The Kevin review. [volume] (Kevin, Mont.) 1922-1929, 1923-09-20
MASONIC MEETING
in 81 RECALLED
LAYING OF CORNERSTONE AT
BUTTE REEVES MENTION
OF FIRST LODGE

LII Tic pI0ScuCo VI d I~0pIoSSutdtiO
of officers of the grand lodge of Mon
tana and a large crowd of spectator
that lined the streets, the cornerston'
to the new 100000 Masonic tempt
in Butte, now in the course of con
struction, has been laid with cere
monies befitting the occasion.
Preceded by the ritual of the grant
lodge, the services were Masonic il
their entirety. Wearing their EN-
blematic white aprons, the Masons
led by their acting grand marshal
filed from the old temple, escorted
by members Of Montana command
cry, No. 8, knights Templar.
The services were conducted by G.
S. Bell of Billings, worshipful grand
master. He was assisted by other
members of the grand lodge. L. A.
Smith, president of the temple board
of trustees, and under whose super
vision the temple is being erected, de-
livered the address.
Bearing the Masonic emblem, the
square and compass, the corner stone
faces both Park and Washington
streets. 1t also bears the inscription
1928" When completed, the new
building will dovetail with the old
structure, which was erected in 1901.
The walls of the old building will also
be made to harmonic with those of
the new temple.
First Meeting in State
The small metal container in which
had been packed a collection of me-
mentos was placed inside the corner
stone by President Smith during the
course of the ceremonies. 1t had been
packed earlier in the day in the
presence of officers of the grand
lodge.
Mr.. Smith, whose address was elo-
quent, traced the origin of Masonry
from the days of King Solomon to the
present day. "The origin of Masonry
is at this day uncertain, seemingly
lost in the mist of time, but it is adj
mittedly the most ancient of orders.
1t has been asserted that the history
of the race was the history of Ma
sonry," he said
Relative to Masonry and it's de-
velopment in Montana, Mr.. Smith
read the words of N. P. Langford.
The latter wrote:
"1t was a clear September twi-
light when we camped on the western
where they crossed by the
Mullen road. The labors of the day
over, three of our number, a brother
Charlton, another, whose
name I have forgotten, and myself,
the only three Master Masons in the
company, impressed with the gran
of the mountain scenery and
the mild beauty of the evening, as
the mountain to its summit,
and there in imitation of our an
cient brethren, opened and closed
an informal lodge of Master Masons
[ had listened to the solemn ritual
Of Masonry a hundred times, but
never when it impressed me so Sc
as upon this occasion; such
also was the experience Of my COM
3anions. Our long journey and its
Undertaking round of daily employ
nents, had, until this occasion, been
wholly ~unalleviated by any circum-
stances calculated to soften or mel
ow the feelings subjected to such dis
We felt it a relief to know
Zach other in the light of Masonry.
1ever was the fraternal clasp more
cordial than when in the glory OF
beautiful autumn evening, we
'pened and closed the first lodge
yer assembled in Montana"
Lodge at Nevada City
The first effort to organize a Ma
onic lodge in what is now Montana
vas occasioned by the death of a
Mason, William H. Bell of st.
louis, who died at Bannack, then
daho territory, Nov. IL, 1862. He
av1ng requested a burial with Ma
onic rites, the word was passed
round and 76 Master Masons assem-
led to take part in the funeral rites,
Th1ch were conducted by Brother N.
: Langford. AS a result of this gath
ring of Masons, it was decided to
rganize a lodge and application was
to the grand master of the
rand lodge of Nebraska. A dispense
on was granted by the grand master
Nebraska on April 81, 1863, but
le lodge eve met under this au-
lority, as new gold discoveries had
fused these brothers to dispense to