Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-08-13
C Bee Line Has More Federal Constructs
Than Amy Other Highway in Montan;
Pioneer Mas@ms Drove
Robbers From State i'm
EARLY Gold Mining Days

MAYHEM the grand lodge Of
wv Ancient Free and Ac.
copied Masons of Mon.
tana meets in Helena this
week for it's fifty-eighth an.
nual session, there will be
present not one of the little
party of 10 pioneers who par
ticipated in the formation OF
the grand lodge at a meeting
held in Virginia City, January
"a, 1866. They have all save
one, Carlton w. Mather, now
living at Butte, passed on to
their reward, but the organi-
zation they formed has ex-
panded from one of three sub
ordinate lodges with a very
limited membership (97) to a
great association of 1872 sub
ordinate lodges representing a
membership of 1880.
The initial convention of the
Masons of Montana was held
in the Masonic hall in Virginia
City, January "a, 1866, with
representation from three lodges:
Virginia City lodge No. 43. Kansas
registry; Montana lodge No. 8, of
Virginia City: and Helena lodge No.
10. of Helena, holding charters from
Colorado.
The Masons in attendance were
John j. Hull. Wilbur T. Sanders, L.
Trap, Samuel L. Wells, NJ. L. Strass-
burger, S. Star, Nat ]. Davis. F. c.
Cornell and F. c. Deimling. represent
ing Virginia City lodge No. 43: Lean
der W. Frary, Luther G. Lee, Hugh
Duncan. Henry Metz and Samuel Word
representing Montana lodge No. g.:
Cornelius Hedges. Il. P. Sealy, c. W.
Mather, Fl. NJ. Fee and John Potter,
representing Helena lodge No. 10.
First Officers Elected
At the opening session the follow
ing resolution was adopted:
Resolved. That the several lodges
of Ancient Masons in the territory of
AltltdId- ucEt IcptcbCdlCu. tohSiuCi II
as a matter of right and for the gen
eral benefit of Masonry that they
ought to form a grand lodge within
said territory. and do now proceed to
form and organize themselves into a
grand lodge accordingly. to be known
and distinguished by the name of the
Grand Lodge of Montana"
After selecting temporary officers
the grand lodge proceeded TO the
adoption of constitution and bylaws.
after which permanent officers were
chosen as follows:
John j. Hull, most worshipful grand
Leander W. Frary. right worshipful
grand master.
Cornelius Hedges, right %worshipful
senior grand warden.
Robert p. Sealy. right %worshipful
Junior grand warden.
Luther c. Lee. right w%orshipful
grand treasurer.
Wilbur F. Sanders. right %worshipful
grand secretary.
Appointive officers were named by
the grand master as follows:
Hugh Duncan. right worshipful grand
chaplain.
F. c. Cornell. right w~orshipful grand
marshal.
John Potter. right worshipful grand
lecturer.
T. J.. Dimsdale. right worshipful
grand orator.
c. W. Mather, worshipful senior
grand deacon.
Lewis Trap, worshipful junior
grand deacon.
O. p. Raymond, worshipful grand
tyler.
The grand lodge approved of the
already held by the subordinate
lodges and in turn granted to them
under the Montana grand
lodge by which they then became
known as Virginia City lodge No. /.
Montana lodge No. , and Helena lodge
No. 8.
Masonry's Rapid Growth
After having been IN session six
the grand lodge was closed with
4 brief address by the grand orator
n which he said:
1T is with the greatest pleasure that
address you on this suspicious ,.rca-
sion. at the conclusion of your labors,
as members of the first grand lodge
hat ever sat in this territory. The
.apid progress of Masonry in Montana
las been a matter of astonishmcnt to
III brothers visiting us from the states:
,ay, more. it has astonished ourselves.
more than three years ago.
he wild beasts and the still wilder in
lians of the mountains, were the sole
Ienizens of the hills that now look
on the metropolis of these re-
when I gaze around me at this
r and commodious hall, with its
legant furniture and suggestive en-
lens. it's seats filled with intelligent
nd energetic men, whose objects in
ssembling here are the propagation
nd extension of the principles of uni
charity and brotherly love. which
re alike the foundation and glory of
l feel thankful. as l know
ou do, in being permitted to take part
4 these edifying c~eremonials: in as
isting thus to place the capital on
he column of Masonry in these noun
aims. and to add the last link TO the j
olden chain of Masonic brotherhood I
'hich now encircles the earth. !
I'm the early days of Montana crime :
as rampant in the land. and the very !
of society were shaken to ;
heir basis: fortunately. a large num- !
of MaSpns had come with the {
,rong Of pioneers, and mindful Of thei