Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1916-06-14
Great Lights Lodge No. 1S1, A. +
and A. Nj. of DecOrah Was Fifty
Years Old on June g..
MASONRY IN DEBORAH
NOW NEARLY 20 YEARS OLD
Synopsis of the History of the Lodge
Given by II. F., B. Portman,
Who Has Been Member
Nearly Fifty Years.

On Tuesday, June 6, 1916, Great
Lights lodge, No. 1S1, A. F. and A
M. celebrated it's fiftieth anniver
|sary in Decorah, and about sixty
members were in attendance. The
Eastern Star ladies served tempt
ing banquet and interesting talks
were given by DR.. H. H. Green, L. l.
Caldwell and r. F. B. Portman, the
latter giving synopsis of the history
of the lodge, which we print below
in full:
Il have been designated by youl
committee to place before you, a sy
nopsis Of the history of this Lodge
This is rather an onerous duty, and
do not feel quite competent, because
there are two members who have
been, in and out amongst us fol
nearly so years, and l only reached
the age of 43 last 18th of May, but
during the year of 1872 ! had the
privilege of being present, as a
visitor at many meetings so conse-
quently knew most of the members
at that time. So am pretty near "A
This does not leave very big gap t.
fill. | have to copy largely from an
historical sketch, 1 made at the 40tn
anniversary, which of course you all
remember. 1t is filed in the Records
somewhere, If you care to find it,
and so check me up. / have never
belonged to any Secret Society, other
than the great Masonic order,
though | know many are most ex-
cellent, and praiseworthy, and fill
many gaps, that we are unable to, and
consequently deserve our respect and
best appreciation. But have love
for the tenets of our order, and
consider them sufficient for any man
If he will only try to live up to them.
This meeting is held to commemor-
ate our Semi i-Centennial-A good
many years 1t seems to look forward
to, but who can tell what man
amongst us tonight may not be pres
ent when the Centennial is celebrat-
ed Some of us won't, that's sure.
Great Lights Lodge No. 1S1 A. F.
and A. NJ. has fourished for so
years.
What changes have been wrought
in that time. Masonry is the same
today, as it was then, and for many
many years prior. But the surround
ings are now more pleasant and conf
Portable, especially in the Lodge ap-
pointments. Only of late years have
we been able to enjoy a feast like
this, in our own home, and be served
by members of our families, mem
bers of the great and increasing OS
der of the Eastern Star. 19
During all the past years, there
never has been any very serious dis
turbances In the working of our
Lodge. OF course there were some
chickering's, and some fellows thought
the others were running things, too
much, to suit them, but the chips
fell easily off their shoulders and all
was peace and harmony again.
l doubt If there is a Lodge in iowa,
that can show a better =, and Yreally
cleaner record than No. 1S1. / am
not giving you "taffy"-for / have
read all the minutes and records
and have been pretty we'll posted on
the inside workings until very late
years.
Masonry in Decorah is now nearly
20 years old. For on November 3.
1856 a dispensation was granted to
Decorah Lodge No. SO, and on June
|3, 1857, the Charter was granted
Ed. Parliman, w. NJ
NJ. McCauley, S. w.
w. ID. Gilmore, j. w.
r. Logan, Treas.
F. M. Espy, Sec.
Joseph Lennon, S. ID.
B. j. Jones, j. ID.
James McCauley, Sr. Tyler.
And 3S Brethren. or these mem.
bers | can only find that 2 are living
and both are residents of this city, c.
w. Freeman and John Finn.
In June 1861, Decorah Lodge No
9S. had to surrender it's Charter, and
have never been able to find any OF
its records.
From 1861 until 1865 Masonry
|slept-largely on account of the Civil
War. Men had other and higher du-
ties to engross them.
On July l3, 1865, largely owing to
the energy of Bro. Charles S. Rollins
a dispensation was granted by G.. NJ,
+. A. Guilbert to Great Lights Lodge
U. ID. naming:
c. S. Rollins, w. NJ.
Cyrus Mckay, j. w.
c. +. Sweep, S. w.
w. II. Burford. j. f. Powers, ID.
Lawrence, Il. b. Plumb, j. C. Rich
ardson, M. NJ. Sherman, d. C. Monty
A. II. White, j. H. Montgomery, A,
Skoffstad, w. Franklin, A. j. b. Alb
bey, l.. ID. Townsley, III. II. Craft, as
petitioning members.
June 9th, 1866, the Charter was
granted. and the roll of members is
as follows:
C, S. Rollins, w. Nj.
c. +. Sweep, S. w.
c. Mckay, j. w.
w. II. Burford, Treas.
Continued on last page.)