12 Jul Letter to the Editor

Robert Reves | The Smoke SIgnal

On April 29th, 1884, a band of gentlemen met in the offices of the Westmoreland Period newspaper to garb and form in procession to the construction site of the new Pottawatomie County Courthouse. These men were Freemasons, largely of Onaga Lodge #188 A.F. & A.M. supported by brothers from other lodges and jurisdictions in the state of Kansas. The Right Worshipful Simeon Fox under dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Kansas and Amos Landon as Senior Warden were the principal officers of this procession and when assembled at the site proceeded to masonically lay the corner stone for the building. On September 30th, 1984, Most Worshipful Lawrence Winegardener Grand Master of the Kansas Grand Lodge assisted by six Right Worshipful Grand Officers and numerous appointed masonic delegates assembled at Westmoreland Lodge # 257 for the self-same purpose as their brethren one hundred years hence. In both instances the ceremony performed, as was noted at the rededication in 1984, was the same one performed by no less personage than George Washington at the construction of the nation’s capital September 18th, 1793. The ceremony itself contains an invocation exhorting the almighty to, “Incline thine ear and hear the voice of our prayer, and may our labors rest in your everlasting arms, and our waking be the grand summons of thy children to the joy and triumph of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, in the City and Temple not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” The corner stone is then tried with a plumb, square, and level to find that it will give rise to a true and lasting structure. Offerings and libations of corn, wine, and oil are poured upon the stone to symbolize peace, health, and plenty to all who labor to construct the edifice and carry out the functions that it houses. The ceremonial words being, “May the Grand Architect of Heaven and Earth, bless this work and crown this splendid edifice with every success; and may it be considered, for time immemorial, a model of taste and genius and serve to transmit with honor to posterity the names of the artists engaged in it.” A benediction is then read which finishes with, “And may returning anniversaries find a grateful, prosperous, heaven blessed people, prompt it cherish the memory, and if need be imitate the noble virtues and patriotic devotion of those Brethren who came before us.” These ceremonies are designed to inspire the eternal in all of us and in the works we do while residing in our respective places of abode. Twice they have been performed on our Pottawatomie County Courthouse to match that inspiration and instill pride in the citizens of Pottawatomie County. Now a committee of three county commissioners chosen to represent to pride of our county and to keep its best interests at heart; wish to tumble down this noble structure and the achievements of our forefathers in the ruthless march of so-called progress. I wonder if they were in charge of making a similar decision with our nation’s capital if they would be of such a consensus. I admonish them to remember that what we do in life echoes in eternity and also in the proceeding election cycles as well. The men of Westmoreland Lodge #257 A.F. & A.M. of Kansas humbly ask you as citizens of Pottawatomie County to help halt the county commission in their ill-conceived aspirations. Please call the commissioners with your concerns over this issue. Contact [email protected] or www.facebook.com/ HistoricPottawatomieCountyCourthouse to lend assistance in saving this wonderful building and repurposing it for more noble and glorious The Smoke Signal Westmoreland Weekly Period March 20 July, 1128, 2017 84 purposes. It already ornaments the new Pottawatomie County Justice Center which echoes the historic building in its facing façade. There is also discussion of razing the historic stone jail at the site of the courthouse and the historic stone school house a block away that houses county offices. Please don’t let three people demolish three historic structures without making your wishes for the welfare of our shared cultural history known. To quote our Worthy Brother George Washington, “If Freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” Respectfully Submitted, Robert J. Reves Worshipful Master Westmoreland Lodge #257 A.F. & A.M. of Kansas