I
h
n
Nebraska
ith i r.siia as-o. Hcntember ZL
J I in Omaha City, the first grand
.i ; , I lodge of Ancl.nt Free and Ac
cT,f,'l Masons of Nebraska was
called tu order. At that time
tif.,,. mrc three blue lodges In the state
and degrees above the blue lodge were
1'iiK-tUnlly unknown, of the members of
Hint first grund 1i1k" but one man survives,
ml It in greatly lo the regret of those who
elel, ra, t)ir senil- . nt nnlal ot the grranrt
l"dgn ii. m iTk that he cannot be present.
This survivor Is Joseph P. Manning, who
Until n c. nily r side.) nt Benson, but who
Is now ix 1,'S.diril ,f the state of Wash
lrslri. The in Ml urand hi.'g. wa, presided over
by It. i Jonlnn t Omalm, who was
iauf mnsl.T for a nu..., r of years and
w-lM mter became grand secretary. I,, t,
BowVn of lielicvuc was deputy p,-and mas
ter. David Lindley of Nebraska City,
grand s-nior warden; 1. II. Kinney of
Bellevue. grand Junior worden; William
Anderson of N brasUa City, grand treas
rer, and Oeoi-Bo Armstrong of Omaha,
grand seoretury. Th.se worn the elective
officers. The ai.tiolni iv.. r.,..r n y
Cornell of Nebraska City, grand Fnarshal;
Al. t-llivlnt'toll Of Omalm Drrn.,1 ,.lin-
Iain; Charles W. Hamilton of Omuhn, grand
enlor deacon; John A. Nye of Bellevue,
grand Junior deacon, and Joseph I'. Man
ning of Omaha, grand tyler. After these
officers had been selected they were In
stalled by J. A. W. Bush of Illinois, who
had been empowered by the grand lodge
of Illinois to perform this service.
Fa rile t of Nebraska I.odae.
In the dajs before the organization of the
grand lodgo the territory luid been a free
field for every grand lodge, and when the
representatives of the three organizations
came together It was found that each had
been chartered by a different, grand lodge.
The oldest lodge In the territory was that
t Bellevue. It was known as Nebraska
lodge, and curried the number given It
by the grand lodge of Illnols 1S4. The
lodge at Nebraska City had been char
tered by the grand lodge of Missouri and
bore the- name of Olddlngs lodge No.
150. Iowa's grand lodge nnd chartered
tho loilge at Omaha, which was known aa
Capitol lodge No. 101.
. The delegates from these lodges were:
I Nebraska lodge No. 184, L. B. Klnoey,
L. L. Bowen and John A. Nye; Olddlngs
lodge No. 156, David I,lndley, H. N. Cor
nell and William Anderson; Capitol lodge
No. ldl, Oeorge Armstrong, Charles W.
Hamilton and Robert C. Jordan. A ref
erence to the names of elected and ap
pointed officers will show that there were
not enough delegates to till the grand
offices, and Masons were taken from the
craft at large to serve. About the first
thing tho grand lodge did after officers
were Installed was to change the number
of the lodges, and in the case of the Ne
braska City lodgo. the name. The lodges
were numbered in accordance with the
data of their Institution and Nebraska
City's lodge was given the name of West
ern Star, upon application of Its delegates.
These namea and numbers have never been
; changed.
Work of the First Year.
(One year after the grand lodge was es
tablished, lodges were constituted at
ilrownvllle, Dakota City and Plaftsmouth,
and aa far as existing lodges ore con
rerned none other was chartered until
1865, when the lodge at Falls City was
charterd. The next year the lodge at
Fort Calhoun and Covert lodge at Omaha
Tjf Instituted. At the beginning of the
J'iflt 1870 there were seventeen lodges,
which still exist In the state. Six lodges
were chartered In 1870. Unltl 1880 the
banner year for new lodges was 1874,
when eight lodges were chartered, and
this record was not exceeded until 1883,
when twenty lodges came Into being, and
this Is the highest record for any year
In the history of the grand lodge.
The Nebraska Masonic grand lodge. In
common with similar organizations all
over the United States, passed through
somewhat trying times immediately fol
lowing the civil war. When the war had
ended, although as patriots the members
Of the Nebraska lodges rejoiced, as Ma
sons they mourned with those of their
brethren. who returned to their routhern
homos to find them desolate. When such
conditions existed It was only natural
that these defeated and distressed Ma
sons should look to their victorious and
prosperous brethren In the north fur relief.
No public talk was heard on the subject,
but the records of the grand lodge show
that when It was a struggling organiza
tion on the frontier of the United Status, .
Its membership composed largely of
homesteaders, rich only In hope, $li0
was contributed to the fund which Ma
sons of the north raised to assist those
of the south during tho dark days which
followed the close of the war.
In the old records are many cases where ,
grand officers asked to be excused from
service because they were compelled to
go to the front with their regiments, and
the Nebraska grand lodge authorized tho
organization of one military lodge among
members of a Nebraska regiment. When
the regiment was mustered out of the
service the lodge ceased to exist, and the
grand lodge after some difficulty made
arrangements for the future membership
of those members who hud been Initiated
In the military lodge while the old mem
bers returned to their former lodgeB.
Celebration Twenty-Five Years Airo.
Twenty-five years ago the first celebra
tion of the Nebraska grand lodge took
place. The festivities were held on the
fair ssounds at Omaha, which were then
on Sherman avenue Just south oT Ames
venue. The grand lodge met In P'.vclal
communication at the Masonic te.i.p.e and
then proceeded to the grounds, where tho
formal celebration took place. There were
representatives from Iowa. Kansas, Illi
nois, California, Colorado and a number
Of other states, while ono man who held
membership In a South African lodge took
part In the ceremonies. At that meeting
there were a number of members of the
original grand lodge present. Robert C.
Jordan, tho first grand master, delivered
an address; George Armstrong, the first
grand secretary, took an active part, while
1 Theodore I
I . of the Ioi
1 v .i.-akers
I j0 il-. sses on
Cowln Is
Theodore B. Farvln, the veteran secretary
of the Iowa grand lodge, was one of tho
Of those who delivered ad-
on that occasion General John C.
the only local survivor to be
present at the celebration of the semi-
. centennial.
. . Bine that' day many men who were
recognised aa leading citizens of ths state,
as well as bright and conscientious Masons,
have passed away. Among them are re
called the names of former Governor Rob
ert W. Furnas, past grand master and
past grand secretary; George W. Linln
ger. Masonic Investigator, traveler and
practical founder of the Nebraska Masonic
home; W. B. Bowen, at the time of his
death grand secretary, which office he
beld for twenty-seven years; and Champion
8. Chase, one time mayor of Omaha and
Nebraska pioneer.
In his address to the grand lodge the
grand master of that day congratulated
V the lodge upon Its growth In the twenty,
five years which had elapsed since Its
foundation, and predicted greater growth
In ths future, but did not predict the
Aasons
C E BURNHAM PG.M.
CHAIRMAN EXECUTIVE-COMMITTEE
showing which was made at the 100 ses
sion of the grand lodge when 328 lodges,
with 16,163 members were reported in good
standing.
Bottle of Wine Dedicated.
At the twenty-fifth anniversary of the
order a number of the members present
seated around a table decided to drink
to (ho health of their associates and them
selves and to place a bottle of the same
wine In the archives of the grand lodge,
the survivors of the party to drink tho
wine on the fiftieth anniversary to the
memory of those who had departed and
to the health of those who should sur
vive. The wine was furnished by Gov
ernor Furnas, who secured It from his
own vineyard. It was placed In a bottle
and sealed and a statement prepared by
Alfred G, Hastings attached to the bottle
setting forth the reasons for Its presence
In the grand lodge vaults and Us object.
To this was attached the signatures of
the members of the party, and an agree
ment that on the fiftieth anniversary of
the order the survivor whose name first
appeared on the list of signers should call
the other survivors around him and open
the bottle. To this was attached the sig
natures, as follows: Robert C. Jordan,
George Armstrong, Robert W. Furnas,
Martin Dunham, Alfred G. Hastings,
George W. Llnlnger, Joseph A. Tulleys,
James R. Cane, Edwin F. Warren, Henry
Brown, Chris Hartman, W. R. Bowen,
George W. Bratton, John II. Maxon, James
W. Small, John J. Mercer, A. G. Burnette,
Nathan Carter, John II. Butler. Milo C.
Wilson. William J. Lamb, Louis Bradford,
Oscar B. Sharpless, J. B. Kernahan. John
Bamford, Charles K. Coutant, Theodore 8.
Divorce
Ul Divorces a specialty. Fees. 35.000
mm
guaranteed. Needless for any but
millionaires and millionairesses
to apply."
This sign might be put over most of the
divorce courts In the country. For divorce
has come to be a most expensive luxury,
especially for very rich men who wish to
put aside an old love In order to assume a
new. '
About seven years ago the prices of
divorces begsn to soar. Ixive deserted the
bargain counter when William Bateman
Leeds put up a king's or queen's ransom
to wed Mrs. Worthlngton of Cleveland.
Then the fab- god got wise. He marked up
his novelties to almost prohibitive prices.
In the game the latest comer made quite
hit. This Is Jovial "Dan" Hanna. Re
cently there appeared the headlines, "Dan
Takes Wife No. S." and "Dan Hanna.
Divorced Twice, to Wod Again." Other
men with "divorces hanging at their girdles
began to take notice.
Twenty years ago young Henna was con
sidered the beau Ideal In Cleveland. He
was the favored of the favorites, and aspir
ing swains of his set gritted their te-th
when they saw that on him rested the sun
shine of the glances of May Harrington and
Daisy Gordon. The girls were chums, and
both liked Dan. It was understood that he
was engaged to Miss Gordon.
But one day in 1SS7 Hanna and M'as Har
rington went to Escanaha, Mich., and were
married. Cleveland society was amazed
For attme the marriage seemed a hanpy
one. Three children were horn to the
couple. But In 198 Mrs. Hanna' brought a
sensational suit against her husband, charg
ing htm with cruelty. The divorce was
granted, and Mr. Hanna was mulcted. It Is
said, to the extent of $15P,000. Mrs. Hanna
afterward married Edmund K. Ft alio, a
New York lawyer.
Old Levee Rritwtl,
One year before the divorce suit. Miss
Gordon, Hanna's first sweetheart, married
an English army officer, Walter de 8.
Meade. But old loves were not so soon
forgotten. Two years later Mrs. Meade
secured a divorce, and lo! love smiled when
Dan married his first sweetheart.
Last June the couple were divorced, and
again. It Is said Hanna was required to give
securities amounting to t2SO,000 to secure
his freedom. Three days after the divorce
he was married to Marie Stewart, who had ,
been divorced from Frank Bkelly. a hotel'
clerk. Justice Brown of Cleveland received
$600. It Is said, for performing the ceremony.
William Bateman Leeds, ths tlnplate and
railroad magnate like many other multi
millionaires, was poor when young-. In
those days he wooed Miss Jeannette Irene
Oaar. a 'pretty belle of Richmond. Ind.
They married and lived happily. At that
time Leeds and Daniel O. Reid, ths tin
plate trust head, were conductors on ths
TIIE OMAITA
Prepare lo Celebrate their Jubilee Anniversary
11
THE
FIRST
MASON
Parvln, George B. Vsn Sauh, John H.
Brown. Alexander Atkinson, Hugh G.
Clark, Charles P. Needham, John W.
Gwin, David M. McElhlnney, Lurr.tm H.
Webster, Laughlln F. Maglnn,' William E.
Annin, Champion S. Chase, Jacob King.
Edwin Davis, William R. Morris, Arthur
C. Wakeley, James P. Crlgler, John P.
Ware, Jr.. George M. Nattlnger and Edwin
F. Cooper.
Under the terms of tMe agreement the
duty of calling the survivors together falls
upon Martin Dunham, but it may be that
he will be deprived of the duty of com
bined sadness and Joy, for a search has
failed to discover the bottle In the keeping
of the grand secretary. In the twenty
five years which have Intervened since It
3
to Rich Has Become natter of Millions
old Vandaliajine of the Pennsylvania rail
road. Iter they went to Muncle, Ind., and
opened tlnplate factories. Ten years passed,
and at the close of the decade they headed
the Tlnplate, National Steel American
Sheet Steel, Amprican Steel Hoop and
other big companies. They also owned
railroad stock, and piled up ever-Increasing
fortunes.
But as money came in the door love, It
seems, flew out of the window, end while
Mrs. Leeds lived In her Indiana home,
Leeds lived elsewhere In other cities an.l
much In Cleveland. There he met Mrs.
Nannie 8. Worthlngton. She was un
happily married, and Leeds well, he just
decided that she ought to be. He helped
ner In securing a divorce, It Is stated.
The Price of Freedom.
Mr. Leeds went to ht wife nnd asked
her, quite frankly, whether she would give
him his freedom.
"Of course," she said, as she smiled.
"How much money do you want?" He
was a business man, and intended doing
what was right. But his wife's price for
freedom staggered him. '
"One million dollars," she replied.
"No," he thundered.
"Yes," she replied, sweetly.
Leeds left In a rage. For four years the
couple haggled over the price. But Mrs.
Leeds was uncompromising. So. finally,
Leeds decided that his second love was
worth the price, and he gave his wife
Eastern Gambler Talks of Fleecing Lambs
ICHARD A CAN FIELD, the
American "prince of gamblers."
has at last actually capitulated
and the superb Saratoga club
house and grounds are offered for
R
EH
sale at any price they may bring.
They cost the gambler nearly $,000, and
the establishment was the only one In
America that might be fairly compared
with the Casino at Monte Carlo, the Cerclu
at Atx-le Bains, the Kursaal at Ostend and
numerous other similar establishments
scattered throughout decadent Europe.
The term decadent Is used advisedly. The
rapidly-flowing tide of emigration to this
and other newer lands by the great mass
of Europeans, who see nothing at home
but a hopeless struggle against the titled
classes. Is steadily decreasing the stock
of "bone- and sinew" in thst part of the
world, and as a consequence there is a
growing attention given to a promotion of
gambling and other forms of luxurious
vices that allure and entice those of in
herited wealth and Idle propensities.
Here In newer and healthier America,
with a natural wealth far greater than
that of all Europe, a middle class Is being
SUNDAY BEE: SEPTEMBER 15. 1007.
HENRY : CLARKEY
was placed In the archives the rooms have
been altered and it is possible that the
bottle was lost during one of these times.
A closer search will be made and It Is
hoped that the veterans may be able to
carry out the pact made a quarter of a
century ago.
Veterans of the Fraternity.
One of the real veterans of Masonry
In Nebraska Is Daniel H. Wheeler, past,
grand master of tho state and the oldest
surviving member of the grand lodjje
who has been called to the highest office
of the craft. Major Wheeler was grind
master of the order from 1863' to 18U4.
Under his administration there was con
$l,0no,fl00 worth of securities. Thirty min
utes after her lawyers received the papers
the divorce was granted. And three days
later Leeds and Mrs.' Worthlngton were
married.
But Leeds was magnanimous. The dis
carded one should not get ahead of his
new wife. After the wedding he gave the
new Mrs. Ieeds $1,000,000. He purchased a
mansion on Fifth avenue. New York, for
nearly 31,000.000. He purchased Jewels
amounting tp $l,.0ciO. and a yacht on
which the couple went honeymooning.
When William K. Vanderbllt and his
first wife were divorced, Mrs. Vanderbllt,
who. is now Mrs. O. H. P. Belmont, re
ceived Marble House, at Newport, and' ail
of Its contents; an Income of J2Sn,0fl0 a
year, and a lump sum of 32,000,0)0. Marble
House Ib estimated at (1,5S,CS0.
While this separation was not In the
Leeds-Flagler-Corey class the case of a
rich man seeking to be rid of his wife in
order to wed some other woman it was
the first In which enormous sums of money
changed hands, and attracted widespread
attention for that reason.
Money Flows I.Ike Oil.
In securing a divorce from his first wife,
Henry M. Flagler, the Standard Oil mag
nate, known as the "king of Flor da,"
showed much generosity. Mr. Flagler
secured a divorce In August, 1901. For years
there had been rumors of the cloud over
Flagler's home that of his wife's mental
condition. For three years before the
created, but there is at the same time an
Increasing dislike for vicious pastimes that
sap the intellect, the substance and the
wealth of the people. Nowhere is It now
fashionable to get drunk. Gambling Is
growing into disfavor, snd the Indulgence
In these vices Is becoming more and more
confined to those who Inherit wealth.
These facts bring back Richard A. Can
fleld to view. An extraordinary man, born
In Rhode Island, part Puritan and part
Quaker, educated for Harvard and by some
historians said to have graduated, while
others dispute It, he began life- with the
equipment of a classic education.
He frankly admits that he does not know
himself how he became a gambler, and
adds: "Somewhere In my Puritan or
Quaker ancestry there must have been a
strain of unregenerate blood."
He Is a millionaire. He denies having
as many as $3,000,000, but admits he Is a
millionaire. He can afford to be candid.
Let the young man with gambling Inclina
tions listen to what hls "prince" says:
"The player has no chance at all. There
Is no gambling at which a man can win.
If ha thinks so he Is either an unsophis
INITIATED
IN
NEBRASKA
siderable activity among Masons of the
west and as a result lodges were Insti
tuted In many parts of the then terri
tories of Idaho and Colorado. The lodges
at Bannock and Nevada City were created
by him as grand master, and the military
lodge, known as Monitor lodge, was also
established. All of these lodges are ex
tinct, so far as the jurisdiction of Ne
braska Is concerned, the military lodge
ceasing with the close of the war and
the other lodges passing to their natural
jurisdictions upon the creation of state
or territorial grand lodges.
The oldest surviving grand secretary
of the grand lodge Is Stephen D. Bangs,
for many years a resident of Bellevue,
but now a citizen of Omaha. Mr. Bangs
divorce she was confined In a sanitarium
at White Plains. N. y. Mr. Flagler paid all
expenses with lavish hand and settled con
siderable property upon her, amounting In
all. it Is said, to $2,mo,0O0.
Flagler under a law making incurable
insanity a cause of divorce which was
pushed through the Florida legislature, it
was alleged, at his direction secured a
divorce from his wife. When it was
granted, he settled on her $1,000,000 more
and an annuity of $100,000.
Within a few days after the divorce was
granted Flagler married Miss Mary Lilly
Kennan of Wilmington, N. C, and. as a
wedding gift, gave her a check for $1,000,000
and $:',0O0.ft,'O in government bonds.
But this was not tho limit ot the gener
osity of this man of oil and' millions.
Miss Kennan wan formerly a seamstress,
and had two sisters who were dependent
upon her. To each of these Mr. Flagler
gave $.".0,000, and paid other relatives large
sums. " ,
Mrs. Flagler No. 1 is living. Surrounded
by a large retinue of servants, she is paid
every attention, but is kept In Ignorance
of the fact that her husband has divorced
her. With the exception of occasional fits
of depression, the mind of the woman Is
said to have become normal. Should she
know another reluns In her husband's home.
It Is feared the old malady would return.
A Boston Specimen.
The HunneweM-Kemp entanglements look
like a game of the spider and the fly. Mollis
ticated youth or a fool."
Richard Canfield, millionaire, litterateur,
art connolseur, was offered recently $30,000
to conduct a gambling establishment In Eu
rope. "I would hate loved to have accepted
the offer. Not that I needed the money,
but It would have given me occupation In
my chosen profession, near to the art
treasures of the world I so dearly loved,
but a 12-year-old girl wouldn't let me. Who
was she? My daughter.
It Is said that the Saratogans who so
bitterly fought Canflelds establishment,
with a result that some additional Im
provement o beautifying of the town was
his offering of propitiation, were panic
stricken when they saw the sign upon the
Saratoga announcing that It was for sale
and heard Canfleld s declaration that he
was done with Saratoga; they went to him
and offered to withdraw all opposition to
him If he would keep his gambling house
open and attract money to the town. But
he shook his head. What were his millions,
what was Saratoga, compared with the
respect of his daughter? Philadelphia
North American,
Mr
HENRY. H WILSON PG M.
GRAND ORATOR.
was one of the real pioneers of the state,
but did not Join the Masonic order until
a year after the grand lodge was formed.
The first grand lodge, he attended vas
held nt Brownsville. The delegates from
Bellevue left for tho grand lodrfe In a
lumber wagon driven by a team of mules.
They drove through the towns Interven
ing and were Joined by the delegates
from other places until they presented
quite an Imposing appearance when they
reached Brownsville, which was then one
of the Important points on the Missouri
river In the state. At that session of the
grand lodge Mr. Bangs was chosen as
grand pursuivant, an office no longer
recognized In the order. In 1863 he was
elected grand secretary, holding the office
for a year. He was succeeded by Jona
than N. Wise of Plattsmouth, and these
are the only past grand secretaries now
alive. Mr. Bangs recalls the fact that
during his term of office as grand secre
tary there were eight lodges In the state
and ; the salary of his office was f 60 a
year. The order now employs the full
time of Its grand secretary, with an office
force, and the postage bill for some
months Is equal to the grand secretary's
salary In 1863.
First to Be Initiated.
The first man to be made a Mason In
Nebraska was Henry T. Clarke. He Is a
member of Nebraska lodge No. 1, and Is
a regular attendant for a man of his age.
The officers and members of the lodge are
always anxious to have him present when
the third degree Is conferred, and take
great pride In announcing the presence of
"the youngest and oldest Ma sen in the
state In the lodge room. Mr. Clarke fre-
H. Hunnewell moved In the swellest of
swell Back Bay social circles of Boston.
In 1902 his wife, Mrs. Maud Jaffrey Hune
well, secured a divorce on sensaUonal
charges. Hunnewell began devoting at
tentions to "Baby Belle." Mrs. Arthur
Kemp, a sister of Mrs. Reginald K. Vander
bllt. HunnewelJ was a close friend of Kemp,
and, to the surprise of every one. both
drove and dined at the club together during
the divorce proceedings brought by Mrs.
Kemp against Mr. Kemp. The divorce
was granted, and fifty minutes sfterward
Hunnewell took to his heart the late Mrs.
Kemp.
After the marriage everything seemed
lovely; Indeed, the riotous waters appeared
to have calmed. But there was a dissatis
fied man In Boston, a lawyer by the name
of Colonel Samuel R. Honey, who had
acted as attorney for Kemp (n disentang
ling the matrimonial ties. Honey presented
a bill to Kemp for nearly $3,000. Kemp
said, "Scat."
Friends remembered that Honey made
arrangements for Hunewell's second mar
riage. Forsooth, they said, should be not
pay the man who performed such legerde
main in the office of Cupid? So Hunnewell
asreea 10 a compromise, and paid $16,500.
There were many other heavy bills to be
settled, In addition. No one knows what
the young man's marital venture and
divorce cost In full.
Three of Kind.
Some who claim to have access to Inside
Information say that It cost William E.
Corey 36,000,0o0 to put away his wife and
marry the actress. Mabelle Oilman. Others
place the figure even higher; but It Is gen
erally agreed that no less than $4,000,000
was spent In the disreputable proceedings.
It's a hard matter to put a monetary
value on a woman. At any rate, the figures
shov Mabelle was marked high.
To satisfy his first wife, Corey settled
upon her $3,onO.0ft0; upon his mother he
settled $300,000. For Miss Oilman, he bought
a Frencli chateau at $200.0c0; showered
Jewels upon her; settled $1,000,000 upon her.
It Is said, and poured out money like water
for the wedding and honeymoon. And
who can tell what he has spent since his
marriage?
When Judge Elbert H. Gary, legal ad.
vlser of the Steel trust, married Mrs.
Alexander S. 6cott. the former husband of
Mrs. Scott went Into business with a capital
of $100,000 that he had not been suspected
of possessing. Mrs. Osry Is a strikingly
handsome woman. Her first husband was a
clerk in a store before her divorce.
James B. Duke, head of the Tobacco
trust, has entered tho list of generous hus
bands. For his Intended wife he recently
purchased a residence In New York valued
at $.1600.000. It is said to be ono of ths
finest mansions on Fifth avenue, Phlla
delphla North American.
quently recalls memories of early day Ma
sonry In the slnte snd fhe first lodgo
room. In a trader s store at Hi llevue. This
building wns probably the first house
erected on what Is now the soil of Ne.
brnska and was built as a trading post as
early as 1.3 and was used by Indian
tradci s from that day to the time of Its
destriM tion. When It was first built It
stood a' n considerable disinncp from the
river, but the stream enci oaclied upon the
land nnd nt the time the litnd was thrown
open to settlement It was near the shore.
A few years thereafter the- river, which
hrul long threatened It, came so close tlint
the house was demolished and the timbers
were taken by the residents for relics of
one of the oldest buildings between tho
Missouri river and the Spanish settlements.
The picture of the building which Is kept
In the Masonic temple was drawn from s
description furnished by old residents ol
Bellevue and is declared to be fairly ac
curate hy those ho best know the old
building.
The first lodKe in the state was novel
In some of Its littlngs. The official insignia
was home-made, being composed of Instru
ments of tin. where' now sliver Is In evi
dence. They were all that could be sc.
cured and were rated at their Intrinsic!
worth by the men who had them made,
but today, since they have disappeared,
they would be priceless and there are a
few veterans who regret that the old In
signia was not preserved when the lodge
became rich enough lo buy those of better
quality.
One of the facts recalled by sll of tho
old members of Nebraska lodge No. 1 Is
that the members In the earlier day at
tached more Importance to attending meet.
Ings of the lodge than do those of tha
present generation. This was probably be.
cause socliil gatherings were less frequent
nnd the pinner residents took advsntagn
if every opportunity to meet their fel
lows, but bo that us It may, every Mason
living within ten miles of the lodge could
be counted upon lo be present at every
regular session, while members living
twenty miles away thought nothing of driv
ing that distance to attend lodge several
times a year.
Grand Masters of the l.oria-e.
A list of the names of grand masters of
the order In tho state and of the grand
secretaries Is as follows:
GRAND MASTERS.
Robert C. Jordan lR."-BS-f
Goorge Armstrong lKtW-61-62
Daniel H. Wheeler. 6F9 South Twenty
sixth Ave., Omaha 183-4
Robert W. Furnas iwa-m;
Orsamus H. Irish 1867-6S
Harry P. Deuel, lXi Dodge St.,
Omaha 1869-70
William E. Hill. ri East Fourth
81., Los Angeles, Ca! 1871-78
Martin Dunham, 712 South Seven
teenth KU, Omaha 1873
Frank Welch vr,
Alfred G. Hastings JX75
George H. Thummel, Postofflce Bldg.,
Omaha 1878
George, W. Llnlnger 1877
Edward K. Valentine, Bee Bldg.,
Omuha 1X7
Rolland H. Oakley 1879
James A. Tulleys 1x80
James R. Cain, Falls City 1881
Edwin F. Warren, Nebraska City 188a
Samuel W. Hayes, Norfolk UUj
John J. Wemple, 87 Bell Ave., Cleve
land, O IS84
Manoah B. Reese, Lincoln 1885
Charles K. Coutant, 1W Farnam St.,
Omaha ixsa
Milton J. Hull, Treasury Department,
Washington, D. C 1S87
George B. France, York 188a
John J. Mercer, 2811 Hickory St.,
Omaha ISN9
'Robert E. French, Kearney irnj
Bradner D. Slaughter, U. 8. Army
Headquarters. Omaha 1R91
Samuel K Davidson. Tecumseh 189J
James P. A. Black, Hastings IM13
John A. Ehrhardt, Stanton IH44
Henry H. Wilson, Lincoln 18
Charles J. Phelps, Schuyler I89ti
John B. Dlnsmore, Sutton 8H7
Frank H. Young, Broken Bow lxna
William W. Keysor, Klrkwood, Mo... 18M
Albert W. Crites, Chadron laj
Robert E. Evans, Dakota City laot
Nathaniel M, Ay res, Siloam Springs,
Ark 3
Frank E. Bullard, North Platte Wus
Charles E. Burnham, Norfolk 1904
Melville R. Hopewell. Tekamah 1905
Zulngle M. Baird, Hartington ifR
O. J. King, Lincoln jaoi
GRAND SECRETARIES.
George Armstrong, 1867; Robert W.
Furnas, 1858; 'Robert C. Jordsn, 18fi to
1862; Stephen D. Bangs, 1863 to 1864; J.
Newton Wise, 1866 to 1868; 'Robert W.
Furnas, 1869 to 1872; 'William H. Bowen.
1872 to 1899; Francis E. White. 1899 to date!
(Stars deceased.)
Announcement of Celebratttoa.
The semi-centennial celebration on nex(
week bids fair to bring out the largest
number of Masons ever assembled in Ne
braska. There were hundreds present at
the festivities which marked tho twenty,
fifth anniversary, but unless all signs fall
there will be thousands present at tho
fiftieth birthday of the grand lodge of tha
state. Grand Master Oman J. King of
Lincoln and Secretary Francis El. White)
have Issued circulars to all lodges of tho
state In which Is said:
As the time draws near for celebrating
the fiftieth anniversary of the organisation
of our grand lodge, It seems tilling that
your attention should again be called to
what we hope to make an occasion long;
to be remembered, also to urge as many -of
you who can do so. to be present and
participate In the ceremonies, ft is to be a,
celebration for Freemasons and their Im.
mediate families, and each and every
member of the fraternity in the Jurisdic
tion ts equally Interested and should da
what he can to make It a success. Buf
few of our members who are living today
will have the opportunity of celebrating
the luoth anniversary of the organization
of the grand lodge Ancient Free and As.
cepted Masons of Nebraska, and as the
years go by it will be a source of satis
faction for all who attend the celebration
on the 2M of September, to remember that
they were present and helped to make si
success of our fiftieth anniversary, mark.
Ing as It does fifty years of advancement'
and progress in a fraternity that has fos
Its foundation stone friendship, morality,
and brotherly love. ;
All of the ceremonies except the morntnsr'
session of the grand lodge will be open,
and all without expense to Freemasons in, '
good standing, and their Immediate faint. '
lies. A souvenir badge commemorative ot
the occasion will be presented to ail roenv i
bers who attend. A buffet luncheon will
be served In the banquet hall in the Ma.
sonic hall, at 10 o'clock a. m. Immediately
upon arrival the members will call at 16ut
Capitol avenue, when badges will be dia.
tributed and tickets to the band concert
furnished. Masters are fraternally asked,
to aee that all members of their lodges are
furnished with full and complete inform,
tion as outlined In this circular letter. ,
Th exercises as contemplated are!
Opening of the grand lodge Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, at the Mason la
temple, 1608 Capitol avenue at 10 oolocls
a. m., Monday, September 23d. and the re
ception of eminent Freemasons from other
grand Jurisdictions. At U o'clock ra., call '
from labor to refreshment. At 1:30 o'clock '
p. m., call to labor, form a procession,
(esch lodge desiring to form separately
will be allowed to do so) march to the)
Auditor urn. At o'clock p. m., at tha
Auditorium good music will be a part of
the program. An historical address by the)
JTanj ?.retary' an. oration by Past
Grand Master Henry H. Wilson, and brief
addresses by prominent Freemasons from,
other grand JurisdlsUons and from some
of our own brethren will be given. At
o clock p. m . the grand lodge will dose,
and at t o'olock there will be a band con
cert by the Channlng Ellery band at tha
Auditorium, to which Freemasons and
tnelr Immediate families will be welcome
The concert Is not for the public, but haa
been provided especially for the fra
ternity. .
In addition to this circular, which Is tho
last word on the subject Grand Master
King has brought the meeting to the es
pecial attention of every member of tha
grand lodge, urging him to make aa ef.
fort to be present so that tho special ses
sion will be the largest la Che history et
the order la tha state.