Difference between revisions of "MAGLJVytal"

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JAMES A. VYTAL 1936-2007

• MM 1964, WM 1968, Saint Bernard's
• WM 2001, The Masters
• DDGM, Marlboro 24, 1973
• Grand Sword Bearer 1969
• Junior Grand Warden 1992

• N

BIOGRAPHY

TROWEL, 1988

From TROWEL, Spring 1988, Page 9:

R.W. James A. Vytal Keeps His Commitments

R. W. James A. Vytal, Past D. D. G. M. of the Marlboro 24th District and Past Master of St. Bernard's Lodge of Southboro, was recently elected Thrice Potent Master of Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection, Scottish Rite. He is a member of the Executive Board of TROWEL and was one of the workers in the Boston temple when the magazine was started.

A degree worker in the Valley of Boston for many years, he won the Meritorious Service Award while a junior officer of Boston Lafayette Lodge in 1973. When business shifted him to Chicago and next to New York, Jim remained active in Scottish Rite as a Consistory line officer in the Valley of Chicago and the Valley of Bridgeport, CT.

Residing in Windham, NH, with his wife, Barbara, and daughter, Karen, Bro. Vytal succeeds John G. Moy, designate for the Thirty-third Degree later this year. When professional responsibilities caused R. W. W. Bradford Chase, Jr. to refuse promotion from Deputy Master, the Lodge chose Bro. Vytal to assume the post he normally would have achieved several years ago.

A Grand Representative at the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for the Grand Lodge of Ontario, Bro. Vytal was honored in 1986 at Cincinnati with the Thirty-third Degree. He is a sales representative with one of Boston's major printing and publishing houses.

TROWEL, 1992

From TROWEL, Spring 1992, Page 5:

When Most Worshipful J. Philip Berquist conceived the idea of the TROWEL magazine, Jim Vytal was one of the first men he tapped for involvement. It was a logical choice because Bro. Vytal. son of a Boston newsman, has long and active career in the publishing/printing business. Now the Executive Director of the Grand Lodge publication. Jim is a graduate of the Boston University School of Management and is the owner of J and B Graphics of Windham. NH. His firm represents five different printing companies, each with divergent capabilities. Since 1966. he has represented seven different print businesses in sales. catalogs, books, directories and financial printing.

A Fraternal-minded man since the day he joined Watertown DeMolay Chapter, he was its Master Councilor in 1953. Conferred with the Chevalier Degree, he was invested with the Active Legion of Honor in Chicago in 1977. where he holds life membership in the Frank S. Land Court. He was the Dad Advisor for Excalibur Chapter. Highland Park. IL. 1976-78. His wife. Barbara A., is Past Worthy Advisor of Watertown Assembly. Rainbow for Girls. Daughter Karen is a Past Worthy Advisor of Lake Forest, IL Assembly and son Barry J. is expected to be Raised in Galilean Lodge, Saugus in March. Barry and his wife brought new love into the Vytal family last year in granddaughter. Brittany Ann.

Jim Vytal was Raised in Pequossette Lodge. Watertown. in 1957. He became affiliated with St. Bernard's Lodge. Southboro and served as the Master in its centennial year of 1967. A year later he was Master of the 38th Lodge of Instruction. He holds membership in The Masters Lodge, Newton. He holds the Meritorious Service Certificate and the Joseph Warren Medal. He is active in the work of the High Twelve Club and when a young man was an Eagle Scout.

His York Rite affiliations are with St. Andrews Royal Arch Chapter. Boston Council of Royal and Select Masters and St. Bernard Commandery No. 12. A life member of the Valley of Boston. Scottish Rite, he was the Thrice Potent Master of Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection 1987-90. Active in all advancement programs to enhance Scottish Rite Masonry. Jim had been a member of the Valley of Chicago and the Valley of Bridgeport. CT. In 1986. he was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General. 33° when the Supreme Council. Northern Jurisdiction, met in Cincinnati.

MEMORIAL

TROWEL, 2007

From TROWEL, Winter 2007, Page 27:

The inaugural issue of Trowel was published in April 1983, when the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts was celebrating its 250th anniversary. Most Wor. J. Philip Berquist, Grand Master, organized a small group of brethren to create a new magazine that would shed further light on Masonry.

Now as Massachusetts Freemasonry prepares for its 275th anniversary year, brethren mourn the passing of a Mason who has contributed mightily to Trowel since its inception nearly 25 years ago.

Rt. Wor. James A. Vytal first served as Advisor, then Manufacturing Director and Director of Trowel, the brother responsible for bringing the news and stories of our Craft to every Massachusetts Mason and to others around the world. Under his leadership and the efforts of others, Trowel grew from a 24-page magazine (printed in black and white, with advertisements comprising one-third of the issue) to a 32-page quarterly publication printed in full color, without ads and offering probing insights on Masonic teachings and activities.

Receiving his degrees in Pequossette Lodge, Watertown, 50 years ago, Jim was an active and esteemed Mason, as would be expected of a brother who beautifully filled the role of Bro. George Washington in the Scottish Rite 20th Degree, Master Ad Vitam, master — or leader — for life. He received the 33rd Degree in 1986.

The first recipient of the Stanley Fielding Maxwell Award, presented by the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation, Ill. Bro. Vytal was well known for his many contributions to Scottish Rite and Blue Lodge Masonry. Many brethren have benefited from his dozen years of service as a Grand Lecturer, helping lodge officers deliver ritual in the approved manner, interjecting corrections in a brotherly way, being helpful, not critical.

Brother Vytal passed away on October 22, 2007, after a long battle with cancer, during which he never lost his positive outlook and enthusiasm for Trowel. A Masonic service held in Salem, New Hampshire, was attended by well over 100 Massachusetts Masons.

DeMolay Legion of Honor recipient,Worshipful Master of St. Bernard and The Masters Lodges, Junior Grand Warden, Thrice Potent Master of Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection. Above all, a good friend and brother, who lived respected and died regretted.

COUNCIL OF DELIBERATION, 2008

From Proceedings of the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation AASR NMJ 2008, Page 24:

Ill. James Alfred Vytal, 33° MSA, DSA
Born in Newton, Massachusetts on March 30, 1936.
Died on October 22, 2007

Ill. James Alfred Vytal, 33° was the son of Alfred and Gertrude (Barlow) Vytal. He graduated from Boston University and was employed in the sales department of Nimrod Press.

On June 14, 1957, at Watertown, Massachusetts, he was united in marriage to Barbara Ann Frost. From this union was born two chil­dren, Karen and Barry. Brother Vytal was raised a Master Mason in Pequossette Lodge A.F. & A.M. on June 14, 1957. He demitted in 1965 to affiliate with St. Bernard's Lodge A.F. & A.M. where he served as Master in 1967. He served the Grand Lodge as Grand Representative in 1967 and again in 1982; Sword Bearer from 1969 to 1971, and District Deputy Grand Master in 1972-73. In recognition of his Grand Lodge contributions, he was awarded the Grand Lodge Meritorious Service Award in 1973 and the Grand Lodge Joseph Warren Medal for Distinguished Service in 1973.

He was exalted in St. Andrew's Chapter R.A.M.; greeted in Boston Council R. & S.M.; and knighted in St. Bernard's Commandery No. 12, K.T. all in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed the degrees of the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Boston in February of 1964 and worked tirelessly for the Valley in numerous endeavors, including Scottish Rite Advancement Programs from 1970 to 1972; Membership Development in 1978; Family Week Programs from 1983 to 1985; Trowel Magazine, Executive Committee and director; as well as Valley of Boston Degree Director in 1985. He was the recip- ient of the Meritorious Service Award from the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation. On September 24, 1986, he was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33° Honorary member of the Supreme Council at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1996 he was the first recipient of the Stanley Fielding Maxwell, 33° Award, presented by the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation.

He was a member of Melha Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.; Massachusetts Bay High Twelve Club of Boston; and was the recipient of the DeMolay Legion of Honor in 1977.

Distinguished Brothers