Famous Freemason: William J. Hussey, Most Excellent Grand High Priest

"Lots of people look up to me. 
It's because I'm so tall.

~William J. Hussey, Jr.

In a few days, my good friend William J. Hussey, Jr. will be installed as Most Excellent Grand High Priest for the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Illinois. The whole Creason family is heading over to take part in the installation. Bro. Hussey has announced his installation is at 4 PM, and he's going to revoke my membership in the York Rite at 4:01 PM.  I'm sure getting tired of him trying to kick me out stuff.  Should be a fun weekend!

Here's a little bit about the Illustrious William J. Hussey, 33 from the Grand Chapter of Illinois website.  He's obviously a very active Mason, and one of those rare individuals that makes every dull and tedious thing Masons sometimes find themselves doing something entertaining and memorable.  There's only one thing more unpredictable that William J. Hussey when he gets bored--that's me when I get bored.

Congratulations, Bill.

From the Royal Arch of Illinois Grand Chapter website:  

Companion William J. Hussey, Jr., was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on 24 October 1984 in Palestine Lodge No. 849, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Illinois, in Palestine, Illinois, where presided as Worshipful Master in the years 1988 and 2005. He is a plural member of Robinson Lodge No. 250 in Robinson, and an honorary member of Greenup Lodge No. 125 in Greenup and Fairfield Lodge No. 206.  He has served on the Grand Lodge Arrangements Committee and is the Grand Lodge Membership Committee.

Hussey joined the Royal Arch in 2007 in Henry Godeke Chapter No. 38 in Olney (now in Bridgeport). He serves on the Grand Chapter’s Public Relations, Membership committee, and previously served as an Area Coordinator overseeing six chapters. In 2009, outgoing MEGHP Richard E. Yena awarded Bill the Lyle R. Melvin Distinguished Service Award of Illinois. He joined the Grand Chapter line on 1 August 2008 as Excellent Grand Master of the First Veil, and was elected and installed as Right Excellent Deputy Grand High Priest on 19 July 2013.

William J. Hussey and Todd E. Creason renew their acquaintance at Illinois Grand Lodge.

In 2007, Hussey also became a member of the W. R. Lashbrook Council No. 55, Cryptic Masons of Illinois, in Olney (now in Bridgeport), where he served as Thrice Illustrious Master 2011-2012. He has served as a District Inspector for the Grand Council.

Hussey was dubbed and created a Knight of the Valiant and Magnanimous Order of the Temple on 16 June 2007 in Gorin Commandery No. 14, Knights Templar of the State of Illinois, in Olney (now in Bridgeport).  He presided as Eminent Commander 2009- 2010. In 2010, outgoing Illinois Grand Commander Joseph W. Lucas awarded Bill the G. Wilber Bell Excalibur Award.

Our Grand Captain of the Host was initiated into Wabash Valley Council No. 454, Allied Masonic Degrees, on 28 November 2007 in Albion, where he currently serves as Senior Warden.

I always like to make sure people know the difference...

As a Past Master, Past High Priest, Past Thrice Illustrious Master, and Past Eminent Commander, Sir Knight Hussey was received into Illinois Priory No. 11 as a Knight of the York Cross of Honor on 28 July 2012.

Bill created a Knight of York in Southern Illinois York Rite College No. 33 on 12 September 2009 in Mt. Vernon.

Since 1988, Hussey has also been an active member in the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville.  In '95-'96 he served as Most Wise Master of the Valley’s George E. Burrow Chapter of Rose Croix in 1995-1996. In recognition of his exceptional service, he was coroneted a 33° in 2005 at Grand Rapids, Michigan.  He has served on the membership committee for the Illinois Council of Deliberation.

Not only active as a Freemason, Bill is also a Past Commander of Sons of the American Legion Post 69 in Robinson.

~TEC

Leo Tolstoy: Freemason Or Not

I wrote this post for the Midnight Freemasons blog a few weeks ago, and thought you might enjoy it!

1826 - 1910

Count Lev Nikolayevich Tolstoy, also known as Leo Tolstoy, was a Russian writer who primarily wrote novels and short stories--his most famous novel War and Peace, takes place with the backdrop of the French invasion of Russia. Tolstoy is widely considered one of the world's greatest novelists.

Without question, Leo Tolstoy was very knowledgeable on the subject of Freemasonry.  His descriptions of Masonic rituals in War and Peace were extremely accurate and detailed.  In fact, so familiar with the subject of Freemasonry, Tolstoy was able to categorize Freemasons into four groups.  Upon reading this description, you'll see that Tolstoy was very accurate in that description, and for the most part, his description of these four types of Masons remains true today:

From War and Peace

"He divided the Brothers he knew into four categories. In the first he put those who did not take an active part in the affairs of the lodges or in human affairs, but were exclusively occupied with the mystical science of the order: with questions of the threefold designation of God, the three primordial elements- sulphur, mercury, and salt- or the meaning of the square and all the various figures of the temple of Solomon. Pierre respected this class of Brothers to which the elder ones chiefly belonged, including, Pierre thought, Joseph Alexeevich himself, but he did not share their interests. His heart was not in the mystical aspect of Freemasonry.

In the second category Pierre reckoned himself and others like him, seeking and vacillating, who had not yet found in Freemasonry a straight and comprehensible path, but hoped to do so.

In the third category he included those Brothers (the majority) who saw nothing in Freemasonry but the external forms and ceremonies, and prized the strict performance of these forms without troubling about their purport or significance. Such were Willarski and even the Grand Master of the principal lodge.

Finally, to the fourth category also a great many Brothers belonged, particularly those who had lately joined. These according to Pierre's observations were men who had no belief in anything, nor desire for anything, but joined the Freemasons merely to associate with the wealthy young Brothers who were influential through their connections or rank, and of whom there were very many in the lodge."

But the question remains.  Was Leo Tolstoy a Freemason? 

He is frequently cited as a Freemason, however, there is no evidence that Leo Tolstoy was a Freemason.  However, the fact that so many Freemasons for so long have believed he was, based on his writings, is a true testament to his tremendous skill as a writer.

~TEC

Todd E. Creason, 33° is the founder of the Midnight Freemasons blog and continues to be a regular contributor. He is the author of several books and novels, including the Famous American Freemasons series. He is member of Homer Lodge No. 199, and a Past Master of Ogden Lodge No. 754 (IL). He is a member the Scottish Rite Valley of Danville, the York Rite Bodies of Champaign/Urbana (IL), the Ansar Shrine (IL), Eastern Illinois Council No. 356 Allied Masonic Degrees, and Charter President of the Illini High Twelve in Champaign-Urbana (IL).  You can contact him at: webmaster@toddcreason.org

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Overall Etiquette: A Follow-Up Question

There are always going to be additional questions about such a complicated subject

I recieved this email from one of my readers in regards to the piece I wrote last week Proper Etiquette When Wearing Overalls, and thought I'd share it with you.  There is obviously still a lot of confusion on a few points about overall etiquette, and the question about how women should wear their overalls came up a lot.  Here's a clarification.

Dear Todd,
 
I really enjoyed your piece about overall etiquette. It's about time somebody shed some light on this little understood subject. However, my wife took issue with one of your rules on proper wear of overalls. You said that women do not have to wear shirts under their overalls.  She doesn't believe that, and I was hoping you could provide some additional evidence that this is indeed correct.  I would prefer photographic or video evidence, HD if available, and I prefer women with dark hair. 

I'd also like to know how you feel about women wearing cut-off overalls.  If you could find a few pictures of women wearing cut-off overalls (for research purposes), it would be greatly appreciated. 

And thank you so much for your groundbreaking writing on this little known subject.  ~M. B.

Dear M. B.,
 
As you can see, it is indeed appropriate for women to wear overalls without shirts underneath. In fact, it should be considered the only proper way. Sorry I couldn't find any HD photos that were safe for work, but I'd be happy to send you a link to an online gallery--must be 18 to enter. 

If you're wife is concerned she isn't wearing them correctly, she is more than welcome to send me a few photographs, and I'd be happy to examine them and advise her about what I think. 

I haven't really considered the topic of cut-off overalls.  Perhaps your wife could cut hers off for the aforementioned photos (perhaps while she's washing the car?) and I could consider the subject and render a verdict on whether that's appropriate or not. 

Let me know if you have any other questions.  ~TEC