Kansas Mason - Summer 2018

THE KANSAS MASON Volume 56 Issue 3

Summer 2018

A publication for Kansas Masons in partnership with the Grand Lodge of Kansas and Local Masonic Lodges

Robert C. Talbott, Grand Master of Masons 2018-2019

The Work of Masters & Men Greetings from the Grand East!

M

GRAND LODGE OF K A N S A S A . F. & A . M .

LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 8 SEPTEMBER 2018

any Kansas lodges are dark as you read this article, some taking a welldeserved break from stated business meetings. While taking this break is important for some lodges, for others it is just as important to maintain either stated communications and/or special communications to keep the lodge active and vibrant. Officers of the lodge need to understand the needs of the lodge membership and provide opportunities for Brothers to stay active during the summer. This is especially true if you have candidates or Brothers who need advancement and mentoring or committees that need to stay fertile over the summer to hit the ground running in the fall. This is where Masonry teaches us the critical value of providing work for the craft. Masters, officers and all members of the lodge cannot overstate the value and importance of “work” to the overall health of the lodge. Work is what we do that has purpose, provides a service or is of value to us or those around us.

In Freemasonry, the concept and importance of providing work cannot be overstated. The principle of putting the craft to work is so important that it is the fundamental duty assigned to the Master of the Lodge. This duty is directly and boldly stated during the opening & closing of each lodge meeting. For many lodges, those that meet at least twice a month for stated meetings and have at least one special communication a month, the importance of putting the craft to work is mentioned at least 50 times throughout the year!

While there is neither ample space nor time to mention all the ingredients of what makes a successful Lodge here, officers of active lodges that seek to put their craft to work have several fundamental characteristics.

• They understand one of the fundamental purposes of a lodge of Masons is to find and bring men of quality into the Fraternity. Without this first step, we cannot continue to take good men and make them better and continue the mission of Freemasonry.

This is a simple truth that is behind all the other concepts of what we do.

• To find and make ourselves known to these men of character we have to be visible and active where these men work, play and associate. Successful lodges are ingrained, active and very visible in their community and the community must see the lodge at work (adding purpose/ service/value). continued

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GRAND LODGE: The Work of Masters & Men continued from page 1

• They have a plan of involvement for every member demographic and any member who wants to be active. The more established members and Past Masters are put to work coaching and developing the newer Brothers not just in the ritual and Masonic leadership but all activities related to the work an mission of the lodge.

• The roster of their committees have few repeat members working on multiple committees, and every committee has objectives they are obligated to execute. As part of mentoring and engagement, every new member should be immediately assigned to a committee (put to work) and partake in various and progressive roles on committees during the first, formative years in the craft.

• The exemplary lodge knows the work of bringing in new men of character (yes, our ritual, principles, and tenets) and has a plan of ensuring this important work continues. This must include assigning ritualistic parts for Brothers to learn and memorize to ensure this work continues, as required. It may also include knowing and filling any gaps with knowledgeable

Brothers from other lodges when vacancies occur.

• These lodges see the crucial value in ensuring every Brother that comes through our doors leaves with an understanding and knowledge of all aspects of our Fraternity. This includes at least the minimum knowledge requirements for advancement between degrees as well as what programs and tools your lodge are using to stay vibrant.

• Officers and leaders of strong lodges realize that keeping a Brother in the Fraternity is vastly more important than just keeping a member on the roster of “their” lodge and encourage their members to seek out the lodge and experiences that will keep them lifelong, engaged members. (Lodges in and around the Wichita & Kansas City area, are you telling your members who are shift workers or who are unable to drive at night about the daylight lodges there? With the age demographic of our membership, these daylight lodges and other groups such as High Twelve clubs are the fertile ground that you should be pointing these Brothers who require daylight activities too.)

• These successful lodges and their leaders see the continued on page 8

The Kansas Mason is published four times a year by the Grand Lodge of Kansas A.F. & A.M. The views expressed in the Kansas Mason do not necessarily reflect those of the Grand Lodge of Kansas or its’ officers. Inquiries should be sent to Editor@KansasMason.org

Dates to Remember Sept. 7

Grand Table Lodge – Wichita

Sept. 8

Leadership Academy – Wichita

Sept. 22

Schools of Instruction start

October 27

Grand Event – Overland Park

October 27

Raffle Corvette Drawing – Overland Park

Dec. 1

Scholarship Applications Open

Dec. 8

Last School of Instruction

Dec. 27

St. John’s Day (the Evangelist)

March 15-16 Grand Lodge Annual Communication – Wichita Check the online calendar for the most up to date information and details.

KansasMason.org

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Grand Master:

Deputy Master:

Grand Secretary:

Grand Treasurer:

Grand Senior Warden:

Grand Junior Warden:

Robert C. Talbot Albert Pike Lodge No. 303, Hope Lodge No. 155

Dale Morrow, DSM Belle Plaine Lodge No. 173, Tuscan Lodge No. 460

Tracy Bloom, PGM Salina Lodge No. 160, Clay Center Lodge No. 134

L. Kent Needham, PGM Great Bend Lodge No. 15, Henri Lodge No. 190

Tony W. Borum, GMOM Parker Lodge No. 341, Tuscan Lodge No. 460

Mikel J. Stoops, DSM De Soto Lodge No. 40, Palmyra Lodge No. 23

GRAND LODGE: By Dylan Sweyko-Kuhlman, Archivist, Kansas Masonic Library and Museum

Grand Lodge of Kansas Annual Proceedings Available Online The 2018 Annual Communication has come and gone and is probably already forgotten by most. Along with its usual display and exhibit, the Kansas Masonic Library and Museum showcased another resource at the event – the Kansas Masonic Library and Museum online collection found at KansasMason.PastPerfectOnline.com.

This year’s exciting addition to the online collection was and is the inclusion of the complete digitized run of the printed Grand Lodge of Kansas’ Annual Proceedings.

The Annual Proceedings serve as the yearly report for all of the Masonic actions taken by the Grand Lodge, its Lodges, and the members of the Craft for that masonic year. While it does not record every minute Masonic detail that took place across Kansas, it does provide the best snapshot of Masonic history for that year. The real strength of research for this tool comes from having the entire collection, from 1855 through 2011. You can compare and contrast from year to year.

You can track changes for individual Lodges and see a Lodge go from Under Dispensation to Chartered and possibly even to Consolidation or Closing. The wealth of information you can find in these reports is staggering. You can find everything from Grand Lodge Officers, Cornerstone and other types of ceremonies held by Lodges, Dispensation dates, Necrology Reports, Grand Master Addresses, Financial Reports, and the list goes on and changes throughout the years. The surprising thing about the Proceedings is there is also a fair amount of historical context and opinion given in the different speeches and committee reports. You can find mentions of the tragic loss of Kansas lives due to fighting on the border during the Civil War and the

threat of dictatorship during the 1940’s. You can also find interesting opinions on Masonic matters, such as when to give degrees, disputes between Grand Lodge Officers, or disputes between different Lodges.

All of these things make the Annual Proceedings such a great tool for historical research and study. It is usually the first and last resource I use while doing any type of research that deals with Kansas Masonry.

The great thing about having this resource available online is that it becomes much easier to use.

If you visit the home page for the Kansas Masonic Library and Museum online collection at KansasMason.PastPerfectOnline.com, there is a button at the bottom of the page that will take you directly to the entire run of the Proceedings, which runs from 1855 through 2011. You can also search for a specific year, using the keyword search function on the website.

For example, if you were looking for something that happened in 1888, you could type “Annual Proceeding, 1888” in the keyword search. Always remember to use those quotation marks when you are looking for something specific. Once you find the Proceeding you are looking for, click the “View PDF” button, and another page will open with the entire document for you to view, print, and even download. Having these documents in this online format also provides one last benefit, and it is that they are all word-searchable. You can now quickly search through the entire document for any key term or word you are seeking. This search feature is a great tool continued on page 9

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By Mikel J. Stoops, Grand Junior Warden

More Guitar Masses it is.

Are we listening to what our younger Masons really want?

I recently heard a joke about a church council taking a poll of its younger parishioners about what they would like to see at the church to make them more engaged. The overwhelming responses were that the younger parishioners wanted more traditional, spiritual, and structured services that focused on the contemplation of God’s teachings. After reviewing the responses, the pastor responded, “Great, more guitar masses it is.” The pastor had obviously missed the point made by survey responses. Are our Lodges doing the same?

There is a specific point in all three degrees where we ask the candidate or Brother at the altar what he wants. Then we tell him what to say. We then all stand there and promise to assist him in obtaining what he has asked for. That is an interesting concept and, if practiced, would be very useful in making active and engaged Masons. Are we living up to those promises, which we have all made, to help our new Brothers obtain what they are looking for in our Fraternity?

Are our Lodges actively asking the new Brothers what they want in a Lodge experience and, if so, are we providing that experience? Unfortunately, the overwhelming answer to these questions is “No.” I have been asking our younger members those 4

questions not just in our jurisdiction, but in other jurisdictions as I travel as well. The newly made and younger Masons want what we have promised to give; not just once but three times. They want a Masonic experience that is rich with enlightenment in what it means to be a Mason. They want their Masonic experience to help them become a better man, father, husband, and member of society. They want what we have been putting on billboards and bumper stickers for the last three or four decade. They are good men, and they want us to help them become BETTER! These younger members want structure, education, spirituality, and fellowship. They want to learn what it means to be charitable out of true love and compassion for their fellow man, and not to just throw a few coins in a hat so that they can feel good about giving. Many of them want a familial connection that they missed by growing up with little or no contact with a true father figure.

We must ask. We must listen. And we must ACT. This is not and cannot be a passive process. We must all take an active role in teaching and mentoring our younger members. We must not be in the business of just making members; rather, we must uphold our promises and teach Masons.

A plan for the future is your top priority.

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kmh.org 07/13/18 1:29:37 PM

GRAND LODGE: By Dale Morrow – Deputy Grand Master

2018 LEADERSHIP ACADEMY The Grand Lodge of Kansas Leadership Academy is just around the corner. It will be held on Saturday, September 8, 2018, at the Marriott East Hotel in Wichita. Not only is the Academy two months earlier this year, but the location has also been moved from Topeka in an endeavor to allow more Brethren from across the entire state to attend.

Historically, the Leadership Academy has occurred the last Saturday in October or first Saturday in November. Both dates have always seemed to conflict directly with the Fall Ceremionals held by the five Shrine Temples in Kansas. Though Academy attendance has grown slowly and steadily each year, we expect to see a sizable jump this year from all those who have said they would attend if not for their prior commitments in the Ceremonials.

The popular Table Lodge event held in conjunction with the Leadership Academy will be held 6

on Friday evening September 7 in the Kansas Grand Ballroom of the host hotel. Normally close if not a sellout, the Table Lodge is a formal banquet (tuxedo or dark suit required), culminated by the Lodge of the Seven Toasts. Table Lodge attendees will receive a take-home commemorative firing cannon that will be used during the toasting ceremony. The social time starts at 6:30 PM with dinner served at 7:00 PM. Reservations are required.

While the men are having a fine meal at the Table Lodge, the ladies will be traveling to Mosley Street Melodrama where they will enjoy dinner and a show entitled Young Frank Einstein. This special ladies program is limited to the first 47 ladies to register due to bus capacity.

On Saturday, the Leadership Academy will start at 9:00 AM. The keynote speaker is Brother Steve Crane. Steve is a Past Grand Master of DeMolay International and has visited Masonic Lodges and Grand

Jurisdictions throughout the world.

As a Kansas Mason, he will deliver a unique perspective on the state of Masonry in the world. He will discuss that though membership is declining here in America, it is growing and thriving in many parts of the world.

Academy classes or sessions are divided into two specific tracks or courses though anyone registered can attend any class they desire.

By request, one track is structured primarily for Wardens and those who will be serving as Master in 2019. As of press time session topics included: Preparing for the East, Lodge Officer Duties and Responsibilities, Lodge Membership, Utilizing Required and Optional Committees, Implementing a Lodge Masonic Education Program and Lodge Finance. Those attending this track of courses will receive a manual to assist in planning for their year as Master of the Lodge.

The General Leadership track is scheduled to have topics of Lodge

2018 LEADERSHIP ACADEMY

PRESENTERS KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Steve Crane Tuff Hermreck Warren Hughes Real Estate Tax Exemptions, Kansas Lodge of Research Reboot Presentation, The MORI Lodge Database, and Our Lodge Page, Making Better Men - The Mission of Our Fraternity, Lodge Tech – Websites - Social Media – PC’s & Smartphones, Your Lodge and Community Involvement.

While the Masons are busy on Saturday, the ladies who have registered in advance will travel to the west side of Wichita to the beautiful KMH (Kansas Masonic Home) for a tour and luncheon.

KMH has so much to offer and most that visit are surprised about this “hidden gem.” After lunch, there will be a scavenger hunt which may include some twists and turns by the staff and the residents of KMH. There will be prizes for the winners as well as drawings for other prizes.

This promises to be a fun-filled and informative day.

Cost for the Leadership Academy is $35.00 and includes lunch, all sessions, and a presentation on the

millennial generation, and what we must do to attract and retain this very large group of men to our fraternity.

All attendees, men and women, must register in advance. To register for the Leadership Academy and all related events, please go to the Grand Lodge web page, KansasMason.org, click on the News and Events Tab, then on the Event Registrations and register for all the activities you wish to attend.

Host hotel reservations can be made calling the hotel directly at (316)651-0333. Make sure to inform them that you are registering for the Grand Lodge of Kansas Leadership Academy to get Grand Lodge room rate of $92.00/night. You may also call Marriott’s Reservation Center at 1(800) 228-9290. Group Code: GLKGLKA – 1 King Bed or Group Code: GLKGLKF – 2 Double Beds.

Reservations can also be made online at Marriott.com/ictwe.

Mike Kupsch Rob McClarty Herb Merrick Craig Olson Alex Powers Bob Shively Craig Thompson C. David Williams

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By Tony W. Borum – Grand Senior Warden

Are We Covered?

The recent tornado that touched down in Eureka and damaged the roof of Fidelity Lodge No. 106 and seriously affected many of our brothers and their community members should be a wakeup call to all of us. While we should always hope for the best, we also should be prepared for the worst.

When you first heard of the serious damages in Eureka, specifically Fidelity Lodge No. 106, did you ask your Lodge leadership….

• Does our lodge have enough money in the treasury to repair or even rebuild our lodge building if a tornado, a fire or a lawsuit happened to us?

• What would it take to replace our Lodge building and contents?

• Could, or would, our Lodge brothers shoulder the financial burden themselves?

Everyone knows that a tragedy like the one in Eureka can strike anyone or anything on earth at any time. We have all, at one time or another, purchased car insurance, homeowners, liability and/or life insurance. We are essentially betting against the insurance industry that something bad will happen and they are betting it won’t.

As a general rule, we purchase insurance to help replace the things that are most valuable to us. It always makes sense to insure our health because we know that even a relatively short trip to an emergency room, a minor surgery or a short hospital stay can drain our savings and put our whole family in financial jeopardy.

Some of our Brothers, who would never think of exposing themselves or their families to the risk of financial ruin, do not take time to think of how a severe storm, wind, hail, tornado, fire or even a liability claim can take away the lodge building in just a matter of minutes.

Brothers, it doesn’t matter if you rent space for your lodge or have a huge pile of money in the lodge treasury. It is always a good idea to have current and up to date insurance to protect you and your lodge from liability and catastrophe. Insurance is something that should be reviewed by a committee or the entire lodge yearly. Do it now before it is too late.

GRAND LODGE: The Work of Masters & Men continued from page 2

critical importance that providing a lifelong Masonic experience to all of its’ members is the key to keeping lifelong active members. This includes those who may rarely attend stated meetings to the most active Brother. They realize that for well over half of our membership in Kansas that this includes experiences and membership in one or more concordant or appendant Masonic bodies and they embrace these organizations as part of the “work” and part of our Masonic family!

Similarly and all too often, the consequences of not putting the craft to work cannot be overstated, either and is often crippling if not fatal to the lodge and therefore 8

the whole Fraternity. Once a lodge ceases to work (no longer providing value to its members and community), the cycle of not attracting leaders and members to the lodge will set in and is a tough cycle to break.

My Brothers, every member of every Lodge in Kansas has a stake in the Masonic experience and in the current and future vitality (life) of your/their lodge and of the Fraternity. If you are not seeing or experiencing the work of your lodge, let this be your rally cry and call to arms! Get engaged and see what lifelong experiences you will build, for yourself, other members and your community.

As always, I remain Fraternally at the service of the Craft.

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By Kansas Mason Staff

Who Makes Masons?

Too often we hear criticism that the Grand Lodge or “Leadership” is not focused on what many consider to be the biggest problem in Masonry. Declining membership. We have heard things such as, “All our leaders care about are the finances, the building, getting into our local business, etc.”

Let’s be very clear on one fact. Grand Lodge does not make Masons. Individual Lodges make Masons. Grand Lodge’s role is to support local Lodges in their efforts to be successful. We are sure that every one of you who believes that there is a membership crisis is making sure that all of the Lodges you belong to are taking full advantage of the program “Discovering Freemasonry.”

Discovering Freemasonry is an all-inclusive program Grand Lodge leadership has made available to all Lodges in Kansas for the past five years. Before that, it was the “Friends of Masonry” program. We doubt not that every Lodge is following the proven strategy set out in the program and are holding successful events four or five times a year. Though we wish this were the case, we know it is not. Out of our more than 200 Lodges, only a dozen have even requested the Discovering Freemasonry program information and packet. Of that dozen, few used any part of the packet let alone the full program.

That is a dozen requests total, not each year. There are over 15,000 Masons in this Jurisdiction. Somehow, many believe that the six elected Grand Lodge officers have a “Magic Bullet” to get more Masons in your Lodges. There is no magic and no bullet. Members and their Lodges must take the initiative to address their respective membership issues. We ask you, what are you and your Lodge focused on?

To say that Grand Lodge or “Leadership” is focusing on the wrong things is untrue and unfair. Your elected Grand Lodge officers must focus on all aspects of the Craft and its business. We wish it were otherwise, and all they had to do was perfect and perform our beautiful ritual and spend endless hours in fellowship with our Brethren. That is just not realistic for someone in a leadership role, and the Craft as a whole would suffer if your chosen leaders abdicated their responsibilities with regards to finances, our building, maintaining the standards as set out by our Constitution and Bylaws, etc.

Grand Lodge has several programs to assist you and your Lodge(s). They are available right now. They are packaged up and ready to go, but Grand Lodge cannot force a Lodge to request them or use them. Grand Lodge’s elected and appointed officers are ready and waiting, and would be more than happy to assist your Lodge in achieving a specific goal or task. So, now is the time to act. Encourage your Lodge to be proactive.

No more blaming others for lack of new members. It’s time to make Masons.

GRAND LODGE: Grand Lodge of Kansas Annual Proceedings Available Online continued from page 3

when you need information on a specific topic, like “Grand Master Rees” or “Wyandotte Lodge.”

As always, if you have any questions about how to use the online collection found, how to perform

searches in the Annual Proceedings, or have other questions about resources not available on the website you can call or email me at 785-234-5518 and reach out to me by email at Dylan@KansasMason.org.

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GRAND LODGE

2018 Schools Of Instruction Here is the schedule for the 2018 Schools of Instruction. For more details or updates, check the Grand Lodge or Trestle Board calendar. *All Schools start at 9:00 a.m. except for Xenia which starts at 1:00 p.m. Attire should be business casual or better with many wearing jacket and tie.

Having observed a marked decline in attendance from many Lodges over the past several years, District Deputy Grand Masters have resumed assigning Lodges specific roles and responsibilities.

As a reminder, there is no mandate or recommendation, that sitting officers be in their elected or appointed position. If a Lodge chooses to do so, they can move all their officers “up” to prepare them for their next respective position in the Lodge. Schools of Instruction seem to be much more interactive and enjoyable when individuals are in positions where they need instruction as opposed to being a showcase for those that already know the position. Above all else, if you have a question about our ritual, ask it. The Grand and Assistant Grand Lecturers have worked hard and are prepared to answer every question you have before you leave this year’s School of Instruction.

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Date

Host Lodge

City

Sept. 15

Acacia No. 9

Lawrence

Sept. 15

Pyramid No. 451

Wichita

Sept. 22

Wyandotte No. 3

Kansas City

Sept. 22

Parsons No. 117

Parsons

Sept. 22

Newton No. 142

Newton

Sept. 22

Russell No. 177

Russell

Sept. 29

Emporia No. 12

Emporia

Sept. 29

Marvin A Armstrong No. 187 Pittsburg

Sept. 29

Bestor G Brown No. 433

Wichita

Oct. 6

Stanley No. 444

Overland Park

Oct. 6 *

Xenia No. 47 *

Xenia *

Oct. 6

Goodland No. 321

Goodland

Oct. 13

Wathena No. 64

Wathena

Oct. 13

Holton No. 42

Holton

Oct. 13

Golden Rule No. 90

Topeka

Oct. 13

Dover No. 138

Dover

Oct. 13

Lake No. 50

Silver Lake

Oct. 13

Nickerson No. 43

Nickerson

Oct. 13

Great Bend No. 15

Great Bend

Oct. 20

Rosedale No. 333

Merriam

Oct. 20

Winfield No. 110

Winfield

Oct. 20

Corinthian No. 79

Burlingame

Oct. 20

Solomon City No. 105

Solomon

Nov. 3

Gilead No. 144

Yates Center

Nov. 3

Anthony No. 200

Anthony

Nov. 3

Hoxie No. 348

Hoxie

Nov. 10

Henri No. 190

Tonganoxie

Nov. 10

Peace No. 243

Louisburg

Nov. 10

Clay Center No. 134

Clay Center

Nov. 10

St. Bernard No. 222

Dodge City

Nov. 17

Kincaid No. 338

Kincaid

Nov. 17

Haysville No. 112

Haysville

Nov. 17

Emerald No. 289

Lakin

Dec. 8

Belleville No. 129

Belleville

*Xenia starts at 1:00 p.m. All other Schools start at 9:00 a.m.

GRAND LODGE OF KANSAS 320 SW 8TH AVENUE TOPEKA, KANSAS 66603

Stay updated with your Lodge by keeping your personal information current.

A GRAND EVENT INCLUDES: Author & Brother Samuel Friedman Presentation from his recent book, “Millennial Apprentice” | 3-4:30PM Reception | 4:30-6PM Table Lodge (The Ceremony of Seven Toasts) | 6-8PM

EACH PARTICIPANT RECEIVES THE FOLLOWING: · Complimentary Copy of Samuel Friedman’s Book, “Millennial Apprentice” · A Commemorative Toasting Canon · Special Commissioned Past Grand Master’s Wine · A unique opportunity to network with Kansas Past Grand Master’s

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION TODAY! Seating is limited to only 200

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2018 3-8 PM Abdallah Shrine Temple 5300 Metcalf Ave Overland Park, KS Registration is only $35 (KMF will invoice you and send confirmation)

· Great Reception & Dinner If you prefer to make your reservation by telephone or email call Lynne Diehl 785-357-7646 or email her Lynne@KansasMasonic.Foundation