Cannonball Paul

When Missouri Freemason Paul Creason launched his career, he did it literally.  Because, Missouri Masons, you have a brother who was a GEN-U-INE human cannonball.  Brother Paul "Zacchinni" Creason is a member of Forsyth Lodge #453.  While many of us have worked to support the Shrine Circus, Brother Paul can brag that he has actually been a performer in it.  He came well-prepared for his rare skill being a graduate of the "Gil Gray School Of Circus Experience", & "Paul Kaye Circus University."  The admittedly grainy video below shows Brother Paul "going ballistic" in one of his many death-defying performances.  It is a clip of a longer video courtesy Yesterday's Towns.

Thanks to Todd Creason for the tip on Brother Paul.  One of Todd's articles was featured in the current "Missouri Freemason" and, seeing they had the same name, "Cannonball Paul" contacted Todd. They're not sure they are related but they are Brothers nonetheless.  Todd's article on Brother Paul can be found on his blog, The Midnight Freemasons

Thayendanegea

Joseph Brant (Thayendanegea), Mohawk Chief and later Chief of the Six Nations, was the first recorded Native American Freemason.  Somewhat controversial because of his efforts as a warrior and soldier, Brant is known to have spared at least four Brothers who made an appeal to him with the grand hailing sign of distress. Raised in Hiram's Cliftonian Lodge 417, London, WB Brant was also the first Master of Lodge 11, Brantford, Mohawk Village.  In 1787, Brother Brant translated and published the Gospel of Mark into the Mohawk language.  In 1807 he died and was buried near what today is the town of Burlington, Ontario.  In 1850, several young tribesmen carried his remains in a 34 mile relay from his original grave site to the Chapel of the Mohawks in Brantford, where it rests today.

Brother Nicholas' Recruiting Program

On November 5, 1775, the Second Continental Congress commissioned Samuel Nicholas "Captain of Marines" making him the first Marine officer and, by definition, the first Commandant of the Marine Corps.  Brother Nicholas, Lodge 13, Philadelphia, faced a tough recruiting environment head-on by opening his office in the Tun Tavern and provisioning the corps with sharp uniforms of red, white, black, and green that appealed not only to the young recruits but, possibly more importantly, to young ladies.

The Penniless Oil Baron

Edwin L. Drake, Oil Creek Lodge 303 (Now Titusville Lodge 754), drilled the world's first successful oil well in August of 1859.  Seneca oil hired Drake to manage the project but the company was only halfheartedly committed to the effort.  Seneca was so underfunded it hired Drake mainly because, as a former railroad employee, he had free use of the rails.  When the project did not produce immediate results, Seneca bailed out and left Drake on his own.  Brother Drake developed successful drilling techniques which are in use yet today, but failed to patent them and died penniless, having pioneered an industry that has made others billions.

Brother Perkins' Amazing Contraption

The nearly-forgotten Jacob Perkins (1766-1849), St. Peter's Lodge, Newburyport, MA was such a prolific inventor he probably ranks with the likes of Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Edison.  Among his inventions were coinage dies, the first refrigerator, a machine for making nails, improved engraving plates, a "bathometer" to measure the depth of water and a "pleometer" to mark with precision the speed with which a vessel moved through water.  He also engraved England's first adhesive-backed postage stamp, the famous "penny black."  Perhaps his most intriguing invention, however, was the ridiculous-sounding steam gun.  Demonstrations of the amazing contraption fascinated the public.  The weapon was capable of shooting 1,000 rounds per minute and could penetrate its ball-shaped projectiles through eleven one-inch pine boards at a distance of 35 yards.  Perkins even invented an accessory that allowed the gun to shoot around corners, a derivative of which was used in World War II.  In other words, in a day when muskets fired a single bullet and required a tedious reloading process, Brother Perkins invented the ultimate weapon.  The military, however, although impressed by the gun's overwhelming firing power and accuracy, rejected it because it was so powerful it deformed the bullets!

President Harding's Last Speech

Brother Warren G. Harding's last speech was delivered after his death.  Brother Harding had planned to make an address at a meeting of Hollywood Commandery 56, KT, on August 2, 1923, but died earlier that day.  His private secretary, Sir Knight George B. Christian, Marion Lodge 70, Ohio, attended in his stead.  In front of a somber and saddened gathering, Brother Christian gave the speech the President had planned to deliver.

Largest Master's Chair

Ophir Lodge 33, Murphys, California has the largest known Master's chair, measuring 15 feet long.  The chair seats the Master, Past Master and all visiting dignitaries. In use for decades, Ophir now keeps the chair in its upstairs "Museum Lodge" and uses it on special occasions and when performing degree work for other Lodges.

Adding Fuel To The Fire

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania dedicated its second home, located on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, in 1809.  A magnificent building for its time, the Philadelphia Masonic Hall was one of that city's landmarks until March 9, 1819.  On that evening, as Washington Lodge 59 was meeting there, a chimney fire swept through the building, completely destroying it.  No one was hurt, and Lodge members saved some property by carrying it out of the building, but much was lost as the fire erupted into what was described as "a great conflagration."  Reports say the inferno became so intense it was visible in New Castle, Delaware, 32 miles away.  A letter from Rebecca Gratz (1781-1869), who lived next door, describes the incident in detail.  In it, she makes it clear the building might have been saved but for the fact that the volunteer firemen who came to fight the fire were drunk!  As the evening progressed and it became clear the Masonic Hall was lost and Ms. Gratz' house was safe, the evening became almost festive as Ms. Gratz added fuel to the fire — pun intended — by serving alcoholic beverages to the fire fighters.

The Rifle That Served For 70 Years

Odus Creamer Horney (1866-1957), Alamo Lodge 44, San Antonio, was an armed forces officer who eventually attained the rank of Brigadier General.  A tinkerer by nature, he developed a new, more comfortable and durable riding saddle for the military.  Then, not satisfied with the standard issue rifle, he designed and built a new model which became the US military's most famous standard issue weapon.  His invention, the Springfield Rifle M1903 was so good it was the standard issue from 1905 through World War II and, although finally replaced by the M1, remained the army's sniper rifle through that conflict, Korea and even Viet Nam, in an astonishing run of nearly 70 years.

Elbridge Gerry's Redistricting Scheme

Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), Philanthropic Lodge of Marblehead, Massachusetts, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, fifth Vice President of the US, Governor of Massachusetts, a congressman, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and more.  He is mainly remembered, however, for his efforts to redistrict Massachusetts in an attempt to keep Republicans in power, a tactic which political parties have employed since.  His actions sparked such controversy at the time that his contemporary pundits named the process after him: Gerrymandering.

By The Grace Of God And Two Revolvers

John M. Chivington (1821-1894) was the first Master of the first Lodge in Kansas and also the first Grand Master of Colorado.  A Methodist minister, Brother Chivington was paradoxically both a missionary to Native American tribes and an Indian fighter.  He was such a staunch abolitionist his predominately pro-slavery Missouri congregation threatened to tar and feather him.  His reaction was to take the pulpit with a Bible and two pistols and announce, "By the grace of God and these two revolvers, I am going to preach here today."

Panty Raid

A Grand Lodge of California account from the mid-1960s describes a crime in which a Brother had been convicted of the theft of clothing, including 181 pairs of women's undergarments.  The official police report described the incident as a "panty raid," stemming from the popular (and self-explanatory) hi-jinx occurring on college campuses at the time.  The Brother came up on Masonic charges.  In order to distinguish his serious crime from some youthful indiscretion, the Grand Lodge of California Proceedings for that year included the following: "We do not wish to be misunderstood as overemphasizing the gravity of that specification against the accused in which he is charged with a 'panty raid.' Indulgence in such conduct by boys of college age for the purpose of displaying either skill or courage, if that be the purpose, differs from the conduct of the accused here, in that the theft of 181 pairs of ladies pants is not merely a playful prank."

The King Who Rewrote The Ritual

King Charles XIII of Sweden, prior to taking the throne, rewrote the entire Masonic ritual used in his country.  After his coronation, the King created the 11th degree of the Swedish Rite: the Civil Order of Charles XIII.

Club 33

Although many people have speculated about Walt Disney's Masonic ties, he was not a Freemason.  However, Disney was in fact a DeMolay and was always supportive of the Masonic fraternity. He even sponsored a Magic Kingdom Mason's club for the employees in his parks.  He also created the very exclusive Club 33 on his Magic Kingdom campus which caused further speculation about his Masonic status.  Membership in the lavish Club 33 is quite expensive and although some members are known (mainly corporate memberships) the roster is supposed to be "secret," which further fuels the crazed conspiracy theorist frenzy.  This week, Disney Corporation announced it would open membership to the mysterious club for the first time in a decade.  Reports say only 13 new spots are open.  If you're lucky enough to get one expect to pay a $25,000 initiation fee and annual dues of $10,000. A spot on the waiting list is free but, unfortunately the waiting list is full, too.  It's also a secret who's on the waiting list and should you get on it, your position on the list is secret, even to you.  It must be Masonic.

Frenzy Of Persecution

Aaron Burr was disgraced and politically ruined when, as Vice President of the US, he killed Alexander Hamilton in an illegal duel. Subsequently, Burr conspired to seize territory in the Southwest and declare himself Emperor of the country he planned to establish there.  Burr's co-conspirator, James Wilkinson, Governor of Northern Louisiana Territory and Commander-in-Chief of the US Army, betrayed him.  Authorities then captured Burr and tried him for treason.  Acquitted on a technicality, Burr Fled to Europe.  Burr was never a Freemason; however, in their frenzy of persecution following the Morgan Affair, anti-Masons not only claimed Burr was a member of the fraternity, but also insisted he used the Royal Arch cipher as a coded method of communicating with his co-conspirators.

The Brother Who Invaded Canada

Lucius V. Bierce was a member of Akron Lodge 83 and served as Grand Master of Ohio in 1854.  Sensing discord among Canadians manifested by scattered rebellions, and holding a strong belief in the interest of liberty he determined to help his neighbors to the north.  In 1838 he led a band of followers from Detroit into Windsor, Ontario, and attacked Canada!  His battle cry was, "Save Canadians from the Crown!"  Unfortunately for MWB Bierce, the vast majority of Canadians did not want to be saved, and they quickly defeated his well-intentioned militia.

A New Start

I have recently made this blog invitation only in order to eliminate some issues I was having.  Prior to doing that, in order to maintain the privacy of the blog, I saved many of the posts as drafts.  It will take a while to get them published again and to start publishing new posts as well.