Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-01-23


\ZN(6ENI Decorah, pr epare d
N%TN by r. +. B. Port
man and read at the
fortieth anniversary celebration ON
Friday evening, contains much of
interest to old residents and gives as
we'll hitherto unrecorded facts which
should be placed on record for future
historians. hence we print it in full
On November 3. 1856, dispensation
was granted to "Decorah Lodge" but
/ am unable to give the names of the
charter members.
On the 3rd day of June, 1857, a
charter was granted to "Decorah
Lodge" No. 80 at this place. With
the following members and officers:
E. Parliman, w. M.
M. McCauley, S. w.
w. d. Gilmore, J. w.
r. Logan, Treas.
F. M. Espy. Sec.
joseph Lennon, s. d.
b. +. Jones, j. ID.
James McCauley, ST., Tyler.
@. w. Freeman, l.. StandriDg, r..
G. Maddox, H. A. Cleghorn, J. H.
Clemmer. J. H. Varnell, T. B. Will
let's. F. Constock, E. f. Cooley, J..
B. Emry, j. E. B. Morgan, John
Ammon, T. R. Crandell, A. d. Paul,
J. w. Hard. J. Finn, M. Zeeter, S. B..
Erwin, L. d. Townsley, H. H. Pack.
ard, HI. A. Baker, James McCauley.
L. r. Tibbitts, w. Wood, James Tenn
pie.
OF these 33 Brethren, l only know
of the following being alive:
@. w. Freeman, T. r. Crandall,
+. Comstock, J. Finn.
and Brother S. B. Erwin, who is now
and has been member of Great Lights
Lodge No. 1S1, still with us in his
85th year.
"Decorah Lodge" No SO lost its
charter in June 1861, and all it's records
are gone. If should be in Cedar
Rapids. 1 will inquire as to what be.
came of the jewels etc., as the Grand
Lodge ordered them to be transferred
to a new lodge if one was organized.
Perchance these jewels are the ori
ginal ones, but no one here now knows.
Masonry evidently had very seri-
Gus blow. Some members may have
joined Union Band Lodge No. 66 al
Frankville, that being the only lodge
in this county.
The remainder lay sleeping or per
haps moved West some went to the
front and fought for the supremac,
of this great United States.
We now come to the revival of Ma
sonry, in 1865, due largely TO the en-
ergy and enthusiasm of Charles s. Rol
Inns, Deputy Grand Master of Iowa,
1865. whose body today lies in oul
cemetery. On July 18th. 1866, dis
pensation was granted by G. M. E
A. Guilbert to Great Lights Lodg,
No. 1871. To Brothers @. S. Rollins al
W. NJ. @. E. Sweep as S. w.; Cyru
Mckay, j. W.; and IA others, as fol
lows:
w. H. Burford, J. E. Powers. d
Lawrence, E. b. Plumb, J. O. Rich
ardson, M. M. Sherman, d. O. Monty
A. H. White, j. H. Montgomery, A.
Skoffstad, w. Franklin. A. ]. B.
Abbey. L. D. Townsley. H. H. Croft
On June 6, 1866. the charter wa
granted. The roll shows that th'
members were then as follows:
@. S. Rollins, w. NJ; O. E. Sweet
S. W.; @. Mckay, j. W. w. H. Bur
ford, Treas. j. e. Powers. Sec'y. ; d
Lawrence, s. D.; E. B. Plumb, j
d. M. M. Sherman, s. s.; d. @
Mority, j. s. j. O. Richardson, Ty
ler.
Members-A. Skoffstad, ]. H. Mont
gomery. James Hargraves. W. Frank
lin, A. j. B. Abbey. Rev. II. Swear
ingen. j. E. Meuser, A. Davis, Henr,
Asseln, E. McCaffery. d. N. Hawiey
Jas. Mcdonald. ID. N. Hoyt. d. G
Bacon. N. Woleben, w. Mcintosh
Charles Allen. B. @. Baldwin, w. w
Wheelock. E. A. Miller. b. b. Green
John Scott; and q. w. Gurney. A
W. Tuikham. p. Friedman, JOS. Kell,
and G. l.. Lewis tas r. A.'s.l. A
members. which means. initiated II
passed and raised. il admitted.
Pretty good work. you'll say. Breth
ern, for short year.
In 1867. the membership increase
to 50. in 1868 to 65. in 1869 to 80
in 1870 to 40. 1871 to so, 1877;
to So. 1873 to 81, 1874 to 81, 1871
to 1903. 1875 to 1908. 1877 to 100, 1878 tt
ll2, 1879 to l02, 1880 to 9S, 1881 to 80
1882 to 81, 1888 to So. 1885 to ss, 1885,