The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1909-09-01

REPUBLICAN,, WEDNESDAY
secretary and librarian or the grand
lodge Of Iowa--the grand parent OF the
North Dakota grand lodge. Being d
lineal descendant OF the Iowa body Mr..
Parvin naturally took great interest
In North Dakota Masonic affairs and
was especially interested in the Fargo
organization.
Start Of Library.
After the grand lodge of this state
was established Mr.. Parvin presented
| 1t with a magnificent collection OF
bound voIurnes--the proceedings of the
meetings OF the various grind lodges
In several or the grand jurisdictions.
| This was the nucleus around which
was collected a number OF valuable
works These volumes were kept In
the building then occupied by the Ma
| sonic bodies. Here 1t was that the Par
/ vim volumes and In fact all that mad
| been collected were destroyed.
1 At first 1T was thought that this
was an irrepairable loss, but In the
| meantime Frank T. trhompson. the
/ present grand secretary, was elected
I to that office for the first time and
was also made librarian. He imme-
/ diately set about the work Of recon
struction, the result of which is the
/ present splendid library. While other
I members OF the order assisted from
i time to time, Mr.. Thompson must be
given credit for this work which at
! one time seemed d hopeless task.
After a new building was erected on
the site of the one burned it was oc-
cupied by rhe Masonic bodies and they
/ Immediately set apart room to be
used solely for library purposes. The
grand lodge levied a tax Of 10 cents
| per annum on each member for library
purposes. This soon put the institu-
1 ton beyond the capacity of it's quar-
ters and portion OF the volumes had
to be housed in the grand secretarys
office in the Morris block on Front
street.
| However, with the construction Of
| the present temple the congested con-
dftions were relieved by the wise pro-
| vision OF specially built room for
the volumes The result has been
most gratifying and the library is one
Of the useful things about the temple
which could not be dispensed with
Excellent cataloeuing System.
Another thing in connection with
the library for which entire credit
should go to Mr.. Thompson is the
scientific system of cataloguing the
volumes by which an material is Of
easy access.
When the volumes were first placed
on the shelves in the new temple
they were catalogued according to the
Dewey system. This, however, proved
inadequate for Masonic purposes and
Mr.. Thompson after more than year
Of almost constant work devised the
present excellent system.
New volumes arrive constantly.
Some have been the donation of Ma
sons, while others have been purch-
ased from time to time. However ii
is not alone in books that the library
is valuable. In addition 1t assumes
the proportions of museum. Mr.
Thompson has collected large mum
Der Of fossils found within the state
; curios Of various kinds mostly per-
/ tanning 20 the pioneer days of the
. territory, medals and relics. All OF
: these things are OF great educational
/ value as we'll as being curiosities.
J From O. Masonic standpoint the
library is of inestimable value. Many
Old works are to be found there
: works that have not only gone OUT O.
print years ago, but which, with one
: or two exceptions, are the only ones
! Of the kind in existence.
The Masonic Club.
One of the very peasant things IL
connection with the new Masonic
) temple is the Masonic club. This
organization was formed about tn,
time the temple was completed Al
Master Masons in good standing ere
: eligible to membership in this clul
providing they are in good standing
and pay an entrance fee and annua
, dues which are required for the sup.
: port of the club.
: The club occupies rooms 25xSi
feet on three floors. On the first foo
is a reading room and parlor, beauti
fully furnished in the best that none,
can buy The walls OF this room ar,
decorated with fine pictures, trophies
of the chase and other things to give
a comfortable appearance to the room
On the second floor is a. billiard anS
pool room and several card rooms
while in the basement is gymnasium
with tub and shower baths.
one I the admirable features Of thi
club is that no Intoxicating liquors
: are permitted in the rooms and gamb
!. ling is strictly prohibited. 1t is al
! ideal place to spend pleasant hou
!. in The society of brothers Of the orde
! and is one of the popular places ii
the temple which has made that build
. ing noted throughout the entir
! country
i These parlors are splendidly fur
! nished and decorated and made a.
pleasant as one could desire. orr o
: these rooms are anterooms leading t
) the auditorium. They prove especial
9 ly convenient when there are a larg
2 number of visitors In the city on ac
casions of large meetings Of any o
: the bodies To the members of tn
1 Eastern Star they are also a pleasan
$ place where they can gather befor
II and after their meetings.
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