Researching Freemasons

Billie,
There are numerous Masonic projects you might like to join... Here is on for Freemasons in America: https://www.geni.com/projects/Freemasons-in-America/3728

You could also go to the Research tab at the top of each page & click on the screen under it for "Projects" then enter Masonic & you should get this project as well as numerous other. Pick the one that seems to fit for the info you may want...

Good luck.

Oooops, I just looked at his profile again & see that he is already in the Freemasons in America project. Sorry :-(

He & I are related, but thru a rather convoluted connection...

Patrica,
I not sure anything all I know heard he was high up in masons don't know nothing about how or how to verify information like I stated when I called the mason organization was told couldn't give me any information heard he was 33 degree what ever that means. If someone could give me idea what it means in Profile love to know. Looks like he did a lot.
Billie

Billie June Keaffaber

I am a 55 year Mason.

Which Masonic organization did you call? The first place to call should be the secretary of the local lodge where he was a member, then the Grand Lodge of Kansas.

The newspaper story said he was a member of the Knights Pythias and all Masonic organizations. That is hard to believe because there are so many
Probably a Shriner, another place to check.

Eldon,
Thanks I think I called main Kansas one they couldn't give me much information but this is bit back in time records may not be there anymore. And I thought grandmaster in masonry was high
Maybe I wrong I don't know much about them myself. But being a girl here wouldn't affect me anyway. I couldn't join nothing I live in West Virginia too so be ways to go to try and get information on this I will do as suggested. Thanks for help Eldon.
Billie

Billie June Keaffaber,
I found 2 sites on line that may be of help if you haven't found them already:

1) http://www.kansasmason.org/community-center/grand-lodge-library/ Kansas Freemasons - Grand Lodge Library CONTACT US TODAY: (785) 234-5518

2) https://www.yellowpages.com/topeka-ks/masonic-lodge Has numerous Temples & Lodges in Topeka, KS with addresses & phone #’s. Some with web sites.

They may provide some phone #s if you have problems finding them... If he was a member in another area of Kansas you could look for Masonic Lodges in that city. Does the article that mentions that he was a Mason mention a city???

Do you have an obituary for him??? It may say something about $$'s may be given to a Lodge in his memory... Were he & his wife a member of the Eastern Star? (This is an organization that includes Masons & women.) My dad was a 32nd degree Mason & both parents were very active in Eastern Star. His wife's obituary might have some info regarding this if she/they were members.

Patrica,
I don't know but thanks for link while hubby doing his Auction pickup I will check out. Thanks again I will check with them today.
Billie

Patrica,
I could just high you to pieces he was a grand secretary to the odd Fellows of Kansas the guy has to look up stuff in Kanas archives but he was grand Secretary in 1891 ,1892,1893. Hopefully he can give me documents to put in genealogy.
I got 2 other lodges to look at too.
Billie

Patrica,

Found death date for great Grandfather this link may help others looking for Kansas people too.

1&GSbyrel=all&GSst=18&GScntry=4&GSsr=2281&GRid=76116762&

Bright, John A. 19 June 1925 IOOF Eugene Lodge No. 79 (North Topeka, Shawnee Co.)

https://www.kshs.org/genealogy/genealogy_fraternal_necrologies/sear...

Billie,
Both sites look like they have good info to add to his profile... (haven't looked to see if you have added them to his profile yet.) If you would like help with formatting let me know. I enjoy doing it-- I like to use an outline format vs paragraphs as outlining is easier to read--stuff stands out better. You might see if there is info in the Topeka papers about him... He sounds like an interesting man.

What church was he a member of as that might also provide more info about him.

Billie,
I hope you don't mind I went a head & formatted your sources... & copied the info from one & put it above the Sources... I didn't look at the pix available... You could highlight the four men in the pix & identify them so they will appear as individuals in each persons profile...

I have a pix of the family of my great grandmother's birthday -- it is a huge group of people--some are even children... & I used that for the pictures of many of them... (helpful if you don't have a more recent pix).

Billie:
FYI: Reverend John Adam Bright is my 6th great aunt's uncle's wife's great niece's husband's first cousin twice removed.
Me → Cecelia M. Anderson (Poplett) your mother → Lee Lello Poplett her father → Wyley J Poplett his father → William Poplett his father → Jane Poplett (Montgomery) his mother → John Montgomery, I her father → Alexander Montgomery, II his father → John Montgomery his brother → Mary Montgomery (Willcox) his wife → Elizabeth Wilcox (Cole) her mother → Stephen William Cole, Jr. her brother → Martha Cole (Hunter) his wife → William Hunter her brother → Edward Hunter his son → Rebecca Pechin (Hunter) his daughter → Peter Pechin her husband → Christiana Pechin (Bright) his mother → Captain John Bright her brother → George Bright his son → George Bright, Jr. his son → Reverend John Adam Bright his son

Patricia,
Wow thanks and wow you connected lol. He was of the Lutheran faith him And his son pastered all over. That newspaper clipping I posted on each profile to many George's in that thing for me to figure out who who lol. Him and his son are interesting People. That whole line gets confusing at times lol. Trying to figure out these Mason links turning out to be fun adventure lol. Thanks again. I still have more research to do a lot.
Billie

Billie,
Based on the info in one of your sources ( [https://www.kshs.org/genealogy/genealogy_fraternal_necrologies/sear... Kansas Historical Society - Death Notices of members of Fraternal Orders] (IOOF = Independent Order of Odd Fellows)), it looks like he was active in the Odd Fellows organization, which is different than the Masons (I think...) They are both fraternal organization, but I am not sure they are related.

Eldon, maybe you can help us understand the connection, if any???

Pat

Yes they are both fraternal organizations but not connected. Masonry, or Freemasonry began with the building of the cathedrals in Europe. Odd Fellows started in England in the 1700s.
There are many fraternal orders around the world, some are business related, some for social activities
Most genealogists have seen grave markers in the form of tree stumps. Those are symbols of membership in Woodmen of the World, a burial insurance company modeled after fraternal societies. WOTW is still in existence headquartered in Omaha Nebraska with insurance, a television station WOWT-TV and I believe they still have a radio station.

In California, during the gold rush, many fraternal society's were formed, mostly poking fun at the Masons. At least one, E Clampus Vitus is still in existence. They say they are either a fraternal drinking society or a drinking fraternal society.

The list could go on and on but I need more coffee. Just Google them.

Eldon,
I showed all the links but I only had time to research the one of the list as suggested. So it might take while to get everything listed but the Grand Seceritary was real deal found out. It was help from your all group help me find that and his correct Date that why posting here I so tickled. Many organizations were listed on the sources just have to have time and feel better to check all out. Oh and hubby went to auction and got a book on mason I been reading. Right now it going over history of masons. Found out the main lodge is in England as you stated and the French lodges had falling out with main lodge. But it interesting to read about it.
Billie

Thanks Eldon for your info...
My mom & dad & step-dad were all very active in Eastern Star & both my dad & step-dad were active in the Masons--both 32nd degree members. Mom was Worthy Matron at least twice as well as other positions in the chapter she belonged to.

Well all this Adventure Taken me to grand lodge of Kansas they did find some stuff on him I will share with all. This was all grand lodge found. He was a Mason they didn't tell me how just manic history for him that was all.

Following you will find the Masonic history that our records show for John A. Bright:

He was a member of Ellsworth Lodge #146, located in Ellsworth, Kansas

Initiated on January 6, 1883

Passed on March 3, 1883

Raised on April 27, 1883

Dimitted (officially withdrew his membership) on September 6, 1886

He was then admitted into Benevolent Lodge #98, located in Abilene, Kansas on February 7, 1887.

Dimitted on March 19, 1900

He was later admitted into Golden Rule Lodge #90, located in Topeka, Kansas on December 12, 1907.

Our records show the date of his death to be June 20, 1925.