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FRED KIRBY BAUER 1936-2006

Deputy Grand Master, 1988
Grand Master, 1999-2001

TERM

1999 2000 2001

NOTES

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 2006-185:

Our Brother Fred Kirby Bauer was born in St. Louis. Missouri, on April 21, 1936. He was the only son of Henry Bauer and Peggy Kirby Bauer. Brother Bauer was educated in the St. Louis public school system, graduating from high school in June of 1954, moving on to study business law at Washington University with continuing graduate study in transportation at Washington, and further study at Northeastern University, Brother Bauer was sworn in as a Transportation Practitioner by the Interstate Commerce Commission in 1966.

On April 7, 1956, Brother Bauer married his high school sweetheart Kay Probst which union resulted in three beautiful children, Kim Bauer, Jan Rasche and Jill DeCourcy and six grandchildren, Matthew, Keith, Andrew, Brittany, Kelly and Ashley. From the banker to the toddler they all had the greatest admiration and love for their grandfather.

Brother Bauer’s working career began in St. Louis in 1956 joining the Monsanto Chemical Company. In 1966, Brother Bauer and his family were transplanted to New England by the Monsanto Company. After eighteen years of steady employment with one company, our Brother started to move on, first to Carling Brewing Company in Natick as Director of Traffic and then as Corporate Traffic Manager of Bird & Sons Inc. in East Walpole, Massachusetts. In 1983, Brother Bauer became the Supervisor of Traffic for the General Electric Company in Lynn, later moving on to the Fitchburg location from which he retired in 1998. Brother Bauer, although retired, did not stop working. He continued as a Director of the Reading Co-operative Bank which position he began in 1995 and served until his passing. Brother Bauer served as Treasurer of the Scottish Rite Valley of Boston from 2003 until his passing.

Brother Bauer was an active member of Union Congregational Church in North Reading, serving as Moderator, a member of the church council, a church school teacher, an entertainer, using his talents as an accordion player and as a chef at church suppers and too many other committees to mention. In addition he, along with his wife Kay, taught the confirmation classes for many years. Both were always an inspiration to the youth of the church.

In this same vein Brother Bauer served as Dad of North Reading Assembly, No. 103, I.O.R.G., and in 1972 received the prestigious honor of the Grand Cross of Color. He also served as Dad advisor for North Reading Chapter Order of DeMolay. Dad Bauer was a Past Master Councilor of Sentinel Chapter, Order of DeMolay in St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1989 he was appointed the Executive Officer of DeMolay in Massachusetts and served ten years in that position. Fred was held in such high esteem by the members of DeMolay they elected him as an Honorary Past State Master Councilor, one of only three to hold this honor in Massachusetts DeMolay. He was the holder of the coveted Degree of Chevalier, a member and Past President of the Massachusetts Court, DeMolay Legion of Honor. He was also an active member of the International Supreme Council Order of DeMolay where he served on many committees.

The Masonic career of Brother Bauer started by his being entered, April 15, 1968. passed May 20, 1968 and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on June, 17, 1968 (his father traveling from Missouri to be present for that occasion). Brother Bauer is the fourth generation of his family to become a Mason. Not being one to sit on the sidelines, Brother Bauer quickly became involved with lodge work and was installed Master of North Reading Lodge in 1975, his leadership ability was quickly recognized by Most Worshipful Arthur H. Melanson who appointed him Junior Grand Steward in 1979, quickly followed by an appointment by Most Worshipful J. Philip Berquist to the position of District Deputy Grand Master of the Malden 7th Masonic District which he served in 1980 and 1981. Having completed his work as District Deputy, Brother Bauer took on several other Grand Lodge responsibilities including chairman of the Blood Program, CPR Committee, Awards Committee and Children’s activities for the Grand Master’s Fair. While doing all these things he did not neglect his Blue Lodge either, but rather served as his Lodge Blood Chairman and Treasurer of the North Reading Masonic Temple Association. In 1988 Brother Bauer was appointed Deputy Grand Master of our Grand Lodge by Most Worshipful Albert T. Ames and received the Henry Price Medal for outstanding service to Masonry in that same year.

In 1999 Brother Bauer was elected to the office of Grand Master and again in 2000 and 2001. As Grand Master, Brother Bauer’s innovative ideas led to a Grand Lodge session being held in Springfield with an open forum type meeting to listen to the concerns of the rank and file. This meeting resulted in many of the changes in our Grand Lodge that have been accomplished by his successors. His dedication to the Fraternity never ceased. He served the Conference of Grand Masters in North America and served as Chaplain for many years.

Brother Bauer was a strong advocate of C.H.I.P. (The Child Identification Program), the beginning of the Overlook Visiting Nursing Association, which now serves over 1700 patients a day, and he was very influential in the development of the Overlook Communities project, housing more than 200 families. I will not take the time now to mention the many Masonic accomplishments of Brother Fred K. Bauer, but will list all that I am aware of in this written memorial. However I do want to mention that Brother Bauer was coroneted a 33° Mason by the Supreme Council of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction of the United States of America in 1998.

In addition to the above, Brother Bauer held membership in and served the following:

• Scottish Rite Valley of Boston Treasurer
• Mount Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix Guard
• The DeMolay Lodge Honorary Member
• Norumbega Fraternity Lodge Honorary Member
• King Hiram's Lodge Honorary Member
• The Masters Lodge Past Master
• Blue Hill Lodge Honorary Member
• Proxy for Sinim Lodge in Japan
• Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of California
• Reading Royal Arch Chapter
• Melrose Council of Royal and Select Masters
• St. Bernard Commandery No. 12 Guard
• Massachusetts College, S.R.I.C.F. Suffragan
• Mount Carmel Chapter Order of Eastern Star
• Aleppo Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of North America Clown (Kirby) Adjutant Past Master Association

Brother Bauer also served the Grand Lodge Board of Directors, The Masonic Education and Charity Trust, the Massachusetts Health System, Inc and its several affiliates.

Most Worshipful Fred Kirby Bauer was a dedicated servant to all, his family, his church, his community, his country, DeMolay, Rainbow and Masonry. Brother Bauer will be long remembered for his positive attitude, his dedication to the task, his warm smile and always friendly greeting.

The Grand Architect of the Universe chose to call our Brother from his work here on earth to his heavenly home above on the last day of the 2006 Masonic year. (August 30, 2006) We do miss you, my Brother. You will always be in our thoughts. We are all better for having known you.

Respectfully,
Albert T. Ames, Chairman
Jeffrey B. Hodgdon
Donald G. Hicks
The Memorial Committee

SPEECHES

DEPUTY GRAND MASTER, FEAST OF ST. JOHN, DECEMBER 1987

From Proceedings, Page 1987-183:

It is indeed a pleasure and an honor, to be present on the occasion of the Feast of Saint John. As I stand before you, I am reminded of the first question each of us were asked when we became a Mason; "What Came You Here To Do?" And your answer was ..."To learn to subdue my passions and improve myself in Masonry."

There is an old story told that one of our candidates, after completing his first degree, didn't return to the lodge for thirty years to take his second degree. (You can tell already that this candidate was not of our Grand Jurdisdiction. Ha, Ha!) The Worshipful Master was naturally curious why the brother hadn't returned to the lodge for thirty years. The candidate replied: "Well, you know the question ... What Came You Here To Do?, and I answered, To learn to subdue my passions?" "Yes, yes," the Master replied, "but, what's that got to do with staying away for thirty years?" "Well," said the candidate, "it's taken me thirty years to subdue my passions."

Tonight I feel like that candidate, I find it very hard to subdue my passions. Most Worshipful Grand Master, I am deeply honored and overjoyed in being appointed Deputy Grand Master and pledge to you and our Grand Lodge, that I will do my very best to live up to the trust and confidence you have placed in me.

To my Brethren, I still ask..."What Did You Come Here To Do?"

As Masons, I believe there are three obligations we have in the discharge of our duties as Masons: As A Citizen, As A Man, As A Mason.

As A Citizen

There is not a better time in history than to stand for the moral and social issues, that our forefathers had in mind, when they wrote the Constitution of the United States. In today's world, we seem to be out of step with society, when we practice the moral lessons taught in our ritual. If we look back in history once great countries no longer exist, because of a decay of moral standards within that society. And the "now" generation better wake up, or there may not be a future generation!

What an opportunity we have to be the leaders in our community, state and nation. It is by our example, that others will judge Masonry.

As A Man

I once read, there were no great men, only men who distinguished themselves as fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. Our beloved fraternity points out those duties. In our daily lives is where we need to continue to practice being a good Mason. The time, energy and love we show those who mean the very most to us, need our constant attention. In today's world, the family traditions and values are being challenged. By many, it is no longer necessary to be responsible for one's son and daughter, and why remain faithful, no one else seems to? Let someone else take care of the sick, the hungry, the needy. But, no one asks "who?" My brethren, as Masons, we are the "who". It is by our example and not by words alone. We need to be the leaders in the youth groups, the Boy/Girl Scouts, Little Leagues, Rainbow and the Order of DeMolay. As Most Worshipful and the President of the United States, Harry S. Truman said, "...there is nothing more important than the proper education and guidance of our young people, who will become the leaders of tomorrow..."

Let me illustrate by telling you a favorite story of mine:

A father and son were in their living room one evening. The father was reading his newspaper when he noticed that his son was not doing anything at all and seemed bored. The father saw a map of the world in the newspaper and began tearing it into strips of paper. He handed it to his son and said, "Here, son, is a map of the world which I have tom into a puzzle. Why don't you put it together?" thinking it would take his son several hours to reassemble. In just a few minutes his son retumed with the map of the world all together. His father was very surprised and said, "How did you put back together so fast the map of the world?" His son replied, "Well, Dad, there was a picture of a boy on the back of the world, and I knew if the boy turned out alright, the world would turn out alright."

As A Mason

What a beautiful lesson we are taught in the first degree with the symbol "the point within a circle". on this occasion, it seems most appropriate to remind ourselves of our two patron Saints, st. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist. Many times we are asked, "What can I do, I am only one person, one small human being. Nothing I could do would make that much of a difference?" None of us know what the Great Architect of the Universe has in mind. It is our task to faithfully fulfill the duties he has given to each of us. To use our God-given talents to the benefit of mankind. Even as one small individual, we influence our circle of friends, by our good work and deeds and give purpose and meaning to our lives. And keeping within the boundary of our patron saints and the book of Holy scriptures, it is impossible for us to materially err.

Brethren, just one last question, "What Did You Come Here To Do?"

Thank you.

CHARTERS GRANTED

RULINGS

• 2000

Grand Masters