Missouri Freemason Magazine - v56n03 - 2011 Summer

Volume 56 No. 3

Summer 2011

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

My journey as Grand Master of Missouri Masons has now passed the halfway mark of this wonderful opportunity to be of service to our Fraternity. It has been a pleasure to visit several Lodges and to see first hand that Masonry is thriving when Lodges become active and vibrant.

I also have had the opportunity to attend in February the Conference of Grand Masters of Masons in North America which was hosted by the Masons of Colorado in Denver. The theme this year, “Facing Today’s Challenges” reminded me of our efforts here in Missouri where we are striving to improve our “connectivity”.

Information gathered from several of the Breakout Sessions in Denver was found to be very timely for our Program Planning here in Missouri, and is now being prioritized and groomed by Grand Lodge Officers. Topics which attracted our attention included state wide Strategic Planning, Membership and Leadership Development to reach younger members, How to increase Visibility, Satisfaction and Membership Development through Charity, and Improving the Lodge Experience.

Those of us attending the conference are excited to share what we have learned from other Masonic Jurisdictions who are experiencing many of the same Committee on Masonic Publications Gail S. Turner, Grand Master David L. Ramsey, Senior Grand Warden Ronald D. Miller, Grand Secretary Zelwin B. Eaton, Past Editor E. Otha Wingo, Assistant Editor Steven L. Harrison, Editor, Chairman Editor Steven L. Harrison P.O. Box 1120 • Kearney, MO 64060-1120 816-558-0436 / Call for Fax editor@momason.org

Submit articles to:

editor@momason.org 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 e-mailed to editor@momason.org, not later than the first day of

58 Summer 2011

challenges we face. It quickly became evident that improving our “connectivity” is a common challenge across North America.

I think we could all agree on the concept that the future success of our Fraternity is dependent on active and vibrant Lodges.

To achieve this, we must better evaluate and promote relevant programs that improve our “connectivity”. Our state Public Relations and Education Committees are presently hard at work to move us this direction. Our Deputy Grand Master is now putting plans together for state wide Strategic Planning next year.

I sense an excitement in the air when we talk about the future of Freemasonry. I hope each of us will realize that change can be exciting and non threatening when we are a part of it. May we all look forward to the blessings and rewards that Masonry brings our way.

Very truly and fraternally yours,

Gail Turner Grand Master

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 to accept, reject, subedit and rearrange material submitted for publication. Pictures submitted for publication will not be returned.

The Missouri Freemason does not accept forms or clippings for publication. Please do not submit materials in PDF format. 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. subscriptions: The Missouri Freemason is mailed to every member of this Masonic Jurisdiction

without charge. Domestic subscriptions elsewhere are $12.00 annually. 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 75¢ 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 grand lodge of missouri internet addresses E-Mail to the Grand Lodge Office grlodge@momason.org The Grand Lodge web page www.momason.orgPhone: 573-474-8561

the missouri freemason

the missouri freemason

©

vol. 56 no. 3

Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of Missouri SUMMER 2011 Published and copyrighted under the direction of the Committee on Masonic Publications

contents 60 The Masonic Blue Slipper 61 The Second Degree 62 Recovering the Lost Symbols of Saint Louis, a Digital Scavenger Hunt 63 Conference of Grand Secretaries Elects Ron Miller President 63 RWB Paul Hunt - MoCHIP's Very Own Guardian Angel 63 Missouri Freemason Online 64 Clay Lodge Celebrates 150 Years 64 On The Cover 65 Stephen F. Austin - Father of Texas … Son of Missouri 66 Brother Davy Crockett The Rest of the Story: Missouri's role in bringing an historic Freemason out of obscurity 68 A Tale of Two Masons 68 A Record: MoCHIP IDs Two‑Hour-Old Baby 69 District Deputy Grand Lecturers 70 District Deputy Grand Masters 71 Job's Daughters 71 Missouri Freemason Deadlines 71 Regional Grand Lecturers 72 Rainbow Girls 73 Missouri DeMolay 74 Masonic Home of Missouri 78 Work of our Craft 81 Masonic Service Awards

From The Editor’s Keyboard After years of hearing about it and never having seen it, I finally rented the infamous Simpsons episode, "Homer the Great," where Homer joins the … ahem … Masons. Only it's called the Stonecutters in the cartoon.

The gist of the episode is that Homer feels left out when he discovers he's just about the only guy in town who doesn't belong to the fraternity. He tries to sneak in for a peek, but gets kicked out and informed in order to join he either has to save the life of a Stonecutter or be the son of one. Turns out Homer's dad is a member.

Once in, he's afforded all the privileges of membership including a comfortable chair at work, a secret route to commute and other amenities. Allusions to the Masons, their "privileges" and "dastardly secrets" abound Homer takes his Stonecutters obligation in front of the Sacred Parchand are manifest in a drinking song in the ment, which may contain a couple of symbols you recognize. Photo © episode: 20th Century Fox Film Corporation.

Who controls the British crown? Who keeps the metric system down?

We do! We do!

Who leaves Atlantis off the maps? Who keeps the Martians under wraps?

We do! We do!

Who holds back the electric car? Who makes Steve Gutenberg a star?

We do! We do!

Who robs cavefish of their sight? Who rigs every Oscar night?

We do! We do!

The episode really goes off the deep end when the Stonecutters discover by virtue of his symbolic birthmark Homer is the long lost Chosen One. Homer takes charge, the gang gets sick of his leadership, forms another club and won't let Homer in. Of course, there is the mandatory platitude at the end where Homer discovers it's better to belong to another exclusive club … his family.

The director's commentary comes on the CD and in it, we hear such misconceptions as, "You know, Washington DC really is laid out in the form of Masonic symbols," and "Masonic symbolism is all over the dollar bill."

Sigh …

Oh, well it's only a cartoon. Actually I enjoyed it, chuckled at the parts where I was supposed to laugh and may have been more amused at some of the inaccuracies. It wasn't great literature, but it was certainly better than watching the 127th rerun of Steve Harrison, Editor "Secrets of the Freemasons" on the History Channel.

the missouri freemason Spring 2011 59

The Masonic Blue Slipper

By Douglas Reece Stinging cold rain left small marks of red on her drenched face. Ms. McDean was doing her best to cover them and protect them both from the frigid onslaught that was blowing harder as they traveled about New England looking for the hotel that had eluded them. Wanting to escape the prevailing north wind and the pelting rain they ducked into a small, albeit friendly, English looking pub where the patrons looked on with curiosity.

The bartender greeted them warmly and showed them a table next to the fireplace where they could dry out some and relax.

“What can I get ya ladies,” the barkeep inquired, all the while helping with the coats and hanging them near the fire so they would dry out also. Then he spotted it, the small blue pin. He looked and studied the small blue pin on the lapels of the drenched mother and daughter. He couldn’t help but wonder.

“Coffee or tea would be fine for me and my daughter would like some tea as well. Thanks.”

Ms. McDean had been widowed for some time having lost her husband to cancer several years back. She and her daughter, Jennifer, had been traveling the Northeast in fulfillment of a desire and a much needed vacation. A stately looking woman when not drenched by rain, did not show her seven decades of living through some of the roughest times in life. Jennifer, now in her fifties, carried on the travel tradition with Ms. McDean.

“Here you go; two hot teas and some pastries on the house. I was wondering if I might be able to join you and visit for a while. I noticed your pins and would like to know more about them.” John, the barkeep, made sure to flash his Masonic ring when he sat down the tea.

“Sure, I will be happy to explain the pin. But, first tell why you wear the ring that you do.”

John pulled out one of the oak curved back chairs and sat at the round table with his back against the wall. His strapping features reminded Jennifer of an ex-marine or army veteran.

“Well, my name is John and I am currently Master of Hamlet Lodge number 110 here in this quaint little village and I wear my ring because I am a Mason and do my best to live by the principles taught by the fraternity.”

“Well said,” Ms McDean replied. “My late husband was a doctor and brought this pin home for me and one for Jennifer several years before he died. He was a good man and his temperament was even keel and calm, much like yours.

Charles, was his name and he always made sure we were taken care of and allowed us to travel all over even if he couldn’t join us."

“Charles was a Mason also and was a Past Master of his Lodge as well. He loved the Lodge and all it stood for. He would go help another brother at the drop of a hat and just 60 Spring 2011

lived the obligations he took as a Mason. He passed several years ago after a battle with cancer. So whenever I travel I wear the pin he gave me.”

“I see.” Said John, “But what does it mean?”

“John,” she continued. “How well do you remember your initiation into Lodge? And how well do you know your ritual?”

“Geez, I don’t know it that well, but I do remember some key things.”

“Let me start at the beginning about the pin.

Let us go back in history to Boaz' time in the Book of Ruth.

It will be remembered that Elimelech, his wife, Naomi, and their two sons, Mahlon and Chilon, fled to the land of Moab to escape the famine in their homeland of Bethlehem-Judah.

Things went well for a while. Then life fell apart for them.

Elimelech died and his two sons married Moabite girls — Orpha and Ruth. Again tragedy struck. Mahlon and Chilon died. This left Naomi a widow in a foreign land with two widowed daughters-in-law from the land of Moab.

“In time of trouble, people think of home and more importantly of God. Naomi found out that the famine back home had subsided, and there was grain and food again.

So she confided with Orpha and Ruth that she would journey back home and be among her kinsmen. Certain laws, rules, or customs governed her thinking at this time. Of first consideration was the fact that Naomi was too old to bear a son for her daughters-in-law to marry. Even if she could, the daughters-in-law would not wait for the son to grow up.

So the girls should remain among their own people. The girls resisted and started to go with Naomi. Orpha was finally convinced she should stay in Moab. But Ruth remained steadfast and went with Naomi to her homeland.

“Naomi and Ruth arrived back in Bethlehem-Judah at harvest time. The Scripture passage on which this is based is well known. 'And Ruth said, Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou Lodgest, I will Lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.' This passage of Scripture is unsurpassed as a declaration of love and devotion of one person for another. It has been said that it would make a good marriage vow. But, to me it is a different type of devotion.

“Naomi also had to take into consideration another law.

When Elimelech died, his next of kin was duty bound to redeem his possessions and take care of his widow and her family. Since Naomi was getting old, Ruth tried to earn a livelihood. While gleaning in the fields, she was seen by Continued on next page … the missouri freemason

The Second Degree

By Sam L Land, 32°, KT As we stand before the two pillars listening to the beginning of the second lecture, we are poised for a great transition.

We have been learning about all the things that are outside of us and that we must learn to control. We have reconfirmed and expanded our obligation. We have been taught about the working tools of the Fellowcraft and are ready to be taught about the work we shall now do. Before we take that next step it would be good for us to once again use a simple exercise to help us understand how to accomplish that work.

As we sit once again in the same chair in the privacy of a room, relaxed but attentive, feet on the floor, sitting erect, with our hands folded in our lap or on the arms of the chair, we close our eyes. This is different from the last exercise. As our eyes close we are cut off visually from all things outside of ourselves. At this point it is rather easy to see that all those things out there are not a part of what makes each of us truly

us. It would become even more evident if we could close off our other four senses; that of hearing, smell, taste, and touch. It is not necessary for us to go that far for our experiment. Stop and notice how different it is not to be connected to things by seeing them. Now, notice what we have left. At first it seems like a strange, void place. After a little while we begin to notice that it is not exactly void. We can still feel things. The first thing that we usually feel is our breathing, in and out, slowly or rapidly. As we pay attention to it our breath will begin to slow and we will become a bit more relaxed. Now we can notice if we are breathing in our lungs or more deeply in our diaphragm. It is best to breathe deeply and the change only takes a single thought to do so. Now feel your stomach move in and out instead of your lungs. Experience this for a short time and continue to relax.

Continued on next page …

Continued from previous page …

Boaz. And when he found out about her (that she was Naomi's daughter-in-law, etc.), he arranged special treatment for her. She could work with his girls in the field, and the young men were warned not to bother her. Since Boaz was not married and was kin to Naomi, Naomi decided that she should somehow make Boaz understand his duty to Elimelech's family. So Naomi advised Ruth to bathe and anoint herself and go to the threshing floor after dark and lay at the feet of Boaz. Boaz awoke at midnight and discovered her there. So as not to create a scandal, he gave her some barley and asked her to leave before dawn so that watching eyes would not recognize her.

“Business among the tribe of Bethlehem-Judah took place at the gate of the city. So Boaz sat down at the gate the next day because he knew there was a kinsman more closely related to Elimelech than he. So when the kinsman came by, Boaz called him aside and asked 10 men of the elders of the city to sit with them. Boaz bargained with his kinsman. The kinsman said he would redeem Elimelech's property. But, when he found out that he would have to take care of Naomi and Ruth, he reneged and told Boaz he would not redeem or protect Elimelech's interest. He would leave it to Boaz.

The passage from Scripture for these events is this: 'And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. Now this was the manner in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to confirm all things; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel.'

“So the kinsman drew off his shoe and gave it to Boaz.

Boaz held it up for all in the gate to see. He asked them to be witnesses that he became Naomi's protector, Ruth's husband, and a redeemer of Elimelech's property.”

John’s look of bewilderment asked the question his lips

were to afraid to vocalize.

“John,” She continued. “Charles told me that during the initiation of a candidate, one slipper is on and one is off and that the meaning behind this is explained in the first degree lecture. Not having been through the degrees I must take my husband at his word. He informed me that the pin is in the shape of that blue slipper to remind fellow masons of their obligations. It has the Square and Compasses to denote that the wearer is Masonically related. The color of blue, signifies the perfection of Deity and the gold laurel represents the pureness of heart and the sacredness of personal sacrifice.

“The pin was originally developed in the 1930's, and although the original inventor and maker has escaped recorded history we find its use in today’s masonry less prominent than in earlier years.

“I might mention that this pin has always been known as the “Widows Pin” and because of that, I have always been treated very well and honestly throughout the years by every Mason I have met while traveling. It was because of the protective influence that Masons have for their wives, widows, and daughters that the pin was developed.”

“Thank you for your time and the explanation of the pin.

I had never seen one as unique as that one is. I would like to find some of these and give them to our wives at an open meeting.” John said. “Oh, by the way, where were you to going?”

“To the Hamlet Inn, but we got lost in the storm.”

“It is two blocks down the street. I take you there myself.

Ya know,” he continued, “God has a unique way sometimes of spreading the message of Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.”

This story was adapted from an article written by Clyde H. Magee, 32° in the July 1986 issue of the New Age Journal or Scottish Rite Journal. All Scripture quotations from the Book of Ruth are from the Authorized Version of the King James Bible.

the missouri freemason Spring 2011 61

Recovering the Lost Symbols of Saint Louis, a Digital Scavenger Hunt

By Ty G. Treutelaar, Senior Warden, Saint Louis Missouri Lodge #1

Nearly a year in the planning, the Brethren of Saint Louis Missouri Lodge #1 are ready to host you and your friends on a digital scavenger hunt, The Lost Symbols of Saint Louis, on Saturday, June 11. As a participant, you will be given a list of 33 clues to find and digitally photograph in the Saint Louis area. The clues are designed to take you on an adventure of history and lore, to challenge your knowledge of the city and the Craft, and give you a cash reward for your success. We have designed this day so that you can travel to Saint Louis, enjoy the activities, and return home that same night.

The amount of knowledge that has poured forth from Masons, and non-Masons, to create this event has been overwhelming. It has become very apparent that your thirst for knowledge is equally met by your desire to share this knowledge, and many of you have been very generous with the sharing of this knowledge. The depth of information has been quite extraordinary, and includes one clue that is so subtle that it left us a bit stunned.

In designing this event, we wanted to include the partici-

pation of the public, and we have been particularly pleased with the amount of interest from non-Masonic groups and the ease of outreach that we have had in the community.

The public has a great interest in our Fraternity and since an event such as this encourages access to our activities, we would hope that this access might encourage further interest in joining the Lodge.

You might have noticed that this sharing of knowledge and the outreach to the community are directly related to the theme of our Grand Master "Sharing Our Masonic Resources", and no small part of this is related to connecting with our members and the general public. In preparing for this event we have been very fortunate to have the support of the Missouri Lodge of Research Facebook page and Twitter accounts, which have hosted our weekly door prize clues, and be sure to keep checking these sites through June 6tt for new clues. The posting of these clues has driven an exponential increase in our site activity and connections with our Continued on next page …

Continued from previous page …

Can you feel your heart beating? Can you feel where it is beating? Can you feel your pulse in several places? Can you feel your blood coursing through your veins? Ask yourself who is doing all this feeling. You have now moved from outside yourself to inside yourself. You are now in the state of your mind and emotions. Take notice that all that is now happening is not connected to anything outside of you. You can think and you can feel. The term for this is esoteric, from the Greek meaning “inside”. To prove to yourself that emotions are inside you, think of the last time you were very sad.

Remember where you were, what you were doing, and why it was happening. You will be amazed to find that the very same emotions that you had at that time are still with you and able to be recalled with no outside help. You will just react to them. The problem with emotions is that they have no sense of good/bad and will just let you go along as long as you want to. Our mind plays a vital part here as it is the controller of our emotions. Reason is the only that that will control emotions. We need both to be ourselves but who that someone is must be determined by our balance of emotions and reason.

Emotions give us the jest and reason gives us the security.

This same movement, from outside to inside, is also taking shape in the second degree. While we will be a long time learning to subdue our passions (controlling our emotions with reason) and separating who we are from our materialistic selves, we will also be training our minds. It is surprising how much we think we know and how much we actually know. The vast difference between these two points is that we assume we know when we actually only know that someone has told us. We know very few things of our own knowledge.

Nearly all that we learn in school is what someone else tells us. This is where experiences come into play. The things that we experience are things that we learn on our own. Unfortunately, as with emotions, we can be fooled. This happens because we want to believe something that seems pleasing without a reality check to help us find what is true. That is also why children do not like to take the word of adults on subjects of interest. From us it is sound knowledge tested by our experiences but to them it is just hearsay. They want to know for themselves.

Grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy are ways to train our minds. They lead us in ways that will help us learn who we really are and what we want to do with our life. We use our senses as input to learn and then we use our minds to evaluate what we learn. Some we keep, some we store away for later, and some we throw out. That is so that we can begin to make some sense of the world around us and discover our place within it.

The first thing you were told in the Fellowcraft charge was, “The internal and the external qualifications of a man are what Freemasonry regards. As you increase in knowledge you will improve in social intercourse.” The first degree prepares you for the second and the second degree prepares you for the third. We will examine the third degree next time.

Sam Land is the Lodge Education Officer for Jefferson Lodge #43 in Jefferson City, Missouri. He is also a member of Jefferson Chapter #34 RAM, Ezra Council #32 R&SM, Prince of Peace Commandery #29 KT, AASR Orient of Missouri, Valley of Columbia, 32°. He is a member of the Missouri Lodge of Research, the Southern California Research Lodge, The Masonic Society, and The Philalethes Society.

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the missouri freemason

Conference of Grand Secretaries Elects Ron Miller President

In February, the Conference of Grand Secretaries in North America met for its annual meeting and election of officers in Denver. Missouri’s Grand Secretary, Ronald D. Miller, was elected President. Ron also serves on the Budget Committee.

Pictured are the Conference Officers of the 2110-2011 Conference of Grand Secretaries in North America. Left to right, front row: Jerry W. Kopp, Alberta Canada, First Vice President; Ronald D. Miller, Missouri, President; Curtiss Mundahl, North Dakota, Second Vice President. Left to right, back row: Benny L. Grishham, Illinois, Secretary/ Treasurer; Alan Atkins, Virginia, Chaplin; Gilbert Savitsky, New York, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer.

Continued from previous page …

Brethren and the public.

This event will be a perfect venue to reach out to perspective new members, and for educating the public. In putting a group together to participate, consider the inclusion of a

candidate or two; and we would specially encourage all of our Brethren involved in car and motorcycle clubs to consider this event as potential rally activity.

We hope to see you on June 11th and please visit our website at www.stlmasons.org for more details.

RWB Paul Hunt - MoCHIP’s Very Own Guardian Angel A dedicated Mason and a loyal, loving friend to all, Paul was a founding member of the MoCHIP program and spent most Saturday’s executing events and helping to save Missouri's children.

Paul was always quick with a smile and a kind word, and just as quick to stand up for what he believed. He believed in MoCHIP. Paul Hunt, 69, of rural Agency, Missouri, passed away Wednesday, January 20, 2011 at his home. Though he was born in Franklin, Paul grew up in St. Joseph and graduated from Central High School in 1959. He went on to serve his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. On July 2, 1969 he was united in marriage to Joyce Anne Farr in Miami, Oklahoma. After their marriage they lived Kansas City, St. Joseph and in 1991 they moved to Agency where they made their home and where Paul worked for Wyeth Hardware, Columbus McKinnon Chain, Peerless Chain and Laclede Chain.

His Masonic history, just as the man himself, was equally impressive. He was a Past Master of Agency Masonic Lodge #10, PDDGM of the 7th Masonic District of the State of Missouri, a 32nd degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Knight

Commander Court of Honor (KCCH). Paul was also a member of the Ararat Shrine Temple, DeMolay Legion of Honor, The Order of White Shrine of Jerusalem, Daisy Chapter #86 Order of the Eastern Star in Farley, American Legion Post #11 in St. Joseph, VFW St. Joseph Post #1668, and was the Regional Coordinator of MoCHIP’s Team #3.

The Saturday before Paul’s wake, a MoCHIP was scheduled for his beloved team #3. Other teams offered to take over the event for the family, however his son, Brent Hunt, and wife Joyce Hunt, both equally involved with the MoCHIP program, insisted that the event take place just as Paul would have wanted it to.

Although Paul was sorely missed that day, the mood was not as somber as one might have thought, as every team member was certain that Paul was right there with them, proud as always and content in the knowledge that his passion to keep children safe would live on.

Paul will live on in our memories and in our hearts, though missed every bit as much.

Missouri Freemason Online The Missouri Freemason magazine is available online at http://momason.org/mfmm.asp. If you would prefer to receive your magazine via email instead of receiving the physical magazine through the US mail, let us know, either by emailing grlodge@momason.org (please put "ELECTRONIC EDITION" in the subject line) or by filling in and mailing the attached form and an email notification will be sent when the current issue is available online.

Please send my copy of the Missouri Freemason Magazine via email.

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continued from back cover

tie,” “attachment to these duties,” and “duties which you are bound to discharge.”

“How long have you been a Mason? How many times have you witnessed one of our three degrees?

How many times have you stood in Lodge and repeated your Obligation, with the Master at a degree?

No matter what your answer was to these questions, the most important question is what makes you a Mason? YOUR OBLIGATION …

The Masonic Obligations are highminded duties voluntarily assumed by candidates as their part in becoming Brethren of the Ancient Craft,” states MWB John L Cook, Jr., Grand Master of Minnesota (2010).

Obligations are often accompanied by certain consequences for not fulfilling a promise. The Masonic Obligations, still sharply condemned because of supposed severe punishments for breaking the promise, are always preceded by the words “no less a penalty.” What is more severe than the examples used? The only actual “penalties”

— reprimand, suspension, or expulsion — are concerned only with membership and could not apply to a non-Mason.

Mackey adds (p. 525): “The solemn promise made by a Mason on his admission into any degree is technically called his obligation. In a legal sense, obligation is ­synonymous with duty. Its derivation shows its true meaning, for the ­Latin word obligation literally signifies a tying or binding.

The ­obligation is that which binds a man to do some act, the doing of which thus becomes his duty. By his Obligation, a Mason is bound or tied to his Order. Hence the Romans called the military oath which was taken by the soldier his ­obligation, and, too, it is said that it is the obligation that makes the Mason. Before that ceremony, there is no tie that binds the candidate to the order so as to make him a part of it; after the ceremony, the tie has been completed, and the candidate becomes at once a Mason, entitled to all the rights and privileges and subject to all the ­duties and responsibilities that enure in that character

… The Masonic obligation is that moral one which, although it cannot be enforced by the courts of law, is binding on the party who makes it, in conscience and according to moral justice. It varies in each degree, but in each is perfect. Its different clauses, in which different duties are prescribed, are called its points …

The whole of them is preceded by a general point of secrecy, ­common to all the degrees, and this point is called the tie.”

All well-informed brethren clearly understand this distinction. They know the essence of the Obligations and are reminded of them every time they participate in or observe degree work. In the experience mention above, I was impressed with the importance of repeating the Obligations on a regular basis, perhaps even daily or at a time or occasion that seems appropriate to you. Listen carefully every time one of your brethren obligates a candidate. Each time you review each Obligation, you will gain new insights into the significance of the duties that you are “freely and voluntarily” “bound to discharge.”

Clay Lodge Celebrates 150 Years

By Gil Head, PM

On the cover: The fountain outside the Masonic Complex in Columbia, MO, representing a beehive, which is emblematic of industry and symbolically recommends that virtue to all created beings. Designed by Vickie Wester, Hartville, Missouri.

64 Spring 2011

On April 12, 1861, the opening shots of the Civil War were fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Forty eight days later, May 30, 1861, Clay Lodge #207 was granted a charter from the Grand Lodge of Missouri.

The history of Masons in Missouri goes back to 1816, with a charter being granted through the Grand Lodge of Tennessee. A Masonic Lodge was functioning in Missouri before Missouri was admitted as a state in 1821.

The first Master of Clay Lodge was L. M. Lewis who served in that capacity for the years of 1861, 1862, and 1863. Professor Lewis (WM) erected a two story frame building about 1860 and organized a school, called a Normal College, because many of the young men and ladies of the surrounding area could take advanced work — above the elementary level, and become school teachers. The second floor was used by the Masonic Lodge (# 207). The Lodge met for 23 years in this Greenville building located near the South entrance of Watkins Mill State Park. The building was long ago destroyed but the footer can still be seen in the area. The Lodge was located in Claysville for about 5-6 years, moved to Excelsior Springs in 1889 and has been there since that time.

There was a need for a permanent location for the Lodge, so on December 22, 1908 the Excelsior Springs Masonic Building and Realty Company, was formed by 20 members of the Lodge, each buying two shares of the Corporation valued at $200.00, Continued on next page … the missouri freemason

Stephen F. Austin - Father of Texas … Son of Missouri

By Steve Harrison, PM The Green Tree Tavern is an historic building about 65 miles south of St. Louis, on the Missouri side of the Mississippi river. There, on November 14, 1807, a group of Freemasons conducted the first Masonic meeting west of the Mississippi River, consecrating Louisiana Lodge #109 under a Pennsylvania charter.

Across the street from the Green Tree, sits a granite Stephen Fuller Austin monument honoring notable Brothers who were members there, and who were instrumental in bringing Freemasonry to Missouri as well as the western part of the United States.

Visitors to the site are often surprised by the first name on the marker, "Stephen F. Austin," and they sometimes ask, "Is that THE Stephen F. Austin?"

That is indeed the well-known and well-regarded Stephen Fuller Austin. The Father of Texas was a son of Missouri.

Stephen Austin was born November 3, 1793, in Austinville, a Virginia town named after his father. When Austin was four years old, the Spanish government granted his father, Moses, mining rights to an area 40 miles west of the Mississippi river in present-day Missouri. His father moved there so he could manage the mining operations and they settled in a region near Pitosi, a town Moses Austin founded.

Austin lived there until the age of 11, when his parents sent him to boarding school at the Bacon Academyi in Colchester, Connecticut. He continued his education at Transylvania University in Lexington, Kentucky, and then went on to study law.ii Upon returning to Missouri at the age of 21, Austin ran a general store his father had established, and also managed part

of the mining operation. At the same time, he joined the military and became adjutant of a Missouri militia battalion.iii In 1814, Austin was elected to the Missouri territorial legislature, serving there until 1820. His main accomplishment as a member of the legislature was to play a key role in obtaining a charter for the Bank of St. Louis, in which his father held a stake. Austin subsequently became a director of the bank.iv Austin's father, Moses, may have been a Mason, but there is only sketchy evidence to indicate this. Spec- Receipt for Stephen Austin's inifee and dues to Louisiana ulation is that he may have tiation Lodge: "Received of Stephen F. been made a Mason during Austin Twenty Dollars for his Initiaa trip to England. If he was, tion fees, as [and] also Seventy five Cents for Dues to Louisiana his membership may have Lodge no. 109, in full of all his influenced Stephen to join dues up to this date. Ste. GeneJune 26th, 1815. Signed by the fraternity. More likely, vieve Theodore F. Long, Treas. In today's however is the fact that, as dollars, that calculates to an ini$240 a member of the legislature, tiation fee of approximately and dues of $9.xxi Austin made many influential acquaintances, many of whom certainly were Freemasons. Whatever the case, Austin was initiated on June 23, 1815 at that first western Lodge, Louisiana #109.v A severe economic downturn in 1819vi ruined Austin financially. Although the family's lead mining and general store businesses would have survived the financial crisis, the Bank of St. Louis did not, and its collapse pulled the remainder of the family businesses down with it. With his legislative term at an end, Austin moved to Arkansas in an attempt to rebuild his economic life. There, he unsuccessfully ran for congress.

Afterward, for a short time, he became a circuit judge.

In 1820, Moses Austin drafted a plan to colonize Spanish Texas. He traveled to Texas and presented it to the governor of the territory, Antonio María Martínez. After some wrangling and help from a friend, Moses won approval. Grant in Continued on next page …

Continued from previous page … for a total of $4,000. The par value of each share was $100.

The Articles of Incorporation of the Excelsior Springs Masonic Building and Realty Company were recorded by the Clay County Recorded of Deeds in Liberty, Missouri in Book 153, page 514, John Will Hall, Recorder.

The Building Corporation purchased the present building in about 1936. It is located at the corner of Spring and Main street, in downtown Excelsior Springs. The building was built in 1906 -1909 and was known as The Auditorium.

On October 18, 1926, a Lodge member, William E. Steck, donated a tract of land on the west edge of Excelsior Springs off of Crown Hill Road to the Lodge. This land was to be used for a Masonic cemetery. A gift of $10,000 came with the land to be used for maintenance of the cemetery.

The Lodge celebrated its 100th anniversary at the Lodge hall in 1961, and celebrated its 140th anniversary at the United Methodist Church in 2001. Plans are being made to celebrate its 150th anniversary in late May and through out the year of 2011.

The history of the city of Excelsior Springs and Clay Lodge are intertwined. The past leaders of the city in Civic, Charitable, Religious, Educational, and Governmental organizations are found on the membership roles of our Masonic Lodge.

Excelsior Springs has been good to Clay Lodge #207 and the Lodge has been good to city of Excelsior Springs.

This bit of history of Clay Lodge #207 was compiled by Gil Head (Past Master) from minutes of Lodge meetings, Clay County Archives, Liberty Tribune and notes from our 140th ­anniversary meetings.

the missouri freemason Spring 2011 65

Continued from previous page … hand, the elder Austin returned to Missouri, where he contracted pneumonia and died at the age of 59 on June 10, 1821. At his death, the elder Austin's Empresario Grantvii transferred to his son.viii Young Stephen was reluctant to carry out the colonization plan; however his mother convinced him to continue the project in honor of his father.

Austin's colonization efforts there were not without hardship, and included squabbles with not only the governments of Spanish Texas and Mexico, but also with the settlers, who felt they should not have to pay him a commission in return for the lands in his grant.ix Through it all, however, he managed to draft a constitution, organize a militia, ultimately bring in a total of 1,200 settlers and establish peaceful and productive colonies.

An early map of Texas showing the area of Austin's land grant and colonies.

Austin's biggest setback came when he learned in September, 1821, Mexico had gained its independence from Spain, a fact which nullified his land grant. Austin immediately set out for Mexico City in an attempt to convince the new regime to honor his claim. He arrived months later having traveled through over a thousand miles of badlands with a single companion. He had to wait nearly a year until, on February 18, 1823, the new emperor, General Agustín de Iturbide, approved his grant by royal decree. Austin, however, was shrewd enough to see General Iturbide's government would not last, so he elected to stay until a government he felt was stable could validate his claim. Austin had a keen sense of politics and secretly threw his support to the faction that eventually won, when General Iturbide abdicated three months later. Not only had Austin befriended the new government with his support, but he also wrote its new constitution.x Given his overwhelming support of the new government, he had no trouble getting his grant renewed.xi Once he had launched the colonies, Austin also worked to bring Freemasonry to Texas. In 1828, he convened what was most likely the first Masonic meeting there.xii Held in Continued on next page …

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Brother Davy Crockett — The Rest of the Story Missouri's role in bringing an historic Freemason out of obscurity It has long been a wellknown historical fact Brother Davy Crockett (1786–1836) was a patriot and hero who gave his life in defense of freedom at the Alamo in 1836. By the late 19th century, however, Crockett was largely a forgotten figure. The events leading to Texas' independence and eventual statehood were long in the past and very few remembered the names of the brave soldiers who helped bring it about. The A section of the painting "Fall of the Alamo" by situation changed when, in the Robert Onderdonk feamid-1950s, Brother Crockett tures Davy Crockett and band of Tennessee transcended all that and became his volunteers near the end an American icon with the re- of the battle. lease of Walt Disney's television series about his life, as well as the movie, "Davy Crockett, King of the Wild Frontier." Since that time the series has been replayed to the point that every kid learns about Crockett's heroism at an early age.

Interestingly, Crockett's rise to the level of superstar ­almost didn't happen.

In 1946, famed Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton ­(related to two famous Masons with the same name, but not a Mason himself) briefly worked for Disney, and came to him with an idea for a show. He presented Disney with an outline for a musical about Crockett's life called "Hunter From Kentucky."

To be generous, Disney (a Missouri DeMolay) thought Benton's concept was poor and he quickly shelved the project — with the intention it would never be used. However, in 1954, the weekly TV series known today as The Wonderful World of Disney premiered. Less than a year later, the Disneyland theme park opened, TV ratings skyrocketed and Disney started a daily show, The Mickey Mouse Club. Producing a minimum of six shows per week, Disney's appetite for material became voracious. So he went back to his "dead ideas" file and there he found Benton's mercifully forgotten manuscript.

Disney handed the project to his staff, which reworked the idea into something that, in reality, bore little if any resemblance to the outline from Benton. The product Disney's talented writers came up with arguably might be the most popular show ever to emerge from the Disney studios — but one thing is certain: the series almost instantly catapulted Brother Davy Crockett from obscurity to rock star status. the missouri freemason

Continued from previous page … the colony capital of San Felipe, its purpose was to request a charter from the Grand Lodge of Mexico: "At a meeting of ancient York Masons in the town of San Felipe de Austin on the 11th day of February, 1828 for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of petitioning the Grand York Lodge of Mexico for granting a charter or dispensation for organizing a subordinate Lodge at this place, the following brethren were present: Brothers H. H. League, Stephen F. Austin, Ira Ingram, Eli Mitchell, Joseph White, G. B. Hall and Thomas M. Duke. On motion of Brother Ira Ingram and seconded, Brother H. H. League was appointed Chairman and Thomas M. Duke Secretary. On motion of Brother Stephen F. Austin and seconded, it was unanimously agreed that they petition to the Grand York Lodge of Mexico for a charter or dispensation to organize a Lodge at this place, to be called the Lodge of Union."

"On balloting for officers of the Lodge the following Brothers were duly elected: Brother Stephen F. Austin, Master; Brother Ira Ingram Senior Warden; Brother H. H. League Junior Warden. Signed H. H. League, Chairman; attest, Thomas M. Duke, Secretary." xiii Although Mexico had successfully separated from Spain in 1821, rather than mitigating conflicts in the area, this had only served to make things worse. The idea of Texas independence had begun to grow. Somehow, in the middle of all the conflict, the Texas Lodge's bid for a charter was lost, and Austin's Lodge of Union never came into existence.xiv Over the next few years the thought of Texas independence continued to gain ground when, in 1833, Austin wrote a letter to a Mexican official, which was interpreted as advocating it. For that, the Mexican government imprisoned him in Mexico City. He spent nearly two and a half years in prison, including nine months in a dungeon. He was released under the conditions of a general amnesty in 1835, without ever having gone to trial.

By the time Austin returned home, the Texas revolution was at hand. He commanded a band of Texas volunteers at the Siege of Béxar (San Antonio) in December, where his troops defeated the Mexican army. It proved to be the only major success for Texas troops until the final battle.

After Mexican General Santa Anna crushed a band of Texas volunteers at the Alamo, Austin made a stirring speech, which was published nationally. It rallied thousands of volunteers to come to Texas to help in its fight for independence. The addition of these new troops certainly was one of the deciding factors allowing the Texans to win independence at the battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 1836.

Four months later, Austin declared his candidacy for the presidency of the new republic but his main opponent in the race, Sam Houston, who had led the Texans to victory at San Jacinto, defeated him decisively.

After winning the presidency, Houston named Austin Secretary of State but Austin's health, which had been in decline since returning from Mexico, failed. He died of pneumonia two months later on December 27, 1836, at the young age of 43. The last words of the man generally credited as being the Father of Texas were, "The independence of Texas is recognized. Don't you see it in the papers?"xv Austin was not a rugged frontiersman as was characteristic of others who settled Texas. Rather, he was a well-read, thoughtful man prone more to tact and bargaining than ­belligerence.

He was a man of compromise and scholarship who, working behind the scenes to support the winning side in the Mexican revolution in 1823, subsequently wrote the entirety of the country's new constitution. Today his ­accomplishments are recognized throughout the State of Texas where he has a statue to his honor in the capitol rotunda, colleges and schools named after him, a Masonic Lodge named in his honor and the capital of the state bears his name.

Please see next page …

i The Bacon Academy exists to this day and Austin remains its most wellknown graduate. ii Haley, James L. Stephen F. Austin: and the Founding of Texas. New York: PowerPlus, 2003. Print. iii Baker, Eugene C. "Stephen Fuller Austin —Biography." Texas A&M University - College Station, TX. Web. <http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/ adp/history/bios/austin/austin.html>. iv "Stephen F. Austin: Biography from Answers.com." Answers.com: Wiki Q&A Combined with Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Encyclopedias. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Web. <http://www. answers.com/topic/stephen-f-austin>. v Denslow, William R. 10,000 Famous Freemasons. Vol. 1. Richmond, VA: Macoy & Masonic Supply, 1957. Print. vi Often called the Panic of 1819 vii Empresario Grant - specifically a writ issued with allowances to colonize portions of Texas with a specified number of persons. viii Had the elder Austin not died at a relatively young age he, not his son, might today be regarded as the Father of Texas. ix Baker, Eugene C. "Stephen Fuller Austin —Biography." Texas A&M University - College Station, TX. Web. <http://www.tamu.edu/ccbn/dewitt/ adp/history/bios/austin/austin.html>. x The first draft of which, in Austin's handwriting, resides in University of Texas library. xi Cook, Wes, ed. Did You Know? Vignettes in Masonry from the "Royal Arch Mason" Magazine. Columbia, MO: Missouri Lodge of Research, 1965.

Print. xii According to Albert Mackey, In The History of Freemasonry, the first Masonic meeting in the territory was held in Brazoria in March, 1835.

Austin's meeting, however, predates the meeting in Brazoria. xiii Cook, Wes, ed. Did You Know? Vignettes in Masonry from the "Royal Arch

Mason" Magazine. Columbia, MO: Missouri Lodge of Research, 1965.

Print. xiv Denslow, William R. 10,000 Famous Freemasons. Vol. 1. Richmond, VA: Macoy & Masonic Supply, 1957. Print. xv Cantrell, Gregg. Stephen F. Austin, Empresario of Texas. New Haven: Yale UP, 1999. Print. xvi "BUTLER, ANTHONY | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)." Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) | A Digital Gateway to Texas History. Texas State Historical Association.

Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ fbu63>. xvii "BUTLER, ANTHONY | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)." Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) | A Digital Gateway to Texas History. Texas State Historical Association.

Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ fbu63>. xviii Hearing of this, Jackson wrote Butler, calling him a "scamp." (Meacham, Jon. American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House. New York: Random House, 2008. Print.) xix The date of the accident is uncertain; it may have occurred in 1850. xx "BUTLER, ANTHONY | The Handbook of Texas Online| Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)." Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) | A Digital Gateway to Texas History. Texas State Historical Association.

Web. 08 Jan. 2011. <http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ fbu63>. xxi "Historical Value of U.S. Dollar (Estimated)." MyKindred.com Family Histories - Genealogy / Family History : MyKindred.com Family Histories.

Web. 11 Jan. 2011. <http://mykindred.com/cloud/TX/Documents/dollar/>.

Also assumes Austin's dues were not prorated for the remainder of the year.

the missouri freemason Spring 2011 67

A Tale Of Two Masons Anthony Butler (1787–1849 ) was a lawyer, a politician, a diplomat, the ward and friend of Brother Andrew Jackson and, yes, a Freemason. Brother Jackson, when President, thought highly enough of Butler to appoint him United States chargé d'affaires in Mexico City. He also appointed him his secret agent in a surreptitious plan to purchase Texas for the United States.

Some say Butler was dedicated to the point of ruthlessness in carrying out this plan. Historian Justin H. Smith described him as "shamefully careless, unprincipled in his methods and openly scandalous in his conduct ... In brief, he was a national disgrace."xvii Brother Sam Houston, who had more than one encounter with Butler in the United States' effort to purchase Texas, was not an admirer. "Such men as he is," said Houston, "would destroy a country, but take my word for it, he will never gain one!"

Austin had known Butler in the US and, although ­Masonic Brothers, they were far from friends. Many, including ­Austin, felt President Jackson's plan to purchase Texas was nothing more than a scheme to secure Texas' public lands at a pittance, without regard to the well-being or future of the territory. Austin refused to go along with the deal.

Butler, in return offered Austin a one million dollar bribe to change his mind, but Austin would have no part in it.xviii Butler remained in the area attempting to gain Texas for the US despite Austin's opposition. While there, he became interested in and began courting the daughter of a prominent Mexican family. Austin was a friend of the family.

Upon hearing what Butler was up to, he exposed him as a xvi

man who had a wife and three children back in the US. Exposing Butler no doubt won the gratitude of his friends but it also sealed Butler's animosity. Butler was delighted when the Mexican government imprisoned Austin for sedition in 1833. Andrew Jackson, however, was not at all pleased when he learned of Austin's arrest. He wrote letters to Butler asking him to act as a United States agent and to use his influence to secure Austin's release.

Rather than ignore Jackson's letters, Butler so despised Austin he made the perilous journey to Mexico City to visit Austin in jail and taunt him with them. During that visit Butler read the letters to Austin and told him the only way he would work for his release would be if Austin gave him large land grants back in Texas. Austin refused and Butler, ignoring President Jackson's request, left him to rot in the Mexican prison.

The men remained adversaries for life. Austin's place in history is well-known. Although he died at a young age he is revered in Texas for his pioneering efforts … but whatever became of Anthony Butler?

Although he definitely engaged in some questionable behavior, Butler may not have been quite the scoundrel some claimed. As a Freemason he was well-regarded enough to serve as Grand Master of two states, Kentucky (1812‑13) and, indeed, Texas (1840‑41). Then, in 1849xix the 62­‑year-old Butler was a passenger on the ill-fated riverboat ­Anthony Wayne, which exploded and sank on the Mississippi River. Butler died as he swam into the burning wreckage in an a­ttempt to save fellow passengers.xx

A Record: MoCHIP IDs Two-Hour-Old Baby

Saint Louis based MoCHIP team #2, lead by Regional Coordinator Craig Skinner, processed a two-hour old infant at Missouri Baptist Hospital on April 20, 2011.

Over the years, Craig Skinner has ID'd thousands of children from all walks of life and every age imaginable. And who can resist a brand new life, an innocent little adorable baby... exactly! Infants are at high risk for abduction. Craig is always very pleased to see infants at his events and he and his team have ID'd babies that were as young as a week old, 5 days old, even 2 days old! Wonderful … but not good enough. Craig's ultimate goal was to ID an hours old infant in the hospital. Enter Anita Bean, MoCHIP volunteer extraordinaire who has not missed but five scheduled MoCHIP events in as many years with team #2. Anita promised when and if she became a grandmother again, she would permit Craig to come into the hospital and ID the child.

Well, that call came at 3:30AM on April 20, when Anita's daughter, Angela Kindle went into labor. But it wasn't until the afternoon of April 20th that little Jaxson “Jax” Kindle made his entry into the world, all 9lbs 2oz of him. Two hours later Craig Skinner and MoCHIP State Coordinator Nick Cichielo, ID'd the infant on his mother's hospital bed.

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A dream has been fulfilled and little Jaxson is safeguarded … so only one question remains … did master fingerprinter Anita Bean fingerprint her new grandson? Of course!

Nick Cichielo, Craig Skinner, Anita Bean, Angela Kindle, Jaxson Kindle

the missouri freemason

District Deputy Grand Lecturers

District # . Subd . Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City, State, Zip . . . . . . . . . . . Phone # 1 . . . . . . . . . Timothy M. Dunbar . . . . . . 24 Settlers Trl. . . . . . . . . Hannibal, MO 63401-2724 . . . . 573-221-4034 2 . . . . . . . . . Ralph S. Miller . . . . . . . . 104 S 5th St. . . . . . . . . . Edina, MO 63537-1412 . . . . . . 660-397-2341 3 . . . . . . . . . David D. Powell . . . . . . . . 2414 Northeast St. . . . . . . Kirksville, MO 63501-2114 . . . 660-665-5857 4 . . . . . . . . . Gale L. Jones . . . . . . . . . 14395 W. 190th St. . . . . . . Hatfield, MO 64458 . . . . . . . . 660-845-2423 5 . . . . . . . . . David W. Moyer . . . . . . . . 307 East 3rd Street . . . . . . Grant City, MO 64456 . . . . . . 660-564-2584 6 . . . . . . . . . William J. Hollingsworth . . . 320 W. Torrance St. . . . . . Maryville, MO 64468-1438 . . . 660-582-8573 7 . . . . . . . . . Douglas H. Reece . . . . . . . 8110 Covered Bridge Rd. . . Platte City, MO 64079-8130 . . . 816-532-3154 8 . . . . . . . . . Gary Caldwell . . . . . . . . . 26570 State Hwy. Y . . . . . Winston, MO 64689 . . . . . . . 660-749-5725 9 . . . . . . . . . Anthony J. Battaglia . . . . . . 8444 NE Old 36 . . . . . . . Hamilton, MO 64644 . . . . . . . 816-288-191 10 . . . . . . . . . Donald W. Allen . . . . . . . . 26231 Image Rd. . . . . . . . Brookfield, MO 64628 . . . . . . 660-633-2358 11 . . . . . . . . . Phillip J. Moody, Jr. . . . . . . 2001 Southern Hills . . . . . Mexico, MO 65265 . . . . . . . . 573-473-6910 12 . . . . . . . . . Gary A.McCormack . . . . . . 1304 Kathy St. . . . . . . . . Fulton, MO 65251-2251 . . . . . 573-642-6932 13 . . . . . . . . . Michael J. Minton . . . . . . . 223 Sunset Drive . . . . . . . Moberly, MO 65270 . . . . . . . 660-263-6330 14 . . . . . . . . . August L. Bottom . . . . . . . 627 Industrial Blvd. . . . . . Slater, MO 65349-1653 . . . . . . 660-529-3511 15 . . . . . . . . . Stanley E. Massey . . . . . . . 10011 Linn Grove Rd. . . . . Odessa, MO 64076-7253 . . . . . 816-230-7029 16 . . . . . . . . . Donald E. Gilkerson . . . . . . 22009 NE 172nd Street . . . Kearney. MO 64060 . . . . . . . 816-628-6538 17 . . . . . . . . . Michael E. Wheeler . . . . . . 7212 Southwest Karen Rd. . . Trimble, MO 64492 . . . . . . . . 816-804-9171 18 . . . . . . . . . Paul F. Miller . . . . . . . . . 9111 E 74th . . . . . . . . . Raytown, MO 64133 . . . . . . . 913-722-2243 19 . . . . . . . . . Lyle K. Croisant . . . . . . . . 809 NE Independence Ave. . Lee's Summit, MO 64086-5533 . 816-524-6446 20 . . . . . . . . . Harold L. Davis . . . . . . . . 29100 S Wolf Rd. . . . . . . Freeman, MO 64746-6245 . . . . 816-250-2265 21 . . . . . . . . . Micheal J. Joyner . . . . . . . 10 NW 730 Road . . . . . . Warrensburg, MO 64093 . . . . . 660-909-3356 22 . . . . . . . . . James G. Wade . . . . . . . . . 2801 West Henley Drive . . . Columbia, MO 65202-2659 . . . 573-474-2630 23 . . . . . . . . . Gary N. Baskett . . . . . . . . 1020 Sassafrass Dr. . . . . . Eldon, MO 65026 . . . . . . . . . 573-392-2111 24 . . . . . . . . . Robert E. Lee Martin . . . . . 6985 Schmidt Lane . . . . . Sullivan, MO 63080 . . . . . . . 573-457-8380 25 . . . . . . . . . Louis V. Sieg . . . . . . . . . . 1401 Stella . . . . . . . . . . Montgomery City, MO 63361 . . 573-564-7908 26 . . . . . . . . . Kenneth W. Burch . . . . . . . 1223 Ridge Rd. . . . . . . . Troy, MO 63379 . . . . . . . . . 314-210-6517 27 . . . . A . . . Terry C. Little . . . . . . . . . 1565 Ranchwood Drive . . . Florissant, MO 63031 . . . . . . . 314-921-3947 27 . . . . . B . . . Kenneth R. Clements . . . . . 1422 Collins Ave. . . . . . . St. Louis, MO 63117-2128 . . . . 314-781-4728 27 . . . . . C . . . Thomas E. Kuhn . . . . . . . . PO Box 515151 . . . . . . . . Saint Louis, MO 63151-5197 . . . 314-487-2906 28 . . . . . . . . . Kerry L. Davis . . . . . . . . . P. O. Box 63 . . . . . . . . . Belleview, MO 63623 29 . . . . . . . . . John J. Tune . . . . . . . . . . 501 S. Mc Arthur . . . . . . Salem, MO 65560 30 . . . . . . . . . Wayne A. Gerdes . . . . . . . 16250 Highway 17 . . . . . . Crocker, MO 65452 . . . . . . . . 573-528-6510 31 . . . . . . . . . John A. Parks . . . . . . . . . Rr 1 Box 544 . . . . . . . . . Flemington, MO 65650-9645 . . . 417-754-2611 32 . . . . . . . . . Alvin O. Griffin . . . . . . . . Rt 2 Box 267 . . . . . . . . . Butler, MO 64730 . . . . . . . . . 816-297-2589 33 . . . . . . . . . Christopher C. Mc Lemore . . 13537 E. Neosho Rd. . . . . Nevada, MO 64772 . . . . . . . . 417-667-5485 34 . . . . . . . . . Wayne J. Beach . . . . . . . . 4910 S. Prairie View Ave. . . Battlefield, MO 65619 35 . . . . . . . . . Michael K. Bodine . . . . . . . 1724 Hardwood Road . . . . Marshfield, MO 65706 . . . . . . 417-234-2623 36 . . . . . . . . . Noel R. Mason . . . . . . . . . Rr 1 Box 175 . . . . . . . . . Black, MO 63625-9707 . . . . . . 573-269-4657 37 . . . . . . . . . Richard W. Kaeser, Jr. . . . . . 710 Lansdowne St. . . . . . . De Soto, MO 63020 . . . . . . . . 636-586-5532 38 . . . . . . . . . Johnny L. Schlenker . . . . . . 117 Gray . . . . . . . . . . . Chaffee, MO 63740 . . . . . . . . 573-887-4930 39 . . . . . . . . . Randy E. Jennings . . . . . . . 729 W. Main . . . . . . . . . Bernie, MO 63822 . . . . . . . . 573-293-4635 40 . . . . . . . . . Jonce B. Chidister . . . . . . . 1113 Charlotte Dr. . . . . . . Malden, MO 63863 . . . . . . . . 573-276-7673 41 . . . . . . . . . Billy V. Jones . . . . . . . . . 809 N. Main St. . . . . . . . Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 . . . . . 573-785-5038 42 . . . . . . . . . Randall D. Upton . . . . . . . PO Box 806 . . . . . . . . . West Plains, MO 65775 . . . . . . 417-256-1560 43 . . . . . . . . . Tom Williams . . . . . . . . . 4241 W Mesa St. . . . . . . . Battlefield, MO 65619 . . . . . . 417-882-8647 44 . . . . . . . . . Jeremy L. Willman . . . . . . . 8086 Lawrence 2194 . . . . . Monett, MO 65708 . . . . . . . . 417-326-9688 45 . . . . . . . . . Jared B. Richmond . . . . . . . 4412 W 20th St. . . . . . . . Joplin, MO 64804-8130 . . . . . 417-627-9081 46 . . . . . . . . . Matthew D. Ruth . . . . . . . . 1402 Pineville Rd. . . . . . . Neosho, MO 64850 . . . . . . . . 417-439-0134 the missouri freemason Spring 2011 69

District Deputy Grand MASTERs

Dist. # Sub. Name . . . . . . . . . . . Street . . . . . . . . . . City, State, Zip . . . . . . . . Phone # . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Email 1 . . . . Shawn P. McAfee . . . . . RR 3 Box 26 . . . . . . Kahoka, MO 63445 . . . . . 660-754-6707 ����������� srmafee@nemr.net 2 . . . . Robert G. Hubble . . . . . Rr 1 Box 26 . . . . . . . Knox City, MO 63446 . . . 660-434-5572 3 . . . . Thomas C. Yunick . . . . . 39185 Elm Trail . . . . . Unionville, MO 63565 . . . 660-355-4332 . . . dewberry@nemr.net 4 . . . . Larry T. Odom . . . . . . . 415 East 7th Street . . . Trenton, MO 64683 . . . . . 660-359-3054 . . . lodom@cebridge.net 5 . . . . Mike D. Cook . . . . . . . Rr 2 Box 105 . . . . . . Grant City, MO 64456 . . . 660-786-2368 6 . . . . Rex Barnett . . . . . . . . 708 W Lincoln St. . . . Maryville, MO 64468 . . . . 660-582-8906 7 . . . . Darby P. Meehan . . . . . . 12040 SE State Rt. A . . Saint Joseph, MO 64507 . . 816-294-1589 . . meehan_d@yahoo.com 8 . . . . James E. Read . . . . . . . PO Box 5 . . . . . . . . Coffey, MO 64636 . . . . . 660-533-2315 9 . . . . Paul A. Richardson . . . . 2501 SW Hwy. 116 . . . Polo, MO 64671 . . . . . . . 660-354-3359 . paulrich@greenhills.net 10 . . . . George T. Teeter . . . . . . 28603 Katy Dr. . . . . . St. Catharine, MO 64628 . . 660-258-2739 george.1934@hotmail.com 11 . . . . Charles M. Scrogin . . . . 710 W. St. Johns St. . . . Vandalia, MO 63382 . . . . 573-594-3339 cbscrogin@windstream.net 12 . . . . James M. Mosley . . . . . 22199 Audrain Rd. 320 . Mexico, MO 65265 . . . . . 573-581-1285 . j.mosley39@yahoo.com 13 . . . . Lester W. Prewitt . . . . . . 1104 C.R. 1365 . . . . . Moberly, MO 65270 . . . . 660-263-3190 14 . . . . Roger B. Mc Williams . . . 704 East Marshall . . . . Carrollton, MO 64633 . . . 660-542-4399 bmcwill2009@hotmail.com 15 . . . . William R. Siegfried . . . . 7724 2nd Street . . . . . Higginsville, MO 64037 . . 660-584-8821 16 . . . . K. Porter Hensen . . . . . . PO Box 312 . . . . . . . Lathrop, MO 64465 . . . . . 816-740-3699 17 . . . . Jack C. DeSelms . . . . . . 1630 NE 48th Terrace . . Kansas City, MO 64118 . . . 816-305-6188 . . . jdeselms@kc.rr.com 18 . . . . Daniel A. Sewing . . . . . 1605 Christi Lane . . . . Raymore, MO 64083 . . . . 816-331-3381 . . cscom@sbcglobal.net 19 . . . . Stanton T. Brown II . . . . 25005 East US 24 Hwy. Independence, MO 64056 . . 816-650-5000 . . . . . . . sbii@aol.com 20 . . . . Clarence L. Jennings . . . . 24405 E 315 . . . . . . Harrisonville, MO 64701 . . 816-430-5360 21 . . . . John T. Cecilia . . . . . . . 932 Ridge Dr. . . . . . . Warrensburg, MO 64093 . . 660-747-6070 . johncecilia@charter.net 22 . . . . Mitchell C. Weinsting . . . 4000 Brentwood . . . . Columbia, MO 65203 . . . . 573-446-1327 mweinsting@centurytel.net 23 . . . . Mitchell S. Parsons . . . . 2205 Melody Drive . . . Jefferson City, MO 65109 . . 636-233-3887 mparsons1171@yahoo.com 24 . . . . Harlon R. Wise . . . . . . . 11 Edith Drive . . . . . Bourbon, MO 65441 . . . . 573-732-4630 . . rwise289@gmail.com 25 . . . . Daniel P. Elliott . . . . . . 23875 Country Oak Ln. Warrenton, MO 63383 . . . . 636-456-8924 . danielpe@centurytel.net 26 . . . . Thomas H. Hamlett . . . . 4107 Cripple Creek Ct. . Wentzville, MO 63385 . . . 636-327-9400 tomhenry@centurytel.net 27. A . . Ronald D. Reynolds . . . . 452 Foreston Place . . . Webster Groves, MO 63119 314-968-5004 . rdreynolds6@charter.net 27. B . . Raymond H. Vollmar . . . 572 Bridgebend Rd. . . Manchester, MO 63021 . . . 314-740-2856 . rayvollmar@yahoo.com 27. C . . Peter G. Cauchon . . . . . 4041 Phillips . . . . . . St. Louis, MO 63116 . . . . 314-772-9399 . . pgcjdc@sbcglobal.net 28 . . . . Francis D. Jett . . . . . . . 4791 Werner Rd. . . . . High Ridge, MO 63049 . . . 636-677-2885 29 . . . . John W. Bayless . . . . . . 99 Rutz Subdv Road . . Cuba, MO 65453 . . . . . . 573-885-0252 johnbayless@hotmail.com 30 . . . . Michael E. Day . . . . . . PO Box 905 . . . . . . . Lebanon, MO 65536 . . . . 417-532-4699 31 . . . . David G. Turner . . . . . . HC 77 Box 1000 . . . . Pittsburg, MO 65724 . . . . 417-852-7288 32 . . . . Larry D. White . . . . . . . Route 2 Box 263 . . . . Butler, MO 64730 . . . . . . 816-297-2628 33 . . . . James E. Belcher . . . . . . 1010 E Hwy B . . . . . Sheldon, MO 65784 . . . . . 417-398-2033 . . brasherhill@hughes.net 34 . . . . Phillip A. Kent . . . . . . . 98921 N. Cliffside Ln. . Fair Grove, MO 65648 . . . 417-759-2707 . philkent2707@msn.com 35 . . . . R. David Norman . . . . . Route 7 Box 7061 . . . . Ava, MO 65608 . . . . . . . 417-683-2843 36 . . . . James M. Johnson . . . . . 6445 Hwy. J . . . . . . . Black, MO 63625 . . . . . . 573-269-4747 37 . . . . Terry L. Duckett . . . . . . 200 Meinhardt Ln. . . . Park Hills, MO 63601 . . . . 573-760-1927 38 . . . . Robert C. Floyd . . . . . . 1204 Fairlane Dr. . . . . Cape Girardeau, MO 63701 . 573-837-9317 fastraxaudio@sbcglobal.net 39 . . . . Gary D. Kitchen . . . . . . 15458 Horse Shoe Ln. . Dexter, MO 63841 . . . . . 573-624-3097 garyk@newwavecomm.net 40 . . . . W. Thomas Chidister . . . . 1209 Charlotte Dr. . . . Malden, MO 63863 . . . . . 573-448-5357 . chidistert@sbcglobal.net 41 . . . . Bill A. Humble . . . . . . . 3339 North 14th St. . . . Poplar Bluff, MO 63901 . . 573-785-2987 42 . . . . E. Royce Wheeler . . . . . PO Box 685 . . . . . . . Ava, MO 65608 . . . . . . . 417-683-9077 royce@wheelermowing.com 43 . . . . Mickey J. Brown . . . . . . P.O. Box 164 . . . . . . Clever, MO 65631 . . . . . 417-743-2454 hardtoread@sbcglobal.net 44 . . . . Kevin M. Sligar . . . . . . 3563 Farm Rd. 1100 . . Monett, MO 65708 . . . . . 417-235-6593 . . ksligar@jackhenry.com 45 . . . . Steven T. Allgood . . . . . 5837 Elm . . . . . . . . Webb City, MO 64870 . . . 417-623-7362 46 . . . . Glenn Clifton . . . . . . . PO Box 665 . . . . . . . Alba, MO 64830 . . . . . . 417-845-6065 . . . . cliftong@live.com 70 Spring 2011

the missouri freemason

Hello Missouri Masons!

It is hard to believe it has almost been an entire year since I was selected as the Grand Bethel Honored Queen of Missouri Job's Daughters. But now there is only one month left until our annual Grand Session in Jefferson City in June.

At that time, a new Grand Bethel Honored Queen will take the throne along with the newly installed Grand Guardian Council.

We took a break in the winter months from traveling in hopes of avoiding some of the more serious weather. But that didn't stop us from reopening Bethel #56 in Hillsboro, Missouri. We welcome this Bethel back to Missouri Job's Daughters and are thankful for the support of our Masons and OES for helping us to keep it open and thriving! We are very excited to have this addition, and are welcoming the signs of increasing membership.

To launch our spring travels, I planned our annual "Mini Session" on March 5 and 6. Mini Session is a weekend for the girls to reconnect after being apart. We planned competi-

tive Olympic sports for them to participate in as teams, and gave awards for creative writing, the winning Olympic team, and visitation to other Bethels. It was also our Supreme Visit, so our Supreme Guardian, Mom Toni Underwood, and the rest of the Supreme team joined us to celebrate "Jobie Olympics!"

We have once again started our Official Visits, traveling to each Bethel and observing what each Bethel does that is unique. We have quite a few left and I encourage you, as Masons, to visit our website www.missouriiojd.org and find an Official Visit near you!

It has been a wonderful experience meeting the Masons from around Missouri, becoming friends with quite a few, and delivering the ever important message that we need you to continue our heritage. Please, continue to give your support to the Masonic Youth. Ensure the future of your organizations by ensuring the future of ours.

Job's Daughters love and mine, Erica Wallace GBHQ 2010-2011

✮ Missouri Freemason Deadlines ✮ Fall, 2011 July 1, 2011 Winter, 2011 October 3, 2011

Spring, 2012 January 2, 2012 Summer, 2012 April 2, 2012

Email all articles and pictures!

Regional Grand Lecturers Card # . .

A . . . .

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RC . . .

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Bobby R. O'Dell . . . . . . .

F. Wayne Dugan . . . . . . . .

Glenn H. Burrows . . . . . .

Norman E. Harrison . . . . .

Joe W. Johnson . . . . . . . .

Timothy L. Couch . . . . . .

Wayne G. Tucker . . . . . . .

Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City, State, Zip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Phone # 24238 Highway U . . . . . . . Bucklin, MO 64631-7287 . . . . . . . . . 660-695-3612 8130 Southpoint Dr. . . . . . . Camden, MO 64017-9711 . . . . . . . . 816-496-5533 4806 NW 57th Ct. . . . . . . . Kansas City, MO 64151-4631 . . . . . . 816-587-7502 207 Drewel Ct. . . . . . . . . . Eureka, MO 63025 . . . . . . . . . . . . 636-587-7913 10607 Wurdack Ave. . . . . . . Saint Louis, MO 63114-1031 . . . . . . . 314-429-0782 179 Hannah Grace Ln. . . . . . Clever, MO 65631-6618 . . . . . . . . . 417-369-0124 HC 3 Box 222 . . . . . . . . . Ellsinore, MO 63937-9419 . . . . . . . . 573-322-5712

the missouri freemason Spring 2011 71

Rainbow Gets Girls Ready For Life!

Hello again!

So much has happened since my last article. I had a totally outstanding reception in March with my home Assembly (North Kansas City) hosting the event at Liberty’s Masonic Lodge (it was the same day as St. Patrick festivities outside the door of the NKC Assembly’s Lodge). The crowd was estimated at 200 and attendees learned much about women who have left a legacy.

Thank you to all who worked, attended and enjoyed this event.

With just enough time left to eat and travel to the Ararat Shrine Temple, we attended the DeMolay Knights Masonic Youth Dance honoring the Grand/State Officers of the three Masonic Youth groups. Rainbow was very, very well represented by nearly 30 Grand Officers and an awesome number of Assembly members and adults — thank you to all who came!

Hannah Glass, our State Dean, also had her reception in March in Columbia. It had a Kentucky Derby theme and many came to show off their race-day hats. Hannah will also be presiding over two conferrings bringing new members into our Grand Cross of Color organization (like the Honor Society of Rainbow). These will be April 30 in Sarcoxie, and May 21 in St. Louis. If you (or your wife?) are a Master of Rainbow’s Grand Cross of Color, you are welcome to attend these events. Please contact Catherine Dent, our Supreme Inspector, for more information (khakid@ aol.com).

Something new this year: Springfield's York Rite had its first Annual Masonic Youth Day. Three of the Assemblies from District 3 assured Missouri Rainbow of having an outstanding presence. While the York Rite would have been happy with 20 attending, nearly 80 showed up (over 1/3 of those were Rainbow) and everyone enjoyed an afternoon of food, fellowship and gaining new knowledge about Rainbow, Job's Daughters and DeMolay.

Brianne Sisco, Grand Charity, represented me and I have heard everyone had a wonderful time. Thank you, District 3, for supporting this event so well!

My final reception will be “at the Drive In,” hosted by Districts 1 and 5 (the East side of the state). A sleepover and attending church will top off that weekend. Then, the first weekend in June, a retreat for the Grand Officers to work on their floor-work and parts and the Grand Representatives to start planning their Grand Assembly drills and to finish projects that are outstanding will be held in Columbia.

I am really looking forward to our 85th Grand Assembly in Springfield. Our Grand Opening will be held on Sunday, June 26 at 3:00 and ALL of you are invited! Meet me at the Convention Center beside the John Q. Hammons Hotel. Be sure to let me know you are there! We’ll “raise the roof ” and show you some beautiful and talented Rainbow Girls! Be certain to STAND when we form YOUR square and compass—we want you to be as proud of us as we are of the love and support you give us! On Monday, June 27 at 4:30, the Installation of the 2011-2012 Grand Worthy Advisor and her Grand Officers will be held — another 72 Spring 2011

great opportunity for you to come to Springfield and enjoy us (and yourself!)!

Rainbow Gets Girls Ready for Life! Have you stepped into a Rainbow Assembly Room recently? There are excited “little sisters” — our Rainbow Pledges, running in and out of doors at just about every location. They are SO funny and sweet! A year ago the Grand Worthy Advisor reported several assemblies were getting back on their feet — those and many others are doing quite well. I hear about growth spurts throughout Missouri Rainbow — and the p.s. is always “more are coming!” What a blessing it is to have been associated for over 10 years of my life with such a phenomenal girls’ service and leadership organization. I hope to “leave a legacy” for Missouri Rainbow to continue for many, many years to come!

Did you know, to be a Rainbow Girl, a girl does not have to have a Masonic relation? Maybe you don’t have a daughter or granddaughter to recommend for membership, but maybe you are encountering young ladies at church, through your co-workers or in your neighborhood who has potential to do more. Could they make a difference in your community? … in the world? Would our service and leadership opportunities interest them? Please contact either Catherine Dent (above) or one of our Mother Advisors on our website (www.moiorg.org) to find the next “open” event and invite them and their parents to attend. Tell them about our International website that is absolutely fantastic: www.gorainbow.org (If there isn't an Assembly nearby, Catherine will let you know how to start one … or two!) With your help, our Rainbow will continue to get many more girls ready for life!

Sadly, this is my final report to you. At Grand Assembly I will retire as the new GWA is crowned. Her smile, excitement and intelligence will raise Rainbow to new heights! You WILL want to experience this! I believe you will enjoy hearing from her! I want to take this time to THANK YOU for taking time to speak with me, sit with me or the good thoughts and prayers you have sent my way. I have enjoyed serving as Missouri's Grand Worthy Advisor very much and can't wait to see what direction my life goes now!

My last wish for you is that YOU do all you can to support the Ronald McDonald House in your area. Maybe you’ll see a Rainbow after a storm and know it’s time to take a couple rolls of trash bags and huge packages of toilet paper to one (two items they ALL need ALL the time!). Maybe you can get a church group, neighborhood group or your Lodge Brothers together and go serve a meal … or just deliver pounds of “comfort food” for their use. Please just do all you can for them — not just through June when my term ends ... but throughout the rest of your life.

Always speak and act in a manner you would want another to follow so that you may be proud to: Leave a Legacy!

Miss Elizabeth Jester, Grand Worthy Advisor International Order of the Rainbow for Girls 2010-2011 the missouri freemason

Missouri DeMolay – The Best Year Ever!

The 2011 Missouri DeMolay Conclave is upon us! It’s that time of year again, and we’re all ready for the best Conclave yet. Big changes have been made to the entire program to refine it, improve it, and make it run smoothly and on schedule.

We even have a very special Internationally Famous guest planning to attend this year’s Hall of Fame banquet. Missouri DeMolay is in for a very special treat from our guest’s appearance at the banquet. Many things are coming back, including the Treasure of Freemasonry scavenger hunt, which has been further refined and improved over last year’s treasure hunt — which was great! This year, DeMolays will have to work even harder to follow the trail that leads to opening the vault.

Additional information about the treasure hunt will be available on our website, as well as the new Missouri DeMo-

lay Blog. The blog is available by visiting www.modemolay.org/blog, and is regularly updated with event postings, good of the order, as well as small contests and challenges. We strongly encourage everyone in our Masonic family to visit the blog, to see what Missouri DeMolay is up to, and also to post events, good of the order, and even suggestions for us. Information is available on the blog for those interested in posting information. We look forward to spending time with our Masonic family during the 2011 Conclave, and honoring our Master Masons and sister organizations.

Fraternally, Andrew Hinkle State Master Councilor, Missouri DeMolay smc@modemolay.org

the missouri freemason Spring 2011 73

Notes from the Executive Director Masonic Home of Missouri "To assist eligible adults and children in need by practicing the principles of Freemasonry."

I am always thrilled when I get to share about the great works of our Masonic Home. Over the last three years the Board of Directors has worked diligently to be your hand that reaches out to those in need. Along the way they have worked on a new mission statement that emphasizes the principles that encompass Freemasonry and its compassion for their fellow brothers, sisters and children.

Hope, Faith and Charity, the greatest of these being Charity.

It is our hope that each time we read these words we will be reminded of these profound principles. These are tools for life — that have been passed down through the centuries — that we keep our hearts and minds open to assist those who need our help.

And because we continue to carry the torch, we are always busy with the next task. We are always looking ahead. The Masonic Home of Missouri "Leaves of Autumn" Golf Outing is quickly approaching. Before we know it, the ground will thaw from the hard winds of winter and the warm summer breezes will be beckoning us. We will hold our Ninth Annual Golf Outing on Monday, August 29th at the Columbia Country Club. Each year donors play in or sponsor this event, raising money needed for children in our great state.

Every day children go without the items they need. Families struggle to pay mounting medical bills they can’t afford, picking and choosing what they will do without so their children

can receive medical treatments.

Children in our schools are going without good clothes, shoes, supplies to do their work and hygiene products. These are items that will help with their confidence, preparing them to focus better in the classroom until it’s time for them to go out into the world and do great things. Hopefully, one day they will look back, remembering when others cared enough to give a helping hand, having learned firsthand the value of charity and go on to "pay it forward." I hope you will support the golf outing. There are many ways to contribute to this worthwhile event. Please encourage your Lodge/ Chapter to be a sponsor. You never know when your dollar will bring light into the life of someone who feels the heavy weight of darkness.

It is a joy to be part of something so great, something that is steeped in the tradition of our forefathers. Thank you for all you do by keeping these principles close in your hearts.

Fraternally,

H. Keith Neese, Executive Director, Masonic Home of Missouri

Tax-Saving Opportunity for Donors Aged 70½+ Under the extended charitable IRA legislation, you can make charitable gifts now using funds from your individual retirement accounts (IRAs) without undesirable tax effects.

Previously you would have had to report any amount taken from your IRA as taxable income. You could then take a charitable deduction for the gift, but only up to 50 percent of your adjusted gross income. In effect, this caused some donors to pay more in income taxes than they would have if they hadn’t made a gift at all.

Fortunately, now these IRA gifts can be accomplished simply and without tax complications. Plus, you can make the gifts now — while you are living and able to witness the benefits of your generosity. This unique opportunity expires at the end of 2011. You may contribute funds this way if: ➣ You are age 70½ or older at the time of the gift. ➣ The gifts total any amount up to $100,000 in 2011. ➣ You transfer funds directly from an IRA. ➣ You transfer the gifts outright to one or more qualified charities, 74 Spring 2011

but not to supporting organizations, or for gift annuities, charitable trusts or donor advised funds.

How the Extended Law Works: Pat, aged 80, has $450,000 in an IRA and has pledged to give Masonic Home of Missouri $75,000 this year. If Pat transfers $75,000 to us directly from the IRA, she will avoid paying income tax on that amount. She cannot, however, claim a charitable deduction — it is a pure wash.

Pat has found an easy way to benefit Masonic Home of Missouri without tax complications. If Pat’s spouse has an IRA and is 70½ or older, he can also give up to $100,000 tax-free to a charity of his choice.

How to Make a Gift: Contact your IRA custodian soon to transfer your desired gift amount to Masonic Home of Missouri.

For More Information: It is wise to consult tax professionals if you are contemplating gifts under the extended law. Please feel free to contact the Masonic Home of Missouri at 800-434-9804 with any questions. the missouri freemason

Masonic Home of Missouri Widow’s Luncheon & Truman Club Presentations Kirksville & Osage Beach With the spring weather finally in bloom and the cold blast of winter behind us, the Masonic Home is stepping out and honoring Masonic widows in Missouri. Our second luncheon was held in Kirksville, Missouri and the third in Osage Beach, Missouri. We had great attendance at both luncheons.

This is a great way for our widows to come and enjoy one another's company over a free lunch and most importantly to hear about the programs of the Masonic Home of Missouri that may apply to them. So many widows in our great state are unaware that they have someone they can turn to if they fall on hard times. We Are Where You Are is an important message that needs to be shared. Most Lodges want to know what they can do to help. Please make sure that the Masonic Home has an updated widows list. We have come across several ladies that did not get invitations to these luncheons because we did not have their information. Our Lodges play a key role in making sure we have information needed in order to communicate these great programs. Also, at our luncheons we have been able to present two Lewis and Clark members with their Harry S Truman Bust. David Powell from Kirksville, and Larry and Suzette Snodderley from Osage Beach.

It was a treat to honor these individuals for their giving. This is a great way for our donors to visit with our widows (58 percent of assistance at the Masonic Home is to widows/

Masonic Widows in attendance at the Masonic Home of Missouri’s Widows Lunch in Osage Beach, Monday, March 21st.

Keith Neese (left) presenting RWB David Powell (right) from Kirksville, Missouri with his Harry S Truman Bust.

Masonic Widows in attendance at the Masonic Home of Missouri’s Widows Lunch in Kirksville, Tuesday, March 8th.

Barbara Ramsey, Director of Outreach (right) presenting Larry & Suzette Snodderly (left) from Osage Beach, Missouri with their Truman Bust.

OES members) and for our widows to meet the donors.

At the end of our lunch and presentation we honor our widows with the Masonic Home of Missouri widow's pin signifying their support for their husband's participation within Freemasonry and their service to the Masonic Home.

This is a program the Masonic Home of Missouri has been working on for several years beginning with the mailing of condolence cards following the passing of a Masonic Brother. Over the past eight years this program has continued to evolve, with the assistance of local Lodges, by gathering widows' lists specific to each Masonic Lodge and updating our database twice a year providing us the opportunity to keep widows informed about the Masonic Home programs.

In addition to keeping an updated database, this year the Masonic Home was able to provide cards to the Masonic widows that listed their husbands Masonic information, Lodge information and information about the Home should they ever need to contact us. Lastly, we are pleased to announce that we have started coordinating area luncheons for the Masonic widows so that we can not only honor them but also inform them about the programs they may be eligible for through the Masonic Home. We thank the Lodges for their assistance in continuing to provide up to date information on their widows as it continues to be an instrumental part in communicating our information.

the missouri freemason Spring 2011 75

Missouri’s Masonic Museum & Library The Missouri Masonic Museum was unveiled February 23, 2008 as a true tribute to the history of Freemasonry in Missouri. We’d like to invite you to take a walk through time and learn about Missouri Masons who worked steadfastly to carve out the Masonic heritage in the wilds of Missouri to the modern day. Come and discover the history of your Masonic Home which started out as an orphanage in St. Louis in 1889, and how it has evolved into programs that help your fellow brothers, sisters and children in need within their own communities.

Betsy Blackwell came to the Home in 1939 at the age of nine and remained until she was eighteen. She couldn’t express her appreciation enough for the Masons and those that worked at the Masonic Home. Because of the Masons and members of the Order of the Eastern Star, Betsy grew up happy. She and her husband, Dale, support the work of the Masonic Home. It’s a way for them to say thank you for all Freemasonry has done in her life.

She shared with us about her experience.

"It was like a being in a big family. We had a huge playground, tennis court, gymnasium and library. One of the things I particularly appreciated was a group called the Christmas Committee. Before Christmas we would each give a list of three wishes for gifts and they would purchase

one on the list and present the gifts on Christmas morning.

The Committee came for breakfast and as we entered the dining room each department would sing a Christmas song.

Throughout the year they provided us with entertainment, such as lawn parties at the beginning of summer, taking us to the circus, fireworks displays, or even arranging evening parties. The Care Staff at the Masonic Home also encouraged education and allowed children to stay there until they finished college."

As the decades have passed the Masonic Home continues to make advancements in its programs. No longer do brothers, sisters and children need to leave their homes, their communities, or their families; they can remain with loved ones, in their home receiving assistance within their own community.

Come and visit your Missouri Masonic Museum. The Museum Committee is always looking for donations whether through a piece of your Lodges or family history to be displayed in the “Everyman” portion of the museum, or through a monetary gift in order to continue to expand on the rich Masonic history Missouri has. This is a great opportunity for you to share your legacy with others.

Outreach Services — Your Hand at Work Lorraine Casady In 1947, Lorraine found true love. She and a girlfriend would go to the show. Whenever they would take in a movie they would stop into the local bar and get a couple cokes, and listen to the music. On one of those nights, Lorraine and her friend got to meet the piano player, Edward Casady. The next time they went in, Edward asked her to dance and with a giddy laugh, Lorraine shared with us that he told her, "I’m going to marry you." After that, Edward left to serve in the Navy for one year, when he came home he did just that — Edward Casady married Lorraine. He became a father to Lorraine's only child and raised her as his own. Edward worked as a tool and die maker during the day, but on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights he was playing in his band.

It was a good thing Lorraine loved music so much, one of her favorite things to do was listen to him play. She said in breathless wonder, "He played the most beautiful piano, you should have heard him."

Both Edward and Lorraine were active members in the Masonic family. Edward belonged to Algabil Freedom Lodge 76 Spring 2011

#636 where he was a member for over thirty years before he passed away. Lorraine belongs to Venus Chapter #153, Order of the Eastern Star where she has been a member for forty-three years.

Edward has been gone for twenty-six years now and Lorraine misses him still, but her dog Toby and the wonderful friends she has in her life are a blessing. In her spare time she enjoys decorating her house, painting her own pictures, stone work and more. She's what you a call a regular "do-it-yourselfer."

When asked how she heard about the Masonic Home, she said, "I got a brochure and when glancing through it I saw information about the Outreach Program. Edward didn't make a great deal of money and I had reached a point where I was having a hard time making it. I called and Dana came to see me. It wasn't very long after that I was approved for assistance." She then went on to express her appreciation, "I can’t express enough how much it means to me. The Outreach Program has done wonders for me and it makes me happy. I appreciate so much everything the Masonic Home has done." the missouri freemason

Creating-A-Partnership The Creating-A-Partnership (CAP) program has been helping Missouri children since 2004. The CAP program is a fund matching program where local Lodges and chapters identify children – infant through 12th grade – within their communities or area and assist them by purchasing needed items to be successful and happier children. The Masonic Home of Missouri will match funds provided by the Lodge or chapter up to $2,500 yearly for approved items. Approved items include school supplies, back packs, clothing and hygiene products – all of which prepare the child to learn and feel good about themselves. Since the start of the program, over 23,000 Missouri children have been assisted through the CAP program; that’s an average of 2,878 children per year! The success of this program weighs heavily on the involvement of the Lodges and Chapters throughout the state.

They are the front line of contact whether it be working with the schools or directly with a family that is in need.

There are 36 Lodges and 12 chapters that are currently active in the Creating-A-Partnership program. If your Lodge or Chapter is not part of those numbers, please consider getting involved. Partnering with another Lodge or Chapter is a great way to expand the amount you can participate. Then: ➣ Identify children in your community who have a financial need. This can be accomplished by having a representative from your Lodge/Chapter speak with local contacts in schools, daycares, churches or community groups to explain the program.

➣ Have the Lodge/Chapter representative, or local ­contact person, list the needs of the children within each grade or age group. Most guidance counselors, principals, and community leaders know which children are in need. ➣ Once the list has been compiled, the Lodge/Chapter members must review the request to determine which portion of the request they wish to fund. The Masonic Home of Missouri will match approved items, dollar for dollar, yearly up to $2,500. Requests for matching funds must be made before the purchase of items. ➣ Submit the completed request form, including signatures, from the Worshipful Master/Worthy Matron and Secretary plus your Lodge or chapter seal and if seeking additional funding then send to the Masonic Home of Missouri Outreach Department for review. ➣ If approved, the Masonic Home will write a matching check payable directly to a store or school and send it to the Lodge/Chapter representative. The Lodge/Chapter can purchase the items or present the check to the school or community contact person so that the approved items can be purchased. Once the items are purchased, copies of receipts must be provided to the Masonic Home of Missouri. The Masonic Home of Missouri cannot reimburse Lodges, Chapters, or individuals.

For more information on this great program, contact Tisha Woodard or Carly Dibben at 800-434-9804.

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The Lodges & Craft News & Notes

• Branson Masonic Lodge held a Spaghetti Luncheon Fundraiser at the Lodge hall on Sunday February 28 from 11 AM to 3 PM. The Lodge would like to say thank you to the community and Lodge members for their support toward making this a successful fundraiser. There were over 80 patrons at the "all you can eat" Spaghetti Luncheon. The Worshipful Master and Lodge members would like to say thanks to Chairman Greg Bahler for another successful fundraiser. This fundraiser helps support our community projects such as Missouri Child Identification program (MoCHIP), Outreach Program for Needy Families, Christmas Baskets and others.

• St. Louis Missouri Lodge #1 and Naphtali Lodge #25 held a joint

meeting on January 20, 2011 at the New Masonic Temple in downtown St. Louis. The opening and closing of the two Lodges was done by a combination of the two lines which were shuffled during the business portion of the meeting.

• Osage Lodge #303 will be hosting its 2nd annual golf tournament Saturday, July 30. It is a four-person scramble with lunch and beverages included. Tee time is 8:30 AM and the cost is $240 per team.

Men will play from the white tees, women from the red tees. Four flights with prizes. 1st: $600, 2nd $400, 3rd $200. Contact David grub at (417) 667-6920 or email at d-jgrubb@sbcglobal.net.

When WB R. Allen Moss was installed as Master of Alpha Lodge #659 for the 2010-2011 term, this created a first for Alpha Lodge. His father RWB Larry Moss served as Master in 1996 making this the first fatherson combination to serve as Masters of Alpha Lodge. Congratulations to both.

Five family members were raised at Swope Park Lodge's Chance to Advance Class held April 2, 2011. Shown left to right, front row, Brothers Mark Raya, Clemente Raya Sr., Pete Raya and Roman Raya.

Back row, left to right, Temple Gate Secretary Lyman Ridgeway and Clemente Raya Jr.

Forsyth Lodge #453 hosted a MoCHIP event on March 26, 2011. Pictured: WB Jackie Hall, Sister Melinda Jones, Brother Ron Combs, RWB Bill Cox, Rainbow Advisor Hanna Barker and WB David Collignon, MoCHIP Advisor.

Union Lodge #593 Worshipful Master Bruce E. McGlasson is shown presenting Brother Daniel Paul Nordin his Certificate of the Degrees and his Masonic Bible after he was raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason at a stated meeting on March 11, 2011.

Twenty-eight volunteers processed 68 children at Galena and Branson Lodges' Missouri Child Identification Program on April 9, 2011.

The Lodges are grateful to all the volunteers, the Eastern Star ladies, the Hollister Y.M.C.A, Pappa John's Pizza for providing lunch and the Hollister Police Department for its support with the finger printing.

Members of Union Masonic Lodge #593 presented a much-deserved Appreciation Award to Tammy Stowe and Robin Aslinger, Union Chamber of Commerce, for their continued support to the Lodge since the Lodge became a member in 2005. Left to right is Don Wehmeier, Tammy Stowe, Harry Zerwig, Robin Aslinger, Gary Tourville, Buzz Barrows.

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Members of Cooper Lodge #36 attended ceremonies at the Grand Lodge of Missouri on Saturday, January 29, 2011. Grand Lodge officers and Twilight Lodge #114 conferred the 2nd and 3rd degrees on Lonnie Tucker, Michael DeShozo, Tanner Bechtel, Nick Andrews, Justin Boggs, Nicholas Chapman, and David Booker.

Congratulations to the new Master Masons from all the old Master Masons.

Mount Hope Masonic Lodge #476, Odessa, met on Thursday, November 18 and conferred a third degree. For the first time in the history of the Lodge, a sitting Grand Master of Missouri Masons, Most Worshipful Gail S Turner presided over the degree. Several members of the Grand Officers' line also attended. The candidate was Trevor Tilton. The Master of Mount Hope Masonic Lodge #476 is Worshipful Brother Larry E. Goodwin.

For the 24th year, Alpha Lodge #659 won the award for best attendance at the DDGM-DDGL Lodge of Instruction, setting a new record. Making the presentation (pictured left to right) is RWB Paul Miller, DDGL of the 18Th District, WB R. Allen Moss, Master, and RWB Daniel Sewing, DDGM of the 18th District. Congratulations to Alpha Lodge on attaining the award. The award is sponsored by the Square & Compass Association in the 18th District.

Job's Daughters Bethel #1 Honor Queen Madison Parkinson and William F. Kuhn DeMolay Chapter Master Councilor Matt Hoaglan, along with Bethel #1 member Lexi Parkinson and DeMolay members Dakota Parkinson and Andy Hoaglan delivered Gift cards to the Masonic Home to help feed the birds. These young people are a very active part of Swope Park Masonic Temple supported

by Order of Eastern Star chapter #520 and Swope Park Lodge #617, Kansas City Missouri.

Billings Lodge #379 recently contributed $500 to the Paw Pack Program of Billings Schools, in cooperation with the Children's Outreach Program of the Masonic Home, which contributed a matching amount to supply food items to needy elementary children through 6th grade. Some children do not have sufficient nourishment for weekends. The PAW Pack Program helps fill that void for approximately 40 children. These donations will provide those 40 with approximately 140 weekend meals. Billings Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Missouri have contributed approximately $10,000 over the past 5 years. Pictured left to right are RWB Tom Williams (DDGL of the 43rd Masonic District and current WM of Billings Lodge), Sherry Wilson (Elementary Principal) and Brother David Hart (Secretary and Masonic Home Representative).

A Chance to Advance Class at Swope Park Lodge #617 held April 2 included candidates from Fidelity Lodge #339, Independence Lodge #76, Ivanhoe Lodge #446, Kansas City Lodge #220, Granite Lodge #272, Sheffield Lodge #625 and Temple Gate Lodge #299.

Prior to closing the Lodge, RWB Jack DeSelms, DDGM of the 17th Masonic District of Missouri, gave a presentation called “Masters Ties and Duties," followed by RWB Carl Terry, reciting a poem titled “A Mason and A Man." Following the class RWB John Hess, Deputy Grand Master of the State of Missouri, RWB Glenn Burrows, RWB Dan Sewing, DDGM of the 18th Masonic District of Missouri and RWB Paul Miller, DDGL of the 18th Masonic District of Missouri each commented on how well the class was conducted.

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Meridian Lodge #2, St. Louis, recently served dinner at the Ronald McDonald House for over fifty people living in the house while their children were being treated at Cardinal Glennon Hospital.

This was the second year the Lodge has held such an event and this year's dinner went on despite a snowstorm. Pictured (left to right): Fred Willams, Thom O'Neal and his son Donovan, WB Bruce Boeckmann, WB Terry Harris, Brian McCowan, and WB Barry Rodgers.

St. Louis Missouri Lodge #1 and Naphtali Lodge #25 held a joint meeting on January 20, 2011. The meeting was held at the New Masonic Temple in downtown St. Louis. The opening and closing of the two Lodges was done by a combination of the two lines which were shuffled during the business portion of the meeting.

From left to right: (front row) Robin Dahle(#1 JD), Ty Treutlaar (#1 SW), Kevin Fuller (#1 WM), William Bean (#25 WM), Jessie Jannusch (#23 Secretary), Ed Rich (#1 Treas); (second row) Trey Raith (#1 JW), Sean Farrell (#1 SS), Ken Burch (#25 SW), Drew Smith (#25 SD) and Bill Stone (#25 JW).

Members of Cooper Lodge #36 collected 40 bikes at the Conley Road WalMart to be delivered to 8 area schools. The Lodge appreciates Manager Mitch Theede (2nd from right in the photo) for making a special deal on the price of the bikes. Without this help, fewer bikes would be available for the students. This program would not be possible without the help of our generous Partners in Education who donate money to buy the bikes. The Bikes-forBooks committee members are: Co-chairs Roy Cary and John Holtzclaw, Dane Gregg, Tom Miller, Gary Whitehurse, Curtis Carter, Nathan Cary, Chris Cary, Daniel Cary, Stewart Clark, Jim Painter, Johnny Ernst, Nick Andrews and Tim Boggs. The Committee thanks all the school principals and teachers who make the program work and help Masons encourage kids to read.

On Friday evening September 10, 2010 Alpha Lodge #659, North Kansas City, installed its 2010-2011 Officers. Pictured, left to right, are the installed officers. Front row: Rick Hunley, Junior Steward; RWB Larry Moss, Senior Warden; WB R. Allen Moss, Master; RWB Dennis Spears, Junior Warden; Stephen Schnare, Marshall; Middle row: RWB Glenn Burrows, Treasurer; WB Rusty Krueger, Chaplain; Back row: Bill Hillyard, Junior Deacon; WB John Blankenship, Senior Deacon; WB Robert Van Vacter, Tiler; WB Bill Perry, Secretary; Ricky Wegman, Senior Steward. The Installing Officers were RWB Glenn Burrows, Master; RWB Dennis Abernathy, Marshall; WB Gary Norton, Senior Deacon; RWB Paul Miller, Chaplain; RWB Lloyd Callwell, Master of Ceremonies; RWB R. L. Tichenor, Musician. NKC Rainbow Assembly presented the Bible Ceremony and refreshments were served by Jobs Daughter Bethel #33, NKC. The Flag presentation was assisted by East Gate York Rite Commandery.

Union Lodge #593 held a fun family night, Valentines Day Celebration and Bib overall/white-shirt and black-tie event for the Masons on February 11, 2011. Forty people were in attendance and while the Masons in their bib overalls held a Lodge meeting, the wives, widows and ladies of the Eastern Star Chapter played Bunko. Shown are WB Bruce McGlasson, Worshipful Master Norman Helms, Junior Warden Buzz Barrows, Secretary Don Wehmeyer and Mike Gills.

Union Booster Club presented a Henry Lever Action Rifle to Brendan Caliendo, who won the rifle by purchasing the last 4 tickets sold. The weapon was signed for and was presented to Brendan’s Step-Father, Joe VanLeer, who immediately turned the rifle over to Brendan. Left to right are Joe VanLeer, Brendan’s stepfather, Brendan, center, Booster Club members and members of Union Lodge #593, left to right, Warren Dixon, Norman Helms, Don Wehmeyer and Bruce E. McGlasson.

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Brother William (Bill) Roberts was honored with his 50-year pin by Chamois Lodge #185 on March 28, 2008. He served as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1961. He joined Circle Lodge #342 March 14, 1953, then transferred to Chamois where he worked. He is shown here being pinned by his son Larry with Philip looking on.

This past March Lexington Lodge #149 presented WB Kenneth Nadler and William Cohrs their 50-year pins and certificates from the Grand Lodge of Missouri. RWB William Siegfried, District 15 DDGM, conducted the ceremony.

At an open meeting of Sullivan Lodge #69 in Sullivan, Missouri, on October 15, 2010, Brother James Paul Burns received his 50-year jewel, certificate and card from the Grand Lodge of Missouri. RWB H. Ray Wise, DDGM, 24th Masonic District of Missouri, conducted the ceremony. Brother Burns' daughters, Gay Davis and Paula Gross, presented the jewel.

Worshipful Master Billie J. Hogue was presented his 50-year pin at Fraternal Lodge #363 in Robertsville on March 19. A dinner in his honor preceded the presentation. His family, many friends from the Pacific Senior Center, Brethren from the Lodge, the district and Eastern Star members gathered to help Bill celebrate his years as a Mason.

At a stated meeting of Alpha Lodge #659 on September 13, 2010, Brother Lyle J. Mahin received his 50-year jewel and certificate from the Grand Lodge of Missouri. Brother Mahin was pinned by his son, Brother Patrick J Mahin. Pictured left to right are WB Allen Moss, Master, Lyle J. Mahin, Patrick J. Mahin and RWB Larry Moss, who conducted the ceremony.

On March 20, Osage Lodge #303 held its annual Past Master's Dinner and Service Awards Ceremony. Five members were honored for over 240 years of combined service to the Masonic Fraternity.

Pictured left to right: Sylvia Martin, Daniel R. Houdeshell (50 years), Bill Martin (25 years), Betty Houdeshell, Gene Story (45 years), Karen Story, John McClain (60 years), Debby Grizzle, Roy McReynolds (60 years), Eula McReynolds and Inez Bobbett.

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Worshipful Master Bill Frazier, Lodge Secretary Rick Thompson and WB Rick Anderson, Past Master of Strafford Lodge #608, presented Brother John B. Stark his 50-year pin from the Grand Lodge of Missouri at his home on November 6, 2010. Pictured from Left to right are WB Rick Thompson, Brother John B. Stark, and WM Bill Frazier.

Potosi Lodge #131 presented Worshipful Brother Ray Free his 50-year pin and certificate from the Grand Lodge of Missouri on Monday, December 13 at its regular Lodge meeting. RWB Cecil Isaac (right) made the presentation. WB Free is a dual member of Sliddell Lodge #311 in Louisiana, and has been Master of both Lodges.

Michael Craig, Master of Owensville Lodge #624, presented Brother Charles E. Rhoads his 60-year pin at his residence in St. Louis Wednesday February 23. Brother Rhoads, 91, ­expressed his gratitude for the presentation.

Brother Lee Meyers was presented his 50year pin and certificate at Bridgeton Lodge #80 by RWB Craig Skinner and WB Byrl Rodebush.

On Friday, October 8, 2010, Mt. Washington Lodge #614 presented a 60-year pin and apron to Worshipful Brother Dick Lewis. His son WB Rick Lewis made the presentation.

Verona Lodge #384 presented Brother Richard Myeinger with his 50-year pin and certificate form the Grand Lodge of Missouri.

RWB Bob Mullins conducted the ceremony and his wife Merrl presented the pin.

Breckenridge Lodge #334 presented WB Phil Reed his 65-year pin on Sunday, March 27, 2011 at the Golden Age Nursing Home in Braymer, Missouri. Brothers, friends, and family were in attendance. RWB Paul Richards, DDGM of the 9th District of Missouri presented the award. Pictured, front row: Addyson Sweem (greatgranddaughter), Phil Reed; 2nd row: Christian Reed (grandson), Madison Reed (granddaughter), Kara Foley (granddaughter), Colby Reed (grandson), Tonya Reed (daughter-in-law); Back row: WB Joe Reed (son, a 33-year Mason), Susan Anderson and Luann Foley (daughters).

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On January 1, 2011, Brothers Dorsey Alpers and Gil Jewett were presented with 50-year pins for membership in Cooper Lodge #36.

The pins were given for their service to the Lodge and the Community and for maintaining their membership for 50 years. Both Brothers were raised to the degree of Master Mason on December 1, 1960, at Prairie Home Lodge. In 1990, Prairie Home Lodge consolidated with Cooper Lodge #36 in Boonville. The pins and certificates were presented by RWB Brent Stewart of the Grand Lodge of the State of Missouri. Pictured (left to right): Robert Alpers, Kathy Alpers, Brother Dorsey Alpers, RWB Brent Stewart, Gil Jewett, Martha Jewett, Jean Magyar, Brother Mike Magyar, and Bailey Magyar.

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Shelbina Masonic Lodge hosted a 50-year Service Pin Ceremony for Brother Max (Speedy) Conrad on Wednesday, April 6. Also in attendance were three other 50-year Master Masons with a total combined service of 226 years. Pictured left to right are John Baymiller (51 years), Bill Staggs (65 years), Max Conrad (50 years), and Pete Greening (60 years).

Three members of Owensville Lodge #624 received their 50-year pins. They are, from left to right, Everett Nowack, Terry Knight and Teddy Davis. Michael Craig, Worshipful Master of the Lodge, presented the pins.

On March 24, 2011, Warrenton Masonic Lodge #609 recognized two longtime members of the fraternity: Gerald Lee Parris ( pictured on the left) for 60 years of membership and James Monroe Stahlman for 50 years of membership (pictured on right). Both brothers are Past Masters of the Lodge and have held various other positions within the fraternity. Warrenton Lodge is very proud to have both of these fine gentlemen as members and brothers. Congratulations to them and their families.

On March 24, 2011, Breckenridge Lodge #334 presented Brother Donald Sprouse with his 65-year pin. Donald will be 99 years old on July 25, 2011. RWB Paul Richardson, DDGM of the 9th Masonic District of Missouri, presented the pin. Friends and family in attendance were (from left to right) Donna Rickman, daughter; Cheryl Watson, daughter; Audrey Sprouse, daughter; Martha Ripple, daughter; Brother Donald Sprouse; Faith Barton, great granddaughter; Samantha Barton, great granddaughter; Brother Carl Duffy, friend; and Jon Rickman, son-in-law.

Brother Roy Stice received his 50 year Masonic jewel at an open meeting of St. Francisville Lodge #588 on March 13th, 2011. Pictured is Brother Stice and his wife Shirley.

In a joint ceremony on Friday, January 28th, RWB James Hardy presented Brother James A. Walker and RWB C. Ed Stewart with their respective 50-year and 60-year certificates and commemorative pins. Pictured (right to left) are WM J.R. Wahl, Mrs. Walker, James A. Walker, Mrs. Stewart, RWB C. Ed Stewart and RWB James D. Hardy.

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

Repeat That Obligation Dr. E. Otha Wingo, PDDGL 38, FMLR otha.wingo@gmail.com By invitation on two occasions I accompanied several brethren to St. Louis to attend a Master Mason Degree at the headquarters of the Most Worshipful Prince Hall Grand Lodge. Using their best ritualists, in a very impressive ceremony, the Third Degree was conferred on about a dozen candidates. Each candidate was accompanied throughout the ceremony by a Mentor who had taught him the proficiencies and Masonic traditions after each of the degrees. One of the most impressive demonstrations was the exact knowledge each of these candidates had of the previous Masonic work, especially their Obligation. At the time of obligating the candidates as Master Masons, they were asked to repeat the Obligations for the Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft degrees, starting at any point in the text, as each was called on. Emphasizing the advantages of knowing each Obligation and reviewing it every day, the Grand Lecturer demonstrated this by kneeling at the altar and repeating all three Obligations without missing a beat.

I will not mention that we no longer require candidates to learn proficien-

cies, but remind you of the significant role of the Obligation in the experience of Masonic initiation. In every Lodge meeting the question is asked: What makes you a Freemason? The answer: My Obligation.

Sometimes the Masonic Obligation is called an oath, especially by those who through ignorance seek to criticize this part of the ritual. An oath is a solemn appeal to and a promise to God to speak the truth or perform a duty. The oath is an appeal to God in attestation of the truth of what you say, or in confirmation of what you promise to undertake. Cicero in his discourse on Duties (De Officiis iii.29) calls it a religious affirmation (appeal to God as the source and the vindicator of justice and fidelity). Samuel Fallows [Bible Encyclopaedia 1914, p. 1249] states that all three elements—judicium, veritas, justitia—are required for an oath and its use is confined to juridical occasions. Judicium refers to judgment on the part of society; veritas, truth on the part of the oath-taker; and justitia, justice on the part of God. We still have “oaths of office,” but the word has

degenerated to swear-words or profanity, which originally referred to words not proper to speak inside a temple or holy place.

Albert G. Mackey (Enc. of Freemasonry 1873, p. 523) quotes Dr. Harris (Masonic Discourses): “What the ignorant call ‘the oath,’ is simply an obligation, covenant, and promise, exacted previously to the divulging of the specialties of the Order, and our means of recognizing each other; that they shall be kept from the knowledge of the world, lest their original intent should be thwarted, and their benevolent purport prevented.”

An obligation is a binding promise or commitment to yourself and depends on your personal integrity, given before witnesses whom you respect. It derives from Latin ob + ligatio, the act of binding something in front of you, as in “obvious.” The Obligation is a moral ligature, binding your promise to you so that you will be constantly reminded of it. Notice the repeated references to “binding myself,” “bound to us by a continued on page 64