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June 19, 2007
Nevada's Online State News Journal
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[From The History of Nevada, edited by Sam P. Davis, vol. I (1913), pp. 673-699]
Nevada History:
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES 673
CHAPTER XXXI.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES.
FREE MASONRY.
BY ROBERT LEAVERS, PAST GRAND MASTER.
Carson Lodge No. 1.--The first Masonic Lodge in Nevada was organized in Carson City, Nevada, under a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of California, February 3, 1863, by the following residents of that city, viz.: Philip Stoner, R. B. Ellis, F. A. Tritle, F. W. Peters, J. W. Wayman, W. C. Phillips, Seymour Pixley, D. L. Britton, Herman Armer, Wellington Stewart, W. B. King, H. F. Rice, Abraham Curry and Henry Grice. On the 15th of May a charter was granted and it was given the number 154 on the California roster, and in the charter the following officers appear: M. D. Larrowe, W. M.; Edward J. Smith, S. W.; Henry Rice, J. W. In January, 1865, it was granted a charter by the newly organized Grand Lodge of Nevada, with John S. Van Dyke as Master, and Jacob Tobriner, Secretary. The membership at that time was 54. But two of these names appear on the roll now—E. D. L. Cutts and D. W. Cutts. Carson Lodge has never had a hall of its own, but has always been financially able to take care of its share of the charitable work that falls to the lot of the order. It has been honored by having many of its members in the Grand East, viz: Horatio S. Mason, R. W. Bollem, P. A. Doyle. Tremmor Coffin, George Gillson and Charles L. Fulstone. Its maximum membership was 138 in 1876 and its present roster shows 101 names. The 1913 officers are: Alexander MacDonald, W. M.; Edgar H. Walker, S. W.; Thomas A. Lotz, J. W.; Charles H. Peters, Treasurer and E. D. Vanderlieth, Secretary (18th term.)
Washoe Lodge No. 2.—This lodge was organized in July, 1862, at Washoe City, under dispensation from California, as No. 157, with Geo. W. Brown, W. M.; R. R. Johnson, S. W.; Thomas B. Prince, J. W.
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January 16, 1865, it was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Nevada as Washoe No. 2, with Henry W. Brady, W. M.; Ezekiel Morton, S. W.; George C. Cabot, J. W., and Orvis Ring, Secretary. Its maximum membership was in 1868 when it had fifty-eight members. The membership dwindled until it reached twenty-three in 1888, when it surrendered its charter.
Virginia No. 3.--Virginia Lodge was organized January 15, 1863, as Virginia Lodge No. 162, on the roll of the Grand Lodge of California with William H. Howard, P. G. M., California, as W. M.; Joseph De-Bell, S. W., and James S. Kelly, J. W. In 1865 it was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Nevada, as Virginia No. 3, with Charles H. Fish, W. M. Its maximum membership was attained in 1878 with 213 members and its present membership is 52. In 1875 fire destroyed the hall of the lodge and its members met on top of Mount Davidson and opened a regular lodge with 351 Masons present. Albert Hires, W. M., presided and in addition to the regular officers many sentinels were stationed around the mountain. The altar was of rough ashlar and the stations of the officers were formed of granite blocks. The Masonic flag floated at the top of the famous flagpole on Mt. Davidson, and the jewels were the ones belonging to the lodge, reclaimed from the ashes of the building, and showing by their half-melted condition, the fiery ordeal through which they had passed. The lodge was opened without form, a petition was received and referred to a committee, and some routine business was transacted. Addresses were made by Hon. Charles E. DeLong, Maj. E. A. Sherman, Gen. Thos. H. Williams, Hon. Rollin M. Daggett, J. C. Currie, Geo. W Hopkins, and Col. Robert H. Taylor, Melville E. Lamb, W. M.; John C. Harry, Secretary.
Amity Lodge No. 4.--Amity Lodge was organized under the Grand Lodge of California, as Silver City Lodge No. 163, March 20, 1863, with J. C. Currie, W. M.; M. J. Henley, S. W., and W. B. Hickok, J. W. In 1865 it took the name it now bears and the following officers were in charge: Richard T. Mullard, W. M.; James M. Kennedy, S. W., and M. J. Burke, J. W. This lodge attained its maximum membership in 1877 with 76 on the roll, and its present membership is 21. The present officers, 1913, are: Thomas Mayne, W. M.; Adolph Indermuhl, S. W.; S. J. Pedroli, J. W.; Chas. Hamilton, Treasurer; Amos K. Pollard, Secretary.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES 675
Silver Star No. 5.--This lodge was organized at Gold Hill, Nevada, by the Grand Lodge of California as Silver Star Lodge No. 165, with Charles E. Olney, W. M.; L. W. Lee, S. W., and Duane L. Bliss, J. W. It reached its maximum membership in 1877, when the mining activity was at its height, with 194 members; and its present roll shows 21. The 1913 officers are: George F. Harris, W. M.; Alfred S. Harris, S. W.; John A. McKenzie, J. W.; Edward Symons, Treasurer and Fred L. Clark, Secretary.
Esmeralda No. 6.--Located at Aurora, Nevada. Organized September 28, 1863, under the Grand Lodge of California as Esmeralda Lodge No. 170, with the following officers: J. H. Richardson, W. M.; John L. Carter, S. W.; Alfred A. Green, J. W. In 1865 when it passed tinder the charter of the Grand Lodge of Nevada, the officers were: J. H. Richardson, W. M.; Charles H. Dodd, S. W. Its maximum membership shows as 57 in 1867. This dwindled to 13 in 1901, when its charter was surrendered to the Grand Lodge.
Escurial Lodge No. 7.--Escurial Lodge was organized in Virginia City, in January, 1864, as No. 171, under the Grand Lodge of California. The first officers were: Geo. W. Hopkins, W. M.; W. A. M. Van Bokkelen, S. W.; Columbus Walker, J. W., and it passed under the control of the Grand Lodge of Nevada in 1865, with the same officers. Its maximum membership was 154, in 1869, and its present roll shows 87 members. The 1913 officers are as follows: James W. Black, W. M.; Wm. J. McQuarrie, S. W.; John W. Mahood, J. W.; R. A. Bulmer, Treasurer and Geo. A. Morgan, Secretary.
Lander Lodge No. 8.--Lander Lodge No. 8 was chartered by the Grand Lodge of California, October 14, 1864, and given the number 172. The Grand Lodge of Nevada, chartered it as known at present, and its first officers were: William W. Wixom, father of Emma Nevada, the great opera singer, W. M.; George J. Love, S. W.; Jeff. J. Work, J. W. The lodge attained its maximum membership in 1869, with 106 on the roll; and its present list shows 32 names. The 1913 officers are: A. J. Maestretti, W. M.; L. J. J. Judd, S. W.; W. J. Williams, J. W., and Jacob H. Trotson, Secretary.
Valley Lodge No. 9.--This lodge was started at Dayton, Nevada, February 20, 1865, and was the first organized under the Grand Lodge of Nevada. Its first officers are: Charles F. Brant, W. M.; Henry Sweet-
676 THE HISTORY OF NEVADA
apple, S. W., and Albert Gallatin, J. W. Its maximum membership, 39, was attained in 1874, and its present roll shows 26 members. The 1913 officers are: M. J. King, W. M.; T. P. Mack, S. W.; Jos. Greiler, J. W.; W. H. Scott, Secretary.
Austin Lodge No. 10.—This lodge was organized at Austin, Nevada, April 12, 1865, with Thomas Wren, W. M.; William S. Thomas, S. W., and Marcus A. Sawtelle, J. W. It attained its maximum membership in 1868, 57, and surrendered its charter in 1871, being the first lodge to pass out of existence in Nevada.
Oasis Lodge No. 11.—Organized at Belmont, Nevada, December 18, 1867, by J. G. Riddle, A. W. Stowe, G. R. Alexander, M. D. Fairchild, D. C. Turner, Geo. W. Merrill, Jas. M. Kennedy, Daniel W. Cutts, S. Goldstein, E. A. Pullen, E. Pettit, John Sharp, J. A. Ball, Peter Conroy and Jas. O'Brien. The first officers under the charter granted September 17, 1868, were: Jas. M. Kennedy, Master; Daniel W. Cutts, S. W.; S. Goldstein, J. W., and John Sharp, Secretary. Oasis Lodge started with 28 members; reached its highest number, 53, in 1877, and had 28 members when its charter was surrendered in 1885.
Douglas Lodge No. 12.—Organized February 22, 1868, at Genoa, Nevada, with the following officers: Robert W. Bollen, W. M.; Silas E. Tuttle, S. W., and Hiram Doyle, J. W. It started with a membership of 31, reached its maximum, 66, in 1876, and has averaged close to forty members ever since. It is located in a substantial country and will doubtless show a material increase as the years go on. The members own their own hall and have it furnished in a fitting manner. Robert W. Bollen, the first Master, became Grand Master and D. W. Virgin, one of the mainstays of the lodge, was at one time Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge. The 1913 officers are: Geo. F. Hussman, S. W.; F. W. Cook, J. W.; Frank Fettic, Treasurer and Fred Klotz, Secretary.
Reno Lodge No. 13.—Organized January 4, 1869 in Reno, with James Z. Kelley, W. M.; M. Borowsky, S. W., and George Geisen, J. W. Its membership has grown from thirty-four to ten times that number. The first meetings were held in a frame building on Virginia street near the river, then it moved to Alhambra Hall, and finally in 1872, it built its own hall at the corner of Commercial Row and Sierra street. It occupied the hall until 1906 when it moved into the new Temple on Virginia street, opposite its first home. The Masonic Temple was built by a corporation
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES 677
at a cost of $120,000, and is well equipped for Masonic work. Reno Lodge owns a little over one-fourth of the capital stock, the remainder being in the hands of other Masonic bodies, and members. The oldest officer of Reno Lodge was Thomas K. Hymers, who served as Treasurer for thirty-three years. S. L. Jamison was Secretary for twenty-three years and Henry L. Fish served six years as Master. The present officers, 1913, are: John W. Blum, Master; Sidney C. Foster, S. W.; Robert H. Parker, J. W.; John W. Wright, Treasurer and John H. Sutherland, Secretary.
White Pine Lodge No. 14.—Organized in Hamilton, Nevada, April 5, 1869, with S. D. Ferguson, W. M.; W. W. Hobart, S. W.; and M. J. Henley, J. W. Its greatest membership was 84 in 1872. The membership dwindled with the decline of mining activity and the charter was surrendered on May 29, 1901, when it had only eleven members.
Elko Lodge No. 15.—This lodge was organized in Elko, Nevada, January 21, 1869, with John D. Treat, W. M.; Herman Armer, S. W., and Elijah S. Yeates, J. W. The lodge has grown slowly but surely and its present membership, the largest so far, is 121. Its 1913 officers are: Elmer A. Frissell, W. M.; John D. MacFarland, S. W.; A. L. McGinty, J. W.; John Henderson, Treasurer, and J. F. Triplett, Secretary.
Eureka Lodge No. 16.—This lodge was organized at Eureka, Nevada, April 5, 1872, with Daniel B. Immel, W. M.; David E. Bailey, S. W. and James Riley, J. W. In 1883 its maximum membership was 116, and its present roll shows 53. It has been a very active lodge and its membership roll shows the names of many distinguished Masons. The officers for 1913 are: Francis J. Brossmer, W. M.; Daniel Morrison, S. W.; Peter Loh, J. W., and M. J. Foster, Secretary.
Humboldt Lodge No. 17.—November 7, 1871, this lodge was organized at Unionville, Nevada, with William L. French, W. M.; George F. Fuller, S. W., and O. K. Stampley, J. W. The greatest membership was 25, and it surrendered its charter in 188o with eighteen members.
St. John Lodge No. 18.—This lodge was organized at Pioche, Nevada, August 10, 1872, with John F. Gray, W. M.; Daniel E. Mitchell, S. W. and Daniel K. Dickinson, J. W. Its greatest membership was attained in 1874 with 84 members. Then the membership declined until the lodge was moved to Delamar in 1896, where it held forth for eleven years. On the decline of Delamar, the lodge was moved back to Pioche, and now
678 THE HISTORY OF NEVADA
shows a healthy growth. The present officers are : Lewis H. Beason, W. M.; Alton A. Carman, S. W.; D. P. Sullivan, J. W:, and John H. Deck, Secretary.
Winnemucca, No. 19.—Organized, November 18, 1874, at Winnemucca, Nevada, with P. W. Johnson, W. M.; A. J. Shepard, S. W., and Thomas Shone, J. W. It has shown a steady growth and its present and maximum membership is 74. The 1913 officers are Henry W. Duncan, W. M.; Thos. H. Guyon, S. W.; Chas. P. Hoskins, J. W., and Chris. Wolf, Secretary.
Palisade No. 20.--This lodge was organized at Palisade, Nevada, June 3, 1876, with T. F. Lawler, W. M.; George Rogul, S. W., and James Marshall, J. W. Its charter was surrendered in 1885 and its greatest membership was twenty-one.
Tuscarora Lodge No. 21.--Organized in Tuscarora, February 7, 1878, with James Z. Kelley, W. M.; W. T. Smith, S. W., and W. J. Hamilton, J. W. Bro. James Z. Kelley was a veteran organizer as his name appears as the first Junior Warden, of Virginia No. 3, and the first Master of Reno No. 13. Tuscarora's greatest membership was 41 in 1894, and its present roll shows 23 members. The present officers are: Chester L. Woodward, W. M.; Rutledge M. Woodward, S. W., Philo S. White, J. W., and Charles E. Secor, Secretary.
Hope Lodge No. 22.--Hope Lodge, located in Yerington, Nevada, was organized July 17, 1880, with Sylvester. B. Hinds, W. M.; John E. Hart, S. W., and Ben M. Hague, J. W. For many years the membership was small, but in late years the lodge has shown a vigorous growth and its present membership is 71. The present officers are: Geo. W. Plummer, W. M.; Edward A. West, S. W.; S. L. Netherton, J. W., and Wm. F. Powers, Secretary.
Battle Mountain Lodge No. 23.--Organized at Battle Mountain, March 8, 1881, with O. B. Vincent, W. M.; F. W. Dunn, S. W., and A. B. Hastings, J. W. It started with 13 members, declined to eight, and now shows renewed life with 26. E. T. George, P. M., is one of its vigorous workers. The present officers are: Edw. T. George, W. M.; Wm. C. Hancock, S. W.; L. E. Kendrick, J. W., and Louis A. Lemaire, Secretary.
Steptoe Lodge No. 24.--Steptoe Lodge was organized at Cherry Creek, Nevada, April 11, 1882, with Evan Harris, W. M.; Henry A. Comins, S. W., and Fred J. Griswold, J. W. Its maximum, 30, was attained in
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES 679
1890, and its present membership is 22. The 1913 officers are: Murdock McAulay, W. M.; Wm. Clark, S. W.; John A. Carlson, J. W., and Jos. H. Leishman, Secretary.
Wadsworth Lodge No. 25.--This lodge was organized at Wadsworth, December 2, 1895, with Thomas L. Bellam, W. M.; Martin Kline, S. W., and Frank C. Hampton, J. W. In 1904 the railroad shops were moved from Wadsworth to Sparks, and the lodge was transferred, but retained its former name. The lodge is located in a prosperous town and shows a steady growth. Its present membership is 103. Its present officers are: Herbert F. McDonald, W. M., and Thos. L. Bellam, Secretary.
Churchill No. 26.--Churchill Lodge was organized at Fallon, Nevada, March 8, 1901, with Wm. H. Sifford, W. M.; Ira H. Kent, S. W. and A. S. Williams, J. W. This lodge promises to be one of the large lodges of Nevada as it is situated in a rich agricultural section. Its present and largest membership is 92. The 1912 officers are: Jas. L. Smith, W. M.; Thos. Williamson, S. W.; Jas. G. Gault, J. W.; Frank G. Hough, Secretary.
Humboldt No. 27.--This lodge, the name, but not the number of the lodge organized at Unionville in Humboldt County, and was organized in March, 1901, with J. A. Ascher, W. M.; Robert Fulstone, S. W., and Ben C. Maris, J. W. Its present and largest membership is 55. The present officers are: George Kennedy, W. M.; A. Jahn, S. W.; J. R. McCrodan, J. W. and B. E. Wyley, Secretary.
Tonopah Lodge No. 28.--This lodge was organized February 7, 1902, with Alfred L. Smith, W. M.; Henry N. Stevens, S. W., and Joseph Lazarevich, J. W. This lodge has prospered from the beginning and its present membership is 132. The 1913 officers are: Sanford Galvin, W. M.; Basil E. Elford, S. W.; James A. Fraser, J. W., and Ralph H. Burdick, Secretary.
Ely Lodge No. 29.--Ely Lodge was organized August 15, 1905, at Ely, Nevada, with Wm. D. Campbell, W. M.; James B. Orr, S. W., and Geo. M. Campbell, J. W. Its growth has been steady and its present membership is 87. The 1912 officer are : Chas. D. Gallagher, W. M.; Chas. W. Dickenson, S. W.; Jos. H. Lewis, J. W.; Wm. B. Graham, Treasurer and Wm. C. Gallagher, Secretary.
Montezuma Lodge No. 30.--Montezuma Lodge, located at Goldfield, Nevada, was organized in 1906, with Chas. H. Beesley, W. M..; Wm. P.
680 THE HISTORY OF NEVADA
Wood, S. W., and Milton C. Ish, J. W. It started with 50 members and attained a maximum of 139 in 1911. The present membership is 136. The present officers are: David Aspland, W. M.; John H. Greenough, S. W.; Chas. E. Magee, J. W.; Jas. O. Walther, Treasurer, and Chas. H. Beesley, Secretary.
Searchlight Lodge No. 31.--Organized at Searchlight, in the extreme southern part of Nevada, May 6, 1907, with Ben W. Smith, W. M.; Charles W. Lund, S. W., and Walter M. Brown, J. W. The present membership is 35. The 1912 officers are: Charles A. Jenson, W. M.; Chas. W. Lund, S. W.; Austin H. Smith, J. W., and Walter M. Brown, Secretary.
Vegas Lodge No. 32.--This lodge was organized at Las Vegas, Nevada, in 19o7, with John S. Park, W. M.; E. W. Griffith, S. W., and W. R. Thomas, J. W. This lodge is destined to grow as it is located in an agricultural section and has important railroad interests. Its present and largest membership is 56. The 1913 officers are : E. W. Griffith, W. M.; Henry W. Lillis, S. W.; Chas. P. Squires, J. W., and Frank A. Buol, Secretary.
GRAND LODGE.
The Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Nevada was organized in Virginia City, January 16, 1865, by the six Masonic lodges then existing in Nevada. Joseph DeBell was elected Grand Master and Charles H. Fish, Grand Secretary. The six lodges in Nevada were granted charters and given new members.
During Grand Master DeBell's term a number of Masons residing in Salt Lake City, applied for a dispensation to organize a lodge in that city. The dispensation was granted and Mount Moriah Lodge was organized with J. W. Ellis, W. M.; W. G. Higbee, S. W., and W. L. Halsey, J. W. The dispensation was granted on condition that no Mormons be admitted into the order. The Utah brethren tried in vain to have the condition removed, and upon refusal to accede to their request, the organization was abandoned. When the Grand Lodge of Utah was finally established, the edict against the admission of Mormons was enforced.
The first Grand Communication of the Grand Lodge was held in Virginia, October to, 1865. A uniform code of by-laws was adopted, and definite policy established requiring but one ballot for the three degrees.
FRATERNAL SOCIETIES 681
The following table shows the places, dates and Grand Masters elected at the various sessions held since that time:
Date. Place. Grand Master.
1 Oct. 10, 1865 Virginia Jos. DeBell.
2 Sept. 18, 1866 Virginia Jos. DeBell.
3 Sept., 1867 Virginia John C. Currie.
4 Sept. 15, 1868 Virginia Geo. W. Hopkins.
5 Sept. 21, 1869 Virginia Geo. W. Hopkins.
6 Sept. 20, 1870 Virginia George Robinson.
7 Sept. 19, 1871 Virginia George Robinson.
8 Sept. 17, 1872 Virginia W. A. M. Van Bokkelen
9 Nov. 18, 1873 Virginia Horatio S. Mason.
10 Nov. 17, 1874 Virginia Robert W. Bollen.
11 No session
12 Nov. 21, 1876 Virginia George Robinson.
13 June 12, 1877 Virginia Merrill P. Freeman.
14 June 11, 1878 Virginia Henry L. Fish.
15 June, 1879 Virginia DeWitt C. McKenney.
16 June 8, 1880 Virginia DeWitt C. McKenney.
17 June 14, 1881 Virginia Horatio S. Mason.
18 June 13, 1882 Virginia Horatio S. Mason.
19 June 12, 1883 Virginia Andrew Nichols.
20 June 2o, 1884 Virginia David E. Bailey.
21 June 9, 1885 Reno Michael A. Murphy.
22 June 8, 1886 Reno Henry Rolfe.
23 June 14, 1887 Reno A. L. Fitzgerald.
24 June 12, 1888 Virginia William McMillan.
25 June 11, 1889 Virginia C. W. Hinchcliffe.
26 June 10, 1890 Carson City John W. Eckley.
27 June 9, 1891 Reno Frank Bell.
28 June 14, 1892 Reno John H. Hubbs.
29 June 13, 1893 Reno John E. Jones.
30 June 12, 1894 Virginia Philip A. Doyle.
31 June 11, 1895 Reno John C. Hazlett.
32 June 9, 1896 Winnemucca Enoch Strother.
33 June 8, 1897 Elko Albert Lackey.
34 June 14, 1898 Carson City Matthew Kyle.
35 June 13, 1899 Virginia John M. McCormack.
36 June 12, 1900 Virginia Jos. A. Miller.
37 June 11, 1901 Carson City George A. Morgan.
38 June 10, 1902 Carson City Alec. O. Percy.
39 June 9, 1903 Virginia Trenmor Coffin.
40 June 14, 1904 Virginia George Gillson.
41 June 13, 1905 Carson City Chas. A. Beemer.
42 June 12, 1906 Reno Walter J. Harris.
43 June 12, 1907 Reno Robert Lewers.
44 June 9, 1908 Reno Chas. L. Fulstone.
45 June, 1909 Carson City Frank H. Norcross.
46 June, 1910 Reno James C. Doughty.
47 June, 1911 Reno Herman Davis.
48 June 11, 1912 Reno Henry W. Miles.
682 THE HISTORY OF NEVADA
The present officers of the Grand Lodge are as follows: Grand Master, Henry W. Miles, of Montezuma Lodge No. 30, Goldfield ; Deputy Grand Master, William M. David, of Carson Lodge No. 1; Senior Grand Warden, Theo. J. Steinmetz, of Reno No. 13; Junior Grand Warden, Benjamin W. Coleman, of Ely No. 29; Treasurer, Walter J. Harris, of Reno No. 13; Grand Secretary, Edward D. Vanderlieth, of Carson No. 1; Grand Chaplain, Rev. Thomas L. Bellam, of Wadsworth No. 25; Grand Orator, Rev. Lloyd B. Thomas, of Carson No. 1; Grand Marshal, Thos. Lindsay, of Tonopah No. 28; Grand Standard Bearer, Walter M. Brown, of Searchlight No. 31; Grand Sword Bearer, Wm. B. S. Park, of Vegas No. 32; Grand Bible Bearer, Henry W. Duncan, of Winnemucca No. 19; Senior Grand Deacon, Alfred W. Holmes, of Reno No. 13; Junior Grand Deacon, Walter E. Pratt, of Montezuma No. 30; Grand Stewards, Philip Anker of Humboldt No. 27, and William F. Powers, of Hope No. 22; Grand Pursuivant, Elmer A. Frissell, of Elko No. 15; Grand Organist, Edward Hancock, of Silver Star No. 5; Grand Tiler, Adolph Jacobs, of Carson No. 1.
Charles H. Fish was the first Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge and served one term, 1865. W. A. M. Van Bokkelen was Grand Secretary in 1865, '67, '68, '69, and '70. Robert Taylor filled the office in 1866 and 1872. John C. Currie served one year, 1871. Samuel W. Chubbuck was Grand Secretary from 1873 to 1876. He was followed by John D. Hammond, who filled the office from 1876 to 1886. His successor was Chauncey N. Noteware, who filled the office, with great credit for over twenty-three years. He was born in Owego, New York. January 13, 1825; emigrated to Illinois in 1844, and to California in 1850. He moved to Nevada in 1857, and was elected the first Secretary of State of Nevada, after serving as a member of the Constitutional convention. He was made a Mason in Knoxville Lodge in Illinois June 7, 1849, and all his life long kept up an active interest in the work. At the time of his death, October 29, 1910, he was the second oldest Grand Secretary in the United States in point of service. Edward D. Vanderlieth succeeded as Grand Secretary, and his long experience in writing the correspondence reports for the Grand Lodge, eminently qualified him for the position.
ROYAL ARCH MASONRY.
Lewis-Chapter No. 1, R. A. M., was organized in May, 1863, and was
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named in honor of the General Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of the United States, John L. Lewis. The first officers were George W. Hopkins, High Priest; John H. Wayman, King, and Joseph Stewart, Scribe.
Virginia Chapter No. 2, was organized September 8, 1865, with Geo. W. Hopkins, High Priest; Samuel W. Chubbuck, King, and Samuel Owen, Scribe.
Austin Chapter No. 3, was started in 1866 and the following officers appear on the roll: DeWitt C. McKenney, High Priest; William W. Wixom, King, and Henry Mayenbaum, Scribe.
White Pine Chapter No. 4, was organized at Hamilton, January 10, 1871, with Thomas P. Hawley, High Priest; William Timson, King, and Joseph Tyson, Scribe. It continued in existence until the decline of mining caused it to surrender its charter, June 10, 1884.
St. John's Chapter No. 5, was organized at Eureka, April 26, 1873, with Samuel P. Kelley, High Priest; G. C. Robinson, King, and F. A. Belknap, Scribe.
These five chapters united in forming the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons in Nevada, on November 18, 1873, at Virginia City. George Robinson was appointed Grand High Priest.
Keystone Chapter No. 6, was organized at Pioche, Nevada, June 12, 1873, with Martin W. Kales, High Priest; A. A. Young, King, and G. R. Alexander, Scribe.
March 1, 1875, Reno Chapter No. 7 was granted a dispensation and the first officers were: Frank Bell, High Priest; Charles Knust, King, and Levi W. Lee, Scribe.
Gold Hill Chapter No. 8, was organized November 23, 1876, with the following officers: Samuel W. Chubbuck, High Priest; George Robinson, King, and Ben. H. Carrick, Scribe. This chapter was very active for many years, but in June, 1899, its membership had decreased in numbers to such an extent that it surrendered its charter.
Humboldt Chapter No. 9, was organized September 19, 1822, with the following officers: George R. Walker, High Priest; Thomas Shone, King, and Charles Duncan, Scribe.
Goldfield Chapter No. 10 was organized February 16, 1907, with William P. Woods, High Priest; Charles H. Beesley, King, and Henry W. Miles Scribe.
684 THE HISTORY OF NEVADA
Tonopah Chapter No. 10 was organized June 14, 1910, with Alfred L. Smith, High Priest; Pearl E. Keeler, King, and Wm. I. Bray, Scribe.
Elko Chapter No. 11 was organized in June, 1910, with James C. Doughty, High Priest; F. S. Gedney, King, and Charles B. Henderson, Scribe.
The present Grand High Priest is Fred M. Schadler, of Reno; Grand King, Walter E. Pratt, of Goldfield, and Grand Secretary, Edward D. Vanderlieth, of Carson.
The following companions have filled the office of Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter during its existence in Nevada : George Robin-son, 1873; Samuel C. Wright, 1874; John C. Currie, 1875 ; D. C. McKenney, 1876-77; Philip Seldner, 1878; George E. Bailey, 1879; Frank Bell, 188o; William Timson, 1881; Chauncey M. Noteware, 1882; Adolphus L. Fitzgerald, 1883; Thomas A. Menary, 1884; George R. Walker, 1885; Robert L. Fulton, 1886; Enoch Strother, 1887; Philip A. Doyle, 1888; John H. Hubbs, 1889; C. W. Hinchcliffe, 1890; Albert Lackey, 1892; John W. Eckley, 1893; Rufus H. Kinney, 1894; Trenmor Coffin, 1895; J. S. Burlingame, 1896; Matthew Kyle, 1897; John M. McCormack, 1898; Alex O. Percy, 1899; Michael A. Murphy, 1900; William Sutherland, 1901; Frank D. King, 1902; Joseph A. Miller, 1903; Her-man Levy, 1904; George Gillson, 1905; Charles L. Fulstone, 1906; William L. Cox, 1907; Pearis B. Ellis, 1908; James C. Doughty, 1909; Theo. J. Steinmetz, 191o; Henry W. Miles, 1911; Fred M. Schadler, 1912.
ROYAL AND SELECT MASTERS.
Nevada Council No. 1, of the Royal and Select Masters, was organized in Goldfield, June 1, 1907, with Adams F. Brown, Master; Charles H. Beesley, R. I. Master, and Joseph Hamilton, Principal Conductor. A charter was granted the council by the Grand Council, September to, 1912, and the council was duly constituted by Adams F. Brown, special deputy of Grand Master Graff M. Acklin. The present membership is about eighty.
There have been several councils of Royal and Select Masters established in Nevada, but no records have been kept and it is almost impossible to get a definite history of their work. One was established in Virginia City, another at Reno, and still another in Eureka.
KNIGHTS TEMPLAR.
In September, 1866, a number of Knights Templar hailing from Cali-
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fornia Commanderies assisted in laying the cornerstone of the State Capitol, and immediately after determined to organize a Commandery in Virginia City. Jacob L. Van Bokkelen was appointed to take the necessary steps and in a short time Henry L. Palmer, Grand Master of Knights Templar in the United States, granted a dispensation to the following Sir Knights to form a commandery in Nevada, viz.: Jacob L. Van Bokkelen, John S. Kaneen, Nathaniel A. H. Ball, John P. Smith, John C. Hampton, Daniel S. Stevens, Charles Forman, Leonard N. Ferris, Jonah D. Treat, Horace M. Vesey, Henry G. Blasdel, John C. Russell, George W. Hopkins, Charles N. Cook, Ansel S. Olin, and Milton Mygatt. The commandery was christened DeWitt Clinton Commandery, in honor of the first Grand Master of the order in the United States. The Eminent Commanders since its organization have been: Jacob L. Van Bokkelen, John P. Smith, Frederick A. Tritle, Frederick C. Lord, Charles Forman, John W. Eckley, John C. Hampton, Henry Rolfe, John H. Hubbs, George A. Morgan, Enoch Strother, Walter J. Harris, Wm. Sutherland, Henry Patey, Robert S. Meachem, James B. McCullough, Absalom Spencer, Matthew Kyle, and the present Commander is Edward D. Brown. All the records of the commandery were destroyed in the great fire of 1875. In April, 1905, it was resolved to move the commandery to Reno, inasmuch as a fine new Temple was in course of erection there. This step was taken to avoid surrendering the charter, and thereby losing the right to wear the mounted uniform. The members did not desire to lose this distinction as there are now only a few commanderies in the United States that have as fine a uniform. The uniforms owned by the members of DeWitt Clinton Commandery are valued at $22,000, as there as 110 members, and each uniform is worth $200. The present officers are Edward D. Brown, Eminent Commander; Harry J. Gosse, Generalissimo; Edward Barber, Captain General; Hosea E. Reid, Senior Warden; Robert Lewers, Junior Warden; Samuel Unsworth, Prelate; Wm. Sutherland, Recorder; Wm. A. Fogg, Standard Bearer; B. J. Genesy, Sword Bearer; Arthur A. Codd, Warder.
Eureka Commandery No. 2.--This commandery was organized at Eureka, Nevada, under dispensation granted by Vincent L. Hurlbut, Grand Master of Knights Templar, in July, 1880. The charter members in part were: H. H. Conklin, first Eminent Commander; W. H. Remington. W. W.,Hobart, Adolphus L. Fitzgerald, Matthew Kyle, Reinhold Sadler.
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A. Boungard and F. E. Baker. This commandery was very active for many years, but with the decline in mining, many members moved away and it was difficult to get a quorum to transact business, and finally in September, 1912, the charter was taken up by Wm. B. Melish, Grand Master of Knights Templar in the United States.
Malta Commandery No. 3, K. T.—Was organized at Goldfield in the fall of 1908, with Adams F. Brown, Eminent Commander; Henry W. Miles, Generalissimo, and William W. Ashley, Captain General. At the Triennial Conclave of Knights Templar, in Chicago, August 11, 191o, Sir William B. Melish, Grand Master, this commandery was granted a charter. It was constituted a regular commandery September 16, 1910, by Absalom Spencer, P. E. C., of DeWitt Clinton Commandery of Reno, acting as the special representative of the Grand Master. Adams F. Brown was the first Eminent Commander. Joseph P. Stampher was elected in 1911; Joseph Hamilton in 1912, and McKay B. Aston is the Eminent Commander for 1913. Its present membership numbers forty-two.
ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE OF FREE MASONRY.
The first Scottish Rite lodge to be instituted in Nevada was organized at Hamilton, White Pine County, and was known as Adoniram Lodge of Perfection. It was started September 9, 1871, by Edwin A. Sherman, Deputy Inspector General for the Territories under the Supreme Council of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States. The charter members were: Thomas N, Browne, Samuel P. Kelly, Edward Johnson, E. S. Gabbs, G. R. Alexander, Joseph Potts, Wm. B. Morse, Thos. M. Martin and Peter A. Wagner. Thos, N. Browne was elected Venerable Master; Samuel P. Kelly, S. W., and Edward Johnson, J. W. Several candidates were elected and advanced to the 14° during the two years the lodge was in existence, but so many of the members left Hamilton, that the lodge disbanded March 3, 1873.
The second lodge was organized in Virginia City, April 23, 1874, and was known as Silver Lodge of Perfection. Its first officers were: George S. Hopkins, Ven. Master; Philip Seldner, S. W.; Stephen H. Goddard, J. W., and the rest of the charter members were John W. Van Zandt, M. J. Henley, J. C. Hampton, Charles E. Davis, J. B. Pichford, and James A. Maynard. It continued its work for about six years and had altogether about one hundred members.
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October 16, 1874, Edwin A. Sherman, who is still living and resides in Oakland, Cal., instituted Nevada Lodge of Perfection at Carson City, with the following officers: Edwin A. Sherman, Ven. Master; Eugene B. Rail, S. W.; Levi D. Butts, J. W.; Geo. B. Hill, Secretary; David S. Lentz, Treasurer. The meeting was held in the Senate Chamber in the Capitol, and the following members appear on the charter list: Charles E. Laughton, George Flemming, George B. Hill, David H. Lentz, J. M. Hetrick, John H. King, Alex M. Ardery, Thos. J. Hodgkinson, Henry F. Clouette, Eugene B. Rail and Levi D. Butts. The lodge was in existence from October 16, 1874, to December 7, 1879, and the complete membership list shows the following names, in addition to those named in the charter: Wm. H. Corbett, Edmund M. Howe, Morris D. Hatch, Fred D. Stadtmuller, Robert R. LaVallierre, Wm. M. Havenor, Wm. E. Price, George Tufly, Chas. F. Bicknell, Robert W. Bollen, Daniel Haugh, A. D. Chamberlain, E. Benus, George Robinson, Charles Martin, Thomas Sheehan, Olin W. Ward, J. J. Beaman, B. F. Foster, A. C. Tevis, Trenmor Coffin, Hubbard G. Parker, Thomas Howe, Geo. H. Hayward, John S. Dixon, James H. McQuade, Wm. P. McIntosh, M. B. Ames, M. C. Gardner, Wm. Klink, J. L. Beam, Fred H. Phelps, O. Loudon, M. E. Spooner, Isaac Clouette, Elijah Walker, John A. Johnson and Jos. Robinson. The Grand Commander, Albert Pike, 33°, of Washington. D. C., visited the Carson bodies July 12, 1876. For many years there was no attempt to organize another Scottish Rite body in Nevada, owing to the vast amount of work and expense necessary to keep up the organization, but in 1901, Adolphus L. Fitzgerald, 330, Inspector General for Nevada, and Matthew Kyle, now 33° Hon., succeeded in getting a scattered membership to unite in forming Nevada Lodge of Perfection at Reno, with the following officers: Thos. Wren, Ven. Master; Reinhold Sadler, S. W.; Richard Ryland, J. W.; E. D. Kelley, Secretary ; Matthew Kyle, Treasurer. Forty-two members signed the call, and twenty-nine candidates were elected and received the degrees from the 4° to the 32° in the next six months. The four bodies constituting the Scottish Rite in Nevada, Nevada Lodge of Perfection, Washoe Chapter of Rose Croix, Pyramid Council of Kadosh and Reno Consistory, have a membership of 461, own a quarter of the Masonic Temple in Reno, and are in possession of about $8,000 worth of paraphernalia. The former lodges organized in Nevada had a hard financial struggle to keep going, but the
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present organization has no such trouble. The present officers are as follows:
Nevada Lodge of Perfection, 4° to 14°—Geo. W. Robinson, Ven. Master; Sidney C. Foster, S. W.; Jesse M. Rhodes, J. W.; Henry W. Miles, Master Ceremonies.
Washoe Chapter of Rose Croix—Silas E. Ross, Wise Master; Robert H. Parker, S. W.; John W. Blum, J. W.; Wm. H. Goodwin, Master Ceremonies.
Pyramid Council of Kadosh—Sanford C. Dinsmore, Preceptor; James Fife, S. W.; Charles F. Jackson, J. W.; Charles H. Gorman, Master Ceremonies.
Reno Consistory—Sidney C. Foster, Master; Henry W. Miles, S. W.; Jesse M. Rhodes, J. W.; Fred B. Corle. Master Ceremonies. Matthew Kyle is Treasurer of all the bodies, and Robert Lewers, Secretary. The following members have been honored by the Supreme Council of the Southern Jurisdiction in Washington with the highest degree given, the 33°. Adolphus L. Fitzgerald, 33° Active; Matthew Kyle, John N. Hill, Frank H. Norcross, William F. Robinson, Alfred W. Holmes and Robert Lewers, 330 Hon.
ANCIENT ARABIC ORDER OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE.
Nevada territory belonged at one time to the jurisdiction of Islam Temple of San Francisco, and that Temple initiated a great many candidates from Nevada. In the fall of 1906, quite a number of Nevada Shriners interested themselves in the organization of a Shrine in Nevada. On December 10, 1906, Imperial Potentate Alvah P. Clayton granted a dispensation to organize Kerak Temple at Reno. All Shrine Temples are required to choose an Arabic name, and this one chose the name of a city and province in Asia Minor. The first officers of Kerak Temple were: Robert Lewers, Potentate ; Walter J. Harris, Chief Rabban ; Theodore J. Steinmetz, Assistant Rabban ; Samuel Unsworth, High Priest; Harry J. Gosse, Oriental Guide; M. C. McMillan, Treasurer, and Frank D. King, Recorder. Three ceremonials were held, two at Reno, and one at Tonopah, where a class of sixty-four was initiated. The Imperial Council at Los Angeles in May, 1907, granted a charter to Kerak, and the Temple was regularly constituted with Walter J. Harris, Potentate. Robert Lewers was elected Potentate in 1908 and 1909; Absalom Spencer in 1910; Alfred Warren Holmes in 1911; Hosea E. Reid in
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1912, and the present Potentate is William F. Robinson. The other officers for 1913 are: Sanford C. Dinsmore, Chief Rabban; Robert H. Parker, Assistant Rabban; Samuel Unsworth, High Priest; Arthur A. Codd, Oriental Guide; Milo C. McMillan, Treasurer, and Frank D. King, Recorder. Kerak Temple has prospered and now has nearly four hundred members.
KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.
BY S. H. ROSENTHAL, G. K. R. S.
The Order of Knights of Pythias was founded February 19, 1864, at Washington, D. C., by Justus H. Rathbone. At a time when "war was in the heart of man, and sorrow in the home," when from ocean to ocean, from lake to gulf, our glorious land was engaged in scenes of carnage and death, Mr. Rathbone saw in Grecian history the germ of an order that should prove a power in dispelling the warmth of sectional strife and restoring the hearts of men to a basis of universal brotherhood, and taking the story of Damon and Pythias as a foundation from which to work, evolved the first ritual of the Order of Knights of Pythias. This bright] spot upon the pages of the past was the cornerstone upon which Brother Rathbone builded wiser than he knew. For years the fires burned low upon the altars of the young and struggling brotherhood, but in its present high noon, when from every hilltop the shields of brave and gallant Knights make bright the day of promise, the founder of the order may rest assured that its ascendant star will never wane. The marvelous growth of the organization has been almost miraculous, going ahead by leaps and bounds until at the beginning of the year 1913 its membership numbered 716,000. On January 1, 1913, there were 7,716 subordinate lodges, with a total membership of 716,000, an average of more than 14,600 each year during its short existence.
THE ORDER IN NEVADA.
The first lodge instituted in the State of Nevada was Nevada Lodge No. 1, located at Virginia City, and instituted March 23, 1873. On March 31, 1874, the Grand Lodge was instituted at Carson City, when representatives from six lodges were in attendance. At this session the following named were chosen as the first officers of the Grand Lodge of
690 THE HISTORY OF NEVADA
Nevada: E. L. Stern, Past Grand Chancellor ; S. H. Goddard, Grand Chancellor; Geo. Gilson, Grand Vice Chancellor; Charles E. Laughton, Grand Keeper of Records and Seal; George Tufly, Grand Master of Exchequer ; A. Livingston, Grand Master-at-Arms; Caesar Corris, Grand Inner Guard; Lyman A. Frisbie, Grand Outer Guard. Of these named all have passed to the great beyond with the one exception of the Grand Inner Guard, Caesar Corris, who still retains his membership in the Order, being an active and enthusiastic member of Amity Lodge of Reno. The Grand Lodge holds annual sessions at such places as is selected at each session, but when not otherwise designated, Reno is the place of meeting.
A majority of those who have acted as Grand Chancellor in this Domain have passed away. Of those who are entitled to the honor of Past Grand Chancellor, who are still active in their Pythian work, the following is a list : J. E. Bray, W. S. Beard, W. W. Booth, Caesar Corris, H. H. Coryell, O. J. Clifford, T. R. Hofer, Sr., S. J. Hodgkinson, W. D. Jones, Geo. J. D. King, P. H. Mulcahy, C. D. Zeigler, G. A. Macpherson, W. U. Mackey, M. C. McMillan, W. C. Pitt, Benj. Rosenthal, A. B. Stoddard, W. L. Samuels, W. R. Shaber, E. E. Winfrey, N. E. Wilson, F. P. Dann.
Subordinate Lodges.—The Grand Lodge controls twenty-four sub-ordinate lodges, with a total membership in the State of 1,672 January 1, 1913, these subordinate lodges showed total assets of $76,496.61.
ODDFELLOWSHIP.
BY WM. SUTHERLAND, GRAND SECRETARY.
Oddfellowship in the State of Nevada dates from 1861, and had its birth on what is familiarly called "the Comstock," at the base of Mount Davidson. In Gold Hill and Virginia City arose a call for organization and relief in 1861-62, and from this situation came assemblages of Odd Fellows, operating in accordance with the teachings of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, by "visiting the sick, relieving the distressed, burying the dead, or caring for the orphan."
The territory having been placed under the jurisdicton of California in April, 1862, four lodges were instituted under dispensations from
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that Grand Lodge during that year, viz.: Wildey No. 1, at Gold Hill, April 1st; Silver City No. 2, at Silver City, April 14th; Mount Davidson No. 3, at Virginia City, April 23rd, and Carson No. 4, at Carson City, April 25th. Six other lodges were subsequently instituted under the same authority, to-wit: Dayton No. 5, at Dayton, June 2, 1863; Esmeralda No. 6, at Aurora, September 16, 1863; Nevada No. 7, at Virginia City, January 15, 1864; Washoe No. 8, at Washoe, January 18, 1864; Austin No. 9, at Austin, January 23, 1864, and Virginia No. 1o, at Virginia City, May 18, 1865.
In a little more than three years' time these ten lodges had been instituted, and they formed the nucleus from which the Grand Lodge of Nevada was organized. At the session of the Grand Lodge of the United States in 1866, a charter was granted for the Grand Lodge of Nevada, and on the 21st of January, 1867, the past grands of the ten lodges before mentioned assembled in Odd Fellows' Hall, in Virginia City, and the Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the State of Nevada, was duly instituted by District Deputy Grand Sire Daniel Norcross, of San Francisco, California. The Grand Lodge was organized by electing John S. Van Dyke, Past Grand of Carson Lodge No. 4, Grand Master; J. W. Tyler, P. G. of Esmeralda Lodge No. 6, Deputy Grand Master; P. J. H. Smith, P. G., of Silver City Lodge No. 2, Grand Warden; R. H. Taylor, P. G., of Mount Davidson Lodge No. 3, Grand Secretary; R. M. Black, P. G., of Nevada Lodge No. 7, Grand Treasurer, and J. E. Sabine, P. G., of Dayton Lodge No. 5, Grand Representative, and the promise of that day that through it would the principles of the Order be advanced and given a wider dissemination, the superstructure of Odd Fellowship strengthened and permanently established within the State, has been fulfilled, as shown by its present active and progressive membership.
Since the organization of the Grand Lodge in 1867, thirty-one lodges have been instituted, making a total of forty-one, of which two have surrendered their charters and fourteen consolidated with other lodges, leaving at the present writing (1913) twenty-five working lodges, with a membership of over 1,700. The largest membership attained by the Order in this State was in the year 1876, when it numbered 2,045, which gradually declined to 1,255 in 1899, but again, with the improvement of times, progressed until the 1,700 mark has
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been passed. While this membership seems small, still, when you compare it with States of much larger population we outrank, as to percentage of membership of population, it being over two per cent. of the present population of this State. Since the year 1867 the Order in this State has expended in relief and charity the munificent sum of $478,746. Grand Lodge officers for 1912-13: David McLean, Grand Master; C. R. Carter, Deputy Grand Master; W. M. Christian, Grand Warden; Wm. Sutherland, Grand Secretary; C: Novacovich, Grand Treasurer; H. P. Gifford, Grand Representative; F. P. Langan, Grand Representative; Rev. H. B. Adams, Grand Chaplain; Chas. B. Kappler, Grand Marshal; N. Curnow, Grand Conductor; W. H. Martin, Grand Guardian; W. C. Neasham, Grand Herald.
Encampment Branch.—The introduction of the Patriarchal branch of the Order into this State is also due to California. As early as September, 1862, Grand Representative H. H. Hayden, of California, introduced a resolution in the body that is now styled the Sovereign Grand Lodge, I. O. O. F., asking "that the jurisdiction of the Grand Encampment of California be extended over the territory of Nevada." The request was not granted until the session of 1863. On July 17, 1864, Pioneer Encampment No. 1 was instituted at Virginia City by T. Rodgers Johnson, Grand Secretary of California. This encampment is to-day the first on the roll of Patriarchal Oddfellowship in Nevada.
Carson Encampment No. 2, at Carson City, was instituted by John S. Kaneen, District Deputy Grand Patriarch, November 18, 1867; Piute No. 3 was instituted at Virginia City, February 20, 1868, but later on was moved to Gold Hill; Reese River No. 4 was instituted November 19, 1869, at Austin; Reno No. 5 was instituted at Reno, January 8, 1872; Garden Valley No. 6 was instituted December 13, 1873, at Dayton, and Silver State No. 7 was instituted at Virginia City, February 17, 1874. In 1876 this encampment was merged with Pioneer No. 1.
The Grand Encampment, I. O. O. F., of Nevada, was instituted at Carson City, March 2, 1875, by Special Deputy Grand Sire 15. O. Adkinson, Past Grand Representative of Nevada, assisted by Patriarchs Jacob Young, A. Prescott, E. L. Stern, John S. Kaneen, A. Hires and J. C. Smith. The latter was elected Grand Patriarch. Since institution
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of Grand Encampment eight more subordinate encampments have been, organized, making a total of fifteen subordinate encampments, of which nine are now in active operation—three having surrendered their charters and three consolidating with other encampments. The membership in 1912 is 357. Following are the Grand officers for 1912-13: John Johnson, Grand Patriarch; W. M. Christian, Grand High Priest; M. G. Edwards, Grand Senior Warden; Wm. Sutherland, Grand Scribe; C. Novacovich, Grand Treasurer; John Dunbar, Grand Representative; E. P. McLean, Grand Junior Warden; Geo. R. Emery, Grand Marshal; Spencer Reynolds, Grand Sentinel, and Alfred Tamblyn, Deputy Grand Sentinel.
Rebekah Degree Branch.—The first Rebekah Lodge organized in Nevada was Colfax Degree of Rebekah Lodge No. 1, instituted at Virginia City, March 4th, 1869, by John S. Kaneen, Grand Master—on the same date that the author of the degree (Schuyler Colfax) was inaugurated Vice-president of the United States, and it is claimed it was the first lodge of the kind instituted under the jurisdiction of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. The title "Degree of Rebekah Lodge" was retained until session of Sovereign Grand Lodge in 1891, when it was changed to . . . . Rebekah Lodge, No. . . . .I. O. O. F. Twenty nine Rebekah Lodges have been instituted in this State since Colfax No. 1, twenty-two of which, including Colfax No. 1, are in active operation to-day, the other eight having surrendered their charters.
On June 16, 1896, representatives from seven Rebekah Lodges met in Reno and organized the Rebekah Assembly, I. O. O. F., of Nevada, Sister Emma B. Coffin, of Harmony, Rebekah Lodge No. 5, of Dayton, being elected its first President. On June 15, 1912, the Rebekah Assembly had cash in hands of Treasurer, $881.84; in hands of Trustees, $1,650.97; bonds amounting to $2,000, and $3,000 invested in I. O. O. F. Building Association stock, making a total of $7,032.81. Assembly officers for 1912-13: Alys Johnson, President; Julia P. Smith, Vice-president; Lizzie R. Mudd, Secretary; Angeline Day, Treasurer; Adah Updike, Marshal; Florence Swasey, Conductor; Margaret Jack, Chaplain; Emma King, Inside Guardian, and Mary J. Mack, Emma B. Holmes and Delia Spinney, Trustees.
694 THE HISTORY OF NEVADA
BENEVOLENT AND PROTECTIVE ORDER OF ELKS.
BY ROBERT LEWERS.
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks was organized in New York City, February 16, 1868, by Charles Vivian and his associates. The original ritual contained two degrees, but the present ritual has but one. It was composed at first of those engaged in the theatrical, musical or literary professions, and its object was defined as that of promoting and enhancing the welfare and happiness of each other. In 1871 the Grand Lodge of the Order was founded with a small membership. In 1876, San Francisco founded No. 3 Chicago, No. 4, and Cincinnati, No. 5. The growth for some years was slow, but along about 1895 the Order commenced to grow by leaps and bounds. The list of Grand Exalted Rulers contains the names of many distinguished men, such as Judge Henry A. Melvin, of California, who held that office in 1906, and the present Governor of Pennsylvania, John K. Tener, who succeeded Judge Melvin. The present Grand Exalted Ruler is Thomas B. Mills, of Superior, Wisconsin. The membership of the Order April 1, 1912, was 384,742, and the number of lodges, 1,287. The largest lodge at that date was Brooklyn No. 22, with 3,693 members. The property held by all the lodges footed up $20,391,832, and the amount expended for charity was $467,698.53 for the year ending April 1, 1912.
Reno Lodge No. 597.--Was organized June 30, 1900, with the following charter members, viz.: Harry J. Gosse, W. E. Sharon, William L. Cox, Henry C. Cutting, Henry P. Kraus, W. B. Lobner, Ed. F. Smith, John A. Lewis, Fred P. Dann, W. G. Doane, Jos. H. McCormack, Phil J. McGrath, Samuel H. Wheeler, Geo. H. Wilson, James F. Stewart, Chas. S. Hallifax. H. F. Dangberg, Frank M. Lee, Albert W. Cahlan, L. O. Henderson, Frank P. Langan, Nelson Coffin, David W. Rulison, Sidney P. Reaves, R. B. Hawcroft, F. D. Duncan, E. B. Yerington, George T. Mills, Thos. J. Birmingham, David M. Ryan, H. J. Darling, J. M. Benton, Jr., H. E. Epstine, Roy J. Reese, J. A. Yerington, J. F. Aitken, F. D. Torryson, T. R. Hofer, Wm. H. Kirk, J. K. Mayberry, Jay H. Clemons, Eugene Howell, W. A. Phillips, A. E. Cheney, Harry M. Martin, Camille Lonkey, Herman A. Grant, Kyle Kinney, Samuel J. Hodgkinson and Wm. D. Jones. Harry J. Gosse was the first
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Exalted Ruler and his successors are as follows:, viz.: William L. Cox, J. F. Stewart, A. E. Cheney, Jos. H. McCormack, R. B. Hawcroft, Oscar J. Smith, Frank M. Lee, Harry E. Stewart, Sidney P Reaves, S. M. Sample, Fred P. Dann, Wm. Woodburn, Jr., and the present Exalted Ruler is Frank J. Byington.
In 1904, Reno Lodge commenced the erection of its present magnificent home, and finished it in 1905 at a cost of over $40,000. The present membership is 611. Since 1902 fifty-six members have died and the first death was that of Henry P. Kraus, 'Nasby' who was the postmaster of Reno and treasurer of the lodge at the time of his death. On the memorial tablet are found the names of John Sparks, Ex-Governor of Nevada; Orvis Ring, for many years State Superintendent of Public Instruction; James D. Torreyson, at one time Attorney General of Nevada; Joseph R. Ryan, a prominent Comstock mining man; George F. Turrittin, at one time Mayor of Reno ; Nate W. Roff, State Senator ; W. H. A. Pike, District Judge ; John N. Evans, James H. Kinkead, John B. Overton, William Way, pioneers of Nevada; George S. Nixon, former United States Senator.
Tonopah Lodge No. 1062. — Was organized April 26, 1907, and has shown a healthy growth ever since. Its present membership is 305, and it has a pleasant home of its own. Its property is valued at $15,300. Its first Exalted Ruler was L. A. Gibbons, who was succeeded by George B. Thatcher, present Attorney General of Nevada; Henry C. Schmidt, Frank P. Mannix, P. E. Keeler, J. T. Garner, and the present chief officer is Ed. Malley.
Goldfield Lodge No. 1072. — Was organized in May, 1907, and became a very active lodge. Its first Exalted Ruler was Milton M. Detch, and his successors were E. R. Collins, Delos A. Turner, Charles H. Beesley, W. H. Weishar, T. F. Dunn. The present Exalted Ruler is J. Emmett Walsh. Arthur E. Barnes has been Secretary of the lodge since its organization. The present membership of Goldfield Lodge is 357, and the lodge owns nearly $30,000 worth of property.
THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF EAGLES.
was organized in the city of Seattle, on the 6th of February, 1898, by John Cort, Thomas Considine, John Considine, H. L. Leavitt, and Mose Goldsmith, in the spirit of levity,
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and called the "Seattle Order of Goods Things," and on the 13th of May, 1898, was duly incorporated under the laws of the State of Washington as the Fraternal Order of Eagles, which name was proposed by John Cart. The first Aerie organized in the State of Nevada was on the 20th of February, 1902, when Reno Aerie No. 207 of Reno, was organized by Alex S. Fowler, there being 63 charter members. The principal officers were: Joseph Brearley, Past Worthy President; Dr. P. Harold Foss, Worthy President; F. G. Folsom, Secretary. The present membership of Reno Aerie No. 207 is 328, and the officers are: Pete Kinney, Worthy President; Frank H. Hartung, Secretary. Carlin Aerie No. 229, was instituted on the 11th of May, 1902, by A. S. Fowler, there being 53 charter members. The principal officers were: Dean Durham, Past Worthy President; J. C. Fuller, Worthy President; W. H. Nolan, Secretary. The present membership of Carlin Aerie, No. 229 is 73, and the officers are: C. B. Kuppler, Worthy President; W. S. McKinsey, Secretary. Tonopah Aeria, No. 271, was instituted on the 9th of October, 1902, by D. Leishman, there being 74 charter members. The principal officers were: Kenneth M. Jackson, Past Worthy President; Thomas Fleming, Worthy President; George A. Cole, Secretary. The present membership of Tonopah Aerie No. 271 is 209, and the officers are: William Hawke, Worthy President; L. H. Conley, Secretary. Winnemucca Aerie No. 487 was instituted on the 25th of August, 1903, by Joseph Brearley, there being 54 charter members. The principal officers were: J. D. Vargas, Past Worthy President; R. E. L. Windle, Worthy President; C. E. Robins, Secretary. The present membership of Winnemucca Aerie No. 487 is 106, and the officers are: F. C. Krenkel, Worthy President; C. B. Smith, Secretary. Comstock Aerie No. 523, of Virginia City, was instituted on the 26th of September, 1903, by Joseph Brearley, there being 78 charter members. The principal officers were: Con A. Ahern, Past Worthy President; Joseph Farnsworth, Worthy President; John C. Dewar, Secretary. The present membership of Comstock Aerie No. 523 is 162, and the officers are: M. W. Dandurand, Worthy President; James Ennis, Secretary. Esmeralda Aerie No. 946, of Goldfield, was instituted on the 1st of January, 1905, by Joseph Brearley, there being 16o charter members. The principal officers were: M. M. Detch, Past Worthy President; D. A. Turner, Worthy President; F. H. Maxwell, Secretary. The present membership of Esmeralda Aerie No. 946 is 200, and the officers are:
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J. G. Thompson, Worthy President; Clyde P. Johnson, Secretary. Carson City Aerie No. 1006, was instituted on the 5th of March, 1905, by Con A. Ahern, there being 92 charter members. The principal officers were: Will U. Mackey, Past Worthy President; Samuel Platt, Worthy President; H. B. Van Etten, Secretary. The present membership of Carson City Aerie No. 1006 is 134, and the officers are: John Sanger, Worthy President; F. A. Cushing, Secretary. Las Vegas Aerie No. 1213, was instituted on the 15th of September, 1905, by C. A. Ahern, there being 62 charter members. The principal officers were: Dr. E. C. Keyes, Past Worthy President; D. V. Noland, Worthy President; I. W. Botkin, Secretary. The present membership of Las Vegas Aerie No. 1213, is 76, and the officers are: L. A. Wynaught, Worthy President; I. W. Botkin, Secretary. Toquima Aerie No. 1422, of Manhattan, was instituted on the 27th of May, 1906, by Con A. Ahern, there being 64 charter members. The principal officers were: Charles Fancher, Past Worthy President; W. G. Doane, Worthy President; William A. Boyle, Secretary. The present membership of Toquima Aerie No. 1422, is 90, and the officers are: Peter Bleede, Worthy President; L. M. Richards, Secretary. Fallon Aerie No. 1447 was instituted on the 25th of June, 1906, by C. A. Ahern, there being 92 charter members. The principal officers were: E. W. Black, Past Worthy President; Frank Woodliff, Worthy President; Paul C. Groth, Secretary. The present membership of Fallon Aerie No. 1447 is 103, and the officers are: William S. Wall, Worthy President; F. F. Franke, Secretary. Lovelock Aerie No. 1557, was instituted on the 30th of December, 1906, by C. A. Schartzer, there being loo charter members. The principal officers were: F. A. Preston, Past Worthy President; James M. Hunter, Worthy President; E. E. Cozzens, Secretary. The present membership of Lovelock Aerie No. 1557 is 87, and the officers are: E. T. Torrey, Worthy President; W. H. Davis, Secretary. Yerington Aerie No. 1696 was instituted on the 11th of August, 1907, by C. A. Schartzer, there being 8o charter members. The principal officers were: Lawson King, Past Worthy President; C. B. Wiseman, Worthy President; Harry F. Holland, Secretary. The present membership of Yerington Aerie No. 1696, is 102, and the officers are: W. J. McKenzie, Worthy President; J. F. Barton, Secretary. White Pine Aerie No. 1705, of Ely, was instituted on the 22nd of October, 1907, by M. J. Mahoney, there being 130 charter members. The principal
698 THE HISTORY OF NEVADA
officers were : W. E. Dean, Past Worthy President ; A. G. Cunningham, Worthy President; H. E. Stebbins, Secretary. The present membership of White Pine Aerie, No. 1705, is 195, and the officers are: J. E. Robbins, Worthy President; A. L. Haight, Secretary. Round Mountain Aerie, No. 1799, was instituted on the 16th of July, 1908, by Con A. Ahern, there being 54 charter members. The principal officers were: Andrew Atchison, Past Worthy President; Earl Clair, Worthy President; Archie T. Cook, Secretary. The present membership of Round Mountain Aerie, No. 1799, is 83, and the officers are: John Leary, Worthy President; J. D. Harrington, Secretary. Steptoe Aerie, No. 1876, of McGill, was instituted on the 9th of June, 1909, by A. J. Cunningham, there being 122 charter members. The principal officers were: Roy J. Tilton, Past Worthy President; J. J. Decker, Worthy President; Joseph S. Darke, Secretary. The present membership of Steptoe Aerie No. 1876, is 96, and the officers are: Floyd E. Walk, Worthy President; J. McD. Brown, Secretary. At the present time there are fifteen Subordinate Aeries, with a total membership of 2,044 in the State of Nevada.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.
On March 29, 1882, the General Assembly of the State of Connecticut passed an Act approving of the incorporation of the Knights of Columbus. Since that time it has grown to become one of the most powerful fraternal orders of the United States.
There are four councils in the State of Nevada, located at Ely, Goldfield, Reno and Tonopah. Prior to April, 1911, the Nevada membership was under the jurisdiction of Utah, with P. A. McCarran as the Territorial Deputy, who was authorized to direct the affairs of the order in the State of Nevada. In 1911, the required membership having been attained, a State convention was called and a State Council was established, and P. A. McCarran was chosen State Deputy. At the convention of 1912, Leonard B. Fowler was chosen to succeed Mr. McCarran as State Deputy. The order now has a membership in Nevada of five hundred. Mr. McCarran represented Nevada as a delegate to the Supreme Council at the conventions held at Mobile, Detroit and Quebec. In 1912 he was again a delegate but for business reasons was unable to attend, and C. J. Leonesio, of Reno, was chosen in his place. State Deputy Leonard B.
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Fowler, by virtue of his office, was also a delegate to this convention, which was held at Colorado Springs, in August, 1912.
The first lodge to be organized in Nevada was Reno Lodge No. 569, which came into existence April 19, 1911. Its charter closed with a membership of 569.
Since that time lodges have been organized in Fallon, Virginia City, Goldfield and Tonopah, and further work of organizing is going rapidly on. A lodge has been also organized in the neighboring California City of Portola.
Reno Lodge was represented at the Indianapolis Convention and through the efforts of the Reno delegation the Supreme Dictator of the Moose Lodge included Reno later, on his western itinerary, and his presence and address did much for the Order in Nevada.
UNITED ANCIENT ORDER DRUIDS.
The Druids were organized in Reno, May 4, 1901. Roma Grove No. 1, Wm. Semenza, First Noble Arch; L. Lagomarsino, First Past Noble Arch, working in the Italian language. Bayton Grove, No. 2, was organized at Dayton, also Italian. Reno Grove, No. 3, was organized in Reno, February 15, 1903, English. Sparks Grove, No. 4, Italian, at Sparks. Then permission was granted to organize Grand Grove, . . . . . . organized July 2, 1905; C. E. Mooser, First Noble Grand Arch; Wm. Semenza, First Past Noble Grand Arch. Amis-Reunis, No. 5, organized in Reno, French language. Galileo-Galilei, No. 6, at Sparks, Italian. Wm. Semenza, Noble Grand Arch; L. Lagomarsino, Past Noble Grand Arch; C. E. Mooser, Grand Secretary; B. Duque, Grand Treasurer; Present officers of the Grand Grove of Nevada.
THE BROTHERHOOD OF AMERICAN YEOMEN.
The Brotherhood of American Yeomen was organized in Iowa February 25, 1897, is now sixteen years old and has a membership of 183,771. It has paid in death and accident claims $9,165,454.65. The first Homestead in Nevada was organized in Reno in June, 1910; in Goldfield, November, 1910; Tonopah, May, 1911; McGill, October, 1911, and in Ely, June, 1912. In Nevada it now has a membership of nearly six hundred. David Reedy is State Manager.