Richard E. Fletcher, 33°, MSA Executive Secretary/Treasurer

Today, the MSA has four basic functions: Education/Publication, VA Hospital Visitation, Disaster Relief, and Public/Media Relations.

Masonic Service Centers, often housed in Masonic Temples, were popular meeting places where servicemen could socialize and relax during World War II. Photo: Masonic Service Association of North America

The Door Was Shut
The Federal Government said, “No, we simply will not deal with 49 individual Grand Lodges. We would certainly like to have the support of Freemasons, but you need one organization to represent you.” This was how the United States Government reacted to the offer of Masonic support for our troops in World War I.

The Masonic Service Association (MSA) of North America came into existence as a result of this decision and because it was finally recognized that there were cases where a national organization, working on behalf of all Freemasons, could serve a useful purpose. It happened in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1918. Initially, the primary function of the MSA was to support our military personnel. From that modest beginning, the long road to where MSA is today was undertaken. Today the MSA has four basic functions: Education/Publication; VA Hospital Visitation; Disaster Relief; and Public/Media Relations.

Masonic Education/Publication
Paul Revere was a member of Saint Andrew’s Lodge in Boston. We all know that his famous ride—warning of the coming of the British troops—was a journey that led, ultimately, to the creation of the United States. He was also involved in another “ride.” This time he led Freemasons into a journey on Masonic education and publication. Paul Revere was the subject of the first Short Talk Bulletin published in January 1923 by the MSA. This journey has resulted in the publication of almost 1,000 Short Talks covering nearly every aspect of Masonic interest. In many Lodges, Short Talks are used as tools for disseminating Masonic education. MSA also has a variety of longer publications, digests, many of which become educational programs as well.

There is no aspect of Freemasonry more important or more significant than Masonic education. The ritual is our introduction to the Fraternity, but knowledge of Masonry is what makes a man a Mason. If he does not understand the words and implications of his obligations nor realize the significance Freemasons and Masonic values have had in this nation, then how can he truly be a Mason? It is a major responsibility of the MSA to provide publications and other materials that enhance understanding and knowledge of our Fraternity among the Brethren and general public.

VA Hospital Visitation
During World War II, the MSA—with the cooperation of the Grand Lodges and many Lodges—created a number of Masonic Service Centers to help make life more comfortable for servicemen. Similar to USO facilities, these centers had dancing, singing, and food. To a lonely soldier, sailor, or marine, the Masonic Service Centers often provided the last touch of home before going overseas.

After World War II, the need for these centers was gone, but a greater need emerged. There were over 20 million military personnel involved in World War II, and the sick, the maimed, and the injured needed care. The government formed the Veterans Administration Medical Care System and the Veterans Administration Voluntary Service. Many volunteer organizations—some of them very large, such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars—took part. Significantly, with its volunteer hours in excess of 250,000 per year, the MSA ranks 7th out of 56 registered volunteer groups.

Typical of MSA’s many volunteers, WWII veteran Bro. John Hendrickson, now 82, volunteers at the Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin. Four days a week, he pours coffee, visits with patients, and delivers personal-care items provided free by the Masonic Service Association.

Disaster Relief
Sometimes nature disrupts our lives. During Hurricane Andrew in 1992, for instance, a small Lodge in Homestead, Florida, despite the fact that it had no power or running water, still served 2,000 hot meals to people who came into the Lodge. Among them were policemen, farm workers, and members of the National Guard. Seven families lived inside the Lodge for weeks while they awaited a safe haven.

From the MSA’s first appeal in 1923—for relief to help the Japanese recover from earthquake damage—through hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, the Oklahoma City bombing, and the 9/11 tragedy—the MSA has been there to help support relief efforts. Over the years, more than 6.5 million dollars has been raised to help people put their shattered lives back together.

Public/Media Relations
When Homer from the television series The Simpsons joined the “Stonecutters Lodge” in an episode titled “Homer the Great,” the show was spoofing Freemasonry. We can laugh at the silliness of the fictitious Lodge’s anthem:

Who controls the British Crown?
Who keeps the Metric System down?
We do! We do!
Who leaves Atlantis off the maps?
Who keeps the Martians under wraps?
We do! We do!

There is nothing wrong with humor, and all Masons ought to be able to laugh at themselves. That was certainly the intent of The Simpsons episode. However, there are critics of the Craft who say much the same thing, and they are not kidding. They are very serious. For example, the article “Why I Left the Lodge—Dwayne Washum’s Reaction to the False Teaching of Masonry” in the publication Power for Living makes the following statement:

“God began to show me that I was following false teachings of an organization where we prayed to the Great Architect of the Universe,” Duane relates. “GAOTU, as he is called, was not the God of the Bible, but rather some sort of a composite deity who Muslims, Buddhists, and other non-Christians are equally comfortable praying to. God began to show me that instead of receiving the truth of His Holy Word, I was receiving skillfully, sometimes not so skillfully, crafted distortions of it.

Washum’s publication was distributed in April 2004. The problem with this kind of distortion of Masonic belief is that many of these so-called “Christian leaders” have large followings that must accept and believe what their leader tells them. There is no room for dissent in these extremist groups. Toleration of and respect for the beliefs of others do not exist. Whatever a leader such as Dwayne Washum or Pat Robertson tells their followers is gospel truth to them. This is the real danger in following those who profess religious certainty.

Two primary groups oppose Freemasonry and attack us whenever possible: religious extremists and conspiracy theorists. Lighthearted as it is, the “Stonecutters” song fits the mold of the conspiracy theorists. Another example is from an article in the Washington Post, September 1995, titled “Speaker in the Black Helicopter.” Referring to Newt Gingrich, it says:

Those with a paranoid bent are convinced that the Georgian [Gingrich] is in cahoots with President Clinton, the Rockefellers, the Freemasons, the Council on Foreign Relations and the entire Eastern Establishment to abrogate the Constitution and forge a New World Order under the thumb of Jewish central bankers and the United Nations. To these folks, the Contract with America was a cleverly disguised attempt by the wealthy and powerful to impose their hidden agenda.

This article, like many others, combines religious fanaticism and conspiracy theories with anti-Semitism and anti-Masonry, the latter, no doubt, because Freemasons have accepted Jews into the Fraternity since the 1700s.

Ill. John J. Robinson, the noted author and dedicated Mason, formed the Masonic Information Center (MIC) through the MSA in 1993. The first task we were asked to address was the condemnation or attempted condemnation of Freemasonry by the Southern Baptist Convention. Fortunately, the final vote was overwhelmingly in favor of letting the individual Southern Baptist choose whether or not to be a Freemason.

Many of the virulent anti-Masons rarely venture beyond their own tightly controlled TV shows. This is because of strong action taken against them by Jewish and other organizations they have attacked. Freemasons have not been as public in our response, but we have quietly and effectively silenced many of our critics. One of the Craft’s most effective tools to counter anti-Masonry is the book Is It True What They Say About Freemasonry? The Methods of Anti-Masons co-authored by Ill. Bros. S. Brent Morris, Grand Cross, and Arturo de Hoyos.* Aside from being the original publisher of this book, the MIC has a wide variety of publications that respond to anti-Masonic accusations.

The MSA and MIC are charged with the responsibility of preparing and disseminating factual, accurate information about Freemasonry not only to members of our Fraternity and to the general public but also to the media. We have had many interviews with print media and occasionally requests to be on camera for electronic media.

Serving Freemasonry and America
Whether providing Masonic education through publication, assistance through VA hospital visitation and disaster relief, or public and media relations, the MSA has, wherever and whenever possible, benefited Freemasonry and America for 86 years. It is a tradition in which every Freemason can take pride.

Note: The above text, edited and shortened for Journal format, was presented as an address to the 2004 Annual Meeting of the Iowa Research Lodge in Des Moines on May 21, 2004.

Richard Elliot Fletcher was Grand Master of Masons in Vt., 1983-85, and has served as Executive Secretary/Treasurer of the Masonic Service Association of North America since 1988 and of the Masonic Information Center since 1993. He is a Past Presiding Officer of three Scottish Rite Bodies, N.M.J., and is a 33° in the N.M.J. Contacts: Masonic Service Association, 8120 Fenton St., Ste. 203, Silver Spring, MD 20910-4785; Tel. (301) 588-4010; Fax (301) 608-3457; msana@ix.netcom.com