Are You a Traveling Man?

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Ken JP Stuczynski

Seven years ago, I was appointed to the CommunicationsCommittee of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York to be webmaster for NYMasons.Org. It opened a whole new world to me. It wasn’t just traveling with then Deputy Grand Master Jeff Williamson, promoting the use of technology at a time it was desperately needed, but working with Brothers on other committees. My column in the Empire State Mason opened up many conversations I may not have had otherwise. And working with districts, along with being the webmaster for the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch, made me familiar with the state’s Masonic lay of the land.

However, there was something vital to further expand my Masonic circle and experience — the Internet. There are countless social media groups on Freemasonry, many of which are frequented by the leaders of our jurisdiction. We ask and answer questions, compare notes between our experiences, and gain awareness of a global Masonic culture in all its diversity. We may stray into politics, or even worse, argue over which way a ring should be worn. And it may seem superficial being virtual, but there are countless meetings and presentations you could not otherwise “visit” or attend. Since COVID started, the opportunities have become endless.

Such access gave me courage to write for online publications, such as TheMidnight Freemasons, and meet other Masonic authors. I discovered Masonic podcasts, and even was interviewed on one. I started reaching out to Brothers who wrote or are mentioned in articles or books — they are an email or PM away. I discovered that these intellectual and scholastic giants will meet Brotherson the level in a way that doesn’t happen outside the bonds of our Fraternity.

Not everyone is a member of Grand Lodge, but we all have access to channels of information and relationships in ways that were never conceived of by those who wrote our Constitutions. You don’t have to be a writer or scholar. You certainly don’t have to be a webmaster, although I have made connections with other webmasters who serve the Craft on a scale far greater than my own.

Too many Brothers stare at the walls of their own Lodge, never venturing outside their immediate community. There was a time when being a Traveling Man required time and expense. We went from carts to canals to railroads, highways, and air travel. But now you can instantly touch the whole world from whenever you sit. The insularity or expansion of the experience of your faith and practice is entirely a matter of choice.

I am still profoundly grateful to the Brothers who believed in me and asked me to serve Grand Lodge. But even if I were to find other Masonic work, or switch vocations tomorrow, the meaningful relationships will live on. And I’m only getting started. Who’s with me? Are you ready to be a Traveling Man in this new age?

~JP

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 Royal Arch Mason and 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, serving his second term as Sovereign Prince of Palmoni Council in the Valley of Buffalo, NMJ. He also coordinates a Downtown Square Club monthly lunch in Buffalo, NY. He and his wife served as Patron and Matron of Pond Chapter No.853 Order of the Eastern Star and considered himself a “Masonic Feminist”.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is..."

by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor

SK Ernest (Ernie) Miranda

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

"It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;

As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life forevermore."

Brethren, I consider myself to be a "Traveling Man" in Masonry. In speculative Masonry, we as Master Masons may freely move from Lodge to Lodge (visiting) and, upon proper avouchment or by testing, be found worthy of attending a Lodge of Master Masons. My job takes me to many locations domestically and internationally, and I do take advantage of this opportunity and visit lodges when able.

The one thing that is a constant within all the lodges I have visited, regardless of location, is the concern the brethren have regarding low attendance at the stated meetings.

I started this message with the passage above, that we are all very familiar with. This message that I impart on you is a part of a larger masonic education piece I have put together, but I wanted to share some of it with you at this time. My rationale for this is because the passage above is a good reminder of why it is so essential for us to take time to attend Lodge whenever possible.

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" – We each face daily challenges in our lives, and our body and mind require an opportunity to refresh and renew. What a blessing to have the opportunity that enables us to meet with others in an environment free of politics, personal status, issues of the outside world, etc.! Coming together to meet as equals for the common good.

"It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;" – The "ointment or oil" was used for setting one apart from, and for blessing them in preparation of an upcoming task. Unity and fellowship are like anointing oil in someone's life. The physical and mental renewal and recharge that is experienced by attending Lodge and being with your brethren are all-encompassing for your body and mind, head to toe!

"As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion" – Just as the dew provides moisture and reinvigorates life as it descends to the lower elevations, so does brotherly love, descending from the higher to the lower, the passing of knowledge and strength, refreshing and enlivening in the course of the gathering, and the sweet diffusiveness of brotherly unity.

"for there the Lord commanded the blessing,"– The Great Architect with these words gives strength to support to perform that which is commanded. It is good, for the Great Architect calls it a blessing.

Finally, "even life forevermore." – Regeneration, which will never cease.

Brethren, ask yourself, "Why is it that you are not regularly attending stated meetings?" If you think that the Lodge doesn't miss you or that the Lodge is doing fine in your absence, remember the quote by Aristotle, "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts." When we connected, when we all come together in unity, imagine what we could do, rather than as smaller parts trying to accomplish the same.

If you need assistance in getting to Lodge, please let a Lodge member know, and we will find a way to get you here. If you require anything, let a Lodge member know. Brethren, look around in Lodge and look for those missing and reach out to them. Ask them if they need any assistance and arrange for a visit.

May the Great Architects blessings be with you and yours.

~EM

SK Ernest (Ernie) Miranda is a Freemason under the Grand Lodge of Arizona, belonging to White Mountain Lodge #3, and a member of Prometheus Lodge #87. He is also a member of Castle Island Virtual Lodge #190, Grand Lodge of Manitoba, Canada, and a founding member of Endeavour Virtual Lodge #944, Grand Lodge of Victoria, Australia. He is a member of the York Rite bodies, as well as a member of the York Rite Sovereign College. Also, he is a member of the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A., Valley of Tucson, where he is also a Knight of St. Andrew. Not to be left out, Brother Ernie is also a member of El Zaribah Shrine in Phoenix.

Brother Ernie is a husband and father of three sons. A third-generation miner, he works full time in the mining industry, specifically mining health and safety, and has volunteered much of his free time as a firefighter, E.M.T., and Search and Rescue Commander. He serves on the Board of Directors for "Wings on Words," a Child Language Center located in Tucson, Arizona, a not-for-profit community outreach program for children with speech/language disorders, in partnership with the Valley of Tucson Scottish Rite and the University of Arizona. In his off time, he enjoys astrophotography, home remodeling, and fishing. He also enjoys being a "Traveler," visiting other masonic lodges and attending masonic education conferences.

King Solomon’s Pass: A Digital Addition to Your Dues Card

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

It’s no secret that the Craft often moves slowly. “No innovation in Freemasonry!” is our standard platitude for those less "forward-thinking", and as an organization led by representative, deliberative bodies loosely organized in a decentralized network of mutual recognition, even truly great ideas take a long time to become generally accepted. So long, sometimes, that they die on the vine. This is a shame.

A closer look at the history of Freemasonry, however, shows innovation at nearly every turn. The core principles of the Craft have remained stable while trestleboards gave way to paper newsletters and then to email updates. Candles became oil lights, and Lodges are now lit with electricity. Even our ritual--still best learned mouth to ear--has long been committed to paper and is quickly moving to secure digital formats. In Illinois, our Constitution and Bylaws restrict us from using a "Stereopticon", meanwhile digital projectors are all the rage.

One of the most recent tools to be updated is the good old membership card. Originally conceived at a Grand Lodge Convention in the 1840s, dues cards were a response to the proliferation of plain-text ritual books, which enabled cowans to learn all they needed to enter a Lodge. This emergent response morphed to tradition, and many Grand Lodges around the world now require an officially-issued form of identification to prove one’s status as a Mason in Good Standing. And if you travel, you better have some kind of letter from your Grand Secretary too.

In an era before computers, Grand Lodges required as much security for membership cards as could be mustered: a raised seal that was manually applied to each card, signatures and more. The cards were to be issued on a regular basis, often annually... and without the ability to check directly with the issuing Grand Lodge on the arrival of a visitor. Remember, no email, no telephone. The card was effectively imbued with the Brother’s Good Standing status for the term it covered.

Today’s technology offers the opportunity for important updates to this process. Everyone with a smart phone is familiar with creating an account for some service or other, and entering their credentials to verify--in real time--their authority to access that service. Electronic security measures are nearly as old as computers themselves, and have allowed for time savings in almost every process. Imagine... How much less work would you get done if you had to contact Google and show a membership card every time you wanted to access your email? Insane right?

Freemasonry is finally receiving the benefit of this not-so-modern-anymore technology with a new tool created by the team behind Amity, called simply King Solomon’s Pass. The Pass is a digital complement or addition to your dues card, and integrates with the membership systems of nearly fifty Grand Lodges around the world (it covers over 700,000 Masons in the US alone!).

For Grand Lodges this innovation is an important one, because it puts member verification back where it belongs: in the Grand Secretary’s hands. Instead of using a card that acts as the Grand Lodge’s authority for a set term, it lets the Tiler check with the Grand Lodge for the Brother’s status... in real time, every time.

For Freemasons, the Pass is nothing short of a quantum leap forward. It offers a secure, digital profile for any Brother, photo included, that can be used to verify all of the required administrative criteria: "Are you who you say you are?", "Does my Grand Lodge recognize yours?", "Is your Lodge active?", "Are you in Good Standing?", All that’s left is the Tiler’s Investigation, which of course must not be omitted and can never be replaced by an app.

King Solomon’s Pass is available at no cost to any Mason with an account in the Amity app. Over 50,000 Masons across 200+ Grand Lodges are already using the app, and Amity has just completed their live Integration with the MORI membership system (all of the other major systems are already supported).

For Masons in the Grand Lodge of New York, the new dues cards set to be issued in the next few weeks will all carry an Amity QR code. Other Grand Lodges can also get this tech at no cost, allowing their members to share their status in real time with anyone in the world.

It has been said that the only constant... is change. No matter how slowly our Craft moves, it is still ever-changing... perhaps not our Landmarks and goals, but certainly the methods we use to perform our Work. King Solomon’s Pass is a long-overdue addition to the Craft, and allows Masons from any Grand Lodge to better understand how we are all related... which, ultimately, benefits the Craft.

And before I leave you all, I want to say something else, The guys behind Amity have taken your digital security to the top level. Currently NO GRAND LODGE SOFTWARE offers the protections required by law like CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act) and the European Standard GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). But guess who does abide by and is compliant? AMITY and King Solomons Pass Does/is. This is truly awesome technology that is digitally safer than even MORI or Grandview or any other database out there in regards to Freemasonry and our data.

You can find out more about King Solomon’s Pass at https://www.amity.com, or use it directly at https://i.travelsafely.app.

~RHJ

RWB, Robert Johnson is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183 UD. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatrewhich focus 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" and is currently working on a book of Masonic essays and one on Occult Anatomy to be released soon

The Non-Masonic Road Trip

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Bro. Erik Marks

We set out early on a Saturday morning for a two-week road trip to show our sons a large swath of the northern half of the United States. Corinna had taken them a southerly route in 2014 and I had met them in Phoenix, AZ for the second 10 days of the trip. So for this family trip, I took a nod from Brother Creason’s post, I recently purchased a baseball cap emblazoned with “the symbol” on the front and secretly hoped to attract the attention of many a traveling Mason on my journey, to hear tales of American Masonry across the states: no luck.

16 states (one of those was actually a province (Niagara Falls, ON, Canada), 15 days, 14 campgrounds, 5 lodges (from the outside at town-appropriate drivingd speed), 4 National Parks including Theodore Roosevelt NP (with no mention of his Masonic status—I’m writing to complain), 3 state parks, several thousand tourists, and I met 0 Masons. I spoke with many people between long drives and at the parks, and received scores of double-takes at my cap…no questions about the cap, though.

On a side note about branding and caps: As much as I was hoping to have my hat noticed by a brother, I was in turn searching every sea of tourists and their vehicles for Masonic swag and saw none. I did get glimpses of hundreds of caps and realized that my little gold symbol, powerful as it is to me, was often lost in a flood of somewhat esoteric looking product endorsements and well known sports, college, or product emblems. True, it is also my product endorsement, though not one used to garner financial profits. I suppose our symbol does generate a profit for the company who embroidered the gold thread on the black hat I liked so much. As we know, symbols are powerful, though in those seas, how would anyone distinguish it from any other product if they had not known of its existence or meaning previously?

We want our sons to experience parts of our country and world they have never seen as well as be in the presence of others with whom they might otherwise never come into contact. Corinna and I made a similar drive our first summer together, though this time in addition to Badlands and Yellowstone, we included Glacier and TRNP. At intervals, listened to the first section of The omnivores dilemma driving through corn and cattle country, laboring to understand a particular view of agriculture, business, and disenfranchisement felt by many whose farms and family legacies were shaped by grain and government policy—the undoing of a Masonic president’s efforts to balance and stabilize the economy for the good of all. I’m grateful to have visited TRNP and hear several lectures about his life, albeit devoid of the spiritual and philosophic roots in his heart that lead him to the gentle craft and the reciprocal influence the fraternity had on his public actions.

Despite the lack of overt Masonic brethren, the trip was wholly spiritual for me. I've always felt connected with nature, which I think is easy to accomplish when visiting such impressive natural wonders. But there was more. In meeting and speaking with people, mostly men, I was surprised their willingness to engage easily and without guardedness, the same I feel from brethren wherever I have had the good fortune I’ve had to meet them. Attribute this ease to road culture, vacation vibe, being away from New England? I'm not sure. However, three conversations stood out:

Charlie, a retired history teacher, now volunteers to greet visitors at a highway rest area in a central state. He vibrantly expressed the way he understands the lack of emphasis on history in education and the lessons imparted as the root of many social ills as well as its study as grist for solutions. As I continue my way through Whence Came You, by M. Deutsch (Recommended by Grand Librarian and author Right Worshipful Hunt), I look for encouragement, light, and lessons about what to, and not to, repeat in my Masonic career.

Bud, a stocky white haired native of Tennessee we spoke with in Glacier NP, was deeply pleased holding a can of bear repellent, wishing he had it with him a few years back while visiting Nashville for a family emergency: "I've been packing heat for 40 years, thank God I never had to use it." He recounted a food court confrontation between two other men in which he, “had to stand up. Put my hand on my piece and shake my head at the guy who was reaching for a weapon inside his jacket...he just pulled his hand out and sat down...I'd rather have had this." holds up the bear spray. We returned from the day of exploring to discover our tent had been vandalized, possibly by the same Grizzly youngster who had been interrupted the day before by our camp host (see next paragraph) when it was engaged in the same curiosity behavior with another person's tent. No bear spray needed!

Abraham, a recent graduate of a tribal college, discharged several rounds heard through the campground on our first evening in camp in an attempt to scare the young Grizzly bear away from tents and people. Generally avoiding humans, the bear only got itself involved with tents while their occupants were away. Abraham said in a conversation he had never needed to use that strategy before and believed his actions useful for two and four legged creatures to remain harmonious neighbors—at a distance. I found him earnest, forthright, and tactfully generous in our conversation. We leaned the following day parts of Glacier NP were closed off to visitors due to unusual grizzly activity in those areas.

Though none of these men were Masons, they could be. Each saw my cap, none asked about what it meant or about Masonry. In each case, I wondered about appropriate ways to entice them to find us. All of them reside in states far from my own, so asking them to join me for dinner would be absurd. I'm staying in touch with one, where our conversation went on longer and there seemed a natural reason for us to exchange contact information. Though Massachusetts allows Masons to ask men if they want to join, I don't like the idea of asking directly. I will never get someone to join. I firmly believe in the process of a man needing to make the first inquiry of his own free will and accord; and continue to proceed with assistance and mentoring though expressly without pressure. If through getting to know me and/or seeing the ways Masons contribute to societal improvement a man feels the stir in his heart to be and give more, he will make it happen. I hope our brief meetings sparked some curiosity that might cause them to seek and be more in our particular way, even if our roads never intersect again.

~EAM

Brother Erik Marks is a clinical social worker whose usual vocation has been in the field of human services in a wide range of settings since 1990. He was raised in 2017 by his biologically younger Brother and then Worshipful Master in Alpha Lodge in Framingham, MA. You may contact brother Marks by email: erik@StrongGrip.org

A Mason Walkin' In Memphis

 by Midnight Freemasons Founder

Todd E. Creason, 33°

Marlowe's Restaurant sends a pink Cadillac limo to pick you up at your hotel when you're hungry. We couldn't seem to get enough of the wonderful local cuisine in Memphis, Tennessee. If you couldn't tell by our clothes, this was July 4th.  Left to right: Valerie, Katie, & Todd Creason

We'd never been to Memphis before, so this year we decided to take our annual 4th of July trip to Tennessee.  And since we were driving this time instead of flying, I decided to try and little experiment--I wore my Mason cap the whole week just to see how many comments I got as we traveled through Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, and into Memphis, Tennessee.  Of course we did all the tourist stuff so we were enjoying these sites with other tourists: Graceland, Memphis Zoo, Beale Street, Redbird Stadium, Bass Pro Shoppe at the Pyramid,

We hadn't even gotten out of Illinois when I got the first remark.  We stopped for breakfast in Salem, Illinois at a Denny's when the waitress filled my coffee and said, "my dad's a Mason."

A couple hours later we bought gas at a truck-stop in Arkansas.  I went in to get coffee and when I went to pay for it, the cashier waved me by.  I looked at him questioningly, and he pointed to his ring and smiled.

At the Graceland Guesthouse when I checked in, the guy at the check-in desk asked me if Elvis was a Freemason.  I told him he wasn't.  "Well that kind of surprises me," he remarked.  "You guys have some nice looking jewelry, and he sure liked jewelry."

When we called Marlowe's for the pink Cadillac limo to take us to dinner (Marlowe's has some fantastic food and we ate there a couple times) the driver shook my hand in a very familiar way when we got out of the car.  Never said anything, and wasn't wearing a ring, but it was pretty clear he was a Mason.

At the Bass Pro Shop at the iconic pyramid downtown (only Bass Pro Shop I've ever been to that had valet parking), one of the security guards was a Mason, and during our discussion we learned he was a very smart man--from Illinois and a huge Chicago Cubs fan!

At a Mexican Restaurant we dined at, I got the question, "Isn't your name Hiram?"

There were a couple others--one at this huge fireworks store in Arkansas on the way home called "Boomtown" and one at the Memphis Redbirds Stadium.  I was a little surprised at how many times I was approached.  I think we've all had that experience of somebody seeing our ring, or a hat, or emblems on our car and walking up to us.  But it never ceases to amaze me how many times this happens considering just how small in numbers our Fraternity is compared to the population.

And maybe it's just that Masons are friendly people and are always anxious to meet another Brother.  I have very seldom ever passed up an opportunity to meet a Brother when I've seen a ring, a hat, or a Masonic license plate.  My youngest daughter is 12, and she picks out those Masonic symbols as quickly as I do . . . Dad!  Look!  That guy's got a Masonic tattoo!  Go find out where he's from!

And I almost always do.

Next time you go on a trip or on a vacation, try it.  It's pretty amazing the diversity of people you'll meet, and the stories you'll hear just because of this one common Brotherhood we all share.  In the end we're just all one big happy family!

So please, feel free to share your favorite "Masonic Encounter" in the comments!

~TEC

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 Homer Lodge No. 199 and 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 the a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter No. 282 and currently serves as EHP. You can contact him at: webmaster@toddcreason.org

I Spent the Night at the Valley of St. Louis...Alone

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

Earlier this year I was asked if I was going to attend the Spring Reunion of the Valley of St. Louis in April 2018. I had to tell my good friends that because I was traveling to Ohio for a short speaking tour and also, that I was going to Masonic Con 2018 in that same month, it would be next to impossible. Just too much time away from home.

Fast forward a couple months, it's April and I'd just arrived in Ohio to speak at the beautiful Willoughby Chapter #231 when I received an email from Randy Davis, a brother I'd never met. He asked if I could come down to St. Louis to talk at the Grandmaster's Breakfast. I took a deep breath. I called my wife. I think she said something like, "You can't turn down a request from a Grand Master like that." So I emailed him back and said I'd be there.

We hammered out the logistics and it turns out this was the same weekend that the St Louis Reunion was happening. It looked as though I'd attend the reunion after all. I arrived on Friday evening, just in time to see an excellent portrayal of the 14th degree. I looked around the library and then went to my accommodations for the evening, the dormitory.

The Dorm

I first slept here a few years ago and I loved it. I highly recommend the experience of a dorm stay at a valley, whether it's St. Louis or Guthrie or wherever. Typically, at the Valley of St. Louis there are about thirty beds, which are all filled up. Guys come in on Friday, and stay the night and head home Saturday, unless you're me. I stayed over an additional night into Sunday.

Getting ready for a degree.

I was told it would be fine by the Valley Secretary, the always awesome, Ill. Bro. Bret Akers. I was then told that there would be Brothers at the Valley until late, like 2am or 3am to clean up after the Reunion for a dance show that's coming to the venue. So I went along about the day, attended degrees, and at 5pm, I departed for a dinner with the Grandmaster with my liaison, Randy Davis. During the dinner, gents kept telling me that I was crazy, that the Valley was haunted, when they heard I was staying the night alone. And even that should look out for, "the Green Man". Afterwards, Randy Davis dropped me back off at the Valley and I made myself at home in the dorm, all by myself.

A view standing outside the dorm, looking down the
hall at the other end. Yes, it's dark. 

I stayed up a little late. I think I closed my eyes around midnight. I woke up a few hours later around 2am and heard some old wooden soled shoes walking the halls and some clear voices talking about reimbursements or something of the like. I went back to bed. I woke the next morning and made my way to the Grandmaster's breakfast where I was to present.

Setting up for the Grandmasters Breakfast

Before the event really started, I saw my great friends Jacob Thompson and Randy Sanders. I walked over and said, "Good morning.",  and exchanged the usual pleasantries. Jacob asked how I slept and I told him that I slept very well. I informed him that I only woke up once and that I heard them talking about some stuff and making final rounds before leaving the building around 2am.

Jacob then told me, "We left at 11pm."

~RHJ

RWB, Robert Johnson is the Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Waukegan Lodge No. 78 where he is a Past Master. He is also a Past District Deputy for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre which focus 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 and is also an avid home brewer. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry" and is currently working on a book of Masonic essays and one on Occult Anatomy to be released soon.

There is More to Being a Traveling Man than Pins and Mileage.

by MidnightFreemason Guest Contributor

WB Robert E. Jackson

For many months I’ve had a paper idea in my ‘todo’ list on the importance of travel.  When I saw the topic show up in another blog, I scrapped the idea and yielded to the Brother.  However, recent experiences have inspired me to continue the subject, and although I can’t find the other article, I hope people find my story complementary to that article. 

I used to travel frequently for work, 2-3 weeks out of each month, sometimes weekends.  Eventually the airline gate agents and hotel workers got to know me.  Although I was a Mason for much of this time, I never took advantage of the travel and visited other Lodges.  Add this to the plethora of mistakes that I hope to learn from.  Back then, I thought visiting Lodges was only about expanding your network and maybe making new friends.  I’ve come to realize it is much, much more.

During a recent business trip to Dallas, I researched the Texas Grand Lodge website to see if anybody was having regular stated meetings.  I found two relatively close by, and decided to head downtown simply because I was interested in the Scottish Rite building in which they held their meetings.  As I arrived, I learned that another Lodge, Highland Park Lodge, was holding a special communication for the purpose of raising a new Master Mason.  Man, I could not pass that up as I’ve never seen a raising outside of my own district.  I found the worshipful Master (easily distinguishable, due to his hat), who welcomed me as if I was an old friend, and quickly introduced me to their candidate and several other Brothers.  It was heartwarming how quickly these Texans embraced this Massachusetts Mason.  

Although the Fraternal Love received was amazing, it pales in comparison to the Third Degree I was able to witness.  There were few similarities between Massachusetts and Texas, aside from the general story.  Some roles were played differently, many words were different, but the performance was absolute top notch.  This was the first time in many years that I was able to attend a degree without worrying about remembering my lines or agonizing over the late arrival of key Brethren.  Furthermore, by hearing a different set of words, I’ve been able to answer certain questions in the ritual that have plagued me for years!  I honestly believe sitting with these men and focusing on their work (which was beautifully and perceptibly flawless) not only uplifted my spirit, but also afforded me a better understanding of our ritual.  Moreover, seeing a man reach out and raise his son, brought a tear to my eye as I recalled the time when my father raised me.  What I would give to meet him again on the five points of fellowship.

I do feel the need to apologize to both Northern Star Lodge of Dallas and Estelle Lodge of Euless for not attending their meetings, and I would like to thank them for responding to my messages.  Had they not encouraged my travel, I might not have found myself in the right place and time to witness the degree.  

Brothers and friends, we as a human species have so much to learn. Our paths are long and winding, but the love of a friend can lift us from the deepest chasms, and a little bit of light can make an ordinary day something special and memorable.  As we travel, it is important to remember that our journeys aren’t just about being sociable and meeting new friends and Brothers.  It is also about how different jurisdictions and Lodges perform the ritual.  By observing others and appreciating the differences, we can perfect our craft.  If we carry this philosophy into all of our actions, there is no end to the amount of knowledge we can attain.  Even if our Brother's view seems completely perpendicular to our own, if we respect the differing opinions and continue searching for that light, there is a point where the ideals cross, and on that point, we will find a level unlike any other. 

~REJ

Robert Edward Jackson is a Past and presiding Master of Montgomery Lodge located in Milford, MA. His Masonic lineage includes his Father (Robert Maitland), Grandfather (Maitland Garrecht), and Great Grandfather (Edward Henry Jackson), a founding member of Scarsdale Lodge #1094 in Scarsdale, NY. When not studying ritual, he's busy being a father to his three kids, a husband, Boy Scout Leader, and a network engineer to pay for it all. He can be reached at info@montgomerylodge.org

A Visit To Historic Naval Lodge No. 4

by Midnight Freemasons Founder
Todd E. Creason, 33°

Naval Lodge No. 4, Washington, D.C. (photo by Naval Lodge)

I couldn't believe it when Greg Knott told me, "there's a meeting at Naval Lodge No. 4 tomorrow."  We were in Washington D.C. for Masonic Week--an annual meeting put on by the Allied Masonic Degrees.  It was my third trip to D.C. with Greg in two years, and he knew how much I wanted to see that Lodge.  Greg's actually a member of Naval Lodge No. 4, but both times we'd visited before, there wasn't a meeting or somebody available to open the building.  So I was thrilled to learn that LaFayette-Dupont Lodge No. 19 F. & A. M. was having their meeting the next night.  No question about it--we were going!

Naval Lodge has a history going back to 1805, but in 1895 they opened their new building--and it is indeed a remarkable building.  The Lodge is on the 4th floor, and to get there, you can take the winding staircase--the iron support for that staircase is a single piece of cast iron.  Or you could take the tiny hand-operated elevator, which is believed to be the oldest operating elevator in Washington D.C.

Naval Lodge "G" (photo by Naval Lodge)

The Lodge Room is magnificent!  I've visited many Masonic Lodges over the years, and Naval Lodge is certainly one of the most remarkably furnished lodges I've visited.  It's no wonder it has been featured in a number of television productions about Freemasonry, and was a location featured by fiction writer Dan Brown in his novel "The Lost Symbol."  When people who are unfamiliar with Freemasonry try to imagine what the inside of a Masonic Lodge might look like, they are probably envisioning something that resembles Naval Lodge very closely--I know that before I became a Mason I certainly did.

The room is massive in size, the ceiling of which towers two stories above.  There is recessed section in the center of that ceiling that vaults to even loftier heights and features the starry decked heaven.  There is an organ loft over the Senior Warden's station in the West that features a pipe organ.  The small altar (small by comparison to the enormous space it sits in) rests on a black and white tile floor, and was hand crafted from a piece of marble by an Operative Mason that worked on the stonework of many of the buildings in the Washington D.C. area.  Being from the Midwest, I'm used to seeing a Holy Bible on the altar, but Naval Lodge No. 4, due to its location, has always been a more international brotherhood.  The Holy Bible was one of three volumes of the Sacred Law presented on the altar, which represented the diversity of religious beliefs by the members of that Lodge.

Altar at Naval Lodge No. 4 (poor photography by Todd E. Creason)

Every inch of the interior walls are decoratively painted in an Egyptian theme.  Two obelisks stand on either side of the Worshipful Master in the East.  The chairs in use by the dais officers date back to the original Lodge building--1805.  Amazing enough, those chairs are in remarkable shape and are still rock solid--not a creak.  Even the carpet features deeply Masonic symbology.  It's very difficult to take it all in.

Carpet Detail (photo by Todd E. Creason)

Greg and I just walked in not knowing exactly what to expect.  It was the regular meeting night of Lafayette-Dupont Lodge No. 19, which also meets in the historic building.  They welcomed us into their dining room to share in their meal, and after the meal was complete, we had to prove we were Masons.  We were taken one at a time into the preparation room and through of a series of inquiries only a Mason would know the answers to, and after presenting a current dues card, were we admitted into the meeting.

Midnight Freemasons Greg Knott (left) and Todd E. Creason (right) in the East

Every state is a little different in how they do their ritual, and it was interesting to note some of those differences, but other than that, it was the same business meeting I've attended many times before.  Reading the minutes, treasurer's report, discussing upcoming events, reading a petition, etc.  When we were asked to stand up and say something to the Brethren of the Lodge, Greg mentioned we were both contributors to The Midnight Freemasons blog . . . to our surprise, the Lodge Secretary said, "I know that blog well!"  Sometimes we forget just how far and wide our work here on The Midnight Freemasons travels.  

By the time the meeting was finished, we all departed as good friends.  We shook hands, we took photos, and we exchanged contact information--I've already heard from a few of our new friends.  I'd like to thank the Brethren of LaFayette-Dupont Lodge No. 19 for making us feel so welcome, and sharing their evening with us. 

One of the wonderful things about our Fraternity is that no matter where we may travel, it's never difficult to find a Brother.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33°, FMLR is the Founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and is a regular contributor.  He is the award winning author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. He is the author of the From Labor to Refreshment blog.  He is the Worshipful Master of Homer Lodge No. 199 and a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754, where is currently serves as Secretary.  He is past Sovereign Master of the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees.  He is a Fellow at the Missouri Lodge of Research. (FMLR) and a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D.  You can contact him at: webmaster@toddcreason.org

A Tale Of Two Signs

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Steven L. Harrison, PM, FMLR

Kearney Lodge No. 311 (MO) sign

Our Illustrious Blogmeister Todd has requested we send pictures of Masonic signs.  I guess this is my way of doing that.  I live in Kearney, Missouri (Not to be confused with Kearney, Nebraska, which it often is).  We're located about 20 miles northeast of Kansas City and in spite of the fact that civilization keeps oozing our way, we're still somewhat rural.  One hundred thirty years ago, Kearney was a thriving farming and commerce center.  The Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad (now the Burlington Northern Santa Fe) stopped here, giving businesses critical access to both Chicago and Kansas City.

In that year, 1882, Kearney saw two significant events.  First, foremost and, like-it-or-not, the one that puts us on the map, our favorite but oh-so-notorious son, Jesse James met his untimely and violent end and was buried here.  There have been, over the years, those who have claimed Jesse isn't buried here and didn't even die then.  In 1994, we got fed up with all that, dug him up, ran tests, proved it was him and put him back in a shiny new coffin. So there. I attended that auspicious event where vendors were doing a brisk business selling T-shirts that said, "In Kearney, We Dig Jesse."

To get back to the point, the other big event in Kearney in 1882 was the completion of the Masonic Lodge.  I doubt Jesse ever saw the building.  He was way up in St. Joseph at the time and was otherwise occupied until they brought him back on ice (really).  That 1882 building still stands at what was the town's main intersection.  I'm certain it was, at the time, the most magnificent building Kearney had ever seen.  I don't have exact dates but probably about 25-30 years ago Kearney Lodge surrendered its charter and then re-chartered in the mid-2000s.  I affiliated immediately and since then, Kearney Lodge #311 has continued to grow.  We still don't have a permanent building, but every time I go into town, I spend a few minutes looking at that old building with its weathering concrete Masonic sign (it's not a cornerstone) and wish it was ours.  Maybe someday it will be.  No matter what happens, I hope we can at least get back that terrific old sign, a reminder of days gone by.

Liberty Lodge No. 31 (MO) sign--well worth the 5K donation!

Since there was no Kearney Lodge when I became a Mason, I joined Liberty Lodge #31, about six or seven miles south.  The town of Liberty is a whole different story.  The streets are paved with gold and cash flows from the fire hydrants.  Not quite, but almost.  It's a bustling, growing, thriving area.  And Liberty Lodge (in spite of what our budget committee might claim) has thrived right along with it.  When I joined, we owned our own building smack-dab on the town square, had paying tenants and life was good.  Then Sunday, May 4, 2003, waltzed in and spoiled the party.

That day, an F2 tornado rolled through.  Our Lodge building took a direct hit.  It actually cracked the building in half, ripped our two-ton air conditioning unit from its rooftop foundation and not-so-gently dumped it on the street below.  Engineers at first told us the building was lost, an assessment that fortunately turned out not to be true.  It took months of work and lots of money, but we restored the building to a condition better than before the tornado hit. What insurance didn't cover, we did.

Jesse James went down the year Kearney Lodge went up!

We had moved into that building in the early 1950s.  Our sign was a somewhat elaborate affair which hung perpendicular to the building.  On both sides, it had the emblems of the Masonic bodies there and whenever any of those bodies met, that portion of the sign was lighted.  Needless to say, the sign did not survive.  We found enough pieces of it that we were able to give it to an artist to recreate the glass sheets on either side, but there was a problem.

In the intervening years, Liberty had passed an ordinance that, for whatever reason, signs on the square had to be parallel to the building.  At first, the city told us we could not replace the sign in its perpendicular configuration.  We prefer to think it was our excellent negotiation skills and not the $5,000 we donated to the disaster fund that reversed the town's decision.  At any rate, if you drive around the Liberty square today, you'll recognize our landmark sign.  It's the only one on the square perpendicular to a building.  And we're still smack-dab on the town square, have paying tenants and life is good.

~SH

Steve Harrison, 32° KCCH is a Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri.  He is the editor of the Missouri Freemason magazine, 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.

Freedom Trail: King's Chapel

by Midnight Freemasons Contributor

Gregory J. Knott

This is the sixth installment of Gregory Knott's Freedom Trail Series

King's Chapel

King’s Chapel was founded in 1686 as an Anglican congregation with loyalty to the King of England and over the years it grew and needed a new building.  In 1754 the current building was completed and was made of Quincy granite.  Over the years it went dark, converted to a Unitarian Congregation and finally to the current independent congregation affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association.  The governance system consists of elected officers, Senior and Junior Wardens, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer (sound familiar?).

Entering the Chapel you appreciate the efforts at preservation

The bell in the Church tower was forged in England was hung in 1772 and developed a crack in 1814 and was recast by Brother Paul Revere and rehung in 1816.  You can hear the bells on You Tube.

This Chancel Table was a gift from King William and Queen Mary (1696)

As one would expect in a chapel of this historic nature, many famous persons have worshiped here including:  Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin and General Joseph Warren who was killed in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

By visiting King’s Chapel, one sees the importance that religion played in the founding of America.  This history of this church illustrates the sacrifice that so many of its members made over the last 300+ years in helping shape the American culture.

Next up on the Freedom Trail the Old South Meeting House.

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) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. 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.