Ringling Brothers: The Six Lost Aprons - Revisit

I didn't write this.  This was sent to me, I thought it was interesting, and thought I'd share it.  The following article was adapted from a piece which appeared in the Baraboo News-Republic titled, "Yesteryear Revisited." The text and accompanying photographs were prepared and submitted by Brother Steve Emerson, a Baraboo Lodge Past Master.

Apron belonging to Alf T. Ringling

The night of January 21, 1891 in Baraboo, Wisconsin was a special night for many of the men of Baraboo, and it has a direct connection to a special happening, some 111 years later. The story includes six soon-to-be-famous brothers and involves the ceremonial regalia they wore on that special evening.

In those days the Baraboo Masonic Lodge No. 34, Free and Accepted Masons, still met, as did all other fraternal organizations, in rented upstairs halls in downtown.

The Lodge at this time, however, was strong enough that a building of their own was being considered. Members had arrived on horseback, by carriage or on foot, for the decisive evening, and the Temple was full.

Also, in Baraboo of that day, the spectacular seven-year rise to national prominence of the Ringling Brothers Circus had brought not only respect but also good fortune to many of the brothers. Their father, August, had been a struggling harness maker.

As is well known, there were seven Ringling boys, and young Henry had only recently become old enough for Masonic membership. It was most unusual for as many as six of the Ringling Brothers to be in town at the same time. It was especially unusual on this evening that the six brothers occupied many of the major chairs in the Lodge. All seven Ringling brothers, including John, were members of Baraboo Lodge, before the year was out, Father August Ringling would join his sons in the Masonic Order.

Special Aprons Made

On this particular night in 1891, with such famous brothers occupying the chairs, some very special aprons had been ordered as gifts. Made of the finest blue velvet instead of the plain white linen usually worn, each apron was embroidered with silver thread and tassels.

Central to the blue border was white lambskin, with the symbols of the office or chair being occupied embroidered thereupon. There is some speculation that the aprons were designed and produced by the Ringling Brother's Circus wardrobe department in Baraboo.

On the back of each apron is the name of the Ringling brother and the chair he occupied: Alf T., Worshipful Master; August, Senior Warden; Al., Junior Warden; Charles, Senior Steward; Henry, Junior Steward; and Otto, Tiler.

Religiously speaking, the Ringlings were members of St. John's Lutheran Church, but nearly every church in Baraboo was represented among the other brothers present that night.

Aprons Emerge

What happened over the years to the blue velvet and white lambskin aprons, with their silver embroidery, is of some interest.

It is known that Mrs. Ida (Henry) Ringling, not to be confused with Ida (Ringling) North, gave the aprons nearly 50 years ago to one Richard (Joe) Bennett, boyhood chum of Ida's grandson, Henry Ringling III. Henry III died in an auto accident near Baraboo in 1961, and Bennett had become a friend and frequent visitor to Ida, Henry's grandmother.

Among the gifts she gave to Joe were the aprons. It is presumed that they had been in the possession of Ida's husband, Henry Sr., and later with his wife Ida, since 1891.

Recently, an alert brother of Baraboo Lodge noted an apron listed for auction on E-bay.

Upon investigation, it was determined that not only was this an authentic original apron, but that all six were available!

Moreover, thanks to some caring people during the last 111 years, the aprons were in mint condition and were still kept in the original boxes. In some cases the original protective tissue paper was still present.

Significant financial outlays were promptly made by five Baraboo Masonic Brothers-Lee Hoppe, Merlin Zitzner, Dave Deppe, Skip Blake and Rick Lewison. Others have made contributions for preservation of the aprons. This made it possible for the aprons to be returned to Baraboo, and they are now in possession of the Lodge.

Plans for the Ringling aprons are incomplete, but because of their historic importance, they may be offered for display at the Circus World Museum in Baraboo. A similar display may appear on occasion at the Al Ringling Theatre, not even a dream for Al Ringling when his apron was presented to him in 1891.

It would be 24 years before Al would build, in Baraboo, what the Theatre Historical Society of America calls the very first of the theatre movie palaces, which became so popular throughout the country. It still operates today, in its entire pre-revolutionary French architectural splendor, as perhaps the longest-operating motion picture theater in the county. The stage is used some 60 times each year for live performances as well.

Back to the Meeting

So, as we take up the story of that special night in Baraboo Lodge in January 1891, the Ringling Brothers occupied the chairs, the aprons were presented, and the Lodge prepared to build its own building. It is known that a committee was appointed and a fine building was9 built, on the NW corner of Oak and Second Avenue.

It was this building, approved at the 1891 meeting, with the Temple rooms upstairs and McGann's Furniture on the ground floor, which would burn some 65 years later. This fire in 1957 destroyed nearly all of the Lodge records, regalia and artifacts.

By good fortune the ceremonial aprons had been removed by someone, and were cared for properly for 111 years. Now they have been returned to their rightful home in Baraboo, relics of a special night.

Special Ties

Baraboo Lodge No. 34 observed its 150th year in 2002. The anniversary booklet published to commemorate the event reports that eight Ringlings were raised in Baraboo.

Alfred T. (Alf) Ringling was raised on January 22, 1890; John was raised on March 1; Albert was raised on March 29; and Otto on April 9.

Eleven months later, on February 4, 1891, August G. Ringling was raised. Henry came next on March 18; and August, father Ringling himself, joined the Craft on August 19, 1891.

The city of Baraboo has a heritage of two communities: the circus and the Masonic community. On the surface they may appear completely different-the Circus being an entertainment form for "children of all ages," and the Masonic Lodge being a fraternal organization created to help men better themselves and their community.

A connection between these two organizations began when seven Ringling brothers and their father became Masons.

Throughout the years, there have been many Masons with circus backgrounds, including members of the Gollmar family (circus owners), the Moeller family (circus wagon manufacturers), General Tom Thumb, Harry Houdini, Buffalo Bill Cody, and Baraboo's own Jimmy Williams (a.k.a. Happy the Clown), Tony Vinicki (Smaha), Robert Hocum (great-grandson of the charter Junior Warden).

The formation in the early 1870s of the Shrine helped create the bonds that grew between the Circus and Masonry. The circus is one of the largest fund raising events for Shrine clubs. It is also a major source of income for circus performers.



Todd E. Creason is the author of Famous American Freemasons: Volumes I & II where you'll find many other great stories about famous Freemasons.

A Mason At Sight — More Than A Snap of the Fingers

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Steven L. Harrison, PM, FMLR

     On December 3, 2011, Most Worshipful Brother Terry L. Seward, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, exercised an authority unique to Grand Masters and made Brother Clifton Truman Daniel a Mason at sight.  Brother Daniel is the oldest grandson of Most Worshipful Brother Harry S. Truman.  It has happened many times before to dozens of men who have become "true and faithful" Brothers among us. Milton Eisenhower, Charles W. Fairbanks, Andrew Mellon, Booker T. Washington, William Howard Taft... all were made Masons at sight.  A couple of years ago basketball standout Shaquille O'Neal and Oscar-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss became Masons at sight.  It might be said a full list of Masons at sight reads like a Who's-Who of Masonry. Yet many Masons have reservations about the practice, feeling it dilutes the experience of becoming a Freemason and somehow indicates the Mason at sight Brother somehow lacks enthusiasm for or knowledge about the fraternity.

Clifton Truman Daniel, Harry Truman's grandson, 
was made a Mason at sight and received his Masonic 
Degrees On December 3, 2011, 
at  Matteson Lodge #175 in Joliet, Illinois.

     The conventions for making a Mason at sight, as most everything else in the Craft, vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  In some jurisdictions, including mine — Missouri, the making of a Mason at sight is prohibited.  In general, however, the procedure employs some form of ritual and obligation and has guidelines for how many Brothers must be present.  According to Mackey, "The mode of exercising the prerogative is this: The Grand Master summons to his assistance not less than six other Freemasons, convenes a Lodge, and without any previous probation, but on sight of the candidates confers the Degrees upon him, after which he dissolves the Lodge and dismisses the Brethren."

Of course, not everyone does things according to Mackey.  Still, some Brothers hold the general conception that the process of making a Mason at sight is almost literal: The Grand Master snaps his fingers and, voilà! A new Mason.  It doesn't work that way.  "In this case," said MWB Seward, "it means there was no petition, no investigation and the ceremony was slightly shorter. I made every effort to ensure Brother Daniel was comfortable doing things this way because I didn't want him to miss anything and didn't want him to feel he wasn't getting the full experience."

Brother Daniel receives instruction from 
MWB Terry L. Seward, 
Grand Master of Illinois.

And so it was.  Brother Clifton was obligated in the Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft degrees and received an impressive and full Master Mason degree.  Whatever he missed he could easily pick up by viewing the first two degrees.  The entire ceremony was solemn, well-orchestrated and beautifully conducted — far more than a snap of the fingers.  

The group of Brothers who witnessed Brother Daniel's raising were virtually unanimous in complimenting the ceremony after it was over.  They overwhelmingly congratulated the Grand Lodges of Illinois and Missouri for the work. And Brother Clifton expressed the same sentiments.

To look at it from another point of view, every one of those fortunate to be in attendance in that packed Lodge room in Joliet can now say something very few can claim, "I saw the making of a Mason at sight."

Note: The accompanying pictures are from Brother Daniel's actual degree ceremonies and were taken and published with the joint approval and permission of the Grand Masters of Illinois and Missouri, Terry L. Seward and John W. Hess.

~SLH

Steve Harrison, 32° KCCH, is a Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri.  He is the editor of the Missouri Freemasonmagazine, author of the book Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi, a Fellow of the Missouri Lodge of Research and also its Senior Warden.  He is a dual member of Kearney Lodge #311, St. Joseph Missouri Valley of the Scottish Rite, Liberty York Rite, Moila Shrine and is a member of the DeMolay Legion of Honor.

The Feast of the Paschal Lamb, An Honor

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

R.W.B. Michael H Shirley

Photo from Life Magazine

A couple of years ago I accepted an offer to become an officer in the George E. Burow Chapter of Rose Croix in the Valley of Danville, Illinois, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, NMJ. I knew what some of my duties would be (perform in degrees, take on increasing responsibility in Valley functions, attend board meetings, buy a tuxedo), but I was unclear on one thing, since I hadn’t attended it: the Feast of the Paschal Lamb. The Feast is conducted annually by past and present Rose Croix officers as a memorial to Valley members who have died in the preceding year. My wife describes it as an All Souls Day ceremony for Masons, and that’s a pretty good analogy. It’s open to the public, and family and friends of the decedents are specially invited to attend. 

In Danville, most of the speaking parts are taken by Past Most Wise Masters, with current officers taking spots as needed. For the past two years, I’ve had the duty of reading the Mystic Roll, the names of those who have died. Given our aging membership, it’s a long list, and it takes a while to read, especially since it’s done along with a slide show of each member’s name and photograph. And of all the things I’ve done in Masonry, it’s probably what I am most grateful for. 

Photo by WB Greg Knott

Last year, I sat out of sight in a balcony with a hand-held microphone, reading names from a glitchy program off of the screen in front of me. I was too nervous to really notice anything save my desire not to miss any names and pronounce them all correctly. This year, I stood at a podium, reading each name as it appeared on the screen, looking ahead on a list in front of me. There were no glitches; my Rose Croix Brethren did everything beautifully and the slide program worked as it was supposed to. And I realized again that everything passes. These were men who had loved Freemasonry as I do, who had participated in degrees there at the Danville Masonic Temple, standing on the floor of the preceptory as I did, and now they were gone. Each name, each face, held a lifetime of joy, sorrow, and everything in between, shared with their families, friends, and Brothers, and now they shared just a little more. Each name became a meditation for me, a moment of solemnity as I spoke it as clearly and reverently as I could, thinking of the times past when this ceremony was conducted by men who had since then all been called home by the Grand Warden of Heaven, to the time in the future when our own names would be pronounced, to be followed in a few seconds by another name, and then another.  And ultimately, no one would be left alive who remembered any of us as anything other than a name. So getting each name right mattered. Speaking each name reverently mattered. 

Being part of this fraternity is a privilege, and nowhere is it more apparent to me than at this Feast, when I speak my Brothers’ names with gratitude, my acceptance of this obligation a part of my larger obligation as a Rose Croix officer, a Freemason, and a man. And so I stand there, as reverently as I can, looking at their faces, speaking their names. As had been done before, and would be again, by men across generations. Brothers, in unbroken line, standing and speaking for one another, past, present, and future.

~MHS

R.W.B. Michael H. Shirley is the Assistant Area Deputy Grand Master for the Eastern Area for the Grand Lodge of Illinois A.F. & A.M.  He is the Past Master of Tuscola Lodge No. 332 and Leadership Development Chairman for the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He's also a member of the Illinois Lodge of Research, the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star, and the Tall Cedars of Lebanon. He's also a member of the newly-chartered, Illini High Twelve No. 768 in Urbana-Champaign. The author of several articles on British history, he teaches at Eastern Illinois University.

"Freemasons In Central Illinois" Exhibit Opens At Eastern Illinois University

Article by

Todd E. Creason   
Photographs by
  Gregory J. Knott
reprinted from Midnight Freemasons with permission

Dr. Debra Reid (second row left) and students on exhibition project (and a few Masons)

That's me, Greg Knott and Michael Shirley

I wrote a short piece last week on my From Labor To Refreshment... blog about an exhibit that was about to open at Eastern Illinois University entitled Freemasons in Central Illinois.  The exhibit was part of a class project, and a few months ago I was called upon to offer a little background information on the subject of Freemasonry to a couple of the students in that class, Chase Driskell and Bailee Julick, who were involved in researching and putting together the exhibit--so I was anxious to see what they came up with.

So Greg Knott and I decided to take a drive to Charleston (IL) and meet up with Michael Shirley at the opening reception (Michael teaches history at EIU and was also involved in the project).  I'm not sure what I expected, in fact, Greg asked me on the way down.  In truth, I expected a couple display cases in the library--maybe an apron, a fez, and a couple Masonic lapel pins.  What we found when we arrived at the Booth Library was truly remarkable.  We weren't talking about a class project as I had interpreted that to mean.  What we found was a very extensive museum-quality exhibition.

See what I mean about location?

Demolay robe on display

And you know what they say in real estate?  Location, location, location!  EIU couldn't have found a better space for the exhibit to be displayed.  The Booth Library looks like a medieval castle--in fact, I remarked that the building looked like it could have been designed and built by Freemasons.  It was the perfect setting for a Freemasonry exhibit. 

There were numerous displays, each on a different area of Freemasonry.  There was a large case in the foyer that outlined in broad terms the scope of the entire exhibition.  There were a number of remarkable pieces on display there--the most stunning of those pieces was a Demolay robe.  There was another case that talked about perceptions and misconceptions about Freemasonry--it even had a movie poster from National Treasure with the prominent all-seeing eye as part of the poster design.  

Considering how broad the subject is, the exhibition did a great job touching on various aspects of the Fraternity, and breaking it down for the uninitiated into easily digestible pieces.  

Famous Masons?  Where do you suppose that idea came from?

There was a display about Prince Hall Masonry.  There was a display that outlined all the appendant bodies of Freemasonry--York Rite, Scottish Rite, Shrine, etc.  And smaller displays that went into Masonic symbolism and even talked about some of the Masonic traditions--like the purpose and meaning of the Masonic apron. 

But the most impressive part was the collection of Masonic artifacts--a number of individuals and lodges loaned pieces for display.  There were Knights Templar swords and antique uniform pieces, Scottish Rite caps, rings, jewels, rods, a couple beautiful antique aprons, old photos, a very old altar set (Bible, square and compass)--and yes, that Shriner's fez (which belonged to Michael Shirley).  It was very impressive how many items they'd collected.

And there was a display on how the students put everything together with photographs showing how the pieces were cleaned and prepared for display by students wearing latex gloves--now that did make me smile.  It's true, they had some old antiques there, and they should be treated carefully.  And they had obviously been well trained in handling old museum pieces. What I thought was funny, is that many of those items in the display cases, when not on exhibition, are probably still in use by the lodges that loaned them.  That's one of the things about being such a tradition-based organization--we don't store our antiques display cases, we actually continue to use them decade after decade after decade.  A very good example of this is the Washington Bible.  The Bible that George Washington was sworn into office on was borrowed from a Masonic Lodge, and it is still in possession of that Masonic Lodge.  Newly-elected Presidents to this day still have the choice of using the Washington Bible when they are sworn into office--and several have. 

But the students were really the most impressive part for me--they had really learned their subject well, and had obviously enjoyed working on the exhibition a great deal.  And it showed.  One thing that I heard repeated several times, was just how much there was to Freemasonry.  One of their greatest challenges was defining what they were going to explore in their exhibition.  One of the students said she could fill an entire museum on the subject of Freemasonry alone.  I told her there are entire museums, and libraries too, dedicated solely to the subject of Freemasonry--quite a few actually. Probably the best-known of these is the George Washington Masonic Memorial in Washington, D.C.  A memorial and museum supported by all 50 United States Grand Lodges.

PGM Noel C. Dicks at EIU

We met all the students and were told of their contributions to the exhibition at the reception--two of the students had marketing/design experience (which I think really showed in the exhibition).  And the students were also treated to an unexpected surprise--Past Grand Master of Illinois A.F. & A.M. Noel C. Dicks had been interviewed several times by the students working on the exhibition, and was on hand to offer a few congratulatory remarks.  He was obviously very impressed with the final product as we all were.

Dr. Debra A. Reid

Congratulations to the students and thank you so much for all your hard work:  Nicholas Collins, Alexander Hamilton, Alyse Bennett, Stephanie Templin, Bailee Julick, Marisela Luna, Emily Scarbrough, Mark Stanford, Lashanna McGahee, Amy Wywialowski, and Chase Driskell.

And the EIU staff involved: Bev Cruse, Stacey Knight-Davis, Philip Mohr, and Donna Nichols.

And the Freemasons involved: Michael Shirley (also served as Project Curator), Noel Dicks, Ryan D'Arcy, William Jones, Frank Lincoln, Marc Wilson, and Todd Creason.

And for those that loaned items for display: Coles County Historical Society, Library of Congress, Alex Gillespie, Frank Lincoln, Michael Shirley, Tuscola Lodge, Charleston Lodge, Villa Grove/Camargo Lodge, Westfield Lodge, and our Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Illinois.

And very special thanks also to Dr. Debra A. Reid for putting together such a terrific curriculum for her students.

"The Freemasons in Central Illinois" exhibition will be on display at the Booth Library at Eastern Illinois University until January 18th.  If you are in the area, I strongly suggest you pay the library a visit.  

~TEC/GJK

Todd E. Creason, 33° was the original Midnight Freemason. He's the author of several books and novels, including his popular Famous American Freemasons series.  In 2012, Todd expanded his popular blog The Midnight Freemason into a collaborative effort Midnight Freemasons. Todd is the Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and a member of both the Scottish Rite, and York Rite. He's also a member of the Ansar Shrine (IL) and Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL).  He is also the author of the blog From Labor To Refreshment . . .

WB Gregory J. Knott is the Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), and Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL). He's a member of both the Scottish Rite, and the York Rite, and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club in Champaign-Urbana. He's also a member of the Ansar Shrine (IL). Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts--an Eagle Scout himself, he serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois A. F. & A. M. as their representative to the National Association of Masonic Scouters.

How Do I Become A Freemason?

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Uncle Benjamin

Over the years, The Midnight Freemason has talked a lot about what Freemasonry is, and about famous Freemasons, and about different groups within Freemasonry.  But I don't remember Todd ever talking about how to become a Freemason.

Freemasonry is a fraternity of adult men, who all share a basic moral philosophy, and a desire to improve ourselves.  Freemasonry strengthens the moral character of our members through our three major tenants:  Brotherly Love, Truth, and Relief.  We believe strongly in building moral character, in fact, the main goal of a Freemason is to become a better man.  Those three tenants are strengthened through education, leadership, and charitable activity.

If you're interested in becoming a better man, there is no better place to begin your journey than with a lodge of Freemasons. To join, you need only ask a Master Mason, and the requirements of membership are quite simple:

-You must be an adult.  In most places, that is 18 years of age. 

-You must have a belief in a Supreme Being. Atheists need not apply, but men of any religious affiliation are welcome. 

-You must be of good character.  In other words, a law-abiding citizen with a good reputation. 

-You must apply of your own free will.   In other words, you're not joining because of undo pressure from friends or family.  It has to be your own choice to petition for membership.

-You must be recommended.  That means, a Master Mason needs to vouch for your character--a friend, a family member or co-worker.  If you don't know a Mason, you need only contact a local lodge, and they will be more than happy to talk to you, get to know you, and if you meet the basic requirements, sponsor your petition.  If you ask, you'll probably be surprised to learn you know more Masons than you thought.

Once you've meet those basic requirements, you will fill out a petition and submit it to a lodge of Freemasons.  Your petition for the degrees of Freemasonry will be read in open lodge by the lodge Secretary, and the Master of that lodge will appoint a committee to investigate you.  But don't worry, that's not as ominous as it sounds.  Basically, a small group of Masons will meet with you and satisfy themselves that you meet those basic qualifications.  Once they report back favorably to the Master that you are well qualified to join, the lodge will vote on you as a member, and once the lodge votes unanimously to elect you (and yes, it's true, we use black and white marbles), you will begin receiving the three degrees of Freemasonry.

Those degrees are Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and finally, the degree of Master Mason.  There is no higher degree than that of Master Mason.  There are additional degrees offered by the York Rite, and the Scottish Rite, and other appendant bodies of Freemasonry (most people have heard of a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Shriner, or a member of the Knights Templar). You can choose to join those groups or not.  These are additional degrees, and each a great honor to receive, but the highest degree of Freemasonry is that of Master Mason that you will receive in your local lodge (also known as a Craft Lodge, or Blue Lodge).

The rules and the processes involved in joining a lodge and becoming a Master Mason may seem archaic, but as the world's oldest fraternity, that is our tradition, and it's worked very well for us for centuries in countries all over the world.  That's unlikely to change any time soon.

So that is the basic process, and it begins much as our little saying goes--2B1ASK1.

WB Sean McBride (left) and Midnight Freemason
 founder, Todd Creason, after he was installed as
 Worshipful Master in 2010

I'd only add one thing to this.  When I was raised a Master Mason, I thought I'd graduated.  I thought I'd attained my ultimate goal.  Little did I know at the time, that I'd only just begun.  For many Freemasons, being raised a Master Mason puts us on a very different path in life.  If you let it, it can change your life. It can change you for the better. Freemasonry will make you a better man if you're willing to allow it to.

If you're interested in joining, either ask a Master Mason you know, contact your local lodge, or do a simple Google search for the Grand Lodge in your state or jurisdiction (we may be archaic in our ritual traditions, but we're all on the internet these days). The Grand Lodge in your jurisdiction will put you in contact with a lodge secretary close to you, and he'll contact you and get you started.

Or you can just contact The Midnight Freemason himself. Todd Creason is a lodge secretary, and he can put you in contact with the Grand Lodge of any jurisdiction in the world. Just be sure to tell him where you live.

You can contact Todd at webmaster@toddcreason.org for that information, or you can post any questions on here, and I'll be happy to answer them.

~Uncle Ben

Uncle Benjamin is a historian, published author, blogger, and a political pundit. He's also a Freemason--a Past Master, member of the Scottish Rite, and a Shriner. He's the member of several Masonic research lodges, and research societies.  Uncle Benjamin has been a periodic contributor to The Midnight Freemason for several years.

Inside Naval Lodge No. 4, Washington, D.C.

by Guest Contributor 
W.M. Gregory J. Knott
St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 (IL)

Naval Lodge No. 4

There is nothing more exciting than a trip to our nation’s capital, Washington D.C.  This city is alive with the history of our past and with those of the present who are making the history of our future.  For Freemasons visiting D.C. there are numerous sites to see such as the Scottish Rite House of the Temple, the George Washington National Memorial in Alexandria, VA and the Order of the Eastern Star International Headquarters. 

Not only can you visit these magnificent structures, you also have the opportunity to visit any one of number of lodges in the District, which is under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, Free Ancient Accepted Masons, which was founded in 1811.

Unique winding staircase

On my recent trip, I visited Naval Lodge No 4.  Naval Lodge is actually older than the Grand Lodge of D.C., having been founded on May 14, 1805 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Maryland.  When the Grand Lodge of D.C. was established, it came under their jurisdiction. 

If you have read Dan Brown’s novel “The Lost Symbol”, you know that Naval Lodge was featured in his book and may also appear in the upcoming movie.  Naval Lodge owns its lodge building located at 330 Pennsylvania SE, Washington, D.C.  This building is very unique and the lodge is located on the 4^th floor--the other floors in the building are rented by tenants.  To get to the fourth floor, you can either take the elevator or the very unique staircase.  The elevator is a small hand-operated elevator believed to be the oldest operating elevator in D.C.  On lodge nights, one of the brethren is on hand to work the elevator.    The stairwell is seemingly interwoven into the building and as you gaze up from the bottom, you can see the bannisters of each level above you.

Upon my arrival, I was greeted warmly by the Brethren of Naval Lodge.  I rode the historic elevator up to the fourth floor, got off and entered the dining room.  The dining room was simple, yet functional, and we had a fine dinner prior to the meeting.

Naval Lodge No. 4 Lodge Room

With D.C. being such a transient city, most of the Naval Lodge members are from other parts of the country.  This creates real diversity within its membership--the night of my visit, I spoke with Brethren working on Capitol Hill, members of the military, small business owners and federal employees.  Naval Lodge like many others is in the midst of a rebirth of sorts.  The membership is young and energetic.  There were ten Fellowcrafts going through the degrees.  Quite a turnaround, since one member told me that just a few years ago, Naval Lodge was about to close its doors forever.

Beautiful vaulted ceiling with starry sky above

After dinner, we adjourned to the Lodge Room.  This room is nothing short of spectacular and is based on ancient Egyptian themes.  It has a towering 2-story tall vaulted ceiling with a starry decked sky in the center, and a singular alter light far overhead.  This is surrounded by a series of Egyptian eagles in gold.  The Masters station in the East contains an alcove which is painted with a historical mural in the rear.  There is an obelisk on each side with an arch painted with numerous hieroglyphics on each side.  The letter "G" appears in blue above the Masters chair.

Naval Lodge altar featuring three books of faith

The Senior and Junior Warden’s station are also high ornate, with the Senior Warden's station being the most ornate.  His station is surrounded by 2 pillars, and behind the Senior Warden's chair there is another mural.  In the center of the room is the altar, sitting on a mosaic pavement, and surrounded by the three lesser lights.  Upon the altar rests several books of faith representing the religious diversity of the membership. 

It was a great visit and the brethren of Naval Lodge should be commended for reinvigorating their lodge membership and preparing this historic lodge for another 207 years of Freemasonry.   Should you find yourself in Washington D.C., Naval Lodge meets the 1^st and 3^rd Thursday’s at 7:30pm with dinner served before the meeting at 6:30pm. 

I wish to thank the Brethren of Naval Lodge for a great visit and I hope to sit in lodge with them again in the near future.

G.K.

I'd like to thank Bro. Gregory J. Knott for sharing this story with us--I've been pestering him for a long time to write a piece.  He has the opportunity to travel quite a bit, and always visits Masonic Lodges during his travels, and other places of interest to Masons.  He always has great stories to tell--and great photos, too.  Greg has agreed to become a regular contributor to The Midnight Freemason.  I think you'll enjoy both his photographs, and the stories he has to tell about the places he's visited.  I'm looking forward to this partnership--Greg's going to take us to a lot of interesting places.  

Greg is the Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph, Illinois and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754, and Homer Lodge No. 199.  Greg is also a charter member (and Secretary) of the soon-to-be chartered Illini High Twelve Chapter No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana (IL)--a little project he and I have been working on for some time.  Greg is also very involved in Boy Scouts--an Eagle Scout himself, he serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois as their representative to the National Association of Masonic Scouters.

~TEC

About The Mark Twain Masonic Awareness Award

"We are all alike, on the inside."

~Mark Twain

Polar Star Lodge No. 79, St. Louis, MO

Bro. Christopher Hodapp posted an excellent piece this week about this years Mark Twain Masonic Awareness Award winners on his blog Freemasons For Dummies this week.  It's an interesting article about the history of the award, and the criteria for winning it.  Be sure to check it out.

I know I mentioned it before HERE, but Illinois had its first winning lodge in 2011--St. Joseph Lodge No. 970.  It's a lodge I'm very familiar with, so I want to congratulate them again, and all the 2011 winners for a job well done:

Alabama - Rising Sun Lodge #29 Decatur, Alabama

Alaska - Matanuska Lodge #7 Palmer, Alaska

Arkansas - Key Lodge #7 Siloam Springs, Arkansas

Arizona - Oasis Lodge #52 Tucson, Arizona

Illinois - St. Joseph Lodge #970 St. Joseph, Illinois (Go Illinois!)

Michigan - Byron Lodge #80 Byron, Michigan

Minnesota - Red Wing Lodge #8 Red Wing, Minnesota

Nevada - St. John Lodge #18 Pioche, Nevada

New Hampshire - Benevolent Lodge #7 Milford, New Hampshire

New Mexico - Chapman Lodge #2 Las Vegas, New Mexico

Ohio - North Bend Lodge #346 Cleves, Ohio

Ohio - Oxford Lodge #67 Oxford, Ohio

Pennsylvania - Manoquesy Lodge #413 Bath, Pennsylvania

South Carolina - Mariner Lodge #2 Charleston, South Carolina

Utah - Damascus Lodge #10 Provo, Utah

Virginia - Herndon Lodge #264 Herndon, Virginia

Virginia - Fredericksburg Lodge #4 Fredericksburg, Virginia

Washington - Daylight Lodge #232 Seattle, Washington

~TEC

 

A Video: Masonic Secrets Revealed!

I thought this was very informative.  Many have wondered what truly goes on in a Lodge of Freemasons.  I must admit, I was a little shocked at just how accurately this video depicted what actually goes on during our secret meetings.

 

 ~TEC

Masonic Verse: Let's Go To Lodge Tonight!

The beautiful Lodge Room of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 A. F. & A. M. (Illinois, USA)

Let's Go To Lodge Tonight!

Say, Son, let's go to Lodge tonight;
We haven't been for years.
Let's don our little apron white
And sit among the peers.
I feel a kind of longing, Boy,
to climb up those old stairs;
I know we'd get a thrill of joy
and lay aside the care.
I'd like to get out on the floor--
Come on, let's get in the line;
I'd like to face the East once more
And give the same old sign.
I want to hear the gavel ring,
To hear the organ play;
I want to hear the Craftsmen sing
I think the Tyler'd let us in,
That old familiar lay.
Although he'd hesitate,
And then we'd see that same old grin.
Come on, or we'll be late.
Pass up your bridge or picture show,
Your wrestling bout or fight;
Switch off that darned old TV set--
Let's go to Lodge tonight.

~Author Unknown

WM Greg Knott
St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 (IL)

I got this piece from WM Greg Knott's Eastern Illinois Freemasonry blog.  I thought it would give me a chance to thank Greg for the contributions he's made over the years to The Midnight Freemason. He's an excellent photographer, and I've used his photos many times over the years, and I'd like to thank him for allowing me to tap his vast collection.  He travels quite a bit, and visits a lot of historic lodges and places of Masonic interest, in fact, I often get ideas for posts after looking at photographs he's taken on his trips.  


Greg is the Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 (IL) and is a dual member with Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL) and Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL).  He is also Master of Ceremonies in the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville (IL) Lodge of Perfection (and editor of the Valley newsletter), and is the Secretary of the newly formed Illini High Twelve. Then there's the York Rite, Shrine, etc.  A former Eagle Scout, Greg is also a Scout Master, and very involved with the Boy Scouts of America.  He serves Our Grand Lodge of Illinois as their representative to the National Association of Masonic Scouters. One of these days, I'm going to get him to guest contribute a piece on here about Freemasonry and scouting--if Cory Sigler from The Working Tools Masonic Magazine doesn't beat me to it.

Of course, I also wanted to show off the photo of St. Joseph's lodge room above.  The members of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 have done a lot of work on their building over the last few years, including the new carpet and tile in their lodge room.  In fact, they've helped to inspire another local lodge to do much the same thing.  Looking at the photo, it's hard to believe that lodge is over a hundred years old--isn't it?  Of course, those old buildings are built like a brick. . . well, suffice it to say they're very solid.

UPDATE:  I failed to mention before that St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 recently won the Mark Twain Award from the Masonic Services Association--the first lodge in Illinois to have ever won the award.  A very impressive honor.  You can read more about that here. 

~TEC

Hitler's War Against Freemasonry

"Ourselves or the Freemasons or the Church — there is room for one of the three and no more... We are the strongest of the three and shall get rid of the other two."

~Adolph Hitler

Adolph Hitler considered Freemasonry a threat, as he did any group that "mistakenly" taught that all men were equal and encouraged independent thought. When Hitler rose to power, he set out to destroy his perceived enemies--the Freemasons high on his list. The ten Grand Lodges of Germany were dissolved, and many prominent members of the fraternity were sent to concentration camps as political prisoners. Freemasons were targeted by the Gestapo--membership lists of the Grand Lodges were seized and Masons had their libraries and collections of Masonic objects looted by the Gestapo. Many of these objects siezed were exhibited in an "Anti-Masonic Exposition" inaugurated in 1937 by Herr Dr. Joseph Goebbels in Munich.

The same thing happened in Austria when the country was captured by the Nazis. The Masters of the various Vienna lodges were remanded to some of the most notorious concentration camps, including the Dachau in Bavaria.  Then it happened in Czechoslovakia, then Poland . . . Holland . . . Belgium . . . Norway . . .   In Spain, General Franco in 1940, sentenced all Freemasons to ten years in prison as soon as they were identified as members of the craft. When France fell to the Nazi's, the Vichy government caused the two Masonic bodies of France--the Grand Orient and the Grand Lodge of France--to be dissolved, and all their property was sold at auction to fuel the Nazi war machine.

Forget-Me-Not pin

As early as 1934, Freemasons in Germany knew they were suddenly at tremendous risk--many went underground. They left their traditional symbols, like the square and compass, and adopted one in its place the Nazi's wouldn't recognize--a small blue flower called a Forget-Me-Not. It was common at the time--a pin given to those that had given to a charity (much like the orange poppies given out today by the American Legion Auxilliary when you offer a donation to them).  But that flower came to mean much more to underground Masons in Germany at that time. By this flower, and perhaps a handshake, Freemasons were able to identify each other in public, and in concentration camps.  It was worn by Freemasons who stubbornly refused to allow the light of Freemasonry to be extinguished by the Nazis, and by that symbol, Freemasonry emerged again from the semi-darkness of World War II to thrive again.  

The number of Freemasons who were killed by the Nazi's in not precisely known, but it is estimated that between 80,000 and 200,000 Freemasons were murdered by the Nazis. Many Freemasons throughout the world still wear the small blue flower pin, in memory of those Brothers who died at the hands of the Germans.

Those tiny pins are still widely available--now that you know what it means, maybe you should get one in remembrance of a time when your "hobby" might very well have cost you your life.  It was not so much a hobby with those in Europe during World War II--it was something worth preserving, even at the risk of their own lives. 

~TEC

Another Masonic Recipe!

Earlier in the week, I posted a recipe for King Arthur's Masonic Chili provided by WB Ray Gordon from the Valley of Peoria (IL), which is one of many recipes that will be featured in a collection Taste of the Rite Recipes he's working on--it was a recipe that belonged to Bro. Arthur Williams.  It's delicious.  Perfect recipe to put in the crock pot in the morning and have hot and ready to eat when you get home from work--especially during this awful, cold weather.

Seems to me we started something--there was a lot of response to that post, and another Brother (who will remain nameless at this point) provided another recipe to share!  He indicated this is a perfect quick meal after you return home from a lodge meeting (especially if your lodge has a terrible cook).

Junior Deacon's Mac & Cheese

Boil six cups of water.  Open blue box.  Pour in contents (except for little foil packet--you'll need that later).  Boil six to seven minutes until tender.  Drain, but don't rinse.  Add four tablespoons of margarine, a quarter cup of milk, and the contents of super secret Masonic powder contained in foil packet.  Stir thoroughly.

Perfectly acceptable to eat right out of the pan while watching reruns of Gunsmoke. 

Now I would never accuse a brother Master Mason of being deceptive, but there is something about this recipe that seems very familiar to me . . .

Enjoy your weekend!

~TEC

What's For Dinner? How About King Arthur's Masonic Chili!

Here's a first for the Midnight Freemason blog--a Masonic recipe!  My friend WB Ray Gordon is putting together a collection of recipes for the Valley of Peoria (IL) called A Taste of the Rite Recipes.  He's giving us a first peek, by sharing this chili recipe of Bro. Arthur Williams.  I'll make sure and let you know when Ray's book is complete, and how you might get your hands on a copy. In the meantime . . . how about chili tonight?

KING ARTHUR'S MASONIC CHILI

Recipe of Bro. Arthur Williams

1 1/2 lb ground chuck

10 oz can cream of onion soup
1 Tbsp chili powder

1 can kidney beans

6 oz tomato paste

8 oz tomato sauce

2 cups tomato juice

1 can Coke

2 Tbsp cocoa mix

First brown the ground chuck, then combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours while you go and Practice your ritual work.

Bon Appetite!

~TEC

A Poem: The Knife and Fork Degree

The Knife and Fork Degree

by A. J. Disbrow

I don't attend the meetings,

for I've not the time to spare.

But every time they have a feast,

you'll surely find me there.

I cannot help with the degrees,

for I do not know the work.

But I can applaud the speaker,

and handle a knife and fork.

I'm so rusty in the ritual,

that it seems like Greek to me,

But practice has made me perfect,

in the Knife and Fork degree.

A Masonic Table Lodge
Benjamin Franklin Lodge No. 83, MN

A Brother sent this to me, and I'm not sure of its origin--all I had was the name of the author.  I hope Bro. A. J. Disbow doesn't mind my sharing it.  I thought it was pretty funny.  It's long been known that Masons like to eat, in fact, we have something called a "table lodge" that allows us on special occasions to eat while we have our meeting.  Well, in truth, table lodge or not, we eat about every time we meet, almost without exception.  Even if we're getting together on a Saturday to shampoo a carpet in the lodge, I guarantee somebody is going to ask about donuts. 

There is even an organization called High Twelve International that is basically a lunch club for Freemasons and their wives.  A group of us in Urbana-Champaign (home of the University of Illinois) are working on chartering a brand new chapter of this organization called Illini High Twelve.  We're very excited about how it's taken off in just a few months.  So I'm posting this as an ode to the (hopefully) charter members of the Illini High Twelve in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.

~TEC

Joint Booksigning: Our Grand Lodge of Illinois

Grand Master Richard Swaney finished his term as Grand Master of Illinois over the weekend. I'd like to thank him on behalf of myself and fellow author Brian "Rooster" Cox for the opportunity of having a booth at Grand Lodge this year.  We had a blast, and it was a great opportunity for us to showcase our work, and talk to a lot of Masons about our books, about writing, and about publishing.  There are a lot of would-be authors out there, and I'm sure after this weekend, I'll be reading a few manuscripts over the next couple months. Ever since I published my first book in 2007, Our Grand Lodge of Illinois has been nothing but supportive of my books, and Grand Master Swaney in particular--in fact, if it weren't for them, and the appendant bodies of Freemasonry, I doubt anyone today would even know I wrote a book at all.  And that same consideration has been extended to Brian Cox, whose excellent novel Seven Knights was published earlier this year.  I have no doubt we'll see Brian's book one day on the big screen. That's the wonderful thing about Freemasonry--it doesn't matter what you want to do or what you're good at, they'll find a way for you to use it, and you are going to find all the help you'll ever need in doing it.  Thank you!

We had a lot of help today. I'll bet when Kevin Wurster
sees this picture, he wishes he'd taken two steps back



We did have fun.  It was said our corner table in the foyer was the noisiest one there--in the entire 172 year history of the Illinois Grand Lodge.  And I have to believe that--there were a couple guys there who were in attendance at that first meeting. Our booth served not only as the writer's area, but also as a daycare center, a place you could leave a hat or apron case, and a gathering place for some of Illinois' most entertaining members (at least they thought so).  I'd like to thank Judy Gordon in particular for bringing over so many people for Rooster and I to meet. And William J. Hussey for taking on the role of carnival barker for our booth.  I do want to make it very clear he is not a paid employee or representive of either author, and regardless of his repeated claims, the cup Rooster's business cards were in wasn't actually the silver chalice of Richard the Lion Hearted and the pen we were signing books with didn't actually belong to Mark Twain.  Thanks to an unfortunate misspelling on the sign marking our booth Friday morning, we repeatedly heard his booming voice announce throughout the foyer "come over here and meet my favorite arthurs!"  He worked cheap though.  He worked both days for a bag of peanut M&M's (well, half a bag. I found them in the men's room).  But he did such a good job, we tipped him. We gave him a pen that once belonged to Mark Twain, but only after he carried all the books to the car, paid our parking, picked up and paid for our sandwiches, and drove the cars around to the door. 

Unfortunately, a few Masonic secrets were inadvertently revealed.  I hope I don't get into trouble for this. If you look at the photograph carefully you'll see something few Freemasons have ever seen--in fact it's been an object of myth and legend.  You've probably seen shows about it on History Channel or Discovery. That's right, clutched tightly in his hand, is the wallet of Sean McBride.  He was a little annoyed when he had to pay cash for our books--we don't accept Royal Arch chapter pennies as currency. As you can see, the appearance of such a mythic relic cause quite a stir with some of the most senior members of our fraternity. Truly a remarkable moment captured on film.



Like fathers, like daughters . . . the next generation of writers?

It was also really fun for Brian and I when our wives and the kids joined us this afternoon for the last couple hours.  The girls had their own coloring station (prime real estate across from the York Rite).  The girls had a great time sitting at their own table.  It was a very fun weekend for all of us.  Thanks again to Our Grand Lodge of Illinois and Past Grand Master Richard Swaney for setting this up for us.

~TEC