The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-13
MASONS ARE IN SESSION.
Various Organizations Of the Order
to Hold Meetings at
Butte.
Lodge Of Master Masons Held on
the Summit Of the
Rockies.
A History of Masonry In Montana sincc
the Early Days OF Gold Dis
cOvcrios.

Butte has a large number of visitors
within her gates this week. Tn meeting OF
the Masonic State Grand lodge brings
members Of the fraternity from all parts OF
the state. Among the different orders OF
masonry represented are the blue lodges, or
master masons' lodges, the chapters Of the
royal arch degree and the communicates OF
the Knights Templar. Tho grand chapter
of the order of the Eastern Star will also be
in session, Sessions are also to be held Of
the orders of the Ancient and Accepted
Scottish Rite masonry. Thu attendance of
masons will probably reach 300 or more.
The election of officers Of the grand lodge
will take place next Thursday. The present
officers OF the grand lodge are: w. L.
Boardman, q. NJ; II. o. Hickman. Helena,
y. g. M; Charles W. Gould, Miles City,
S. G. M, James fl. Mills, Helena, j. q. M;
Cornelius Hedges, Helena, G. s.; Henry M.
Parohen. Helena, G. Il.
The present nppointive officers are: W.
r. Coombs, Cascade, r. w. G. chaplain; F.
G. Webster, Missoula, Il. w. G. historian;
g. r.. Middleton, Yellowstone. r. W. g.. or
ator; Ben W, Folk. Helena; r. W. G. mar
shall; Geo. W. Hayes, Ashley, W. s. g. dea-
con; p. Lowell, Dillon, W. J. G. deacon;
Samuel Pope, Corvallis. W. q. B. bearer; A.
r. Greater, Bannack, W. G. s. bearers; J. M.
Powers, Valley, w. s. G. steward; F. 9.
Harvey. Silver Star. w. J. g. steward;
William Hamilton, MT. Moriah, W. e.. ty-
Ter.
The grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons
instituted in Helena last July also has
representation at Butte. There are
ten chapters in the state. at Helena,
Virginia City. Butte, Deer Lodge,
Glendive., billings, Livingston, Dil-
membership Of about 600. The officers who
have served since last June are: Grand
high priest, Richard 0. Hickman; deputy
grand high priest, Joseph A. Hyde; Il. E.
grand king, A. II. Barrett; r. E. grand
scribe, Philip H. Poindexter; r.. E. grand
treasurer, +. W. Wright; K. E.. grand sec.
rotary, Cornelius Hedges; grand captain OF
sojournsr. Charles A. Dewar;. grand II. A.
captain, w. B. Norton; grand master of the
first vail. w. F.. Allison; grand master of
the second vail. j. n. Fox. grand master OF
the third vail, J. A. Mason; grand sentinel,
Fred Mcdonald.
The present grand commandsrv of the
state is composed of: r.. E. grand COM
mander, A. j. Davidson; deputy grand COM
mander. Fred W. Wright; grand general
issimo, E. d. Aiken; grand captain general,
r. o. Hickman; grand senior warden, A.. Y.
Babcock; grand Junior warden, A.. @.
grand recorder, Cornelius Hedges; grand
standard bearer, M. G. Riley; grand sword
bearer, J. G. Villas; grand warden, John W.
Thompson; prand captain of the guard. j.
II. Monteath.
The history of Masonry in Montana is
coeval with the discovery of her gold mines.
| According to the accepted statements of N.
p. Langford it was introduced shortly after
the discovery of the Bannack diggings. When
the company of which he was a member
entered Montana, q single settlement,
known by the name Of Grasshopper, was
southern part of Montana. One clear Sep
TENDER evening the party camred on the
western range of the Rocky mountains,
where they nre crossed by the Mullan road
west of Helena. The labors Of the day
being. over, three of the company,
including Langford, the only three Master
Masons in the conpuny, impressed with the
grandeur of the mountain scenery and the
mild beauty Of the evening, assembled the
mountain to its summit, and there, in imi-
tation of their ancient brethren, opened
and closed an informal lodge of Master
Masons. A dispensntion was granted by
the grand lodge Of Nebraska April u, 1863,
for a lodge at Bannack. Before the dis
pensation was received a large majority of
the Masons of Bannack became scattered
and the lodge never met under this author
ity. The first lodge chartered in the state
The Montana Lodge. No. 2. of the same
city, and the Helena lodge. No. 8, We're or
egnized the same day. The three lodges
then formed the state grand lodge at the
same time and John j. Hull, of that CITY,
WAS elected grand master. In October of
ganized Inc Mr.. Hull reelected. The
grand masters who have se.ved since
the organization are as follows: John J.
Hull, l.. W. Frary, W.. Il. Sanders, N. ?.
Langford, Cornelius Hedges, James Ii.
Weston, James r.. Boyoe, ST.. solomon
Knight, w. A. Clark. John stedman,
Hiram Knowles, G. w. Monroe, 4. M.
Pomegoy, A.. j. Davidson, Hugh Duncan,
S. w. Langhorn, j. A. Hyde, Samuel Wo7d,
j. w. Hathaway. A. Q. Logan, John Ander-
son and W. L. Boardman. H.. M. Parchen
has been treasurer Of the grand lodge since
1870, and Cornelius Hedges secretary since
1871. The other officers have nearly all
changed with each annual election. The
whole number of chartered lodges under
the grand lodge, according to the last re-
port, was forty. six of which became extinct,
one Joined another jurisdiction, leaving
thirty-tnree lodges active ubon the rolls.
The total membership now paying dues
in the state is 1883. The present grand
masters of lodges originally composing the
Grand lodge are: Robert Vickers, Virginia
City. No. 1; Julian M. knight, Montana.
No. 2; John j. R%ohrbaugh. Helena, No. ].
The last lodge chartered, according to the
last annual report, was the star in the
West, at Red Lodge. on Sept. "a, 1890. The
grand chapter of Royal Arch Masons
was organized at Helena last July,
and has ten subordinate lodges,
each of which will be rep, esented by
three delegates. The grand C~ommandery
Knights Temnlar was organized in May,
1888. A. j. Davidson, of Helena, ia grand
commander. The grand chapter of the
masonry, meets on Friday. 1t was organ
lied last October at Livingston. Mrs. Edna
Hedges, Of Helena, is the grand worthy
matron. " c. ." .#"
Infants cloaks, skirts, vests, hosiery, etc, in
great variety ut The bee Hive at eastern prices.
Lunch from IL to 2 u. III, at tho Helena