Kansas Mason - Spring 2017

T

Volume 55 Issue 1

H E

V

O I C E

O F

K

A N S A S

M

A S O N R Y

The Kansas Mason

Spring 2017

A Publication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas

SURVEY RESULTS

KANSAS MASON FOR LIFE?

Make Our Home Your Home Discover the benefits KMH offers exclusively to Masons.

KMH

Vibrant living. Valued principles.

At KMH you have the possibility of enjoying …

Your community application fee waived Opportunity to attend lodge meetings held at KMH Historic Eastern Star Chapel

Call 316.269.7721 for more information or to schedule a personal tour of the community.

Fellowship opportunities with other Masonic brethren at activities including three blue lodges, two chapters, two High 12 clubs, Daughters of the Nile and other special Masonic events held throughout the year Access to KMH’s extensive library, which includes many Masonic books New funds to assist impoverished Masons with personal care items and assistive devices

And, best of all, you can live in a community that understands what being a Mason really means.

Assisted Living | Memory Care | Long-Term Care | Skilled Nursing | Rehabilitation 402 S. Martinson Street, Wichita, Kansas 67213 316.269.7721 www.kmh.org

FROM THE GRAND EAST

By Lyn E. Beyer, Grand Master of Masons 2016-2017

A Year of Service, Personal Growth Comes to an End I have many mixed emotions as I pen this,

Scott City, Kansas, on February 18, 2017. It

my last Grand Master’s message, to the

occurs to me that my approach to Masonry

Craft. I have traveled many miles across the

is described in the 30th Degree of Scottish

Kansas prairie, performing emblem presen-

Rite work. I practice Masonry with feet

tations and dedications. To me, these are

that never tire and eyes that never sleep. I

my two most important duties to the Craft, as recognizing Brothers is a top priority.

Special moments that occurred along the way will remain in my memory forever. I thank you for your friendship and support and hope I have always met you on the level and acted upon the square. We are all Brothers. It is the hope of the Council of Administration, and myself, that we have improved your Masonic experience and Masonry in Kansas.

challenge each of you to put more effort and personal time into your Masonic experience. You will get so much more out of it and never regret it. Make your Lodge night a priority and put it on your calendar.

One or two nights per month is not asking a lot. Your Fraternity and Lodge need your participation.

The Kansas Masonic Foundation has been blessed with strong leadership and

It was a goal of mine to unite the Broth-

Brothers who care. Many new programs

ers in the Blue Lodges and the Appendant

have been created for Lodges, the com-

Bodies. It is imperative we present a

munities and schools but especially our

united front to the profane world. I feel I

Brothers and their families. Please give

made some progress, but there is a long

from your heart.

way to go. Before we can become More, we must become One. By the time you receive this, organized Masonry will have begun the Celebration of its 300th anniversary. We should all be very proud of our Fraternity. This, also, leads to the question of what is the value of the Fraternity in Kansas to you?

As I write this, I realize there is a busy schedule ahead before our Annual Com-

I would like to thank all the Brothers who have provided new ideas or have gone above and beyond. Also, the Past Grand Masters who are always ready to share their wisdom and experience.

Lastly, we all joined to be of service. Rededicate yourselves to Masonry and your Lodge by rereading your obligations. It is a rare occasion that I do not have my cipher

munication arrives: an historic joint raising

with me so I can read and study it off and

with our Prince Hall Brothers; many

on during the day. A Master Mason should

Schools of Instruction; more emblems and

never stop learning. Kansas Masonry is alive

dedications and an All The Way In One

and well, and we must strive to keep it that

Day event in Anthem Lodge located in

way. It is each Brother’s responsibility.

Kansas Masonic Foundation, 2909 SW Maupin Lane, Topeka, Kansas 66614

SPRING 2017 3

GRAND SECRETARY

by M.W. Tracy L. Bloom, PGM, Grand Secretary

Critical Housekeeping Issues Need to be Addressed at Year-End This time of year is always challenging for

that you contact your secretary for informa-

risk of violating their obligation if they attend

the staff at the Grand Lodge Office, and this

tion on how to restore your membership.

lodge with you.

year will not be any different. We ask for

Equally as important, and often over-

Please don’t put your lodge or your Broth-

your patience as we navigate through this

looked, are Plural Members (multiple

ers in jeopardy of violating their obligation.

most busy time. It is, however, imperative

memberships in Kansas Lodges) and Dual

Do the right thing if you intend to leave

that the leadership of your lodge be on their

Members (a membership in a Kansas Lodge

a dual or plural lodge of yours, dimit or

game and hit the several benchmarks set out

and another in another jurisdiction). When

withdraw; it is after all, your responsibility to

for them at the end of, and the beginning of,

you have these multiple memberships you

do so.

the new Masonic year.

are required to maintain those memberships,

In an attempt to clear some of these mat-

and if suspended or expelled in one, you will

ters up, the Grand Secretary will be contact-

always a concern immediately following the

be expelled or suspended in all. That rule is

ing anyone who might fall into this category.

first of the New Year. If each of you would

not only in the Grand Lodge of Kansas By-

These issues didn’t happen overnight, neither

take a quick minute and look at your dues

Laws but also in every other jurisdiction we

will they be fixed overnight; we intend to

card, it will say, directly below your name, “Is

have fraternal recognition with.

work with everyone who is willing to remedy

Suspensions for non-payment of dues are

a member in good standing until December

Each year, we have Brothers that become

these situations.

Additionally, this is the time of year for

31, ****.” If your card says anything other

mad because they simply let their member-

than 2017 at the end of the short statement,

ship lapse in one of their dual or plural lodges

your Lodge’s Annual Report. I encourage you

you are not in good standing with your lodge,

because they don’t want to be a member

and your lodge to return, on time, your An-

nor would you be entitled to sit with your

of that particular lodge any longer, and are

nual Report. As you are all aware, but I feel

Lodge Brothers in a Lodge meeting until such

consequently suspended in their other lodge

the need to say it again this year, if Annual

time as your dues are paid in full. Lodge dues

as well. There is a proper way to leave the

Reports and Per Capita Tax payments are

are payable in advance, i.e. they must be paid

lodge, and it’s not by failing to pay your dues;

not received by the deadline of January 31,

by the last day of the calendar year for the

it’s called a dimit or withdrawal of dual or

the voting members of your lodge might be

following year, or you may risk suspension. If

plural membership. The problem with letting

barred from voting privileges at the Annual

you have any questions as to your status as a

your dual or plural membership lapse is now

Communication in March 2017.

lodge member, please contact your local sec-

you have become a suspended member, and

retary immediately for further information.

if you attend another lodge, even though you

Meeting and Election of Officers, I truly want

Likewise if you have been suspended for

might be a member of one lodge and a sus-

to end this Grand Secretary article on a

non-payment of dues, it is equally important

pended member of another, everyone is at

positive note. Even though it is an extremely

WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE ANNUAL MEETING.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING EACH OF YOU, PUTTING FACES TO VOICES WE TALK TO ON THE PHONES, AND RENEWING FRIENDSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPPING WITH SO MANY GOOD BROTHERS

Speaking of the Grand Lodge Annual

busy time for the office staff and myself, we look forward to the Annual Meeting. We look forward to meeting each of you, putting faces to voices we talk to on the phones, and renewing friendships and fellowshipping with so many good Brothers that truly make this fraternity, Freemasonry, work like it should.

SPRING 2017 5

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

www.kansasmason.org

The Kansas Mason Why did we receive the brochure on the new

this edition of The Kansas Mason. The input

Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge Program

and data collected will become an integral

with our last edition of The Kansas Mason?

part of future strategic planning.

G

rand Lodge and the Kansas Masonic Foundation wanted to showcase this

I love the variety of articles that get published

exciting new program/event that was part of

in The Kansas Mason. How do you select

the 50th Anniversary initiative. This program,

them and can anyone submit an article?

along with the other five programs, will garner

T

significant exposure for Kansas Masons and Freemasonry in Kansas. We hope many Kan-

hank you for your great input! As you can tell we try to “departmentalize” the vari-

ous articles to make the flow of the magazine

sas Masons will plan to attend the inaugural

both relevant and interesting. The Lodge of

event to be held at Kansas State University.

Research does an outstanding job of providing

Each year the event will rotate among the

interestexcellent articles that delve into interest

seven participating univer-

ing areas of the Fraternity. Any Kansas

sities. We also

Mason can join the Lodge of Research

MEET THE JUDGES

encourage each Lodge to have

FREDERICK “RICK” REICHERT

Sprint, Lansing MEET THE JUDGES

Rick Reichert set the path for his professional career in the Army, where he was a signal officer, working with strategic communications, command control systems and intelligence systems.

His 20 years in the military gave Reichert the training, leadership experience and ability to take on increasing challenges, and he moved into the world of telecommunications when he got out. After working for AT&T, Reichert went to work for Sprint in Overland Park. He has held various positions in the Network Services Group, managing the third-party business that does network operations for Sprint. He is in demand as a speaker and trainer in organizational planning facilitation and leadership.

((KLOR@KansasMason.org) and work through the committee to provide more

LINCOLN L. WILSON

Lincoln Wilson Enterprises, Inc., Goodland

representation in support of their local high school(s)

When he was 16 years old, Lincoln Wilson began a small business cleaning up yards.

Since that time, he has ventured into numerous businesses, many of which he ran concurrently. As president and CEO of Lincoln Wilson Enterprises, Inc., he operates a mortgage company, a hotel and management company, a restaurant and lounge within the hotel, a private investigation company (where he was one of the first 10 African-American licensed investigators in Colorado), and he partnered with his wife in a retail business. When he purchased the Howard Johnson Hotel in Goodland in 2004. He sold that property 2-months shy of his five-year exit strategy. He increased revenues from $55,000 a year to an average of $1.3 million.

With multiple awards and honors to his name, Wilson is philosophical about entrepreneurship. It’s changed, he said, from when he was a child and was taught that opportunity only knocks once. As he grew older, he realized the truth: “Opportunity today is greater than it has ever been; it involves being prepared to recognize it when it knocks.”

“research” type articles. In addition,

Presented In Partnership With

April 17, 2017 — Manhattan, KS $75,000 in total cash prizes

& judges Network with successful entrepreneurs for your idea Get exposure, feedback and support

we have a section entitled, “Out and

to participate.

All Kansas High Schools are invited been invited and are expected to participate:

The following Kansas Universities have

MICHAEL WILSON

Niall Luxury Goods, Overland Park

When Michael Wilson was 16 years old, he started an after-market auto accessories company, building it large enough that he could sell it before he went to college, where he got his undergraduate degree in two years and a master’s in one year.

He worked in marketing for about four years before starting Wavelength Media, which he sold three years later.

Finally, though, he found what he calls his business “soulmate” in founding and operating Niall Luxury Goods, a company that sells top-quality timepieces and will soon add other luxury items. Everything but the movements is made in America. The luxury watches are a brand meant to “honor those who are all in, an anagram of Niall,” he said.

Presented In Partnership With

About,” that covers Lodge happenings throughout the state. We, of course, are always looking for articles that would be of

ing this event will be a Masonic dedication of

interest to Brothers and other Lodges, includ-

the new business school that recently opened.

ing highlighting successes and accomplishments.

Plan to attend!

Finally, we will consider any article that you

I recently received a survey from the Grand

may wish to write and if it does not “fit” into a

Lodge of Kansas to complete. What is that all

specific category we will make it work. While

about and will we see the results? he Grand Lodge Council of Administration wanted to

we cannot guarantee every 9.

How many Blue Lodges do you belong to?

1 One 2 Two 3 Three

10.

Are you a member of any of the following: (check all applicable) 1 Shriners 2 York Rite 3 Scottish Rite

11.

Please indicate how often you attend each of the following annually:

12.

The Most If you are within a reasonable driving distance to your Lodge, why don’t you attend regularly?

Worshipful Grand Lodge of AF&AM of Kansas is conducting of Kansas Masons. (select only one) We would appreciate a short survey among just ten minutes the brotherhood Lodges 1 Health issues 2 No interest in Blue program content 3 Nothing is accomplished 4 Other of yourinterests and long-term time to share

13.

us in this endeavor, If you attend your Blue Lodge four (4) times a year or more please rate the importance of the we have enlisted outside research the topics of immediate help. They have prepared following experiences from 0 (lowest) to 4 (highest) interest to us. They the questions around will receive and process anonymously. Your candor in answering all completed surveys, Do not attend more than four times the

Not applicable

a. Shriners b. York Rite c. Scottish Rite

gather some important and critical information to assist both themselves and the statewide Masonic

14.

16.

17.

Lodges to better prepare for the

18.

19.

future. The results are highlighted in

1 1 1

Never

2 2

4 More than three

1-2 times

3 3

Dear 2 Kansas Mason: 3

To assist

Charity Business meeting Community involvement Ritualistic work Spirituality Masonic education Fundraising Food function Other

15.

3-4 times

4 4 4

5-10 times

5 5 5

financial consideratio

more than 10 times

6 6 6

ns of the Kansas

your thoughts and opinions on Brotherhood.

and will do so questions will be appreciated 4 (highest) . the survey and return it in the postage-pa 0 Thank you in 1 2 3 4 id envelope advance for your time and provided by November assistance; 1 3your responses 4 0 2 30, 2016. are invaluable to Fraternally, the Craft moving 0 2 4 1 3 forward.

0 (lowest)Kindly complete

1 0 2 1 0 2 1 0 2 Lyn E. Beyer, Grand 1 Master of Masons 0 2 2016-2017 Grand Lodge of Kansas 0 2 1 1 0 2

3 3 3 3 3 3

4 4 4 4 4 4

Does your Lodge own its1.building?

What is your Home Blue Lodge No. 1 Yes 2 No 3 Unsure (number of lodge ONLY) 2.

How many years have you been If so, do you feel this is important? a Master Mason?

1 0-10 years 2 11-20 years 1 Yes 2 No 3 21-30 years 4 31-40 years 3.

5 more than 40 What is your age? years If the Lodge needed additional financial support to keep/maintain your building would you financially support it?

4.

On average, how often do you attend 1 Yes 2 No meetings 1 Don’t attend of your Blue Lodge 2 1-3 times annually?

3 4-6 times How fulfilling is your Masonic membership to you?

4 7-10 times 5.

5 more than 10 What is the one times most 5 Very 1 Very 2 Somewhat 3 Neither fulfilling 4 Somewhat importan t reason fulfilling fulfilling(Please checknor unfulfilling unfulfilling that you belong unfulfilling only one) to your Blue Lodge 1 Reasonable 2 cost supports you?Home 3 Fraternal Are you aware of how Grand Lodge Lodge 4 Brotherly family ties 5 Not sure 1 Yes 26.No relations If you have not attended your Blue Lodge in the past driving distance?

2 years, are you If yes, could you cite some examples: ____________________________________________________________ within a reasonabl 1 Yes e 2 No _______________________________________________________________________________________________ 7.

8.

Are you a perpetual life member of your home lodge?

1 Yes 2 No To the best of your knowledge, have there been any that have also been others in your family Masons? (past or present) 1 Yes 2 No

article will be published, or a specific timeframe to be published, we do endeavor to use the articles we receive. So get the pen out and send us an article!

If you have any questions that you would like addressed on Masonry, Grand Lodge, Kansas Masonic Foundation, Kansas Masonic Home, this publication or its articles, please send your questions to Editor@KansasMason.org or mail to Kansas Masonic Foundation, Attn. Kansas Mason Editor, 2909 SW Maupin Lane, Topeka, Kansas 66614.

6 THE KANSAS MASON

The Kansas Mason is the official publication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Kansas, formally organized March 17, 1856.

The Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Kansas 320 SW 8th Avenue Topeka, Kansas, 66603-3912 The Kansas Mason (ISSN 2380-372X) is published quarterly (2/1; 5/1; 8/1; 11/1) by the Kansas Masonic Foundation, 2909 SW Maupin Lane,Topeka, KS 66614-5335 at the direction of the Council of Administration from the office of The Grand Lodge A.F.& A.M. of Kansas. Periodicals Postage Paid at Topeka, KS 66675.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Kansas Mason, 2909 SW Maupin Lane,Topeka, KS 66614.

SUBMIT ARTICLES: by email to editor@kansasmason.org or mail to KMF Editorial 2909 SW Maupin Lane Topeka, KS, 66614 All submissions may be in electronic format or hard copy and become the property of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Kansas.

m k s e c h a l l e n g e . c o

entries. Follow-

T

Established 1963

Photos may be submitted through Flickr at www.flickr.com/groups/kansasmason/ No compensation is allowed or intended for any articles, photographs, or other material submitted or published.

Advertising Guidelines for The Kansas Mason can be found on the Grand Lodge website.

NOTE: Permission to reprint material appearing in The Kansas Mason will be granted upon written request to the Grand Secretary from recognized Master Masons.

Other written requests will be considered by the Council of Administration. When reprinted, articles should note “Reprinted with permission of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. (month and year)”.

The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Kansas, its officers or employees.

2014 by the MW Grand Lodge A.F.& A.M. of Kansas. All rights reserved. The Grand Lodge seal and the logos “Kansas Mason,” and “Kansas Freemasons/On The Level” are trademarks of the MW Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Kansas, and all rights are reserved.

©

INSIDE THIS ISSUE FEATURED ARTICLES FROM THE GRAND EAST 3 A Year of Service, Personal

Growth Comes to an End

GRAND LODGE 8 A Time to Excel: Leadership Academy Encourages Growth and Learning in Kansas Lodges 10

Brother Mikel J. Stoops

13

Essay Winners

14

Proposed changes to the Constitution and By-Laws

19

The Mentors Gavel

21

The Beauty of Unity

Masonic History Made, in Kansas!

FEATURE ARTICLE 24

Survey

DEPARTMENTS 5

GRAND SECRETARY Critical Housekeeping Issues Need to be Addressed at Year-End 6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

28 LODGE OF RESEARCH The Perfect Points of my Entrance Insight Into Leader, Teacher John Thomas Kennedy The Masonic Symbolism of Plants 36 MEMBER INTERVIEW Derek Oien, Ph.D. 37 AROUND THE WORLD Defining Freemasonry; Tradition Becomes Practical 38 FROM THE ARCHIVES A New Exhibit for Annual Communication

40 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Scholarships Change Lives Statewide 4th Freemason Endowment Charity Auction Lodges Successfully Raise Money to Support Their Communities Lodges Who Participated in the KMF Fundraiser and the Amount of Charitable Donation They Received Masons, Kansas PRIDE Strengthen Statewide Partnerships during first event 55 HOME WARMINGS Established Funds Help Kansas Masons 56 OUT AND ABOUT Losing a Cherished Masonic Brother Teaches Lessons, Love South Coffey County Lodges Host A Friends of Masons Night 60 MASON TRAVELING IN KANSAS 62 EVENTS CALENDAR

The Kansas Mason (ISSN 2380-372X) is published quarterly (2/1; 5/1; 8/1; 11/1) by the Kansas Masonic Foundation, 2909 SW Maupin Lane, Topeka, KS 66614-5335 at the direction of the Council of Administration from the office of The Grand Lodge A.F.& A.M. of Kansas. Periodicals Postage Paid at Topeka, KS 66675. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: The Kansas Mason, 2909 SW Maupin Lane, Topeka, KS 66614.

SPRING 2017 7

A TTime ime to Excel: Excel: GRAND LODGE

By B. Cole Presley, DGM

growth

Leadership Academy

When you consider the term Masonic Experience, it seems vague,

4 and 5, saw almost 220 Kansas Masons come together in fellowship

broad and hard to define. For the most part in Kansas it seems the

with the purpose of learning and growing their own lodges.

greatest of these experiences occur when many of us gather together

Those attending were presented with ideas that challenge the status

in fellowship and discuss challenging ideas. It is from those platforms

quo of lodge operations, and they were then given information to help

that we see Brothers from across the state become enlightened,

move their lodges forward. These critical courses for Lodge Leaders

motivated and more passionate about our gentle craft. When weighing

focus on the goal of this academy, which is not personal growth but

those factors, the two biggest annual events in Kansas Masonry are

lodge growth. The hope for the council of administration is that each

designed to accommodate and facilitate just that.

and every Kansas Mason who attended gained new ideas and inspiration,

The 2016 Kansas Freemasons Leadership Academy, held November

8 THE KANSAS MASON

and returned to their Lodges to share, to implement and to lead.

, learning Encourages

in Kansas Lodges.

Events this year began Friday night when the ladies were escorted to a

At the end of the event, registered attendees were sent an exit survey.

dinner theater in downtown Topeka and the Brothers came together for

The results of that survey showed that, in large part, those attending

a Table Lodge on a Grand Lodge Scale. The Emerald Ballroom, all three

felt the Academy was not only worthwhile, but that they gained new

sections, was filled with outlying tables and those present enjoyed not

insight in how to best lead their Lodges at home.

only a great meal but celebrated the Table Lodge of the 7 Toasts. It was

If one of your Lodge Officers attended this year, our hope is that

obvious by the end of the night that those attending left happy and had a

you press them for the information they received and develop new

great evening. Look for this type of event to occur again.

goals for your Lodge.

Saturday morning began early. Brothers registered and received a copy of the newest edition of Macoy’s Worshipful Masters Assistant.

The 2017 Leadership Academy is already in the planning stages and the date is set for November 4, 2017. Make plans now to attend!

SPRING 2017 9

GRAND LODGE

By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff

BROTHER MIKEL J. STOOPS CONTINUES FREEMASONRY SERVICE AS GRAND SENIOR DEACON

B

rother Mikel J. Stoops has been se-

Richard Stoops, to the degree of a Master

lected as the Grand Senior Deacon for

Mason. Raising your Father is a singular

2017-18, an honor that he said leaves him

moment that not many get to experience

humbled and grateful.

and one which I cherish. Since 2013, I have

When Brother Cole approached me

served in other positions of leadership at

with the possibility of accepting greater

the local Lodge level and the Grand Lodge

leadership responsibilities, so many things

level. I have been secretary of De Soto

entered my mind. Has enough light been

Lodge No. 40, Master of Palmyra Lodge

added to my darkness, is my knowledge

No. 23, Grand Junior Steward, District

deep enough, are my convictions strong

Deputy Grand Master of District No. 4,

enough, and are my skills broad enough

Area Deputy Grand Master of Area No.

to be one of the men able to lead our

2, served on the boards of our Kansas Ma-

Craft into a prosperous future? I’m not

sonic Foundation and the PPLM Commit-

sure I would ever answer those questions

tee and served as Chairman of the Grand

in the affirmative. On so many deserving

our Craft, I found the confidence to accept

shoulders has rested the purple of our

the appointment to serve as your Grand Se-

Fraternity. How could I be found worthy of

nior Deacon for the 2017-18 Masonic year.

joining the ranks of our honorable Broth-

I became a Master Mason in 2009 in

Lodge Technology Committee.

Another part of my Masonic path was being on the team formed to refresh our Grand Lodge Strategic Plan in 2102. That

ers who have been appointed as Grand

De Soto Lodge No. 40. In 2013, I had the

team was a cross section of Kansas Masons.

Senior Deacon?

honor of serving as Master of my home

It was Brothers from Lodges across the

Lodge and to serve as Grand Marshall for

state who were not, at that time, associated

worthy of such responsibility. I knew that

Grand Master Rick Reichert. On June 3,

with the leadership of the Grand Lodge.

I had to seek wisdom outside of myself,

2013, Reichert appointed me to be Grand

That team developed and agreed upon what

so I approached many of our Past Grand

Representative of Ohio. This appointment

we believed was the best role for the Grand

Masters and asked them those very same

was a very special honor since my ma-

Lodge of Kansas. This was not the vision of

questions. Each of the Past Grand Masters

ternal grandfather, William Johnson, was

the Grand Lodge Leadership. It was not the

told me I would be a good leader and that if

still an active Ohio Mason at that time. It

vision of the Past Grand Master. It was the

it was right for my family and me, and that if

also turned out to be very timely as well

vision of rank and file Members as to what

offered, I should accept an appointment as

because my grandfather made his transition

Grand Lodge should be.

Grand Senior Deacon. After those conver-

to eternity on June 17, just two weeks after

sations, I knew those who have tread round

my appointment. In November of that

Kansas is to encourage and support Free-

and round that circle before me would sup-

same year, I traveled to Tippecanoe Lodge

masonry by assisting its constituent lodges

port my future endeavors. With prayer, the

No. 492 under the Jurisdiction of the

to achieve success and prosperity as assets

support of my wife and the leadership of

Grand Lodge of Indiana, to raise my father,

to their membership and communities.”

I did not and do not consider myself

10 THE KANSAS MASON

“The mission of the Grand Lodge of

OLD COWTOWN MUSEUM Kansas Masons Day

Save the Date

For The Family Masonic Picnic & Drink Stations Throughout the Day’s Events Hands on Experience

Sunday,August 20, 2017 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Interactive Displays

1865 W. Museum Blvd.

Wichita, Kansas

Special Exhibits

Costumed Interpreters Gunfights and Demonstrations Wagon Rides Sarsaparilla in Fritz Snitzler’s Saloon Country & Western Band Sponsored By: Grand Lodge Of Kansas Kansas Masonic Foundation Abdallah Shrine Arab Shrine Isis Shrine Midian Shrine Mirza Shrine Scottish Rite Orient Of Kansas Grand York Rite Bodies Of Kansas

Registration Fee: $20 Mason, $15/Family Members/Guests, Children Under 12 Free

Following The Afternoon Fun All attendees are invited to KMH (Kansas Masonic Home) 401 S. Seneca St. (approximately 1 mile from Museum) for cake, ice cream and fellowship.

Tours of KMH will we available. Sponsored by KMH.

An All Masonic Picnic is planned and provided as part of this exciting day of activities.

CALL THE KANSAS MASONIC FOUNDATION FOR RESERVATIONS (785) 357-7646 SPRING 2017

11

GRAND LODGE

Brother Mikel J. Stoops

a Member of Blue Lodge and not of any

education, fellowship, spirituality and charity

mission and vision of our Grand Lodge.

other appendant and concordant bodies.

and that allow me to be satisfied in my

Grand Lodge does not exist for the purpose

We must always remember that there are

Masonic experience. I am not one to join an

of promoting Grand Lodge or its officers. Its

as many reasons for being a Mason as there

organization to become an inactive member,

purpose is to provide structure and support

are Masons. I like to think of Masonry in

and quite frankly, I am busy enough with my

to its constituent Lodges and through them

four categories, which are education, fel-

current level of Masonic activity.

Kansas Masons and Kansas communities.

lowship, spirituality and charity. We receive

This truth is something I firmly believed

education through the study of our esoteric

teachings, leadership, and guidance have

when the mission was first penned, and it

work and the symbols and allegories used

been invaluable to me, are now asking

still holds true for me today. As a fourth-

therein. We receive fellowship in the com-

me to help lead this Ancient Fraternity

generation Mason and as one who came to

ing together of Brothers in a safe and open

safely into the future, to maintain a course

Masonry later in life, the opportunities I am

environment. There is a level of spirituality

that moves us ahead while remembering,

given to apply my skills to the betterment

in our work that can enhance our Masonic

honoring and building on our past. I was

of our beautiful Craft are always humbling. I

experience and our lives. Finally, we provide

honored to be considered, humbled to be

believe that my great-grandfather, grandfa-

charity to those in distress. My personal

asked, and now a bit overwhelmed by what

ther, and great uncle can look down with a

goal is to strike a balance between these.

I have agreed to. But my trust is in God,

smile and be happy for the man and Mason I

Through this balance, I strive to become a

and I have so many good Brothers to guide

have become.

better man and Mason. I feel lucky to be-

me, so I shall follow my guides and have no

long to Lodges that provide a good mix of

fear of what is to come.

I have been and I am dedicated to this

Some have and will ask why I am only

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR

PLEDGE YET? If not, join your Kansas Masonic Brothers and do so today!

We have identified several future priorities for us as an organization.

These priorities represent, not new directions or goals for KMF, but expansions and extensions of our foundational goals, which emerge from our vision and mission.

Men whom I love as Brothers and whose

GOALS

SCIENTIFIC/RESEARCH MASONIC CANCER ALLIANCE

ADULT SPEECH, LANGUAGE AND HEARING SERVICE

EDUCATIONAL

KANSAS MASONIC LITERACY CENTER GRAND LODGE MUSEUM & LIBRARY CREATION & RENOVATION MUSEUM & LIBRARY ARCHIVIST ENDOWMENT KANSAS FREEMASONRY PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

CHARITABLE BUI LDING KANSAS

KANSAS MASON PRIDE COMMUNITIES OF EXCELLENCE KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY MILITARY AFFAIRS PARTNERSHIP

For Questions call or email Bob Shively, Executive Director, Kansas Masonic Foundation at Bob@KansasMasonic.Foundation (785) 357-7646

12 THE KANSAS MASON

KANSAS MASONIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGE

ESSAY TOPIC

Foundation values of Freemasonry include charity, relief, and service to mankind.

How does your personal involvement in serving others parallel how Freemasons have benefited our community, nation, or world?

2016 STATE MASONIC PUBLIC SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST Jaycie Jones Jefferson West High School, Perry Lodge No. 415

A Spark Ignites Brother Theodore Roosevelt once said “To

building on generations past. Every morning

understand the impact Freemasonry has

educate a person in the mind but not in

before I start my school day, I go to the kin-

had on my home growing up. The values of

morals is to educate a menace to society.”

dergarten class to assist those children who

Freemasonry are much like those taught to

In today’s world I question where the

need additional help with their schoolwork.

me from a young age. Through volunteering

morals are being taught. I look back on the

I also participate in the after school tutoring

for church events, helping at God’s Store-

history of our country and realize I want

program and get to see the flames grow. It

house, sponsoring a child to get clean water,

to go back to the fundamental values our

all starts with a diminutive spark. The very

and donating to charities with my parents, I

nation was founded on. How do we get

opportunity to write this paper proves the

have felt the pride that can only be associ-

there? We start with the next generation.

parallel between myself and the Freema-

ated with making a difference. In many ways

Roosevelt knew the value of education, but

sons; as the Freemasons fan the flame with

my passion to teach stems from my learned

most importantly had the ability to express

an incredible scholarship opportunity, I

values of service to the community and

the ultimate importance of morality. Like

hopefully am creating new sparks by inspir-

making a lasting impact on society.

the Freemasons, I intend to serve society by

ing young students to have a desire to learn

inspiring those around me to uphold tradi-

new things.

Some sparks turn to flame, yet others are extinguished. Our Masonic founding fathers

I grew up a red headed “military brat”

set forth guidelines through Constitutional

with three Master Masons in my family. I

values that if followed, will keep the flame

was unsure I had Freemasons in my family

of our Nation burning brightly. Much like

teer tutor at the local elementary school I

until I asked what the strange symbol on

these inspiring men, I hope to continue

have been blessed to see the birth of flames

the truck was! I feel an acute sense of pride

building on their work to guide generations

that will inspire the next generation of

knowing members of my family are mak-

to come. I may be but a spark, but like many

students. I imagine them gaining the desire

ing a positive impact in society without

Freemasons I will become a great flame

to excel and carry on the work of discovery,

recognition. I have only recently come to

some day.

tional values common to Freemasonry in the next generation.

It takes a spark to build a fire. As a volun-

FIRST PLACE ($4,000): Jaycie Jones Jefferson West High School, Perry Lodge No. 415

HONORABLE MENTION ($500): Janae Schulte HONORABLE MENTION ($500): Ellsworth High School, Ellsworth Lodge No. 146 No. 403 Seann Blair, Altoona-Midway High School, Benedict Lodge

SECOND PLACE ($3,000): Mitchell Porter Rossville High School, Delia Lodge No. 419

HONORABLE MENTION ($500): Paige($500): Winderlin HONORABLE MENTION Scott Community HighCity School, 284No. 7 Tanner Lueker, Junction HighAnthem School,Lodge UnionNo. Lodge

THIRD PLACE ($2,000): Sabrea Platz Lawrence Free State High School, Lawrence Lodge No. 6

HONORABLE MENTION ($500): Jerica Garcia HONORABLE MENTION ($500): Holcomb High School, Tyrian Lodge No. 246 No. 144 Rylie Albert, Yates Center High School, Gilead Lodge

FOURTH PLACE ($1,000): Tierra Cooper Kiowa County High School, Kiowa Lodge No. 293

HONORABLE ($500): SPRING 2017 13 HONORABLE MENTIONMENTION ($500): Greta Wehrman Jerica Hall, Cherryvale High School, Fortitude Lodge Sylvan-Lucas High School, Lincoln Lodge No. 154No. 107

Proposed changes to the Constitution and By-Laws of the MW Grand Lodge of A.F. & A. M. of Kansas submitted to the Grand Secretary

by November 1 2016 and approved by the Jurisprudence committee for consideration at the 161st Annual Communication on March 17th 2017 CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE IX

ARTICLE IX

Chartered Lodges

Chartered Lodges

Cross-Reference: By-Laws, Ch. 3, Art. II

Section 14. Proceedings After Surrender or Revocation — When a Lodge has surrendered its Warrant of Constitution, or when such Warrant has been revoked, the Master and Secretary shall make a report to the Grand Secretary for the period commencing with the date of the last annual report, and ending with the date of such surrender or revocation.

This report shall contain all information required of an annual report, and shall include the names and last known addresses of all members, and of all those suspended in the preceding five years, an inventory of the property which belonged to the Lodge at the time of such surrender or revocation, and a statement of balances due from the members on account of annual dues or otherwise. The Lodge Master and Secretary, under the supervision of the Grand Secretary shall collect all such balances., and give to each member in good standing a Certificate showing the date of such surrender or revocation, which shall have the force and effect of the usual certificate of dimission for a Lodge. All members, having no indebtedness to the lodge (certified by the lodge Master and Secretary), at the time of Revocation or Surrender of the lodge charter shall automatically be transferred by the Grand Secretary to the closest geographical Kansas Lodge, after that lodge, upon due notification from the Grand Secretaries Office, ballots in the affirmative to accept all the members of the affected lodge. When such transfer is executed by the Grand Secretary, the current amount of per-capita tax will be transferred to the receiving lodge for each member transferred, to cover the members per-capita tax for the current year in the new lodge, if lodge funds exist to cover such expense. Thereafter, it will be the responsibility of the lodge secretary of the receiving lodge to bill each new member for, and collect such dues and/or assessments as may be required by the receiving lodge, just as any other regular member of said lodge. Those members holding Prepaid Perpetual Life Memberships will be transferred as prescribed above, to and including, their PPLM deposits to the receiving lodge.

Section 9. Annual Report and Dues — Every Lodge shall make an annual report in such form as the Grand Secretary may prescribe, show: First, The full names of the officers of the Lodge; Second, All the changes in membership during the year; Third, The work done since the last report, and date and place of birth of each Brother receiving the First Degree, or admitted, or restored, and giving such other information as the Grand Secretary may require. The report supplied by the Grand Secretary shall be immediately examined, corrected if need be, and returned to the Grand Secretary on or before the thirty first (31) day of January of each year. No Lodge shall be represented by its Master or Wardens in the Grand Lodge at any Annual Communication until each such report is received, nor until its annual dues are paid as provided by law. Additionally, any lodge which fails to submit their annual report, or pay in full the per capita tax owed to the Grand Lodge by evidence of their annual report, by the above named deadline shall suffer a $100.00 initial penalty, plus $10.00 daily penalty thereafter until such time the report and/or payment have been received in the Grand Lodge Office. (Amended 1992) (Amended 2015) Cross-Reference: By-Laws, Secs. 2-301, 3-306, 3-309.

Rationale: The time allowed for the lodges to complete their annual reports is sufficient for its competition and return to the Grand Lodge Office. Some lodges just do not take the annual reports seriously and only return them when they feel like it, perhaps a financial incentive might tend to motivate them to complete and return the report on time. It is incumbent upon the office of the Grand Secretary to give an accurate report of membership at the annual communication, and it cannot accomplish if there are several lodges that have not returned their annual reports. There are also other agencies that report membership numbers of the constituent Grand Lodges throughout North America, such as the Masonic Service Association, late reporting by our lodges will produce inaccurate reports for them. The Grand Lodge of Kansas is also obligated to send funds to the George Washington Masonic National Memorial and the Kansas Masonic Home (KMH) based upon its per capita as of 12/31, again impossible to do without all of the lodge annual reports being completed and returned on time. Not to mention, the voting members of those lodges who miss the deadline may be ineligible to vote at the annual communication. As always, if any lodge has extenuating circumstances, or needs assistance with their annual report, the Grand Lodge office is always available to help, aid and assist in its competition.

Respectfully submitted, Tracy L. Bloom Past Master, Salina Lodge #60

In the case the closest geographically located lodge does not vote in the affirmative to accept the member of the affected lodge, the Grand Secrretay will issue a Grand Secretary Certificate of Dimission to each qualifying member of the affected lodge, so they may petition any lodge they desire.

Nothing in the previous statement would preclude a member of a lodge in jeopardy of losing its charter, to transfer, dimit or withdraw his membership in said lodge, prior to the Revocation / Surrender event, or afterwards, from the receiving lodge he would by default become a member of. With the exception of the parameters contained in Constitution, ARTICLE X, Petitioners. Cross-Reference : Constitution, ARTICLE X, Petitioners, Section 4. Membership and Dimission Cross-Reference: By-Laws, Sec. 4-409.

Rationale: A surrender or revocation of a lodge charter doesn’t happen often, but when it does, the current process basically leaves those members holding a certificate of good standing and feeling like an orphaned mason without a lodge. I’d also bet kind of angry too! This proposed by-law change would at least place them in another lodge, (if accepted), never losing a day of masonic membership. Whether a member choses to remain in said lodge, dimit, or to transfer to another lodge, is his choice alone. With the adoption of this proposal, we at least aren’t leaving him outside the fraternity to make that decision.

Respectfully submitted, Tracy L. Bloom Past Master, Salina Lodge #60

14 THE KANSAS MASON

ARTICLE VI Grand Lodge — Officers and Committees Section 3. Election and Terms — (1) The Grand Master shall be chosen by ballot by a majority of all votes cast therefor at each Annual Communication, and serve one year as Deputy Grand Master and the following year shall be installed as Grand Master and shall hold office until his successor is installed. (2) The Grand Senior Warden, Grand Junior Warden, Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary shall be chosen by ballot by a majority of all votes cast therefor at each communication and shall hold their offices until their successors are installed. The Grand Junior Warden shall be elected from those who shall have either filed for candidacy with the office of the Grand Secretary in the same manner as proposals for changes to this Constitution or the by-laws of the Grand Lodge; or who have presented a petition for candidacy signed by at least 200 currently active Master Masons in the Grand Lodge of Kansas on the desk (or practicable location selected for this purpose) of the Grand Secretary, or his designee, at least eighteen (18) hours before the scheduled election; however, and the Grand Senior Deacon may be named a candidate upon declaration of the Grand Master. The subordinate officers shall be appointed by the Grand Master elect (Deputy Grand Master) and shall serve at his will and pleasure during his tenure. (Amended 1992) Cross-Reference: By-Laws, Secs. 2-101, 2-102.

Rationale: The world is a very different place that is was just a few years ago, and so is Masonry. While Past Grand Masters will surely argue the system has worked for some time and should not be changed, this will democratize the craft and better ensure that the leadership is enacting the will of the membership or at least selecting the persons whom they trust to enact the policies that seem the best for them by the leadership.

It certainly will not, under any circumstances, make the Grand Lodge less transparent and less effective. A neighboring Grand Lodge has made this change in recent years without any strife and it does seem to better reflect the stated objectives of this proposal.

Respectfully submitted, P. Todd Decker, Past Master, Mount Zion #266

BY-LAW ARTICLE III Grand Lodge Fund, Salaries and Allowances 2-301. Grand Lodge Per Capita Tax and Special Assessment - Every Lodge Working under a Warrant of Constitution shall pay annually to the Grand Lodge a Per Capita Tax of $24.00 $45.00 on the roll of membership for the preceding year, commencing January 1, 2007 2019, $2.00 of which will be used for the Kansas Mason. $1.50 shall be allocated to the Kansas Masonic Home. Furthermore $0.50 per year shall go to The George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Provided, That any increase in the per capita tax shall become effective on the Lodge roll of membership determined on December 31st, the following year.

(Amended 1974, 1978, 1982, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2014.)

shall be accepted as evidence of the date of transmittal; and in all such cases of failure, the Grand Secretary shall notify the Lodge to that effect and shall not issue credentials to such Lodge. (Amended 1955, 1962, 1967, 1992 and 2015). Provided, That no per-capita tax shall be paid by the Masonic Home Lodge for any of its members who are also members of the Masonic Home. (Adopted 1975). Cross-Reference: Constitution, Art. IV; Art. IX, Sec. 9; By-Laws, Sec. 4-306.

Rationale: With declining Membership and inflation, the Grand Lodge is experiencing an average adjusted loss in annual revenue of approximately $33,000 and increasing. (Calculated based on per capita and inflation values since 2008) To compensate for this loss, the COA and Grand Lodge Office have reduced their committed annual expenditures by $40,000 to $50,000. In addition to reducing other expenditures, the Grand Lodge has been holding down cost in other ways such as; holding wage increase in check, premium Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance policy provided to the employees of the Grand Lodge has been replaced with one that is less expensive for the Grand Lodge but in turn requires much higher out of pocket from the employees.

With projected increases in necessary expenditures such as Gas, Electricity, Water, Telephone, Internet, Office Supplies, Office Equipment, Security and Building Maintenance and the projected decrease in revenue due to decreasing Membership, the trend of reducing expenses to match reduced income is no longer sustainable. At this time, we must increase income in order to meet our financial commitments. Based on projected Membership numbers, the proposed Per Capita Tax increase will allow the Grand Lodge to once again have a balanced budget and improve the programs, support, services and quality of the Masonic Experience in this Grand Jurisdiction. In 2016 the Council of Administration presented a proposal with Per Capita increasing on an annual basis. This was done to present a balanced budget to the members though the measure failed. Many members after that vote communicated a desire for a one time increase rather than an annual increase. This proposal holds a one-time increase that creates a not only a balanced budget but an estimated surplus for 5 years. It is the intent of the Council of Administration to invest any surplus funds in an attempt to re-grow our endowment funds for greater fiscal security in the near future. This measure will also prevent the need for a special assessment.

Example of Per Capita Tax Increase Membership numbers in the below table were based upon the current membership trend predictions.

Predicted Operating Surplus/Deficit Budget 2015 19260 $24.00 $462,240.00 $500,000.00 -$37,760.00 2016 18428 $24.00 $442,272.00 $480,000.00 -$37,728.00 2017 17596 $24.00 $422,304.00 $500,000.00 -$77,696.00 2018 16764 $45.00 $754,380.00 $510,000.00 $244,380.00 2019 15932 $45.00 $716,940.00 $520,000.00 $196,940.00 2020 15100 $45.00 $679,500.00 $536,600.00 $142,900.00 2021 14268 $45.00 $642,060.00 $552,568.00 $89,492.00 2022 13436 $45.00 $604,620.00 $569,145.00 $35,475.00 2023 12604 $45.00 $567,180.00 $570,000.00 -$2,820.00 2024 11772 $45.00 $529,740.00 $575,000.00 -$45,260.00 2025 10940 $45.00 $492,300.00 $575,000.00 -$82,700.00 2026 10108 $45.00 $454,860.00 $580,000.00 -$125,140.00 2027 9276 $45.00 $417,420.00 $585,000.00 -$167,580.00 2028 8444 $45.00 $379,980.00 $590,000.00 -$210,020.00 Number of members is based on the trend of losing 832 net members per year Predicted Budget is based on an estimated 3% increase due to inflation Year

Number of Members

per capita tax

The per-capita tax shall not be assessed against the members, but shall be included in the amount for annual dues, and be paid out of the General Fund to the Lodge.

Any Lodge which neglects or refuses to pay all its annual Respectfully submitted, Respectfully submitted per-capita tax or any special assessments on or before the 31st day of Council of Administration Council of Administration January in each year, or which shall fail or neglect to transmit to the Grand Secretary its Annual Report on or before the 31st day of January of each year shall not be entitled to representation in the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication following such failure. The postmark on the envelope

Totals

BY-LAW CHAPTER TWO

SPRING 2015 15

ARTICLE III Grand Lodge Fund, Salaries and Allowances

Proposed By-Law Changes

CONSTITUTION

BY-LAW

BY-LAW

CHAPTER TWO

CHAPTER THREE

ARTICLE III

CONSTITUENT LODGES

Grand Lodge Fund, Salaries and Allowances

ARTICLE II

2-301. Grand Lodge Per Capita Tax and Special Assessment- Every Lodge Working under a Warrant of Constitution shall pay annually to the Grand Lodge a Per Capita Tax of $24.00 27.00 on the roll of membership for the preceding year, commencing January 1, 2007 2019, and then $30.00 commencing on January 1, 2020, $2.00 of which will be used for the Kansas Mason. $1.50 shall be allocated to the Kansas Masonic Home. Furthermore $0.50 per year shall go to The George Washington Masonic National Memorial. Provided, That any increase in the per capita tax shall become effective on the Lodge roll of membership determined on December 31st, the following year. (Amended 1974, 1978, 1982, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1996, 2003, 2006, 2014.)

Chartering of Lodges

The per-capita tax shall not be assessed against the members, but shall be included in the amount for annual dues, and be paid out of the General Fund to the Lodge. Any Lodge which neglects or refuses to pay all its annual per-capita tax or any special assessments on or before the 31st day of January in each year, or which shall fail or neglect to transmit to the Grand Secretary its Annual Report on or before the 31st day of January of each year shall not be entitled to representation in the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication following such failure. The postmark on the envelope shall be accepted as evidence of the date of transmittal; and in all such cases of failure, the Grand Secretary shall notify the Lodge to that effect and shall not issue credentials to such Lodge. (Amended 1955, 1962, 1967, 1992 and 2015). Provided, That no per-capita tax shall be paid by the Masonic Home Lodge for any of its members who are also members of the Masonic Home. (Adopted 1975). Cross-Reference: Constitution, Art. IV; Art. IX, Sec. 9; By-Laws, Sec. 4-306.

Rationale: The proposed $21.00 increase in one year by the COA, if passed, will have a great impact on loss of membership. The first year will not be 832 but 2000 plus members. We need some increase now even if small, giving the COA time to hold area meetings for input on a feasible long range proposal.

Respectfully submitted, James P. Kay Past Master, Minneapolis Lodge #143

BY-LAW CHAPTER THREE CONSTITUENT LODGES ARTICLE II Chartering of Lodges

3-208. Photographic Copy of Warrant — Each Lodge will may, if it so desires, file its Warrant of Constitution in the archives of the Grand Lodge, and receive in exchange a certified photographic copy from the Grand Secretary.

Rationale: Since the mid 1900’s all original charters were collected from the various Kansas Lodges by the Grand Lodge and a certified copy of each was produced and returned to the lodge, and said certified copy had the exact empowerment and authority of a lodge to conduce masonic work as the original charter. Your Grand Lodge has taken great pride and care to maintain these original charters in the archives of the Grand Lodge Building in Topeka, may pre-dating Kansas Statehood. Unfortunately, if those actions were not taken all those years ago, there would be many of the charters missing today, some lodges did not care enough about their founding document to maintain, or preserve it. Some lodges in fact, when consolidating, or surrendering their charters didn’t even have the decency to return their Warrants to the Grand Lodge, they just left them in the building for the new owners to enjoy, or toss out.

Respectfully Submitted, Tracy L. Bloom Past Master, Salina Lodge #60

BY-LAW CHAPTER THREE CONSTITUENT LODGES ARTICLE IV Communications 3-408. Minutes of Lodge Communications — The minutes of each Communication of a Lodge shall be read, corrected if necessary, and approved, at the next Stated Communication. With the consent of the Lodge, minutes of the previous Communication may be printed and distributed in a format agreeable to the individual members for each member in attendance to read, and minutes so distributed may then be approved as printed written, or corrected if necessary. Similarly, a list of the bills may also be printed, distributed in a format agreeable to the individual members, and approved as printed distributed or amended. Each Lodge has authority to alter or amend its minutes to make them speak the truth, but it cannot expunge any part of the correct records. (Amended 2005)

Rationale: As long as the number of a lodge can no longer be repeated, I see no reason the Name should be restricted from the rolls, as long as a period of 20 years have passed since it last appeared.

Rational: Many Members would rather receive the minutes and bills in an electronic format rather than as a printed hard copy. As this Bylaw is currently written, those Lodges that have chosen to electronically distribute their minutes and bills are still required to print off hard copies for the Members in attendance. Please note that the wording is very specific and that the format must be agreeable to the Member receiving the documents.

This means that if a Member prefers or requires a printed hard copy, they must be furnished with the printed minutes and bills. It is not my intention to require anyone to have the ability or desire to receive emails or electronic documents as every member is still entitled to a printed hard copy of the documents if that is their desire.

Respectfully submitted, Tracy L. Bloom Past Master, Salina Lodge #60

Respectfully Submitted, Mikel J. Stoops Past Master, De Soto Lodge #40

3-205. Name of Chartered Lodge — The name of the city or town in which the Lodge is to be located shall be the name of the Lodge, unless the Grand Master for some good reason rules otherwise, in which event it shall be given a name bearing some Masonic significance or in memory of some distinguished Masonic scholar, but in no event shall it be named for a living person; Provided, That no Lodge shall be given a name which has already appeared on the rolls in the Grand Jurisdiction within the previous 20 years.

16 THE KANSAS MASON

BY LAW

BY-LAW

CHAPTER THREE

CHAPTER THREE

CONSTITUENT LODGES

CONSTITUENT LODGES

ARTICLE VI

ARTICLE VI

Miscellaneous

Miscellaneous

3-604. Use of Cipher in Conferral of Degrees, or opening or closing lodge. — No Brother shall use the official cipher while engaged in the opening/closing of the lodge ceremony, or of conferring any Degree, or while participating in such ceremony.

3-621. Representation at Annual Communication — Duty of Lodges — Each Constituent Lodge of this Grand Jurisdiction which has not been officially represented in the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge for three consecutive years may be cited to show just cause why appropriate disciplinary action should not be invoked. (Adopted 1960)

Compliance: Lodges with 130 members or more must comply by January 1, 2018, Lodges with 70 members or more must comply by January 1, 2019, All lodges must comply by January 1, 2020

Repeal all of Bylaw 3-621 Rationale: This bylaw was started by a recommendation of M:.W:. Ray W. Kinzie Grand Master in 1960. The following is a part of his recommendation.

Rationale: While all brothers strive to do their very best work, we need to look forward to new brothers coming in the lodges and desiring to learn the work. With the limited free time they have, this will allow them to also have a learning experience while observing the work being done.

"It is not my idea that drastic disciplinary action is necessary or advisable in case of such lack of representation, but rather do we desire to provide a potent stimulus for producing better Lodge representation in Grand Lodge, and to provide a By-law with "some teeth" which may increase the participation in Grand Lodge Sessions by lagging or sluggish Lodges."

While I am sure some lodges with 130 members may struggle to comply with this rule it is a starting point, as I am also sure most all them will do very well, especially with good prompters in the lodges.

His recommendation failed by a vote of 152 for the motion and 234 against. The recommendation was turned over to the Jurisprudence Committee which came back with By-law 3-621 and that passed.

While I think it is possibly a new look at the requirement to allow other lodges more time in their compliance it is a challenge; with positive masters in charge of the lodges this transformation will go very well.

It is too bad that the present Council of Administration did not have the time to go back and read M:.W:. Ray Kinzie recommendation where it said, it is not my idea that drastic disciplinary action is necessary or advisable. Instead they invoked the most drastic action possible. The following is attendance records from Credentials Committee reports.

Respectfully Submitted, Leonard Dale Past Master, Mayetta Lodge #393

BY-LAWS CHAPTER THREE CONSTITUENT LODGES ARTICLE VI Miscellaneous 3-604. Use of Cipher in Tyled Meetings Conferral of Degrees — No Brother shall use the official cipher while engaged in the ceremony of Opening/Closing a Tyled meeting or in conferring any Degree, or while having a speaking part participating in such ceremony. Furthermore commencing on January 1, 2018 and from thence forward, no Brother having a speaking part in the Opening/Closing Ceremony of a Tyled meeting or in conferring a Degree may have an open Official Cipher. A Brother may be designated as Prompter and may use the open Cipher for that purpose.

The Cipher may continue to be used as a study tool by non-speaking Brothers during the Opening/Closing Ceremony of a Tyled meeting or in conferring a Degree and while practicing such work in un-Tyled meetings.

Rationale: The focus of all Brothers in the purview of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Kansas should be to “Excellence in Esoteric Work” and to furthering Masonic Education. There have been many instances of Brothers trying to use to Cipher for the Work and still getting the words wrong or out of place. This includes failing to repeat the Obligation during the Question and Answer portion of the Lecture. Therefore I believe this by-law needs to be redefined to reflect those goals. Although there is no current prohibition on use of the Cipher during the opening/closing of Tyled Meetings I believe that the law should specifically prohibit such use.

Allowing non-participating Brothers to have the Cipher open and to follow the Work as it is conducted will assist them in learning the Work as most Lodges do not have the ability to teach the Work independent to conferrals and opening/closing their Lodge.

Respectfully Submitted, Vincent Tracey, Past Master, Lafayette Lodge #16

Year – 1990 – 248 of Year – 1991 – 247 of Year – 1995 – 220 of Year – 1996 – 229 of Year – 1997 – 184 of Year – 1998 – 171 of Year – 1999 – 182 of Year – 2000 – 162 of Year – 2001 – 157 of Year – 2002 – 169 of Year – 2005 – 161 of Year – 2009 – 161 of Year – 2010 – 152 of Year – 2011 – 140 of

344 Lodges or 72% of Lodges were represented.

338 Lodges or 73% of Lodges were represented.

309 Lodges or 71% of Lodges were represented.

298 Lodges or 76% of Lodges were represented.

291 Lodges or 63% of Lodges were represented.

287 Lodges or 59% of Lodges were represented.

286 Lodges or 63% of Lodges were represented.

280 lodges or 57.8% of Lodges were represented.

277 Lodges or 56.6% of Lodges were represented.

270 Lodges or 62.5% of Lodges were represented.

264 Lodges or 60.9% of Lodges were represented.

246 Lodges or 65.4% of Lodges were represented.

243 Lodges or 62.5% of Lodges were represented.

238 Lodges or 58.8% of Lodges were represented.

As you can see over one third of the lodges after 1996 are never represented at Grand Lodge. The annual proceedings for years past 2011 have not been printed so I don't have access to information for those years.

This by-law has been on the books for fifty six years and was only used last year. If we only use a by-law one time in fifty six years when it probably should have been used many times we don't need it on the books. I and the ones below urge you to vote yes on this proposal to clean up the law book.

Don E. Robinett, Past Master, Concordia Lodge #113 Jeffrey L. Sowder, Past Master Woodson Lodge #121 Clifford D. Knauss, Past Master, Halstead #46 Lawrence J. Merseberg, Past Master, Edna Lodge #345 Mark E. Nelson, Past Master, Concordia Lodge #113 Jimmie L. Grassi, Past Master Old Mission Lodge #153 J. Steven Molstad, Past Master, St. Thomas Lodge #306 Donald D. Newman, Past Master, Gilead Lodge #144

SPRING 2017 17

Proposed By-Law Changes

Any Brother sitting on the sideline “not involved” in such ceremony may follow along in his cipher while the work is being performed. This would also allow the designated prompter to use a cipher if needed.

BY-LAW

BY-LAW

CHAPTER FOUR

CHAPTER FOUR

DEGREES AND MEMBERSHIP

DEGREES AND MEMBERSHIP

ARTICLE IV

ARTICLE IV

Membership Dimission and Transfer

Membership Dimission and Transfer

4-401E. Membership at Large — As used in this section, a Member at Large is a Kansas Mason in good standing of a Defunct or Consolidated Lodge or Lodge whose Warrant of Constitution was surrendered or revoked.

4-410. Occasional Lodges—Lodges with memberships of 45 or less members residing within 25 miles of the Lodge, and who are physically able to attend, may elect, by a majority of its membership present at a Stated Communication of the Lodge, to become an Occasional Lodge, thereby, operating and being governed under the following regulations:

(a) Members, as defined in Section 4-401E, having no indebtedness to the lodge [(certified by the lodge Master and Secretary) Cross-Reference: By-Laws, Sec14.], at the time of Revocation or Surrender of the lodge charter may request a Certificate of Transfer. Cross-Reference: By-Laws, Secs. 4-401, 4-401A, 4-401 B, 4-401 C, 4-404, 4-405, 4-406, 4-407. (b) Members may request to and obtain from the Grand Secretary a Dues Card identifying him as a Member at Large in lieu of a Certificate of Transfer as in 4-401E (a) .

Proposed By-Law Changes

(c) Upon receipt of an annual fee of $100 (one hundred dollars), which includes the current per-capita tax, which shall be paid to Grand Lodge such Membership at Large Dues Card will be executed by the Grand Secretary, or his designee. The Council of Administration shall review and set current Dues as needed on an annual basis. (d) Members who have been suspended, for other than as a result of Masonic Trial or by taking a demit, may request Membership at Large by paying the annual fee set forth in section 4-401(c) and a check for the Per Capita Tax the number of years of service they wish to redeem.

Cross-Reference: By-Laws, Sec. 4-316. (e) Those members holding Prepaid Perpetual Life Memberships will be transferred to and including, their PPLM deposits to the Grand Lodge.

PPLM members will be exempt from such fees as set forth in Section 4-401E, (c). (f ) Members at Large are not eligible to hold any elected or appointed office within this Grand Jurisdiction. (g) All other Constitution and By-Laws shall apply to a Member at Large with the exception of those listed above.

Rationale: The focus of all Brothers in the purview of the M.W. Grand Lodge of Kansas should be to maintain and retain as many members of the fraternity as possible. As age and its related effects cause Lodge membership to dwindle to the point the Lodge can no longer meet and distance to travel to consolidate with another Lodge has been an issue many Brothers are forced to demit or otherwise leave the Fraternity. This causes a loss of Ambassador’s to their community that can shine the Light of Masonry to prospective members. By creating this membership it is possible that former members in good standing could rejoin the Brotherhood and aid us in rebuilding the Fraternity in their communities.

Therefore I believe this by-law change should be adopted.

Respectfully Submitted, Vincent Tracey, Past Master, Lafayette Lodge #16

1. Required to hold at least four stated meetings annually, one of which will be an Annual communication to elect and install a Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden and a Secretary/Treasurer, in the month of December before the 15th day.

2. Send a copy of the minutes of this Annual Stated Communication within 30 days to the Grand Secretary.

3. The Grand Secretary will be responsible to see that the notice of Annual Communication and Dues Notice are mailed to each member of the Occasional Lodge and that the dues shall be returned to the Grand Secretary’s, office for filing.

4. The records of the Occasional Lodge shall be maintained by the lodge. in the Grand Lodge Office with copies being sent to the Lodge Secretary, who, also, will be responsible for sending any communications he receives immediately to the Grand Secretary, keeping a copy of the same for the lodge records.

5. The fee for this service shall be $10 per member, plus customary charges for materials provided by Grand Lodge, and per capita tax being retained by the Grand Secretary and the balance being forwarded to the Secretary/Treasurer and acknowledgment of receipt the payment being sent to the Grand Secretary.

6. All other Constitution and By-Laws shall apply in the governing of the Occasional Lodge with the exception of those listed above. (Amended 2006) 4-410A. Occasional Lodges—Optional Dues Collection and Reporting—An Occasional Lodge may, at its option, choose to waive items #3, #4 and #5 in By-Law 4-410 by collecting its own dues, and making all reports and payments required by Grand Lodge, Provided the payments and reports are made by the established deadlines.

Rationale: The current by laws surrounding an occasional lodge bread but one path for most of those lodges, consolidation or revocation of their charter. If a lodge is allowed by the by laws to meet only once annually, what kind of functioning lodge is it really? The answer is easy, it is not. If a lodge is incapable of billing for and collecting their own members’ dues, what value does that bringing to the lodge, it’s own members or the community?

I understand the premises by which the original by law was formed, which was noble, giving these small nonfunctioning lodges a platform to maintain their lodge in name only, allowing for their lodge name to be printed on their dues card years after the lodge has stopped functioning. Many time when lodges are approached about consolidation, they are very reluctant, and almost bitter that the subject has been broached with them. Many sight that they do not want to let down their forefathers by consolidating with another lodge, but there is little to celebrate by them hanging on by a thread just to have their lodge name to be continually printed on a dues card.

The proposed changes to this by law only hold a lodge accountable for their own actions or lack thereof. If a lodge is incapable of meeting those simple, minimal requirements, perhaps they should reevaluate their stature as a lodge.

Respectfully submitted, Tracy L. Bloom, Past Master, Salina Lodge #60

18 THE KANSAS MASON

GRAND LODGE

By Michael Johnson II, ADGM

t he M entor’s G avel

In the First Degree of Masonry, the Common Gavel is used by the operative Mason “to break off the corners of rough stones,” or by the speculative Mason, to divest “our minds and consciences of all the vices and superfluities of life.” In this degree, we are taught that the “rough ashlar” symbolically alludes to ourselves, as imperfect stones to be shaped into that perfect ashlar we hope to become.

Making ourselves better suited for the plan the Grand Architect has written down in our Book of Life.

These metaphors are outstanding concepts we should all hold dear to our heart, as we will not travel very far on our Masonic journey without them.

However, there is an additional perspective

we have a profound effect on those around

strike there with that gavel begins the work

on the Gavel not often considered that is

us: intentional and unintentional. The latter

that will form that stone into a square, in

equally important. We will never traverse

will result if proper thought is not invested

ourselves, as well as others. It is no accident

the road of life, and find joy in doing so,

in to relationships, and the results will be

that this working tool is introduced in the

without the helping hand and guidance

unknown. That is not the goal. Instead, the

Entered Apprentice degree, since that is the

of those around us. Our Brothers are

prize is the positive, successful relation-

beginning of our Masonic journey that will

specifically suited for this purpose, as they

ships that witness the personal and fraternal

offer spiritual and moral growth.

have obligated themselves to a lifetime

success of Brothers that occur because of

endeavor to do so. Deep consideration

insightful, intentional interactions which

our actions, a wrong word or an uninten-

of this concept reveals the Gavel we each

place others first. We accomplish this by

tional action will cause that stone to fracture

hold has a dual purpose. The first is to our

using that gavel we have come to know so

and break, thereby losing a potential

own “rough ashlar,” but the second is to

well through the introspection and improve-

contributing member of our great Frater-

all those around us whom we call family,

ment of ourselves. Remember, to be a

nity. This is indeed a weighty responsibility,

friends and Brothers.

mentor we must be intimately familiar with

as the skill required to make those calcu-

our own positive and negative attributes,

lated strikes is considerable. To do so, it is

ously and live in the manner our Fraternity

and only the experience this process affords

important to understand the gavel’s use and

teaches through its several lectures and cer-

will enable us to effectively mentor those

how it is wielded by the Craftsman’s hand.

emonies, it is important to understand that

around us. A slight tap here and a calculated

Depending on the task, our Brethren have

Brothers who take our obligations seri-

If we don’t consider the consequences of

SPRING 2017 19

GRAND LODGE

The Mentor's Gavel

utilized a few different types of gavels. We

While a Mentor is not

ing tools of an Entered Apprentice. It is

have seen the more honorary type gavels

restricted to the

used by operative masons to break off the

used in our Lodges that resemble those

exclusive use of this

corners of rough ashlars and thus fit them

used by judges. This type of gavel has two flat surfaces and represents authority. There

gavel, it is the working

the better for the builder’s use. It is not adapted to giving polish or ornamentation

is also the maul, which is flat on its top and

tool used on candidates

is used to strike the chisel that forms the

at the beginning of their

ize only that training of the new Freemason

rough ashlar into a perfect ashlar. Then,

Masonic journey. After

which is designed to give some limited skill

there is the gavel that has one flat surface,

all, it is not even known

and moral training.”1 The common gavel is

with the other side being a pyramid-shaped cone used to strike and form a stone into that rough ashlar we contemplate in our

yet if they are a good fit or are willing to invest

to the stone, and hence it should symbol-

not designed for the precision necessary to make those stones perfect. It has a conical shape at one end that is unable to make

ritual. That is the gavel we use to take men

the time necessary to

perfect strikes that flake off rough areas and

who want to enter our Lodge and hone

gain proficiency in our

make them smooth. It is slightly unwieldy

them into that rough ashlar that will eventu-

degrees. This determina-

and is the first tool used by the operative

ally support our Fraternity.

tion should have

Mason to begin the formation of a rough

While a Mentor is not restricted to the exclusive use of this gavel, it is the working

occurred throughout the

ashlar. After which, the craftsman will use the chisel and maul to smooth that stone.

tool used on candidates at the beginning

investigation process,

of their Masonic journey. After all, it is not

yet it is not always clear

Apprentice degree is no different. It is

even known yet if they are a good fit or are

until the degree work.

introduced at a time when we are rough,

The Common Gavel of the Entered

willing to invest the time necessary to gain

and young in our masonic journey. We are

proficiency in our degrees. This determina-

just not simply rough ashlars ready to be

tion should have occurred throughout the

is with the present day speculative Mason

molded, without any investment; that is

investigation process, yet it is not always

who mentors candidates; he does not know

very naïve indeed. The rough ashlar must be

clear until the degree work. To exemplify

what type of person he is dealing with until

formed, just as that perfect ashlar is worked

this in the analogous perspective of our

he begins the mentoring process. As that

over a lifetime. The Mentor is there to help

ancient Brethren, the operative Mason had

relationship grows, the Mentor will grasp

the candidate understand this process -- to

to know the type of stone he was working

the proper techniques and skills required to

help him understand what type of stone he

with to determine the proper skills, tech-

successfully mentor that candidate. At that

is and how to best proceed to teach him

niques and processes to shape that ashlar

point, he starts to form the rough ashlar

and mentor him to learn and utilize the

into the necessary building block required

that will eventually smooth and be “fitted

proper skills and techniques to grow spiritu-

to precisely fit with adjacent stones. To

for the builder’s use.”

ally and morally. That is how the Mentor’s

accomplish this, the Mason must under-

This perspective is not readily visible in

stand how the different types of igneous,

the everyday consideration of our lectures.

at that gavel and consider its use, please

sedimentary and metamorphic stones are

In fact, one must look specifically at the

take a moment to ponder what your action,

formed and the unique consideration each

types of gavels employed in antiquity, as

or inaction, does to others.

requires. How hard to strike that stone

mentioned previously. According to Masonic

and at what angle, as well as a plethora of

scholar Paul Bessel, “Freemasons are taught

other details only experience reveals. So it

that the common gavel is one of the work-

20 THE KANSAS MASON

gavel is employed. The next time you look

1 Bessel, Paul M., Gavels in Freemasonry. February 1995. Found at bessel.org/gavels.html

GRAND LODGE

By Anthony W. “Tony” Borum, OM, GSD

The Beauty of

uunity:

Masonic History Made, in Kansas!

When a man is made a Mason, he sets out on a special journey.

The Grand Lodge of Kansas and The Prince Hall Grand Lodge

All Masons are on a personal path to become better versions of

of Kansas has had, and enjoyed, joint recognition between our

themselves. Along that path, we encounter many emotional and

two Grand Lodges for more than 20 years. Our past, and present,

solemn moments that remind us why we joined our great Fraternity.

Grand Masters and leaders believe our goals and objectives run

Sometimes, it is when we witness Masonic Charity. Sometimes it is

parallel with each other and cannot be ignored. In March, our two

when we teach, learn or perform a particular part of our solemn

great Fraternities joined together in Topeka to rededicate the State

ritual. Most will admit that it is when we share in Masonic fellowship.

Capitol building on its 150th anniversary. This historic event inspired

It is when we truly accept each other as Brothers, and as equals.

our Grand Lodges to become more involved, more connected and

Each time we hear the lectures in the First Degree we are reminded

closer in brotherhood.

of the tenets of our profession. They are BROTHERLY LOVE,

The “Joint Raising” idea was born from meetings and discussions

RELIEF AND TRUTH. These tenets are not secrets. These tenets

over the years because, as a whole, most Masons know little about

are not written in code. They are clear and cannot be misconstrued.

the differences we have in our rituals when we open and close

We are frequently reminded that, “by the exercise of brotherly love

our meetings or to make new Masons. Our desire to witness each

we are taught to regard the whole human species as one family.”

other’s rituals has always been a respectful curiosity to learn more

SPRING 2017 21

about each other culturally, socially and

When asked, Worshipful Master Shawn

went to work to make the next big mark in

especially, Fraternally.

Cardin of Wyandotte Lodge No. 3 offered

our long fraternal relationship.

his labors and his lodge facilities with no

On November 19, 2016, our two Grand

meeting in August to lay the groundwork for

hesitation. He suggested that a festive board

Lodges of Kansas came together for this

this historic collaboration. Committees were

be offered to all, before the event.

historic Joint Raising. The Most Worshipful

Our Grand Masters called a leadership

The expected attendance for the event

Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. & A.M. and the

selected. It was agreed that our sitting Grand

was for around 100 or more. Summonses

Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M

Lodge Officers would perform their respec-

were sent. A link to the event, for all Master

was set to confer the Master Mason degree

tive duties. A special, limited edition Breast

Masons to register, was placed on our

upon two Fellow Crafts at Wyandotte

Jewel was commissioned to commemorate

Grand Lodge Website and shared through-

Lodge No. 3.

the historic event, which would be offered

out the state on social media. The Trestle

for sale only to those Brothers in attendance.

Board was set. The leaders of our Craft

appointed, the site and date was tentatively

22 THE KANSAS MASON

As the temple doors opened to welcome Masons from all over the state, all Masons

GRAND LODGE

If you want an idea

The Beauty of Unity

of how entering could not help but feel a certain

is not only setting the example for other

Masonic pride and emotional connection to

jurisdictions, Freemasonry in Kansas are liv-

one another. Brothers, greeting each other

ing examples of what masonry is and what

as Brothers, who have never met. It was in

the future of freemasonry around the world

anticipation of the opportunity to see the

should be.

beautiful similarities and beautiful subtle-

WM Richard Sodders of Delaware Lodge

ties of our rituals and to celebrate their

would later comment in a Facebook post,

differences.

“What a Beautiful Degree that was dem-

After sharing a great meal, Grand Master

onstrated by both Grand Lodges. I am so

Lyn E. Beyer presented a check for $6,210

proud to be a Kansas Mason. I am still in

to Grand Master Larry Coleman in support

awe to this Historic occasion. I pray and

of the Prince Hall Masonic Foundation in

hope other jurisdictions follow our example

appreciation of their share in the very suc-

of how Brothers should meet on the level.”

cessful Kansas Masonic Foundation classic car raffle.

Prince Hall Brother, Eddie Brown said, in a Facebook post following the event, “That

The stage was set. As the lodge room

was the most beautiful thing that you could

began to fill, the conferring officers began

witness. The love that you felt, not the one

to plan for the raising of two brothers at

that you see the love that you felt from ev-

once as the room became smaller and

eryone in that building. If you didn’t attend

smaller due to the larger than anticipated

you missed a blessing and thank God for

attendance. When all Grand Lodge Officers

the closeness of Brothers coming together

were in their stations and places, and Master

as one. Thank you Grand Masters for your

Masons in their seats, the Grand Masters

faithfulness.”

welcomed the assembled Brothers, offered

If you want an idea of how important this

words of wisdom and history was made. It

event was to our Craft, in Kansas, the Na-

was a special setting that those Brothers

tion and the World, one must simply log on

in the room will remember for the rest of

to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Kansas or

their days.

The Kansas Grand Lodge Facebook pages.

Even after our two new Master Masons

The numbers are staggering. As of the

were raised, the closing prayer was given,

writing of this article, a candid video of our

pictures were taken and the historic ledger

two Grand Masters of Kansas chatting prior

was being signed, Brethren who would

to the degree work, has generated (554)

normally remove their aprons and disap-

likes, (54) comments, (688) shares, (51.4K)

pear into the night to travel home, stayed.

views and (128,466) people reached. Many

No one seemed to want the evening to

other posts, on both pages, and many oth-

end. The lodge room lights remained on as

ers around our state, feature pictures and

Brothers enjoyed each other’s fellowship

comments from Masons, and non-Masons all

and asked each other that important ques-

around the globe.

tion, “Why can’t this type of activity happen in other jurisdictions?” Kansas Freemasonry

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity!”

IMPORTANT

this event was to our Craft, in Kansas, the Nation and the World, one must simply log on to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Kansas or The Kansas Grand Lodge Facebook pages.

The numbers are

STAGGERING. As of the writing of this article,

a candid video of our two Grand Masters of Kansas chatting prior to the degree work,

has generated

(603) likes,

(55)

comments,

(733)

shares,

(57.3K)

views and

(139,916)

people reached.

SPRING 2017 23

FEATURE ARTICLE

By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff

Until Death Do Us Part

The theme of this issue is “Kansas Mason for Life?”

The young couple on the front cover gaze lovingly into each other’s eyes.

Perhaps they expect their marriage will survive until “death do us part,” One of the concluding promises of traditional wedding vows.

A lofty aspiration, but not one that is supported by U.S. divorce statistics.

Does the Kansas Masons’ commitment to the Fraternity fare better in longevity than American marriages?

The recently completed results of a Kansas Brotherhood survey conclude “yes.”

In fact, Masonic life-time commitment to Freemasonry is enthusiastic and overwhelming.

O

ver 3,000 members responded to

percent of Master Masons have belonged

cited in the survey are Brotherly Relations

the questionnaire mailed in mid-

to the Fraternity for more than 40 years.

(37.6%), the Blue Lodge is Home Lodge,

November. The survey focused on

Nearly three-quarters of respondents

(26.3%), and Fraternal family ties (24.5%).

member behavior, attitudes, expectations,

affiliated with the Fraternity became

Though each of these factors is distinct,

and willingness to support their Blue Lodge

Master Masons more than 20 years ago.

they combine to create a similar theme.

and the Grand Lodge financially. The

This type of longevity for fraternal and

Life-long commitment is created by strong

demographics and responses from this

civic organizations is unparalleled. What

bonds forged through a shared experience

most recent survey are consistent with

magnet attracts and retains Kansas Masons

with friends, generations within a family,

a study of active and dropped Masons

for such an extended period? Why do

and a sense that the Lodge provides each

undertaken in 2014. The 3,000 responses

they continue to hold membership in

member with positive opportunities for

gathered in this recent research allow

their Blue Lodge? The top three factors

growth and community contributions.

for a closer analysis of members by age, geographic location, and Blue Lodge involvement. More importantly it explains how the Kansas Masonic experience, similar to a strong marriage, creates a life-long commitment to the Brotherhood.

Now and Forever Approximately how long have Kansas Masons belonged to the Fraternity? The chart below (Chart 1) indicates that 45

24 THE KANSAS MASON

Chart 1

AVERAGE ATTENDANCE AT BLUE LODGE MEETINGS 47.7%

Don’t attend 14.8%

1-3 times 4-6 times 7-10 times More than 10 times Total 100%

5.4% 7.7% 24.2%

continued investment.

A member’s age is probably the most important determinant for attendance at Blue Lodge. Respondents were sorted into four groups, youngest to oldest. Each group contains 25 percent of members surveyed.

The chart below (Chart 2) illustrates Blue Lodge annual attendance by age grouping.

As members grow older they are less likely to participate in meetings. The attendance drop-off correlates with the age ranges in each group. The youngest age range includes members 60 or younger. Nearly a third of these members attend their Blue Lodge at least 10 times annually. That rate drops continuously as ages increase. Kansas Masons who are 81 or older are less than 15 percent likely to visit their Blue Lodge 10 or more times annually.

To Have and to Hold The strongest factor that attracts men to the Fraternity is family ties. Almost 79 percent of members who submitted responses indicated that past or present family members were Masons. Historically, family ties are, and will continue to be, an important recruitment

In Sickness and in Health

their Blue Lodge through dues payments.

tool for the Fraternity. For many Master

Nearly half of all respondents do not

Regardless of distance, health issues, and

Masons, the physical structure of the Blue

attend Blue Lodge Meetings annually. Many

competing priorities, these Masons believe

Lodge is central for member retention.

non-attendees report that they are not

that the work of the Fraternity merits their

About 65 percent of members reported

within driving distance, while 34.4 percent indicate that health issues are a hindrance to attending Blue Lodge. Some no-shows indicate that “other interests� contend for their time. Although this lack of attendance at Blue Lodge can be seen as a negative, there is also a highly positive perspective.

Despite not participating in meetings, nearly half the membership continues to support

Chart 2

ATTEND LODGE MEETINGS 10 OR MORE TIMES ANNUALLY 32%

Age 60 and younger 28.6%

Age 61-70 23%

Age 71-80 Age 81 and older

14.7%

SPRING 2017 25

FEATURE ARTICLE

Until Death Do Us Part

that the Blue Lodge owned its building; this

reported “very fulfilling” while 36 percent

support general expenses. None of those

figure is no doubt higher since 18 percent

indicated “somewhat fulfilling.” This

proposals received a majority of support,

were unsure of ownership status. Almost 90

provides a combined positive response of

and older Masons were more adamant in

percent of members indicated that owning

over 75% fulfillment within the Fraternity.

their rejection. Based on another survey

their Lodge was important to them. These

Age, which has shown a significant bearing

conducted by Q&A Research in 2014,

members reinforced their commitment

on survey responses, had very little impact

members would prefer a Grand Lodge

to ownership, with 72 percent indicating

on fulfillment levels among members. The

initiative that increased new members,

that they would provide additional financial

top level of fulfillment was 40 percent

rather than having existing members pay

support for Lodge maintenance.

or more in all age ranges. When asked

additional dues.

What Lodge experiences are most

whether the Kansas Masonic Foundation

important for members who attend

(KMF) supported their Lodge, 65 percent

Final Thoughts

Blue Lodge at least four times annually?

provided a “yes” response; the assessment

All the data gathered from this survey

Masons were asked to evaluate different

of KMF support to individual Masons rose

supports the conclusion that when Kansas

Lodge experiences and rate each on a

to 82 percent. In addition to this high

Masons join the Fraternity, their intent

rising scale from zero to four. The top

level of support for the Foundation, 57

is to be a part of Freemasonry, “now

four experiences in order of highest

percent of member surveyed indicated

and forever.” This attitude of life-long

ranking included: Ritualistic work (2.88),

that the Grand Lodge was important to

membership is evidenced by the average

Community involvement (2.76), Masonic

Freemasonry in Kansas.

age within the organization, the percent

education (2.73), and Charity (2.67).

of the Fraternity whose involvement

(Chart 3) Proficiency in Masonic Work was

For Richer, For Poorer

surpasses 40 years, and the high level of

“important” or “somewhat important” to

About half the members responding to this

fulfillment throughout the Kansas Masons

more than 80 percent of the membership.

survey were older than 71. None of those

regardless of age.

However, 30 percent of those same

Masons may fit into the category of “poor,”

members reported being “not at all”

but most of this age group lives on a fixed

existence, Kansas Masons need to focus

proficient in this area. Few members

income. Due to low interest rates for much

on more than just keeping the existing

indicated that unfamiliarity with ritual

of the recent past, many seniors are very

membership loyal, engaged and fulfilled.

inhibited their attendance at meetings.

cautious on how they spend their money.

New and younger Masons are needed

There were several survey questions that

to broaden the appeal of Masonry to

To Love and to Cherish

dealt with increasing dues. These included

their peers. This may involve reaching

Asked to evaluate their level of fulfillment

paying for a Kansas Masonic Library and

beyond existing family affiliations to

from Masonic membership, 41 percent

Museum and a proposal to double dues to

young men who have minimal knowledge

For the organization’s continued

about Masonic rituals and history, but are Chart 3

impressed by the values of the Masons

MOST IMPORTANT BLUE LODGE EXPERIENCES Rated from a Low of Zero to a High of Four Ritualistic work

Mean 2.88

Community Involvement

2.76

Masonic education

2.73

Charity

26 THE KANSAS MASON

2.67

they meet. The involvement, contributions, and retention of life-long members is a sparkling jewel for all to admire. To advance this accomplishment beyond just another generation or two, a substantial rejuvenation of membership numbers and age composition will be essential.

SEND IN YOUR FULL AMOUNT TODAY TO GUARANTEE YOUR SPOT! Students must be sponsored by a Lodge or other Masonic body.

We are limited to 225 students.

Students must be enrolled as High School Freshmen, Sophomore, Junior or Senior as of Sept. 1, 2017, or be a member of the graduating Class of 2017.

LODGE OF RESEARCH

By John G. Crary, Past Master Hancock No.311, Senior Warden Kansas Lodge of Research and Grand Lecturer

Enabling The Masonic Explorer In All Of Us. Kansas Lodge of Research was established in 1982 to conduct research, gather and preserve Masonic information, supply speakers, and enhance Grand Lodge endeavors to promote Masonic Education. In this article Bro. Herb Merrick explores the background of the first Master of his Lodge and reveals the high ‘caliber’ of an Army artillery officer who received the military’s most prestigious combat decoration. Perhaps your lodge has had brothers with extraordinary accomplishments.

Submit your findings to klor@kansasmason.org or see our web page at kansasmason.org.

The Perfect Points of my Entrance Of all the lessons, guides, laws, rules, usages, customs, traditions, land marks and regulations of the Masonic Brotherhood, the definition of just what the Perfect Points of my Entrance are is not readily apparent or directly explained. The Senior Warden refers to them in opening and closing a Lodge of Entered Apprentices, and they are eloquently discussed in the third section of the Entered Apprentice degree lecture.

A big question of what are they and what are they teaching continues among our Craft.

The idea of Points of Entry has been woven in our ritual for centuries. Within The Edinburgh Register House MS, of 1696, we find questions and answers our early fraternity used. Note: The original early English spelling is used.

Q: 1 Are you a mason?

intriguing. “Entered” is in the past tense leading us to believe that

Answer: yes

the event has already taken place. The answer is equally thought

Q: 2 How shall I know it?

provoking. Our ancient brother was entered “at” the lodge and not “in” the lodge. Does this wording indicate that something “entered”

Answer: you shall know it in time and place convenient.

the candidate, or that the candidate “entered” into something? It is

(Remark the fore said answer is only to be made when there is company

very possible the answer is both. In that one historic evening a poor

present who are not masons but if there be no such company by, you

blind man, trapped in darkness, indulged in the vices and superflui-

should answer) by signes tokens and other points of entrie

ties of life, aimlessly wandering in the wasteland of ignorance and

Q: 3 What is your first point?

spiritual non-fulfillment, receives the greatest gift our Grand Master can bestow, He gave him Light.

Answer: Tell me the first point ile tell you the second, The first is to

Later in the Edinburgh Register House MS of 1696, one finds the

heill and conceall, second, under no less pain, which is then cutting

heading “Some questions that masons use to put to those who have

of your throat, (For you must make that sign, when you say that)

ye word before they will acknowledge them.” Surely this reference

Q: 4 Where wes you entered?

Answer: At the honourable lodge.

This last question and answer is astonishing. Look at the question.

Where wes, read “was” or “were” you entered? The tense used is

28 THE KANSAS MASON

indicates that Masons have, for at least the last 320 years, required of each other certain words to prove Masonic affiliation. This is starting to hurt our heads; one can find it curious that for more than 300 years, the Perfect Points have been present. However, nowhere in our degrees are they mentioned except in the first section

Temperance

Fortitude

lecture of that degree and in the opening

therefore is the

element associ-

and closing of the same. Coil’s Masonic

virtue we employ

ated with this

Encyclopedia and several other references

to subdue our pas-

virtue is earth.

offer definitions that include, “They are so

sions and maintain

The rock solid

called because they refer to four important

our composure.

earth beneath our

points of initiation. The Guttural refers to

The officer of

feet reminds us to

the entrance upon the penal responsibili-

the lodge charged

fear not and stand

ties; the Pectoral, to the entrance into the

with overseeing

our ground.

Lodge; the Manual, to the entrance on the

this virtue is the

covenant; and the Pedal, to the entrance on

Junior Warden.

the lodge con-

the instruction in the northeast.”

It is his duty to

nected to this

supervise the Craft

virtue is the Senior

during hours of

Warden. The

OK, we think we now understand it.

The Guttural refers to the throat; yes, that

The officer of

makes perfect sense. The Pectoral refer-

refreshment and see that none overindulge.

Senior Warden is the “pillar of strength”

ences the chest or breast; yes, we are all on

The sign is Guttural and is appropriate in

within the lodge. Discharging the duties of the

board with that. The Manual refers to the

that the spoken word is how we form our

Senior Warden requires fortitude to see the

hands and the candidate’s covenant to the

language and communicate with each other.

Craft are paid their fair wages and the will and

Craft; again, we all may agree with that line

Also the Guttural is the pathway whereby

pleasure of the Worshipful Master is duly ex-

of thought. The Pedal to the feet and the in-

we nourish our bodies with food and drink.

ecuted. A well-trained and dedicated Senior

struction in the northeast, and again, follow-

Every good Mason has promised his Broth-

Warden ensures the lodge can aggressively

ing that logic is not difficult. The question

ers to keep our secrets unviolated and safe.

address all challenges which may arise within

left to answer is how do the signs associated

Temperance reminds us to stay vigilant and

the chambers or those that cause an alarm at

with each of these points equate to the four

not come to the allurements of vice, which

the door.

cardinal virtues. Let’s look at each one and

can too easily lead us into overindulgence

see if we can find the connection.

in merriment and drink and that can lead to

ring to the chest or breast. In the chest is

impairment of our faculties.

housed the heart, which is the seat of cour-

TEMPERANCE

The sign of this virtue is Pectoral, refer-

age. It reminds us to always remain true and steadfast to the order and never reveal our

Temperance is to teach us to never overin-

FORTITUDE

dulge in any activity that may impair our judg-

Fortitude is that virtue that enables us to

ment or cause us to sufficiently lose our inhi-

endure the trials, dangers, pain, and perils

bitions that we could be drawn into revealing

of life and reminds us to remain steadfast to

PRUDENCE

any of the Masonic secrets we have prom-

our principals and fear not even the possibil-

Prudence is the ability of man to exercise

ised to forever conceal. In esoteric Masonry

ity of meeting with death. It instills us with

sound judgment. Saint Thomas Aquinas said

the element associated with temperance is

courage to be on constant guard against any

it best. “You cannot exercise sound judgment

fire. When man learned to temper metal, he

attack or act of tomfoolery to extort from

without wisdom, knowledge and insight.

discovered the extreme properties of fire

us our Masonic secrets. Society throughout

Therefore, prudence is the father of all

greatly improved the strength of that metal.

the ages has always benefitted from men

virtues because you must employ yourself in

As the harsh nature of fire transforms metal,

with the fortitude instilled in them to boldly

the study of the world and of God in order

so too do the ills, pitfalls and harshness of life

face the evils, dangers and challenges that

to gain wisdom, knowledge and insight.”

temper our minds and resolve. Temperance

assails him both without and within. The

continued on page 59

fraternal secrets to non-masons.

SPRING 2017 29

LODGE OF RESEARCH

By John G. Crary, Past Master Hancock No.311, Senior Warden Kansas Lodge of Research and Grand Lecturer

O

Insight Into Leader, Teacher John Thomas Kennedy n a crisp fall day in September 1969 in

West Point Military Academy, he joined the

Section 7 of Arlington National Cem-

class of 1908 in the fall of 1904. Kennedy

etery, one of our least known but greatest

graduated 43rd in a class of 108 in what has

teachers and leaders of the mid-twentieth

been known as the Valentine Class, it being

century American Army was laid to eternal

commissioned on the 14th of February four

rest. No more fitting place

months earlier than normal.

could be found for one of

He was “branched” cavalry and

our nation's great heroes

assigned to the 6th Regiment

than immediately next to

then served in Jolo, Philippines,

the Tomb of the Unknowns.

where he immediately found

But, many pass his marker

himself engaged in the suppres-

every day without noticing it.

sion of the Moro Insurrection.

Highly respected by many of

On Independence Day 1909, he

the most well-known military

led a small section

leaders, John Thomas Kennedy impacted

of troops against

history with a quiet professionalism that is

a suborn group of

the hallmark of greater leaders and teach-

Moros in a fortified

ers. He led by example, demanding the highest standards of those around him and displaying them himself. Known for abso-

Section 7, Lot 10076

cave system on the Island of Patian.

Although severely wounded, Kennedy

lute honesty, and as a man of great humor

continued to lead and rally his men until

and wit, he always did what he was asked

the enemy was defeated. He would carry

and exceeded the expectations of even the

the scars of this battle throughout his life.

most demanding task masters. He was a

It would also mark him within the service,

Kansas Mason.

as he would be awarded the Medal of

He was born in Hendersonville, S.C.,

Honor by President William H. Taft in the

on July 22, 1885. Completing his public

White House. This action also resulted in

schooling in Orangeburg, S.C., he began

the award of the Purple Heart Medal. He

his military education at “The Citadel” in

would return to the White House in 1967

1903. Upon receiving an appointment to the

to be present at the awarding of the Medal

30 THE KANSAS MASON

Meeting of the Military Tribunal Kennedy is on the right in the corner by the windows.

Others present: Brigadier General John T. Lewis; Major General Lorenzo D. Casser; Major General Walter S. Grant; Major General Frank R. McCoy, president of the commission; Major General Blanton Winship; Brigadier General Guy V. Henry; Brigadier General John T. Kennedy

May 24, 1943 From left to right, Brigadier General John T. Kennedy, Commanding General at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, is standing outside with Captain Blanche P. Cline, commanding officer 37th WAAC Post Headquarters Company at Fort Bragg; Colonel Lathrop B. Clapham, Chief of the Personnel Ddivision, Fourth Service Command; Mrs. Grace Kempton, WAAC Publicity Director; Captain Westray Battle Boyce, Fourth Service Command WAAC Director and Lieutenant Bess Sheppard, WAAC Special Service Officer.

of Honor to another South Carolinian,

train in his adopted branch was quickly rec-

Lieutenant Charles Q. Williams, for action

ognized by the Army’s senior leadership and

battling other insurgents.

earned him an appointment as the Director

Never one to rest, Kennedy continued

of Instruction at the Artillery Training Cen-

to participate in actions in the Philippines

ter at De Coetquidan. In July 1918, he was

before being transferred to the Mexican

temporarily appointed a Lieutenant Colonel

border, first as part of the Funston’s occu-

and given command of the 5th Artillery

pation of Vera Cruz in 1914 and then with

during the famous battles of Soissons, St.

Pershing’s Punitive Expedition in 1916. Upon

Mihiel and Meuse Argonne during which he

his return, he was assigned as an instructor

supported the 2nd, 42nd and 81st Divisions.

at Fort Leavenworth and served briefly at

For his service in France he was awarded

Fort Riley with the School of Application of

the Distinguished Service Medal , Silver Star

Cavalry the forerunner to the Command

Medal and the French Republic’s Etoile Noir.

and General Staff College. In 1917, Kennedy

Upon Major Kennedy’s return to the

1945 Yearbook Tribute to Ft. Bragg - AfricanAmerican WAAC's, German POW's, more Item #: 6-7982

transferred from the Cavalry to the Field

United States, he returned to teaching and

Artillery and was assigned to the 7th Regi-

became the Director of Tactics for the

ment 1st Artillery Brigade, 1st Infantry Divi-

School of Artillery at Fort Sill. During the

current and future leaders of the Army. In

sion. He transferred to the 5th Regiment

lean years between the World Wars, it was

1923, he was selected to attend the Com-

and with them deployed to France. Initially

in the training centers that the Army kept

mand and General Staff College, from which

engaged as an acting battalion commander

its brightest lights -- men like Kennedy who

he graduated with honors in 1924 and was

in the fighting around Nancy, his ability to

had proven they could shape and mold the

selected to remain as an instructor in tactics

1 https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/citations8.html accessed 25 May 2016 2 Cullum No. 4684 Class of 1908; BG William J. Thompson, Association of WestPoint Graduates http://apps.westpointaog.org/Memorials/Article/4684/ accessed 25 May, 2016 3 https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/citations8.html FIRST LIEUTENANT CHARLES Q. WILLIAMS, UNITED STATES ARMY, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, distinguished himself on 9-10 June 1965 while serving as the Executive Officer of the Special Forces Camp at Dong Xoai, Republic of Vietnam, when the camp was attacked by a Viet Cong reinforced regiment. Lieutenant Williams organized personnel, determined where the source of the enemy’s main thrust was, and then led his men to their defensive positions. Running to the District Headquarters to establish communications with his commanding officer, he discovered the radio was not operational. When attempting to reach the other compound, he was halted by intense enemy fire and sustained a shrapnel wound in his leg. Ignoring his wound, he returned to District Headquarters where he directed the defense against the first assault. As the insurgents scaled the walls and some of the Vietnamese defenders began to retreat, he dashed from his position through a barrage of gunfire, successfully rallying the defenders and leading them back to their positions. Wounded in the thigh and left leg during this action, Lieutenant Williams returned to his position where he was told that communications had been reestablished, but that his commanding officer was seriously wounded. Taking charge of both compounds, he attempted to reach the communications bunker, but again was wounded, this time in the stomach and right arm. As casualties mounted and the defenders tired, Lieutenant Williams consolidated the defense at the District building and adjusted air strikes on the advancing enemy. The men, inspired by his courage, held off the advancing Viet Cong throughout the night. At daylight Lieutenant Williams and another volunteer worked their way south of the Headquarters where they disabled an enemy machine gun emplacement. While returning, Lieutenant Williams and his comrade were wounded and he pulled his comrade to cover. Back at the District building, he ensured the evacuation of the wounded men and directed air strikes. By afternoon, the Viet Cong began firing directly into the building and Lieutenant Williams ordered all seriously wounded personnel moved to a bunker. When rescue arrived, he led his team to the landing zone, and evacuated the wounded.

4 War Department, General Orders Number 39, 1920. “For exceptionally meritorious and conspicuous services. As a regimental commander during the St. Mihiel offensive and the Meuse-Argonne offensive, he displayed conspicuous efficiency, marked aggressiveness, and leadership. By his exceptional technical and executive ability he solved many perplexing problems, although much handicapped by losses in men, materiel, and animals. He at all times rendered invaluable support to the attacking Infantry and proved to be a material factor in the result achieved.”

5 10,000 FAMOUS FREEMASONS Volume III K – P; Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc. Richmond, Virginia copyright, I957, William R. Denslow 6 Historical Treasurers Found in Bragg Albums, Fayetteville Observer, Roy Parker, Jr. April 23, 1995.

7 Terrorism and the Law of War: Trying Terrorists as War Criminals be for Military Commissions, Congressional Research Study Report for Congress Jennifer Elsea, Legislative Attorney American Law Division; December 11, 2001.

SPRING 2017 31

LODGE OF RESEARCH

at the college. It was during this sojourn that

nedy could get things done, Hugh A. Drum

he became an active member of the frater-

commander of the First U.S. Army immedi-

nity, joining Hancock Lodge No. 311 as well

ately requested that the actual assumption

as the Army Consistory of the Scottish Rite.

of command be delayed until the Carolina

His next assignment found him as the Com-

Maneuvers were completed. General Drum

mandant and Professor of Military Tactics

felt the readiness of the artillery of the First

of the Field Artillery at Alabama Polytechnic

Army rested heavily upon the leadership

Institute, now known as Auburn University.

and training of Kennedy. Finally, on Decem-

From Auburn he went to the War College

ber 2, 1941, he became the commander

and then the Army Staff in Washington,

of Fort Bragg, the second largest training

D.C. Upon his promotion in 1932 to Lieu-

center for artillery after Fort Sill and the

tenant Colonel, he again became a battalion

home of the Field Artillery Board, which

commander of the 2nd Battalion 83rd Field

was charged with testing tactics, techniques

Artillery assigned to Fort Bragg. In 1937, he

and materials. He also commanded Camp

was promoted to Colonel and again became

McCall, the original home of the Army’s

the Director of Tactics and Communica-

World War II Airborne Divisions.

tions at Fort Sill in the spring of 1938. Two

General Kennedy would command the

years later, he became the Corps Artillery

installation for the entire war. He faced

Officer for the First Army Corps at Fort

many challenges in leadership as well as

Bragg, which became the General Head-

training. He spearheaded the training of

quarters Artillery Brigade with Colonel Ken-

both black soldiers such as the 76th Coast

nedy as its first Commander. It was there

Artillery (Anti-aircraft) or the 41st Engineer

that he was selected by General Marshal to

Regiment and dozens of other units as well

assume command of Fort Bragg to address

as female soldiers forming the Women’s

a number of incidents with racial overtones,

Auxiliary Army Corps. He oversaw a mas-

because as Marshal put it to Kennedy :

sive building program of over $46 million,

“Kennedy, one of my greatest problems in

in a time when a platoon barracks cost

this war thus far is to find officers who can

$11,000 to build. In July 1942, he received

get things done.” However, because Ken-

another challenge as he was selected as a

Officers of the WAAC, Fourth Service Command, Atlanta, Georgia participated in a conference hosted by Brigadier General John T. Kennedy at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. From left to right: Captain Blanche P. Cline, commanding officer of the 37th WAAC Post Headquarters Company; Mrs. Grace Kempton, WAAC publicity director; General John T. Kennedy; Captain Westray Battle Boyce, Fourth Service Command WAAC Director; Colonel Lathrop B. Clapham, chief of personnel division, Fourth Service Command and lieutenant Bess Sheppard, WAAC Special Service Officer.

Truman Library Photographs.

Kennedy with 4 H

About the Author Herb Merrick was born in Yokohama Japan the oldest son of a career Army Officer, but grew up in Forsyth, Missouri where his family settled on the farm, that he still oversees. He was raised in November of 1974 in the Forsyth Lodge 453. He graduated from Missouri State University in May of 1975 and was commissioned in the US Army as field artilleryman. In June of that year he married Carolyn and they spent the next twenty two years traveling the world. Herb has sat in a lot of lodges, but was only active in one before moving to Kansas. He held a variety of offices in Forget-Me-Not 896 in the American Canadian Grand Lodge of Germany during his five years serving in that country, including secretary for two years. In 1994 Herb, Carolyn and their daughter Kristina settled in Lansing, Kansas and Herb joined Hancock Lodge 311 on Fort Leavenworth. He served as Master in 2004 and again in 2009. He has held every office in the lodge except Treasurer. He served the Grand Lodge as District Deputy in 2009, as Grand Pursuivant in 2013 and Grand Marshal in 2014. He has also been on a number of Grand Lodge Committees.

Herb belongs to the Armed Forces Scottish Rite, Leavenworth and Heidelberg York Rite bodies, Greeter of Abdallah Shrine, Byington Chapter 177 OES as well as Haworth Chapter 32 OES and the National Sojourners of Fort Leavenworth. He has been the treasurer of Pilgrim Community Church for the last thirteen years.

Kristina lives in Washington DC with her husband Nick and their daughter Evelyn.

Herb teaches at the United States Army Command and General Staff College. In his spare time he likes the shooting sports, hunting, golf, and reading particularly ancient and military history. Plus getting to see Evelyn whenever there is a chance.

32 THE KANSAS MASON

member to be on the Military Tribunal for seven German military spies caught as they entered the United States. His work on this panel was noted for its fairness and adherence to standards. He expressed his views with force and vigor. No one was ever long in doubt about John Kennedy’s position on an issue. He was a fine articulate speaker.

His listeners might not agree with his position, but all would agree and respect the US troops marching in Veracruz

cogency and pertinacity of argument.

obituary, one of those officers Brigadier Gen-

West Point Society of New York. There on

fect of his character and personality on

eral William Thomas remembered Kennedy’s

a November evening in 1967, he was seated

the younger officers and enlisted men who

voice rolling across the field or staff office,

in at the annual dinner and around that table

served under him. He came from the “old

“Tell it like it was, Thompson.” Encourag-

were Dwight Eisenhower, Omar Bradley,

Army,” the Army before the First World

ing and directing someone to step up to the

Alfred Gruenther, Lyman Lemnitzer, Maxwell

War. Yet he was known for being able to

challenge. In the twilight of his life he was one

Taylor and Earle Wheeler, who knew and

bring out the best in everyone, particularly

of the 27 men chosen to be called Illustrious

respected Kennedy for all he had done for

young officers and enlisted personal. In his

Graduates of the Military Academy by the

the Army and the Nation.

His most lasting achievement is the ef-

Kansas Masonic Foundation offers

CHARITABLE GIFT ANNUITIES Your Kansas Masonic Foundation has a charitable gift annuity program that has attractive rates and possible tax advantages.

For many people, establishing a fixed income from a charitable gift annuity is a very attractive financial plannnig option.

RECEIVE THE BENEFITS OF Fixed lifetime income for up to two beneficiaries.

Satisfaction in supporting an area of KMF that is important to you.

An immediate charitable income tax deduction.

Reduced federal estate taxes.

Kansas Masonic Foundation, Inc. • 785-357-7646 • www.kansasmasonic.foundation

SPRING 2017 33

LODGE OF RESEARCH

By Herb F. Merrick, Jr., DSM, Past Master Handcock Lodge No. 311 & KMF Trustee

A

The Masonic Symbolism of Plants

mong the ancients, plants had high

to be the burning bush of Moses or Christ's

be translated “an ear of corn.” It therefore

symbolic value. The Greeks are

crown of thorns. Acacia might also be

separates not only Jephthah’s Emphraimai-

said to have the bride and bridegroom eat

shittim wood, the wood from which the Ark

tes, but also those who have not passed

quince1 because it represented love and

of the Covenant was made.4 Early refer-

the Fellowcraft River. Grain when it grows

happiness while parsley was a sign of grief

ences5 call the plant cassia,6 which is a totally

and ripens also symbolizes the strength that

and was often used to decorate tombs.

different family (Senna), but also found

comes from seeds planted in the ground. It

Greeks and Romans used palms and laurel

throughout the region especially in Egypt

is therefore very fitting that grain be used

leaves to express victory,2 reflected in

where its herbal properties are prized. But

for dedication and consecration of buildings,

today’s world by awards like the Palme

it matters not since it is the symbolism of

since we desire they should grow where

d’Or at the film festival in Caen or the

the plant rather than the exact bush that is

they are planted.

Eagle Scouts palms for earning badges after

important. It is a reflection of the belief that

becoming an Eagle Scout. The lotus is found

God does grant eternal life.

in both ancient Egyptian and Indian cultures

Next we come to corn, which, of course,

Lilywork and pomegranates find their way into the ritual with very specific meaning, likely referring to the Egyptian columns that

as a symbol of light. Then there is mistletoe,

did not grow in the

had on their tops lotus

which both the English Druids and Scandi-

Middle East during

leaves, the symbol of

navians consider the plant of darkness and

the Hebrew Dynastic

light, and pomegranates,

mid-winter.

periods.7 Likely for both

a symbol of plenty. The

the temple workmen

lotus was a sacred plant

we as Masons have symbolic plants. The

and the guards of Je-

symbolizing the giver

most widely known would be acacia, corn,

phthah’s fords, the real

of life, the Nile. The

lilies and pomegranates. We are constantly

grain might have been

plant used on Egyptian

reminded to look back to the past for inspi-

sorghum or great millet.

columns is the Nelumbo

ration for the future.

First grown in China

nucifera lotus, and it is

The best known and most written about

between 4000 to 6000

sometimes confused

is the sprig of acacia. The modern acacia is

BCE, it was in the Black

with the water lilies

a member of the Fabaceae family or a type

Sea region by 5000

particularly the Nym-

of pea. But to the Mason it is an evergreen,

BCE8. But there are

phaea caerul. It is likely

a plant whose leaves remain green and

many other candidates.

the two columns on the

growing all year round.3 There are many

What we do know is

porch of King Solomon’s

myths about the acacia — it has been said

the word Shabuoth can

temple were of Phoeni-

Given that, it should not be surprising that

34 THE KANSAS MASON

cian design, but Phoenicians were heavily

in defense of their country.11 When you

influenced by the Egyptians. The temple was

meet a brother with a forget-me-not, it is a

built during the Third Intermediate Period

symbol of our fraternity because in part it is

of Egyptian history, but while they were

the symbol of true love. The goal of these

politically in retreat, culturally they were

symbols is to help us reflect on specific

a major influence. Therefore we see it as

concepts and ideas.

quiet reflection and search for knowledge or purity of thought.

The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is another of a long line of Egyptian-derived symbols where, according to the Ebers Papyrus,9 from about 1550 BCE it was a treatment for tapeworm. For the Egyptians it was a symbol of prosperity and ambition, while the later Israelites knew it as the promise of fertility when it was presented to Moses by his scouts in Exodus.10 Even today during Rosh Hashana, it is traditional to eat pomegranates because they symbolize fruitfulness. It was a common Christian decoration as early as the 4th century for the same reasons. It is part of the modern heraldry of the Spanish province of Granada marking it as symbol for economic prosperity. These are, of course, part of the meaning in its use in Masonic ritual.

So the next time you are walking down the sidewalk and you meet someone with a poppy on their lapel, it is a call for remembrance of those who gave their lives 1 A member of the genus Cydonia in the Rosaceae family similar to apples or pears which are also member of the family.

2 De Cleene, Marcel; Lejeune, Marie Claire (2003). Compendium of symbolic and ritual plants in Europe, Volume 1. Man & Culture.

3 Merriam-Webster’s Learner’s Dictionary on line.

4 Exodus 37:1 5 Prichard’s Masonry Dissected (1730) and the Anderson Constitution (1738) mention another plant with a similar name the cassia as being the marker.

6 www.sacreda-texts.com/mas/morgan/morg15.htm page 103 third lecture of the third degree.

7 It arrived in Europe at the end of the 15th century.

8 Lawler, A (2009). "Bridging East and West: Millet on the move". Science. 325: 942–943 9 The Papyrus Ebers: The Greatest Egyptian Medical Document. Translated by Ebbell, Bendix. Copenhagen: Levin & Munksgaard. 1937 10 Exodus 28:33 11 www.painting.about.com/cs/inspiration/a/symbolsflowers.htm

SPRING 2017 35

MEMBER INTERVIEW

By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff

Dr. Derek Oien was born in Minnesota and did his undergraduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Superior. During his time in Wisconsin, he was raised to a Master Mason at Superior Lodge No. 236 in 2005. Derek went on to attend The University of Kansas for graduate studies in Pharmacology & Toxicology, and became a dual member at Lawrence Lodge No. 6. While in Lawrence, he also joined the Scottish Rite and York Rite. After graduating with his Doctorate of Philosophy in 2010, he moved to Iowa where he joined the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine in Altoona. In 2014, he moved to Kansas City and started research in the lab of Brother Dr. Roy Jensen, Director of the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute and The University of Kansas Cancer Center. Also in 2014, he became an associate member at the Abdallah Shrine of Overland Park. He is currently employed as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Cancer Biology.

Derek Oien, Ph.D.

How did you first find out about

put Kansas on the map as a leader in cancer

Square and Compass on the building every

Freemasonry?

care and research, and has brought us closer

morning as I walk into work, which is an

As a child, I became interested after seeing

to being nationally recognized as a National

inspiration that is hard to ignore.

the local Shriners at parades and the circus.

Cancer Institute Comprehensive Cancer

Much later, a brother and Freemason in my

Center. As a fellow brother, I am proud to

What do you look forward to when

college fraternity introduced me to members

wear my donor pin. As a cancer researcher,

you attend Lodge meetings?

of Superior Lodge No. 236. I was impressed

this ongoing support advances my projects

Feeling welcome, from being greeted the

by the strong values and the hospitable at-

and expands the available resources for my

moment I enter to socializing after the

titude of the group.

experiments. I am genuinely thankful for

meeting. This is why I initially joined, and it

being surrounded by the right people, the

has since been a common thread in every

What do your friends think about

right tools and the right facilities to advance

Masonic organization I have joined since.

your involvement?

medicine in the fight against cancer.

What do you see as the future of

Generally, the response involves respect for our philanthropy work and questions on how

Why is Freemasonry important to you?

Freemasonry?

I got involved. I am often asked if my career

I have been fortunate to have a large number

As times change, I hope the core of Free-

brought me to be a Freemason, where I

of friends, but my brothers are the friends I

masonry remains, but we can all help our

respond that being a Freemason brought me

can trust and who share my core values.

fraternity progress. For example, I strongly support 2B1ASK1 and the quality of new

to my career.

How has Freemasonry inspired you,

members it promotes. But there is a member-

Why is Freemasonry important

or how has it made you a better person?

ship responsibility to promote who we are as

to your community?

Being a brother has strengthened my core

a fraternity if we want to raise interest, from

The list of programs is long and worthy of

values, and inspired me to pursue a career

highlighting events on social media to updating

respect, but I have an obvious favorite. The

path of helping people. It attracted me

our lodge signs for attracting the right people.

Kansas Mason’s philanthropic support of

to work at the Kansas Masonic Cancer

As the world becomes more commercial and

The University of Kansas Cancer Center has

Research Institute, where I have the support

full of self-interest, we will remain intact and

been indispensable. This support has helped

to make a real difference. I see the Masonic

fulfilling a niche not found anywhere else.

36 THE KANSAS MASON

AROUND THE WORLD

By Eugene S. Hopp, M.P.S.

Defining Freemasonry; Tradition Becomes Practical Setting aside all discussion of Ancient

standards which the mind of man has been

the admission of philosophers, specula-

Landmarks and uniformity of ritual the

able to conceive.

tives to the operative Craft. On the 16th

question still remains: Are physical require-

We have been advised by fine Masonic

of October 1646 Elias Ashmole, antiquar-

ments essential to Freemasonry? To answer

historians that the transition from opera-

ian, was received into a Masonic Lodge at

that question requires some thought as to

tive to speculative Freemasonry took place

Warrington, Lancashire, together with his

what is Freemasonry? Why and how did it

for social and economic reasons. I disagree.

Roundhead friend and cousin, Henry Man-

become speculative or philosophical from

Last summer I had the privilege of spending

waring of Carincham, Cheshire. Ashmole’s

an operative origin and what has enabled it

two months at Oxford University lecturing

diary gives the time of the event as 4:30

to survive?

and doing some work in 17th century Eng-

p.m. notes the name of the Lodge’s War-

To answer the question what is Freema-

lish history. With the assistance of material

den, and the names of six other Masons

sonry, we must believe that it is a fraternal

from the Bodleian Library, one of the finest

‘then of the Lodge.’ Ashmole’s motives for

Society that performs a function without

in the world, and manuscripts from some of

joining were undoubtedly similar to those

which man cannot survive, without which he

the College libraries and many visits to the

of the antiquary William Stukeley (1687-

cannot ever hope to live in peace with his

Ashmolean museum, I became convinced

1765) who states in his autobiography that,

neighbor. Freemasonry endeavors to bring

that the earliest speculatives were attracted

in 1720, ‘his curiosity led him to be initiated

about a reformation in each individual human

to Masonry out of curiosity. The 17th

into the mysterys of Masonry, suspecting

being. It differs from the many religions which

Century was a period of revival of inter-

it to be the remains of the mysterys of the

have endeavored to reform man by seek-

est in ethical philosophy and a period of

antients.’ It is conceivable that, after acquir-

ing only to provide each of us with a set of

great thought on the nature of man. There

ing by the study of astrology a taste for the

standards which have stood the test of time

were the neo-Platonists at Cambridge who

exploration of ancient lore and symbolism,

from the beginning of history. The ethical

stated that God had left free the human will,

Ashmole not only desired to pain knowl-

philosophy of Freemasonry has been the

that the soul of man can resist the bodies’

edge of such ‘Pythagorean’ teachings as the

same as the ethical teachings of small groups

impulses. There was Richard Hooker (1554-

Lodges claimed to preserve, but that he was

in every civilization but with this difference -

1600) who allowed due importance to the

at this particular juncture of his life, also

in Freemasonry it is imparted in a matchless

human faculties of reason and to the moral

looking for the fellowship of brethren who,

symbolism which is available to each and ev-

sense but never lost sight of the orienta-

if not equally learned, would share his re-

ery one of us, which teaches more and more

tion of man towards God. There were

spect for the old and mysterious. Ashmole’s

as we reflect upon it more and more.

Kepler (1571-1630), Galileo (1564-1642)

note of his Masonic initiation is the earliest

and Gilbert (1544-1603). It was Kepler who

known record of speculative Freemasonry

sophical considerations and a magnificent

was so influenced by Pythagorean mysticism

in an English Lodge. As has been pointed

knowledge of the fundamental character-

that he was convinced God had created the

out by Josten, the note in the diary evidenc-

istics of human nature. These things teach

Universe in accordance with certain simple

es an advanced stage rather than the begin-

us that the only way the world will ever be

mathematical harmonies. To the list could

ning of the evolution by which the Craft

better, the only way our country, our city,

be added Francis Bacon, Thomas Hobbes

Lodges were gradually transformed into

our neighborhood can be improved, is for

and many others.

esoteric societies of gentlemen and mem-

Freemasonry is based on sound philo-

each of us to strive for self-improvement.

It is with the backdrop of this tremendous

bers of all professions and trades; for recent

For this effort Freemasonry provides us

revival in the study of man and his ethical

research has shown that not only Ashmole

with the finest set of moral and ethical

and moral relationships that we must view

and Colonel Henry Manwaring, but all of

SPRING 2017 37

AROUND THE WORLD

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Dylan Sweyko-Kuhlman, Archivist, Kansa Masonic Library and Museum

the seven other Freemasons, whose names are given, were in no way connected with operative Freemasonry.

This brings us to the question of what has enabled Freemasonry to survive the centuries when countless other fraternal and scholarly societies have not. How has Freemasonry survived the anti-Masonry of the 18th century, the 19th century, with its Morgan incident and even the events of the 20th century?

Certainly the organization of Lodges and Grand Lodges, and the fundamental nature of the teachings have played a part.

But I cannot help but believe that the most

A New Exhibit for Annual Communication The Kansas Masonic Library and Museum is happy to announce a new exhibit to be on display at the Annual Communication in March.

The exhibit centers on the founding documents of the Grand Lodge of Kansas and some of the first Lodges in Kansas.

We are excited to show off the primary

Masonry in a new and unfamiliar land.

documents involved in the creation

In addition to the original documents

of Masonry in Kansas. Original Lodge

belonging to Smithton Lodge No. 1,

Petitions and Dispensations will be on

Leavenworth Lodge No. 2, Wyandotte

display, along with reproductions of some

Lodge No. 3, Kickapoo Lodge No. 4,

of the founding documents of the Grand

and Lawrence Lodge No. 6, we will

Lodge of Kansas.

also have large scale reproductions of

Members will be able to see the

some of the founding documents of the

important reason is the very manner in

original signers of the Petition to form

Grand Lodge of Kansas. These founding

which the great lessons are taught. What

a Lodge in their town, with the first

documents consist of the first Constitu-

magnificent symbolism imparts the spirit of

Master or Secretary penning the request

tion drafted in 1856 and the Minutes of

brotherhood in a certain handclasp. What

to start a Lodge in their own words.

the Convention to Organize when the

better way to present the means of achiev-

These documents allow us to have a

formation of the Grand Lodge of Kansas

ing and the importance of peace and har-

brief glimpse into the mindset of the

was finally achieved. The reproductions

mony in a Lodge, than to have the candidate

men determined to blaze a path of

represent only the first page of each

so prepared that these lessons are indelibly inscribed on his mind. At the same time he learns a magnificent lesson in charity. There are a great many other lessons imparted in symbolism, the duty of man to man, man to neighbor, man to God, to family and so on and on. It is fascinating to discover that throughout all the changing periods of history for the last 2,500 years, the same basic valuations have persisted, the same conviction of the superiority of the soul over the body, of the unseen over the seen....

So it is with Freemasonry. We have a practical, realistic means of imparting the greatest of lessons but to, impress them upon the mind requires some physical application and necessitates certain physical qualifications that these lessons may be imparted in an unforgettable manner.

38 THE KANSAS MASON

Original Petition letter sent by the members of Leavenworth Lodge No. 2 to the Grand Lodge of Missouri.

document, but are enlarged to show in

detail the penmanship of the founders of

Minutes of Lodge, Trials, and some other

members who helped

Kansas Masonry. While these reproduc-

miscellaneous files. We have these records

with the transcriptions to

tions only include the first page, the exhibit

for every Lodge in Kansas, consolidated and

make this exhibit possible.

also contains smaller plain text copies that

active, and make them available for duplica-

If any other members are

transcribe the entire document, due to the

tion. We hope seeing these one of a kind

interested in an easy volunteer project that

fact that the cursive handwriting from the

records on display will encourage researching

can be done in the comfort of your own

1850’s is difficult to read.

the founding of your own Lodge.

home, please contact Dylan Sweyko-Kuhl-

Our goal with this exhibit is to create an

We hope to see you at the exhibit in

man at the Grand Lodge of Kansas and ask

interesting display that showcases the early

March for what will be an exciting Annual

about a transcription project. Projects can

records of Lodges. We realize that we are

Communication. We would also like to

usually be catered to be about any specific

limited in the amount of Lodges we can

thank all of the Kansas Lodge of Research

Lodge or record type.

showcase, but we hope it will increase interest in the Kansas Masonic Library and Museum’s collection called the Lodge Transcript Files. That is the collection these exhibit materials are pulled from, and it consists of Petition Letters, original Dispensations, the first

Dylan Kuhlman has been working in archives and libraries for the last six years. Originally from Dighton, a small western Kansas town, he attended Baker University where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History. He followed with a Masters in Library Science and an Archives Certificate from Emporia State University. His work experience includes positions at the University and Kansas Methodist Archives for Baker University, the National Archives and Records Administration in Kansas City and the Kansas Historical Society in Topeka. He has also done volunteer and graduate work at the Grinter Place Historic Site, The National WWI Museum, The Kansas City Public Library and the University Archives at Johnson County Community College.

A Call for Help In past issues of the Kansas Mason and through various other means, you might have noticed the Kansas Masonic Library and Museum asking for volunteers. This is still the case! The Kansas Masonic Library and Museum is undertaking the large project of digitizing our entire membership card collection, a collection consisting of over 430,000 records. This is not a task that can be completed by the staff of the Kansas Masonic Library and Museum alone. We need help. This project comes in two phases, and Phase One requires the physical scanning of membership cards at the Grand Lodge building in Topeka. The process of scanning the cards has been streamlined and simplified as much as possible, and we can accommodate any extra needs a volunteer might have. We understand that this is difficult for most members who don’t live in the Topeka area, but that is the nature of the project.

We hope that members in the area will find the time to stop by for a couple of hours and work on a worthy project that will benefit all Masons in Kansas. Kansas Masonry prides itself on giving and a charitable nature, and now the Kansas Masonic Library and Museum is hoping to benefit from our members’ goodwill.

Original Dispensation issued by the Grand Lodge of Missouri to Wyandotte Lodge No. 3, then called Grove Lodge.

SPRING 2017 39

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff

Scholarships Change Lives Statewide Over the past three years, Kansas Masons have awarded almost $1 million in scholarships through their local lodges.

Once again the application process for the

universities, both in and out of state. All of

Technical Scholarships can be used at one

online only scholarships is open and the ap-

the scholarships in 2016 were awarded by

of seven Kansas technical colleges located

plications are available on the KMF website.

Masons who personally made the presen-

in Beloit (North Central Kansas), Emporia

This year’s program officially began January

tations to the worthy recipients either at

(Flint Hills), Goodland (Northwest Kan-

1, 2017, and the deadline is March 31, 2017.

their schools or at the lodge. Pat Bosco,

sas), Manhattan (Manhattan Area), Salina

The early deadline is to allow lodges to

Vice President of Student Affairs at Kansas

(Salina Area), Topeka (Washburn Tech)

make the scholarship presentations at their

State University, said it best: “There is no

and Wichita (Wichita Area).

local high school senior awards night, if they

Foundation that does the kind of work

choose to do so.

that Masons do for my student body. They

The scholarship program has grown im-

make a tremendous impact

mensely over the first three years; in year

in over 200 of our students,

one, we received 167 applications, that

students who have done well

number grew to 292 during the second

in the classroom, are leaders

year and in year three, more than 1,200

and are going to become

applications were either submitted or

great citizens of our state

started. All of this is due to the hard work

and our country. That’s the

of Kansas Masons who promoted the pro-

kind of impact this founda-

gram by meeting with school counselors

tion has on our students and

and who have made presentations to the

our university.”

senior class of their local high school. In

The General Scholarships

2016, 115 lodges awarded over $350,000

can be used at seven Kansas

in scholarships ranging from $500 to

universities: Emporia State,

$5,000. The scholarship money awarded

Fort Hays State, Kansas

in 2016 is being used in 72 colleges and

State, Pittsburg State, Uni-

universities across the country ranging

versity of Kansas, Washburn

from community colleges to prestigious

and Wichita State. The

In 2017, General Scholarships will include Kansas junior colleges located in Iola (Allen

2014

167

applications 2015

292

applications 2016

1,200+ applications

submitted or started

Great Bend (Barton Community College), El Dorado (Butler Community College), Concordia (Cloud County Community College), Coffeyville (Coffeyville Community College), Colby (Colby Community College), Arkansas City (Cowley County Community College), Dodge City (Dodge City Community College), Fort Scott (Ft. Scott Community College), Garden City (Garden City Community College),

2016, 115 Lodges awarded over

$350,000

40 THE KANSAS MASON

County Community College),

Highland (Highland Community College), Hutchinson (Hutchin-

The General Scholarships can be used at seven Kansas universities In 2017, General Scholarships will include Kansas junior colleges* e program. Let’s add your lodge to the list.

son Community College), Independence (In-

“The Lodges have always worked to do

dependence Community College), Overland

good work in their communities. We’re here

Park ( Johnson County Community College),

to help them,” said President Tavares. Several

ship program, please visit the KMF’s website at

Kansas City (Kansas City Kansas Community

Lodges have awarded double digit scholar-

www.kansasmasonic.foundation and go to the

College), Parsons (Labette County Com-

ships each of the first three years of the

“programs” tab.

For more information regarding the scholar-

munity College), Chanute (Neosho County Community College), Pratt (Pratt Community College) and Liberal (Seward County Community College).

The crown jewel of the scholarship program continues to be the Legacy Scholarships. These scholarships are available to Kansas Masons and their children who are attending an accredited college, university, junior college or technical school, along with students who have been members of the Order of DeMolay, Job’s Daughter’s or the International Order of Rainbow for Girls for a minimum of two years. Legacy Scholarships can be used at any accredited college or university in the United States, while the General Scholarships must be used at a Kansas accredited college or university.

With the conclusion of the 2017 application process, Kansas Masons will have awarded over $1 million in scholarships during a four-

The Grand Master Requests The

HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE on 22 April 2017, 6:00 p.m. at the

Grand Master’s Reception and Dinner Fort Hays Robbins Alumni Center One Tiger Place, Hays, Kansas

Opening of the MW Grand Lodge of AF&AM of Kansas Hays Lodge No. 195 107 W. 11th Street, Hays, Kansas 2:30 p.m.

year period. We encourage all lodges to par-

Dedication of the Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic

ticipate in this very worthwhile program and

Fort Hays State University 600 Park Street, Albertson Hall, Hays, Kansas 4:00 p.m

to not only visit with your local high schools

Business or Formal Attire $25 per person kindly rsvp at kansasmason.org, events you may and also rsvp in person after grand lodge installation on March 21

but to communicate with the students in your community that are already attending college to make them aware of this program. The scholarship program is a great opportunity for lodges to gain visibility in your community.

SPRING 2017 41

F ree

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff

m a s on s En d o wm ent 4th

C HAR

SOLD

IT Y A U C T I O N

This year’s auction will allow all Kansas Masons an opportunity to BID and WIN.

ONLINE

on Helping Brothers

The first part of the auction begins on Wednesday, March 1st at 8AM with 100+ items up for auction.

You will be able to go to KMF’s website (www.KansasMasonic.Foundation) and click on “online auction” and place your bid. You will be notified if you have been “outbid” and given the opportunity to bid again throughout the auction. The auction will end on Thursday, March 15th at 5PM just prior to the beginning of Grand Lodge Annual Communication.

SILENT

If for some reason you are unable to attend this year’s Annual Communication you can still participate in the

onsite auctions. Brother Dave Hendricks (Dave@KansasMasonic.Foundation or 785-357-7646) will act as your proxy bidder. Simply email or call Dave and advise him of your desired “high” bid and he will execute your bid for you. He will not reveal your “high” bid but will place bids on your behalf up to your designated high bid as the auction progresses.

LIVE

The second part of the auction will be a silent auction with approximately 25 auction items and bidding will beginning

Thursday, March 16th at 3PM and end on Friday, March 17th at 6PM. The third part of the auction will take place during the Annual Communication “All Masonic Gala” and it will be a Live Auction format. It is estimated that we will have approximately 18 items for this auction. Again Brother Dave Hendricks can me your proxy bidder.

ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS Stunning Framed Presentation of 1956 LIFE Magazine.

Featuring “The US Masons”, this vintage edition of LIFE magazine is a pictorial essay in color. This unique item is ready for proud display. Anonymous Donor.

Turn-of-the-century Reverse Painting on Glass.

This unique piece of folk-art of pheasants is perfect as a hunter’s showpiece or suitable for your man cave display. This lost art is truly a tribute to times past.

Anonymous Donor

Vintage Benjamin Target Pistol.

Originally purchased in the 1960’s, the pistol is presented in its original box with tutorial for care and best results. Made by Benjamin Air Rifle Co of St Louis. Anonymous Donor.

Rare and Unusual 1800’s Cigar Display Case/Cash Register.

Framed “Our Journey,Together”.

Crafted by Brother Ken Keller, this This one-of-a-kind piece of beautifully framed verse creates Americana is made of oak, has inspiration, thanks and hope for beveled glass display drawer, and all our days and tomorrow’s. The is beautifully stenciled with the traditional framing makes it suit5 cent Lion Cut Plug graphics. able for any location. Donated by This would be an excellent focal Ken Keller.

William Rogers International point for any antique collector or Silver Set. Framed “Our Journey,Together”. tobacco enthusiast. Anonymous This silver-plate flatware set, Crafted by Brother Ken Keller, this service for eight with extra serving Donor. beautifully framed verse creates IN PARTNERSHIP WITH: Star Ring. pieces, was originally purchased as White Gold Eastern inspiration, thanks and hope for an anniversary gift from Zurchers Lovely vintage ring has multiall our days and tomorrow’s. The colored gemstones around black Jewelers of Sedalia, MO. It would contemporary framing and backmake a nice addition to any special enamel center is marked 14K gold. ground would pop on any accent Donated by Gary Shipley dinner. Anonymous Donor. wall... Donated by Ken Keller.

These are some of the 4th Annual Freemason’s Endowment Charity Auction items available at the time of publication.

42 THE KANSAS MASON

All auction items for all three auction events will be listed online and available for preview and online bidding.

ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS Vintage Colonial Embossed Masonic Knife

Unique two blade jeweler’s skeleton equal end shadow gentleman’s Pocket Watch FOB or key chain pattern folding clasp jack knife with Masonic fraternal symbols.

The knife is 2 ¾” closed length and 4 ¼” with main blade open.

Embossed sterling silver marked and beautifully designed. Use as a handy pocket knife. Anonymous Donor Vintage Masonic Membership Card Holder

A March 27, 1923 Masonic “The Best Man I Ever Had” folding membership document holder.

The beautifully designed holder has the Masonic symbol and states “The Best Man I Ever Had, 3-2723.” The holder is 1 x 4 inches in size and is in nice condition.

Anonymous Donor Vintage Collectable Silver Masonic Rose Ornamented Box

Outstanding small silver trinket box adorned with masonic symbols. The bottom is marked with the number 999. Great decorative box to keep your Masonic rings, jewelry, etc. Anonymous Donor Gold Eastern Star Earrings.

Post earrings have enameled Eastern Star center with filigree surround is marked 10K gold.

Donated by Gary Shipley White Gold Eastern Star Ring.

Lovely vintage ring has multicolored gemstones around black enamel center is marked 14K gold. Donated by Gary Shipley Stunning Vintage Fashion Bracelet.

This high end fashion bangle elegantly features an enameled Eastern Star amid diamond cut rhinestone crystals. Donated by Gary Shipley 9/11 Commemorative Pocket Knife

The beautiful 9/11 commemorative pocket knife depicts a fire fighter raising the American Flag from the rubble of Ground Zero.

This piece is silver and comes with a hard case designed for display.

Donated by Robert Willaby

Autographed Football from the 33rd Annual Kanas Masonic All-State High School Marching Band.

Autographed Football from the 33rd Annual Kanas Masonic All-State High School Marching Band.

Gold Eastern Star Earrings.

Two tickets and one parking pass for a University of Kansas Football Game

One of only two footballs signed by the members and advisors of the 33rd Annual Kansas Masonic All-State High School Marching Band which played during pregame and halftime of the 2016 Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Game in Emporia on July 30th.

Donated by the Kansas Masonic Foundation Post earrings have enameled Eastern Star center with filigree surround is marked 10K gold.

Donated by Gary Shipley Stunning Vintage Fashion Bracelet.

This high end fashion bangle elegantly features an enameled Eastern Star amid diamond cut rhinestone crystals. Donated by Gary Shipley Two Historic KU Basketball Prints.

Two commemorative Limited Edition Prints of the “Rules of Basketball” (11/1892) with James Naismith and Phog Allen and James Naismith as a Master Mason with his Petition (11/500).

Donated by Charles “Duke” Neeland Shrine Mantel Style Clock

This octagon shaped mantel style clock is adorned with the Shrine logo and is handmade by Brother Lou Carrillo of Parsons Lodge No. 117. Donated by Parsons Lodge No. 117 9/11 Commemorative Pocket Knife

The beautiful 9/11 commemorative pocket knife depicts a fire fighter raising the American Flag from the rubble of Ground Zero.

This piece is silver and comes with a hard case designed for display.

Donated by Robert Willaby Antique Masonic Shaving Mug

Extremely nice hand painted turn of the century shaving mug is gold leafed and embellished with the square and compasses. Anonymous Donor

One of only two footballs signed by the members and advisors of the 33rd Annual Kansas Masonic All-State High School Marching Band which played during pregame and halftime of the 2016 Shrine Bowl All-Star Football Game in Emporia on July 30th.

Donated by the Kansas Masonic Foundation

Experience the excitement of a KU Football Game at KU’s Memorial Stadium. The bearer of this certificate will receive two (2) Suite tickets, two (2) game-day buffet tickets and a parking pass to a game to be determined.

Donated by KU Two Tickets and one parking pass for a University of Kansas Men’s Basketball Game at Allen Fieldhouse

Be part of an electric season when the Jayhawks kick-off their fall season. Bearer will be entitled to two (2) tickets, two (2) pregame buffets and a parking pass for one non-conference KU Men’s Basketball Game. Donated by KU Letters for Healing book and CD

These books are very intimate collections of letters from those left behind, to their lost loved ones. Including them in these books insures they will never be forgotten. The Letters Project Books are being published by Kansas City Star Books and will include the following titles: Letters for Healing: The Therapeutic Power of Writing. Donated by Von Kopfman 1938 Roadster Pedal Car

This classic model pedal car is certain to turn heads as part of a collection or for your child’s delight. It has nice vintage detailing, some fender roughness, yet in good working condition. Anonymous Donor

5-Peace Silver Dollars.

The Peace dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. Its obverse represents the head and neck of the Goddess of Liberty in profile, and the reverse depicts a bald eagle at rest clutching an olive branch, with the legend “Peace”.

It was the last United States dollar coin to be struck for circulation in silver. Included: 1921; 1926D; 1921D; 1921; 1921D all in excellent condition. Anonymous Donor.

5-Peace Silver Dollars.

The Peace dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. Its obverse represents the head and neck of the Goddess of Liberty in profile, and the reverse depicts a bald eagle at rest clutching an olive branch, with the legend “Peace”.

It was the last United States dollar coin to be struck for circulation in silver. Included: 1921S; 1922S; 1921; 1921; 1921D all in excellent condition. Anonymous Donor.

5-Peace Silver Dollars.

The Peace dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. Its obverse represents the head and neck of the Goddess of Liberty in profile, and the reverse depicts a bald eagle at rest clutching an olive branch, with the legend “Peace”.

It was the last United States dollar coin to be struck for circulation in silver. Included: 1921S; 1925; 1921D; 1921; 1921 all in excellent condition. Anonymous Donor.

More items are being added daily – Check online March 1 for a complete listing.

SPRING 2017 43

ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS 5-Peace Silver Dollars.

The Peace dollar is a United States dollar coin minted from 1921 to 1928, and again in 1934 and 1935. Designed by Anthony de Francisci, the coin was the result of a competition to find designs emblematic of peace. Its obverse represents the head and neck of the Goddess of Liberty in profile, and the reverse depicts a bald eagle at rest clutching an olive branch, with the legend “Peace”. It was the last United States dollar coin to be struck for circulation in silver. Included: 1921; 1926D; 1921S; 1921; 1921D all in excellent condition. Anonymous Donor. Anonymous Donor.

2010 Grand Master’s Edition Pocket Knife and Box

Jefferson Box

This very attractive box includes the Kansas Freemasons on the Level logo inscribed on the lid and holds 2 Masonic glasses. Donated

by Herb Merrick Jefferson Box

This very attractive box includes the Kansas Freemasons on the Level logo inscribed on the lid and holds 2 Masonic glasses. Donated

by Herb Merrick Custom Made Deacon’s and Stewards Rod’s

Spruce up your lodge with these custom made Deacon’s and Steward’s rods with gold anodized aluminum tops and hollow stainless steel rods. Donated by Tony Borum

This commemorative pocket knife is #45 of 52 made especially for M:.W:.Tracy Bloom’s year as Grand Master. It is engraved with the square and compasses and the Kansas Freemasons logo along with M: .W:. Bloom’s name and year he was Grand Master.

Donated by Francis Jackson

Set of Abraham Lincoln One Dollar Coins

Autographed Copy of the Kansas Mason Autographed by Bob Dole

Elegant women’s Eastern Star Pin from the jewelry store of Erwin Leroy Shaw, Jr. a 65 year member of Hoxie Lodge No. 348. This pin is a must have for the OES lady in your life.

Brother and Senator Bob Dole graciously autographed the front cover of the Fall 2015 “Kansas Mason” in which he was featured.

Beautifully framed, this piece bears a certificate of authenticity from Brother Dole on his Washington letterhead.

Masonic Maple Flask Case

Maple Flask Case that includes the Kansas Freemasons on the Level logo inscribed on the lid.

Case includes 4 Masonic glasses and Masonic Flask. This attractive flask case is made out of Maple.

Donated by Herb Merrick Kansas Freemasons Wine Box

Stunning wine box includes the Kansas Freemasons on the Level logo inscribed on the front. The box appears to be cherry wood.

The lovely red satin interior holds wine utensils and a bottle of quality wine. Donated by Herb Merrick

Originally minted in 1910 the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Gold $1.00 coin is a must have for any coin collector. This set of 25 coins is uncirculated and unopened. Donated by Dan Allen Eastern Star Women’s Pin

Eastern Star Past Matron’s Pin

This beautiful Past Matron’s Pin comes from the jewelry store of Erwin Leroy Shaw, Jr. a 65 year member of Hoxie Lodge No. 348. This pin is beautifully set with the OES star and gavel and is a must have for the Past Matron in your life.

Eastern Star Women’s Pin

Elegant women’s Eastern Star Pin from the jewelry store of Erwin Leroy Shaw, Jr. a 65 year member of Hoxie Lodge No. 348. This pin is a must have for the OES lady in your life.

Eastern Star Mantel Style Clock

This octagon shaped mantel style clock is adorned with the Eastern Star logo and is handmade by Brother Lou Carrillo of Parsons Lodge No. 117. Donated by Parsons Lodge No. 117

St. Louis Cardinals Jacket

Dress like the pros with this Antiqua water proof St. Louis Cardinals XL jacket. This jacket is perfect to wear in the fall while cheering on the Cardinals at Busch Stadium in St Louis or for a day out on the town. This jacket will have your friends talking. Donated

by Don Wheeler Kansas City Royals Jacket

Dress like the pros with this Antiqua water proof KC Royals XXL jacket. This jacket is perfect to wear in the fall while cheering on the Royals at “The K” or for a day out on the town. This jacket will have your friends talking. Donated

by Don Wheeler Kansas City Chiefs Jacket

Dress like the pros with this NFL Products KC Chiefs L jacket.

Great for watching the game at Arrowhead or at your local high school stadium, this light weight jacket will make you the talk of the town. Donated by Don Wheeler The Working Tools of a Master Mason

Ever wanted your own set of working tools but don’t have the space? Now’s your chance, this miniature set of working tools is the perfect size for your office, den or rec room. Donated by Don Wheeler Silverware

This DIRILYTE/DIRIGOLD flatware set, circa 1962, is fabulous!

The set consists of 52 pieces, plus the original gold Dirilyte/Dirigold storage chest. This beautiful flatware service will create a stunning table setting. The quiet elegance and design of the Regal pattern may be used in any style of decorating, whether your preference is traditional, contemporary, period or modern, the Regal pattern will create a lasting impression.

Includes original Dirilyte/Dirigold gold wood storage chest.

Donated by Gary Shipley Little Red Barn

This "Little Red Barn" is hand made by Brother Joe Kennedy of Vulcan Lodge and is a perfect item for anyone with grandkids to spoil.

Donated by Joe Kennedy

Lord’s Prayer

Framed copy of the Lord’s Prayer, with Masonic symbols, is suitable for your office or home. This version is filled with Masonic symbolism and is a must have. Donated

by Burlington Lodge No. 66 Masonic Watch and Money Clip

Show you Masonic pride with this very detailed Masonic money clip and pocket watch. Enlade with the working tools of Master Mason. Also included is a Masonic watch made by Watch Images of California which is enlade with the square and compasses. Donated

by Dave Hendricks DeMolay tie tack and OES button covers

Are you a DeMolay or Senior DeMolay? If yes, then consider this DeMolay tie tack for your collection. Are you in need of some OES button covers? How about these slightly used covers that belonged to Donald Hendricks, PGP 1995. Donated by Dave Hendricks Tie Tacks

A set of four tie tacks are just what you need to complete the ensemble. A stunning Foster cubic zirconia tie tack and an Ansel silver tie tack with a diamond are perfect for work or play. Into guns, this Colt 45 tie tack is just for you or for the more conservative occasions this Sterling Silver tie tack would be just perfect. Donated by Dave Hendricks Masonic Cufflinks

These Dante gold Masonic cufflinks are perfect for lodge or a night out on the town. Complete the set with a pair of gold cufflinks for that special occasion. Donated

by Dave Hendricks Cufflinks and Tie Tacks

This set of four different cuff links features a gold set from Meakers of Picadilly, a gold set from Dante, a gold set with tie tack from Coronado and gold set from Swank. Donated by Dave Hendricks

These are some of the 4th Annual Freemason’s Endowment Charity Auction items available at the time of publication.

44 THE KANSAS MASON

All auction items for all three auction events will be listed online and available for preview and online bidding.

ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS Masonic Cufflinks

Ninety Years with 90

Mother of Pearl Cufflinks and Money Clip

The Royal Masonic Encyclopedia

Own these very stunning Hyde Park Masonic Cufflinks made in England. These are perfect for lodge, work or play. Show your Masonic pride today! Donated by Dave Hendricks

This beautiful set includes cufflinks and a matching money clip designed by Stacy. Donated by Dave Hendricks Austrian Crystal Tuxedo Set

This stunning genuine Austrian Crystal Tuxedo Set includes cuff links and button covers. You will be the talk of the ball with this set.

Donated by Dave Hendricks Money Clip and Silver Cufflinks

These beautiful silver cufflinks are engraved with a Lion and are perfect for everyday wear. The antiqued brass money clip has a Model T style car engraved on one side and would make a nice piece for your collection. The Foster tie tack resembles the rough ashlar. Donated by Dave Hendricks Elgin Masonic Knights Templar Vintage Pocket Watch

12 size 17 jewel manual wind movement is running well and keeping good time. White dial with shiny gold Mason tools for number markers and blue/black hands. Very nice yellow gold filled case with hinged back cover that has a decorative design on the outside with a snap on bezel. It measures 43 mm. side to side not counting the winding area. Serial number 24177501 which means it was made in 1921. Donated by Topeka Lodge No. 17 Ninety Years with 90

Ninety Years with Golden Rule Lodge No. 90 A.F. &A.M. Commemorative Book October 20, 1870 to October 20, 1960. Great book for any Masonic Collector!

Donated by Rennie Henry Estate Sales, Kansas City

Ninety Years with Golden Rule Lodge No. 90 A.F. &A.M. Commemorative Book October 20, 1870 to October 20, 1960. Great book for any Masonic Collector!

Donated by Rennie Henry Estate Sales, Kansas City The Encyclopedia of Freemasonry of History, Rites, Symbolism, and Biography by Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie. This extensive encyclopedia, published in 1877, is considered to be a classic Masonic reference work. It includes detailed information on the symbols, rites, legends, terms, people and places associated with Freemasonry. Some of the symbols are illustrated and lists of rankings are given, including a ‘traditional’ list of Grand Masters of England that includes Sts Swithin and Dunstan, Alfred the Great, Sir Christopher Wren (twice) and Charles II. Mackenzie aims in his entries to be critical when relevant: as he says in the Preface, freemasonry has ‘received a willing tribute’ in his book, but he hints at difficulties encountered in publishing material about a famously secretive society.

A must have for any collector.

Donated by Rennie Henry Estate Sales, Kansas City History of Freemasonry and Concordant Orders

History of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, and Concordant Orders was written by a “Board of Editors, in 1899. This 900-page historical volume book is original and includes illustrations in black and white including diagrams and fold-in maps. Donated by Rennie Henry Estate Sales, Kansas City Masonic Sterling & Enamel Vintage Membership Card Holder

A piece of history from early 1900’s is a gorgeous Masonic Sterling & Enamel dues card holder.

This is in excellent condition and the enamel work is stunning. This is a rare find for the Masonic collector. Anonymous Donor

Knight’s Templar Watch Fob

Beautiful late 1800’s Knight’s Templar watch fob with Royal Arch Masonry on back. This is a yellow gold filled with Red Cross and black enamel. On the back it is gold and white. The cover over the face is hinged and moves up and down. A great collectable or fob for your pocket watch!

Donated by Girard Sensol Concert Roller Organ

Beautiful walnut stenciled antique table top organ has 14 cobs creating an array of lovely tunes from days gone by. Original finish makes this a stunning piece from every angle. Complete with crank, this treasure is patened May 1887.

Anonymous Donor Seth Thomas Shelf Clock

Antique column and cornice walnut clock depicts a stunning reverse painted outdoor scene.

Circa 1850, and produced in Plymouth Hollow, Connecticut.

The clock has a unique weight and movement system and is in running condition. Rare find and would look beautiful in any home.

Anonymous Donor Four Royals Tickets and Parking Pass

2017 Royals tickets are sure to be a hot commodity. The seats are in the Loge Level on the third base side bedside the press box and include a parking pass. Donated by Continuum Energy Four Cardinals Tickets and Parking Pass

Enjoy a game at the new Busch Stadium in beautiful downtown St. Louis. These lower level seats will be perfect for watching the Redbirds in action. Donated by Bill Paradowski and Metal Exchange Couples Pistol and Rifle Shoot

The couple that shoots together……….. This package includes registration fees and ammunition for one man and one woman at the Justice Lodge Pistol and Rifle Shoot on June 10, 2017 in McPherson, KS. Donated by Daren Kellerman

Gardner’s Paradise

Spend a day digging at one of the largest collections of outdoor annuals in Southeast Kansas. Winner will receive over 20 different colors of iris’, plus seeds, bulbs and starts of several other annuals.

Offer includes two one year old cling free peach trees. Winning bidder will determine colors in May when the irises are blooming. Donated by Bill and Vera Wheeler/ Vulcan Lodge No. 229 Custom Framed Glass Masonic Square and Compasses

18”x18” glass with the Square and Compasses laminated between two sheets of glass. Donated by Tri Star Glass Custom Framed Glass Masonic Square and Compasses

18”x18” glass with the Square and Compasses laminated between two sheets of glass. Donated by Tri Star Glass Phat Brothers BBQ package

FEED YOUR LODGE OR FAMILY SOMETHING GREAT! Ten pounds of the World’s Best Barbeque Pulled Pork from the Phat Brothers Competition BBQ Team. This package also includes 2 ½ quarts of their Badass Bacon Brimming Barbeque Beans and 4 pints of their Award Winning BBQ Sauce (hogs are willing to die just to be covered in this sauce).

Sixteen hours of smoking will have the meat, beans and sauce cooked to championship perfection. It will be packed and delivered to you. Can feed up to 30 depending on the size of your appetites.

Meats will be vacuum packed in two pound packages for immediate use or frozen for future use.

Donated by Steve Mason David Ragan Die Cast Shriners Hospital for Childrens NASCAR

This set includes a David Ragan No. 23 Shriners Hospital for Children die cast car, an autographed hat and shirt and 10 autographed pictures. Whether you are a collector or just a fan, this set will look good in your office or den.

Donated by David Ragan

More items are being added daily – Check online March 1 for a complete listing.

SPRING 2017 45

ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS Masonic Decanter Gift Box

This beautiful gift set consists of a 33.75oz Lexington decanter and four square tumblers. Sliding cover is engraved with the Grand Lodge of Kansas Seal. The decanter is etched with the Past Master’s emblem and the tumblers are etched with the emblems of a Master Mason and the three principal officers. This collection is perfect for home or travel and would make a very fine addition to your collection. Donated by Hancock Lodge No. 311 BBQ Set

This set of grilling tools is perfect for the avid grill master. This set include a spatula, tongues and fork and is housed in an elegant oak carry case with the Kansas Freemasons on the Level logo etched on the lid. Donated by Herb Merrick Lanikai Countertop Frozen Drink Machine Model LK50

Great for entraining and parties!

Makes perfect slushies, Margaritas or your drink of choice.

Slightly used but in great working condition. Features: Fast recovery time, Torque controls monitor product consistency, front spigot construction means few moving parts for easy operation, simple to operate, clean, and lube, mirror finish stainless steel and CSA, NSF & UL Approved. Electrical: 120 Volt, dedicated 20 Amp circuit.

Dimensions: 30”H x 14”W x 24”D (Needs 8” on both sides for airflow). Capacity: 8 gallons total. Weight: 175 lbs. FOB from Emporia. Donated by Goodland Lodge No. 321 HVAC Service Agreement

Are you looking for a preventive maintenance plan for your current system? Well you are in luck. This item includes Blue Dot’s Blue Agreement which is a preventive maintenance plan which includes one spring a/c check, one fall furnace check and one whole house plumbing check. The successful bidder must live within 60 miles of Topeka.

Cards and Dominoes Travel Case

If you love to play cards or dominoes while on a road trip but have no place to keep them, then you will want to bid on this item.

A beautiful cherry wood card and domino travel case is etched with the Kansas Masons on the Level logo on the top and is small enough to pack in any travel bag.

Donated by Herb Merrick Masonic Bible

This bible was published by A.J. Holman Company in Philadelphia and has a copy right of 1949. This bible includes a list of Masonic presidents, history of King Solomon’s Temple, the Bible in Masonry to include the Scottish and York Rite. Also found is a section on the History and Facts concerning the Order of the Eastern Star. This bible was first presented to Brother John Adam Stone by Salina Lodge No. 60 on May 24, 1956. Donated by Spring Hill Lodge No. 56 Proud to be a Mason Plaque

This beautiful wall plaque is handmade and has an ornate Square and Compasses in the center and the words “Proud to be a Mason” around the border. Donated by Daniel Smith 1950 Hamilton Ladies Watch

Beautiful 10K gold 1950 Hamilton Ladies watch will make the perfect gift for that special lady in your life. This watch was a gift and was never worn. The time has never been set and the watch has never been wound. Donated by Dale Samuelson Midian Shrine Ashtray

This is your chance to own a piece of history. One of only 50 Frankoma pottery ashtrays made to celebrate Illustrious Daryl Zimmerman’s year as Potentate of Midian Shrine in 1961. This ashtray has the Shrine Emblem with the words Midian 1961, “Pote” and “Zimmie” on either side of the emblem. Donated by Bob Talbott

English Worshipful Master’s Gavel

Manufactured in England for Keegan Davis a freemason at the Masonic Lodge of Cardiff City in Wales this ornate gavel was utilized by the lodge from 1940’s to the 1970’s. Donated by Tuscan Lodge K-State Football Tickets

See the Wildcats in action and enjoy the game day atmosphere at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. This package includes a parking pass and is good for any home game during the 2017 season. Donated

by Warren Slocombe K-State Basketball Tickets

Be a part of the excitement of the “Octagon of Doom” and watch the Wildcat Basketball team in action. This package includes 2 tickets to any K-State Basketball game during the 2017/2018 season and a parking pass. Donated

by Warren Slocombe HVAC Air Scrubber

Did you know that 80% of germs, bacteria and viruses are transmitted by the surfaces we touch? The Air Scrubber Plus air purification systems use a variation of technology originally developed in cooperation with NASA for the use on the International Space Station.

This item includes all parts, labor and tax and the successful bidder must live within a 60 mile radius of Topeka. Donated by Blue Dot Services of Topeka HVAC Service Agreement

Are you looking for a preventive maintenance plan for your current system? Well you are in luck. This item includes Blue Dot’s Blue Agreement which is a preventive maintenance plan which includes one spring a/c check, one fall furnace check and one whole house plumbing check. The successful bidder must live within 60 miles of Topeka.

Masonic Mantel Style Clock

This octagon shaped mantel style clock is adorned with the Square and Compasses and is handmade

by Brother Lou Carrillo of Parsons Lodge No. 117. Donated by Parsons Lodge No. 117

HVAC Service Agreement

Are you looking for a preventive maintenance plan for your current system? Well you are in luck. This item includes Blue Dot’s Blue Agreement which is a preventive maintenance plan which includes one spring a/c check, one fall furnace check and one whole house plumbing check. The successful bidder must live within 60 miles of Topeka.

HVAC Service Agreement

Are you looking for a preventive maintenance plan for your current system? Well you are in luck. This item includes Blue Dot’s Blue Agreement which is a preventive maintenance plan which includes one spring a/c check, one fall furnace check and one whole house plumbing check. The successful bidder must live within 60 miles of Topeka.

BBQ Set

This set of grilling tools is perfect for the avid grill master. This set include a spatula, tongues and fork and is housed in an elegant oak carry case with the Kansas Freemasons on the Level logo etched on the lid. Donated by Herb Merrick 24-5 Ounce Toasting Canons

Beautifully sand etched Toasting Canons with Grand Lodge of Kansas Seal on one side and Masonic Square & Compass on the other. These are extremely heavy weighted and excellent for any Table Lodge. Donated by the Kansas Masonic Foundation 24-5 Ounce Toasting Canons

Beautifully sand etched Toasting Canons with Grand Lodge of Kansas Seal on one side and Masonic Square & Compass on the other. These are extremely heavy weighted and excellent for any Table Lodge. Donated by the Kansas Masonic Foundation Bersa BP 380cc Pistol

The Bersa BP 380 cc is the ideal conceal carry pistol. Whether you are a collector or looking to purchase your first hand gun, this is the one for you! Donated by Dean Hodgson

These are some of the 4th Annual Freemason’s Endowment Charity Auction items available at the time of publication.

46 THE KANSAS MASON

All auction items for all three auction events will be listed online and available for preview and online bidding.

ONLINE AUCTION ITEMS Kansas Freemasons On The Level Canvas Briefcase and Leather Portfolio

Attend meetings in style with this canvas Freemasons on the Level briefcase and leather portfolio.

Perfect to use when attending work meeting’s, lodge or even Grand Lodge functions. This package also includes several KMF 50th anniversary pens and a copy of George Washington’s Bible.

Donated by the Grand Lodge of Kansas and the Kansas Masonic Foundation M:.W:. Rick Reichert’s Necktie and Grand Master’s Lapel Pin

This beautiful light blue necktie was handmade by Patrick Craddock and the Craftsman’s Apron especially for M.W. Rick Reichert and his Grand Lodge Officers.

The lapel pin is a Master Masons apron. Donated by M. W. Tracy L. Bloom and Dave Hendricks M:.W:. Michael Halleran’s Necktie, Bowtie, GM coin and lapel pin

This beautifully handmade necktie and bowtie were made by the Craftsman’s Apron especially for M.W. Mike Halleran and worn by the 2014 Grand Lodge Officers, Area and District Deputy’s. M.W. Halleran was the first Grand Master in recent years to commission a Grand Master’s challenge coin, which has the Grand Lodge of Kansas Seal on one side with Kansas Freemasons on the Level around the border. On the other side is the moon with the words Michael A. Halleran Grand Master of Masons around the blue border. His GM lapel pin is a simple square and compasses. Donated

by M.W. Tracy L. Bloom and Dave Hendricks Dinner for Two with the Grand Master

Don't miss out on the opportunity to have a private audience with the Grand Master. This package includes dinner for 2 with the Grand Master and his Lady and registration to the Grand Lodge Sponsored Leadership Academy.

Donated by Cole Presley

M:.W:. Daren L. Kellerman’s Necktie, Bowtie, GM coin and lapel pin

This beautifully handmade necktie and bowtie were made by the Craftsman’s Apron especially for M.W. Daren Kellerman and worn by the 2015 Grand Lodge Officers, Area and District Deputy Grand Masters. The Grand Master’s challenge coin has the seal of the Grand Lodge of Kansas on one side with the words “Freemasons on the Level’ and the other side has an old style square and compasses and the words “Daren L. Kellerman Grand Master of Masons. The Grand Master’s lapel pin matches the coin in design.

Donated by M:.W:. Tracy L. Bloom and Dave Hendricks M:.W:. Lyn E. Beyer’s Necktie, Bowtie, GM coin and lapel pin

This beautiful handmade necktie and bowtie were made by the Craftsman’s Apron especially for M.W. Lyn Beyer and worn by the 2016 Grand Lodge Officers, Area and District Deputy Grand Masters. The Grand Master’s challenge coin has the seal of the Grand Lodge of Kansas on one side with the words “Kansas Freemasons on the Level” and the other side has the square and compasses center between Boaz and Jachin with the words “Teach- Lead – Serve” and Lyn E. Beyer Grandmaster of Masons around the border. The lapel pin matches the coin in design.

Donated by M.W. Tracy L. Bloom and Dave Hendricks Stone Gavel, Chipping Mall, Bible and Stone Key.

These beautiful stone carved items are all marked with the square and compasses. The handles are wood with the word “Jerusalem” painted on them. All are kept in a presentation box with the square and compasses on the lid. The box has minor chips.

Donated by Frank Glover Estate and Hancock Lodge No. 311 K-State Sweatshirt

Support the Cats in this lightweight K-State sweatshirt which is perfect for wearing in the fall and spring. Donated by Dave Hendricks

Knights Templar Shaving Mug

Antique turn of the century Knights Templar Fraternal shaving mug bears insignia “in hoc signo Vince’s” meaning by this sign “thou shalt conquer.” Anonymous Donor History of Kansas Masonry

Volume I &II of the “History of Kansas Masonry” provides the sharing of the past with the present. These publications provide further aid in search of “From Whence we Came” and in doing so; each who participates will surely become a wiser and better Mason. Each member of our Craft plays an important part in our future and each of us must be reminded of this so that we may not be found wanting in the performance of our duties. Grand Lodge of Kansas Masonic Dues Card Holder

This Sterling Silver Masonic Dues Card Holder dates back to the 1920’s and belonged to Brother Frank Johnson of Emporia Lodge No. 12. The holder comes complete with Brother Frank’s 1924 dues card. This is a must have for the serious Masonic collector.

Donated by Dave Hendricks 14K Gold Masonic Ring

This beautiful 14K Gold Masonic Ring dates back to the 1920’s and belonged to Brother Frank Johnson of Emporia Lodge No. 12. The ring has a ruby with the square and compasses etched in it. Donated by Dave Hendricks Antique Masonic Match Safe

Antique masonic match safe in good condition. Hinge closes nice and tight. Stamped Pat, Jan 12, 1904 on inside lip. It measures 1 1/2” wide and 2 3/4” high and weighs 43.2 grams. Great collectible! Anonymous Donor Masonic Ceiling Tile

A beautiful tin ceiling tile adorned with the Square and Compasses which used to be a feature in the Masonic Lodges of the past. This piece is a must have for the collector and would look good in your office either at home or at work.

Donated by the Scottish Rite Valley of Topeka

Foursome at the Scottish Rite Valley of Topeka Golf Tournament

Here is your opportunity to play a round of golf at the prestigious Topeka Country Club. The TCC is a 6329 Par 71 golf course designed by Perry Maxwell and has been in operation since 1905.

The course features Zoysia fairways and Bent Grass greens. This package includes one foursome and lunch for the Rite Care Golf Tournament on May 22, 2017, sponsored by the Scottish Rite Valley of Topeka. Donated by the Scottish Rite Valley of Topeka Freemason Cigar Ashtray, Cutter, Lighter, Case, & Humidor

Custom Emblem Executive Black Silver Travel Cigar Ashtray- Black painted wood Body with silver chrome accents - Steel Trough and Bowl - Twists Shut For Storage and Travel - About 4x4x1.5”.

Custom Emblem Black Leather Cedar Lined 3 Cigar Case with Metal emblem - Rigid Body - Manmade leather with white Contrast Stitching - Interior Lined with Spanish Cedar - Dimensions: 6 1/3” L x 3” W x 1 1/3” D - Holds 3 Cigars up to 56 ring or two 66 ring cigars. Custom Emblem Blazer Top-Z Dual Blue Jet Torch Flame Insert Z-type Windproof Lighters.- About 2-1/8” x 1-1/2” - Customized in the USA with US and global parts Custom Emblem Exact-Cut Dual Blade Stainless Steel Guillotine Cigar Cutter with Custom Metal Emblem - All stainless steel body - Dual selfsharpening blades - Cuts up to 56 ring cigars - For cigar smokers who’ve never heard or seen of this of type cutter please read on.

The Exact-Cut Cigar Cutter has solid back that limits how far you can insert the cigar. This ensures a consistent cut and prevents you from cutting too far down on the cap and ending up with loose tobacco. Custom Emblem Cherry Finish Cigar Humidor Gift Display Box - 20 Cigar Capacity - Spanish Cedar Lined - Internal Locking Hinges - Basic Foam Humidifier - 9” W x 8 1/2” D x 2 1/4” H. Anonymous Donor

More items are being added daily – Check online March 1 for a complete listing.

SPRING 2017 47

SILENT AUCTION ITEMS 925 Elgin Pocket Watch with Rare Black Masonic Dial

Beautiful Rose Gold filled pocket watch. Open face with decorative edges. Masonic symbols and Masonic dial. 7 jewels stem set level escapement. Excellent condition and running strong. Recently serviced. Anonymous Donor.

Antique Bronze Clock

This lovely nouveau shelf clock features a beautiful cherub motif with embellished surround. It bears a USA patent date of 1900.

Anonymous Donor OLD MASTERS “FREEMASONS” Blended Scotch Whiskey

Old Masters, a rich blend originally created for the Freemasons, has been carefully chosen from a selected grain whiskies and specific Highland and Speyside malts. Like whiskey, Freemasonry has been established for centuries and offers a recognizable brand to complement the Craft’s age-old traditions. Donated by the Kansas Masonic Foundation Framed picture of the Joint Dedication of the Capitol Building

This once in a lifetime historic event took place during the 2016 Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Kansas. With M.W. Daren Kellerman, Grand Master of Kansas AF& AM and M.W. Larry Coleman, Grand Master of PHGL of Kansas jointly presiding, both grand lodges joined together for this historic event.

This picture is beautifully framed and is a must have for your office or den. Donated by the Kansas Masonic Foundation Autographed Bill Self Basketball

One of the winningest coaches, Self has led KU to eleven straight Big 12 Conference Season Championships. A Personally autographed basketball is the perfect gift for any enthusiast.

Donated by KU

Three Sisters Inn and Kansas Belle

A couple’s getaway to Baldwin City, Kansas featuring a romantic Saturday night dinner on the historic Kansas Belle Dinner Train and a night’s stay at the elegant Three Sisters Inn. On the Kansas Belle you will relive the golden age of railroad dining on a nostalgic three hour trip back into the 1940’s featuring a delicious fivecourse dinner. You will also get to relax and slip back in time at the historic Victorian Three Sisters Inn and enjoy a gourmet breakfast to round out your trip. Advance reservations required for both.

Donated by Mikel J. Stoops and Bruce Eveland (Three Sisters Inn and Kansas Belle) Custom Framed Glass Masonic Square and Compasses

18”x18” glass with the Square and Compasses sand blasted into the glass. Donated by Tri Star Glass Bill Snyder Autographed Football

Bill Synder, Hall of Fame Football Coach of the Kansas State Univeristy Wildcats and architect of the greatest turnaround in college football history has personally autographed this K-State football.

This is a must have for the die hard Wildcat fan or sports collector. Donated by Coach Bill Snyder Past Master Swinger Jewel with Case

Beautiful Gold Plated Past Master Jewel with Square, Compass, Quadrant and Sun. Two engraveable bars attached (engraving included). Leather-like jewel case with insert and snap. The insert that you use for your pocket is 3.25” x 5.25”. Donated by Macoy Publishing Masonic Jewels and Pins from England

These elegant Masonic Pins are direct from Derbyshire, England and consist of two Royal Arch Jewels, a Provincial Grand Lodge of Derbyshire key fob, a celebrating 300 years pin among others.

There is also a leather case for one of the Royal Arch jewels.

Donated by Michael Hitchcock of Vulcan Lodge No. 4382 Alfreton, Derbyshire, England Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Jacket

This awesome jacket is made by Clique for the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Golf Tournament played at TPC Summerlin in Las Vegas, Nevada. Perfect for wearing in the fall or early spring this zip up jacket has the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open logo embroidered on the left front.

Donated by Brad Koehn Acoustic Guitar Autographed

by Toby Keith

Toby Keith Covel, known professionally as Toby Keith, is an American country music singer, songwriter, actor and record producer. This item is a Toby Keith Authentic Autographed Rogue Professional Acoustic Guitar and comes with a size large t-shirt from Toby Keith’s “I Love This Bar & Grill” Concert series. Donated

by Bob Shively Will Rogers Portrait Painted & Signed by Charles Banks Wilson

This most famous portrait of Will Rogers was painted by Miami, Oklahoma’s world famed artist Charles Banks Wilson.

This portrait was specially framed and presented to the Will Rogers Class of Scottish Rite Bodies on Saturday, March 3 & 24, 1962.

“Interior With Monet And Gauguin AP” 2002 Serigraph on Canvas

This 14 ½” x 17 ½” beautifully framed work of art is a Serigraph in color with hand embellishment on canvas. Signed in ink, numbered on verso. From the deluxe numbered limited edition of 125 on canvas (30 deluxe artist’s proofs, 30 deluxe hors commerce proofs, and 4 deluxe Bon a tirer impression also exist).

There is a regular edition of 598 on paper without embellishment that also exists. Appraised value of almost $2,000. The Certificate of Authenticity accompanies the work of art. Absolutely stunning!

Donated by James Steven Factor 24-5 Ounce Toasting Canons

Beautifully sand etched Toasting Canons with Grand Lodge of Kansas Seal on one side and Masonic Square & Compass on the other. These are extremely heavy weighted and excellent for any Table Lodge. Donated by the Kansas Masonic Foundation M.W. Cole Presley’s Necktie, Bowtie, GM coin and lapel pin

This beautiful handmade necktie and bowtie were made by the Craftsman’s Apron especially for M.W. Cole Presley and will be worn by the 2017 Grand Lodge Officers, Area and District Deputy Grand Masters. The Grand Master’s lapel pin matches the coin in design. Donated by M.W. Tracy L. Bloom and Dave Hendricks Shield of Honor Medallion from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania

This stately and historic piece dates to April 17, 1911, when given to PGM Harry Fritsch by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. Complete with the original presentation case this beautifully molded and etched silver piece is a must have for the serious collector. Anonymous Donor Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6

Looking to upgrade your old tablet or need a way to entertain the grandkids, then the Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6 is just what you need. This tablet is kid friendly and comes with all the bells and whistles you need or want with a mobile device. This tablet also comes with a blue Style Folio.

Donated by Albert Pike Lodge No. 303 Extremely Rare – Vintage Sterling Silver Masonic Wristwatch

A stunningly beautiful and extremely rare sterling silver wristwatch is in perfect working condition. The watch is an antique 17 Jewel Swiss made fine watch.

Anonymous Donor

These are some of the 4th Annual Freemason’s Endowment Charity Auction items available at the time of publication.

48 THE KANSAS MASON

All auction items for all three auction events will be listed online and available for preview and online bidding.

LIVE AUCTION ITEMS Rare Turn of Century Masonic Postcard Collection.

Exquisitely framed, this selection of twenty-one antique postcards offers a compelling statement of Masonry’s importance through the ages. Cards were hand selected by MW John Mowen from his personal collection of over 100 rare Masonic postcards. Donated by John Mowen.

Astra Model 2000 Cub .22 Short Semi-Auto Pistol

Beautifully engraved Astra Cub semi auto pistol in .22 Short dated 1956.

This is the same gun as the Colt Jr. Model (Colt guns were made by Astra for Colt). Chromed Magazine holds 6 rounds. This is an outstanding small firearm in excellent working condition. Included is a leather holster. Anonymous Donor

Two Historic KU Basketball Prints

Two commemorative Limited Edition Prints of the “Rules of Basketball” (11/1892) with James Naismith and Phog Allen and James Naismith as a Master Mason with his Petition (11/500). Donated by Charles “Duke” Neeland Complete set of Custom Made Lodge Officer Aprons

A complete set of custom designed Lodge Officer Aprons along with 25 additional Past Master or Master Mason aprons or any combination there of. Each apron will be custom designed with Lodge Name and number. Donated by Tim Fowler and Mark Smith Rare Vintage Men’s Hiram Masonic Triangle Pocket Watch

Beautifully engraved Ithaca Model 37 Feather lite NRA Ducks Unlimited Edition is number 198 of 650. This gun comes with a deluxe vent rib walnut stock, 12GA 3” chamber with 3 chokes- IC, Mod and Full.

This gun has been fired twice otherwise it is new in the box. Donated

by Vic Henke

Here is a pretty hard to come

by Men’s Vintage Hiram Masonic Triangle Manual wind Pocket Watch!!

The Watch case is very unique with silver overlay. The crystal is in good shape as well as the Dial. The Watch case measures Approx. 52 MM on every angle and it is hinged. Very rare and a must have for any collector. Donated by Bob Shively

Lodge Officers Sweatshirts

Henry Rifle Freemasons Edition

2000 Friends of the NRA Gun

Hooded sweatshirt with large Square and Compass and Lodge name and position embroidered on the back and person’s name and small masonic emblem embroidered on the front. Set will include choice of pullover or full zip.

Donated by Clay Thomas Benelli Nova Pump Action 12 Gauge Shotgun

The Benelli Nova Pump field shotgun offers unsurpassed strength and weather resistance. This lightweight Nova Pump is a 12 gauge, 3-1/2 inch magnum. The Nova has a steel skeletal frame and the stock and receiver are formed as one solid unit.

This gun comes with extra chokes.

Donated by Baxter Lodge No. 71 2008 Bronc Rally XY500T Rally Moped

Great 250CC Moped to get around town. Like new with only 450 miles. Averages 100mpg and runs and looks great. Helmet included.

Donated by Hollis Worthen

This tribute edition .22 s/L/LR rifle carries on the left side the square and compasses, the plumb, square and level, and the words Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth along with Faith, Hope and Charity all is raised 24K gold relief against a background of classic floral engraving. On the right side is the mosaic floor and the ascending stairs with the letter “G” at the top of the stairs. On the butt of the rifle is George Washington with his masonic apron and the words “Freemason Tribute”.

Donated by Henry Repeating Arms Company Grand Master’s Gavel

Own a piece of Kansas Masonic History! This custom Grand Master’s Gavel was used at Grand Lodge openings, dedications and public events by Most Worshipful Lyn E. Byer, Grand Master of Kansas 2016.

This gavel was custom made by R.W. Tony Borum in the quarries of Borum Machine Services, in symbolic “silver, gold, cedar, crimson,

blue, purple, brass and stone.” Inside the gavel are two coins each from the past three Grand Masters; 2016 M.W. Lyn E. Byer, 2015 M.W. Daren L. Kellerman and 2014 M.W. Michael A. Halleran. Donated by Lyn E. Byer Two Cases of Grand Master Select Wine

MW Lyn E. Beyer, Grand Master of Masons in Kansas has commissioned a special “Grand Masters Signature Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay wine to be produced in his honor. This extraordinary 2017 California Estate Wine offering was made in a very limited quantity and only for this special occasion. Wine enthusiasts across the world are clamoring to purchase this unique and highly sought after limited edition wine offering that winemakers and growers created specifically and only for this one event. It is a never-before, never-again, goingonce, going-twice opportunity for bidders to win a small set of wines that no one else can ever claim. Each bottle of this highly acclaimed wine carries the Grand Masters personal signature.

1919 Elgin Masonic Pocket Watch

This Knights Templar Masonic Dial Pocket Watch by Elgin Watch Co. was made in 1919 and just serviced so it is running strong and keeping good time. Great hexagon case is chrome plated type and condition is excellent. The movement is fancy 17 jewel stem wind and stem set. Fine addition to any collection, this is 12 Size and measures 43 mm from side to side. Donated by Topeka Lodge No. 17 Half a Beef, Half a Hog and a Freezer

Love to grill? Here is your opportunity get ready for the BBQ season!

This package includes; one half beef and one half hog, all processing, a Whirlpool 15 cubic feet White Chest Freezer and delivery up to 100 miles from Ottawa, KS. Donated by Shawn Cardin Luxaire LX Gas Furnace and Split System Air Conditioner

Current furnace and a/c unit in need of repair, then this is the item for you. Blue Dot Services of Topeka

will install one 96% 2 stage, variable speed furnace and 1 13 seer a/c unit with matching coil, digital programmable wi-fi thermostat. This item includes all parts, labor and tax and the successful bidder must live within a 60 mile radius of Topeka.

Donated by Blue Dot Services of Topeka Marlin Rifle with Scope

This Marlin 336RC is, circa 1958 according to the serial number R31514, and is a .35 caliber in good condition. This particular rifle comes with a Weaver K4 60-B detachable scope and is a must have for any gun collector. The Marlin Model 336 is a lever-action sporting rifle and carbine is currently produced by Remington Arms under the Marlin brand. Donated by Rick Reichert Enameled Masonic Tokens from Scottland

This set of six beautifully crafted Masonic Tokens from Scottland is a must have for the collector. The collection consists of tokens representing; The Scottish Craft, Scottish Royal Arch, Scottish Knight Templar, Royal Order of Scottland, Rose Croix and Red Cross of Constantine. Donated by James Jack Grand Master Mason’s Choice Scotch Whisky

This is a select 15 year old Isle of Arran Single Malt Whisky especially bottled and labeled for The Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason of Scottland, Bro. Charles Iain Robert Wolridge Gordon of Esslemont, the current Grand Master Mason of Scottland. The box is personally autographed by Grand Master Gordon and is a must have for the serious Scotch drinker. Donated by James Jack Antique Masonic Lantern Projector & Slide Set

Rare, rare, rare 1800’s set includes 37 hand painted Masonic slides depicting key symbols tied to the degree lectures. The lantern dates to 1897, invented by Arthur W Fox of Brooklyn, NY. Fittings are nickel over brass, making this a stunning showpiece for any collector. An item of this caliber is truly a one of a kind.

Donated By Devon Lodge No. 92.

More items are being added daily – Check online March 1 for a complete listing.

SPRING 2017 49

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff

Lodges Successfully Raise Money to Support Their Communities The first Lodge Fundraising Raffle is in the books, and 196 Kansas Masonic Lodges successfully raised $137,440 with 75 percent of that total, or $103,080 going back to the local Lodges to use helping Kansans and Kansas communities.

“This first Lodge fundraising effort was a great success, and we are happy to help the local Lodges across the state help raise much needed funds for their respective communities,” said Michael J. Tavares, President of the Kansas Masonic Foundation. “The Kansas Masonic Foundation also wants to match up to $1,000 per Lodge from the KMF Charites Fund to help double the good work that they do!”

The Kansas Masonic Foundation also allowed our Prince Hall Brothers to participate in the raffle with 75 percent of funds raised going directly to their Prince Hall Foundation.

The winning ticket was sold by Goodland Lodge No. 321.

The following commentary was provided by their Lodge Secretary, James L. Alcorn: “November 29, 2016--Goodland Lodge No. 321 delivered the 1965 Mustang to the winner, Mike Walters, owner-operator of the Cowboy Corner Express in Goodland, Kansas.

Thanks to the Kansas Masonic Foundation for the opportunity of raising money for our Lodge and community. Goodland Lodge sold 375 tickets totaling $7,500 (the

most of any Lodge in Kansas), which in turn created $5,625 returning to our Lodge for community and Lodge use (scholarships, band camp, up-keep, distressed brothers, widows and orphans). Thanks to the KMF for allowing us to have the Mustang in Goodland for all to see up close, which I believe created more ticket sales. At our Flatlanders Fall Festival on September 24th we sold over 200 tickets in one day (displayed the Mustang on Main Street) and to that added 175 additional sales through individual Brothers.

So to any Kansas Lodges that did not participate in this promotion and do not use the Foundation, I would highly suggest that you get on board with the next one that the Foundation has and you too should see like results. I know that some Lodges are in financial difficulty and have little or no money, which is all the more reason to use the Foundation. We have used the Kansas Masonic Foundation for years and I know that all Lodges can benefit the same. Pick up the phone and give them a call. Again, to the KMF, Thank You for your continued help and support.”

This next year the Lodge Raffle will be announced during the 151st Annual Communication in March and tickets will be mailed out in April. KMF will provide additional market-

WIN

ing support for the Local Lodges and will again make the car available to transport to

1965 TANG MUTIS BLE FORD CONVER

local Lodges across the state.

vertible

stang Con

utiful Mu

This bea

y for a

is read

75% of Ticket Sales will Benefit Kansans and Kansas Communities Through the 220 Kansas Statewide Masonic Lodges and the 18,000 Kansas Masons Drawing is on Saturday, – November 5, 2016 at Noon Capitol Plaza Hotel Topeka, Kansas

$20

per raffle ticket

Sylvia Obaya, Kansas Masonic Foundation Accounting Manager, draws the winning raffle ticket for the 1965 Mustang Convertible. Also in the picture are KMF Executive Director Robert A. Shively and Grand Master Lyn E. Beyer watching on.

50 THE KANSAS MASON

cruise

!

ory lane

down mem

Presentation of the Mustang in Goodland to winner, Mike Walters

Rick Ryan, Kansas Masonic Foundation Secretary/Treasurer, presents Grand Master Lyn Beyer with a check for the 196 Lodges that participated in the Lodge Fundraising Raffle.

Grand Master Lyn E. Beyer Presents Prince Hall Grand Master Larry Coleman a check to the Prince Hall Foundation for the Prince Hall Brothers participation in the Lodge Fundraising Raffle.

SPRING 2017 51

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff

Lodges Who Participated in the KMF Fundraiser and the Amount of Charitable Donation They Received

Acacia Lodge #9 . . . . . . . . . .

Active Lodge #158. . . . . . . . .

Adams Lodge #63 . . . . . . . . .

Advance Lodge #114 . . . . . . .

Albert Neese Lodge #248 . . . . .

Albert Pike Lodge #303 . . . . . .

Alta Vista Lodge #357 . . . . . . .

Americus Lodge #109 . . . . . . .

Anthem Lodge #284 . . . . . . .

Anthony Lodge #200 . . . . . . .

Arma Lodge #408 . . . . . . . . .

Arthur H. Strickland Lodge #452 .

Atwood Lodge #164. . . . . . . .

Baxter Springs Lodge #71 . . . . .

Belle Plaine Lodge #173 . . . . . .

Belleville Lodge #129 . . . . . . .

Ben Hur Lodge #322. . . . . . . .

Bestor G Brown Lodge #433 . . .

Black Diamond Lodge #274 . . . .

Blue Rapids Lodge #169 . . . . . .

Bourbon Lodge #268 . . . . . . .

Burlington Lodge #66 . . . . . . .

Caney Lodge #324. . . . . . . . .

Carbondale Lodge #70 . . . . . .

Carson Lodge #132 . . . . . . . .

Cedar Lodge #103 . . . . . . . . .

Centre Lodge #147 . . . . . . . .

Circleville Lodge # 20 . . . . . . .

Claflin Lodge #424 . . . . . . . . .

Clay Center Lodge #134 . . . . .

Climax Lodge #411 . . . . . . . .

Clinton Lodge #233 . . . . . . . .

52 THE KANSAS MASON

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . .$45 . . $135 . . .$90 . . $225 . . $105 . $3,000 . . $540 . . .$90 . $1,980 . . $105 . . .$15 . . $660 . $2,460 . . $480 . . $615 . $1,200 . . $255 . . $840 . . .$30 . . .$45 . . $225 . . $975 . . .$30 . . $660 . . $150 . . $360 . . $135 . . $270 . . $180 . . $195 . . $240 . . $180

Comanche Lodge #295 . . . . . .

Community Daylight Lodge #453 .

Constellation Lodge #95. . . . . .

Corner Stone Lodge #219. . . . .

Cornithians Lodge #79 . . . . . .

Crescent Lodge #133 . . . . . . .

De Soto Lodge #40 . . . . . . . .

Delaware Lodge #96 . . . . . . .

Delphian Lodge #44 . . . . . . . .

Delta Lodge #77 . . . . . . . . . .

Derby Lodge #365. . . . . . . . .

Devon Lodge #92 . . . . . . . . .

Douglass Lodge #151 . . . . . . .

Dover Lodge #138. . . . . . . . .

Easton Lodge #45 . . . . . . . . .

Edna Lodge #345 . . . . . . . . .

Ellsworth Lodge #146 . . . . . . .

Emporia Lodge #12 . . . . . . . .

Enterprise Lodge #437. . . . . . .

Equity Lodge #131 . . . . . . . . .

Euclid Lodge #101 . . . . . . . . .

Fargo Lodge #300 . . . . . . . . .

Fidelity Lodge #106 . . . . . . . .

Fortitude Lodge #107 . . . . . . .

Galena Lodge #194 . . . . . . . .

Gardner Lodge #65 . . . . . . . .

Gilead Lodge #144. . . . . . . . .

Girard Lodge #93 . . . . . . . . .

Golden Rule Lodge #90 . . . . . .

Goodland Lodge #321 . . . . . .

Great Bend Lodge #15 . . . . . .

Greenwood Lodge #163 . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . .$90 . . $390 . . $315 . . $195 . . .$90 . . $240 . $1,005 . . $315 . . $375 . . $495 . . $825 . . $150 . . $165 . . .$45 . . $375 . . $315 . . $420 . $2,895 . . $105 . . $390 . . $570 . . $300 . . $495 . . $270 . . $450 . . $435 . . $780 . . $300 . . $570 . $5,625 . . $525 . . $150

Halstead Lodge #46 . . . . . . . .

Hancock Lodge #311 . . . . . . .

Harmony Lodge #94 . . . . . . .

Harper Lodge #206 . . . . . . . .

Hays Lodge #195 . . . . . . . . .

Haysville Lodge #112 . . . . . . .

Hebron Lodge #314 . . . . . . .

Henri Lodge #190. . . . . . . . .

Heritage Lodge #458 . . . . . . .

Hiattville Lodge #216 . . . . . . .

Hiawatha Lodge #35 . . . . . . .

Hoisington Lodge #331 . . . . . .

Holton Lodge #42. . . . . . . . .

Hope Lodge #155. . . . . . . . .

Hoxie Lodge #348 . . . . . . . .

Hugoton Lodge #406 . . . . . . .

Hutchinson-Reno Lodge #124 . .

Iola Lodge #38. . . . . . . . . . .

Jewell Lodge #11 . . . . . . . . .

Johnson Lodge #441 . . . . . . . .

Joppa Lodge #223 . . . . . . . . .

Justice Lodge #457 . . . . . . . . .

Keystone Lodge #102 . . . . . . .

Killwinning Lodge #265 . . . . . .

Kincaid Lodge #338 . . . . . . . .

Kiowa Lodge #293 . . . . . . . . .

Lacygne Lodge #61 . . . . . . . .

Lafayette Lodge #16 . . . . . . . .

Lake Lodge #50 . . . . . . . . . .

Latham Lodge #401 . . . . . . . .

Lawrence Lodge #6 . . . . . . . .

Lebo Lodge #152 . . . . . . . . .

Lenexa Lodge #135 . . . . . . . .

Lindsborg Lodge #397 . . . . . . .

Madison Lodge #196. . . . . . . .

Mankato Lodge #87 . . . . . . . .

Marmaton Lodge #245 . . . . . .

Marvin A Armstrong Lodge #187 .

Marysville Lodge # 91 . . . . . . .

Masonic Home Lodge #450 . . . .

Mayetta Lodge #393 . . . . . . . .

McKinley Lodge #41 . . . . . . . .

McPherson Lodge #172 . . . . . .

Melvern Lodge #22 . . . . . . . .

Millbrook Lodge #281 . . . . . . .

Minneapolis Lodge #143. . . . . .

Mistletoe Lodge #269 . . . . . . .

Mound City Lodge #33 . . . . . .

Mountain Slope Lodge #186. . . .

Mt. Vernon Lodge #145 . . . . . .

Mulvane Lodge #201. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . $330 . $2,505 . . $180 . . $840 . . $360 . . $210 . $1,560 . . $810 . . $300 . . $120 . . $915 . . $645 . . $120 . . $255 . . $645 . . $645 . . $315 . . $495 . . .$90 . . $195 . . $105 . $1,020 . . $990 . . $225 . . $135 . . .$90 . . $180 . . $750 . . $510 . . .$90 . . $225 . . $480 . . $705 . . $165 . . $135 . . .$90 . . $375 . . $570 . . $300 . . $315 . . $540 . . $210 . . $270 . . $930 . . $945 . . $420 . . $120 . . $795 . . $210 . . $240 . . $630

Mystic Tie Lodge # 74 . . . .

Naphtali Lodge #310 . . . .

Neosho Lodge #27 . . . . .

Newton Lodge #142 . . . .

Nickerson Lodge #43 . . . .

Ninnescah Lodge #230 . . .

North Star Lodge #168 . . .

Oakley Lodge #253 . . . . .

Oketo Lodge #25 . . . . . .

Olathe Lodge #19 . . . . . .

Old Mission Lodge #153. . .

Onaga Lodge #188. . . . . .

Orient Lodge #51 . . . . . .

Osage Valley Lodge #24 . . .

Oskaloosa Lodge #14 . . . .

Ottawa Lodge #18. . . . . .

Overland Park Lodge # 436 .

Oxford Lodge #165 . . . . .

Palmyra Lodge #23. . . . . .

Paola Lodge #37 . . . . . . .

Paradise Lodge #290. . . . .

Parker Lodge #341. . . . . .

Parsons Lodge #117 . . . . .

Patmos Lodge #97 . . . . . .

Peace Lodge #243 . . . . . .

Perry Lodge #415 . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . $180 . . $105 . $3,105 . . $765 . . .$30 . . $510 . . $525 . . .$90 . . .$60 . . $390 . . $375 . . .$90 . . $330 . . .$90 . . .$30 . . $135 . $1,200 . . $165 . . $585 . . $285 . . .$45 . $1,575 . . .$90 . . $240 . . $960 . . $330

Prince Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,210 Prudence Lodge #100 . . . . . . . . . . . . $180 Pyramid Lodge #451. . . . . . . . . . . . . $180 Ridgeway Lodge #62. . . . . . . . . . . . . $480 Rising Sun Lodge #8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $675 Roger E. Sherman-West Gate Lodge #438 . $450 Rosedale Lodge #333 . . . . . . . . . . . . $105 Royal Lodge #192 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $210 Russell Lodge #177 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $150 Salina Lodge #60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,800 Sharon Springs Lodge #417 . . . . . . . . . $435 Shawnee Lodge #54 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $690 Siloam Lodge #225. . . . . . . . . . . . . . $345 Smithton Lodge #1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$90 Solomon City Lodge #105 . . . . . . . . . $480 Spring Hill Lodge #56 . . . . . . . . . . . . $420 St. Bernard Lodge #222 . . . . . . . . . . . $150 St. Francis Lodge #404. . . . . . . . . . . . $225 St. John’s Lodge #113 . . . . . . . . . . . . .$15 St. Thomas Lodge #306 . . . . . . . . . . . $360 Stanley Lodge #444 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$90 Sterling Lodge #171 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $195 Strickland Lodge #452 . . . . . . . . . . . . $180 Sunflower Lodge #86 . . . . . . . . . . . . $720 Sutton Lodge #85 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$90 Syracuse Lodge #309 . . . . . . . . . . . $3,480

Temple Builders Lodge #462 Thayer Lodge #149 . . . . .

Topeka Lodge #17 . . . . . .

Troy Lodge #55 . . . . . . .

Tuscan Lodge #460 . . . . .

Tyrian Lodge #246 . . . . . .

Ulysses Lodge #435 . . . . .

Union Lodge # 7 . . . . . . .

Unity Lodge #273 . . . . . .

Virginia Lodge #315 . . . . .

Vulcan Lodge #229. . . . . .

Vulcan Lodge# 229. . . . . .

Wakarusa Lodge # 402 . . .

Wakeeny Lodge #148 . . . .

Walace Lodge #318 . . . . .

Walnut City Lodge #215 . .

Wamego Lodge # 75 . . . .

Wathena Lodge #64 . . . . .

Wellington Lodge # 150 . . .

Westmoreland Lodge #257 .

Wichita Lodge #99. . . . . .

Winfield Lodge #110 . . . .

Woodson Lodge #121. . . .

Wyandotte Lodge #3 . . . .

Xenia Lodge #47. . . . . . .

Zeredatha Lodge #80 . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . .$30 . . $180 . $1,950 . . $540 . . $585 . . $720 . . $540 . . $330 . . $735 . . $435 . . $600 . . .$15 . . .$60 . . .$75 . . .$90 . . $300 . . $360 . . $255 . $1,260 . . $180 . . $270 . . $930 . . .$90 . $1,050 . . $210 . . $105

Could this be the next car for your Lodge fundraiser?

Announcement will be made at annual communication.

SPRING 2017 53

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff PRIDE,” Anderson said. “We had a large attendance, which involved the county PRIDE communities, the Iola Masonic Lodge and county 4-H groups. The information shared by each entity was eye-opening to the other groups and an agreement was made between the groups to reach out to each other for help and support if needed.”

Brother Curtis Utley, Worshipful Master of Iola Lodge, agreed the event was educational and helpful to all involved.

“Meeting with the PRIDE committee and the 4-H groups went a long way in educating community leaders about what the Iola Masons are doing for their community,” he said.

Masons, Kansas PRIDE Strengthen Statewide Partnerships during first event

The strengthened partnership already was evident as one outcome of the event was that Iola Lodge members are going to assist the 4-H students with resume writing.

The collaborative environment fostered

State Research and Extension Community

Brother Jerry Skidmore spoke on behalf

this year between Kansas Masons, K-State

Vitality staff.

of Iola Lodge and discussed the various

Research and Extension, the Kansas Depart-

The event Nemechek organized was

projects the lodge is involved with. Utley

ment of Commerce and Kansas PRIDE Inc.

the first joint meeting since the partner-

indicated that “the lodge was happy that

was bolstered by a variety of activities that

ship was formed in March 2016 between

Carla was recognized for her efforts and

highlighted the positive things happening.

Kansas Masons and the Kansas PRIDE

congratulated her on receiving the Kansas

program. Forty people attended and each

PRIDE Partner Award.”

In October, Carla Nemechek was hon-

“The Kansas PRIDE Program is a

ored for the work she did to connect and

enjoyed a potluck dinner and

coordinate Iola Lodge No. 38 during an

great conversation. Dur-

partnership between K-State Research

event with the Allen County PRIDE Part-

ing this meeting, each group

and Extension, the Kansas Depart-

ners. She received the 2016 Kansas PRIDE

represented had the opportunity to

ment of Commerce, Kansas PRIDE

Partner Award at the K-State Research and

explain their mission and the resourc-

Inc. and the Kansas Masons,”

Extension Annual Conference. The award is

es they bring to the table.

said Jaime Menon, Community

given to an individual who is involved with

The meeting was organized by

Vitality and Kansas PRIDE

their local PRIDE organization and who as-

Barbara Anderson, Southeast Regional

Coordinator. “Carla understands

sists the group with educational opportuni-

Project Manager with the Department

the importance and success of

ties, support and networking.

of Commerce.

It was a way to show Nemechek that

“I am very happy for Carla and apprecia-

partnerships. Representing Extension at the meeting and bringing 4-H to the table was

she went above and beyond to serve Kan-

tive of the help she gave me in securing all

a great way to get people informed and in-

sas PRIDE communities in her county and

of the 4-H clubs in Allen County to attend

volved on community development efforts

district. The award was selected by the K-

our county meeting during the Week of

in Allen County.”

54 THE KANSAS MASON

HOME WARMINGS

By Hervey Wright III, Director of Development and Fraternal Relations, KMH

Established Funds Help Kansas Masons As we continue our

who currently receive Medicaid or are

Shopper’s Card, you can support KMH by

120th Anniversary

impoverished.

simply signing up and shopping at Dillons.

Masons Helping Masons Fund -

All you have to do is visit the Dillon’s web

Kansas Masonic Home, it is nice to be able

this newly established fund provides

page and click on the Community tab. From

to reflect on where we have been. KMH

assistance to Masons and widows of

there you can enroll in their “Commu-

has always been about helping others

Masons. Any Mason living at KMH can

nity Rewards Program” and select Kansas

benefit from this fund.

Masonic Home. Once signed up, every time

Jim and Louise Randolph

you shop at Dillons, a percentage of your

ronment for seniors today. We work very

Memorial Fund - established in 2012

purchase amount will be forwarded to KMH

hard to achieve our mission of “Vibrant

by the Randolph’s to provide assis-

to help fund our KMH Good Deeds Fund. It

Living and Valued Principals” for everyone

tance and relief to members of the

costs you nothing to help.

that calls KMH their home. Kansas Masonic

Masonic Fraternity who are financially

Home is a not-for-profit organization that

unable to obtain the necessary care

funds, would like to support KMH, or need

for themselves.

assistance in signing up for the Dillon’s

2.

Celebration at the

whether it was orphans and widows in the early years to providing a homelike envi-

has the ability to raise funds for Masons living here that might need assistance. Cur-

3.

We are always looking for financial sup-

If you have any questions about our

Community Rewards Program, please con-

rently we have three different funds that

port of these funds and welcome any gifts.

tact Hervey Wright at the Kansas Masonic

are available to all Masons at KMH.

Gifts can be made in cash, check, and credit

Home. The phone number is 316-269-7513

1.

Good Deeds Fund - this fund was

card. We have also partnered with Dillon

or email at hwright@kmh.org. Any con-

established over 20 years ago to pro-

Food Stores as a way to support our Good

tributions or participation will be greatly

vide assistance to residents of KMH

Deeds Fund. If you have a Dillon’s Plus

appreciated.

TRESTLE BOARD OF KANSAS MASONS The Grand Lodge of Kansas, new Google calender.

This new calender is limited to DEGREE WORK, REGULAR STUDY CLUBS and SCHOOLS OF INSTRUCTIONS. To add this new Google Calender to your own calender, to get notifications, or to add your Lodge’s upcoming Ritual event, or to add your Regular Study Club meetings to it, please send your request for access, via email to

trestle@kansasmason.org

SPRING 2017 55

OUT AND ABOUT

By Anthony “Tony” W. Borum, PM, Treasurer, GSD

Losing a Cherished Masonic Brother Teaches Lessons, Love Every Lodge has at least one brother that everyone in the Lodge looks up to. He is always helpful, always puts the candidate at ease and stays with him through the whole process.

my newfound brothers by jumping in and helping with the construction. I will never forget my first experience witnessing the initiation of a new Brother in Parker Lodge.

The Master, doing the conferral, was two years younger. He was wearing a cowboy

I moved to Parker with my wife and two

hat and a western shirt, and he was nothing

young children in the summer of 1986 to

like the tuxedo-clad ritualists that performed

start a new career as a machinist apprentice

the work at my home lodge in Kansas City. I

and a new beginning with my family in rural

knew him and his family well, and yet I was

Kansas. At first, I had no intention to become

still unprepared for the ease and exactness

a dual member of Parker Lodge

of his delivery of the work and his unforget-

No. 341. I did not want to abandon my

table voice. I soon learned he was as skilled

Brothers in Kansas City. I wanted to get my

a ritualist as any Mason I knew, or will ever

feet on the ground and weigh my options. My

know. He was one of the most respected

father in-law, a transplanted Independence,

brothers in our Lodge and our district. He

Mo., Mason, informed me that it would not

was a brother that other lodges would call

be easy to transition to the Kansas ritual.

when there was important masonic work to

Although he believed the Missouri ritual was

be done. He is Brother Kenneth Chase.

much more beautiful, he asked me to try hard to learn the Kansas ritual and assimilate

on the night of his initiation he is seem-

with my new Parker Lodge Brothers.

ingly always greeted by that one guy. He is

I was raised to the sublime degree of a

the first man, who he afterwards learns is

Master Mason in 1984 at East Gate Lodge

a Brother, who greets him at the door. He

No. 630, in Kansas City, Mo. My first experi-

is a Brother who is truly happy that a new

ences in Freemasonry were very different

candidate is there to begin his personal

than the experience I encountered when I

Masonic journey. He always makes sure the

first sat in a Lodge in rural Parker, Kan. The

candidate feels welcome and comfortable.

one thing that was not different, in my new

Every Lodge has at least one brother that

hometown Lodge, was their brotherly love,

everyone in the Lodge looks up to. He is

friendship and their sincere love for the Fra-

that Brother who answers the call on short

ternity. I had been visiting the Parker/Cen-

notice. In most Lodges, that guy is an old

terville communities for many years prior to

past master. He is always helpful, always

our move and had met many local citizens,

puts the candidate at ease and stays with

brothers and their families. I was fortunate

him through the whole process.

to have moved to Parker at the same time

56 THE KANSAS MASON

When a new candidate enters the lodge

At Parker Lodge No. 341, we have many

that Parker Lodge was then building a new

Brothers who answer that call, but “that”

lodge hall, and I was able to blend in with

Brother is Kenny Chase. I say that even

though Brother Kenny Chase is now lost to our Lodge. He is excused from attending

needed before.

He told us he would eventually not be

We were losing a true Mason, a friend, a mentor and a Brother right before our eyes and there was nothing we could do.

our meetings by the Grand Architect. He is

able to find the words anymore. He would

also our honorary Senior Deacon. He can-

not be able to do the Conferrals, the

not attend Lodge anymore but he is always

Prayers, the Stair lecture, or the Geometry

ultimately robs us of our abilities to recite

with us. A short time ago, we received

Lecture, or the Bible presentation, etc. etc.

our rituals and perform the beautiful

terrible news during one of our meetings.

He apologized to us. It became clear to us

ceremonies in our Lodges. We can only

Kenny stood up and announced to us that

that he was our ritualistic work crutch. We

believe that when God takes them from us

he had been diagnosed with a severe brain

finally realized that we depended so much

that it is in his divine plan. Last year, Parker

disease. He informed us that he is afflicted

on him for his Masonic skills that many of us

Lodge honored Brother Kenny at our An-

with a medical condition called Picks Dis-

neglected to learn our important ritual work

nual Ladies Table Lodge with a perpetual life

ease and it is rapidly taking away his ability

ourselves. We challenged each other, that

membership. He will always be remembered

to function and do the important work of

night, to learn new parts. We have, for our

for what he brought to Parker Lodge and

the Craft. For a while, we had all noticed his

Lodge and also for our Brother Kenny. He

for what he meant to Kansas Freemasonry.

words missing, and common ritual phrases

became our Chaplain and we always gave

We will never forget what Brother Kenny

that were normally easy for him suddenly

him time to find the words. Each meeting

Chase meant to our Lodge, whom he is and

were lost. We had begun to notice that he

night, the struggle became more and more

was, and he will always be present in our

was asking for a little coaching he had never

difficult for him and heartbreaking for us.

broken hearts.

We all hope that it will be old age that

OUT AND ABOUT Hebron Lodge No. 314

By Carl Otto, PM of Neosho Lodge No. 27

South Coffey County Lodges Host A Friends of Masons Night Hebron Lodge No. 314 held its annual joint

first verse of God Bless America was sung.

Several members of Hebron Lodge then spoke about their lodge, the Shrine and the Order of the Eastern Star.

There were four men in attendance who

“Friends of Masons” night in conjunction

Those in attendance feasted on a deli-

were not Masons. One young man showed

with Neosho Lodge No. 27 on October

cious spaghetti dinner cooked by the lodge

a definite interest in joining, with two oth-

12. We were pleased with the turnout as

members.

ers seriously considering membership.

30 individuals were present.

After dinner, David W. Hendricks,

The evening concluded with W:. Francis

Director of Development and Programs

Jackson, Worshipful Master of Hebron

Lodge, welcomed everyone to the pro-

for the Kansas Masonic Foundation, gave a

Lodge, thanking everyone for attending

gram and introduced Crystal Alumbaugh,

presentation on the Foundation’s pro-

the program and wishing them safe travels

a junior at Southern Coffey County High

grams and the importance of lodge vis-

on their journeys home. He also thanked

School and a member of the 2016 Kansas

ibility in their communities. He presented

the speakers for their roles, members of

Masonic All-State High School Marching

the guests in attendance with a copy of

the lodge for preparing the meal and the

Band, who played the national anthem. The

the winter 2015 Kansas Mason and talking

members of Neosho Lodge for celebrating

Pledge of Allegiance was recited and the

points about the foundation.

the evening with us.

W:. Chris Birk, Secretary of Hebron

SPRING 2017 57

A Thank You

To Kansas Masons From Shriners Hospital

58 THE KANSAS MASON

LODGE OF RESEARCH The Perfect Points of My Entrance continued from page 29

Prudence

Prudence, and all

stone” in hopes of the magnificent reward of

tial unto the poor nor defer to the great, in

eternal brotherhood.

righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.”

The sign of prudence is manual, which al-

The element associated with justice is air.

virtues for that

ludes to the hands. We placed our hands on

Air is everywhere, unencumbered, and it

matter, is yielded

the holy scriptures and thereon entered into

cares not about situations, circumstances

to us through “the

a covenant with the fraternity and with God.

or disputes. It is free to all and all get their

power of prayer, a

Prudence is the virtue through which the

fair share from the highest to the lowest.

virtuous educa-

Great Creator provides his guidance to us.

Air moves upon the face of the earth as the Spirit of God “moved upon the face of the

tion, and a firm reliance on divine providence.”

JUSTICE

Justice

waters.” Air is constant and sees all.

There is no lodge officer that represents

Justice is that moral

justice because true justice is the providence

element associ-

virtue that allows

of the Grand Architect of the Universe. It is

ated to prudence

us to give to our

by God’s laws that we strive to lead our lives.

is water. Water

God and our fellow

We will answer to Him and Him alone when

is an amazing ele-

man their just due.

our judgement day comes. It is by God’s

ment. It seeks its

Justice teaches us

grace and will that each of us will be found

own level and man

to view our fellow

worthy and invited to live in “that house not

has leveraged that fact to build and square

man with an unbi-

made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

structures. As water fills whatever vessel it is

ased eye and har-

The sign associated with justice is pedal

put into, we too should continually strive to

bor no prejudices

and refers to the feet. Pedal reminds us of

fill our minds with knowledge and wisdom to

or preconceived

that time when we stood in the northeast

allow us to apply prudence to any problem

and unproven

corner and there beheld the Master of the

or challenge confronting us.

slanders against

lodge who charged us to strictly adhere to

them. Justice

the secrets of Masonry and uphold the laws

dence is the Worshipful Master because he is

among men allows us to firmly establish

of the lodge.

supposed to have the wisdom and insight to

fair and just relationships where peace and

“open and govern his lodge”… and give them

harmony prevail. We are taught that justice

The four cardinal virtues, along with the

proper instruction. As prudence is instilled in

is the only way a society can exist. Without

three religious virtues of faith, hope and

us through prayer it brings us closer to the

justice, mankind would be doomed to live

charity, are the intellectual tools God has

Great Creator. Prudence inspires us to live

in total chaos and despair.

provided us to live just and upright lives.

Esoterically the

The lodge officer associated with pru-

Often mentioned in the pages of our

They teach us to live in harmony with our

connects us to the ancient adage of the Her-

Holy Scriptures is “the just man.” The just

neighbors and provide for those less fortu-

metic sages, “As above, so below.” Prudence

man always displays fairness and an upright

nate. Masonic dictates encourage us to use

helps us divest mortal pitfalls from our lives

approach to his conduct with his fellow man.

them as reminders of our duty to God, our

and allows us to constantly shape our “living

Holy Scripture tells us, “You shall not be par-

neighbors and ourselves.

our lives as God would have us do which

About the Author John G. Crary is a Past Master of Hancock #311 at Fort Leavenworth. He is currently the Associate Patron for Byington Chapter 177 Order of the Eastern Star, at Leavenworth. John is a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Fort Leavenworth and holds the office of Director of the Work. He is the Senior Warden of the Kansas Lodge of Research and a Grand Lodge of Kansas Grand Lecturer. He is a retired Army officer and lives in Leavenworth with his wife, Sharon, and their grandson Aedan.

SPRING 2017 59

STATED COMMUNICATIONS for the Mason Traveling in Kansas!

Abilene

Bronson

Bourbon Lodge No. 268 509 Clay St · 620-939-4551 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Benevolent Lodge No. 98 116 1/2 NW 3rd St · 785-263-2011 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Bronson

Abilene

Xenia Lodge No. 47 664 Wood Rd · 913-649-2241 Meet: 1st Saturday

Justice Lodge No. 457 116 1/2 NW 3rd St · 620-496-5090 Meet: Quarterly As Called By Master

Burden

Almena

Clinton Lodge No. 233 406 N Main St · 620-218-2488 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Naphtali Lodge No. 310 500 Main St · 785-669-2509 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Burlingame

Alta Vista

Corinthian Lodge No. 79 106 E Fremont Ave · 785-528-3496 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Alta Vista Lodge No. 357 905 Main St · 785-499-5331 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Altamont

Altamont Lodge No. 69 414 S Huston Ave · 620-784-9950 Meet: 3rd Tuesday Americus Lodge No. 109 551 Broadway St · 620-443-5550 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Anthony

Anthony Lodge No. 200 218 S Kansas · 316-253-5868 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Arkansas City

Crescent Lodge No. 133 202 South B St · 620-441-3779 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Arma

Arma Lodge No. 408 406 E Washington St · 620-249-9020 Meet: 2nd Monday

Ashland

Ashland Lodge No. 277 721 Chestnut · 620-635-2924 Meet: 2nd Thursday in December

Atchison

Active Lodge No. 158 121 1/2 N 5th St · 913-367-0229 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Atwood

Atwood Lodge No. 164 113 S 5th St · 785-626-3787 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, EXCEPT July & August

Augusta

Mystic Tie Lodge No. 74 526 1/2 State St · 316-775-2655 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Baldwin City

Palmyra Lodge No. 23 807 High St · 913-856-8355 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Carbondale

Douglas Lodge No. 151 916 E 3rd St · 316-776-9567 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Chanute

Dover Lodge No. 138 5701 SW Douglas Rd · 785-256-6790 Meet: 2nd Thursday

Sumner Lodge No. 203 Caldwell, KS · 620-845-6869 Meet: 1st Thursday in December Carbondale Lodge No. 70 228 Main St · 785-836-2234 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays Cedar Lodge No. 103 102 N Highland · 620-431-4692 Meet: 2nd Wednesday

Chetopa

Chetopa Lodge No. 73 22 Maple St · no telephone Meet: 1st Thursday

Circleville

Circleville Lodge No. 20 201 Lovejoy St · 785-873-3163 Meet: 2nd Monday

Claflin

Claflin Lodge No. 424 107 Main St · 620-587-3804 Meet: 1st Thursday

Clay Center

Clay Center Lodge No. 134 2317 7th St · 785-632-3658 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Clearwater

Unity Lodge No. 273 112 W Ross · 316-200-5290 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Climax

Climax Lodge No. 411 102 5th St · 620-583-6988 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Coffeyville

Belle Plaine

Belleville

Comanche Lodge No. 295 111 E Main St · 620-582-2329 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Beloit

Prudence Lodge No. 100 633 E Garfield · 620-429-2313 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Benedict

St. Johns Lodge No. 113 117 W 8th St · 785-614-2380 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Blue Rapids

Mistletoe Lodge No. 269 305 S Church St · no telephone Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 145 103 1/2 W Court · 785-738-3801 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays Benedict Lodge No. 403 Main St · 620-278-3592 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays Blue Rapids Lodge No. 169 1441 State Hwy 9 · 785-556-3854 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays, EXCEPT July & August

60 THE KANSAS MASON

Devon

St. Bernard Lodge No. 222 1207 W McArtor Rd · 620-227-2332 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

St. Thomas Lodge No. 306 215 N Franklin Ave · 785-460-3081 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Belleville Lodge No. 129 1810 L St · 785-527-5844 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Derby

Derby Lodge No. 365 125 E Market St · no telephone Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Caldwell

Baxter Springs

Belle Plaine Lodge No. 173 421 N Merchant St · 316-488-3513 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Delia

Delia Lodge No. 419 401 Washington Ave · 785-584-6259 Meet: 1st Wednesday

Devon Lodge No. 92 Highway 7 · 620-224-8191 Meet: 2nd Thursday

Keystone Lodge No. 102 2001 Woodland Ave · 620-251-2360 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Baxter Lodge No. 71 1509 Military Ave · 620-674-1511 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

De Soto

De Soto Lodge No. 40 33075 W 83rd St · 913-585-1650 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Burlington

Burlington Lodge No. 66 118 N 3rd St · 620-364-5845 Meet: 2nd Wednesday, EXCEPT July & August

Americus

Courtland

Courtland Lodge No. 211 401 Main St · 785-374-4460 Meet: 1st Thursday

Colby

Coldwater

Columbus

Concordia

Conway Springs

Cottonwood Falls

Zeredatha Lodge No. 80 234 Broadway · 620-273-6431 Meet: 1st Wednesday

Dodge City

Fort Scott

Rising Sun Lodge No. 8 902 S National Ave · 620-223-0249 Meet: 1st Monday

Frankfort

Frankfort Lodge No. 67 900 N Kansas · no telephone Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Fredonia

Constellation Lodge No. 95 318 N 6th St · 620-431-3866 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Galena

Galena Lodge No. 194 208 Joplin St · 620-249-3413 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Garden City

Tyrian Lodge No. 246 905 Kansas Plaza · 620-275-2356 Meet: 2nd Wednesday

Gardner

Douglass

Gardner Lodge No. 65 105 1/2 Elm St · 913-856-7878 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Dover

Memphis Lodge No. 108 Garland, KS · 620-768-0200 Meet: 1st Tuesday

Dwight

Delphian Lodge No. 44 122 1/2 E 5th Ave · 620-496-5090 Meet: 3rd Thursday, EXCEPT July & August

Easton

Girard Lodge No. 93 106 1/2 E Prairie Ave · 620-724-4412 Meet: 1st Wednesday

Dwight Lodge No. 374 635 E Main St · 620-767-6882 Meet: 1st Tuesday Easton Lodge No. 45 3rd & Riley St · no telephone Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Garland

Garnett

Girard

Goodland

Edna

Goodland Lodge No. 321 519 Center St · 785-890-6265 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

El Dorado

Great Bend Lodge No. 15 1917 17th St · 620-639-1865 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Elk City

Kiowa Lodge No. 293 225 E Kansas · 620-723-2284 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Ellsworth

Hebron Lodge No. 314 415 Main St · 620-836-5448 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Edna Lodge No. 345 117 N Delaware St · 620-922-7216 Meet: 3rd Tuesday Patmos Lodge No. 97 401 S Haverhill Rd · 316-452-1049 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays Carson Lodge No. 132 112 N Montgomery · 620-627-2243 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays Ellsworth Lodge No. 146 Ellsworth, KS · 785-252-3441 Meet: 1st and 3rd Monday

Great Bend

Greensburg

Gridley

Halstead

Emporia

Halstead Lodge No. 46 127 W 1st St · 316-258-2034 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Ensign

Harper Lodge No. 206 114 W Main St · 620-896-7868 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Erie

Hays Lodge No. 195 107 W 11st St ·785-625-3127 Meet: 3rd Monday

Eureka

Haysville Lodge No. 112 300 S Main · 316-768-9202 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Emporia Lodge No. 12 424 Merchant St · 620-342-3913 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays Ensign Lodge No. 413 301 Aubrey St · 620-865-2321 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays Erie Lodge No. 76 221 S Main · 620-244-5620 Meet: 2nd Thursday, EXCEPT July & August Fidelity Lodge No. 106 600 N Main St · 620-583-5135 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Fall River

Greenwood Lodge No. 163 509 Merchants Ave · 316-239-9073 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Florence

Advance Lodge No. 114 417 1/2 Main St · 620-382-7310 Meet: 2nd Tuesday

Fontana

Equity Lodge No. 131 202 S Stevens · no telephone Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Fort Leavenworth

Hancock Lodge No. 311 311 Kearney Ave · 913-651-7308 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Harper

Hays

Haysville

Hiawatha

Hiwatha Lodge No. 35 601 Utah St · 785-547-7035 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Highland

Smithton Lodge No. 1 306 W Main St · no telephone Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Hill City

Millbrook Lodge No. 281 305A W Main St · 785-421-2950 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Hoisington

Hoisington Lodge No. 331 351 W 2nd St · 620-786-4585 Meet: 3rd Thursday

Holton

Holton Lodge No. 42 100 E 5th St · 785-364-4217 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Howard

Hope Lodge No. 155 100 W Washington · 620-647-3279 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Hoxie

Hoxie Lodge No. 348 840 9th St · 785-675-8695 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Hugoton

Hugoton Lodge No. 406 112 E 6th St · no telephone Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Hutchinson

Hutchinson-Reno Lodge No. 124 1800 E 23rd Ave · 620-662-7012 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Independence

Fortitude Lodge No. 107 2000 W Laurel St · 620-331-2349 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Iola

Iola Lodge No. 38 201 W Madison Ave · 620-852-3314 Meet: 1st Tuesday, 5:30pm, EXCEPT Jun, Jul & Aug

Jewell

Jewell Lodge No. 11 316 1/2 Delaware · no telephone Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Johnson

Johnson Lodge No. 441 213 S Main St · 620-353-4022 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Junction City

Union Lodge No. 7 722 1/2 N Washington · 785-762-2903 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Kansas City

Ben Hur Lodge No. 322 1442 S 30th St · 913-499-8406 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Kansas City

Delaware Lodge No. 96 9677 Parallel Parkway · 913-788-9696 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Kansas City

Heritage Lodge No. 458 1442 S 30th St · 785-313-7222 Meet: 1st Wednesday in December

Kansas City

Roger E. Sherman-West Gate Lodge No. 438 1201 N 67th St · 816-517-1833 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Kansas City

Wyandotte Lodge No. 3 2835 N 103rd Terrace · 913-299-4444 Meet: 1st and 3rd Fridays

Kincaid

Kincaid Lodge No. 338 406 1st Ave · 620-363-2053 Meet: 1st Monday, EXCEPT July & August

Kingman

Ninnescah Lodge No. 230 247 N Main St · 620-532-3709 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Kiowa

Cosmos Lodge No. 278 202 S 9th St · 316-258-1596 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

La Cygne

La Cygne Lodge No. 61 320 Locust St · 816-351-5050 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Lakin

Emerald Lodge No. 289 214 N Main St · 620-355-6291 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Lane

Lane Lodge No. 339 Lane Methodist Church · 913-731-3953 Meet: 4th Thursday

Latham

Latham Lodge No. 401 229 W Blaine · 620-843-2551 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Lawrence

Acacia Lodge No. 9 1301 E 25th St · 785-842-8145 Meet: 2nd Thursday

Lawrence

Lawrence Lodge No. 6 1301 E 25th St · 785-843-2333 Meet: 2nd Monday

Leavenworth

King Solomon Lodge No. 10 423 1/2 Delaware St · 913-682-3391 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Lebo

Lebo Lodge No. 152 2 W Broadway · 620-342-4424 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Lecompton

Lecompton Lodge No. 420 116 Highway 40 · 785-817-3556 Meet: 1st Thursday

Lenexa

Lenexa Lodge No. 135 13417 W 94th St · 913-888-6564 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Leon

Joppa Lodge No. 223 115 W Mechanic St · 316-323-8970 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

LeRoy

Neosho Lodge No. 27 438 Main St · 620-203-0396 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, EXCEPT July & August

Lewis

Lewis Lodge No. 220 210 Main St · no telephone Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Marysville

Marysville Lodge No. 91 1733 Center St · 785-562-5467 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Mayetta

Mayetta Lodge No. 393 120 E Main St · 785-633-6087 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

McPherson

McPherson Lodge No. 172 311 S Main St · 361-648-3111 Meet: 1st Wednesday, EXCEPT July & August

Medicine Lodge

Delta Lodge No. 77 205 N Main · 620-930-8132 Meet: 1st Thursday

Melvern

Melvern Lodge No. 22 210 NE Mays · 785-217-4034 Meet: 2nd Thursday

Merriam

Rosedale Lodge No. 333 6161 Slater St · 913-262-8576 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Minneapolis

Minneapolis Lodge No. 143 306 W 2nd St · 785-392-7619 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Minneola

Minneola Lodge No. 431 118 Main · 620-338-6549 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Moran

Marmaton Lodge No. 245 218 N Spruce St · 620-363-1528 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays, EXCEPT July & August

Mound City

Liberal

Mound City Lodge No. 33 324 Walnut St · 913-795-2503 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Lincoln

Mount Hope Lodge No. 238 108 S Ohio St · 316-204-9004 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Fargo Lodge No. 300 14 E 4th St · 620-624-2229 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Lincoln Lodge No. 154 Lincoln, KS · 785-524-4315 Meet: 2nd Thursday in December

Lindsborg

Lindsborg Lodge No. 397 112 S Main St · 620-241-4007 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Mount Hope

Mulvane

Mulvane Lodge No. 201 104 1/2 W Main · 316-777-1006 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, EXCEPT July & August

Neodesha

Linwood

Harmony Lodge No. 94 416 1/2 Main St · 620-839-5470 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Little River

Newton Lodge No. 142 106 E Broadway · 316-283-1199 Meet: 2nd Wednesday

Louisburg

Nickerson Lodge No. 43 5 N Nickerson St · no telephone Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Lucas

Oakley Lodge No. 253 104 E 3rd St · no telephone Meet: 1st Wednesday

Linwood Lodge No. 241 223 Main St · 913-669-8187 Meet: 2nd Thursday in December Corner Stone Lodge No. 219 107 E Greenwood Ave · 620-897-6312 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays Peace Lodge No. 243 504 S 2nd St · 913-837-5256 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays Blue Hill Lodge No. 198 103 S Russell Ave · 785-525-6137 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Newton

Nickerson

Oakley

Oberlin

Oswego

Ottawa

Anthem Lodge No. 284 600 Cedar Dr · 620-872-5488 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Ottawa

Sharon Springs Lodge No. 417 122 N Main St · 785-852-4246 Meet: 1st Thursday

Overbrook

Arthur H. Strickland Daylight Lodge No. 452 11109 Johnson Dr · 913-226-7298 Meet: 2nd Monday, EXCEPT January & February

Vulcan Lodge No. 229 119 S Main St · 620-547-2127 Meet: 2nd Tuesday

Shawnee

Wamego Lodge No. 75 519 Lincoln Ave · 785-844-0939 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Shawnee

Sutton Lodge No. 85 102 E Commercial · 785-363-2521 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Tuscan Lodge No. 460 422 S Main St · 913-927-5172 Meet: As called Ottawa Lodge No. 18 422 S Main St · 785-242-3147 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays Ridgeway Lodge No. 62 4th & Maple · 785-817-9250 Meet: 2nd Tuesday, EXCEPT July & August

Overland Park

Overland Park Lodge No. 436 8109 Overland Park Dr · 816-803-8883 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Overland Park

Stanley Lodge No. 444 6950 W 151st St · 913-205-3894 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Oxford

Oxford Lodge No. 165 201 N Sumner · 620-455-2584 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Paola

Paola Lodge No. 37 101 E Miami St · 913-244-6471 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Parker

Parker Lodge No. 341 6595 W 2100th Rd · 913-927-5172 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Parsons

Parsons Lodge No. 117 102 N 17th St · 620-421-1947 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays, EXCEPT July & August

Mankato

Marion

Centre Lodge No. 147 105 S 4th St · 620-381-4669 Meet: 1st Tuesday

Osawatomie

Osage Valley Lodge No. 24 412 5th St · 913-731-4851 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Oskaloosa

Oskaloosa Lodge No. 14 724 Liberty · 785-876-3041 Meet: 1st Thursday

Smith Center

Western Star Lodge No. 174 118 W 1st St · 785-697-2754 Meet: 1st Tuesday in December

Solomon

Solomon City Lodge No. 105 101 E 4th St · 785-655-3927 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Spring Hill

Sterling

Syracuse

Tecumseh

Pomona

Prairie Village

Thayer Lodge No. 149 415 N Okmulgee St · 620-839-5520 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Pratt

Henri Lodge No. 190 311 S Delaware · 913-905-9258 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Quinter

Golden Rule Lodge No. 90 909 NW Lyman Rd · 785-354-7208 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Rush Center

Mount Zion Lodge No. 266 320 SW 8th Ave · 785-266-3394 Meet: 2nd Saturday in December

Russell

Orient Lodge No. 51 320 SW 8th Ave · 785-249-8511 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays, EXCEPT August

St. Francis

Siloam Lodge No. 225 214 SW 14th St · 785-232-2919 Meet: 2nd Thursday

McKinley Lodge No. 41 123 E Franklin (Hwy 68) · 785-759-3543 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays Old Mission Lodge No. 153 5201 W 75th St · 913-642-4458 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays Kilwinning Lodge No. 265 123 1/2 S Main · 620-388-0951 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

St. Francis Lodt No. 404 116 N Quincy · 785-332-2708 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, EXCEPT July & August

Mankato Lodge No. 87 114 N Commercial St · 785-378-3006 Meet: 2nd Monday

Silver Lake

Lake Lodge No. 50 100 Beaubein · 785-582-4003 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Albert Neese Lodge No. 248 5947 SE 45th St · 785-379-9823 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Onaga

Lafayette Lodge No. 16 322A Houston St · 785-776-4186 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Shawnee

Temple Builders Lodge No. 462 11109 Johnson Dr · no telephone Meet: As called

Plainville

Paradise Lodge No. 290 109 S Main · 785-623-0847 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays, EXCEPT July & August

Russell Lodge No. 177 115 E 6th St · 785-735-4280 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Onaga Lodge No. 188 302 1/2 Leonard St ·785-889-4681 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Shawnee Lodge No. 54 11109 Johnson Dr · no telephone Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Syracuse Lodge No. 309 119 N Gates St · 620-384-6142 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Marvin A. Armstrong Lodge No. 187 3105 N Joplin St · 620-231-1180 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Olathe Lodge No. 19 725 W Park St · 913-829-5815 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays, EXCEPT Nov, Dec - Only 2nd

Manhattan

Inner Quest Lodge No. 456 11109 Johnson Dr · 785-482-3020 Meet: 2nd Thursday

Sterling Lodge No. 171 221 S Broadway · 620-204-0281 Meet: 1st Tuesday

Madison

Madison Lodge No. 196 308 W Main · 620-392-5869 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Shawnee

Pittsburg

Oketo Lodge No. 25 103 Main St · 785-629-8200 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Olathe

Sharon Springs

Perry

Perry Lodge No. 415 520 E Front St · 785-856-0528 Meet: 1st Tuesday

Lyons

Royal Lodge No. 192 912 W Main St · 620-257-3565 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Scott City

Spring Hill Lodge No. 56 403 W South St · 913-208-9484 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Mountain Slope Lodge No. 186 109 W Commercial · 785-475-2350 Meet: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays

Oketo

Ulysses

Virginia Lodge No. 315 124 W Main · 620-754-3487 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Lyndon

Euclid Lodge No. 101 108 E 7th St · 785-280-2439 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Savonburg

Adams Lodge No. 63 410 1/2 Commercial St · 620-778-2795 Meet: 2nd Thursday of March, June, September & December

Quinter Lodge No. 410 319 1/2 Main St · 785-754-9082 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays Walnut City Lodge No. 215 107 S Elm · no telephone Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Salina

Salina Lodge No. 60 336 S Santa Fe · 785-825-4812 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Salina

Caledonia Lodge No. 459 336 S Santa Fe · 620-204-0281 Meet: Quarterly As Called By Master

Thayer

Tonganoxie

Topeka

Topeka

Topeka

Topeka

Topeka

Topeka Lodge No. 17 320 SW 8th Ave · 785-249-8511 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Toronto

Woodson Lodge No. 121 201 W Main St · 620-637-2911 Meet: 1st Monday, EXCEPT July & August

Troy

Troy Lodge No. 55 236 S Main St · 785-985-2430 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Ulysses Lodge No. 435 909 N Joyce Dr · 620-356-2376 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Wakarusa

Wakarusa Lodge No. 402 10126 SW Jordan Rd · 785-554-5670 Meet: 1st Wednesday

Wakeeney

Wakeeney Lodge No. 148 531 1/2 Russell Ave · 785-743-2815 Meet: 4th Tuesday

Walnut

Wamego

Waterville

Wathena

Wathena Lodge No. 64 302 N 4th St · 816-261-3159 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Weir

Black Diamond Lodge No. 274 107 W Main St · 620-230-5478 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Wellington

Wellington Lodge No. 150 2129 North A St · 620-326-2002 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Wellsville

Wellsville Lodge No. 356 501 Main St · 785-969-3040 Meet: 1st Wednesday in December

Westmoreland

Westmoreland Lodge No. 257 405 Main St · 785-457-3421 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Wichita

Albert Pike Lodge No. 303 401 S Seneca St · 316-269-7851 Meet: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays

Wichita

Bestor G. Brown Lodge No. 433 332 E 1st St · 316-213-0354 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Wichita

Community Daylight Lodge No. 453 332 E 1st St · 316-263-4218 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Wichita

Masonic Home Lodge No. 450 401 S Seneca St · 316-519-8083 Meet: 2nd and 4th Mondays

Wichita

North Star Lodge No. 168 212 N West St · 316-440-9993 Meet: 2nd and 4th Thursdays

Wichita

Pyramid Lodge No. 451 401 S Seneca St · 316-617-5245 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Wichita

Sunflower Lodge No. 86 2929 W Pawnee Ave · 316-945-8882 Meet: 2nd and 4th Tuesdays

Wichita

Wichita Lodge No. 99 332 E 1st St · 316-530-1099 Meet: 1st and 3rd Mondays

Williamsburg

Anchor Lodge No. 224 310 S East Ave · 913-522-3902 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Winfield

Winfield Lodge No. 110 106 E 8th Ave · 620-221-0109 Meet: 1st and 3rd Thursdays

Winona

Wallace Lodge No. 318 411 Bellview St · 785-694-2278 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

Yates Center

Gilead Lodge No. 144 116 E Butler St · 620-625-3337 Meet: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays

SPRING 2017 61

KANSAS MASONIC FOUNDATION DIRECTORY Jon McConnell

(316) 243-5903

Jonathan W. McConnell Attorney At Law Wichita jon@jonathanwmcconnell.com www.jonathanwmcconnell.com

BORUM MACHINE SERVICES, INC.

CIGAR & TABAC, LTD.

Machinist

Anthony “Tony” Borum

Lyn Beyer cigarandtabacltd.com

Please Like www.facebook/borummachineservices

913-381-5597 or 1-800-359-0381 The sale of cigars, pipes, tobaccos and accessories.

MIDWEST HUNT FEST

Shawn Nielsen

Anderson Machine & Supply John Noeller Machinist

Smolan, KS Machine Tool Parts Repair

COUNTERTOP & CABINET MFG Brent Taylor

Overland Park, KS.

midwesthuntfest.com

Kansas’ premier outdoor sportsman show

(785) 668-2233 andmac@hometelco.net

ABDALLAH ESCORTS

www.ccmcountertops.com Countertops & Cabinets

Abdallah Shriners

REAL ESTATE SPECIALISTS

Ty Patton

Hugh Gill

Wichita

HINKLE LAW FIRM

Clearing The Way For Business www.hinklaw.com Von Kopfman

www.abdallah-shrine.org

McCurdyAuction.com

316-267-2000

Strategic Financial Concepts, Inc. Vance Burns Financial Advisor

(316) 617-7575 burns@SFCinc.net

(785) 272-1633

Blue Dot Services of Kansas HVAC - Plumbing Commercial - Residential - Drain Cleaning von@bluedotkansas.com www.bluedotkansas.com

Wichita www.SFCinc.net

LISTING GOODS AND SERVICES FROM YOUR FELLOW BROTHERS THROUGHOUT KANSAS

The Kansas Masonic Foundation Directory is a great way to connect with your Fraternal Brothers

ASKED AND ANSWERED on a professional level or to let Brothers know your business is here to help. continued fromKansas page 59 Masonic Call the

Foundation at (785) 357-7646 to get your business advertisement in future issues.

EVENT CALENDAR February 1 Announcement of Essay Contest Winners February 4-5 2017 A.DDGM Orientation—Topeka March 1 Kansas Masonic Lodge Newsletter Deadline March 15 Kansas Masonic Foundation Board of Trustees Annual Meeting—Topeka March 16 2017 Outreach/Cancer Screening Clinic Seminar—Topeka

Kansas Masonic Foundation Lodge Luncheon & Seminar—Topeka Lodge of Research Annual Meeting—Topeka Grand Lodge Annual Communication Welcome Reception—Topeka March 17-18 Grand Lodge Annual Communication—Topeka March 17 All Masonic Gala & 4th Annual Freemason’s Charity Auction—Topeka March 18 Installation of 2017-2018 Grand Lodge Officers—Topeka

March 31 Kansas Masonic Foundation 2017 Scholarship Submission Deadline April 17 Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge— Manhattan Kansas Kansas State University Dedication of New Business School April 22 Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic Dedication— Fort Hays State University Grand Masters Reception & Dinner— Hays

*Check the Grand Lodge of Kansas Master Events Schedule on the Grand Lodge Website for Grand Master Visits Near You.

62 THE KANSAS MASON

May 1 Band Camp Registration Submission Deadline June 1 Kansas Masonic Lodge Newsletter Deadline July 25-29 Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band Camp—Eldorado August 20 Kansas Masons Day—Wichita

Macoy Publishing & Masonic Supply Co., Inc. 3011 Dumbarton Road, Richmond VA 23228

M - F 7:00AM - 5:00PM CST

800-637-4640

www.macoy.com

TOOLS TO AID AND IMPROVE ONESELF THROUGH MASONRY (both operative and speculative).

MACOY’S MODERN WORSHIPUL MASTER’S ASSISTANT

KNOW THYSELF USING THE SYMBOLS OF FREEMASONRY TO IMPROVE YOUR LIFE.

FOR THE TWENTYFIRST CENTURY LODGE OFFICER. MACOY BOOK M040 - $31.00

LEWIS MASONIC L004 - $22.95 •Expand your mind •Achieve self-mastery •Attract success

* Take control of your life * Ignite your divine spark * Master your emotions

Practical and useful advice on lodge administration, the powers, prerogatives and responsibilities of the Master, subordinate officer’s duties, lodge bylaws and committees, and Masonic law, all explained through comparative examples from grand jurisdictions across North America.

BLANK greeting card for any occasion.

EXECUTIVE PADFOLIO - SIMULATED LEATHER MULTIPLE POCKETS. KANSAS “ON THE LEVEL” DEBOSS EMBLEM.

GC6 - $22 pack of 25 Includes envelopes

K457 - $34.32 SIGNET STYLE MASONIC RING 5115 - $158

$5 OFF Coupon Code: SPRING2017 enter at checkout

BRONZE MASONIC POCKET COIN. Always remember your Masonic Birthday.

8056ENG - $41.00

WWW. MACO Y. CO M