The story goes back to 2011 when a group of Masons was formed to accept an invitation to visit a number of Lodges in Missouri and Illinois. The arrangements were made by Jeff Bennett, a Past Provincial Grand Senior Deacon and holder of Senior London Grand Rank. The team comprised of various members with four from the Metropolitan Grand Lodge, three from the Province of Essex, one from each of the Provinces of West Kent and Cambridgeshire and one from the Grand Lodge of Illinois who joined the team once in the United States and took the role of the Candidate.
On the 28th of April 2012 the English third Degree was demonstrated in the Tuscan Lodge Temple, St Louis in association with St Louis Lodge No 1. Our host was Ty G. Treutelaar.
The Temple was full of Freemasons not just from Missouri but from all adjacent States as well. There was a marvellous turnout by many Prince Hall Lodges too. The audience was in excess of 300 and nearly all of them dined afterwards.
The team also demonstrated at several Lodges in the O’Fallon area of Illinois under the guidance of St Clair Lodge 24 of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. We were thankful for the assistance of James Morris of St Clair Lodge who produced all the Degree equipment from information we sent him.
From that day to this we have continued contact with many Freemasons in Missouri and of course in particular Ty Treutelaar. We would like to think that our association with him in some way led to him being recognised as a worthy recipient of the ultimate preferment in the State as he was appointed and Installed as Grand Master of Missouri in 2021. We were invited to his Installation, but the Covid pandemic prevented this. The invitation was extended to this year and the Installation of Right Worshipful Brother, Richard W. Kaeser as Grand Master on 4th October 2022. The trip was made possible by the generosity of the Grand Lodge of Missouri with the comment that everything would be at their expense; we just had to get there!
The event was held at the Embassy Suites Convention Centre, St Charles, Missouri, and the programme for the Annual Convocation was intensive:
- Truman Club Dinner on the Saturday. The Truman Club comprises donors who have pledged significant assets to the Masonic Home of Missouri.
- The Distinguished Masonic Guest Dinner on Sunday. Dinner for the Past Grand Masters of Missouri, visiting Grand Masters or their representatives, and other Masonic dignitaries from around the world.
- Annual meeting on Monday, elections, address by Ty Treutelaar and the Jurisdictional Dinner.
- Installation was on Tuesday afternoon followed by Richard Kaeser conferring the Third Degree on his son. All officers for the ceremony were Grand Lodge officers.
At the Convocation meeting we presented three historic books to the Grand Librarian and I as an amateur wood turner presented Ty Treutelaar and Richard Kaeser with hand-made personalised gavels.
We were delighted to be part of this interesting event and to demonstrate brotherhood in Freemasonry between countries.
Jeff Bennett
Past Provincial Grand Senior Deacon
