The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-26
New Home Next Spring VIII Be
Finest in Country.
TOTAL MEMBERSHIP $1,000
Three Branches Are the Larg-
est in State of Kansas.
Only Council of Ancient TOltec
Rite Located Here.

= Topeka will take the position of the
the leading Masonic city of the middle
west upon the completion of the new
$1,000. 900 temple next spring. accord
ing to officials of the local Masonic
lodges. The temple when finished will
not be surpassed by any in the United
States. according to James B. Doncy-
son. secretary OF the Scottish Rite
bodies OF the Valley of Topeka.
= The Masonic membership in Topeka
sBi one OF the largest in the United
States in proportion to population.
The total approximate membership in
the city is $1,000. Many of the men,
Bers hold membership in several of the
bodies. Many others are non-resi-
the city and others reside in places
where there are no bodies.
.s-Altho the Scottish Rite bodies of
the Valley of Topeka are comparative
ly- new in comparison to other Ma
Sanic organizations in Topeka and
Kansas, they are among tine largest in
the country. The bodies at Wichita.
and Guthrie. Okla. are the only ones
SURPRISING them in membership in the
middle west. Topeka Consistory No.
has a membership of $3.50. 1t was
chartered April IS. 1892. Godfrey De
St. Omar Council of Knights Kadosh
No. has $500 members. 1t was
chartered February IS. 1884. Unity
tered February II. 1881. has a menu
hership of more than 300. On Febru-
airy /. 1870. Oriental Lodge of Per-
lection No. was chartered The
present membership is more than A.
q00.
No. Largest Kansas Chapter.
( Topeka Chapter No. 5. Royal Arch
ITasons, is the largest chapter in Kan
sas. Its membership, 1.400. is more
than twice as large as any other chap
ter in the state. 1t was chartered Oc-
The total Blue lodge membership
m Topeka is more than 1000. Topeka
hodge No. II. A F. and A. M, is one or
the oldest Masonic organizations in
The state. 1t was const.tu-e ed Novem-
Der rs, 1857. Many of 7. Ieka's most
prominent early pioneers held mem
bership in this organization The
other Blue lodges in Topeka and the
date they We e chartered a as fol-
lows: Orient lodge No. 81, Oc~ober II,
1857; Golden Rule lodge No. 80. Oc-
tober 90, 1870. and Sloan lodge No.
fiji
zabud council No 4, Royal and Sc
lect Masters. is the largest council in
Kansas. The membership is approx
imately 1000. 1t was chartered Oc-
tobere Is. 1872.
Largest Commnndery in State.
Topeka Commandery No. 5, knights
Temp1ar, is the largest commandery in
Ka hsas and the drill team has been
awarded the highest honors for the
last two years. It was chartered Oc-
tober IS. 1859, and the membership
is more than 1000.
Tho membership in the Order OF
Eastern Star is nearly 1000. Beulah
chapter No. "a. Order of Eastern Star,
was chartered March II, 1885. Helena
chapter No. 210, was chartered May
IL 1899.
Topeka possesses the only council of
A u
ell No. 1. It was chartered April IL.
1904. The membership of 1900 is eX-
tended over the entire United States
Persons from all parts of the coun-
try come to Topeka to attend its re-
unions.
The Topeka Abdallah Shrine club
has a membership of more than 1000.
1t was organized September 16, 1913.