Page 311 - Cornelius Hedges Story

For This And Succeeding Generations Gardiner 298

A new revision of the constitution appeared this year by Bro. Samu-
el Word. It was a difficult matter to embody the substance of all the
reports adopted. For his labors which included seeing it through the
press he would only accept the thanks of Grand Lodge, which a little
later chose him Deputy Grand Master.
Notwithstanding the special expense of printing the new consti-
tution, the balance in the treasury was increased to $158.33. The
next Annual Communication was set to be held at Deer Lodge. The
Grand Lodge closed after two days’ session, having elected Bro.
Thomas M. Pomeroy of Missoula as Grand Master.
The Eighteenth Annual Communication was held at Deer Lodge,
October 3, 1882, Grand Master Pomeroy presiding. The members
were for the first time slow in arriving and it was two hours after the
appointed time that the Grand Master and a quorum of the Lodges
were in attendance. Missing his conveyance the Grand Master had
been compelled to walk a considerable distance, which accounted
for his late arrival and probably accelerated his end. He insisted on
presiding through the sessions, though evidently suffering. It seemed
to be the great ambition of his life to become Grand Master, a posi-
tion that he came within one of attaining ten years before. He was
never communicative of his early life and experience and most of
his intimate friends supposed him a bachelor, but it turns out that he
was married and has a son living. Probably family trouble drove him
to the far West. He had lived at different times in Portland, Walla
Walla, Lewiston, Florence, Elk City, before coming to Montana. At
Missoula he settled and made a home almost entirely erected with
his own hands. He served as Post Master, Justice of the Peace and
general factotum for the whole community. His energy seemed in-
exhaustible. But his whole ambition and pride centered in Masonry
and the welfare of Missoula Lodge, of which he had been Worship-
ful Master and was Secretary when elected Grand Master. His ambi-
tion to distinguish his administration by visiting every Lodge in the
jurisdiction, led him to exertions beyond his strength and years. Af-
ter closing his address he hesitated, and said something within him
admonished him that his work was done and that he would never
meet with them again, and pronounced a parting farewell and bene-
diction. None of us dreamed that his death was so near at hand, but
he was taken violently sick the day following adjournment and died
on the fourth day, never rallying under the best medical treatment
and the best of attention.