The daily miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1879-1885, 1882-01-01

Chance mines were then Attracting
much attention for their richness, and
the climate was SO mild that season that
there was scarcely days interruption
Of mining, which was going on lively
in Dry Gulch, whence the dirt was
hauled in wagons to be washed.
The few masons who found one an
meetings which ripcned into an Organi-
zation. We sent to Colorado for dis
pensation, which was a long time in
coming In those days of stage coaches
don't think we had the dispelsation
more than three months, during the
first of which wecOuld do no work before
it was necessary to return it to cOlOra-
do If we would get IL charter. We were
urged to apply Tor charter although
we had not conferred the three degrees
for we had not held the dispensation
long enough. Through the favorable
representations Of Brothers Frary and
William Porter, who had both been w.
masters in Colorado, we were enabled
to secure Il charter.
Reference to Colorado Proceedings
shows our dispensation was issued to
us July ~, 1865, and that it had been re-
turned with petition for charter Octo-
her Is, 1865. In the Grand Lodge of
Colorado, November Z, 1865, on motion
Of Brother Lagendry, upon Il tavorab
report of a committee of which Brother,
now Senator, Teller was chairman.
charters were voted to both Montana
and Helena lodges. 1t was the very
last OF the month before our charter
reached us. We began housekeeping in
u hall similar in location, substance
furniture ami carpeting to my first rec
objection of the hall OF the Virginia
City Lodge.
When work began in Helena lodge
there was boonlin time. We met
nearly every night and worked until
early in the morning. comforting as
many as seven degrees in single ses-
sion. With such II rush of prosperity
we should have been well content, but
the brsthren in Virginia City were anx-
ious to organize a Grand Lodge, to
which we assented with more indiffer-
ence than reluctance. The invitation
which the Helena lodge accepted named
the time and place Virginia City, Janu-
airy "a. 1866.
Brothers Sealy and Mathew, wardens,
with myself, took the mid-winter ride;
it was fine sleighing. In due time we
reached the busy metropolis of the Ter
ritory. We were warmly received and
|sumptuously entertained for those
times. Brother Hull, w. NJ, of Vir-
Iginia City lodge, was keeping hotel and
running grand gambling hall, which
did not conport ut all with my ideas OF
nasonic propriety.
We found II good deal more said about
who should be Grand Master than about
the formation Of a Grand Lodge.
1t was u hot and stormy time from
the moment we reached the hotel in
Virginia City until we left one week
later. In that little company from the
three lodges there were Hull, Frnry,
Sanders, Langford, Boyce, Starr and
myself, who have since borne the hon.
Ors of Grand Master, besides Brothers
Duncan and Potter, who have SO long
and zealously served Masonry in exalt-
ed positions. Dick Kennon was at that
tsme Secretary OF the Virginia City
Hodge, and w. A. Clark, who has since
been connected with a lodge In Hele-
pa, and afterwards in Deer Lodge, and
has borne and passed the highest hon.
prs that the Jurisdiction Of the craft had
power to bcstOw, was then u member Of
Phe same lodge.
In the heated strife, It least on the
part Of Brother Hull, to be Grand Mas
FER. there was much time and many
words spent on the question whether
Brothers BOyce, COnnell and LangfOrd,
who had been Past Masters before COM
ing to Montana, should he admitted to
premiership. Before the Committee on
Credentials could report on this part OF
ne subject matter that had been COM
nltted to 1t, a resolution offered by
Brother Frary had been adopted, trans
Forming the convention that met into u
irand Lodge. Brother Duncan, OF that