Kansas Mason - WINTER 2022

That Name...That One Name

Mikel J Stoops, Grand Master of Masons in Kansas 2021-2022

Before you read this article, I ask you to do one thing. Write down a name; That Name, That One Name, of the person who most influenced you to become a Mason.

This was precisely what was asked of the attendees of this year’s Grand Table Lodge in Topeka on September 10th. The name I wrote was that of my maternal Grandfather, Bill Johnson. Grandpa lived in Ohio when I was growing up in Indiana. I did not see a lot of him, but he made a great impression on me when I was able to visit. I knew him to be hardworking, strong in his faith, and dedicated to his church, his community, and to Masonry.

As I reached an age where I could join Freemasonry, he told me that he would cover any costs associated with joining the Fraternity that he loved. When I finally decided to petition a Lodge, Grandpa’s health had begun to fail him, but he thought he might still be able to travel and attend my degrees. He also remembered his promise to pay my initiation fees. Once everything was set for my degree work, I let Grandpa know that my degrees would each be about a week apart and that the fees were around $50. I don’t remember his exact response, but it was something like this, “$50? That seems awfully cheap. And I know you are smart, but how are you planning to memorize your proficiency for each degree in just a week?” When I told him that I was not required to learn or memorize anything, he asked me a question that I did not understand. He asked, “Are you sure you are not joining a Clandestine Lodge?” Clandestine? I had to ask him what that meant. Looking back, I have come to understand his concern. Freemasonry, by definition, is an initiatic fraternity based on a system of self-knowledge, with lessons in philosophy, spirituality, and morality. It is a proven system that dates back more than five centuries. That system is based on the apprenticeship structure of the operative stonemason’s guilds. It is a fraternity where the tools of those operative stonemasons take on symbolic meanings for us as speculative masons. When we fail to follow this proven system, when we fail to teach our initiates, and when we shortcut the process, we fail ourselves, we fail our Craft, and we especially fail the new Masons. As Masons, we make promises. We promise to always follow the Ancient Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Usages of our Fraternity. We promise to make good men better. Every one of us who has been on the sidelines while a new Brother takes his obligation has promised that we will personally assist in his enlightenment. When we break these promises, when we fail to follow the Ancient Laws, Rules, Regulations, and Usages of our Fraternity, when we do not put forth the effort to make good men better, and when we do nothing to assist in the enlightenment of our newly obligated Brothers, have we not become something other than Regular Masons? Have we not become Irregular and Clandestine? So now, knowing what Masonry is, look at the name you wrote down. How would you feel if that person asked you, “Are you sure you are not joining a Clandestine Lodge?” No, Grandpa; no, I didn’t. And I am working hard to make sure no one joining a Kansas Lodge is ever asked that question again.

Written in Memory of Brother William L. Johnson (12/3/1923 – 6/17/2013)