116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Curious Iowa: What happens in Cedar Rapids’ Scottish Rite Temple?
Pop culture references perpetuate the idea of secrecy, but local Masons say they are open to sharing their history and work
Jun. 5, 2023 1:13 am, Updated: Mar. 29, 2024 1:24 pm
CEDAR RAPIDS — The Scottish Rite Temple’s six massive stone columns — a feature of the building’s classical revival architecture — stand tall along A Avenue in northeast Cedar Rapids. Three blocks away, the Iowa Masonic Library and Museum — constructed of marble — stretches half a block along First Avenue, guarded by a pair of stone lions. The buildings, which are home to Freemasons and related groups, stand out from Cedar Rapids’ city landscape.
Curious Iowa is a new series from The Gazette that seeks to answer your questions about the state, its culture and the people who live here. One Curious Iowan wondered, “Who are the Scottish Rite Masons? And what do they use their temple and library for?” We set out to find the answer.
Not quite like ‘National Treasure’
Freemasonry is the basis for tropes in fiction about secret organizations. The plot of the 2004 movie “National Treasure” centers around the hunt for a centuries-old treasure that was supposedly hidden by Freemasons to keep it out of the possession of the British during the Revolutionary War.
Even an episode of the children’s show “SpongeBob SquarePants” parodies a Masonic lodge meeting. The meeting takes place in a pyramid with an eye on the outside. Inside, one of the characters dresses in a red robe and performs a secret handshake with his brothers.
Despite these pop cultural depictions of secrecy surrounding Masonry, the brothers at the Scottish Rite Temple in Cedar Rapids are more than happy to share their history and work with the public.
And no, you don’t have to be Scottish to join. The Scottish Rite degrees originated in Europe and were based on legends from Scotland, which is how the group got its name.
The fraternal organization is hundreds of years old, though the exact year it was established is unknown. It promotes the pursuit of education, service and trust in a higher power. Master Mason Bill Jacobson concluded that masonry was an essential part of establishing the United States and perpetuating Democracy through education.
What’s inside the Masonic Library?
There’s no need to steal the Declaration of Independence — part of the storyline of “National Treasure” — to discover Masonic secrets. The library on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids holds a world class collection of documents on Masonic history — and even touts a Gutenberg Bible.
An October 1923 edition of The Gazette called the library “one of Iowa’s most valuable assets” for the more than 80,000 Iowa Masons. It is recognized as one of the largest and most complete Masonic libraries in the world.
Non-members are allowed to visit the library and view its collections.
Masonry ‘takes good men and makes them better’
Ground was broken at the current site of Cedar Rapids’ Scottish Rite Temple — 616 A Ave. NE — in 1910. An article in the April 29, 1910 edition of The Gazette states the estimated cost for the Temple was $22,000.
“In 1910, there were no movie shows, no television, radio was hardly in any existence,” said Bill Jacobson, who has been involved with the Scottish Rite for 50 years. “So if somebody wanted to learn something, they had to join an organization or join a church and those pretty much controlled the sources of information.”
Jacobson said Masonry takes good men and makes them better through the pursuit of degrees, which teach the principles of Masonry.
“The interesting thing about that is Masons believe very seriously that education is the foundation of growth and understanding and the ability to be a part of a democracy,” Dr. Jacobson said. “You can’t have ignorant people and expect them to vote intelligently.”
How does someone become a Mason?
To become a Mason, you must believe in a higher power. Whether that deity is Jesus, Allah, or Zeus doesn’t matter. You must also have good standing in the community and not have any felony convictions.
Masons start out in the Blue Lodge where they work to obtain their first three degrees, all of which are based on allegories. A 33rd honorary degree is awarded to a mason who has provided exceptional service to humanity. In Cedar Rapids, more than 200 men have been awarded the 33rd degree. Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley holds this degree, as does Jacobson.
While women can join other groups affiliated with Freemasonry, they cannot be Scottish Rite Masons.
What do Masons do inside the temple?
The Temple is like a social club; it’s a space to conduct Masonic business and rituals. There, Masons award degrees, complete leadership training, plan contributions to charitable causes and hold events.
Ritualistic lodge meetings are held, and each lodge room has a G on the wall representing a higher power. In the center of the room sits a Bible. Other religious texts are available as well. Other symbols in the room include the Masonic square and compass and three light bulbs fastened onto a pedestal.
The Temple also has been used as gathering spaces for non-Masonic groups. For example, the New Horizons concert band uses the auditorium for rehearsal space. The Temple used to be rented out for weddings until the wear and tear of holding events of that size caused the Mason to stop offering that service.
Freemasons ‘work with like-minded men’
The Scottish Rite supports Rite Care, a program that helps people with hearing and speech difficulties. Masons are also champions of education and give out scholarships.
Scottish Rite PR Director and 33rd degree Mason Tim Felton said his participation in the organization has led to personal improvement.
“The other nice thing about being in a fraternity of free masons is you get to work with like-minded men who are striving to become better,” Felton said. “And I personally believe that has helped me because when you’re dealing with people who have a positive progressive attitude, it brings that into your own personal life and makes you a better person.”
Participation has ebbed and flowed
Today, Felton said that in Iowa there are approximately 12,000 Masons and 2,500 Scottish Rite Masons. Jacobson said it has been difficult to appeal to young people although they are updating their online presence to help efforts.
Participation in Cedar Rapids ebbs and flows. In the ‘90s, Scottish Rite conducted a study that found the best age to participate in Freemasonry was between 42-45. Men at that age have the time to dedicate to searching for extended light because they don’t have young children and have progressed in their career.
“And now they’re at a point where with empty nests, they’re starting to ask questions,” Jacobson said. “What’s life all about? Why am I here? How long am I gonna live? What happens when I die? And all of these questions are addressed in masonry.”
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Comments: bailey.cichon@thegazette.com
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