THE MISSOURI FREEMASON
©
Official Publication of the Grand Lodge of Missouri
VOL. 52 NO. 2
SPRING 2007
Published and copyrighted under the direction of the Committee on Masonic Publications
CONTENTS 35 36 38 39 43 45 46 47 48 50 51 52 53 54 55 58 64
Grand Master’s Message Biographies Quatuor Coronati Freemasonry Crosses The Mississippi Missouri DeMolay #1 in the World for the Third Year in a Row Rainbow Regional Grand Lecturers 2007 Masonic Home of Missouri Museum and Library Begins Accepting Items Changing with the Times Creating A Partnership With Your Local Schools Grand Lodge Officers 2007 District Deputy Grand Lecturers 2007 District Deputy Grand Masters 2007 Masonic Service Awards The Work of our Craft The First Freemason
Committee on Masonic Publications M. Robert Berger, Grand Master Bruce R. Austin, Deputy Grand Master Rocky E. Weaver, Senior Grand Warden Larry C. Reynolds, Junior Grand Warden Ronald D. Miller, Grand Secretary E. Otha Wingo Steven L. Harrison, Editor, Chairman Editor Steven L. Harrison P.O. Box 1120 Kearney, MO 64060-1120 816-628-6562 / Call for Fax editor@momason.org
Please note the change of address for the Missouri Freemason:
P.O. Box 1120, Kearney, MO 64060-1120
34 Spring 2007
FROM THE EDITOR’S KEYBOARD The painting on the cover is a watercolor depiction of the Green Tree Tavern, where the first Masonic meeting west of the Mississippi River was held on November 14, 1807, nearly two hundred years ago. The structure was originally a home constructed by Nicholas Janis around 1790. Janis died in 1804. His son, Francois, inherited the building and converted it into a boarding house and tavern. Beginning in 1807, it served as the meeting place for Louisiana Lodge #109, the first Lodge in what would eventually become the state of Missouri. The full story of Louisiana Lodge #109 and this interesting structure begins on page 39. Plans are in the works to commemorate this event and reenact this first meeting. As these plans develop, we will keep you informed in your Missouri Freemason. Technically, the cover is not totally correct. The meeting occurred in what eventually became Missouri but, at the time, was the Louisiana Territory. We won't split hairs if you won't. There is a lot more in this issue The Missouri Freemason (USPS 573-920) is the official publication of the Grand Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri, and is published four times yearly. Articles to be considered for publication should be submitted to The Missouri Freemason, P.O. Box 1120, Kearney, MO 64060-1120, not later than the first day of the month preceding publication in February, May, August, and November. Unless otherwise indicated, the views expressed in this magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policy of the Grand Lodge A.F.&A.M. of Missouri. The Editor reserves the right due to limitations of space, to accept, reject, subedit and rearrange material submitted for publication. Pictures submitted for publication will not be returned. 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.
as well: The young brothers from Missouri DeMolay checked in with us for the first time in a while; You will find a few conceptual drawings of the new Missouri Masonic Museum and Library in a series of articles in the Masonic home section; And with deference, of course, to our own Missouri Lodge of Research, we have included an article about Quatuor Coronati, perhaps the premiere research Lodge. Brothers, we simply ran out of space in this issue. Frankly, that's a good thing. We're an active and productive fraternity and there is a lot going on. We love your articles, pictures and reports about what is happening throughout the state. Please keep it up. In this issue we got so many contributions we had to go back to smaller pictures in the Service and Work of the Craft sections. We'd rather make the pictures a little smaller so we can fit everyone in, and that's what we had to do. Thanks so much for your hard work.
Steve Harrison, Editor SUBSCRIPTIONS: The Missouri Freemason is mailed to every member of this Masonic Jurisdiction without charge. Domestic subscriptions elsewhere are $8.00 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.org Phone: 573-474-8561
THE MISSOURI FREEMASON