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Part 625: The 1909 Scottish Rite Repeal

There were many resolutions passed at the 1909 Biennial Session of 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. Topics discussed varied from translating the rituals into Spanish to the purchase of an automobile. One specific action is often cited as the most significant one of the session – the call for the “enlargement, or extension, of the present House of the Temple or for the erection of a new one.” A side note to this action is often attached to Grand Chancellor William Frank Pierce (Inspector General of California) who missed the session due to a family illness. Pierce met with Grand Commander James D. Richardson shortly after the close of the session and strongly advocated for the construction of a new House of the Temple instead of merely enlarging the current one.

Pierce was responsible for proposing an action four years earlier– one that was repealed during his absence in 1909. His resolution in 1905 gave the leaders of the Southern Jurisdiction an incentive to rapidly increase membership in each region, one that ultimately secured the much necessary funding to propose a new House of the Temple in 1909. Looking at both Pierce’s resolution and its 1909 repeal provides us with some of insight into the Scottish Rite during a period of unprecedented growth.

The 1905 “Transactions of the Supreme Council” reported:

“Inspector Pierce, from the Committee on Finance submitted the following:

Resolved, That each Sovereign Grand Inspector-General and each Deputy of the Supreme Council shall be entitled to receive as payment for expenses incurred in the discharge of his duties for the Rite, two dollars for each Thirty-second Degree conferred within his Jurisdiction.

Resolved, further, That said sums shall be immediately paid by the Secretary-General to the Sovereign Grand Inspector-General or Deputy of the Supreme Council, but only after all the reports have been received from and all payments have been made to the Supreme Council, as required now by the Statutes for the fees, dues, books and patents from his Jurisdiction.”

The purchasing power of $2 in 1905 is about $57.07 today.

Well, that was one way to make sure Scottish Rite Valleys paid their bills – giving the heads of each Orient an incentive to put pressure on the Valleys to pay their fees, dues, books and patents in a timely manner. From 1905-1909 sixteen new Scottish Rite stages were constructed and outfitted with scenery by Sosman & Landis. Similarly, Toomey & Volland studios outfitted 10 new Scottish Rite theaters during this time period. All told, twenty-six Scottish Valleys built new theaters across the country. That is significant growth in a five year period. A lot of money was collected from the Valleys as new members were initiated into the various Scottish Rite Bodies, with a percentage being passed along to the Supreme Council. So how much money are we really looking at? For example, the total Scottish Rite fees for the four petitions to become a 32^nd degree Mason in Wichita were $133.50:

Lodge of Perfection (4-14 degrees) $22

Chapter Rose Croix (15-18 degrees) $25

Council Knight Kadosh (19-30 degrees) $30

Consistory (31-32 degrees) $56.50

The continued annual dues for each Scottish Rite Body were $1 per body, or $4 per 32^nd degree Mason annually.

 

We will start with a baseline number -the number of total men who became 32^nd degree Masons (being initiated into the Consistory) in 1904. Of the 53 Consistories in the Southern Jurisdiction during 1904, there was a gain of 3,426 32^nd degree Masons – so that many members paid a fee with their Consistory petition, after having already paid petition fees for the Lodge, Chapter and Council. This number was know to all the active SGIGs and Deputies when the resolution passed in 1905. The next, year 32^nd degree petitions numbered 3025, at $2 per incoming 32^nd degree Mason, $6,050 paid to the SGIGs and Deputies (today’s equivalent of approximately $173,000). I think of it as something similar to a sales commission.

By 1909 the number initiated into the Consistory that year was 4,602. If $2 was distributed to the SGIGs and Deputies for each new 32^nd degree Mason during 1909, that would be a total payment of to the various SGIGs and Deputies of $9,204.00, or today’s equivalent of almost $255,000. To put that amount in perspective, from membership dues alone, the Scottish Rite took in $102,202.75, today’s equivalent of $2,821,615.77.

In 1909 public school teachers were making $492/year, state and local government workers were making $699/year, and Health Services Workers were making $338/year. For the building trades, the hourly wage was $0.52/hour ($20/week), with the average hourly wage at $0.22/hour ($8/week). Butter was $0.39 per pound and eggs were $0.36 per dozen. Also keep in mind that the role of SGIG was often held in addition to a full-time profession.

In 1909, Inspector Cunningham, offered the following resolution which was adopted:

“Resolved, That the resolution adopted at the session of the council for 1905, providing that each Sovereign Grand Inspector-General and Deputy of the Supreme Council, shall be entitled to receive as payment for expenses incurred in discharging his duties for the Rite, two dollars for each Thirty-second Degree, conferred within his Jurisdiction, be and the same is hereby repealed.”

To be continued…

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 20^th 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…

Part 623: “Patron Saint” of the Scottish Rite

There was an interesting article that I stumbled across while looking for information about Scottish Rite theaters in Kansas. It concerned Gen. Albert Pike, Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction from 1859 until his passing in 1891. Born in 1809, Pike revised the Scottish Rite rituals in 1857, unifying the degrees. For those unfamiliar with the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry’s theaters and degree productions, this may help clarify why scenery was added during the mid-nineteenth century. Part of Pike’s ritual revision included specific decorations for the various apartments, or necessary settings for each degree. You see, the degree work often included dramatic sections.

Pike’s “Magnum Opus” was replicated in the Northern Jurisdiction by Charles T. McClenachan in his “The Book of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry.” There is some debate regarding how much McClenachan directly copied from Pike that I won’t get into today. What McClenachan did add into his publication was illustrations of the various apartments, providing visual reference for those purchasing painted settings and draperies for their Scottish Rite lodge room, or stage.

Over time Scottish Rite legislation in both the Southern and Northern Jurisdictions mandated that five of the Scottish Rite degrees had to be conferred in “full form.” This indicated the mandated use of costumes, props and scenery to stage dramatic enactments of certain scenes. At first five in number, these degrees were referred to as “Indispensable” or “Obligatory” degrees and included the 4, 14, 18, 30 and 32. Increasingly theatrical interpretations with scenic elements were used in the center of the lodge room. This was similar to a “theatre in the round” production, with audience members on all four sides.

Soon, small elevated stages were added to include even more elaborate backings for the dramatic sections. For example, a cut out tomb might first be introduced as a profile piece, complete with flip jack, or booked sides. On a stage, the tomb would be painted on a backdrop, maybe even with wooden supports for a practical opening. Each tomb had the same characteristics, yet the presentation changed as the lodge room space was altered, eventually becoming a state-of-the-art theater with hundreds of seats. Simultaneously, the ritual work transitioned from initiating a single candidate to using an exemplar to represent an entire class of candidates in the various staged degree productions.

Pike was adamant, however, that the dramatic portions of each degree were NOT meant to be big melodramatic and theatrically staged affairs. After his passing in 1891, however, plans for Scottish Rite theaters throughout the Southern Jurisdiction immediately commenced with two of the first full-fledged stages being completed in Little Rock, Arkansas and Oakland, California during 1896. The Northern Jurisdiction (geographic region north of the Ohio River and East of the Mississippi) had been constructing Scottish Rite theaters since the 1860s. The degree productions proved time and time again to be an incentive for Blue Lodge Masons to join the Scottish Rite.

With that little bit of background about Grand Commander Pike, here is a wonderful article published in the “Evening Kansasan-Republican on Dec. 29, 1909, celebrating the 100^th birthday of Pike (page 1).

Honor “Patron Saint”

—-

Scottish Rite Masons Observe Centenary of General Albert Pike

Washington, D.C., Dec. 29:-Scottish Rite Masons everywhere unite today in paying honor to the memory of Gen. Albert Pike, known as the “patron saint” of Scottish Rite Masonry, on the one hundredth anniversary of his birth. Plans for a widespread observance of the centenary were perfected at the meeting of this city last October of the supreme council of Scottish Rite Masons for the Southern jurisdiction. In further commemoration of the anniversary the supreme council has distributed among its members two hundred medals, bearing an image of the head and bust of General Pike and with an appropriate inscription.

Though General Pike is best remembered for his services to the Masonic fraternity, these do not by any means constitute his only claim to fame. In the course of his stirring career he fought with distinction in two wars, attained national prominence as a journalist and was known as one of the most able lawyers in his day. He also found time to write much credible poetry.

General Pike was a product of Massachusetts and in his youth attended Harvard University and subsequently taught school at Newburyport. At the age of 21 he went West and engaged in exploring the country. In 1832 he located in Arkansas, where he taught school for a time and then engaged in newspaper work. In 1835 he was admitted to the bar. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican war he recruited a company of cavalry, which he led at the battle of Buena Vista. He returned to his extensive law practice in 1849, and in 1853 transferred his office to New Orleans, returning to Arkansas in 1857. As attorney for the Choctaw Indians, he obtained the award of nearly $3,000,000 from the United States Government.

At the beginning of the Civil war, he was appointed Confederate commissioner to negotiate treaties of alliance with the Indians. He was appointed a brigadier-general in the Confederate

Army and took the leading part in the battles of Pea Ridge and Elkhorn. In 1866 he removed to Memphis, where he edited a newspaper and two years later he came to Washington to practice law.

General Pike was grand commander of the supreme council of the 33^rd degree of Masons, and was also grand commander of the royal order of Scottish Rite Masons. He compiled numerous Masonic rituals and also wrote a famous reply to Pope Leo XIII’s tirade against Masonry.”

Not everything in the article is correct, by it paints a pretty picture of Pike. Keep in mind that 1909 was a period of unprecedented membership growth in the Southern Jurisdiction and Scottish Rite theater construction was booming throughout to country. Scottish Rite Valleys in the Western region of the Southern Jurisdiction were surpassing their eastern counterparts in terms of membership and funding, especially in Kansas. There was space to build massive structures in a region of seemingly unlimited resources. For Scottish Rite Masonry, theatrical interpretations of degree work became the proverbial “goose that laid the golden egg.” Would Pike have approved of the ever-increasing stage effects and settings to accompany the degrees? No.

Pike spoke out against the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction’s performance of staged degree productions throughout his lifetime. In his 1882 Allocution, Pike stated, “The Rite in this Jurisdiction is a Rite of instruction, and not of scenic pomp and stage-show.” Pike also said, “I can not conceive of a more useless occupation than the arranging and performing of degrees, neither the effect nor the purpose of which is to make men wiser or better, but which are acted as melodramas, to gratify an aesthetic taste and please the imagination, like the pageantry of cardinals and orioles.”

That being said, men joined in droves and loved the Scottish Rite productions. After all, everyone had a chance to become a star.

To be continued…

Part 622: Leftover Lights for Lawrence, Kansas

In 1909, the Scottish Rite Masons in Lawrence, Kansas, were planning for the construction of a new home. By 1911, their Egyptian-Revival style building included a stage with 55 backdrops produced by Sosman & Landis studio in Chicago, Illinois. Between the initial planning stages and final dedication ceremony, several things were in play in regard to stage, scenery and lighting. Let’s start with lighting.

In 1910, the Scottish Rite in Lawrence was mentioned in a letter from Bestor G. Brown, western sales representative for M. C. Lilley & Co., to Frank A. Derr, secretary of the Oklahoma Consistory, in Guthrie, Oklahoma. Guthrie was enlarging the stage of their building, requiring all new scenery and stage machinery.

The used scenery was returned for credit on the new scenery. The Guthrie bodies were upgrading all of their equipment, including the border lights. On July 26, 1910, Brown wrote, “I shall probably go to Lawrence some time within the next few days and if I can dispose of your electrical equipment, I will be very glad to do so. It is old and will not pass inspection. The borders have a wooden strip on the top and that disqualifies them under the present regulations. If the Lawrence people want to buy them with the full knowledge of the facts, I shall be very glad indeed to see them get them.” In other words, “these could catch on fire, but if they know that we’re all good.”

Brown continued in his letter, “The battens on the scenery could be left there if you want to use new battens for your job. In that event, however, the people at Lawrence would have to pay us more than we allowed you for your scenery because you will remember we were to retain the battens at Guthrie and use them in your new scenery. It is impossible to get lumber that is the equal of the lumber in your own battens. I do not think you will have a great deal of trouble with the new lumber, but at the same time, the old battens will curl less in Guthrie than the new battens would curl in Lawrence on account of the difference in climate.” This is the first mention that I have ever encountered about warping battens. The lumber that was always specified noted white pine. This meant old growth, first cut pine.

The original stage lighting for Guthrie was listed in a contract between the Guthrie Scottish Rite and E. A. Armstrong Mfg. Company of Chicago, dated April 28, 1900. The Armstrong company was located at 300-302-304 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, and listed as “Manufacturers of Secret Society, Military and Band Supplies.” The lighting, scenery and stage work for the new Guthrie stage was provided by through M. C. Lilley and Co. The companies western sales manager, well-known Mason Bestor G. Brown, subcontracted the new work to Sosman & Landis.

The original stage lighting order from Armstrong for Guthrie included:

“Four (4) Borders, each 24 feet long, each containing 60 lights wired for three colors; sockets and wiring complete but no lamps-

Four (4) portable ground rows, each 10 feet long, each containing 15 lights, wired for three colors, sockets and wiring complete – but no lamps

Two (2) Strip rows, each 16 feet long, each containing 24 lights, wired for three colors; sockets and wiring complete but no lamps

Two (2) eight light, porcelain lined, swing head, iron stand bunch lights; complete with extension cord and plug, but no lamps-

Six (6) Cast iron floor pockets

Twenty-four (24) Slate receptacles

Fourteen (14) Plugs for receptacles, three attached to each of the ground rows and one each to bunch lights

Four (4) 40 Ampere dimmers, German silver wire wound

Three (3) Ampere dimmers, German silver wire wound

One (1) Slate switch board, full fused, containing 1 main 3 service and 32 subordinate double contact knife switches – 36 switches in all; connections on board all made

$620.00 (Today’s equivalent in approximately $18,200 – pretty good deal).

Sockets all of Edison pattern

MISCELLANEOUS LIGHTING APPARATUS

One (1) Lamp and chaser                                                                                            32.00

One (1) 4,000 c/p focusing lamp and reflector, stand and rheostat included             42.50

Large and small carbons – no charge

One (1) Lighting box, Complimentary

Note – Goods packed and shipped by American Reflector and Lighting Co. Charges collect, but to be paid and applied on bill.”

 

Keep in mind that Abraham Perry Landis, of Sosman & Landis, was one of the founders for the American Reflector and Lighting Co. Joseph S. Sosman was also an investor in the company.

 

 

To be continued…

Part 621: Meanwhile in Lawrence, Kansas

 

In 1909, the Topeka Scottish Rite membership was soaring and the scenery provided by Sosman & Landis to the Valley in 1906 was still an unprecedented success. Meanwhile in Lawrence, Kansas, there were new plans a brewin’…

“The Lawrence Daily World” included the article “Scottish Rite Temple Here” (29 April 1909, page 1). The first four lines printed in bold included:

Plans Are Underway for a $20,000 Building

AN OLD MUSIC HALL CORNER

Secured Option on Property Today for $10,500.

Will Probably Erect New Building This Coming Summer – To Help Masonry Here.”

There you have it; big beautiful buildings incited men to join the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry. The bigger, the better. Impressive edifices signaled a successful group of men doing exciting things.

Little did Lawrence Masons realize that their vision for the future would never last. Could they have even conceived that by the summer of 2018, the Lawrence Scottish Rite Bodies would move once again from a space in a shopping mall to a nondescript metal warehouse.

As we drove through Lawrence on our way home last summer, I desperately tried to find the current Scottish Rite location; we were making stops along the way from Santa Fe to Minneapolis. After making several circles around a shopping mall parking lot, we finally found the new building a few blocks over, and my expectations were crushed. I have never encountered any building with less character and I could not help think of the irony when reflecting on the degree work that heralded King Solomon’s Temple and the chief architect Hiram. I could hear the arguments to move to a smaller, and less-expensive location, citing declining membership and increasing building expenses. I am sure not all jumped on board as the Scottish Rite Masons left their magnificent home.

So lets go back to 1909 and see how these beautiful buildings ushered in a wave of membership and newspapers reported that new buildings were being constructed to “Help Masonry”

The Lawrence Daily World” reported,

“A committee of five from the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite lodge of Perfection visited J. B. Watkins this morning and secured an option for the old Methodist church at the corner of Berkely and Massachusetts street, for $4500 less than what Mr. Watkins figured was a reasonable interest on his investment.” Today’s monetary equivalent of $4500 in 1909 is $124,173.79. That is a lot of money to give up for a good cause, even if you are a Mason.

The article continues, “Mr. Watkins made this special price of $10,500 because he said he considered the property as sacred ground, and favored a Scottish Rite temple being built on the site.

This encouragement and the words of Governor Stubbs in Topeka yesterday, that the Scottish Rite body of Lawrence ought to have a temple, together with the enthusiasm of the fifty members present at the meeting last night, and the recent words of Grand Inspector General Thomas W. Harrison, of Topeka, encouraging the Scottish Rite bodies to press forward enthusiastically and increase their membership and build a building if they ever expected to have a consistory here, all seemed to make this an opportune time to seize this opportunity and start immediately effecting plans for the building, and raising the money from the members by subscription to stock to build a temple that would easily accommodate and enrolled membership of a thousand.

A Lawrence consistory of 32^nd degree, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Masons would have jurisdiction over the state of Kansas, except those countries in which there were already established consistories – like Topeka, Wichita, etc. Also it would have the added advantage of securing new members from among the student Masons attending K. S. U., besides the 500 Blue Lodge Masons in Lawrence, and all Blue Lodge Masons in adjoining towns, the insuring continued and rapid growth and assured success to the enterprise.

The plans are estimated to require an expenditure, all told, or some $20,000, and figured on a strictly business basis of income from the building, and increase in the membership to create a sinking fund expected to clean up its indebtedness in from five to seven years, as that has been the history of the success of every Scottish Rite body that has taken an aggressive stand and started to build a temple, as can readily be proven by the records of the many temples in Kansas.

It is eminently fitting that the Lawrence bodies should have a template of their own, as it was the first Scottish Rite organization in Kansas, and has installed the bodies of the Topeka, Fort Scott, and most of the other prominent lodges in the state.

This is also a good thing for Lawrence, and the Masonic bodies in general, as it is aiding to cement them all the more closely together, and is evidence of the rapid march of Lawrence to the front as one of the wide awake towns in the state.” The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite Cathedral Committee of Lawrence Kansas, was listed as J. H. Cohn, C. W. Murphy, F. P. Smith, T. J. Edmonds, and Frederick Crowe.

In 2003, the “Lawrence Journal-World” included the article “Landmark sheds its wraps; Masons seek temple buyer” (14 May 2003). The executive secretary of the Scottish Rite commented that the Scottish Rite in Lawrence, Kansas, was “Faced with aging membership and ever-increasing costs.” Lawrence-area Freemasons decided to sell the majestic Scottish Rite Temple.

The asking price for the 1911 Egyptian-Revival style building was $775,000. At the time, the stage included 55 backdrops. It was another collection that Thomas G. Moses recorded being responsible for at Sosman & Landis. The fate of the scenery is currently unknown.

 

To be continued…

Part 620: 1909 Masonic Work – Topeka

In 1909, Moses wrote, “The Dallas Masonic work came in early, so did San Francisco and Cleveland, Ohio.” He also commented, “I think we should turn out some work and we do. It is often a puzzle to me where it all goes, but the Masonic work requires a lot of time, and there is an average of eighty drops in each order so it makes plenty of work and is very interesting. The artists never grumble when they get it to do.” That year, Moses also supervised scenery collections for Scottish Rite theaters in Kansas City, Kansas; Winona, Minnesota; and Atlanta, Georgia. From 1906-1907, he had already supervised scenery for Scottish Rite theaters in Detroit, Michigan; Topeka, Kansas; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Salt Lake City, Utah; Wheeling, West Virginia; Dubuque, Iowa; Danville, VA; Wichita, Kansas; and Clarksburg, West Virginia. By 1909, Moses’s resume recorded that he had supervised the creation of eighteen Scottish Rite scenery installations.

Masonic work now made up between 25% and 30% of all projects in the Sosman & Landis studio. The Scottish Rite was growing extremely fast. Newspaper articles even detailed the necessary qualifications for Scottish Rite membership: “An applicant for the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite must be an affiliated Master Mason of good standing and a resident of the state of Kansas” (Topeka State Journal, 19 March 1909, page 1).

During 1906, Thomas G. Moses wrote, “The New Year found me at work on some new work for Topeka, Masonic Hall. Very nice work.” The “Topeka Daily Capital” reported, “The Scottish Rite bodies of Topeka purchased the building now occupied by the local Masonic bodies three years ago, and they have spent over $20,000 in the last four months in furnishing a lodge room that will compare favorably with any in the United States. A new stage thirty-five feet in depth has been built, and it is said to have more scenery than any other in the country. There are 110 drops, over one hundred of which are the property of, and will be used by, the Scottish Rite in conferring their degrees, which are peculiarly adapted to stage work. The electrical effects that can be produced are almost without number, and are controlled by a marble switch-board eight feet long.” (21 Feb. 1906, page 5). Sosman & Landis delivered the scenery to the Masonic building located on Jackson Street in Topeka, Kansas. $15,000 worth of scenery had been sold to the Valley of Topeka.

 

Although Freemasonry might be considered a “secret” society, the identity of incoming members was often published in the local newspaper. In many ways, membership growth and the construction of Scottish Rite theaters across the country became quite a competition. Scottish Rite membership was on the rise and it meant something to be associated with the Fraternity. Spring and Fall Scottish Rite Reunions were big news in many areas. I have heard so many people say, “My grandfather was a Scottish Rite Mason, but he never spoke of it and we had no idea what he did.” I believe that communities from the first decade of the twentieth century had a pretty good idea of what happened during Scottish Rite Reunions. Schedules were published, candidates were listed by name, and impressive images of Scottish Rite building interiors dominated newspapers around Reunions time. Sure, not ever detail was provided, but one was able to gather quite a bit of information pertaining to the various events and banquets held throughout the Reunion.

The “Topeka State Journal” described the four-day Fall Reunion from November 8-11, 1909, in great detail. It was the thirty-third semi-annual gathering and included a Scottish Rite Class of 100 candidates (30 Oct. 1909, page 6). Images included with the article, pictured two stage settings for the Peristyle Scene (3^rd Apartment of the 18^th Degree) and the Egyptian Scene (31^st degree Hall of Justice).

The fact that they pictured two stage settings used during degree work is mind boggling to me. This was a “look at the cool stuff we do” moment for area Masons.” I am including a few paragraphs about the Topeka Reunion as it really provides some historical context for the Fraternity using media to entice new members across the country. One just had to read the paper to understand the extent of activities happening at the Scottish Rite in many cities at this time. Here is a small section of the article from the Topeka State Journal:

“The Rite of Freemasonry called by the French writers the ‘Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite,’ which title is now generally adopted as the correct one, although one of the youngest of the Masonic Rites, having been established not earlier that the year 1801 is today one of the most popular and extensively diffused. Supreme councils and governing bodies are to be found in almost every country of the world and in many of them it is the only Masonic obedience.

Outline of Work.

In speaking of the new features among the detail program of the reunion this fall, William M. Shaver, director of the work said: ‘With a view to placing candidates who reside outside of Topeka on the same basis with those who reside in Topeka, as nearly as may be, as to the cost of obtaining the Scottish Rite Degrees, the Topeka bodies have adopted a new rule which will go in to effect with this coming fall reunion. The rule is this: Non-residents of Shawnee county, who take the entire series of degrees form the 4 degree to the 32 degree inclusive at the same reunion, will have refunded to them their actual railroad expense from their home to Topeka and return…The bodies will continue to bear the hotel expense of candidates as has been the custom on the past.”

Topeka was trying many new things to increase membership. Earlier that year, “The Topeka Daily Capital” reported, “The Topeka bodies of the Scottish Rite began their evening class work in the Lodge of Perfection degrees at the Masonic temple on Friday evening. This evening work is designed for the accommodation of Topeka Masons who thus avoid the loss of time in business hours necessarily attendant upon regular reunion work and the plan is increasing in favor. About one hundred and twenty-five members and visitors sat down to a 6 o’clock supper in the new banquet hall and this number was largely increased as others dropped in later in the evening to see the work. A number if sojourning legislators and politicians were among the visitors” (25 Jan. 1909, Page 8).

The Topeka Scottish Rite figured something out in 1909, they had to invest in their members and understand their outside obligations that may prohibit men from joining. They took this into account, and made it possible for many more men to join.

To be continued…

Part 619: Theatrical Guides –Western and Canadian Theatrical Guides

In 1907 two new theatrical guides were published, one focusing on the western United States and the other focusing on Canada.

HENRY’S Official Western Theatrical Guide focused on theaters in Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah and Washington. The guide advertised that it contained “Authentic information of theatre and attractions in the territory from Denver west to the Coast, and a list of reliable hotels, transfer companies and bill posters.” It was compiled and edited by W. R. Dailey, published at 289 Thirteenth Street in San Francisco, California. The price for Henry’s Guide was only $1,00, a third of what was charged by some of the other Theatrical Guide publishers. However it contained far less information, solely focusing on a particular region and not the whole of North America.

Henry’s Guide also included the addresses of “Prominent Western Theatrical Managers,” as well as “Some Out-of-the-Way Routes That Mean Money for Small Shows, and included the Marshfield Circuit, the Wagon Circuit, The Southern Oregon Circuit, The Picture Show Route, the ‘Kite’ Circuit, the South San Joaquin Valley Route, and the North San Joaquin Valley Route.

Another guided appeared at the same time, focusing on Canadian theaters – Quintus Brooks’ ‘Canadian Theatrical Guide.” “The Gazette” reported “ The first volume of a new handbook which will prove of increasing value to all interested either directly of indirectly in affairs theatrical, has just been issued. This is Mr. H. Quintus Brooks’ ‘Canadian Theatrical Guide,’ which is planned to be annual publication, appearing about July 15” (Montreal, 24 Oct., 1907, page 5). The article continued, “The extra labor made necessary by the preliminary compilation, delayed the publication of the first volume, which now goes before the public. The guide follows the lines laid down by similar publications in the United States, containing in brief form information relating to Canadian theatres from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast, this information including statistics with regard to the population of the cities and towns, the seating capacity of the playhouses and music halls, the newspapers, the hotels and the railway communications. Mr. Brooks in his position as representative of the J. B. Sparrow Theatrical and Amusement Company, Ltd., at His Majesty’s, is well suited to the work of editing the volume which now appears. The office of publication is 448 Guy street, Montreal, and the price is 25 cents.” By 1914, the publication was called “H. Quintus Brooks’ Canadian Theatrical Guide and Moving Picture Directory.”

Henry’s and Brooks’ theatrical guides, when added to the list of Cahn’s, Donaldson’s and Jeffery’s, provide insight into the complex network of performance venues. Time and time again, I am blown away by the sheer number of theaters throughout North America. So many of this venues still existing awaiting their still undecided fate of demolition or renovation. This was such a massive industry, providing an amazing range of employment possibilities, especially when considering those who were theatrical suppliers. Tomorrow, I return to the projects of Thomas G. Moses during the theatrical season of 1908-1909.

To be continued…

Part 618: Theatrical Guides – Jno. B. Jeffery

Jno. B. Jeffery was a printer and engraver. He was listed as the sole proprietor and manager of the Jno. B. Jeffery’s Show Printing and Engraving House of Chicago.

The first edition of “Jno. B. Jeffery’s Guide and Directory to the Opera Houses, Theatre, Public Halls, Bill Poster, Etc. of the Cities and Towns of America” was published in Chicago during 1878. The title page noted that the publication was “Intended for the use of amusement managers and their agents, lecturers and proprietors of public halls, theatres and concert rooms, bill posters, hotel proprietors, and the traveling public generally.”

The Preface to the Fifth Edition commented, “Long before the first edition was compiled, we realized that the days of ‘stock companies’ were past, and that a new era was dawning upon the amusement world. As we then predicted, traveling organizations are now almost the sole reliance of the amusement loving public. We also realized the necessity for a book which would, at the same time, be a guide to agents and managers of all amusement enterprises, and a medium through which owners and managers of houses of amusement could make full and fair report of their respective towns and houses – one that could be relied upon by the traveling organizations as being correct. That our GUIDE meets these requirements, the success of the first four editions is sufficient proof.”

The original introduction in 1878 provides some wonderful insight into the theatre industry:

“Since Eighteen Hundred and Sixty, the Amusement Professions have shared in the extraordinary developments visible in every material interest which had aided to convert an almost limitless and thinly populated territory into an empire which already excites the wonder and admiration of older and less vigorous civilizations.

The American Stage ranks in importance with that of England and France, and its personnel, in either quality or number, has attained a recognized position as first among the first of any country in the world. Intellectual foreigners have been astounded at the rapidity with which a vast wilderness has been transformed into a Nation thickly dotted with centres of industry, commerce and art; and all the refinements pertaining to the most exalted state of modern culture. Where only a few years ago the red man reigned supreme, stately edifices, superior in many instances to those which are the pride of the chief capitals of Europe, are now occupied by the servants of Art, and are nightly thronged with her ardent votaries.

The full extent of this marvelous progress has not been recognized generally as it deserved. Earnest reflections upon the subject of the advancement of American amusement interests incited the author to attempt the task of placing before the members of the profession what may be figuratively called a panoramic view of the showable towns and villages of this vast country – thus facilitating the business interests of the entire amusement guild of the United States.

This comprehensive Guide, as will be evident, is the result of years of labor, enterprise, study and personal experience – it is hoped that its contents will not fail to prove both correct and useful. Its compilation has been in the nature of work of love, and it is now offered to the entire amusement profession of this country as the humble tribute of its most devoted servant,

Jno. B. Jeffery.

Chicago, 1878”

The Jeffrey Directory and Guide promised to his first edition subscribers that the second edition would be made available to them free of charge. Of this choice, the third edition preface noted, “although the experiment was an expensive one, the compiler is fully remunerated in the evidences he has received of the value set upon it by its possessors.” The third edition was sold for three dollars per copy (today’s monetary equivalent of approximately $75.00). By the eleventh edition, Jeffery promised, “The Guide is strictly a business book, for business men, all extraneous matter has been excluded, and the space thus gained is utilized for information absolutely necessary.” But here was an interesting addition – “A Brief Sketch of the Early History of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks,” as well as the Elk’s Lodge Directory.

Jeffery’s Guide also included a Circus Directory, a listing of Circus Organizations (1879-1882), Dramatic and Musical Critics (listed by city), “Jeffery’s Hints,” and the standard Theatre Directory for the United States, its Territories, Canada, and the Australasian Colonies.

“Jeffery’s Hints” are pretty hysterical and specified for managers, agents, bill posters, hall owners, hotel proprietors and to members of the company. My favorite advice from Jeffery is “The management of a Theatre, or any amusement organization requires integrity, capital, enterprise, industry, perseverance, patience, urbanity and experience, in order to secure permanent success. Unfortunately, an almost universal belief pervades the community that any person can run a show, hotel, or a newspaper; a brief practical experience utterly demolishes this Jack-o’-lantern theory, In addition to the qualifications already mentioned, the manager of any amusement enterprise must possess superior executive ability together with a thorough knowledge of human nature.”

To be continued…

 

Part 617: Theatrical Guides – Harry Miner

Before “Julius Cahn’s Official Theatrical Guide” or the “Donaldson Guide,” there was “Harry Miner’s American Dramatic Director, a complete Directory of the Dramatic and Operatic Professions and a Guide to the Opera Houses, Theatres and Public Halls of America together with much other Information of Value to the Amusement Profession.”

Harry Minor was the editor and the guide was published by the Wolf & Palmer Dramatic Publishing Company, No.s 81 and 83 Elm Street in New York. The Preface for the 1884-1885 season states:

“In compiling and presenting this work to the public I have endeavored to fill a hitherto vacant place in the useful department of American libraries.

The growing popularity of the Stage, and almost universal desire to become better acquainted with things theatrical, convinced me several years since that a Directory would be not only eagerly sought after, but, if accurate, greatly simplify the labors of both managers and agents. I accordingly instructed the agents and managers of my various combinations to forward from time to time correct information regarding theatres, halls, hotels, railways and steamers to the office of the Pope’s Theatre, where I carefully revised and arranged the volumes of matter thus collected; and I take this opportunity to furnish them for the use of the public in general, and the theatrical profession in particular.

Having a regularly organized staff of traveling managers and agents constantly employed in the working of my amusement enterprises, and being in communication with the leading representatives of the Theatrical World, I enjoy advantages that enable me to make the work I have undertaken more thorough and complete than any Guide or Directory ever published in America.

The routed around the world, capacity of public buildings, distance and census tables have been gathered from reliable sources, and if they prove as useful to my readers as they have been difficult to obtain, I shall be amply repaid for my time and labor.

Very truly yours,

HARRY MINER.

People’s Theatre, October, 1884.”

The Guide began with a “Route Around the World,” noting “The following route around the world has been taken from the private diary of MR. J. CHARLES DAVIS, who compiled it from his actual experience in the different localities – Mr. Davis having spent seven years abroad with amusement enterprises, leaving San Francisco in June, 1877, and returning in June, 1884.” The route included cities in Japan, China, Philippine Islands, Malaya, Ceylon, British Burmah, India, South Africa, Mauritius (or Isle of France), Java, Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, and Queensland.

A Professional Directory was divided by: Actors and Actresses; Managers, Agents, Etc.; Dramatic Authors, Adapters, Etc.; Musical Directors, Composers, Etc.; Dramatic Agents; and Scenic Artists. The final portion of the publication was a “Theatre Directory.” Miner wrote, “The ‘Theatre Directory’ has been prepared with the view of serving the interests of both the combination and theatre manager. Its design is to give the manager of the combination every fact about a town or theatre which he must know, or which it is desirable he should know before booking his attraction.”

In addition to the United States (39), the Directory included US Territories (Arizona, Dakota, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, Washington and Wyoming), Canada, and Mexico. After the Theatre Directory, there was also a listing of Dramatic and Musical Editors and Critics, Combinations Upon the Road, Nov. 1, 1884, and the Routes of Harry Miner’s Specialty Company. The Specialty Company Routes started with the season of 1879-1880.

There was also a section on the Time Differences, Population, Air-line and Railroad Distances from New York to Fifty Cities, and distances around the world too. This section is absolutely fascinating.

To be continued…

 

Part 616: Theatrical Guides – W. H. Donaldson and His Cipher for Drunkenness

“The Donaldson Guide” was published by W. H. Donaldson (1864-1925) in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Col. William H. Donaldson was born in Dayton, Kentucky, the son of William M. Donaldson. After High School, Donaldson worked for his father who ran an art store and picture framing establishment in Cincinnati. His father then established a poster business at 127 West Eighth street, Cincinnati, which later became Donaldson Lithographing Company. Donaldson worked for his father as a salesman and “proved to be remarkably capable, winning and acknowledged place as the best poster salesman in the country” The Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Aug. 1925, page 5). Donaldson rose to nationwide prominence as a circus and theatrical publisher.

In 1894, Donaldson founded and published two new publications – “The Donaldson Guide” and “The Billboard.” That same year, he was appointed Secretary of the Protective League of American Showman (The Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Dec. 1894, page 8). The first issue of the Billboard was published during November at 127 East Eighth Street, Cincinnati, containing only eight pages, with its contents being devoted solely and entirely to bill-posting, poster-printing and advertising agency interests. In 1899, the Donaldson plant moved to Newport, Kentucky. Donaldson remained with the business until 1904 when he resigned to devote his entire time the Billboard. He was the president of the Billboard Publishing Company.

The Donaldson Guide was published “for the use of showmen, theatrical managers, circus managers, managers of opera-houses, dramatic, musical, and variety agents, bill posters, show printers, costumers, and all Persons identified or connected with the show business in an manner whatever.”

The publication was advertised as, “containing a list of all opera-houses in the United States and Canada with description of their stages, their seating capacity, and the names of the managers of each; the populations of cities, and the names and population of adjacent towns to draw from; the names of city bill-posters, baggage express men, hotels, boarding-houses, newspapers, vaudeville resorts, museum, beer gardens, fairs, race meetings, circus licenses, and miscellaneous facts, dates, etc., of great value to managers.” Donaldson Guide also noted that it was published “in conjunction with the Showman’s Encyclopedia, “the International Professional Register,” and “the complete code of the Donaldson cipher.” Wow – a lot of stuff.

The Showman’s Encyclopedia was noted as “A compilation of information for showmen, performers, agents, and everyone identified with the theatrical, vaudeville, or circus business, such as ticket tables, internet tables, the address of show-painters, costumes, dramatic agents, theatrical architects, scenic artists, aeronauts, playwrights, etc…” and “the International Professional Register, a directory of the names and address of dramatic people, variety people, minstrel people, circus people, freaks, acrobats, operatic artists, musicians, and farce-comedy artists.

The Donaldson cipher and key are absolutely intriguing. Here is what was offered:

TO CONSTRUCT a message use the Key to the Cipher. The phrases will be found arranged under convenient headings, with directions under each for finding readily any needed clause.

TO DECIPHER a message use the Index to the Cipher. The cipher words are all arranged alphabetically, and can be found as quickly as in a dictionary.

TELEGRAPH IN CIPHER TO the manager of any Opera House, Theatre, Museum, Music-Hall, or Vaudeville Resort; any Show-Printer, Costumer, Dramatic, Variety, or Vaudeville Agent, or “The Clipper,” “Mirror,” “Dramatic News,” “Dramatic Weekly, “Dramatic Journal,” “dramatic Star,” “Music and Drama,” or any theatrical paper whatever in the United States or Canada, whose name appears in the Guide or Encyclopædia. A copy of the index of the Donaldson Cipher has been sent to each and every one of then free of charge. Remember, if the names of any person engaged in any of the callings appear in either the GUIDE or ENCYCLOPÆDIA, you may telegraph to them in cipher with perfect impunity.

THE ADVANTAGES of the Cipher are many and varied. Foremost among them, of course, is the great savings which may be had in the matter of telegraph charges. A glance at the following pages can not fail to demonstrate the truth of this assertion to the entire satisfaction of even the most skeptical, for there are few messages indeed which can not be kept within the limit of ten words prescribed by telegraph companies. But economy is not the only advantage it has to recommend it. The mere fact that the message is unintelligible to anyone except the party for whom it is intended is often times a source of wonderful satisfaction, both to the sender and recipient; and this, added to the fact that experience has proven that there is less danger of errors, confusion, and mistakes in cipher message than those couched in ordinary language, renders it a most desirable medium of communication.”

The key to the Donaldson cipher included phrases pertaining to actors, actresses, addresses, advertisements, aeronauts, agencies, agency business, agents, answers, attractions, billing, bill-boards, booking, burlesque people, business manager, calcium lights, calls, canvas-maker, circus manager, circus people, C.O.D. shipments, collections, concert, couriers, dates (printing house, calendar), deposits, dodgers, dramatic people-men, dramatic people-women, drunkenness, duns, engagements-artist to manager, engagements-manager to artist, expenses, financial straits, free list, hangers, heralds, hippodrome, house show, instructions-manager to agent, leaders, letter-style of, lithograph boards, lithographers, lithographs, local manager, mail, managers of combinations, managers of opera houses, managing editor, measurements, medicine show, minstrel people, money, musicians, no (street numbers, catalogue numbers, etc.), numerals (for quantities, amounts, etc., but not money), operatic people, opposition, orders, paper, partner, percentages, posters, printer, printing, programmes, property man, prospects, qualifications of people, receipts, remittances, repertoire people, reports, routes, salary, samples, sharing, shipping instructions, shows, side-show or museum, sizes, spaces, special delivery, specialties, stage carpenter, stands, streamers, terms, time of day, traveling managers, two weeks’ notice, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, Variety People, weather, and window work-lithographers.

The fact that any cipher was created to relay information about drunkenness says a lot. Here are a few examples for your amusement.

Unacted….I (we) understand my (or our) agent is drinking

Unactive…If this is the case wire me at once

Unapt….Let me know if he is in condition to transact business

Unarm….I understand that you are drinking

Unasked….Sober up at once

Unawed….And get down to business in dead earnest

Unbar….Or I shall discharge you forthwith

Unbed….I have no sympathy or patience with a drunkard

Unbend….Do not let him have any money

Unbit….Try and sober up

Charter….Any information you may see fit to let me (or us) have will be gratefully received and treated strictly confidential.

 

Hopefully the person operating the telegraph or delivering the telegram did not moonlight at the theatre. I wonder how often someone received:

Unarm. Unasked. Unawed. Unbar.

The Cincinnati Enquirer reported “Mr. Donaldson was a member of the Masonic Order and Odd Fellows, to which he devoted much attention” (2 Aug. 1925, page 5). Donaldson passed away in 1925. An article in the “Cincinnati Enquirer” reported that “Colonel Donaldson founded the Billboard and published it until two years. Ago. He was interested in prison reform, employed many former convicts upon release from prison, and declared that he was never defrauded by any of them” (4 Aug. 1925, page 2). He was survived by his widow Jennie (Hassan) and daughter Marjorie (Mrs. Roger S. Littleford), his father William H. and three brothers (Andrew, Lincoln and Archibald) and two sisters (Mrs. Charles Longley and Mrs. Dr. George W. Brown). Donaldson’s death in Sarasota Florida at the relatively young age of 61 came as a shock to his family. Having been in failing health for some time, he came to Sarasota at the suggestion of his friends, Charles and John Ringling (The Jacksonville Daily Journal, 2 Aug. 1925, page 3).

To be continued…