Page 150 - Cornelius Hedges Story

137 The Cornelius Hedges Story

journal that he was elected to membership in Independence Lodge
#87. He retained his membership in that lodge until June 7, 1865,
when he demitted to help organize Helena City Lodge, Under
Dispensation.439

In the summer of 1865, Hedges, with the able assistance of Mark
A. Moore, perfected the organization of Helena City Lodge #10,
chartered by the Grand Lodge of Colorado.440 He was elected its
first Worshipful Master on August 17, 1865, and was reelected in
December, 1865, and served another full year.441 During that year
Helena City Lodge #10 became Helena Lodge #3, when it united
with the two Virginia City Lodges to form the Grand Lodge of
Montana on January 24, 1866. Hedges was also instrumental in its
formation.442 On December 18, 1869, he was elected Treasurer of
Helena Lodge #3. And on December 20, 1873, Hedges was called
from the ranks of the Past Masters to again become Worshipful
Master of his lodge.443

His journals show that he was a regular attendant until his death
of not only his own lodge, but also Helena’s other two Lodges,
Morning Star #5 and King Solomon’s #9. He would often preside, or
assist, at the annual joint installation of officers of the three Helena
lodges, which was held in late December.444

In the photograph below, the bible on the altar was presented by
Cornelius Hedges to Helena Lodge No. 3 in 1866. This bible is still
used by the Lodge today.

Figure 37. Helena Lodge No. 3, about 1900.