Saturday, October 10, 2009

Mayo Brother Lecture and Dinner


Rochester Lodge No. 21 hosted a great dinner and lecture on the Mayo Brothers and Masonry in Rochester.

Brother Dave Dunn (right photo) began the lecture with a history of Dr. William Worrall Mayo and his two famous sons, Charles Horace Mayo and William James Mayo. The Mayo Brothers pioneered group medicine practice, nursing services in the hospital and how the Mayo Clinic was born.


Worshipful Brother Ken Allison (left photo) gave the Masonic history of the Mayos, as well as a history of the architecture of the Clinic and lodge buildings (for years, the same building!).

A new fact for me: While Charles Mayo was raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in 1890, his brother William did not petition for degrees until 1920. However, William's schedule did not permit him to receive them. The Grand Master offered to make him a Mason at sight, but his brother, Charles remarked that he

On another note, Rochester Lodge is having a great open house for prospects on October 20 at 6:00 p.m
had gone through all three degrees and that his brother should not take any shortcuts. William never did become a Mason..