May - Scottish Rite

Hannah M. Lane: “Freemasonry and Identity/ies in 19th Century
New Brunswick and Eastern Maine”
Ami Pflugrad-Jackisch: “Brothers of a Vow: Secret Fraternal Orders
in Antebellum Virginia”
culture, both rich, and for the uninitiated, below the
surface.”
The final two discussions dealt with aspects of the Ku
Klux Klan and its brushes with Freemasonry. First was
Dr. Kristofer Allerfeldt, from the University of Exeter in
Cornwall, England. Focusing on Kansas in the 1920s,
Allerfeldt described the state as “one of the epicenters of
the decade’s struggle to define American identity.” As the
Klan, and fraternities such as the Freemasons, expanded,
minority groups struggled to assert themselves. As the
Klan grew, other organizations including the Masons, the
American Legion, and Odd Fellows, “were forced to take
a stance with regard to this powerful presence.” At least
one lodge – the Western Star Lodge – fought off an
attempted infiltration of the Klan. His paper questions if
the Klan was viewed as “just another fraternity, or did they
see them as pyramid sellers of mix and match hate?”
Adam G. Kendall: “Klad in White Hoods and Aprons: American
Fraternal Identities, Freemasonry, and the Ku Klux Klan in
California, 1921-28”
Kristofer Allerfeldt: “Nationalism, Masons, Klansmen and
Kansas in the 1920s”
Adam G. Kendall, representing the Henry W. Coil
Library and Museum of Freemasonry, stayed on this
subject by addressing the ideologies of the Klan and
American Freemasonry. Focusing on California he talked
about those with dual membership and how they
reconciled the vastly differing philosophies and the
ultimately successful ousting of the Klan from the state’s
Freemasonry ranks.
Museum staff members who organized the event were
satisfied with the outcome and felt it will help stimulate
further examinations of the fraternity, its past, and its
direction.
Dr. Aimee E. Newell, director of collections at the host
institution, said she was extremely pleased with the flow
and outcome of this first venture. She says, “The speakers
were excellent and we had fascinating questions and
discussions from the audience.” Asked if the symposium
would become a regular staple of the Scottish Rite
Masonic Museum and Library’s offerings, she responded,
“I look forward to planning another.”
David Bjelajac: “Freemasonry, Thomas Cole (1801-48) and the
Fraternal Ethos of American Art”
Nicholas R. Bell: “An Ark of the New Republic”
The director of exhibitions and audience development,
Hilary Anderson Stelling says, “The speakers, audience,
special guests and museum staff did a great job making
our first symposium a real success. We are thrilled to see
the interest in Masonic and American history and excited
to hear about the work that scholars from around the
world are doing on the topic.” She pointed out that, for
those unable to attend the event, podcasts will be made
available on the museum’s website sometime soon, and
selected papers will be published in the Journal for
Research into Freemasonry and Fraternalism in spring of
2011.”
Jeffrey Croteau, who manages the library and archives,
summed up the day, saying, “The success of this
symposium exceeded my expectations, which were already
pretty high. I think there was a real energy at the
symposium, one generated by hearing some papers that
offered excellent new perspectives on Freemasonry and
fraternalism.” NL
The Northern Light / May 2010 9