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Hats off!
Area Masons keep in step with 75th anniversary
BY LISA ROOKE, TIMES RECORD
A fraternal organization with deep historic roots will soon celebrate 75 years in the area.
Ceremonies of the Western Arkansas Scottish Rite, a higher branch of the Mason fraternity, have graced the eloquent halls of the Fort Smith Masonic Temple for nearly three quarters of a decade. Yet famous Masons such as Albert Pike, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin and Paul Revere helped secure the ground on which the organization is free to congregate.
“The history is what got me,” said 30-year-old Master Mason Brian Kinsey of Fort Smith. “It just intrigued me to think there was a fraternity of men that is that rich with that much history, that actually formed that much policy and tradition and custom. I thought if George Washington was a Mason, there must be something to it.”
Each of the stair steps in the Masonic Temple blue room represents a key component in the value system of the Masonic fraternity.
Photos by Kaia Larsen / Times Record
Masons wear caps that associate them with the degree of knowledge and dedication to the brotherhood that they have achieved in the fraternity.
The temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. Thousands of men have been raised to the degree of master Mason through ceremonies held in the blue room.
Kinsey will be one of many Masons in the area to join the ranks of the Western Arkansas Scottish Rite in a special closed ceremony Sept. 16 at the temple. The select organization has just less than 3,000 members from Missouri to Louisiana. It is one of three Scottish Rites with other headquarters located in Little Rock and West Memphis.
The Mason mission is to promote the fatherhood of God and brotherhood of man. Members need not be from a specific religious denomination, but must support values instilled through God’s work.
“We believe in the supreme being and try to live our lives that we might recognize that all of us are created to work together and do the best we can in life,” explained Former General Secretary Robert A. Vowell.
The organization’s principles reach even further into history, based on ideals established by stone quarry masons in ancient times.
“The stone masons, years ago when they were building the great cathedrals in Europe, would lodge on the grounds of the building site, thus we have the name ‘lodge,’” explained Vowell.
On rainy days when they were unable to work, the masons would teach lessons and enjoy fellowship, as do current Masons. Though the Scottish Rite is dedicated to male fellowship, branches such as the Order of the Eastern Star and the Rainbow Girls allow female members.
The Scottish Rite brotherhood is comprised of Masons who have reached the ranks of master through demonstration of dedication to the values of the organization. Its members are tasked with promoting the good of public schools through charitable action. The local Scottish Rite has placed about three Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Dyslexia programs within public school districts free of charge. They also offer scholarships for continued education of elementary school teachers and for handicapped children to participate in the Special Olympics.
“I was motivated to get into the Scottish Rite because my father and grandfather were active in Masonry and both were active in the Scottish Rite,” said Venerable Master of the Western Arkansas Scottish Rite John Beasley of Fort Smith, who joined in 1978. “I think it is a unique opportunity for men to have fellowship. Also, we study good moral principles on how to work and live and we try to make contributions to our society both nationally and locally through philanthropic efforts.”
Most Masonic meetings around the globe are held in temples, recognizing the importance of the ancient builders. The Fort Smith Masonic Temple, located at 200 N. 11th St., was constructed in 1928 and was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992 for maintaining much of its original Egyptian motif.
It is also known by many for the theater — the Malco — it housed from the mid ’40s to 1972, Vowell said.
“A lot of folks saw their first pictures here,” he said of the movies that were shown at the location.
New and seasoned Scottish Rite members will celebrate the local organization’s 75-year history Sept. 15 at a 6 p.m. special reception at the temple. Keynote speaker will be Lt. Grand Commander of the Supreme Council of Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry Ron Seale of Baton Rouge, La. Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Arkansas Scottish Rite Dwane Treat of Searcy will bring greetings from the 13,000 Scottish Rite Masons across the state.
A special anniversary reunion class will be held along with the induction of new members Sept. 16 in a closed ceremony. For information about the celebrations or the Masons, call Vowel at 782-8000 or toll-free at 1-800-696-0715.
Reporter’s e-mail: lrooke@swtimes.com
