Nebraska Masonic Museum & Research Library

Meet William Maxwell, Masonic imposter. He is described in the 1903 booklet, “Album of Masonic Imposters” as having changed "his name and the Lodge he claims membership in, as easy as a rapid change artist in a vaudeville show." The description also suggests that Maxwell knew what cities and towns to avoid, stating, "Since we first published him he did a big business where our circulars do not reach."

In January 1898, Maxwell - whose real name appears to have been George Fleming - was arrested in Seattle, Washington, and convicted of obtaining money under false pretenses. He was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. The January 23, 1898 edition of The Seattle Post-Intelligencer carried a front-page article about Fleming titled "Bled Masons for Eight Years: George Fleming Confesses to a Long Career of Crime." In the continuation of the article, on page 7, an illustration of Fleming makes it clear that the "William Maxwell" pictured above and the George Fleming convicted in Seattle are the same person. Fleming claimed a number of different aliases and boasted of having made of career out of defrauding Masons and taking their money. By way of showing how successful he was at posing as a Mason, Fleming claimed to have duped Albert Edward, Prince of Wales, who was then the Grand Master of the United Grand Lodge of England out of $150 while dining with him in Paris.

The 1903 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska mention Maxwell and their encounter with him, calling him "one of the most dangerous frauds at large." Arrested in South Omaha, Maxwell was found to be carrying forged receipts for dues from Thomas Cecil Lodge #375 in Pikesville, Kentucky. On December 23, 1902, the Omaha World-Herald reported that William Maxwell, “an elderly man confined in the city jail pending information regarding his antecedents is considered a smooth article.” He had secured financial loans from several Masons of around $5 each (roughly $150 in today’s value). On February 16, 1902, the Grand Lodge issued a circular with a front and side view of the man to all American and some foreign Grand Lodges.

A brief entry in the Omaha Daily Bee for January 28, 1903 reads, "William Maxwell, the alleged Masonic fraud, has left for parts unknown." It is unclear where Fleming/Maxwell went after leaving Omaha or when he died.

Collection of Masonic jewels:

First Photo:
Nov. 1914 Dedication Class Reunion (Omaha Scottish Rite); Nov. 1912 Class Reunion (Omaha Scottish Rite); 1857-1907 Grand Lodge Nebraska 50 year Anniversary; 1857-1957 Grand Lodge Nebraska Centennial Anniversary; Nov. 1911 Class Reunion (Omaha Scottish Rite); c. 1920s Class Reunion (Omaha Scottish Rite).

Second Photo:
33° Scottish Rite jewel; United Grand Lodge of England Tercentennial jewel, 1717-2017; Scottish Rite Northern Jurisdiction Centennial, 2013; Robert Jordan jewel, c. 1899; Scottish Rite Intendant of the Building Society; Grand Lodge of Nebraska Relief jewel, c. 2017

Short article from History Nebraska about William Jennings Bryan. Bryan was a member of Lincoln Lodge #19 and the Lincoln Valley Scottish Rite.

Happy historical birthday to William Jennings Bryan, born 160 years ago today.

He was a leading Democratic politician in his time, representing Nebraska in Congress for one term, serving as Secretary of State, and running (unsuccessfully) for president three times. During his first presidential campaign, he delivered the Cross of Gold speech, which is considered one of the greatest political speeches in American history.

Later in his life, he also argued for the prosecution in a famous 1925 legal case in Tennessee. Do you know which one it was?

So many fun pieces of Masonic swag. This bronze Shriner was a radiator cap from the 1920s. It originally would have had the fez and cummerbund painted red. What is your favorite item of Masonic Swag in your own collection? Post a photo in the comments of your own items.

Get a look at the NE Masonic Foundation’s Museum and Research Library this Thursday at 4:45 p.m. in a Facebook Live presentation. The live tour on the Grand Lodge page will allow viewers to see Masonic artifacts and the more than 2,000 books preserved there. If you miss the live presentation, return to the Grand Lodge Facebook site to view it at any time. Please share this announcement with your brothers!

A few business cards recovered from the cornerstone of a razed school. Among them are PGM George Lininger and James Black, Imperial Potentate Henry Clay Akin, and numerous prominent Masons. Have you visited the Nebraska Masonic Museum and Library to see what treasures we have? Make an appointment and visit in 2020!

Now that is a pin! This dates from c. 1902, picturing Henry Clay Akin who served as Imperial Potentate. Akin was a Mason from Omaha, Nebraska.

One of our favorite treasures of Nebraska Freemasonry: the proceedings of the Masonic Convention of September 23, 1857 in Omaha City, Nebraska Territory cresting the Grand Lodge of Nebraska and electing Robert C Jordan the first Grand Master of Masons.

We haven’t had a Flashback Friday - er, Tuesday - in a while. Meet Brother Ralph Brooks, 29th Governor of Nebraska. He was a member of Lancaster Lodge 54, York Rite bodies, Hastings Scottish Rite and Tehama Shrine.

New addition to the Nebraska Masonic Museum & Research Library.

After chance discovery, Freemasons acquire Bible belonging to early Omaha 'mover and shaker' George Lininger For Chris Carter and Doug Lewis, members of the Omaha Masonic lodge named in George Lininger's honor, the Bible’s discovery feels like a gift from their old friend.