Greetings from the East!
March in Nebraska is such an interesting month, we never know if it is going to be winter or spring. Fortunately, this year has provided us with predominantly spring weather and has given me the chance to visit several lodges and appendant bodies. Even as Grand Master, I continue to learn much about Masonry. For example, this last week I attended a Daughter of the Nile installation and learned much about them. They were founded in Seattle in 1913 and provide support to the Shriners Hospitals for Children. You should be commended for your own interest in furthering your knowledge. I would challenge each of you to learn something weekly about Masonry. Whether it is about the Grand Lodge, your own lodge or an appendant body, there is so much history and so much to learn.

Fraternally,

Alex Straatmann Grand Master

Views and Observations on Freemasonry

Brother Thomas W. Jackson
R.W. Past Grand Secretary of Pennsylvania
Executive Secretary, World Conferences of Masonic Grand Lodges

M.W.P.G.M. Robert Coleman presided over the 143rd Annual Communications of the Grand Lodge of A.F. & A.M. of Montana, June 25 – 17, 2009, Glasgow, MT. The following presentation was given by the Guest Speaker, Right Worshipful Brother Thomas W. Jackson, the Past Grand Secretary of Pennsylvania and Executive Secretary of World Conferences of Masonic Grand Lodges.

The Grand Master asked me If I would be willing to attend this Grand lodge Communication and speak to you concerning my views and observations on Freemasonry and it is a great privilege to do so. I do want to clarify before I begin, however, of my perceived position and purpose in our craft.

I have been introduced over the years in a number of categories, including; as a Masonic scholar, author, orator, and historian. I was even Introduced to the President of Portugal as a noted Masonic philosopher. I thought about this Introduction for a long time wondering why anyone would refer to me as a philosopher. Then I began to comprehend that a philosopher was one who had developed opinions and I certainly have been known over the years for my opinions. So perhaps, I am as close to being a Masonic philosopher as any of the other categories.

On one occasion when visiting a New Jersey Lodge to speak, a brother greeted me by stating that he realized that I was controversial but that I was welcome In New Jersey and my brothers; I have no problem with being controversial. I realize that I have probably been one of the most outspoken critics of North American Freemasonry for over 25 years relative to the direction it is going and the methods used to alter the course.

A few of you here know that I live on a small farm in south-central Pennsylvania with a stream bordering the farm. A friend of mine across the stream raises prime Holstein cows. He kept several bulls on his farm to service the cows, a big bull, a medium-size bull, and a little bull. Those who understand the pecking order of animals recognize that the big bull got most of the cows, the medium-sized bull had a few and the little bull had just one.

Glenn decided one time that to improve the milk production of the herd; he would bring in a Grand Champion bull. For those who may not understand, the bull has a major influence on the milk producing capacity of the resulting cows through breeding. When word got around the barnyard that Glenn was bringing in a Grand Champion bull, the three bulls got together to discuss it. The big bull said, there probably go some of my cows, the medium size bull said, well there goes most of mine and the little bull said I sure hope he lets me keep my one. When the day came for the Grand Champion bull to be delivered, the three bulls were standing up on a hill overlooking the barnyard when the cattle truck backed in, the ramp came down and this massive, big bull came walking down off that truck. The big bull said, my God, there goes all my cows. The medium-size bull said there sure goes all of mine and with that little bull started to snort and slobber and paw the ground. The other two bulls looked at him and asked, have you gone out of your mind what do you think you're doing challenging that great big bull? The little bull said, challenge him, challenge him hell, I'm just making sure he knows I'm not a cow.

I use that little story as an analogy to cause you to realize that I am not the cow either. It is significant to know what one is not, and I have never looked at myself as fitting into anyone of these categories by which I have been introduced. One of the primary reasons that Freemasonry became as great as it did, is because it attracted some of the greatest minds that ever lived. Consider for a moment how many great men comprised early Freemasonry and as a result stimulated other great men to want to become part of it. Consider men like Washington, Franklin, Revere, Voltaire, Amadeus Mozart, Sir Christopher Wren, Simone Bolivar, Giuseppe Garibaldi, Joseph Priestley, and we could go on listing literally hundreds of others who have contributed to making this world as it is today. They also, however, contributed to making Freemasonry what it is today in most of the world.

Realistically, however, I realize that I am, have always been and will always be Just a little country boy who developed a great appreciation for this craft. I realize that no matter how Important I may ever think I am, I will never serve as an example to stimulate great men to want to become a Freemason. I perceive my purpose in the craft as being; to do all that I can do to preserve it until great minds come along again to inspire it.

Chief Rahnami Abah wrote in his book, light after Darkness, "Even if my thoughts and ideas may be controversial or, in certain respects, open to question, I shall have succeeded in my attempt if these ideas have generated further thoughts on the main substance of Freemasonry in the search for universal truth" and so mote it be with me.

It is always my goal when I speak to challenge you to think, for if I fail to do that, I waste both your time and mine. So today, it is my goal to cause you to think, to hopefully stimulate you to learn a little bit more about this noble institution and to cause you to, as the Grand Master expects, introspectively examine what each of you can do to benefit Freemasonry...

The Path of Freemasonry: The Craft as a Spiritual Practice

by Mark Stavish

In this practical guide, Mark Stavish details the spiritual lessons and rituals of Freemasonry as a step-by-step path of spiritual development and self-improvement for both Masons and non-Masons, men and women, alike. He explores the history and meaning of Freemasonry and its symbols--from its origins in the Temple of Solomon to the Medieval craft guilds to the Renaissance--and explains how the Craft promotes personal growth through the symbolic building of self and an inner Temple of Wisdom in much the same way that Masonry’s rituals symbolize the building of Solomon’s Temple in accordance with the mystical architectural instructions of Hiram.

Drawing on esoteric doctrines, including the Qabala, alchemy, sacred geometry, John Dee’s angelic magic, and the secrets of the Gothic cathedral builders, each chapter addresses an area of the Masonic experience, paralleling them with experiences each of us finds in our own lives. The author provides simple practices to help internalize and personalize the lessons presented, including dreamwork, journaling, meditation, prayer, and understanding sacred architecture. The author also examines the crafting and use of the spiritual and symbolic tools of Freemasonry, such as the trestle or tracing board and the Chamber of Reflection.

Providing the tools to make the Craft an initiatic experience of self-improvement, the author shows that, ultimately, the Masonic experience is the human quest for self-realization and self-expression, so that we each may find our place in the Temple of Wisdom.

Edward K. Valentine, Grand Master
June 19, 1878 – June 25, 1879
Reported at the 22nd Annual Communication

Memorial services were held in Congress for Past Grand Master Frank Welch, 42, of Norfolk, who was the state’s Representative to the U.S. Congress. The current Grand Master was unable to attend the Annual Communication because he was elected to Welch’s Congressional seat three months earlier.

The Past Grand Masters’ Association held its first Lodge of Sorrow since the organization’s creation two years previous. The observance honored Past Grand Master Frank Welch.

Authority was given to Masons in Sidney to hold lodge with the name Frank Welch Lodge.

The Grand Master asked Nebraska lodges to donate funds to assist brothers in the South suffering from yellow fever. The Omaha Herald mentioned the donation which prompted the Grand Secretary to write to its editor, “…it was done as our Grand Master asked it should be, ‘quickly and quietly.’” He continued, “ May it not be safely concluded by the Herald and its readers, that in the present distress the Freemasons of Nebraska are doing their whole duty, and yet the record be not published for years to come, if ever.”

In separate decisions, the Grand Master stated there was no law prohibiting a lodge from meeting in the same hall with other secret orders, but it was not advisable where it could be conveniently avoided. He also said a Masonic lodge couldn’t hold property with a Grange.

After the previous Annual Communication, the Grand Treasurer deposited funds in a bank that closed four months later with $711 in Grand Lodge monies. Unable to secure the amount due the Grand Lodge, he promised to pay it back with interest within a year.

Local lodges arranged for newspapers from across Nebraska to be sent to the Grand Secretary for use by Masons looking for locations and business in the state.

Early electric slide projector for lecture slides. Used a single wood framed slide. Included a set of wood framed lecture slides. Unknown which lodge donated to the musuem.

Date unknown.

More pictures of this artifact and other museum pieces can be found by clicking on the button below.

2022 Is Not 2020, Too

2021 is over, elections have been made, and the next Worshipful Master of a Lodge is gearing to take the reins in 2022; if they haven’t already. It’s a new year and whether you have new men in the line or not, getting them motivated, keeping them motivated and setting out to have a good, solid year in 2022 won’t be easy, but it doesn’t have to be hard...it just takes work.

Worshipful Master can be a position of leadership, but not without work, duty and gratitude. Becoming Master does not automatically make you a leader, but it puts you in a position to lead by example. You must mean what you say and say what you truly mean. Masonry finds itself in a position where the same things are done seemingly day in and day out over and over. And, in fact, I would argue that in many cases1, we don’t want it to be different each time.

So, what does this have to do with leadership and being a Worshipful Master? Allow me a parable. (If you attended the education seminar I shared with WB Ken Thorpe of the Grand Lodge of Wyoming; Senior Grand Steward, you will have undoubtedly heard this parable.)

There are two fish swimming in the water. After a little while an older fish comes swimming towards them. He looks at the two younger fish and says “Morning, boys! How’s the water?” The older fish swims past the two younger fish who continue swimming. After a little while of silence, one of the younger fish looks over at the other and asks: “What the hell is water?”

The everyday life of Masonry is one of consistency and repetition, day in and day out. Whether this occurs in our lodge or another lodge we are visiting: we do not want to see it be different. The ritual of what we do must remain the same; it must be consistent. But, on paper, that sounds terribly boring...yet, it isn’t. We still go, we still participate and in some situations we do this multiple times a week!

Then, so, what’s the point of the fish story and how does this relate to leadership? The point of the fish story is that the most obvious, everpresent, and important realities of our Masonic lives are often ones that are the hardest to see or even talk about. This fact points to a tremendous importance of and in our experience in Masonry. I’m not trying to tell you what to think, but rather showing a method of how to think, especially as a leader to the men that will be supporting you during your year.

Life as a Mason is constantly and unequivocally all around us at every step, breath, handshake, word and laugh. Masonry is all around us. When we shake hands, we are saying a multitude of things without even so much as having to - the handshake itself does just fine. We do it dozens of times a year. It’s our hello, goodbye, well done, best wishes and...a representation of deity. We never seem to grow tired of it, though. We have degree work, ritual practices, business meetings, over and over again. And, while some of it is tiring (ahem, like approving of the minutes...), I would argue that maybe, just maybe, seeing the “water” of Masonry in these moments - good or tiring - is what keeps us coming back. It’s not the what, but the why; the experience of Masonry. It’s what can keep the new Mason coming back; it’s what can get your men, your officers, to join you in this great and good work.

It’s a teaching moment, though. Leaders have options of where to lead from, not just how to lead. Each Worshipful Master is certainly different and each lodge is even more different than another, but Masonry is Masonry and what makes it Masonry - it’s “water” if you will - is what keeps us coming back. But, like anything, we can lose sight of it. If you float in a pool long enough, you begin to forget that you were in water in the first place. But, if you swim in it, move around in it, then you realize there is water all around you at all times.

As I wrote about before, in my previous article, leading from within gets you doing the work with your guys. Empower them to join you; show them and participate with them in your year. It is your year, sure, but it is also theirs. Swim in the water with them, don’t float. Lead by example. If you tell them, show them. If you show them, tell them. These little nuances, these ever present pieces of Masonry are what makes it what it is...they are also what makes us Masons.

The next time you shake a Brother’s hand, remember this: This is Masonry. The next time you bring a Brother to light, more light and further light, remember this: This is Masonry.

Winter Photo Gallery

It was a fun winter at the Children’s Home. Calving; preparing for the 4-H Speech Contest; participating in extracurricular school activities; experiencing a traditional Christmas; working on 4-H woodworking projects; playing board/card games; saying goodbye to a girl entering the Navy; and waiting for a significant snowfall were some of the many highlights of our winter.

I hope you enjoy our Winter Photo Gallery.

Are you a Member or a Mason?

Are you a member or a Mason? There is a difference. When you pay your dues each year and receive your dues card from your lodge you maintain your membership in the craft, but that only gets you so far. Simply paying dues each year is helpful to the financial stability of your lodge and perhaps some portion of those dues go to support a noble philanthropic cause, but more than money, your lodge needs your time and participation. We cannot build a community based on a number in a bank account. There are several lodges in our state who have a fair amount of money, but not enough Masons to open lodge, let alone confer a degree. However, as we will explore in the next couple of paragraphs, by simply contributing financially, you're are missing out on the greatest benefits of your membership.

What does it mean to be a Mason? In his book The Lost Keys of Freemasonry, Manly P. Hall defines a Mason not necessarily by his membership in a lodge, but as “anyone who works to improve himself daily.” Hall wrote this book approximately 30 years before he joined a lodge and was initiated into Masonry. The concepts taught by the fraternity are often an individual journey and require certain amount self-effort to reflect, analyze, and make conscious choices about our interactions with the world and the type of men we aspire to be. The great teachings of our fraternity take work beyond just paying dues each year.

Although the journey to better oneself can be an individual matter, the best way to improve and grow as a man is by having good examples to follow and by being that example to others. Show off the good work you are doing by coming to lodge, participating in the brotherhood that grows there, and learn from your brothers in the process. This, in my opinion, is the greatest benefit of our membership; the community that we build around ourselves in our lodge. Hope to see you in lodge soon!

The First Outing in Two Years!

March 2022 has been a month full of blessings and changes for The Nebraska Masonic Home. Visitors are now able to visit the home 24/7 and no appointment is needed. Visitors still must check in at the Kiosk and following CDC Guidelines for COVID-19 precautions. The sounds of laughter and cheer fill the halls.

The residents of The Nebraska Masonic Home also got to experience their first outing for lunch in two years!