Page 290 - Cornelius Hedges Story

277 The Cornelius Hedges Story

A resolution by Bro. Frary that we proceed forthwith to organize
ourselves into a Grand Lodge in accordance with recognized usage
was adopted. Bro. Hull as W. M. of the oldest Lodge was President of
the convention. The resolution by Bro. Frary having been unanimously
adopted, the officers of the three Lodges proceeded to open a Grand
Lodge, filling the several stations in order of precedence, and a
committee was appointed to prepare and present a constitution. Two
of the three Lodges having recently received charters from Colorado,
we preferred to take the constitution of that Grand Lodge as the basis
of action. With few changes it was reported as our own constitution
and adopted. One of the Wardens of Montana Lodge, Bro. Hugh
Duncan, and a clergyman and withal a high-strung Scotchman, who
subsequently became Grand Master in 1883, had taken offense at the
strife which was going on for the Grand Mastership, and had left on
the second day with the avowed purpose of not attending any further.
I was appointed chairman of a committee to request his attendance
on the morning of the third day. As we thought alike on many things,
it was not difficult to persuade him that the importance of having a
jurisdiction of our own was paramount to all personal considerations.
He came back and the first thing on the morning of the third day was
the election of permanent officers. Both of my wardens had been
secured in the interest of Bro. Hull, and he was elected Grand Master
by a vote of five to four. Bro. Frary was conceded the Deputyship and
I was chosen Senior Grand Warden and my Senior Warden, Bro.
R. P. Sealy, was elected Junior Grand Warden. Bro. L. C. Lee, of
Montana Lodge, was made Grand Treasurer and W. F. Sanders,Grand
Secretary. After holding that office for three terms and writing the
first Correspondence Report, he became our third Grand Master in
1868.Bro. James R. Boyce, Sr., a Past Master who became
our seventh Grand Master in 1872, acted as installing officer and
Bro. R. H. Robertson, who removed to Utah soon after and was
second Grand Master of that jurisdiction, was Grand, Marshal.
The first business after organization was to receive a petition from
Nevada Lodge for a charter. Nevada was then a thriving mining
town, only three miles below Virginia City on the same gulch. It
had a Lodge previously and had been granted a charter from
Nebraska, which was lost in transmission. The new Grand Lodge
of Montana came to the rescue, granted a charter and installed
the officers, so that before separating our Grand Lodge had four
constituents. It seems like a reminder of an era long past that it
was voted to make “greenbacks” receivable for all fees and dues
prescribed by the constitution and by-laws and in the subordinate
Lodges as well. New charters were granted to the three constituent
Lodges according to precedence of former charters, and Helena