An electronic publication for Kansas Freemasons published by the Grand Lodge of Kansas A.F. & A.M. June 2021
What Makes Our Grand Master Tick? By Mikel J. Stoops, Grand Master
During one of District Deputy Grand Master Michael Tavares’ Spring visits, he was asked, “What makes the Grand Master tick?” His response was, “He is singularly focused on assisting the constituent Lodges in his jurisdiction within the confines of the constitution, bylaws, and strategic plan.” I must agree with this response. It is probably better than any I would have offered. Allow me to outline some of my thoughts as a glimpse into what makes me tick. 1. The Grand Lodge Strategic Plan (including the Mission and Vision statements) a. A roadmap given to us by the rank-and-file members of the Craft. b. A gauge by which we measure the actions and programs of Grand Lodge and the subordinate Lodges. c. A script dictating the voice of Grand Lodge Leadership. 2. The Grand Lodge a. The members, including every Past Master and sitting Officer of the Lodges in this Jurisdiction. b. The organizational structure for the subordinate Lodges. c. The means by which programs can be implemented at a State-wide level. 3. Grand Lodge Leadership a. Brothers who understand the necessity of a common voice to achieve the goals of our Strategic Plan. b. Brothers who understand that success will only come by fulfilling the Mission and Vision given to them by the Craft. c. Brothers who understand that there is no place for a “My Year” mentality in Freemasonry and who are not seeking titles, jewels, fame, or fortune, but instead want to serve out of love for our Fraternity.
4. The Laws of Freemasonry. a. If you do not know them, read and study them. b. If you do not like them, follow the procedures to try to amend them. c. If you do not want to adhere to them, adhere to them. 5. A Successful Lodge a. Provides enough value to the members, existing and new, so that they are disappointed to miss a meeting. b. Provides a beneficial interaction with the community either at the Lodge level or at the individual level. c. Provides an active program to fulfill the promises made to the Members by teaching them lessons in philosophy, spirituality, and morality to become better men, husbands, fathers, and citizens, so they are more spiritually aware, charitable, and civically minded. Though this was only a brief outline of my thoughts, I hope it helps you understand who I am and why I do what I do.
3
Albert Pike & Kansas Freemasonry By Dale Morrow, Belle Plaine Lodge No. 173
Having an interest in the early history of Masonry
is the most distinguished Masonic author and
in Kansas, I have been doing considerable reading
historian of the present age; a savant lawyer, poet,
in the early Annual Proceedings of the Grand Lodge
and in addition to being the highest Masonic
of Kansas.
dignitary in the southern jurisdiction, he is
Occasionally you find a historical nugget that plunges you into deeper research. This paper is just
Canada, of the united Religious and Military
a brief touch on a topic I have been researching for
Orders of the Temple and of St. John of Jerusalem,
some time of historical interest, at least to the
Palestine, Rhodes and Malta, Provincial Grand
members of the Grand Lodge of Kansas.
Master of the Grand Lodge of the Royal Order of
From the Annual Proceedings of 1878, when the
Scotland in the United States, and an honorary
Grand Lodge of Kansas convened in Atchison and
member of nearly every Supreme Council in the
M∴ W∴ John Guthrie was informed of the
world. He favored the Grand Lodge with an address
following:
of over one hour on the "Symbolism of Masonry."
Past Grand Master M. S. Adams, informed the
During which time he held his hearers completely
Grand Lodge that Bro. Albert Pike, a noted man
spell-bound by the matchless power of his
and Mason was sojourning in the city and moved
eloquence, replete with beautiful imagery and
that a committee of three be appointed to wait upon
instruction in the hidden meanings of the Mystic
the distinguished brother, and inform him that the
Art, and delivered with the peculiar grace and deep
M∴W∴ Grand Lodge of Kansas was in session and
earnestness for which he is so deservedly famed.
would be pleased to extend to him the fraternal
The worthy Craftsmen of Kansas will not soon
courtesies due him as a man and Mason;
forget this rich intellectual treat which was to every
whereupon the M∴ W∴ Grand Master appointed
listener "a feast of reason and a flow of soul," pure
Bros. Adams, Bassett and Hillyer as such
and unadulterated.
committee. The Invitation Committee returned, and the
4
Provincial Grand Prior of the Great Priory of
This finding struck me as a bit odd. Why would Brother Albert Pike be staying in Atchison if he was
following was reported:
not scheduled to be there? The verbiage in the
Bro. M. S. Adams, on the part of the Committee on
above writing sort of led me to believe that maybe
Invitation, introduced and with a few well-chosen
someone knew him to be in town, but instead, I
remarks presented Bro. Albert Pike, Sovereign
think he was there for a reason. So, I went on a bit
Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of the
of a search. I didn’t have to search far. In the
A. and A. S. Rite of the southern jurisdiction of the
Annual Proceedings of the very next year, we find
United States of America. This illustrious Craftsman
that Brother Pike again addressed the Grand Lodge
of Kansas. The following is from the proceedings of
Representative of the Grand Lodge of Kansas near
the 1879 Grand Lodge held in Leavenworth with
the Grand Lodge of Arkansas.
Grand Master E. D. Hillyer presiding:
In the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kansas in
The M∴W∴ Grand Master announced that the
1861, the report from the 1860 Grand Lodge of
distinguished Poet and Mason, Most Illustrious Bro.
Arkansas was included. In this report, Brother
Albert Pike, Sov. Grand Commander of the
Albert Pike presented his credentials as the Grand
Supreme Council of the A. and A. S. Rite of the
Representative of Kansas near the Grand Lodge of
Southern Jurisdiction was in the Masonic Temple
Arkansas in a speech at the Annual Communication
building. On motion of Past Grand Master Guthrie,
of that Grand Lodge.
a committee of three was appointed by the Grand
Most Worshipful Grand Master:
Master, consisting of Bros. John Guthrie, John M.
I have the honor to present these credentials, by
Price and B.J.F. Hanna, who were instructed to
which it has pleased the Grand Master of masons of
wait upon Bro. Pike, and inform him that it was the
the Territory of Kansas, to appoint me the
desire of the members of this Grand Lodge, that he
Representative of the Grand Lodge of Kansas near
again favor us with his presence, and accept from
the Grand Lodge of Arkansas. In doing so, I may,
the Craft here assembled their kindly and fraternal
perhaps not without warrant, tender to this Most
greetings.
Worshipful Body, on behalf of that which so
The committee in due time returned to the Grand
commissions me, its fraternal regards and the right
Lodge in company with Bro. Pike, who was formally
hand of frank and cordial fellowship, and convey its
presented by the chairman of the committee to the
greeting of masonic good will and its kind wishes. I
Grand Master, and by him introduced to the Grand Lodge; after which the distinguished Craftsman was conducted to the Grand East and favored us with one of his excellent "talks " on the Symbolism of Freemasonry, which was as usual highly interesting and instructive to the members of the Order, and was listened to with marked attention by all. Finding this writing further excited my curiosity! My search for further knowledge then led me to a finding that I was not expecting. Again, the proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kansas gave further insight. In the listing of Grand Representatives, Albert Pike of Little Rock is named as Grand
5
Albert Pike & Kansas Freemasonry continued from page 5
am authorized to assure the masons of Arkansas of
comparing opinions and softening down asperities,
the earnest desire for an interchange with them of
which a system of correspondence and more
good offices and charitable opinions on the part of
intimate alliance offers.
their brethren in that young Territory, which only
The attempt, in which this Grand Lodge concurred,
yesterday, except where the red Indian occupied it;
to establish a National Grand Body for Symbolic
was a desert.
Masonry, has not succeeded. We may not hope for
In all the relations of life it is pleasant and
such a masonic congress of Grand Lodges, in which
profitable to cherish and cultivate the amenities and
the representatives of all these bodies, assembling
courtesies of social intercourse. Even the forms of
at stated seasons, as the Hebrews anciently went up
courtesy are not only graceful and becoming, but
to the holy city of Salem to worship, could consult
possess a great positive value, since they naturally
together for common welfare, discard prejudices
persuade to, if they do not flow from, forbearance,
and prepossessions, and coming to know each other
charity and toleration. The peaceful relations of
better, learn to respect and love each other more.
great empires have not unfrequently been
It is because that hope has failed, that I the more
jeopardized by a disregard of these forms and
gladly offer you the fraternal greeting of the Grand
outward show of courtesy; and it is not wise for
Lodge of Kansas, and shall, with the greater
masonic bodies to neglect the means of
pleasure, transmit to her your greeting and good
interchanging congratulations and condolence, of
wishes in return, in the hope that the system of representation may be extended until every Grand Lodge in the United States shall have its representative near every other Grand Lodge, thus making the great electric circuit of sympathy complete, so that the same noble and generous emotions may, as it were, instantaneously thrill and animate, and the same genial influences of masonry warm and expand the hearts of all the brotherhood everywhere in the Republic; for our Grand Lodges are like a line of battle-ships, drawn up in line against the evils and errors that afflict and degrade humanity: and if there be no Admiral whose signals all must obey, so much the more urgent need is there of a system of signals by which all may act in concert against the enemy hitherto invincible.
6
I am glad to present these credentials now, Most
1865 and 1867 and 1868. What really struck me as
Worshipful Grand Master, when clouds and
peculiar is that Brother Albert Pike was a Brigadier
shadows form ominously over the Republic and
General for the Confederacy during the Civil War
darken even the peaceful calms of masonry with
and was a Grand Representative even through those
doubts and dismay. These greetings that I convey to
years.
you are proof that the strong ties of masonic
You never know what you will find, even if you are not looking for anything in particular. The early history of the Grand Lodge of Kansas is indeed rich and contains many things you may not have realized. I am glad I stumbled onto the little tidbit that sent me down this particular rabbit trail.
obligations, masonic affections and masonic brotherhood, are not yet, like so many others, snapped asunder, but that they still endure and there is yet peace, and calm, and harmony around our holy altars, though the elements without are gloomily ominous of disaster and the atmosphere is oppressive as when an earthquake is near at hand. I am sure that all these brethren will unite with me in the earnest, anxious wish, that some power may say to the tumultuous waves," Peace! Be still!" That the
Did you know the Annual Proceeding are all available online in the Member’s Area Digital Library?
bonds of friendship and good neighborhood may be
www.KansasMason.org
re-knit and strengthened, and anger and recrimination cease, and that all the great moral and social influences of masonry may be exerted, honestly and unceasingly, for the restoration of harmony, the maintenance of peace, and the performance of duty. And may it not be the evil fortune of any of us, Most Worshipful Grand Master, to live to see the dark and fearful day when our great chain of brotherhood shall be broken and shivered into fragments, never again to be united. The preceding excerpt from the 1861 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kansas gave considerable insight into why Brother Albert Pike made several trips to the Grand Lodge sessions of Kansas. Checking further, he is also listed as Grand Representative near the Grand Lodge of Arkansas for the Grand Lodge of Kansas for 1862 through
7
2021 Schools Of Instruction
More detailed information will be available on the Trestle Board calendar and in the August mailed out Kansas Mason
Daque Demolay’s Masonic Tonic By Rick Reichert, PGM, Hancock Lodge No. 311
“Aren’t our kids worth giving up one cup of coffee
with paid development staff, but, still, they remain
per year?”
in our operational budget.
As impassioned as that plea was at the 2021 Annual Communication, it misses the point. My coffee
It’s a pass-through cost.
money is for coffee. My grocery money is for
One argument for the mandated tax for youth
groceries. Philanthropy money would be most
groups is that donations to charities via the
appropriate for Masonic youth groups. The
operational budget would be a pass-through cost.
proffered proposal was too small and aimed in the
Grand Lodge would simply bump up or assess the
wrong direction. The proposal to which I refer is
membership the exact amount that would be handed
bylaw change proposal 2021-1: “An additional fee
out. Sounds easy enough. Why, then, don’t we do
of $1.50 shall be added to the per capita and
that with all our philanthropy? Because, morally,
distributed equally among the three Masonic Youth
we give voluntarily based on our own conscience to
Groups. Kansas Order of DeMolay, Kansas Order
whom and at a level we choose. Because, ethically,
of Job’s Daughters, and Kansas Rainbow Girls.”
we don’t want to be forced to give, especially to causes in which we don’t believe or are counter to
The wrong color of money.
those we do. Mandated philanthropy is simply a
The Grand Lodge operations budget has no
tax. It limits our imagination and productivity. No
discretionary funds. Per capita income does not
one wants to pay more per capita. That’s been tried
adequately cover expenses. Over the years, costs to
and consistently fails to pass at Annual
operate have gone up, the number of Kansas
Communication. Worse, the money given away
Masons has gone down, and per capita has pretty
becomes automatic and loses its purpose and
much stayed the same. The Council of
accountability.
Administration has had to be very creative in order to operate in the black and, for many years, red was
It simply is not enough.
normal. Drastic measures, such as selling off
When youth funding was first implemented in 2006,
holdings and downsizing the Grand Lodge offices,
there were 28,911 per capita paying members. A
have been necessary to stay operational. In 2014, a
buck and a half was decent money and totaled
proposal was floated to take philanthropy out of the
$43,366, or $14,455 for each youth group. Fast
operational budget. Only the mandated charity for
forward, we are now at 8,000 per capita paying
the Washington National Masonic Memorial and
members, and $1.50 can’t buy that cup of coffee we
Kansas Masonic Home remain. Interestingly, both
are supposed to give up. In the big scheme of
of those entities have their own 501c3 foundations
things, it hardly amounts to chump change. Of
9
Daque Demolay’s Masonic Tonic continued from page 9
more significant concern is for what purpose the
Kansas Masonic Foundation. Distribution was done
youth groups were funded. Two primary reasons for
regularly. The Job’s Daughters have been the most
their funding in 2006 were never realized: It neither
successful at the art-of-the-ask. Their key to
grew their membership nor provide measurable
success was that the funds requested had to be used
results to “drive future members into the Masonic
within the foundation’s scientific, academic, and
Family.”
charitable guidelines. The money was not to be used to augment the operational budgets of the
Purpose-driven funding.
youth groups. Similarly, it was not to be used to
When there is a worthy cause, Masons set their
supplant their own dues or for fundraising for their
objective bar high, rally around it, and get it done.
charities or for ordinary expenses such as
The recent Kansas Masonic Foundation rallies for
discretionary travel or clothing. It was meant for
the 50th Anniversary Campaign ($20 Million) and
extraordinary expenses that advanced the
the Fulfilling Our Obligation Fund ($1.5 Million)
institution’s ability to market themselves as
are two recent shining examples. The latter was
Masonic in nature, growing their membership, and
specifically an endowment, meaning that the fund
enhancing the family life of the lodges in which
would continue to grow and payout every year
they met. The benefit to lodges would be to
forever. Every dollar put in potentially pays out
encourage men to join, especially if they were
hundreds over the course of a lifetime. These were
fathers of the girls who wanted to join the girls’
big, audacious, seemingly impossible feats. Yet,
youth groups or senior DeMolay about to turn 18
these were done without a single bylaw mandate or
years of age. Yet, lodge support of youth groups is
assessment.
at an all-time low. Lodges are not seeing the benefits.
Accountability.
10
When youth group charity was removed from the
Return on Investment.
operational budget in 2014, it was under the proviso
I’m told by a Past Grand Master of DeMolay
that youth groups could obtain funding from the
International that other jurisdictions use DeMolay
How Masonic youth groups see Grand Lodge?
similar to the way Major League Baseball uses their
charitable gifts receive those funds through the
farm teams. They nurture as many potential big
lodge. Whether for scholarships, for the
bats and gloves as they can so they can pick from
community, or for brother Masons, their widows or
the best when the Major League has vacancies. For
orphans, all gifts are presented by the lodge. This
Masonry, the farm can be DeMolay and most of
puts the lodge at the center of their philanthropic
them can become Masons. The best and brightest
universe. The Grand Lodge mission is to empower
are ready, willing, and prepared to become leaders
lodges to be as successful as they want to be. The
in the lodge; the Masonic equivalent to big bats and
vision of the Kansas Masonic Foundation is that
gloves. Where the DeMolay and Masonry
“Kansans will know Masons (not the Foundation or
symbiotic relationship occurs, both prosper. In
Grand Lodge) by their charitable works.”
Kansas, lodges are not nurturing their DeMolay farm teams. If this were the case, we’d have seen
To whom, then, should youth groups be
empirical data and heard the success stories. I have
targeting their needs fulfillment?
no doubt that if one or more lodges had the secret
If lodges are the center of their philanthropic
sauce, every lodge would want some. Lodge leaders would flock to Leadership Academy to learn
universes, and if lodges are the primary MAY 2020 beneficiaries of a symbiotic relationship with their
more. There would be a demand for more DeMolay
youth groups, then youth groups should be targeting
programs. KMF would then be pressed to do a
their host lodges for support. Lodges have the tools
capital campaign to endow the Fulfilling our
to assist youth groups in fundraising and can even
DeMolay Fund. But first, some lodges would need
appeal for matching funds. If youth groups grow,
to step up to the plate.
prosper, and become the membership panacea that becomes attractive to lodges statewide, a capital
Lodges at the center of the Masonic
campaign may then be in order, possibly even
philanthropic universe.
endowing youth group funding forever. The best
Except for the youth group direct funding, all other
part: You still have money in your own pocket for
Masonic entities receiving KMF-bolstered
coffee.
How Grand Lodge sees Masonic youth groups?
11
Kansas Freemasonry & Pandemic Reactions By Herbert F. Merrick, DSM, Hancock Lodge No. 311
Before discussing the masonic reactions to
people, between 700 million and 1.4 billion
pandemics, we need to know what we are talking
infections, with deaths between 151,700 to 575,000
about. For this discussion, this is the definition: A
deaths. The flu will impact 340 million to 1 billion
pandemic is “an epidemic occurring worldwide, or
people in any given year and kills up to 650,000
over an extensive area, crossing international
people or about 0.1% of the world’s population.
boundaries and usually affecting a large number of
While the 1918 flu was called the Spanish flu, it
people.” The classical definition includes nothing
really came from Kansas. It was an avian variety –
about population immunity, virology, or disease
a bird flu (there are also swine-sourced flus).
severity. By this definition, pandemics can occur
Estimates as to how many infected people died vary
annually in each of the temperate southern and
greatly, but this 1918 flu is, regardless, considered
northern hemispheres, given that seasonal
to be one of the deadliest pandemics in history. In
epidemics cross international boundaries and affect
the United States, about 28% of the 105 million
many people. However, seasonal epidemics are not
population became infected, and 500,000 to
considered pandemics.
850,000 died (0.48 to 0.81 percent of the
Since our current pandemic is virus-based, let’s
12
population). Native American tribes were
look at the other pandemics that were virus-based
particularly hard hit. In the Four Corners area, there
and transmitted similar to the present COVID virus.
were 3,293 registered deaths among Native
The following are flu. The first is the H3N3/H2N2
Americans. In Alaska, entire Inuit and native village
influenza of 1889/90; between 300 and 900 million
communities died. In Canada, 50,000 died. The
(20 to 60%) were infected worldwide, killing about
pandemic mostly killed young adults. In 1918–
one million people, and was called the Russian Flu.
1919, 99% of pandemic influenza deaths in the U.S.
The big one, between 1918-1920, an H1N1 variety,
occurred in people under 65, and nearly half of
infected similar numbers of 500 million to a billion;
deaths were in young adults 20 to 40 years old. In
its mortality rate was between 2 to 10% or 17 to 100
1920, the mortality rate among people under 65 had
million deaths. In 1957-58, the next pandemic was
decreased six-fold to half the mortality rate of
the Asian flu, a H2N2 influenza, impacting 500
people over 65, but 92% of deaths still occurred in
million and killing between 1 to 4 million. Ten
people under 65. The first observations of illness
years later, 1968-69, the H3N2 Hong Kong flu
and mortality were documented in the United States
produced similar numbers but affected a smaller
(Fort Riley and Haskell County in Kansas and New
percentage of the population because of population
York City), then France (Brest), Germany, and the
growth (17% for Asia and 14% for Hong Kong).
United Kingdom. To maintain morale, World War I
The 2009 pandemic of H1N1/09 impacted more
censors minimized these early reports. Newspapers
were free to report the epidemic’s effects in neutral
Devens, likely from French naval troops arriving in
Spain, such as the grave illness of King Alfonso
the U.S. for training or supporting troop
XIII, and these stories created a false impression of
movements. In the United States, mortality
Spain as especially hard hit. These stories gave rise
increased to 290,000 to 300,000 or 100 times the
to the name “Spanish” flu. Historical and
normal death rate for the four months of September
epidemiological data are inadequate to identify with
through December. This wave spread worldwide as
certainty the pandemic’s geographic origin, with
troops and support civilians returned home with the
varying views as to its location. It came in four
Armistice in early November.
waves.
This second wave did have an impact on the
The first case reported in March was Albert
fraternity in Kansas. The fall was when the district
Gitchell, a cook at Camp Funston. A Haskell
schools of instruction and local lodge elections were
county doctor, Loring Minor, reported people in his
held. The result was the canceling of twenty-two of
practice were getting the sickness in January. There
the seventy-three schools of instruction, which was
is no discussion of this in masonic records at the
a significant issue with Grand Lodge. Attendance
Annual Communication that year. This wave lasted
at schools was also a concern for the Grand Master.
for about three months and was mild and, although
It got to the point that letters were sent to the
a lot of people got ill, few died. Flu deaths were
Masters of lodges that did not attend or had weak
only up about 10,000 in the U.S. from the last high
attendance. Also, since lodges could not meet for
in 1915 when 63,000 died. This wave did not result
much of this period, elections and installations
in quarantines. This first wave did impact military
could not be held before St. John’s Day, December
operations in World War I. Three-quarters of the
27 that year, as required by the Laws Of Kansas
French troops, one-half of the British forces, and at
Masonry. The Grand Master directed that elections
least 900,000 German soldiers were ill.
be held at the first stated meeting after local health
In late August, the second American wave began on the east coast around Boston and Camp (Fort)
boards allowed public meetings. He further stated, “Bear in mind, however, that postponing the
Photos credit: US Army Center of Medical History Tent detention camps were set up to house sick soldiers numbering over 1000 two weeks after the influenza outbreak in 1918.
Kansas Freemasonry & Pandemic Reactions continued from page 13
election of officers MUST NOT, in any manner,
not recognize any French Grand Lodge (there were
delay the preparation and forwarding of the annual
three operating at the time). This issue had been
report to the Grand Secretary within the time
around since 1868, and no resolution had been
provided by law, January 10, 1919.” Lodges would
reached, although a lot of space in the annual report
later report elections to the Grand Secretary who
is dedicated to the topic. The same could be said
would then adjust the annual reports.
about traveling lodges. Kansas policy since the
These things might indicate that the masons of Kansas were quiet and at home during the first two
This left Kansas Masons attending Masonic Clubs.
waves, but this is not the case. There were over 700
The other issue that took up much of the energy was
Special
the rebuilding and
Dispensations issued
operations of the
primarily to conduct
Masonic home.
degree work on
The third wave of the
members without
so-called Spanish flu
waiting the standard
started in January 1919
waiting times or to
and lasted until June. It
receive and vote on
was severe in Europe
candidates. Some
and resulted in
were issued for
hundreds of thousands
special elections and
of additional deaths. In
installation of officers mainly due to the war. But
the United States, it was less deadly than the first
even this number did not meet the requirements of
two waves. By June, things had died down in most
the Craft. Thirty-one lodges had their charters
parts of the world. Its’ significant impact to Kansas
suspended for doing degree work on Sunday,
Freemasonry was the delay of the Grand Lodge
which was prohibited due to by-law changes made
Annual Communication from February to March.
in 1916. However, all of the charters were returned
The number of dispensations was down to just over
after the lodges promised not to do it again. Kansas
100, but they were almost all for the conferral of
initiated 4953 candidates and raised 4,192, resulting
degrees. There were still some problems with
in a net gain of 3,045.
conferring degrees “too early” (before the required
Two other issues concerned the state that also let
14
Civil War was not to support these types of lodges.
waiting period had expired). However, in all cases,
us know what was of concern at the time. One was
it was one day earlier than required because the
Kansas masons serving in France wished to attend
lodges in question counted the date of conferral as a
French Lodges or have lodges they could hold with
day between degrees, which is not how Grand
other Kansas Masons. Unfortunately, Kansas did
Lodge counted it. Also, somehow, some lodges still
did not know that they could not do degree work on
While the pandemic of 2020-2021 has had a
Sunday, a change made four years earlier.
significant impact on the world and the Kansas
Interestingly, the flu did not seem to impact doing
Craft, our Grand Masters and Council of
degree work, and membership increased by 4370.
Administration acted swiftly. While the actions
The fourth wave had minimal impact in the United
taken were seemingly inconvenient to our
States. While systems for alerting public health
immediate personal fraternal needs, our past helped
authorities of infectious spread existed in 1918, they
to guide our present and future. Painful as it was
did not generally include influenza, which led to a
and may still be at times, we must always act in the
delayed response. Nevertheless, actions were taken.
best interests of our entire beloved Craft.
Maritime quarantines were declared on islands such as Iceland, Australia, and American Samoa, saving many lives. Social distancing measures were introduced, such as closing schools, theatres, and places of worship, limiting public transportation, and banning mass gatherings. Wearing face masks became common in some areas, such as Japan, though there were debates over their efficacy. There was also some resistance to their use, as exemplified by the Anti-Mask League of San Francisco. Vaccines were also developed but, as these were based on bacteria and not the actual virus, they could only help with secondary infections. The actual enforcement of various restrictions varied. A later study found that measures such as banning mass gatherings and requiring the wearing of face masks could cut the death rate up to 50 percent, but
5
this was dependent on them being imposed early in the outbreak and not being lifted prematurely. The pandemics in 1969 and 2009 had no reported impacts on Masonry. The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge make no mention, and the schedules of events did not reflect any significant issues. 15