Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1920-03-15
HISTORY. Of
PURITYLODGE
Mrs. l. w. Hyatt Gives
Early History Of Lodge
at it's Last Meet
I ing.
FORMED N 1891
Eleven Charter Members
are Still Members of
Lodge.
FORMED IN 1891
BY r. 1. w. A

ly NAAS1s NJ
The Purity Rebekahs enjoyed q pic
mic supper at their hall Friday evening
lat $3.50 o'clock, following which the
regular meeting was held. Mrs. l.. E.
lChipman of Colorado, a former member
of this lodge and Mrs. Frank Waitman
fof Waterloo (but still a member of this
|lodge) were out of town guests at this
meeting and were heartily welcomed
by the members.
At this meeting the writer was APP
pointed reporter for the lodge.
Lodge History.
+ 1t being near the 10Th anniversary,
a short history Of the lodge was read
as follows:
Purity Rebekah lodge a instituted
Feb. %, 1891. by j. L. Abbott, +. G. NJ.
assisted by members OF the order from
Williams, Fort Dodge and Eagle Grove.
There were forty-seven charter mem
bers who were obligated and instructed
in the mysteries of the degree. J. I.
! Abbott was grand master from Octo-
Der, 1883, to October, 1884. Louis Bic.
derman was grand master the year the
lodge was instituted. Alice Bellalny
of Knoxville was president Of the Re-
bekah assembly, it being the third year
since the organization and he- SecONd
year as president, the only INK who
served the second term.
First Officers.
The first officers were: n. G., Mrs.
Geo. Frame /; v. G., Miss Martha Rut-
ledge; recording secretary, Mrs. Emma
Hoffman; financial secretary, Mrs. Geo.
Smith treasurer, Mrs. d. Lake. Mrs.
"a. H. Quincy was the first warden ard
Mrs. j. II. Lee the first conductor. He.-
tie Caldwell was L. s. V. &. An order
was drawn for~$5 to pay p. G. NJ. Alb.
lbott's expenses.
The first meeting Of the. lodge was
held Monday evening, March 8, 1901.
The first petitions for membership were
those of C. C. Gerber and W. ID.
|Kearns. The finance committee ap-
pointed at this meeting was composed
of +. d. Young. 0. G. Robb and j. il.
Lee. Alice Babbitt was One Of the
first trustees. The first and thiil Fri
days of each month We're chosen ter
the regular meeting of the lodge.
Other New Members.
The second meeting was held March
10, the third March 80 and the fourth
April 6, when Tressa BOssert was in
itiated. She is now a member Of Cher
nv Hill lodge of Woodstock. The fifth
meeting was held April II, when Ha,-
tie Stuart was initiated and she is
still a member of the lodge and present
with us tonight. June 10, 1891, Mrs.
Geo. Frame was elected y. e.. and
Hettie Caldwell v. G. The first death
was that Of Brother Layne in Deem
her, 1891. the resolution of respect being
copied in the minutes of the lodge,
| April IL, 1892. H. Il. Dodge. Galatea
Dodge and Janette Willard we're initial
ed and became members Of the lodge
June II, 1892. Sister Frame was elect
ed delegate to the Rebekah assembly,
which met at Clinton Dec. .. 1892.
At the meeting of, the lodge a staff
was organized. The noble grand ap-
pointed Sisters Frame, Caldwell and
Bossert Il committee to assign the diff
|~ferent parts. Dec. 16 Brother Frame
was appointed drill master for the
staff. Feb. II. 1893, W. w. Hyatt an'!
Fannie Hyatt were initiated by the
degree team and became members of
Purity lodge. 1t was reported that the
charter had been framed by Brother
Lee free OF charge. A vote Of thanks
was given him by the lodge. 1t was
decided that the staff and other mem
bers should go to Eagle Grove to help
lorganize a lodge Mt that place.
June ., 1885,. Alice Babbitt was elect
81. G.. and Mrs. a. H. Quincy V. &.
Carrie Bawden was initiated by the
new staff at this meeting. Alice Bah
bitt served rs president of the Re
|bekah assembly from October. 1900, to
October, 1901. The place of injecting
was at Crestom. We have her to thank
for a beautiful picture of David and
Jonathan, painted by her and donated
to the lodge and it still adOrns the walls
of our lodge room.
We still have a Gumber of these
Iearly members at a meetings and by
their shining eyes and happy faces. we
know they are well pleased because
Purity Rebekah lodge is III the map
and still growing and We trust sle may
grow and prosper many. many years.
At the present time we have eleven
charter members, namely: Hettie Cad
well. n. Fl. Baw1en. W. W. Stow, Mrs.
w. w. STOW. Mrs. A. II Quincy. Ellen
Wells. Alice Babbi<t,' J. II. Lee, Mrs.