The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1928-06-07
Star in the West Lodge
No. 60 A. F. & A. M.

No. 90 A. r. q A. M.
Most men and many IF the ladies
are affiliated either directly or in
directly with some sort of frater-
nal organization. The establish
lishment of fraternal society in
any new community is pretty fair
evidence that that community is
settling into a law abiding place in
which to live.
Masonry is of ancient origin,
and it is not at all surprising that
it should gain a substantial foot
hold in Sank Centre shortly after
the establishment of the town, as
the early settlers were largely of
New England and middle-west
stock.
The dispensation for the organi-
cation of Star in the West Lodge
u. D., was granted by Grand Mas
ter C. w. Nash, Nov. 10, 1866.
w. H. Smith was named as w. M. ;
Newton s. Parker as S. W.; E. K.
Jacques, as J. w. From the best
authority obtainable the other
Master Masons signing the petit
ton were: Lucas Kells, A. Moore,
S. B. Mcclure, Josiah Wood, Whit
er Jacques, Thos. Chance, T. J..
Clark, C. M. Human, J. B. Pea
body and J. Buchanan.
The Grand Lodge of Minnesota
granted a charter to Star in the
West Lodge No. 60, on Oct. "a.
1867, 81 years from the date of
the writing of this article. The
officers were: E. P. Barnum, w.
M; C. M. Human, S. w.; E. K.
Jacques, j. w.; Moore, treas. ;
Byron F. Carr, sec.; w. H. Smith,
S. D.; Winter Jacques, j. D.; Lucas
Kells, tyler.
Henry "A. Boobar was the first
brother to receive his Master Ma
son degree, the same being con-
ferred at the request of North Star
Lodge, st. Cloud.
At the time of it's institution
Star in the West Lodge was the
most westerly Masonic body east
of the Rocky mountains, and many
noted army officers from Fort
Abercrombie and other posts start
ed on their Masonic life as men,
bers of the Sank Centre lodge.
Star in the West Lodge has
furnished one Grand Master, Gov.
A. Barto; E. P. Barnum had at.
tanned the position of Senior Grand
Warden of the Grand Lodge when
the board of custodians was or
ganized, at which time he was
placed at the head of this branch
of the work, holding the position
for many years.
Star in the West Lodge has long
been noted for the splendid man
ner in which they conferred de-
grees and it was only few years
ago that the officers of Star in the
West were invited to confer the
Master Mason degree at the Grand
Lodge meeting in st. Paul.
Star in the West Lodge has been
the parent lodge of several lodges
in this locality; goodly number
of the first members of the bodies
at Alexandria, Osalis, Long Pra-
irie, Melrose, Glenwood and Vii
lard were formerly members of
this lodge.
Star in the West Lodge meets
in the Masonic Temple on the sec
ond and fourth Tuesday of each
month. The membership of Star
in the West Lodge is approx
mately 200. The officers for 1928
are: Sigurd Holme, w. M; G. H.
Vandesteeg, IS. w.; H. J. Krohm,
j. W.; Secretary, Frank Bunker
treasurer, J. H. Hansen; V. G..
Wedge, S. D.; l.. A. Walker, j.
D.; Rev. C. S. Sparkes, chaplain ;
George Fish, marshal; L. Dolson,
S. S.; Floyd Thomas, ]. S.; tyler,
Alex Dryden.
For fifty years the Sank Cen
tire Masonic bodies met on the
third floor of a wooden building
now owned by DR.. J. A. Dubois.
In 1916 committees of the various
Masonic bodies were appointed to
devise ways and means obtaining
a new meeting place for the fra
ternity. The personnel of the
committee was: E. A. Richards,
Cary Diehl, R. E. Hansen, G. Hill
lerud, D. B. Caughren, l.. l.. Kells,
". G. Wedge, Adam Ingram, Asa
M. Wallace and R. R. Kells.
After much. investigation the
above committee organized and in
corporated the Sank Centre Ma
sonic Building Association on
March 16, 1915. Building plans
were prepared and the present
temple was completed and form
ally opened to the public Jan. l.,
1917.
Tht incorporation is free from
debt; the building is used strictly
for Masonic purposes and is gen.
orally acclaimed one of the finest
Masonic homes in the Northwest.
The present officers of the cor
poration are: E. A. Richards,
president; G. Hillerud, vice presi-
dent; D. B. Caughren, treasurer;
". G. Wedge, secretary; R. R.
Kells, L. l.. Kells, R. E. Hansen,
Adam Ingram, H. w. Bishop and
Asa M. Wallace directors.
Sank Centre Chapter
NO. 40, r. A. M.
Sank Centre Chapter No. 49,.