Spartan Lodge No.956 F&AM

07/22/2026

Today in Masonic History Laurie Perry Cookingham passes away in 1992.

Laurie Perry Cookingham was an American civil servant.

Cookingham was born in Chicago, Illinois on October 23rd, 1896 and grew up in Danville, Illinois. During World War I he served in the United States Army. He also received a Civil Engineering Degree from Detroit Institute of Technology. It is unclear if he completed his course of study before or after his service during World War I. Regardless of the order, he then worked in the public works department of Flint, Michigan.

In 1926, Cookingham became the first City Manager of Clawson, Michigan. A City Manager is generally the person in charge of the bureaucracy involved in the day to day operation of a city. Later he was the City Manager of Plymouth, Michigan. Prior to 1933 he also served as the director of the work division of the Federal Emergency Relief Association (FERA) in Wayne County, Michigan. FERA was part of the efforts during the Great Depression to provide funds for relief work for people in need. From 1936 to 1940 he served as the first City Manager of Saginaw, Michigan. During this same time he served as president of the International City/County Management Association (ICMA). ICMA is an association for professionals working in city government.

In 1940, Cookingham became the City Manager of Kansas City, Missouri. The road to Cookingham becoming the City Manager in Kansas City began in in 1926, when the city changed to the city manager form of government. At the time city boss Tom Pendergast installed a puppet city manager. For the next 14 years Pendergast, along with his puppet City Manager oversaw a growth of infrastructure in the city. Unfortunately it was largely done with no-bid contracts and patronage jobs which were then covered up by the City Managers "country bookkeeping." The era ended just before Cookingham was hired as City Manager, when Pendergast was found guilty of tax evasion, his City Manager had already passed away.

Cookingham inherited a city $20 million in debt. In 6 months he had cut the payroll by 2,000, in 1 year and 6 months he had eliminated the Kansas City's debt. Cookingham oversaw a period of expansion for Kansas City. The city went from 60 square miles to 130, mostly north of the Missouri river. In 1951, the Great Flood destroyed much of Kansas City's Industrial Base. Cookingham oversaw the construction of a new jet port north of the Missouri River. This became Kansas City International Airport. His planning is also credited for creating Kansas City's freeway system. In 1959, Cookingham was forced to resign by the City Council. Within a year, the city had 9 city managers.

After leaving Kansas City, Cookingham served as the City Manager of Fort Worth, Texas for four years before retiring. After retiring he returned to Kansas City where he administered the People to People Student Ambassador Program, a program which provided international travel opportunities for middle school and high school students.

Cookingham passed away on July 22nd, 1992.

Cookingham was raised in Anchor Lodge No. 980 in Danville, Illinois. His lodge affiliations after is unclear. There is a picture of Cookingham receiving his 70 year Masonic service award in Kansas. There is no information on what lodge gave him the award or the identiy of the individuals in the photo.

07/21/2026

Today in Masonic History we present The Palace by Rudyard Kipling.

When I was a King and a Mason
A Master Proven and skilled
I cleared me ground for a Palace
Such as a King should build.
I decreed and dug down to my levels;
Presently, under the silt,
I came on the wreck of a Palace,
Such as a King had built.

There was no worth in the fashion
There was no wit in the plan;
Hither and thither, aimless,
The ruined footings ran.
Masonry, brute, mishandled,
But carven on every stone,
"After me cometh a Builder;
Tell him I, too, have known."

Swift to my use in my trenches,
Where my well-planned groundworks grew,
I tumbled his quoins and his ashlars,
And cut and rest them anew.
Lime I milled of his marbles;
Burned it, slacked it, and spread;
Taking and leaving at pleasure
The gifts of the humble dead.

Yet I despised not nor gloried,
Yet, as we wrenched them apart,
I read in the razed foundation
The heart of that builder's heart.
As he has risen and pleaded,
So did I understand
The form of the dream he had followed
In the face of the thing he had planned.

When I was a King and a Mason,
In the open noon of my pride,
They sent me a Word from the Darkness -
They whispered and called me aside.
They said, "The end is forbidden."
They said, "Thy use is fulfilled.
Thy Palace shall stand as that other's -
The spoil of a King who shall build."

I called my men from my trenches,
My quarries, my wharves, and my sheers;
All I had wrought I abandoned
To the faith of the faithless years.
Only I cut on the timber -
Only I carved on the stone:
"After me cometh a Builder;
Tell him I, too, have known."

07/20/2026

Today in Masonic History Clarendon Lamb Worrell is born in 1853.

Clarendon Lamb Worrell is a Canadian minister in the Anglican Church of Canada.

Worrell was born in Smith's Falls, Ontario on July 20th, 1853. He received his early education at Smith's Falls schools. At the age of 17 he attended Trinity College School at Port Hope. In 1873 he graduated from University of Trinity College with honors.

In September of 1873, Worrell began teaching at Bishop's College School as the mathematics master. He left the position after two years for a position at Helmuth College, London, Ontario. He went on to teach at two other schools before returning to Trinity College for Divinity School in 1878.

In 1881, Worrell was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Ontario. He was appointed to curate Christ Church in Gananoque, Ontario. He served there only a year before moving on to a church in Brockville. He moved around over the next 9 years and was connected with various churches around Ontario.

In 1891, Worrell became rector of a church in Kingston, Ontario. He also served as the professor of English Literature at the Royal Military College of Canada.

In 1901, Worrell was appointed the Archdeacon of Ontario.

In 1904, Worrell was elected the Bishop of Nova Scotia.

In 1931, Worrell was elected as the Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada by unanimous election. This made him the head of the Anglican Church of Canada. He held the position until 1934, when on August 10th of the same year he passed away from a prolonged four week illness.

Worrell was a Freemason belonging to a lodge in Gananoque, Ontario where he was the master of the lodge. He also served as the Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of Canada in the province of Ontario.

07/19/2026

Today in Masonic History Claude B. Alverson is born in 1878.

Claude B. Alverson was an American jurist.

Alverson was born on July 19th, 1878 in Hounsfield, Jefferson County, New York. He attended area schools and read law at a local law firm. He graduated from the Albany Law School in 1905. Later the same year he was admitted to the bar.

Shortly after being admitted to the bar, Alverson started a local law firm with a partner which only lasted a few years. It was during this period Alverson started his political life. He was appointed deputy county clerk, serving for two years. Later he was elected supervisor from the town of Hounsfield.

When Alverson dissolved his first practice, he started a second one with a new partner. He also removed himself from public office to focus entirely on his private practice. In 1910, Alverson returned to public life when he was elected District Attorney of Jefferson County. He was elected to a second three year term as well. During his tenure as District Attorney he handled several high profile criminal cases which brought his name out to the public.

In 1918, Alverson was nominated and elected as county judge for Jefferson County. In 1920 he was elected to server on the Supreme Court of New York, 5th Judicial District.

Alverson passed away on December 23rd, 1922.

Alverson was a member of Brownville Lodge. He was also a member of Watertown Chapter Royal Arch Masons No. 59, Watertown Commandery Knights Templar No. 11, Central City Consistory, 32nd degree, Media Temple of the Noble and Mystic Shrine.

07/19/2026

07/18/2026

Today in Masonic History we ask what is a symbol?

A symbols is a person, concept or object which stands for another idea, belief or entity.

Freemasonry is rich with symbols. One need only look on the outside of most lodge buildings to see the symbol of Freemasonry, the square and compasses. Symbols can be difficult though, their meaning confused by personal beliefs or biases. A non-masonic and very dark example of this is the Sw****ka. For most in Western culture it conjures up thoughts of one of the darkest times in human history when millions were killed simply for who they were and what they believed. The Sw****ka has been used throughout the world though. In Hinduism it's a symbol of good fortune and was used for thousands of years prior to becoming a dark symbol in western culture. Depending on your personal experience you may view a particular symbol in a positive or negative way and your interpretation may have no bearing on what the next person sees in the symbol.

For Freemasonry, the same can be said for the symbols we regularly use. A perfect example is the letter G. Often seen in English speaking countries in the center of the square and compasses. Depending on the jurisdiction and who you ask you may hear the G represents geometry, God or the Grand Architect of the Universe. I am sure there are other examples. Regardless of which a Freemason believes, it illustrates the point. A symbol is something unique to the person who views it. It therefore is easily misinterpreted by someone without the proper context or understanding. Often our symbols are twisted either intentionally or unintentionally by outside observers. There are those who see pentagrams in the square and compasses saying it has a dark or sinister meaning. In mathematics the pentagram can be used to illustrate the golden ratio.

In Freemasonry, regardless of jurisdiction, we are all about symbols. It is through education about those symbols we can properly interpret the lessons of the Fraternity. Despite our best efforts to explain those symbols to the world at large, we are stuck with the job of convincing others to see those symbols through our eyes. A difficult task. We best accomplish this through our actions. How we exemplify the meaning of these symbols outside our lodges, best shows the world their meaning.

07/17/2026

Today in Masonic History we present The Master's Apron by Robert Burns.

There's many a badge that's very grand;
With ribbon, lace and tape on;
Let kings and princes wear them all,
Give me the Master's apron!

The honest craftsman's apron,
The jolly Freemason's apron,
Be he at home or roam afar,
Before his touch fall bolt and bar,
The gates of fortune fly ajar,
When he but wears the apron!

For wealth and honor, pride and power
are crumbling stones to base on;
Eternity should rule the hour,
and every worthy Mason!
Each Free Accepted Mason,
Each Ancient Crafted Mason.

Then Brethren, let a wholesome song
Arouse your friendly ranks along.
Good wives and children blithely sing
To the ancient badge with the apron string
That is worn by the Master Masons!

07/16/2026

Today in Masonic History we present Lodge Welcome to Ladies by Robert Morris.

We acknowledge countless blessings
From the Bounteous Hand above;
Our bond was first cemented
By Divine assent and love;
We are grateful, truly grateful,
For all gifts He doth bestow,
But our warmest thanks are given --
Shall I say the word? -- for you.

The woes of life are many,
Thronging dark on every side,
In tears, and sighs, and broken hearts,
And sorrows far and wide;
The Mason's hand is generous,
But most freely we bestow,
When the appeal is made us --
Shall I say the word? -- by you.

Our brotherhood is countless,
From the East unto the West;
In every land, and clime, and tongue,
They range among the best;
And every man a hundred miles
On frosty sod will go,
To give you help, or win a smile --
Shall I say the word? -- from you.

Then hail! Adoptive Masonry,
That brings us here together;
May manly arms 'round lovely forms
Protect from stormy weather;
And when, adown the hill of life,
Our tottering feet shall go,
May our weary steps be comforted --
Shall I say the word? -- by you.

07/15/2026

Today in Masonic History Francis Adams Cherry, Sr. passed away in 1965.

Francis Adams Cherry, Sr. was an American politician.

Cherry was born on September 5th, 1908 in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up in El Reno and Enid, Oklahoma where he graduated from High School in 1926. He went on to attend Oklahoma State University where he graduated in 1930. In 1932 he moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to attend the University of Arkansas Law School, receiving his law degree in 1936. Shortly after graduating with his law degree he moved to Jonesville where he established a legal practice.

In 1936, Cherry was appointed the United States Commissioner for the Jonesboro division of the Eastern district. In 1940 he was named referee to the Workers’ Compensation Commission by the Governor of Arkansas. In 1942 he was elected the chancellor and probate judge of the 12th Judicial District. This allowed Cherry to get judicial immunity so he did not have to serve during World War II. Cherry waived the right and sought a commission in the United States Navy. He served during the last two years during World War II.

In 1952, Cherry was elected Governor of Arkansas. He won the Democratic primary defeating the incumbent Governor. He went on to devastate the Republican candidate in the general election. Cherry won more than 87% of the vote. Unfortunately Cherry only got one term as Governor. In the next election he was the incumbent who lost in the primary, his Democratic opponent went on to serve six terms as Governor. Cherry was one of only two people up to then who only served one term as Governor.

After leaving the Governor's Office, Cherry was appointed in 1955 to the Subversive Activities Control Board (SACB) by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. This despite the fact Cherry was a Democrat and Eisenhower a Republican. Cherry was a staunch anti-Communist and the Board's purpose was to investigate Communist infiltration of American Society. Cherry remained on the board until the time of his passing, having been reappointed by Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. The SACB was disbanded three years after Cherry's passing due to the United States Supreme Court calling many of the boards powers unconstitutional. It wasn't until 1993 the Supreme Court made it's final declaration the SACB was unconstitutional.

Cherry had heart surgery in 1963. He was never able to fully resume his duties, although he went into the office several days a week. Cherry passed away on July 15th, 1965.

Cherry was a member of Jonesboro Lodge No. 129 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He was a member of Union Chapter No. 2, Royal Arch Masons, Occidental Council No. 1 and Hugh de Payens Commandery No. 1 Knights Templar. He was also a member of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Masonic Jurisdiction in the Valley of Little Rock. He was a member Sahara Shrine Temple in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, a member of O.E.S. and Amaranth

07/14/2026

Today in Masonic History we present My New-Cut Ashler by Rudyard Kipling.

If there be good in that I wrought
Thy Hand compelled it, Master, Thine--
Where I have failed to meet Thy Thought
I know, through Thee, the blame was mine.

The depth and dream of my desire,
The bitter paths wherein I stray--
Thou knowest Who hast made the Fire,
Thou knowest Who hast made the Clay.

Who, lest all thought of Eden fade,
Bring'st Eden to the craftsman's brain--
Godlike to muse o'er his own Trade
And manlike stand with God again!

One stone the more swings into place
In that dread Temple of Thy worth.
It is enough that, through Thy Grace,
I saw nought common on Thy Earth.

Take not that vision from my ken--
Oh whatsoe'er may spoil or speed.
Help me to need no aid from men
That I may help such men as need!