Part 684: Scottish Rite Stages in Salina –1901 and 1927
In Salina, Kansas, the “Daily Union” published an article that almost read like an advertisement for the upcoming Scottish Rite reunion. The heading stated “THE SCOTTISH RITE. Interesting Facts About Bodies Located Here. Spring Reunion in June” (Salina Daily Union, 14 April 1900, page 1). The amount of information provided in this 1900 article is quite intriguing:
“The Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, located at Salina, Kan., acknowledge and yield allegiance to the Supreme Council, 33d degree, for the Southern Masonic jurisdiction of the United States of America, whose grand East is in Charleston, South Carolina, and is in fraternal communication with every legitimate Supreme Council in the world.
“The various degrees as conferred by these orders are divided in a series as follows:
The first series comprises the degrees from the 1st to the 3d inclusive and are termed symbolic, being conferred in the Blue Lodge, actual membership in which is the obligatory qualification for the advancement to the succeeding series.
The second series comprises the several degrees form the 4th to the 14th inclusive, are termed ineffable and are conferred in a “Lodge of Perfection.”
The third series comprising the several degrees from the 15th to the 18th inclusive are termed the historical and philosophical degrees and are conferred in a “Chapter of Rose Croix.”
The fourth series comprises those from the 19th to the 30th inclusive, are termed the modern historical, chivalric and philosophical degrees, and are conferred in a “Council of Kadosh.”
The fifth series comprises the 31st and 32d degrees, are allegorical and philosophical, and are conferred in a Consistory.
“The work is very solemn and impressive in nature, calculated to improve the mind and character of all coming in under its influence, there by causing them to become better members of the commonwealth.
“The bodies here are thoroughly equipped with all the paraphernalia required for the proper rendition of the work and have among their members several who cannot be excelled in exemplifying the characters required to be taken in conferring the several degrees and are favored with a very competent leader. Owing to the number of applications lately received and a larger number having signified their intention to apply for admission, it has been decided to hold a spring reunion, commencing the 11th day of June, continuing for four days, at which time the several degrees from the 4th to the 32nd will be conferred; the greater majority in full ceremony and form.”
When the article was published in 1900, Salina Masons had already enjoyed their Masonic Temple for four years. They were in the process of planning a major expansion that would result in an even larger stage, complete with fly loft and horseshoe balcony.
By 1901, the “Topeka State Journal,” reported the substantial number of Scottish Rite Masons in Kansas, the newspaper reported “Kansas boasts the largest membership in the Scottish Rite of any state in the southern jurisdiction of the United States and the fame of the Topeka officers for their thoroughness and perfection displayed in conferring the degrees is not confined to the borders of the state. No order makes use of as elaborate paraphernalia and so dramatic a ritual as the Scottish Rite and with each succeeding reunion the classes to take the sublime degrees increase in numbers.”
In 1902, the “Junction City Republic” reported about the Fall Reunion at the Salina Scottish Rite noting, “A large number of candidates from this part of the state will be present to take the degrees. This is the fountainhead of all the beautiful allegories and work of freemasonry throughout the world” (24 October 1902, page 1). Membership continued to grow in Salina, as well as the rest of the country and what was once though ample space became cramped quarters.
By 1919, Salina Masons planned for Masonic Temple, referred to as the million-dollar to reflect the expense. Work began in that year, but the concrete design, however, collapsed in 1920 due to faulty construction, occasioning a loss of approximately $250,000 (The Kansas Workman, 1 Sept. 1926, page 6). The arched concrete ceiling of the auditorium gave way. The building was partially re-erected with structural steel and Carthage limestone. The original year scheduled for completion was 1923, until the collapse. During this time, the Masonic bodies were still meeting in their old home when disaster struck again.
In 1922 the old Masonic Temple was practically destroyed by fire. This was the 1896 building that had been expanded in 1902. Two decades later, the two upper stories of this building were burned out (The Salina Evening Journal, 30 1922, page 1). The Blue Lodge, Order of the Eastern Star, the Royal Arch, the Knights Templar, the Scottish Rite and Shrine all suffered heavy losses of degree paraphernalia. The article reported “Thirty-nine curtains for the stage, used in the ritual work of the lodge and the presentation of degrees, were included in the loss also.” After the fire, the Masonic bodies negotiated with the proprietor of the new theatre building until the Masonic temple was finished. The new scenery collection purchased for the new Masonic Temple was far larger than that in the old building or their temporary theater space.
For their new building, the Salina Scottish Rite would purchase a used scenery collection in 1927. Scenic artist for this collection, Thomas G. Moses, included pasted a newspaper clipping in his scrapbook. It was about the used McAlester Scottish Rite scenery collection purchased by the Salina Scottish Rite Bodies in 1927. The article reported, “The one hundred and seventeen drops of scenery that has been in use on the old stage for twenty-five years, has been sold to the Scottish Rite Bodies of Salina, Kansas, and it has been shipped to them. There was nearly a carload of it. Brother John T. Leibrand, 33°, Wise Master of South McAlester Chapter of Rose Croix, negotiated the sale to the Salina brethren who came to McAlester to inspect it. The scenery was painted by Brother Tom Moses under the direction of that great Scottish Rite Mason and student Bestor G. Brown, and was said to be the finest in the Southern Jurisdiction at the time.” The article also noted, “the Salina brethren are negotiating with Brother John G. Redpath, who had charge of the old stage for years, to superintend the hanging of the drops in their temple.”
To be continued…
