Masonic organizations in Butler still serving
Curt Rauschenberger has heard the jokes a million times.
When he tells people that he has been involved in Freemasonry organizations since the 1980s, some ask how the world domination is going, or where the Declaration of Independence is hidden.
As longtime members of Butler’s Masonic organizations, husband and wife Curt and Joyce Rauschenberger know that many people are simply unaware of what Masons do, and their portrayal in popular media often is mysterious. The reality of the group, which meets at 346 S. Main St., is much different from the inside.
“The joke with us is we can't decide what we want for refreshments after a meeting, let alone figure out how to rule the world,” Curt Rauschenberger said.
The origin of Freemasonry can be traced back centuries, to the practices of actual 13th century stonemasons, and lodges have existed in the U.S. since the early 1700s. Curt Rauschenberger said stonemasons would meet in groups to discuss their projects, which would evolve into planning community initiatives. Some of their tools also became symbols the organization uses to represent service, such as the compass and eye.
“Masons were originally actual operative masons; they built the cathedrals in Europe,” said Denny Rickard, who first joined DeMolay in 1963. ”They became speculative masons in the 1600s because people were interested but they weren't laborers. You go back to the orders of architecture, the teachings are based on what masons actually did.“
In Butler County, there are six subgroups and a few youth groups that operate in the region. They include the Butler Lodge, the Lorraine Chapter and the William H. Miller Lodge. Also operating in the region are youth organizations DeMolay, an organization for young men age 12 to 21; Job’s Daughters, for young women age 10 to 20; and Rainbow, which is for young women age 11 to 20.
Additionally, the Butler Lodge started a new Squires chapter, the William C. Graham Manor Squires, in 2018, which is a Masonic organization for boys age 9 to 12.
The organizations are all responsible for planning their own initiatives. That includes the youth organizations, which get some guidance from their sponsors, but in practice are autonomous.
For example, Tobin Maharg, a student at Emily Brittain Elementary School, and Jonathan Dahl, a student at Sugarcreek Elementary School, raised and donated $1,200 to Butler County Children and Youth Services through the William C. Graham Squires.
The students both said they did the project simply to help young children, which Joyce Rauschenberger said is a lesson the club’s advisers hope to teach.
“We don't do it for the thank-yous, we do it because it's the right thing to do,” Joyce Rauschenberger said.
Curt Rauschenberger said the youth organizations often give children their first taste of leadership, because the club advisers try to guide them into discussing what they like to do and how their personal hobbies can turn into service projects.
“That's another cool thing about Masonry and the kids' groups is they can find things they like to do, especially with the youth organizations,” Curt Rauschenberger said. “Let's plan an activity and go to the altitude jump park. If they can plan it, they can do it.”
Joyce Rauschenberger said the adult organizations often organize community blood drives and fundraisers, which typically invite members of all Masonic organizations.
Plaques and awards are displayed all throughout the Masonic Temple, which different organizations received from their international, national and state umbrella organizations. Curt Rauschenberger said the number of awards received by the Butler-based chapters can fill eight tables.
“Most of those were for DeMolay, Lorraine and they were awarded for various competitions, either sporting or for how well they performed ceremonies, how many new members they got in a year,” Joyce Rauschenberger said. “There is an outstanding chapter award every year, Lorraine Chapter has earned that award several times.”
Masonry has existed in the area since the Butler Lodge was founded in 1840. Joyce Rauschenberger said other lodges formed after the Butler Lodge because people wanted to join groups with their friends, and many also wanted to hold officer positions.
Now, the Masonic Temple at 346 Main Street in Butler sees 1,000 people from several organizations meet, all planning their own events and community service projects. However, people who are not members of a Masonic organization typically don’t enter the 111-year-old building.
“When we plan an event, lets say a Halloween dance, we involve all the groups,” Joyce Rauschenberger said. “Lodges get together, they do trivia. Occasionally they do a dinner or fundraiser, blood drives in the past and everyone has gotten involved with those.”
Up until only a few years ago, Masons couldn’t recruit members by asking them — someone else had to ask an existing Mason to attend a meeting or join a club on their own.
When that rule changed, Masons in Butler adapted by planning new kinds of gatherings.
“We do have events and activities where we invite other people in, it's because they know someone,” Joyce Rauschenberger said.
In addition to the community benefits that come with being part of a club, Masons have a place to stay no matter where they go. Because there are Masonic lodges all over the world, and membership with the organizations is lifelong, a Mason just has to call up a local lodge to get a bunk.
Curt Rauschenberger said it was easier to get people involved in Masonic organizations when he was younger, because there were fewer service-based extracurricular activities children could get involved in. He said, however, that the same appeal of DeMolay and Squires would probably be attractive today.
“Most kids when they come in are surprised at how much they like it,” Curt Rauschenberger said.
Curt Rauschenberger said he thinks membership has fallen a bit in recent years in part because of the mystery surrounding Masonry, but also because not as many children get involved at an early age.
Rickard agreed that Masonry doesn’t have the same presence as other fraternal organizations, like the Shriners, for example.
“Everyone knows the Shriners do what? They have 23 hospitals for children,” Rickard said. “They have to raise all their money through donations so they have to constantly promote themselves.”
Joyce Rauschenberger said she plans to focus on promoting the William C. Graham Squires to students in elementary school to try to grow the membership.
Rickard said he thinks the benefits of Masonic groups sell themselves, even to youths.
“During my 10-year tenure as (DeMolay) chapter adviser, I saw hundreds of young men grow and mature into successful businessmen and professionals in our community,” he said. “DeMolay’s contribution to our community is immeasurable.”
Joyce Rauschenberger said at a recent community event, the DeMolay had a booth which got attention from 10 people, with five of them being interested in the Squires.
She said it is especially important for children to get involved in Masonry, because they can learn a lot about their coming adult responsibilities early through the organization.
“We need the youth that are today to know how to do these things and to look out for the community,” Joyce Rauschenberger said.
