Part 624: The Scottish Rite, Southern Masonic Jurisdiction 1909
For me, it is hard not to look at the Scottish Rite during the first two decades of the 20th century with out thinking of a line from the musical “Hamilton,” – history has its eyes on you. A similar sentiment was expressed in 1909 by then Grand Commander James D. Richardson. He stated the following during his Allocution, “The Rite is in our hands now, and those who are to succeed us will have the right to hold us to strict account for our faithfulness or unfaithfulness, for our wisdom or unwisdom, in passing it on to them. We are apt to flatter ourselves with the comforting thought that the Rite is in safe and sane hands, but it is the dangers of the future I would caution you against. It was a wise old Chinese philosopher, Lastsze, who said, “Contemplate a difficulty when it is easy, Manage a great thing when it is small.”
The Supreme Council of the Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of the Thirty-third Degree of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States of America, met in Biennial Session in Washington, D.C., on Monday, October 18, 1909. The Supreme Council was opened by Grand Commander James D. Richardson. Representatives from Supreme Councils in other countries, included England, Ireland, Canada, Columbia, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Italy, Sweden, Greece, Denmark, Switzerland, and Belgium.
Richardson’s Allocution addressed the continued growth and expansion of the Scottish Rite:
“It is becoming a power in our land, but is really in its infancy. It struggled along for the first half of the last century with barely sufficient strength or vitality to prove that it was alive. The revival began nearly fifty years ago, but its progress for the quarter of a century following was slow and tedious. Within the past two decades of years a new light has shone upon us, and no man can foretell the greater glory that is to come to the Order. The marvelous progress we are witnessing year by year, and the greater power and influence that await the Rite in the future create the imperative call for the wisest and best men in the land. And as its power and influence increase, its duties and responsibilities will correspondingly grow. In order to grapple with them successfully, we must bring into our ranks, not only the best men of the country, but we must enlist in our service those of superior breadth of mind and strength of intellect. Men of talents, as well as men of honor, are required in our work. The Scottish Rite needs students and thinkers who are willing to serve, not merely in the routine of interpreting the degrees and exemplify in its Rituals, but in the development and in giving wise direction to its forceful power and influence” (Transactions of the Supreme Council, 1909, page 12).
Richardson continued, “At one city, and that not a large one, in a western state of our Jurisdiction, I was highly pleased to see the Governor of the State, the Judge of the United States Court and four or five judges of the state courts, including the Chief Justice, and two or three clergymen with several leading physicians and attorneys, all actively assisting in the degree work.” Richardson continued to list numerous examples of members with important political ties to the country. This was really no different than many other Masonic addresses to it membership.”
There was one more section that caught my attention, however, that acknowledged the continued search for members: “The time has passed, if it ever existed, when we needed to go forth on the hunt for members, in order that the Rite might be supported, and pay for its Temples. But the time has not passed, nor can I contemplate any future period, when will need not need men of brains, intellect, culture, and marked ability, men in the old Roman sense of the word vir. Of such men our ranks cannot be too crowded.
Many in the Scottish Rite realized that membership was booming and funds were rushing in like never before, allowing massive buildings to be constructed at an unprecedented rate. Would future funds be allocated to the maintenance and repair of those buildings, or become liberally wasted on temporal pleasures and projects? Would the Rite anticipate times of membership decline or economic disasters? Which Valleys would really plan for their future and the experience of future generations? Which Valleys would, “Contemplate a difficulty when it is easy” or “manage a great thing when it is small?” It is hard to understand the dynamics in each Valley, the individual power plays, or those who rose through the ranks to simply glorify themselves. Not everything makes its way into the history books or even the minutes. Many are silenced by those in power at the time.
Looking at the current state of many Scottish Rite Valleys, only a few truly looked toward the future with caution and conservative planning, investing in their building’s maintenance and financial stability to withstand future obstacles. One example is Omaha, Nebraska.
In 2019, many Scottish Rite Valleys are faring poorly or just hanging on by a thread, citing the crippling effects of a rapidly declining membership and the increased expenses of maintaining enormous buildings. Others are renovating their spaces and preparing for a sale to later downsize. More is being lost than gained and it is simply a waiting game. Knock on a door and document that scenery now, before it is too late.
To be continued…
