Part 708: The State of the Louisville Scottish Rite, 1923
This was a post that I wrote while researching the Louisville Scottish Rite before my departure last month.
Every once and a while I take a pause to ponder, “what if this article were printed today?” Today’s article appeared in a Louisville newspaper at a time when Scottish Rite membership was exploding. In 1919, the Courier-Journal included comments by Capt. John H. Cowles, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Supreme Council of the Rite, who noted that unusually large classes were being accepted into the rite in all consistories of the southern jurisdiction, and that he was highly pleased with the showing made by the Louisville lodge. An article a few years later reported, “For several months the Scottish Rite has been practically overwhelmed with applications for membership, every Masonic lodge in the State reporting unusually large numbers of initiates. The result has been that for the first time in many years it has been necessary to hold two spring Scottish Rite classes, the first one having completed work only about ten days ago (Courier-Journal 23 April 1919, page 9).
What could have drawn such large candidate classes? Some cite the continued brotherhood that men sought after times of war. There are certainly many factors that caused the the growth of Scottish Rite Freemasonry during the 1920s, including an ever-growing economy and healthy middle-class. There is one other thing, however, to contemplate during this period of rapid expansion – the public persona and message of the Scottish Rite.
In the 1920s the Scottish Rite often took a public stance on many social and political issues. This may have inspired men to join during this time and there was no question about the direction of the organization. I came across an October 14, 1923, article that could have been a catalyst for Louisville men to seek out Freemasonry at that time. It was titled, “Masons to Hold Capital Meeting,” with a section, “Educational Programme.” Here is the section of the article that caught my eye:
“Educational Programme.
“In recent years the Supreme Council has given much attention to popular education, and has thrown the weight of its great influence and prestige in defense of public schools.
“At a meeting held in Colorado Springs in 1920 the Supreme Council put itself on record as favoring the Department of Education with a Secretary in the President’s Cabinet, and a Federal aid for public school purposes, under the absolute control of the States; a national university at Washington, supported by the Government; the compulsory use of English as the language of instruction in the grammar grades; adequate provision for the education of alien populations, not only in cultural and vocational subjects but especially in the principles of American institutions and popular sovereignty; the entire separation of church and State and opposition to every attempt to appropriate public moneys, directly or indirectly for the support of sectarian institutions; and giving every support to the American public schools, to provided nonpartisan, nonsectarian, efficient, democratic education for all the children of the people with equal educational opportunities for all.
“The distinctive personal virtues of honesty, courage, loyalty, work, moral integrity, and adherence to high ethical standards are urged upon the candidate. Additionally the social and civic virtues of liberty, justice, equality and fraternity are held before the candidate as ideal to be increasingly realized in political life.
“Scottish Rite Freemasonry is characteristically patriotic, and in the Southern Jurisdiction every Scottish Rite Mason is pledged to defend republicanism, constitutional government and the rights of the people against all enemies of democracy and free institution.”
I wonder how this message, if publicly posted in newspapers and on social media, would be received today. Would this make young men think, “Those are the same things that I believe in and I want to become a Freemason!” Is there anything equivalent to the article above that has been publicly posted recently by the Scottish Rite, or even in the past few decades? When did this type of article stop appearing in public newspapers?
I am often asked, “Why do you care so much about the history connected to a group of old white men?” My response remains “the message.” How do I know what the message even is? I stumbled across it thirty years ago doing research and continued to read the teachings.
Over time, I have noticed a few things while perusing past articles printed by and about the Scottish Rite. In some decades the message was shouted, and in others it was whispered; the delivery depended on those who were in charge at the time. Today, it seems as if many men seek out the Fraternity based on their own studies and search for identity, not what is publicly posted.
When we wonder why so many men joined the Scottish Rite in the 1920s, I stop to consider if the high numbers may have been linked to the Rite’s public stance on many issues; they were very vocal about what they stood for at the time. The Scottish Rite shouted a message that went far beyond handing over a charitable check. The Rite’s position was reiterated, time and time again, in newspapers – until it wasn’t.
Young people still seek organizations that they believe will make a difference in the world, standing up against things that the believe are wrong. They are trying to make a better future for themselves, their children and their grandchildren. Will a fraternity even be on their radar over the course of the next decade?
To be continued…