October 5 & 6, 1996 marked the opening and dedication of the
national museum exhibit entitled "The Theatre of the Fraternity".
Those of us who have been initiated, passed and raised in Masonry are well
aware of the drama associated with our entrance into our beloved "Craft."
Those who have gone beyond the Blue Lodge and pursued further light in
Masonry through the Scottish and/or York Rites have had an even greater
exposure to the awesome stage scenery, costumes, props, and drama of
Masonry. This personal journey will be made even more meaningful when you
see the fascinating exhibit which Professor C. Lance Brockman has created
for the Weisman Art Museum on the University of Minnesota campus.
Many of us have had the privilege of hearing Professor Brockman speak and
show his slides of Masonic stage scenery. However, the limitations of time
and space have only allowed him to present a small portion of his research
during any one presentation. Professor Brockman has been engaged in this
research for many years. His pursuit has taken him to all the corners of
this country and into many Masonic organizations. The exhibit which will
open during our Fall Masonic Conference brings these years of research into
focus in a way which will surprise and delight those who are privileged to
participate in this wonderful event.
The University of Minnesota and the National Endowment for the Arts
assisted in the funding of this project. It is only fitting that the
national premier of the exhibit be at the University of Minnesota. The
entire first floor of the new and recently opened Weisman Art Museum will
be devoted to this show. The show will open to the public on Sunday,
October 6, 1996, and will remain open for several months. It will then
travel to several other cities around the country over the next two years.
As a participant in the National Masonic Expo, you will have an exclusive
preview on Saturday afternoon. Assisting Professor Brockman with the
opening will be Dr.s John Hamilton and Will Moore, two nationally
recognized authorities in scholarly fields of research on Freemasonry.
Each of these distinguished academics will speak at the Weisman Art Museum
during the afternoon premier opening.
The exhibit is divided into four specific areas. The research to be
displayed provides examples of scenery, costumes, and props of the drama of
initiation into various fraternal organizations. But more importantly, it
looks into the personal motivations and the psychological benefits of the
whole fraternal experience. Each of the items or scenes displayed is
accompanied by an explanation of the importance it has had for the
initiates and the members. The four areas of concentration are "A Nation
of Joiners," "Facing Mortality," "Victorian Knighthood," and
"Transformation of Self." As you can see from the titles of the four
areas, this is far more than just a display of old equipment. The exhibit
looks into the very core of the reason for Masonry's existence through the
centuries.
We are all aware of how important Masonry is to every one of us. This
show may very well make you realize just why you are so dedicated to the
principles and tenets that you have been taught in the many degrees through
which you have advanced. Most of the materials presented will involve
positive aspects of fraternal ritual which never seem to get much public
examination. The exhibit has had the support of national leaders in the
Scottish Rite Research Society because the exhibit is scholarly rather than
promotional, historical rather than an expose'. You may be assured that
the exhibit is based upon the highest level of scholarly research and is
presented in a way that is totally accessible and engaging to the public.
When Professor C. Lance Brockman, Head of the University of Minnesota
Theatre Arts Department in Minneapolis, started his research many years
ago, he focused on a study of stage scenery from the so-called "Golden Age
of Scenic Design" from 1880 to 1930. However, there was very little turn of
the century vintage stage scenery available for Professor Brockman to
study. When a theatrical production such as a play or opera was completed,
the scenery was usually painted over and used for another production, or
was discarded. Very little of the actual scenery from this era remained
for Professor Brockman's research.
However, he soon discovered that the scenery used by most of the Scottish
Rite Bodies around the country was painted by the same scenic design
companies that produced the theatrical scenery of that earlier era.
Because the Scottish Rite degrees are performed repeatedly and remain
relatively unchanged, the same scenery was used from one year to the next.
Also it was at the turn of the century when the various Scottish Rite
Valleys all over the country experienced their phenominal growth, probably
due directly to the stage presentation of degrees to large Scottish Rite
classes.
Many of the Valleys had their scenery created by professional scenic
design companies such as Sosman and Landis of Chicago, the Great Western
Stage Company, or Twin Cities Scenic Design. Professor Brockman, who had
studied many of the original sketches and paintings used by these companies
to paint the Scottish Rite scenery, soon discovered the vast treasury of
turn of the century full scale stage scenery in the possession of the
various Scottish Rite Bodies. He began to visit these Valleys to study
their scenery. He travelled to many cities around the country to
personally study, photograph, and document this wealth of theatrical
history. Soon his interest expanded to include other aspects of the
theatre and drama of rites of initiation of various fraternal
organizations. Even though his research is comprehensive, there is a
definite Scottish Rite flavor to many of the displays in the national
museum exhibit known as "The Theatre of the Fraternity".
While all Masons will be impressed with the exhibits, Scottish Rite
enthusiasts will find particular interest in the many degree scenes
featured in the exhibit. Scottish Rite officers, members of degree casts,
behind the scene workers, and Scottish Rite members are encouraged to take
advantage of the wonderful opportunity to attend the National Masonic Expo
and the opening of "The Theatre of the Fraternity" exhibit. For
registration information, contact the Grand Lodge office in St. Paul,
Minnesota for further information.
Details about conference registration and hotel reservations can be obtained
from the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Minnesota at
612/222-6051 (voice)
612/222-6144 (fax)
Grand.Lodge.of.Minnesota@Mn-Mason.Org (email)
