USA at 250

 

By Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Happy 250th Birthday America! I can recall all of the excitement in 1976 around the 200th birthday of the United States. How has that been 50 years ago already!

Freemasonry is woven into the fabric of the founding of the country. Numerous founding fathers were Freemasons and played pivotal roles into the United States gaining our independence. Instead of rehashing all of those stories, I put together samples of what others are saying as we celebrate 250 years.

Grand Lodge of Ohio

As America marks 250 years of independence, it’s worth noting the presence and impact of Freemasonry during the nation’s founding. Some of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence, led the Continental Army, and drafted the Constitution were Masons. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere are among the most well known, but the list extends broadly across the founding generation. General Rufus Putnam, who was elected Ohio’s first Grand Master, served under General Washington during the Revolutionary War. Freemasonry provided these men with a shared set of values, such as brotherhood, equality, and the pursuit of truth. These ideals not only shaped their conduct in the lodge but their vision for a new nation. Some of the symbols central to our fraternity are still visible in American life today, in places most people encounter without realizing their origin.

Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of our country, it is important for us to acknowledge the enduring influence of Freemasonry as one of the primary sources of the foundational concepts in the Declaration of Independence. Lodges should make every effort to be a focal point in their communities for America’s Semiquincentennial in 2026. Special events throughout the year will unite our Pennsylvania brethren with our counterparts across the country as we reaffirm the ideals that built this nation. Let’s lead the way in celebrating our great nation’s founding!

Grand Lodge of Rhode Island

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, the air is filled with reflection. We look back at 1776 not just as a date on a calendar, but as the moment a nation was born with powerful ideals such Liberty and Justice for all.

For RI Freemasons, this milestone carries a personal resonance. History shows us that the Great Architect of the Universe used many "living stones"—many of them Masons—to build the framework of American democracy. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and John Hancock exemplified the tenets of the Craft and imprinted them in the Declaration of Independence.

Happy Birthday America!

~GJK

Greg Knott is a Senior Contributor to the Midnight Freemasons and has been a Freemason since 2007.

Happy Fathers Day 2026

Happy Fathers Day 2026 

By Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Happy Fathers Day! I lost my own father, Jack Knott, that I wrote about here on the Midnight Freemason in 2020, there article is here http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2020/07/losing-my-father.html. One thing about time, is that it may separate you time wise from a particular event, but it never quite fills the void that losing someone creates.

The older I get myself, the more that I appreciate all that my father did for me. As my brother and I were growing up, our father was often working two jobs, that enabled our mother to stay at home with us. I don't think I ever fully appreciated all that he was doing for us, to help ensure our success. Though my father is gone, I think of him daily and the wisdom and opportunities he passed along to me.

So let me give a shout out to my father Jack and all the fathers out there in the world! We sure appreciate everything they have done and continue to do for us!

Happy Fathers Day!

~ GJK

Greg Knott is a Senior Contributor to the Midnight Freemasons and has been a Freemason since 2007.

It's About Friendship

It's About Friendship

 By Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

Gregory J. Knott, 33°

Midnight Freemason Editor Emeritus Darin Lahners and I recently were invited to speak at the May meeting of the Dwight L. Smith Lodge of Research, which is the research lodge for the Grand Lodge of Indiana. This meeting was held in conjunction with the Grand Lodge of Indiana Free and Accepted Masons 2026 annual communication.

Darin and I got there about an hour early and were looking around the Grand Lodge of Indiana building in downtown Indianapolis. This is a magnificent masonic building that was built during the golden age of fraternal building construction.

We made our way upstairs to see the Indiana Freemason Library and Museum. There are several outstanding exhibits that tell the story of Freemasonry. There is a library that is available for browsing. I highly recommend a visit sometime.

But what really made our visit to the museum special, was getting to talk with Chris Hodapp and Jim Dillman. Chris of course is the renowned author of Freemasons for Dummies and Jim is the Past President of The Masonic Society. I've known Chris and Jim for many years, meeting them at Masonic Week in Washington DC many years ago. I worked with both of them as a board member in The Masonic Society and I can tell you unabashedly there is no finer men in Freemasonry than Chris and Jim.

As time was getting closer to our presentation time, Darin and I made our way to the lodge room where our presentation would be given. We were greeted by WB James Buckhorn, who is the current Worshipful Master of the lodge and invited us to speak. Darin and I had met James several years ago when we visited Lodge Vitruvian in Indianapolis and was later a guest on our Meet, Act and Part podcast on episode 67.

Before the meeting began MW John A. Bridegroom, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Indiana Freemasons for 2026-27 came by to say hello. MW Bridegroom had been installed earlier in the day. He will be an outstanding Grand Master! He has been a friend for many years and we offer our heartiest congratulations on his elevation to Grand Master! He presented us with one of his challenge coins for this year! What an honor on our part to be there on his special day.

We met many other new friends at the meeting, some of whom we knew virtually, but hadn't had the pleasure to meet in person.

We even had a conversation with the painting of MWB Roger Van Gordon, past Grand Master of Indiana and our other co-host on Meet, Act and Part!

My point in all of this is that for me, one of the greatest strengths of this fraternity is friendship. In a time and era where we consistently hear of declining social interactions, increased anxiety and the male loneliness epidemic, freemasonry stands as a shining beacon of where you can have trusted friends to interact with.

So when someone asks you, "what do you get out of that", tell them that you have brothers throughout the world who stand ready to walk with you in friendship.

~GJK

Greg Knott is a Senior Contributor to the Midnight Freemasons and has been a Freemason since 2007.