Our History

Early in 1884, several Master Masons in Kansas City had requested the establishment of a Lodge of Perfection in Kansas City; however their request had been rejected by the Sovereign Grand Inspector General in Missouri, Brother Martin Collins, 33°. Not satisfied with that rejection, the Brethren prevailed upon Charles A. Peake and Stephen Thacher to go to Washington D.C. to meet with the Sovereign Grand Commander (Albert Pike). The Grand Commander agreed to meet with those Brothers and listened to their request. He did not want to "go over the head" of Brother Collins, but agreed to write him to ask that the dispensation be granted. Brother Peake noted that his business required almost constant travel and that he could not take more time from his work, so he asked if he could not take a "good report" back to Kansas City. Impressed by the demonstration of enthusiasm, Grand Commander Pike determined to contact Brother Collins by telegraph and gain his consent, to come to Kansas City and to confer the degrees on those who were petitioning for the new Lodge of Perfection.

The next day, Grand Commander Pike and Secretary General Ireland accompanied the two Brethren to Kansas City. While the Grand Commander and Brother Ireland refreshed themselves at the Coates House, the interested Masons gathered and shortly thereafter the degrees were conferred by Sovereign Grand Commander Pike. A few days later a meeting was called to organize the new Lodge of Perfection. Zerbal Lodge of Perfection was chartered on May 16, 1884 (as signed by Grand Commander Pike). Sovereign Grand Inspector General Collins signed the new charter in June of that year. The Zerbal Charter is available for viewing.

Illustrious Brother Martin Collins, 33°, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Missouri, reported the establishment of Zerbal Lodge of Perfection in Kansas City and transmitted the remittance resulting from the formation of that Body to the Supreme Council, on July 10, 1884. Having successfully organized Zerbal Lodge of Perfection, it fell to the Officers and Members to increase membership and to move that Lodge forward. In late June and early July of 1885, Sovereign Grand Commander Albert Pike again visited Kansas City to work to strengthen the new Lodge of Perfection. Unfortunately, we are told that Zerbal Lodge of Perfection was never a very active body. Futher, the "Early History of the Scottish Rite in Kansas City" article in the October-November issue of The Scottish Rite Progress reports that "Internal dissentions were said to be responsible for its final disintegration." What a sad commentary for Masonry. No meetings were held for an extended period and at the Supreme Council Business Session of October 22, 1886, the Committee on Subordinate Bodies recommended that the "Letters Temporary to the Kansas City bodies be canceled." The report was adopted, thus ending the brief history of Zerbal Lodge of Perfection.

During the period of 1886 through 1888, Cerneauism was in a growth mode and was making inroad in the Kansas City area. (In 1807, Joseph Cerneau established a body under the title, " Sovereign Grand Consistory of the United States of America, its Territories and Dependencies" in New York and claimed the right to organize and charter bodies as the "Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite."
The "History of the Supreme Council" indicates that Cerneau bodies were formed in Kansas City (it is unclear whether it was Kansas City, Missouri or in Kansas City, Kansas) with some forty members in 1887. Sovereign Grand Commander Pike had long before declared the Cerneau "Sovereign Grand Consistory" clandestine and members of bodies subordinate to that organization were not recognized as Scottish Rite Masons by the Supreme Council. The presence and activity of the Cerneau "Scottish Rite" caused confusion among the Craft. It seems clear in that the combination of the failure of Zerbal Lodge of Perfection and the rise of Cerneauism in the area was a matter of significant concern to the Supreme Council and to the Sovereign Grand Commander.

During this period, a number of Scottish Rite Masons had moved to Kansas City to live. they were principally from Ohio, Indiana, and Illinios. Those Brethren, along with the former members of Zerbal Lodge, sought the establishment of new Bodies of Scottish Rite in Kansas City. Again, the "Progress" article reports that "The effort to that end was not undertaken by any resuscitation of Zerbal Lodge. That seemed a hopeless undertaking. In March, 1887, S.G.I.G. Collins wrote Pike to inform him of the efforts to establish a new Lodge of Perfection. The certificate constituting Adoniram Lodge of Perfection # 2 at Kansas City was issued November 14, 1887. The first meeting of that Lodge was held at the Nelson building. Adoniram Lodge got off to a rocky start.

Although The Scottish Rite in Kansas City dates back to November 14, 1887 with the first meeting of the Lodge of Perfection, the bodies have had very few homes during this long history of Masonry. The group organized in two rooms of the Nelson Building at the corner of Missouri Avenue and Main Street. As soon as the organizational meeting was completed the group moved to quarters at 720 Main Street.

According to a story in the October - November 1930 issue of the Scottish Rite Progress "the hall was small and sadly in need of repairs, which with meager furnishings and the rent, $750 a year, strained the resources of the young body and the officers struggle with many difficulties." The Chapter of Rose Croix was chartered June 1, 1888; the Council of Knights Kadosh on January 15, 1890 and the Consistory dates back to September 24, 1890.
The story in the Progress continues, "Brother Thomas Morrow was successively chosen as Venerable Master of the Lodge, Wise Master of the Chapter, second officer in the Council and head of the Consistory in the critical years following the organization of each of the bodies. He was our first great ritualist. What he and his co-workers went through in the stuffy little hall at 720 Main Street none of us who came after can well realize. They built fires, swept out the hall, laid out the scanty paraphernalia, worked over the degrees, and by the hardest kind of physical and mental work advanced the Rite." In December 1890 the Bodies made a great advance by moving to more spacious quarters at 1330 Grand Ave. In these quarters was held the first reunion.

First Meeting place of the Scottish Rite in
Kansas City, Missouri (720 Main St.)
1887 to 1890

		On May 1892 they relocated in the New Ridge Building at Ninth and Walnut where the third and part of the fourth floor was "fitted up, all too handsomely it may be said for their finances, but in such a way to permit of ritualistic and dramatic effects such as are not now attempted anywhere. Here, eventually the bodies under the leadership of the splendid band of Masonic zealots achieved awonderful measure of success." The next move for the growing bodies was a major step forward for the Scottish Rite in Kansas City, one which was topped only by the move to our present facilities. The old Dundee Methodist Church property at 15th & Troost was purchased Feb. 17, 1903 and soon after, the construction began on the Temple.
New Ridge Building Home of the Scottish Rite 1892 to 1903 (Ninth & Walnut)

The Scottish Rite Progress story states "there were delays and many discour-agements to overcome in raising money for this new Temple and in keeping its construction going on. The flood of 1903 paralyzed the business of the city and subscriptions to the temple failed to materialize. No words can describe the happy joy of the workers when the day finally came and the first convocation in the new temple was held with a big class, a host of visitors, and a sense of home at last." The big Temple Dedication class raised over $450 to buy the beautiful stained glass windows which have decorated our temples from that day until now. We have all admired them through the years and they now reside in the dining room for all to see. On April 3, 1920 a committee was formed to investigate the possibilities of constructing an even greater edifice for the Rite. In October of 1928 the building committee finished with their plans and the members voted to begin construction immediately at 1330 Linwood for the Temple.

Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple
in use from 1903 to 1929
(15th & Troost)
This was the first building to be built as a Scottish Rite Temple in Kansas City, Missouri.
It is still standing and is in use by a Church.

			A grand celebration was held on November 4, 1928 with the ground breaking ceremonies taking place. It was a very joyous occasion with bands playing, a huge crowd in attendance and dignitaries present from many Masonic bodies. We reprint again from the Progress what took place next. "By the time the voices of the speakers and the singers had died away and the audience scattered, the workmen were already at the task of building the superstructure. There was something about the building of the Scottish Rite Temple, from the very start, that struck the interest and the imagination of the workmen. Perhaps, it was the careful planning the organization had done.
Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple in use from 1929-1939 (1330 Linwood Blvd) [this is the second and last Scottish Rite Temple built in Kansas City, Missouri]

Maybe it was the traditions of the Order, an organization originating among the cathedral builders of the past who were really masters of their trades. Whatever the source, a wonderful spirit developed among the workmen on the temple. Contractors seemed to take pride in furnishing the best of materials and the workmen took pride in giving the best of their skill." The new Temple was dedicated with suitable ceremonies on December 2, 1930.
Unfortunately, shortly after this magnificent structure was completed, darker days befell the Scottish Rite. the great depression and the consequent unpaid pledges forced the loss of the building in 1939. In 1940 the organization, through the cooperation of Ivanhoe Temple moved to that building for a period of 18 years.

Old Ivanhoe Masonic Temple as it stood at Linwood and Prospect
was used by the Kansas City Scottish Rite from 1940-1958

Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple located at Flora and Linwood
used from 1958 to 1971

Through valiant efforts of all the members the Rite was again on the way back to brighter times. The membership bought a new home in 1958 at 3201 Flora. This was the former location of Temple B'Nai Jehudah. After extensive remodeling and repairing this beautiful structure it served as our handsome home until its sale to Model Cities in 1971.
Scottish Rite has had few homes in its long and glorious history in Kansas City. Throughout our lifetime many brethren have been responsible for our continuing growth. There have been countless hours spent by building committees, by the officers and staff, not only on those old homes of our organization, but more importantly to us, on the rebuilding program of our present building. To these great leaders we all owe a debt of gratitude.

Scottish Rite Herald (Sept. 1971, Vol. 27, # 6)

Kansas City Scottish Rite Temple
1971 to Present
"Home Sweet Home"
(1330 Linwood Blvd)