Durham, Raleigh:
S. Brent Morris, Mason of all seasons
He is known worldwide as mathematician, faculty member of three universities, 33rd degree Scottish Rite Grand Cross leader and author. The managing editor of the Scottish Rite Journal, he has strong ties to North Carolina. His name is S. Brent Morris and here, published for the first time, are his personal remarks about his Tar Heel life:

“I was raised a Master Mason on a Monday in early August, 1971, in Highland Park 1150 in Dallas, TX. That Friday I started driving to Durham for graduate school at Duke.

“The first lodge to hold a meeting in Durham after summer recess was Fellowship 687. I also visited Eno 210 and Durham 352 before settling in as a regular visitor to Durham Lodge. After a year or two, they made me an honorary member. I joined the York Rite—chapter, council and commandery—in Durham about 1972 or 1973.

“The first Masonic article I ever published was in the Knight Templar Magazine and written while I was in Durham. I started a lodge newsletter for Durham Lodge and edited it for the last couple of years I was in Durham (1974 and 1975.) It went out to all 750 members of the lodge. After being pretty active in the Durham York Rite, I was invited to join AMD. However, the GL of Texas didn’t allow its members to belong to the AMD, so I demitted to Durham 352 after being an honorary member for a year or so.

“Durham Chapter of DeMolay was restarted shortly after I moved to Durham (about 1972, I think) and I became Chapter Dad. I ran the chapter until my last year in town. While browsing through the archives at Duke, I discovered that they had the original minute books of Durham Lodge, plus the three York Rite Bodies. I worked with the committee to get the books returned to their owners.

“I received a PhD in mathematics from Duke in September, 1974, and stayed on for the 1974-75 academic year as an instructor. In spring, 1975, I joined the Scottish Rite in Raleigh, but could only afford to join through the 14th degree.

“In August, 1975, I moved to Maryland and started my career as a mathematician with the federal government. I retired from the government in 2000 and started to work for the Supreme Council in Washington. Durham Lodge gave out bibles to their members who learned the MM catechism. I tried to get a bible by reciting the Texas MM catechism, but they said I’d have to learn the NC catechism. Well, I did it and got my bible. However, I then had two versions of the MM catechism in my head, and when I became WM of Patmos Lodge 70 in Maryland, I had learned a third version. Thus, I have no one version of my ritual down very well.

“Grand Lecturers aren’t impressed with my ritual, but candidates are (and they’re the ones who really count). Several years ago, after conferring the EA on a candidate, our Grand Lecturer rose and said, ‘It’s not often that you get to hear tri-state ritual, but you did tonight—Texas, North Carolina and Maryland—and all from one man!’

“Duke had a very good collection of books on Freemasonry, and I read nearly all of them. It helped push me down the path of Masonic research, which I’ve always loved.”

Brother Morris walks with an incredible array of achievements and credentials. Taught at Duke University, Johns Hopkins University and as Associate Professorial Lecturer at George Washington University. Twice Master Patmos 70, Ellicott City, MD. Master Quatuor Coronati 2076 in London. Philalethese Society Fellow. Honorary Fellow Phylaxis Society. Editor of Heredom of the Scottish Rite Reseach Society. Grand Abbot of the Society of Blue Friars. Author of many books and articles on Freemasonry.

Produced by the public relations committee of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Masons in North Carolina,
2921 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27628 MMVIII
Author/editor: Walter J. Klein wklein(at)carolina.rr.com