Missouri Freemason Magazine - v51n04 - 2006 Fall

T

H

E

M

I

S

S

O

U

R

I

FREEMASON

©

Volume 51 No. 4

FALL 2006

IF RELIGION...

...IT MAY BE CALLED

Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of Missouri A.F.&A.M.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

©

Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of Missouri

VOL. 51 NO. 4

FALL 2006

Published and copyrighted under the direction of the Committee on Masonic Publications

CONTENTS 99 Grand Master’s Message 100 Biographies 101 If Religion It May Be Called 104 Former Grand Master Inducted Into Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame 105 Valuable Information for Missouri Masonic Widows and Masonic Lodges 107 TuscanCelebrated its 5,000th Meeting 106 Ohio Brother Sam Hornish, Jr. Wins the Indianapolis 500 108 X-Oriente – A New Concept in Masonic Entertainment & Enlightenment 111 The Masonic Home of Missouri 118 Masonic Service Awards 122 The Work of Our Craft Committee on Masonic Publications John M. Nations, Grand Master M. Robert Berger, Deputy Grand Master Bruce R. Austin, Senior Grand Warden Rocky E. Weaver, Junior Grand Warden Ronald D. Miller, Grand Secretary E. Otha Wingo Ex-Officio Member Steven L. Harrison, Editor, THE MISSOURI FREEMASON Editor Steven L. Harrison P.O. Box 1120 Kearney, MO 64060-1120 816-628-6562 / Call for Fax editor@momason.org

Please note the change of address for the Missouri Freemason:

P.O. Box 1120, Kearney, MO 64060-1120

98 Fall 2006

FROM THE EDITOR’S KEYBOARD Freemasonry and Religion.

There's a topic that can get you thinking. Brother Roy Gilkey has contributed a thoughtful, in-depth piece in this edition from the perspective of a Freemason who is also a minister. The cover picture complimenting his article is a stained-glass mosaic by the talented artist Anita Stovall. You can find her in some of the area art-shows and fairs or in her studio, Opal's Daughter's Designs, at 779 Michigan Street in Leavenworth, KS. As usual, much is happening at the Masonic Home. Its current activities include planning for the remainder of this year's area meetings as well as those for next year. The Grand Master’s Conference of North America has selected Karin Bell, Executive Director and Barbara Ramsey, Director of Outreach Services to address the entire conference in February, 2007. This is a great indicator of the success of their programs. Cindee Herrick, Special Project Curator, is asking your help to assemble the next Masonic Home exhibit. Read about items she would like to borrow as well as her interesting historical account in the Masonic

Home section.

A couple brothers are asking for your help, as well. Brother Ron Wood is asking for biographies of prominent Missouri Masons for the Lodge of Research and Brother Leo Bottom is compiling a statewide list of Brothers who perform the Masonic funeral service. You can find information on how to help these brothers in this edition of the Missouri Freemason.

The Missouri Press Association has honored one of our own former Grand Masters, MWB Thomas Charles Warden. A brother from Ohio did nothing more this spring than win the famed Indianapolis 500 mile race, and a brother in Illinois is breaking new ground with X-Oriente, a new and thought provoking Masonic radio show (of sorts). "Read all about it," as they say, in your Missouri Freemason.

Not since Old Hickory himself sported one back in Tennessee has a Grand Master looked so spiffy in a coonskin cap. Check out that and everything else happening in the Missouri world of Freemasonry in the "Work of Our Craft" section. And

The Missouri Freemason (USPS 573-920) is the official publication of the Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri, and is published four times yearly. Articles to be considered for publication should be submitted to The Missouri Freemason, P.O. Box 1120, Kearney, MO 64060-1120, not later than the first day of the month preceding publication in February, May, August, and November.

Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of the Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M. of Missouri. The Editor reserves the right due to limitations of space, to accept, reject, subedit and rearrange material submitted for publication.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: The Missouri Freemason is mailed to every member of this Masonic Jurisdiction without charge. Domestic subscriptions elsewhere are $8.00 annually.

OFFICE OF PUBLICATIONS: Grand Lodge of Missouri, 6033 Masonic Drive, Suite B, Columbia, MO 65202-6535. Printed by Tribune Publishing Co., Columbia, Missouri. Periodicals Postage paid at Columbia, Missouri.

POSTMASTER: Please send Address Forms 3579 to Grand Secretary, 6033 Masonic Drive, Suite B, Columbia, MO 65202-6535.

continues page 127

PERMISSION TO REPRINT: All recognized Masonic publications have permission to reprint original articles from The Missouri Freemason with credit to the author and the publication.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS (Important): Whenever a member changes his mailing address without notifying his Lodge Secretary and a mailing of the Freemason magazine occurs, the Post Office charges the Grand Lodge 50¢ per undeliverable Freemason.

PLEASE, contact your Lodge Secretary with your address change so that the Grand Lodge can then be notified.

GRAND LODGE OF MISSOURI INTERNET ADDRESSES E-Mail to the Grand Lodge Office grlodge@momason.org The Grand Lodge web page www.momason.org Phone: 573-474-8561 THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

As our Grand Lodge year draws to a close and we look with anticipation toward the Annual Communication in Columbia at the end of September, I am proud to report to each of you that the dedication and devotion of our Membership is strengthening our Fraternity in every region of our State.

In virtually every region, Masonry is vibrant, growing, and reacquainting the public with the great charitable and civic works which for centuries have been the cornerstone for our many successes.

I am particularly proud that so many of our Lodges have answered my call to be visible through community service projects and programs and thereby bring to our Lodges the attention of the public which they rightly deserve.

I can say to you plainly that it has been a very rewarding year. Not because of the privilege you afforded me this year to serve you in this capacity, but because it has been a year when so many of the difficult decisions over the past couple of decades are bearing the positive results for which we have worked for so long.

Nearly twenty years ago, the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home recognized the changing nature of health care and the consequent changing needs of our membership and set the Home on the path of assisting eligible members in their own communities through the great innovation of the Outreach Program. Today, the Masonic Home of Missouri is expanding both the services it provides as well as the group of people who are eligible for its services, and, consequently, the Home is helping more people in more places lead better lives than has been true in the entire history of the Masonic Home. Through your strong support, the Masonic Home of Missouri is leading the Country in providing serTHE MISSOURI FREEMASON

vices in the 21st century.

In the early 1990's, the Grand Lodge approved the establishment of what is now known as the Masonic Children’s Foundation, which reemphasized the Fraternity’s commitment to the youth of our State. This year, the Foundation will touch more than 5,000 young people and their families through the Child Identification or “CHIPS” program, and enhance the Masonic presence in every community where its program is conducted.

A decade ago, the Grand Lodge recognized that our rapidly changing society placed demands on the average man which could not have been contemplated even a generation earlier, and that these demands inhibited him from undertaking the commitment for memorization and recitation historically required to become a full member of our Fraternity. The Chance To Advance classes have allowed the Fraternity to reach out and bring through our doors those good men of our communities who are Masons in their hearts but whose professional and family duties would

not have otherwise allowed them to be our Brothers.

Taken together, we have arrived at a point in our history that we could only dream of twenty years ago. The four decade decline in membership has been arrested and the Fraternity is serving more people than at any time in its history. The success is inspiring many of our related organizations and particularly, I’m delighted to say, our Youth Groups. All three of our Youth Groups: Rainbow for Girls, Jobs Daughters, and DeMolay are experiencing statewide increases in membership. I attended each of their statewide Assemblies and Conclaves this year, and their enthusiasm and dedication is contagious.

Our future is very bright, but it will only remain so by the constant diligence of each Member dedicating themselves to a better and brighter future for all of us. Together we are showing again just how much we can do both for our Fraternity as well as for the communities we serve when we apply our talents and our energies toward the great and noble purposes on which our Fraternity was founded.

Our Country is one of the greatest testaments to the great truth that there is no limit to what people can do if they are willing to work together toward common goals. Though we have a long and distinguished history of which we should all be proud, I have no doubt that if we continue to work together, our best days are yet to come. Please do your part to make it happen.

Thank you for the privilege of serving as your Grand Master.

Fraternally,

John M. Nations, Grand Master Fall 2006 99

JOHN W. HESS, SENIOR GRAND STEWARD Regional Sales Manager. Presently John is employed by the State of Missouri, Family Support Division as a Child Support Specialist.

John is a member of St. James Roman Catholic Church in Liberty Missouri.

In August of 2003 John married the former Ina Winfrey. Ina is the Daughter of Emerson O. Brown and the niece of Stanton T. Brown.

John William Hess was born in Albia, Iowa on March 1, 1951. He is the oldest of three children of John Francis and Patt Hess. John attended St Mary’s elementary school and Albia Community High School. After high school John attended the University of Iowa and received a Bachelor of Science Degree from Creighton University in 1975. John’ stepfather J. Edmond Slack was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Astar Lodge in Albia Iowa at the age of 89.

While attending Creighton University John was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and served as a member of the Athletic Department as a Lecturer in Physical Education.

After graduating from Creighton University John was employed by Roberts Diary of Omaha Nebraska and worked out of their Grand Island facility as a Regional Sales Manager. John moved to Kansas City in 1982 and was employed by International Distributing of St Louis as the Kansas City Sales Manager. In 1985 John joined the firm of J. Nick Gray and Associates. John served as a partner with the firm until the death of the senior partner in 1992; from 1992 to 2004 John was employed by Mo Kan Distribution as a dispatcher and 100 Fall 2006

John served the Boy Scouts of America as Scoutmaster, District Commissioner and on the Council Camping Committee. He was honored with the District Award of Merit, Vigil Honor from the Order of the Arrow and the Silver Beaver Award from the National Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

John is a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and served a Vice President of his Creighton Chapter during his senior year. After graduation he served three terms as a member of the Board of Regents. John also served as alumni advisor of the Iowa, Creighton and Kansas City Chapters of Delta Chi. John is a member of Buckner Lodge # 501 (initiated in 1994) and holds a life membership there. He was Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1996 and 1997. John is also a Past Master of Kansas City Lodge # 220.

John is also the recipient of the Knight York Cross of Honor (KYCH).

John is a life member of the Kansas City Valley of the Scottish Rite and currently is 1st Lt. Commander of the Council of Kadosh. John was honored with the distinction of Knight Commander of the Court of Honor (KCCH) in the fall of 2006.

John served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home of Missouri from 1999 to 2003, serving on the Admission and Discipline committee and the Administration committee.

John served the Grand Lodge as District Deputy Grand Master for the 59th District and Grand Orator.

Grand Master Stanley Thompson appointed John to the Advancing Line as Senior Grand Marshall in 2004.

John is a Past President of the Kansas City Chapter of the National Sojourners as well as Past Commander of the Old Glory Camp of the Heroes of 76. He is also a Past Excellent Chief of Charlemagne Chapter of the Knights Masons and Past Celebrant of the Missouri College of /Rosicrucian’s. He is currently Junior Warden in Kilwinney Council AMD. John is currently Vice President of the Masonic Childrens Foundation and has been involved in the creation of the MOCHIP, Missouri Child Identification effort.

John is a Past High Priest of Liberty Chapter #3 Royal Arch Masons, a Past Illustrious Master of Liberty Council #50 Royal and Select Masters and also a Past Commander of Liberty Commandery #3 Knights Templar. He is a member of the Order of High Priesthood, the Past Commander Association in Missouri.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

IF RELIGION IT MAY BE CALLED

by Rev. Roy L. Gilkey

WHAT IT IS INTRODUCTION Freemasonry has always been crystal clear as to what As a pastor and a Master Mason, I have had experiit is. At the beginning of a brother's Masonic journey, he ences with the misconceptions of Freemasonry. It is the learns that: purpose of this paper to relate some of these experiences FREEMASONRY IS A BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM OF and how I have answered these misconceptions. In the MORALS VEILED IN ALLEGORY AND ILLUSTRATED BY process of doing so, I will be examining the connection of SYMBOLS. ITS TENANTS ARE BROTHERLY LOVE, Freemasonry with religion. Freemasonry makes this conRELIEF, AND TRUTH. ITS nection very clear. Not every CARDINAL VIRTUES ARE brother is sure of this connecTEMPERANCE, FORTITUDE, tion nor have Masons always PRUDENCE, AND JUSTICE. done well in informing those ITS RELIGION, IF RELIGION outside of fraternity. Those IT MAY BE CALLED, IS AN who would deem themselves UNFEIGNED BELIEF IN THE enemies of the fraternity have ONE LIVING AND TRUE distorted the relationship of GOD. Freemasonry and religion Not only is the brother at especially to make their point the beginning of his Masonic that Masonry is a cult or a false journey told what Masonry is religion. I have encountered in these words, but he is given these attitudes and have had the opportunity to stop his to answer them as a pastor and journey at that point should as a Brother Master Mason. In he object in any way. It has this discourse, I want to share been my observation that those answers with all who some brothers never fully might find them of benefit. understand what they have This paper is in the form of been told here. On more than a narrative not a research one occasion, I have had a brother say to me that if a paper. Several members of the craft have done research in brother would just live according to the promises he made this area. I have benefited from their study. I am most in his obligation and just lives according to the principles grateful to those brethren who so long ago developed the of Masonic teaching, he would be right with God, be wording of the ritual. A person doesn't need to look fursaved, and go to heaven. There is nothing in the ritual that ther than the ritual itself to see the true nature of Masonsays that. The brother is making of ry's relationship to religion. Over Freemasonry something that it does the years, there have been many not claim to be. Enemies of Freemabrethren who have offered further On more than one occasion, I have sonry who claim it to be a religion clarification in Masonic books and had a brother say to me that if a may get that idea from ill-informed articles. I have benefited greatly brother would just live according to brethren who make it their religion from their eloquence which is far the promises he made in his by such statements.

Freemasonry is greater than mine. The knowledge obligation and just lives according not a religion.

It HAS a religion--if that I have gained from them is a to the principles of Masonic religion it may be called.

That relipart of me from my forty years as a teaching, he would be right with gion it has is an unpretended belief Master Mason reading and growing God, be saved, and go to heaven. in the one living and true God. It is in Masonic knowledge. It would be There is nothing in the ritual that not defined beyond that statement. exhaustive to go back and catalog says that.

This is hardly what could constitute the material I have read and studied or be defined a religion. In the York over those years. It is not my purpose to do so or footnote quotes from those sources of my Rite and Scottish Rite degrees which are sometimes knowledge. The plan is to make this a narrative of my referred to as the universities of Freemasonry, that line is observations as a brother who happens to work as a pasnever crossed that would take a brother into a religion. tor. I apologize for the weakness of such an approach. I Freemasonry draws on examples from the Judeo-Christian pray that along with the weakness there might also be scriptures to illustrate morality, but never as statements of some strength. religious doctrine or creed. Freemasonry must always be taken as what it is and it tells us what it is--A BEAUTIFUL

“

“

continues next page THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 101

continued from previous page

seems to me that we have more ill-informed or partially informed brethren.

SYSTEM OF MORALS with one requirement from reliAnother statement from the ritual refers to the obliggion--AN UNFEIGNED BELIEF IN THE ONE LIVING AND ation and to the Masonic membership which the obligaTRUE GOD. tion entails. It says that FREEMASONRY IS NOT TO It is hard criticize a person as a truck driver when he INTERFERE WITH YOUR DUTIES TO GOD, YOUR is a doctor. It is unfair to criticize a person for being a bad NEIGHBOR, OR YOURSELF. The first thing we notice in carpenter when he is a lawyer. It has been my observation this statement is that Masonry places itself fourth at best. that the most common criticism of Masonry is that it is a The second thing is that Masonry assumes that we HAVE false religion. It can never be fairly criticized as a religion. duties to God, our neighbor, and ourselves outside of the It can only be fairly criticized as a system of moral teachlodge. God is placed first in our priority of duties. This ing. I have known several brothers who foster that miswould presume that your duty to God would be well conception in others about Masonry. We need to correct above your duty to Masonry. This you are to perform in our lesser-informed brethren. We also need to answer your own way and through your own faith. Freemasonry those outside the fraternity who would claim us to be a recognizes that your highest duty is to God--the one living religion. It has been my observation that Masonry is doing and true God in whom you professed your trust to become better now at informing those outside the fraternity than a Mason. By being faithful to your trust in God, you are livit did in past years. When some members of the Southern ing the highest duty that Masonry Baptist Convention in the 1990's recognizes. Freemasonry does not proposed a ban on Masonic mempresume to direct this most sacred bership, Masons became more The sword against falsehood is and personal duty. Your duty to your active in putting forth the truth. the truth. neighbor is one that recognizes your The Scottish Rite Journal at that obligation to society. If you are a good time published a special issue Freemasonry recognizes that your neighbor in your community, a good which is still a must read for anyhighest duty is to God--the one worker in your place of employment, one who would answer the critics living and true God in whom you and faithful in all civic responsibilities who make the charge that Freemaprofessed your trust to become a you have fulfilled the second highest sonry is a religion. The fraternity's Mason. responsibility that Masonry recogposition in the past was that nizes. Your duty to yourself includes Masonry should ignore its critics. all of your household. Your duty to That has changed and to the bet. . . Masonry is not a religion, but your family and the well-being of ter, I believe. it is a help in living the life that yourself and family is the third duty The sword against falsehood is you desire to live for God. that Masonry recognizes. Finally, in the truth. A truth I start with is fourth position we have our duty to that I was a Christian before I the Lodge. It is a wonderful brotherbecame a Mason. If I ever had hood with moral teachings that should help us realize the encountered in Masonry something that conflicted with other duties that go before it in a better way. I remember my belief in Christianity or my personal devotion and relathe description of Masonry that I received early in my tionship with Christ as my Lord, I would not now be a Masonic education that Masonry is not a religion, but it is Mason. I add that if I ever hereafter should encounter such a help in living the life that you desire to live for God. A a thing, I will still leave the fraternity. It has not happened BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM OF universally accepted MORALS, in the forty years that I have been a Mason. Having been what else can it be but an aid to one's religion. through the York and Scottish Rites, I feel sure that it nevFreemasonry says what it is. It is important that we er will happen. also say what it is and what it is not.

I find that it is really easier to correct the conceptions of those outside of the fraternity than to correct the misWHAT IT IS NOT conceptions of the brothers in it. To Masons, our faith is a The main charge I have heard from Christians is that personal matter and not to be discussed or approached Freemasonry is a false religion. Most commonly, it is statunless invited by the brother by his opening the subject. ed or inferred that Masonry is "devil worship", a cult, or This is true as we act as Masons in the lodge or relate to some practice of the occult. There seems to be more and each other in the context as Masons. There are many more anti-Masonic "hate" literature available that makes brethren who do not bring up the subject of religion. Once these claims. One case in point is the Chick Publishing a brother does, it is appropriate to draw his attention to Company, which produces materials in comic book forreligious claims that he is according to Masonry that mat. They produce a series of pocket-sized comics that Masonry does not make. It is my observation that misinpresent their position on various issues. Some of these are formed brethren do more harm to Masonry in this matter attacks on Masonry. One of these makes the claim that than our enemies. In these days when proficiencies are no Masons worship a goat-headed demon named Baphomet. longer required and brethren no longer have a coach, it

“

“

102 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

and Pike's intention in the lectures. I feel that few We are in very good company as the Catholic Church and brethren read MORALS AND DOGMA any more, but many other groups are also attacked by them. Some teleMasonry's critics do. It is hard to rebuke those arguments vision evangelists such as John Ankerberg have had series that come from it if one does not know what Pike said and of broadcasts attacking Masonry as a cult of false religion. context in which he said it. True brother that he was, We have already established that Freemasonry is not a Albert Pike spoke of religious matters, but never crossed religion let alone a false religion. It is imperative that that line we mentioned before--that line that leaves reliMasons refute this charge whenever it is made. This is one gion, beyond the unfeigned belief in the one living and charge where silence is not a response that will work. true God, to the individual brother's own spiritual jourNot long after I took over my current pastorate, a ney. For the brother who would refute the critics of wonderful lady of faith made the statement that Masons Masonry claiming it to be a false religion, he does need to worship another God. I had no trouble in speaking to her be prepared to read MORALS AND DOGMA. This is the in Christian love and correcting her misconception. She only place I've ever found where the name Baphomet is had encountered some of these anti-Masonic broadcasts mentioned, only twice in passing as related to an ancient and literature. It was a matter of explaining to her what religion. Pike can be tough sledding so be prepared. You Masonry is and also what it is not. It helped that many will find that Albert Pike advocated one thing that many local Masons belong to our church. We in Masonry refer of his critics and the critics of Masonry are not fond of. to the one living and true God by the term THE GREAT That is the freedom of thought not ARCHITECT OF THE UNIVERSE. only academically but also in the This title of the Deity is sometimes examination of one's religion. So you abbreviated GAOTU in Masonic I feel that few brethren read must also be prepared to abandon the literature. Those who are making MORALS AND DOGMA any more, fight if you find yourself talking to the case that Freemasonry is a but masonry's critics do. It is hard one outside of Masonry who is sure false religion like to seize upon this to rebuke those arguments that that he or she knows more about abbreviation and claim that it is come from it if one does not know Masonry than you do. You can never the name of a false god that we what Pike said and context in convince those who say, "Don't conworship. In explaining the term to which he said it. fuse me with the facts. My mind is which the letters refer, it is easy to already made up." You will find that show that we are referring to God whom all major religions approach The only world order that those who thus stand have a brief in their own way. We show that Freemasonry can be accused of is day in the sun before others realize we recognize Him as the creator that of democracy as evident in the who they are and how they think.

Another thing that Freemasonry and sustainer of our universe and United States . . . is not is that it is not a secret society. our lives. I always like to say that It seems that all the time there are as God created the universe and us new writings that claim that Freemawho inhabit it, Masonry has us sonry is part of what will lead to a one world government, reflect on the fact that we also are to be builders. We are or part of a conspiracy to establish a one-world order. This to build the moral character, which is taught in our place hints of the coming anti-Christ that is spoken of in the of worship as pleasing to God. Bible. The only world order that Freemasonry can be I made a great decision in Masonry when I decided to accused of is that of democracy as evident in the United join the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. The very first States, England, and other democratic nations in Europe thing I did after joining was to read through the entire voland the world. The freedom of thought and the freedom ume of Albert Pike's MORALS AND DOGMA. This was of religion taught in Masonry have had an effect on the an exciting and wonderful journey well worth the time world, but not one that a totalitarian ruler of the world and the labor to do so. Albert Pike was a remarkable scholwould welcome. It has been effective for me to point out ar in comparative religions. His scholarship stands well Freemasonry's influence on our American Revolution and not only for his own time, but also in ours. His fascination the establishment of our government in answering these was for the ancient religions and ancient rites. They made charges. It is hard for people to conceive of George Washexcellent points of departure for studying morality and ington and the other founding fathers who were Masons comparing religious dogma because they were dead relias those who would attempt an ungodly one world order gions. Since nobody believed or practiced these religions, or even a totalitarian order. As you add to the list of they could be used without offending any faith that prominent people in history who were Masons, the argubrethren held sacred. They could also show trends that ment of their being a part of a sinister secret society mankind has made in the practice of religion and their understanding of Deity. It has been my observation that becomes patently ridiculous. most of the arguments used to substantiate that FreemaThe very listing of famous people who were Masons sonry is a false religion comes from quotes taken from further proves that Freemasonry is not a secret society.

MORALS AND DOGMA. These are taken out of context Their Masonic membership was well known. One can

“

“

continues next page THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 103

continued from previous page

point out that those who are Masons in the community today are well known. Their pictures appear in the local paper in articles about lodge functions. The place and time of lodge meetings are publicized. You can draw people's attention to books in local bookstores and libraries that present the teachings and principles of Masonry. I like to mention the kinds of things that ARE secret in Masonry and that those relate to similar kinds of secrets that are in other organization as well. In fact, I make the point that many other organizations to which they belong or might join were formed in imitation of Masonry.

We live in a world which seems to be fascinated by conspiracy theories. We can expect that some will target Masonry as a factor in their conspiracies. I believe there was even one trying to tie the Jack the Ripper murders on Masons. We also live in a world that is fascinated with eschatology (the study of how the world may end).

It will be popular too for some to target Masonry in scenarios of the end of time. We are not a religion, a secret society, or a political body that might be utilized by either. We are a BEAUTIFUL SYSTEM OF MORALS VEILED IN ALLEGORY AND ILLUSTRATED BY SYMBOLS. SYMBOLS The last thing that I will discuss from my observation of those who do not understand that Masonry is not a religion is that they misunderstand and react at symbols that we use. Symbols are powerful images in carrying meanings. The flag of our country is the symbol of our country. As such, many citizens have power-

ful feelings about how it should be treated and respected. The dove that represents peace, the skull and crossbones that represents poison, the icons on our traffic signs, all communicate powerful meanings or warnings.

From the development of speculative Masonry, symbols have been one of Masonry's prime methods of communication. A big part of the degrees of Masonry is learning these symbols and their moral meanings. They are potent symbols with certain meanings to the craft, but the uninformed do not share these meanings. Many if not most of these meanings can be shared to clarify meaning to those who do not understand. Freemasonry is an organization with a few secrets, but it is not a secret organization. What we believe and teach morally is not secret.

The most frequent symbol I have found myself explaining to those who do not understand is the Eastern Star symbol. I will use it therefore as an example.

The question I often get is, "Why is there a pentagram on the Masonic lodge's signs?" By pentagram, they are referring to the satanist symbol of the five-pointed star with the single point pointed down and the head of a goat often inscribed inside with the goat's horns in the two upper points and the goat's beard in the lower point. The star is oriented the same as the eastern star symbol. In answer, I mention that symbols are not the property of one group. They do not have the same meaning from one group to another nor do they have the same meaning at different times in history. The swastika before the Nazis was a revered symbol to the ancient Greeks. The Eastern Star symbol refers to the continues page 127

FORMER GRAND MASTER INDUCTED INTO MISSOURI PRESS ASSOCIATION HALL OF FAME The Missouri Press Association has honored Most Worshipful Brother Thomas Charles Warden by inducting him into the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame. For many years, MWB Warden, along with his brother Don, was editor and co-publisher of the Gasconade County Republican.

MWB Warden earned a degree in Journalism from the Missouri School of Journalism in 1955, served in the Strategic Air Command, and then 104 Fall 2006

began working with the newspaper in 1959. During the time MWB Warden worked as editor of The Republican, the newspaper won several awards, including the Gold Cup, the top award for weekly newspapers.

MWB Warden contributed his column, "Our Back Yard," to The Republican for over forty years. He retired in 2001.

MWB Warden served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1989 - 1990.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

OHIO BROTHER SAM HORNISH, JR. WINS THE INDIANAPOLIS 500 and moved to Penske's Team Marlboro last year. In some To many of us part of the enduring appeal of Masoncircles he was known as the best active driver never to ry is its deep connection with tradition and history. The win the Indy 500. same is true for what many consider to be the greatest This past May, he did away with continuing sporting event in the world: that dubious title. Starting first, Broththe "Greatest Spectacle in Racing" – The er Hornish stayed in the hunt for the Indianapolis 500. Drivers and fans entire race, running in second place for agree, just being at this immense sportthe final few laps. Then, on the last ing venue is enough to conjure up lap, at the last possible second, Brother visions of the greatest moments in racSam Hornish made a Hollywood-script ing. Every corner of the place is style pass to win the race. steeped in memories of the greatest Lost in this breathtaking ending names in racing history... DePalma, and the fact that he had just won the Shaw, Foyt, Andretti, Unser, and many, world's greatest race was something many others. else which reflects the demeanor and And now there is one more... HorMasonic background Sam Hornish nish. On May 28th of this year, Sam demonstrates on and off the track. In Hornish Jr. won the 90th running of addition to winning the race, he won the Indianapolis 500.

Make that Brother Sam Hornish Jr. Sam Hornish, Jr., Freemason, Shriner, Indy the Scott Brayton sportsmanship 500 Champion shown with Shriners Hospital Born July 2, 1979, in Bryan, Ohio, patient Jamie Tajbik. Photo Courtesy Central award. It was the first time the award had gone to the winner of the race.

Brother Hornish currently resides in States Association of Shrine Motor Corps.

Brother Hornish is known on the Defiance Ohio, where he was raised in racing circuit as a spiritual man with deep conviction, and Omega Lodge #564 in 2001. He is also a member of Zenoas a fair and clean competitor. At the end of the race, bia Shrine in Toledo, following in the footsteps of his when he had the opportunity to make a pass for father. Brother Sam has been an active and dedicated the lead that Mason, speaking regularly at Masonic events in his homemight have town and across the county. In addition he has particbeen dangeripated with the Shrine in ous, he electmaking public service ed to wait for announcements, a better opportulending his nity.

Asked speaking about this in his talent and post-race press big name to conference, Brother help support Hornish said, "All the wins in the world don't mean anythe Shrine Hospitals. thing if you can't be glad about it at the end of the day. I His racing career began in 1991 at age 12 and moved don't ever want to win a race like that, feeling like I cheatprogressively from go-karts through Formula 2000 and on ed somebody out of the opportunity to win." into the Indy Racing League in 1999. Along the way, he won multiple championships at all levels, including two At 26, this brother has many years left to go on to IRL titles in 2001 and 2002. more achievements in racing as well as in other aspects of With those two IRL championships under his belt, he his life, including Freemasonry. attracted the interest of racing team giant Roger Penske

BRETHREN OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI ALL DISTRICTS: IF YOU ARE ONE THAT DOES THE MASONIC FUNERAL SERVICE -PLEASE- SEND ME YOUR, NAME ___________________________________ADDRESS _________________________________ LODGE NAME ____________________________LODGE NUMBER ___________________________ DISTRICT NO _____________________________ THANKS FRATERNALLY, LEO BOTTOM, 627 INDUSTRIAL DR., SLATER, MO 65349 THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 105

LODGE OF RESEARCH PROMINENT MASONS IN MISSOURI In order to facilitate the process of creating biographical information for the Lodge of Research, we have created this information sheet. This is basically what we need for the book(s). It is really not difficult to write. We need biographies from all Past District Deputies Grand’s both Lecturers and Masters along with any Brother who would like to make a contribution.

1. Where you were born?

This information will be used in the 2. Where did you attend school? books concerning Prominent 3. To whom are you married and how many children, grandchildren and etc.?

Masons in Missouri.

4. Where were you employed and for how long?

Please mail to: 5. Any military service you might have performed.

Ronald E. Wood, Jr. 6. Any additional achievements relative to your life that you feel would 1904 N. 36th St. be of interest.

St. Joseph, MO 64506 7. Your Masonic History is a natural.

TUSCAN CELEBRATES ITS 5,000TH MEETING With PAST MASTERS NIGHT and the reception of Most Worshipful Brother John Nations, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri

On Tuesday April 18, 2006 Tuscan Lodge celebrated a milestone of 5,000 meetings since it first met under dispensation on April 6, 1870.

Tuscan celebrated the event with a

Junior Steward; WB William Weise ‘75, Chaplain; RWB Ned Inglish ‘67, Acting Marshal; WB James Stemmler ‘64, Tiler; WB Carl Barthold ‘02, Substitute Senior Deacon; and RWB Ash-

Past Masters Night. Fourteen Tuscan Past Masters were in attendance and were presented Past Masters Certificates. RWB William Stephenson ‘03 & ‘05 addressed the brethren before the lodge was opened and introduced the Past Masters serving in the chairs as follows: WB Rex A. Gooch ‘01, Acting Worshipful Master; WB Jeff Gault ‘88, Acting Senior Warden; WB Thomas Kuypers ‘94 & ‘00, Acting Junior Warden; RWB David Wright, Acting Senior Deacon; WB Guy Ross, Acting Junior Deacon; WB J. Page Rosenbach ‘04, Treasurer; WB Robert Conradi Jr. ‘80, Acting Secretary; WB Dave Warburton ‘99, Acting Senior Steward; WB William Whittom ‘97, Acting

ley Underwood, Organist. Also present that night were MWB Vern Schneider ‘64; WB Guy Turner ‘73; WB Ron Krueger, Jr. ‘92; and WB Dennis Schwandt ‘89.

The event was attended by 85 members and guests. The minutes of the first meeting of Tuscan Lodge on April 6, 1870 were ceremonially read.

MWB Schneider spoke of the many masters and brothers in the Lodge’s 136 year history who made significant contributions to Tuscan, the Grand Lodge and other Masonic bodies. Tuscan then officially received members of the Grand Lodge of Missouri as follows: MWB John Nations, Grand Master of Missouri; RWB

106 Fall 2006

Robert Berger, Deputy Grand Master; RWB Bruce Austin, Senior Grand Warden; RWB Ronald Miller, Grand Secretary; RWB Jon Broyles, Grand Marshal; RWB Dick Smith, Junior

Grand Marshal; RWB Nick Cicielo, Grand Chaplain; RWB Harvey Soule, Grand Chaplain; RWB Robert J. Wangelin, Grand Chaplain; RWB Don Taylor, District Deputy Grand Master 27A; and RWB Ira Harris, District Deputy Grand Lecturer 27A. continues next page THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

continued from previous page

The Grand Master received the Grand Honors and was given the Gavel of Authority of Tuscan Lodge. He addressed the Lodge on the state of the fraternity saying that state wide, lodges are reporting renewed growth and initiating new Masons. The speech was very uplifting as our Grand Master is an excellent speaker. He then conducted a 50-year award ceremony for MWB Vern Schneider, Past Grand Master of Missouri and to WB J. Page

Rosenbach, immediate Tuscan Past Master.

Before returning the gavel to WB Gooch, MWB Nations was presented a plaque engraved with the image of Tuscan Temple thanking him for honoring Tuscan Lodge at its 5,000th communication.

A special thanks to the young ladies of Bethel #12, Job’s Daughters for helping with the meal.

KEEP A LOOKOUT The Masonic Home of Missouri is in the process of scheduling the next set of Masonic Home Area Presentations for the upcoming year. Once locations of these meetings have been verified we will release a letter with those dates and locations.

All meetings starting in November 2006 will begin with a light dinner at 6:30 p.m. and Masonic Home

presentation starting at 7:00 p.m.

Please inform your lodge members, wives, widows and Eastern Star members of these meetings so that everyone who is able to attend may do so. These meetings are not just for the Masonic Home Representatives; however, we would like them in attendance if at all possible.

e would like to thank all of the Lodges who have allowed us to utilize their Lodges in the Past and those of you who are allowing us to utilize them in the upcoming year. We truly appreciate your generosity and support. It is through your support the Masonic Home is able to provide its services to the membership.

W

X-ORIENTE – A NEW CONCEPT IN MASONIC ENTERTAINMENT & ENLIGHTENMENT it can be a weight around our neck. With X-Oriente, I We've all heard it before, "Our past is wonderful, want to concentrate not only on the future, but also on but we also need to look to the future with new ideas." how we're going to get there. That's what X-Oriente is all Eric Diamond is a brother in the Chicago area who not about. The masons of 100 years ago didn't rely on our hisonly believes this but is also putting it into practice. This tory to get where they were going." In an innovative young Freemason has comearly episode, he set out his ambitious bined his love of the craft with the goal clearly, "I started this because I knowledge from his career in advertising wanted to help kick start a new Masonic technology to start what might be called renaissance. And let me tell you, brotha new form of Masonic radio show. He ers, we have our work cut out for us." has jumped headfirst into a new world of Shows so far have had a wide entertainment known as podcasting with his fresh new show called X-Oriente, spectrum of topics. X-Oriente has tackwhich means "From the East." Despite led issues ranging from Masonic music to the unfamiliar name for this new form of the touchy subject of Fundamentalism entertainment, podcasting is really rather and Freemasonry. Brother Eric is not simple. All you need in order to listen to afraid to go deep into subjects like these the show is a computer. and a few of his shows have covered two Brother Eric is the Senior Deacon or even three episodes. of Oriental Lodge #33 in Chicago. He has Eric is quick to point out that he worked with computers for years. After does not speak for his lodge, grand lodge being raised in 1999, as his interest in Brother Eric Diamond, host of the X-Ori- or any other body of Masons. At the Freemasonry increased he began looking ente podcast same time it is not his objective to create for ways to contribute to the craft using his computer controversy with these groups, "I have an open access polskills. He conceived of X-Oriente about a year ago and got icy to the show. If someone wants to come on with someit off the ground with his first show in August, 2005. To thing to say, they can. If I have something on the website date he has produced 11 half-hour shows, which he disthat is wrong, I'll take it down." Early on, X-Oriente contributes monthly. You can find the podcast at www.xoriducted an interview with David W. Miller who, at the time ente.com and you can subscribe directly to the show at was Grand Master of Illinois. Not only was the show an http://feeds.feedburner.com/xoriente. interesting insight most of us never get on what it is like "Our Masonic history has its place," he says, "but continues next page

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 107

continued from previous page

to be Grand Master, but it also made it apparent X-Oriente is working harmoniously with the Grand Lodge of Illinois.

Along with the podcast, Brother Diamond maintains a web log, or "Blog" where he solicits feedback. And he listens to what his audience has to say. In the earlier episodes of X-Oriente, he included a music section which turned out not to be so popular. Upon hearing this from his listeners, he has since dropped the segment.

Brother Eric says he gets the ideas for his shows from a number of sources including audience feedback, articles he reads and anything that promotes his interest in younger Masons and how they relate to society.

He feels it is important to interest the millennial generation in Freemasonry.

In the future, Brother Eric hopes to be able to produce shows every two weeks and include more guests in the program. His immediate plans include having his wife on a show to discuss the "Masonic Widow" issue.

"My secret agenda," he says, "is to make the show a springboard for new ideas in Masonry – why, for example is there no Masonic rock band? I hope eventually to establish a sort of 'working tools' foundation and develop tool kits for lodges in trouble. Freemasonry has a lot of talented guys out there who, working together, can make things happen."

X-Oriente is simply a well-produced, intelligent show about Freemasonry. Brother Diamond is a talented host with a lot of bright ideas, and who has an entertaining and thoughtful way of bringing them out. It's well worth your time to listen.

HOW TO LISTEN TO X-ORIENTE Podcasting gets its name from devices like the iPod, which is a small music player a user can load up with audio content for playback anytime. It is something like the old Sony Walkman. If you have one of these devices you probably already know how to add content, and we will leave instructions for that to a more technical forum.

If you don't own an iPod or similar player, you don't need to run out and buy one in order to listen to X-Oriente. Just go to the X-Oriente website (www.xoriente.com) and find the program you want to hear. Usually, the most current program will be at the top of the page. All you need to do is click and listen.

If you want to hear a previous show, the website lists these on the left hand side about midway down the page. Just select the one you want to hear and click.

If you want to move to the next level of sophistication, you can also subscribe to the podcast and it will automatically download to your computer whenever it is available. In order to subscribe, you will have to download a free program called an aggregator. Some common aggregators are iTunes, Doppler, iPodderX, Juice and there are many more. If all this is too technical, just remember you can go to the website and click on the show you want.

Brother Eric Diamond, the host of X-Oriente, expects more Masonic podcasts in the future, but cautions it is a time consuming venture. It may be a while before we see a number of them on the Internet. For starters, here are a few other sites you might check out for Masonic material: The Digital Freemason: http://www.kinggeorgelodge.com/education.htm The Masonic Pride Podcast: http://www.masonicpride.org/podcast.php The Master's Mix: http://www.themastersmix.com/

NOTICE ~ SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION

November 18, 2006 9:00AM Sedalia Lodge #236 Sedalia, Missouri

MISSOURI FREEMASON DEADLINES Issue Winter, 2006 Spring, 2007 Summer, 2007 Fall, 2007

Deadline October 1, 2006 January 2, 2007 April 1, 2007 July, 1, 2007

Michael F. Armstrong, RGL, Region C 108 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Hello Missouri Masons: My name is Samantha Stutzman and I am the new (80th) Grand Worthy Advisor in the State of Missouri. Before I go very far, I’d like to salute Pamela Baker, our Junior Past Grand Worthy Advisor.

Pamela had a terrific year. Her term was “Tugs on our Heartstrings” and we had all sorts of dog-themed activities…our own “Westminster Dog Show," pictures taken with dogs before one of her visits and dogs from the Columbia, Missouri, Humane Society playing with us before a visit.

There were games like judging various “breeds” (really divisions of introduced people), a dog pound (capturing people in lieu of dogs…with their “bail” money going to the State Service Project), questions about famous/fictional dogs, a cutest stuffed animal contest, and loads of jokes and facts about dogs. One assembly chose to put on a “hoe-down” complete with line and square dancing—later having a hayride. My district (which is also Pamela’s) put together a “Lady and the Tramp” afternoon with each assembly performing a skit and then slurping spaghetti! M-m-mm. For our State Service Project, Pamela and our State Dean of the Grand Cross of Color, Yvonne Young, received tons and tons of donations—food, toys, supplies and money-for the Humane Societies chosen in Missouri. Pamela and her twin sister, Amanda (remember? she was Missouri’s Grand Worthy Advisor right before Pamela) received their majority at Grand Assembly. May many more Rainbow days of puppy licks and tail wags be Pamela’s to enjoy!

Onward. On July 3, 2006, I excitedly became Missouri’s Grand Worthy Advisor. What huge heels I have to fill! My term’s dedication is entitled “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” and my symbols are kites and hearts. I have the awesome privilege of serving with Kim Best, who is the State Dean of our Grand Cross of Color. I say “awesome” because, ironically, Kim and I are from the same Assembly and, of course, the same Preceptory! In fact, she's my Mother Advisor...and her mother was my "growing-up-in-Rainbow" Mother Advisor! Her term’s dedication is entitled “When You Wish On a Star” with her symbols being wishing wells and stars.

Together we will be raising funds for our combined State Service Project, the Make a Wish Foundation. We are SO excited to be serving together and, therefore, working together this next year.

A little about me… I am a 2004 graduate of Harrisonville High School where I was actively involved in Student Council, FCA, Young Life and the schools’ newspaper. I am currently attending the University of Missouri-Columbia, where I have completed my second year majoring in Nursing. At

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

college, I have become an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and a member of the student alumni association organization, True Tigers. When I’m not attending class I’m a waitress at the Thirsty Turtle. I enjoy spending time with my friends and doing some of today’s popular “scrapbooking.” I am grateful to have received the Samuel Smith Stewart scholarship given by the Grand Lodge of Missouri (it’s a four-year scholarship!) and was the 2004 recipient of the Jeanne Mueller Missouri Rainbow scholarship. I continue to be as active as possible at Harrisonville Assembly #36 and Harrisonville Preceptory. I am a Past Missouri DeMolay State Sweetheart and an honorary member of the Missouri DeMolay Mother Chapter.

I am looking forward to serving at Supreme Assembly (our biennial International convention--held this July in Oklahoma City) as the Supreme Page to the Acting Supreme Worthy Advisor and, as in past years, know I will enjoy the opportunity of meeting and making new friends throughout our International Order. I am SO excited. I won't be the only one representing Missouri though. The following ladies will also be having key roles in our Supreme Sessions: Cavalcade of Flags - Dava Mentis; Jurisdictional Skit - Lindsey James; Supreme Choir - Elizabeth Silvey and Brianne Sisco; Supreme Ritual Team - Sara Estes, Kristyn Sample, Samantha Stutzman (me), Ami Jester, Elizabeth Jester, Elizabeth Silvey, Amanda Fisher, Evalyne McInnish, Brianne Sisco, Elaine Hines, Dava Mentis, and Lindsey James. I hope to report to you LOADS of successes in our next article!!

Missouri Rainbow continues to receive outstanding support from our adult bodies as well as a strong presence of DeMolay and Job’s Daughters as the occasion (usually a dance!) arises. We have twenty-two active assemblies—having added our latest one this past February. Twenty-two assemblies means many adults giving time, energy and money to make our assemblies and their agendas possible—and twenty-two assemblies means bunches of girls coming to meetings and other events—local and all over the state.

Grow, Missouri Rainbow, grow! We are hoping to have many new and stronger-numbered Pledge groups established by the end of this Grand year and, by the same token, hope our Missouri Majority Association continues to gain new memberships--and you don’t even have to be a former Missouri Rainbow Girl to join!

We hope you were able to support Missouri Rainbow this past "grand" year by buying an ad, providing refreshments or, maybe, attending a Grand Assembly session in June. If so-continues page 127 Fall 2006 109

TEMPLE GATE LODGE NO. 299 CONTINUE TO SHINE IN THE ADOPT-A-RESIDENT PROGRAM!!!

On May 23, 2006, Temple Gate Lodge held an open meeting honoring Masonic widows and Masonic wives. They had forty seven in attendance and picked up their two adoptive ladies from the Masonic Home Residential Living Facility and accompanied them to their celebration.

Pictured on the right: Front row left to right are Pearl Helman; adopted resident from the Masonic Home, Bob Britton; Masonic Home Representative and Dorothy Wilcox adopted resident from the Masonic Home.

Back row are members of the fraternity.

The Masonic Home of Missouri encourages Lodges every year to Adopt-A-Resident from our Masonic Home Residential Living Facility in Kansas City and congratulates Temple Gate Lodge No. 299 for participating in this program.

Our Masonic Home residents truly appreciate the time that each one of you give, whether it be stopping by for a chat, volunteering to host an event or activity at the Masonic Home Facility or even taking them out to dinner or an outside event whether it be something at the Lodge or Chapter or a play or movie.

Don’t forget there are still 12 residents that need to be adopted at our Masonic Home in Kansas City. If your Lodge or Chapter would like to Adopt-A-Resident please contact Bev Lentz at the Masonic Home of Missouri in Kansas City 866-763-6667.

The gift of time or an ear to bend or shoulder to lean on is truly priceless and your brothers and sisters greatly appreciate your time.

SAXTON LODGE NO. 508 HOLDS FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT THE MASONIC HOME OF MISSOURI KC FACILITY Pictured on the right is Worshipful Master Nathan Carrington and James Jeffers, Masonic Home Rep of Saxton Lodge #508, presenting a check in the amount of $500.00 to Karin Bell, Executive Director and Kathryn Johnson, Facility Administrator for the Masonic Home of Missouri.

Members of Saxton Lodge held a Ham and Bean Dinner fundraiser in February at the Masonic Temple in St. Joseph. A portion of the proceeds was given to the Masonic Home of Missouri for the Kansas City Residential Living Facility.

We thank the members of Saxon Lodge and all those who supported its event.

110 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

CREATING A PARTNERSHIP IS WORKING! On May 26, 2006, Bob Britton, Masonic Home Representative for Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 299 presented Mr. Mark Hash, Social Services Coordinator for several schools in the district, a check for $410.00 for the children at Eastwood Hills Elementary School.

The following excerpt is from a note from Judge Stephen Nixon, Circuit Court of the State of Missouri: “I want to thank you and the Masons of your lodge for your kindness and generosity. As you probably know most of the kids we work with have no role models who have pursued education seriously. Your contribution has really helped us provide the incentive for success that is a fundamental part of the program. We cannot Thank you enough. This is just one more act by the Masons that proves the commitment that Masons have to their community.”

Pictured on the right: Mr. Mark Hash; Social Services Coordinator accepting check on behalf of Eastwood Hills Elementary School and Brother Bobby Britton, Masonic Home Representative of Temple Gate Lodge No. 299.

VALUABLE INFORMATION FOR MISSOURI MASONIC WIDOWS AND MASONIC LODGES Did you know if your husband was in Good Standing at the time of his death, you may be eligible for assistance from the Masonic Home of Missouri?

The Masonic Home of Missouri would like to take this opportunity to inform all widows of the services available to them as surviving spouses of Missouri Master Masons.

We encourage all Masons to read this information and make it accessible to Masonic widows in their communities.

The Masonic Home of Missouri is a non-profit organization, which assists Missouri Master Masons, their wives, widows, dependent children, and Missouri female members of the Order of the Eastern Star.

The Masonic Home’s Corporate Office is located in Columbia, Missouri, at the Masonic Complex. The Masonic Home also has a Residential Care Facility, which is located in Southeastern Kansas City, Missouri, on 21 beautiful acres. This residential care facility offers a wonderful retirement community with a wide variety of amenities including hair care, transportation and housekeeping, all at an all-inclusive monthly cost. The Masonic Home is a private pay facility, but financial assistance is available to Missouri Master Masons, their wives, widows and Missouri female members of the Order of the Eastern Star through the Outreach Program.

The Masonic Home of Missouri provides financial assistance to individuals in and out of the State of Missouri through the Outreach Program. This needs-based THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

assistance program is designed to provide financial assistance to help you remain in your home, apartment, assisted living facility or residential care facility. The Outreach Program also provides financial assistance for one-time individual payments and the loan of medical equipment.

Masonic widows should also be aware of our Social Service Program. The Social Service Program can provide you with information regarding services in and around your community. This program can help you locate information for federal, state and local programs or answer questions regarding home health care, Medicare, Medicaid, transportation and home delivered meals available in your particular area.

The Masonic Home of Missouri would also like to extend the opportunity to all Masonic Lodges to keep the Masonic Home aware of your Lodge’s widows by sending a Widows’ List to the Corporate Office in Columbia. This will assist the Masonic Home to communicate with these widows in your area and make sure they are aware of the programs and services available to them through the Masonic Home.

If you or other Masonic widows in your community have questions regarding the services offered by the Masonic Home of Missouri, please call and speak with the staff at the Corporate Office in Columbia at 1-800-434-9804. The staff will be happy to assist you with any information you may need, and tell you more about the services you are eligible for as a Masonic widow.

Fall 2006 111

KANSAS CITY FACILITY ANNOUNCES NEW RATES In order to continue to provide the best services to our residents living at the Kansas City Residential Living Facility, the Board of Directors has authorized an increase to the monthly fee.

The Masonic Home has not had a rate increase in the past ten years, but has continued to provide the highest quality care and professional staffing to our residents and maintained our facility to provide all the comforts of home. In order for the Home to ensure this professional care continues, we are increasing the month rates by $9.67 per day.

Though we have increased our fees, the Masonic Home of Missouri is still below market rates for other facilities for the level of professional staff and quality of services we provide to our members.

In addition, the Masonic Home also offers Respite Care at a rate of $95.00 per day. If you are the caretaker for your mother, father, step-parents, sister or brother or another Masonic member and need to find care for a short period of time, you can place them at the Kansas City facility for a period of 3 to 30 days. (Mental and physical requirements for a residential living facility apply). Contact Kathryn Johnson, Administrator at 1-866763-6667 for further information on the Kansas City Facility.

RATES EFFECTIVE MAY 1, 2006 PRIVATE ROOMS: $2,200/month ($72.33/day) SUITES: $2,600/month ($85.48/day) SECOND PERSON IN SUITE: $500/month ($16.44/day) RESPITE CARE (3-30 days): $95 per day

MASONIC HOME OF MISSOURI AREA PRESENTATIONS meetings. All meetings begin with a light dinner at 6:00 The following are the upcoming Masonic Home p.m. with the presentation (by the Masonic Home staff) Area Presentations. These Meetings are not only for following at 6:30 p.m. If you would like to attend a meetMasonic Home Representatives; they are for all Lodge ing or need more information please contact the Masonic members, their wives, widows and ladies of the Eastern Home Public Relations Department. 800-434-9804.

Star and their family members. Please, encourage as many people as possible to attend at least one of these August 22, 2006 Brookfield Lodge No. 86, Brookfield MO August 29, 2006 Shawnee Lodge No. 653, Warsaw MO October 3, 2006 Cass Lodge No. 147, Harrisonville MO October 10, 2006 Eminence Lodge No. 607, Eminence MO October 24, 2006 Stockton Lodge No. 283, Stockton MO November 7, 2006* Masonic Home Residential Care Facility, Kansas City MO *KC meeting: dinner will begin at 6:30pm, presentation at 7:00pm

112 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

HELP TELL THE STORY OF THE MASONIC HOME Cindee Herrick, Special Project Curator The next museum exhibit needs your help. We want to borrow items that are similar to those used at the Home. The four themes are Life at the Home, Masonic Values that led to the creation and the development of the Home, Governing the Home, and Grassroots Support by Blue Lodges, Eastern Star Chapters and other Masonic bodies. Today, I want to go into the portion of the exhibit called Life At The Home. You might not own an item that the Home actually used but you might own that type of item. The Library and Museum of the Masonic Home of Missouri will document and credit any items we borrow for the exhibition or for replication into an exhibit graphic.

Chautauqua 1905 - In 1905 the Home took the sixty children to Piasa Chautauqua for two weeks. Piasa Chautauqua is just across the border in Illinois.

It was founded in 1885 as a Methodist summer resort that offered educational, artistic and recreational opportunities for children, adults and families. It was very popular with St. Louis residents. The Christmas Fund paid for the excursion. St. Louis lodges gave money to the Christmas Fund and it grew over time until it supported many forms of entertainment. The exhibit needs images from Piasa Chautauqua from 1900-1910 that we can scan into a background graphic. It also needs items that people used while at the resort and souvenirs from there and then. If you collect postcards or if your family went to Piasa Chautauqua at the turn of the century and brought home a souvenir or a handicraft made while there, the museum might want to display it as a way to illustrate more fully what the two week camping trip must have been like for the children.

A Home to Remember - We are desperately looking for a copy of the 1961 film “A Home to Remember”. It starred many of the residents and it was used to promote the Home and raise money for the Home. If any Mason or lodge has a copy of it, we want to know. Modern recording equipment would permit us to extract portions to play in the exhibit.

Rocking Chair – In 1938 the Home dedicated the new Women’s Building. We know that “A well-padded chintzcovered rocker is the distinguishing note of comfort in each room.” We know because the St. Louis Globe-Democrat covered the dedication and included this observation in the story. Exhibiting a similar chair would tell the story of the style and quality for which the Home was known much better than just pasting the quote on the wall with a picture of the Women’s Building. We want to acknowledge that the Order of the Eastern Star provided all of the furnishings for the 9-story brick Women’s Building and apparently a rocker for each room. We are hoping that someone has a rocker in good condition, from that era, that fits this description, which they might want to lend for the exhibit.

The Rocking Chair also shows how stories interconnect and flow from one to another. The story of opening the residence hall for women includes the service to the Home of Orestes Mitchell, Sr. and, at a later time, of Orestes Mitchell, Jr. Orestes Sr. served on many key committees that would have overseen the building of the Women’s Building: finance, legal and administration. He then served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1924-25. In the early 1950s his son, Orestes, Jr. served in both capacities. For Orestes Jr., it must have also been a difficult time, for in the early 1950s many members of the senior staff retired, forcing the Home to hire new key administrators. With one rocking chair, we can tell the stories of women during the Depression, Eastern Star generosity, and Masonic leadership by a father and a son.

Hodiamont Street Car Line on Delmar Boulevard – Delmar Boulevard had one of the oldest streetcar lines in St. Louis. When the Home opened its doors in 1889, residents could ride into town. It was also one of the last mass transit lines to get converted to bus in 1964. Wondering whether anyone has any bus tokens from St. Louis street cars or buses, or schedules, or other ephemera that we can scan into a graphic panel or include as is.

Schools the Children Attended – The children attended local schools and until the 1960s, they had an impressive array of programs from which to choose, particularly for their high school years. We have photographs of the outsides of the continues next page THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 113

continued from previous page

school buildings and a small medallion from Soldan High School, but nothing more. We would like to display yearbooks, school pennants, athletic equipment, school newspapers, and other items that will evoke the years spent in study, sports, and camaraderie. Perhaps you or a relative attended one of these schools and you have souvenirs from those school days. Children attended the following schools: Stoddard School (1889 – 1939), Dozier Grammar School (1889 – 1907), William Clark Grammar School (1907 – 1960s), Central High School (1893 – 1963), Soldan High School (1909- 1960s), Hadley Technical High School (1927 – 1960s), Blewett High School (1933-1948), Rubicum Business School, Barnes Business & Shorthand School, Ranken Technical College (1920s-1950s), Barnes

SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF-YOUR MASONIC HOME OF MISSOURI! The Masonic Home of Missouri has been invited to present a program on our Outreach Services at the Grand Master’s Conference of North America. The conference will be held in February 2007 in Portland, Oregon.

All fifty United States Jurisdictions will be represented, as well as Canada, Mexico and Europe.

Karin Bell, Executive Director and Barbara Ramsey, Director of Outreach Services will address the entire conference with a one-hour presentation on the success of our financial assistance program.

Many Masonic Homes across the country are looking for new and innovative ways to provide services to their membership. The Masonic Home of Missouri has done this extremely well over the past 15 years and has been asked to share its secret for success. We look forward to representing the Missouri Jurisdiction at the conference.

Hospital School of Nursing, Washington University (1940s – 1980), and Harris Teachers College (1940s- 1980). Then, in the 1960s, the school began attending the Clayton Schools and finally the Normandy Schools.

These are just some of the stories we want to tell in the section called Life At The Home. In the next issue, I will share some of the stories we want to explore in the other sections of the exhibition. Remember, the current exhibit, Masons Helping Masons Helping Missouri is open for viewing Monday through Friday from 9 am until 4 pm at the Columbia Offices of the Masonic Home and the Grand Lodge. Thanks for reading and please, give me a call at 800-434-9804 or email me at Cherrick@mohome.org.

THANK YOU! Thank you to all those that have taken on the responsibility of Masonic Home Representative. We appreciate all that each of you do spreading the word on the Masonic Home and its Programs. One way we like to say Thank you is by inviting you to our complimentary Masonic Home Representative Luncheon. Lunch will consist of an update on all the new things the Masonic Home has to offer, followed by a guest speaker.

When: September 25, 2006 Where: Grand Lodge Annual Communication, Holiday Inn Expo Center Time: 11:30am-1:00pm Why: To Thank You & Inform You! R.S.V.P.: Public Relations dept., 800-434-9804

The luncheon is for each Masonic Home Rep. If you are unable to attend and would like to send someone in your place, please let us know who will be representing your lodge. One (1) person per lodge.

TRUMAN CLUB MEMBERSHIP CLARIFICATION In the Summer edition of the Missouri Freemason, the article on the Truman Club should have read, "Annual Membership in the Truman Club is available to those who contribute gifts of at least $100 during any calendar year and Perpetual Membership is available to those who have achieved cumulative giving totaling $1,000 or more." The figures of $500 per month and $5,000 cumulative were in error.

114 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

THE TRUMAN CLUB 2006 Inaugural Dinner

On behalf of the Truman Club, I invite all members to join us in Columbia for our first dinner to be held on September 23, 2006, the Saturday night of Grand Lodge Annual Communication. It will be a time for building relationships with others who give and are passionate about the Masonic Home of Missouri.

We will dine by candlelight at the beautiful MU Reynolds Alumni Center and be lifted out of our seats by one of the state’s most celebrated orchestras, the J. B. Big Band, that will provide dancing music for the evening.

Whether you will be coming alone, with your spouse, or with guests you want to bring as potential members, I hope you will reply early. Keep watch for you’re members invitations to arrive in August. Save the date, September 23, plan to join us in Columbia.

We are enthusiastic about the Inaugural Dinner’s rapid approach, where we will have the opportunity and honor of recognizing Truman Club members for their generous support of fellow brothers and sisters in need throughout the state of Missouri. All members will receive their Truman Club lapel pins and Perpetual Members will receive their Harry S Truman busts, which symbolize the enduring legacy made possible by their gift commitments.

Once again the evening will take place on September 23, 2006 at MU Reynolds Alumni Center in Columbia, Missouri. Festivities will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a reception in the Great Hall with hors d’ oeuvres and beverages, then everyone will adjourn to the Ball Room at 7:00 p.m. for dinner. Following dinner at 8:00 p.m. will be the presentation of the Harry S Truman Busts to the Perpetual Members and finally dancing with music provided by the J. B. Big Band.

This event is a Black Tie event, the cost is $75.00 per person all inclusive.

Karin Bell, Executive Director, Masonic Home of Missouri

TWO TYPES OF MEMBERS

Annual Membership requires giving of at least $100 during any calendar year and is renewable January first of every year. Perpetual Membership begins once an individual’s cumulative giving reaches $1,000 beginning January 1, 2004. Perpetual members support the Home at defined levels of cumulative giving named after some of Missouri’s most illustrious Masons: Membership Levels Lewis and Clark Society Thomas Hart Benton Society Samuel Clemons Society Charles A. Lindbergh Society Omar Bradley Society J. C. Penny Society Harry S Truman Society

Cumulative Giving As of 1/1/2004 $1,000 $5,000 $25,000 $100,000 $250,000 $500,000 $1 million

All giving in support of the Masonic Home programs and fund raising events, along with company matching gifts, count toward membership giving totals.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Q & A WITH BROTHER DAVID HORNER, DIRECTOR OF THE TRUMAN CLUB : If I should wish to confidentially visit about my personal giving to the Masonic Home, who should I contact?

Q A

: Through its office of development, the Home works in close partnership with individuals who want to become Truman Club members. The following two people are prepared to work directly with them: David Horner, Jr. Director of Development Phone: (800) 434-9804 E-Mail: dhorner@mohome.org Lori Benson Donor Relations Phone: (800) 434-9804 E-Mail: lbenson@mohome.org

Fall 2006 115

LADIES MEALS SEPTEMBER 25TH & 26TH, 2006 (NO TOUR OR PROGRAM SCHEDULED-MAY SHOP ON YOUR OWN) Monday 8:00 AM-9:30 AM Breakfast Buffet-Cost $9.00 Please specify the number attending breakfast

_______

Monday Luncheon: Luncheon at Hotel $12.00

_______

Tuesday 8:00 AM-9:30 AM Breakfast Buffet-Cost $9.00 Please specify the number attending breakfast

_______

Please enclose your check designated to the Ladies Luncheon in the amount of $30 per person, payable to the Grand Lodge of Missouri.

Name: _______________________Total Amount Paid: _________ Phone:_______________________Check Number:_____________ ____________________________ Address: _____________________Cash: _____________________ Others to attend:__________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________

Please turn in your reservation as soon as possible.

116 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Monday Night Banquet

Garden Fresh Salad (Choice of Italian or Ranch Dressings)

Strip Steak Baked Potato Buttered Corn Pie Variety (Peach or Cherry)

cost: 25 $

Please let us know of any special diet needs & we will try to accommodate.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 117

Nodaway Lodge #470 recently presented Brother Ferris Eitel his 50 year pin and certificate from the Grand Lodge of Missouri. RWB Fred Foster, DDGM 6th Masonic District of Missouri officiated. Bro. Eitel's wife, Joan, is shown at his right.

On April 15, 2006, Sikeston Lodge #310 presented Lymon Dale (Age 98) his 60 year pin and certificate from the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Johnie Dixon, WM made the presentation in Bro. Lyman's home

On March 23, 2006 at an open meeting, Arnold Lodge #673 presented Brother Marshall H. Northcutt with his 50 year jewel and certificate of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Rt. Worshipful Bro. Carl Brown presented the jewel and certificate. Marshall's wife, Mary pinned the jewel on his lapel. Above picture, (L to R), Bro. Richard H. Kraus, W.M., Mrs. Mary Northcutt, Bro. Marshall H. Northcutt & Rt. Worshipful Bro. Carl Brown.

Brother Joe R. Deaton of Valley Park Lodge #629 received his 50 year pin and certificate of the Grand Lodge of Missouri on May 9, 2006. RWB Sam J. Friday, DDGM, Louisiana, made the presentation at Brother Deaton’s home in Natichitoches, Louisiana.

On February 25, 2006, 49 brethren, family members and friends gathered at Liberal, Missouri to honor bother George E. Dighero with a 50-year jewel and certificate of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Brother Jerry Laflin, PM, assisted by WM Doug Rogers, made the presentation.

Brother George Dighero was raised a Master Mason on February 2, 1956 in Hermon Lodge #187 at Liberal, Missouri, where he is currently serving as Junior Warden.

Cake and refreshments were provided.

Pictured with Bro. Dighero are his three sons Dennis and George, Jr., Master Masons from Lamar, Missouri and Steve, a Master Mason form Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

118 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

On April 3, 2006, Right Worshipful Brother Lee L. Francis made his official visit to Elvins-Ionic Lodge #154 and also performed the pleasant duty of presenting 3 - 50 year membership certificates and pins and 3 - 25 year membership pins to worthy brethren.

In the first picture RWB Francis is standing with the 3 50 year recipients, as follows: Bro. Arthur J. Hulsey. Bro. Marvin L. Johnson and Worshipful Brother D. Eugene Black.

In the second picture RWB Francis on the left, then Worshipful Brother Lynn S. Ellis, Bro. Donald G. Boyd and Bro. Charles E. Erwin.

On Thursday, June 15, 2006, Herculaneum Lodge #388 presented Brother James Sweet his 50-year jewel and certificate. RWB Elmo Blum officiated with Brother Sweet's wife Pat and son Jeff present. Brother Sweet received his degrees in Germany in the mid-fifties. He is retired from Union Electric and currently volunteers with many local charities.

Sedalia Lodge #236 at a special communication honored Bro. Ernest 0. Pasley left for 75 years of Masonic membership.

Worshipful Master E. George McConnell (right) presented the lapel pin.

Charles D. Maxwell and William E. McDonnold were presented with their 50 year pins and certificates from the Grand Lodge at Vincil Lodge #62, Cameron, MO Monday evening March 20, 2006.

L to R Mrs. Maxwell, Charles Maxwell, William McDonnold Sr., T. David Swafford, Master. Back row, William McDonnold, Jr.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 119

SWOPE PARK LODGE #617, Kansas City, MO honors three 50 Year Masons Three distinguished Brethren received their Grand Lodge Fifty year Jewels and certificates at the June 22 open meeting. From left to right, WM Gary Dryer, Sue and Bro. Ed Burr, WB Ace Hamlin, PM, Bro. Richard Gauert and his wife, G.J. The ladies pinned their respective husbands and WB Dryer presented our honored guests their Grand Lodge Certificates. Afterward, cake and ice cream were served downstairs in Shotwell Hall.

Tuesday May 16, 2006 the members of Perseverance Lodge #92, Louisiana Missouri, again had the privilege of honoring Brother Bob Burbridge for his 50 years in Masonry. RWB Francis (Pete) Johnson presented his certificate and pin from the Grand Lodge of Missouri AF & AM With brother Burbridge is his wife Phoebe, who also had the honor of pinning the 50 year jewel to his lapel. They are displaying the 50 year certificate from the Grand Lodge of Missouri AF & AM. Together with William E. Richard of Bowling Green, Missouri, Claude E. Hawkins of Holts Summit, Missouri, and Robert H. Burbridge of Chesterfield, Missouri Perseverance Lodge #92 had the pleasure of honoring 150 years of Masonry this past summer.

St. Francisville Lodge #588 AF &AM presented two 50Year pins to Guy Barrows of the area and John Jutte former resident and now of Arkansas. The ceremony was very well attended with a carry-in lunch served prior.

Left to right, Bev & Guy Barrows, and John & Gladys Jutte.

The wives did the official pinning on of the 50-year service pins.

120 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

was conducted by RWB Dale W. Newcomer, a Past District Deputy Grand Master of the 48th (now 37th) Masonic District of MO, with WB Akins at the Altar. The Lodge Secretary read His Masonic History according to the Records of the Grand Lodge, AF & AM of MO. RWB Newcomer, reminded the WB he had there stood 50 years ago, as a newly made Master Mason, and taken an Oath, but was now not there to receive further obligations, but to receive just due, for the ones He has upheld over the Past 50 Years. Following the Ceremony, he was then presented his Grand Lodge Certificate and 50 Yr. Pin, as his Daughter at the Altar placed his pin in his lapel.

SAMARITAN LODGE #424, BONNE TERRE On Thursday evening May 18, 2006, Family, Friends, and His Masonic Brethren, gathered in the Lodge's Dining room for a Family style Dinner, to Honor Worshipful Brother Lewis Leon Akins, a Member of 50 Years, and also served as Worshipful Master in 1962-63. The Ceremony

Pictured (L to R) Mrs. Janet (Akins) Patterson, his Daughter, WB. Lewis Leon Akins (Recipient) and RWB Dale W. Newcomer, PDDGM who conducted the program.

Worshipful Brothers Arlie Hall and Jack Clanton, Stella Lodge #538 AF & AM were presented on April 30, 2006 their 50 year pin and certificate by Right Worshipful Brother Edwin Parker, PDDGM of the 56t" District and Most Worshipful Brother, Walter L. Walker, Past Grand Master, Missouri Grand Lodge. All four of these brethren graduated from Stella High School and are 50 plus year members of Stella Lodge #538.

From left to right are RWB Edwin Parker, Jack Clanton, RWB Arlie Hall, and Most Worshipful Brother Walter L. Walker.

Brother Edwin Parker had received his 50-year pin on August 5, 2004.

Roy F. Dorman of Florissant, Missouri received his 50-year pin and certificate from the Grand Lodge on May 22.

Worshipful Master John Murphy made the presentation in Brother Dorman's home.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Right Worshipful Brother Joe W. Johnson presented worshipful Brother Herman McGill his 50-year pin in Masters Lodge #542. Herman's wife Virginia assisted in the pin presentation.

Fall 2006 121

On Saturday, October 21, 2006, Perseverance Lodge #92 in Louisiana, Missouri will renew its efforts to hold the annual Grand Master's Breakfast. Ask the older members to share their memories of these past events and you will be inspired to participate this time.

Sat., April 22 Knob Noster Lodge #245 had a Fish Fry from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at the Lodge hall. This event is a fund raiser for the Lodge's charity projects. L to R. Bro. Kyle Hookey Bro. Scott Siegfried, Chm. and WB Larry Fox.

Promptly at 4:00 A.M. the Worshipful Master will rap the gavel and the proceedings will be under way at Perseverance Lodge #92 at the corner of Georgia Street and 7th Street in Louisiana, Missouri. Once the lodge is opened, the Worshipful Master will welcome all visitors and introduce his officers. The Grand Master will then be formally received, given the Grand Honors, and escorted to the East, where he will deliver his message to the brethren.

Promptly at 5:00 A.M. the lodge will be closed and the brethren will retire to the dining room for a breakfast of ham and eggs. A free will offering will be collected and used to cover the expenses of the meal with the remainder of the money going to the Masonic Home.

Since this the first time that this event is being held in several years, please let us know how many from your lodge are planning to attend. We need this information by the first of October to help us plan the meal. Your timely responses will help us make this a successful event. Please send your reservations to: Kenneth (Bucky) Ward, 13984 Pike 273, Louisiana, Missouri 63353 or call my phone number which is: 573-754-6328.

Mon. May 15 Sedalia Lodge #236 met in special communication to present a "Rusty Nail Degree." Officers for the degree were: L to R. WB David Miller, JW; Bro. H H Luetjen, JD; Bro. Lloyd Stevenson, JS; RWB Robert Weikal, SD; Bro. Ed Vaught, candidate, Windsor Lodge #29; WB George McConnell, WM; W Bro. Robert Burford, Chap.; WB Ron Butler, SW; WB Walter Acker, SS, Windsor Lodge #29; and Bro. James Hamilton, Marshal.

This is truly a unique experience that we would like to encourage each of you to come and participate in. Mark your calendars to reserve this date with us.

Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge #79 Lodge Photo (2006) . Picture of Polar Star-Rose Hill #79’s members who attended the lodge’s last regular meeting of its first year. The year 2005 marked the first year for the new lodge forged from two historic lodges.

122 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

WALLACE LODGE #456 FUNDRAISER Wallace Lodge #456 had its first annual community charitable fundraiser. This fundraiser was to benefit the young people. Proceeds from the event were 25% Children Miracle Network, 25% Bunceton Masonic Scholarship Fund & 50% to the Bunceton Masonic Lodge Building Maintenance Fund.

The menu consisted of chili, baked potatoes, hot dogs, chili dogs, as well as desserts and drinks.

Highlights to our fundraiser were representatives from Tupperware, Mary Kay, and Home Interior Decorating. A percentage of the sales went towards this event. The entertainment was furnished by E.Z. Tunes.

This event was a success by the efforts of the members of the lodge,members of the neighboring lodges, the D.D.G.M. of the twenty-second district and the community and their families, and friends.

At the Annual Communication of the 20th Masonic District of Missouri held at Jewel Lodge No. 480, Most Worshipful Grand Master John M. Nations, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, addressed the brothers in attendance concerning issues of being a Mason in the community. He was escorted to the East and presented the traditional Coon Skin cap by DDGM Keith Beasley in honor of the 49th year the Coon Dinner has been served at Jewel Lodge.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 123

MASONS WELCOME NEW MEMBER The Fraternity of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Washington Lodge #87, announce with pleasure that at a Special meeting on May 9, 2006, David A. Payne was raised to the degree of Master Mason. He is pictured above, left, with Brother Joe E. Hunt, who served as Lodge Master for his degree work David and his wife Shanna and their two children, Jacob and Kaya, reside in Aurora, MO. David is a Lawyer and has a practice in Cassville, MO. He impressed the Lodge with his good character, his willingness to learn and the desire to be of service to the Fraternity as well as to the community. No doubt he will be an asset to the Fraternity and a great help to this Lodge. The Lodge Master, WB John W. Shoemaker, said he was confident that he will help continue Masonic traditions.

The Masons will always welcome men of good moral character. If you are a man of 18 years or older and are interested in Freemasonry, we encourage you to visit our Education Officer, Bill L. Cooper (417-637-5275) or anyone of our members.

Br. John Jutte presents St. Francisville Lodge #588 with an apron from Reynosa Lodge #23 Reynosa Mexico. He and several brothers wintering in Texas traveled into Mexico to watch some degree work. Their lodge custom was to give an apron to each visitor their first time and an extra apron for their home lodge. Receiving the apron is the lodge Secretary Shawn McAfee who was filling in as WM for the ceremony.

Bro. Charles A. Farris was raised to the Sublime degree of Master Mason at a special communication June 29, 2006, At Swope Park Lodge Nr 617, Kansas City, Mo. He was obligated by RWB Larry Cameron (l). Bro Farris’s father, WB Al Farris, was Master of Swope Park Lodge in 1976. RWB Cameron followed in line in 1978 Bro. Farris’ uncle, Bro Norman Jennings (r) a member of Belton Lodge #450 was in attendance.

New Madrid Lodge #429 gathered on Monday May 8th to celebrate ''Family Night." This has been an on-going event for the last several years. Johnny H. Edwards, WM, was pleased with the turnout of families, guest, and friends. Our supper blessing was delivered by Charles Hatley who gave thanks for the many manifold blessings and comfort we enjoy, and not to be left are Our "Service Men and Women," for a safe return home. Submitted by Tom Burch.

124 Fall 2006

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Masonic Home Representative Edward Vought presents a check from Windsor Masonic Lodge #29 in the amount of $500.00 to LPN Liz Clark at the Kansas City Masonic home. Ed works hard every year so the lodge can make a contribution.

At the July meeting of Trilumina Lodge No. 205, Marshall, Missouri, Worshipful Brother Gordon Buckner was presented the DANIEL CARTER BEARD Scouting Award issued by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, AF & AM. This award is given to Master Masons for their contribution to the scouting program over many years. Brother Buckner is presently serving on the advisory board of the Great Rivers Council.

Darron Moorer, a member of Windsor Masonic Lodge #29, presents a check in the amount of $400.00 to Marsha Neal of the Windsor High School Band fundraisers group. The school will be sending the band to San Antonio to participate in the halftime show during the 2006 Alamo Bowl.

Kearney Lodge #311 held its installation of officers for 2006 - 2007 on Thursday, June 22. Pictured are (kneeling) RWB F. Wayne Dugan, Installing Master; RWB Don Gilkerson, WM; RWB Douglas Reece, Installing Chaplain; (standing) Jim Neal, Treasurer; C. Keith Scobee, SS; Roby Walker, SW; Tony Robbins, Installing Marshall; Jim Martin, SD; T. David Swafford, JS; Pat McGuire, Secretary; A.J."Tony" Battaglia, JW; Kevin Hampton, JD, WB Rick Clevenger.

On July 19, 2006 Brother Paris Dean Stout was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Liberty Lodge #31. He is shown here on the right with Worshipful Master Adam Fauss. RWB Rocky Weaver and RWB John Hess from the grand line were among the brothers attending the ceremony.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 125

Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge #79 held its seventh annual open house June 27 to introduce prospective candidates to the history and purpose of Freemasonry. The evening started with a buffet dinner (some of those attending are shown at left), followed by a 45-minute presentation in the lodge hall and then back to the dining room for dessert. In addition to a video about Freemasonry, those in attendance were also told the history of Polar Star-Rose Hill and heard a more detailed explanation of the story of the world’s oldest and largest fraternity, including its many activities to support charity.

Speakers, who explained how the fraternity works to make good men better men, included local lodge officers and Right Worshipful Brother Robert Berger who was Deputy Grand Master of Missouri when the open house was held. The audience judged the program entertaining and informative.

(Photography by WB Richard A. Ramage)

Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge #79 raised several hundred dollars for charity at its garage sale and flea market held June 24 at the lodge in Creve Coeur.

Shoppers were lined up at the door when the sale opened and an estimated 200 showed up during the day. Pictured above at the end of the day are some of the Brothers and family who helped. In the background is the sales' last customer -- who couldn't find the lawn mower he sought. Articles that weren't sold were then donated to Good Will.

126 Fall 2006

Polar Star-Rose Hill #79 1st Year New Members . Six of the 11 men who became Freemasons during the first year of Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge #79 are, from left to right: Richard Saddler, Barry Robbins, Paul Manno, Nabil Bouhan, Bob Stolzberg and Ashley Roseboro. Seated are Worshipful Master-Elect WB Larry Petkovich and Worshipful Master RWB Randy Berger. The lodge scheduled a special communication for July 11 to assure it will increase its membership by five percent during its first year.

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

continued from page 109

THANKS! If not, please make it a goal to come out and see us...and support us even more...this new "grand" year.

And now, stay tuned--I’m looking forward to reporting to you as my GWA year unfolds! forever friendships, fun, (and sometimes!) food; lessons, leadership experiences, love and laughter; socials, skill-building and sleepovers; meetings, memorization and memories; speaking opportunities, self-confidence and SERVICE! Lovingly serving--remembering MY Rainbow promises, Samantha Stutzman 2006-2007 Grand Worthy Advisor State of Missouri

continued from page 98

while you're at it, read about our brothers who have recently earned their achievement awards. It's a great fraternity, isn't it?

I do have a bit of housekeeping. In the last issue of the Missouri Freemason, the post office box was printed incorrectly. Please note the magazine's address is P.O. Box 1120, Kearney, MO 64060-1120. Many thanks, by the way, to the Kearney Post Office for being so helpful with this. That's the kind of assistance you get with people in a small town – small, but growing fast with, what else, our own new and growing Masonic Lodge.

Fraternally,

Steve Harrison, Editor continued from backcover

identifies the Q & A method by saying that “whoever receives instructions by word of mouth must share the teaching with the one who is teaching him orally.”

A leiturgos (liturgist) is one who learns the established ritual and assists the priest or master in doing so. The Greek root refers to serving in a public office at one’s own expense. This corresponds to the Fellow Craft, who is admonished to study diligently to prepare his mind for the work he is to do. He is charged to “increase in knowledge” and to steadily persevere “in the practice of every commendable virtue.”

The priest, or presbyter, is one who by virtue of training and experience is authorized to perform religious rites

or symbolic ritual and is qualified to teach, to lead, and to administer them correctly. The word, presbyter, refers to an “elder,” signifying one who has knowledge and experience. “Priest” is a shortened form of presbyter and is not limited to religious connotations. The presbyter corresponds to the Master Mason, who is qualified to perform and teach all of the tenets of the organization. Such a person is described by the writer of Acts as one “who has been instructed by word of mouth and therefore can speak accurately about the teaching.”

Dr. E. Otha Wingo, DDGL 38 otha@wingo.org

scripture For we have seen His star in the east and are come to worship Him--Matthew 2:2. The star points down in indication that God was coming down to be among men according to this scripture. By showing the true meaning of the symbol and explaining that the Eastern Star is based on heroines of the Bible and the moral teachings suggested by their lives, I find that the issue is almost always resolved. There will always be those among the uninitiated who will not understand our use of symbols.

We must be prepared to answer them with the truth.

stand for truth, walk in truth, and speak the truth. It is my duty to speak the truth about Masonry to those who would misunderstand it as a religion. I must speak truth of Masonry as to its relationship to religion. To do less would be a violation to my duties to God, my neighbor, myself and family, and the brotherhood of Masonry. This has been my narrative of my doing so. I apologize for any weakness of scholarship or things I might have added to make this narrative more complete. It is my prayer and hope that what I have shared might be of use to any who might read it. I leave it in the care of the one living and true God in whom I profess to put my trust.

CONCLUSION I am proud to be a Christian pastor and I am proud to be a Master Mason of forty years. I have known pastors who are Masons who intended to keep the fact a secret. I do not hide my Masonic membership or service. God is truth. That is a statement that I feel must be universal to all who would know the Great Artificer of the Universe.

Not only is it my greatest duty which is recognized by Masonry to seek my Creator with all my being, but I must

Rev. Roy L. Gilkey is Pastor, Brays Advent Christian Church, Iberia, Missouri. He is a Past Master of Waynesville Lodge # 375 and Rolla Lodge # 213. He is currently serving as Junior Warden of Iberia Lodge # 410. In addition to his many Blue Lodge accomplishments, Bro. Gilkey has also held several offices in the York Rite. He originally presented this article as a paper at the Mid Missouri Council 291, Allied Masonic Degrees, in Columbia.

continued from 104

THE MISSOURI FREEMASON

Fall 2006 127

Myself In Freemason e v o r p m I ry To

Christian and Masonic Mysteries A reference in W. L. Wilmshurst’s The Meaning of Masonry (1922) to a statement by Dionysius Areopagiticus, On the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy, grabbed my attention. According to Eusebius, the early church historian, Dionysius was the first convert made

by Paul after his notorious speech in Athens on the Areopagus and became the first bishop of Athens.

To clear vision, Christian and Masonic doctrine are identical in intention though different in method. The one says “Via Crucis”; the other “Via Lucis”; yet the two ways are but one way. The former teaches through the ear; the latter through the eye and by identifying the aspirant with the doctrine by passing him personally and dramatically through symbolic rites, which he is expected to translate from ceremonial form into subjective experience. As Patristic literature shows, the primitive method of the Christian Church was not that which now obtains, under which the religious offices and teaching are administered to the whole public alike and in a way implying a common level of doctrine for all and uniform power of comprehension by every member of the congregation. It was, on the other hand, a graduated method of instruction and identical with the

Masonic system of degrees conferred by reason of advancing merit and ability. To cite one of the most instructive of early Christian treatises (Dionysius: On the Ecclesiastical Hierarchy), with which every Masonic student should familiarized himself, it will be found that admission to the early Church was by three ceremonial degrees exactly corresponding in intention with those of Masonry.

“The most holy initiation of the Mystic Rites has as its first Godly purpose the holy cleansing of the initiated; and as second, the enlightening instruction of the purified; and finally and as the completion of the former, the perfecting of those instructed in the science of their appropriate instructions. The order of the Ministers in the first class cleanses the initiated through the Mystic Rites; in the second, conducts the purified to light; and, in the last and highest, makes perfect those who have participated in the Divine Light by the scientific contemplations of the illuminations contemplated.”

This brief passage alone suffices to show that originally membership in the Christian Church involved a sequence of three initiatory rites identical in intention with those of

the Craft to-day. The names given to those who had qualified in those Rites were respectively Catechumens, Leiturgoi, and Priests or Presbyters; which in turn are identifiable with our Entered Apprentices, Fellow Crafts, and Master Masons. Their first degree was that of a rebirth and purification of the heart; their second related to the illumination of the intelligence; and their third to a total death unto sin and a new birth unto righteousness, in which the candidate died with Christ on the cross, as with us he is made to imitate the death of Hiram, and was raised to that higher order of life which is Mastership. (pp. 209-211) The catechumen, like the Entered Apprentice, is one who is instructed in the basic principles by word of mouth. This is particularly reminiscent of the proficiency for each degree, which was taught by word of mouth in question and answer form, but is still present in the opening and closing ritual. The Greek root, catecheo, specifically refers to teaching by word of mouth.

The writer of Luke (1:4) states that he is writing in order that the reader “may know the certainty of the things he has been taught by word of mouth.” The writer of Galatians (6:6)

POSTMASTER: Please send Address Forms 2579 to Grand Secretary, 6033 Masonic Drive, Suite B, Columbia, Missouri 65202-6535.

continues page 127