We Had to Ask Him...

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

I first heard from Ken JP Stuczynski when he came on board the Masonic Speakers Association. He had a handful of amazing topics to offer and has an incredible resume in both the technology sector as well as within Freemasonry. His writing style is his own and I have to say I quite enjoy what he does. Brother Darin Lahners asked me, "Do you think he would say, yes if we asked him?" There was only one way to know.

We asked. He said, "Yes." And we're so happy to bring Brother Stuczynki aboard. I know you'll all love his writing and get some great insights from him. His official bio is below. Thank you, Ken!

"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”.

As a masonic speaker throughout New York State, he has also given presentations at town hall meetings regarding the use of technology in the Craft. His numerous Empire State Mason articles have been republished in Arizona and New Jersey. To aid in his outreach on these topics, he authored “Webmastering the Craft: Fraternity in a Digital World”, available worldwide in softcover and eBook.

Having lifelong interests far and wide across philosophy, world religions, and all the natural sciences, his degree is in Philosophy with a concentration in Ethics and a minor In Psychology. He has written articles and essays on the topics of science and religion, culture and politics, business and economics, technology and futurism, as well as various aspects of social psychology. Usually, with interdisciplinary contexts, many of these focus on the ideals of intellectual honesty and tolerance in all forms. Having edited and contributed to Books of Transactions by the Western New York Lodge of Research of which he is a member, he plans to formally publish some of his larger works, starting with the upcoming book, “Contemplations on Astronomy”, and a special Masonic edition will contain his “Astronomical Tour of the Lodge”.

He runs his primary business, Kentropolis Internet, from home where he lives with his wife and plenty of pets. In addition to various community service projects, he teaches Tai Chi to veterans at the VA Recovery Center. He is also an independent interfaith minister with hospital chaplain credentials who does weddings, funerals, memorials, and other services. His personal project is the “Earth 2 Mouth” program which connects farms, volunteers, and soup kitchens. He also enjoys carpentry and keeps bees with his daughter at an organic farm in East Otto, NY."

Welcome Randy Sanders!

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

I've known Randy for a long time. Way back...I decided to visit the closest Valley that was Southern Jurisdiction of the AASR (Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite). I pulled into the parking garage and began to walk to the entrance of the building. I was met by a gaggle of Brothers having some cigars and just talking outside. 

It was a muggy day. The kind we complained about then, but look back on and wish for right now. Chris Tully was out there, being Chris. Goofy and serious and joking--all smiles. Jacob Thompson was there with his astute bowtie, a briefcase, and a stack of papers under his arm. Jacob looked like a frazzled professor running late for his next lecture.

That weekend was something else. After one of the degrees, Jacob Thompson was teaching a class about what we had just gone through. This is why I went down there, why I drove 5 hours to a reunion. Education! 

So there I was, sitting at a long table, on a metal folding chair, drinking black Folgers out of a styrofoam cup. Sitting next to me was this really friendly guy. How do I put this? Have you ever just met someone and, bam! You have a new super close Bro? That was Randy. I'll never forget that weekend.

Fast forward a bit and I meet Randy at more reunions, more conventions, more educational conferences. This guy was/is learning everything. The day I met Randy, we were students together. Now, Randy assists and teaches the classes along with Jacob. He does so much, including looking after the Valley of St. Louis's library--something I can't thank him enough for.

A few weeks ago, fellow managing editor, Darin Lahners said to me, "You think Randy would consider becoming a regular?" And it was a brilliant question. I asked Randy if he'd be interested and of course, he was in.

Welcome, Bro. Randy Sanders to the Midnight Freemasons as a Regular Contributor! I'm excited to read what Brother Randy brings to the mix as I know you all will be as well. 

Bro. Randy and his wife Elyana live in O'Fallon, MO just outside of St. Louis. Randy earned a

Bachelors in Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, and he works in telecom IT. He volunteers his time as a professional and personal mentor, is an NRA certified Chief Range Safety Officer, and enjoys competitive tactical pistol. He has a 30+ year background teaching Wing Chun Kung Fu, Chi Kung, and healing arts. Randy's Masonic bio includes lodge education officer of two blue lodges, running the Wentzville Lodge Book Club, active in York Rite AMD, Scottish Rite Valley of St. Louis co-librarian, Clerk of the Academy Of Reflection through the Valley of Guthrie, a trained facilitator for the Masonic Legacy Society. As a pre-COVID-19 pioneer in Masonic virtual education, Randy is an administrator of Refracted Light and an international presenter on esoteric topics. Randy enjoys facilitating and presenting Masonic esoteric education, and he hosts an open, weekly Masonic virtual Friday Happy Hour. Randy is an accomplished home chef, a certified barbecue judge, raises Great Pyrenees dogs, and enjoys travel and philosophy.

A New Regular Contributor - Spencer A. Hamann

A New Regular Midnight Freemason Contributor

I was a District Deputy Grand Master when I first noticed RW Brother Spencer Hamann. It was his lodge's annual Official Visit. I noticed his keen eye for the precision of the work, his exceptional delivery of ritual, and yet there was something else. Is there a word for it when you think to yourself, "I need to be friends with that guy."?

Fast forward several years, and now we are great friends, Brothers and he's even the Sr. Warden of my lodge, Spes Novum. Spencer has written a couple of times for us here at the Midnight Freemasons and each time, his posts are shared, well-received, and our readers tend to really enjoy what he has to say.

I reached out to Brother Hamann to see if he would take me up on the offer to become a regular contributor--he said yes! It is my absolute pleasure to announce that RWB Hamann will be writing for us on a somewhat regular basis. I hope you enjoy what he adds to this blog and that you all find it edifying.

Here are some of his works that we've published in the past.

Missing the Point on Masonic Closures http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2020/03/weekend-special-missing-point-on.html

Fair and Fowl Correspondences http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2019/10/fair-and-fowl-correspondences.html

RWB Spencer Hamann is a luthier and musicologist working in northern Illinois. He is an avid woodworker and artificer, and enjoys antique restorations and custom commissions. Curatorship and adding value are core to his personal philosophies. Spencer was Raised in 2013, and served Libertyville Lodge No. 492 as Worshipful Master from 2017-2018. He is the Senior Warden of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183, and serves the Grand Lodge of Illinois as their Grand Representative to Wisconsin, District Education officer for the 1st NE District, and is a Certified Lodge Instructor (CLI). He can be contacted at spencer@sahamann.com

Welcome Travis Simpkins!

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

Today is the day! Friday! But more importantly, the Midnight Freemasons is proud to announce that Bro. Travis Simpkins, world renowned artist is joining the Midnight Freemasons as a regular contributor.

I joke often that, "You know you've made it when Travis decides to draw you." He's a very talented young Mason with a lot to give. Travis has written two very excellent articles and a third is on the way. His points of view are wonderful and he has a great amount of expertise and knowledge to share. Please take a moment and congratulate our newest contributor. His bio is below. Make sure to follow him on social media as well!

Travis Simpkins is a freelance artist with clients throughout the United States and Europe. He currently works on projects for the Supreme Council, 33°, NMJ in Lexington, Massachusetts. He also serves as a portrait artist for the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Grand Lodge of New Jersey and other jurisdictions across North America. Bro. Simpkins is a member of Morning Star Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Worcester, Massachusetts. He is a 32° Mason in the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, NMJ- Valleys of Worcester and Boston. He is also a member of Eureka Royal Arch Chapter, Hiram Council of Royal & Select Master Masons and Worcester County Commandery No. 5, Knights Templar. You can visit his website http://www.artcrimeillustrated.com and check out his great work!

~RHJ

The Midnight Freemasons Get an International Correspondent!

A Special Message from the Editor

Ever since Ill. Bro. Todd E. Creason started this thing called "The Midnight Freemasons", it's had this amazing potential to grow. It certainly has done that. With over a million hits, over 950 articles and posts on various Masonic topics by a team that went from just Todd, to a team of 8 to a team of 14.

Today is an important day. Today, we bring on our 15th regular contributor and our first international corespondent. The Midnight Freemasons are proud to announce that Brother Wayne D.J.  Greeley has accepted an offer to write for us. Bro. Greeley hails from Brisbane which is in Queensland, Australia.

Bro. Wayne has published a couple articles with us in the past, and you can view them through the links below. Congratulations and Welcome aboard Brother!

Ignorance...Is It Truly Bliss?

                                 The Second Crucifixion

Brother Wayne Greenley is member of Mount Pleasant Lodge No. 361 holding under the United Grand Lodge of Queensland. Currently he is studying a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business at QUT. In his spare time he likes to read, listen to music and research the Craft. He is looking forward to joining other orders when he’s permitted to in the next year and also to soon begin his journey through the progression of officers starting off with the Inner Guard.

Welcome!

Over the last year, we have had many Guest Contributors to our site. It has been a huge help to have new perspectives and styles of writing about Masonic subjects available to the readership. This year in fact, we had 27 guest posts! So much great work and at the beginning of the year we brought one of them aboard. This was of course, Bro. Robert Walk Jr.

Toward the middle of the year we brought on Bro. Jason Richards, and now just before the close of the year, it is with great pleasure I am able to add to the rolls of the regular contributors once again. Please join me in welcoming Bro. Adam Thayer!

Brother Thayer brings a very academic approach to our blog, as he is on the Committee of Education for the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. He is also a member of two lodges there and is "in line" in both of them, which is quite a commitment. He is a member of the Scottish Rite and Knights of St. Andrew as well.

I know I enjoy his writing and perspective into the craft, and I think you will too!

Welcome aboard Brother Thayer!

Bro. Adam Thayer is the Senior Deacon of Lancaster Lodge No 54 in Lincoln (NE) and the Senior Warden of Oliver Lodge No. 38 in Seward (NE). He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, and the Knights of Saint Andrew. Adam serves on the Education Committee of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska. You can contact him at adam.thayer@gmail.com

Lucky Number Thirteen

Bro. Jason at the House of the Temple

Not a year ago, I was approached by a couple of Brothers from Virginia about a new venture in Masonic entertainment / education, one of whom was Bro. Jason Richards. Richards is from Acacia Lodge in Clifton Virginia. He and the other Brother (Jon Ruark) wanted to start another podcast/vidcast. Since then, Jason and I have grown close due to our weekly interactions on the YouTube live show "The Masonic Roundtable" which is a weekly show much like the view. You can read more about it in an earlier blog post.

Jason writes for his own blog cleverly titled "The Two Foot Ruler - Masonry in Plain Language" and it is fantastic. Jason recently wrote a guest piece for us right here on The Midnight Freemasons and it received thousands of hits. You can read it here. Last week, I was avidly looking for more contributors that would write regularly for us here and Bro. Jason sent me a message on Facebook.

Without delaying this exciting news any further, I am so happy and excited to announce that Brother Jason Richards is the latest to join the Midnight Freemasons as a regular contributor. I know you will all enjoy his down to earth, yet profound writings on our craft.

Here is his bio;

Bro. Jason Richards is the Senior Deacon of Acacia Lodge No. 16 in Clifton, Virginia, and a member of both The Patriot Lodge No. 1957 and Fauquier Royal Arch Chapter No. 25 in Fairfax, Virginia. He is the sole author of the Masonic weblog The 2-Foot Ruler: Masonry in Plain Language, and is a co-host on the weekly YouTube show and podcast The Masonic Roundtable. He lives in Virginia with his wife, cats, and ever-expanding collection of bow ties.

Welcome aboard Brother Jason Richards!

~RJ et al