The Bicentennials

By MWB John Hess Grand Historian The Grand Lodge of Missouri was formed on April 21, 1821 by three Masonic Lodges who received their charters from the Grand Lodge of Tennessee. Many of these Freemasons were also active in creating the State of Missouri, which occurred approximately four months after the creation of the Grand Lodge of Missouri, on August 10, 1821.

Fall 2020 marks the beginning of the Bicentennial of the Grand Lodge of Missouri. As we embark on a journey to celebrate our Fraternity and our State, let us take time to enjoy Masonic comradery, listen and tell stories, attend Bicentennial events and watch, read and learn something new from our past that we have not known before.

Your Bicentennial Committee will be helping in that regard. Plans are being made, first by the Grand Master to hold area meetings and banquets throughout the year in various parts of the State. The committee has caused a Bicentennial Jewel to be created that will be available for any Brother who attends a Bicentennial event. The Grand Lodge Public Relations Committee has produced a travel guide to both Masonic and non-Masonic Historical sites in Missouri, the Grand Lodge Masonic Education Committee will be hosting twelve Zoom lectures on aspects of Missouri History as listed below, and the Grand Lodge has produced a Bicentennial dues card to Commemorate the event as well as a two volume book set of the Masonic History of Missouri which are available for purchase from the Grand Lodge.

To assist in the study of our joint history, the Grand Lodge Bicentennial Committee has asked and received donations from 200 Brothers to build the Bicentennial History Collection which is located in the Missouri Masonic Research Library at the Masonic Complex in Columbia. This collection will be available for study and plans are being made to allow books from this collection to be used for study.

All dates and times are subject to change, go to the Grand Lodge Portal for further information and to sign up for individual seminars.

The Bicentennial Virtual Lecture Series:

Sunday, November 29, 2020, Sunday, December 27, 2020, Sunday, January 29, 2021, Sunday, February 28, 2021, Sunday, March 28, 2021, Sunday, April 25, 2021, 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM Sunday, May 30, 2021, Sunday, June 27, 2021, Sunday, July 25, 2021, Sunday, August 29, 2021, Sunday, September 26, 2021, 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM 7:00 PM