I Have Been Published...

I have been published in the Minnesota Mason for my article, From Father to Son... but sadly, there is one piece missing. The article published did not list my Father and Grandfather's names. My father's name is Rick Johnson and my Grandpa's name is Dick Johnson. My Grandpa's mother Lodge is Fidelity Lodge #39. I want to thank my Grandpa for pushing me to get the article included in the Masonic paper and my Dad for being a willing participant in me telling his story.

Rededication of Masonic Cancer Center's Cornerstone for 50th Anniversary

On Saturday, October 4th at 1:30 pm, the Grand Lodge officers will be rededicating the cornerstone that was placed 5o years ago. As I have reported before, Minnesota Masonic Charities will donate a record 65 million dollars over the next ten years. This is the largest single donation given to the University of Minnesota. If you would like to attend, please meet at the A. I. Johnson room on the ground floor of the McNamara Alumni Center at 1:30 pm. Officers and Past Masters should wear their appropriate apron and guests are welcome. It should be an exciting day for all who will participate.

My First Anniversary in Duluth

As some of you may know, my wife and I went to Duluth to celebrate our first wedding anniversary. Duluth is one of the most beautiful towns in the United States. Whether taking a stroll along the Lakewalk or the Glensheen Mansion, the city seems to present a different place in time; the beauty of the Old West mixed with the trappings of the modern age.

While I did not go to any Masonic lodges or participate in any other Masonic events, I did take some photos of the Masonic Center in downtown Duluth.

The Duluth Masonic Center houses many organizations including 4 Lodges (Palestine #79, Ionic #186, Euclid #198, Glen Avon #306) the Scottish Rite Valley of Duluth, and a Demolay Chapter. Glen Avon Lodge #306 has a very good description of the Masonic Center in Duluth including the removal of four onion shaped towers that originally adorned the building and the antique lodge equipment still in use today. There is also another Masonic Temple in Duluth but sadly, I did not get photos. I am hoping one day to actually visit a Lodge in Duluth but until such time, the facade will just have to do.

Pop Culture and Freemasonry: Bones

I know that I have previously blogged about the show "Bones" and the recurring villain, the Widow's Son Killer. No, our favorite blogger at the "Burning Taper" is safe from this serial killer. Apparently, the Widow's Son killer, aka Gormogon, murders members of the Knights of Columbus. I know, what, what, what, what?! Where is the connection with the KC's and a group of Freemason haters in the 1700's?

Here is my recreation of what was said in the writers' den:

Writer #1: Dude, dude, I have a freakin' awesome idea.
Writer #2: What dude, should we go to the 'Bell'? I want Tacos.
Writer #1: No dude, our show needs a kickass serial killer ... (feverishly turning pages in Occult book) I got it ... Gormogon.
Writer #2: Like those statues on the sides of churches?
Writer #1: No, they were like a group that hated Freemasons in the 1700's and stuff.
Writer #2: Ok, since they're on churches, we should have him kill Knights of Columbus dudes.
Writer #1: What?! Okay, I think you may be confused ... (grumble, grumble) ... Wait a second, I am hungry ... Killer of KC's sounds good to me. Let's go get some brain food. But I don't want Tacos, I had them for breakfast.

Here is one of the Widow's Son killer episode for your enjoyment.


Hanson, Hart (Creator). 2007 Bones [Television Show]. Los Angeles: Fox Broadcasting Corporation.


(Okay, for full disclosure, I do watch the show with my wife and I find some aspects to be enjoyable but there does seem to be a macho dude complex displayed in the writing.)

Talkin' 'bout my Generation : Pick Yourself Up?!

Well, I have been scouring the Internet to learn more about the perceptions, hopes and fears of "My Generation". These perceptions are essential in understanding where Freemasonry is going and what we, as Lodges, should expect now and in the future. I hope to examine these perceptions over the coming weeks. And yes I know, The Who are not "My Generation" but what can ya do, the song rocks.

GRRR! Picking Yourself Up; Millennial Madness

As cliche as what I am about to say is, the next generation is the future; how and what we do in the next decade will shape the way workplaces, political institutions, civic organizations, as well as every other organization that exists now or will exist in the future is run. Unfortunately, there is more fear than truth being expressed to the world about the coming death of "Work Ethic." One article seems to be more direct in its attack on Generation Y than any other.

The GRRR! Block is a recurring series at Fox News written by Mike Straka that rants about Pop Culture, and things that seem to get stuck in his craw. In late November, he whined about how Millennials are lazy and refuse to grow up after watching a 60 Minutes special about Generation Y entering the workforce.

Straka writes:

From negotiating time off during job interviews to having to be told that they "should wear underwear under their clothes," it's tough for me to comprehend when, where and why the future workforce of our nation has became so complacent.

Was it because mommy and daddy worked too hard and didn't pay enough attention? Is it the free-wheeling universe known as cyberspace, where anything and everything is practically available at the click of a button?

Enron? WorldCom? Tyco? Divorce?

No, I give too much credit. Whatever the excuse for such lackadaisical behavior, it all comes down to just that — an excuse. Call me cold or insensitive, but I won't apologize for living in a tough world.

Of course, I will not apologize for certain things that he has brought up, including the fact that some applicants are bringing their parents to job interviews. (I have not seen this and probably never will but I am not surprised that it is out there.) Yet, he seems to blame all the problems of the world on one particular generation: the Millennials.

Why you might ask?

The final paragraph of his article says it all:

Call me a sucker, but I like doing a good job.

I like when my boss pats me on the back or sends an e-mail that says "nice job." I live for that. The Millennials, it seems, would scoff at such nonsense.

Of course they're doing a good job. They showed up, didn't they?

And people wonder why large corporations are outsourcing jobs.

We're in for a rude awakening if this is where we're headed.

Maybe he doesn't like the idea of some snot-nosed kid demanding more from his company. Maybe he doesn't see his family very often and wants everybody to experience that feeling. What I think bothers Straka the most is the idea that the youngest generation will not define themselves by their job. "What, what, what what?! You mean to tell me that a human being is a human being first and not a doctor, a lawyer, or a ditch digger." Of course, this is where Freemasonry can flourish.

Freemasonry, for all its lofty ideals and altruistic goals, is a volunteer organization first. This concept plays perfectly to the man who chooses a career so as not to interrupt him having a social life. For Lodges to succeed, the officers must realize that young Masons seek to use their time in many, many different ways, not merely for their vocation. This is exactly what a volunteer organization wants to hear. I devote many hours to the Craft and in some instances, I will call myself a Freemason before I ever think to call myself a law school graduate.

The most time consuming part of my day (after being with my family) comes from my Masonic affiliation. I spend days going to Lodge meetings, preparing for meetings (I am the Junior Warden of my Lodge), working on ritual, writing blog posts or meeting at the Grand Lodge for Membership ideas. To say that I am somehow complacent or lazy is a joke. I choose to use my time for a more noble purpose, to think of the civic and social institutions around me, not merely to further myself and feed some sick narcissistic concern about wealth and power. Masonry's goal is to build the temple of understanding and tolerance and to give brothers many ways to work on that hope.

Masonry is also built for the brother with divergent interests. Whether a young Mason wants the playfulness and philanthropy of the Shrine, the thoughtfulness of the Rites, the ability to work with kids in Rainbow Girls or Demolay or just to participate in family gatherings with the Lodge, the ability to find something to do is endless.

In the end, I think that Mike Straka is wrong or at the very least, has his priorities skewed. Living a life that is about more than just my car, my job or my house is important to me. Volunteering is important to me. And I believe that I am not alone in these beliefs. As long as these considerations are in the minds of the Lodges, the future of the Fraternity will still shine brightly.