The History of National Sojourners

The idea for a sojourners club to serve the needs of displaced military Masons revived, however, when , in 1917, a group of Masonic Military Officers met in the Hamilton Club in Chicago. They agreed that, in the absence of the Military Lodges of earlier times, there was a need for a national Masonic organization which would serve the requirements of Masonic Brethren from various parts of the country who were thrown together by virtue of their military service. The Order they started grew rapidly, from a 15-man club in 1917 to a national corporation in 1927 with membership then approaching 20,000.The purposes of National Sojourners, Inc., affirm their responsibilities to Brother Masons, the Masonic Fraternity, and the nation. Sojourners traditionally sponsor and coach most military personnel petitioning for Masonic membership, thus providing a bridge between the local military and the Masonic Lodges. Sojourner efforts are directed toward Americanism and support of Masonic programs and policies. Americanism activities include patriotic ceremonies, speeches, presentations, and other actions intended to promote love of country with special emphasis on the youth of the nation. National Sojourners, Inc., sponsors varied programs such as the following.

Flag Programs

Throughout the Order, several historical and patriotic flag programs have been developed. One, in particular, had a Scottish Rite genesis.

A member of the National Sojourners Chapter in El Paso, Texas, Hubert L. Koker, 32°, K.. C.. C.. H.., was chairman of a Scottish Rite committee tasked to prepare an Americanism program for presentation to the El Paso Scottish Rite Valley. He developed a program in which the American Flag was built, stripe by stripe and star by star with a narration giving the state or states admitted to the Union with the addition of each stripe and star. Another Brother, who was also a member of both the El Paso Scottish Rite and National Sojourners, saw the program and understood immediately the full significance of what he had seen. After getting proper permission, he brought the program to National Sojourners, Inc. The rest, as they say, is history.

The program was refined again and again. More portable and reliable props were developed, and “Building the Flag” teams were formed throughout National Sojourners with their affiliated Order, The Heroes of ‘76, presenting it in colonial uniforms, often assisted by their ladies, also in colonial costume.This excellent patriotic and educational program has been performed thousands of times at schools as well as Masonic and non-Masonic gatherings of all kinds. It continues today as one of the most effective and popular patriotic programs yet invented.

A “Historical Flag Program’ was written by National Sojourner, Byron C. Jenkins, 32°, K..C..C..H.., of the Omaha, Nebraska, Scottish Rite Valley, for presentation during the U. S. Bicentennial celebration. Past Grand Master Jenkins’s program displays up to sixteen flags used by Americans from pre-Revolutionary times to the present.The presentation utilizes three or more “Heroes of ‘76” to display each full-size flag while a narrator gives the history of how the Masonic heroes who were serving under it contributed to our country’s birth, development, and fame.

The programs cited here barely scratch the surface of the service performed by National Sojourners, Inc. This small but capable group of American Masonic leaders quietly serves our country and Masonry every day through their efforts to raise the loyalty and pride of every American by eulogizing and emulating the Masonic builder-patriots who preceded them.