The Midwest Conference is a great gathering of Masonic
educators and enthusiasts from various Grand Lodge jurisdictions across the
Midwest. Since its founding in 1949, the conference has served as a place to
come together to exchange ideas, learn from each other, foster discussions,
provide valuable networking opportunities and strengthen Masonic education.
The conference accommodation was at the Embassy Suites
in downtown Indianapolis, which was centrally located within easy walking
distance to the Masonic Temple and Restaurant.
Registration for our conference was in the hotel lobby.
The lobby and atrium area were alive and buzzing with people. Because there
were 20,000 people in town that had registered for the IU Health 500 festival
Mini Marathon that was going to take place one block from our hotel Saturday
morning.
The Friday evening was a dinner and program at the
Rathskeller German Restaurant which has been serving authentic cuisine since
1894. The restaurant is in the historic Athenaeum building which was built in
the German Renaissance Revival style. This old-world classic charm set the
stage for our lively and meaningful discussions.
The conference attendees were directed to a private
room on the second floor. Upon arrival I found the room buzzing with energy as
95 Brothers gathered from 17 different jurisdictions, many having traveled
great distances to be there. I had the pleasure of meeting Brothers from as far
as Winnipeg Canada, Florida, Alabama, and Montana. Though we were tightly
packed at our tables, and the warmth of the room was undeniable, the
conversations were nothing short of electric engaging, thought provoking and
full of brotherly love.
After a hearty German dinner. President James Buckhorn
made a welcoming statement and introduced the program for the evening. “An
Idiot and a Dummy” Brent Morris and Chris Hodapp.
“The Complete Idiots Guide to Freemasonry” by Brent
Morris
“Freemasons for Dummies” By Chris Hodapp
Neither author had known each other at the time of
writing, and they both had separate publishers. They both were writing their
books at the same time.
Chrises book “Freemasons for Dummies” was published July
2005 and Brents book “The complete Idiots Guide to Freemasonry” was published four
months later.
They both met at Masonic Week in Washington DC to
promote their book. They both have been good friends since.
The focus of their talk was how their books came about, and the methods they used for researching and writing, and their toils and tribulations of producing a book. Which was perfect for the audience, which was made up of Masonic scholars, writers and educators. Giving us a different perspective.
On Saturday the conference itself was held in the
heart of the city at the Indianapolis Masonic Temple. It is an eight-story
building in the shape of a cube fashioned in Classical Revival Architecture. It
is made of Indiana limestone and is adorned with rows of Ionic columns. The
building was completed in 1909 and is a testament to early 20th
century design and craftsmanship.
As I stood before the building, seeing it for the
first time looking at its sheer size and the architectural beauty stirs a quiet
respect for the craftmanship an vision in its construction.
When you first step inside the main lobby entrance.
You are struck by the classical elegance of Masonic Architecture. This space is
more than just a building-it is a treasure chest that holds the jewels of
history, tradition and knowledge.
After stepping off the elevator and walking into the
reception area of the museum-library I was met and greeted by the Most
Worshipful Grand Master of Indiana David G. Morgan. I enjoyed our time together
and had a chance to get to know him.
Later I looked behind the gold curtain behind the
Senior Wardens chair and saw a backdrop to aid the dramatic effect in the Third
Degree.
The first speaker was Author Steven L. Harrison, who shared the
fascinating journey of writing his book, The Perfect Storm. His work
delves into the stolen secrets of the Freemasons, the most infamous cold case
of the 19th century, and a modern-day key to unraveling the mysteries of the
baffling crime known as the Morgan Affair.
The William Morgan Affair remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries
in American history. It fueled enduring conspiracy theories and historical
intrigue—much like the cases of organized crime figure Jimmy Hoffa or the
daring airplane hijacker D.B. Cooper in more recent history.
But the Morgan Affair was more than just a local scandal. It reshaped
American politics, sparking the rise of the Anti-Masonic Party—the very first
third party in U.S. history. It transformed public attitudes toward Freemasonry
and left an indelible mark on the nation's political landscape.
Over the past 200 years, the Morgan Affair has inspired countless books,
articles, and pamphlets, each attempting to shed new light on the story. Steven
L. Harrison approached writing his book much like a detective working a cold
case—carefully piecing together fragments of information, uncovering hidden
truths, and following leads until the full story took shape. His meticulous
process took over three years, driven by patience, persistence, and deep
investigative work to ensure every detail contributed to the final narrative.
As someone who has worked on cold cases myself, I was particularly
intrigued by Steven's relentless pursuit of original documents. What stood out
most was his discovery of corroborating testimony from a living descendant of
William Morgan—an incredible breakthrough in unraveling this historical puzzle.
I enjoyed his presentation so much that I bought the book and plan to prepare a Lodge Education Program based on his research.
Dr. Calloway emphasized how important it was for us to
preserve our history. One important hint was to make sure our records stay safe
through changing technology is key. The files we once stored on floppy disks,
and CD are already difficult to retrieve, and memory cards and flash drives might
not be reliable either in the near future. Thinking ahead can help us protect
what matters.
She informed us as Lodge Educators that we are the Guardians
of our history. She encouraged us to build a culture of preservation, by
including our Masonic history into our lodge education programs.
After lunch Daniel Gardiner presented “Research for
Anyone”. His talk began with various examples of just ordinary Masons who had
the desire to make significant discoveries in their research.
He also provided several online resources that could
be valuable aids to one’s research.
The final Speaker of the day was Adam Kendell. His
presentation was “Historical Content and the Fraternal Experience”
Brother Kendall’s busy schedule kept him from being
present with us. He appeared to us from his Oakland California home via a live
Zoom Video.
After the scheduled speakers wrapped up, we headed to the second floor
for the evening program and dinner, where the election of officers for the
upcoming 2025-2026 year took place.
Our dinner speaker was the esteemed Brent Morris, who delivered his
thought-provoking talk, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Lodge.” He
shared valuable insights into his work with the Scottish Rite, discussing
membership trends, retention challenges, and the ever-evolving dynamics of our
organization.
One of the evening’s standout moments was the recognition of Grand Lodge
Education Officer Bradley Phelps, who received the prestigious Edward Rund
Memorial Masonic Education Award for 2025. This honor celebrates his dedication
to promoting Masonic learning and leadership, reinforcing the vital role
education plays within Freemasonry. His contributions have enriched the
fraternity, and the heartfelt applause he received spoke volumes about his
impact.
The night concluded with an exciting announcement: The 2026 Midwest
Conference on Masonic Education will be hosted by the Grand Lodge of Nebraska
A.F. & A.M.,
taking place April 24-26 at the stunning Scottish Rite Temple
in downtown Omaha, Nebraska.
Looking back on the weekend, I found that the conference truly embodied the fraternity’s unwavering commitment to lifelong learning and personal growth among its members. And of course—A Good Time Was Had by All!
The Minnesota Delegation
