This week we sit down with Robert S. Davis, Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota. Hear about his numerous life adventures: living across the region as a “Pastor’s Kid,” passion for Scouting America, and later serving with the Peace Corps in the Dominican Republic. 

“What you do today can affect people a hundred years from now. Do you want to leave a positive effect or a negative effect?” 

Pursuing a pilot’s license, reading about inspirational leaders, and discovering his great-grandparent was a classmate with George Washington Carver in college. Stow your carry-on luggage and pass the peanut butter, it’s an all-new Minnesota Masonic Histories & Mysteries. 

What happens when the Master Mason fails to perform his duty of instructing the Entered Apprentice, and instead plots to discredit him and claim glory for himself? 

“Focused energy is a blessing. Unfocused anger and rage are destructive of all societies, especially of ours.”

This week we revisit the incomparable writings of John L. Cooper III and take a trip to Rosslyn Chapel in search of the Apprentice Pillar. 

“Jealousy has no place in Freemasonry. For as we are taught, a Mason only succeeds in an environment of those who can work together and agree.”

Where do we begin the pursuit of authentic human connection and giving back to the greater good? 

“We find commonality…and connection comes out of that commonality.”

Scott Glendenning and Steve Kaarbo share how their non-profit is bringing the Duluth community together by giving back to families and supporting various health initiatives. 

“Some people might say, in the grand scheme of things, maybe a thousand dollars doesn't make a big difference. But it makes a very big difference to the individuals and families receiving it.”

What started as a front yard birthday party has morphed into “Excalibur Con,” a pop culture & tabletop gaming event happening August 16-17 at the DECC in Duluth (more info: MNSWCA.org) 

Also, join us in support of the Masonic Children’s Clinic in Duluth on August 21: masonicchildrensclinic.org 

Our pal Reed Houge poses the question: how do you put yourself out there?

“Every relationship, whether business or personal, starts with one thing: trust.” 

Born in Jamestown, ND, Reed served in the U.S. Army as an Avionics Technician and Combat Engineer. He later relocated to Minnesota where he joined Nelson Lodge No. 135 in Buffalo (2013). 

Professionally, he was a Medical Applications Engineer for Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and several start-up medical companies in Minnesota, Colorado, and Arizona.

Reed currently serves the Grand Lodge of Arizona as Senior Grand Deacon and is a member of Flagstaff Lodge No. 7. 

“The truly impactful people? Their peers trust them, because of who they are…not what they say they are…but WHO they are.” 

There’s so much depth to our ritual when we reflect beyond just “the words.” This week we sit down with our Grand Lodge Education Officer and discuss a wide range of topics, from slowing down our daily grind to inspiring others. Do you have what it takes to be a positive "spark plug" in your lodge? 

“Is the length of your cable tow based on what you CAN do or what's convenient to you? Stop focusing on the past and focus on the future…and where you want to go.”

Put on your riding gear and fire up the Harley, this road trip we’re in search of calmness, impact, and peace. 

KARE 11’s Karla Hult is an Emmy, Edward R. Murrow, and Walter Cronkite award-winning journalist. Her favorite stories are those shared from the heart, including her award-winning documentary of her family’s own Alzheimer’s journey.

“We are trying to walk alongside them in a way that is respectful and honors their dignity. That is ultimately what made me pause after our marathon with my dad and say, what more can I do to share and uplift others?” 

In 2021, Karla launched “So Many Goodbyes,” a mission to support and educate families, caregivers, and the greater community about the dementia crisis and how families can cope, find joy, and not feel alone on the journey. 

More info: www.somanygoodbyes.com 

Minnesota Masonic Charities was formed in 2006, but how did we get here? Author Paul Hodnefield breaks down the timeline of the three distinct stages of “Charity” in Minnesota and how it has guided us since our inception in the 1850s. 

“The advances that Minnesota Masonry has funded over the years are known not just here locally, they’re known across the world. It's something that has benefitted mankind at large.” 

Learn about our rich history and the pivotal influence of A.T.C. Pierson, Gideon Ives, Marian Savage, the Order of the Eastern Star, and more. 

“Masonry is a tool to be used, not a form to be served.” -PGM Leroy Mattson

Paul Hodnefield's latest book is titled “Our Guiding Star” and will be released in spring 2026. 

Minnesota takes pride in civic participation, but there’s a leadership deficit in our state. Leadership, as well as volunteering and charity, is crucial for addressing community needs and opportunities. 

How do we confront generational changes of social affiliations and people leaving rural areas? In this episode, we focus on the challenge of collaborative leadership with Dr. Kathy Quick.

“Leadership is about adaptation. It matters that everybody be a good communicator. It matters that everybody have some degree of empathy…not be so overtaken by their own ego and title that they forget about the followers. And it helps if they do have a mission.”

Dr. Kathy Quick is the Gross Family Chair for Public and Nonprofit Leadership at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. She is also an Academic Co-Director of the Center for Integrative Leadership, a university-wide center dedicated to building leadership capacity across the business, government, and nonprofit sectors to work together to advance the public good. 

The pod gets electric when Ben Lacy shares perspective on respecting the 24-inch gauge, creating a bespoke Masonic experience, and the action necessary for authentic brotherhood. 

“Support the people that are working for the betterment of the Craft. Figure out a way that you can ask someone how you can help them. And then go follow up on that and do the thing. Figure out a way that you can make a difference.”

A felony prosecutor/nonprofit attorney, busy dad/husband, and one-time collaborator with the Duke of Edinburgh ( ! ), Ben is a plural member of Golden Sheaf Lodge No. 133 (Morris, MN) and St. John’s Lodge No. 1 (Stillwater, MN). 

“Muh-sonic” or “May-sonic?” Call your next witness, it’s an all new episode of Minnesota Masonic Histories & Mysteries. 

Freemasonry isn’t and has never been a religious organization. It has always been open to members of all religions and faiths. However, the world into which it was born, in Enlightenment-era Europe, was a largely Christian one. As a result, many of the symbols of Freemasonry reflect Christian iconography—including the connection to the two Saint Johns in Freemasonry. 

Their feast days are closely associated with the summer and winter solstice – underscoring the symbolic duality of the two figures.