MASONRY IN NORTH DAKOTA
Chapter 12
LODGES CHARTERED FROM 1906—1910
Bowbells Lodge No. 75, Bowbells
Whatever else our pioneer brethren may have been, they were nothing if they were not outspoken, and this characteristic was clearly evident in the recommendation of Kenmare Lodge No. 70, as sponsor for the proposed lodge at Bowbells, twelve miles to the north. The petitioners for the new lodge appeared before Kenmare Lodge on April 18, 1905, proved themselves proficient in the ritual and on June 20, 1905, received a certificate from the latter lodge, recommending the institution of a new lodge at Bowbells, but stating that it was too near to Kenmare; that neither lodge could be strong, financially or as to membership; and that one strong lodge would be better than two weak ones. However, the dispensation was issued.
There were twenty signatures on the petition for a dispensation to institute Bowbells Lodge U.'. D.'., and it is interesting to note that only one of them brought a demit from Kenmare Lodge No. 70. The dispensation was signed July 24, 1905, by M.'. W.'. Louis A. Jacobson, Grand Master, and designated the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Leander C. Rogers; S.'. W.'. Ralph E. Knowlton; and J.'. W.'. George H. Carey. The first Treasurer was Emil C. Krueger and the first Secretary was Charles F. Randall.
The charter was granted June 27, 1906, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Bowbells Lodge No. 75 at Bowbells and was signed by M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master. Twenty charter members were named. The lodge was constituted August 7, 1906, by M.'. W.'. Grand Master Hager and the officers were installed.
For a number of years the lodge met in comfortable quarters over the State Bank of Bowbells. With the passage of time the members became desirous of owning their own lodge home and on August 30, 1925. the cornerstone of the new temple, toward the north end of Main Street was laid with fitting ceremonies. A mortgage for $6,500.00 of the cost was held by an insurance company and in the depression years the building was lost through foreclosure. It was re-purchased for $5,500.00 in 1938, and after years of struggle and perseverence is now owned debt free, a monument to "the stuff that men are made of."
The fiftieth anniversary of Bowbells Lodge No. 75 was held May 16, 1956. in the temple at Bowbells. W.'. Brother Arthur H. Bird presided at the banquet served in the Municipal Auditorium by the ladies of the Eastern Star. He introduced the guests, including principally M.'. W.'. Brothers Merle Kidder, Grand Master; Harold S. Pond, Grand Secretary, and James H. Cuddington, Grand Master of Saskatchewan; and his brother Arthur, a Grand Lodge officer in Saskatchewan; and several District Deputy Grand Masters, District Deputy Grand Lecturers and Grand Lodge Committeemen from North Dakota.
Lodge was convened by W.'. M.'. Bert L. Wilson, Jr., and W.'. Brother Bird presided. Three remarkable Masons were presented. Brother Reinhold F. Migge, charter member, born in Germany in 1863, was raised in Wadena, Minnesota, in 1892 and became a 64-year Mason in 1956. He had been given a life membership in 1923. (He died at Bowbells in 1957 at the age of 94, a 65-year Mason). Staale Hendrickson was the first candidate raised in Bowbells Lodge. He was raised May 15, 1906, and received his fifty-year pin and life membership certificate at this meeting, almost fifty years to the day after he was raised. Carl E. Hovland was raised December 15, 1903 and received his fifty-year pin and life membership certificate October 5, 1956.
An interesting history of the lodge was given by Brother Bert L. Wilson, Sr.; brief addresses were given by M.'. W.'. Brothers Cuddington and Pond; and the main address was given by Grand Master Kidder. One hundred fifty members and guests were present.
Very few worshipful masters have succeeded themselves in Bowbells Lodge, which indicates the ability of all. Only a few can be selected for comment here: W.'. Brother Leander C. Rogers served as W.'. M.'. only during the period under dispensation in 1905 and 1906, and then retired, due to age, in favor of Ralph E. Knowlton in 1907. Then came George Hansen, W.'. M.'. in 1918, 1927, 1930 and 1947, during the difficult periods of temple planning, financing, building and refinancing. In the meantime George H. Phelps had come to Bowbells in 1914 from Shiloh Lodge No. 1 of Fargo. He was elected W.'. M.'. in 1921 and was a pillar of the lodge through its hardest years. He was the backbone of Rabboni Chapter R.'. A.'. M.'. of Bowbells; Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R.'. A.'. M.'., and Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery K.'. T.'. and also Fraternal Correspondent of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota and a life member of Bowbells Lodge.
The Bird family came into the official family with Howard W. Bird as W.'. M.'. in 1932. Leonard J. Bird was W.'. M.'. in 1935 and Arthur H. Bird was W.'. M.'. in 1937 — both sons of Howard. Since that time Art has been the "father confessor" of Bowbells Lodge, and no problem, large or small, is settled without him. He was District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 13, from 1944-1956; in 1963 is chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on the Grand Master's Address; and, in 1951, was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter R.'. A.'. M.'.
Continuing, Herman F. Magedanz was W.'. M.'. in 1939; secretary from 1940-1948; and District Deputy Grand Master, preceding W.'. Brother Bird; W.'. Brother Arthur H. Hanson was W.'. M.'. in 1945 and 1946; James J. Abraham was W.'. M.'. in 1952 and 1953; and Hanford O. Ness was W.'. M.'. from 1958-1960.
Grand Master Louis A. Jacobson reasoned well when he issued a dispensation to Bowbells Lodge, in 1905, the protest of its sponsoring lodge notwithstanding.
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Thirty miles below Minot, on the lower Mouse River, lies the little town of Velva; its valley land is fertile and its hills are filled with lignite coal. A few miles farther on, the R.E.A. has built one of North Dakota's first lignite burning electric power generating plant. It is a land teeming with native potential and rugged beauty, and here, at the turn of the century, the pioneers came to carve their niche in the virgin soil.
There were twenty-four such men from twenty-one localities, between Wisconsin and North Dakota, including Minnesota, Iowa and South Dakota, who met to form a lodge at Velva in the fall of 1905. Their petition for a dispensation was accompanied by a recommendation signed December 20, 1905, by Ashlar Lodge No. 69 of Granville, as sponsor. The dispensation instituting Velva Lodge U.'. D.'. was signed December 29, 1905, by M.'. W.'. Louis A. Jacobson, Grand Master, naming the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Milo J. Pitkin; S.'. W.'. John E. Burke; J.'. W.'. Charles T. Langridge; Treasurer George W. Downing; and Secretary Albert Dickinson.
The first stated communication under dispensation was held January 5, 1906, in the lodge hall which was shared with the "Odd Fellows". Three petitions for initiation were received. One petition was that of Oscar Anderson, from Sawyer, who became W.'. M.'. in 1939 and 1940. Brother Anderson walked six miles to lodge and then home again, in the early days. He died in 1960, a life member and fifty-four-year Mason, at the age of 82. In 1928, the lodge purchased the interest of the I.O.O.F. in the building and it still serves its purposes nicely.
The charter was granted June 27, 1906, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Velva Lodge No. 76 and was signed by M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master. Twenty-four charter members were named. The lodge was constituted and the officers were installed August 6, 1906, by Grand Master Hager, assisted by delegations from Star-in-the-West Lodge No. 33 of .Minot and Ashlar Lodge No. 69 of Granville.
The history from which this account of Velva Lodge is compiled was written in 1955, by W.'. Brothers Oscar Anderson, William H. Francis and Peder Christensen. In it W.'. Brother Anderson tells how his life was saved by the "hailing sign", in the Altoona, Pa., train wreck, May 7, 1906, just after he was "raised" in Velva Lodge. He was going east to be married and was one of four survivors among fourteen passengers on the forward coach. His cry brought a doctor to him, he was rescued and later the Altoona Lodge ministered to him and helped to bring him back to health. How beautifully he showed his gratitude by his blameless life!
Another fine character in the lodge over the years has been W.'. Brother William H. Francis who became a member in 1909 and though never its Master, no other has placed Masonry and his community before everything else any more than "Bill." A publisher by profession, he has always placed the good of others first and is much beloved.
Going back, W.'. Brother Milo J. Pitkins came first; he was a veteran of the Civil War and a newspaper man from Sawyer, who worked unceasingly until the lodge was started and was its W.'. M.'. in 1906 and 1907; then William E. Byerly was W.'. M.'. in 1908 and 1909; Albert Dickinson was secretary from 1905-1909 and W.'. M.'. in 1911 and 1912; Herbert J. Tillapaugh was W.'. M.'. in 1913 and 1914 and served on the Grand Lodge Credentials Committee for many years; Charles Hommer was W.'. M.'. in 1915 and 1916; Ira A. Beebe in 1921 and 1925, as well as one of our historians. Oscar H. Christensen was W.'. M.'. in 1929 and 1930; Howard M. Peterson was W.'. M.'. in 1931 and 1932; Leslie F. Rice was W.'. M.'. in 1936 and 1937; Oscar Anderson was W.'. M.'. in 1939 and 1940; Rev. Roland S. Jones, a Welshman, was W.'. M.'. in 1941 and 1942; Leonard A. Borrison was W.'. M.'. in 1935 and the last of 1942; Harold G. Wiseman was W.'. M.'. in 1945 and 1946; Harold O. McCoy was W.'. M.'. in 1947 and 1948; Jay L. Monicken was W.'. M.'. in 1951 and 1952; Raymond Payne was W.'. M.'. from 1954-1956; and Ernest M. Sands was W.'. M.'. from 1958-1960. Endless? No, priceless!
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Fifty years ago Buffalo was a thriving little village on Highway No. 10. forty miles west of Fargo and Buffalo Lodge No. 77 prospered among its business men and the farmers of the surrounding area. Today, in 1962, Interstate Highway No. 94 crosses the state, missing all of the towns and leaving Buffalo "high and dry," three miles to the north. With our rural population steadily moving to the larger cities Buffalo is on the wane and the lodge is struggling for existence. Thank God for its past, may He bless its future.
There were the required twenty petitioners, nine of them from Cereal Lodge No. 9, six miles to the west, who requested a dispensation from the Grand Master, under the sponsorship of the same Cereal Lodge No. 9 at Tower City, under date of January 16, 1906. The dispensation to institute Buffalo Lodge U.'. D.'. was signed January 31, 1906, by R.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Deputy Grand Master, representing M.'. W.'. Louis A. Jacob-son, Grand Master, and designated the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. James A. McHattie; S.'. W.'. Tjebbe G. Raveling; J.'. W.'. Emil F. Herrig; Treasurer Patrick J. O'Connor; and Secretary George E. Bateman.
The first stated communication of the lodge was held February 7, 1906, in lodge rooms over the opera house, which were leased from the Improvement Company, for three years at $300.00 per year. Several years later, a lovely old stone church building was purchased from the Episcopalians, which has been carefully preserved and makes an ideal home for Buffalo Lodge today.
A charter was granted June 27, 1906, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Buffalo Lodge No. 77 at Buffalo with twenty charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted August 14, 1906, by M.'. W.'. Frank J. Thompson, Past Grand Master and Grand Secretary, representing M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master.
All lodges are as effectual and as outstanding as the men who make up their membership and work at their jobs as Master Masons. Every lodge has them; the question is, how many do they have and how hard do they work?
One wonders if Buffalo Lodge No. 77 would have been started in 1906 without W.'. Brother James A. McHattie and how long it would have endured without such men as he and his three sons. James was born in Scotland in 1845, became a Mason in Minnesota in 1869, a charter member in Buffalo in 1906, and was W.'. M.'. in 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910 and 1913. He became a life member in 1922, and died in 1923, a 54-year Mason, at 78 years of age.
Jim's son, Roderick J. McHattie, was born in 1883, became a Mason at Buffalo in 1910, was made a life member in 1960 and is still living. His brother, Garnett A. McHattie, was born in 1886, became a Mason in 1910 and served Buffalo Lodge as W.'. M.'. in 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1924. He was made a life member in 1960 and still lives. The third brother, Kenneth B. McHattie, was born in 1891, became a Mason in 1914, was W.'. M.'. in 1925, and is still living. Is there any question about the contribution of such a family to Masonry?
Close on the heels of the McHatties. came Lewie Easton. who is still "going strong." He was born in 1889, was made a Mason in 1914, was W.'. M.'. in 1926 and 1927. has served as secretary since l&3s and is still incumbent. He has also served the Grand Lodge as District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 5, from 1947-1961. A staunch Republican, he has served his state and nation as county and state committeeman for many years and is known wherever clean politics are practiced in North Dakota.
Then we come to Charles C. Titus, born in 1900, a Mason since 1930, W.'. M.'. in 1933, 1934 and 1937; District Deputy Grand Lecturer of District No. 5, from 1954-1961, and presently, in 1963, a Custodian of the Work in this Grand Lodge. He is also Worthy Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star in North Dakota. A pillar in the Presbyterian Church and a community leader in Buffalo, he has endeared himself to all who know him. God give us more men when these have gone their way!
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Corinthian Lodge No. 78, Calvin
As it has been stated before, when the Scotsmen living along the Canadian Border, in the early days, decided to attain an objective, it was as good as accomplished. And so it was in 1905, when twenty-six Master Masons — predominately Scottish — went about organizing Corinthian Lodge at Calvin.
With the recommendation of Ionic Lodge No. 64 of Hannah, as sponsor, dated December 26, 1905, to assist them the twenty-six petitioners had no difficulty in obtaining a dispensation to institute Corinthian Lodge U.'. D.'. at Calvin from M.'. W.'. Louis A. Jacobson, Grand Master, dated February 8, 1906, and naming the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Frank J. Hodgins; S.'. W.'. Donald McKechnie; J.'. W.'. Charles S. Buck; Treasurer William H. Porter; and Secretary Charles C. Crawford.
The first stated communication of the lodge was held in the Modern Woodmen of America hall on February 19, 1906, at which time sixteen petitions for membership were read.
The charter was granted June 27, 1906, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Corinthian Lodge No. 78 at Calvin, naming twenty-six charter members. It was signed by M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master, who constituted the lodge July 13, 1906.
The lodge continued to meet in the Woodmen hall until 1912, when a temple was built which took care of its needs until it burned in 1918. This was rebuilt and has served the lodge and community well. In 1908 Corinthian Lodge purchased ground for a cemetery which has been developed and enlarged and is the pride of the community, owned and managed by the Masonic lodge, assisted by the Order of Eastern Star.
Two especially prominent Masons were charter members of Corinthian Lodge. One was Usher L. Burdick, who became a Mason in Evergreen Lodge No. 46 at Minnewaukan in 1900, and a charter member of Corinthian Lodge No. 78 at Calvin in 1906. He represented North Dakota in the Congress of the United States the last half of his life. He died in 1960, a 60-year Mason, at the age of 81.
The other was Charles C. Crawford, who became a Mason in Lebanon Lodge No. 34 at Langdon in 1902 and a charter member of Corinthian Lodge in 1906. He was the first secretary of the latter lodge, and aside from five years in the official line, during which he was W.'. M.'. in 1912 and 1913, he was secretary for forty-five years, retiring in 1957. He is 86 years of age in 1962 and a 60-year Mason.
Other notables have been: Frank J. Hodgins, first W.'. M.'. in 1906; Donald McKechnie, W.'. M.'. in 1907 and 1908; Archie Sillers, W.'. M.'. in 1909, 1910, 1920 and 1921. Dr. William H. Porter, W.'. M.'. in 1915 and 1916; Elias Porter, W.'. M.'. in 1918 and 1919; William E. Porter, W.'. M.'. in 1931 and 1932; and William H. Porter, Jr., W.'. M.'. in 1943 and 1944. Harold R. McKechnie was W.'. M.'. in 1936, 1941 and 1942; Donald M. McKechnie was W.'. M.'. in 1937 and John Sillers in 1938. George W. Kays was W.'. M.'. in 1947 and District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 3, in 1960. Since 1950 no master has served more than one term, which is a healthy indication.
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Glenburn Lodge No. 79, Glenburn
When one considers that Glenburn Lodge No. 79 existed for only thirty-six years, that its highest membership was forty-eight; that its lowest was twenty-four; and that its particular area has never developed population wise; it might seem that the effort was in vain. And yet, it has been said that no honest effort is ever wholly lost and the record shows that this was a good lodge, well thought of in the community and by the other lodges from twenty-five to thirty miles distant. So one might conclude with the poet Browning that: "All service ranks the same with God" and the members did not labor in vain.
In this regard, it is interesting to note that from the ranks of Glenburn lodge there came one Reinhart Gilbertsen, raised in 1907; W.'. M.'. from 1915-1919; secretary from 1920-1937; one time postmaster at Glenburn; and publisher of newspapers at Glenburn and at Finley; who in 1943 was elected and installed as Grand Master of Masons in North Dakota. Glenburn Lodge No. 79, we salute you!
There were twenty-two signers on the petition for a dispensation to institute the lodge which was recommended November 7. 1906. by Ashlar Lodge No. 69, of Granville, as sponsor. The dispensation was signed December 22, 1906, by M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master, and named the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Clarence V. Ferguson; S.'. W.'. William W. Shepard; J.'. W.'. Edward S. Healy: Treasurer George L. Gould; and Secretary, Arthur A. Butts.
The first stated communication was held January 3. 1907. in the Eagles hall, which was rented at $12.50 per month. There is no record of the lodge meeting in any other place. The minutes record a special communication held May 30, 1907, when the members of Ashlar Lodge No. 69, of Granville, with their ladies, sat down to a banquet in Eagle hall, with the ladies of Glenburn Lodge U.'. D.'. as hostesses. Following the banquet the ladies withdrew to the home of W.'. M.'. Ferguson, lodge was opened in the lodge hall and a degree team from Ashlar Lodge conferred the third degree on two candidates. Lodge was closed at 1:00 a.m., after which another banquet was served.
A charter was granted June 26, 1907, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Glenburn Lodge No. 79 at Glenburn, with twenty-two charter members. It was signed by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted August 15, 1907, by Brother Leonard W. Gammons of Star-in-the-West Lodge No. 33 of Minot, assisted by R.'. W.'. Thomas E. Fox, of Willow Lodge No. 47 of Willow City, Past Senior Grand Warden.
During its thirty-six years of existence the lodge had only sixteen masters, indicating the scarcity of officer material. Among them were: Clarence V. Ferguson, W.'. M.'. from 1907 to 1909, 1920 and 1921; Bertram E. Lord, W.'. M.'. in 1912, 1913 and 1914; Reinhart Gilbertsen, W.'. M.'. 1915-1919, and secretary from 1920-1937; Victor H. Priewe, W.'. M.'. in 1922, 1923 and 1924; John H. Hollinger, W.'. M.'. in 1925 and 1926; Ray Anderson, W.'. M.'. in 1927 and 1928; G. Dale Anderson, W.'. M.'. from 1932-1934, also 1942 and 1943; Albert Aitken, W.'. M.'. in 1935 and 1936 and secretary from 1938 to 1943; Henry M. Christen, W.'. M.'. from 1937-1939; and Edwin E. Brace, W.'. M.'. in 1940 and 1941.
It was with deep regret that M.'. W.'. Reinhart Gilbertsen, Grand Master in 1943, received the surrender of the charter of his old home lodge, Glenburn No. 79, and in his annual address, at Grand Lodge in June, 1944, he paid high tribute to the courage and pertinacity of its members, especially to \V.'. Brother Albert Aitken, with whom he labored in the relationship of master to secretary and vice versa continuously from 1915-1943. He closed his remarks with these words: "And Glenburn Lodge had many just such good men and brothers. I am pleased to know that most of the members, when the charter was surrendered as of December 31, 1943, transferred their membership to nearby lodges."
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One cannot but marvel at the record of Antler Lodge No. 80 at Antler which has never had a membership of more than forty-four and during most of its fifty-five years of life, nearer half that number; which voted, one year after its constitution, by six to five, not to surrender its charter; and which in 1962, with a membership of thirty-two has very few un-collected dues and about SI.200.00 in invested funds. No, Masonry does not measure its success in size; it is stability of purpose that counts and the brethren at Antler have never failed in this.
There were twenty names on their petition for dispensation to institute the lodge which was recommended by Westhope Lodge No. 74, their sponsor, on December 27, 1906. The dispensation was signed March 4, 1907, by M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master, and designated the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. John P. Walrath; S.'. W.'. M. Davis Dyar; J.'. W.'. William C. Derby; Treasurer Adolph Kadletz; and Secretary William Ryder.
The first stated communication of Antler Lodge U.'. D.'. was held in its lodge hall at Antler March 11, 1907, and was a gala affair with sixteen members present and seventy-one visitors from Tuscan Lodge No. 44 of Bottineau, Willow Lodge No. 47 of Willow City, and Westhope Lodge No. 74 of Westhope. W.'. Brother Alexander G. Burr of Bottineau, later Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Dakota, read the dispensation, after which the three degrees were exemplified on several brothers, the work being performed by degree teams from the visiting lodges and by Antler Lodge.
The charter was granted June 26, 1907, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Antler Lodge No. 80 at Antler, with twenty charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted September 20, 1907, by W.'. Brother Thomas Sims, past master of Tuscan Lodge No. 44 of Bottineau, and, at that time, Grand Sword Bearer of the Grand Lodge. He was assisted by W.'. Brother John H. Turner, W.'. M.'. of Tuscan Lodge and William J. Reynolds, W.'. M.'. of Westhope Lodge No. 74. The officers of Antler Lodge were installed at the same time.
The men who have been active in Antler Lodge No. 80 over the years have been the following and others like them: John P. Walrath, W.'. M.'. in 1907; William C. Derby, W.'. M.'. in 1908 and 1909; Alexander Cranston, W.'. M.'. in 1912, 1913 and 1918; John A. Perrin, W.'. II.'. in 1915 and 1916; John Johnson, W.'. M.'. in 1919, 1920, 1929, 1930, and from 1941-1944; still living in 1962, 83 years old and a forty-eight year Mason; Charles J. Reid, W.'. M.'. in 1922 and 1923; William Cranston. W.'. M.'. in 1926 and 1927; J. Howard Price, W.'. M.'. in 1931 and from 1938-1940 (he died just after his installation in 1941); George C. Cranston. W.'. M.'. in 1935, 1936, 1945 and 1946; Burl West, W.'. M.'. in 1950 and 1951: George Andrew, W.'. M.'. in 1952, 1953, 1959, and 1960; and Maurice Young. W.'. M.'. from 1955-1957.
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The moving spirit in organizing a Masonic Lodge ?.: Balfour was Cyrus G. Holden, president of the bank and first treasurer of the lodge It was he who called the first meeting of Masons in his office in 1906 and took the lead in planning the new lodge. It is significant that though the dispensation was issued in the name of Balfour Lodge U.'. D.'., the lodge voted on May 25, 1907, to change the name to Holden Lodge and the charter was granted to Holden Lodge No. 81 at Balfour in honor of him.
The petition for dispensation bore twenty signatures and was recommended on March 29, 1907, by Velva Lodge No. 76, its sponsor. The dispensation to institute Balfoun Lodge U.'. D.'. was signed April 2, 1907, by M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master, authorizing the following to act as principal officers: W.'. M.'. Almon B. Parmenter; S.'. W.'. John A. Phelps; J.'. W.'. Iver G. Walstad; Treasurer Cyrus G. Holden; and Secretary Almon W. Parmenter.
The lodge first met in the I.O.O.F. hall, at a rental of $10.00 per month, sharing the rooms over the bank with the Odd Fellows which arrangement still continues to the satisfaction of all. The building was purchased in 1926 from the assets of the closed American State Bank, at a receiver's sale for $1,000.00, and is owned jointly by Holden Lodge No. 81 and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The Bebekahs, the women's order of the Odd Fellows, use the lodge rooms and assist in keeping them neat and clean. The first floor is leased to the post office department, which helps materially with the finances of all concerned. The first stated communication was held April 13, 1907, at which time nine petitions for the degrees were read, among them that of Price Owens, the first candidate raised in the lodge, who still survives in 1962.
The charter was granted June 26, 1907, to Holden Lodge No. 81 at Balfour by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota. It named twenty charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers installed on August 10, 1907, by W.'. Brother Milo J. Pitkin, W.'. M.'. of Velva Lodge No. 76, representing the Grand Master. Brother Pitkin was assisted by the other officers of Velva Lodge.
In 1914 Holden Lodge sponsored the institution of Friendship Lodge No. 109 at Butte, and in 1917 the lodge performed the same courtesy for Broken Column Lodge No. 115 at Drake.
Without doubt the most memorable occasion of the lodge was the observance of its fiftieth anniversary on November 13, 1957. W.'. Brother Fred C. Peters, W.'. M.'., was in charge and in the afternoon a number of visiting Masons paid a visit to his log cabin home, on the bank of the Mouse River north of Verendrye. The cabin was built, in 1883, of hand hewn oak logs by Mrs. Peter's father, Brother John B. Pendroy, one of the first members of Holden Lodge. Mrs. Peters was born in this cabin during a blizzard and it has always been her home.
Present for the anniversary program were: M.'. W.'. John A. Earner, Grand Master, Harold S. Pond, Grand Secretary, Merle Kidder, Past Grand Master; W.'. Brothers Ralph E. Ulrich of Balfour, Junior Grand Steward, Almon B. Parmenter, first W.'. M.'. of Holden Lodge and a Grand Lodge Committeeman; Carl W. Sommerdorf, District Deputy Grand Master, John W. Thornton, District Deputy Grand Lecturer; Oscar And-erson of Velva, Thomas C. Montgomery of Harvey, Price Owens of Bismarck and Almon B. Parmenter of Drake, all fifty-year Masons, the last two former members of Holden Lodge.
Dinner was served by the ladies at 6:30 p.m. and the anniversary program took place1 in the lodge room at 8:00 p.m. Following the welcome and response, a splendid history of the lodge was given by W.'. Brother Floyd E. Ettestad, the fifty-year Masons were received and interesting reminiscenses were given by "old timers" Parmenter, Owens, Anderson and Peters. After remarks by the Grand Master, Grand Secretary and Past Grand Master Kidder lodge was closed.
Every member of Holden Lodge No. 81 has been a "Very Important Person," and mention is made of only a few. Almon B. Parmenter, W.'. M.'. in 1907, moved to Drake in 1915 and is still carrying on his good work there; Andrew Rawuka, W.'. M.'. in 1930 and 1931, was secretary for many years; Ralph E. Ulrich, W.'. M.'. in 1940, in 1963-64 is Grand Master of the Grand Lodge; Floyd E. Ettestad, W.'. M.'. from 1941-1944, was their able historian; Bennie T. Braaten, W.'. M.'. in 1951, has been secretary ever since; then came Fred Kokonos, W.'. M.'. in 1954-1955, so Russian he had to translate the ritual, in his mind, before he spoke it, in imperfect English, but, what a Mason he was! Last, but not least, was Fred C. Peters, W.'. M.'. in 1957-1958. They just don't come any better than these!
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Lansford Lodge No. 82, Lansford
If there is any method more effective in testing the very souls of men than in the crucible of despair, fed by fire, drought and depression, especially when they occur within the same ten-year span of time, it is not known in North Dakota. Yet, this was the experience of the members of Lansford Lodge No. 82 and their courageous battle over elements beyond human control, with their ultimate victory, has become a memorable saga to all who know them and offers encouragement to Masons everywhere.
It was Gustav A. Huss, lumber dealer, first at Mohall. where he had been a charter member of Mohall Lodge No. 73 in 1905 and later a resident of Lansford, who, with nine more members of Mohall lodge and ten other Master Masons from the Lansford community, formed the twenty petitioners for Lansford Lodge U.'. D.'. Mohall Lodge No. 73 signed their recommendation for a dispensation, as sponsor, on April 2, 1907. and all was ready.
The dispensation was signed, April 6, 1907, by M.'. W.'. Grant S Hager, Grand Master, naming the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Gustav A. Huss; S.'. W.'. William R. Banks; J.'. W.'. Clarence C. Banks; Treasurer Allan N. Cooper; and Secretary John G. Walstad. The first meeting of the lodge was held April 8, 1907, at which the dispensation was read and eleven petitions for membership by initiation were presented.
A charter was granted June 26, 1907, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Lansford Lodge No. 82, naming twenty charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers were installed September 16, 1907, by Brother Leonard W. Gammons of Star-in-the-West Lodge No. 33 of Minot, representing Grand Master Riessbeck. He was assisted by brethren from Mohall and Glenburn lodges.
Misfortune beset the lodge from the outset. It had leased the second floor of the First State Bank building, which had been built in 1904, and had moved in some pieces of furniture before the building was destroyed by fire January 25, 1906. The building was replaced by a brick structure in 1907 and the lodge moved in. All went well until 1927 when fire again destroyed all but the first story walls. The lodge purchased the ruins for $1,400.00 and rebuilt the building which was dedicated February 2, 1928. A loan of $4,500.00 was made from the Grand Lodge to complete payment and the first floor was leased to the U. S. Post Office, which is their tenant today in 1962. Drought and depression hindered payments for many years, but, in the "fifties," final payment was made and a mortgage burning ceremony was a gala occasion attended by the Grand Secretary.
An unforgettable anniversary was the jubilee observance of Lansford Lodge on November 1, 1957. The Grand Lodge was represented by M.'. W.'. Brothers John A. Earner, Grand Master, Harold S. Pond, Grand Secretary, and W.'. Brothers J. Marlin Kyle, Senior Grand Deacon, all of whom took part in the speaking program following a banquet served by the ladies of the Eastern Star. The most welcome guest was W.'. Brother Gustav A. Huss, charter member and first W.'. M.'., now living at Minot and 89 years of age. W.'. Brother "Gus" had prepared a splendid history of the lodge which was printed in the program and he received a splendid ovation when he was received with the fifty-year Masons, to which he responded with deep emotion. W.'. Brother Ford Timms was W.'. M.'. and District Deputy Grand Master Herbert L. Helming presided.
One hardly knows where to begin to enumerate the leaders in Lansford Lodge No. 82, as all have performed their duties so well. Here are a few of them: Gustav A. Huss, W.'. M.'. in 1907, 1908 and 1911; Herbert L. Helming, W.'. M.'. in 1927, secretary from 1932-1950 and District Deputy Grand Master from 1948-1958; Hundley Leathers, W.'. M.'. in 1940, and District Deputy Grand Lecturer in 1954 and 1955; Otis Tossett, W.'. M.'. in 1941, and prominent in government soil and crop work; Chester J. Gunning, W.'. M.'. in 1949 and secretary from 1951-1954; and John Knight, W.'. M.'. in 1954 and secretary from 1955-1958. It is interesting to note that four members of the Gunning family have served the lodge as W.'. M.'..
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Edmore Lodge No. 83 at Edmore is another that presents a discouraging picture: in the "twenties," a thriving community of 500, a new temple and a membership of 116; in the "sixties," a decreasing- population, not sufficient income to maintain the temple, with a membership of 45 and no indication of a change for the better. The problems of agriculture have not been solved in the past thirty years, and in that fact lies the physical, social and moral decay of thousands of communities throughout America. Is it too late? Only time will tell.
It was an enthusiastic and capable group of twenty-one Master Masons who signed a petition for dispensation for a lodge at Edmore in the early spring of 1907, which was recommended by Euclid Lodge No. 24 at Lakota, as sponsor, on April 3, 1907. A dispensation to institute Edmore Lodge U.'. D.'. was signed April 9, 1907, by M.'. W.'. Grant S. Hager, Grand Master, designating the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Henry R. Aslakson; S.'. W.'. Burton J. Mowers; J.'. W.'. Irwin E. Officer; Treasurer Charles C. Honey; and Secretary Martin O. Simenstad.
The first stated communication was held April 17, 1907, the second May 1st, and the third May 15th. Six petitions for degrees were read and three candidates received the E.'. A.'. degree. The Grand Lodge voted on June 26, 1907, to extend the dispensation until June 1, 1908. This was done July 5, 1907, by M.'. W.'. John Biessbeck, Grand Master.
The lodge was granted a charter July 1, 1908, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota in the name of Edmore Lodge No. 83, with twenty-one charter members, which was signed by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers were installed by Grand Master Hill August 10, 1908.
In the meantime the lodge had leased comfortable and adequate quarters from J. B. Clemens of Edmore at a rental of $10.00 per month. The lodge then sub-let the lodge hall, except banquet facilities, to the Modern Woodmen of America for two nights per month, for $65.00 per year. The premises were destroyed by fire December 21. 1921.
The membership of the lodge was 98 in 1921 and increasing every year, so it was natural that plans were immediately made to build a large and well equipped temple which was completed and dedicated November 20, 1922. An elaborate dinner and dedication program was arranged at which M.'. W.'. Walter L. Stockwell, Past Grand Master and Grand Secretary, was the principal speaker. M.'. W.'. Allan V. Haig, Past Grand Master, represented M.'. W.'. Eldwin A. Ripley, Grand Master, who could not be present. Representatives were present from all surrounding lodges.
Another indication of the prosperity of these times in Edmore Lodge No. 83 came on June 11, 1924, when Ole Stevens, born February 21, 1854, with his six sons, born between 1883 and 1902, were all raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason 'at the same time. What an evening for them and for Edmore Lodge!
Who were the men who made these things possible in Edmore Lodge? Here are a few of their names and there were many more like them: Henry R. Aslakson, W.'. M.'. in 1907, 1908 and 1938; Burton J. Mowers, W.'. M.'. in 1909; Alfred E. Toomey, W.'. M.'. in 1910; Mark M. Van Osdel, W.'. M/. in 1911; Jacob L. Rosholt, W.'. M.'. in 1912, 1917 and 1929; Charles L. Oakley, W.'. M.'. in 1913; Charles E. Currier, W.'. M.'. in 1914, 1915, 1916, 1918 and 1927; Robert A. Ogilvie, W.'. M.'. in 1916; Clarence A. Sagen, W.'. M.'. in 1919; Thomas E. Goulding, W.'. M.'. in 1920 and 1924; George A. Johnson, W.'. M.'. in 1926; Richard C. Teigen, W.'. M.'. in 1943 and 1944; Harry O. Nielsen, W.'. M.'. in 1954-1955 and District Deputy Grand Master from 1956-1959.
And finally, there was one of the grandest souls who ever lived and without whom nothing would have been the same in and around Edmore lodge. His name was Hilbert J. Nyhus, cashier of the Security State Bank for many years who became a Mason in 1909 and served the lodge as secretary, from 1912-1932. He moved to Grand Forks in 1942, where he affiliated with Acacia Lodge No. 4, passing away, March 13, 1943, at the age of 79 years. Surely, he belonged to a by-gone era in the annals of North Dakota Masonry.
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As often happens, it is the personnel and location of a lodge rather than its size which determines its efficiency and success; and so it has been with Portal Lodge No. 84. Composed of active business and professional men, as well as officials and employees of the customs houses on the Canadian border, adjoining Portal on the north, the members have been of the highest quality and the steady flow of traffic back and forth has provided activity and interest which has never failed and has assured continued progress and accomplishment.
It was in 1906 that a group of Masons from Portal visited lodge in Estevan, Saskatchewan, and decided that they should have a lodge at home. Thus it came about that in the spring of 1907 twenty-four Master Masons in and around Portal signed a petition for a dispensation to institute a lodge and several of them made the journey by horse and buggy, twenty miles to Bowbells Lodge No. 75, on June 18, 1907, to prove their proficiency in the ritual and obtained its recommendation, as sponsor.
The dispensation to institute Portal Lodge U.'. D.'. was signed July 10, 1907, by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master, authorizing the following to act as principal officers: W.'. M.'. Roy T. McNaghten; S.'. W.'. Harry F. Turner; J.'. W.'. William J. Bruchman; Treasurer Thomas A. Nelson, and Secretary Loring W. Jordan. The first stated communication was held July 23, 1907, in the I.O.O.F. hall in Portal and the two lodges, together with the Rebekahs and Eastern Stars, have shared the same building in perfect harmony ever since.
The charter was granted July 1, 1908 by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Portal Lodge No. 84, naming twenty-four charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers were installed August 15, 1908 by Grand Master Hill, who spent the entire week constituting lodges and installing officers in the northern section of North Dakota.
Among the many gala occasions which have been celebrated in Portal Lodge over the years without question the most notable was the fiftieth anniversary observance, which was held April 11, 1959, postponed from November 25, 1958, because of a terrific blizzard on the earlier date. The Grand Lodge was represented by M.'. W.'. and Mrs. L. Claude Mensing, Grand Master; M.'. W.'. and Mrs. Harold S. Pond, Past Grand Master and Grand Lecturer; W.'. Brother Edwin A. Haakenson, Senior Grand Deacon, District Deputy Grand Masters Herbert L. Helming and Bernard J. Westdal; District Deputy Grand Lecturers Claude G. Swett and Andrew J. McBride; and Grand Lodge Committeemen Henry S. Sausker, William R. Schulze and Arthur H. Bird. Fifty-year Masons William L. Roughton and George H. Wicks, of Portal, and Allan L. Truax, of Crosby, were also introduced and a letter from first W.'. M.'. of the lodge, Roy T. McNaghten, was read.
Following a sumptuous banquet served by the ladies of the Eastern Star the evening was spent listening to a splendid history of Portal Lodge No. 84 prepared and presented by Past Master Claude L. Swett; short addresses by the other Grand Officers and an inspiring address by Grand Master Mensing. W.'. M.'. Nels V. Nelson presided, ably assisted by Past Masters Albert J. Lindsay, Ernil T. Saby, Carl C. Nelson and Byron E. Chitwood. Most impressive of all was the closing of the lodge by W.'. Brother William L. Roughton, W.'. M.'. in 1930, a life member, a fifty-six year Mason and still a member of the lodge in 1962, at the age of eighty-four.
Among those who labored long and diligently in the lodge were such as these: W.'. Brother Roy T. McNaghten, W.'. M.'. in 1907 and 1908; Harry F. Turner, W.'. M.'. in 1909 and 1915; M.'. W.'. Harry W. Gill, W.'. M.'. in 1917 and 1924 and Grand Master in 1939-1940: Chester C. Alien, W.'. M.'. in 1919 and 1920; William L. Roughton, W.'. M.'. in 1922 and 1930; Albert J. Lindsay, W.'. M.'. in 1932 and for many years a member of the Grand Lodge Committee on Mileage and Per Diem; Claude G. Swett, W.'. M.'. in 1934 and District Deputy Grand Lecturer, from 1954-1959; Emil T. Saby, W.'. M.'. in 1939; Carl C. Nelson, W.'. M.'. in 1948; Byron E. Chit-wood, W.'. M.'. in 1954-1955, secretary from 1957-1959, and District Deputy Grand Master in 1959; and Nels V. Nelson, W.'. M.'. in 1958 and 1959.
In spite of drought, depression, and poor crops Portal Lodge has fared well over the years and today it finds itself on the northern fringe of a new oil field recently discovered and developed, which augurs well for the future of the lodge and community. To those who know them best, this recognition of their faithfulness and integrity comes as a well deserved reward.
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In the center of the huge, rolling square of land between Rugby, Bot-tineau, Mohall and Granville stands the little town of Upham almost alone, and yet, the gathering place for miles around for farmers and hunters, and a good spot for a small Masonic lodge to minister to the inner wants of man. In 1962 its membership cut in half over a period of forty years, it may not be able to withstand the onslaught of economic change in the rural America of today. But, its contribution has been made and is worthy of notice here.
It was back in 1907 that twenty-one Master Masons under the leadership of such men as Charles E. Pouts and Tillman Smith prepared a petition for dispensation for the institution of Meadow Lodge U.'. D.'. at Upham and obtained the recommendation of Willow Lodge No. 47 of Willow City, as sponsor, on September 5, 1907. The dispensation was granted September 30, 1907, by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master, who named the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Charles E. Pouts; S.'. W.'. Carlton N. Cocks; J.'. W.'. Charles I. Freeman; Treasurer Robert M. Russell; and Secretary Tillman Smith.
The new lodge first met on October 9, 1907, in a hall owned by Paulson and Dahl, for which they paid $2.50 per night. The fact that the rental ran $10.00 to $12.50 per month indicates that four and five meetings per month were common.
A charter was granted July 1, 1908, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Meadow Lodge No. 85 of Upham, with twenty-one charter members named. It was signed by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master, who constituted the lodge and installed the officers.
Among the men to be remembered in Meadow Lodge were: Charles E. Pouts, W.'. M.'. in 1908 and 1909; John Redmon, W.'. M.'. in 1914 and 1915; Tillman Smith, first secretary and W.'. M.'. in 1917; Oliver S. Freeman, W.'. M.'. in 1920 and 1921; Jacob G. Sigurdson, W.'. M.'. in 1925 and 1926; Robert W. Helwig, W.'. M.'. in 1927 and 1928; Oscar Thorardson, W.'. M.'. in 1933 and 1934; Johann K. Swanson, W.'. M.'. from 1935-1938; Morgan Erickson, W.'. M.'. in 1940 and 1943; John L. Becker, W.'. M.'. in 1941 and 1944; and William H. Miller, W.'. M.'. in 1945 and 1946.
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McClusky Lodge No. 86, McClusky
That McClusky has always been a good town in which to live has been amply proven by the facts that it has maintained a strong Masonic lodge for over fifty years; that it has produced a governor of the state like Brother John E. Davis; and that its citizens have been progressive, God-fearing members of society throughout the years. It is located near the center of North Dakota and well deserves its "place in the sun". The pioneers planned well when they built here.
There were twenty-two signers on the petition for dispensation to institute McClusky Lodge U.'. D.'., which was recommended by Devotion Lodge No. 61 at Harvey, as sponsor, on November 25, 1907. The dispensation was granted by M.'. W.'. John Biessbeck, Grand Master, on December 16, 1907, and designated the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. James R. Howell; S.'. W.'. William C. Melville; J.'. W.'. Jerry P. Marvin; Treasurer William H. Hambleton; and Secretary Elmer E. Green.
The first meeting of the lodge was held December 28, 1907, in its hall which was rented from Fred Berg at $15.00 per month. In 1937 an Episcopal Church building was purchased and remodeled for a lodge hall which was dedicated May 12, 1938, by M.'. W.'. Charles M. Pollock, Grand Master. It has made a fine home for the lodge since that time.
The charter was granted July 1, 1908, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to McClusky Lodge No. 86, naming twenty-two charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers installed by Grand Master Hill August 17, 1908.
As is usually the case, the success of a lodge depends on the loyalty and devotion of a chosen few and following is a brief account of some of those who took their Masonry seriously and helped McClusky lodge to be the "pillar of light" it has become.
W.'. Brother Paul H. Jeardeau, W.'. M.'. from 1909-1911, has been named the "Mr. Mason of McClusky," and became the first District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 8 in 1910. He then became Grand Lecturer, which office he held for five years. It is said of him that he knew all of the ritual "by heart" and never used a "key."
W.'. Brother Henry B. Curtis was W.'. M.'. in 1915 and was one of the first Masons raised in McClusky Lodge. He was an ardent ritualist, working without a "key" and served for many years as instructor in the ritual. Always at lodge, he was ready to serve in any capacity and was much beloved.
W.'. Brother Rudolph G. (Duff) Glarum holds the enviable distinction of having been more things to McClusky Lodge No. 86 for more years than all the rest, and words cannot begin to tell what he has done. Born in 1884, he became a Mason in McClusky lodge in 1911, a life member in 1951, and a fifty-year Mason in 1961. He was W.'. M.'. in 1916 and 1917, was elected secretary in 1918 and still holds that office, in 1963 as alert and capable as ever, and the lodge knows it could not function as well without him.
W.'. Brother Harry E. Dickinson was W.'. M.'. in 1919, 1920, 1928, 1929, and 1930, and was a "Pillar of Masonry" at McClusky. He wrote the twenty-five year history of the lodge in 1931 and was a member of the _ Grand Lodge Committee on Masonic Education.
W.'. Brother Peter A. Winter was W.'. M.'. in 1921, 1922 and 1923, and excelled in ritualistic work. He was states attorney of Sheridan County, held various city and school offices, and was president of the Commercial and Lions clubs; a splendid example of a Mason at work.
W.'. Brother August Liebig, born in Russia, was a fine American and proved it in many ways. He became a Mason in McClusky in 1910; was secretary in 1911 and 1912; W.'. M.'. in 1933 and 1934; and instructor in the ritual in 1936 and 1937. He served his county as commissioner and as treasurer; and his community as a school board member.
W.'. Brother (Governor) John E. Da vis came to McClusky as a young man in 1936 after graduating from the University of North Dakota. He started work in the First National Bank as a clerk and subsequently became its president, after serving as an officer, with distinction, in World War II. He became a member of McClusky Lodge No. 86 in 1939, and its W.'. M.'. in 1948 and 1949. He was elected Governor of North Dakota in 1956, and served in that office with honor and efficiency until 1960.
With men like these, who can fail?
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It is an old truism that "civilization follows the flag" and it has been equally true in North Dakota that "Masonry follows the railroad"; witness a point in proof. The Great Northern built its Sarles branch between Lakota and Sarles in 1905, laying out the town of Sarles as its northern terminal. In the fall of 1907, twenty Master Masons began to plan for a lodge in their new home town.
Corinthian Lodge No. 78, at Calvin — seven miles away — was asked to be its sponsor and on January 20, 1908, a recommendation was forth-coming from the latter lodge for a dispensation instituting Eureka Lodge U.'. D.'. at Sarles. The dispensation was granted February 1, 1908, by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master, authorizing the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Fredrick A. Plummer; S.'. W.'. David W. Elves; J.°. W.'. George P. Erskine; Treasurer Charles F. Sawyer, and Secretary James D. McLennan. The first stated communication of the lodge was held in the A.O.U.W. and M.W.A. hall February 11, 1908, at which time seven petitions for the degrees were read and referred.
The charter was granted July 1, 1908, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Eureka Lodge No. 87 at Sarles, with twenty charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers installed August 11, 1908, by Grand Master Hill.
The lodge was now organized and ready for work, except for an adequate meeting place. For a time it met in the public school, but in 1910, plans were made for a building of its own which was accomplished with money borrowed from members, without interest, and from the banks. It took twenty-five years to repay all of the debt but that was accomplished and the same building serves the lodge today, and has been kept attractive and in good repair.
During these years Eureka lodge has served its members and the community well, assisting in their charitable undertakings and taking part in many social and other worth while endeavors. In this the lodge has worked hand in hand with Eureka Chapter No. 65, Order of Eastern Star, which was chartered at Sarles in 1909.
The fiftieth anniversary of these fine institutions was observed July 20, 1959, at Sarles when two hundred Masons and Stars met in the high school gymnasium for the occasion. Past Master Clayborn Sanders presided and presented M.'. W.'. Ben G. Gustafson, Grand Master of Masons, and Worthy Grand Matron Hilda Lowry, of the Order of Eastern Star. Many other Grand Officers of both the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter, including several from Manitoba, were introduced.
The program consisted of welcomes, responses, presentations of fifty-year Masons, the oldest members, the dedication of a new Bible, and addresses by the Grand Master and the Worthy Grand Matron. It was indeed a memorable evening.
Who have been the men who have made these things possible, through the years? Just ordinary Master Masons, like so many others, who are willing and ready to give of their time and talent that Masonry can spread its benign influence wherever it has a chance. Here are a few:
Fredrick A. Plummer, first W.'. M.'. in 1908 and 1515: David W, Elves, W.'. M.'. in 1909. 1910 and 1937, and District Deputy Grand Master, from 1925-1932; Franklin J. Martz, W.'. M.'. in 1914. when ten Master Masons were raised in the year: George W. Drowley. W.'. M.'. in 1922, 1923 and 1936; Raymond W. Taylor, W.'. M.'. in 1934, 1935 and 1938; and Clarence M. Crum, W.'. M.'. in 1944, 1945 and 1946, during whose second term twelve Master Masons were raised, and who also was worthy patron of Eureka Chapter No. 65 from 1943-1946; Clayton Sanders, W.'. M.'. in 1949. who presided at the jubilee; and Clifford E. Barker, W.'. M.'. in 1950. worthy patron of the Star Chapter in 1957 and 1958, and always ready to help where needed.
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To say that it required courage and foresight to locate a lodge at Beach in 1908 is, "putting it mildly", to be most charitable. A glance at a map of southwestern North Dakota will locate Beach at the extreme western end of a sixty-five mile trail, leading from Dickinson west through the small villages of Belfield, Medora and Sentinel Butte; crossing the North Dakota Badlands, and on into the Yellowstone Valley of eastern Montana. Up to the end of the nineteenth century this was Indian country; the hunting grounds for buffalo, deer, big horn sheep and antelope, not the abode of white men.
But the coming of the Northern Pacific Railroad in the seventies and eighties, changed it all and it soon became the ranch land of the new west and Beach became the cowboy center west of Dickinson. For a time, a meat packing plant was operated at Medora by the French Marquis DeMores, but was not successful. Even Theodore Roosevelt came here and operated a cattle ranch north of Medora, which has become a National Park. At the turn of the century there were 200 persons living at Beach.
Such was the picture in 1908, when twenty-one energetic young Masons decided that Masonry could thrive at Beach, and how wisely they looked into the future. Their petition for a dispensation to institute Sunset Lodge was gladly endorsed by Dickinson Lodge No. 32, as sponsor, on January 24, 1908, which was granted by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master, February 14, 1908, naming the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. William A. Sprague; S.'. W.'. Frank D. Cooper; J.'. W.'. Josiah R. Delany; Treasurer Frank E. Heath; and Secretary John A. McGregor.
It is interesting to note that two meetings were held in 1907 in the office of the Golden Valley State Bank to plan for the new lodge, the first on June 16th and the second on October 29th. At the first meeting, the principal officers were selected and at the second, Brother Oscar D. Brault offered the use of lodge quarters over the office of his grist mill. His offer was accepted and the quarters were used until July 1910. The first stated communication of Sunset Lodge U.'. D.'. was held February 18, 1908. The dispensation was read and a full roster of officers was appointed.
The charter was voted July 1, 1908, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Sunset Lodge No. 88 of Beach, with twenty-one charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers were installed August 20, 1908, by M.'. W.'. George L. McGregor of Jamestown, Past Grand Master, representing Grand Master Hill, assisted by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck of Dickinson, Past Grand Master.
In July, 1910, the lodge moved to a hall over the Woodhull and Linger implement company, and the following year to a new location in the Kastien machine shop. During the summer of 1916 the new temple was built, which was financed by subscriptions from the members and a mortgage. It was occupied January 1, 1917, and was completely paid for ten years later. It has been kept in perfect repair and remodeled, so that today it is an adequate home for Sunset Lodge and Beach Chapter O.E.S.
Hardly a week passes that something is not "going on" at the temple. It is the center of activity for young and old and anyone, who amounts to anything, is welcome there. One example will suffice.
On January 2, 1912, George A. McGregor, a young bookkeeper of 25 years, was raised in Sunset Lodge. He later moved to Fargo, demitting from Sunset, May 4, 1920, to become a charter member of East Gate Lodge No. 120, where he was a leading member until his passing July 16, 1962. In 1948, a new lodge was chartered in Fargo and Brother McGregor suggested that as his old lodge at Beach, guarding the western portals of the state, was named Sunset, so the new lodge at Fargo, guarding the eastern portals, should be named Sunrise, and thus it was named. Brother McGregor held a dual membership in the new lodge.
For January 2, 1962, Sunset Lodge planned a big occasion when it invited Brother McGregor and his Fargo friends to be present for an "Old Timers" meeting at Beach. A number of members from East Gate and Sunrise lodges of Fargo were present, as well as from the lodges at Beach and Dickinson, and Brother McGregor found himself the center of attraction. The evening was spent in reminiscing and visiting until the exact time, fifty years previously, that Brother George had been raised, when he was conducted to the Altar and was presented with a fifty-year button and life membership certificate in Sunrise Lodge No. 130, by W.'. Brother James J. Martin of Fargo, his closest brother in East Gate and Sunrise Lodges. Perfect co-ordination, perfect timing and perfect unanimity on the part of all concerned had made possible a perfect episode in the life of an old member of Sunset lodge. For occasions such as this, they have won great renown.
In such a busy lodge one could mention dozens of members who deserve credit for the splendid work they have performed but space will not allow. Even the examples may not be the best but "we all travel on the same level of time" and He alone must decide.
W.'. Brother William A. Sprague helped organize the lodge and was W.'. M.'. in 1908 and 1909. Then there were James P. Smith, who was W.'. M.'. in 1914 and 1915; Edward M. Enderle who was W.'. M.'. in 1924 and secretary from 1930-1947, and chairman of the Grand Lodge Credentials Committee for many years; also Adolph E. Kastien who was W.'. M.'. in 1913, 1926 and 1927 and secretary in 1929. Louis R. Menke was W.'. M.'. in 1930, secretary in the late 1920's and again from 1948-1962, and is the present chairman of the Credentials Committee. Then there was the Raisler family: John was W.'. M.'. in 1937 and 1938, Stanley R., in 1946, Elmer A., in 1947, George L., in 1948, and Roland G. in 1958-59. Donald H. Hathaway was W.'. M.'. in 1949, and District Deputy Grand Master, from 1950-52; G. Eugene Hathaway was W.'. M.'. in 1954-55, and District Deputy Grand Master from 1958-60; and Harold Feldhusen was W.'. M.'. in 1951, District Deputy Grand Lecturer, from 1954-58, and became secretary in 1962.
And finally, there was M.'. W.'. Brother Ernest D. Nelson, who grew up on a ranch east of Sentinel Butte, was raised in Sunset Lodge March 31, 1922, and was its W.'. M.'. in 1940. He was appointed Grand Tyler in 1946 and in 1954 was elected Grand Master which office he filled with grace and distinction. He became a charter member of Lewis and Clark Lodge No. 132 at Bismarck, May 28, 1954, as a dual member, but retained his primary membership at Beach where he loved most to be. From 1949 until his death in 1961, Ernie and Wilma lived in Bismarck, where he served twelve years as a member of the North Dakota Public Service Commission. A friend of everyone, loved by all, a faithful public servant, a devoted husband and father, he best typified the spirit which is Sunset Lodge.
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In 1910, the population of Russell was listed at 250; in 1960 at 25. It is not surprising then, that Russell Lodge No. 89, starting out in 1908 with the same prospects for success as all the others, found itself forty-four years later, unable to continue and was glad to consolidate its forces with Victory Lodge No. 118 at Maxbass and to carry on from there.
It was early in 1908 that a petition to institute Russell Lodge U.'. D.". at Russell, was signed by twenty-one Master Masons in the community and a recommendation supporting the same was signed February 27, 1908, by the W.'. M.'. and secretary of Westhope Lodge No. 74, as sponsor. The dispensation was signed April 1. 1908, by M.'. W.'. John Riessbeck, Grand Master, authorizing the following to act as principal officers: W.'. M.'. Frank G. Orr; S.'. W.'. Andrew J. Kane; J.\ W.'. Harry M. Cornell; Treasurer William H. Godfrey; and Secretary William A. McHugh.
The first stated communication of the lodge was held April 3, 1908. The newly appointed officers were present, the dispensation instituting Russell Lodge U.'. D.'. had been received and eleven petitions for the degrees and one for affiliation were read and referred to committees.
A charter was granted July 1, 1908, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Russell Lodge No. 89. It named twenty-one charter members and was signed by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers installed on the evening of August 13, 1908, by Grand Master Hill, assisted by the worshipful master and several of the brethren of Meadow Lodge No. 85 of Upham, which had been constituted the preceding evening. The record states that the trip across country was made by automobile; quite a "fait accompli" for north central North Dakota over fifty years ago, one might imagine.
For a number of years Russell continued to grow and the lodge prospered. There were three banks in town and four grain elevators; business flourished on Main Street and the lodge membership grew to forty-five in 1921. Then the reaction set in with the coming of drought and depression, and inside of ten years, the crop was gone, the banks had closed and the people were leaving the region. In 1931 the membership in Russell Lodge was thirty-three, in 1941 it was twenty-one, and in 1951 it was eight. Accordingly, on March 27, 1953, Grand Master Glen C. Hulett, by common consent, consolidated Russell Lodge No. 89 with Victory Lodge No. 118 at Maxbass and the story of another lodge became history.
Among those who labored hard and long to keep the lodge going at Russell were such as these: Frank G. Orr, first W.'. M.'. in 1908; Julius E. Bucholz, W.'. M.'. in 1911 and 1912; William H. Lackey, W.'. M.'. in 1913 and 1914; Alexander S. Hill, W.'. M.'. in 1915 and 1916; Ben L. Howard, W.'. M.'. from 1918-20; Clayton L. Baskin, W.'. M.'. from 1922-1926; Walter E. Bingenheimer, W.'. M.'. in 1929 and secretary from 1936-1941; Stephen J. Wolfe, W.'. M.'. in 1930, 1942, 1944, 1950 and 1951, when the charter was surrendered; and Victor M. Tyson, W.'. M.'. in 1933 and from 1946-1949. Harry Bennett was secretary for the last three years.
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Garrison Lodge No. 90, Garrison
When Garrison came into existence shortly after the turn of the present century, its lignite coal mines were its richest resource, adding to its possibilities as an agricultural center, if and when the nearby Missouri River might be developed for irrigation. The coal mines helped the community grow; agriculture added its bit; and today, in 1962, the mighty Missouri River has been harnessed by a tremendous dam — at Garrison's front door — providing flood control, electric power and irrigation for miles around, and Garrison "has it made."
It was here that a group of Master Masons, led by Brother Adelbert Tymeson, Jr., began planning early in 1908 for a lodge at Garrison. Star-in-the-West Lodge No. 33 at Minot, forty-five miles to the northeast, agreed to sponsor them and several times that spring, Brother Tymeson and the other prospective officers made the trip by horse and buggy to practice the ritual with the Minot officers.
Finally, on July 9, 1908, the recommendation to the Grand Master to grant a dispensation to Garrison Lodge U.'. D.'. was signed by Star-in-the-West Lodge No. 33 of Minot, as sponsor, and was sent to Fargo, with the petition of twenty Master Masons for the institution of the lodge. The dispensation was signed July 31, 1908, by W.'. M.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master, designating the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Adelbert Tymeson, Jr.; S.'. W.'. Carl L. Peterson; J.'. W.'. Leonard A. Boyer; Treasurer William A. Staley; and Secretary Robert L. Fraser.
The first stated communication of Garrison Lodge U.'. D.'. was held October 8, 1908, in the old frame school house at the north end of Main Street; the names of the appointive officers were read; the petitions of four candidates for the degrees were received and referred to committees; and other routine business was transacted. The lodge continued to meet in this manner until May 13, 1909, following which a petition for a charter was prepared and forwarded to the Grand Secretary for action at the forthcoming annual communication of the Grand Lodge.
The charter was granted June 23, 1909, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Garrison Lodge No. 90 at Garrison, naming twenty charter members and was signed by M.'. W.'. Halfdan Bendeke, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers installed on October 15, 1909, by Grand Master Bendeke, assisted by Past Master Louis A. Larson, of Minot, and Otis F. McGray and Francis L. Mackey, of Garrison.
In 1910 Brother William Anderson, a merchant, affiliated with Garrison lodge, built a new brick building on Main Street and agreed to build the second floor for lodge purposes. This was the home of the lodge for many years and numerous "old timers" first saw Masonic light there. It has been within the last few years that the lodge bought a vacant store building, a block west of Main Street and remodeled it into the present adequate lodge hall which houses Garrison lodge, the Eastern Star Chapter and the Order of Rainbow for Girls.
The lodge grew and prospered during the first ten years, passing one hundred members by 1920 and it had reached one hundred fifty by 1940. Then came the years of expansion while the Garrison dam was in process of building, and by 1960 the membership had reached two hundred twenty-four. With the dam completed and Garrison a thriving city of 1800 people, the Masonic population should remain steady in the future and slowly increase with the population. Garrison lodge is proud of one member, a native Indian, named Theodore H. Gillette, who has added honor and distinction to its rolls. Other Indians have been members.
Over the years, the lodge has led the community in philanthropic work and has been a social center for all. Perhaps its most recent celebration was the observance of its golden jubilee, which was held in the lodge hall April 16, 1959. The Grand Lodge was represented by Grand Master L. Claude Menslng and Past Grand Masters (Dr.) John W. Robinson and Harold S. Pond. Following a sumptuous banquet, served by the ladies of the Eastern Star, lodge was opened by W.'. M.'. David C. Kopp, Deputy Chief Engineer at Garrison Dam, who received the distinguished guests; and the past masters of Garrison lodge, of whom sixteen were present. Dr. John Robinson gave a most interesting reminiscent history of the lodge and was followed by Secretary Charles E. Crank, superintendent of schools, who supplied figures and statistics about the lodge which were much appreciated. The final address was given by Grand Master Mensing who spoke on Carl H. Claudy's "Seven Kinds of Mason," demonstrating how Garrison Lodge needed them all and had used them to the fullest extent.
There have been so many great men in Garrison Lodge No. 90 that only brief mention can be made of them, and even then a great many must be overlooked. Here are a few:
W.'. Brother Adelbert Tymeson, Jr., was the first W.'. M.'. in 1909, 1910 and 1913 and it was to his everlasting credit that the details of founding the lodge were undertaken and accomplished. Assisting him were such men as Robert L. Fraser, the first secretary, William A. Staley, the first treasurer, and Frank W. McGray, W.'. M.'. in 1914. Dr. Edmund C. Stucke, W.'. M.'. in 1915, was a beloved physician at Garrison for many years. He was a life member when he passed away in 1955 at 73 years after serving many years as state senator. Another much loved character is Dr. Cecil D. Stewart, dentist, a member of Garrison lodge since 1918. He has not been an officer but he lives his Masonry, which is revealed in his daily life.
Then we come to the leader of them all: M.'. W.'. (Dr.) John W. Robinson, "Doctor John," as he is best known, who became a Master Mason May 23, 1913, was W.'. M.'. in 1916, Grand Master in 1932-33, and was made a life member of Garrison Lodge October 4, 1951. Today, in 1962, he is 83 years old and has been a Master Mason for 49 years. Doctor John is a veterinary surgeon and with his son Paul operates a drug store at Garrison. The prophet Micah spoke truly when he said: "What doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God?" Such a man is he, and in Garrison lodge, in Garrison city, in North Dakota and wherever he is known, thousands will "rise to call him blessed," because he has been kind to them and we all love him.
There have been several other Robinsons in the lodge: William H. was W.'. M.'. in 1917; David P., in 1923; Frank G., in 1925: Carl D., in 1934; and J. Paul, son of John W.. in 1953. Theodore H. Gillette, Indian, was W.'. M.'. in 1946; Charles E. Crank was W.'. M.'. in 1950 and has been secretary from 1951-1962; he also was District Deputy Grand Lecturer in 1959 and 1960; Stuart J. McElwain was W.'. M.'. ir. 1951: and District Deputy Grand Lecturer from 1954-1958; Marvel K. Kjelstrup was W.'. M.'. in 1957-58; and David C. Kopp was W.'. M.'. in 1958-59.
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Adoniram Lodge No. 91, White Earth
If beauty of location could make a lodge, Adoniram No. 91 at White Earth was "made" before it started. Located in the valley of the winding and wooded White Earth River, between Ross and Tioga on the Great Northern Railway, but off United States Highway No. 2 and unable to withstand the drought of the thirties, it had only the beauties of nature to sustain it and succumbed to the inevitable on December 31, 1940.
It was in the early fall of 1908 that Frank W. Youngman, Jens P. Smerud, David C. Boyd and twenty other Master Masons became actively interested in organizing a lodge at White Earth. Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 51 at Williston, forty-eight miles to the west, was glad to sponsor the new lodge and its recommendation for dispensation was dated October 15, 1908. The dispensation instituting Adoniram Lodge U.'. D.'. at White Earth was granted November 19, 1908, by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master, who designated the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Frank W. Youngman; S.'. W.'. Jens P. Smerud; J.'. W.'. Lewis H. Winje; Treasurer Olaf M. Muus; and Secretary David C. Boyd.
The first stated communication of the lodge was held in its rented lodge hall at White Earth on November 26, 1908, at which the dispensation was read, the appointive officers were named and four petitions for the degrees were received and referred to committees.
A charter was granted June 23, 1909, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Adoniram Lodge No. 91 of White Earth, with twenty-three charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. Half dan Bendeke, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers were installed October 30, 1909, by Grand Master Halfdan Bendeke, assisted by several brethren from Star-in-the-West Lodge No. 33 of Minot. The lodge grew to a membership of forty-two in 1920, to forty-eight in 1930, and dropped to thirty-one in 1940, when the charter was surrendered.
Among those most interested in its welfare were: Frank W. Youngman, W.'. M.'. in 1909; Jens P. Smerud, W.'. M.'. from 1910-1912; Olaf P. Martinson, W.'. M.'. in 1913 and 1914; Cornelius Hanson, W.'. M.'. in 1915 and 1916, 1918 and 1919; Hans C. Thronson, W.'. M.'. in 1920 and 1931; Alf Stein, W.'. M.'. in 1932 and 1937; and Edward Dannewitz, W.'. M.'. in 1939 and 1940.
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The farther southwest one travels in North Dakota the more peculiarly "ranch type" becomes the countryside, and Bowman, county seat of Bowman County, with a population of 1730 in 1960, deserves its reputation as a ranch center of the area. As one travels south on U.S. Highway No. 85 he passes Black Butte. 3,468 feet high, the highest point in the state, located twenty miles north of Bowman. The grass covered hills surround one on every side and it is a beautiful sight in the summer time to drive by and watch the thousands of sleek cattle feeding to their hearts' content.
It was here, in the winter of 1908 and 1909, that twenty-five Master Masons decided that they should have a lodge at Bowman and it was Dickinson Lodge No. 32, seventy miles to the northeast, that agreed to be its sponsor, and on February 9, 1909 signed a recommendation for the institution of Bowman Lodge U.'. D.'. A dispensation for this purpose was signed February 11, 1909, by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master, who named the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Edward P. Totten; S.'. W.'. Ralph T. Heywood; J.'. W.'. Theodore B. Torkelson; Treasurer Claud E. Davison; and Secretary Foster R. Paige.
The first stated communication of the lodge was held February 15, 1909, in the lodge hall, which must have been adequate, the rental of $30.00, being paid monthly. It is also noted that the hall was sublet to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, evidently at $15.00 per month. Six petitions for the degrees were received and referred to committees at this meeting.
The charter was granted June 23, 1909, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Bowman Lodge No. 92 of Bowman, naming twenty-five charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. Halfdan Bendeke, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers were installed on October 6, 1909, by Grand Master Bendeke, ably assisted by Worthy Grand Patron Oscar D. Purinton, of the Grand Chapter Order of Eastern Star, and Grand Lecturer Almond L. Woods of the Grand Lodge. Brothers Bendeke and Woods spent the next two days driving the seventy miles to Dickinson in an open buggy through a cold October rain, much to their discomfort.
Bowman Lodge No. 92 has made splendid progress through the years. By 1919 its membership had increased to 89, by 1939 it had reached 106, and by 1959 its total was 121. In 1940 the lodge had purchased a well-built church building which was remodeled for a lodge hall and on May 27, 1941, it was appropriately dedicated. W.'. M.'. Donald C. Hogoboom presided and M.'. W.'. Ralph L. Miller, Past Grand Master, conducted the ceremony of dedication representing M.'. W.'. Eugene Naylor, Grand Master, who was ill. Addresses were given by M.'. W.'. Walter L. Stock-well, Grand Secretary; M.'. E.'. Vine D. Lord, Grand High Priest R.'. A.'. M.'.; and by M.'. W.'. Alexander G. Burr, Past Grand High Priest and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Dakota. It was an unforgettable day for Bowman Lodge.
Who are the men that have made these things possible for Bowman Lodge? Following are a few.
W.'. Brother .Edward P. Totten was W.'. M.'. in 190*9 and 1911; Ralph T. Heywood, W.'. M.'. in 1912 and 1918 and historian in 1&41; Carl E. Norton, W.'. M.'. in 1916, 1917, 1925 and 1926; Peyton H. Woil. W.'. M.'. in 1927 and 1928; Frank J. Cornelius, W.'. M.'. in 1933 and 1934; Myron H. Pond, W.'. M.'. in 1942 and 1943; Bert H. Patterson, W.'. M.'. in 1954-55 and District Deputy Grand Lecturer from 1960-62; and Marvin L. Patterson, son of Bert, W.'. M.'. in 1957-58.
There are only five lodges in District No. 12; at Bowman, Hettinger, Mott, New England and Marmarth, comprising Bowman, Adams, Hettinger and Slope Counties; a vast area but closely knit with a common purpose, that of promoting brotherly love, relief and truth and nowhere will it be found more fully demonstrated than here.
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Hettinger Lodge No. 93, Hettinger
If the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad had not built its line to the west coast across the southwest corner of North Dakota about 60 years ago, thus establishing the towns of Hettinger, Bowman and Marmarth, there would have been no Masonic lodges at these previously non-existent points, and our history would have been much different. Today, in 1962, the railroad is asking to discontinue the service, claiming losses for every day of operation. We can only be grateful for the past and look forward to the transportation of the future, via highway and air.
At the same time the Masons of Bowman were planning for their lodge, thirty-one enthusiastic Masons at Hettinger were busying themselves circulating a petition for a dispensation to institute Hettinger Lodge U.'. D.'. They proved their proficiency in the ritual before Dickinson Lodge No. 32, as sponsor, and a dispensation to institute Hettinger Lodge U.'. D.'. was granted February 25, 1909, by M.'. W.'. Sylvester J. Hill, Grand Master. He designated the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Norman D. McIver; S.'. W.'. Paul W. Boehm; J.'. W.'. Harry H. Everett; Treasurer Frank E. Ellickson; and Secretary George N. Keniston.
A charter was granted June 23, 1909, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Hettinger Lodge No. 93 of Hettinger, naming thirty-one charter members — an exceptionally large number — and was signed by M.'. W.'. Halfdan Bendeke, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted, the charter was delivered and the officers were installed by M.'. W.'. Brother Bendeke on October 5, 1909, assisted by W.'. Brother Almon L. Woods of Grand Forks, Grand Lecturer. Several other lodges were represented and a pleasant evening was enjoyed.
Throughout the years the splendid leadership developed in Hettinger lodge has made it the Masonic center for several otherwise isolated lodges in southwestern North Dakota. Here the Masons from Mott, New England, Bowman. Marmarth. Baker. Montana, and Lemmon, South Dakota, have gathered over the years and the fellowship has been of the best. The lodge owns an adequate lodge hall in the southeastern part of Hettinger, which is kept in fine repair and is the gathering place for social and other community affairs, as well as the activities of Blue Lodge, Royal Arch Chapter, Eastern Star and Rainbow.
An impressive Easter Morning Service prepared by Past Grand Chaplain (Rev.) John S. Shelby, of Hettinger, fills the lodge room each year.
Another example of the manner in which a deserving brother is honored by Hettinger Lodge was manifested by its devoting an evening on March 16, 1961, to honoring Brother Carl J. Austad, a member continuously since 1910. Grand Officers were present, including Grand Master Gordon L. Paxman, a banquet was served and the evening was given over to the presentation of a life certificate and fifty-year award to Brother Austad, thus reminding him that, though not a Past Master, he was very close to the hearts of all.
An active Past Masters' Club meets for dinner monthly and discusses lodge affairs, and though never interfering, its members stand ready to assist the lodge and its officers as occasion affords. It is such co-operation that keeps the lodge going forward as a unit where men "best can work and best agree."
In a lodge such as this, one dislikes to single out individuals for special mention, fearing that a deserving member may be overlooked while honor may be bestowed on one less worthy. We must content ourselves with those we know about and submit their names as examples of all and not as officials of a hierarchy.
It was W.'. Brother Norman D. McIver who was active in organizing the lodge and was the first W.'. M.'. in 1909 and 1910. Oscar B. Tripp has been one of the most interested members over the longest period of time, serving as W.'. M.'. in 1914 and 1915, also from 1919-1921 and again in 1934 and 1935. He is still living and interested in the lodge. Gordon E. Mordoff was W.'. M.'. in 1916 and 1917. Then came Don E. DeLa, W.'. M.'. in 1925; Andrew G. Newman, W.'. M.'. in 1926; Lowell G. Fitch, W.'. M.'. in 1927; Louis A. Falkenkamp, W.'. M.'. in 1928; Dwight S. DeLa, W.'. M.'. in 1929; and Herbert L. Jacobson, W.'. M.'. in 1930.
We come now to the record of a father and son, who have had a lasting interest and influence on Hettinger lodge. Peter E. Knudson was W.'. M.'. in 1931, 1932 and again from 1941-1943, serving at the beginning of the "depression" and at its end. His son, Clarence E. Knudson. was W.'. M.1. in 1950 and later, H.'. P.'. of R.\ A.'. M.'.
Tracy Fitch was W.'. M.'. in 1938 and has always been active. He may not always agree but any difference of opinion is self justified and his work constructive.
Ira T. Hall was W.'. II.'. in 1939 and was deeply interested in the history of the lodge. He promised us a copy years ago but it must have been lost by the wayside, as it never appeared for the Grand Lodge files.
Jonas E. Johnson was W.'. M.'. in 1948, and from 1949-1954, he served the Grand Lodge capably as District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 15. Since then he has been a member of the Grand Lodge Committees on Annual Returns of Chartered Lodges and on Grand Master's Address and Reports of Other Grand Officers.
Thomas B. Stevens was a good W.'. M.'. in 1953, as was also Oscar C. Nottveit in 1955-56, after serving two years as secretary. He later became H.'. P.'. of the R". A.'. M.'. Vernon L. Olson was W.'. M.'. in 1957-58, after being secretary for one year. He has moved to New Town where he .has been instrumental in forming New Town Lodge No. 134 and is now, in 1962, its first W.'. M.'.
Glen Emch was W.'. M.'. in 1959-60 and was recently State Moderator of the Congregational Christian Conference of North Dakota.
Finally, L. Claude Mensing comes to our attention as an outstanding member of Hettinger Lodge No. 93 in this generation. A native of North Dakota, Claude grew up in the Ashley vicinity and came to Hettinger in 1939 as manager of the First National Bank. He was "raised" in Hettinger lodge July 3, 1942, became its W.'. M.'. in 1946 and in 1947 was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 15. In 1948 he was appointed Grand Tyler of the Grand Lodge and was elected Grand Master in 1958. All of his life seemed to have fitted him for this great task which he fulfilled to the greatest satisfaction of all. Today, his work and his family come first, after that his Masonry takes such time as may be left.
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Mayflower Lodge No. 94, Finley
While lodges had been springing up to the east, south and west of Finley, county seat of Steele County, the town had grown to a population of five hundred in 1909 before twenty-two Master Masons signed a petition for a lodge and asked Occidental Lodge No. 27 at Hope to sponsor it.
The recommendation for a lodge at Finley was signed by the W.'. M.'. and secretary of the Hope lodge on April 23, 1909, and a dispensation to institute Mayflower Lodge U.'. D.'. at Finley was signed by M.'. W.'. Halfdan Bendeke. Grand Master, on June 26. 1909, who named the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. George E. Horner; S.'. W.'. John A. Carlson; J.'. W.'. Logan J. Newell; Treasurer Benton J. Long; and Secretary George F. Newton.
The first meeting of the new lodge was held in its lodge hall on June 30. 1909, at which the appointive officers were named, by-laws adopted and plans made for the future. The hall in which the lodge met was owned by Seim and Furos of Finley and was spacious and satisfactory. The rental was $100.00, semi-annually. In the year which followed, fifteen Master Masons were raised and many others were initiated and passed. Special meetings were held at least twice monthly for degree work and Mayflower Lodge was busy.
The charter was granted June 22, 1910, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota to Mayflower Lodge No. 94 at Finley, naming twenty-two charter members, and was signed by M.'. W.'. John J. Hull, Grand Master. The lodge was constituted and the officers were installed October 12, 1910, by Grand Master Hull, assisted by W.'. Brothers William J. Hutcheson of Fargo as Grand Chaplain and E. S. Babcock, W.'. M.'. of Wahpeton Lodge No. 15. Large delegations were present from Northern Light Lodge No. 45 of Cooperstown and Occidental Lodge No. 27 of Hope.
Mayflower Lodge has prospered through the years in spite of a loss of over one half of its membership during the terrible years of drought and depression in the "thirties." Following is its membership record: 1920— 90; 1930—91; 1940—42; 1950—69; 1960—73. With the splendid leadership the lodge has always provided it appears more than probable that the 1930 total of 91 may be regained during the present decade. The lodge still maintains adequate quarters on the second floor of a frame building at the east end of Main Street, which are always kept in good repair and freshly decorated.
Characteristic of the thoroughness with which Mayflower lodge entertains was the observance of its fiftieth anniversary on November 2, 1960. M.'. W.'. Gordon L. Paxman, Grand Master, and Harold S. Pond, Past Grand Master, were present as were R.'. W.'. Joseph A. Jameson, Grand Secretary; W.'. Brother Peter O. Sathre, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of North Dakota, chairman of the Grand Lodge Trial Commission, a member of Mayflower Lodge and a fifty-year Mason; and W.'. Brothers I. Willis Nilson, District Deputy Grand Master; J. Earl en Spriggs and Elof A. Erickson, District Deputy Grand Lecturers.
A capacity dinner was served in the Methodist Church by the ladies of the Order of the Eastern Star. M.'. W.'. Brother Pond was the after dinner speaker. The evening program in the lodge hall was conducted by W.'. M.'. Julian Meldahl, Jr., at which ten past masters and four fifty-year Masons were honored. W.'. Brother Sathre spoke on the history of the lodge and closed with a stirring appeal to the brethren to defend the freedoms which our forefathers fought to establish in America. The principal speaker was Grand Master Paxman, who emphasized the value of the individual in Masonry, as well as in everyday life, and showed how "individuals" had carried Mayflower lodge through cloudy days as well as days of sunshine.
A few of these men have been: W.'. Brother George E. Horner. W.'. M.'. in 1910; Peder A. Jorgensen, W.'. M.'. in 1912 and 1C-13: Charles J. Nash, W.'. M.'. in 1914 and 1915: Peter O. Sathre. V.V. M.'. in 1916; Samuel G. Bistline, W.'. SI.', in 1929; Nels A. Andersen. W.'. M.'. in 1936; J. Arthur Engen, W.'. SI.', in 1949 and for many years State Tax Commissioner of North Dakota: J. Earlen Spriggs, W. . M.'. in 1952 and 1957, and District Deputy Grand Lecturer from 1953-1960; Edward Paul-sen, W.'. M.'. from 1958-1960; Reinhart Gilbertsen, secretary from 1941-1943, and Grand Master in 1943-1944; and Julian Meldahl, Jr., W.'. M.'. in 1960, at the time of the 50th anniversary.
Another fine character was Brother Ole A. Lovik, who was never W.'. M.'. of Mayflower lodge, but was secretary from 1944-1948. He was raised in Crosby Lodge No. 108, February 22, 1915, came from Fidelity Lodge No. 52 at Drayton where he was W.'. M.'. in 1930, and affiliated with Mayflower Lodge No. 94 in 1941. He passed away in 1959 at the age of 78, a Mason for forty-four years.
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Stanley, county seat of Mountrail County, stands as an oasis in the plain; where U.S. Highway No. 2. between Minot and Williston,