Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1917-02-15
CYCLONE AND ASSASSINATION
INTERFERE WITH LODGE

SO InSlStent all organization OF IOrm
as a Masonic lodge closes without the
usual benediction invoking all men,
bers to meet upon the level and part
upon the square, but not often. When
a Masonic lodge fails to close in form
the fact becomes a matter of history
says the Mason City Times.
The Masonic lodge at Grinnell may
decided that on June II, this year, it
completes the record of thirty-five
years ago by closing the lodge in due
and ancient form, because Herman
lodge No. 273 failed to close properly
the night of June IT, 1882. During
an important and impressive part of
the ceremonies the celebrated cy-
clone, which destroyed property and
killed over one hundred people, took
the roof from the Masonic temple
without warning and left only the
raging storm clouds with their &C.
companying lightning flashes as a
ceiling for the lodge room. Bill Day
the secretary. closed his record book
without showing that the lodge had
been duly closed, and he followed the
crowd down the back stairway. The
tyler had preceded them and no mes
sage could be delivered announcing
that the lodge was about to close or
had closed.
A candidate was recovering his third
degree. during this lodge meeting. at
Grinnell, and when the catastrophe
occurred he took II as a part of the
ceremonies and kept his position for
some time. When the members bolt
ed, he presumed that it was a strike
NJ oil II MAJ ha ~ 30 LII
ers in the temple and he resolved to
stand by his word regardless of the
disturbance which he supposed was a
part of the initiatory ceremonies.
In examining the records of Hiram
Masonic lodge No. 40, of Raleigh, N.
c., it was recently found that the
regular meeting of the lodge that
was begun on the night of April II,
1865. the night the news was receiv-
ed that Lincoln was shot-had never
been officially concluded and recently
this fOrmality was carried out with
historic ceremonies. John Nichols.
83 years old, former representative
in congress. who as master opened the
mem orable session of the lodge more
than half a century ago acted as
master again. Masons were present
from many southern states, since
the ceremony was preliminary to the
opening there of the 112th annual
meeting of the Grand Lodge of North
Carolina.
On the night of April II. 1865, the
city of Raleigh was occupied by Kill
patrick's division of Sherman's army
When the Union soldiers on the out
skirts OF the city learned of the as
sassinatiOn of Lincoln, retaliaory
measures were suggested and Off
GERS had difficulty in holding the
men in check. While the civil popu-
lation of Releigh was unaware of the
assassination and of the excitement
among the troops. Hiram lodge open
ed its regular meeting as usual, but
in the midst of it Captain w. G.
Written. of the Ninth Main regiment
detailed as provost officer. informed
Master Nichols of the assassination
and requested that the meeting be
dismissed in order that no gathering
should add to the confusion when the
news became generally known. The
members dispersed Immediately
without the formality of closing the
lodge.
There have been other instances of
Masonic lodges breaking up without
proper closing ceremonies, but as a
rule the ancient custom is adhered to
strictly. The assassination of a
president or a cyclone are about the
only calamities that could break into
the regularities of so august fra
ternal body as the Ancient Free and
accepted Masons.