Losing My Father

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor

WB Gregory J. Knott

Last month, my father Jack Knott passed away. It was sudden, despite visible signs of his health in decline. I was away and my brother called me early in the morning to tell me that our father had fallen and had a stroke. It was serious and he was unlikely to survive.

My Father had made his wishes abundantly clear, if something like a stroke happened he did not want to be put on life support equipment. He put these wishes in writing and had them on file with the hospital. It made the tough decision for our family easier, knowing that his wishes were being carried out. By the end of the afternoon, he had passed away.

These events are always a whirlwind of activity, funeral arrangements had to be made, extended family notified, etc. It seems to all go so fast. Again thankfully my father had made his wishes known and things came together fairly quickly.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, having a traditional midwestern style visitation and funeral wasn’t practical. We opted for a simple graveside service. Our cousin officiated the service, Midnight Freemasons Founder Todd Creason read a poem that my Dad had left and the family would be given an opportunity to speak. The ceremony concluded with my friend and Masonic brother Todd Hitt playing Amazing Grace on the bagpipes.

My daughter Riley gave an amazing talk about what her Grandpa had meant to her. They had been particularly close since she was born. My dad had retired a couple of years before she was born and was one of her primary baby-sitters as my wife and I worked. It was a real gift that both my children knew him and their grandmother so well. Memories for a lifetime.

Dad was a people person first and foremost. I had put a note on Facebook of his passing and it received over 500 comments. He knew so many people and had so much impact on them, it was simply amazing to read all the comments. Students who had worked for Dad more than 40 years ago, spoke about how he had such an influence on their careers and how much they had learned from him that they took into the workplace.

My Dad was an excellent singer and especially enjoyed visiting area nursing homes to sing for the residents. He was a bright spot in their day. My Great-Grandmother and my dad were especially close. She loved to hear him sing, so my dad produced an album of him singing gospel songs for her in the early 1970’s. Dad wrote one song himself that he titled, “He Was Only 33”, referring to the age and story of Jesus Christ when he was crucified.

While my Dad was not a member of the Masonic Fraternity, he always came to our events and supported the work that we do. The Entered Apprentice is asked during the catechism “Where were you first prepared to be a Freemason? The answer is “In my heart.” For my Dad, everything was always first and foremost from his heart.

My Dad will always be with me, in my heart. His example of how he treated others is something that I will strive to emulate. His hard work ethic and good sense of humor were key tools that he used in motivating and working with others. His devotion to his family was exemplary.

Below is the poem, “When Tomorrow Starts Without me” by David Ramano that Todd Creason read at the funeral:.

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me
And I’m not there to see
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
All filled with tears for me.

I wish so much you wouldn’t cry
The way you did today
While thinking of the many things
We didn’t get to say.

I know how much you love me
As much as I love you
And each time that you think of me
I know you’ll miss me too.

But when tomorrow starts without me
Please try to understand
That an angel came and called my name
And he took me by the hand.

And said my place was ready
In heaven far above
And that I’d have to leave behind
All those I dearly love.

But when I walked through heaven’s gates
I felt so much love at home
When God looked down and smiled at me
From His great golden throne.

He said “This is eternity”
And all I’ve promised you
For life on earth is past
But here it starts anew.”

“I promise no tomorrow
For today will always speak last
And since each day’s the same way
There’s no longing for the past.

So when tomorrow starts without me
Don’t think we’re far apart
For every time you think of me
I’m right here in your heart.

In closing, I just want to say thank you Dad for everything. I will love and miss you always.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. He is a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D. and serves as its Secretary. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters. You can contact him at gknott63@gmail.com

The Attic

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Steven L. Harrison, 33°, FMLR

In 1816, General William Clark (of the Lewis and Clark Expedition) built what was one of only a few brick houses in St. Louis. Clark used the lower floor for business. Missouri Lodge 12, with its Tennessee charter, met in a room on the second story there from the time Clark completed the house until late 1817. Masons described the house as "poorly adapted for Masonic purposes and inconveniently located." They approached Brother Thompson Douglass, who was constructing a two-story building in the center of town, and persuaded him to add an attic, which the Masons could use. Were that building standing today where it stood in 1817, at its spot in the center of old St. Louis, it would be directly under the gleaming Gateway to the West monument, better known as the St. Louis Arch.

Upon its completion, the Masons moved into the thirty-eight square foot room to conduct their business. There they also founded Missouri Royal Arch Chapter No. 1, and, in 1821, organized the Grand Lodge of Missouri, chartering what today is St. Louis Missouri Lodge 1.

Frederick L. Billon was raised at the age of twenty-two in that very room. Born in 1801, Billon lived to be 94 years of age in a life that spanned virtually all of the 19th century. He served as Missouri's Grand Secretary for many years and thoroughly chronicled Missouri Masonry during that time. In his memoirs, he talks about one particular meeting in that third-story room which he attended on Friday April 29, 1825.

That evening, the young Brother, still a relatively new Mason, ascended the creaky wooden stairs and as he entered the Lodge room, he discovered two visitors. In Billon's words, "we were honored by a visit from our Nation's distinguished guest, our illustrious Brother General Lafayette, on the occasion of his visit to St. Louis, accompanied by his son George Washington Lafayette, on which occasion they were both duly elected Honorary members of our Grand Lodge." The United States had invited the 68-year-old French aristocrat, who had supported our country and commanded American troops in the Revolution, to tour the country.

Billon writes, "This room was used for Masonic purposes… until the close of the year 1833, when Missouri Lodge No. 1, under the pressure of circumstances, ceased her labors for a time, and the Grand Lodge was removed to Columbia Boone County." The so-called "pressure of circumstances" he mentions is a euphemism for the brutal aftermath of the Morgan affair.

For sixteen years that nondescript room provided an auspicious venue for the formation of the Grand Lodge of Missouri and served as its Grand Lodge offices. It also saw the formation of Missouri's first Lodge, the first Missouri Royal Arch Chapter, was a reception room for the great Lafayette, hosted the ceremony honoring him, and saw countless other Masonic ceremonies and events – all this in an attic that was conceived as an afterthought.

It's graphic proof that it doesn't matter where Brothers meet; rather it matters how they meet, act and part.

~SLH

Bro. Steve Harrison, 33°, is Past Master of Liberty Lodge #31, Liberty, Missouri. He is also a Fellow and Past Master of the Missouri Lodge of Research. Among his other Masonic memberships is the St. Joseph Missouri Valley of the Scottish Rite, Liberty York Rite bodies, and Moila Shrine. He is also a member and Past Dean of the DeMolay Legion of Honor. Brother Harrison is a regular contributor to the Midnight Freemasons blog as well as several other Masonic publications. Brother Steve was Editor of the Missouri Freemason magazine for a decade and is a regular contributor to the Whence Came You podcast. Born in Indiana, he has a Master's Degree from Indiana University and is retired from a 35-year career in information technology. Steve and his wife Carolyn reside in northwest Missouri. He is the author of dozens of magazine articles and three books: Freemasonry Crosses the Mississippi, Freemasons — Tales From the Craft and Freemasons at Oak Island.

Serving as a Steward

By Midnight Freemasons Senior Contributor

W.B. Gregory J. Knott

I will be serving as the Senior Steward of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 this coming year. WB Darin Lahners, Master of St. Joseph Lodge appointed me to this position and I am glad to serve.

As I was being installed during a meeting held virtually on Zoom, I listened to the ritual from the Illinois Book of Ceremonials; “....you are appointed Senior Steward of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970, and will now be invested with the jewel and rod of your office. You are to assist the deacons and other officers in performing their respective duties, and when the lodge is at refreshment it will by your province to extend to visiting brethren such attentions as circumstances may suggest. Your regular and early attendance at our meetings will afford the best proof of zeal and attachment to the lodge. You will repair to your respective place in the lodge.”

As I thought about what these duties were, I thought to myself, this job is really a good fit for me. I had already served as Master of St. Joseph Lodge in 2011, so I’ve already had the opportunity to sit in the Oriental Chair. I have never been one to be a Grumpy Past Master, so I am eager to help the lodge try new things and do it differently than I did as Master.

I enjoy working with new members, especially those that may be holding an office for the first time. I’m not a great ritualist, but I know enough to help get them to know and understand the work. As Senior Steward, I am in a good position to assist in this role.

Greeting visitors and ensuring they have a good experience in visiting our lodge is of utmost importance. A friendly lodge is a place where they will want to return. This kind of welcoming atmosphere is vital for brothers to have the ability to learn, achieve personal growth, and get those things out of masonry that we so boldly promise during the degree work.

As a Steward I am charged with being a regular attendee of meetings and to ensure I am there early. Doing so illustrates my zeal and attachment to lodge. But is merely showing up early and often enough? My answer is no, there is more to be done.

So many times, we end up putting brothers in the Stewards chairs, just so we can fill the slate of officers for the year, even when in many cases we know they might never actually come to the meeting. But the Senior Steward is in a unique position to have a great influence in the lodge through assisting other brothers and helping foster the atmosphere for our brothers to become all they might be.

I am looking forward to my year as Senior Steward.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. He is a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D. and serves as its Secretary. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters. You can contact him at gknott63@gmail.com

Where are you going to dwell?

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Brian L. Pettice, 33˚

As we return to lodge in the coming days, hopefully we can also return to thinking of and treating our brethren and our fellow human beings better than our social media posts and the news suggests that we have during these past few months.

In the Grand Lodge of Illinois the second degree scripture reading is from 1 Corinthians 13 verses 1-7 and 13. Let us consider these verses and how we might reflect on and apply them to return to or strengthen that Brotherly Love that we Masons profess to believe. I think if we insert ourselves into these verses and make them about each of us, it can serve as a look in the mirror that spurs a call to action.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

The first thing that comes to my mind in reading this is the use of the word charity. In other translations the word love is used. In any case, the many scholars believe that the word takes the meaning of the Greek agape or that love which is unchanging and unconditional—that love which selflessly puts the needs of others ahead of self without expectation of reward. In order to understand this better, let’s look at the English standard Version of the same verses.

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

The first three verses tell us that whatever spiritual gifts we may come to possess or sacrifices we may make, are useless without love. Verses four through seven tell us how love should be. The final verse charges us to remain or dwell in Faith, Hope, and Love—but the greatest is Love.

Few places in the Masonic ritual is there a better description of how we should see and treat and love each other. But do we?

Here is the exercise that I think will provide that look in the mirror—that deep reflection we take of ourselves, our motives, and our actions—that hopefully drives us to action. In verses four through seven, turn each statement describing Love and make it a question about yourself.

Am I patient and kind?

Do I envy or boast?

Am I arrogant or rude?

Do I insist on my own way?

Am I irritable or resentful?

Do I rejoice at wrong doing or at the truth?

Do I bear all things, do I believe all things, do I hope all things, do I endure all things?

Do I remain or dwell in Faith, Hope, and especially Love?

What are your answers to these questions? Are you happy with those answers? What action are you going to take?

Where are you going to dwell?

~BLP

Brian L. Pettice, 33° is a Past Master of Anchor Lodge No. 980 and plural member of Olive Branch Lodge No. 38 in Danville, IL and an Honorary Member of a couple of others. He is also an active member of both the York and Scottish Rites. He cherishes the Brothers that have become Friends over the years and is thankful for the opportunities Freemasonry gives and has given him to examine and improve himself, to meet people he might not otherwise have had chance to meet, and to do things he might not otherwise have had a chance to do. He is employed as an electrician at the University of Illinois and lives near Alvin, IL with his wife Janet and their son Aidan. He looks forward to sharing the joy the fraternity brings him with others. His email address is aasrmason@gmail.com.