Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-01-18
HILL DELIGHTED.
The Ceremonies Took Place
Friday, January II.
ABOUT 2OOAT THE BANQUET
The History Of the FIRST Masonic conyen-
ton TO. the Formation of Grand
Lodge III Wisconsin.

The first Masonic convention fol
the formation OF a Grand Lodge OF
Wisconsin was held at Madison OF
the 18th day OF December, 1913, ant
the legal representatives OF the regu-
larly constituted lodges Of the terri
tory Of Wisconsin were The Milwau
kee lodge at Milwaukee, Mineral Point
Lodge at Mineral Point and Melody
Lodge at Platteyille.
Tie first called communication o.
the Grand Lodge Of Wisconsin wa,
held at Madison on the 18th of Jan.
uary, 1914, for the purpose OF grant.
ing charters to the subordinate lodges,
Up 10 the year 1855 the Grand Lodge
was held in different cities. having
only tentative headquarters. SincelS5s
the annual communication has been
held in the city Of milwaukee, in the
month ofJune.
In 1917 application was made 10 the
worShipful Grand Lodge Of Wisconsin
by the following Master Masons: L.
II. Wood Omitted from Dallas Lodge
No Prairie du Chan, Fl. r. Cotter,
j. r Hickey, j 5. Fletcher, Burnham
Bunton, q. w. Burkholder all adj
mitted from Warren lodge No 4.
John NJ. Chapman Omitted from Dali
las lodge, No. 8 Prairie dI Chen, and
Jacob Cow who received his degrees in
Scotland, all residing within the jur-
isdiction Of the town Of Lancaster, for
gr&ating d4spensation 10 establish a
masonic lodge in the village Of Ian
caster, Grant county. Wisconsin.
Dispensation was issued by Spauld-
ing, Dep CIR. Master to Lancaster
Lodge No 10, Nov 8, 1917 and the
charter was issued Dee rs. 1913.
The lodge was reorganized in 1855,
since which time it has been known
as Lancaster Lodge No 20 OF the
original charter members, 81 the re-
organized lodge only one remains, VIZ:
Mr.. w. Z. Stone The lodge has held
its communications in various build
ings in the city. On the 29th Of Au-
gust, 1888 fire demolished the
"
ter were without home. During the
year 1899. it was decided to appoint a
committee to look ut two or three de-
sirable locations and purchase the one
best suited TO the needs Of the same.
After purchasing a lot it was decided
to proceed at once with the erection
Of a structure. Plans we're purchased.
workmen and material commensurate
With the undertaking were secured.
a6d the beautiful masonic temple
carried to completion The lower
floor is occupied by Mr. Holman and
used for clothing store the upper
finished for Masonic purposes.
January -, 1900 was appointed rs
the day Of dedication Invitations
sent to all the lodges in the county
and personal invitations extend cd to
those outside of the county. The
committee planned to have the dedi-
cation proper take place in the after
noon and the banquet with a .feast
OF reason and,iow of soul''in the even
ing. The inability of the Grand
Master, to get here before II o'clock
Of the same day, the absence Of the
Grand Chaplain, Rev. 4 j Brown,
and the uncertainty Of the presence Of
the brethern outside the city lead the
to have the dedicatory SER
vice in the evening, and throw open
the doors to the public Many rep
resentatiyes of sister lodges came to
share in the festivities, and the ladies
themselves that they
were privileged to witness the dedi-
cation ceremonies Bro. Chas. +.
Of Madison, Grand master
leputized members of the order to
represent the Grand officers, and after
opening it in proper form, in the X
?. hall, came back and went through
the ceremonial part Of the dedication
1t would be vain to attempt descrip-
lion of it, suffice it to say it was
brilliant affair and after pouring corn
wine and oil on the lodge pronounced
t dedicated to the uses of Masonry
speeches became the order Of the ey-
9ning Immediately following dedica-
lion and the grand master led off with
4 speech possessing superior literary
/ ualities descriptive Of tenets Of ma
sonry was listened to with wrapt atten-
ton and many felt when he was
through that they better understood
than ever before Without
aiming at pyrotechnic display, he
stated the fundamental prin-
eiples and his concise statements
made new friends for the Order A
humber of the visiting bretheren, and
members Of the local lodge gave short
speeches. witty and interesting.
About two hundred sat down to the
banquet, and Judging by the smiles
IF the people who partook Of the
delicious yiands, Mr.. John Pendeton,
hat prince Of caterers, must have
satisfied them thoroughly.
Many ecomiums were pronounced
upon the ncatness of the table. the
The excellence of the cooking, and the
with which each one was
waited on Mr. Il. A. Watkins, pres
mt Worshipful Master. was Master
II Ceremonies, and was constantly on
he q'a rtre 70 see that every person
was cared for
The following is list Of the yisi-
tors from out Of town as nearly as we
can give it from memory.
From Melody. No ,. Plattevire:
J IL. Evans, Yves. Grindel, Geo.
Briggs, Max Sickle.
Fennimore Lodge No. PIG Chas.
Neihaus and wife, Walter Orton and
wife, +. s. Morse and wife. J. Brad
bury Chas. Graham. Graham.
Dr.N Bailey and wife
Cassville Lodge No 353 A. B.
Teasdale, Elwell Frank Duncan
and wife.
Beetown 10. l46. Charles Throp,
John Ansty, sam Birch.
Bloomington no. 235: DR. Chaser
and wife. A. L. Hatch aud wife,
Lincoln Abrahams and wife, l.. D.