Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-06-28
La BELLE FOUNDED I'M 90

The yiroqua Masonic Lodge re-
eeived its dispensation on December
28, 1856-the same year in which the
Vernon County Censor was born. The
Charter was granted on June 10th,
! 1857. From a modest beginning Of
the Blue Lodge with half dozen
charter members IN that year the
lodge has expanded TO a membership
Of 249-one of the strong lodges Of
the state in cities of our size-in the
space of Sc years. That grand old
man, Governor Jeremiah Rusk was one
of the charter members. The others
were w. II. Austin, S. C. Lincoln, VIM.
r. Billiard, VIM. R. Heron and j. H..
Wood
Since the beginning of Masonry in
Viroqua, the Chapter, the Command
cry of Knights Templar and the Order
of the Eastern Star have been added
all possessing large membership rolls.
The first lodge room was the second
story of house and millinery store,
owned by Mrs. Larson, and which stood
where Mrs. A. o. Larson's building
now stands. This building was de-
stroyed in the great cyclone of 81
years ago. Later this building was
rebuilt and used for the home of the
lodge until 1871. In that year Cap
tain NJ. c. Nichols had completed his
building (the old Ostrem store) stand
ing where Chris fine new store stands,
and which was ruined by fire several
years ago. Into this building the lodge
was moved and continued there until
1880. The H. ID. Williams building
was completed that year, the Masons
and Odd Fellows building the second
story-the Masons the north half at a
cost of 500, the Odd Fellows the south
half costing $500. These figures seem
preposterous in this age Of high costs.
March 9Th, 1914, was a happy and
proud day in Mansonic circles, when
the Lodge moved into the fine build
ing constructed over the ruins of J :,
Henry Tate's old wooden building.
For five years the lodge enjoyed these
sumptuous quarters. Then, like a
thunderbolt out of clear sky, came
that fateful fire alarm at $3.50 on the
morning of February 18th, 1919, that
assembled our people to witness the
sad sight of this beautiful structure
being leveled by the devastating hand
of flame in the incredibly short space
of one hour, carrying down to total
destruction this pride of Masonry and
the fine stores of S. j. Sauer and Hen
ry Hendrickson. 1t was sad blow
to the lodge, coming at time when
the insurance was entirely inadequate
to compensate for the loss Stripped
of all equipment and paraphernalia,
the lodge accepted the fine fraternal
invitation extended by the Odd Eel
lows to share with them their hall
the old Running building.
But Masonry is a body without
death; a mind without decline. Cen
turtles pass and generations come and
go, but ike the Church of Christ, and
founded upon the same sublime Chris
ton fundamental virtues and prac-
tees, neither death nor fire daunts its
great heart, and within the space of
three years there has blossomed out
over the ashes of the old Temple a
structure so far exceeding it in size
and modernness as to leave no room
for comparison. And best of all, this
structure is as nearly fire-proof and
age-proof as the ingenuity of man
could make it. There is no disinte-
grafton to the materials of which it is
constructed--they will continue to
grow harder and firmer with age.
Only such great natural manifesta-
tons of nature as a terrible tornado
earthquake, or a confiagration such
as would sweep Viroqua from the face
of the earth could encompass its de-
struction. Barring these it will stand
thousands of years from today-a
monument to it's builders, a blessing to
its occupants.