Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1927-08-19
STATE MASONRY
&c YEARS OLD
GRAND LODGE FIRST FORMED IN vIR-
GINA CITY IN 1866 BY
THREE LODGES


History of Organization In This STATE
Began During stormy Pionee Activi'
ties and struggle of Law Abiding Citi-
xens TO Maintain Order in Territory
The Montana grand lodge of Ancient,
Free and Accepted Masons has Just
completed its 63rd annual
cation, having met this year In Helena
The Masonic grand lodge was hrst or
ganized I'm Virginia Cit. Jan. "a, 1866;
bv delegates from Virginia City lodge
No. 4S, chartered by the grand lodge OF
Kansas: Montana lodge No. 8, chartered
BY the grand lodge of Colorado and
Helena lodge No. 10. also chartered by
the Colorado grand lodge.
Masonry,is interviewer with the early
day history in Montana and men whose
names are now engraved on tablets OF
fame, are revered by Montana historians
for the part played in the protection and
early development OF this commonwealth,
records show.
Representatives present at the organi-
cation {. the Grand Lodge were John j.
Hull, Arthur F. Sanders. L.. ". Trap.
Leander w. Frary. Luther c.. Lee and
Hugh Duncan Of Virginia City, and Cor
nelius Hedges. R. P. Sealy and G. w.
Mather of Helena.
The officers for the first year were
John j. Hull. grand master: L. w. Frary,
senior grand warden: Cornelius Hedges,
Junior grand warden: c. w. Mather.
grand treasurer; WILDER F. Sanders. grand
secretary: R. P. Sealy. senior grand dea-
con; Lewis Trap. junior grand deacon;
Hugh Duncan. grand steward; o. P. Ray
mond, grand tyler.
Pioneers in Lodge
John j. Hull was a Virginia City mer-
chant. He later became territorial treas
urer. Leander w. Frary was q pioneer
citizen, active in public affairs for a gen.
Grafton. Cornelius Hedges was p~ractic-
ing law in Helena, and leader of the
Helena committee Of safety. as the Vigil
lantes then officially termed themselves.
Sanders was q pioneer lawyer, and a resi-
dent of Virginia City where he was recog-
nized as leader Of the Vigilantes. Sub
sequently he became United States hi
tor. Hugh Duncan was a rugged Scotch
minister. He took a leading part in shap-
ing the destinies of the future state. The
Others likewise were all leaders In early
Montana days.
New charters were granted to the orig
inal three constituent bodies. and new
numbers ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS City lodge
No. !, Montana lodge No. 2 and Helena
lodge No. 8. The total membership of
the grand lodge was 113 at the time OF
organization, q figure which has increased
4OWAl w WIG A4iCCtAAlS ~ WIG AdAia AoAb0
in 1926 to 20,371. while the number Of
active lodges had increased during that
same period from three to 1874.
Second Meeting 1886
The second meeting OF the grand lodge
was also held in Virginia City, on Oct. J.,
1865. John J. Hull being continued as
grand master. Three new lodges were
chartered on this occasion-Nevada City
No. 4. Morning Star No. 5 of Helena, and
Eallafin M r. nf Rnypman All Nf fhaGa
early lodges are still in existence with
the exception Of Nevada City No. 4
which long ago surrendered its charter
when the decline of placer mining caused
the rapid decline in the population OF the
once busy city.
Virginia City as had reen the two previ-
u Grand lodge continued in session
from Oct. 7 to Oct. IL. 1867. laboring
diligently in laying foundation for the
future usefulness Of the fraternity In
Montana.
In Confederate Gulch
John j. Hull retired as grand master
n Leander w. Frary was advanced to
leadership of the craft. Six additional
lodges were Observation-Disclosures City
No. 7, located In Confederate Gulch,
about thirty-hve miles east of Helena,
which later was removed to White Sui
phur Springs; Wasatch lodge of of Salt
Lake City, Utah, later to become one of
the constituent lodges OF the Grand
Lodge Of Utah; King Solomon's lodge
No. 8 of Helena, now one of the flourish
ing organizations of Helena: Summit
lodge Nc. 10 of Summit City. which aban-
doned labors when Summit City's popu-
lation drifted away in search OF other
gold fields: Flint creek lodge No. IL, still
thriving in Philipsburg; and Red Noun
tain lodge No. IL Of Highland Gulch.
which -four or five years later succumbed
to the inevitable when Red Mountain
City became q ghost town.
Sanders Grand Master
The meeting Of Oct. 5, 1858, was also
held In Virginia City, as had been its
three predecessors. Wilbur F.. Sanders
became grand master, surrendering the
office Of grand secretary which he had
held ever since the formation Of the
grand lodge. Missoula lodge No. 10,
formed during the year, was added to
On Oct. 4, 1869, the Grand Lodge met
outside OF Virginia City for the first time
in its history, Helena serving as host
during the week. N. P. Langford, author
of "Vigilante Days and Ways" became
grand master. Only one new lodge was
formed at this session. Deer Lodge No.
IA. still the active center of Masonic
activities in Powell count
Cornelius Hedges became grand master
in October, 1870, n the following year
Was chosen grand secretary, an Office
which was his for thirty-seven successive
years. At the time of his death in 1907,
the grand secretaryship passed without q
dissenting vote. to his SON., Cornelius
Hedges, Jr., who administered the desti-
MES of the grand lodge for eighteen years
more.
Hedges mantle fell upon Luther T.
Hauberg, who is now carrying on the
arduous duties incidental to the office OF
grand secretary.
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