This past year, the Supreme Council decided to start a new gallery to honor donors who are not necessarily Scottish Rite Masons but who have made significant contributions to our charities. The Pillars of Charity Portrait Gallery honors any individual who donates $1,000,000 or more to the House of the Temple Historic Preservation Foundation, Inc. or the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc. with an oil portrait. The donor may also divide his or her gift between a local Scottish Rite Foundation and one of the national Scottish Rite Foundations. As long as $500,000 of the gift of $1,000,000 or more is designated for either the House of the Temple Historic Preservation Foundation, Inc. or to the Scottish Rite Foundation, Southern Jurisdiction, USA, Inc., the donor will qualify for this recognition. An oil portrait of the donor will be commissioned from Jeanne Pilk, the noted artist who painted the portraits in the Hall of Honor. A duplicate of the portrait will be presented to the donor for his or her personal use. The donor's name will be inscribed in the Pillars of Charity Alcove, and the donor will also be invited to a private luncheon or dinner with the Sovereign Grand Commander.
We are very pleased to have the following donors in the new Pillars of Charity Portrait Gallery at the House of the Temple: Mrs. Vee Hansen Lohmann; Mrs. Syble Gwatney; William "Butch" Giles, Jr., 32°, K.C.C.H.; Mrs. Matsue Yamazaki Dewese; Mrs. Leslie Ann Nelson; Ill. Carl F. Nelson, 33°; Ill. Earl E. Walker, 33°, G.C.; Mrs. Myrtle Walker; Brother Theodore Leba, Jr., 32°; Brother William L. Clark, 32°; and Ill. Billy Joe Hildreth, 33°. We will be adding portraits of Brother Elwin O. Studebaker, Jr., 32°; Mrs. Terry Studebaker; Ill. Woody Bilyeu, 33° and Ill. Hans Wilhelmsen, 33°, G.C. to this Gallery once their portraits are completed by noted artist Jean Pilk.
