The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1913-01-24
Twentieth Anniversary
MssOns Celebrate Dedication oi their
Temple. which Took Place Just
Twenty Years Ago

Temple. which Took Place Just
Twenty Years Ago
Last Saturday evening the Ma.
sons of Milbank lodge and Royal
Arch chapter celebrated the Goth
anniversary Of the dedication of
their temple, a very happy gath
ering of MaSOnS. with their
wives, sisters and sWeethearts,
being present to eol Joy the occa
sion. Prof. Hopfner S orchestra
furnished music for the occasion
and a couple Of hours were en-
joyed in dancing and with cards,
following which u brief histori
cal review Of Milbank lodge and
it's associated societies, was Civ
en- by Past Master Downie, and
this was followed by banquet,
in which the subculent oyster
was most important factor
The MaSons and their guests
thoroughly enjoyed the occasion,
recognizing the anniversary as
one of the mile.posts in the his
tory of the craft in this city.
During the evening a letter of
regret was read from Past Grand
Master Harvey J. Rice, of HUI
ron, who had been invited TO be
present, and who was the Nj. w.
Grand Master at the time of the
dedication, and conducted the
ceremonies on that occasion.
Before the banquet was served
Past Master Downie on behalf of
the lodge presented Past Maste;
Levi Conright. who was the
Worshipful Master of the lodge
in 1892 ard 1894, with very
handsome Past Masters jewel.
AS some of the Masonic breth-
rem have made request that the
brief historical record as pre-
sented at the anniversary, be
printed for tn benefit Of the in
dividual members of the craft we
give it as follows:
Milbank Lodge No. 20 A. e. and A.
M. was instituted July %, 1881. AT q
called communication of Milbank
Lodge u. d.. on Saturday April l6,
1881. A. l.. 5S8l, officers present were:
A. Wardall, w. M; j. shaw, S. W.:
+. A. Countryman, J. W.; and Bros.
T.. d. Ely. &. Schuchardt, J. c. Elliot,
and visiting Brother, &. X. Horner,
of Harmony lodge No. ia, Iowa. AT
this meeting a diSpensation from the
Nj. W. Grand Master of Dakota Geo
II Hand, was read. authorizing the
organization of Miihank lodge, and
officer, We're elected and appointed as
follows: J. G. Knapp. Sec, Q. Knapp,
trea surer; n. j. Schafer, 5. D.; j. a.
McGovern. J. D.; T. N Larson,
Tyler: A. +. Baker, S. s.: &.
Schuchardt, j s.: and Bylaws were
adopted. AT "a meeting held on July
%, 1881 under a dispensation, from
the NJ w. Grand Master. George H.
Hand, J G. Elliot was appointed
Deputy Grand Mas'er, and constitut-
ed the lodge in regular form and IN
stalled its officers
The first Worshipful Master was
Alonzo Wardall. tie was followed in
1882 by James Shaw, and he by j. &.
elliot l883-4. j. G. Knapp in 1885 -
So IS 9 and 1890. t. r. Gibson 1891;
l.. l.. Conright 1892. A. j. Bleser
1893: l.. l.. Conright 1894; Z. Emanuel
1895 6: George T, Mitchell 1897 8; w.
w. Downie 1899 1900; j. NJ. Watson
1901: Is. u. Gamble 1902: S. S. Lock
hart 1904; VIM, Ross 1905 IS: f. w.
Meehan l9O7-e G. r. Mitchell 1909;
G. O. Goodman 1901. =. &. Saund.
ers 1912; and Bro. Saunders is the
Worsbipful Master for the present
year.
OF this long list OF worthy Masters
Who have been honored by Milbank
lodge, all are still living except Bro.
r. F. Gibson, who died in 1892, and
Berton d. Gamble, deceased in 1902.
The former was one Of the pioneers in
this county, and fellow craftsman
whom to know was to love. Bro.
Gamble was also man Of tine
character and talented attorney.
Tho lodge held its first meetings in
room in the second story OF the jack
Parker building, which was located
upon the lot whore the south half of the
Bentley opera house now staods, and
later or until the completion OF the
Masonic building in 1898, in the hail
now the Martens real estate building.
1t was in 1892 that the Masonic build
ing association was organized and the
building erected. 1t may not be out
OF place right here to speak . word
OF appreciation of the Masons to
whose foresight in properly orxaniz-
ing, and TO whose unSelfish IabOrs and
exacting care in details was largely
due the success of this building enter
prise Among these was our deceased
brother, Walter B. Saunders, and
Bros. A. }. Bleser and II. J. Bene.
dict, who composed the building com.
mittee, and under whose active super
vision the building plans were brought
to completion and the lodge room fur
nished. 1t took time, energy and care
for this work, as we'll as a willingness
to assume financial responsibility
when neces sary, and this was freely
rendered by our late Brother Saun-
n 4 J