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This Thing Which We Call Masonry
This Thing Which We Call Masonry
Bro. John E. Erickson
Bro. John E. Erickson
Governor of Montana 1925-193333
Governor of Montana 1925-19
Brethren: Montana owes much to Masons and even contempt for our institutions is everywhere
Masonry. In the pioneer days, when lawlessness and manifest in our own land; wars and revolutions, untold
crime were rampant, when neither person nor property suff ering and injustice among the nations of the world.
were safe from the ravages of the thief and the thug, It seems that we are still a long way from the Peace
Masons and Masonry exerted a silent but powerful and Good Will to men of which the angels sang many
infl uence and did their heroic work in bringing law centuries ago. There is still need for further light in
and order and making Montana a fi t and decent place Masonry among the children of men everywhere, and
for men to live in. And so, in the years that followed it will be our pleasure as well as our duty to carry this
during Montana's early years, its years of troubles and light to those who sit in darkness. The silent unseen
tribulations, Masonry always and consistently was power of Masonry will continue to win its victories
found on the side of all good government and civic and to bless mankind, for has it not been written that
righteousness. So it has always been with Masonry, the things that are unseen are greater than the things
not only in Montana, but everywhere and at all times. that are seen?

The fundamental principle of Masonry is service to May the result of what you do as Freemasons
humanity, and this philosophy of service is as old as continue to make Montana a safe and decent place to
civilization itself. Masonry is an ideal, a silent spiritual live.
force which has asserted itself in humanity's struggle
for higher and better things. And so it has always been.
Civilizations have come and gone; nations have risen,
fl ourished and passed away; kings and princes and
potentates and the mighty have strutted their feet upon
the world's stage and passed into oblivion. But this
thing which we call Masonry has grown more powerful
throughout the centuries until it has become one of
the great dynamic forces in the world's progress. The
beauty of its philosophy thrills us; its history inspires
us and its achievements are blessed heritage which we Brother John E. Erickson was a member of Choteau
treasure. Lodge No. 44, later dmitting to Kalispell No. 42. He was
also a member of the York Rite, Scottish Rite, and Shrine.
But we must not let the glories of the past blind us John Edward Erickson - Born March 14, 1863, Stoughton,
to the duties of today. The victories of the past should Wisconsin. Died May 25, 1946 (aged 83) in Helena,
share in problems of the present. There is still in the Montana. Buried at Conrad Cemetery, Kalispell, Montana.
world much of ignorance, bigotry, intolerance and Bro. Erickson began practicing law in Kansas in 1892.
injustice that may well be destroyed by the light of He moved to Choteau, Montana in 1893 and continued
Masonry. After all, the present and future of this Order practicing in that town. He served as county attorney of
will be just what you and I make it, and society will Teton County from 1897 to 1905, then judge of the eleventh
get out of it what we put into it. judicial district of Montana from 1905 to 1915. He resumed
the practice of law at Kalispell, Montana in 1916.
No generation has had a greater opportunity than Governor of Montana - He was elected the 8th Governor
ours to render service to humanity and to justify the of Montana (1925-1933). He won reelection in 1928, and
existence of our Order. We are living in a wonderful again in 1932, making him the only governor elected to
wage, in a wonderful time, in a time when man is three terms.
enjoying more of the liberty, more of the fruits and
more of the pleasures of life than in any other era of United States Senator from Montana - On March 13,
the world's history. But we are forcibly reminded that 1933, Bro. Erickson resigned as Governor whereupon
the last word in democracy has not yet been written; Frank Cooney, formerly Erickson's Lieutenant Governor
that there is much yet to be done; that on every and the Acting Governor, appointed Erickson to the United
States Senate to fi ll the vacancy caused by the death of
hand problems, social and economic, are present for Thomas J. Walsh.
solution; lawlessness and crime and disrespect, and

Page 34 Montana Freemason January 2019