the OMAHA valley
Scottish rite freemasonry 1867-2014
By Wm. Larry Jacobsen 33째
The Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Freemasonry H 1867-2014
The Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Freemasonry 1867-2014 By Wm. Larry Jacobsen 33° Research Assistant Micah I. Evans 33° Produced by: Omaha World-Herald Co. All rights reserved Copyright © 2015 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior consent from Omaha Valley Scottish Rite First Edition ISBN: 978-0-692-33883-4 Printed in the United States by Automatic Printing Co.
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2 Foreword 4 Prologue 6 From Whence We Came • 1717-1860 10 Sewing Seeds in a New Land • 1854 -1875 14 Struggling to Survive • 1867-1890 28 Going It Alone • 1890 - 1911 40 Foundation for the Future • 1912-1914 54 Going to Work • 1915-1929 74 Great Depression, Great Revival • 1929-1966 86 Winds of Change • 1967-1997 102 That Which Is Right • 1998-2014 132 Epilogue
Foreword •
T
he Omaha Valley of the Scottish Rite has a long and rich history. Its heritage connects us through time to reveal the patterns of our past and guides our actions in the present and future. Our history is not only a treasure to be preserved, it is an essential element in allowing us to build on a secure foundation. Our story now stretches from the 1867 entrance of Scottish Rite in Nebraska to the 2014 Centennial of the Omaha Valley’s Scottish Rite Masonic Center. We reflect with pride on the strength, perseverance, creativity and invigoration of our members past and present in permitting us to continue our glorious tradition of “doing that which it is right to do.” And what a dynamic start we have in moving forward in the 21st century. The 2014 Reunion class represents a younger demographic: 44% of those joining were under 40 years of age and a full 95% were under 60. We are more engaged than ever, with new members joining the Knights of St. Andrew in 2014. The Royal Order of the Duck and the Culinary Masters also continue to draw new active members. The education initiatives of Master Craftsman Program, Ethics Initiative, Valley Membership Achievement Project and Masonic Education programs are attracting a wide diversity of Omaha Valley members. 1914 Postcard.
2 foreword
We are inspired that so many of our younger members view the Scottish Rite as an academy of virtue. They are a promise for our future. The perpetual care and restoration of our Scottish Rite Masonic Center mirrors the creativeness of our members. What once was a space only for fraternal gatherings now has blossomed into one of Omaha’s most cherished historic venues, and we proudly share it with the community for banquets, receptions, performances and group meetings. The Omaha Valley has come a long, long way over the past 147 years. Those who lead the organization through the 21st century will be the beneficiaries of a Valley that has stayed true to its mission, resulting in a Masonic organization of pride and service to mankind. For two years, Larry Jacobsen 33° and Micah Evans 33° have researched the history of the Omaha Valley of the Scottish Rite, and I congratulate them on the extraordinary results of their work. Fraternally and Sincerely,
Charles V. Sederstrom Jr. 33° Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Nebraska
Scottish Rite Masonic Center in the 1980s.
foreword 3
Prologue •
B
y Wednesday morning, February 2, 1870, Omaha businessman Charles F. Catlin had cleared his calendar for the rest of the business week. He had canceled a few appointments and social engagements in downtown Omaha and then informed his wife he would not be home for dinner for the next three nights. Catlin knew little of the agenda for which he’d be giving up his valuable time, other than his good friend Robert Carrel Jordan had urged to join him with several other active Masons to become the charter class of a Scottish Rite body in Nebraska. Catlin’s appointment with Jordan was at 9:00 a.m., so he hurriedly bundled up for the brisk carriage drive through the rutted streets of downtown, made all the more treacherous by a combination of mud and ice from a recent snow and the thaw that followed. He stabled his horse and carriage just north of 15th and Farnam Street and made his way along the rickety wooden boardwalks. Turning east on to Farnam Street, he dodged crates, barrels and other items for sale that overflowed from the one- and two-story businesses that lined the street. Arriving at his destination, his expectations quickly soured. Catlin was not impressed. More than 50 years later, long after he had taken up the legal profession and moved his practice to Colorado, he thought back to that cold week in February 1870 in Omaha, Nebraska, and wrote: “The place selected for this purpose was a little low, dingy room which Bro. Martin Dunham had kindly offered over his Harness and Saddlery store on the north side of Farnam Street between 14th and 15th Streets, where we sat from 9 a.m. until 11 p.m. for three days, in an atmosphere so dense and foul with tobacco smoke we could cut it with a knife, while Bro. Webber read to us the secret Work of the several degrees, during which but few were fully awake much of the time and knew little more at the close than at the beginning. Under these conditions it is unnecessary to say that the impressions received were far from what they should have been.” 1
4 prologue
And so began the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in Nebraska. It was, in a word, unpromising – the ritual was long and complex, the setting undignified, and the prospects for organization and growth seemed ill-fated. But this episode would mirror the struggles for definition, organization, growth and stability in the long history of Masonic organizations. The time from the early remnants of Scottish operative lodges to the formation of the first Grand Lodge in England spanned more than 120 years. From the French Hauts Grades (Higher Degrees) Chapter of Clermont in 1748, it would take 50 years to evolve into the Ancient and Accepted Rite in America. It would then take another 60-plus years before Albert Pike would give us the ritual and organization of the Scottish Rite we know today. Each era was filled with peril, uncertainty and great hope. The Omaha Valley, as it would come to be known, was no exception.
To do that which it is right to do, not because it will insure you success, or bring with it a reward, or gain the applause of men, or be “the best policy”, more prudent or more advisable, but because it is right, and therefore ought to be done. — Albert Pike
Roughly 200 years before Albert Pike penned those words, the genesis of Freemasonry was taking hold in Scotland, Ireland and England. Rather than a defined organization, Freemasonry in its earliest sense became a system of philosophy with emphasis on moral and social virtues. Pike would become one of the most prolific in building on that philosophical theme. The system was incorporated into Pike’s development of the 32 degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. Buried deep in the long lecture of the 14th degree was the sentence beginning with “To do that which is it right to do ... ” In the year 2000, 130 years after Pike wrote those words, Illustrious Brother Charles Amidon 33°, Past Grand Master in Nebraska, proposed that phrase as the motto of the Omaha Valley of the Scottish Rite. The membership embraced those words and added the tenets of Morality, Education and Charity as the mission. While philosophy can guide our existence, organizing and sustaining the lofty endeavors envisioned by Albert Pike was quite another matter. The early years of the Scottish Rite in Nebraska did not follow a smooth path. But with a strong dose of persistence from Albert Pike and Omaha’s Robert Carrel Jordan, the organization and the philosophy of the Scottish Rite in Nebraska came together in a sound union. The Omaha Valley was ready to take on the mantle, “To do that which it is right to do.”
prologue 5
1717-1860
From Whence We Came The well-being of every nation, like that of every individual, is threefold – physical, moral and intellectual. — Albert Pike •
T
he history and membership of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Omaha, has always reflected Freemasonry as a whole. The Valley of Omaha triumphed over an uncertain start, as did the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. The founding of the first Grand Lodge of Masons at London in 1717 set forth the concept of separate degrees. First came Apprentice and Fellow Craft, and a third degree, the Master Mason, later was added. After the failed Jacobite Rebellion of 1745, many Scottish Masons emigrated to France and established Lodges there. Within 20 years, there was a dramatic rise in demand among the nobility, aristocracy, military officers and government officials for even more degrees to further the number of specialized lessons. These Hauts Grades (High Grades or Degrees) became popular and exploded in numbers. As best documented, more than 1,100 Masonic-related degrees have been developed over the past 300 years, 2 with most evolving in the 18th century. Through a passage of several individuals and patents (granting exclusive rights to a person), the degrees made their way from France to Jamaica, to New York and ultimately to Charleston, South Carolina. The Ancient and Accepted (Scottish) Rite was formed at Shepherd’s Tavern in Charleston under the governance of the Mother Supreme Council of the World — a lofty title for an organization that would not grow substantially beyond its state borders for another 50 years. Nonetheless, on May 31, 1801, the Supreme Council was in place, and the Sovereign Grand Commander and the Lieutenant Grand Commander took on the challenge of expanding the Supreme Council.
6 from whence we came
Albert Pike served as Sovereign Grand Commander from 1859 until his death in 1891.
1867-1890
Struggling to Survive We must pass through the darkness, to reach the light. — Albert Pike •
N
ebraska was still very much frontier country in the 1860s, with thousands of new settlers flocking to the West. In Omaha, new businesses were flourishing, but many also failed. Newly platted counties and towns vied for the best locations for shipping, railroads and industry. Many residents would succeed, but others would have to settle for less or just move on. The Omaha Valley of the Scottish Rite mirrored this hard scramble to survive as it sought to establish a Consistory and join the expanding Bodies of Freemasonry in Nebraska. Many times defeat seemed imminent, but as often happens, it fell upon a single individual to see beyond the quagmire and do that which it is right to do. The Civil War and the economic and social travails that followed defined the difficulty of the 1860s. But for the Scottish Rite, the latter part of the decade was quite productive. Albert Pike’s personal challenges during the war were recompensed by significant progress of the Scottish Rite. The Supreme Council was reorganized and its headquarters relocated to Washington, D.C., and Pike’s rewritten rituals of the Rite were virtually completed. Meanwhile, attacks from within and without the Rite were turned back, and relations with the Northern Jurisdiction had improved significantly. Jurisprudence of the Supreme Council was refined, strengthened and expanded, and the fiscal and accounting systems were reorganized. 7 Pike completed his seminal work Morals and Dogma in 1865, and it was ultimately published in 1871. All these successes allowed Pike to focus on growth of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction. His strategy for expansion of the Rite was apparent. The nation's eastern half had been decimated by the Civil War, and it would be many years before some areas were reconstructed and social patterns returned to normal. Pike instead turned his focus to the Western states and territories that were now being rapidly settled, due in large part to the transcontinental railroad and the Homestead Act.
14 struggling to survive
Farnam Street looking west from 14th Street in the vicinity of Martin Dunham’s Harness & Saddlery store in about 1867. The Nebraska territorial capitol is on the horizon. struggling to survive 15
1890-1911
Going It Alone A man should live with his superiors as he does with his fire: not too near, lest he burn; nor too far off, lest he freeze. — Albert Pike •
T
he Rite had weathered three decades of instability that had hampered its growth. But beginning around 1890, a quiet but significant transformation began to take place in the Nebraska Consistory, as well as the entire Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite. 37 Since 1857 Robert Carrel Jordan had been the preeminent leader in nearly all Masonic-related organizations in Nebraska, serving two terms as Sovereign Grand Inspector General for the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in Nebraska. In October 1897, Jordan resigned as SGIG, a development that was not unexpected. The transition opened the door to a new set of leaders, some of whom were untested, but they were all the wiser for having known Jordan’s commitment and consistency in advancing the Rite in Nebraska. Jordan himself was again elected as an Emeritus Member and would live another 11 years. A more difficult transition followed the death of Grand Commander Albert Pike in 1891 at the age of 81. He had been in poor health for a number of years, but his mental faculties were sound to the end, even penning his own famous epitaph: “When I am dead, I wish my monument to be builded only in the hearts and memories of my brethren of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, and my name be remembered by them in every country, no matter what language men speak there, where the light of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite shall shine, and its Oracles of Truth and Wisdom be reverently listened to.” Albert Pike’s death set in motion considerable speculation about the future leadership of the Supreme Council and whether the Grand Commander’s position should be by term limits or for life. While Pike served for over 30 years as Grand Commander,
28 going it alone
his successor, James C. Batchelor, served less than two years before his death in 1893. Phillip C. Tucker also served only two years, dying in 1895, while Thomas H. Caswell served five years before his death in 1900. Natural attrition had solved the issue of life terms for Grand Commanders. The 20th Century would experience well-balanced terms ranging from six to 31 years, ensuring that the leadership of the Supreme Council was in good hands. Consistories throughout the Southern Jurisdiction in the 1890s embarked on positive growth due to a more stabilized population, favorable economic conditions (excepting the nationwide Panic of 1893) and a growing acceptance of the Scottish Rite as a major Masonic appendant body . In the decade of 1891-1901, the Nebraska Consistory nearly tripled its growth, from 123 members to 310. The Southern Jurisdiction membership grew from 2,197 to 9,919, and the total receipts for the Secretary General’s office increased 242 percent over the decade. 38 The Consistories took good charge of their own administrations without constant guidance from the Supreme Council. The fruits of Albert Pike’s labors lived on.
The Cerneau Problem Nebraska, and more specifically Omaha, began the decade of 1890 with a robust economy and significant growth in nearly all the Masonic and appendant bodies, in spite of outside challenges. In July 1888, the Omaha World-Herald reported that a competing Scottish Rite Masonry had been instituted in Omaha. This higher degree Masonry, known as the Cerneau Rite, after its founder Joseph Cerneau, had been instituted in other jurisdictions and created controversy among the Scottish Rite Supreme Councils. In essence, the patents allowing Joseph Cerneau to propagate the degrees of the Rite were questionable, and therefore considered irregular in Masonic terms. The Cerneau degrees of higher Masonry already had been claimed by the Scottish Rite Southern Jurisdiction, which had been working regularly in Nebraska for the past 30 years. 39
John J. Mercer 1833 – 1915 Began as a blacksmith in Pennsylvania, moved to Iowa in 1854, joined the Union forces in the Civil War, attaining rank of Captain. Moved to Brownville, Nebraska, elected to Nebraska State Legislature. Served as Grand Master of Masons in Nebraska 1889-90. Received the 33° Honorary in 1892.
1912-1914
Foundation for the Future To work with the hands or brain, according to our requirements and our capacities, to do that which lies before us to do, is more honorable than rank and title. — Albert Pike • © omaha world-herald co.
T
John Latenser, architect of Omaha’s Scottish Rite Cathedral.
40 foundation for the future
he leadership of the Omaha Scottish Rite Cathedral Association must have stepped back, taken a deep breath and reflected on Omaha’s healthy economy before deciding it was ready to “go it alone” with the new building. Over the preceding decade, Omaha’s population had increased by 22 percent, to more than 124,000 in 1910. In the next decade it would increase 54 percent to nearly 192,000 residents. Business in Omaha was robust – railroading, grain markets, livestock, banking and all the commercial and retail establishments that followed. The Omaha Valley also benefited from the city’s growth, from 231 members in 1900 to 664 by 1910. By 1915, membership had broken the 1,000 mark at 1,316. With a strong economy and a growing membership, it was time to proceed with the new Cathedral. Tangier Shrine’s withdrawal as a partner in the new Cathedral led to a reduction of the earlier proposed four-story structure to three floors plus a basement. Architect Charles Murdock, who assisted in the 1905 concept plans, had been replaced by John Latenser, one of the most esteemed and prolific architects of his generation in Omaha.
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Latenser was born in Lichtenstein and came to Omaha in 1887. He set up his own practice and by 1900, his services were in high demand. Prior to the Scottish Rite, he had designed Omaha’s Central High School, the J.L. Brandeis Building, Douglas County Courthouse and many other schools and office buildings. Nearly all employed features of Neoclassical architecture. The Cathedral Board was well aware of the building boom of Scottish Rite Cathedrals and Temples throughout the country and was committed to achieving the highest quality of classical design, both inside and out. The selected general contractor for the Cathedral was F.P. Gould & Sons, well respected for work in stone and classical detailing. John Latenser would not disappoint. In the Sunday World-Herald, March 17, 1912, the Omaha Valley went public with a rendering and an article about the new Scottish Rite Cathedral. The story promised “a stately building, Neoclassicism in its architecture, fireproof in its construction and magnificent in its proportions.”
1915-1929
Going to Work What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. — Albert Pike •
T
Omaha Masonic Temple at 19th & Douglas in 1918.
54 going to work
he Omaha Valley continued to ride the crest of a national economic wave that would continue unabated for more than a decade. The country was going through a period of significant transformation both culturally and economically with new products and technology, the infrastructure of roads, electrification and telephone lines, and the urbanization of America. For the first time, more Americans lived in cities of over 2,500 people than in small towns or rural areas. Much of this transformation resulted in new-found wealth for individuals, corporations and social organizations. The Omaha Valley used this prosperity not only to support the Masonic and Scottish Rite charities, but also to broaden the philosophy and philanthropy of the Scottish Rite outside the organization “to do that which it is right to do.” Other Nebraska Consistory bodies benefited from the economy as well. Lincoln completed its Temple in 1917, Hastings in 1930 and Alliance in 1917. In Omaha, the Grand Lodge of Nebraska Masonic Temple Craft Board purchased a site on the northeast corner of 19th and Douglas Street, and commenced design for a magnificent new Masonic Temple. The seven-story, 100,000 square foot structure was to
house the Grand Lodge offices, numerous Blue Lodges, York Rite bodies, Tangier Shrine, Order of Eastern Star and other Masonicrelated organizations. A large auditorium and banquet hall on the top floor could accommodate 2,000 people, and on the lower two floors were commercial and retail offices. It was estimated that more than 3,000 members of the Masonic orders The 1915 Reunion Banquet filled the ballroom of the Scottish Rite Cathedral. attended the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone on October 4, 1916. The completion of Omaha’s Scottish Rite Cathedral with minimal debt, a robust economy and far-sighted management positioned the Omaha Valley to move forward. Omaha Valley total membership grew from 1,316 in 1915 to 3,960 by 1920. The three 1919 reunions alone yielded 619 new members, and the 1920 class was close behind at 554 members. By 1926, the Omaha Valley would reach its first peak at 5,308 members — phenomenal growth over one decade. Even before the Cathedral’s completion, most philanthropic initiatives were directed toward Masonic charities, or internally to Scottish Rite efforts, such as the Low Twelve Club, which provided relief for members in need. But as funds grew exponentially from the large groups of new members, new ventures sprouted both internally and for community betterment. The Omaha Valley and its beneficiaries were poised for an exceptional future.
going to work 55
1929-1966
Great Depression, Great Revival Above all things let us never forget that mankind constitutes one great brotherhood; all born to encounter suffering and sorrow, and therefore bound to sympathize with each other. — Albert Pike •
T
he Great Depression of the 1930s affected everyone, from the failing banks in New York City to the Dust Bowl and near famine in the Plains states. But for conservative individuals and organizations that would save for the rainy day and scale their operations accordingly, the pain was not as huge. The Omaha Valley would certainly experience a severe membership decline, but in keeping the ship as steady as possible, it was to experience an incredible resurgence later, even during the height of World War II. • Before the 1929 stock market crash, the Omaha Valley had experienced a significant decline of 724 members (13.7%). Whether from the intense competition of other fraternal and social organizations, or from the ill winds of the economy that were just becoming apparent, is not known. But more than 1,400 Scottish Rite members had evaporated from the peak in 1927 — more than a quarter of the total —and by 1940 Omaha Valley membership was at its lowest total since before 1914. 97 • Brother Frank Patton, Nebraska SGIG, became very active in the Supreme Council and in 1929, was invited by Illustrious Brother John Henry Cowles 33°, Sovereign Grand Commander, to tour Europe with him, including an international conference held in Paris attended by 26 of the 34 regular Supreme Councils from around the world. 98 Later that year, Brother Cowles made a trip to Omaha to attend the Fall Reunion on November 18-19. In 1935, Brother Patton was elected Grand Prior, the third highest office of the Supreme Council. 99 • At the December 1929 Cathedral Board meeting, Brother Patton, SGIG, advised the Board that Mrs. E.C. Henry had offered to
74 great depression, great revival
turn over Lord Lister Hospital to the Scottish Rite Bodies to be operated as the Scottish Rite Hospital, at the cost of the indebtedness of a little less than $200,000. The Omaha Christian Institute had founded the General Hospital in 1906. It was taken over by private interests two years later and renamed Lord Lister Hospital for the pioneer of antiseptic surgery. The hospital, originally located at the southwest corner of 14th Street and Capitol Avenue in the Dellone Building, had 88 beds and treated 1,200 patients annually. In 1921, a new building was constructed at 26th Street and Dewey Avenue. It was purchased by Dr. E.C. Henry (a Scottish Rite member) and operated as a private hospital. 100 Despite the generous offer, on motion of the Cathedral Board, a letter of appreciation was sent to Dr. Henry and his wife, regretting the Scottish Rite’s inability to accept, due to the financial unrest and the magnitude of the undertaking.101 The hospital was later sold to Bishop Clarkson Hospital in 1936. • To promote mutual helpfulness and to administer immediate relief to the beneficiary of a member in good standing at the time of his death, the Omaha Valley in 1915 had instituted the Scottish Rite Low Twelve Club – Valley of Omaha – Orient of Nebraska. In 1930, the Club was reenergized. A member of the Club paid an application fee of $2 and had to be a 32° Mason in good standing. Upon the death of a member, the Club would pay to his designated beneficiary a sum not exceeding $150.00. By the year 1966, the Low Twelve Club had 1,861 members. 102 This fund was separate from the Scottish Rite Relief Board. • Throughout the 1930s, maintenance and upgrades to the Cathedral were regular agenda items for the Cathedral Board. In 1931, Brother Smith, Chairman of the House and Property Committee, reported it was time to put “the interior of the Cathedral in first-class condition” by washing and restarching the walls, replacing and repairing curtains and draperies and cleaning and repairing all rugs. In 1937, nearly the same request was made again, this time to also recover the furniture and repaint the interior. • The Feast of the Tabernacles is celebrated annually in the Southern Jurisdiction. In September 1931, both the Omaha World-Herald and the Bee News took note of the upcoming event: “Rev. Charles Durden, pastor of First Baptist Church, will be the principal speaker at
Frank Cargill Patton 1871 – 1950 Served as SGIG in Nebraska from 1917 to 1950 – the longest tenure of any Nebraska SGIG. Treasurer of Richardson Drug Co., Omaha Postmaster 19311936. Received 33° Honorary in 1915, Member of Covert Lodge No.11, organized the Scottish Rite Low Twelve Club of Omaha, the Scottish Rite Relief Board and the Nebraska Educational Welfare Association. Served as Supreme Council’s Lt. Grand Commander, its second highest office.
1967-1997
Winds of Change Doubt, the essential preliminary of all improvement and discovery, must accompany the stages of man’s onward progress. The faculty of doubting and questioning, without which those of comparison and judgment would be useless, is itself a divine prerogative of the reason. — Albert Pike •
I
Membership team competition was successful in the 1960s.
86 winds of change
f there were an anthem for change in American culture during the 1960s and 1970s, it would be Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are a-Changin’. ” It is often viewed as a reflection of the generation gap and of the political divide marking American culture in the ’60s, but Dylan never intended the song as a statement, but rather a “feeling.” The “baby boomers” were the transmitters of that feeling. The Omaha Valley was on the cusp of major social change, from urban to suburban living, life-long jobs to transitory employment, women moving from homemaking to the workforce, the list goes on. It was also a time to weigh attendance at a Scottish Rite meetings against TV watching at home, and in a larger sense, long-term commitments versus, “What’s in it for me?”
General Secretary Edwin Mortensen, left, and retired General Secretary Ben Eyre check out construction of the east plaza entrance to the Scottish Rite Cathedral in 1968.
1997-2014
That Which Is Right We have all the light we need, we just need to put it in practice. — Albert Pike •
D
uring one of the strategic planning sessions in 1997, members expressed desire to update the Omaha Valley’s raison d’être: What is our reason for existence, and how are we positioning the Valley to our members and to the general public into the 21st century? The Supreme Council gave guidance on one issue by suggesting the name of all Scottish Rite buildings be changed from Cathedral or Temple to Masonic Center. 125 It removed the misconception that the Scottish Rite was a religious organization. The designation of “Scottish Rite Masonic Center” was readily accepted by the Omaha Valley, and the large precast monument sign at the northeast corner of the building was replaced with the new name. As for the Valley’s mission, many suggestions were offered, but it was Charlie Amidon 33°, well known in the Omaha Valley for his delivery of the 14th degree, who suggested this succinct line from that degree: “To do that which it is right to do.” That brief statement captured the essence of the Omaha Valley. To provide an effective framework for that mission, the members added the subtitle of “Morality. Education. Charity. ” The Omaha Valley’s mission had been recast, and the membership set forth to put it into action. Curt Edic, an active member since 1975, was hired as an assistant to General Secretary Erixon to administer the reinvigorated programs and activities of the Omaha Valley. Brother Edic’s time as assistant was beneficial, for in 1998, Erixon announced his retirement, and the Cathedral Board appointed him the new General Secretary beginning in 1999. The decade of Erixon’s tenure was inspiring and creative and had engaged the membership in new and diverse activities. Predictably, the Omaha Valley still saw a decline in membership, which stood at 2,799 at the end of the 20th century. Challenges awaited, as always, but the Omaha Valley was poised with strong, creative leadership.
102 that which is right
Masonic Unity The 21st century did not start with good news for the Scottish Rite Valleys. The Imperial Shrine had long lobbied to be on an equal plane with the Scottish Rite and York Rite, so that Blue Lodge Masons could join the Shrine without the preliminary membership requirement of Scottish or York Rites. In 2000, this change was finally enacted, and all Scottish Rite Valleys felt the impact of fewer new members and increased demits. In addition, the Omaha Scottish Rite was forced to compete with Tangier Shrine for membership from the Blue Lodges, which completely changed recruitment tactics. General Secretary Edic had a dilemma on his hands. His first duty was to the Scottish Rite, but he had strong connections to the Shrine’s membership and programs as well. Rather than create an adversarial environment, Edic worked with the Omaha Valley Line Officers and Cathedral Board to agree to align the Scottish Rite to the Shrine and to ensure that all relations remained positive. The vehicle to do this was an initiative developed in 1993 by Tangier Shrine when Jim Smith was Potentate. It was called Masonic Unity and provided that the leaders of all area Masonic bodies work together to plan how Masonry could be improved. The initiative was effective, and when the Imperial Shrine’s edict hit in 2000, Masonic Unity took a heightened importance. The Omaha Valley and Tangier Shrine had many members who strongly wished to preserve the bond of brotherhood among all Masonic organizations in the greater Omaha area and to mutually support and assist each other for the good of the order. Masonic Unity resulted in several important initiatives. Friendship dinners were the best source of members outside of individual solicitations. Those dinners also demonstrated to potential members the benefits of Blue Lodge, Scottish Rite, York Rite and Shrine and that while these organizations have unique structures, they share a common bond. The One Day Blue Lodge Conferrals were another method to sustain and grow membership. The Omaha Valley One-Day Degrees increased Master Mason raisings from about 2.3 to over 11 per lodge within the city area.
Curtis M. Edic 1945 Served as Omaha Valley General Secretary since 1999. Past Master Lininger Lodge No. 268 in Omaha; received 33° in 1995. Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha Board Secretary; Scottish Rite Foundation of Nebraska Secretary; Past Supreme Council National Membership Committee member; served on corporate boards that include Omaha Home for Boys, Munroe-Meyer Institute, Downtown Omaha Inc. and Downtown Rotary. Lived in Council Bluffs and a farm in Carson, Iowa, started a manufacturing and sales agribusiness before taking on the role of Omaha Valley General Secretary.
John Wallace Webster 1948 – Served eight years as Cathedral Board President. Past Master Lininger Lodge No. 268. Master of Omaha Lodge of Perfection. President Scottish Rite Foundation of Omaha. President of Webster Communication Co., past president of Nebraska Broadcasters Association, past president Fontenelle Forest Association, Nebraska Historical Society Foundation, Omaha Home for Boys.
The ballroom (top), adjoining dining room (above) and lounge (at right).
Del D. Weber 1932 Served for 20 years as member of the Omaha Valley Cathedral Board and received the 33° Honorary in 1991. Served as chancellor (now emeritus) of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Involved in numerous community and professional organizations. Served as a vice chairman and director of Omaha Public Power District and president of the Omaha Community Foundation for 10 years. Honored as King of Ak-Sar-Ben in 1989, Citizen of the Year in 1984 by the United Way of the Midlands and Man of the Year in 1992 by the Omaha Club.
The third-floor conference room with framed photos of the 33rd degree classes.
An anonymous donor provided for the 2002 renovation of the third-floor conference room, originally the General Secretary’s office suite. New wainscoting, leather table top, chandeliers, table lamps, curtains and wallpaper trim employing the purple color of the 33rd degree combined for a prestigious conference space for the Omaha Valley. On the walls, framed photos of all the 33rd degree classes from 1870 to the present surround the room. As a men’s fraternal organization, it was not surprising that the original 1914 building had three men’s restrooms and only one small restroom for the women. But increased numbers of the public utilizing the facility led to adding large restrooms for men and women on all four floors by 2005.
Frank W. Kroupa 1942 –
The third-floor lodge room.
The last major space to be restored was the theater. The 1968 theater seats were worn out, the carpeting was frayed, walls and ceilings needed patching, and the theatrical sound and lighting systems were antiquated. The Omaha Valley Cathedral Board Chairman, Frank Kroupa 33°, embarked on a fundraising campaign in 2011 to sell 217 main level seats at $500 each. Kroupa’s voice was unmistakable as his sales pitch echoed through the halls of the Masonic Center. Not only did he sell all of the theater's main level seats, which were replaced by the same company that installed the original seats in 1914, but also many of the balcony's original 1914 wooden seats for $250 each. All of the 1914 balcony seats (which cost $5 each at the time) remained in place for their historical character.
President of the Omaha Valley Cathedral Board. Worked for National Electric Company for more than 45 years. Member of Mizpah Lodge No. 302 since 1963. Made Royal Arch Mason, Royal and Select Master and Knight Templar in 1985. Past Master Lodge of Consistory in 1990. Received 33rd degree in 1991. Served as Potentate of Tangier Shrine in 1997.
The addition of hardwood flooring improved the theater's appearance and acoustics.
The Omaha Valley Foundation was changed to allow donations to go to building renovation and restoration, so the revenue from the sale of theater chairs allowed for theater upgrades to accommodate professional groups such as Opera Omaha, Omaha Symphony, “American Idol� winner Scotty McCreery and other performance groups. The theater work was comprehensive. The old carpet was replaced with hardwood flooring, which improved appearance and acoustics. The space was completely repainted, a new sound and light booth was constructed, and the theatrical lighting system was upgraded to professional quality. In 2011, the Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Masonic Center was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Omaha Scottish Rite Theater won first place from the Scottish Rite Journal in a 2012 national photo contest among all the Valleys.
112 that which is right
On July 28, 2012, a reenactment of the 1912 ceremonial groundbreaking was held in the courtyard with more than 100 in attendance, including Charles V. Sederstrom Jr. 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Nebraska; Rex Moats, Grand Master; Frank W. Kroupa 33°, Cathedral Board President; and Tom Hauder, Deputy Grand Master. A visual presentation of the Omaha Valley’s history followed the event.
Charles V. Sederstrom Jr. 1941 –
On November 20, 2012, during the Fall Reunion, a cornerstone rededication ceremony was held in the theater, conducted by Most Worshipful Rex Moats, Grand Master of Masons in Nebraska, and many members of Grand Lodge of Nebraska. More than 150 attended a banquet afterward.
In 2007, Warren “Duke” Lichty 33° retired as SGIG in Nebraska, and he died in 2012. Illustrious Brother Charles V. Sederstrom Jr. 33° of Omaha was appointed Deputy of the Supreme Council in Nebraska by Grand Commander Ronald Seale 33° in 2008 and was elected Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Nebraska at the 2009 Supreme Council Biennial Session.
Appointed Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Nebraska in 2009 and Grand Treasurer General of the Supreme Council. Received the 33° Honorary in 1997. Born in Deadwood, Colorado, in 1941, moved to Omaha and began law practice in 1967 with fellow Scottish Rite member Donald Erickson, forming the firm of Erickson|Sederstrom. Senior vice president of legal, compliance and legislative services for Alegent Health in Omaha. President of the Omaha Bar Association in 1984-85. Active in many legal and civic organizations; inducted into Goodwill Industries Hall of Fame in 2012. Member of the National Salvation Army Development Board, Omaha Home for Boys, Boy Scouts of America, Board of Directors of Nebraska State Bank of Omaha.
Epilogue We study the past to understand the present; we understand the present to guide the future. — William Lund •
S
tanding before the theatrical stage of Omaha’s Scottish Rite Masonic Center, we observe many elaborate scenery drops. A single Scottish Rite degree could have up to four scenes, with up to six painted scenery drops required to create just one of those scenes. From those scenes you develop memorable impressions of the context that a scene portrays. If you were to see that degree performed year after year, the scene would be indelibly impressed on your mind, and you would expect to see it at the next Reunion and the next. It would be a tradition that could live forever.
132 epilogue
For a century, the theater has brought life to scenes of the Scottish Rite degrees.
But what of the other myriad scenes that could be created with these 25 painted scenery drops that hang in the rigging? Have we contemplated what different contexts could be created by a new combination of those scene drops? Perhaps one that connotes justice, or another that conveys hope? How about a small shelter in a dark forest, or in the catacombs of a great cathedral? The combination of scenes could be endless, but it takes inquisitiveness and creativity to look beyond tradition and see what else those scene drops might reveal. The future of the Omaha Valley is much like the scene manager’s dilemma. Do you continue with what you’ve been doing in the past because it’s familiar and represents tradition? Or do you experiment with those composite scenes in the hope of hitting upon an idea that expresses an entirely new theme to inspire a new generation in interpreting and implementing the core values of the Scottish Rite? The dilemma has existed for generations and will likely continue for many years to come. This book coincides with the 2014 centennial of the construction of Omaha’s Scottish Rite Cathedral (now Scottish Rite Masonic Center), and it’s worth stepping back in time to reflect on a paragraph written in 1914 by noted legal scholar the Illustrious Brother Roscoe Pound, Nebraska’s most famous Mason and philosopher: “If the Craft is to be perpetual, it must appeal to each time as well as to all times; it must have in its traditions something that today can use, although yesterday could not use it and tomorrow need not. We are a Craft of workmen. It is our glory to be engaged in useful service. Our rites and usages are not merely a proud possession to be treasured for their beauty and antiquity. They are instruments imparted to us to be used. Hence we may properly inquire, what can we make of this wonderful tradition of which we are the custodians that will serve the world of today? What, indeed! Let us think of Omaha’s Scottish Rite Masonic Center as a laboratory of the heart, mind and soul. With it, we build a social environment that treasures the past and adapts it in innovative ways to the challenges of the future. In it, we seek a culture of creativity and collaboration that inspires all to a higher level of attainment, and treasure the Omaha Valley’s facility that it will forever be a source of pride and meaningful use to our membership and the community.
epilogue 133
Footnotes 1 Letter from Charles Catlin to Omaha Valley Secretary C.A. Patterson, Sept. 4, 1920. 2 Henry Wilson Coil, Coil’s Masonic Encyclopedia – Revised Edition 1995, 597. 3 Harris and Carter, 244. 4 William L. Fox, Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle (Arkansas, 1997) 91. 5 Jim Tresner, Albert Pike, The Man Behind the Monument, 1995. 6 Fox, Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle, 65. 7 James D. Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 32. 8 Supreme Council Transactions, 1870. 9 Letter from Charles F. Catlin to Charles Patterson, Omaha Valley General Secretary, September 4, 1920. 10 Letter from William R. Bowen to Albert G. Mackey, Secretary-General of the Supreme Council, December 9, 1872. 11 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 84. 12 Ibid., 90. 13 Theodore W. McCollough (Capitol Lodge) 1932, 26. 14 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, 1877. 15 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 118. 16 Ibid., 119. 17 Ibid., 163. 18 Ibid., 165. By 1895, William Cleburne, President of the State Council, had recommended that the charters of Kilwinning Lodge of Perfection No. 1. In Grand Island, Fidelity Lodge of Perfection No. 7 in Niobrara had never, so far as he was aware, conferred a degree. “On such Bodies I think the sentence should go forth: Cut them down. . . ” 19 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 166. 20 Ibid., 171. 21 Ibid., 184. 22 Ibid.,193. 23 Ibid.,193.
134 footnotes & credits
24 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 199. 25 Extract from the report of Robert Jordan, Inspector General for Nebraska, dated September 16, 1882. 26 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 210. 27 Ibid., 217. 28 Transactions of the Supreme Council, 1892, 39. 29 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 330. 30 Ibid., 299. 31 Proceeding of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, June 23, 1885. 32 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 373. 33 Omaha Bee, June 16, 1886. 34 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 339. 35 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1861-1891, 385. 36 Ibid., 380. 37 Ibid., 388. 38 Ibid., 138. 39 Omaha World-Herald, July 23, 1888. 40 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, June 1890, 4104. 41 Omaha World-Herald, June 19, 1890. 42 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, June 1891, 4269. 43 Ibid., 4270. 44 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, 1892. 45 Second Annual Reunion program book, April, 1891. 46 Valley of Omaha – 2nd Annual Reunion 1892. The Reunion program for 1891 was lost. 47 Carter, History of the Supreme Council 33° 1891-1921, 44. 48 Extracts from the Report of the Jurisprudence and Legislation in the Supreme Council Transactions, 1897, 71-73. 49 Moore, Masonic Temples 2006.
50 Fox, Valley of the Craftsmen. 51 Fox, Lodge of the Double Headed Eagle and Fox, Valley of the Craftsmen, 178. 52 Fox, Valley of the Craftsmen, p. 164. 53 Supreme Council Transactions, 1903. 54 Omaha World-Herald Magazine of the Midlands, April 10, 1983. 55 10-Year Anniversary Dedication Class Reunion booklet, 1924. 56 Omaha Bee News January 24, 1906. 57 Evening World-Herald May 4, 1911. 58 Evening World-Herald May 13, 1911. 59 Evening World-Herald October 2, 1911. 60 Evening World-Herald October 9, 1911. 61 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite vault, Historical Data 1912 62 Proceeding of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska, 1912. 63 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite vault, Historical Data 1914 64 House of the Temple, The Supreme Council, 33°, A.A. & S.R. of Freemasonry, S.J., USA website, accessed June 18, 2010. 65 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite vault, Box titled Historical Data, 1917. 66 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite vault, Box titled Y.W.C.A., 1918. 67 http://www.demolay.org/aboutdemolay/founder. php 68 http://www.nedemolay.org/, and Omaha Valley News, March 1994, 2. 69 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, June, 28, 1937. 70 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite archives, Box titled Scottish Rite Welfare Association. 71 Omaha World-Herald, March 6, 1933. 72 Scottish Rite Relief Board, 1925. 73 Despite Lininger’s active involvement in many Masonic bodies, he was never a member of the Scottish Rite. 74 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1922-1925. 75 Omaha World-Herald, December 19, 1929.
Credits 76 Omaha World-Herald, September 21, 1929. 77 Omaha World-Herald, May 24, 1972. 78 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral vault, box titled Albert Pike 1923. 79 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1918. 80 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1925. 81 Ibid. 82 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1924. 83 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1926. 84 October 24, 1926, Morning Service program for the Scottish Rite Session of the Supreme Council 33° and an itinerary for the Lincoln trip, dated October 26, 1926. Scottish Rite files (see Supreme Council folder). 85 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, March 14, 1927. 86 Ibid. 87 Sunday World-Herald, May 15, 1927. 88 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, April 4, 1927. 89 Ibid. 90 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, March 22, 1928. 91 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1928. 92 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1929. 93 Omaha World-Herald, December 29, 1931; Beatrice Daily Sun, February 19, 1932; Omaha World-Herald, March 31, 1932. 94 http://www.revenue.ne.gov/PAD/legal/PAD_Case_ Summaries.pdf, 6/29/12. 95 Omaha World-Herald, March 7, 1933. 96 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1936. 97 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite membership records. 98 Fox, William L. Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle, 234. 99 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1935.
100 Omaha: The Gate City, Vol.1. 101 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1929. 102 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite vault, box titled Low Twelve Club. 103 Omaha Bee-News, September 24, 1931. 104 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1933-41. 105 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1939. 106 Accurate records of total membership prior to 1920 are unavailable. 107 Scottish Rite Degree Loan Fund document, 1934. 108 http://www.nebraskakofc.org/kc652/centen.htm. 109 http://www.srkc.org/history/ 110 Fox, William L. Lodge of the Double-Headed Eagle, 280. 111 http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/unitedstates/nebraska/omaha 112 Scottish Rite appraisal report, April 1, 1958, cover letter. 113 Ibid., 10. 114 Ibid., 20. 115 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board — 1968 Building Renovation file. 116 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1965. 117 Minutes of Scottish Rite Woman’s Club, 1963-1974. 118 Omaha Valley Annual Report, 1967. 119 Omaha World-Herald, February 4, 1968. 120 Ibid. 121 Omaha World-Herald, September 18, 1968. 122 Omaha World-Herald, February 4, 1968. 123 Wikipedia, James M. Paxson, 2009. 124 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1995. 125 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 1997. 126 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 2000. 127 Omaha Valley Scottish Rite Cathedral Board Minutes, 2000.
Wm. Larry Jacobsen 33 ° Author of The Omaha Valley Jacobsen, a member of the Omaha Valley Scottish Rite since 1975, has written Masonic Education articles for the Grand Lodge of Nebraska.
Micah I. Evans Research Assistant Evans has been a member of the Omaha Valley Scottish Rite since 2003 and serves as Development Director for the Orient of Nebraska. Produced by Omaha World-Herald Co. The Omaha Valley is available for $39.95 plus $5 handling. Scottish Rite Masonic Center 202 South 20th Street Omaha, NE 68102-1275 For more information: Curt Edic, General Secretary (402) 342-1300 www.scottishriteomaha.org
FOOTNOTES & CREDITS 135
Scottish Rite, circa 1926.
the OMAHA valley
Scottish rite freemasonry 1867-2014
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