Page 16 - MFM Jan Feb 2024

hands of the workman

Charles Earle Coe, Grand Master 1943-1944

CHARLES EARLE COE was born July 15, On December 30, 1918, Bro. Cole obtained
1877, in Fayette County, Indiana. In 1891, he his R.A.M degree from Laurel Chapter No.31
moved with his parents to Baxter Springs, in Roseburg, Oregon, and was a member
Kansas, where he completed his high school of Western Sun Chapter No 11 at Missoula,
education in 1896. He began teaching in Montana, at the time of his death. In 1944,
Cherokee, KS after graduating from Baxter he served as the Captain of the Host in that
Springs Normal School and remained there chapter. He received the Council degrees
for approximately four and a half years. from Tyrean Council No. 3 in Missoula,
Montana, on May 8, 1943. He was Knighted
In 1903, he joined the Bureau of Indian in 1926 in Melita Commandery No 21, at
Aff airs, Offi ce of Indian Service as a teacher Polson, Montana, and was a member of St
on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Omer Commandery No 91 n Missoula and
South Dakota. 1906 was the year when he served as Eminent Commander in 1942-
was selected to be Superintendent of the 1943.
Havaisupai Agency in Arizona. In 1910, he was transferred
to Camp McDowell, Salt River Agency, Arizona. In 1913, Bro. Cole received the degrees in the Scottish Rite on
he relocated to Roseburg, OR, where he was in charge of April 26, 1924, in Helena Consistory. He was the fi rst
Indians in Northern California and Oregon. In 1918, he Venerable Master of the Missoula Lodge of Perfection.
was promoted to special supervisor of American Indians He was coroneted 33 ̊ in 1953. He received the degrees
in the United States at large. In 1919, he was appointed of the Shrine in Algeria Temple in Helena, where he was
Supervisor at Large for inspecting, investigating, and a member.
supervising reservations in 10 western states. In 1921,
he was transferred to the Flathead Agency in Dixon, He became a member of the O.E.S. in 1925 in Oketa
Montana, where he was appointed superintendent. He Chapter No 114 at St Ignatius, Montana, and was a
was named resettlement administrator for Montana and charter member and served as Patron in 1927.
Washington in 1934, and his headquarters was located in
Seattle. In 1936, he retired. M.W. Brother Cole served Masonry and his country with
an unassuming dignity and effi ciency. Brother Coe held
He relocated to Missoula, MT in 1937, his was a happy Masonry in high regard, and he exemplifi ed its teaching
and hospitable home. He was active in fraternal and civic on a daily basis. He left an enviable record in the pages
aff airs. He was a member of the Episcopal Church of the of our Masonic history.
Holy Spirit. He also gave his time as a member of the
Missoula County Rationing Board. Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Coe died on February
4, 1957, at the age of 79 in Missoula. On February 7, 1957,
On May 29, 1918, Brother Coe received his Master Mason he was buried at Missoula Cemetery.
degree at Roseburg Lodge No 13, Roseburg, Oregon. He
affi liated with Flathead Lodge No 112 on January 13,
1925. He served as the Worshipful Master of that Lodge
in 1929.
In 1936, he was appointed as Grand Tyler. In 1943, he
was elected as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of
Masons in Montana for 1943-1944. During the Masonic
year, Eagle Lodge No 103 consolidated with Plentywood
Lodge No 91. M.W. Brother Coe had the privilege of
touring 47 individual lodges in Montana and seven Grand
Jurisdictions during his tenure.
In 1944, the Grand Lodge of Montana had 17,278
members and 147 chartered lodges. The number of
members in 2023 has decreased to 3,260, which is the
lowest level in 122 years since 1901, when it was 3,325.

Montana Freemason Page 16 Jan/Feb 2024 Volume 100 No.1