Page 163 - Cornelius Hedges Story
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For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 150
vastly cheaper to provide for them at some hosp ital. Destitute
widows generally be provided for with some families at less
cost than to maintain a home that must be a constant tax upon
the resources of the lodges. Where such institutions can be
supplied by private munificence and generosity and fairly
endowed, we shall rejoice to see many of them and in every
jurisdiction.”501
Both Cornelius and Edna Hedges were appointed to a five
member committee of Miriam Chapter, Order of Eastern Star, on
March 24, 1898, to originate a movement for a Masonic Home
fund.502 At their second meeting, Mattie M. Booker and Cornelius
Hedges wrote a circular letter, and sent it to all the Masonic Lodges
and Eastern Star Chapters in the state, in an effort to stimulate
interest in the fund.
The key paragraph of the letter stated:
“Time is passing swiftly by and it behooves us to be up and working
in the noon time of life to prepare for the infirmities of old age. It is
apparent NOW that such a Home is needed, or will be in the near
future. We trust that our brother Masons will bring this subject up in
every lodge in Montana, discuss it, and devise ways of increasing
the fund now in the hands of the Grand Lodge, and when the Grand
Body meets here net September, can it not be made a general
Masonic Fund, looking to the ultimate completion of the Home
at no distant day? And during the intervening months all Eastern
Star Chapters of Montana can have a charitable object to work for
and become co-workers with the great brotherhood of the Masonic
Fraternity in this most worthy object.”503
As a result of that letter, the movement gained momentum, and
Hedges began looking forward to the day when the Masonic Home
would be built. It was probably in the early 1900’s when Hedges
persuaded Dave Auchard to provide so well for the Home from the
income of his estate. In 1905, Hedges reported to Grand Lodge that
he had “endeavored to save Grand Lodge every possible expense till
it has secured a Masonic Hone,” but the, Grand Secretary’s office
definitely needed new furniture.504
Late in August, 1906, Judge Hedges wrote in the Grand Lodge
Proc eedings indicating significant progress towards the erection of a
Montana Masonic Home. He wrote:
