MASONRY IN NORTH DAKOTA
Chapter 6
GRAND LODGE OF DAKOTA—1875
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WHILE THE GRAND LODGE of Minnesota was busily engaged between the years 1863 and 1876 in sponsoring and chartering Masonic lodges in the northern part of Dakota Territory, the Grand Lodge of Iowa was equally busy sponsoring and chartering lodges in the southern part of the territory. By 1875 they had chartered:
Feeling that the time had come when the Masons of Dakota Territory should have their own Grand Lodge, and with the good will of the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Iowa to encourage them, a resolution was adopted by Elk Point Lodge No. 288, St. John's Lodge No. 166, Incense Lodge No. 257, Minnehaha Lodge No. 328, and Silver Star Lodge No. 345, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in the Territory of Dakota, working under charters from the Grand Lodge of Iowa, empowering delegates of the aforesaid lodges to take such measures as were necessary in order to form a Grand Lodge of Freemasons within and for the territory of Dakota if deemed expedient.
Accordingly, the following delegates assembled in the hall of Elk Point Lodge No. 288, at Elk Point, Dakota Territory, on Tuesday, the 22nd day of June, 1875:
From St. John's Lodge No. 106, Yankton: George H. Hand, L. M. Purdy, F. J. Dewitt.
From Incense Lodge No. 257, Vermillion: H. J. Austin, A. H. Lathrop, V. E. Prentice.
From Elk Point Lodge No. 288, Elk Point: J. A. Wallace, H. H. Blair, G. W. Hassen.
From Minnehaha Lodge No. 328, Sioux Falls: T. H. Brown, J. W. Callender, R. F. Pettigrew.
From Silver Star Lodge No. 345, Canton: William H. Miller, Sr., Mark W. Bailey, S. H. Stafford, Jr.
From Mt. Zion Lodge No. 346, Springfield, J. L. Turner was reported present, but as the lodge had not been constituted, no delegates had been appointed and it was recommended that Brother Turner be seated in the convention, without authority, however, to represent Mt. Zion Lodge. Adopted.
It is interesting to note that among the guests sat M. W. Brother Theodore S. Parvin, Past Grand Master, and at that time Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Iowa. Perhaps no other individual was more interested in the spread of Masonry in the Dakotas than he, and his generous gifts of books, money and time in our behalf will never be forgotten. It is significant that it was he who later installed the first officers of the Grand Lodge of Dakota.
The convention was called to order by Brother H. H. Blair of Elk Point Lodge No. 288, and Brother F. J. Dewitt of St. John's Lodge No. 166 was elected chairman, with Brother Mark W. Bailey of Silver Star Lodge No. 345 as secretary.
The first day's business after organizing the convention was concerned with the adoption of two important resolutions:
1. Resolved, That this convention deems it expedient for the good of Masonry, that a Grand Lodge be organized for Dakota. Unanimously adopted.
2. Resolved, That the chairman appoint a committee, consisting of one from each lodge represented in this convention, to draft and report at their earliest convenience, a constitution and code of by-laws for the government of the Grand Lodge of Dakota. Adopted.
The chairman appointed Brothers Mark W. Bailey (345), H. H. Blair (288), George.H. Hand (166), R. F. Pettigrew (328) and H. J. Austin (257) as said committee.
On Wednesday, June 23, 1875, the convention met at 9:00 a. m. and Brother Mark W. Bailey, chairman of the Constitution and By-Laws Committee, presented a constitution of fourteen articles, which was considered, amended and unanimously adopted by the convention.
Brother Bailey then presented a code of by-laws, containing forty-nine sections, which was likewise considered, amended and unanimously adopted.
In the afternoon of the same day, Wednesday, the convention proceeded to elect the following Grand Officers, for the ensuing year:
The convention met in final session on Thursday morning, June 24, 1875, at 8:00 o'clock and passed the following resolutions:
1. Resolved, That as all the Grand Officers elect are not in the city for installation, that the Grand Master, Senior and Junior Grand Wardens act as a committee to designate a time and place and make arrangements for the installation of the Grand Officers, notify the subordinate lodges, request the presence of their Masters, Senior and Junior Wardens, accompanied by as many of the brethren of the respective lodges as can make it convenient to attend; and also to invite Grand Secretary Parvin of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, and other Grand Officers to be present.
2. Resolved, That the thanks of this convention are due and are hereby extended to the brethren of Elk Point Lodge for the hospitality extended by them to the brethren of the various lodges, now sojourning in the city, and for the many acts of kindness shown by them to the members of this convention.
3. Resolved, That this convention tender its sincere thanks to Brothers F. J. Dewitt, chairman, and Mark W. Bailey, secretary, for the courteous, efficient and Masonic manner in which they have discharged their respective duties as officers of this convention.
On motion, the convention adjourned to meet at the call of the committee appointed to designate a time and place for the installation of the Grand Officers elect, of the Grand Lodge of Dakota.
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On July 21, 1875, a Masonic convention was called in the hall of Incense Lodge No. 257, at Vermillion, to install the Grand Officers of the Grand Lodge of Dakota, pursuant to adjournment, as designated by the Grand Master, Senior and Junior Grand Wardens.
M. W. Brother Theodore S. Parvin, Past Grand Master and present Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, was on hand by invitation to install the Grand Officers and to constitute the Grand Lodge of Dakota.
Past Grand Master Parvin, as Grand Master pro tern, assisted by R.'. W.'. Brothers Calvin G. Shaw and H. H. Blair, as Senior and Junior Grand Warden pro tern, and Mark W. Bailey, as Grand Secretary pro tern, then opened the Grand Lodge of Dakota for the purpose of constituting the same and installing the Grand Officers thereof.
The Grand Officers elect and the brethren present, under the direction of W. Brother W. H. H. Beadle, Grand Marshal pro tem, marched in procession to the Baptist Church, where an oration was delivered by Brother (Rev.) J. H. Magoffin. The Grand Officers elect of the Grand Lodge of Dakota were installed, the Grand Lodge constituted in due and ancient form by M.'. W.'. Brother Parvin, the procession returned to the hall of Incense Lodge and the Grand Officers entered upon the discharge of their respective duties.
M.'. W.'. Brother Thomas H. Brown, Grand Master, confirmed the appointments which he had previously announced in convention and appointed W.'. Brothers George H. Hand, J. L. Phillips and Calvin G. Shaw, a Committee on Credentials.
The Committee on Credentials reported the following lodges represented, viz:
From St. John's Lodge No. 166, Yankton; George H. Hand, W.'. M.'., F. J. Dewitt, proxy for L. M. Purdy, S. W. and W. S. Goodwin, J. W.
From Incense Lodge No. 257, Vermillion; L. W. Bell, W.'. M.'., J. B. Watson, S.'. W.'., and A. H. Lathrop, J.'. W.'.
From Elk Point Lodge No. 288, Elk Point; J. A. Wallace, W.1. M/., Joseph Fishhorn, S.'. W.'., and S. W. Hassen, proxy for J. D. Wood, J.'. W.'.
From Minnehaha Lodge No. 328, Sioux Falls; Thomas H. Brown, W.'. M.'., J. L. Phillips, proxy for George B. Sammons, S.'. W.'., and Edwin Sharp, proxy for J. W. Cal-lender, J.'. W.'.
From Silver Star Lodge No. 345, Canton; William H. Miller, Sr., W. M. Mark W. Bailey, S. W., and S. H. Stafford, J. W.
From Mount Zion Lodge No. 346, Springfield; A. F. McAuley, proxy for Ely Wood, W.'. M.'., J. L. Turner, S. W. and Daniel Niles, J. W..
The report was adopted and the representatives therein named were permitted to take their seats as members of the Grand Lodge.
On motion the following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the subordinate lodges, under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, shall be numbered according to the date of their respective charters; and that the charters of the several lodges constituting the Grand Lodge of Dakota, viz St. John's Lodge No. 166; Incense Lodge No. 257; Elk Point Lodge No. 288; Minnehaha Lodge No. 328; Silver Star Lodge No. 345; and Mount Zion Lodge No. 346; deposited by the aforesaid lodges in this Grand Lodge, at the constituting thereof, be reissued to the said lodges, forthwith, bearing the numbers from one to six, consecutively, signed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master and attested in due form by the Grand Secretary.
Several resolutions were then adopted relative to the lodges: (1) That they should proceed to adopt by-laws as soon as possible and send a copy to the Grand Secretary; (2) That they should appoint a committee on work and be prepared to exemplify the same at the next annual communication of the Grand Lodge.
It was also voted that the Grand Secretary should notify the Grand Lodge of Minnesota at his earliest convenience of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Dakota; that five hundred copies of the Proceedings of this Grand Lodge be printed; and that copies be sent to each Grand Lodge in the United States.
It was voted that the next annual communication of the Grand Lodge be held at Yankton.
In appreciation of the kindness and interest of M.'. W.'. Brother Parvin toward them, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:
"Resolved, That the sincere thanks of the Masonic brethren of Dakota are due and are hereby tendered by this Grand Lodge to Past Grand Master Theodore S. Parvin, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, for the interest he has manifested in this Grand Lodge, as evidenced by coming from his home in Iowa to install the officers thereof, who will ever cherish in grateful remembrance the very impressive remarks he made on that occasion, for the valuable books he has presented us, as the nucleus of a Grand Lodge Library, and for the many acts of kindness which we as Masons and as a Grand Lodge, have received at his hands."
After adopting a resolution of gratitude to the brethren of Incense Lodge for their hospitality, to the society of the Baptist Church for the use of their building; and to Brother (Rev.) J. H. Magoffin for his able and appropriate oration, the Grand Lodge was closed in ample form until the next annual communication.
As we have seen, five lodges in the southeastern part of Dakota Territory formed the Grand Lodge of Dakota at Elk Point in 1875. Mt. Zion Lodge No. 346 of Springfield was represented but not permitted to vote; as it had not been constituted. It was later constituted as Mt. Zion No. 6, the first new lodge in the young Grand Lodge.
From here growth was slow for several years. The Grand Lodge of Minnesota had been notified of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Dakota and was asked to release the lodges at Fargo and Bismarck to become members of the new Grand Lodge. Minnesota left it to them to decide and they preferred to remain as they were for reasons already stated. In the period from 1876 to 1880 only one new lodge was constituted by the Grand Lodge of Dakota, which was Dead-wood No. 7, while none had been admitted from the north.
Then the break came. When the seventh annual communication met at Sioux Falls, June 14, 1881, there were 16 lodges on the roster. Among them were Shiloh No. 8 of Fargo, Pembina No. 10, Casselton No. 12, Acacia No. 15 of Grand Forks, and Bismarck No. 16, all from the north half of the Territory.
From that time on growth was rapid and harmony prevailed. During the years 1883, 1884, 1885 and 1886, 47 lodges were constituted in the jurisdiction and when the Grand Lodge of North Dakota was organized in 1889 there were 31 lodges organized and working in the northern half of the territory. In addition to those listed above they were: Jamestown No. 19, Valley City No. 21, Mandan No. 23, Cereal No. 29 of Tower City, Hillsboro No. 32, Crescent No. 36 of Grafton, Sheyenne Valley No. 41 of Lisbon, Ellendale No. 49, Sanborn No. 51, Wahpeton No. 58, North Star No. 59 of Larimore, Minto No. 60, Mackey No. 63 of LaMoure, Goose River No. 64 of Portland, Hiram No. 74 of Page, Minnewaukan No. 75 of Devils Lake, Tongue River No. 78 of Cavalier, Bathgate No. 80, Euclid No. 84 of Lakota, Anchor No. 88 of Milnor, Golden Valley No. 90 of Park River, Occidental No. 99 of Hope, Temple No. 104 of St. Thomas, Forest River No. 105 of Inkster, Hope No. 106 of Oakes, and Golden Fleece U.'. D.'. of Forman.
Altogether there were 104 active lodges in the jurisdiction at the time of its dissolution in 1889; 73 in the south and 31 in the north, a splendid record for 14 years of existence in a young and pioneering country.
While the relations between north and south were for the most part friendly, it is not surprising that those in the northern half of the jurisdiction felt from the first that they could never hope to share equally in the responsibilities and emoluments eminating from a mutually shared Grand Lodge. While Aberdeen and Ellendale might have much in common due to their proximity; it was nearly 500 miles from Yankton to Pembina; the center of population was in the southeastern part of the territory; their interests, their markets and their friends were different; and it is not surprising that both sections welcomed statehood as the solution of many of their problems.
These facts are well borne out when we look at the roster of Grand Officers during these 14 years, a situation which probably could not have been changed, but which, nevertheless, is significant. Only one of the Grand Masters came from the northern half of the jurisdiction, M.'. W.'. Brother Henry M. Wheeler, of Grand Forks.
Following is the list:
When statehood was assured in 1889 no time was lost and the Grand Lodge of Dakota ceased to be at Mitchell on June 12-13, 1889, with the organization of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota and the Grand Lodge of South Dakota. Both states were admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889.
The property of the Grand Lodge of Dakota was appraised at $4,590.79. We were paid $1,530.26 in cash for our pro rata share—we had one-third of the lodges—and South Dakota retained the property and the balance of the cash. They also retained the date of the organization of the original Grand Lodge June 22-24, 1875, and we started from June 12-13, 1889, which accounts for the Grand Lodge of South Dakota being 14 years older than that of North Dakota.
So ended the first 85 years of Masonry in Dakota, beginning with the Lewis and Clark Expedition in 1804 and ending with the dissolution of the Grand Lodge of Dakota in 1889. Compared with more densely populated areas, not too much had happened Masonically, but the seeds had been sewn, nurtured and preserved to such an extent that the two new Grand Lodges which began their separate histories with the coming of statehood to the Dakotas, there began a steady and prosperous expansion which has continued throughout the 75 years which have followed.
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