Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1918-03-28
CELEBRATE FIFTY
YEARS A MASON
Audubon Masonic Fraternity Does
Honor to ii. w. Wilson, Who
Has Been Member of the
Lodge Half a Century

Last Thursday was an eventful
day for the members of Veritas
Lodge No. 1872, A. f. & A. NJ, when
with their wives they assembled at
their hall to celebrate the occasion
of Fl. w. Wilson having been a Ma
son for period of fifty years
1t isn't often that a member of
any order is privileged to live to
enjoy such a distinction, but it has
come to Mr.. Wilson and the lodge
did not propose to let such an en-
jOyable event pass without celebrat-
ing in a manner befitting its import
ance.
The Masons and their wives as
sembled in the hall at eight o'clock
and soon after a short musical pro-
gram was rendered as follows:
Ladies' Quartette-"A Perfect
Day"-Rendered very efficient
ly by the Misses Ruth Preston,
Olga Christensen, Grace George
and Alma Christensen.
Piano Solo ................ Mildred Buck
Vocal Solo ....-.......M Miss De Frates
Ladies Quartette (by the same
ladies)-"Oh Tell Us, Merry,
Birds of Spring"
Patriotic Solo .....-....Miss De Frates
The ladies of the quartette Joined
the soloist in the chorus of Keep
The Home Fires Burning" Miss
Mildred Buck was the accompanist
for all of the musical numbers rem
dered.
II. j. Mantz in that happy and
pleasing way Of his, then gave an
interesting talk in behalf of Veritas
lodge. He spoke Of the joy and
pleasure the members of the lodge
had in their association with brother
Wilson and how eager they always
were for his company and associa-
tion He had lived up to the ideals
of the order during all the years
that are past, and now that he had
reached the evening Of lsfe. they
were more than ever pleased to call
him a brother Mason and one worthy
of the name. In closing his address
he presented Mr.. Wilson with sill
yer loving cup, as a token of re-
membrance from the lodge.
Mr.. Wilson was agreeably surpris-
ed and accepted the gift in the same
spirit in which it was given. In a
few words he told how he came to
Join, the lodge and how proud he
had always been to be a Mason. He
said many events had taken place
since he Joined the order. but no
event in his life stood out more
marked than the night he was rails
ed to the sublime degree of Master
Mason.
Mr.. Wilson was born and raised
at Carrollton, Ohio, but came to
Iowa at the close of the war and in
December 1855 located at West
Liberty, Iowa. where he and Mrs.
Wilson were married. Their two
children, Mrs., C. w. Marlin, of. To-
peka, Kans., and Mary A.. who died
at the age of 81 years. were born
while they lived at West Liberty
In 1868 Mr.. Wilson went back to
Ohio and while there told some Of
his close friends how he regretted
that he had not become a Mason be-
fore leaving the old home town.
This matter was talked among the
members and arrangements were at
once made to accept him as a men,
Der. A special dispensation was
granted and on February z, 1868,
Mr.. Wilson took his first degree and
on March 81, took his last degree.
When he came back to Iowa he
later located at Avoca, where he was
mayor of the new town for a term
of years and was also instrumental
in organizing their first running
fire team. In 1884 he and his fam
lily came to Audubon and have re-
NAMED residents of this city now al
most "a years. Mrs. Wilson enjoyed
the surprise and honor with her dis
tinguished husband. 1t was fitting
and proper that the lodge here
should hold a celebration for Mr.
Wilson, for all are proud to own
him as an honorable and patriotic
citizen and upright Mason.
At the close of the evenings pro-
gram refreshments were served by
the Camp Fire Girls. consisting of
sandwiches, pickles, ice cream, cake
and coffee.