Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-28
Masonic Club House at Bolton
First in Anu National Park
Membership to Include
Men in All Parts of
United States.

"l'ni1ue of it's kind. for the reason
that it is the only fraternal club house
built n any national park and because
lis membership is not limited to the
tmmediate locality or state but IS ma
,ion-wide. the newly opened Bolton
Masonic club gives to picturesque Bel
TN at the western entrance of GLACIER
National park n new place in the sur
L; was built by the Bolton Masonic
club. which has the Masons of that
yirinity on it's membership rolls. The
club anticipates. from this recent move.
h:rinC at some time a membership
which is world wide.
The members of Bolton Masonic club
made II d stinguished bow to the public
b. Giving a grand ball on the evening
of July ~ in the Identified log lodge
Just completed. All Masons and their
families were invited. Although it was
the stormiest night of the season. 20
persons attended. Fifty-seven auto
mobiles dared to undertake the nautical
voyage ovpr the rain-drenched valley
and Bad Rock canyon roads. Parties
came bv boat from Lewis hotel AT the
head of Lake Mcdonald, while others
Travelled by rail over the range from
many cities in the state. The transient
Masonic guests of the Great Northern
rhalets were also impelled to join the
merry-making crowd.
Artistic Decorations
In the receiving line were Messrs.
and Mesdames !. II. Eakin. H.. W.
Hutrhings. W. III. Cummings. X. r..
Marble. W. A.. Bose. !. f. Lewis. X. {.
Abel. II. F.. Vaught, II. Catterton.
Mrs. Jane Smith, Mrs. j.. Weightman
Miss Lulu NJ. Hazelbaker. Paul Schoen-
berger and Lewis l.. Hill.
The imposing club house was in fes-
tive attire. On the main floor arbor
vitae boughs festooned the massive pill
lars. the rustic balustrades, the iintels
of windows and the wide hand-hewn
door. Wild mountain flowers nodded
eaily from siils and corners and richly
blended with the ~colorfuI Indian decor
nt;ons-bright- hued blankets. rustic
benches. and trophies Of the chase
great heads and skins of the buffalo.
elk. goat. sheep. deer. bear and lion
Artistically colored photographs OF
some Of the immense wonders OF Ola
cier national park added to the beauty
Of the interior.
Four-Course Luncheon
The Nixon orchestra of Whlteflsh
furnished excellent music for the dane
ers.
A four course luncheon was served
Mt midnight in the dining halls of the
Great Northern cbalets. Directly after
luncheon hour II. Bose and w. j.
Brennan Of Kalispell. and Frank Lin
derman. the writer. made short and
apt speeches in honor of the occasion.
Aside from guests from II towns
in Montana. other states represented
were Minnesota. Indiana. Massachu-
sets. Iowa. Oregon. Washington. Cali
fornia. and Washington. ID. {.
Club Organized This Year
The spirit that moved the founders
nf the Bclton-Masonic club was a
magnanimous one. 1t can not be tod
better than by the statement of in
tcrt'on, in the club records
The purpose of the Belton-Masonic
club will be to provide a place for
study. recreation. and entertainment OF
visiting Masons, as well as a place
for Masons and their families to meet
socially throughout the year. The
club house will be provided with q
Ma sonic library. consisting of some of
the best Masonic books and magazines
as well as other magazines and best
Uaners."
The Belton-M Masonic club was or
gan zed in January of the present
year. II. w. Hutchings. assistant sup
erintendent of Glacier National park,
>,ne of the moving spirits of the or
sanization. was elected president. Mr..
Hutchings is supported by a strong
board Of directors. consisting of w.
n. Cummings. vicc-president; X. f.
Marble. treasurer; Paul Schoenberger.
secretary: II. f. Waugh. custodian.
The club house was commenced
about the middle of March md is com
plrte but for a few minor details. The
plans for the building were donated
through the courtesy Of Lewis l.. Hill.
assistant engineer Of the National
park service, who is also n member
of the club.
A Social Center
The financing of the undertaking
was accomplished by membership fees,
donations of labor, logs. and materials.
and By cash gifts. leaving a small
balance to be liquidatcd later.
In the beginning. faith in achieve
ment. small as a grain Of mustard
seed. was the sole possession of the
Relton-Masonic club. With that faith
they did not attempt to move noun
'ains that shut them in from the world
OF men and cities but did the next
best thing. brought 10 the mountain
not merely a community Masonic club
house but a social center. wherein
north, east. south and west may meet.
The members Of the club sincerely hope
that great state and national groups
will hear of the Masonic club
house and travel the blazed trail that
leads to its doors. Further convincing
evidence of the clubs genuine cordi-
atty and desire to cater to the pleas
ure and comfort OF its visiting guests
is the intention to place in the club
house a radio receiving set that will
bring TO the mountain club entertain
nent and news of the world Of men and
cities.
BY the Side of the Road
The simple architecture of the Bel
ton-Massnic club house is in keeping
with the generous purpose of the orig
i~rators. as well as in harmony with
the rugged beauty Of the adjacent
mountain peaks. 1t is built Of native
timber, is two stories high, and the