The Ties That Bind

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Here’s a story I’ve had with me for a while, concerns Masonry and history..

As regular readers of this blog are well aware I’m a member of the local Masonic Lodge, I’ve also been through the Scottish Rite and have a “bell boy” hat with a double eagle and 32degree signet on it. Bell boy being my kids term for it, monkey hat being my wife’s. Also, long time readers know that I was adopted, my story published on this very site a long time ago. If you’ve missed and are interested you can read the details here.

Adoption Stories Pt 1

Adoption Stories Pt 2

Adoption Stories Pt 3

(Note, I’m smiling a bit reading these as these were responsible for my meeting one of my close cyberpals, Eric at Erichasissues…)

My father, and in the language of adoption, your father or your mother are terms reserved for those people who raised you, cared for you etc. Birthparents for some, parents for me. My father has been a member of Freemaons Lodge since 1945. He was raised in Ft. Worth Texas, I don’t know the actual Blue Lodge. Right after joining the Blue Lodge he became a Scottish Rite Mason, then joined the Shrine in Dallas. Growing up I can honestly say he epitomized the values of Masonry, circumscribing his actions with all people, he was a remains a kind and gentle guy who is slow to anger… Anyway, Dad had always said that one day I’d be in the Lodge with him… something that didn’t happen right away.

To be honest, he was really interested in my joining the Shrine. Back in the day you had to be a Scottish Rite Mason to belong to the Shrine. The Shrine, well that’s where the fun happens. In addition to hosting phenomenal work with the Shriners Hospitals for Crippled Children and their Burn Units, all of which provide free care top notch care for kids from all over the world, the Shrine is also a place with legendary parties. These dude, do it up. As a matter of fact, the Shrine was formed by a group of Masons in New York in 1870 who felt that the Lodge wasn’t as “fun” as it could be. From my Dad’s perspective, it’s all about getting to the Shrine.

I’m not ready for Shriners life. I’m not a big party guy, and unlike my father, I’ve become heavily involved in the Blue Lodge as an elected officer. Dad has a ton of old and fascinating Masonic stuff around the house. Fez’s from the Shrine, 32 degree rings, lapel pins, all sorts of stuff. For years that was my Masonic family connection.

Back around 2000 I found my biological Mother. Although we’ve never met she did give me some genealogical information that I was able to use to find out a great deal about my ancestors. Among the many things I learned that my earliest ancestor arrived in the British Colonies which would become the United States in the late 1500’s. Some were Methodist preachers, some were Huguenots escaping the religious persecution of France. The story reads like a James Mitchner novel, these people moving across the country with the westward expansion of the United States.

One of the many stops they made on their journey was Piatt County Il. Passing through there a few years ago I was lucky enough to visit the little town they settled in and made a trip out to the cemetery. There I was amazed to find the graves of two different families, both of which were in my family tree.

And there, looking over graves from the mid 1800’s I found the headstone of man I knew to be my great X6 grandfather.. The headstone was sort of difficult to read, it being covered with 150 odd years of lichen and moss. it’s always sort of cool to have an encounter with your personal roots, but you could have blown me over with a feather that day.

As I examined the headstone carefully, and it was pretty difficult read some of the symbols started to jump out at me. As I brushed away a bit of moss, it hit me as to what I was looking at.. and I got to tell you, it sent quite the chill .. on the headstone of this long lost ancestor, a guy from a family I know little off, and whos, if any, decedents know nothing of me, was the image of the Compass and Square, the symbols of a Mason. On the top of the headstone was the Royal Arch insignia of the York rite.

I’m not all that spiritual, but I have to tell you, a connection across 150 years was made that da

y.. It was quite the experience.

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Tags: family history, Freemasons, Genealogy, Illinois, Masonic, Masonic Lodge, Masons