by Midnight Freemason Guest Contributor
Bro. Steve Carrobis 32°
Editors note: This article in a condensed version appears in the February 2015 issue of The Northern Light, which is the AASR (Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite) of the NMJ (Northern Masonic Jurisdiction) magazine. Here for the first time it appears in it's entirety.
What does a mason do when they see a Masonic artifact in a
place outside a lodge? Will you leave it, as it brings light to the craft? Do
you rescue it from a place where it isn’t appreciated? I was in such a position
and I chose the latter.
My son was accepted to R.I.T (Rochester Institute of
technology) and we made the long drive to see the campus, in Rochester NY.
Once the family got situated at the hotel, we went to the nearby TGI Fridays. I
normally get a seat facing the front door, this time was no exception.
As I sat and talked to my family, I looked at all the
“ornaments” that TGI Friday’s normally hangs on the walls, oars/cowbells,
etc. I noticed something remarkable
hanging next to the door and shook my head in disbelief. Here of all places? I
turned to my wife and excused myself “Honey I need to check to see if what I am
seeing is what I think” She rolled her eyes and then smiled, this was code for
ok I found something that will only interest me and not her.
To my surprise it was a Scottish Rite reunion photo from
1913, labeled City Masons. I snapped the photo and sent it to a few brothers
that were also Scottish Rite masons. Our waitress comes along and asks if
everything is all right and do you need anything else?
Me: “Yes it’s fine, but do you know where they get the stuff
on the wall?”
Waitress: "No."
Me: “May I see the manager and ask him?”
Waitress: “Sure one moment please...”
Manager: “Hi sir may I help you, is there a problem?”
Me: “No, I was just curious where all the items hanging on
the walls come from? “
Manager: “From our warehouses.”
Me: “Where do they get them from?”
Manager: “I am not really sure. I guess estate sales and
donations.”
Me: “To be perfectly honest, I am a Scottish Rite mason and
how may I relieve you of that photo on the wall?” He looks over and replies:
“Give me a few minutes." After looking at the photo and then going to the back
room the manager returned: “Make me an offer.” To which I replied: “25 dollars.”
he counters “20 dollars – sold.” He then removes the photo and frame, from the
wall, wraps it up and hands it to me.
The photo’s journey was on its next leg, back to my home in Rockland County NY.
At home, I study the photo and find it was taken by a firm from Indianapolis. Since
traveling in 1913 was expensive it made perfect sense this was done for that
valley. I researched to see if the photo was genuine by checking the internet
for any of the brothers, in the photo. I found 3 of them, one of which owned a
drugstore in Broad Ripple.
I tried several venues in contacting the Valley and finally
reached Brother Mark Dill, 33rd degree mason, at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in
Indianapolis. We talked about the photo’s journey thus far, winding up in
a TGI Friday’s in Rochester and now in my house
in Rockland County.
He was delighted and then checked the picture room.
They
have photos since 1880 and indeed it was an actual photo. The original is 3’x7’
and they would appreciate a smaller copy to be hung in the museum room, which
was being updated in preparation for the 150 year anniversary in the state of Indiana taking place in
2015. Also, he would be happy to reimburse me the $20 purchase price and to
please ship it to them, as he didn’t want me to go out my way, time and
expense, for something that can be easily shipped. To which I exclaimed: “My
brother, it isn’t about the money and we are traveling men, it would be my
honor to visit and present it to you in person."
A year later, I am working in Ohio
and 5 hours away from Indianapolis.
After several Masonic visitations in Ohio,
I let some of the brothers know that I was journeying to the Cathedral to
return the photo and asked if anyone wanted to come along. Two brothers: Cory Miller
and Mike Zanella, from the Valley
of Columbus, accompanied
me on the historic journey. (Thank you
my Brothers for the company, fellowship and photos taken).
The photo was returned 101 years to the month for the 2014
reunion, which I was unaware that it was being held.
We were given the grand tour of the Scottish Rite Cathedral,
which was simply amazing and I believe all masons should see this marvelous
landmark to the craft.
Timeline of the Photo:
 |
| Bro Steve Carrobis (left) presents the frame and photos. |
Indianapolis
March 1913, owner of the picture is yet unknown.
Date?? Somehow it wound up in a TGI Friday’s warehouse.
April 2013: Found 100
years later, on the wall of the TGI Friday’s in Rochester NY,
and retrieved.
March 2014: Brought to Ohio,
where brothers got to see it and then journey with me to Indianapolis for its final stop.
101 years, the visage of 46 brothers traveled from Indianapolis to New York,
to Ohio and finally back to its home in Indiana to hang on the
wall of their museum with a most unique history.
~SC
Bro. Steve Carrobis is a member of Warwick Masonic Lodge #544, the Valley of the Hudson A.A.S.R, NMJ, Rockland Valley Chapter No. 204 Royal Arch Masons, Goshen Council #93, and is a Trustee and Webmaster for ORDMA (Orange-Rockland District Masonic Association) http://ordma.org/