Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1914-05-22
OCCUPY new HALL
Masonic Dedication Ceremonies
Will Be Held This Evening.
HISTORY OF THE LOCAL LODGE.
Honorable George H. Burnett Serves
in Capacity of Grand Master
on This Occasion.

With appropriate ceremonies, Jen-
nings Lodge, No. 8, A. F. and A. NJ,
of Dallas, will formerly dedicate its
new hall to night, when the Hon.
George III. Burnett will act for the
grand master. He will be assisted
by the officers. The meeting will be
open to the families of Masons and
Order of Eastern Star. The dedica-
ton exercises will also be attended
by a large number Of Masons from
various sections of the state.
The program, as given out officially,
will be as follows: Anthem, "Hail,
Universal Lord" Edgar w. Miles,
John E. Miller, Willis Simonton,
Fred w. Zeller; dedication ceremon-
les, M. w. Geo. H. Burnett, for
grand master, assisted by officers of
the grand lodge; anthem, "When
Solomon, With Wondrous Skill" ,"
male quartette; cello solo, "Humor-
esque," John G. Uglow; address, M.
w. Geo. H. Burnett, past grand
master; vocal duet, "Beautiful Moon
lighh" Lucille Hamilton, Louise
Miles.
Lodge History.
Mr.. J. C. Hayter gives the follow
ing interesting history of Jennings
lodge, which today is probably the
strongest fraternal organization i'm
Dallas:
On the Goth day of January, 1854.
M. w. Grand Master John Elliott
granted dispensation to Jesse Wall
ing and others to hold Lodge of
Free and Accepted Masons, to be
known as Jennings Lodge, No. 8, in
Dallas, Polk County, Oregon. The
Master Masons to whom this author
ity was granted were Jesse Walling,
Frederick Waymire, Isaac Zumwalt,
Robert Gillian, John Fl. Lewis, John
M Zumwalt, w. S. Gillian and Elisha
Mcdaniel.
The first communication of the
Lodge under dispensation was held
March II. 1854, with the following
officers: Worshipful Master, Isaac
Zumwalt; Senior Warden, Robert Gill
liam; Junior Warden, John H. Lew
is. The M. w. Grand Master having
died in the meantime, and the grant
ing of this dispensation having been
his last official act, the first act of
Jennings Lodge was the introduction
81 ol,,I np
for the memory of the departed Grand
Officer.
Jennings Lodge worked under dis
pensation until June Is, 1854, when
a Charter was granted by the Grand
Lodge of Oregon. This Charter is
signed by John C. Ainsworth, M. W.
Grand Master, and Benjamin Stark,
Rt W. Grand Secretary.
The first election of officers, held
July 7, 1854, resulted as follows
Isaac Zumwalt, w. M; Robert Gil
liam, S. W.; John Angel, j. W;
Frederick Waymire, Secretary; John
H. Lewis, Treasurer, The Worship
full Master appointed Elisha McDan-
iel, Senior Deacon, and John II. Lew
is, Tyler The Senior Warden ap-
pointed w. S. Gillian Junior Deacon.
The first candidate made a Master
Mason by Jennings Lodge was Will
liam W. Boon, who was raised Novem-
Der 3, 1854. The longest continu-
Gus membership in the Lodge to date
was that of William C. Brown, who
was raised August IL, 1855, and who
died May 10, 1909.
While Jennings Lodge is Numbered
9. it is now the seventh oldest Lodge
in Oregon. two of the earlier Lodges
having united with other Lodges in
the newly-created Territory of Wash
ington for the Grand Jurisdiction of
Since its first commu-
295 members have been adj
mitted or raised. The present mem
bership of the Lodge is Ill Master
Masons.
One member of Jennings Lodge, the
late Brother Robert Glow, attained
to the office of M. W. Grand Master
Of the Jurisdiction of Oregon, and
other members have been honored by
lffice in the Grand Lodge.
One cannot read the early history
IF this Lodge without a feeling of
respect almost akin to reverence for
he good and true men whose faith
sul labors. often under the most adj
-erse conditions, contributed so ma
erially to the advancement of Ma
'onry in a frontier country. 1t is
to reflect that the newer
generation has shown its appreciation
If this good work by sparing no eff
'ort to advance the interest of the
fraternity and to place Jennings
lodge, No. 9, in the prosperous con-
Iition it enjoys today.