The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1915-04-27

lodge has buried twenty-seven of its
members and nine others have been
buried in other states. Many a lodge
night, while we occupied the Luce
building, it was so cold that we had
to sit with u overcoats on and wen
l remember the secretary sitting at
his desk with a buffalo coat on and
the ink would freeze on his rem.
Some of you might think ii rather a
tough proposition, and even at that
time we didn't consider il much of a
joke.
The record that Madison lodge No.
20 holds over all the older lodges of
the state, not having missed a regu-
lar meeting since it was instituted, is
one that every member should be
very proud of and a few of the older
members should have some credit for.
1t was many a time that the noble
grand had to skirmish around to get
a quorum together in order to hold
a meeting, and this unbroken record
was the one thing that we were work
ing for. 1t has been a number of
years since we have been bothered
about a quorum.
This lodge has not only done the
work of instituting thirteen lodges,
but 1T has furnished some of the
charter members for the most of
them. No. 20 Instituted lodges as
follows: West, at Winfred, Howard,
Villas, Carthage, Artesian. Forest
burg and Woonsocket. North, at
Ramona, Oldham and Erwin. East,
at Wentworth, Egan and F~landreau.
By some ii would be called an un-
lucky number. for No. 90 has thirteen
children.
The branches of the subordinate
lodge are:
Hope Rebekah No. 2, which was
instituted on February IA, 1884, with
sixteen charter members. Bro. Peter
Marquart was its first noble grand.
While this lodge has had its ups and
downs, and at n time came near
losing its charter, it now has 2S5
members and is in a very fourishing
condition. The members of the sub
ordinate lodge think it the incest val
entine No. 90 ever received.
Excelsior Encampment No. Is was
instituted on April 20, 1886, with
seven charter members, viz: Bros.
A. f.. Clough, w. M. Bartlett, f. w.
Hart, A. f. Fuller, II. III. Cuisine.
C. e. Colby and Frank S. Simson.
The encampment now has 100 active
members, and have work on hand
nearly all the time and financially is
all right.
The Canton was the last sprout or
branch to start out. This is the mill
itary part of Odd Fellowship.
Canton Nonpariel No. 5 was mus
tered in on the 14th of April, 1909.
with thirty-one charter members and
its present membership is ffty-six.
All four branches of the order To-
Gated in Madison have had their full
share of grand officers. The frater-
nifty through the state have certainly
used us exceptionally nice in this re-
spect.
In July, 1901, when Madison lodge
No. 90, /. o. o. F., started the build
ing we are now in, it had to give a
first mortgage for $1,000, and a sec
ond mortgage for $4,000, thus max.
ing a debt of $4,000 against this
property. When they began ~excavat-
ing for the basement Bro. Past Grand
Chas. Miller came by and says, Boys
you are digging your own graves and
none of the present members will live
to see that enormous debt paid of.
and Bro. Cal Alexander, in my minds
eye | can see him now, as he sat or
a saw horse, the tears running down
his cheeks (the tears were running
down Bro. Calls cheeks, and not down
/. the cheeks of the saw horse) watch
7 ing the workmen building up the
south wall, said, We can never pay
[ that mortgage. Both brothers meant
every word they said, and it grieveo
/ them to think the lodge might never
3 be able to pay the debt. Many a time
! since they have been over anxious to
take it back" or as the saying Is
4feat their words"
; April 1, 1915, or practically four
teen years after giving the mortgage
! this lodge made the last payment and
took it up. The lodge has done well
; the property is ours.
Bro. Past Grand Chas. Miller is the
oldest past grand present. He has
; been chosen, with the assistance oil
Col. A. f. Fuller, the first initiate
to burn the Cancelled mortgage al
? This time in the presence of the sis
t tiers and brothers now assembled.
T~I LN.sfInH