consistory, Mobile.
– 32° KCCH: October 22, 1957; 33°, IGH: elected October 19, 1965; coroneted by Ill. Frederic William Clarke, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General December 4, 1965; Deputy: December 10, 1968 – resigned November 6, 1973; Grand Cross of the Court of Honour: September 30, 2005.
Scottish Rite Biography:
Brother Clarke was Master Mason in Mobile Lodge, No. 40, Mobile. He became a Master of the Royal Secret in 1953, served as Wise Master of Mobile Chapter of Rose Croix in 1955, was invested with the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, and was coroneted as Inspector General Honorary in 1965. He served the Valley of Mobile as Assistant Almoner and Treasurer. In 1968 he was appointed Deputy of the Supreme Council of Alabama. Ill. Clarke, 33°, was elected to receive the Grand Cross of the Court of Honour on October 1, 2005.
Bibliography:
– Archive of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J.
– In Memoriam. Transactions. 2013:190.
2007
Ill. James Manley Tingle, 33°
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour at age 76 years and 23 days
Tenure 14 years, 10 months, and 8 days
Nomination by Birmingham, Alabama Scottish Rite Bodies
Born: August 1, 1931 – Died: June 2, 2021
Life span: 89 years, 10 months, and 1 day
Attorney
Progress in Scottish Rite Masonry:
– 4°-14°: May 3, 1969, invested by Birmingham Lodge of Perfection, Birmingham; 15°-18°: May 3, 1969, invested by Birmingham Chapter of Rose Croix, Birmingham; 19°-30°: May 10, 1969, invested by Birmingham Council of Kadosh, Birmingham; 31°-32°: May 10, 1969, invested by Birmingham Consistory, Birmingham.
– 32° KCCH: October 20, 1975; 33°, IGH: elected October 15, 1979; coroneted by Ill. James R. Rogers, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Alabama: December 8, 1979; Grand Cross of the Court of Honour: August 24, 2007.
Scottish Rite Biography:
Brother Tingle was a Master Mason in Dolcito Lodge, No. 596, in Tarrant. He received the Scottish Rite Degrees in May 1969 from the Valley of Birmingham; in May 1969. Six years later Brother Tingle received the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, and on December 9, 1979, was coroneted 33°, Inspector General Honorary by Ill. James R. Rogers, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Alabama. On August 24, 2007, the Supreme Council, 33°, SJ, elected Ill. James Manley Tingle, 33°, the Grand Cross of the Court of Honour.
Bibliography:
– Archive of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J.
2017
Ill. William Jerald Burfitt, Sr., 33°
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour at age 75 years, 9 months, and 3 days
Tenure present
Nomination by Huntsville, Alabama Scottish Rite Bodies
Born: December 16, 1942 – present
General Secretary of the Valley
Progress in Scottish Rite Masonry:
– 4°-14°: October 11, 1980, invested by Huntsville Lodge of Perfection, Huntsville; 15°-18°: October 11, 1980, invested by Huntsville Chapter of Rose Croix, Huntsville; 19°-30°: October 18, 1980, invested by Huntsville Council of Kadosh, Huntsville; 31°-32°: October 18, 1980, invested by Huntsville Consistory, Huntsville.
– 32° KCCH: October 16, 1989; 33°, IGH: elected October 18, 1993; coroneted by Ill. Karl Reed, II, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Alabama: December 11, 1993; Grand Cross of the Court of Honour: August 19, 2017.
Scottish Rite Biography:
Brother Burfitt was raised a Master Mason in Apollo Lodge, No. 921, in Huntsville, Alabama. He joined the Scottish Rite Valley of Huntsville and became a Master of the Royal Secret on October 18, 1980. In October 1989 he was invested with the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour, and on December 11, 1993, coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary by Ill. Karl Reed, II, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Alabama. On August 19, 2007, Ill. William Jerald Burfitt, Sr., 33°, received the highest honor of the Supreme Council, the Grand Cross of the Court of Honour.
Bibliography:
– Archive of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J.
2019
Ill. J. Douglas Sorrells, 33°
Grand Cross of the Court of Honour at age 82 years, 8 months, and 2 days
Tenure present
Nomination by Montgomery, Alabama Scottish Rite Bodies
Born: December 15, 1937 – present
Technician
Progress in Scottish Rite Masonry:
– 4°-14°: April 13, 1965, invested by Pensacola Lodge of Perfection, Pensacola; 15°-18°: April 14, 1965, invested by Pensacola Chapter of Rose Croix, Pensacola; 19°-30°: April 21, 1965, invested by Pensacola Council of Kadosh, Pensacola; 31°-32°: April 21, 1965, invested by Pensacola Consistory, Pensacola; dual Member in Montgomery Scottish Rite Bodies.
– 32° KCCH: October 3, 2001; 33°, IGH: elected September 30, 2005; coroneted by Ill. Karl F. Reed, II, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Alabama,: December 10, 2005; Grand Cross of the Court of Honour: August 17, 2019.
Scottish Rite Biography:
Brother Sorrells was raised a Master Mason in Andalusia Lodge, No. 434, in Andalusia. He joined the Scottish Rite in Pensacola in 1965, and later, on March 17, 1999, affiliated with the Scottish Rite Bodies of Montgomery Valley. He was elected to the rank and decoration of a Knight Commander of the Court of Honour in 2001, and coroneted a 33° Inspector General Honorary by Ill. Karl Reed, II, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General for Alabama on December 10, 2005. Ill. J. Douglas Sorrells, 33°, received the Grand Cross of the Court of Honour on August 17, 2019.
Bibliography:
– Archive of the Supreme Council, 33°, S.J.