The Midnight Freemasons: A Wild Tale

A Wild Tale

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

Jared Hargrave, 32° K.C.C.H.

Editors Note : On Sunday, November 13, the Evangelistic Center Church in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, caught fire and nearly burned to the ground. The building, a total loss, was the original Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple. Jared Hargrave, 32° KCCH, editor of the Kansas City Valley's "Rite Start," gives this first-hand update on the disaster and the silver lining in its cloud.

This last week has been the most eventful and wonderful ones I have ever had in Freemasonry! Right now is a very exciting time for our wonderful institution. Specifically, our Valley and our Illustrious Personal Rep have been in the forefront of news in Kansas City.

As I related, last week, our predecessors built a magnificent temple, located at what is now Truman road and Troost, right on the outskirts of downtown Kansas City. The members who walked through these doors are staggering. Everyone from the founders of Kansas City to the political and businees leaders and the every day working men of the city.

On November 13, our first home was destroyed in a massive fire. News crews from across the country showed up to capture the horrific fire that left one of the oldest churches in Kansas City homeless. The cornerstone of this church was laid in 1903. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to stop and see the church, our original home. I have been in the church a few times over the years, knowing it was our fraternity that built it. The salvage crews were so kind to stop and talk during their break time. They were fine gentlemen, one of whom will receiving the degrees that we offer. They shared, with me, teir personal connections with the tragedy they were cleaning up. It was a very sad experience to see that rubble, knowing some of the colorful history of the building.

Demolition and salvage of the church.

However, like the pheonix that rises from the ashes of disaster, salvage workers uncovered a hidden treasure. New life has been breathed in to our loving home! Illustrious brother Ben Kenney, Personal Representative, was contacted concerning an item they found. The cornerstone, laid in 1903, withstood the intense heat. Inside the cornerstone was a time capsule. What is contained in it? We have no idea.

Cornerstone, as it sits at the temple.

Brother Ben, once again, presented the public with a warm and welcoming message. Not only are we immensly excited, the public is being included in the events! Both local and national news media are showing the face of Freemasonry, the Scottish Rite, and Kansas City.

As we, as Freemasons, know, our Fraternity is deeply rooted in some cities. Kansas City is no exception. Between people like Ethelbert Allen, Colenel Abernathy, Harry Allen, William Thayer, and countless other freemasons, Kansas City would not be the wonderful town it is today.

All of these men, in addition to our 33rd president ( Harry S. Truman ) and Kansas City famed banking family, the Kempers, have passed through the doors of this magnificent building. Their spirits will be present with us on January 25, when the time capsule will be opened for our brethern. What will this time capsule tell us about the men, mentioned above? What can they tell us about their lessons? What happened during the 1903 flood? The only thing we can see in the capsule is a book, no doubt bound and printed in Kansas City, is a book about the 1903 flood.

Time capsule as it sits in our vault.

Illustrious Brother Ben Kenney related to me, today, that we will be hosting a public opening ceremony. On January 25, 2017, this time capsule will be revealed. Please mark your calendars. Our regular business meeting for January will be a public event. Invitations have been extended to both Masonic and public leadership, news media, and governmental officials. The opening ceremony will be planned for 6:00 PM, prior to our dinner meeting.

Further details, as well as a personal recollection of events from Illustrious Brother Ben, will be presented in next week's Rite Start. Please watch closely for the announcements.

Please, also, see these links for the interviews and media coverage on this tragedy and amazing discovery.

http://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/multiple-crews-battle-downtown-building-fire

http://fox4kc.com/2016/11/13/kansas-city-skyline-shrouded-in-smoke-during-blaze-at-evangelistic-center-church/

http://fox4kc.com/2016/11/14/church-members-see-memories-go-up-in-smoke-as-historic-downtown-kansas-city-church-burns/

http://www.kmbc.com/article/fire-destroys-downtown-kc-church/8284915

http://northeastnews.net/pages/?p=34219

Illustrious Brother Ben's Interviews:

http://www.kmbc.com/article/hints-of-history-found-in-fire-damaged-church/8355590

http://fox4kc.com/2016/11/14/church-members-see-memories-go-up-in-smoke-as-historic-downtown-kansas-city-church-burns/

Jared Hargrave, 32° K.C.C.H. is Editor Kansas City "Rite Start" - Valley of Kansas City

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WB Darin A. Lahners

WB Darin A. Lahners is our Managing Editor. He is a host and producer of the "Meet, Act and Part" podcast as well as a co-host of an all-things-paranormal podcast, "Beyond the 4th Veil." He is currently serving the Grand Lodge of Illinois Ancient Free and Accepted Masons as a member of the Committee on Masonic Education He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.970 in St. Joseph. He is also a plural member of Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL), where he is also a Past Master. He’s also a member of the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, a charter member of Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282, Salt Fork Shrine Club under the Ansar Shrine, and a grade one (Zelator) in the S.C.R.I.F. Prairieland College in Illinois. He is also a Fellow of the Illinois Lodge of Research. He was presented with the Torok Award from the Illinois Lodge of Research in 2021.

RWB Robert H. Johnson

RWB Johnson is an Emeritus managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He is the current V:. Sovereign Grand Inspector for AMD in IL. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry", “The Master’s Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Annotated Edition” and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog, and an award-winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. Todd started the Midnight Freemason blog in 2006, and in 2012 he opened it up as a contributor blog The Midnight Freemasons (plural). Todd has written more than 1,000 pieces for the blog since it began. He is a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) where he currently serves as Secretary. He is a Past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research (FMLR). He is a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282 and is a Past EHP. You can contact him at webmaster@toddcreason.org

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Greg is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and Past Master and member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Valley of Danville Scottish Rite, a charter member of Admiration Chapter No. 282, Eastern Star and GAO Grotto. He is also a President of the Salt Fork Shrine Club of ANSAR Shrine (IL), serves as Secretary of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees and a grade one (Zelator) in the S.C.R.I.F. Greg serves as a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters.

WB Bill Hosler

WB Bill Hosler was made a Master Mason in 2002 in Three Rivers Lodge #733 in Indiana. He served as Worshipful Master in 2007 and became a member of the internet committee for Indiana's Grand Lodge. Bill is currently a member of Roff Lodge No. 169 in Roff Oklahoma and Lebanon Lodge No. 837 in Frisco, Texas. Bill is also a member of the Valley of Fort Wayne Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in Indiana. A typical active Freemason, Bill also served as the High Priest of Fort Wayne's Chapter of the York Rite No. 19 and was commander of the Fort Wayne Commandery No. 4 of the Knight Templar. During all this, he also served as the webmaster and magazine editor for the Mizpah Shrine in Fort Wayne Indiana.

WB Chris Hathaway

WB Christopher J. Hathaway was raised in Catlin Masonic Lodge #285 and is a plural member of Normal Masonic Lodge #673 as well as Bloomington Lodge #43, where he is a Past Master. He belongs to the Valley of Danville, AASR where he is the Most Wise Master of the George E. Burow Chapter of Rose Croix and Membership Chairman. He is the Oriental Guide in the High Priest & Prophet for the Mohammed Shiners, and the President of the Bloomington Shrine Club. Other appendant bodies include the Gao Grotto and the Illinois Lodge of Research. Outside of the lodge, he enjoys cheering on the Fighting Illini and Chicago Cubs.

Bro. Randy Sanders

Randy and his wife Elyana live near St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Randy earned a Bachelors Degree in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in Telecom IT management. He volunteers as a professional and personal mentor, NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer and enjoys competitive tactical pistol, rifle, and shotgun. He has 30 plus years teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy served as a Logistics Section Chief on two different United States federal Disaster Medical Assistance Teams over a 12 year span. Randy is a 32nd degree KCCH and Knight Templar. His Masonic bio includes past Lodge Education Officer for two symbolic lodges, Founder of the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, member of the Grand Lodge of Missouri Education Committee, Sovereign Master of the E. F. Coonrod AMD Council No. 493, Co-Librarian of the Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis, Clerk for the Academy of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, and a Facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. Randy is a founding administrator for Refracted Light, full contributor to Midnight Freemasons, and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy hosts an open ongoing weekly Masonic virtual Happy Hour on Friday evenings. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

Ken JP Stuczynski

Bro. Ken JP Stuczynski is a member of West Seneca Lodge No.1111 and recently served as Master of Ken-Ton Lodge No.1186. As webmaster for NYMasons.Org, he is on the Communications and Technology Committees for the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. He is also a High Priest in Royal Arch Masonry, 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason (Past Sovereign Prince), and Cryptic Mason. He and his wife served as Patron and Matron of Pond Chapter No.853 Order of the Eastern Star and considers himself a “Masonic Feminist”. As a masonic speaker throughout New York State, he primarily speaks regarding the use of technology in the Craft. Some of his numerous Empire State Mason articles have been republished in Arizona and New Jersey. To aid in his outreach on these topics, he authored “Webmastering the Craft: Fraternity in a Digital World”, available worldwide in softcover and eBook. He also regularly gives his "Astronomical Tour of the Lodge" at various Lodges. Having lifelong interests in world religions, science, and other fields, his degree is in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and a minor In Psychology. He has written articles and essays on the topics of science and religion, culture and politics, business and economics, technology and futurism, as well as various aspects of social psychology. Usually, with interdisciplinary contexts, many of these focus on the ideals of intellectual honesty and tolerance in all forms. Having edited and contributed to Books of Transactions as a member of the Western New York Lodge of Research, he is writing a book on Masonic research bodies. Slowly transitioning to writing and publishing, he continues working on his primary business, Kentropolis Web Development, and Design. He works from home, living in Buffalo, New York with his wife and numerous pets. In addition to various community service projects, he is also an independent interfaith minister with hospital chaplain credentials which aid him in visiting Brethren at health facilities. He also enjoys carpentry, martial arts, and beekeeping.

Patrick Dey

Patrick M. Dey is a Past Master of Nevada Lodge No. 4 in the ghost town of Nevadaville, Colorado, and currently serves as their Secretary, and is also a Past Master of Research Lodge of Colorado. He is a Past High Priest of Keystone Chapter No. 8, Past Illustrious Master of Hiram Council No. 7, Past Commander of Flatirons Commandery No. 7. He currently serves as the Exponent (Suffragan) of Colorado College, SRICF of which he is VIII Grade (Magister). He is the Editor of the Rocky Mountain Mason magazine, serves on the Board of Directors of the Grand Lodge of Colorado’s Library and Museum Association, and is the Deputy Grand Bartender of the Grand Lodge of Colorado (an ad hoc, joke position he is very proud to hold). He holds a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Colorado, Denver, and works in the field of architecture in Denver, where he resides with wife and son.

Phillip Welshans

Phillip Welshans is Senior Warden of Palestine Lodge #189 in Catonsville, MD under the Grand Lodge of Maryland A.F. & A.M. He is also a member of the Maryland Masonic Lodge of Research #239, and the Hiram Guild of the Maryland Masonic Academy. As a member of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, S.J. in the Valley of Baltimore, he has completed the Master Craftsman programs and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society. His interests are primarily in Masonic education, particularly the history of the Craft, esotericism, and the philosophy of Masonry.

Erik M. Geehern

Bro. Erik M. Geehern is currently Master of Goshen Masonic Lodge #365 in Goshen, NY under the Grand Lodge of New York. He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in October of 2019 and since then has served in various progressive chairs along the road to the east. He writes and curates a newsletter for his Lodge quarterly which disseminates education, history, and esoterics. He is also a member of the Grand College of Rites, the American Lodge of Research and the Kansas Lodge of Research. He works in restaurant operations; consulting, and when not engaged in his usual vocation, or laboring in the Craft, he loves spending time with his wife and two children.

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A Wild Tale

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