Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1938-07-30
Picture of Montana's First Masonic
Lodge Meeting Painted by Settler

: Montana's capital city Is soon to &C
! quire a painting of historical as vel
as artistic and fraternal value whicl
) viii be a distinct community asset
! John Kahn has announced
1t Is q painting, now being executeg
/ by o. 9. Settler Of Great Falls, w1dels
known Montana and western artist, de-
plotting the first symbolic Masonic
lodge meeting In Montana~-a meetins
held Sept. %, 1862, on a lofty peak 81
the continental divide just west Of
Mullan pass.
When finished, the picture, which
win be 9x15 feet in size, will be IN
stalled on the north wall Of the Ma
sonic grand lodge library IN Helena,
where It can be viewed at any time
by Helena citizens OF visitors.
This acquisition was made possible
through the efforts Of Mr.. Kain, who
is junior past grand master of Mon
tana Masons; Jesse Stoner, member
prominent Helena attorney who is well
informed on early Masonic history in
this state, and others.
MIR. Kain's Recommendation
When Mr.. Kain was grand master Of
the grand lodge in 1936-37, he recom-
mended to that body that arrange
ments be made for a painting in the
new grand lodge library building,
showing the first meeting place Of
Masons in Montana. The recommen-
dalton received enthusiastic approval
and the succeeding grand master, Ed
Grafton Of Billings, appointed the fol-
lowing committee to arrange for the
decoration:
MIR. Kain, Mr.. Brown, DR.. Philip g.
Cole of New York city, DR.. w. j.
Marshall Of Missoula, and Lewis A
Smith Of Butte.
MIR. Stoner, MIR. Kahn said, had fire.
quently indicated a desire to do some
thing for the MaSonS Of Montana, and
therefore the committee waited on him
and suggested that he might provide
the necessary funds so that an out
standing artist could be engaged to
paint the picture MIR. Stoner investi-
gated, and then assured the committee
he would be glad to furnish the money
for such mural.
The committee submitted the matter
to group of six Montana artists, with |
the result that a number of fine con-
captions Of this famous Masonic event !
were submitted in competition with the
names Of the artists concealed. These /
sketches were judged by Mary e. Ham
non of the art department of Montana /
State college and other art critics.
Settlers Picture Chosen
The picture now being painted by
MIR. Settler was unanimously selected, /
and his services were Immediately en-
gagged. The painting is now approx |
mately 60 percent finished, Mr.. Selt2er !
reported, although work on it is being I
delayed somewhat by the unusual I
dampness of the weather.
Central figure in the picture Is N. P.
Langford, famous Montana pioneer and
one OF the founders of Masonry IN this
&n4A ID ~n% ~~E vx4,
neer named Charlton, but the third
figure represents a man whose identity
has been lost through the years
MIR. Settlers conception Of the scene,
on a high, bare peak of the Rocky
mountains at twilight, Is one Of solemn
tty and grandeur. In the background
are the imposing peaks Of the great
mountain range, with beautiful Mon
tana twilight sky overhead, and sharply
drawn against these are the figures of
the first three MaSOnE ever to meet
In symbolic session In the territory.
This conception was gained by MIR.
Settler from an address MIR. Langford
made In 1857 before the Montana grand
lodge, which has been preserved and
n which he said In part:
LangfOrd's Description
II esteem myself fortunate in having
been one Of the early settlers of Mon
tanar-more fortunate In having, before
left the abodes of civilization, been
raised TO the sublime degree Of
Master Mason When the company Of !
which was one entered with the
Fiske expedition in 1882 what Is now
Montana, then Dakota, single settle
nent, known by the name Of Grass
Hopper (now Bannack) was the only "A
abode Of the white man In the south
I'm part Of the territory. Our journey {
rom Minnesota OF ], 400 miles by {
quite never before travelled and with !
he slow conveyance of OK trains, was
If long duration and tedious.
ut was a clear September twilight !
when we camped on the western side {
If the range Of the Rocky mountains {
where they are crossed by the Mullan '
Dad. The labors of the day over, three
If our number, a brother named Charl- =
on, another whose name have for
often, and myself, the only three
dasonS In the company, impressed with
he grandeur of the mountain scenery
md the mild beauty Of the evening,
seconded the mountain to its summit
nd there, in imitation of our ancient
brethren, opened and closed an in
ormal lodge Of Master Masons.
Were Deeply Impressed
II had listened to the solemn ritual
Il Masonry a hundred times, but never
when 1t impressed me SO seriously as
pom this occasion; such, also, was the
experience of my companions. Our
ong journey and its undertaking round
daily employment had, until this
ccasion, been wholly unalleviated by
ny circumstance calculated to soften
r mellow the feelings subjected to
UGH discipline. Never was the fra
ernal clasp more cordial than when,
n fine plnYv If that faaa1yfffrlI afYfaTrnuaf
vening, we opened and closed the first
odge ever assembled In Montana"
When the picture Is finished and in
tailed, 1t win be dedicated with simple
ut impressive ceremonies, MIR. Kahn
aid.
MIR. Settler is considered one of the
Test's greatest artists, and his paint
1gS, mostly In oil, are exhibited In vir-
1Rlly every state of the Union and In
lany Canadian provinces He is par
cularly noted for his skies and horses.
a. H. esN