Page 7 - MFM Aug Sept 2019

The Hands of the Workmen

Reid Gardiner, R.W. Past Grand Secretary, Editor

Otto Francis Wasmansdorff
48th Grand Master (1913-1914) 1913-1914. Our Brother was also a member of
Algeria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S and served as
Most Worshipful Brother Wasmansdorff was born Imperial Representative.
in the city of Chicago on July 24, 1877, and attended
the public schools and the German-American The following was said about Brother
Academy in Chicago untill 1893. For three years Wasmansdorff concering his life and death.
following he pursued education and training at St. “His seat is vacant and his brethren mourn. May
John’s Military Academy at Delafi eld, Wisconsin. he ever live in our memories as a man whose
At the University of Wisconsin he took the full four life is worthy of emulation. One of the great arts
year course and graduated from the Engineering which has given form to the life and thought
Department in 1900. In 1901 he came to Montana, of man is Architecture. Man is a builder. He
locating at Lewistown. He was engineer for the mentally pictures the design and draws upon
Barnes-King and Kendall Mining Companies for the trestleboard of realization the plan of his
two years. Was elected county surveyor of Fergus thought, which when completed, forms the
county and served two terms. Served four years as structure of his physical necessity or spiritual
city engineer of Lewistown. Was also United States aspiration. As Dr. Newton has said: “The fi rst
deputy mineral surveyor. Otto F. Wasmansdorff great impulse of all architecture is the demand
and George Eastman formed Wasmansdorff and for shelter which includes a home for the soul.
Eastman Architects in Lewistown. In 1902 he was married to Throughout time the art of architecture has been mingled
Miss Mary Louise Carlton of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who was with a religious purpose. “Man has ever been trying to build to
also a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. heaven, embodying his prayer and his dream in brick and stone.”
Our beloved Brother was a Montana-made Mason. He was As he signifi cantly manifests himself in material architecture
initiated in Lewistown Lodge No. 37, March 5, 1904; passed on so he also displays his genius in spiritual architecture in
March 19, 1904, and raised April 5, 1904. In 1908 he was chosen the construction of the unseen Temple. The elements of
Master of his lodge and displayed so much zeal and ability in sacrifi ce, accuracy of workmanship and permanency were the
that station that he was reelected in 1909. It was during his fundamental ideals of the ancient builders as they endeavored
term as Master that their new Masonic Temple was built, to procure the best of materials and skilled workmen which
largely through the instrumentality of Brother Wasmansdorff . made for permanency in the structure which they sought.
He was an architect and designed and superintended the Light was their religion and Darkness was evil and death. These
building of the present Masonic Temple. elements are the foundation stones of Masonry, material and
moral, in the need and aspiration of man. The votaries of our
In Grand Lodge he was fi rst given an appointment by Grand Institution by faith in quest of the ideal with a love for the light
Master Nolan as Junior Grand Deacon. He proved a valuable of knowledge are enabled to build the unseen structure more
working member of Grand Lodge and was steadily given serene and beautiful in accordance with the divine plan. Our
advancement and by election became Grand Master of Masons beloved brother, like one of our traditional Grand Masters, was
in Montana at the annual communication in 1913. His year an architect with a trestleboard full of designs both Masonic
as Grand Master was one of great advantage to the Craft and and professional. Montana Masonry has felt the pulsation
the readiness with which he enlisted the co-operation of his of the vigorous personality of this master workman and the
associate offi cers and the Past Grand Masters clearly showed moral and spiritual plans which he laid down will ever be an
the splendid fraternal and executive abilities with which he inspiration for the brethren of this great state to build more
was so richly endowed. Among the accomplishments achieved stately mansions for the approval of the Supreme Architect of
by our Brother was his attendance at the St. Louis conference the Universe.” MW Past Grand Master was a noble man and
of Grand Masters held during May, 1914. Thirty Grand Mason died on January 3, 1923 in Santa Barbara, California
Lodges were represented at that gathering of Grand Masters. and is buried at Santa Barbara Cemetery.
The inspiration derived and the information gleaned from
the discussion of various topics of general interest, Brother
Wasmansdorff regarded as decidedly worth while. During the
Masonic year that MW Bro. Wasmansdorff was Grand Master,
Lower Yellowstone Lodge No. 90 was Constitued in Sidney.
Dispensations were issued for the formation of fi ve new Lodges:
Saints John Lodge in Hardin, Eureka Lodge in Eureka, Saco
Lodge in Saco,Treasure Lodge in Big Sandy and Kyle Lodge
in Hinsdale. Notice of intent to submit Dispensations form
Lodges have were received from: Ismay, Grass Range, Dodson “A builder builded a temple,
and Cascade. He wrought it with grace and skill—
Pillars and groins and arches
He received the Royal Arch degrees in Hiram Chapter No. All fashioned to work his will.
15, at Lewistown, being exalted on March 28, 1906. Soon And men said, as they saw its beauty,
after the establishment of Lewistown Commandery our ‘It never shall know decay.
Brother Companion petitioned for the Orders, was elected and Great is thy skill, oh, builder,
Knighted July 15, 1909. He served as Eminent Commander in Th y fame shall endure for aye’.”