James (Jim) Tracy Tresner II passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2018. He was born November 11, 1941, in Enid, OK, to Margaret (Watts) and Jack Tresner. He attended grade school through high school in the Enid public school system. He attended several colleges and earned two Masters degrees and a Ph.D. in Business Communications. He was a long-time member of Mensa. Following college, Jim was a Professor of Drama and Speech at Connors State College. He spent the next several years as the Chief Underwriter at the family insurance company.
Jim loved reading, cooking, writing and entertaining his friends at the Tresner cabin in Colorado. Dr. Tresner was internationally known as a Masonic author, writer, speaker and scholar. He joined the youth group of the fraternity, the Order of DeMolay, at the age of 12 while living in Enid, OK. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1963 in Garfield Lodge #501 in Enid, OK. He was asked to move to Guthrie, OK in 1987, to use his considerable skills in behalf of the fraternity. He was appointed a consultant to the Oklahoma Grand Lodge, the Oklahoma Masonic Charity Foundation, the Scottish Rite in Oklahoma, and the House of the Temple, the national Scottish Rite headquarters in Washington, DC. He served as the book review editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, the national organ of the Scottish Rite, and it was determined that he should receive the 33rd Degree, Grand Cross, the highest honor the Scottish Rite can give to a Scottish Rite mason.
Dr. Tresner also served on the Masonic Information Center of the United States and had been subsequently named an emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the Scottish Rite Research Society. He was elected a Blue Friar by the Society of Masonic authors worldwide in 1999. In Oklahoma, he also belonged to the York Rite Bodies and the Oklahoma Lodge of Research. He was appointed the director of the degree work for the Guthrie Scottish Rite soon after he arrived in Guthrie and he continued in that role until his death.
Through his own community theatre experience, he brought an understanding of the theatre form of education to a level unsurpassed in the Scottish Rite fraternity. Dr. Tresner inspired almost every man who knew him to make the study of Freemasonry a lifelong love, and experience.
In 1995, he served as the Worshipful Master of Albert Pike Lodge No. 162 in Guthrie, OK, and was later honored with 50 years of service to Masonry in 2013. Jim held many committee appointments for the Oklahoma Grand Lodge. In 1996, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest honor a member can receive in Oklahoma Masonry. He had the rare distinction of being named an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. This was and remains the only such distinction ever bestowed on any Mason in Oklahoma.
Upon his passing, he was the editor of the Oklahoma Mason and the Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. Dr. Tresner was the author of several books, including "Albert Pike: The Man Behind the Monument," "Vested in Glory: The Aprons, Collars, Caps and Jewels of the Degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry," "From Sacrifice to Symbol: The Story of Cornerstones and Stability Rites," and "But I Digress." In addition, he wrote extensively on all of the Masonic Rites and penned many, many educational papers, brochures, articles and booklets on Freemasonry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Margaret. He was survived by his two brothers, John of Placitas, NM, and Jack of Edmond, OK: 2 nephews, Jevon of Oklahoma City and Jeff of Edmond; 4 great nieces and nephews, Payden and Rhonan, daughter and son of Jevon and Cheryl; and Jester and Jovy, son and daughter of Jeff. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the Grand Lodge Museum and Library, which houses the collection of the James T. Tresner Library.
A funeral service was held Thursday, July 19, at 10:00 am at the Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur in Oklahoma City. A Masonic and Graveside Service followed in Enid, OK, at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid. Viewing was available July 16-18 from 9am to 5pm at the Community Funeral Home located at 1624 N. Pine in Guthrie, OK. During its 2018 "The Faithful Servant" Reunion on October 6, 2018, the Temple of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Guthrie further recognized Dr. Tresner by conducting a Rose Croix Service in his honor. The Rose Croix Cast Members were: Caleb Finch 32nd degree (Wise Master), John Christopher KCCH (Senior Warden), John Logan 33rd degree (Junior Warden), Robert Davis 33rd degree Grand Cross (Chaplain), Gene McKelvey 33rd degree (Master of Ceremonies), David Tennison KCCH (Orator) and John Church KCCH (Expert).
Jim loved reading, cooking, writing and entertaining his friends at the Tresner cabin in Colorado. Dr. Tresner was internationally known as a Masonic author, writer, speaker and scholar. He joined the youth group of the fraternity, the Order of DeMolay, at the age of 12 while living in Enid, OK. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1963 in Garfield Lodge #501 in Enid, OK. He was asked to move to Guthrie, OK in 1987, to use his considerable skills in behalf of the fraternity. He was appointed a consultant to the Oklahoma Grand Lodge, the Oklahoma Masonic Charity Foundation, the Scottish Rite in Oklahoma, and the House of the Temple, the national Scottish Rite headquarters in Washington, DC. He served as the book review editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, the national organ of the Scottish Rite, and it was determined that he should receive the 33rd Degree, Grand Cross, the highest honor the Scottish Rite can give to a Scottish Rite mason.
Dr. Tresner also served on the Masonic Information Center of the United States and had been subsequently named an emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the Scottish Rite Research Society. He was elected a Blue Friar by the Society of Masonic authors worldwide in 1999. In Oklahoma, he also belonged to the York Rite Bodies and the Oklahoma Lodge of Research. He was appointed the director of the degree work for the Guthrie Scottish Rite soon after he arrived in Guthrie and he continued in that role until his death.
Through his own community theatre experience, he brought an understanding of the theatre form of education to a level unsurpassed in the Scottish Rite fraternity. Dr. Tresner inspired almost every man who knew him to make the study of Freemasonry a lifelong love, and experience.
In 1995, he served as the Worshipful Master of Albert Pike Lodge No. 162 in Guthrie, OK, and was later honored with 50 years of service to Masonry in 2013. Jim held many committee appointments for the Oklahoma Grand Lodge. In 1996, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest honor a member can receive in Oklahoma Masonry. He had the rare distinction of being named an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. This was and remains the only such distinction ever bestowed on any Mason in Oklahoma.
Upon his passing, he was the editor of the Oklahoma Mason and the Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. Dr. Tresner was the author of several books, including "Albert Pike: The Man Behind the Monument," "Vested in Glory: The Aprons, Collars, Caps and Jewels of the Degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry," "From Sacrifice to Symbol: The Story of Cornerstones and Stability Rites," and "But I Digress." In addition, he wrote extensively on all of the Masonic Rites and penned many, many educational papers, brochures, articles and booklets on Freemasonry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Margaret. He was survived by his two brothers, John of Placitas, NM, and Jack of Edmond, OK: 2 nephews, Jevon of Oklahoma City and Jeff of Edmond; 4 great nieces and nephews, Payden and Rhonan, daughter and son of Jevon and Cheryl; and Jester and Jovy, son and daughter of Jeff. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the Grand Lodge Museum and Library, which houses the collection of the James T. Tresner Library.
A funeral service was held Thursday, July 19, at 10:00 am at the Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur in Oklahoma City. A Masonic and Graveside Service followed in Enid, OK, at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid. Viewing was available July 16-18 from 9am to 5pm at the Community Funeral Home located at 1624 N. Pine in Guthrie, OK. During its 2018 "The Faithful Servant" Reunion on October 6, 2018, the Temple of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Guthrie further recognized Dr. Tresner by conducting a Rose Croix Service in his honor. The Rose Croix Cast Members were: Caleb Finch 32nd degree (Wise Master), John Christopher KCCH (Senior Warden), John Logan 33rd degree (Junior Warden), Robert Davis 33rd degree Grand Cross (Chaplain), Gene McKelvey 33rd degree (Master of Ceremonies), David Tennison KCCH (Orator) and John Church KCCH (Expert).
James (Jim) Tracy Tresner II passed away on Thursday, July 12, 2018. He was born November 11, 1941, in Enid, OK, to Margaret (Watts) and Jack Tresner. He attended grade school through high school in the Enid public school system. He attended several colleges and earned two Masters degrees and a Ph.D. in Business Communications. He was a long-time member of Mensa. Following college, Jim was a Professor of Drama and Speech at Connors State College. He spent the next several years as the Chief Underwriter at the family insurance company.
Jim loved reading, cooking, writing and entertaining his friends at the Tresner cabin in Colorado. Dr. Tresner was internationally known as a Masonic author, writer, speaker and scholar. He joined the youth group of the fraternity, the Order of DeMolay, at the age of 12 while living in Enid, OK. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1963 in Garfield Lodge #501 in Enid, OK. He was asked to move to Guthrie, OK in 1987, to use his considerable skills in behalf of the fraternity. He was appointed a consultant to the Oklahoma Grand Lodge, the Oklahoma Masonic Charity Foundation, the Scottish Rite in Oklahoma, and the House of the Temple, the national Scottish Rite headquarters in Washington, DC. He served as the book review editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, the national organ of the Scottish Rite, and it was determined that he should receive the 33rd Degree, Grand Cross, the highest honor the Scottish Rite can give to a Scottish Rite mason.
Dr. Tresner also served on the Masonic Information Center of the United States and had been subsequently named an emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the Scottish Rite Research Society. He was elected a Blue Friar by the Society of Masonic authors worldwide in 1999. In Oklahoma, he also belonged to the York Rite Bodies and the Oklahoma Lodge of Research. He was appointed the director of the degree work for the Guthrie Scottish Rite soon after he arrived in Guthrie and he continued in that role until his death.
Through his own community theatre experience, he brought an understanding of the theatre form of education to a level unsurpassed in the Scottish Rite fraternity. Dr. Tresner inspired almost every man who knew him to make the study of Freemasonry a lifelong love, and experience.
In 1995, he served as the Worshipful Master of Albert Pike Lodge No. 162 in Guthrie, OK, and was later honored with 50 years of service to Masonry in 2013. Jim held many committee appointments for the Oklahoma Grand Lodge. In 1996, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest honor a member can receive in Oklahoma Masonry. He had the rare distinction of being named an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. This was and remains the only such distinction ever bestowed on any Mason in Oklahoma.
Upon his passing, he was the editor of the Oklahoma Mason and the Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. Dr. Tresner was the author of several books, including "Albert Pike: The Man Behind the Monument," "Vested in Glory: The Aprons, Collars, Caps and Jewels of the Degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry," "From Sacrifice to Symbol: The Story of Cornerstones and Stability Rites," and "But I Digress." In addition, he wrote extensively on all of the Masonic Rites and penned many, many educational papers, brochures, articles and booklets on Freemasonry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Margaret. He was survived by his two brothers, John of Placitas, NM, and Jack of Edmond, OK: 2 nephews, Jevon of Oklahoma City and Jeff of Edmond; 4 great nieces and nephews, Payden and Rhonan, daughter and son of Jevon and Cheryl; and Jester and Jovy, son and daughter of Jeff. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the Grand Lodge Museum and Library, which houses the collection of the James T. Tresner Library.
A funeral service was held Thursday, July 19, at 10:00 am at the Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur in Oklahoma City. A Masonic and Graveside Service followed in Enid, OK, at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid. Viewing was available July 16-18 from 9am to 5pm at the Community Funeral Home located at 1624 N. Pine in Guthrie, OK. During its 2018 "The Faithful Servant" Reunion on October 6, 2018, the Temple of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Guthrie further recognized Dr. Tresner by conducting a Rose Croix Service in his honor. The Rose Croix Cast Members were: Caleb Finch 32nd degree (Wise Master), John Christopher KCCH (Senior Warden), John Logan 33rd degree (Junior Warden), Robert Davis 33rd degree Grand Cross (Chaplain), Gene McKelvey 33rd degree (Master of Ceremonies), David Tennison KCCH (Orator) and John Church KCCH (Expert).
Jim loved reading, cooking, writing and entertaining his friends at the Tresner cabin in Colorado. Dr. Tresner was internationally known as a Masonic author, writer, speaker and scholar. He joined the youth group of the fraternity, the Order of DeMolay, at the age of 12 while living in Enid, OK. He became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1963 in Garfield Lodge #501 in Enid, OK. He was asked to move to Guthrie, OK in 1987, to use his considerable skills in behalf of the fraternity. He was appointed a consultant to the Oklahoma Grand Lodge, the Oklahoma Masonic Charity Foundation, the Scottish Rite in Oklahoma, and the House of the Temple, the national Scottish Rite headquarters in Washington, DC. He served as the book review editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, the national organ of the Scottish Rite, and it was determined that he should receive the 33rd Degree, Grand Cross, the highest honor the Scottish Rite can give to a Scottish Rite mason.
Dr. Tresner also served on the Masonic Information Center of the United States and had been subsequently named an emeritus member of the Board of Directors of the Scottish Rite Research Society. He was elected a Blue Friar by the Society of Masonic authors worldwide in 1999. In Oklahoma, he also belonged to the York Rite Bodies and the Oklahoma Lodge of Research. He was appointed the director of the degree work for the Guthrie Scottish Rite soon after he arrived in Guthrie and he continued in that role until his death.
Through his own community theatre experience, he brought an understanding of the theatre form of education to a level unsurpassed in the Scottish Rite fraternity. Dr. Tresner inspired almost every man who knew him to make the study of Freemasonry a lifelong love, and experience.
In 1995, he served as the Worshipful Master of Albert Pike Lodge No. 162 in Guthrie, OK, and was later honored with 50 years of service to Masonry in 2013. Jim held many committee appointments for the Oklahoma Grand Lodge. In 1996, he was awarded the Medal of Honor, the highest honor a member can receive in Oklahoma Masonry. He had the rare distinction of being named an Honorary Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. This was and remains the only such distinction ever bestowed on any Mason in Oklahoma.
Upon his passing, he was the editor of the Oklahoma Mason and the Grand Orator of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma. Dr. Tresner was the author of several books, including "Albert Pike: The Man Behind the Monument," "Vested in Glory: The Aprons, Collars, Caps and Jewels of the Degrees of the Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry," "From Sacrifice to Symbol: The Story of Cornerstones and Stability Rites," and "But I Digress." In addition, he wrote extensively on all of the Masonic Rites and penned many, many educational papers, brochures, articles and booklets on Freemasonry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Margaret. He was survived by his two brothers, John of Placitas, NM, and Jack of Edmond, OK: 2 nephews, Jevon of Oklahoma City and Jeff of Edmond; 4 great nieces and nephews, Payden and Rhonan, daughter and son of Jevon and Cheryl; and Jester and Jovy, son and daughter of Jeff. In lieu of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to the Grand Lodge Museum and Library, which houses the collection of the James T. Tresner Library.
A funeral service was held Thursday, July 19, at 10:00 am at the Church of the Servant, 14343 N. MacArthur in Oklahoma City. A Masonic and Graveside Service followed in Enid, OK, at the Memorial Park Cemetery in Enid. Viewing was available July 16-18 from 9am to 5pm at the Community Funeral Home located at 1624 N. Pine in Guthrie, OK. During its 2018 "The Faithful Servant" Reunion on October 6, 2018, the Temple of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry in Guthrie further recognized Dr. Tresner by conducting a Rose Croix Service in his honor. The Rose Croix Cast Members were: Caleb Finch 32nd degree (Wise Master), John Christopher KCCH (Senior Warden), John Logan 33rd degree (Junior Warden), Robert Davis 33rd degree Grand Cross (Chaplain), Gene McKelvey 33rd degree (Master of Ceremonies), David Tennison KCCH (Orator) and John Church KCCH (Expert).
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