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Cornelius Hedges, Grand Master one term and
Grand Secretary for thirty-five years, whose pass
word was the Golden Rule, the kindly and ever
courteous Scholar, ready to give counsel and advice
to the less informed brethren. He brought to the
office as Grand Secretary, a graceful, fluent pen
which he wielded valiantly. Both charming and
entertaining, his great mind, his breadth of vision,
his indomitable courage and tireless devotion of
the principles of our order soon won for the Grand
Lodge of Masons of Montana a place of respect and
prominence far superior to any of our sister Grand
Lodges. On the 29th day of April, 1907, Brother
Hedges closed the book of Grand Lodge proceedings
of Montana surrounded by family and friends to
record the proceedings in the great Ledger kept by
Him on High.
Brother James R. Weston was another vigorous
character in the early territorial days of Masonry
in Montana, wherein he exhibited much zeal and
activity, beckoned by our Father in Heaven to appear
before Him, the good man obeyed the summons on
the 13th day of August, 1904.
Brother Boyce, the 7th Grand Master of Masons in
Montana was recognized as the Prince of Merchants
of Montana, wherein he was more than successful.
But it must be said of the good man that he never
lost sight of the fact that he was a member of the
grandest order among all fraternal orders, and his
ardent devotion to Masonry and particularly in an
effort to wage a campaign of Temperance for and
on behalf of the entire territory he succeeded and
placed us on a sure footing with the first of the four
cardinal virtues. His lips were silenced on the 23rd
day of April 1898.
To these names permit me to add the name of
Brother Hugh Duncan, one of the pioneer Methodist
ministers of Montana, an educated gentleman of the
purest Scotch type, his coming to Montana in the
early days was not the glittering allurement of gold.
Having dedicated his life to the service of God,
actuated by no other motive than that of shepherding
the spiritual and moral life of those in his care and
keeping, nothing of the bigot ever tarnished his
princely soul taking advantage of every force that
stood for the betterment of civilization and promotion
of human happiness. It was no surprise therefore to
find him enlisted under the Masonic Banner and
laboring in its field. His irreproachable character, his
genial temperament made him a positive, dynamic
force in the dissemination of light and truth. “Truth
from his life prevailed with double sway and those
who came to scoff remained to pray.” Brother Duncan
was appointed chairman of the Grand Lodge’s
SOLOISTS and no session of Grand Lodge was ever
permitted to close its labors without his singing his
native song,” Burn’s Adieu. On September 16th,
1887, he wrapped the drapery of his couch around
him and laid down to pleasant dreams.
Thus my brothers I have tried to furnish you a
brief glimpse of some of the illustrious figures that
played so important a part in moulding the civil and
Masonic history of the great commonwealth. These
mighty men have joined the Grand Lodge above
but the fruits of their labors on behalf of Masonry
can never perish; their unshaken devotion to the
principles of eternal justice and their heroic struggles
in battling for the good cause have conspired to
stamp their names with the impress of imperishable
greatness. It is not too much to say of them that their
wisdom, foresight, zeal and industry, have not only
colored the whole stream of Montana history, but
largely determined its direction and flow. By kind
permission of our Father in Heaven, I am permitted
to appear before you as the “Last leaf on the tree”
and to bring you even this feeble testimony of my
early Masonic associates.
Fifty years of Masonic experience have served
but to increase my devotion to the principles of the
order. Fifty years have enabled me to discover some
things which the younger generations have perhaps
not yet discovered. Fifty years of experience and
observation have permitted me to note how the
waves of hatred, ignorance, and superstition have
beaten themselves to pieces against the impregnable
ramparts of Masonry. Fifty years have permitted me
to observe the growth, the unfolding, the development
and expansion of our order, and today I see Masonry
triumphant and sublime standing in the door, peering
with complacency down the milestones of the future,
bidding the distant generations hail.
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