This file is copyright (c) 1997 The Philalethes Society and all rights
including any redistribution rights are reserved by the copyright holder.
Permission to quote from, redistribute or to otherwise use these materials
must be obtained from the copyright holder directly by contacting The
Philalethes, Nelson King, FPS, Editor, 2 Knockbolt Crescent, Agincourt
Ontario Canada, M1S 2P6. Tel: 416-293-8071 Fax: 416-293-8634 or
nking@freemasonry.org or nking@onramp.ca




Foremost Masonic Award for the 
Grandest Comedian of Them All!
by Allen E. Roberts, FPS

Richard B. "Red" Skelton is entitled 
to have any article written about him 
start with numerous headings. I prefer 
the above, because, there is no doubt in 
my mind that for over 70 years he has 
been the " grandest comedian in the 
world. "
 
Since June 1979, 35 years after I first 
"met" this great man and Freemason 
in June 1944 in Los Angeles, California,
I've proudly proclaimed: "Red
Skelton and I have something in common;
we're both members of the same
Masonic Lodge--Vincennes No. 1 in 
Indiana!" (I must tell the truth; he's a 
full member, I'm an Honorary Mem-
ber.)
 
We "met" in Los Angeles, I was 
among hundreds in an overflow crowd 
of servicemen and women at the Hollywood
Canteen. Red was slated to do a
ten minute presentation. For over an 
hour and a half he kept us literally
"rolling on the floor" with tears from
laughter streaming down our cheeks. 
Today, 51 years later, he's still doing it!
 
I had seen Red in several motion pictures;
I had laughed with him via radio,
but there was nothing that could
compare with his spontaneous performance
that evening. I had been transferred 
from the US Alabama, anchored in the 
Mariannes in the South Pacific, to
attend Chief Commissary Stewards'
School in San Diego. Because the class
wouldn't begin for several days after I
reported, I was granted delayed orders. 
To Los Angeles I went. The night I was 
lucky enough to gain admittance to the 
Hollywood Canteen, I'll never forget.
 
When I learned that Grand Commander
Robert 0. Ralston, MPS, of the
Scottish Rite, Northern Jurisdiction, 
was going to present Red Skelton with 
the Gourgas Medal, I was elated. Red 
is definitely one Freemason who has 
earned, and deserves, every honor that 
Freemasonry can award. In this day of 
"me and my" eccentric, he continues 
to practice the principles that have 
made Freemasonry great. Red's been 
extolling Masonic tenets since 1939 
when he met a Freemason who helped 
him buy his mother an Easter present. 
That act of Masonic kindness caused 
him to petition Vincennes Lodge No. 1. 
A year later he became a member of the 
Valley of Evansville, Indiana.
 
Richard H. Curtis, FPS, Editor of The 
Northern Light, accompanied Brother 
Ralston to Reno, Nevada, on July 14, 
1995, for the Gourgas Medal presentation.
His excellent account appears in
his journal for August.
 
Dick tells us: "Ill. Brother Skelton 
was obviously moved when the Grand 
Commander placed the Gourgas Medal 
around his neck. The proud grin on the 
recipient's face grew even wider as a 
tear formed in his eye. "

The Grand Commander noted that 
Red never stooped to profanity or 
smutty language in an attempt to make 
people laugh. Of this Red said:
"Personally, I don't think anyone should
have to pay money at the box office for 
that they can read for nothing on public 
bathroom walls. "
 
The Gourgas presentation was held
during an art show to celebrate Red's 
82nd birthday. It was arranged by the 
Addi Galleries, the largest distributor of 
Red's paintings, which consist mostly of 
clowns. Dick highlighted some of Red's 
remarks: "I started painting when I 
was 5 years old. I wanted to paint so 
badly--and I did paint badly!" "I've 
met a lot of people--Kings, Queens, 
Popes. Being a 33  Mason and meeting 
a Pope--that's something!"
 
Unfortunately, we don't have an immediate
record of the dozens of other
vintage Skelton witty statements, but 
we're assured he hasn't lost a beat.
 
For 20 years Skelton charmed television
audiences with his amusing renditions
of Clem Kadiddlehopper, Freddie
the Freeloader, San Fernando Red, the 
Mean Wittle Kid, Sheriff Deadeye, and 
other comical characters. His renditions,
once enjoyed, can never be forgotten.
 
Dick concludes: "He can make you 
forget about his age as he let's you
remember the good times you enjoyed
sitting in your living room watching your
black and white TV. "

The Philalethes, October 1995
