The Calumet news., 1910-11-09
History Of HOushton Lodge.

4 Htstory OF fou9hton Lodge.
| The history OF the society i'm Che VIII
lage OF Houghton dates back To the
year of 1867, the charter having been
granted on the 10th of January of that
year to Thomas n. Lee, Jr., worship
ful master. j. @. McQuernan, senior
warden. and William n. Noble. junior
warden. The first meeting place was
located over the store owned by Smith
x Harris, later occupied by Graham
Pope, and until recently occupied by
the superior Motor company.
In the year of 1873 the society NOV
ed its lodge rooms TO their present To-
cation over the Portage Lake Hard
ware company's store on Sheldon
street. The building which Is now the
property Of Charles Strobel was then
owned by August Dallmeyer.
The officers at that time were as
follows:
W. M.-.Thomas n. Lee.
:. W.-Dr George Fuller.
]. w.-Franl Sheppard.
:. D.-Ed. Raymond.
Secretary James Raymond.
Tyler-George Osborn.
Fire Destroys Records.
For FIVE years the society held regu-
lar meeting I'm this building until a
fire occurred which completely gutted
the building and destroyed the records
OF the society. AS a result of this
fire. difficulty is experienced in getting
reliable information in regard TO the
early days of the organization in
Houghton When the fire was discOv-
cred smoke was seen pouring out of
the building and ggeat difficulty was
experienced in reaching the flames
which were in the rear Of the build
ing
Before the fremen could get the fire
under control. IL had spread over the
whole building doing extensive dam
age. The records. insignia. equipment
and furniture of the lodge were all de- !
stroyed. while the building was being |
rebuilt, the lodge held meetings at the
Douglass House. but moved back when |
the building was again put in shape.
Past Grand Masters.
During the 43 years of it's existence
in Houghton, the lodge has had the
following grand masters:
1856, Thomas n. Lee, Jr., (under
1867, Thomas n. Lee;
lSeS, John @. McKearnan; 1869. Thom-
ls y. Lee. Jr.; 1870, George Fuller;
1871, w. NJ. Stevens; 1872. 1878 and
1874. Thomas " Lee, Jr.; 1875 and
1876, William Condor; 1877, Thomas
n. Lee, Jr.; 1873, 1879 and 1880, M. j.
Whitney: 1881 and 1882. Joseph May
worm; 1893 and 1884. John w. Rice;
1855, 1856 and 1887, Edward f. Doug
as; lSSS and 1883. William Bath; 1890,
1891 and 1892. Edward +. Douglass;
1923 and 1894, John Fl. Rice; 1895,
Edward F. Douglas; 1895 and 1897,
Frederick w. Stoyle; 1898. Edward
Rashleigh: 1899, 1900 and 1901, George
W. Quirk; 1902 and 1903, Frank Ma
Ior, 1904, George W. Quirk; 1905,
ieorge Harris; 1906. 1907 and 1908.
Iohn II. Rice; 1909, John NJ. Nelson;
9lo, George II. Banks.
History OF Order.
The history OF the Masonic society
Iates back into ancient history. Stor-
es Of It's origin are largely legendary.
ONE authorities going back into pagan
history, others date the beginning Of
he society from the building of Solo
lons temple, while later legends refer
o the crusades and the Knights Tenn
lar Of those times for the origin of
he present society.
The most authentic and historically
orrect versions of the beginning of the
fasonic order, trace it's inception to
he Roman Colleges of Artifcers. The
Ounders of the order were builders
nd architects and built the large cit
ss of Eoman times. During their Wis
.s to the different parts Of the en-
re the art of building was communi-
ated to the people OF Europe. and the
ociety was very strong i'm all parts of Z
be world. About the 10th century,
he Travelling F'reemasons,' arrived
nd established confraternities in Ger
lany France England Scotland and
ther countries Of Europe. The so
icty was then secret i'm form. BIT their
rganizations are now designated as
operative" masory, their charters and
being framed mainly for
he promotion of their temporal well
are The present lodges are the sue
essors Of the societies OF Operative
Iasons, which existed all over Europe
urins the middle ages and mp TO the
eginning Of the eighteenth century.
The Present Society.
At the beginning Of the eighteenth
entury the society turned into "spec-
lative" masonry Operative" masonry
eing the basis on which speculative
Masonry is founded Fraternities of
peculative philosophers were organ
,ed I'm the wear 1717 the Grand I.Odoe |