Government, like dress, is the badge of lost innocence; the palaces of kings are built on the ruins of the bowers of paradise.
For were the impulses of conscience clear, uniform, and irresistibly obeyed, man would need no other lawgiver; but that not being the case, he finds it necessary to surrender up a part of his property to furnish means for the protection of the rest; and this he is induced to do by the same prudence which in every other case advises him out of two evils to choose the least.
Wherefore, security being the true design and end of government, it unanswerably follows that whatever form thereof appears most likely to ensure it to us, with the least expense and greatest benefit, is preferable to all others.
—Thomas Paine, Common Sense, February, 1776
After Delays, Grand Lodge Holds Historic Annual Session, Elects and Installs New Grand Master
Most Worshipful Grand Master Jimmie Steen being installed at the 2020 Grand Lodge Annual Session
Last week an historic annual session of the Grand Lodge of Louisiana was held at the Grand Lodge Offices and the Masonic Temple on Horseshoe Drive in Alexandria, Louisiana. Due to the restrictions placed on large gatherings by Governor John Bel Edwards, the Grand Lodge had to hold an executive session, per the procedures outlined in the Handbook of Masonic Law. These procedures are from the World War II era, when such an executive session and mail in ballot were first necessary due to restrictions by government officials, and were put into law in the 1950s. This history is outlined in a recent publication by the Grand Lodge.
Saturday, June 27th, 2020, started with a quorum of Grand Lodge officers present where mailed in ballots were sorted, counted and recorded by appointed ballot tellers in the presence of witnesses in a closed meeting. Following the counting of ballots, the Grand Lodge session was moved to the Masonic Temple where Grand Master Steve Pence presided over a few points of business, followed by the official ballot results being announced by the Grand Secretary, and in closing, the Grand Master gave a farewell speech before going to refreshment. The rest of the afternoon was spent installing officers and with presentations being given.
Louisiana's newest chartered lodge, New Borne No. 500, presented a check for $10,000 to the Masonic Learning Center
Following his installation, Most Worshipful Grand Master Jimmie Steen gave the following speech:
My Brothers,
Thank you for the wonderful honor you have bestowed on me by electing me to the high office of Grand Master. As I take the reigns of our Grand Lodge and its highest office, I am humbled by the confidence you have invested in me and I am awed by the sense of responsibility I now feel to each and every one of you, my Louisiana brothers.
I would be remiss if I did not thank a few people. First, thanks to my wife Clare who has stood by me on this journey through the Grand Lodge line. You may have my time over the next few months while I’m Grand Master, but Clare has my heart.
Also, a huge thank you to Most Worshipful Bro. Steve Storm Alan Pence, newly minted Past Grand Master. M∴ W∴ Bro. Pence has shown great wisdom and leadership during these trying and troubling times, and he deserves the thanks of the entire Grand Lodge of Louisiana. Throughout his time as Grand Master, M∴ W∴ Bro. Pence has made peace and harmony, not just a catchy phrase, but a reality in our lodges. In addition, he has become a good friend and confidant, and he has my deepest personal thanks.
I also wish to thank the Grand Lodge officers who have agreed to serve with me this year. Your hard work and loyalty are appreciated and I know that together we will accomplish great things for our Grand Lodge.
There are too many others to list and I would surely forget someone if I attempted to list all the people who deserve my thanks. Rest assured that each of you, in some way, has helped me become the Grand Master I am today, and I deeply appreciate you.
Our Grand Lodge labors in uncertain times. COVID-19 still poses a threat to our membership and brings an uncertain future. We do not know when things will return to “normal” and our Lodges will reopen at full capacity with no restrictions. This severely limits our ability to plan for the upcoming year. While I look forward to seeing many of you in your lodges, we must ensure that larger gatherings are safe before planning. The health and safety of our brethren are of utmost importance to me and will be at the forefront of my decisions going forward.
Yet, despite the pandemic, Masonry still marches toward the light. As a friend likes to say, the doors to the Lodge Hall may be closed, but Masonry is open for business. We still have opportunities to spread light to our communities, peace, and harmony within our lodges, and charity to those less fortunate than us. In short, we still can be Masons. The world today does not need new fancy programs or phrases. It needs Masons living by the teachings of Masonry.
I truly hope the peace and harmony that have pervaded this last year will continue. Masonry simply works better when we are of one accord. Let us not return to those days when the Grand Lodge was plagued by disunity and confrontation. Instead, let us continue the path of peace and harmony.
Finally, my brethren, as lofty as the office of Grand Master may be, it is not the highest honor I have ever received in Masonry. That honor goes to that white lambskin apron, plain and unadorned, which I received the night I was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. I have been entrusted with the rule and government of this Grand Lodge for a short time. However, that white apron teaches me, and you, that we are all Masons, equal, and on the level. While I have dreams for our Grand Lodge that I hope to enact this year, my most cherished dream is that we will treat each other the way we were taught the night we first put on that white apron, with brotherly love.
Thank you and God bless you.
Following the installation of Grand Officers, the Grand Lodge was closed with peace and harmony prevailing. This was indeed an historic year for our Grand Lodge session, and after delays outside of the Grand Master Steve Pence's hands, the fraternity was finally able to come together as best it could to handle the necessary business of the Grand Lodge.
The results of the Grand Officer Elections are as follows:
Grand Master: MW James E. "Jimmie" Steen
Deputy Grand Master: RW Terrell D. "Terry" Fowler
Grand Senior Warden: RW Jay B. McCallum
Grand Secretary: MWB Woody D. Bilyeu
Grand Treasurer: RW Charles R. Smith
Celebrating the Birth of our Nation, and 244 Years
Since Our Declaration of Independence.
Happy Independence Day Brethren!
(Click Image to Read Declaration of Independence in its entirety)
Signers of the Declaration of Independence known to be Freemasons.
William Ellery of Rhode Island,
Member of First Lodge of Boston, 1748
Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania,
Grand Master of Pennsylvania, 1734
John Hancock of Massachusetts,
Member of Merchants Lodge No. 277 in Quebec,
and St. Andrews Lodge in Boston, 1762
Joseph Hewes of North Carolina,
Member of Unanimity Lodge No. 7
William Hooper of North Carolina,
Member of Hanover Lodge in Masonborough, NC
Robert Treat Paine of Massachusetts,
Believed to be a Member of Massachusetts Lodge,
Attended Massachusetts Grand Lodge in 1759.
Richard Stockton of New Jersey,
Charter Master of St. John’s Lodge in NJ, 1765
George Walton of Georgia,
Member of Solomon’s Lodge No. 1 in GA
William Whipple of New Hampshire,
Member of St. John’s Lodge in NH
Dr. Hans Schwartz: Freemasonry in Revolutionary New England Wednesday, August 5, 2020 • 7 p.m. (PDT)
The bonds of brotherhood were tested beyond measure during the American Revolutionary War. Learn the various interconnectivity and complexities that freemaso
nry played in late 18th-century New England, and more about some of those famous names that have become so associated with it.
Hans Schwartz was awarded his MA in history at Salem State University and his doctorate in Atlantic and Early American History at Clark University. His research focuses on freemasonry in trans-Atlantic networking in the Atlantic colonial period, and in political organizing in the American Revolutionary period.
Hans has presented and published several papers on trans-Atlantic freemasonry as a cultural, political, and intellectual network, notably at the Annual Meeting of the American Historical Association, the German Historical Institute, and the QC Conference. His dissertation will be published next year.
Dr Schwartz has extensive teaching experience in the United States and Japan in history, science and English, and is presently a lecturer at Northeastern University. Masonically, he is a PM of Mount Carmel Lodge, Lynn, Massachusetts.
The LouisianaFreemason is currently accepting submissions for the Summer 2020 Issue.
If you would like to submit something you have written for consideration, you may do so here.
Submissions must be in by July 24th, 2020 to be considered for that issue.
Submissions such as photos and lodge events may be submitted for the Weekly eEdition as well.
Letters to the Editor
Write us a letter*. Tell us how you're doing as lodges begin to meet once again. Tell us what is is like to be meeting again. Send us a photo or two, or anything else you'd like to submit to The Louisiana Freemason!
Email gar@la-mason.com and "Send a letter to the Editor" just like the old days. Submissions will be considered for an issue of the Weekly eEdition so the brethren can see what you're up to.
*The Editor reserves all rights to publish any letter sent to him.
