Masonic myths to be presented Jan. 9

"Myth and Mystery of the Masonic Order" will be the featured program at the annual meeting of the Vernon County Historical Society on Sunday, Jan. 9, at the Bushwhacker Museum. The program will be presented by Alisha Cole of Kansas City, Mo., a museum consultant and member of the Missouri Humanities Council who has taught classes on the history of Freemasonry and the Knights Templar at Unity Temple on the Country Club Plaza.

Cole earned a master's degree in historic preservation from the University of Missouri. A past matron of the Order of Eastern Star, Cole, whose grandfather was a Mason, said that her interest in Freemasonry stems from a class project in architectural history at University of Missouri-Columbia, which required her to write a paper and presentation on a building built since 1920 that reflected an earlier style of architecture.

She chose the Masonic Temple in St. Louis which was built to be like King Solomon's Temple and "everything grew out of that," she said.

Also at the annual meeting the historical society will hold election of officers.

The meeting will begin at 2 p.m. and is open to the public. Bushwhacker Museum is located at 212 W. Walnut St., Nevada.