Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-07-03
ORGANIZED FIFTY YEARS.
vIROQUA'S MASONIC LODGE cELE-
BRATES ANNIVERSARY.
No Charter Member Now Survives
Large and Growing Membership
Banquet and Speeches.

n nail century OF Masonic OrPaniza-
tion was celebl ted in Viroqua last eve
ming by the members of La Belle Lodge
and their families, and right royal
fraternal gathering it was, embracing
the old and the young. At nine clock
a party of not quite one hundred and
fifty occupied seat at tables spread in
Masonic and Odd Fellows halls. Fol-
lowing came the toasts. which were
hearty and couched along fraternal
lines. DIR. j. X. Schreiner of Westby,
presided as toastmaster, and his efforts
were most pleasing and humorous.
Those who responded were C. j. Smith,
Revs. Nuzum, Saries and Buffers. Cen
eral Rogers, Col. Butt, w. N. Coffiand.
Hon. Van S. Bennett and II. p. Proctor.
Musical selections were given by Prof.
Colburn and the Misses Martin and
Slack.
Not one of the charter members of
La Belle Lodge survives, all having
passed to that bourn whence no traveller
returns. Rev. G.. w. Nuzum is the
present senior member, having Joined
very soon after the lodge was instituted,
in fact just fifty years and one day
before the Tuesday observance of the
lodge organization. Col. Butt is oldest
in years of continuous membership.
because Rev. Nuzum dimited for several
years during his pastoral work in other
places.
Viroqua Masonic lodge was one of
the pioneer organizations of western
Wisconsin, instituted at time when
there was scant settlement at Viroqua
and surrounding country. 1t is to the
creGlt of the preserving men of that
day there is much of historic renown
connected with the lodge and its .iem-
bership. Many men of note nave held
membership and presiuied over its labors.
From organization to his death General
Rusk was member; the present gov
ernor of the state was made a Mason
and retains his membership here.
Others high in official positions of ma
tion and state, preachers and, teachers
have numbered in its membership. La
Belle lodge was instituted under S2acial
from the Grand Master OF
the state December 14th 1856, with
William H. Austin, Jeremiah M. Rusk,
Sylvester c. Lincoln, William A. Heron,
Joseph Wood and William A. Bullard
charter members. Mr.. Austin is de-
signated as first master of the lodge.
in the state Grand lodge. Degrees were
conferred under dispensation till the
June meeting of the Grand Lodge.
when regular charter was granted.
Between the dates of first organization
and receiving the regular charter the
records show wonderful activity on
part of this pioneer lodge, and the
following names appear in the records
as having become affiliated during that
period, others than those names already
given: Thomas +. St. Johns, Samuel
Nj. Estes, w. A. Morse, Samuel Me
Kittrick, John S. Austin, Royal c.
Bierce, Johnson Smith, Martin l.. Neb-
sit, Henry Waters, John Gardner,
Gilbert Herriek, William F. Terhuae,
George Osborn. Elisha w. Tinker, G.
w. Nuzum, J. M. Heron, Joseph A.
Somerby. Ephram S. Fowler, Morrison
Mcmillan, John c. Berry, James S.
Rusk. George Hartshorn, Charles Wat
ers, William A. Newell, Herman Greve,
Henry B. Herriek, Daniel II. Dunlap,
William f. Lindemann, Robert S. Nc
Michael, Nelson Winters, Johr j. Cole,
John McIees, William z. CIarl-, Samuel
W. Green, J. S. Palmer, Charles F.
Jenkins and John Tower.
More than 450 different persons have
been affiliated with the lodge and the
present membership is between It's and
200. In worldly goods the lodge is most
its hall and equipment are
of the best. From this lodge acorn of
primitive days have sprung a well or
ganized and large memhershiped Eas-
tern Star Chapter and Royal Arch
CIapter.