The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-03-16
II Forms Part Of This Thriving and
Prosperous Community.
BUT ONE CHARTER MEMBER LIVING
Feast and Speeches Are to Mark the
Anniversary Of the His
toric Event.
From Saturdays Daily.

from SATURDAY DAILY.
Masons of Mankato will tonight harb
back fifty years and with appropriate
ceremonies, coupled with good cheer
celebrate the semi-centennial of the
founding of Mankato lodge No. II, A. F
and \. NJ. The exercises which viii
mark this important and historic event
will be carried out in the hall at Sec
ond and Hickory streets, and the sur
roundings, the paraphernalia and the
environment will be far different from
that which had to do with the intia
meeting half century ago.
Visiting Masons from lodges in neigh
boring cities will be in attendance tC
make the occasion one long to be re.
membered by those who belong to this
noble order. A banquet will be one OF
the pleasant features, and toasts vii
be responded to by Thomas Morris
grand master; Thomas Montgomery
grand secretary; General James H. Bak
=
and other prominent Masons who will be
present.
The following bit of Masonic history
was compiled by Mrs. NJ ID. Fritz and
published in The Minneapolis Sunday
Tribune in 1892. 1t is quite appropri
ate at this time:
Although the Masonic order is in the
strictest sense secret society, there
are many interesting bits of history con.
nected with this ancient order which are
not secret, and Mankato Lodge No. ~
is perhaps connected with the history OF
this city to far greater extent thar
is generally supposed.
1t will be readily observed by tho
"cut" of the log store building that the
Masons had no "high notions" in 1857
When they instituted their lodge ir
the loft of this primitive structure
which has now given way to the elegant
stone block of the Young Mems Invest
ment company, and is occupied by the
postoffice.
1t was after they moved into the stone
building opposite the Saulpaugh hotel
where the order fourished for many
years, that it received its first boom
This was in 1862, memorable year ir
the history of Mankato, and also in the
history of the Masonic lodge, as the be
beginning of new era. In August oc
ages, known in history as the Sioux
massacre, in which more than a thou
sand white people were killed, and the
whole country west of Mankato was de
populated; farms laid waste; buildings
burned and destroyed. After the de
struction of New Ulm, Mankato was
filed with crowd of refugees, who
camped in the streets, stores and vacant
buildings. They left everything in Their
hurried flight, and were here without
money, provisions or sufficient clothing
and many were sick or wounded. Fam
inc stared the population in the face
and it was only averted by organizing
parties to scour the country and brins
in cattle and grain from the deserted
fields. As there was imminent DANCE
of the Sioux being joined by the Win
nebagos, with whom they were friendly
great apprehension was felt for thu
safety of the town, and company was
formed for its protection at a meeting
held at Union hall, and was mustered
into the service of the United States by
Charles Z. Flandreau, then acting by au
thority of the governor, as commando
of this district. Picket guards protected
the town at night. and the trees ant
y bushes between Front street and tn,
from serving as hiding places for In
dians The women and children wer
gathered at night for safety in the Ma
sonic building and Leechs building il
block Is, these being the only ston
buildings in the town, while the mel
watched on the surrounding hills o
slept with their rifles by their sides
After the Indians had been subdued b,
General Sibley, about four hundred o
them were brought as prisoners to Man
kato and were confined in the Leecl
building and temporary log buildings
and on Dec 26, 1862, thirty eight o
them were hanged on the levee in full
view of the windows of Masonic hall
which was crowded with spectators.
Across the street from the lodge room
bell was hung in a high timber frame
1t was bought by subscription, and wa
used for a church bell and alarm i
case of fire. Several years afterward