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Montana At War
Montana Army Lodge No. 1., U. D.

Edited: Reid Gardiner, RW Grand Secretary - Emeritus
e subject of this article is Montana Army Lodge No. 1, California granted three dispensations to establish Lodges
Under Dispensation (U. D.), and the known recorded facts in the Philippines, which later led to the formation of the
of this Lodge and its men. e aim is to create awareness Grand Lodge of the Philippines. World War I, saw fewer
of and appreciation of the men connected with this story. military Lodges granted dispensations. Nine dispensations
were granted for work in France and Germany during the
is article features Montana Army Lodge No. 1 and occupation. During World War II, there were requests for
those who served. ese men re ected Montana, and it’s dispensations, but none granted. More recently, Canada
two-third mix of immigrants or children of immigrants. and Nebraska have or had Military Lodges in Afghanistan,
Montanans served in World War I in a higher percentage and PHA Grand Lodges have warranted Military Lodges
than any other state. is number was due in part to an in Afghanistan. Iraq had or has Military Lodges warranted
incorrect census of the population of the State, which by the Grand Lodge of New York and several PHA Grand
increased the number of men to be furnished for military Lodges.
service, and perhaps more importantly, it did not re ect the
decline in the state’s population. ere are many reasons that the establishment of Military
or Army Lodges was and is not more common today. Many
Montana contributed to the war e ort, though mining, Grand Lodges decline to issue dispensations for Army
smelting, and re ning. In his book “World War I Montana Lodges out of a feeling that Military or Army Lodges were
e Treasure State Prepares,” Ken Robinson says, “It has making Masons who could not have gained admission back
been said, with a lot of truth to it, that every bullet red in home. Others felt such Lodges were an infringement on
World War I was encased in Butte copper and the world the Grand Lodge, where the troops are stationed. Another
“wired” by copper from Montana re neries. In addition, signi cant reason was the historical lack of Military Lodges
grain from Montana’s farms feed a starving world.” not providing reports or minutes and correspondence or
annual returns to the Grand Lodges. In another grand
e following pages contain the history and actions of jurisdiction, the Grand Master declined a dispensation
Montana Army Lodge No. 1. U. D. (Under Dispensation) for a Military Lodge, saying it would be a violation of the
during the period of its inception from 22 August 1917 Landmarks. Perhaps a more sound reason is related to
through the return of its Letters of Dispensation on 21 the nature of warfare, and combat can be intense, military
August 1919. units must keep on the move. Personnel are frequently
transferred and replaced. e hostile and volatile situation
Several attempts have been made to record and present in a combat zone is not a place to confer degrees or
this historical information. It was determined that the hold a Masonic meeting. e overseas theater of war is
best and most credible presentation would come from the not conducive for conducting an investigation or truly
records of Maj. LeRoy Foot, W. M. of Montana Army Lodge determining someone’s character, desire, or motivation.
No. 1 and the proceedings and other documents held by In the nal analysis, except in the combat zone, military
the Grand Lodge AF & AM of Montana and the Montana Freemasons are seldom stationed beyond easy commuting
Masonic Foundation, Inc. Of these and other sources and distances of a Lodge.
references used, the focus in citing them was only to assist
in a better understanding of the people, time, and place. We Col. Robert J. Hathaway, MD, was installed as Senior
thank those individuals and or works referenced. Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of Montana
while serving in France during WWI, by Montana Army
Overview of Army or Military Lodges Lodge No. 1, U. D. R.W. Brother Hathaway conducted the
required inspection of the Lodge and stated the following:
A Warrant, Charter, or Dispensation authorizing a
military Lodge and provided to the unit Commander or “In commenting upon the establishment of army Lodges
Master of the Lodge. e Lodge’s furniture, ornaments, in wartime for the actual work of receiving petitions and
lights, jewels were usually limited in size to not interfere conferring degrees, the undersigned concludes it to be
with military operations and easily carried in one pack or inadvisable.
chest While the minutes of Montana Army Lodge No. 1 shows
an enviable record, we believe its brilliant success is due
During the American Revolution, 10 Lodges were working to the individual e orts of the Worshipful Master and his
in the American army. During the War of 1812, no record of splendid corps of Montana o cers, who perseveringly
military lodges appear. During the Mexican War, there were overcame all di culties presented by unforeseen transfers,
at least 12 traveling military Lodges formed, and at least changes of personnel, poor housing conditions, etc., and
two of them accompanied army units to Mexico. During that Masonic clubs, and through the Masonic fraternity of
the Civil-War between 77 and 200 military Lodges. During the country in which our troops may be.”
the Spanish-American War, only two military Lodges,
one from Kentucky and one from North Dakota; however,
Montana Freemason Page 16 April/May 2020 Volume 96 No. 3