Coming Back Is Not Easy

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor
WB Gregory J. Knott

I don’t know about you, but returning to meetings for the blue lodge and other groups has been harder than I thought.   After basically a year of not attending meetings in person, I’ve come to see I have a different perspective on the necessity of my attendance.   I haven’t had as much free time as I did in the last year since I was very young and I have very much enjoyed not going to as many meetings.

As we get back into full speed, I have personally made the determination that I am going to attend meetings I wish to attend, not because I have to attend.   My days of going to mindless business meetings that really serve no purpose other than to plan the next mindless business meeting or talk about who is behind on paying dues are going to be limited.   

This isn’t to imply that I am down on Freemasonry, because I am not.  However, for me, Freemasonry isn’t reading the minutes, talking about a roof for months on end or complaining about the same guys who don’t pay their dues on time year after year.    Freemasonry to me should be educational opportunities, fellowship, service to others, and work within the community all with a purpose of individual self-improvement. 

What are your thoughts on returning to the lodge?  Do you look at things differently?  Are you satisfied with the way things were going before the pandemic and hope they return?  I am curious about your thoughts and perspectives.   Please leave them here in the comments or on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/midnightfreemasons

~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

A Timeless Lesson for All Freemasons

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

It's been a spell since getting down to my Scottish Rite Valley. This last Saturday marked the first Reunion since Covid began. It was billed as a "Mini" Reunion--but make no mistake, while the day was shorter, and we had fewer degrees being put on, it was still a tremendous success. I imagine there are many Valleys across the United States and the world who are experiencing these first few events post-Covid 19, and I'll bet they're having success too.

As I mentioned, it had been a while since I had been to the Valley, and because of this, I hadn't seen the new 4th degree. First of all, you might be thinking, "New 4th degree?" Yes--as most know, the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction changes things up from time to time and rotates things around. It keeps things fresh, I suppose.

The first time I saw the 4th degree was back in 2013--I think. It was a live performance put on by my Valley, and it was cool. Although, I must admit the nature of it was less than exciting. That 4th degree was really just a few little snips of what to expect in other degrees and kind of sold you on the idea of the Scottish Rite. The next time I saw the 4th degree, it was a video--the phrase, "Hello, Hiram!" echoes in my brain still, although it's a total inside joke amongst friends and accompanied by some eye-rolling and laughing. The video was pretty cheesy.

Then, that same version got an update--A new video! I know, I know--some dudes really hate the videos. I'm not a big fan either, but it's what we sometimes have. So anyway, this new video was updated and had some better acting, better visuals, and better overall production.

When I attended our Reunion this past weekend, the 4th degree was being shown in video form, and imagine my surprise--it was a new version! Do my exclamation points give you the impression that I was shocked? Well, I was shocked. Not for the reasons you might think. This new 4th degree was an actual degree. The preview of the Scottish Rite was gone. Right away, I loved it.

This new 4th degree was fascinating. It focussed on Hiram and the building of the Temple. The lesson it threw out to the viewers was, on the surface, pretty great. But the underlying lesson was awesome--and it really was something that I think we all realize at some point in our Masonic lives.

Hiram talks to God in the degree, lamenting that the workers just follow the plans, but he alone has all this stress to design the building. He has a revelation that, well, “Teamwork makes the dream work.” He realizes that all the workers help build the temple. Let me type that out again--all the workers help build the Temple.

What is the Temple representative of again? Aha! So now think about this for just a hot minute. All the people around you, the builders--your fellow Brothers exhibit some form of influence on you and thus become a part of the workforce building your Temple.

We all know this--right? It's a given in some respects. We know that part of Freemasonry is being surrounded by good men who, in turn, influence you. I'm reminded of a quote by the famous and outlandish businessman Daniel Peña: "Show me your friends, and I'll show you your future."

I cannot say whether or not this little "lesson" was intentional in writing the new 4th degree. But what I will say is that it's a damn good reminder.

~RHJ

RWB Johnson is a Co-Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. RWB:.Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & several others relating to Freemasonry and the occult. 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 author and editor of several Masonic books.

The Original Mr. T.

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Steven L. Harrison, 33°, FMLR

Most everyone has heard of Mr. T. He's an actor probably best known for his role as Sergeant Bosco Albert "B.A." (Bad Attitude) Baracus on The A-Team, a TV series from the late 1980s. The Baracus character became his breakout personality as a gruff, intimidating, no-nonsense dude who was a gentle giant… until provoked. People quickly learned – don't mess with Mr. T.

Surprisingly, someone who might be called the original Mr. T had a lot in common with his contemporary counterpart. He was a man named John Smith, who was born in Essex County Virginia sometime around 1771, and whom Ray Denslow has called, "An Original Bad Man."

In an alphabetical roll of the members of the first Lodge west of the Mississippi River, Louisiana Lodge 109, nestled between the names of "Smith, Reuben" and "Terry, Robert," appears the curious entry:

T, John Smith (C as Fellowcraft)

The cryptic entry after his name indicates he was a charter member of the Lodge in 1807 and came in as a Fellowcraft. The Lodge of his initiation remains unknown.  In 1789, still in his teens, young John Smith moved to Tennessee and somehow scraped up enough money to buy land there. With that transaction, he launched a career as a land baron and entrepreneur. Subsequently, he made extensive land purchases in Tennessee and expanded his holdings to Alabama. He became increasingly aware his name was a common one, which not only led to confusion in social situations, but also opened him up to become a victim of fraud if that confusion oozed its way over into his land contracts. He figured he needed a more distinctive name and decided to call himself "John Smith T," adding the single letter to indicate he was the John Smith from Tennessee.

Smith was a mild-mannered man and what might be said to be a "smooth-talker." He had the ability to work his way through business deals, always coming out on top. By the late 18th century, he laid claim to more than a quarter-million acres in Tennessee and northern Alabama. He set his sights on Missouri's lucrative lead mining facilities and moved there in 1797.

Brother T was successful as an entrepreneur, not so much as a result of his gifted social abilities but much more due to the fact he was a ruthless businessman. He was as nasty as they came and had the ability to make our Mr. T of the A-Team look like one of God's chosen angels.

Attempting to control the lead mining industry in Missouri, Smith T had to go up against the most powerful resident in the area, Moses Austin, father of the founder of Texas, Brother Stephen Austin. He talked, cajoled, and battled his way into several powerful positions including becoming a judge, commissioner of weights and levies, and a lieutenant colonel in the militia. With those credentials and his domineering character, he broke Austin's monopoly.

Mr. T didn't stop there. He used the lead he mined to make ammunition and began manufacturing firearms. In order to build his business, he used slave labor to assemble his guns which quickly developed the reputation of being the finest arms in the region.  He used his own weapons to become an expert marksman and that, combined with his personality's short fuse led him in a new direction. Insult Mr. T, and you would find yourself challenged to a duel in a time where anyone turning down such a challenge would be branded a coward for life.

T had a chip on his shoulder the size of the Louisiana Territory, always wore two guns at his side, two in his coat pockets, had a Bowie knife and carried a rifle he called "Hark From the Tombs." Many considered him the most dangerous man in Missouri; yet, his deceptive outward demeanor led one man to call him, "As mild a mannered man as ever put a bullet into the human body."

In 1821, a man named Richard Rose tried to persuade some of John Smith T's slaves to leave him. Smith T, in retaliation, shot and killed Rose, and became the first person to be indicted for murder in Washington County, Missouri. The indictment never went any farther and this "Teflon Desperado" was never tried for the crime. Nine years later in St.Genevieve, he got into an argument with Samuel Ball, settling things by taking out his gun and shooting Ball, who died instantly. This time he was tried but acquitted and never punished.

In 1806, he made the mistake of teaming up with Aaron Burr in Burr's futile attempt to invade Mexico. Upon learning a presidential proclamation made Burr's scheme illegal, T returned to Missouri, blaming Burr for deceiving him. Still, the federal government issued a warrant against him for treason. When officers attempted to arrest him, Smith drew his pistol and told them to leave him alone. Knowing how mean he was, they did just that. The warrant was never executed, but for that act, he was removed from all public offices.

Years later, Lionel Browne, Burr's nephew, heard T insult Burr. Browne, either out of naivety or stupidity, challenged T to a duel. Early the next morning, Browne lay dead on a dew-covered meadow in Herculaneum, Missouri, with a bullet in his forehead. An expert marksman with the best artillery, T is known to have killed at least fifteen men on the so-called "field of honor."

An enigma of a man, the quiet, unassuming Mr. T, with an itchy trigger finger was known to donate land to churches and schools. He was generous with the poor and contributed to the construction of roads and canals which helped to open the country for western expansion. No record exists that the Grand Lodge of Missouri ever sanctioned Brother T. Dueling, however, was another matter. The practice became so prevalent in the untamed territories of the early US that some Grand Lodges banned the practice, sometimes with little effect.

This man who lived by the gun did not die by one. Rather, in 1836, at the age of about 65, he died a comparatively quiet death from a fever he contracted on a trip to Tennessee.

For all his faults – and they were many – the original Mr. T, like his twentieth-century counterpart, was a gentle giant… until provoked, and, just like today, people of the 19th century quickly learned – don't mess with Mr. T.

~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.

Do We Really Love Our Country?

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Ken JP Stuczynski

When I was a child and told to shut up or not do something, I would often argue, "It's a free country!" It never ended in my favor. Hence was forged a stubborn rebel, and it's no wonder I gravitated toward political philosophies that seemed committed to personal social and economic freedom. Like most people, I grafted my own notions of Liberty onto what we were taught in school about the Founding Fathers and what we were told were uniquely American ideals.

I did the same for Masonry, of course, not just because many of those Fathers were Masons, but the respect for personal conscience and judgment filled the need of my inner child getting to make his own choices. I found a place where I could always act of my own free will and accord. I found a place of personal development with completely individualistic interpretations and self-accountability. Only honest self-reflection and whispered wise counsel save me from such overindulgence, though perhaps not enough often enough

There's always the other side of the coin. When I learned one of our charges for the Second Degree, I was confronted with words that placed strong emphasis on the collective good — socially, economically, and politically. The needs of neighbor and nation could not be ignored, or perhaps had even to take precedence. My iciness toward collectivism felt a bit of challenging heat. My dominant individualism was called out, and it put into question the moral supremacy of personal conscience. There's so much for me to ramble on the couch while you take notes, but let's bring it forward to further Light.

One of the core values of the Scottish Rite is "Devotion to Country". In Eastern Star, a lesson of the office of Color Bearer (one that I've held many years) is that Patriotism is essential to good citizenship. Patriotism is most commonly defined as love of one's country. Simple enough. However, the words and actions of so many people this last year have seen my own conflict between personal freedom and the common good play out on a massive scale.

The question hit me the other day: How can we say we "love" our country if we have so little regard for our fellow citizens? Is Liberty really just the ability to do whatever we want without concern as to consequence or what freedom it takes away from other people? We suffer a million little laws – and I have argued time and again it's a million too many – and yet some people chose to die on a hill of so little consequence and inconvenience while wholesale injustices are ignored or even ridiculed. It's actually easy to see once you figure it out — people define Liberty purely in terms of what THEY can or cannot do. If it doesn't affect them, they don't care, and if it does, even a reasonable request feels like their God-given freedom has been taken away. Others who don't get their way should pipe down and not dare to object in any way that affects us. Law and Order is always for the other guy. We don't need it except to protect us from others and never the other way around. In other words, we use words and symbols of patriotism as a do-what-we-want-card. "It's a free country", after all. And we feel darn patriotic about that.

We "love" our freedom to worship how we want, say what we want, and go and do what we want. Many of us especially love the privilege of doing so without, all other things being equal, being hindered on the count of the color of our skin. But our "love" ends there, with our OWN religion, language, political affiliation. We claim to be "patriotic" but hate so many of our own countrymen, and the only way we can justify it is to consider them in one way or another not "true Americans".

It seems that "love" of country can be nothing more than a feeling, a pride we insist of ourselves and others, while ignoring or avoiding the trappings of social or civic obligations. But what of Devotion? That implies action. That means service. And it's more than service, but selfless service. Wearing one uniform or another, do we protect and serve only to preserve our particular way of life for those we know and love? Or do we fight – sometimes ironically with civil disobedience – to protect or win the rights and privileges of everyone, even those not like ourselves or those whose existence does not benefit our slice of society?

If we were taught Civics, we would know that Liberty without responsibility is license and such a free man is in actuality a libertine, Masonry has taught me that even Love or Devotion to Country cannot be a solitary virtue. It must meet and act with tolerance and justice, which by their very natures, cannot be a pursuit with aims limited to ourselves. Justice is a collective virtue and any injustice done to one of us is done to all of us, even if we do not directly feel the sting of it. Can there truly be any Love or Devotion without exercising Charity, that greatest of graces, that Compassion where we actively care for and about the welfare of all? Do our words and deeds reflect that, or the selfish, narrow yet comfortable groove of Individualism? How can we be willing to die for our Country but not live for the betterment of all its citizens?

I still don't care much for laws and rules and authority. But my Love of my Countrymen – all of them – has not turned me away from the symbols of Patriotism so shallowly or duplicitly used by others. The contradictions and conflicts of this past year have sharpened and tempered my appreciation for the difficult balance of American and Masonic values of individualism and collective good. We don't always deserve it, but God Bless America!

~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”.