Part 353: 1898 Scottish Rite Scenery for Wichita, Kansas
Bestor G. Brown set his sites on a new project after completing the Albert Pike Cathedral in Little Rock, Arkansas – Wichita, Kansas. Keep in mind that Brown was a leader with a magnetic personality, well known for his eloquence. He was frequently praised for his deep understanding of Masonic ritual and its theatrical interpretation on a Scottish Rite stage. Brown had many loyal fans throughout the course of his career, not just in Kansas, but throughout the country. All of these factors made Brown a natural to sell fraternal supplies and promote degree productions. But there was also something else that made him unstoppable – he was also working from the inside out.
In addition to representing M. C. Lilley & Co., Brown was the stage director for the Wichita Consistory. This allowed him to speak with clients from a position of experience and deep understanding of the demands for various degrees. He wasn’t just a member, he was an extremely active member. As active members, it only took a few key individuals to systematically market the new degree paraphernalia. A fairly small group of individuals established the “gold standard” and it became the most sought after degree experience to share with the Fraternity. Because they were all members, these men were able to successfully communicate with degree participants and degree directors.
Even though Brown’s primary residence was in Chicago from 1892 to 1898, he remained extremely active in Kansas Masonry, as well as other fraternal orders such as the Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. I cannot imagine where he found the time to do it all. He was a salesman who intimately knew the fraternal market and what his clients really needed in each area for a successful production or ceremony. He was able to speak their language as both a member and a degree participant.
In Wichita, Brown recommended the purchase and renovation of an existing building. A stage for degree productions was included in the renovation plans during 1898, led by Brown. The Valley of Wichita purchased the Young Men’s Christian Association for $20,339.90 and during January 1898, and extensively remodeled the space to include a 300-seat auditorium. The planning and construction was similar to that in Little Rock, during 1896.
The second member from Wichita to aid in the theatrical interpretations of Scottish Rite degree work was Henry Wallenstein. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Wallenstein moved to Wichita at the age of twenty-seven and entered the mercantile business, becoming a co-owner of the business by 1886. As with Brown, Wallenstein was also a well-known “staging expert” for the Scottish Rite degree productions in the area. Later, the Wichita Scottish Rite bodies noted Wallenstein’s contribution to the successful dramatization of degree work as his outstanding achievement in Masonry. Both Wallenstein and Brown greatly facilitated the Southern Jurisdiction’s inclusion of theatrically interpreted degree work on Scottish Rite stages throughout Kansas and the region. With the backing of M. C. Lilley & Co. and the assistance of Sosman & Landis they were on a roll, and unstoppable. There was too much money being made from the initiation of new members to cause the Supreme Council to shut down these new activities.
So by 1899, Brown had returned to living in Topeka, Kansas, and was deeply involved in the planning of the new 1900 Guthrie Scottish Rite stage. Immediately after the Wichita Scottish Rite was completed, the SGIG of Oklahoma (Harper S. Cunningham) brought in Brown, Wallenstein and Charles E. Rosenbaum to help with his new project. Cunningham would later be heralded as the Scottish Rite’s “Temple Builder.” He was involved with not only the Scottish Rite stage in Guthrie, but also the first one in McAlester, Oklahoma, before moving to Santa Fe, New Mexico.
This is where is gets interesting. The three brought extensive knowledge and experience to the project. Cunningham watched them incite enthusiasm and anticipation for the new Masonic space. In later years, Cunningham would use this same technique in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, he would attain the support of the membership and prepare them for the new stage as their building was being planned (the 1912 Moorish-revival style complex). In 1908, Cunningham would negotiate the purchase of the original McAlester scenery for Santa Fe.
At this same time, some of the original 1898 scenery from Wichita was purchased by Yankton, Scottish Rite. This was after the Wichita Scottish Rite building added a larger auditorium and dining hall.
Records would also indicate that Yankton purchased some of the original Guthrie scenery when M. C. Lilley divided the Guthrie collection between Yankton and Austin. The original scenery collections were like trading in used cars and receiving credit for a new car purchase.
Both the original Wichita (1898) and Guthrie (1900) scenery collection were created by Sosman & Landis when they were subcontracted by M. C. Lilley.
To be continued…
