News from the Grand Lodge of Maine

The location of the 10th Masonic District Meeting scheduled for 17 October has been changed from Lincoln Lodge in Wiscasset to Alna-Anchor Lodge in Damariscotta. Supper at 6:30 PM, meeting at 7:30 PM. Semi-public. The date and time remain the same. Only the venue has changed.

Grand Lodge office

23 September 2008

DR. HAROLD L. CHUTE, ORONO - Dr. Harold L. Chute passed away at his home Sept. 11, 2008. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Sept. 4, 1921. Dr. Chute obtained his early education in Nova Scotia, where he graduated from MacDonald High School, Middleton, Nova Scotia, in 1940; from Nova Scotia Agricultural College in 1944, where he later received an honorary degree, as well as the Distinguished Alumnus Award; and from Ontario Veterinary College, University of Toronto with Veterinary Science and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees in 1949.

After marrying his wife, the former Marion Berniece Baker, they moved to Orono in 1949, where Dr. Chute began a long and distinguished professional career commencing with a position at the University of Maine Department of Animal Pathology as a veterinary pathologist, specializing in poultry pathology. He moved rapidly through the ranks to full professor in 1955, a position he held for 22 years. Returning to academia in the early '50s, he obtained a master's degree in Veterinary Pathology at Ohio State University, in 1953, and subsequently a Doctorate of Veterinary Science from the University of Toronto, in 1955. His academic accomplishments culminated with the receipt of an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Dalhousie University in 1998. Dr. Chute was at the forefront of poultry disease control. He was involved with research, diagnosis and the development of disease control programs. He served on many national and state disease control committees focusing on poultry disease control and inspection. His work brought international recognition and he was invited to lecture in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, South and Central America. Dr. Chute had also been a productive research scientist. In addition to teaching, he had published 200 scientific articles and contributed to many scientific books and professional journals in his field of expertise.

Dr. Chute changed careers when he was appointed Director of Development of the University of Maine in 1969, and again in 1977, when he founded and served as President of Chute Chemical Company, an industrial specialty chemical company having products for use in agriculture, some of which were awarded patents. He retired in 1995.

Professionally, Dr. Chute served as President of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association and was a Past President and life member of the American Association of Avian Pathologists and the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, where he received the coveted Pope Award. He was a life member and delegate to the American Veterinary Medical Association and served as Secretary/Treasurer of the Maine Board of Veterinary Examiners. He was a member and Past President of Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Xi honor societies. A biographical note or special mention of Dr. Chute's activities has appeared in American Men of Science; Leaders in Science; "Who's Who" in the East; "Who's Who" in Finance and Industry; "Who's Who" International and "Who's Who" in the World.

A lifelong member of the Masonic fraternity, he received numerous awards for distinguished service to Masonic charities. He was a member and Past Master of Mechanics Lodge No. 66, AF & AM, Orono; was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Maine, 1968-1970; and was coronated in 1971 33rd Degree Honorary Member of the Supreme Council Northern Jurisdiction. He was also a member of Scottish Rites Bodies, Valley of Bangor; Maine Consistory 32nd Degree; Chapter Council and Commandery of the York Rite Bodies; and a member and Past Potentate of Anah Shriners. The fellowship experienced from these fraternal organizations led to many lifelong personal friendships. Always a person ready to explore new challenges, Dr. Chute was a founder and first President of the Maine DeMolay and Pine Tree Youth Foundation providing student scholarships and a founder of Orono Assembly, Order of the Rainbow for Girls.

A very civic-minded individual, Dr. Chute was elected to the Orono Town Council and served as its first mayor. He was Past President and Trustee of the Maine 4-H Foundation, was elected an Honorary Member of the University of Maine Foundation, and served as Trustee and Deacon of his church. Following his keen interest in business, he was also a Director of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Maine, and of Key Bank, Maine Biological Labs and Northeast Laboratory Services. Dr. Chute devoted much of his life to philanthropic endeavors, always endeavoring to assist others charitably. He successfully established and supported various charitable organizations, such as the Page Farm and Home Museum, the Grand Lodge Charity Fund, the Pine Tree 4-H Foundation, Eastern Maine Technical College, the DeMolay and Pine Tree Youth Foundation, the Order of the Eastern Star and his beloved Bangor Scottish Rite Masonic Children's Learning Center, providing assistance for dyslexic children.

He read profusely, loved to travel and experience new places and cultures and was an avid gardener, well known for his colorful zinnias, dahlias and homegrown vegetables.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Marion; his daughter, Pamela D. Chute of Brewer; his daughter, Hazel Lee C. Richard and her husband, Alan J., of Arundel; his granddaughters, Courtney Lee and Alanna Joelle of Arundel; and his daughter-in-law, Carla J. Chute of Eagan, Minn. A son, Cameron Carl Chute, predeceased him in 2007.

The family invites friends and relatives to call 5-7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Church of Universal Fellowship, 82 Main St., Orono, where a Masonic service will be conducted 6:30 p.m. by the officers and members of Mechanics Lodge No. 66.

Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, at the Church of Universal Fellowship with the Rev. Lorna Stuart, celebrant. Those who wish to remember Harold in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Grand Lodge Charitable Foundation for the DeMolay and Pine Tree Youth Foundation, 415 Congress St., No. 100, Portland, ME 04101; Bangor Scottish Rite Masonic Children's Learning Center, 84 Harlow St., Bangor, ME 04401; or the Page Farm and Home Museum, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5787. A service of Brookings-Smith, LaBeau Chapel, 72 Main St., Orono. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.

Webmaster

13 September 2008

The following news is from the September Grand Secretary's newsletter.

Secretaries Workshops:  Wor. Tom Heath will conduct a Secretaries workshop on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at 2:00 p. m. at Aroostook Lodge No. 197 at Mars Hill. This workshop has been scheduled to accommodate Lodge Secretaries in the First and Twenty-fourth Districts.  It was scheduled for 2:00 p. m. so that Secretaries planning to attend the District Meeting for the First Masonic District can attend prior to the District Meeting.

A Secretaries Workshop has been scheduled for Saturday, October 4, 2008 at 8:00 a. m.. at the Roosevelt Estate on Campobello Island.  This workshop has been scheduled for 8:00 a. m. so that Secretaries from the Second and Third Masonic Districts may attend prior to the Master Mason Degree that will take place in the afternoon.

Masonic Temple – Portland: The Masonic Temple in Portland is owned jointly by the various Masonic bodies that rent space in the Temple. Each of those bodies has representation on the Board of Trustees.  The Trustees own the back half of the building at 415 Congress Street, the front half of the building having been sold to a private company in 1978.  For a variety of reasons, the most obvious being the cost of maintaining the building and our declining income, the Trustees have determined that it is now necessary to sell the building.  Toward that aim, they have signed a contract with Cardente Realtors of Portland.

Webmaster

September 5, 2008

The following is the current schedule as of August 2008 for District Meetings.

Sept. 6 International Night @ Florenceville N.B. 4:30 S
Sept.12 District 24 Meeting @ Sherman
Sept.13 District 1 Meeting @ Mars Hill
Sept.14 Veterans Home (Breakfast) @ Caribou
Sept.16 District 4 Meeting @ Bucksport
Sept.19 Table Lodge @ KORA Shrine Temple
Sept.25 District 5 Meeting @ Greenville 6:00 Supper
Sept.26 District 13Meeting @ Canaan
Sept.27 District 20 Meeting @ Bethel
Sept.28 Grand Lodge Visitation @ Togus Veterans Hospital

Oct.3 District 3 Meeting @ Jonesport
Oct.4 District 2 Meeting @ Pembrook
Oct.17 District 10 Meeting @ Damariscotta
Oct.18 OPEN HOUSE ALL LODGES   150yr. Corinthian Lodge Celebration @ Hartland
Oct. 22 District 11 Meeting @ Litchfield
Oct. 24 District 12 Meeting @ Oakland
Oct. 25 District 15 Meeting @ New Sharon
Oct. 27 Charlie Brown Night @ Belfast

Nov. 7 District 23 Meeting @ Auburn
Nov. 8 District 14 Meeting @ Brunswick
Nov. 14 District 18 Meeting @ Saco
Nov. 15 District 6 Meeting @ Orrington
Nov. 28 District 16 Meeting @ Bridgeton
Nov. 29 District 8 Meeting @ Searsport

Dec. 6 District 7 Meeting @ Rockport

Jan. 9 District 22 Meeting @ Newport

March 14 District 19 Meeting @ Sanford
March 21 District 17 Meeting @ Windham
March 28 District 21 Meeting @ Southwest Harbor 

Grand Lodge Office

August 1, 2008