‘Recap of the researchers conference’

    

I’m still catching up on What I Did on My Summer Vacation blogging and, since it’s been two months already, let me report on William O. Ware Lodge of Research’s long anticipated “Exploring the Role of Masonic Research Lodges in the 21st Century” conference in Lexington, Kentucky nine Saturdays ago. Produced with the assistance of Lexington Lodge 1, the Rubicon Masonic Society, the Philalethes Society, and others, this day of panel discussions addressed six topics that mostly were for consideration of the future of these peculiar lodges we love so much.

New Jersey Lodge of Masonic Research and Education 1786 was represented by Bro. Sal Corelli and myself. (He and I had been bumping into each other all summer, first at the Masonic Restoration Foundation in Ontario, then the John Skene Conference, and again in Kentucky.) I guess I was representing The American Lodge of Research and Civil War Lodge of Research also.

The banquet room.

The night before the conference, we gathered at Spindletop Hall for Rubicon’s Thirteenth Annual Festive Board. We guests were sad to hear how keynote speaker John L. Cooper, Past Grand Master of California, wouldn’t be joining us, but our hosts adroitly surrogated MW David Cameron of Ontario. He presented a most encouraging talk—a true story of his lodge’s efforts to prove the provenance of a cherished gavel gifted by Rudyard Kipling. I am kicking myself now because I didn’t take notes. Seating was crowded in the banquet room and I wasn’t planning on continuing all this blogging, so I ruled against pressing my notebook into my salad and elbowing my unlucky neighbor to the right while jotting down details. Nor did I shoot photos.

MW David Cameron

From what I can recall, Bro. David’s lodge possesses a gavel that, according to lore, was presented by the eminent author during the 1930s. It’s not that there were skeptics rejecting the tale, but the story was so lacking in details that current lodge brothers wondered about its accuracy. Fortunately, the lodge archives its books of minutes, correspondence, and other records that excite research Masons, so into the vault the seekers went. These records were not organized systematically, so finding the meeting minutes that noted receipt of the gift took time. Also, not a lot of information in that but, equipped with a date, the researchers dived into the lodge’s ancient mail to hunt for a letter that might explain what happened. In the end, notes to Kipling and, later, from his widow provided the facts behind how our historic brother sent the gavel to this lodge. (This is blogging malpractice. The story related that night was pregnant with particulars and was revealed with building suspense. I apologize for not having more to share, but the memory fails.)

The Festive Board was enthralling. Not everyone knows how to do this but, believe me, if every lodge hosted a monthly Festive Board of this excellence, any worries of membership retention would dissolve. Great food, the toasts, the Good Fire ritual, the songs, the fellowship, prayer, the chain of union are ingredients of a cheerful time together that only can inspire more time together.

Rubicon Masonic Society

The following morning, back at Spindletop Hall, was the conference. To ease everybody into the forward-leaning subjects, Bro. S. Brent Morris led the first talk, “The Historical Role of Research Lodges & Societies: Lessons from the Past.” It was a comprehensive review. Since you are reading this, I trust you have some knowledge of the history and purposes of research lodges—how Quatuor Coronati 2076 in London was the first and was devoted to debunking the myths and legends that long had passed for Craft history, followed by a few others in England and Ireland, and then several in the United States in the 1930s. The newest, I assume, is Virginia’s Blue Ridge Lodge of Research 1738, set to labor several months ago. I’ll omit all that chronology and instead highlight something he said about some of our earliest literature being expressions of historiography. We’ve all read Rev. James Anderson’s take on Masonic history in his 1723 book The Constitutions of the Free-Masons, and probably all scratched our heads wondering how anyone could begin Freemasonry’s story with Adam, the first man, but that, after all, is one understanding of our history, demonstrating a desire for insights into our past at the start of the grand lodge era.

Session Two brought Bro. David L. Daugherty to the lectern to discuss “Bridging the Gap: Connecting Research Lodges with Regular Lodges.” Daugherty, of Ohio Lodge of Research, wanted us to understand how research is not necessarily education. The former, he says, concerns gaining understanding, and the latter is about sharing. (New Jersey’s lodge is named Lodge of Masonic Research and Education.) Do research lodges have a responsibility to build fundamental understandings for all Masons? He noted how some research lodges have warrants that allow them to travel about their jurisdictions. Audience member Bro. James Buckhorn of Indiana said his grand lodge gives new Master Masons a year’s free membership in their lodge of research. (Something other research lodges should emulate?) “We need to become better educators,” Daugherty said in encouragement. Perhaps that will guarantee the future of research lodges and grand lodges.

MW David Cameron of Ontario.

Bro. David Cameron, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the Province of Ontario, moderated the next discussion on “Modernizing Masonic Research: Embracing Technology and Digital Tools.” Tech is not my thing, to put it simply, so I was relieved to hear the talk was in language I understood. Cameron urged us all to spend the necessary funds to digitize our research and make it available on the web. Bro. Buckhorn reminded us that digital data are not the ultimate answer some may think, because data can be saved with technologies that inevitably will become obsolete, therefore inventorying physical documents is a must. The platform TeamReach was praised. Bro. Adam Kendall, the new Senior Warden at QC2076, summarized Artificial Intelligence thusly: “A.I. is a shrimp trawler. It scoops from the bottom of the ocean.” Take heed.

For Session Four, Bro. Rich Hanson led us in conversation of “Relevance in the 21st Century: Addressing Contemporary Issues Through Masonic Research.” This was one I dreaded somewhat, having seen “researchers” cherry-pick Masonic historical notes to vindicate their personal politics. (By contrast, when I delve into our past, I’m not above smoking a clay pipe while wearing a yellow jacket and blue breeches.) But my fear was unfounded. Hanson spoke of research lodges as places for sociology where our work might find alignment with today’s issues outside the temple. The goal would be to gain understanding of young people so that Freemasonry might serve the next generation, rather than allow a demographic fate run its course.

Rubicon Masonic Society

Bro. Adam Kendall of QC2076, Philalethes, SRRS, etc. fame.

Next, Bro. Kendall had his own subject to moderate: “The Art of Masonic Research: Developing and Sharing High Quality Work.” Adam should know. As editor of Heredom, a Blue Friar, an author of masterpiece papers, president of Philalethes, and an Honorary Member of Rubicon, he spoke firmly of best practices in conducting research and in writing and presenting research. Objective quality-control, passion, and the “Five C’s of Historical Thinking”—Causality, Change Over Time, Complexity, Context, and Contingency—are secrets to good work, square work.

Bro. Andrew Hammer

Closing the day was Bro. Andrew Hammer, certainly best known as president of the Masonic Restoration Foundation, who presented “The Future of Masonic Research Lodges: A Call to Action.” This was less a group discussion and more of Andrew exploring a tangent to his Observant model of lodge life. He urged everyone to bring our talents and works back to the Craft lodge, that birthplace and nexus of everything Masonic. “Our ritual and the learning that goes along with it—if you break them apart, you break Masonry apart,” he said, recalling to our minds how William Preston authored the text in the 1770s that shaped Masonic thinking as we have it today.

After the conference, the Magpie Mason was invited to dine at the Lexington Club. Feeling like a pair of wet Chuck Taylors at a white tie affair, I nevertheless enjoyed an outstanding meal and conversation with the principals of the Rubicon Society and stars of the conference.

My deep thanks to Bro. John Bizzack, Master of W.O.W.; to Bro. Dan Kemble, the lodge’s Chaplain; to Rubicon Chairman Brian Evans; and to all who made the amazing weekend possible.

Finally, for more on the conference from its participants, just click the image at top. Also, a census of Masonic research lodge Masons is available for your consideration. I’m one of the team that’ll crunch the data, so please participate here.

Our hotel was across from The Square, a city block
of retail, dining, entertainment and more.

     

‘Did you know about Kentucky Long Rifle Lodge?’

    

You might not believe it, but the storied Kentucky rifle figures not only tangentially in Masonic history, but also directly. But first, the current events: William O. Ware Lodge of Research in Kentucky is conducting a raffle of such a firearm. From the publicity:

Raffle Tickets Cost Only $50 Each

No limit on quantity of purchases

This year’s annual raffle item is a Kentucky Long Rifle. The stock of this .45 caliber rifle is an attractive hard maple with curly grain that extends to muzzle with brass cap and fitted four-inch heavy brass butt plate. A hickory ramrod mount through two beaded pipes and matching thimble. Bore is bright and shiny. Triggers and locks operable.

The raffle drawing will be held November 6 at 7:30 p.m. at Walt’s Hitching Post, 3300 Madison Pike in Ft. Wright during the William O. Ware Annual Festive Board.

One hundred percent of all proceeds support Masonic research at the William O. Ware Lodge of Research. Please note, purchasing a raffle ticket does not include a ticket to the Festive Board. Separate invitations will be sent for this event later in the year.

William O. Ware’s Kentucky Charitable Gaming License No. EXE0002699.

The Masonic Society hosted its 2017 conference in Lexington, where a similar raffle was conducted. I didn’t buy a ticket, not imaging how I possibly could get the beast home, but there were two winners. Two, because Tom Jackson forgot to bring his raffle tickets to the dinner and consequently a second ticket had to be drawn. I can’t remember who won. (Hell, I’m just realizing now that I never wrote about that conference here on The Magpie Mason! How did I neglect that? I swear I have the attention span of a puppy.)

Anyway, in a look at American history, we see Kentucky rifles were credited with major military victories. First, troops under the command of future Tennessee Grand Master Andrew Jackson were armed with these when they defeated the British at New Orleans in 1814. That battle was relived in song whence comes the rifle’s nickname. Excerpted:

But Jackson, he was wide awake,

And was not scared of trifles;

For well he knew what aim we take

With our Kentucky rifles;

He led us down to Cypress swamp,

The ground was low and mucky;

There stood John Bull in pomp,

And here was old Kentucky.

Then, the same model rifle was instrumental in winning independence for Texas where Freemasons were key in the fight against Mexico.

Later in U.S. history, during the First World War, Kentucky Grand Master J.N. Saunders granted dispensation to Kentucky Rifle Lodge, the second of that Grand Lodge’s army lodges. He opened this lodge September 25, 1917 and installed its officers at Camp Stanley. If I understand correctly, this lodge was at labor only for that year.

So buy a raffle ticket! Just don’t ask me how you’ll get that bazooka home.

     

‘Exploring the Role of Masonic Research Lodges in the 21st Century’

    

The announcement is out, so let me be the last to share the great news of a conference being planned to discuss the purpose of research lodges in Freemasonry today. This collective effort will be hosted by William O. Ware Lodge of Research in Kentucky with support from the Rubicon Masonic Society, Lexington Lodge 1, and the Philalethes Society at Spindletop Hall on the weekend of September 19.

Being active in three research lodges, I certainly will be there.

Rubicon Masonic Society

A glimpse of last year’s festive board.

On the night of Friday, September 19, a festive board awaits us. This thirteenth annual Rubicon Masonic Society black tie affair will bring MW John L. Cooper, III, Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of California, to the lectern for the keynote address “Delivering the Message of Freemasonry.”

The conference itself, “Exploring the Role of Masonic Research Lodges in the 21st Century,” will follow on Saturday. W. John Bizzack, the principal organizer of this event, will begin the day; and W. Brent Morris will share the findings of his current survey of research lodges and societies.

During the majority of the day, all in attendance will be expected to participate (and, man, do I have a lot to say!), so there will be no schedule of speakers, and this definitely is not a meeting for presenting research papers.

Conference moderators will be MW David Cameron of Ontario; RW David Daugherty of Ohio; RW Andrew Hammer of the Masonic Restoration Foundation; and W. Rich Hanson of Kentucky.

Three dozen research lodges and societies from across North America, plus the British Isles and Australia, have committed to attend this conference. If you are a research lodge Mason, you should get there too. Read all about it here, and I’ll see you there.

     

‘Ten questions for Freemasons’

    

William O. Ware Lodge of Research in Kentucky is circulating another questionnaire—the eighth—in its continuing Voices of Freemasonry study of Freemasons and our priorities for the Craft’s future.

Bro. Dan Kemble, who I had the good luck to meet when the Masonic Society held a weekend conference in Lexington in 2017, sent the link Thursday to The American Lodge of Research, which recently elected Dan to Active Membership, and Dan gives me permission to share it.

So click here.

(To read the previous seven surveys, click here.)