Page 302 - Cornelius Hedges Story

289 The Cornelius Hedges Story

He was the founder of King Solomon Lodge in Helena, with
which he still retains membership, though for several years he
has been a resident of Deadwood, South Dakota, where he has
prospered and been honored by many public offices. He was
a good ritualist, a good administrative and presiding officer.
He was companionable and very popular, both among craftsmen
and all who knew him. His removal from the jurisdiction was
universally regretted. There were no new Lodges organized this
year, and the affairs of two, Summit, No. 10, and Red Mountain,
No. 12, were wound up. In view of a revision of the constitution,
several amendments dictated by experience were adopted, and
the prerogative of the Grand Master in cases of Lodge trials was
restored.
After a renewal of some of the old controversies between Helena
and Virginia City over the next place of meeting, a compromise was
adopted fixing upon Radersburg, then a prosperous town between
Helena and Bozeman, where Jefferson, No. 15, was located.
The principal event of the year was the disastrous fire that occurred
in Helena, January 9, 1874, destroying almost the entire business
portion of the city and with it my office and all the records and
property of the Grand Lodge. Upon the first alarm I rushed to the
office and carried all the most valuable records, books and papers to
First National Bank building, which was supposed to be fireproof,
but such was the fury of the flames, driven by a fierce wind, that
nothing in its course survived. All that I could recover was the
Grand Lodge seal, which was repaired and is still in use. To me
it was one of the saddest days and sights in my life, for, besides
losing my office, law library, and several buildings, I mourned
most of all the irremediable loss to Grand Lodge of all its archives,
and every remaining copy of our early Proceedings. I was about
as bad off as the fellow who had nothing but a bung-hole to start
with towards making a barrel. With my associate on the committee
for revising the constitution, we had nearly completed our work,
but everything was in ashes and nothing left to begin work with.
Since the office came to my hands, I had spent much time and
correspondence in gathering material for a Grand Lodge library. It
was all in the common ruins. An appeal was issued to sister Grand
Lodges to help repair our losses by sending their proceedings so far
as they could spare.