April 2010 - Montana Freemasonry

The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of Montana

As a leader of the Corp of Discovery, Meriwether Lewis was the first known Freemason to enter what would be come Montana in 1805. The first meeting of Masons in Montana on September 23, 1862, when three brethren with the first Fisk expedition camped near the summit of the Rocky Mountains performed the ritual of opening and closing a lodge. They were Nathaniel P. Langford, David Charlton and George Gere, all Minnesota freemasons. The first Masonic funeral in the territory was at Grasshopper Creek gold camp, near Bannack. Seventy-six Masons attended the grave of their departed brother, William H. Bell the day after his death on November 12, 1862.

The first lodge in Montana was Idaho City in Nevada City. It received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Nebraska in 1863 and raised the first Master Mason in Montana on April 23, 1864. Unfortunately it closed later that year. The second lodge, Virginia City, received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Kansas in 1864. The third and fourth lodges were chartered by the Grand Lodge of Colorado. Montana Lodge in Ennis and Helena Lodge received their charters in 1865. On January 26, 1866 Virginia City, Montana and Helena Lodges meet at Virginia City and formed the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Montana

Since its first lodges Montana Freemasons have maintained charities. In 1886 Bro. David Auchard left most of his estate to establish a Masonic home for aged, or distressed Masons, widows and orphans. The home was established in 1909 and by 1936 it cared for 50 men and women. Besides countless local activities, Freemasons support "Bikes for Books" program. Lodges purchase bicycles as prizes to encourage children read books. For each book read the child deposits a slip of paper in a box. The more books read the more deposits made. At the end of a school term, the name drawn from the box wins a bicycle.

Today, Grand Master Thomas L. Lund presides over the Grand Lodge of Montana comprised of more than 90 Lodges with a membership of more than 6,500 brothers. Montana Freemasonry has had such prominent members including most of the early governors and judges in the territory and state, current US Senator John Tester (Treasure Lodge no. 95) US Representative Denny Rehberg (Ashlar Lodge no. 29), actor Wallace Kurth (Pryor Mountain Lodge No. 151) and singer Mel Tillis (Hiram Lodge No. 52).

March 2010 - South Dakota Freemasonry

There has always been a special tie between the Masons of South Dakota and North Dakota. Organized Masonry began in Dakota Territory when our pioneer ancestors, who, longing for the Masonic friendship and brotherly love they had cherished in the communities they left behind, began to organize into small Lodges throughout the region. Army posts in the developing territory were also seeds of Masonic activity, although transitory.

On December 20, 1803 in New Orleans, the Louisiana Purchase was finalized. Napoleon was happy to sell a territory that he had no power to keep if the Americans decided to overrun it and take it by force. Napoleon received 60 million Francs (15 million dollars) which was badly needed to fund his long-standing war with the British.

Shortly thereafter, the Corps of Discovery was launched into the area including what was to become Dakota Territory and then North and South Dakota. It is often said that Meriwether Lewis was the first Mason to set foot into Dakota Territory. Lewis was made a Mason in 1797 in Albemarle, VA. Lewis was instrumental in establishing St. Louis Lodge #111 in 1808, and served as its first Worshipful Master. The other co-Captain of the expedition, William Clark, while not a Mason at the time, joined the Fraternity shortly following his return in 1809 in this same Lodge.

Masonic ideals and principles were apparently fresh in Lewis’ mind during his journey, as he named 3 western rivers: Philosophy, Wisdom, and Philanthropy.

Was Meriwether Lewis the first Mason to set foot in Dakota Territory? Masonic records of that era are often difficult to locate and many are no longer in existence. Were others in the Corps Masons? Were any of the French fur trappers who preceded the Corps of Discovery Masons? It is thought by some that adventurers passing through the Hudson Bay way station near present-day Elk Point as early as 1750 included Masons. We will probably never know who that first Mason was.

On April 23, 1862 the Grand Lodge of Iowa granted a dispensation to 9 Brethren to form “Dacotah Lodge” at Fort Randall, near present-day Pickstown, SD. There is no record whether the new Lodge ever organized and worked under the dispensation. Brother Franklin DeWitt, who was named Worshipful Master, departed shortly thereafter to the Red River country, and did not return until the following spring. Nevertheless, the Grand Lodge of Iowa never issued a charter and no further mention was made of Dacotah Lodge in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

On September 13, 1863, 12 Masons at Fort Abercrombe, which was 20 miles south of present-day Fargo, received a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota to form the “Northern Lights Lodge.” The dispensation was received just as the troops were preparing to march north to Fort Pembina, in the extreme Northeast corner of the Territory. There the Brethren of Northern Lights Lodge convened in January 1864 and commenced to confer 36 degrees, Raising 12 Master Masons. The following spring, the troops and the Lodge were moved North to Fort Garry in Manitoba.

The next military Lodge to organize was Yellowstone Lodge #88 at Fort Buford, which was southwest of present-day Williston, ND on the Missouri River. They received a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota on January 26, 1871, and their charter on January 10, 1872. Membership in 1872 was 35 and was 48 in 1873. An 80’ X 100’ 2-story Lodge building was constructed near the sutler’s store adjoining the fort. The second story was used as the Lodge hall and the first floor served as the social and cultural center of the fort. In 1874, many in the garrison were transferred and the Lodge surrendered its charter.

The first successful establishment of a long-term Lodge was at Yankton. Nine Brethren petitioned the Grand Lodge of Iowa for a dispensation for a Lodge to be called St. John’s. The dispensation was granted on December 2, 1862 naming the Reverend Brother Melancthon Hoyt, Worshipful Master. Brother Hoyt and Brother A. G. Fuller who also signed the petition, both had previously signed the petition for dispensation of Dacotah Lodge at Fort Randall. St. John’s Lodge initially met in the Council Chamber of the Territorial Capitol in Yankton. A petition for membership was received on the first night from a soldier at Fort Randall. The first Mason Raised in Dakotah Territory was in St. John’s Lodge. The Brother was a Lieutenant attached with Company “A” Dakota Cavalry, Yankton – further demonstrating the important involvement of the military in the development of Masonry in Dakota Territory. The Lodge received its charter on June 3, 1863 designating it as St. John’s Lodge #166.

Six years later the second permanent Lodge was established in Vermillion, also receiving its dispensation from the Iowa Grand Lodge. The group was led by Brother A. G. Fuller, who was a signer of the petition for Dacotah and St. John’s Lodges. He was named the first Worshipful Master and on June 2, 1869 the Lodge received its charter and was designated Incense Lodge #257.

In 1870 a group of Masons at Elk Point received a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Iowa to form a Lodge, and on June 7, 1871, Elk Point Lodge # 288 received its charter.

The next development occurred in 1874, when 10 Brothers, headed by attorney Mark W. Bailey, petitioned for, and received a dispensation to organize a Lodge in Canton. A charter was issued on June 3, 1875 designating it Silver Star Lodge # 345.

Previously, on July 15, 1873, 8 Brothers in Sioux Falls headed by Brother Thomas Henderson Brown received a dispensation to form a Lodge in Sioux Falls. Minnehaha Lodge was organized later in the month with Brown as its first Worshipful Master. However, the Lodge did not work for a full year and by June 1874 they decided to try to obtain a charter anyway, knowing that they had not satisfied the requirements of the dispensation. W. M. Brown traveled to Iowa to represent the Lodge and after a “stormy” meeting with the Committee on Lodges Under Dispensation, he received a charter for Minnehaha Lodge #328. Minnehaha Lodge commenced work immediately.

The 6th and last Lodge chartered by the Grand Lodge of Iowa in the territory was in Springfield. A dispensation was received on February 16, 1875. In addition to its jurisdiction in Dakota Territory, the Grand Lodge of Nebraska gave them jurisdiction over Niobrara, just across the Missouri River. As the next communication of the Grand Lodge of Iowa was in June 1875, the Springfield members applied for a charter before the normal 1-year dispensation period. Citing the probability that a new Grand Lodge would be formed in Dakota Territory within the year, the Grand Lodge of Iowa approved their charter so that those Brethren might assist in the organization of the new Grand Body.

In fact, minutes of St. John’s Lodge indicated that 3 years earlier, in 1872, a committee was appointed by the Worshipful Master to investigate interest among the territorial Lodges in forming a Grand Lodge of Dakota. After several false starts to organize a meeting to discuss this issue, Brother Henry H. Blair, of Elk Point Lodge wrote to the territorial Lodges and called a meeting of Lodge representatives on June 22, 1875 in Elk Point for the purpose of forming a new Grand Lodge.

Although Brother Blair claimed to have invited Lodges in the northern part of the territory, there was no response from the Fargo and Bismarck Lodges. The minutes of Shiloh Lodge in Fargo indicated that neither they nor the Bismarck Lodge had received an invitation to participate in the formation of the new Grand Body. As Minnesota chartered the northern Lodges, this incident was, unfortunately, a point of difference between the new Grand Lodge and the Grand Lodge of Minnesota.

Delegates from Elk Point, St. John’s, Incense, Minnehaha, and Silver Star Lodges met at Elk Point to organize a Grand Body of Dakota Territory. A Committee on Credentials was appointed naming 3 Brothers from each of the 5 Lodges to represent their members. Additionally, as Mount Zion Lodge in Springfield had not yet received their charter, their representative was given a seat at the meeting, without authority to represent his Lodge. Incidentally, the Grand Lodge of Iowa had issued Mount Zion’s Charter on June 3, nineteen days earlier.

At this first meeting, it was resolved that a Grand Lodge be organized for Dakota Territory and that representatives from each Lodge draft a constitution and by-laws for the government of the Grand Lodge of Dakota. On the following day, a Constitution and By-laws were introduced, considered, amended, and adopted unanimously.

That afternoon the body elected Brother Thomas H. Brown Grand Master, F. J. DeWitt, DGM, C. G. Shaw, SGW, Henry H. Blair, JGW, George H. Hand, Grand Treasurer, and Mark W. Bailey, Grand Secretary. The Grand Master then appointed the remainder of the officers.

A month later on July 21, 1875, a Masonic Convention was called to order in Incense Lodge in Vermillion. As all officers-elect were in attendance, they adjourned and a procession, led by Brother W. H. H. Beadle (General Beadle), marched to the Baptist Church for the public installation of officers. Past Grand Master T. S. Parvin of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, served as Grand Master Pro Tem for the installation.

Following the installation ceremony, the procession then returned to Incense Lodge and the officers commenced work. The six Dakota Lodges represented became members of the newly formed Grand Lodge of Dakota and were numbered 1 through 6 in the order that they had received their original charters. The subordinate Lodges were told to adopt a code of by-laws and submit these along with a list of their members to the Grand Secretary. It was voted that the Grand Secretary inform the Grand Lodge of Minnesota of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Dakota.

At the Grand Lodge Communication the following year in Yankton, Grand Master Thomas H. Brown was “deeply concerned” that the Grand Lodge of Minnesota had failed to answer correspondence from the Grand Secretary or to recognize the existence of the Grand Lodge of Dakota.

Likewise, at the 1877 and 1878 Grand Lodge Communications, it was reported that no correspondence had been received from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. At the 1878 Communication the following resolution was adopted:

That the Grand Lodge of Dakota possesses sole and exclusive Masonic jurisdiction throughout the Territory of Dakota, and that no subordinate Lodge can maintain a lawful existence in said Territory without acknowledging allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Dakota.

They also adopted another resolution:

That all non-affiliated Masons be restricted to 3 visits to any one Lodge in their visitations of Lodges in this jurisdiction.

At the Grand Lodge Communication the following year, Grand Master George H. Hand reported that the Minnesota Grand Lodge still had not responded, but that one of the northern Lodges, Shiloh Lodge of Fargo, came under jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Dakota during the year.

The following year, the Bismarck Lodge sent in their charter and asked to be certified as a member of the Grand Lodge of Dakota. The officers of the Grand Lodge warmly welcomed them.

One year later at the 1881 Grand Communication, it was reported that Minnesota had finally recognized the new Grand Body and extended a warm and fraternal greeting to the Grand Lodge of Dakota.

On June 12, 1889, Lodges in the northern part of the territory were removed to the newly formed Grand Lodge of North Dakota.

References:

The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota 1875-1975. Compiled and Edited by Harold L. Tisher P.G.M., Grand Historian. 1974.

History of Masonry in Dakota Territory. By James V. Acker, P.M., Frontier Army Lodge of Masonic Research - web site.

Undaunted Courage – Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West. By Steven E. Ambrose.1996.

Assorted documents and letters kindly provided by the Grand Lodge of Iowa.

February - George Washington Masonic Memorial Centennial Celebration Month

On February 22, 1910, George Washington's 178th birthday, Masonic leaders from across the nation met in Alexandria, Virginia and formed an association for the purpose of building a great memorial to honor America's foremost Freemason. February 22, 2010, the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association, will be a day of great festivities.

In honor of the occasion, the Conference of Grand Masters of North America, hosted by the Grand Lodge of Virginia, will be held in nearby Arlington. Delegates will attend the Association's Annual Meeting and celebrate the 100th Anniversary and Washington's 278th birthday at the Memorial.

At the Annual Meeting, a new portrait of George Washington as a Freemason will be unveiled. Painted by local artist, Christopher Erney, the portrait will be a new interpretation of Washington. Prints of the portrait will be available at the meeting. Complementing the portrait is a new video. It presents George Washington as the inspiration for the founding of America and explores the founding of the George Washington Masonic National Memorial Association. Underwritten by the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, it will be available on DVD and as a download from the Memorial's website for Masonic education.

The Memorial's new logo to commemorate the occasion was also designed by local artist Christopher Erney. The logo combines the Washington Family Crest with numerous Masonic symbols. Its Square and Compasses is taken from the Memorial's 1923 cornerstone affirms the Association's motto "In Memoriam Perpetuam" as it supports Freemasonry in a new century of service. (see side bar)

Following the Annual Meeting, the International Order of DeMolay will rededicate the colossal bronze statue of George Washington in Memorial Hall and reaffirm the role of DeMolay young men in Freemasonry. The statue was a gift to the Memorial from the DeMolay and 2010 marks the 60th Anniversary of its unveiling by President and Past Grand Master Harry S. Truman.

On display during the celebration will be the Trowel and Gavel used at the 1793 Cornerstone Laying of the United States Capitol by George Washington and the 1752 Fredericksburg Lodge No. 4 Bible upon which a young Washington took upon himself his Masonic obligations.

The new White House Stones Exhibit will be inaugurated at the celebration. Each stone in the exhibit is marked by one of the Scots Masons who helped build the White House in the 1790s. The stones were discovered during the restoration of the White House by President Harry S. Truman in 1948. President Truman had the stones labeled and one was sent to each U.S. Grand Lodge and other Masonic organizations. The Exhibit reassembles nearly 50 stones. The Exhibit also includes minute books from Lodge No. 8 of Edinburgh recording the stonemasons' marks and noting those who have "gone to America." A matching Minute Book of Federal Lodge No. 1 will show those Scots masons forming the first lodge in 1793 on White House grounds. The exhibit is supported by the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, Valley of Washington, Orient of the District of Columbia, and by the Grand Lodge, F.A.A.M., of the District of Columbia.

A gala reception will be held in Grand Masonic Hall and while the Annual Meeting is being held the ladies will enjoy an entertaining program in the North Lodge Room. A Centennial Celebration souvenir booklet containing a brief history of the Association including historic and current photographs will be distributed and several commemorative gift items will also be available and on display.

2010 is a unique celebration year for the Memorial Association. Together we are celebrating 100 years of dedication to Freemasonry's greatest brother and honoring the countless brothers who built and sustain the Memorial. Equally important, 2010 marks a pledge of rededicated service, trusting in God that the century ahead will be filled with success and achievement. The Association shines as a bright light of Masonry as it fulfills its mission: "To inspire humanity through education to emulate and promote the virtues, character and vision of George Washington, the Man, the Mason and Father of our Country."

January 2010 - North Dakota Freemasonry

Masonry in Dakota Territory began with the Louisiana Purchase and was greatly perpetuated by the military. President Jefferson directed Brother James Monroe and Brother Robert Livingston to open negotiations with Napoleon for the purchase of the Louisiana Territory, a tract of some 828,000 square miles lying between the Mississippi River and the Pacific Ocean. The question of the Purchase's legality was settled when the US Supreme Court, speaking through Brother John Marshall, as Chief Justice of the United States, ruled the Purchase valid. Moreover, Freemasons not only conceived, negotiated, and approved the Louisiana Purchase, but Freemasons Merriwether Lewis and William Clark also explored this virgin land. Both men, first Lewis and then Clark, administered as Governors the Territory they had explored, and together they appointed a secretary, a clerk, a sheriff and four judges - all Freemasons!

Brother Zebulon Pike continued the exploration of this Vast area and sought the true source of the Mississippi River in the upper regions of the Purchase. Masonry then became rather quite for a number of years, except for the occasional visit of someone like Brother Christopher "Kit" Carson.

In 1862 Masonry came to stay in Dakota Territory. A group of Masons was granted a dispensation to form Dakotah Lodge at Fort Randall by the Grand Lodge of Iowa on April 23, 1862. Whether or not this Lodge was ever formed is not known. On December 2, 1862 the Grand Lodge of Iowa granted dispensation for St. John's Lodge in Yankton, the territorial capitol.

On July 31, 1863 the next important event in the Masonic History of Dakota Territory occurred. This event is the first Masonic Funeral. Lieutenant Fredrick John Holt Beaver, an Englishman, Oxford graduate, Episcopal Minister, and volunteer soldier attached to the staff of General Henry H. Sibley was killed in a skirmish with Sioux Indians on July 29th or 30th near the present day town of Bismarck. Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, John Whipple, then called together in a Lodge of Emergency, the brethren who were on General Sibley's Expedition to constitute the last rites Of Masonry for a brother in the far off wilderness of the upper Missouri River system.

On September 13, 1863 Masonry came to the northern part of Dakota Territory and then spread across the international border to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta Canada. This was as result of a request for dispensation to create the Northern Lights Lodge. The request from Captain C. W. Nash, J.L. Armington, Captain A.T. Chamblin 1st Lieutenant Charles H. Mix, and eight other Masons in Hatch's Battalion at Fort Abercrombie asked the Minnesota Grand Lodge for permission to open and work a lodge. Dispensation was granted and delivered to Worshipful Brother Charles Nash at Fort Abercrombie D.T. while the troops were preparing to march North to Fort Pembina. It was January 1864 before the new lodge could convene because the officers and men were busy building their new quarters once they had arrived at Fort Pembina. That winter was a busy one for the lodge, thirty-six degrees were conferred with twelve Master Masons being raised. In May 1864, the troops were again transferred and the Northern Lights Lodge was transferred to Fort Garry (Winnipeg Manitoba).

As was the case at many frontier towns and military outposts following the Civil War, Masonic Lodges were soon organized. The next Lodge to receive dispensation was Incense Lodge at Vermillion. Incense Lodge received its dispensation on January 14, 1869 from the Grand Lodge of Iowa . On January 26, 1871 another Military Lodge was granted dispensation. This Lodge was Yellowstone Lodge No. 88 at Fort Buford, D.T. On June 7, 1871 the Grand Lodge of Iowa issued a dispensation the Elk Point Lodge.

Yellowstone Lodge No. 88 at Fort Buford, D.T. was granted a Charter by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota on January 10, 1872. The returns for 1872 indicate a membership of 35 and those of 1873 show 48. During this period, a good lodge hall, about 80 by 100 feet was built adjoining the fort and near the sutler's store. It was two stories high, the second story being used as a lodge hall and the first story was the social and cultural center of the fort. It was here that many of the banquets, parties, and balls were held, from 1871 to 1874. In 1874, the transfer of a large part of the Fort Buford Garrison caused the Yellowstone Lodge to surrender its charter, sell off the Lodge and transfer its jewelry and regalia to the Bismarck Lodge which was under dispensation at that time.

From 1872 through 1875 several Masonic Lodges received dispensations or Charters from either the Grand Lodge of Minnesota or the Grand Lodge of Iowa. Interest in forming a Grand Lodge for Dakota Territory was becomming very apparent, especially in the Southern part of the territory. On June 22 thru June 24, 1875 a convention to form a Grand Lodge was convened at Elk Point D.T. On June 24th Grand Lodge Officers were elected and installed. The Grand Lodge of Minnesota refused to recognize the new Grand Lodge on the basis that the lodges it had chartered were not notified of the convention to form a Grand Lodge.

Because the Grand Lodge of Dakota Territory was being ignored by Grand Lodge of Minnesota, the Grand Lodge of Dakota Territory adopted a resolution in June 1878, "That the Grand Lodge of Dakota possesses sole and exclusive Masonic Jurisdiction throughout the Territory of Dakota, and that no subordinate lodge can maintain a lawful existence in said Territory without acknowledging allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Dakota." It worked, during the next year all lodges chartered by the Grand Lodge of Minnesota turned in their Minnesota charters and requested one from the Grand Lodge of Dakota.

Dakota Territory became North and South Dakota when they were admitted to the Union on November 2, 1889. It had been evident for some time that this would occur. So, on June 11, 1889 the Grand Lodge of Dakota considered the request from the Northern Lodges to permit them to form a Grand Lodge. The approval was unanimous. It was also agreed to distribute the funds and property equitably.

On June 12 representatives of the lodges from the North met in the "Masonic Hall, Mitchell, D.T." It was resolved: "that this convention deem it expedient for the good of Masonry that a Grand Lodge be organized for North Dakota." A constitution and bylaws were adopted, and Grand Lodge Officers elected. The following day the Grand Lodges of South and North Dakota installed their officers in a joint installation.

Thus ends the common history of Masonry in the Dakota Territory. Once Dakota Territory became North Dakota and South Dakota the history of Masonry in this geographic area divulged into two distinct and interesting, but separate paths.