MASONRY IN NORTH DAKOTA

MASONRY IN NORTH DAKOTA

Military Lodges and Clubs

From 1898-1962

True to their traditions of loyalty and patriotism, North Dakota Masons have always carried their Masonry with them into battle, as witnessed by the formation of Northern Light Lodge U.'. D.'. at Fort Pembina in 1863 and of Yellowstone Lodge No. 88 at Fort Buford in 1871.

Hence, it was natural that our expeditionary forces in the Philippine Islands in 1898, and in France in 1917, immediately organized Military Lodges in their midst and enjoyed much comfort and satisfaction therefrom.

Since their return, our soldier Masons in several areas have established Sojourners' Clubs, which have been of great value in cementing the friendships formed overseas and in making new ones; all to the satisfaction of the individual Mason and to the glory of Country and Masonry.

In more recent years, with the establishment of large Air Force Bases at Grand Forks and Minot, Square and Compass Clubs have been formed, which are of untold value in co-ordinating Masonic intercourse on the bases, and in establishing an invaluable liaison with the Masonic lodges in their respective areas.

All of these activities will be considered, briefly, in the present chapter.

Chapter 16

MILITARY LODGES—SOJOURNERS' CLUBS

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North Dakota Military Lodge U.'. D.'., Philippine Islands

IT IS MOST SIGNIFICANT that before the First Regiment, United States Volunteers of North Dakota, embarked for the Philippines in the spring of 1898, for the war with Spain, forty-eight Master Masons signed a petition for "a Movable Military Lodge, upon their arrival in the Philippine Islands, or in any other country, once a Spanish possession, or now belonging to Spain." Their reason was sincere when they stated it as: "Having the prosperity of the Craft at heart, we are anxious to exert our best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Freemasonry; and for our better protection in a foreign country and among strangers and enemies." Among the forty-eight signers were: one Lieutenant Colonel, two Majors, seven Captains of whom three were Assistant Surgeons, four first Lieutenants, four second Lieutenants, twelve Sergeants, eight Corporals, five Privates and five whose rank was not stated.

The dispensation was signed June 1, 1898, by M.'. W.'. Robert M. Carothers, Grand Master, to North Dakota Military Lodge U.'. D.'., authorizing and empowering Brother William C. Treumann, Lieutenant Colonel, to act as Worshipful Master; Brother Frank White, Major, to act as Senior Warden; and Brother John H. Fraine, Major, to act as Junior Warden of a Movable Military Lodge, to be held in the Philippine Islands, or in a Province or Dependency of Spain. The dispensation was unanimously approved by the Grand Lodge.

The first meeting of the lodge in the Philippines was called by W.'. M.'. Treumann on August 21, 1898, in a residence near headquarters, at No. 69 Callo Nueva, Malate, near Manila, and thus became the cradle of American Masonry in the Islands. At this meeting, Brother William R. Purdon, Captain, was elected Treasurer and Brother Herbert G. Proctor, First Lieutenant, was elected Secretary; also, a full line of lower officers was appointed. After that, meetings were held on Wednesday and Sunday evenings and were well attended.

In his annual address to the Grand Lodge, June 21, 1898, in Fargo, Grand Master Carothers stated: "On June 1, 1898,1 signed a dispensation for a Military Lodge to be attached to a battalion of troops from our state in the Philippine Islands. Few, if any, of my official acts have given me greater pleasure than this. Nearly every commissioned officer in the command signed the petition for dispensation. Through what channel can the officer and soldier be brought nearer together in friendship and mutual understanding than through a Masonic lodge? Many of the members are of our newly made brethren to whom this lodge will be a means of inspiration and instruction. Every meeting will be a reminder of some of the last scenes in the home land, and in the hands of such of her sons the honor of our beloved country is safe. When our brothers return and deposit with this Grand Lodge the furniture and records of their movable lodge, North Dakota Military Lodge will have passed into history, crowned with the memory of men who did their duties in defense of principles all Masons love."

The writer worked with one of these men. from 1908-1913. in the First National Bank of Grand Forks. He was Lieutenant Ingvald A. Berg, who became Adjutant General of the North Dakota National Guard, and, later served Acacia Lodge No. 4 of Grand Forks as its devoted secretary for over forty years, and received the title of Honorary Past Master. Many an hour have we spent listening to his tales of the exciting and dangerous hunt for Aguinaldo and his Insurgents in the Philippine jungles, and little do we know how realistic that conflict actually was.

One incident stands out above all others. The lodge had met in a small deserted church outside of Manila on February 4, 1899, to confer its first Master Mason's degree. W.'. M.'. Treumann was in the midst of the obligation when the shouts of their attackers were heard without, and bullets began to rain upon the building. The worshipful master stopped the work, closed the lodge in short order and led his forces into battle. No further opportunity was afforded in which to finish this degree as the fighting was continuous from that time until the end. Thus no Master Mason degrees were conferred by the lodge.

Between August 21, 1898 and February 4, 1899, North Dakota Military Lodge U.'. D.'. was kept exceedingly busy and elected ninety-six candidates for the degrees; the Entered Apprentice degree was conferred on ninety-one candidates; the Fellowcraft degree on sixty-two; and twenty-three members joined by affiliation. It is to be regretted that circumstances prevented the conferring of the Master Mason degree on any of the candidates.

Socially, the lodge was eminently successful and became the gathering place for Masons from all around the world, including Australia, Hong Kong, Yokohama, England, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Mexico, New Brunswick, and from nine states in the United States. Where else could men from so vast an area have found fraternal, social and moral intercourse than in a Masonic lodge such as this?

The regiment was mustered out on September 25, 1899, and reached North Dakota October 2, 1899, after a year and seven months of hard service. Upon their return, the dispensation was delivered to the Grand Secretary's office of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota where certificates of standing and waivers of jurisdiction were issued to the candidates who had taken degrees, which permitted them to apply anywhere and become members. This Military Lodge was the beginning of English speaking Masonry in the Philippines, and today, there exists in these Islands a recognized Grand Lodge with several thousand Master Masons.

Nothing remains to be written of this "grand and glorious undertaking" except a few words concerning the truly great men who first conceived the idea and carried it to its successful conclusion. They were:

Lieutenant Colonel (later General) William C. Treumann was W.'. M.'. of Crescent Lodge No. 11 of Grafton in 1897 and 1915, and W.'. M.'. of the Military Lodge U.\ D.'. in the Philippines, in 1898 and 1899. He was an abstractor of titles by profession and received a life membership in his lodge in 1932. He died at Grafton in 1937 at the age of 75.

Major Frank White of Valley City Lodge No. 7 was S.'. W.'. of the Military Lodge U.'. D.'. in the Philippines and later became Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery K.'. T.'. of North Dakota. He served as Colonel of the 2nd North Dakota Regiment in France in World War I, after which he was Governor of North Dakota, and for eight years, Treasurer of the United States.

Major John H. Fraine of Crescent Lodge No. 11 of Grafton was J.'. W.'. of the Military Lodge U.'. D.'. in the Philippines, and later became Grand High Priest, R.'. A.'. M.'. and Grand Commander K.'. T.'. of North Dakota. He was also W.'. M.'. of North Dakota Military Lodge U.'. D.'. No. 2 in France during World War I, where he served as Colonel in 1917-1919. He also served on tha Mexican Border in 1916. Colonel Fraine was later Speaker of the North Dakota House of Representatives and Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota.

First Lieutenant Herbert G. Proctor of Jamestown Lodge No. 6 was secretary of the Military Lodge U.'. D.'. in the Philippines, W.'. M.'. of Jamestown Lodge No. 6 in 1914, Grand Commander K.'. T.'. in 1917, and secretary of Jamestown lodge from 1937-1953.

And finally, quite appropriately, just fifty years after he was initiated October 12, 1898, in the Military Lodge U.'. D.'. in the Philippines, W.'. Brother W. Fulton Burnett was appointed by the Grand Master of Masons in the Philippine Islands as the Grand Representative of that Grand Lodge near the Grand Lodge of North Dakota. W.'. Brother Burnett is a Past Master of East Gate Lodge No. 120 in Fargo, and from 1951 to 1962 was Intendant General of St. Felix Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine, for North Dakota.

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North Dakota Military Lodge No. 2 U.'. D.'.

No sooner had the United States entered World War I in the spring of 1917, than forty-five members of the 164th Infantry of North Dakota—formerly the First North Dakota Infantry—petitioned the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota for a dispensation, creating North Dakota Military Lodge No. 2 U.'. D.'. according to the customs, usages and laws of the Grand Lodge.

Chief among the signers, as might be expected, were: Brothers Colonel John H. Fraine of Grafton; Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert C. Grafton of Fargo; and Major Frank S. Henry of Valley City, all of whom had served gloriously in the Philippine Islands in 1898 and 1899, as members of the First North Dakota Infantry, and of North Dakota Military Lodge U.'. D.'. over there.

The dispensation was granted October 30, 1917, by M.'. W.'. William J. Reynolds, Grand Master, designating the following principal officers: W.'. M.'. Colonel John H. Fraine; S.'. W.1. Lieutenant Colonel Gilbert C. Grafton; and J.'. W.'. Major Frank S. Henry. The first Treasurer and Secretary were Captain Louis L. Eckman and Second Lieutenant Chris J. Kunz, respectively.

Under the dispensation North Dakota Military Lodge No. 2 U.'. D.'. was empowered: "To receive petitions, elect candidates and confer the degrees of Masonry on petitioners, who at the time of entering the Military or Naval Service of the United States, were bona fide citizens and residents of North Dakota, and were approved by the lodges in whose jurisdiction they resided prior to entering such service." The Military Lodge was also empowered: "To receive, by affiliation, any brother now in the Military or Naval Service of the United States who is a member of a constituent lodge in North Dakota."

Several meetings were held while the regiment was at Camp Greene, North Carolina, and a number of petitions for the degrees were received. However, the number was much smaller than had been the case in the Philippines, due to the restriction that all candidates must be bonafide residents of North Dakota and have the approval of the lodge in their home jurisdiction.

After the arrival of the regiment in France great difficulties were encountered as most of the men and many of the officers were transferred to other regiments and divisions. No meeting could be held within military camps and reservations, but in spite of the handicaps, probably ten or a dozen meetings were held and some thirty or forty candidates were elected. All three degrees were conferred though not on all candidates elected and a number of degrees were conferred by courtesy for other lodges in the United States.

We are informed that the meetings were intensely interesting and that more than one hundred Masons attended one meeting at which nearly thirty Grand Jurisdictions were represented. The last meeting of record took place in August, 1918.

Among the incidents of interest which took place was one of a sergeant who petitioned the lodge and received his Entered Apprentice degree. He was assisted in learning his lecture by Colonel Fraine, Lieutenant Colonel Grafton and Major Henry and found them kind and condescending toward him. Soon after he was promoted to second Lieutenant and was faced with the problem of acquiring a new uniform and other accoutrements, which he was financially unable to do. In fear and trembling he appeared before Colonel Fraine and requested a loan of two hundred francs with which to buy the accoutrements, thinking he could make his old uniform "pass muster" for the present. The Colonel's gruff reply was: "Not by a damned sight; no enlisted man, commissioned from this regiment, will leave it unless he looks like an officer. You have to have a uniform." Whereupon Colonel Fraine took out a huge roll of franc notes and counted out five hundred francs, with the curt remark: "Pay it back on pay day." The Colonel knew that the new officer was going up to the front lines and that he might never see him or the money again. Pay day finally came in January 1919, and Colonel Fraine received his money in due season with the eternal gratitude of one who had found him to be a strict soldier, a true gentleman and a devoted Mason.

Following the meeting of the lodge in August 1918, the exigencies of war prevented the holding of further meetings. Colonel Fraine was transferred and with the moving of the other lodge officers to other commands, it was no longer possible to meet. Lieutenant Colonel Grafton died in February 1919, and his name has been memorialized in the name of Gilbert C. Grafton Post of the American Legion at Fargo. The other members of the lodge returned to their homes and resumed their Masonic duties where many of them had been interrupted a couple of years before.

In reporting to the Grand Lodge, at its Annual Communication in 1919, Captain Theodore S. Henry of Valley City— later Grand Master—reviewed the work of North Dakota Military Lodge No. 2 U.'. D.'. between October 30, 1917 and June 18, 1919; stated that the paraphernalia of the lodge had been delivered to the Grand Lodge, together with the sum of $666.66, the balance in the treasury; and recommended that it be placed in a Military Lodge Relief Fund, for the relief of members of North Dakota Military Lodge No. 2 U.'. D.'. or their families. He then recommended that the dispensation of North Dakota Military Lodge No. 2 U.'. D.'. be discontinued.

With the adoption of the report, another phase of North Dakota Masonry became a part of its history and its memory will remain forever green.

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Bismarck Chapter No. 96, National Sojourners

Two chapters of National Sojourners—composed of Masons who are veterans of United States Military Services— have been organized, at Bismarck and at Fargo, since World War I and a brief history of each will be given here.

We are indebted to W.'. Brother (Colonel) Lorenzo H. Belk, presently secretary of Bismarck Lodge No. 5 and a veteran of nearly thirty years of active military service with North Dakota units, for the information relative to the organization of Bismarck Chapter No. 96, National Sojourners. We are grateful for his co-operation.

Briefly, Colonel Belk entered the North Dakota National Guard as a private June 17, 1909 and served through World War I with the 313th and 309th Engineers, attaining the rank of Second Lieutenant in 1919. He served in World War II with the 183rd and 188th Field Artillery, emerging in 1947 with the rank of Colonel. His latest service was that of Commandant of the 5954th Reserve Officers' School from August 28, 1951 to March 1, 1953; a truly remarkable "round of duty" by a remarkable soldier and a splendid man and Mason.

Bismarck Chapter No. 96, National Sojourners' was organized in 1929 and its charter is dated May 28, 1929, with Past Master Leslie V. Miller as one of its first presidents. He also served as permanent secretary until he moved to Minneapolis. The chapter was instituted in the Masonic Temple at Bismarck, with Vice Admiral Homer Wallen and the Honorable Thomas Hall, Past Master of Shiloh Lodge No. 1, then National Congressman and later Secretary of State for many years, as the instituting committee.

Brother Leslie V. Miller, James T. Eastgate and Lorenzo H. Belk of Bismarck Chapter instituted the Fargo Chapter.

Brother Vernon Cooper of Bismarck Lodge No. 5 is the current president of Bismarck Chapter and Brother Alex W. McLean of the same lodge, is its secretary.

The usual practice of the chapter is to hold monthly dinner meetings, with a prepared speaker, and its main object is to meet everyday problems as they arise and to counteract subversive propaganda wherever it may be found.

The chapter has organized a team to present the second section of the Master Mason degree and has made many trips to some of the smaller lodges in the western part of the state.

During World War II the majority of the members were called into the service of the United States and the activity of the chapter fell to a very low ebb. Interest was revived after the war and Bismarck Chapter No. 96 is again going forward enthusiastically with the promotion of its Americanism program.

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Fargo-Moorhead Chapter No. 338, National Sojourners

Although Bismarck Chapter No. 96, National Sojourners' was organized in 1929, it was not until after World War II in 1951, that Fargo-Moorhead Chapter No. 338 was instituted. In November 1951, Lieutenant Ray Batreall, Representative-at-large of National Sojourners, together with Colonel Leslie V. Miller, Colonel Lorenzo H. Belk and Lieutenant James T. Eastgate of Bismarck Chapter No. 96 came to Fargo and organized Fargo-Moorhead Chapter No. 338, National Sojourners, with Captain David J. Wright as president and Senior Lieutenant (Navy) John E. Bennison as secretary-treasurer.

At the Grand Lodge Communication in June 1952, Brothers David J. Wright and Ralph L. Miller appeared before the Grand Lodge and requested that body, "to sanction the existence of Bismarck Chapter No. 96; Fargo-Moorhead Chapter No. 338, National Sojourners; and any other chapters of said order, which may be hereafter organized in North Dakota." The request was granted.

For several years the Fargo-Moorhead chapter was quite active, holding dinner meetings at the Shrine clubhouse and providing a speaker on current topics, presenting interesting programs and holding special nights for their ladies. Officers were elected annually and the chapter prospered.

The Fargo tornado of June 19, 1957, destroyed the Shrine clubhouse and with it all of the property of the chapter except the Minute Book, and since that time meetings have been held infrequently, at the homes of the members or at a downtown cafe and interest has lagged.

The last official meeting was held at the Rex Cafe in Moorhead October 23, 1958, and was attended by ten members. At that time an honorary life membership was voted to Colonel Ralph L. Miller and the following new officers were installed: President, W. William Warner; First Vice President, Gilbert C. Wagner; Second Vice President, J. L. Ben-shoof; Secretary-treasurer, Bruce A. Skogen; and Marshal, J. A. Bradley.

The group gathered once more at the Rex Cafe February 26, 1959, and planned a Ladies' Night, of which no further record appears.

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Square and Compass Club—Grand Forks Air Force Base

With the establishment of large Air Force Bases at Grand Forks and Minot in the late 1950's, an immediate request came to M.'. W.'. Ben G. Gustafson, Grand Master, from prominent Master Masons located at both bases for the organization of Square and Compass Clubs at both locations.

Grand Master Gustafson lost no time in issuing the following dispensation on January 18, 1960, to organize and operate a Square and Compass Club at the Grand Forks Air Force Base. This action was recommended by the Grand Lodge Committee on Policy and General Purposes and was approved by the Grand Lodge, June 21, 1960.

DISPENSATION

"BE IT KNOWN, That I, Ben G. Gustafson, Grand Master of Masons in the State of North Dakota, by virtue of the power and authority in me vested, and for reasons which, in my judgment, are good and sufficient, do hereby issue this, my Dispensation, to the Brethren of the Square and Compass Club, located at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, State of North Dakota, authorizing them to do in particular, as follows:

"1. To organize and operate a Square and Compass Club at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, subject to approval of the Grand Lodge in session.

"2. To constitute a Liaison Committee of three, who are to be vouched for and recognized by the lodges of District 20—this to be a continuing committee—and the Grand Secretary shall be advised of any changes in its personnel.

"The original committee to consist of W.'. Brother Fred L. Sartain, Chairman, Brother Fred Kruger and Brother John Michnay.

"3. The Square and Compass Club membership to consist of Master Masons in good standing, who are members of duly constituted constituent lodges of the Grand Jurisdiction of North Dakota and of other Grand Jurisdictions recognized by the Grand Lodge A.'. F.'. & A.'. M.'. of North Dakota.

"4. The Masonic Code of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota A.'. F.'. & A.'. M.'. shall be the governing law in all cases.

"5. The Grand Forks Air Force Base Square and Compass Club shall function within the framework of the Jurisdictional Area of the Base, as set up by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota.

"6. The Club shall furnish the Grand Secretary with a list of its officers, which is to be kept current.

"7. This Club shall assist the constituent lodges in the investigation of Base Military Personnel, who shall petition for the degrees, or affiliation in North Dakota.

"8. This Dispensation can be terminated, for cause, by the Grand Lodge of North Dakota.

"Given at the Grand East, under my hand and seal this 18th day of Jasuary, A. D. 1960, A.'. L.'. 5960.

BEN G. GUSTAFSON,

Grand Master"

"Attest:

JOSEPH A. JAMESON,

Grand Secretary"

(Seal of Grand Master and Grand Lodge)

The Grand Lodge on June 22, 1960, also approved the following amendment to its By-Laws:

"BE IT RESOLVED': That Chapter V, Section 14, subdivision (s) of the By-Laws be amended to include the following sentence to be added to said By-Law as it now appears:

"Provided further, however, that a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, while on duty at an established base, or station, of said Armed Forces within this State, at which is established a Masonic Club or Group, commonly known as a Square and Compass Club, which is recognized by this Grand Lodge, may petition for membership in the proper constituent lodge, after residing at said base, or station, for a period of six months and is sponsored by said Square and Compass Club."

At the 71st Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge held in Grand Forks on June 21, 1960, R.'. W.'. Gordon L. Paxman, Deputy Grand Master, reported for the Committee on Policy and General Purposes, as follows:

"A resolution was adopted to the effect that concurrent jurisdiction be established for Military Personnel, only, stationed at the two Air Force Bases, at Grand Forks and Minot, to extend for a radius of 25 miles from these two bases. In the case of Grand Forks, it would include the lodges at Gilby, Larimore, Forest Biver, Northwood, Hatton, Reynolds and Grand Forks. In the case of the Minot Air Base, it would include lodges at Mohall, Maxbass, Lansford and Minot."

The above report was adopted by the Grand Lodge.

Under the framework, as outlined above, the Grand Forks Air Force Base Square and Compass Club was immediately organized with W.'. Brother Fred L. Sartain as president for 1960, and Brother Gordon L. Stanley as secretary. In 1961, W.'. Brother Willard H. Buckbee was president and Brother Clifford W. Richardson was secretary; and in 1962, W.'. Brother Charles J. Leatherman was president and Brother Arthur Holguin was secretary.

The club has met regularly at the Air Force Base and has provided immense satisfaction to the members socially, and as a morale builder, to say nothing of its invaluable service to Masonry and to the new lodge members it has assisted as well as to the lodges within its jurisdiction.

Two outstanding services have been rendered to the lodges in which an ever increasing number of Air Force Base personnel are seeking admission. First, is the assistance of the club in the investigation of the candidate, both in his home town and on the base. As might be expected, an unusually fine type of men are entering Masonry from our Air Force Bases. Second, the club has organized well trained degree teams which go out to the surrounding lodges and assist with the degree work for their own and for other candidates. This strengthens the bond of fellowship between the military and the civilian, and is of countless value.

Similar Square and Compass Clubs have been successful all over the United States and have done much for themselves and for the lodges they represent. Surely, Grand Master Gustafson deserves much credit for his indefatigable efforts in their behalf during his year of 1959-60.

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Square and Compass Club—Minot Air Force Base

In a manner similar to that at the Grand Forks Air Force Base, M.'. W.'. Ben G. Gustafson, Grand Master, issued a dispensation to the brethren of the Square and Compass Club located at the Minot Air Force Base, State of North Dakota, authorizing them to organize and operate a Square and Compass Club at the Minot Air Force Base, subject to approval of the Grand Lodge in session.

This dispensation was dated March 7, A. D. 1960, A.'. L.'. 5960, was signed by M.'. W.'. Ben G. Gustafson, Grand Master, and attested by R.'. W.'. Joseph A. Jameson, Grand Secretary, with the seals of the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge affixed.

The original liaison committee consisted of Brothers William C. Jedd, chairman, Leonard W. Ramos, Richard A. Marnette and John E. Peterson.

In all other respects this dispensation was identical with the one issued previously to the Square and Compass Club at the Grand Forks Air Force Base.

The same rules, regulations and by-laws governed both Clubs and, in the case of the Minot Club, it was given concurrent jurisdiction with the lodges at Mohall, Maxbass, Lansford and Minot. All of the above provisions were approved by the Grand Lodge at its Annual Communication, June 21, 1960.

The Minot Club was delayed in starting and it was not until May 1, 1961, that a group of Masons met at the Air Force Base and elected a full set of officers with Brother Kenneth Gillispie as president and Brother Archibald Householder as secretary-treasurer. The officers were installed June 5, 1961, at the chapel on the base by M.'. W.'. Gordon L. Paxman, Grand Master.

On May 24, 1961, a sick visitation committee was appointed and it is noted that the personnel of this committee is changed at each regular meeting. Membership cards were issued at the May 24th meeting and it was voted that charter membership should cease at that time.

August 14, 1961, a degree team was formed to assist with degree work where desired in the adjacent lodges and this team has been used at various times in Minot and Lansford. To assist in its work, the club was presented six rituals and six monitors by W.'. Brother Paul M. Sonnenberg, Worshipful Master of River Jordan Lodge No. 133 at Minot.

Following the suggestion that new officers be elected every six months, the Minot Club met November 20, 1961, and elected a new set of officers with Brother Robert E. Murphy as president and Brother Archibald Householder as secretary. These officers were installed December 11, 1961, by M.'. W.'. J. Marlin Kyle, Grand Master.

In the spring of 1962, the club assisted the Minot Shrine Club in the sale of tickets for the Shrine circus, and on May 20, 1962, it operated a refreshment stand at the Base during the Armed Forces day observance.

May 21, 1962, the Square and Compass Club elected its third set of officers, returning Brother Robert E. Murphy to the presidency and elected Brother Howard Jennings as secretary. These officers were installed June 4, 1962, by R.'. W.'. Edwin A. Haakenson, Deputy Grand Master.

That this is an active and on-going institution is evidenced by the fact that it operates in both winter and summer, and we are pleased to learn that on August 26, 1962, the club held a "chicken barbeque" at the Old Settlers Park in Burlington for the members and their friends. A large number attended and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Nor is all of its time consumed with enjoyment of physical pleasure. The club is founded "for Masons on the basis of friendship and brotherly love" and in addition to the forming of a degree team as outlined above, the Minot Air Force Base Square and Compass Club is investigating the habits and character of candidates from the base at the request of the lodges in the area, and is assisting these candidates with their lectures and degree work wherever possible.

It is most gratifying to note that already the membership of this fine club numbers seventy and we are informed that its membership reaches beyond the shores of the United States and Puerto Rico to France and Germany. We rejoice in their success and we wish them well.

Appreciation is especially extended to Brother (Sergeant) Robert E. Murphy, president of the Minot Air Force Base Square and Compass club, for the splendid material he has furnished for this report.