‘Masonic librarians take Manhattan!’

    

The Masonic Library and Museum Association in action at the annual meeting, Saturday, October 17 at Masonic Hall, New York City.

As if the city didn’t have enough problems, a gang of Freemasonry’s librarians and curators descended on Manhattan last weekend for their annual meeting, plus tours of relevant stacks and exhibits. Yes, at last, it was time for the Masonic Library and Museum Association to congregate in New York, courtesy of our host, the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library of the Grand Lodge of New York. And kudos to that library’s Executive Director, Michael LaRocco, both for making all the advance arrangements and for personally managing a busy day’s progress—going so far as to shepherd the out-of-towners through the Subway trek from 23rd Street all the way down to South Ferry and back on the 1 Train.

Mike did a fantastic job timing all the moving parts of the day, from the catered lunch to the tours of Masonic Hall and the Livingston Library, to that trip downtown, the private tour at Fraunces Tavern Museum followed by dinner downstairs, then the death-defying commute back up to 23rd. A perfect day. (The weather could have been nicer, which I mentioned to Mike for future reference. I don’t know. He seemed all-powerful.)

There was a group dinner, from what I understand, the night before (Friday the 16th), but I was unable to attend. We gathered at Masonic Hall for business Saturday morning inside the Jacobean Room where, coincidentally, my lodge has dinner after our Monday night meetings. We had the good fortune to host Oscar Alleyne, an obscure figure in New York Masonry serving as Deputy Grand Master, who presented the first talk of the program. Attending this meeting were Masonic library and museum caretakers, both paid professionals and volunteers, from Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington State, and more. In addition to Oscar, our Grand Lodge was represented by Grand Treasurer John Hansen, Livingston Library Board of Trustees President Rodney Couto, Library Trustee Jeff Santorello, and Library Trustee Emeritus Jim Melis, who gets credit for offering last year to host this event.

Look for us next year at the Washington Masonic Library & Museum, near Tacoma. Curator Chelsea Hansen (no relation to John, far as I know) was present, and told us to plan for the meeting up there next October.*

E. Oscar Alleyne

Oscar spoke of “Futurology: Planning for the Road Ahead with Sustainability & Innovation.” This thoughtful discussion of the missions museums and libraries, Masonic and otherwise, potentially might embrace in the future. From digital media and AI to community relations, “green” facilities, and marketing, Oscar’s prescription for our future covers more than preserving and presenting the past. As for Freemasonry, he says: “Scholars and lodge leaders increasingly emphasize that the Craft’s survival depends on reversing a historical neglect of Masonic education [as] research is pivoting back toward understanding core symbolism, personal philosophy, and historical records rather than routine administration.”

Our Board tackling the agenda
with effortless efficiency.

“Modern Masonic discourse and research strongly advocate for prioritizing member engagement, retention, and leadership quality over sheer numerical growth—moving away from passive recruitment toward intentional mentorship,” he added. Our cultural institutions can reframe the mission by “encapsulating both the tangible nature of museum work—what we restore, revive, and rebuild—and the intangible: where we reflect, interpret, educate, and shift perspectives. Reframing is an opportunity to redefine who we are, why we’re important, and how we connect with and show up for our community.”

Hilary Anderson Stelling

Hilary Anderson Stelling, Director of Collections and Exhibitions at the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum and Library in Lexington, Massachusetts, told the group about the Association of Masonic Museums, Libraries and Archives, which could be understood to be our cousin in Europe (headquartered in Brussels). I think Hilary’s institution at the AASR-NMJ is the sole American member of AMMLA. She told us of its activities and goals, as well as its recent Annual Congress and General Assembly (everything in Europe sounds so consequential!) in Bern, Switzerland. Next year, they’ll be in Stockholm, which I’m sure will be very nice. It’s not exactly Tacoma, but I’m sure it’ll be fine. Read about AMMLA here.

Rusty D. Henson

Batting third was Rusty Henson, President of the Oklahoma Grand Lodge Museum and Library (and not kin to either of the aforementioned Hansens), who spoke of “Preserving Oklahoma’s Masonic Heritage. I was interested in hearing about it, having been in Tulsa June 24 as the speaker at the T.O. lodges’ festive board. No surprise that his library/museum has many of the same challenges and aspirations as the rest of the MLMA members. One thing that did grab me was his hope to see the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma give a grant to the library/museum that could be invested to generate revenue the library/museum could use for operations. I hope that works out and becomes a funding model in other grand lodges, supreme councils, etc.

After lunch, it was time for tours. Our guide led us around the building to see Masonic Hall’s opulent lodge rooms. Having seen them many times, I gravitated toward the clubby rooms maintained by both Holland Lodge 8 and Kane 454 which were unknown to me. Both lodges created not-for-profit groups in order to house their respective collections of antiques and other artifacts. Smoking should be allowed in these rooms! I’ll let the photos do the talking.

Holland Lodge 8

& Holland Lodge Historical Society

MW DeWitt Clinton’s apron.
He was Master of Holland in 1794.

LaFayette’s apron from 1824,
a member of Holland.

I once knew how to play
(before chess ruined my life).

Orange. Holland. Get it?

Kane Lodge 454

& Elisha Kent Kane Historical Society

I have named him Rupert.

I have named him Thunderhoof.

Twenty years ago, John Simon-Ash invited me to join Kane Lodge. I should have accepted.

Scrimshaw art on a sperm whale tooth.

Dr. Elisha Kent Kane in his study at Fern Rock.

Robert Edwin Peary, U.S. Navy.

Kane Council 2, Royal and Select Masters, in New Jersey is represented here. New Jersey used to have a Kane Lodge also.

On my ‘to do’ list is have a look into the early ’80s history of Iranian brethren fleeing to New York and establishing an Iranian Masonic authority in exile. I’m assuming this apron is connected.

Finally! Some smoking paraphernalia: an antique meer.

Chancellor Robert R. Livingston

Masonic Library of the GL of NY

One prized artifact: Simón Bolívar’s 32° apron.

Another: letter from George Washington.

All kinds of archives and tons of treasures.

My grandfather wore a tricorn hat
when he was Master in ’76. 

Tobacco humidor.

Masonic Review was a magazine
at mid 19th century in Cincinnati.

Ari Roussimoff’s A Ladder Through Life.

Punch bowl used during banquet
honoring LaFayette, 1824.

At the conclusion of our tour of the library, it was time to head downtown to The Battery and catch the Staten Island Ferry to the Statue of Liberty. I came to regret not signing up for this part of the day, but I wanted to get to Barclay Rex for the more noble and glorious purpose of vegetating in a club chair with a fine cigar—one of my favorite inactivities, but one I haven’t had time for in ages. It’s conveniently just a few doors down from Fraunces Tavern, where we’d meet up in a few hours, but I changed my mind. I decided instead to catch a screening at my favorite movie house. I really need to get into the habit of buying tickets online, because by the time I got there, my movie was sold out. I had aimed to see this:

 

With no ticket to be had, I tried my luck at this one… 

 
…which is likely the most depressing story ever committed to film. It ends, mercifully and not too soon, in a cut to black, by which time I was ready to slit my wrists. I don’t particularly object to existentialist narratives, but holy shit.

Souvenirs at Film Forum. If not for the exorbitant price, I would have bought 1 Train caps for everyone since that was the Subway line they rode down and up the West Side.

But if there’s one thing that can perk me up, it’s a visit to Fraunces. We had a private tour of the museum planned before having dinner downstairs, thanks to Michael’s preternatural planning prowess.

Our tour guide was Melissa Lauer, Manager of Programs and Events at Fraunces. I’d say she has a brilliant future delving into the past. Melissa lavished about ninety minutes on us, leading our group from room to room and exhibit to exhibit—no one got lost.

Without these guys, we’d be screwed.
Secretary Tyler Vanice and President Dirk Hughes at Fraunces.

Fraunces Tavern is one of Manhattan’s historic sites closely associated with George Washington. This is where he gave his farewell to his officers after the war was won, for example. Naturally, there are a few Washington likenesses on display here and there…

…but these are not among them! There were artists who purported to paint portraits of the most famous American (well, maybe second to Franklin), but without ever laying eyes on him. To wit:

 

 

Washington said he never met the guy who made this.

 

Part of what made Fraunces Tavern a Three Key establishment was the air conditioning, shown here at top. Seriously though, Fraunces drew moneyed clients because it offered private rooms. Elsewhere, one could end up sharing a bed with a stranger.

 

Cannon balls. Unfortunately, no one knows the whereabouts of the projectile that hit the roof of Fraunces in August 1775 when the HMS Asia fired at Alexander Hamilton & Co. as they tried to steal British artillery at The Battery. But they have these on display.

 

I think they called this the Flag Room years ago,
but no longer. Click here.

 
To see more photos and a better recap of the weekend, catch the next issue of The Page & Pillars, the quarterly newsletter of the Masonic Library and Museum Association, due out December 1.

At 6:30, it was time for dinner. We were booked at a large table in the heavily trafficked area near the kitchen. Michael said “Absolutely not!” (I never heard him use that kind of language!) and got us moved up a flight of stairs to the private luxury of the Washington Room.

The undisputed star of the day is the guy between Julia and Chelsea down the left side. Not a Mason. No connection to any Masonic library, museum, whatever. Just decided to join our group. I have no idea if he registered/paid or anything. Just came along from morning to night. Legend.

I’m not one to photograph my food, but I’m willing to debase myself for Magpie readers. Here’s my appetizer. That said, I forgot to get a shot of my entrée, the Flat Iron Steak. Possibly the best steak I’ve eaten—ever. Rare, marbled, seared, rare, flawless. I was sobbing until Melis kicked me in the leg. Fantastic meal. I won’t even complain about the watery flavorless house red. There was talk of getting AMD councils to unite for an event here. Do it!

Even the table settings were cool: short stacks of fake books topped with miniature busts of fake stone, plus these candlesticks.

I think it was about nine o’clock when we exited Fraunces. As I usually do, I paused to snap a photo of the sign. Took two seconds but, in that time, the whole group disappeared! I think they go back to the hotel okay.

I’ve been enjoying an amazing year in Freemasonry, and this day ranks amid the top of the list. (I mean, except for that horrible movie, which wasn’t even on the day’s agenda.) See? It is possible for Masonic groups to host special events in New York City! Stop being babies.

*Sorry to say I’ll have to skip that Washington meeting. I’ll be with the MRF in August and with QC2076 in September so, by October, I’ll be selling blood—not necessarily my own—just to buy groceries.