Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-10-26
MASONS CELEBRATE
First Formal Exercises in Hand
some New Hall in Coal
Valley.
STATE OFFICERS BxBMPLIFY WORK
Followed by Banquet and Toasts
Rock Island and Moline
Represented.

List ulRnL WAS OhO Va 0AS hiOsb nut
able epochs in the history of Free
Masonry in Coal Valley, the occasion
being the formal opening of the hand
some new Odd Fellows and Masons'
hall in the village. The Importance
of the event was augmented by the
presence of Most Worshipful Grand
Master George M. Moulton, of Chica-
go, and Rg0t Worshipful Senior
Grand Warden G. f. Allen, of Gales
burg. besides over 100 Masons from
Rock Island and Henry counties.
The evenings program. included
work in the third degree in charge of
the officers of the grand lodge. the
discussion of a sumptuous banquet
served in the big dining hall OF the
new building, and the responding TO
toasts by the state officers and other
good speakers. The ceremonies and
banquet consumed the greater part of
the night. Rock Island end Moline
Masons attended on q special car at
tached to the regular evening Peoria
train and returned with the car at
tached 10 the freight leaving Coal
Valley after midnight Those who
attended from the east for the most
part drove out in the absence of suit.
able railroad accommodations.
The New Han.
The hall in which last evenings
fe 3tivities took place was built last
year, but was never dedicated nor for
mally opened by the Masons 1t was
built 1intly by the Masons and Odd
Fello VS. to take the place of the old
hall destroyed by fire two year, ago
and cost about 81 600 rhe plans
were drawn by Dcsck IL Kerns, OF this
city, and the work of construction
was done by John Kon0sky. The hall
is admirably adapted TO its use "a
lodge headquarters, bsing thoroughly
fitted with all the needful conven-
fences. As is required by the Masonic
law. the building is two sto les in
height. L. is go by 60 feet on the
ground and "a feet TO the caves Ia
side there are two main rooms, the
lodge room above, and the dining
room below, each so by 40 feet. A.
the front on the lower floor arc the
kitchen and store rooms, all fully
equipped, while directly above are the
cloak rooms and lockers for the para
phernalia of the two lodges The
entire interior is foished in yellow
pine with hard pine floors and pro-
vided with the necessary furniture
A steam heating plant installed by
Allen Myers IL Co., of this city, puts
the occupants of the hall in a posi-
ton 10 bid ample defiance to Jack
Frost. The lighting is effected by a
neat variety of wall lamps.
Lodge Old One
Valley lodge No. 547, A. f. & A.
M, is an exceptionally strong coun-
try lodge. 1t was instituted Oct ],
1867, the charter members being
James S. Roseberry, William Wayne,
William Meanor, B. L. Blackfsn,
Samuel Blackfan, Robert Lee, Fred
erick Weyerhauser and S. H. Trego.
Mr.. Roseberry was the first worship
full master. Mr.. Wayne the first
senior warden and MIR. Means the
first junior warden. The growth of
the lodge was natural and steady, the
greatest mum Der of members attained
at any one time being 53. There are
now so members aud the officers are:
I. K. Lees, worshipful master; John
tin, junior warden; Thomas Corns,
secretary; Thomas Lees, treasurer;
d. II. Lyons, senior deacon; Peter
Conner, junior deacon; William
Glenn, senior steward; f. M Dewitt,
junior stewart; John Bedford, tyler.
Mr.. Weyerhauser Builds First Hall.
The first hall in which meetings
were held was built by Frederick
Weyerhauser and afterward pur-
chased by the Odd Fellows and Ma
sons. This is the building that was
destroyed by fire Dec. 10. 1899.
With it the two lodges lost much
valuable furniture and paraphernalia,
the value of building and property
being estimated at IS. 600 with but
81, 400 insurance. After the old hall
was destroyed and until the new one
was finished. the meetings were held
in the Workmen's hall. The name
Odd Fellows and Masons' hall is used
because of the establishment of the
former previous to the latter, Coal
Valley lodge No 304, 1. o. D. F., hav-
ing been instituted in 1868.
Some of the Masons of Valley
lodge are remarkably punctual in
their attendance at the meetings.
Especially true is this of the present
secretary, Thomas Corns. who lives
outside of the village. 1t is related
of him that he has missed but one
meeting during the past 20 years and
on that occasion it is said he became
stalled in a snow bank on the way.
Bridges rivers, tunnels mountains,
builds cities, gathers up the scattered
rays OF ones ability. That's what
Rocky Mountain Tea does. 80 cents.
L. H. Thomas, druggist.