The Masonic Con That Almost Wasn't

by Midnight Freemason Contributor

Robert H. Johnson

Reminiscing

I've written about a bunch of "Masonic Conventions" that I've been to. Advocating, reviewing, and generally praising those few lodges out there with a dream of creating something more. Something that seems impossible--something that embodies the best-imagined things you ever had. If you're like me, it means sitting at a small dining room table coated with a wood veneer. You know the kind. It looks halfway decent until you sit at it every day, and the edges are cracking. It keeps poking your forearms. You resist the urge to pick at it, less your dad gives you a whoopin'.

I'd sit there every morning, resisting the urge to pick at the table, slurping my Cocoa Krispy cereal, daydreaming. I'd dream about all things fantastic. Sometimes it was about cartoons, sometimes it was movies, and sometimes it was Batman, racing the Batmobile around the kitchen table--swerving around my cereal bowl. 

As we get older, our daydreams shift into things that we're actively involved in or want to be involved in. Getting that promotion. Getting picked up to play triple-A ball. Or maybe it's bringing a ton of brothers from around the country into one lodge, with a full day of programming and dinner. That's just what Bryan Simmons did a few years ago. He called some great speakers, got his entire lodge to help out, spread the word, and charged $5 per head at the door. Hundreds of brothers from all around the country showed up at Ezekiel Bates' doors. And then, he did it again, and again and...not again. 

Yep, another Covid sob-story

Covid struck with a vengeance. Our lodges around the world shut down. It was like watching Toys R Us go out of business--every day. Your soul hurt. So Bryan and Ezekiel Bates pushed out the conference in 2020 in the hopes they would be better able to accommodate the hundreds that would normally attend. The money had been collected, spent, and people were waiting--stakeholders chomping at the bit to get a taste of this thing, now in its 4th year. People who'd watched it happen and read the reviews and social media postings about it, thinking at first--this is nothing. The minds transitioned from indifference to curiosity, to yet a compulsion to come, and then--the conference got moved out because of the pandemic.

Summer rolled around, and Massachusettes, like the rest of the world, saw the uptick in Covid cases again. The world that had given us hope--that we were on the other side of this thing had waffled. People let their guards down, cases rose, and restrictions once again forced Bryan and Ezekial Bates to put the Masonic Con on hold. Eventually, 2021 had signs of hope. Ezekial Bates pulled themselves up by their bootstraps, decided on a date, set everything up, and let their speakers know that it was time to secure your airfare once more.

Going for it

We did. We called the airlines, booked our travel, and made our arrangements. May 1st, 2021, was going to be the day that Masonic Con 2020'ish happened. And it did. With close to what seemed like 100 people in person and countless online attendees, the day went off with presentations from some of the most well-known and respected men of our fraternity in modern times.

What if I told you Chuck Dunning and Ben Wallace took the stage together?! Or two Freemasons who are pastures in their respective churches took the stage together? Or a presentation by Tony Crisos, a man who lives the Orphic life, and he explained the system to us all in attendance? All this and more, over a nine-hour day. It was exhausting--but in the best way possible. I had the honor of presenting amongst these titans, and I even got to sit on a panel discussion with Chuck, Ben, and Bryan as they talked about the cognitive and emotional direction of the Craft in the coming years.

That night we had a festive board which was simply astounding. One bite of the prime rib--I looked over at Alex Powers, the host of Historical Light and Director of the Kansas Lodge of Research, and he was stunned. "Who was the caterer? This is epic." he remarked. I replied, "It was Bryan Simmons. While these presentations were going on, he cooked up over 700 pounds of prime rib." That sounds like an accomplishment in and of itself, now that I type it out. Seven Hundred Pounds!

What the hell's the point, RJ?

You're thinking--Great, another review of another Masonic Education Convention. Why do we want to know about this?

Well, if you've read this far, great. Because something else happened over that weekend. Bonds were made. Not only amongst brothers of the Craft but the wives. I have never in my 11 years as a brother of this fraternity witness what I witnessed. The wives of the lodge members (myself, Alex, and Joe included) hung out all weekend. They were laughing, having drinks, and genuinely enjoying each other's company. It was remarked over the weekend that none of us had received texts from our wives. Yeah--it was like that. They were literally all best friends--sisters. I even heard a rumor they have their own Facebook group now.

A Revolution

Sunday, May 2nd, 2021, I was sitting at a place representative of revolution. Three Freemasons sat at a table in the Green Dragon Tavern. Bryan Simmons, Mike Jarzabek, and I. As we reminisced over the previous day's events, Bryan said something that made us think. "This whole thing--it's just a way for us all to get together. Yeah, there's the Masonry that's for everyone and the fellowship. But look--it's all of us, our wives, and we're using this time to get together and be a family. We don't need Freemasonry to be an excuse to do this."

And it hit me. Freemasonry is the foundation stone of most of our lives. Sometimes we use Freemasonry as an excuse to see people or do something big. But maybe, we don't need it all the time. Maybe we need to remember that the thing that connects us first is our humanity. Remembering this opens up new doors for us to be connected. We don't need a giant Masonic convention as an excuse to come together, but sometimes it helps.

The Future

The next Masonic Con will be in New Hampshire. It will be handed over from Bryan Simmons (The Architect) to Ryan Flynn (renowned fine artist). With the new location, there will come new audiences, new brothers, and new approaches. It's sure to be amazing. While we wait for this next convention in 2022, more conferences are happening this year. In 2021 we're looking forward to:

Esotericon (not exclusive to Freemasonry) June 2021

Cooperstown Masonic Con October 8-10, 2021

And in 2022, we will see the return of even more conventions that took a break due to Covid 19.

South Pasadena Masonic Lodge - Masonic Con 2022

Texas Masonic Con

Masonic Con New Hampshire

Cooperstown Masonic Con 2022, Cooperstown, NYC

Midwest Conference of Masonic Education 2022, Kansas City, MO

Maybe something around the Kansas area even...

There may be even more, and if they happen too-- it will be amazing. I had to answer the question a few times about Masonic Con Chicago, and the answer is, "No. There will not be a Masonic Con Chicago 2021 and likely not even in 2022. The next likely date for it will be in 2023 or after."

Continuing adventures

As for we whose wives have become (according to my wife), a sisterhood, I suppose we're going to be doing a lot more traveling. And as we decide on where to gather just for the hell of it in the coming months, I could not be happier about it. 

~RHJ

RWB Johnson is a Co-Managing Editor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Freemason out of the 2nd N.E. District of Illinois. He currently serves as the Secretary of Spes Novum Lodge No. 1183. He is a Past Master of Waukegan Lodge 78 and a Past District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st N.E. District of Illinois. Brother Johnson currently produces and hosts weekly Podcasts (internet radio programs) Whence Came You? & Masonic Radio Theatre, which focuses on topics relating to Freemasonry. He is also a co-host of The Masonic Roundtable, a Masonic talk show. He is a husband and father of four, works full time in the executive medical industry. He is the co-author of "It's Business Time - Adapting a Corporate Path for Freemasonry," “The Master’s Word: A Short Treatise on the Word, the Light, and the Self – Annotated Edition,” and author of "How to Charter a Lodge: A No-Nonsense, Unsanctioned Guide. More books are on the way.

Thankful for All of You

by Senior Midnight Freemason Contributor
WB Gregory J. Knott

2020 has been tough on all of us with the pandemic that has swept across the world, politics that have divided us, social and civil unrest as voices try to be heard, and what at times can appear to be an uncertain future.  It can be easy to be caught up with what is wrong with the world. 

However, this year has left me grateful to be a member of this awesome fraternity.  When I obtained a new job in January, I received numerous notes and phone calls of congratulations.  When my father passed away this summer, brothers from the lodges I am a member of (Ogden No. 754, Homer No. 199, and St. Joseph No. 970), came and helped with the service and were there to comfort my family.  Upon receiving word that I had been elected to receive the 33rd degree from the Scottish Rite NMJ, again it was these Masonic brothers who called me and again sent notes of congratulations.  It is these brothers that I have called or texted with when I need to ask an opinion or just talk with someone I trust.  

For me, Freemasonry has always been about the brothers I have these shared experiences with.   That common bond that brings us together to meet with one another and to grow and learn from each other.  I am grateful for the experiences they share with me, to help me become a better person.

Like every organization I have ever been associated with, Freemasonry could improve on a number of fronts.  Yes sometimes our meetings are boring and someone might ramble on too long about the roof or those brothers who are delinquent on dues.  I have spent my career working in higher education, and I can think of numerous times when a certain professor went on for what seemed like an hour over a trivial thing.  But these things are part of the package you get when you join or are part of anything.  

I also want to convey my thankfulness to all of you, the readers of the Midnight Freemasons.  For many years you have allowed me and fellow Midnight Freemasons to come into your home, lodge room, or other places to share our thoughts, travels, and views on our amazing fraternity.  The notes that you have sent us, the comments left on social media, the conversations we have had in person, serve as the inspiration to all of us who write for this blog and provide the motivation to continue into the future. 
Best wishes to you and your family this holiday season.

~GJK

WB Gregory J. Knott is a founding member and Senior Contributor of the Midnight Freemasons blog. He is a Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge No. 970 in St. Joseph (IL) and a plural member of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL), Homer Lodge No. 199 (IL) and Naval Lodge No. 4 in Washington, DC. He’s a member of the Scottish Rite, the York Rite, Eastern Star and is the Charter Secretary of the Illini High Twelve Club No. 768 in Champaign-Urbana. He is also a member of ANSAR Shrine (IL) and the Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees. Greg serves on the Board of Directors of The Masonic Society and is a member of the Scottish Rite Research Society and The Philathes Society. He is a charter member of a new Illinois Royal Arch Chapter, Admiration Chapter U.D. and serves as its Secretary. Greg is very involved in Boy Scouts—an Eagle Scout himself, he is a member of the National Association of Masonic Scouters. You can contact him at gknott63@gmail.com

Is 2020 a throw-away year?

 by Midnight Freemason Contributor
Bro. Michael Arce

Now that we have returned to Lodge for a new year, I'm sure we have all shared this experience: it's awkward. That's quite a statement in a year that has been difficult and inconvenient. From watching games with cardboard cutouts of fans and crowd noise played over the speakers, to virtual meetings for everything, this year has been socially distanced. It appears that we have collectively written off 2020. I don't want to suggest this is a throwaway year; that would be an insult to the memories of those we have lost during the pandemic. But you can feel it. Even those with strong will are coping with some form of stress or anxiety over the uncertainty ahead.

Instead of a throwaway, a year meant to be discarded, 2020 is shaping up to be more of a year that deserves an asterisk. We had goals. We had plans, events, and moments that were canceled, delayed, or forfeited. Yet, when we look back on the year 2020, time did pass every day, and history was recorded. To be fair, if there is something worthy of an asterisk, it would be 2020. That mark would be an appropriate symbol for anyone who felt like something was taken from them this year. We could offer it as a consolation for those ready to write off the remaining three months remaining on the calendar.

The one thing I was looking forward to this fall was going back to Lodge. For those who haven't been allowed to meet since March, this meeting had a homecoming feel. Freemasonry is the one institution the provides many levels of support in our daily lives. We seek that sense of normalcy and familiarity that comes when gathering with our Brothers. That evening under new health guidelines, now part of our everyday life, my Lodge came together to elect and install our new officers for the ensuing year. We watched our Master be re-installed for an additional second year, an unexpected break from recent tradition. I thought of the asterisk that would be applied to so many Worshipful Brothers this season; either their year in the East was extended or their term shortened due to the pandemic. 

The discussion during the business of the evening was to determine an amended Trestleboard. We would be moving from two regularly scheduled meetings a month in our building to one for the remainder of 2020. Our first meeting of the month would be tiled, in Lodge. Our Master suggested that the second meeting be reserved for gathering socially for dinner at a restaurant that could accommodate our group. Time being a great thickener of things, the hope is that we can assess and make changes accordingly in the new year. I could almost see the asterisk appearing as I updated the meeting dates on my iPhone's calendar.

Freemasonry was going to be different this year, for sure.

But I wasn't going to let this be a throwaway year.

I shared this thought with a colleague during our daily lunch break walk. Not the Lodge meeting experience, but the business concept of a "write-off" applied to 2020. We discussed pandemic fatigue, a persistent low-grade form of depression attached to the COVID-19 pandemic. She shared a new trend, "doomscrolling," which is constantly checking your phone for the latest bad news on social media. No surprise, this habit has significantly increased in recent weeks. Then she laughed and said, "this is something you should ask a therapist." So, I did.

Bro. Erik Marks, a Midnight Freemason contributor, is a clinical social worker. He's also a friend who is now used to getting my unsolicited phone calls that often become the fodder for late-night talks. As I recapped what I have shared with you, Dear Reader, I included a point that Bro. Marks made during his appearance on the https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/meetactpart/episodes/2020-05-02T15_06_04-07_00. In May, he was a guest on an episode discussing mental health and Freemasonry. At that time, Bro. Marks outlined how some of the things we have learned during the shutdown could be beneficial when Lodges reopened. "It's actually effective to meet once a month online," he suggested. He recounted a virtual gathering he attended where he reunited with three Brothers online who had moved out of state. These Brothers were able to connect thanks to technology. "To me, that was incredibly valuable because it wasn't Lodge; it wasn't ritual... In an odd way, I was grateful." 

Fast forward five months to our after-hours phone call at the end of September, and Bro. Marks still held the same feelings. Yes, this is going to be a different year. But to those Master Masons recently raised, it is on the rest of us to continue our time-honored traditions and create value in their experience. A newly made Mason should not know the difference in their Entered Apprentice degree conferred under COVID guidelines; the ritual must be the focus. Perhaps focusing on personal development, an internal assessment of our own improvement is most needed during this time of social distancing. For Brothers who have moved into leadership roles, now is the time we can work with new line officers on the details of their chair. Yes, this year is one that can be productive, investing in making good men better.

As our conversation progressed through the evening, I connected a Masonic lesson to the times. There is a line of ritual that http://www.midnightfreemasons.org/2019/02/having-been-tried-never-denied.html. I have previously explored on the Midnight Freemasons blog,We don't have to know how to navigate through each situation or lesson - we must trust "someone who has." Having been tried, never denied, and ready to be tried again prepares one for the lifetime of learning as a Freemason. I've often searched for a practical application of the deeper meaning of being tried. There is no doubt an example was produced when our life suddenly changed in mid-March. Although the universe has presented this pandemic to all of us, a singular event has generated multiple experiences and outcomes. We are being tried. And honestly, it's a daily occurrence. As my teenagers say, "the struggle is real," because it is. Every day brings a new change that probes the boundaries of our acceptance and understanding. This can be personal, professional, or something larger than ourselves --- a movement, world event, or natural disaster. There is no asterisk next to 2020, rather an ever-present test, one that will not be simply dismissed on January 1, 2021.

Our task as Freemasons must be to remain upright men. To continue to employ the Working Tools in our everyday interactions. Most importantly, we must accept and embrace that we are being tried by internal and external forces. Instead of discouraging a Mason, these trials breed confidence deeper than any challenge dares to cross. We have the familiarity of never being denied. And, the perseverance to be tried again.

~MA

Brother Michael Arce is a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge #3 in Albany, New York. When not in Lodge, Bro. Arce is the Marketing Manager for Capital Cardiology Associates in Albany, New York. He enjoys meeting new Brothers and hearing how the Craft has enriched their lives. He can be reached at michael.arce@me.com