Omaha daily bee., 1890-01-05

the dispensation was issued and the name of
l.. b. Kinney inserted as the first master,
after which 1t was transmitted to him by
mail.
The first regular communication held under
this dispensation was on the evening OF April
3, 1855. The meeting was held in the second
story of the old trading post owned by Gen
eral Peter A Sarpy. WiAin its rude and
rough walls the sound of the gavel first
hailed the craft and called them to their first
labor. In this humble room, the pioneer
band of the brotherhood first
about their sacred but rude altar Ia bale of In
dian blankets and received their fret charge
from the lips of their first master, Brother
l.. b. Kinney, who set the craft to work
under due instructions In this then extreme
limit of civilization.
The following having been appointed by the
deputy grand master of the grand lodge of
Illinois, OBLIGATED: L. Is. Kinney, Worship
| full master; L.. l.. Bowen, senior warden;
| a. Lockwood, junior warden; A. W.. Hol-
lister, secretary, and w. Barnum, treasurer.
The official regalia, or rather the jewels Of
the lodge, were skilfully made of tin by a
craftsman who afterwards established the
manufacture of tiuware in Omaha, and rep
resented It's population in the territorial leg
islature.
In the adjoining room resided a family Of
the natives of the soil-tne O~mahas-who, In
connection with many others of that tribe,
exhibited quite a curiosity to know what
their pale faced brothers were doing; hence,
in order to elude observation and preserve
the secrets of the order. large Mackinaw
blankets were hung around the room until
the desired end was attained.
Brothers A. w. HOLSTER, l., L. Bowen
and A. II. BurJch were appointed a commit.
tee to prepare by laws for the government
of the lodge.
At this meeting a petition for membe rshir
was received from Isaiah II. Bennett. The
petition was acted on in duo form and the
lodge adjourned until May ~. 1856, At the
anOointa1 TINA the 1o6va met nupin and this
committee on the petition Of Isaiah II. Ben
nett reported the following.
Your committee, having investigated the
character of the applicant, consider him In
every respect worthy of becoming u member
of our fraternity; but it becomes the painful
duty of your committee to report that thu
worthy petitioner has been called by an all
wise Providence to the supreme grand lodge
of the universal
In October of the same year a charter wa.
obtained from the grand lodge OF nlinol
which met that year ut Springfield. Thu
charter was obtained by Worshipful Maste
for that purpose. The following officer.
were named in the charter: l.. b. Kinney
worshipful master; L.. L.. bowen, senio
warden; George. Hefner. junior warden
installed, August 2a, 1857. by Brother Rober
c. Jordan of Omaha, who was master o
Illinois for that purpose.
Z During the fall OF 1855, General Peter A
ouTpy, III WHOSE stOTt tuc uTSb uettluS U
the lodge was held, handed in his petitio
> for initiation. During its consideration an
l determination "a circumstance TRANSFERRED O
a ludicrous character, caused by an almos
total destruction of furniture, clothing AM
, working tools. The incident is interestin
! as showing tho expedlents the craftsmen @
: early days were obliged to resort to IN orde
TO transact even the most ordinary worl
( The meeting was held in the room Of Brothe
A. r. Gilmore, in the second story OF q larg
unfurnished building, ~fterwards known O
y the Benton house, which was destroyed b
= fire in the fall of 1857. The repor1Df Ih
9 committee, To whom was referred the pet
ton Of General SHARPLY, had been receives
and was favorable to his admission. A ba
y lot was proposed, supported and carrlet
!, Tue preparation for this duty developed III
fact that the lodge was destitute Of both be-
aud ballots. In this dilemma, it was oblige
to substitute an empty gallon pickle-jar for
u ballot box, and u box of small gravel stone
8 which Brother Gilmore had gathered
d specimens were selected to serve the friend
ofice, whilst a cup Of leadeu bullets were
perform the darker coloredi service. III
jar, the stones and the bullets were the
% placed upon the primitive altar two trunl
covered with u blue blanket) and the ball
"a gravely proceeded. This done, the worshi
10 full master ordered the contents Of the j
analysed and the result proclaimed. This w
speedily done Dy the senior and Junior wa
dens, who gave 1t as their unanimous opinit
n that the presence of lead was not dotecte
II anu that the ballot was favorable.
Y, A few evenings thereafter . number