CENTENNIAL

WESTERN STAR LODGE No. 2.6.

Ancient Free and Accepted Masons

FH.(H ERTY OF '""' c·· , , 1 ... ~~- ' R 1·1 R IT E ~ _I .. ..J J i \ . l . .

MINN EAPULiS, MINN. j~ · ~~

~0/1.(1'-L-~---

1858-1958

CENTENNIAL WESTERN STAR LODGE No. 26

A. F. & A.M.

1858-1958 Charter Granted October 27, 1858,

Masonic Temple occupied by

·western Star Lodge No. 26,

Since March 10, 1910

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OFFICERS OF \'\'ESTERN STAR LODGE NO. 26 1958

Back row left to right: Rasmus 0. Sundal, S. D., W. Russell Voigt, ]. S., Paul Neal, Chaplain, Lawrence Allen, S. S., H. AJv,in Hanson, Tyler, Boyd DeMalig­non, J.D.;

Front row left to right: E. F. \i\7estrum, Treasurer, Ronald R. Blakeslee, S. \V., Frank ]. Dallera, vV. M., Lawrence \V. Grinolds, ]. \ 'V., George 'I'V. Harrison, Secretary;

Inset: Arthur Rhiger, Marshal.

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OFFICERS

Western Star Lodge No. 2..6

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'1'\Torshipful Master - - ----------------- -------- - ------ Frank]. Dallera

Senior \1\Tarden --- ------------------- ------- Ronald R . Blakeslee

Ju~ior \1\Tarden -- ------- - ------- --- -------- Lawrence \N. Grinolds

Treasurer --- - ------------------- ----- - --------------- E. F. \1\Testrum

Secretary - -------- -------- - ------------------ George vV. Harrison

Chaplain ------------------------------------------------ Paul Neal

Senior Deacon --- ---- --- - ------ - --- - --- -------- - - Rasmus 0 . Sundal

.Junior Deacon - -- - ----- ------- ----- ------------ Boyd DeMalignon

Senior Steward ----- - - - ------- - -- - - --- - -------------- Lawrence Allen

Marshal - --- --- -- - --------- ------- - ------------------ Arthur Rhiger

Junior Steward ------- - - - - - - --- --- - - - - - ------- W. Russell Voigt

Tyler -------- - --------------------- - -------------- H. Alvin Hanson

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PAST MASTERS

Western Star Lodge No. 26

* Asa V1T. White Dispen-sation --------------- 1857-60

*John Brownsill -------- 1861 *Horatio D. Brown ______ _ 1862

* Asa W. White -------- - 1863-65 *Horatio D . Brown _____ 1866-71

*Frank B. Fobes - ------- 1872-73 *Horatio D. Brown ---- - --- 1874 '"Daniel N. Gates -- - - ·----- 1875 *William P. Sergeant ____ 1876-77

*Frank B. Fobes ----- ---- 1878 *James F. Reppy _______ 1879-80

*Fred S. Lincoln - - -------- 1881 *William C. Pratt - ------- 1882 *Orville C. Dibble ___ _____ 1883

*William C. Pratt -------- 1884 *James Q. Annis _______ 1885-89 *Henry A. House _______ 1890-93

•w·. W. Parker ----- ----- - 1894 *Henry A. House ___ ______ 1895 *JohnS. Chapman ______ 1896-97 *Charles M. Wilkinson 1898-1900 *George W. Geesey -------- 1901 *'V. ,V. Parker - - - -- ------ 1902 *W. M. McAllister ------- - 1903 *L. A. Hanes ____ __ ____ 1904-05

*John F. D. Meighen ___ 1906-07

*E. J. H. Land --------- 1908-09 *Charles T. Turnbull _____ 1910

*W. ]. Beal ------------ 1911-12 *Burt May ________ _____ 1913-14

*M. L. Robbins -------- - -- 1915 Nels C. Sorenson ----- - --- 1916

*Ole]. Wulff ------------- 1917 *A. W. Tuttle --- - - ---- - -- 1918 Edgar F. Westrum ______ _ 1919

Bennett 0 . Knudson ------ 1920 F. H . Druckenbrod _______ 1921

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N. Vere Sanders ------ -- - 1922 *Harry D. Claybourn ______ 1923 *Frederich A. Franz _______ 1924

William P. Sturtz -------- 1925 Arthur L. Gaarder _______ 1926

Clayton N . Wulff -------- 1927 LeRoy L. Gaarder _______ 1928 Glenn K. Bennett __ ______ 1929

C. Bruce Wulff ----- - - --- 1930 *Alvin P. Christianson _____ 1931

*Peter S. Knudsen -------- 1932 Ole S. Swanson - --------- 1933

*Richard C. Johnson ______ 1934

Ervin H. Ruhsam --- -- - - - 1935 Fred L. Martinson _______ 1936

Morris N. Hagen -------- 1937 *C. Ross McGrath ------- -- 1938 Casper S. Hanson -------- 1939 Carlyle T. Wiegand ______ 1940 Theodore E. Thomson ____ 1941 G. Kenneth Palmer ______ 1942 David Rodli ____________ 1943

Frank Reese ------------- 1944 Robert D. Reid _________ _ 1945 Benjamin F. Muldown ____ 1946

W. W. Krueger ---------- 1947 Anton G. Thorgeson _____ 1948

Kenneth W. Esse ----- - - -- 1949 Arthur A. Swenson _______ 1950

Helmer Olsen ---------- 1951 Irvin C. Schneider _______ 1952 Ellsworth B. Elison _______ 1953

Reace B. Shanks - - ------ - 1954 Arthur H. Rhiger -------- 1955 Robert A. Turtness _______ 1956

Bert Polk ------- ---- ---- 1957 Frank ]. Dallera -------- 1958

* deceased

FRANK FOBES PAST GRAND HIGH PRIEST

R . A. M., Minnesota (1892)

BENNETT 0. KNUDSON PAST GRAND COMMANDER

Knights T emplar, Minnesota (1932)

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·wiLLIAM P. STURTZ PAST GRAND MASTER A. F. & A. M., Minnesota

(1942)

E. H. RUHSAM PAST GRAND HIGH PRIEST

R. A. M., Minnesota (1948)

J. MILES MAR TIN GRAND MASTER

A. F. & A. M., Minnesota (1958)

OFFICERS Grand Lodge of A. F. & A. M. of Minnesota

1958 M. W. J. Miles Martin --------------------~--------- Grand Master R. W. Clyde E. Hegman --------- --------------- Deputy Grand Master R. 'N. Martin H. Voss -- -- ---------------- - -- -- - Senior Grand 'Varden R . ,V. Edward L. Gruber - ----------------------Junior Grand 'Varden R . ,V, Louis K. Thompson --- - ------------- - ----- --- Grand Treasurer R. ,V. David E. Palmer - - - --- ---------------------- Grand Secretary W. Robert J. Rice --------------------- - ---- - ------ - Grand Chaplain W. Phil.ip F. McNairy --- -------- - - ----------------- - - - Grand Orator ,,\T. Stafford King ~- ---- -------- ------ --------- -- Senior Grand Deacon ,V. Harvard B. Olson ----- ---- ------- -- - ----~- Junior Grand Deacon ,V. Edwin ·w. Toms - ---------~------------------- Grand Marshal ' 'V. Paul M. Olstad -------------------------- Grand Standard Bearer ,V. Frank E. Edey ----- ------------- -- - ---------- Grand Sword Bearer w·. Mortimer B. Miley ----------------------- Senior Grand Steward '"'· Joseph L. Seltzer ------------------------ -- - Junior Grand Steward ,V. D. ·william Tiffany ------------------------------ Grand Pursuivant W. Cecil H. Judd ----------- -------------- - -- - - ---- Grand Tyler

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HISTORY of Western Star Lodge No. 2.6

Th sun·nner [ 1 57 . aw Lh first important mirrration t Lite area which no\ constitut the Cit of !bert ea. he new ilizen · found a few log homes and a store, built o Lhe same material. Lumber was an im ­portant pr clu t, and a . awmill was in proce ')) f onstruction by eorge . Rub! , th pow r or which wa · furnished b a .Illtil) dam on the hell rock River which created a lake named "Fountain" . The infant plat bad been approved by the nite I . Late p t offi e I panmem, and tb village ""a L. b known a !bert ea, Minne ot.a en:itor . be newly arrived [amil,i rected homes either in the village r on pre-empted land nearb . 'everal of the y ung men were unmarri ·d. me o[ them took up land

while other found work in the v illage. fost of them boanl d in the vii­lag at A1 nzo ferry' Stranger Home r in the barn like hotel 1 ·ared at the pre Clll armory ·ite, then known a th "Kenyon Hou •·. rr he first lum­ber produced at the infant ·awmill wem jmo constructi.o1~ of a building n Elizabeth tr el whid1 became the home or a n w pa,per b aring the proud title of "The Southern Minnesota Star".

The se oncl comm r ial building wa · I ·ated on the wc:t ·ide o£ gras o cred Broadway. It becam the office of. Dr. A. . Wedge wh had come

to Lhe village to I ok after tbe imere l. o[ hi !at un I >, Lu ·iu P. ' 'Vedge, and to pra ti e l1i profe i n, a pra ti c whid1 cominuecl for m rc than 50 yea• . lal'ge building, for tho. e tim s, to b known a the '\1\lebb r House" wa completed befor wjnt r.

fflcially, Freeb rn unty hac! been organized on 1 larch 3rcl and 4th, 1 ~7. It · birth tm·ed at the log home o[ eor Ruble, an 1 lhe Village r ben Lea was ch n a th temporar ounty ·eat. . n el ction wa heduled [or Oc ober 13Lh of that year to . eule, for a short t ime at 1 a ·t,

the locati n or tlle ourt house. pirited C011l ' l for tha t honor (oll wed with e era! of the village of the ounry 1 ani ipaling.

t tll.e be inning of ·bey ar J8i' 7 ther were only tw member · of rhe Ma onic fraternity re idin<Y in this newly . ct led communit)'· fanner Brother . \1\r. White, had ·ettl d ju t we t [ he illag in which Br ther Georg Ruble wa mpleting hi awmjll. Br thCJ" 'WhiLe and Ruble had kn wn ach oLh r in prior year when both lived in •Vi n in. In Lbe year 1 55 Brother \ •Vhite moved w Mitchell, Iowa, and during the winter of 1855-56 he was vjsi eu 1herc by Broth r Ruble. L that time Brother White wa in bu ine. in 1 fitd1cll, but Brother Ruble painted uch a glow­ing picture of Lhe land to the north L11aL by 1857 Br0Lher' ' bit wa: . uled near Albert Lea.

Brother Ruble, a man of many interests, found little time during the summer of 1857 to devote to Masonic interests. It fell to the energetic Brother '1\Thite to be on the lookout for-other members of the fraternity, and by fall he found five more members, enough to organize a lodge.

These seven men, all of whom belonged to different lodges, applied for a charter to the Grand Lodge of the Minnesota TeiTitory. On October 1, 1857, the Grand Master issued them a dispensation to organize and meet

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a. a lodge, on a temporary ba i , until uch time • as the applicaLion for d1aner be voted upon and a chaner duly issued. It wa planned tha th fit t meeting bould be held in the parlor of the "I; ebber H u e but ince that building wa till incomplete the brothers met on ovembcr 14, 1 57, in an unfinished room over the drugsror aucl IIice of Dr. A. C. W'edge. This building, which was ·the first building ere ted on Br adway was moved in the I 70's, and i . till tanding on outh Pearl treer in Alben Lea, opposite the Allis HoteL

he minute, of thi · 11r !. meeting have been preser ed, and are in th.e handwriting o( George Ruble the acting . ecretary. hey how that Wor hipful Master A. V. \ hite called to order the first meeting oC Westem . tar Lodge, under di pen ation, held in the Vil lage o[ A lbett Lea, Minne­·ota Territory, ov mb r 14·, I 57 in the Year [Light 5 57. There wexe pre ent, beside t.he •Vor hipful faster, Brothel' Chari s Torton, enior Warden John Brown Ul, Junior ·warden, \f\T. K. B yl , George Hayward,

eorge . Rub! and elson nycler. Brother J. C. Maloy is mentioned as a vi itor. The Vor hipful faster appointed Brother Hayward a Tyler, Brother Boyles a enior Dea on, .BrotJ1.er nyder as Junior Deacon, and Brother George Ruble a · ecretary. The lodge then conducted its election· Brother Hayward wa elected Treasurer, Brother Boyle , e retary, Br ther Ruble, Senior eacon, and Brother Snyder, Junior Dea on .

At thi fu meeting it wa decided that regular meewng should be held at 6:00 'clock p.m. on the Wcclne day of or immediately preceding each full moon. The Worhip(ul Master a! o app inted a ommi tee tO make the nece ary pby ical arrangem n r r the lodge. Initiation fee for the first three deo-ree · wa !ixed at 20.00, and the lodge was do eel follow· ing a decision to hold the next me Ling on the 25th of ovember.

The stories of the charter members of 'ii\Testern Star Lodge, all of whom were pionect o( Freeborn County, are interesting ones. The fit" t member of the fraternit)' tO settle in the area was Brother George . Ruble, who be-ame fir t ecreuuy Brother Ruble and hi family were engaged in agri­

culture, specializing in imported hor es. The family originally came from Penn ylvania by way of Ohio and Wi on in. d ubled the m.11nber f I al membe1 I the locl · when, as ha been pr iou ly related, he per· suaded his friend A. W. \1\Thite to settle nearby.

To Brother Ruble also belongs the honor of beginning Albert Lea as a indus-trial center. He served with the Mounted Rangers during the Indian \ at (the early .ixrie ·, and later with the First I inne ta Heavy nillery during the Civil "1;1\rar. In thi c.apacity he saw action in the vicinity of Chattanooga, Ten.nes ee, and be arne o impre sed with that area that he located there up n his relea e from military ervjce. He kept hi vast real e tale hol<ling in Minne ota, an Jc(t t.heir rnanagernenL to hi brother John. He returned to Minn sota about 1871 v.hen hi Tenne ee hotel was de­troyed by fire. He died jn 886, survived by his son, Brother Charles N. Rul 1 , and hi daughter, Mrs. T. P. Green, who was then living in Tennes­see. He had a granddaughter Katherine, daughter of Charles, for whom Ka:therine I.land in •ountain Lake was named.

Brother W. K. Boyle first settled in Hayward Township. He was a farmer and carpenter, and soon moved to the new Village of Albert Lea. He was killed during the constru<:tion of a store building which was being

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First Lodge Hall occupied, 1857 · 1858

First Officers and Charter Members of 1'\'estern Star Lodge No. 26

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erected to indu · Bro her Frank Hall to lo ate it !ben Lea. Funcml ·ervi es for Brother Bo Ie were held in the old Webbet· Hou c, ancL h was buri d in the emet t·y which wa th n lo ·ated on the ld Au ·tin Road near the :itc of the prescn1 [ienton , ' tr e t and MaL hall ve~u. Lat r , the lodge purd1a~ed a lot in Lh . new ra e lan l met 1·y, and h1 r main · w re moved ther" in 1 ' 69. Lodge records di. duse that the ost ol removal was 5.50.

Brother Charles Norton, First Senior 'Warden of the Lodge, settled on the west side of Pickerel Lake. His former home was in "\Visconsin. He gave to W · tern Star Lodge a great knowledge of Masoni~ affairs, ~ncl was a featured . peaker during the "\•Vestern Star Lodge Fo~·ueth Anmversary celebration in 1897. His death occurred in 1900, and, !Jke Brother Boyle, he i · buri ed in Gracelancl Cemetery.

Brother J ·1. on n der, the firs1 Junior VVarclen of th lo lg , riginal­ly ·eul I in .Riccland Township. He formerly li,·ed in Iowa, but both h and hi · wife wer horn in • ngland. H dimitted from the lodge in M.arch of 1869 because of poor hea lth , and rewmed LO his f nn r hom in 1 w where h died :honl a tenvard. •

l~ro th er George Hayw<Lnl, fir t reasmer nr the Iod re, ·ame tO Hayward ownship fmm Po tvi lle, l<1wa, ir the year 185(). H e wa · bom in New

York tate in 1824. ln I 60 he returned to I wa. Jn I !) ' the lodo- wa ad vi ·eel b)' a daughter of Br Lh r Ha ward that h had b en killed in a fall from a hOI e in I' 7 in th ' ' taLe of alifornia.

The second meetio of VVestcrn Star Lodge wa · h Id (>\'C.mber 25, 1857. at th \!Vel b r l-1 u · . It wa at thi~ meeting- that the llr t petition was received, that o[ A. n. \•Vel ber, the owner >f the "\>\Tebb r House_ Br<>thCl' Webber wa. rai. etl on May 1 5 , Lhe fit"l m rnl cr to recei ,·e hi. Iegree · from We tern tar od e. In add iLion lo hi other interest!, Broth­

er Webber \1 as ad miLL I w th pra tice >f law, and wa · the pr moter [or he tra L of land in the cast pan of pre ent clay \!ben ea which is known

as Webber cldit ion. He al o aw service in the ' i\'il War, and wa l<tter appointed as \ Varden o the J ·Iitme 01a une Prison .

h · cond p tition to be re ci ed in \• c·tern 'ta r Lo lge tallle in early I 58 . that of r·. . C. \Vet! 'C. He, lik wi · , saw servi e in the ivil V\' ar, a a ·ur(l'eon. Durin' the year· that followed h · h ld many lo al and tal orficcs and al · ened for a time a oJJcctor of Jmernal 1 evenu (or 'outhern J\l.inne ·ota. :Ie was for many year a 1 anner in the retail dntg-busine s willt L. 'piccr, father of J3r thcr L. "\•V. S1 i er. H wa · the father [Mamie 'Wedge, later the wife n( Brothe1· M . i\1. Jon s, and was the g randfather of Brother Alben \>\1. Jone and gTeat grand ather of Brother J\lfark Jones. He died in 19 11, after el ing the com munity of lben Lea 1'01' over 54 years.

After the fu .. r few me Lings had be n held in t.he parlor of Lhc ·webber Hotel Lhe Brolhers c n Juded that tbe e quaner wer · to ·mall, and were lacking in 1 rivacy. Tn the umm r of l 58 the loci ··e wa mo ed t new qu~u-tcr over the wagon h >p owned by Br ther John W . .Brown ill, on the present location of the po t office. he new lodge r om wa · I 6 by 30 feet, but an additional ant room wa added horcly thereafter at a o t of 46.00.

he rental paid LO Br thcr Brown ill was 45JJO per y ar. he lodge rec­rds how that in July, 185 a bill of 15.00 wa ·allowed to Brother Brown-

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A. W. White l:miling. Sec­OIHl floor used as Lodge

Hall 1871 - 1874

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Brownsill Wagon Shop Second floor used as Lodge

Hall 1858- 1871

sill for labor in preparing the Masoni c Hall. At tlie same time a bill of $2.80 was allowed for secretarial supplies, and Brother 'Villiam Morin was paid $6.10 for 175 feet of walnu t lumber.

Bro ther Whjt ften related, in later )'Ca r tha t the fir. L '' jewels" of '1\Testern Lar Lodg • were ma le of paper. A'j soon as pussib l thes wer r pia cd by hand carved wooden jewels, and it was not until J a nuar ' r J ,59 th at the lodg· • came intO po ·ess ion o[ me-ta l jewels and ;·q uare and compass whi l were made of bra ·s by Broth r Ruble' blacksmith a t a o [ ·2.25. T h. lodge records how tha-t the Bibl.e was purdu t ·ed , at a o l o[ 3.00. T he original l;> ra .. ·qu are and ompa · are still u ed in We tern Star Lodge No. 26. today.

On October 27, 1858, the charter was granted by the Grand Lodge )[ the State of Minnesota. On November 17 , 1858, 'Vestern Star Lodge No. 26 was organized under the charter , and the lodge authorized publication of the constitution and by-laws by Brother Isaac Botsford at a cost of 75 cents per page.

Man y o ( th early 11emb 1 · ( the L dg • wer pr?ntine.nt. membe.1·s o[ th infam community of ALbert Lea. Brother J. C. 1- erris wn d and operated a general srore on the n rtheast corner f l'viain and Broadway. Brother Au ·Lin R . N i hol · origina ll y cam t 1 rower C un ty as a trapper and hunter. H e was farming ju t across the county Line in .Blue ;anh Count in 1 58 wh en he became a member of the L dge. H e gav his name to th.c nei hboring city o[ u tin. Broth r ] h_n i eath, who re-

ived hi r i a ler lason' de rrec in ugu st 1858 wa the ftr tel ·t d sheriff o Freeborn C unty. H e later became more [amou as the owner of the famo u. hot e, "Old. Tom", which won the 1 60 11 r. n ee which settled the county seat in Albert Lea instead of Itasca.

One of the active early members was Brother David Blakley, founder of the Bancroft Pioneer. He waged a vigorous campaign against Albert Lea citizens in his efforts to get the county seat for Bancroft. Later, he founded the Mower County Mirror and still later, the St. Paul Press. In his later years, he was the manager of both the Gilmore and Sousa bands.

Brother Dr. George Watson, who was raised in July, 1858, was a mem­ber of the Minnesota State Constitutional Convention. Brother ' 'Villiam Morin who play iL a promjn.em role in the develop.mer t [ the Villa (

lben Lea and I· reeborn Coumy, was rai ·ed in tober, I 5 . H e wa the Cit L county audit rand 1·egisrer of deeds and was one of the first member of the Cha-pter and Commanclry in Freeborn ounty. H e was the f<nher of Brother vV. . Morin and the randfat.b.er of Brother William . 1\•lorin. Brother Horatio H. Br wn, Alber Lea banker petitioned for membership in ugust, 1 58. La ter, he was \1\forshipful !faster of the Lodge f r eio·bt different years.

Brother Augustus Armstrong likewise petitioned for membership in August, 1858. H e was a lawyer, and served several terms in the State Leg­islature. H e was the father of Brother Augustus Armstrong, Jr., also a lawyer.

Brother Francis Hall opened a general store on his arrival in Albert Lea, and later served as first mayor of the city. After his Civil ' 1\Tar crvi · he returned to Albert Lea to operate a flour mill in connection with lti general store. Brother Isaac Botsford edited the "Eagle", succes or to th

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CHARTER OF WESTERN STAR LODGE NO. 26

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Building at Broadway and Main Street. Second floor

used as Lodge Hall 1895 - 1910

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Hewitt Building, nonhwest corner of Broadwa' and

William Street. Second Ooor used as Lodge Hall

1874- 1895

"Star", and later edited the "Freeborn Springs Herald" at Itasca. His length of service during the Civil '!\Tar is believed to be longer than that of any other man in the Union army.

During the Civil War, there were few meetings of the Lodge, although sixteen new members were admitted between June, 1861 and December, 1864. Among these are several prominent names, including Brother T. :J. Sheehan, long time county sheriff and later U. S. Marshal, Brother Doer K. Stacy, and Brother John L. Gibbs, prominent local lawyer and Speaker of the House of Representatives.

'!\lith the addition of new members, the quarters over the Brownsill Wagon Shop proved too small. In 1871 the Lodge was moved to larger quarters above the brick store building newly erected by Brother White. This building is still standing at 106 South Broadway. The first lodge meeting held here was March 8, 1871. Brother Horatio D. Brown was then the '1\Torshipful Master, and Brother R. B. Skinner was the secretary.

During the years that followed, the Lodge membership continued to in­crease, and by 1874, the Lodge was again looking for larger quarters. In that year, Brother C. M. Hewitt was erecting a store bui1ding on the north­west corner of Broadway and '1\Tilliam Street and the members persuaded Brother Hewitt to add a third story for a Lodge room. The first Lodge meeting in the Hewitt building was September 10, 1874. In these rooms were later held the fin meelin o( the (bert Lea Chapter o. 30, Royal AJ·cb r iason (1 74), t.he fir L meeting of th Apollo C mmandt-y (1879), and Hal yon Chapter No. 21, Orde1· oi the Ea tern tar (1 8). At the time the Hewitt buildin wa · onsu·ucted, a Ma nic emblem was placed in the bri k wall of the third tory, and the emblem remained there unLil the building was destroyed by fire in 1942.

In 1895, the membership had once again outgrown its quarters, and the Lodge was moved to the second story of the store building on the northeast corner of Broadway and Main. A Masonic emblem, cut in marble, was placed in the brick wall of this structure, and this emblem was preserved by Brother Charles Upin when the building was later remodeled. Brother '1\T. '"'· Parker was Master of the Lodge when the first meeting was held in these quarters on April 10, 1895. Shortly after moving, the Lodge also rented the second floor hall above the Brundin Brothers Meat Market in the building immediately to the north.

'Vithin ten years, the quarters were again too small and a building committee was appointed to locate new quarters. Members of the com­mittee were Brothers ]. P. Hurly, Frank '"'· Barlow, Curtis Keller, Thomas vVilson and John F. D . :Meighen. hi committee, in c OJ erarion with a co~mnittee f the Alber Lea FireD pm-tment Relief A - ociation , negotiat cl t.be pur me of the ld , amuel Eaton home on the orner of .Broadway and V\fater Street. It was agreed that the two rganizati n · hould on. tn•ct a buildin together. The e ond floor was to used for the Masonic odge an lth Firemen' elief A · o iation, a an inve t.mem, lea ·ed Lhe first flo r out for public events and entertainment. The two organizations entered into a contract with Brother Nels C. Sorenson for the construction of the building at a total co t f . 17 70 . G. By ag reemen , the L dge wa to pay $5228.55 as i · share. Construction was starte I about 190 , and Vorship­ful Master, Brother had e Tur:nbull c nducted the Gr t meeting of the Lodge in it new and pre Clll quarter. on l\far h 10, 1910.

-19-

111 lSJI 9, the Lodge pur hac I the first floor lf·ntheresbt ?lfd· ~he ~iremehn's R ei i ·[ As 0 ia i n and has been the sole owner o t e m mg s1~ce t at .· MaJl" imrnovcm nts have b en made to the Lodge rooms smce the tJill. . ' J • l . l b "ld" h b h d < rig inal con ·rru ti n. ~I he h.eaung J. ant m tle m mg as een c ange aL .lea · ~hr e time . nother large 1tem was the one thousand pound rug which was laid in 1951.

The first special event held by ·western Star Lodge No. 26 was a '1\Tashington's birthday party in the year 1859, h eld at the '1\Tebber House. Invitations were sent to the public and the records show that a bill for the party of $5.00 was later paid. Since that ~ime, the activities of the ~odge have been many. The Lodge held a speoal ceremony on the o~caswn _of the fortieth anniversary of its founding, and again on the occaswn of Its seventy-fifth anniversary. In 1942, the Lodge invited Mas.ons fr?m all parts of the State, including many past Grand Masters, to a dmner m honor of '1\lilliam P. Sturtz, newly elected Grand Master of the State of Minnesota. Members of the Lodge have, throughout the years, conducted Masonic funeral services for many deceased brothers, both in Albert Lea and throughout the County.

Pursuant to regulations of the Grand Lodge, the Lodge presents special lapel pins to those brothers of Western Star Lodge who have been Masons for fifty years. Those who have been thus honored to elate are. Brothers Charles F. Towne, Nick ' 'V. Sime, Charles Turnbull, D. M. vVh1tney. Dr. C. L. Blunt, Burt May, fohn F. D. Meighen, A. T. Cook, Carl Trowbridge, A. 0 . VVatland, N els C.' Sorenson, G. A. Zetterholm, and Lester vV. Spicer. The last four named are still alive and still hold active membership in the Lodge.

An outstanding incident in the life of the Lodge occurred on January 22, 1908, when the officers and a group of m embers, twenty in number, conferred the Master Mason's degree at the Grand Lodge school of instruc­tion. Brother John F. D. Meighen acted as Worshipful Master on that occasion. A very high compliment was paid to these officers and brethren by the Board of Custodians for their proficiency in the work.

During the one hundred years of its existence, V\Testern Star Lodge has had a total of 1441 members. This number includes 501 present members, whose names appear elsewhere in this booklet.

On the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the Lodge, the late '1\Torshipful Brother, John F. D. Meighen, composed the following, which, with appropriate correction to reflect the passage of twenty-five additional years is equally applicable today:

"vVe who are among the living cherish lovingly the memory of those who have gone; we treasure the blue stars that have back­ground of great wars ; we treasure the high ideals, the patriotism and Masonic virtue of the long list of brothers who have met the last call. To the 100 years of the life of ·western Star Lodge No. 26 all Masons may look for inspiration as they strive to exemplify the Masonic spirit which so abundantly dwelt in many of the lives and characters of this edifice of Masonry, this spiritual house, not made by hands, eternal in the heavens."

-20-

Sketches of Early Masters of Western

Star Lodge No. 2..6

ASA W. WHITE was born in New York State in 1827. In the spring of

1856 he preempted land on the shore of what is now '"'hite's Lake. Dur­

ing the year 1857 he worked with Brother George Ruble in the organiza­

tion of the Lodge. He served as its Master under the dispensa tion begin­

ning October 1, 1857, and was later Master in six different years. He enlist­

ed in the Union Army in 1861 and later became a Captain in the Fourth

Regiment, Minnesota Volunteers, the first company to enter service. Fol­

lowing the war he returned to Albert Lea and entered b'usiness on Broad­

way. In later years he served as Judge of Probate and Clerk of Court. He

died January 13, 1907.

HORATIO D. BRO,,VN was born in New York State in 1835. He gradu­

ated from Union College and came to Hayward Township, Freeborn Coun­

ty, as a young man. He became a member of the Lodge in 1858, and soon

thereafter enlisted in the Union Army. In his early years he was a surveyor

but after the war he purchased the banking interest of Brother Frank Hall.

He was Master of the Lodge in eight different years beginning in 1862. In

his later years h e turned to politics, and was, at different times, mayor of

Albert Lea and a member of the State Legislature. He died August 2, 1902.

FRANK B. FOBES was 25 when, in 1866, he moved to Albert Lea as a per­

manent resident. He had lived in Freeborn County prior to his enlistment

in the Civil ' 'Var. He became a member of the Masonic Lodge in Ripon,

'Visconsin immediately after the war, and later was guite active in lodge af­

fairs in Albert Lea. He was, for a short time, purchasing agent for Frank

Hall, and later a hardware store proprietor. He held the office of County

Treasurer for six years. He served first as master in 1872 and in two subse­

quent years. He died April 1, 1902.

-21-

JAMES Q. ANNIS was born in New York State in 1837. He likewise served

in the Union Army during the Civil War. His original lodge was in Ohio,

but he transferred to the lodge in Albert Lea when he moved here in 1879.

He was a painter by occupation. He served as master of ''VesLern Star

Lodge for five successive years, beginning in 1885. He served as Clerk of

Court for several terms. His death occurred April 30, 1915.

HENRY A. HOUSE came to Freeborn County in 1858. He was born in

Massachusetts in 1835. He saw service in the Union Army as a musicia.n.

After the war he was for many years in charge of merchandising for Ran­

som Brothers ·vvholesale Grocers. He servd as master of the Lodge for four

successive years beginning in 1890. He died January 10, 1895.

CHARLES "\1\TILKINSON was another native New Yorker, born in 1851.

He came to Albert Lea in his youth and set up business as a grain dealer.

Later he held the offices of Mayor and Register of Deeds. He was master of

the lodge from 1898 through 1900. He and his family moved to South

Dakota about 1915 and he died there May 9, 1926.

GEORGE vV. GEESEY was born in New York State in 1834. He served in

the Union Army, and later took up residence in Iowa. In 1895 he trans­

ferred to the Albert Lea lodge, and in 1901 he served as master. He

taught school for many years, but had left that occupation in favor of

farming by the time he moved to Minnesota. He was a most faithful mem­

ber, often driving miles by team in stormy weather to attend lodge. He

died April 27, 1908.

-22-

Ancient Landmarks (Grand Lodge Constitution)

The following are enumerated from the Ancient Constitutions as hav­ing the force of Ancient Landmarks of the Fraternity, have been generally received and aknowledged by Masons as such.

1st-That belief in the Supreme Being, "The Great Architect of the Universe," who will punish vice and reward virtue, is an indispensable pre­requistite to admission to Masonry.

2nd-That the moral law which inculcates charity and probity, indus­try and sobriety, and obedience to law and civil government, is the rule and guide of every Mason, and to which strict conformity is required.

3rd-That obedience to Masonic law and authority, being voluntarily assumed is of perpetual obligation.

4th-That the Rites and Ceremonies (which include the unwritten language) of the true system of the Ancient York Rite, and which consti­tute a part of the Body of Masonry, are immutable, and that it is not in the power of any man or body of men to make innovations therein.

5th-That contentions and lawsuits bet_ween brethren are contrary to the laws and regulations of Masonry.

6th-That charity is the right of a Mason, his widow and orphans, when poor and destitute, to demand, and the duty of his prosperous brother to bestow.

7th-That Masonic instruction is, like charity, a reciprocal right and duty of Masons.

8th-That to visit Masonically is an inherent right of Masons, but no visitor shall be received into a Lodge if any member present objects.

9th-That a candidate for Masonry must be a man, of mature age, free born, of good report, hale and sound, not deformed or dismembered, and no eunuch.

1Oth-That the Grand Master may make Masons at sight, and may grant a dispensation to a Lodge for the same purpose, but in all other cases a candidate must be proposed in open Lodge, at a stated meeting, and can only be accepted at a stated meeting following by the scrutiny of a secret ballot, and an unanimous vote, and must pay a fixed price for ad­missiOn.

11th-That it is the duty of every Mason to be a contributing member of some Lodge.

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12th-That a Mason who is not a member of a Lodge is still subject to

the disciplinary power of Masonry.

13th-That the Master and ' 'Vardens of every chartered Lodge are of right and inalienably representatives in and members of the Grand Lodge.

14th-That no one can be elected Master of a chartered Lodge (ex­cept at its first election), but a Master Mason who shall have served as a

'Varden.

15th-That every Mason must be tried by his peers; hence, the Master

cannot be tried by his Lodge.

16th-That no appeal to the Lodge can be taken from the decision of the Master, or the 'Varden occupying the chair in his absence.

17th-That Masonic intercourse with a clandestine, suspended or ex­pelled Mason, is a breach of duty and an offense against Masonic law.

18th-That a restoration of the privileges of Masonry by the Grand Lodge does not restore to membership in a subordinante Lodge.

19th-That the failure of a Lodge to meet for one year is cause for the forfeiture of its charter.

20th-That it is the duty, as well as the right of every chartered Lodge to be represented in the Grand Lodge at its Communications.

21st-That a Grand Lodge has supreme and exclusive jurisdiction, with­in its territorial limits, over all matters of Ancient Craft Masonry.

22nd-That no appeal lies from the decision of the Grand Master in the chair, or the Deputy Grand Master, or Grand 'Varden occupying the chair in his absence.

23rcl-That the office of Grand Master is always elective, and should be filled annually by the Grand Lodge.

24th-That a Grand Lodge composed of its officers and representatives must meet at least once in each year, to consult and act concerning the in­terests of the Fraternity in its jurisdiction.

25th-That all officers of Grand or subordinate Lodges must be Master Masons.

26th-That no subject of a sectarian or political character can be dis­cussed in a Lodge, and any Mason proposing such a subject renders him­self liable to the disciplinary action of the Lodge.

-24-

LIST OF MEMBERS Western Star Lodge No. 2.6, A. F. & A. M.

LAWRENCE S. ALLEN

MEREDITH G. AD!

ARTHUR B. ANDERSON

BENJAMEN F. ANDERSON

CHRIS ANDERSON

.JAW'S J. ANDERSO:-.: Sic F. ANDERSON

ARTHUR L. ANTHONY

EDW ARIJ H. ARGUE DWIGHT A . AR:IISTRONG

RoBERT D . ARNOLD

CORNELL E . ASHEIM HAROLD vV. ATKINS

RoBERT J. ATKINS BERNARD A. AUGUSTINE

LEo AunrENTAUO

HAROLD R. BAARSON

EDWARD J. BADE CARL D. BARil

H. A. BARCK jOHN BARTNESS THEODORE B. BAUCH FRED \ •\1, BAUER

'INILLIA;I! F . BEHRENDS

vVILLIAM s. BEHRENDs \VALTER E. BEHRING

GLENN K. BENNETT

HARRY E. BENNETT

CLIFFORD J. B E NSON LLOYD A. BERGLUND

DAN BERNllROCK

ANTON BERTELSON ROBERT H. BESCO

MARVIN F. BINGER

JERRY P. BLAKESLEE RO NALIJ R . BLAKESLEE \VALTER H. BLEICHWEHL

ALFRED v\1. BLIZARD

RussELL D . BLOOD ELMER A. BOELTER

}ENS J. BONNERUP RoBERT N. BONNERUP VERLE G. BORLAND

RICHARD 0. BOTHUM GEORGE T. BOTHUM I. GEORGE BOYUM v\TII.L!Ai\l BRAATEN EDWARD \o\1. BRIESE

LEONARD J. BRILL LEON R. BROADWELL

HERSCHELL N. BROCK

GERALD K. BROOKE FRANCIS E. BROOKS

HAROLD S. BROWN PERCY P. BROWN

GLEN C. BRUNDIN BYRON I. BULEY

CARL R. BUTURF

CLIFFORD E. CAIRNS

\o\TARREN D. CALHOUN CLAUDE \,Y. CALLAGHAN

ALllERT CAMP

JoHN J. CASHMAN ALFRED CASSEM

JoHN T. CHASE GEORGE S. CHESTERMAN

C!I.RL H. CHRISTENSEN

LEONARD J . CHRISTENSON ROBERT vV. CHRISTIAN

RICHARD A. CHRISTIANSON GERHARDT A. CHRISTOPHERSON

HENRY v\T. CLAUDE

JoHN G. CLAYBOURN DALE V. CONRAD

CARLTON A. CooK CHESTER A. COTTON

GLENN M. CROSE

JOSEPH K. CROSE RONALD L. CROWE

CLARENCE E. DAHLBERG

FRANK J. DALLERA HAROLD P. DANIELSEN

ALFRED H. DAVIS

NIELS H. DEBEL BoYD R. F. DEMALIGNON

CHARLES J. DILLING

VANCE H. DoDsoN ADAM DOERR

D. G. DROMMERHAUSEN

F. H. DRUCKENBROD LLOYD A. DUGSTAD

JoE A. DUNCANSON

LESLIE N, EARL

CARROL J. EBERT REID A . EDWARDS RoGER D. EDWARDS

JAMES H. ELLIO'IT BEN E. ELLORIN ELLSWORTH B. ELLSON

E. GEORGE ELSE LESTER L. ELSTAD

RICHARD R. EMERY RussELL \ •V. EMSTAD

OSCAR ENDELL 'VILLIAM LEE ENGLISH RoBERT L. ENTORF

RALPH 0. ERLANDSON

EDWARD D. ERNEST KENNETH W. ESSE

OswALD S. EVENSON

-25-

\'\I'ILLIAM E. FANKHANEL .WILLIAM G. FLANAGAN

]AMEs S. FoDNESS RENZIE E. FOGLESONG

FRANK G. FoLKEN

JOHN P. FREEMAN

ALEX R. FREMOTT ALERT E . FRETHEIM

AXEL E. FRIBERG v\TARREN C . FRIEST

LEROY L. GAARDER ANDREW \'\', GARDNER

JAY K. GENDLER

JoE M. GENDLER .JOSEPlf GENDLER MORRIS N, GENDLER

THEODORE M. GILL

JACK F. C. GILLARD MYRON L. GiLPIN EARL L. GLASSER

HENRY J. GOHDE JAMES H. GOHDE Lours H. GORDON RUDOLPH L. GRASDALEN

LAWRENCE vV . GRtNOLDS

HAROLD V. GROCE

RussELL P. GUDVANGEN HAROLD 0. GULBRANDSON

ROBERT S. GULBRANDSON CHESTER H. GUNDERSON

JoSEPH R. GUNDERSON RAYMOND B. GUSTAVESON

JOHN l\f. HADDY

JosEPH G. HADDY ELMER G. HAGEN MoRRIS N. HAGEN

Lours A . HAHLEN

LYLE E . HAHN CLIFFORD F. HANSEN

ALBERTUS HANSON

AXEL M. HANSON

CASPER F. HANSON HANS A. HANSON

JOHN 0. HANSON LEONARD HANSON MAURICE B. HANSON

ROBERT D. HANSON

VICTOR G. HANSON

Y. H. HANSON HARRY C. HARBER BENNETT L. V, HAROLDSON

GEORGE W. HARRISON

CLYDE F. HATCH

ROYAL C. HAYDEN

JoHN R. HAYEK

J. fRA:'<KLIN H EDGCOCK LESLIE M. HE NDRICKSON

En\VARD J. HENRY

W' ARREN R. HILL

SIDNEY E . HoLMES

C. L. HowE

JOHN C. HOWELL

H ERBERT A. HOYNE

JAMES H. HUFF

RoBERT S. HUGHES

STANLEY M. HuGHES

GORDON S. HULEGAARD

RICHARD D. HUMPHREY

EARLL. HUNT

Ross E. HUNT

LIONEL K. HvoLBOLL

GLEN IV. I VES

CARL s. JACOBSON

DONALD E. JACOBSON

ANDREW C. }ELLINGER JR.

ANDREW c. }ELLINGER SR.

ALTON T. JENSEN

CARL J. JENSEN CLARENCE N. JENSEN

HANS C. JENSEN

HARLEY K. JENSEN

HARRY A. JENSEN

JAMES C • .JENSEN

LEONARD J. JENSEN RAYMOND A. JENSEN

RICHARD D. JENSEN

THOMAS C. JENSEN

RUTHVEN L. JERDET

ELMER ivf. JoHNSON

HARVEY L. JoHNSON

Jor-rN B. JoHNSON JosEPH A. JoHNSON

KELSEY R. JOHNSON

RuBEN B. JoHNSON

CARL R. JOHNSRUD

CARLYLE C . .JOHNSRUD

H. E. JoHNSRUD

LEONARD B. JoHNSRUD

JAMEs R. JoHNSTON

JOHN C. JOHNSTON

ALBERT IV. JONES

BENJ:HviiN F. JONES CHESTER V. JONES

LOUIS J. JONES MARK S. JONES

vVARD D. JoNEs

FLOYD R. JoRGENSON

RussELL H. JuERS

HARRY KADESKY

HAROLD H. KAPLAN

OscAR V. KARLBERG

ARTHUR F . KATZUNG

CARL E. KELLY

CHARLES L. KENIS

WILLIAM L. KEPPLE

Ross J. KmDER EDWARD H. KLINE BENNETT 0. KNUDli_ON LESLIE R . KNUDSON FRED A. KoECHER

HENRY A. KoLSTAD ENOCH A. KoYNEN

ALAN K. KRUEGER

'VELFERD IV. KRUEGER CLINTON F. KUCERA

LoUis H. KucHERA

VICTOR M. KucHERA

ARTHUR J. LAGESON

V\1 ALTER A. LANE

LARRY J. LARSEN CLIFFORD E. LARSON

EDwiN R. LARSON

ROBERT E. LARSON

GIW. ·w. LEIDHOLDT

DONALD L. LELAND

CLAus F. LEMKE

JOHN S. LEMKE BRAND A. LEOPARD

HAROLD A. LESLIE

CHESTER J. LEUSMAN ERNEST C. LEUSMAN

\N ARREN H. LEVERING

LYMAN E. LTFESON

INTLLJAM p. LLOYD

S. B. LONES

HENRY S . LOUDEN

DONALD D. LOWERY

RALPH H. LUBIE NS

JOHN M. LUNEY

LEROY E. MAAS

1·\TILLIAM G. MACKAY

ALVIN J. MALMER

ARTHUR M. MALMER

H. R. MALMER

DONALD G . MARTINSON

FRED L. MARTINSON

ELwiN L . MAUSETH

MELVIN W. MAUSETH

CHARLES E . MAY

KLYDE M. MAY

LEROY P. McARDLE

HowARD D. McCLARNON

'VILLIAM S. :McCONNELL

MERTON J. ilfEIXELL

KYLE MELICK

MAYNARD A. MELLANG

RAY s. :MENEFEE

DONALD E. MILLER

JAMES McGowAN MILLER

JoHN R. MoRGAN H. OTTO MORTENSEN

BENJAMIN F. MULDOWN HENRY A. MUNSON

JAMES E. MURTAUGH

LEONARD J. MuRTAUGH

MICHAEL L. MURTAUGH

-26-

GEORGE P. :\<(USIL ROBERT L. i\(YERS lNGVOLU R. MYRLAND

EARL E. NASH

PAUL v\T. NEAL ANDREW M. NELSEN

ELMER N. NELSEN

LLOYD E. NELSEN

MELVIN E. NELSEN

CLARENCE T. NELSON

DouGLAS IV. NELSON

LAURIS C. NELSON

LEONARD L. NELSON

LYMAN A. NELSON

MARSHALL J. NELSON MERRILL 0. NELSON

PAUL N. NELSON

ROBERT H . NELSON

RUSSELL C. NELSON

EWALD E. NEPP

FLOYD V. NICHOLS

'VELLMAN H. NILES

CHARLES E. NoLTING

LAWRE NCE K. 0FFENBECKER

IRV IN J. 0FSTEDAL

0DEON OLESON

HELMER OLSEN

CECIL R . OLSON

CHESTER M . OLSON

D£1VrrT OLSON

FREDERICK J. OLSON

KENNETH IV. OLSON

MILTON G. OLSON

OTIS C. OLSON

ELwiN C. 0MUNDSON

LEO E. O'Nll!L

WAYNE E. 00THOUDT

LEWIS H. OPDAHL

RAYlv!OND H. OSTRANDER

HowARD B. OTTESEN

\VILLARD G. OTTLEY

AUSTIN M . PAGE

CLINTON F . PALMER

G. KENNETH PALMER

HARVEY R. PAULSON

.JOH N P. PERSON

LIONEL L. PETERS

ANSGAR H. PETERSON

CHESTER D. PETERSON

DEWAYNE R. PETERSON

ELMER R. PETERSON

.JOHN 0. PETERSON

LEONARD H. PETERSON

LLOYD B. PETERSON

ROBERT E. PETERSON

L EWIS E. PICKELL

EMIL J. PIHL

DELBERT vV. PLATT

ROBERT B. PLEISS

BERT POLK

- I

BERNARD F. PONTO MARSHALL S . PRATT

LEO R . PRINS JR. LEO R. PRINS SR.

WILLIA~I E. PRossER

ROBERT D. PUH'IAN

ALBERT RANSTAD

FRANK B. REESE, JR.

CLIFFORD S. REICHEL

ROBERT D. R EID

ARTHUR H . RHTGER

CLARENCE A. RICHARDS

RAYMOND G. ROBISON

DAVID RODLI

ROAL RODLI GARFIELD E. RocGENSAcK

FLoYD T. RoscoE

GoRDON IV. Ross

HARRY E. R UBLE

ERVIN H. RUHSA~I

HARRY E. RUHSAM HUGH P. RUHSAM

JoHN F. RuuD HERBERT G. R YGMYR

HENRY B. SALTHUN

OsCAR '"' · SAMUELSON ANDREW G. SANDERS

N. V ERE SANDERS

ROY S . SANDERSON

HENRY A . SANDVIG

CARL J. SCHELDRUP

ARDELL J. SCHLAEFER

EDWARD G. SCHLEDE

ALFRED C. SCHMID

WALTER H. SCHMID

ALBERT E. SCHNEIDER

IRVIN C. SCHNEIDER

CLARENCE J. SCHROEDER

ALVIN W. SCHULZ

J. A. ScHULTZ SYDNEY F. SCHWARTZ

MYRON F. SEEDORF

KENNETH E. SEEGER

ANDY SETTERMAN

WILLARD S. SEVALDSON

OSCAR A . SEVERSON

V. CARL SHAFER

R.EACE H. SHANKS

STANLEY A. SHURSON

GEORGE H. SIMPSON

ALBERT M. SKINNER

F. ROBERT S~IITH

.J . HERSCHEL SMITH A. A. SORENSON ARCHIE i\-1. SORENSON ARNOLD s. SORENSON NELS C. SORENSON OTTo A . SoRENSON RussELL L. SORENSON SWEN 0. SORENSON RAYMOND D. SPENCER LESTER W. SPICER 0RVA F. SPURLIN

RAYMOND R. SQUIRES

ALLISON B. SQUIRES

HERMA N SQUIRES

LYSLE H. STEELE

LEON E . STEINER

CHARLES F. STEPHENSON LYLE ,..., . STEVENS

THEO. M. STEWART

H. C. STIELER

PHILIP F. STIELER

WALTER A. STIELER

HAROLD C. STOA

JoHN K. STOA ALBERT E. STORRER

CLYDE B. STURTZ

WILLIAM P. STURTZ

WILLIAM R. STURTZ

WAYNE L. STUTELBERG

RASMUS 0. SUNDAL

GILBERT SVENDSEN

OLE A . SwANSON

ARTHUR A. SWENSON

IRVIN M. TALL£

JoHN A. TALL£ CHARLES E. TAYLOR

LILLARD TEDDER

DAVID P. TELLETT

FRANK D. TELLETI

GUSTAVE T. TENNYSON

CARL L. THOMAS

THEODORE E. THOMSON

ANTHON G. THORGESON

CLINTON H. THROLSON

FRANK ToKMAN

RICHARD A. TROW

ELMER E. TUNTURE

DoNALD E. TURNBULL

RICHARD H. TURNER

RoBERT A. TURTNESS

ROBERT C. TUVESON

ROBERT E. TYLER

ALAN JAY U PIN CHARLES T. UPIN SAUL UPI~N

THOMAS A. V ANDEGRIF r RoBERT L. VAl\:-:ocRER RoBERT P. VAN T RIES W. RussELL VoJGT GILBERT E. VoLLu~r joHN P. VoNBERc JOHN H. Voss

FRANK W. WADSWORTH BRUCE W. WALKER RICHARD M. \VA;<.o! SLEY

VAN WAMSLEY

FRANK A. WARD

V. FRANK WARD I.YILLIAM A. ,..., ARREN

A. 0. WATLAND

KENNETH C. \ •VEEKS

FRANK G. W ELLS

KEITH R. WELLS

KENNETH F. \VENT ZELL

FRANKLIN A. IVESTBERG

LEONARD R. WESTCOTT

EDGAR F. W ESTRUM

JOHN H. WHiTE

NATE J. WHITNEY SIDNEY A. WHITSON

CARLYLE T. WIEGAND

Guy W. I.YILLITS

ELMER S. WILSON

SAMUEL D. WILSON

ARTHUR E. \VITI

CARL 0. WITT

GEORGE J. WOLF

ROGER C. WOLF

HUBERT S. WOLGAMOT

EDSALL C. WooD JR.

EDSALL C. WOOD SR.

C. BRUCE WULFF

CLAYTON N. WuLFF

EvAN K. WULFF

IRA H. WULFF

BERNARD W. YOCOM

MEN VILLE H. YOST

GEO. H. YoUNG JR.

MERVIN L. ZELLER

G. ALFRED ZETTERHOLM

KENNETH P. ZOLLER

Centennia l Class: MONTGOMERY CLARK, RAYMOND 0STLEY, RALPH H. PETERSON, NoRMAN

STORVICK

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PAST SECRET ARIES of Western Star Lodge No. 2.6

*'W. K. Boyles ______ ______ 1857

*A. B. Webber -------- -- - 1858

*Horatio D. Brown ______ 1859-60

*Augustus Armstrong ___ 1861-63

*William Morin - -- - - ---- 1864

*C. H . Bostwick -------- 1865-66

*A. W. St. John ----------- 1867

*Frank B. Fobes ---------- 1868

*Samuel S. Eaton _________ 1869

*A. G. ~Wedge ----- - - - ---- 1870

*R. B. Skinner __ __________ 1871

*William W. Cargill ____ 1872-73

*Fred D. Lincoln _______ 1874-75

*0. B. Fobes --- - - -------- 1876

*G. T. Gardner --------~ 1877

*Freel D. Lincoln --- ----- 1878

*S. S. Edwards - -------- - 1879-85

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*'William E. Todd ______ 1885-86

*S. G. Mallery _____ __ __ 1886-88

*Ole .J. Wulff _________ 1889-1911

*L. Paulson ------------ 1911

*R. C. Carr - - ------ - -- 1912-13

*M. L. Robbins __________ 1914

* J. B. Smith ------- ------- 1915

*M. L. Robbins -------- - 1916

C. J. Leusman - -- ----- 1917-21

*Oscar H. Peterson _____ 1921-22

*Ferd E. Yost _____________ 1923

*Richard C. Johnson ____ 1923-30

*Oscar F. Missman _____ 1931--38

*'ll\1illiam .J. Mahlum ____ 1939-43

George 'IV. Harrison ____ 1943-

* deceased

Centennial Celebration Programs, Oct. 2. S, r 9) 8

AFTERNOON PROGRAM

MASONIC TEMPLE- 2:30 P.M.

FRANK .J. DALLERA, W.M. PRESIDING

Reception of Most '11\'orshipful Grand Master, .J. Miles Martin and other Distinguished Guests.

'I•Velcome _______________________________________ Robert D. Reid, P.M.

Presentation of Memorial Gifts to 'IVestern Star Lodge No. 26, by Albert Lea Chapter No. 30 R.A.M., Apollo Commandery No. 12 K.T. , Hal­cyon Chapter No. 21 O.E.S.

Presentation of Memorial Mementos to Distinguished Brethren, 'll\1illiam P. Sturtz, Past Grand Master, Erwin H. Ruhsam, Past Grand High Priest, and Bennett 0. Knudson, Past Grand Comm~nder.

Dedication of Fall Centennial Class to all Past Masters of '1'\'estern Star Lodge No. 26.

Tribute to all Past Masters and members on 1 OOth Birthday of Free Masonry in Albert Lea.

Presentation of Fifty Year Award to Brother M. L. Murtaugh. Remarks_ ________________ R. ·w. Clyde E. Hegman, Deputy Grand Master

Sound Film, "The Ultimate in Freemasonry", M. VV. Thomas S. Roy, P.G.M., Mass.

Closing 100 years of Masonry in Albert Lea ______ _ Frank J. Dallera, ' 'V.M.

EVENING PROGRAM

FIRST METHODIST CHURCH- 6:30 P.M.

MASTER OF CEREMONIES _________ __ _______ Frank J. Dallera, vV.M.

INVOCATION ___________ _______ __ _____ _ Rev. Paul W. Neal, Chaplain

DINNER WELCOME ________________ _____ ,_ _______________ R. A. Turtness, P.M.

INTRODUCTION OF DISTINGUISHED GUESTS _____________ _ _________________________________________ E. H. Ruhsam, P.G.H.P.

INTRODUCTION OF PAST MASTERS AND .50 YEAR MASONS "A CENTURY OF MASONRY IN ALBERT LEA" _______________ _

- - - ---------------------- - -- - ------ - ----vVilliam P. Sturtz, P .G.M. MUSICAL SELECTIONS _____________ Minneapolis Scottish Rite Quartet

ADDRESS _________________ __ __ J. Miles Martin, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons of Minnesota

MUSICAL SELECTIONS ____________ Minneapolis Scottish Rite Quartet

BENEDICTION ________________________ Rev. Paul W. Neal, Chaplain

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WESTERN STAR LODGE NO. 26

Centennial Celebration Committees General Chairman: 'Villiam P. Sturtz, P. G. M.

Vice-Chairmen: Robert D. Reid, P. M. and Robert A Turtness, P. M.

PROGRAM COMMITTEE:

William P. Sturtz, P. G. M. Robert D. Reid, P.M. Robert A. Turmess, P. M. Frank J. Dallera, W. M. Ronald Blakeslee, S. W. Lawrence W. Grinolds, J. '"'"· E. F. Westrum, P. M. George W. Harrison, Sec'y.

FINANCE COMMITTEE:

Frank .J. Dallera, W. M. Ronald R. Blakeslee, S. W. Lawrence W. Grinolds, J. W. E. F. '"'estrum, Treas. George W. Harrison, Sec'y.

ENTERTAINMENT COMMITTEE:

Robert A. Turtness, P. M. Ronald R. Blakeslee, S. W. Robert L. Myers C. Bruce Wulff, P. M.

RECEPTION COMMITTEE:

A. G. Thorgeson, P. M. Frank J. Dallera, W. M. Arthur Rhiger, P. M. Lawrence Allen, S. S. I. C. Schneider, P. M. E. B. Elison, P. M. B. F. Muldown, P. M. Nels C. Sorenson, P. M.

HISTORICAL COMMITTEE:

Lester W. Spicer Robert D. Reid, P. M. E. F. Westrum, P. M. Helmer Olsen, P. M. I. C. Schneider, P. M. 'Villiam R. Sturtz

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INVITATION COMMITTEE:

W. W. Krueger, P.M. Bert Polk, P. M. George '"'"· Harrison, Sec'y. H. Alvin Hanson, Tyler Arthur Swenson, P. M. Rasmus 0. Sundal, S. D.

BANQUET COMMITTEE:

Clayton N. Wulff, P. M. Glen Bennett, P. M. J. Carl Johnston Fred Martinson, P. M. Carlyle Wiegand, P. M. Arthur L. Anthony Lawrence W. Grinolds, J. W. Lawrence Allen, S. S. 'Villiam R. Sturtz

RECEPTION OF DISTINGUISHED GUESTS:

E. H. Ruhsam, P. G. H. P. William P. Sturtz, P. G. M. Frank J. Dallera, W. M. N. Vere Sanders, P.M. Paul Neal, Chaplain

PUBLICITY COMMITTEE:

William R. Sturtz W. Russell Voigt, J. S. Lawrence W. Grinolds, J. '"'· LeRoy Gaarder, P.M. Morris Hagen, P. M. Boyd deMalignon, J. D.

Special appreciation is given to Irvin Sorenson, of Albert Lea, for art work, lettering and de­sign, in connection with this centennial booklet and the lodge archives.

•

'Vestern Star Lodge No. 26 gratefully acknowledges assistance from members of Halcyon Chapter No. 21, Order of the Eastern Star who as­sisted during the centennial celebration of the lodge.

Special thanks are expressed to the members of the following committees:

TEA COMMITTEE:

Mrs. Clayton N. '"'ulff Mrs. Anton Bertelson

HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE:

Mrs. E. H. Ruhsam, Chairwoman Mrs. 'Villiam P. Sturtz Mrs. Frank J. Dallera Mrs. Bert Polk Mrs. Lionel Peters Mrs. Oscar Samuelson

REFRESHMENT COMMITTEE:

Mrs. George Boyum, Chairwoman Mrs. Joseph M. Gendler Mrs. Arthur Rhiger Mrs. Clinton Throlson Mrs. '"'illiam Mahlum

LADIES' BANQUET COMMITTEE:

Mrs. William Kepple, Co-chair-woman

Mrs. Bert Polk, Co-chairwoman Mrs. Charles Nolting Mrs. vV. '"'"· Krueger Mrs. Frank ]. Dallera

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