The Kansas Mason. Volume 52 Issue 3 Fall A Publication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas

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1 T 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 Volume 52 Issue 3 Fall 2014 A Publication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas TIES THAT BIND Grand Lodge and Kansas Masonic Foundation working together to benefit Kansas Masons

2 FROM THE GRAND EAST Greetings By Michael Halleran, Grand Master from the Grand East, Brethren. As you read this, many lodges have gone dark for the summer, but going dark or not, Masonic activity in Kansas has been very active since March and we at Grand Lodge don t anticipate slowing down any time soon. Surprise Visits As many of you know from subscribing to the Grand Lodge Facebook page, I have tried to make it a priority to visit lodge meetings throughout the state (See related story on page 22) and I, and those Grand Lodge officers who have attended lodge meetings with me, have enjoyed ourselves immensely! It seems that once the shock has worn off, the lodge officers and members have also had a great time. Look for those visits to continue. My only regret is that my schedule only allows one of these visits per week sometimes two which limits me to only about a third of our lodges. But, I will make a concerted effort to visit as many different parts of the state as I can. Until then, I look forward to sitting in lodge with you. By-Law For many years now, we have seen attendance wane at our Annual Communications. During the spring, I had the unpleasant task of sending out letters to remind lodges that attendance at our Annual Communication at least once in three years is a requirement of Kansas Masonic law. I sent about sixty letters out to lodges who have not had a representative attend in three years or more which is nearly one quarter of all of our lodges in the state. I asked those lodges to reply to me in writing the reasons why they haven t attended according to the by-laws: 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) Most lodges who received the letter simply wrote me back explaining the reasons why they have not attended. Some mentioned the distance involved, others wrote about schedule conflicts, but most recounted the same sad story their lodges can t meet for regular stated meetings, much less worry about attending the Annual Communication. Often their members have moved away, leaving only three or four men left in town, in other cases the average age of membership was seventy-five or eighty years old, and travel to meetings any meetings had become problematic. For the majority however, all of these problems applied. I have endeavored to call every lodge that replied to me by the deadline to try to work through those issues with the Master or Secretary. We have explored ways to solve the Annual Communication problem as well as the problem facing these lodges that simply do not meet any longer. So, despite the fact that I did not want to send out those letters in the first place, I have had a lot of very positive conversations as a result. I have been surprised, however, at a few replies I have received which were extremely unpleasant and accusatory one might receive such a reaction from the profane, but to receive it from a brother Mason is something unexpected. At any rate, it is important that we either obey the law, or change it. At present the Council of Administration is considering some alternatives to the law as it is written, 2 THE KANSAS MASON Kansas Masonic Foundation, 2909 SW Maupin Lane, Topeka, Kansas 66614

3 During the spring, I had the unpleasant task of sending out letters to remind lodges that attendance at our Annual Communication at least once in three years is a requirement of Kansas Masonic law. I have endeavored to call every lodge that replied to me by the deadline to try to work through those issues with the Master or Secretary. WE HAVE EXPLORED WAYS TO SOLVE THE ANNUAL COMMUNICATION PROBLEM and as always, by-law change proposals from the information and present it formally at the he certainly enjoys a few moments by himself the Craft can be considered at the Annual ceremony. If you believe, as I do, that these in the limelight. Communication. Emblems In March, I issued an edict about emblem presentations and included a new emblem ceremony which I felt helped to standardize the wide array of presentations I have witnessed in the past. This has caused a few questions and at least one problem. As you know, the ceremony is written like an apron presentation and the recipient is called to the East, where the presiding officer makes remarks of a Masonic character to honor the brother. One or two lodge secretaries have felt that the Masonic record form used in the ceremony is unduly burdensome. That was not my intent. Grand Lodge makes these ceremonies a priority and we try to have representatives available to anyone who asks, even at very short notice. All we request of the secretary is to collect emblem presentations are very important to our members, I merely ask that you assist in making the event as memorable as it can be. Some members have asked why the spouses and family are not honored in the East as well? This was a problem I considered, but as our apron lectures are delivered to the man himself, I felt that the same treatment was called for in honoring a member for years of service. This does not prevent, and should not prevent the lodge from honoring any spouses or family members in any way they see fit. If the Master has other awards, presentations, or honors to present, nothing prohibits him from doing so. The Grand Lodge portion of the program simply has those honored brethren to come to the East so that the Grand Master, or his designee, might shine the spotlight on him alone. After his long years in the quarries of Freemasonry, Lastly, one problem has arisen solely due to my error. In writing the ceremony I omitted sixty-five and seventy year emblems because I was under the impression that Grand Lodge did not supply those emblems, believing instead that the lodges purchased them for their members. I have since learned differently and I am revising the ceremony to include appropriate remarks for sixty-five and seventy year members as well. The Council of Administration has also had new sixty-five and seventy-year emblems designed in the familiar sunflower pattern to replace the generic pins used previously. Stay tuned. I look forward to meeting you at one of our many Grand Lodge appearances in the near future, as always, on the level. FALL

4 GRAND SECRETARY by M.W. Tracy L. Bloom, PGM, Grand Secretary Masonry Is A Journey Returning Rewards Beyond Our Imagination Over the years of raising a daughter and two step sons, I ve had several occasions to talk to them, and my wife, about wants and needs! Yes, they wanted the latest fads just as all of their friends did, shoes, purses, games, cell phones, concert tickets, cars, and so on, well you get the idea. Let me tell you, I never missed an opportunity to deliver to them one of my great orations about wants and needs and what our neighbors were driving and how that wasn t relevant to our driveway or garage. As you can imagine most of my words went from right ear to the left ear without slowing the least little bit while traversing the gray matter between the two. Or at least, that was my perception at the time. It turns out that some of those words did stick, which made a difference, and me proud years later. If my wife and I hadn t taken the time to shape and guide our children by example, and passing on our knowledge to them (albeit limited, they say) we would have been remiss in our duties as parents. It s called personal responsibility. As parents, we all have a personal responsibility in managing our daily family lives. I ve seen too many times in life, when something bad happens they tend to blame it on anyone else but themselves. My daughter once received a speeding ticket; during my inquisition she said to me it wasn t her fault. Flabbergasted, I asked, just whose fault it was, to which she replied the Policeman shouldn t have been sitting where he was, and therefore, it wasn t her fault! Really! I did mention earlier that I never missed an opportunity to deliver one of my great responsibility orations didn t I? Masonry, as you know, is a journey. Sometimes the journey is difficult and challenging, many times it returns to us rewards beyond our imagination. It teaches us many, many things, the least of which is, that to be successful, productive, engaged, and a benefit to yourself, your family, your church, your community, your lodge and your Brothers, you must take responsibility for your life and actions and that starts within you. If we will only follow the teachings and traditions of Masonry, the molding, honing and shaping of that spiritual stone within each of us will project positively to the rest of the community. Your actions will affect others around you, good or bad, and because we are Masons, let s take some personal responsibility and make sure those actions are indeed positive. Not for gain of personal recognition or of rank, rather because that is the right thing to do, and we as Masons, above others, should not only understand that, but live it every day. It s no wonder why Masons and the Masonic fraternity, through the ages, have been revered as leaders in the community. By adhering to the Masonic principles that have been handed down over the ages we can hope to achieve and continue those distinctions. But, only if those tenants and principles are handed down or transmitted to us, can we hope to improve ourselves and Masonry. If you noticed in the last sentence I included myself in that group that needs, maybe wants, more Masonic Light, a Past Grand Master/Grand Secretary, wanting more light. I myself found that a bit perplexing, and upon contemplation realized that we really never quit learning (even PGM s), as long as we have the desire for more light. While I still consider myself mostly on the receiving edge of Masonic Light, I try to dispense as much as anyone will hear, but should do a better job of it. I think many of our members are in that same frame of thinking, while wanting and being desirous of Masonic Light, we hesitate to give it. Let s face it brothers, if we don t give back, teach it to others, it will die with us, because surely none of us will escape that universal dominion of death. This, I believe, is one of our biggest problems in Masonry today, not passing on that Light we ourselves received all those years ago. The new members joining our fraternity today are hungry for Masonic knowledge. If we fail to pass it down to them, or fail to assist them in their own Masonic journey for more light, further light, they will leave as fast as they come in. Please believe me when I say there are scores of the profane wanting, searching for Masonic Light. We need to be better at identifying them, culling out the unwanted, and assisting the worthy in their search. But I caution you, and this is my opinion, we, our Masonic fraternity, is not so desperate for members that we should take in everyone who can fog a mirror. We must be cautious and vigilant to transmit unimpaired the excellent tenants of our institution to them, but they must be willing to receive the light and pass it along to the next generation for our posterity. Masonry is not for everyone Brothers, but it is for those who are of good character, high morals and have a deep desire to become better themselves. Whether you agree with me or not, there is only one way to achieve those things I mentioned, and it is by each of us being personally responsible for our lives, our Lodges and our members. 4 THE KANSAS MASON

5 INSIDE THIS ISSUE FEATURED ARTICLES FROM THE GRAND EAST 2 Greetings from the Grand East, Brethren. GRAND LODGE 7 Ties That Bind 8 Kansas Masonic Foundation The New Frontier 10 A History of Giving 13 Newly Appointed Board Trustees 16 Leadership Academy Issues Relevant To Twenty-First Century Masonry 18 Hear Ye Hear Ye: Planning a communication strategy 20 A Few Words on Grand Lecturers: A Valuable But Often Overlooked Masonic Resource 21 Child Identification Program (CHIPs) Continues at Lodge Level FEATURE ARTICLE 22 There Is An ALARM At The Door 23 Double Up And Make It Happen! 25 Fulfilling Our Obligation At Work And Doing Good DEPARTMENTS 4 GRAND SECRETARY Masonry Is A Journey 6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR 26 FROM THE ARCHIVES Repaying a Loan From Our Children 29 MEMBER INTERVIEW Jerrod Nelson 31 AROUND THE WORLD Midwest Conference On Masonic Education Offers Valuable Guidance 32 MAKING A DIFFERENCE The Freemason Endowment Fund Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band Camp New KMF Scholarships Are Off to a Winning Start 36 HOME WARMINGS Celebrating Our Accomplishments Along the Way 36 LODGE OF RESEARCH Diamonds in our Own Back Yard 38 BOOK REVIEW The Complete Idiot s Guide to Freemasonry 39 OUT AND ABOUT 43 SEEDS OF OUR FUTURE The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls 45 EVENTS CALENDAR 46 ASKED AND ANSWERED 48 FIRST KANSAS MASONIC FOUNDATION LODGE ONLINE AUCTION FALL

6 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR I recently received a brochure outlining an extensive list of all of the Kansas Masonic Foundation programs. It clearly appears that KMF has expanded the scope of their philanthropic giving to include much more than simply funding KU Cancer Research. I like all of the Lodge Programs that the KMF has developed, but I still have a special fondness for the older ones. Why the change? First, and foremost, Kansas Masonic Foundation is still committed to the KU Cancer Research program. The KMF, through Kansas Masons and friends of the Foundation, have given almost $25 million to this outstanding cause and we are not stopping there. The KMF has endowments already in place that will ensure that a minimum of $150,000+ annually will continue to this fine program, in perpetuity, even if we decided to stop giving more money to that worthy cause completely, which, of course, we are not about to do. The new programs that have recently been developed by the KMF are initiatives that have been suggested by Kansas Lodges, as we have traveled the state and talked to Masons in many different locations. As a result, these are programs that Masons statewide wanted your Foundation to develop so we listened, and we did. You will see more and more such programs developed in the future, and the goal will always remain the same: to make every single program that the KMF originates spring directly from what Kansas Masons have asked us to do. Now the awarding of all of our scholarships, as well as the operations of all of our programs, takes place through the Lodges themselves, with the help of local Masons. This includes The Freemason Endowment: Fulfilling Our Obligation, the KMF Charities Matching Funds Program, the Teacher/Student of the Day Program, the Kansas Masonic All-State Band Camp, and the Outreach Cancer Screening Clinics. The KMF is also working with a number of statewide fouryear colleges and universities on other program initiatives that are also all Lodge based. The bottom line is that we operate with your money, and we want to make the awarding of that money as local Lodge based as possible, so it will maximize public exposure to and appreciation of all the good work that Kansas Masons and Kansas Lodges continually do for Kansans and Kansas Communities all across this great state. I read with great interest in the last edition of the Kansas Mason about all of the exciting activities and events that went on during Grand Lodge Annual Communication. Being a 25+ year Mason, I have always wanted to attend but just never have. After reading about the event and seeing all of the pictures, I am definitely planning to attend next year! The Grand Lodge Annual Communications is always a fun event to attend. This is the one time of the year when 400+ Kansas Masons come together to visit, attend educational meetings, find out what s new in Kansas Masonry, and set policy for the future of the Craft. While there are many Brothers that come year after year, at any given Annual Communication, you will also find many first-time attendees. In most cases, these first-timers quickly realize that it s a fun and exciting event to attend and quickly turn in to annual attendees. Many Masonic spouses attend as well, and Grand Lodge has arranged for special events for them to enjoy, while the Masons-only events are taking place. This past year s 158 th session was the largest attendance in recent history and offered plenty of opportunities for visiting, education, and social interaction. Plans are already underway for next year s event, and the Grand Lodge is expecting an even larger group of attendees from all across the state. So block these dates on your calendar now: March 19-21, 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 The Kansas Mason Established 1963 The Kansas Mason is the official publication of the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Kansas, formally organized March 17, The Kansas Mason is published quarterly (2/1; 5/1; 8/1; 11/1) at the direction of the Council of Administration from the offices of: The Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Kansas 320 SW 8th Avenue Topeka, Kansas, The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Kansas, its officers or employees. SUBMIT ARTICLES: by to editor@kansasmason.org or mail to KMF Editorial 2909 SW Maupin Lane Topeka, KS, All submissions may be in electronic format or hard copy and become the property of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of Kansas. Photos may be submitted through Flickr at No compensation is allowed or intended for any articles, photographs, or other material submitted or published. 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) 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. 6 THE KANSAS MASON

7 GRAND LODGE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff Ties ThatBind The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas and the Kansas Masonic Foundation are two separate and distinct corporate entities, yet both serve the same constituent group you the Kansas Masons. To be effective, both must work diligently together in harmony to support each other s vision and goals. In the past, this has not always been the case, but today, and for the future, that is the firm commitment of both organizations. By way of background, the Kansas Masonic Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization, was created by the Grand Lodge of Kansas in 1966 during its 110 th session, specifically to serve as the philanthropic arm of Kansas Masons. Its original stated mission was to encourage philanthropy from Kansas Masons, their family, and friends for charitable, educational, and scientific programs. Even today, almost 50 years later, that larger goal is still the cornerstone of everything the Foundation does. Long before the Foundation existed, the Grand Lodge created its own programs and initiatives that were philanthropic in nature, many of which were very worthwhile, yet clearly outside the purview of the Grand Lodge s core organizational activities. Many, for instance, required charitable fundraising to support them. At one point in the fairly recent past, the Grand Lodge even created its own 501(c)3, so it could develop its own charitable organization; this impulse was initiated because of the strained working relationship that had arisen between the two organizations. The Grand Lodge has since closed down its 501(c)3 corporation, and now gives the Foundation its full support. The path that brought us here has not always been smooth. Some felt, for instance, that the KMF became too single-mindedly focused on a single initiative KU Cancer Research at the expense of all its other programs and initiates. No one can doubt the great work done by Kansas Masons in support of KU Cancer Research, resulting in contributions of nearly $25 million--and we are not stopping there. With the current endowments already in place, KU Cancer Research will receive in excess of $150,000 annually from the Foundation in perpetuity. So the total Masonic contribution to finding a cure for cancer will continue to grow each and every year, and the Foundation on behalf of Kansas Masons remains committed to this great and worthy cause. As those involved know, the relationship between the Kansas Masonic Foundation and the Grand Lodge has not always been as continued on page 9

8 Kansas Masonic Foundation The New Frontier By Michael J. Tavares, President When Brother Bob Shively asked me to do a photo shoot to get a more current picture for this article I was hesitant because I am not fond of pictures. As I thought about the back drop for this picture, I kept coming back to the fact that I have been an explorer all my life. It began with me going to the first Special Operations Aviation Unit the Army as a new Army officer. That was a wild and new frontier for the Army at the time. I have always been interested in what is over the horizon; what is the next step. I selected the Frontier Army Museum for the photo shoot. In the picture, I am standing in front of a scene that depicts Lewis and Clark as they began their exploration of the new frontier. If you get the chance to visit Fort Leavenworth, go to the Frontier Army Museum. It is a great place to go to and reflect on how our forefathers struggled with fierce deter- mination to explore the new frontiers of their day. As I assumed the role as President of the Kansas Masonic Foundation (KMF), I realized that we had done so much for cancer research with the Kansas University Cancer Center (KUCC) the question became what is the next frontier? Do we continue as we have been doing or do we make a strategic change and begin to support not only cancer research but the other elements of our charter? This was the question posed to the Board of Trustees in November of 2013 at our strategic planning conference at Emporia State University. The decision was to make a strategic change. Although we will continue to support KUCC with at least $150,000 each year through an endowment that has been established, we decided that our new frontier was to begin to address our other two charges in our charter Charitable giving to our communities and fulfilling our 3rd degree obligation and restructuring your Educational loan and scholarship programs. What makes this the new frontier is that we are focusing our efforts on enabling the Lodges. In the past there was a perception that the brethren were always responding to giving requests from the KMF with very little tangible evidence of their efforts. Now our programs are depending on the Lodges in a very different way. If a Lodge needs to take care of a distressed worthy Brother, his widow and orphan, the KMF will match the fundraising efforts of the Lodge to provide a donation to the cause. The donation is presented by the Lodge not by the KMF. If you have a community project you want to support, we will help you in that support financially by matching your fundraising efforts dollar for dollar up to $ Then the lodge presents the combined check in their name not the KMF. We have other new programs that will raise the visibility of the Lodge in the community by having the Lodges conduct presentations to Teacher and Students of the Day Programs and presenting educational scholarships to the more than 140 scholarship recipients this year alone. I hope you and your Lodges will join the KMF in exploring the new frontier. It is exciting to see the new frontier and visualize the great strides we can make together for Kansas Masonry and our communities. The Board of Trustees have made a commitment to team with the Lodges because we believe that our collective successes will benefit Kansas Masonry as a whole. 8 THE KANSAS MASON

9 GRAND LODGE Ties That Bind continued from page 7 cordial as it might have been. There is no point in rehashing in detail a less than ideal part of the past. Rather it should be noted that only trying times give good men the chance to show what they are really made of. M.W. Donald Dean Newman, PGM deserves a great deal of credit for starting to bring the relationship between the two bodies to a better place, and M.W. Fredrick ( Rick ) W. Reichert, PGM is similarly deserving for steadfastly assuring the consistent record of improvement never wavered. And a third party also played a major part. KMF President Michael J. Tavares showed exemplary insight when he saw that what the situation really needed was the recruitment of a man with a varied and proven track record that had given him a special set of skills. So when he met Robert A. Shively, CAE, he knew he had found just the man for the job. With a resume that included over 16 years of service as a Professional Executive who had worked successfully in many different contexts, including with leading international organizations and foundations, Robert stood out as exactly who the circumstances called for. As Mike said in an address at this year s Annual Communication, when the work was underway to choose the new Executive Director of the Foundation, they d only been hoping to find a nugget of gold. But instead, in Bob, they found a goldmine. And in part due to that lucky strike, which was really far more a matter of the thoughtful diligence of the miners involved than of anything like luck, things are looking good again. As the Foundation looks to the future enjoying as it does, the full cooperation of the Grand Lodge under the revolutionary leadership of new Grand Master, M.W. Mike A. Halleran great things are happening. The Foundation is rapidly building and developing programs to further expand its sphere of charitable giving, improving the lives of Kansans, Kansas Communities, and Brother Masons across the state. Some of the most recent programs developed include these (please see the sidebar for a complete list of all Foundation programs with summary descriptions): Freemason Endowment Fulfilling Our Obligation Legacy Scholarships for Kansas Masonic Descendants Annual Higher Education Scholarships Technical/Trade School Scholarships Grand Lodge Essay Contest Teacher & Student of the Day Program KMF Charities: A Lodge-Based Matching-Funds Program Supporting Our Masonic Youth Program And all that is just the beginning! To put a new twist on what Al Jolson used to say years ago, You ain t seen nothin yet. The Grand Lodge and Kansas Masonic Foundation have a long legacy of treasuring our shared values. Because what they do is built on the principles of a higher reality, Masons know there is something else that animates what we see, something infinitely more important than what we measure, what we track and what we do day to day. It is mysterious, hard to describe, invisible to the eye and sometimes difficult even to imagine. Yet when we come together as Masons in celebration of our shared heritage, in the spirit of our ongoing inquiry into how we can continue to improve what is already good, we know it, and we feel it. Only together can we experience what our Fraternity is truly all about. Despite the small things that can seem so large and sometimes manage to push us apart, we never lose what it takes to bounce back again, to once again walk the high road as Brothers. We always have the Ties That Bind! FALL

10 GRAND LODGE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. Albert Pike A History ofgiving Masonic charity has a long history with the oldest documented mention dating around Most people know that Masons promise to help each other, but many do not know that the majority of Masonic giving benefits the whole community not just fellow Masons. OUR MISSION TO BENEFIT KANSANS BY FUNDING CHARITABLE PROGRAMS OUR VISION TO BE THE PREMIER MASONIC FOUNDATION SERVING HUMANITY Our Values & Common Beliefs WE BELIEVE: Men of good character provide strong selfless leadership In fostering a brotherhood of dutiful stewards Charity beyond ourselves strengthens our communities A Supreme Being guides our decision making Often, our brothers learn of a need and quietly put together some money or volunteers to help. But, sometimes, more resources are needed, and that s when the Foundation comes in. Nearly half a century ago, the Kansas Masonic Foundation s philanthropic efforts began to help when more resources were needed. Founded by the gifts and bequests of Masons and others, the Foundation has funded many worthwhile projects that have been true to the Masonic Mission, Values, Common Beliefs, and Credo: Dedicated to Serving Humanity. No other charity in Kansas is doing the work that the Kansas Masonic Foundation is doing from advancing science and education, to improving the health of our Kansas communities. Thank you for your interest in and support of the Kansas Masonic Foundation. 1 Kansas Masonic Scholarships Since its inception, the Kansas Masonic Foundation (KMF) has provided scholarships and low-interest loans to college-and university-bound students throughout the state. As of the end of 2013, the Kansas Masonic Foundation was providing $1.4 million in academic support, in the form of 236 student loans and 135 scholarships, to students all over Kansas and those numbers just keep growing. In late 2013, the Kansas Masonic Foundation Board of Trustees, with an eye toward making the academic aid it offers as widely and easily available as possible, voted to discontinue the loan program and direct almost $250,000 annually to scholarship awards alone. Going forward, the KMF will offer three main kinds of scholarships. One will be a legacy scholarship, which will be available, as the name suggests, only to the legacies of Kansas Masons. The second will be aimed at students who elect to take a non-academic route and attend an in-state technical school. And the third type will be available to all Kansas residents who elect to attend one of seven Kansas institutions of higher learning. In addition, the Cynthia Ruth Russell memorial Scholarship Endowment for Persons with Disabilities is also available. This varied array of awards, which adds up to over 150 scholarships and hundreds of thousands of dollars in new giving annually, will be presented to students by local Kansas Lodges and administered by the KMF; application for these scholarships now takes place only online, and the complete application details for all of them can be found here: 10 THE KANSAS MASON

11 2 3 Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band Camp 2013 marked the 30th straight year that the Kansas Masonic All-State High-School Marching Band has entertained attendees of the Kansas East-West Shrine Bowl, with the net proceeds of the game going to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. The idea of the band and its related camp originally developed to fill a void at the summer Shrine Bowl, when most high school bands were not available. Participants in the band attend a week-long music camp and training session, organized each July by the Kansas Masonic Foundation and staffed by music professionals from Kansas universities, which prepares KU Cancer Research Program Kansas Masons began supporting the University of Kansas Cancer Center four decades ago in On September 21 of that year, during the dedication of the Oncology Center in the KU Medical Center, Masons and the Kansas Masonic Foundation were recognized for their support of outreach programs at the Center. According to the Foundation s minutes, This was indeed an event which is now a monument to the Masons of Kansas for their contributions in aiding mankind and serving the residents of Kansas in a most tangible and humanitarian way. The ones who use this well-appointed treatment center surely must think kindly of our them to do the best job possible when they lead an exciting Shrine Parade on the morning of the game, before performing during both the pre-game and halftime NO OTHER CHARITY IN KANSAS IS DOING THE WORK THAT efforts. We are told that it is being used by an ever-increasing number of patients and that the modern approach in the mechanics of the treatment they receive is fully in festivities later the same day. The THE KANSAS keeping with the whole program. band also performs just before MASONIC In the years since, the total FOUNDATION the Shrine Bowl Banquet, which provided by Masons to fight cancer IS DOING takes place the night before the has reached nearly $25 million. But FROM ADVANCING big game. even as early as 2005, the Masonic SCIENCE AND Since 1984, the camp has been held at a variety of locations across the state with approximately 225 students participating each year. To date, well over 5,000 EDUCATION, TO IMPROVING THE HEALTH OF OUR KANSAS COMMUNITIES. contribution to this cause was already so significant that, at the suggestion of the University of Kansas, the name of the Kansas Cancer Center was officially changed to the sponsored students from across Kansas have played a part in the decades-long success of the event. Camp fees are sponsored by Masonic and Shrine organizations throughout the state. Three awards are given out to deserving students at camp each year, including The Outstanding Musician Award, The Masonic Pride Award, and The Jeff Atherly Inspirational Award all emphasizing the qualities of leadership and excellence in today s youth. Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute. As a further result of Masonic giving, The Patient Navigator $1 million Endowed Fund has been fully funded, while The Psycho- Oncologist $1 million Endowed Fund is over half way to the same goal. And in the summer of 2012, also with the help of Kansas Masons, KU achieved the prestigious National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation as a Cancer Center. As the Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute moves steadily closer to being declared a Comprehensive Cancer Center, the highest NCI designation that exists, the ongoing financial support of Kansas Masons for the Beyond the Quest campaign demonstrates that the Masonic resolve to fight against this terrible disease will not stop in the years ahead, as Masons will continue to contribute approximately $150,000 per year to this very worthy cause through endowments until a cure is finally found. And until that great day, thousands of Kansans are already leading better, healthier lives due to Masonic support of cancer research, generally, and of the equally successful related program described next. 4 Kansas Masonic Foundation Free Cancer Screening Outreach Clinics As an important offshoot of its older, global support for KU Cancer Research, the Kansas Masonic Foundation launched its Outreach Cancer- Screening Clinic Program on October 22, 2003, in Hoxie, Kansas. With the active help of local Masonic Lodges, it provides 5-8 public clinics per year at locations across the state. Each clinic features testing for prostate and skin cancer as well as bone density scans and breast cancer risk assessments all completely free of charge. KU Medical Center staff are on hand to perform the procedures and to answer questions from the public. These clinics perform a valuable public service by embodying the Kansas Masonic Foundation s enduring goal to be of service to all mankind. The early detection that the program provides has saved lives, and many hundreds of people have been helped in the program s history. In a recent reporting period alone, 466 Kansans, some of whom continued on page 12 FALL

12 FUNDED BY THE FREEMASON ENDOWMENT Kansas Masons have taken the lessons of friendship, morality and brotherly love and have applied these virtues to our daily lives. To our country we are faithful. In our communities we are generous. To our neighbors, we are always willing to pool our resources and hand them over without hesitation. We have given our time our resources, and our money, to our communities, and our neighbors. We have always answered the call for support. We do these things because as masons we have been taught to practice charity. Most of us feel that the obligation is especially acute when the Brother or widow is elderly; but, young or old, we have promised to Fulfill Our Obligation. Financial Assistance Application for a distressed Kansas Master Mason, his Wife, Widow, or Mother; or a Masonic Orphan. (Note: A Masonic orphan is defined as a minor child who has lost his or her Master Mason father.) As Masons we were taught in our Lodges: to aid and assist our poor or distressed Kansas Masonic Foundation. charity is the distinguishing characteristic of Masons that we promulgate the principles of Brotherly love and RELIEF These duties are carried out both individually and through member and his/her family. our Lodges. Our local Bodies are the closest organizations to our members and the most likely to know when a Brother is in need. Thus, it is important that all Lodges continually monitor their membership through personal contact, committees, surveys, etc. This fraternal concern of our members never ceases. Our Brothers in distress may have many different needs. A member may need a screen door repaired or a shelf replaced resources with its member. assistance in shopping for groceries or prescriptions transportation to the doctor companionship or visitation with quality time to combat loneliness, or just stay in touch financial assistance help of Fulfilling Our Obligation! Kansas Masonic Lodge Matching Funds Program This financial assistance application must be discussed and approved at a stated meeting and then forwarded to the The Lodge is counted upon, as a normal course of their business, to conduct an adequate investigation of all the factors surrounding this request for assistance. This investigation must include a personal visit with both the Answers to the questions on this form do not automatically determine the approval or denial of the application. This is information intended only to help the Foundation understand the recipient s needs. The Lodge, as a part of its fraternal commitment, is expected to provide what volunteer and financial assistance it can. Most needs are not financial. Many needs can be met by the local Lodge sharing its time, talent, and its own financial Occasionally, the need will be large enough for financial assistance from the Fulfilling Our Obligation Program. Both The Grand Lodge of Kansas and Kansas Masonic Foundation want to be there to help our Brothers. Working together we can assure that no Brother, his Wife, Widow, or Mother; or a Masonic Orphan will ever go without our Kansas Masonic Foundation, 2909 SW Maupin Lane, Topeka, Kansas 66614; (785) ; Fax (785) STATE MASONIC PUBLIC SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST THE ANCIENT FREE & ACCEPTED MASONS of AT THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE MASTER, WARDENS & MEMBERS OF: BEING DESIROUS OF PROMOTING THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES, AND TO CONTRIBUTING TO THE BETTERMENT OF ALL MANKIND, by recognizing those teachers in our community who have set high standards in leadership, scholarship, integrity, and citizenship, hereby recognizes: DATE: as an for exceptional achievement and dedication deserving of the esteem of the Masons of Kansas, and the officers and members of the Grand Lodge of Kansas. WHEREFORE, I have set my hand and the seal of this Grand Lodge on the day and year last below written. GRAND MASTER OF MASONS WORSHIPFUL MASTER GRAND LODGE A History of Giving continued from page 11 were alerted to potentially dangerous cancerous conditions they were not aware of before attending one of these clinics, have received potentially life-saving treatment and advice. This important program not only furthers the work of the Midwest Cancer Alliance at the University of Kansas, but also allows communities statewide to see the long-standing commitment of Kansas Masons to keep fighting cancer until that fight is won in the positive light it deserves. 4 The Freemason Endowment: Fulfilling Our Obligation The Kansas Masonic Foundation (KMF) established an important new funding initiative in late 2013 the Freemason Endowment. This $1.5 million endowment includes an initial investment of $600,000 in the form of a Trust Gift from Edward and Bernice Seidel, and $160,000 from the Grand Lodge. Such generous giving paved the way to create this new fund, specifically designed to help Kansas Master Masons, as well as Masonic wives, mothers, widows, and orphans, in their times of need. As part of their Obligation, Masons promise to give these special people the help they need. This program, managed cooperatively by the Kansas Masonic Foundation and the Grand Lodge of Kansas, helps them live up to that sacred promise. 5 KMF Charities In its constant effort to benefit Kansas communities, the KMF has begun a new Fulfilling Our Obligation Program KMF Charities APPLICATION program aimed at doubling the financial good that individual lodges can do to meet the charitable needs they fund. Any of the 230+ Kansas Masonic Lodges across the state can choose one or more charitable causes they support financially, fill out some relevant paperwork, and mail it in to the KMF. The Foundation will then match that lodge s level of financial commitment to the cause(s) in question, up to a total of $1,000, annually, allowing Kansas Masonic Lodges to do twice the amount of good for the same amount of money. 6 Grand Lodge Essay Contest In 1959, The Grand Lodge WINNER of Kansas placed Kansas Masons on a path toward the creation of an annual statewide essay contest for seniors in Kansas public schools. A new and timely essay topic is created each year, and eight cash awards are given annually, which include $4,000 for first prize, $3,000 for second, $2,000 for third, $1,000 for fourth, and four Honorable Mention prizes of $500 each, for a total of $12,000 in cash prizes. Representatives of the state s Masonic Lodges visit each high school in their respective jurisdictions every year to review the program and elicit participation. All essays are submitted to local Kansas Masonic Lodges, which judge them and submit the best ones received to the Grand Lodge for further consideration, with the essay winners announced in February of each year. Kansas Masons believe that a strong public school system is important to the continued freedom of our nation, as well as to the continued vibrancy of Masonry, which contributed to the creation and ongoing support of this contest. The KMF funds this valuable and widely respected event, which has been attracting numerous entries including many wonderful essays for well over half a century. 7 Teacher and Student of the Day Recognition Program Continuing GRAND LODGE KANSAS EXEMPLARY TEACHER its well-established commitment to recognizing and encouraging excellence in Kansas education and learning, the KMF, in conjunction with the Masonic Lodges across the state, offers a Teacher and Student of the Day Recognition Program. Teachers and members of the Administration of each school will choose each winning student, while the winning teachers will be chosen by each school s Administration. These awards will commemorate the exemplary achievement of the teachers and students so honored with a handsome certificate, presented by local lodges and administered by the KMF. One such award will be given each year to one teacher and one student in every Preschool/Kindergarten 12th grade public school in the state, starting in Helping Our Masonic Youth Program There are three organizations for young people in Kansas that exist to instill the kinds of high ideals Masonry stands for. These are Rainbow Girls, Job s Daughters, and DeMolay. In order to ensure the most effective, targeted use of funds possible and to be sure that sufficient funding exists for each group s key initiatives the KMF awards grants to each of these organizations to provide them with Program/Initiative Funding. The organizations simply apply to the KMF for the money they need to fund projects and other initiatives that further their missions, and the KMF supplies the necessary funds. 12 THE KANSAS MASON

13 NEWLY APPOINTED BOARD TRUSTEES Victor J. Henke, Jr., Trustee (3-Year Term) Victor was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma and moved to Holland, Indiana after his father passed away. He graduated from Holland High School, following that with both a Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University and a Masters from the Florida Institute of Technology. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Infantry in June of 1968, as part of the Purdue University ROTC, where he was certified as Airborne and Special Forces Qualified. He was stationed domestically at Fort Riley and Fort Bragg, serving overseas in Vietnam and Korea. He held various positions in infantry units, until he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 24 years of service to his country as a Command and General Staff Instructor Team Chief. Victor served as adjunct professor of Financial, Strategic, and Small Business management at Park University from From , he also worked as the business manager of the Correction Corporation at Leavenworth Detention Center. After that, from , he was employed as a defense contractor at the CU- BIC Defense Corporation; and as a Military Systems Analyst, a Staff Analyst, and an Information Management Officer at the Combined Arms Center in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; besides working as both an Information Management Officer and a Knowledge Management Officer in the Department of the Army Civilian at the National Simulation Center in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Victor has been married for 37 years to Sharon R. Short, who is also a Purdue graduate, making them a pair of matched Boilermakers. They have two daughters, Sarah R. Henke Shafer, herself a Boilermaker, and Sandra R. Henke, who broke with family tradition by making a choice that Victor called a great move! she graduated from K-State and became a Wildcat. Both daughters now reside in the Leavenworth-Lawrence area, as do Victor and Sharon. Mikel J. Stoops, Trustee (1-Year Term Presidential Appointee) Mikel spent his youth in north central Indiana, moving to Kansas in He is a 4th generation Mason and learned about Freemasonry from his maternal grandfather, who was an Indiana and Ohio Mason for almost 70 years, before his passing in Mikel is proud to wear a Square and Compass that has been passed down to him from his great grandfather. He also had the privilege of returning to Indiana in 2013 to raise his father in Tippecanoe Lodge #429. In 2009, Mikel began his own Masonic journey with a brief discussion with a coworker, Duke Neeland, at a company Christmas party. Duke s Shrine pin started the conversation, and by the end of it, Mikel had decided it was time he joined the Masons, so he told Duke that thanks to their talk, he planned to petition De Soto Lodge #40. Duke recounts that at the time, he thought Mikel was joking, but is now quite pleased the he was serious. After being raised, Stoops quickly advanced through the chairs to be Master of his Lodge in He also served as Grand Marshal for and is currently serving as District Deputy Grand Master for District #4 from Mikel and his wife Pamela live in Baldwin City, Kansas, where they own the Three Sisters Inn Bed and Breakfast. Mikel is the Innkeeper, and Pamela has a career outside of the inn. FALL

14 NEWLY APPOINTED BOARD TRUSTEES David C. Eckert, Trustee (3-Year Term) Frederick (Rick) W. Reichert Jr., PGM, Trustee (3-Year Term) Born in Hardtner, Kansas, David was raised in Kiowa, Kansas and graduated from Kiowa High School. He met and married his love, Brenda, at Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva, Oklahoma, where they both graduated in May of David worked as an Office/Business Manager for automotive dealerships in Garden City, Great Bend, and Wichita from He and his family then moved to Hugoton, where he worked as an accountant, followed by 18 years in the natural gas industry, and 8 years at Berkeley Medical before he retired. In addition, David has done sports reporting for newspapers and play-by-play broadcasting on radio and TV for 25 years, besides engaging in many other communityenrichment activities. He also enjoys watching most sporting activities (especially those with his grandkids involved). David was raised as a Master Mason in 1989 in Hugoton Lodge #406, where he is a Perpetual Life Member and has served as Master in 1993, 1998, 2007, and 2014, winning the Masters Achievement Award in 1993 and 2007 and the award for Outstanding Mason in Among his numerous other Masonic credits, he served the Grand Lodge of Kansas area Deputy Grand Master of Area 9 in , Grand Standard Bearer from , Grand Junior Steward , Assistant Grand Tyler , and Grand Junior Deacon and currently serves as the Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of the Philippines. David and Brenda have two children and six grandchildren and have hosted fifteen foster children in their home. They are members of the Ulysses Chapter #471 Order of The Eastern Star and Charter Members of the Lapland Masons. David is also a Life Member of Scottish Rite and is a 32nd Degree Mason, having served as secretary of the Southwest Scottish Rite Club. He has held the head office for all three York Rite Bodies in Liberal, Kansas Chapter #65, Council #5, and Commandery #55 and is also a member of Jay A. Sheldon Order #117, Sword of Bunker Hill, in Dodge City, KS. David s son, Marcus, is now the Senior Steward of Hugoton Lodge, while his grandson, Takoda, is Hugoton s youngest Entered Apprentice. Rick was born in Abington and raised in Glenside, both near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania. He graduated from Germantown Academy in Fort Washington and Temple University in Philadelphia. It was at Temple that he joined the Army ROTC program and received both a three year scholarship and a Regular Army commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Signal Corps. During an assignment to Fort Chaffee, Arkansas he met, courted and in 1982 married the former Janet Long of Trona, California. Together they enjoyed an adventurous military life with Rick attaining a Master s of Science in Systems Technology from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey and reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Duty included two tours in Germany and posts throughout the United States. At the end of an assignment as an instructor at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, he retired from the military in Since then, Rick has been employed by Sprint in various assignments in their Overland Park based Network Services group. Rick and Janet have resided in Lansing since Rick was raised a Master Mason in 1988 after having been given all three degrees by his father, Fred, Past Master, 1990, of Warren Lodge #310 in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Rick became active with Hancock Lodge #311 on Fort Leavenworth in 1998 and after serving in positions of the progressing line became Master in He served as District Deputy Grand Master the following year and Area Deputy Grand Master in He served as Grand Junior Steward in 2007 and was then appointed Grand Senior Deacon in 2009 by M:. W:. Roy T. Sullivan, Jr. PGM which then led to his serving as Grand Master of Mason in Kansas Rick has been serving as the Grand Representative to Connecticut since He is a 33 IGH member of the Armed Forces Consistory of the Scottish Rite, a Noble of Abdallah Shrine of Overland Park, a Past President of Fort Leavenworth Chapter #154, National Sojourners, Past Commander of Old Frontier Camp, Heroes of 76, and Past Patron of Byington Chapter #177, Order of the Eastern Star, in Leavenworth. Rick and Janet enjoy traveling, geocaching, volkssporting, photography and amateur radio. 14 THE KANSAS MASON

15 Herbert F. Merrick, Jr., Trustee (3-Year Term) B. Cole Presley, GJW, Trustee (Grand Lodge Representative) Herb was born in Yokohama, Japan the oldest son of a career Army Officer, but grew up in Forsyth, Missouri where his family settle on the farm, that he still oversees. He was raised in November of 1974 in the Forsyth Lodge No 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 No. 311 on Fort Leavenworth. He served as Master in 2004 and again in 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 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 No. 177 OES as well as Haworth Chapter No. 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 going to see Evelyn whenever there is a chance. Cole has spent almost his entire life in Kansas. He first learned of Freemasonry when he became a Police Officer in Hill City, Kansas, where he was mentored by the Sheriff and the Chief of Police. He went on to petition and be initiated, as well as being passed and raised, all in Since that time, Cole has served in every chair in his Mother Lodge except treasurer, not to mention being elected District Deputy Grand Master for the 35th District. He was also chosen to be Area Deputy Grand Master for Area 10, besides serving a partial term as Assistant Grand Tyler, before being appointed Grand Senior Deacon in Cole is a Charter Member of Justice Lodge No. 457 and currently serves as that Lodge s Master. Cole and his wife of 11 years, Nikki, still live with their children, Cody, Paige, and Mitchell, in Hill City, where he is now the Sheriff of Graham County. In his spare time, Presley enjoys fishing, hunting, and coaching kid s athletic teams, particularly when the sports involved are wrestling and baseball. WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR OURSELVES ALONE DIES WITH US; WHAT WE HAVE DONE FOR OTHERS AND THE WORLD REMAINS AND IS IMMORTAL. ALBERT PIKE FALL

16 GRAND LODGE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff Leadership Academy Issues Relevant To Twenty-First Century Masonry Set for Saturday, November 1 at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Topeka, the 2014 Leadership Academy is Cliff Porter expected to fill up fast. Keynote Speaker First held in the State Capital building in 2011, a growing attendance forced a move to the more spacious and accommodating Capital Plaza in We have listened to the Craft, and are trying to give them exactly what they want, said Deputy Grand Master Daren Kellerman. The response has steadily grown each year as word continues to spread about the information obtained in the ever-changing breakout sessions. I expect to see 300 or more attendees this year and hope that we have to look for a bigger venue next year. A special feature this year will include two breakout sessions hosted by the Grand Lecturers on topics similar to what may be discussed in a restructured District School of Instruction. While Excellence in the Esoteric Work has always been and always will be the primary focus, the District School format has not KANSAS FREEMASONS LEADERSHIP ACADEMY COURSE SCHEDULE 8:00-8:55 Registration (TBA) 9:00-9:15 Welcome and Opening Remarks (TBA) 9:15-10:00 Keynote Address - Cliff Porter (TBA) 10:00-10:15 Announcements and Mid-Morning Break 10:15-11:30 Facilitating Masonic Education Masters Duties and the Masonic Code Risk Management for Lodges Shawnee Ball Room Homestead Room Pioneer Room 11:30-12:30 Lunch Emerald Ball Room in the Main Hotel 16 THE KANSAS MASON

17 changed significantly in the past 50 or more years, said Grand Senior Deacon and Grand Lecturer Bob Talbott. We were asked to expand on topics of interest, and we have done that. We are excited to share these with the Craft so that we may all improve ourselves. These are things that should be taken back to lodge and shared. Well-known Masonic author, Cliff Porter, Past Master of Enlightenment Lodge No. 198 in Colorado Springs, Colorado will be the keynote speaker this year. Bro. Porter s keynote address, Meeting Masonic Challenges, along with a special closing presentation, will discuss issues relevant to twenty-first century Masonry. Grand Master Michael Halleran noted that Cliff Porter was the keynote speaker for our first leadership academy four years ago when we were just starting out. It s fantastic that he is able to come visit us again and help lead our Craft in another thoughtful discussion of the topics that concern today s Masons. Registration for the Leadership Academy is $35 and includes a complimentary lunch. Register online or by mailing back the form included. NOVEMBER 1, 8AM - 4PM 12:45-1:30 Facilitating Masonic Education Lodge Finance and Budgeting Risk Management for Lodges Shawnee Ball Room Homestead Room Pioneer Room 1:30-2:15 Kansas Masonic Foundation, Your Lodge, Your Community Lodge Finance and Budgeting Masonic Funeral Honors Shawnee Ball Room Homestead Room Pioneer Room 2:15-2:30 Afternoon Break 2:30-3:30 Mentoring, Moving Your Lodge to the Digital Age Ritual Memorization Best More than a Buzz Word (Digital Records & Information) Techniques to Learn the Ritual Shawnee Ball Room Homestead Room Pioneer Room 3:30-4:15 Special Closing Address Cliff Porter (TBA) 4:15-4:30 Closing Comments and Adjourn FALL

18 GRAND LODGE Planning a communication strategy THE SINGLE BIGGEST PROBLEM IN COMMUNICATION IS THE ILLUSION THAT IT HAS TAKEN PLACE. George Bernard Shaw. By Herb F. Merrick, Jr., Grand Marshal, Past Master Hancock Lodge No. 311 & KMF Trustee In 1993 the Masonic Renewal Committee (MRC) of Canada, the United States, and Mexico published a booklet that lists 101 ways to strengthen your lodge. Prominent among its suggestions was the need to communicate not only among their members but also with the community. The booklet listed a number of ways that a lodge could do that. This publication focused on the tools. However, this great idea missed what is the most important and most overlooked part of communications; the communication plan. If you don t have a plan or a goal, then any road will take you to where you are going, except that it might not be where you want to end up. The concept of any good plan is very simple: first you determine where you are now, and then you determine where you want to be. The plan is the map to go from one place to the other. This means you need to determine what you want others to know about your lodge. How are we going to determine that? Write it down. The lodge communication committee with the master and wardens have a meeting or possibly a series of meetings and using a white board or flip chart or a legal pad lists the who and what that you need to communicate. Every lodge has a communication committee although it may not go by that name. Its name could be the Calling Committee or the Membership Committee or some other name. These are the members that the Master tasks to communicate with the greater body. Excellent communications take time, thought and resources. It cannot be another duty for the Master or the Secretary. These folks have full plates and while they are important members of the process (and might even need to lead it), they need help. The communication committee is looking to get information out to two different groups for three different purposes. First the lodge needs to communicate with its members. The lodge needs its members involved. The members need to know the who, what, when and where of activities and events. This is the goal of the communication plan as it applies to the membership, and this goal will not change much from year to year. The objectives that make up that goal are specific in: who, what, where questions and very specific about the time measurement. The lodge can measure how well it is doing by reviewing the objectives. A planning objective or outcome might be All members will know fourteen days in advance of all special meetings. Another objective would be that all local members will be informed of work days 30 days in advance and reminded 10 days before it occurs. The achievement of these objectives requires a specific set of tools and strategies to accomplish the mission. Internal communications will be more personal in nature and will be different depending on the membership demographics. This communication is all about us and us doing things with each other. Tools to consider here are calling or texting trees, annual plans, monthly trestle boards and meeting agendas. It also has to do with , letters, notes and Facebook or other social media. Each one has a use for which it is best suited, and the committee along with the line officers should develop a plan on how to 18 THE KANSAS MASON

19 share this information. These activities are also budget items since they all cost money and should be part of the annual budget. The other groups with whom we must communicate are the public and prospective members. For the general public the focus is about public events like scholarship awards or recognition nights or even fund raisers. The objectives here are still getting out the four Ws, but these take more thought when it comes to success measurement. Prospective members are a subset of the first group so there is a lot of overlap. Prospective members want to know more and that requires tailoring of the content of the message. First we must communicate that there is an active lodge in the community, then we should follow-up that message with information about what the lodge does and how one might become a member. These communications require different tools such as websites, newspaper articles, or announcements and booths at public events like parades, community celebrations, or information days. These opportunities might require the development of handouts, flyers or pamphlets. Again these things become budget items and coordination. Other considerations are that local newspapers may not send someone to cover an event, but they might accept the lodge s photos and news story. The coordinating instruction in the plan should include who is going to take pictures and who will write the press release or cut line (the notes under the picture). Once you have identified with whom you want to communicate, what you want to tell them, and with whom to coordinate, you can determine how you are going to do it. There are lots of tools in that tool kit. Each tool has its place and does a specific job well, but no one tool will do everything. Now that we have a committee and a desired outcome, it is time to gather the specific tools. All tools come with some sort of cost if nothing but the time of those who do it. Each lodge s situation will be different, but a quick overview calls for an examination of the tools and some of their uses. A calling/texting tree is a great internal tool to get information to the membership very quickly for a short notice event, like a funeral. Its more recent incarnation is the text message. The text message has an advantage that the recipient does not have to answer it the minute it is sent so it acts like an answering machine; however, members might not have a cell phone. Websites are excellent ways to communicate with the community, particularly to those new to the area, that there is a lodge, where and when it meets plus what it is doing. They are also useful as an archive of past events to include photos and agendas. Trestleboards both for meetings, for the month and the year also communicate internally about plans. They can be hard copies or electronic, both work. is a great reminder and alerting tool if the lodge is small enough to use an ing group on the lodge computer. However, if the membership is bigger, consideration can be given to a tool like Constant Contact as a way to mass notices. A members only section passwordprotected website section is great to communicate the annual plan and other important internal information. However, some members may still need this to be mailed to them. The plan should consider how many members do not have regular access to a computer so that you can meet their needs. Facebook is a great way to share both internal and external communications. The lodge can share almost real time events through updates. Its uses can include advertising upcoming events, directing viewers to websites or points of contact. Its advantages include the fact that anyone can share the information with an ever larger circle of folks. Newspapers will do the same thing but to a different demographic, so you may have to do both. Never forget, that the cable television station or local radio may let you have both short and long term announcements on the public service channel. It never hurts to ask the local TV station to cover the event. There are even more tools out there, but that is a discussion for a later time. Communication is about planning. Planning is about deciding what are your outcomes or objectives, then considering the methods and finally what your resources are. The most important is to determine what you want done; the outcome. Then you can decide the best methods to achieve the outcome. Finally determine what resources you have and can afford to use. FALL

20 GRAND LODGE By Lyn E. Beyer, Grand Senior Warden A Few Words on Grand Lecturers: A Valuable But Often Overlooked Masonic Resource The first question usually heard when Grand Lecturers are mentioned is this one: What do they do? I am glad you asked. Here is a brief list: 1. Maintain an Unlimited Card; 2. Teach Kansas Ritual; 3. Teach the Schools of Instruction; 4. Put on Proficiency Exams; 5. Teach Lodges to improve how they Open and Close; 6. And by order of the Grand Master, assist Lodges that need help. Grand Lecturers exist to help make Lodges better. This does not mean that they should be asked to drive for two hours to deliver ten minutes on Masonic education. But if, for instance, a Lodge wishes to work for forty-five minutes to an hour on the likes of Floor Movements for degree work, or Floor Work during the Opening and Closing in all Three Degrees, that would be quite acceptable. Grand Lecturers are most visible while putting on Schools of Instruction. Sometimes, Lodges can take simple steps to improve aspects of their own performance that amount to mini schools of instruction in their own right. Each Lodge, for instance, should have a copy of the Manual of Floor Movement. There is no reason that a Brother in any Lodge couldn t be assigned to study some part of that manual and be the instructor of his Brothers on a particular topic. But in more complex cases, or when such an approach simply isn t practical, a formal School of Instruction is warranted, and the good news is that they are getting better all the time. As this is being written, the members of the Ritual Committee, which is made up entirely of Grand Lecturers, are working on improving the Schools of Instruction. We hope to have this project completed later this fall, and those who attend the November 1st Leadership Academy may well get a sneak preview of what the new School of Instruction will look like, so please be there, if possible. But how can a Lodge get in touch with a Grand Lecturer when it needs his assistance? The answer is easy: go to the Grand Lodge website; let your mouse hover over Membership and click on Directory in the dropdown menu that appears; enter the password (which is available from Grand Lodge, if you do not know it) into the box on the page that you re taken to, and click Submit; finally, on the page you arrive at next, scroll down through the Grand Lodge Officers, and at the bottom, you will find a list of the Grand Lecturers and how to contact them. Please do so they are more than willing to assist you. There are many tools for learning and growth available at the Grand Lodge, but Lodges must decide to actually make use of them to be successful. No one can do this for them. Genuine interest, dedication to the Craft, and perseverance in a local community will help build up a smaller Lodge or make a bigger Lodge better. Please take advantage of all of the education programs available, including those offered by the Grand Lecturers. The quality of your meetings will shine as a result. 20 THE KANSAS MASON

21 GRAND LODGE By Lyn E. Byer, Grand Senior Warden Child Identification Program (CHIPs) Continues at Lodge Level I would like to address recent concerns about the CHIPS program. Sterling Hornbuckle, PGM began this program, and as in the past, each Grand Master selected his programs for his year. The next year those programs would vanish and the new Grand Master would introduce his programs. With the advent of the Vision 2020 concept and the current three lanes instead of four, the Grand Lodge programs no longer change each year. There is a mission statement and a single direction to make Masonry better in Kansas. Other than M.W. Hornbuckle s year, this has not been a Grand Lodge program. So nothing has changed except the Grand Lodge relationship with Chips International. We asked for clarification and have received no dialogue relating to our concerns. M.W. Hornbuckle continues to run his program and we congratulate his efforts. My Lodge has two chips computers and has events. I encourage all Lodges with computers to do the same. This works well in many communities just as parades, picnics, pancake breakfasts and other functions that your Lodge participates in with your community. These are not Grand Lodge programs either. So please carry-on and make your Lodge a visible statement in your community. FALL

22 FEATURE ARTICLE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff ALARMA ALARM There Is An MAt The Door A feeling of sheer panic soon gave way to relief for Ken Witzell when Kansas Grand Master Michael Halleran appeared at the door earlier this spring of Sunflower Lodge No. 86 in Wichita where Witzell has been Master since January....ONCE EVERYONE FIGURES OUT THAT THE GRAND MASTER JUST WANTS TO SIT IN LODGE WITH THEM, IT REALLY MAKES FOR A NICE NIGHT I hadn t heard of it (Grand Master s surprise visits) until he came, Witzell said. We were prepared for a visit from the District Deputy Grand Master. It was quite a shock. But we received him the best we could. In addition to the Sunflower Lodge, Grand Master Halleran made several surprise visits to the lodges in Ottawa, Olathe, Ulysses, Americus and Mayetta. He said his visits were for several reasons. It s a good way to take the Lodge s temperature, and make sure everything is going well there, he said. Just appearing at lodge without advance notice does kind of fluster the members. But once everyone figures out that the Grand Master just wants to sit in Lodge with them, it really makes for a nice night. Witzell said Grand Master Halleran was very gracious and provided some encouraging words to the Lodge members. He did a very nice job. I was relieved, Witzell said. But it definitely woke everybody up. For Kevin Reed, Master of Ottawa Lodge No. 18 since January and who said he is still learning the ropes of his position, Grand Master Halleran s unannounced visit caught him off guard. I knew something was up, Reed said. Right in the middle of the meeting, here he was. Similar to Witzell, Reed s moment of panic subsided quickly when Grand Master Halleran presented him with a Challenge Coin. He told me he was impressed with me being new that I got my wits about me as quickly as I did. What was ironic, Reed said, was that in the days leading up Grand Master Halleran s visit in early May, he had read online that the Grand Master would be making such unannounced visits in Lodges across the state. It didn t even enter my mind he would be in Ottawa, Reed said. But he shook my hand, said I was doing a good job and that he appreciated my help. We re all a work in progress. Just up the I-35 Kansas Turnpike from Ottawa, Grand Master Halleran and several members of the Kansas Masons leadership paid an unannounced visit to Olathe Lodge No. 19 this past spring as well. I hadn t known anyone to show up like this, Master Jim Burns said of the surprise. I was searching my mind back and forth. But we closed the lodge in ample form. Burns said all of the Grand officers had something to tell the members present and it ended up being a good experience. I was very glad to see them come. They were very kind and generous with their remarks, he said. I wish they could come more often. Grand Master Halleran said depending on his schedule and the Kansas weather, he hopes to continue to surprise Kansas Masons in the months to come. Don t be surprised if you see me roll in either alone, or with some of my officers to sit in Lodge with my brethren, he said. 22 THE KANSAS MASON

23 FEATURE ARTICLE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff Double Up And Make It Happen! Since 1856, Kansas Masons have come together to make a difference in their communities. Well-known for funding and supporting cancer programs and screenings, Kansas Masons have diligently given dollars and volunteer hours to numerous organizations in the state over the decades. This year, the Kansas Masonic Foundation pushed the concept of giving even further, creating the Matching Funds program that helps individual Lodges expand the scope of their charitable efforts. Kansas non-profit organizations are already benefiting from this program as Lodges immediately understood the significance when the program was announced at this year s Grand Lodge. We re taught as masons to be charitable, to be as charitable as we possibly can be without injuring ourselves, said Master Cole Presley, Justice Lodge No This Foundation program doubles the power that a lodge has, and doubles the power that a Mason has. None of us are wealthy millionaire or billionaires, but through our giving, you would think we were because through the Foundation we re able to double everything that we want to do. The Masons in Presley s lodge wanted to focus some of their recent giving on Kansas Concerns for Police Survivors (Kansas COPS), a group that supports family members whose loved ones were killed in the line of duty as law enforcement officers. When a death occurs, they come to the town and they have support systems that they utilize for the family, for the department, Presley explained, adding that they help in numerous ways. There are federal death benefits for law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty, but the paperwork is enormous. These are folks who have been there, done that, and they come in and help a chief or sheriff fill that out. They bring in mothers or wives who have been through this to help the mother or wife of a fallen officer. Presley said Kansas COPS isn t a group that everyone knows about, and often does its work quietly in the background. Being an affinity lodge for police officers, this is a perfect organization for us to support, he said. What Presley liked about the new Matching Funds program was how easy it was to incorporate into the Lodge s plans. To raise money for Kansas COPS, the Justice Lodge decided to do a hand-gun shoot as a fundraiser, along with taking donations at Lodge meetings. We filled the form out to the Masonic Foundation, told them who we re supporting and why, and they matched it, Presley said. You don t find another organization that makes it that easy. The ease of giving and doubling that contribution through Matching Funds also appealed to Greg King, Master of Great Bend Masonic NONE OF US ARE WEALTHY MILLIONAIRE OR BILLIONAIRES, BUT THROUGH OUR GIVING, YOU WOULD THINK WE WERE BECAUSE THROUGH THE FOUNDATION WE RE ABLE TO DOUBLE EVERYTHING continued on page 24 FALL

24 FEATURE ARTICLE Double Up and Make It Happen! continued from page 23 Lodge No. 15, when his brothers decided to give to the Kans for Kids Fighting Cancer Foundation in Hoisington. I heard about the Matching Funds program, and we d been tossing around the idea of doing something to help somebody out in the community, King said. We wanted to get more involved and let people in the community know our Lodge was active. News that Kans for Kids had some money stolen was all it took to jumpstart the Lodge into raising funds for the organization and also using the Matching Funds program for the first time. We wanted to do something to see if we could help them out, King said. Masons at the Great Bend Lodge put a funnel cake machine they own to good use, setting it up at a store that was having a big sale in town that would draw a lot of people. Kans for Kids loaned a banner so it would be clear where the money would go, and Masons offered their time and energy to make the fundraising a success. We thought with a matching funds deal, that would be a great opportunity and it would help out both us and the kids with cancer, King said. Kansas for Kids was born through the efforts of two young children who wanted to do something for their cousin who was battling cancer. Launched in 1996, it started as a Barton County program that collected cans to benefit children fighting cancer and their families, and since then has recycled cans, run fundraisers and collected donations of over $500,000. While the primary goal of King s Lodge was to help children through Kans for Kids, King said it was also an opportunity to let the community know that the Lodge is active and cares about Great Bend. A lot of times, communities don t know what the Masons are doing or if they do anything at all, he said. Those within the Masons know how important giving to charitable causes is to the organization. And they have quickly seen the potential of the Matching Funds program to make their generosity even more meaningful. You take the heart of one Mason, and then multiply it 20,000 times and then double that through the Foundation, and there s not anything we can t get done if we put our minds to it, Presley said. 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 THE KANSAS MASON

25 FEATURE ARTICLE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff Fulfilling Our Obligation At Work And Doing Good Nowhere are the guiding principles of the Masons more important or far-reaching than in taking care of each other. Through the Fulfilling Our Obligation program at the Kansas Masonic Foundation, Masons are encouraged to turn their charitable focus usually aimed toward their communities to each other during the challenging times most people face in their lives. We re going back to our roots and we re taking care of our members, said Master Branden Corbett, Millbrook Lodge No I cannot express enough gratitude for the money and the brother was overwhelmed when we presented it to him. Corbett said one of their Lodge members was struggling to deal with medical bills for both himself and his wife, something that anyone could face in their lives. In fact, that s one of the things Corbett finds comforting about Fulfilling Our Obligation. It makes you feel better to know that if you ever have a problem, someone will be there to help you, he said. Knowing, hey, I m doing this for a brother and all my brothers around me are excited about this. I know if I ever come to this situation or if my family does, they ll be just as excited to help me. Senior Warden Joe Johnson Jr., of the Old Mission Lodge No. 153, said his Lodge was able to rally around a member who had unforeseen struggles that left him overwhelmed and stressed. Not only did the Fulfilling Our Obligation program and Lodge members help the member out financially, but they were able to help him find a place to live. He s moved, and we re very confident, and so is he now, that he ll find gainful employment again, Johnson said. He doesn t have to stress about having a roof over his head. We took a whole layer of stress off of him. Being able to do that for a brother in need was energizing for Lodge members, who truly recognize that they could find themselves in the same type of situation, he added. We often give to the Kansas Masonic Foundation, but this is just great because I m going to give even more now that we help our own, and that s going to motivate folks in our Lodge to give even more because this continued on page 30 FALL

26 FROM THE ARCHIVES By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff Repaying a Loan From Our Children: Why Improving Our Future Means Saving Our Past As this article is being written, the M W Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas has applied for historical preservation status and asked that it be listed on the National Register of Historical Places. This is a key first step in preserving our Masonic History in Kansas. But why is such preservation important? Placido Arango puts it well in few words in Transmitting the Legacy, one of many fine essays by important figures in the international museum world whose work appears in Selma Holo and Mari-Tere Alvarez s Beyond the Turnstile: Making the Case for Museums and Sustainable Values. Arango is talking about Spain s Prado museum, but his point applies equally well to the impressive Masonic collection in question here: The Prado is not only an inheritance we have received from our forebears; we should think of it as a loan we have received from our children. The Masonic books and other valuables on display in the Grand Lodge need to be seen as an irreplaceable treasure we have borrowed from future generations a treasure that we need to return to the people who will live after us in the best condition that we possibly can, just as we would return things we have borrowed from those we care about most of all. This article, which makes the case that serious action should be taken soon to give the evidence of our proud Masonic legacy, which is currently housed in the Grand Lodge, the kind of extra care it so richly deserves before it s too late, should ideally be read in combination with Robert Shively s enlightening From the Archives article in the Summer issue of The Kansas Mason. That article features striking photographs of many pieces of antique Masonic jewelry that are currently on display in the Grand Lodge. While it is possible simply to imagine such items, such pictures are the next best thing to actually paying a visit to the collection itself, at least when it comes to beginning to understand what all would start to be lost if, for some unfortunate reason, we fail to act in time. Those pictures are worth a thousand words, as the saying goes, but there is something even betcontinued on page THE KANSAS MASON

27 DR. MARTIN LUTHER BIBLE, printed in Luneberg Germany by Johann Stern in It was presented to the Grand Lodge of Kansas on October 2, 1926, by F.C. Beindorf of Pasco Lodge No. 173 in Pasco, Washington, having been brought to this country in 1882 by his father from Borgitz, near Magdeburg Province Sachsen, Germany. PHYSICA SACRA OR THE KUPFER-BIBEL, Its creator, Johannes Jacob Scheuchzer, had its volumes printed sequentially between 1731 and 1735 in Augsburg, Germany, a famous German publishing center of the time. M W Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Kansas has applied for historical preservation status and asked that it be listed on the National Register of Historical Places. FALL

28 FROM THE ARCHIVE Repaying A Loan From Our Children continued from page 27 ter namely, seeing the items in question with your own eyes. There is simply no substitute for experiencing these impressive items first hand, especially since, where the Grand Lodge collection is concerned, much more than jewelry alone is in need of a more suitable environment in which to be preserved and showcased. Leaving aside the myriad of books and other items now on display there, I now want to shine a spotlight on only one more kind of item that appears in those historic holdings in multiple forms: two very rare editions of the Holy Bible. The older of the two is a Dr. Martin Luther Bible, printed in Luneberg Germany by Johann Stern in It was presented to the Grand Lodge of Kansas on October 2, 1926, by F.C. Beindorf of Pasco Lodge No. 173 in Pasco, Washington, having been brought to this country in 1882 by his father from Borgitz, near Magdeburg Province Sachsen, Germany. This very special Bible had always been handed down from one generation to the next in the Beindorf family. It was presented to F.C. by his father, and he, in turn, gave it to the Grand Lodge. The second Bible in question, which is divided into four large folio-sized volumes, is not quite as old, but according to an article that ran in the September 9th 1962 issue of the Wichita Eagle and Beacon Magazine, the headline of which proclaims the work in question to be a Biblical Treasure, it may well be the most valuable item in the entire Grand Lodge Library. Written completely in German, it is called the Physica Sacra or the Kupfer- Bibel. Its creator, Johannes Jacob Scheuchzer, had its volumes printed sequentially between 1731 and 1735 in Augsburg, Germany, a famous German publishing center of the time. Scheuchzer is now heralded as the founder of paleobotany and European paleontology, as well as being a professor of mathematics at the Carolinum, professor of physics at the Academy, and the Director of Zurich s Museum of Natural History. He believed that the Old Testament was a factual account of the history of the world, so he embarked on this major publishing project to explain Biblical events in terms of physics, medicine, and natural history, in hopes of proving God s existence through science. To this end, he included both the Old and New Testaments in these books, augmented with extensive scientific explanatory notes and hundreds of full-page copper engravings, each with an architectural border design, riddled with details relevant to the chapter in question; the lively illustrations, each of which depicts the action described in one or more Bible verses, represent, among other things, virtually every type of animal the Bible mentions, as well as many of the plants and trees that are referenced in its pages, not to mention many of the fossil remains known to early 18th-century science. The set was donated to the Grand Lodge collection in 1918 by Doctor Charles Hedinger, a colorful figure who was made a Mason in Canton Lodge # 197 in 1903 and enjoyed a medical career that spanned nearly half a century in the horse-and-buggy days of Kansas. Though in great shape for its age, this amazing work, along with its ostensibly lesser companions in the collection, cry out for the kind of display lighting not to mention the kind of climate control and other preservative measures that only a state-of-of the art facility can provide. Only by actually seeing what the Grand Lodge stands to gradually lose if it waits too long to act can you get a glimmer of what those precious remnants, both material and literary, would look like in backdrops better suited to their merit. The striking illustrations from the Bible above, for instance, could be carefully reproduced and displayed all around the lovely but fragile books themselves. Please make no mistake: these books and other objects have always received the very best care that the existing facilities can offer it s just that they so clearly need and deserve even better, since they are currently fading away at a rate that the technology exists to slow. That the present setting is less than ideal for the treasure trove of Masonic artifacts that it contains is nobody s fault, and the Grand Lodge itself is, no doubt, a magnificent building. But this article hopes to raise awareness of the immediate need to develop a preservation plan to ensure that the rich remnants of the Kansas Masonic past that it contains will always be around to play an important part in our future. As alluded to above, the first step is already underway. The Grand Lodge has formally requested that its impressive headquarters be placed on the National Register of Historical Places, and that wise action will, all by itself, help Kansans begin to recognize the larger importance of our striking building and its amazing contents, located just across the street from our majestic state capitol. And in conjunction with the pursuit of that important designation, The Kansas Masonic Foundation, in cooperation with the Grand Lodge, has also undertaken a much-needed study to assess what is needed continued on page THE KANSAS MASON

29 MEMBER INTERVIEW By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff Jerrod Nelson Jerrod Nelson has been married to his wife, Jessica, for ten years. Together they have a five year old daughter who keeps them both on their toes. He was born and raised in western Iowa and currently resides in Louisburg, Kansas, where he hopes to spend the rest of his life because this community is unbelievable. Jerrod is employed by a dozen independent Anheuser Busch distributors in the state to manage their craft beer divisions for all of Kansas and would welcome the chance to visit some lodges on his travels. His family is the cornerstone of his life, though he also enjoys his friendships, cars, and live music. He is active in the First Christian Church in Louisburg, besides playing a part in a variety of other activities that support area schools and his community as a whole. 1. How did you find out about Freemasonry? I had heard of Freemasonry most of my life, but I never knew a Mason growing up to ask him any questions. And that stayed true until my family moved to Louisburg four years ago, when by complete accident, I met Brother Mike Johnson (although I didn t know about his Masonic ties at the time). He did some work on my house, and we became friends pretty quickly. He mentioned Freemasonry a few times, but like some of us, it took me a while to ask any real questions. He invited me to an open house that Peace Lodge No. 243 was hosting, just to see if Freemasonry might be right for me and to answer any questions that I might have. Everything just felt right at the open house I should have asked about Masonry years ago! 2. What do your friends think about your involvement? I work with a handful of guys whom I had considered close friends for years, without ever knowing any of them was a Mason. A few weeks back, we were talking about life, and I brought up Freemasonry. This quickly led to two of them revealing themselves to be Master Masons and two of them turning out to be Fellow Crafts. Instantly our relationships changed. Although from four different Lodges and four different cities, two of them attended my Third Degree, and all three of us were at the other man s Third Degree. It is hard to explain the true meaning of Brotherhood, until you become a Freemason. 3. Why is Freemasonry important to you? Freemasonry is important to me for a few different reasons. Life is easy, if you put zero effort into it. To truly become a better person, you must work at it every day. The foundation and the working tools of Freemasonry give men a way to do just that, by challenging them to think about how they should live their lives. The education truly seems endless, and I feel I have a lifetime of learning ahead of me, which is a good feeling. 4. Why is Freemasonry important to your community? I am very proud of the community my family calls home. We may be small, but we are all very close. Many leaders of this community are Masons and seeing how involved our Lodge is within the community is simply amazing. No matter where I go, there is always a Mason there lending a helping hand to help make Louisburg a better place. It inspires me to keep doing more, to keep getting to know the people that I meet a little better, and to keep reaching out my hand to help those in need. 5. How has Freemasonry inspired you or made you a better person? Freemasonry has helped inspire me to become a better husband, father and friend. I look at things differently and know that every day is a new day to keep working to become a better person. The moral standards and life values learned as a Freemason are an important addition to the kind of fulfilling life that I strive to live. 6. What do you look forward to most when you attend Lodge meetings? I am honored to be part of Peace Lodge No We are fortunate to have two Past Grand Masters among us, who always take the time to teach and listen, not just to me, but to everyone else too. One of the things I am proudest of is the high level of degree work within our Lodge. When I think back on the process of earning my degrees and even more powerfully, when I watch how our Lodge opens and closes it is humbling to watch everyone aim for perfection. That s an honor that I hope to play a part in one day. The thing I love the most about meetings is being around so many friends whom I can call my Brothers and looking forward to getting to know them all better in the many years ahead. continued on page 30 FALL

30 FEATURE ARTICLE Fulfilling Our Obligation continued from page 25 could happen to anyone, Johnson said. It s actually living our creed. I believe that members who have been touched and helped by this will give even more. The phrase living our creed is a perfect summary for the intent of the Grand Lodge and the Kansas Masonic Foundation through the Fulfilling Our Obligation program. The program is designed to help not just members, but the families of members who may need help. THIS GIVES US A CHANCE TO LEVERAGE OUR GOOD WORKS THROUGH FUNDING WITHIN OUR LODGE, BUT ALSO WHEN WE GIVE, IT LETS US GIVE GREATER WITHOUT HURTING OURSELVES TOO MUCH, Just from the nature of being a member, we pride ourselves in work, Johnson said. Work for the family; work for the community. Work in the Lodge. Fulfilling Our Obligation is not something that we will use frivolously or carelessly. We put a lot of thought into what we did before we even asked the Foundation. Through that hard work and faith, Johnson said, action occurred. Peace Lodge No. 243 in Louisburg put the same thought and consideration into a request to help a brother whose home burned down, destroying all his possessions, said Master Larry Bond. When the event happened, the Lodge donated money and items to help him and scheduled a fundraiser. But when Bond attended the Grand Lodge, he learned about Fulfilling Our Obligation and realized the program was beautifully designed to help in this exact situation. It was a great help to him, Bond said. I think this program helps our members really realize what their true obligation is and to live up to it. When we find some person in need, even though they may not be a member of our lodge, then we step forward. We do other work with scholarships, and we support the band camp and anything that comes along when people need help. We do what we re capable of. This Foundation match really increased what we were capable of providing for a member, he said. Johnson said his Lodge was so inspired by the Foundation s program that they started a fund to help people in need. This gives us a chance to leverage our good works through funding within our Lodge, but also when we give, it lets us give greater without hurting ourselves too much, he said. Corbett said the program s success was almost immediate, simply by seeing how much members were willing to give at the auction held during Grand Lodge. It can only go up from here, the way I look at it, he said. You re giving directly back to your brothers in Kansas. Corbett, who has been a Mason for about five years, said the feelings of brotherhood in the Lodge have been an amazing experience in his life. You ll get as much out of it as you put into it, he said. I ve put in as much as I possibly can, and it s paid dividends more than I could ever have thought. FROM THE ARCHIVES continued from page 28 to properly preserve and display our books, archives, and other historic belongings that are housed there. Many jurisdictions, like Missouri and Iowa, have long ago researched and launched such initiatives, and as a direct result, each now boasts a Museum and Library combination that appropriately showcases their state s Masonic history, not only to the Craft, but to the public at large. Something similar should definitely be done with the Library and Museum items now contained in the Grand Lodge of Kansas. As Ralph Waldo Emerson memorably put it, The days are made on a loom whereof the warp and the woof are past and future time. In this colorful but now archaic language, he makes an important point about our time on earth that only the intermingling of things past and things future can create the kind of present that all of us want. Right now, the Masons of Kansas have the power to decide if a collection made up of some of the best surviving offshoots and most well-preserved treasures of the Craft still in existence live on to help future generations create the kinds of lives for themselves that all of us want to have lives they will surely deserve just as much as we do. And our long and illustrious Masonic past provides confidence that we will make the right decision and make it in time. MEMBER INTERVIEW continued from page What do you see as the future of Freemasonry? I think The Grand Lodge is striving to provide us further education and better alignment, which I think is wonderful and will help the Craft as time goes by. We live in a quickchanging world, and we need more well-developed leaders to become a stronger part of our Masonic future. If we believe in our past, present, and future, then there is truly very little that we cannot do. 30 THE KANSAS MASON

31 AROUND THE WORLD by Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff Midwest Conference On Masonic Education Offers Valuable Guidance In early April, Grand Lodge of Kansas representatives, R.W. Daren L. Kellerman, DGM, R.W. Dale Marrow, R.W. Tony Borum, and Kansas Masonic Foundation Executive Director, Robert A. Shively, attended the 65th Anniversary of the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education, held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This conference was also attended by Grand Lodge representatives from Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Missouri. Its purpose was to highlight the annual Masonic educational activities offered by the Grand Lodges represented, as well as to present best practices in educating Brothers. The conference featured some outstanding speakers, including Mark A. Tabbert, Director of Collections at the George Washington Masonic Memorial, S. Brent Morris, an American author who writes on Freemasonry, and Andrew E. Hammer, author of Observing the Craft: The Pursuit of Excellence in Masonic Labour and Observance, just to name a few. This was an excellent opportunity for Kansas to see what other jurisdictions are doing in providing Masonic education to the Craft, said Deputy Grand Master Kellerman. It is very apparent that the Grand Lodge of Kansas is leading the way with its educational initiatives, but there is always more we can learn and do. In addition to benefitting from all of the educational forums, the Kansas delegation also had the opportunity to get a behind the scenes look at the Iowa Masonic Library and Museums. The Iowa Masonic Library continues to be regarded as one of the best places in the world to do Masonic research. And the Masonic Museum there houses wonderful displays of Masonic art, regalia, and equipment from around the world. As we begin to discuss how we can best bring the improvement of the Kansas Grand Lodge Library and Museum to fruition, comparing our emerging goals to an established facility with the elevated standards and consistent high quality of a place like the Iowa Masonic Museum, as well as to similarly exemplary institutions in other states, provides us with an inspiring vision of where we can go, Kellerman said. Deputy Grand Master Kellerman has been elected the Second Vice-President for this prestigious organization. Kansas will be the site of the 68th Midwest Conference on Masonic Education in Fulfilling Our Obligation Program Financial Assistance for a distressed Kansas Master Mason, his Wife, Widow, or Mother; or a Masonic Orphan. FRIENDSHIP MORALITY BROTHERLY LOVE FALL

32 MAKING A DIFFERENCE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff member of the Wichita Lodge No. 99, contributing to the Freemason Endowment Fund is like making a life-changing deposit. You always want to try to help a Mason if you can, he said. It s kind of like a savings account. Brotherton said he s been fortunate so far not to need help from his fellow Masons and feels strongly about being able to help Masons The Freemason Endowment Fund HELPS FULFILL SACRED PROMISE The reasons Bill McDaniel has for donating to the newly-established Freemason Endowment Fund are personal. McDaniel, 57, a five-year member of Desoto Lodge No. 40, was diagnosed with liver cancer in February 2012 and a little more than a year later, he underwent a liver transplant and chemotherapy. The medical care he received was at The University of Kansas Medical Center s Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute. I saw first-hand how they treated me, he said of the cancer center s staff. The things they do at that building are incredible and what the Masons do is incredible, too. McDaniel said ironically, it wasn t until after he visited the Kansas Masons wing of the KU Cancer Center that he was diagnosed with liver cancer. Before his diagnosis, he said he felt strongly about the work done at the cancer center and the Masons involvement. Now, having been a cancer patient, he wants to help other Masons who are dealing with the same issues he once did. KU Med Center saved my life. As a Mason I benefited from the participation from all the Masons who have donated to the KU Cancer Center, McDaniel said. One day they (Masons) may be on the receiving end like I was. In addition to being able to contribute to cancer research, McDaniel said he appreciates being able to donate to the Kansas Masonic Foundation s Freemason Endowment Fund and designate where his gifts will help whether it s other Masons or their family members. I m very passionate about the Foundation and being able to donate to multiple causes, he said. I want to donate more. The Freemasons Endowment Fund was created in 2013 with an initial investment of $600,000 as a Trust Gift from Edward and Bernice Seidel. The Grand Lodge added an additional $160,000. The endowed fund has a current balance of almost $1.0 million with proceeds from the endowment helping Kansas Master Masons, as well as Masonic wives, mothers, widows, and orphans, in their times of need. For Rickey Brotherton, 64, a five-year and their families in need while he can. It s just a good cause to take care of our own because they re good, honest people, he said. I m very blessed and I want to bless others. I want to help while I have the means to do it. I would hope they would do it for my family if we needed it. You should help everybody you can, while you can. Jack Hiner, 69, a member of the Parker Lodge No. 341 since 2011, said donating to the Freemason Endowment Fund is important to him because the fund can help Masons and their families for many different reasons. It s beneficial for Masons in Kansas and people in all walks of life, he said. I believe that it deserves my support. Hiner said he became particularly passionate about donating to the endowment after he heard Bob Shively, KMF s executive director, speak this past spring about the fund and how it benefits Kansas Masons and their family members. He gave a tremendous presentation, Hiner said of Shively. He s very diligent. He s inspiring and he ll get others to follow. The Freemason Endowment Fund is managed cooperatively by the Kansas Masonic Foundation and the Grand Lodge of Kansas, helping Masons live up to their sacred promise to help fellow Masons and their families in their time of need. 32 THE KANSAS MASON

33 MAKING A DIFFERENCE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff Why Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band Camp Just Keeps Marching On. As this is being written, the one-month-to-go mark in the countdown to the 2014 Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band Camp is rapidly approaching. By the time this story appears, this year s Band Camp will already be a pleasant memory for all concerned, but right now, the excitement is still building among registered student attendees from across the state. The remaining days before the launch of the fourth consecutive decade of band camps, held in various cities across the state, always in conjunction with the annual East-West Shrine Bowl, will fly by. And this year s camp to be held at Pittsburg State University, from July 22nd to 26th, under the skilled direction of Douglas Whitten promises to be yet another fun, educational, and memorable event for all who are lucky enough to be there. But what makes each year s Band Camp such a unique experience for all the students who attend? To understand that, there is no substitute for talking to the student band members themselves, so that s exactly what the The Kansas Mason Staff did, choosing one male and one female veteran of multiple years of band camp, one of whom has already begun her college years, to share a little about what makes time spent at Band Camp such a special thing. The first of the two Band Camp attendees interviewed here is Ms. Brittany Sellars, who is currently a sophomore at Pittsburg State University, majoring in Music Education. And the second is Mr. Takoda Eckert, who will be attending Kansas State University starting in August and majoring in Computer Engineering, with a minor in music; he is already an Entered Apprentice at Hugoton Lodge #406, and hopes to be a Master Mason by the time he attends this year s camp. All told, the responses that both students provided were so consistently positive and heartfelt that it was difficult to know what to leave out. But what follows are the high points of their responses to the same four questions, centering on what Band Camp meant (and still means) to them. When asked what the best thing about Band Camp is, Brittany called that a tough question, since there are so many great things about [it], but she ultimately lit upon the opportunity that Band Camp provides to perform with a big band. Like many who go to Band Camp, before she attended, she had only gotten to perform in bands of a significantly smaller size. The experience that I got from Kansas Masonic Band Camp is one that I will cherish forever. Getting to play with kids from all over, with each having something different to offer, is definitely the best thing about this Band Camp. In answer to the same question, Takoda called Band Camp the greatest experience of my life. He pointed to a number of reasons for this, ranging from all the fun the participants have, to the hard work they do together in the hot sun, both of which make band members form strong bonds with each other. And it s ultimately in the common bond they form to help Shriners Hospitals for Children patients that Takoda finds the best thing of all about Band Camp; as he puts it, Many people would never know continued on page 34 FALL

34 MAKING A DIFFERENCE Kansas Masonic All-State Marching Band continued from page 33 the capacity that a human heart can carry without seeing the actions that take place for the children we may not know, but care so dearly for. The next question asked that the two students recount the most memorable thing that had ever happened to them at Band Camp, either musically or otherwise. Brittany recounted that during her five years of attendance, she had formed relationships and made friendships that will last her a lifetime, as well as working with some of the best band directors in the state. You make amazing music and put on some great shows in only a matter of days. I still remember every one of my shows and the music that we played. But the memories she forged at Band Camp stretch far beyond those just mentioned: I would say that I remember it all so well because this Band Camp has had a huge impact on my life. Everything about this camp makes amazing memories for me. For Takoda, the most memorable thing that happened is when I realized that I wasn t as good as I thought I was. Being from a small town and always being the first chair made me think I was really good. But from day one at Band Camp, just listening to others warming up around you, it humbles you and throws you into your spot. But that didn t make him give up. Instead, he took inspiration from the impressive musical skill he saw and heard all around him, worked very hard, and the next year, when camp time rolled around, he was overjoyed to learn that [he] was definitely good enough to be a first part trumpet (which takes an insane amount of breath support and a little bit of insanity). In summary, he says, I have never had a time at Band Camp where I wasn t having the most fun I ve ever had.anytime I was with my newfound friends that I now call family and lifelong buddies was a wonderful time. Asked next what they might say to an imaginary student who was considering Band Camp but couldn t quite make up his or her mind to go, building on her first response above, Brittany said she would tell them that it is the best opportunity they will ever get to be a part of a big band. I know it s during the hottest part of the summer, and you re working nine hours a day, but at the end of the week, it is completely worth it to help be a part of this great organization that does so many things for kids. You put yourself aside for this one week for the kids. It is the best band camp you could ever go to. What Takoda would say to such an imagined fence-sitting band student starts with calling Band Camp the chance of a lifetime. I honestly would cry trying to tell them and find the words to describe all of the love and fun that comes from just a week with a bunch of the most caring and amazing people in this great state.the amount of meaning that this camp has in my heart and in the hearts of the others there would be hard to put into words...i would pray and pray each day that they would take that step towards the camp, because in my eyes, it is almost like a baptism. You are immersing yourself into a whole new environment and surrounding The experience that I got from Kansas Masonic Band Camp is one that I WILL CHERISH FOREVER. yourself with a new and great world, where you can grow to be a better person who makes a positive impact on many lives. Lastly, just to be sure that an aspect of Band Camp that mattered most to one of the students involved hadn t been missed, Brittany and Takoda were given the chance to say anything else about Band Camp that they might like to say. Takoda said this: I can honestly say I wouldn t be me without this Band camp. The amount of learning and experience you get from just being in this great environment will teach you more than any leadership camp, or maybe even any church camp, would. They may teach you through words at other camps, but at Band Camp, they drive you by action.i hope and pray that no one will ever be left out of an experience as great and powerful as this one is and that events as wonderful as this one will always take place to change the lives of others: FOR THE KIDS! Brittany s final response was similarly powerful. I just want to thank you guys for giving me the opportunity to be at this camp for five years. It was a great experience for me, and I know many other kids who loved the experience, as well. Keep doing great things for the kids and everything else you do...if you ever need help with a Band Camp in future, you now know how to get a hold of me. I would be more than willing to help any way I can. When they read those closing thoughts of Brittany s, which start with her sincere thank-you for making Band Camp possible, every Mason in Kansas and especially those in Lodges who have sponsored students over Band Camp s three decades (and counting) of existence deserves to say, You re welcome.

35 MAKING A DIFFERENCE By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff New KMF Scholarships Are Off to a Winning Start The first year of the newly revised and much more widely able Kansas Masonic Foundation Scholarships ( org/#scholarshipguidelines) got off to a wonderful start t this avail- year with an unexpectedly high number of great applications. ations. A total of 140 scholarships were given out, ranging from $500 to $5000, including numerous legacy scholarships. s. The latter can be used anywhere in the United States, while the other academic ones can be used at seven Kansas universities: Emporia State, Fort Hays State, Kansas State, Kansas, Pittsburg State, Washburn, and Wichita State. Those geared for technical schools and institutes can be used at seven such facilities in the state, located in Emporia (Flint Hills), Mans)hattan (Manhattan Area), Beloit (North Central Kansas), Goodland (Northwest Kansas), Salina (Salina Area), Topeka (Washburn), and Wichita (Wichita Area). The scholarship money awarded in this inaugural year will be used at 36 schools across the state and beyond, ranging from highly acclaimed technical schools to prestiwilgious universities. The money to fund the scholarships go out from the KMF to local Lodges, where area Masons from 78 Kansas Masonic Lodges will personally make the awards to the deserving students involved. We simply could not be more pleased with how well the first year of our new scholarship program has turned out, Mike Tavares said, adding, and the best news is that things will only get better from here. Trent Allen Frye 2314 Fairway Drive Belleville, KS Dear Mr. Shively, Kansas Masonic Foundation 2909 SW Maupin Lane Topeka, KS I would just like to thank you and the Kansas Masonic Foundation for so generously June 26, 2014 awarding me with this Legacy Scholarship. Truthfully, I will make good use of it towards my college expenses next year. This contribution to my college education is very momentous and honorable, and I will always be indebted to you and the Kansas Masons for your support. It was just last year that I became interested in becoming involved in Freemasonry myself. I discovered that my father was a respected member of the local lodge, and henceforth I began to wonder as to what the organization was and its purpose. After some lengthy investigation, 1 finally decided to join the local lodge if possible. As soon as I turned 18, I was recommended by a few other local Masons and I soon after petitioned for initiation. Amazingly, I was accepted and soon after began to start my degree work within the lodge. Recently in fact, I've just made my way through the final degree and am now a Master Mason. I never would have imagined being the youngest Mason in Republic County;even still in high school! But above everything, I would just like to thank you and the Kansas Masonic Foundation again for all of your support Your investment in me as an individual will be greatly worthwhile, I assure you. And as I continue to improve myself in Masonry, I will always remember what the fraternity has managed to give me. For now I have the essentials to better myself Brother Mason, and a citizen of this great nation. Thank you so much for your support, and everything that the KMF has managed to do for the Kansas community! With Sincere Thanks, Trent Allen Frye FALL

36 HOME WARMINGS By Matthew Bogner, CEO, Kansas Masonic Home Celebrating Our Accomplishments Along the Way As we celebrate the opening of our first long term care household, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the past and how far we have come in our effort to provide a true home to residents at Kansas Masonic Home. As some of you know, the Pavilion Healthcare Center has always been the heart and soul of the project. Six years ago, our planning process started specifically as a way to transform the institutional physical environment as well as the internal way care is provided. By partnering with national consultants, residents, staff members and family members our dreams quickly incorporated plans for the assisted living Towers and Manor as well. We also added a rapid recovery household for short term therapy residents. For me, the past six years seemed to move slowly at times as we secured financing, finished planning and prepared for construction to begin. It is somewhat surreal to think that by the end of the first quarter next year our campus-wide renovation will be complete! I would like to thank those of you who have helped to make this BOBBE BEYER MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT Directed by the Wednesday, September 10, 2014 Prairie Highlands Golf Course 6 TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT TO BENEFIT THE KU CANCER RESEARCH CENTER The 6th Annual Golf Classic is presented by Cigar and Tabac, Ltd. The name is being changed this year to the Bobbe Beyer Memorial Tournament. I lost my wife of 45 years to brain cancer in February All proceeds from this tournament, as it has in past years, will go to the K.U. Cancer Research Center. Bobbe was treated at K.U. Medical Center and had fantastic care and I thank the Doctors, Nurses and Staff for their support in her 8 month battle. Cancer can be beaten, but only with your help. Please join us. R W Lyn Beyer Grand Senior Warden of Masons in Kansas Owner, Cigar and Tabac, Ltd. RW Lyn Beyer and wife, Bobbe, have been supporters of the KMF for many years. To carry on this tradition, we need the assistance of every Mason and Friend. We must keep striving. We must keep caring or KMF dream a reality. Your financial support and moral support have been instrumental in achieving this vision. I also wrote a special letter of thanks to our staff members this week who have worked through the construction process. As you can imagine, it is difficult to work in a physical environment that is being dramatically transformed. Harder still has been the internal transformation of positions, duties, systems and decision making processes in an attempt to return resident choice, autonomy and self-determination. However, all of this hard work has improved the lives of countless individuals that will call KMH their home. I will leave you with a true story that occurred last week at KMH. I was on my way to check on residents and staff members in the new household and a family member caught me in the hall. He told me that his loved one always talks about visits back home to their house in the outside community. They go on these outings occasionally to enjoy the feel, scent and comfort of home but of course must always return back here in the end. However, upon moving into the new Victorian house the conversation abruptly changed... more quickly than I imagined it could. For the first time his loved one turned to him and said, Should we go to your home today or should we stay at my home? Between you and me, that is what we have been working for all of these years. It seems simple and it is simple but difficult to achieve. All of you who have supported our transformation have contributed to this new feeling of peace, security and sanctuary. You should be proud of yourselves in knowing that you have achieved something far greater than yourself. You should also know that each time a community like ours transforms it pushes others to transform as well. Hopefully some day, all communities serving seniors will become true home. FOR THE FIRST TIME HIS LOVED ONE TURNED TO HIM AND SAID, Should we go to your home today or should we stay at my home? 36 THE KANSAS MASON

37 LODGE OF RESEARCH By Kyle G. Ferlemann Diamonds in our Own Back Yard Your diamonds are not in far distant mountains or in yonder seas; they are in your own backyard, if you but dig for them. In the study of the tenets of Freemasonry, there is sometimes a habit of seeking great mysteries in places other than in the ritual of the Lodge. Many often look outside the Lodge when seeking those things which are best described in the Lodge. Books on secrets and historical mysteries are all well and good but merely interpret what the ritual was ingeniously designed to provide. Even if it is not all inclusive it is most assuredly a deep well that will keep any Mason occupied in contemplation and study for years if he puts his mind to it. Here is a challenge: Revisit your extended cypher and the furniture of your lodge; seek the great mysteries that are inculcated in the words we already know and discover just how much more there is to find. Even if our personal goals are not so lofty as to search for the great mysteries, we can all still benefit from the down to earth lessons provided in the Lodge. Two examples are offered here. One is for everyday use and the Brother Russell H. Conwell, Acres of Diamonds Temperance Fortitude Prudence Justice other is a guide to study. You may recall from the Entered Apprentice degree an introduction to four tenets; Temperance, Prudence, Justice and Fortitude. An examination provides one answer why are we introduced to these four figures in our first degree. Temperance is self-restraint in the face of temptation or desire. Temperance is the first step to possessing yourself; recognizing you can rise above the fray. The figure of Temperance is pouring hot water into cold water to balance the temperature of the two. In the simplest terms Temperance tell us to not let our hot emotions or our cold intellect get the better of us. Temperance tells us to wait. Prudence is having good sense in dealing with practical matters; thinking about consequences and effects. Prudence is the second step to possessing yourself; recognizing you have control over your actions. Here is the strength of reason and consideration. Prudence tells us to think. Justice is sound or good reason, fairness or reasonableness, especially in the way people are treated or decisions are made. Justice is the third step in possessing yourself; using the control of your thoughts, words and deeds in a wise and beneficial manner, Judgment tells us to judge wisely. Fortitude is mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously. Fortitude is the fourth step to possessing yourself; it is the ability to be your own man and act on your our wisdom regardless of the tribulations around you. This aspect of resiliency to conflict is very important and indicates that temperance, prudence and justice are not so easy to manage. Once justice defines your path you must have the fortitude to accept truth and dare to act upon your will. In life, once we have waited long enough to think and make proper judgments, then Fortitude tells us to act upon what we believe is right. Wait, think, judge and act. How often do we let hot emotion or cold intellect rule our actions? Intuition and reason are both important tools but neither aspect independently should drive our actions. A man who has subdued his passions can effectively balance these two extremes. This idea is revisited in the Fellow Craft Degree. In the Middle Chamber the candidate is introduced to the seven liberal arts as progressions in learning and in self-perception; to learn and perceive, contemplate and create, to judge what is true and right. These are not idle categories of recommend study. Each plays an important part in learning and understanding and their contribution helps guide us in learning. continued on page 44 FALL

38 BOOK REVIEW By Jim Tresner, Director of The Masonic Leadership Institute The Complete Idiot s Guide to Freemasonry WE MIGHT DISAGREE A BIT ABOUT PIKE S STYLE OF WRITING (I LOVE IT; I LOVE THE ABILITY TO LET PIKE S SONOROUS PROSE WASH OVER ME IN GREAT TIDAL WAVES OF FORCEFUL ELOQUENCE First of all, this is a fun book to read. I realize that is not always a recommendation often fun equates with shallow, flippant, or not serious. Not here. There is hard-edged research behind every word and every fact presented. All too often serious writing about Freemasonry resembles a combination of a medical pathologist s report and grimmer work of the Brothers Grimm. Not here. The style is easy to read, but informational. It is fact-oriented, but never loses sight of the truth that the story of Freemasonry is first and foremost a story about what it means to be human. I especially enjoy Chapter 13 (Oh, Brother Brent, what will the conspiracies people say about that number!) which introduces Part 4 of the book, dealing with Masonic urban myths and legends. Chapter 13 deals primarily with Albert Pike, and does so with a remarkable burst of sunlight and common sense. We might disagree a bit about Pike s style of writing (I love it; I love the ability to let Pike s sonorous prose wash over me in great tidal waves of forceful eloquence; and if it takes an extra thirty minutes to understand the meaning, so much richer the experience), but no one can deny that Pike has been attacked by men and women who are among the great unwashed. They claim he was a member of the KKK (there is no proof at all nothing). They say he wrote a letter claiming that Lucifer was the god of Masonry (a proven and confessed forgery, written after his death). Incidentally, the mythbusting is not limited to Pike, you will find much more. Chapter 16 is first rate on religious concerns and Freemasonry. Ill. Dr. Morris sets out the principal charges that various writers have leveled at the Fraternity, cites the documents in which the charges appear, and addresses them with clarity and reason. The book is worth owning for that chapter alone, if you find it necessary to explain Freemasonry to someone who raises religious objections. I ve mentioned those two chapters specifically, but the book has much more. For one thing, it is well illustrated. For another, there are sidebars of various types throughout the book which give additional information of different sorts. One type, headed Hits and Myths, gives short factual statements that address Masonic mythology or give side comments on history. Definitions of terms are also boxed, making them easy to find but not interrupting the flow of the reading if you already know the term. Yet a third box type is titled The Square Deal. These give more information about the topic under discussion. For example: Masonic Degrees are initiatory steps and short allegorical plays which teach ethical and moral lessons. An initiatory step usually leads the candidate into self-reflection and contemplation of universal principles. When an allegorical play is presented, its plot usually builds upon the legends of the Blue Lodge, sometimes introducing new legends. An initiatory step and an allegorical play can be combined in one degree. A Masonic rite is a collection of degrees that coherently expand on the Blue Lodge legends, while teaching a cohesive set of ethical and moral lessons. Topics covered by the book include: continued on page THE KANSAS MASON

39 OUT AND ABOUT Hugoton Lodge No. 406 Hugoton Lodge Celebrated Its Centennial Anniversary Saturday March 8, 2014 looked to be a BIG Day in Hugoton as Hugoton Lodge No. 406 celebrated its Centennial year in Hugoton. The Gala event brought Grand Lodge of Kansas dignitaries from all over Kansas. The Grand Master of Kansas Masons, Rick Reichert & his wife Janet and many of his Grand Lodge officers descend on Hugoton to help celebrate the Centennial of Hugoton s Masonic Lodge No The day began for local & Grand Lodge officers Opening The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Kansas at 11:30am at the Lodge Hall at 112 West 6th Street where they received instructions as to how the rest of the day was to unfold. The group & their families & honored guest dined at Stevens County Memorial Hall at noon with entertainment provided by the Hugoton High School vocal Music Department. At approximately 1:00 the Public was invited to enter Memorial Hall for presentation of Service award honors, Widows recognition, Past Masters recognition and any other business that might need to be covered. The Grand Lodge then formed Grand Procession to Rededicate the Lodge for use in the Hugoton community. Brothers of the Lodge to receive service honors are 70 years: Charles Harper and Kenneth Keith (posthumously); 65 years: Charlie Thompson; 60 years: Hugh Holt; 50 Years: Joe R. Lee and 25 years: Robert Bentz and David Eckert. The Lodge boasts 28 widows to recognize as well as all the Past Masters of the Lodge. Olathe Lodge No. 19, By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff and Steven Hildreth Lodges Make Terrific Use of New KMF Matching Funds All across the state, lodges are finding innovative new ways to take advantage of the new KMF Charities Matching Funds Program. But because some Lodges haven t gotten involved yet, this article will focus on some ideas that one Lodge has come up with that may well inspire similarly solid ideas in other Kansas Lodges. Steven Hildreth recently gave a presentation to Olathe Lodge No. 19 on the slate of activities that Lodge s Community Outreach Committee has planned, many of which are excellent examples of just the kinds of things that other Lodges might consider, when it comes to creating initiatives that fit in well with the intent of the KMF s new matching funds initiative. The overriding purpose of all of the charitable Lodge activities that follow is to improve the community opinion and perception of Olathe Lodge, which is surely just the kind of goal that any Lodge anywhere in Kansas can appreciate the wisdom of pursuing in its own community. And to that end, the Olathe Lodge committee in question has discovered some excellent opportunities for , including those that follow. The Lodge members plan to partner with the Olathe Fire Department to install smoke alarms and/or to offer a free CPR course, to be held in the Lodge building; this Halloween, they will hold a fun Trunk or Treat event in the Lodge parking lot (this is where a number of cars are parked close together, each with a different set of Halloween-themed decorations in the trunk, and children walk from trunk to trunk to see the continued on page 40 FALL

40 OUT AND ABOUT continued from page 39 decorations and be given candy and treats in a controlled environment that s safe for trickor-treaters of all ages); they will help organize a blood drive; and they will also sponsor an Olathe Youth Baseball League. Though all of these ideas are very good ones, the important thing to take away from these examples is not, of course, that they are somehow magic and that other Lodges should only consider doing the same things (though if Lodges decide to do one or more things similar to those listed above, that is certainly fine). It is more a matter of letting your imagination be fired by these ideas, and if they ultimately inspire your Lodge to do something else, instead, that looks like it will work even better for your Lodge and your community, that s every bit as good. As long as what you wind up doing has a clear charitable component, your Lodge can qualify for up to $1000 in matching funds from the KMF, letting it do twice the local good for only half the money. Why not launch a new charitable initiative right now? Emporia Lodge No. 12 A Top Supporter of the Kansas Masonic Foundation On May 5th of this year, the Emporia Lodge presented a check to the Kansas Masonic Foundation for more than $2,000. The donation was the direct result of a very successful Trivia Night that the Lodge had hosted back on April 5, This was the third annual Trivia Night held by the Lodge, with all the proceeds earmarked for the KU Cancer Research Initiative. The check was accepted by Robert A. Shively, CAE, Executive Director of the Kansas Masonic Foundation. Emporia Lodge No. 12 has donated more than $23,500 to the Foundation over the years, for use in a variety of charitable endeavors. This impressive giving total represents the second highest such total ever donated by any Lodge in Kansas. In addition, as it also does for other lodges in the state that have requested it to do so, the Kansas Masonic Foundation provides for the management, administration and oversight of the Emporia Lodge s Annual Scholarship Awards. The Lodge set-up an endowment with the Foundation years ago, which now ensures that the Lodge can provide scholarship awards to deserving students, in perpetuity. Kansas Masonic Foundation President, Michael J. Tavares, summed it up well: The type of consistently generous philanthropic support demonstrated by the Brothers in the Emporia Lodge is a model for all the Lodges in Kansas. Five Lodges Find a Speedy New Way to Fund Fortitude Lodge No. 107, By Jerry Allison An anonymous Brother s bucket list has inspired two winning fundraisers in a row for five Southeast Kansas lodges: Cedar Lodge No. 103, Fortitude Lodge No. 107, Harmony Lodge No. 394, Virginia Lodge No. 315, and Thayer Lodge No The Brother in question, who has chosen for now to remain unnamed, had created a bucket list of things he d always wanted to be a part of, all of which were purpose-driven and involved large numbers of people. So in 2010, he turned to his Masonic family for the resourceful manpower to start making that list real, which led first to a very popular Combine Demo Derby event, which ran for four years, and now to School Bus Races, the first of which will take place on August 23rd of this year at the speedway in Humboldt, Kansas. Busses have been donated to Altoona- Midway, Chanute High, and Royster Middle, as well as to schools in Erie, Fredonia, Humboldt, Independence, Moran, Thayer, and Yates. Each school will paint its bus in its school colors, and when they are paraded one-by one by the stands, the bus that s cheered for the loudest will win $1000 for its school. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 13, and kids under 6 will get in free. Spectator gates will open at 4 pm, and the races will start at 7 pm. with a grand parade of busses. Each bus will have a unique theme or name. Prize money put up by sponsors will be awarded to the winners of both the various heats and the feature races. Since there will be concessions for sale at the race, no coolers will be allowed in, but commemorative T-shirts will be available for sale. If you ve ever seen a school bus race, you know how much fun it can be. And if you haven t, please don t miss this chance! 40 THE KANSAS MASON

41 CANCERSCREENING CLINIC HELPING SAVE LIVES ONE SCREEN AT A TIME Kansas Masonic Foundation and Midwest Cancer Alliance partner to host cancer screenings across the state By Kansas Masonic Foundation Staff UPCOMING CANCER SCREENINGS 8/23 Lafayette Lodge No. 16 (Manhattan) 8/30 Vulcan Lodge No. 229 (Walnut) 9/6 Neosho Lodge No. 27 (Leroy) 9/13 Pittsburg Lodge No /20 Marmaton Lodge No. 245 (Moran) 9/27 Goodland Lodge No /4 Peace Lodge No. 243 (Louisburg) 10/11 Girard Lodge No. 93 Each year, the Kansas Masonic Foundation and the Midwest Cancer Alliance partner to host free cancer screening events at locations around the state. Ron Elrod and his fellow Masons, along with a team of seven medical professionals from the University of Kansas Medical Center, volunteered at a cancer screening event March 8 in Gardner where more than 50 people were screened. One of those screened was Elrod himself. Though he regularly visits his doctor, the screening highlighted a spot that he needed to have reviewed by a specialist. The doctor at the screening saw a spot on my back and told me to get it looked at, Elrod said. She told me that the center of it did not look like it should. I went to my doctor the next Thursday and mentioned it to him. He took a look, and scheduled me to have it taken off. Within two weeks of the screening, Elrod had had the spot removed and was told that it was definitively pre-melanoma cancer. An additional appointment was needed to remove the complete cancerous area, Elrod said, and he was relieved to have participated in the screening. I couldn t believe it (when the spot was found), he said. (The screening) is a wonderful, wonderful thing. I was very lucky to have it found so early. Cancer touches nearly every family in some way; there s no way around it. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, more than two million Americans are diagnosed with some form of skin cancer each year and one in five Americans will develop skin cancer over the course of their lives. What we Masons try to do is stay involved in the community and help out many worthwhile organizations, said Elrod, a 72-year-old retired mill wright and native of the Gardner area. I heard about the cancer screenings and decided that I would tell them about it and help start the ball rolling in Gardner. Though in the end the screening identi- *Lodges that had applied to the Kansas Masonic Foundation and have successfully completed hosting their Outreach Program Cancer Screening for this year. fied his own skin cancer, Elrod, a Mason since 1977, heard about the free cancer screenings organized through the Midwest Cancer Alliance two years ago and knew he had to get his local Masonic Lodge involved. Elrod had personally been affected by cancer several times before. Four years ago, he accompanied his sister, Sharon, to all of her tests and treatments after she was diagnosed with Stage 4 throat cancer. Sharon s husband lost his life to cancer shortly before she was diagnosed. The earlier you get diagnosed, the better, Elrod said. Just don t put it off for any reason. To find out about the Kansas Masonic Foundation s free cancer screening events, call the Midwest Cancer Alliance at or the Kansas Masonic Foundation at FALL

42 OUT AND ABOUT By John G. Crary, PM, Hancock Lodge No. 311 If Within the Length of My Cable Tow In early Masonry, the Cable Tow was apparently seen as a restraint used to help safeguard the Lodge from a non-agreeable candidate. Just what is a cable tow, and how long is it? How is it used in Freemasonry? Is the Cable Tow a restraint, a connection, or perhaps a measure of distance? The answer to all three parts of that last question is yes.. Merriam-Webster defines cable this way: a strong rope, especially of 10 inches (25 centimeters) or more in circumference; and tow is defined like this: to pull with a rope or chain. The word tow therefore suggests pulling or drawing something along. By combining the definitions of the two, we can deduce the meaning of a Cable Tow, as used in early Masonry: a large rope, which was used to draw or shepherd a candidate along. Mackey s Encyclopedia of Freemasonry points out that the Cable Tow was and still is used as a restraint. Every Entered Apprentice is given detailed instructions as to why it is used in the First Degree. The use of the Cable Tow in other degrees, however, leads intuitively to a more philosophical conclusion about its symbolism and its transition to being much more than a mere restraint. The explanation of its symbolism in the Second and Third degrees clearly illustrates this point. The Cable Tow has been used to demonstrate loyalty, submission, and servitude for many centuries. In early Roman times, Josephus tells us that citizens appeared before their monarchs with a rope around their neck to indicate their loyalty to him. The Bible tells us that somewhere near 865 BC, Ben-Hadad took the towns of Ijon, Dan, Abel-beth-maachah, and all Chinneroth, with all the land of Naphtali (1 Kings 15:20). King Ahab of Israel retaliated and defeated Ben- Hadad. King Ben-Hadad s officials said to him, Look, we have heard that the Kings of Israel are merciful. Let us go to the King of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life. The Bible goes on to teach that as a result, King Ahab did, indeed, create a treaty with King Ben-Hadad and set him free. Roughly fourteen hundred years later, King Edward III of England conducted a siege against the port city of Calais in France in Almost a full year into the campaign, the king made a demand of the city elders: Give me six of your burghers [leading or powerful men of the community], and I will spare the city. Rodin s sculpture The Burghers of Calais illustrates that scene and depicts each man wearing black sackcloth and a rope halter. And about five centuries after that, Jacob Grimm (4 January September 1863) was quoted by Robert Freke Gould in his work, History of Freemasonry Throughout the World, to make this related point: A cord about the neck was used symbolically in criminal courts to denote that the accused submitted his life to the judgment of the court. When used upon the person of a freeman, it signified a slight degree of subjeccontinued on page THE KANSAS MASON

43 SEEDS OF OUR FUTURE By Jamie M. Anderson Director of State Activities & Marketing Kansas Rainbow For Girls The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls is the only youth club that teaches what matters most leadership, confidence, and citizenship. The International Order of the Rainbow for Girls (Rainbow) is a service-oriented organization for teenage girls. Like our counterparts, DeMolay and Job s Daughters, the focus of our order is to produce quality leaders for tomorrow. Rainbow was founded in 1922 by the Rev. W. Mark Sexson, who was raised as a Master Mason and became active in the Scottish Rite, Royal Arch Masons, Knights Templar, Shrine, Eastern Star, and White Shrine of Jerusalem. He served as Worthy Grand Patron of Oklahoma in 1925 and Grand Master of Oklahoma in He not only founded our order, he also wrote our beautiful ritual degrees. He was truly a special man. Rainbow is open to all girls aged 11-20, regardless of religious preference. Those eligible for membership can be the daughter or granddaughter of a member of the Masonic Fraternity, the Order of the Eastern Star, the Order of the Amaranth, or the order of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. She can also be the daughter or granddaughter of a Majority Rainbow Member, or the friend of a Rainbow Girl. Masonic affiliation is not required. Rainbow recommends and helps promote among many other positive things belief in a Supreme Being, veneration of the great truths in the Holy Bible, a conception of the higher things in life, the development of dignity and character, and regular church attendance. In addition, it fosters leadership, patriotism, cooperation with WE ALSO ALWAYS FEATURE A FUN ACTIVITY, SUCH AS THE WINTER JAM CHRISTIAN CONCERT, OR A TRIP TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH FOR A HAYRACK RIDE AND A TRIP THROUGH THE CORN MAZE. others, love of home, and dedicated service to humanity. When elected as Worthy Advisor, a Rainbow Girl is responsible for planning and carrying out meetings, as well as select activities, and projects, under the supervision of quality adult leadership. The girls memorize the different lectures and ceremonies of our ritual and perform the degrees at meetings, initiations, and installations. They also have the opportunity to serve as Grand Officers and to perform the different degrees at the state level. We have several state functions each year. Grand Installation begins our year, followed by Rainbow Retreat, which is always held at a church camp. It is a fun and informative, but still casual, training weekend. Mini-Grand is held in the spring and is an opportunity for the Grand Officers to perform their work. Memory competitions are held, and the girls spend all year perfecting their competition parts. We also always feature a fun activity, such as the Winter Jam Christian Concert, or a trip to the pumpkin patch for a hayrack ride and a trip through the corn maze. The highlight of the year occurs in July, when we all meet for our Grand Assembly Session in Wichita. We work continually to be sure that everyone has a great time and a wonderful learning experience. Throughout the year, girls travel from assembly to assembly attending meetings, activities, and installations, while also making new friends. We have active assemblies in the Wichita/ Haysville and Topeka/Lawrence areas. The girls spend a great deal of time doing service for others. Whether it is service performed individually on a daily basis, or as part of their assembly in their home community, or as part of a state-wide function, this is something that the girls do without thought of reward. To them it is second nature. They will quite often tell you that the habit of selfless service is the most important lesson that we teach. The ritual is written with the beautiful colors of the Rainbow in mind. Red Love, Orange Religion, Yellow Nature, Green Immortality, Blue Fidelity, Indigo Patriotism, and Violet Service. Other important lessons include Faith, Hope, and, of course, Charity. We are always looking for new members, active adults, and loving supporters. If you would like to play a part in Rainbow, please contact us at We would welcome you with open arms. SPRING

44 LODGE OF RESEARCH continued from page 37 Grammar The rules that facilitate Communication in Writing, Music and Mathematics. Grammar represents Coherent Knowledge and the building blocks of the learning process. Logic Clearness of mind and soundness of thought process, Logic governs correct though and reliable inference that allow the Observational Power to perceive nature. Rhetoric The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. To form a thought is a quantum leap within the mind of man, to effectively articulate that thought is another quantum leap, and to communicate the original thought in the form of the written word, and leaving these symbols behind for another to find and comprehend is the greatest leap of all. Each of these leaps requires Contemplation and introspection. Arithmetic The properties and manipulation of numbers; manipulation being the operative term, this represents the Creative Power of the mind. Music An art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony, and color. The power to create music requires both sound Judgment and Intention. Geometry A branch of mathematics that deals with the measurement, properties, and relationships of points, lines, angles, surfaces, and solids. In Geometry we find physical proof of Grace and the ability to predict the movement of our physical world provides us with the Power of Vision and comprehension of our world. Astronomy The branch of science that deals with celestial objects, space, and the physical universe as a whole. In astrology we find an Understanding of our place in the universe, and through reason and empathy we can come closer to comprehending the enormity and duration of creation. Dr. (Brother) Carl Sagan said it best in his book Contact. In all our searching, the only thing we ve found that makes the emptiness bearable, is each other For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love. This is the Power of Love. These are not mere sciences to turn the mental cogs of cold intellect but levels of understanding, a comprehension of the world and our place within ourselves and our world. An important point should be inserted here. Although we are told that geometry is the most beloved of the seven arts, each art should be taken in turn and given due diligence in order to take part in that progression. When we hear that Masonry is a progressive art it does not mean we should seek change solely for the purpose of progression but rather that in our studies we progress in our understanding and that with study we come to understand more of the art of Masonry. The four virtues of Masonry and the path of the seven liberal arts are just two examples of the strength and wisdom that can be found specifically in the rituals of our own Grand Lodge of Kansas. As Masons we should endeavor to make ourselves familiar with the wisdom of our own rituals and lectures, valuable diamonds waiting for discovery in our own back yard. About the author. Brother Kyle G. Ferlemann is perpetual life member of Golden Rule #90, Topeka. He is a 32 year veteran of civil-military operations within the National Guard working with local, state, and federal agencies in both domestic and international emergency planning and operational support. He is an accomplished Soldier, teacher, and author as well as an avid student of life and light. His latest book, Bridge Builder s Guide: A study companion for the degrees of the Southern Jurisdiction of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry is available on Amazon. Kansas Lodge of Research. This is the first in a series of articles to be published about the individual exploration of the journey inside Blue Lodge Masonry. BOOK REVIEW continued from page 38 What is Freemasonry?; Birth of the Masonic fraternity; Beginnings of American Freemasonry; Modern American Masonry; African American Freemasonry; Eastern Star and other organizations for women; Scottish and York Rites; Other organizations including youth groups; Masonic symbolism; Masonic regalia; and, of course, Mythbusting. It is a good book for the general reading public as well as the Masonic public. It also has a special advantage in that the research and documentation, while they never get in the way, are here in full. If a person is writing a term paper on the fraternity, here is where he should start. For student, researcher, or casual reader, the appendices are a treasure trove. Appendix A is a good glossary. Appendix B has an excellent list of good Masonic books, a very useful list of web sites, and contact information for various Masonic philanthropies. Appendix C contains two Masonic rituals, one typical of the Symbolic Lodge and one typical of the rites. Not only can non-masons get the flavor and nature of a degree from the material, but Masons can explore earlier forms of the structure that is so familiar to us. Appendix D has a listing of famous Freemasons. This is simply a first-rate book. 44 THE KANSAS MASON

45 OUT AND ABOUT continued from page 42 tion or servitude. The intent here is not to argue whether or not having ropes around their heads is really the same as a Masonic Cable Tow of today. But it is fair to suggest that from a point very early on in human history, we can see that wearing ropes was a submissive act, which can be seen as a forerunner of our Masonic Cable Tow. Indeed, the Masonic symbolism of the cable tow today is vast, and I believe that along with The Spheres, it illustrates the universality of Masonry. In the early 1930s, Carl Claudy takes the idea of the Cable Tow to very interesting heights. In his book, An Introduction to Freemasonry, Claudy writes, the Cable Tow is symbolic of the life cord, by which the embryo receives life from the mother. It is the symbolic cord by which the Masonic infant is attached to his Mother Lodge. As soon as the infant is born, the physical cord is severed, but never the knife was ground which cut the spiritual cord which ties a man to his mother. I would submit Brother Claudy provides us with a rich symbolic insight here that begs serious contemplation and discussion. It is apparent the Cable Tow is many things, with many meanings. In our own work, we learned that the forests of Lebanon gave up its bounty, which was conveyed on floats. Cable tows were no doubt used to bind the logs, so they would float together. Once arrived in Joppa, the logs were secured to the shore with cable tows, which perhaps gives us the phrase a cable s length from shore. In nautical terms, a cable tow is 600 feet. Published in 1762, Jachin and Boaz: Or, An Authentic Key to the Door of Free-Masonry, Both Ancient and Modern tells us a cable tow was seen as a distance of 3 miles. In early Masonry, the Cable Tow was apparently seen as a restraint used to help safeguard the Lodge from a non-agreeable candidate. But also very early in Masonry, the Cable Tow takes on the metaphoric meaning of connection. A Mason is born into the Lodge and is irrevocably tied to it, with no chance of that tie ever being severed. Even if he stumbles and falls out of grace with the fraternity and perhaps is even expelled from Masonry his obligations to the fraternity remain binding. I might add that the body of Masonry has obligations back to the Brother. The Cable Tow has two ends with equal responsibility to each other. The Lodge is the brother, and the brother is the Lodge. What is the length of my Cable Tow? It has no length, because it is as long as I will it to be. It is as secure as my principles allow it to be. It is as strong as my character is. My Cable Tow is as deep as my convictions. It is as wide as my ability to understand. My Cable Tow is my tie to the fraternity, my willingness to serve, my desire to help my fellow man. My Cable Tow is a constant reminder that brotherly love, relief, and truth is what marks my consequences among my brothers; it punctuates the sincerity of my intentions, the purity of my heart and, in due time, it is the Masonic legacy I will leave behind when I am gone. EVENT CALENDAR August 2 Area 9 Meeting Liberal August 2 Kansas Masonic Foundation Statewide Seminar Wichita August 9 Grand Master's C2A Class Wichita August 16 Area 10 Meeting Hoxie August 16 Kansas Masonic Foundation Statewide Seminar Pittsburg August 23 Area 3 Meeting Emporia August 23 Kansas Masonic Foundation Statewide Seminar Hiawatha August 30 KLOR Masonic Legends Lunch & Lecture Topeka August 30 Kansas Masonic Foundation Statewide Seminar Garden City Sept. 6 Statewide Masonic Education Day 6 locations Sept. 6 Oak Tree Degree Little River Sept. 13 St. Francis Lodge No. 404, 100 year re-dedication Sept. 13 Kansas Masonic Foundation Statewide Seminar Colby Sept. 19 Kansas Masonic Foundation Trustees Meeting Emporia Sept. 27 Silverdale Quarry Lodge Arkansas City Oct. 25 Emporia Lodge No. 12, 150 year re-dedication Nov. 1 Leadership Academy Topeka For more detailed and up-to-date information, please check the Grand Lodge website calendar at KansasMason.org The Kansas Mason is now on Flickr. Upload and share your Kansas Mason photos at SPRING

46 ASKED AND ANSWERED By Nolan Sump, Salina Lodge No. 60; Cawker City Lodge No. 125 & Oketo Lodge #25 QUESTION: In reference to King Solomon s temple, 1 Kings 6:7 states, When the house was built, it was with stone prepared at the quarry, so that neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron was heard in the house while it was being built. However, in the allegory of H.A., he was buried in the rubbish of the temple. How can it be that the building was constructed without tools, and yet there happened to be rubbish lying about? What exactly was this rubbish? Glenn Kohr, PGM ANSWER: Your question is one that has truly perplexed many a Masonic scholar over the years and is worth answering to the best of my ability. In consulting the Holy Bible, I reviewed I Kings Chapters 6 and 7, to discover that it was built of more than just stone. The Cedars of Lebanon were used to create the ceiling and walls, the floor was made from cypress, and the doors were constructed of olivewood. The building itself was 60 cubits long, 20 cubits tall, and 30 cubits in width. Since a cubit is 18 inches, this translates to 90 x 30 x 45, when measured in feet. Taking a modern-day look into the construction of King Solomon s Temple, I will attempt to offer my theory on what caused the rubbish. First, an extended discussion of rubbish in the context of the construction of such an eminent and celebrated building would have distracted from its central message, which helps explain why the Bible is silent on the matter, except for the very brief reference this question highlights; we want to know about the inlaid gold on the walls of the temple and the beautiful cherubim, not the pile of refuse in the corner. Next, because the craftsmen were responsible for laying the stone, lifting a stone of formidable size would entail more than just the backs of humans; basic physics would have come into play, as a block and tackle and a pulley system would have enabled the men to lift and position the finished stones in their destined locations. Since the formidable task of building the Temple took seven years, the construction crew would inevitably have run into some snags along the way. For example, seven years takes its toll on the finest of cedar, especially when it s being used as a pulley and lever, and the same goes for the rope. Both would have broken at some point and been discarded in a location out of the way of the work being accomplished. It may also be that apprentices, when quarrying stone and taking it to the Temple, may have sometimes created an ill-fitting, imperfect stone for the builder s use. Such stones would likely likewise have been discarded into the rubbish pile. Pieces of stone not to mention the previously discussed broken pieces of cedar and rope may not have been the only items in the pile, either. When fitting beams into place, it helps to use some sort of tool to cut and fit the beam, whether it be done by tongue-and-groove, or some other means. This would have led to shavings falling on the floor. Get enough of these on the ground, and they will need to be swept into a pile, only to be added, in all likelihood, to the same pile of wood, rope, and stone that is discussed above. When looking at the larger picture, Dr. Jim Tresner, of the Grand Lodge of Oklahoma, points out the symbolism behind the rubbish. Remembering that the Temple always symbolizes the individual Mason, he asserts, the rubbish would represent those things in life that are not needed or are undesirable those vices and superfluities mentioned in an earlier Degree. In other words, the rubbish of the Temple represents the parts of our lives that make us impure and are cast aside in our personal quest for fulfillment. The Masonic allegory of H.A. is meant to teach our members about how three men who have lost their way commit acts of vengeance and discord, due to their selfish desires; but more importantly, it also teaches us how we must always continue to build ourselves up, through faith, hope and charity, as seen in the rest of the story. QUESTION: I took my Obligation as a Master Mason last fall, and as part of it, I was told that as a Mason, I am not to associate with a libertine. What exactly is a libertine, and why must I avoid this kind of person? Donald Wooddell, Hiawatha Lodge No. 5 ANSWER: Thank you for asking this important question. Ten years ago when I took my obligation as a Master Mason, I too wondered what this term represented. On its surface and merely from a dictionary reference, a libertine is defined as one who acts without moral restraint, a dissolute person, or one who defies established religious precepts; a free thinker. In more pointed terms, it refers to individuals who feel they have the freedom to live their lives on their own terms, without the need to show gratitude or self-restraint when it comes to their interactions with their government, loved ones, or organized religion. This term also refers to those who commit brazen acts of lewd or licentious behavior. Libertinism, as a term, originated in16th 46 THE KANSAS MASON

47 century Switzerland, when John Calvin refused to serve communion to a group of men he named the Libertines, due to their practice of adultery and promiscuity with the numerous mistresses they possessed. Calvin s insistence on the enforcement of church discipline raised the ire of the Libertines, but despite an attempt to regain control of the Geneva Town Council in 1555, they were unable to succeed. The philosophy of Libertinism continued to be practiced throughout the next several centuries in France and Great Britain and took on two distinct but related meanings. The first meaning was promiscuity a term which definitely applied to such men as Casanova and the Marquis de Sade, whose lives embodied this form of reckless misbehavior. Their outspoken endorsement of freewheeling sexuality and other pleasures of the flesh was in direct opposition to religious thought, both then and now. The second meaning of Libertinism refers to an irreligious libertine; this particular type of individual was a free-thinker, who in matters of faith, denied the essential doctrines of religion. When applied in the context of Freemasonry, the meaning of the term Libertine is closer to the second definition, which is probably why it follows the word atheist in the Master Mason s Obligation. Such issues were important enough in the 19th century that the word was included in most monitors, so it should still be taken seriously today. As Masons, its meaning implores us to follow our shared moral compass even more closely and avoid interaction with anyone who might seek to lead us astray. Remembering that we first become Masons within our hearts, our responsibility is to be moral and upright before the world, while always remaining mindful of the Grand Architect who designed this universe in which we live. To be a libertine today is to resist accountability and to deny the opportunity to humble oneself before a Supreme Being. Associating with such individuals will crumble the moral foundation upon which both we and our elevated and beloved Brotherhood must always stand. QUESTION: When receiving the grip and reciting its name in the First Degree, have Masons always started out with the third letter, or have there been times in the past when the first letter has been uttered? Sincerely, George Read, Great Bend Lodge No. 15 ANSWER: While one starts out the spelling of the name in Kansas Lodges with the third letter, how the Entered Apprentice grip and word are communicated vary in the Grand Lodge of each state. In some places, such as Massachusetts, it is spelled directly. QUESTION: I was asked recently why a brother going through a one day class does not have to give back his Second Degree Obligation, but a brother going through Degree Work in a Lodge is required to do so. In Great Bend Lodge No.15, we require that the brother know the Due Guard, Sign, Word, Grip, Obligation and Working Tools before moving on. What does Grand Lodge require a brother to know before moving to the next degree? George Read, Great Bend Lodge No. 15 ANSWER: In answering your question, it is important to observe the Constitution and Bylaws of Grand Lodge. Article X, Section 6, reads, Before any candidate is advanced to the Second or Third Degree, he must exhibit suitable proficiency in the preceding Degree, and on demand of any member of the Lodge, the ballot must be taken in the same manner as on the petition. Therefore, the term suitable proficiency is the key to determining whether a student is ready to move on. This term is left to the Lodges and/or examining committee to interpret and utilize with their own discretion. In the Bylaws, under Article II, 4-206, it states, This proficiency will be the memory work, as contained in the Candidate s Handbook, and will include the First and Second- Degree proficiency. The Third Degree proficiency examination should be completed but shall be at the option of the candidate. The Masonic Education Committee will report the score of the Lodge Proficiency Support Program before the Lodge vote is taken. In 4-206A, a mentor or coach is appointed to assist the brother in learning the Work. However, not every brother is endowed with the memory capacity to achieve letterperfect proficiency. This is where a level of suitable proficiency is left to the judgment of the Lodge or examining committee to determine what will pass for them. If your method of determining proficiency at Great Bend #15 works for you and the candidate is pleased, then that standard is considered suitable for your expectations on proficiency. However, should your Lodge or any other Lodge across the state desire to better educate their newly admitted Brothers, there is a program that can assist with such endeavors. The Lodge Proficiency Support Program includes the three tests that are associated with the small handbooks, On the Threshold, The Entered Apprentice, The Fellowcraft, The Master Mason, From the West and to the East, and 100 Questions, plus the Candidate s Handbook. About Nolan Sump: Nolan Sump is a gifted facilitator for Hiawatha USD 415 and lives in Blue Rapids with his wife Monica. Ten years ago, Nolan was raised as a Master Mason in Salina Lodge #60. Since then, he has served as Worshipful Master of Cawker City #125 and is now the Master of Oketo #25. He is the current District Deputy Grand Master of District #21. In addition, Nolan serves on the Grand Lodge Public Schools Committee. FALL

48 Go to kmfonline.org click on Auction and click on more For information please contact The Auction is being conducted by the Kansas Masonic Foundation as a benefit fundraiser for Kansas Masonic Lodges. Bidding will begin August 15 and conclude at 5:00 PM, CST on September 15, The Kansas Masonic Foundation will provide the administration for the Auction. Lodges are responsible for delivery or pickup of Auction items. 1 Masonic Knife Manmade, 7" stainless steel, Masonic Insert Square and Compass - with Custom Molded Leather. Handmade Sheath. The Handle is Corian. Goodland Lodge #321, AF&AM 5 Vintage Trunk A trunk that is quite old and in fair condition. It is a vintage piece that would look great in almost any home décor. Easton Lodge #45, AF&AM 10 Masonic Knife and Sheath Beckwith Player Piano Gorgeous, Authentic Player Piano. Features rolls that consist of Gospel Music and Polka to name a few. Parker Lodge #341, AF&AM 3 AF&AM Kansas Art Piece A unique carved and etched, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Kansas, emblem art piece. Carbondale Lodge #70, AF&AM 4 AF&AM Kansas Art Piece A unique carved and etched, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Kansas, emblem art piece. Carbondale Lodge #70, AF&AM 48 THE KANSAS MASON 6 Cable Brand Piano Nice Cable Brand Piano. This piano is in good working order. Easton Lodge #45, AF&AM 7 Theatre Seats Three sets of 4 chairs each, theatre sets. In great condition. These seats can serve a multitude of functions. Easton Lodge #45, AF&AM 8 Compass, Knife/Utensil and Flashlight Set In great condition. Great to use on camping trips! Nickerson Lodge #43, AF&AM 9 Nice Piano This piano has been used by Eastern Star and is in very nice condition. Nickerson Lodge #43, AF&AM A beautiful ATS-34 Stainless Steel Knife, Hollow Ground with Desert Ironwood Handle & 8-9 oz. hand stitched sheath. It has a Masonic logo on it and was hand made by Brother Marvin L. Seaman. St. Francis Lodge #404, AF&AM 11 Three Quality Wooden Gavels These three Wooden Gavels are made from Oak and Walnut and have a handsome polished finish. Vulcan Lodge #229, AF&AM 12 Hunting Knife and Sheath 12 Handsome Surgical Steel Blade Hunting Knife, with Brass Bolster, Green Color Bone Handle. Includes a nice Leather Sheath. Vulcan Lodge #229, AF&AM 13 United States Flag Belt Buckle A Red, White and Blue American Flag Belt Buckle. This Belt Buckle would be a great item to wear on the 4th of July. Vulcan Lodge #229, AF&AM

49 14 Limestone Block A Limestone Block - engraved with a Masonic emblem. Ellsworth Lodge #146, AF&AM 15 A Dillions Gift Card Dillions Gift Card purchase can be up to $50. Ellsworth Lodge #146, AF&AM 16 Apple Peeler Durable Apple Peeler, built to last. Vulcan Lodge #229, AF&AM 17 Float Trip Weekend This will consist of a inner tube float trip for four persons on the Elkhorn River near Omaha, Nebraska plus one nights campsite at a campground along the river. Topeka Lodge #17, AF&AM 18 Three Day/Three Night White Tail Deer hunt or goose/duck hunt Hunt in the Flint Hills. Three nights lodging provided at the Bluestem Motel in Eureka, KS and dinner for two evenings at local restaurants. Peace Lodge #243, AF&AM 19 Shaker Table Suitable for bedside, chair side table, etc. Top 16 by 19 1/2 tall. Oak, finished with shellac and wax. Hays Lodge #195, AF&AM 20 Kenmore Microwave Oven Works very well. 23wx15HxMD. May be counter or cabinet mounted. Lenexa Lodge #135, AF&AM 21 Ammunition Package 1805 rounds of 22 Long Rifle, Rim Fire Cartridges. 300 rounds of 380 Auto, Full Metal Jackets. 100 rounds of.45 Auto, 230 GR. FMJ. Parker Lodge #341, AF&AM Antique Sewing Machine Features a cabinet style sewing machine, New Home Brand Model AHC; 29wx32Hx17D. Includes accessories. A rare one. Lenexa Lodge #135, AF&AM 23 Pontoon Boat Fishing Trip for Four A fishing trip for a 4 hour excursion with a Tour Guide. Picnic Dinner and Beverages (non alcoholic) included at the conclusion of the fishing trip. Peace Lodge #243, AF&AM 24 Diamond Back DB 380 Semi Automatic.380 Pistol Hot Pink Polymer Frame with Nikel Boron Coated Slide. Fixed 3-Dot Sights. Barrel Length: 2.8, Overall Length: Weighs only 8.8 ounces! One 6-Rd Magazine Double Action only for safety. Derby Lodge #365, AF&AM 25 Set of Four Masonic Knives Super collection! W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. Includes Leather Pouch, Tip Can. Made in the U.S.A. Derby Lodge #365, AF&AM 26 Shooting Accessories for 45 Caliber Hoppe s Bore Snake - Pistol Cleaner, Worlds Fastest Gun Bore Cleaner, cleans in 10 seconds. Derby Lodge #365, AF&AM 27 Structure of Masonry Picture An unusual rending of Structure of Masonry. Albert Pike Lodge #303, AF&AM 28 Photo of Lafayette Opening the Lodge Unusual Picture of Lafayette Opening the Lodge, rare, and appears to be quite old. Albert Pike Lodge #303, AF&AM 29 Photo with George Washington Photo with George Washington closing the Lodge. Albert Pike Lodge #303, AF&AM 30 N-Scale Model Trains and Buildings This would be a perfect starter set or could make a valuable addition to an existing collection. Olathe Lodge #19, AF&AM 31 Murphy s Law Poster and Chevy Wheel Clock The poster is a funny reminder of how things that always seem to go wrong despite our best efforts. Olathe Lodge #19, AF&AM 32 Men s Golf Clubs with Bag Set of golf clubs with golf bag. These great golf clubs includes all drivers, a wedge and a putter. Golf bag with stand included! Olathe Lodge #19, AF&AM 33 Humidor Engraved Masonic Humidor. This is a handsome piece that you would love to own. Hancock Lodge #311, AF&AM 34 Flask and Shot Glasses with Case Engraved with the Masonic Logo, this is a nice piece to have in your bar in the den. Handsomely displayed. Hancock Lodge #311, AF&AM 35 Combo Pack For the People Hancock Lodge Hat, 125th Anniversary Coffee Mug, Commemorative Coin with Certificate of Authenticity, Autographed Book; The Constitution for the United States of America. Hancock Lodge #311, AF&AM 36 Guided Tour with Mayor of Burlington Downtown Tour This package is a guided tour by Mayor Gene Merry of Carnegie Art Gallery (over 300 pieces of art) Burlington Masonic Lodge Tour. Burlington Lodge #66, AF&AM 37 Guided Fishing Tour of Coffey County Lake Tour conducted with George Hicks (Catfish Czar). View Kansas s only nuclear generating plant - Wolfcreek Operating Corporation from the Lake. Includes meals for two at a local restaurant and fishing. Burlington Lodge #66, AF&AM 38 Baikal IJ-70 (Makarov) Pistol Made by a large Russian Arms and ammunition manufacturing plant founded in 1942 (Ishevsky Mechanichesky Zavod). Topeka Lodge #17, AF&AM 39 Masonic Paperweight A beautiful Masonic paperweight that displays the Square-and-compass + G. Blue clear tint. Pittsburg Lodge #187, AF&AM FALL

50 Go to kmfonline.org click on Auction and click on more For information please contact Masonic Clock Masonic Wall Clock with Masonic emblem inside the clock. Color fill is blue. Pittsburg Lodge #187, AF&AM 41 Masonic Bible A great way to begin the journey, this Masonic Bible features a Masonic Emblem on the front and side of the Bible. Pittsburg Lodge #187, AF&AM 42 Masonic Belt Buckle Masonic Belt Buckle features a coin on the front with a Masonic emblem. Attractive Belt Buckle features unique design. Golden Rule Lodge #90, AF&AM 43 Masonic Belt Buckle Masonic Past Masters Belt Buckle with fabulous blue background on belt buckle with gold colored Masonic emblem. Emporia Lodge #12, AF&AM 44 Masonic Belt Buckle Brass Masonic Belt Buckle with Masonic emblem. A nice oval shaped vintage Belt Buckle. Emporia Lodge #12, AF&AM 45 Masonic Belt Buckle Brass Masonic Belt Buckle includes emblem with working tools. The Belt Buckle is inscribed on the back. Emporia Lodge #12, AF&AM 46 Vintage Brass Pocket Change Dish Features the Masonic emblem inscribed at the top of the dish with "POCKET CHANGE". Orient Lodge #51, AF&AM 47 Masonic Presidents of the United States Booklet Begins with George Washington and ends with Harry Truman. This vintage booklet includes the history of each President and their Masonic Relation. Golden Rule Lodge #90, AF&AM 48 Masonic Wooden Star Wood carved vintage star features the Masonic emblem and working tools. In great shape. Golden Rule Lodge #90, AF&AM 49 Masonic Stained Glass Vintage Masonic Stained Glass that measures 13 inches high and 13 inches tall. Gorgeous colors with Masonic emblem in the center. Orient Lodge #51, AF&AM 50 Masonic Stained Glass Vintage Masonic Stained Glass that measures 13 inches high and 13 inches tall. Gorgeous colors with Masonic emblem in the center. Orient Lodge #51, AF&AM 51 Table Lodge Glasses for the Ceremony of Seven Toasts Beautiful cobalt blue glasses with one glass inscribed with the Masonic Emblem. Set of five. Lenexa Lodge #135, AF&AM 52 Dinner for 2 At Gilead Lodge Package Hunters unlimited Barbeque and $50 worth of Raffle Tickets. Gilead Lodge #144, AF&AM 53 2 Person Pheasant Hunt 10 Bird Pheasant Hunt unguided at Lone Pine Shooting Reserve at Yates Center KS. Gilead Lodge #144, AF&AM 54 2 Person Pheasant Hunt 2 Bird 10 Bird Pheasant Hunt unguided at Lone Pine Lodge Shooting Reserve at Yates Center, KS. Gilead Lodge #144, AF&AM 55 New Craftsman 10 Radial Arm Saw Will get the job done with accuracy and adaptation in one. Spring Hill Lodge #56, AF&AM 56 Craftsman Router with Table and Bits Like new Router. Great condition! Router comes with Table and Bits. Spring Hill Lodge #56, AF&AM 57 Set of Fantastic Books Nine Books written by Carl Otto, a Mason of 67 years. Many stories contain true events about his life. Neosho Lodge #27, AF&AM 58 Set of Fantastic Books Nine Books written by Carl Otto, a Mason of 67 years. Many stories contain true events about his life. Neosho Lodge #27, AF&AM 59 Walnut Shelves Solid Native American Walnut. 45 side, 22 high, 7 & 1/2 deep. Antique Doors (5) and 2 Shelves. Neosho Lodge #27, AF&AM 60 Bushell Neo-XS-Golf GPS Rangefinder White Rangefinder watch is the next generation of distance made simple. Delivers more benefits with a button. Utilize the shot tracking and score keeping with this watch in your golf game. Osage Valley #24, AF&AM 61 Bushell Neo-XS-Golf GPS Rangefinder White Rangefinder watch is the next generation of distance made simple. Delivers more benefits with a button. Utilize the shot tracking and score keeping with this watch in your golf game. Osage Valley #24, AF&AM 62 Bushell Neo-XS-Golf GPS Rangefinder Gray Rangefinder watch is the next generation of distance made simple. Delivers more benefits with a button. Utilize the shot tracking and score keeping with this watch in your golf game. Osage Valley #24, AF&AM

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52 capitol federal is proud to say thank you kansas masonic foundation for your service to our community now and into the future. Capitol Federal is a proud supporter of the Kansas Masonic Foundation and its philanthropic mission. Thank you for your charitable, educational and scientific gifts, including grants in cancer research CAPFED CAPFED.COM