Page 294 - Cornelius Hedges Story

281 The Cornelius Hedges Story

This Lodge was chartered, and Bro. Thomas M. Pomeroy
was installed as Worshipful Master during the session. This
brother became Grand Master in 1881, and died three days after
the close of his term of office and was buried at Deer Lodge
The administration of Bro. Frary was a prosperous, business one,
during which all the Lodges gained strength and acquired more
convenient halls. That at Virginia City, dedicated December 27,
1867, was for the time one of the most complete and creditable in
the country. For more than thirty years it has been the home and life-
preserver of the Craft of that city, a tie that prevented members from
straying away and brought back those who wandered. The status
of members petitioning for a new Lodge was settled by requiring
that such petitioners should file their dimits with their petition and
the powers of Lodges under dispensation was very much curtailed.
A lengthy report upon physical qualification by two of the best
informed Masons in the Territory Bros. Hosmer and Langford served
only to show the inherent difficulty of any concise, complete rule. At
the election of officers, Bro. W. F. Sanders, who for three years had
been Grand Secretary and won much credit for his Correspondence
Reports, was elected Grand Master, and Bro. Sol. Star, W. M. of
King Solomon Lodge, succeeded him as Grand Secretary. Bro. J.
M. Knight of Montana Lodge was chosen Grand Treasurer, and Bro.
Langford entered the list as Senior Grand Warden. After having held
four Annual Communications at Virginia City, almost the extreme
southern limit of a very large territory, the next meeting was voted
to be held in Helena. Besides a more extended Correspondence
Report by the retiring Grand Secretary, there was a special collection
made of what other correspondents said of us, much to our credit.
The Fifth Annual Communication was held in Helena, my home,
and I was able and improved the opportunity to attend, after having
passed three Communications following organization. Since then
the Lodges had increased to thirteen and the membership to 545.
It was still in the hands of those who aided the organization. Bro.
Sanders, who had been Grand Secretary from the first, had now
served one year as Grand Master. He was the foremost lawyer
in the Territory, full of public and private business, but such was
his sincere attachment for Masonry that he never refused its call
to service. Through his Correspondence Reports and frequent
visits to the East he made our Jurisdiction known and respected.
The Proceedings of this Communication contain a steel-engraving
of his appearance at that time It set the first example among the
Grand Lodges of furnishing the picture of the retiring Grand
Master. It was not a charge upon the treasury, for each Grand
Master for many years paid the charge from his own pocket.