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soldier undergoing disciplinary punishment, and more and fraternally greet the Masonic soldier in the enemies’
than that, I never expect to see a wearer of the lambskin ranks and the horrors of was will be in no small degree
in any other position in the armies of the United States lessened because two brothers meet.
than one of honor and trust.

Masonry is today the strongest of all Orders among the
soldiers. There are a large number of Masons among the Request for Military Lodge
officers of both the regular army and the army that was Annual Communication August 23, 1917
formerly the national guard. In the Montana regiment,
out of 47 officers there are 12 Masons. The percentage M. W. Grand Master and Brethren of the Grand Lodge
is nearly 25 percent. Among the enlisted men, the A.F. & A.M. of Montana:
percentage is smaller, due chiefly to the fact that they are
much younger men than the officers. However, I have the “I wish today before you for your consideration a
names of about 25 Masons who are serving in the ranks, request from our Brothers among the soldiers of the 2nd
and nearly every man of them is a non-commissioned Montana Infantry. Within a very short time, we expect to
officer. There are a number of others whose names I have be in a foreign land among a people whose language we
not yet obtained. A few days ago, I caused a notice to be can neither speak nor understand. We will undoubtedly
posted to the effect that I wanted the names of Masons, find Masons there, but Masons with whom we cannot
and I’ve been getting names ever since. I have been converse. We will find Lodges, but we will not be able to
visited by quite a number of clean-cut, fine-appearing visit them for obvious reasons. There are many of us who
young soldiers, both officers and enlisted men, who have are going to miss, next to our wives and children, our
asked information on the procedure of petitioning for the mothers and sweethearts, the pleasure of attending our
degrees. Lodge meetings. We have already planned to organize a

The armies of the United States, now that they are Masonic Club; but we would like to be in a position to go
farther than that; I have been commissioned by a few of
composed of the flower of young American manhood, the Brothers in the regiment, to ask this Grand Lodge to
offer a wonderful field for the Mason, not from the make provision to issue or authorize the issuance to us of
viewpoint of increasing our membership, but for the a dispensation or Army or Field Charter, whereby we may
good that the true Mason can do among them, both by work in our own language and our own way, whether we
his example and his active assistance and advice. An be in camp or trench.
officer has a wonderful influence among enlisted men.
They look to him in something the same manner that a I am not fully advised of the necessary procedure in
small boy looks to his father. If the officer is such a man matters of this kind, so I am making this request in an
as Masonry contemplates, and he usually is, if he is a informal way, holding myself and Brothers ready to take
Mason, his influence for good among his men is almost the further steps necessary. The dispensation or charter,
immeasurable. it is needless to say, would cease or be surrendered at the
American military history is abundant with Masonry. end of the war. Trusting that his Grand Lodge may see fit
One has only to talk with Masonic veterans of our past to grant our request, and assuring you that Masonry will
wars to learn of incident after incident where Masonry suffer no abuse at our hands.”
has proved its value to the solider. During one of the
wars with the Indians in the early history of the colonies, Fraternally
an officer who was a Mason was captured by the enemy L. A. Foot, Senior Warden Choteau Lodge No. 44
and carried before the king of the five nations, where he Captain 2nd Montana Infantry
was tried and condemned to death by burning. He was
accordingly bound to the stake and wood piled about his e above was referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence.
body waist high, and a lighted brand was handed to the
king to ignite the pile. As a last resort the officer raised
his hands, making a sign known among Masons. The
king threw down the brand, kicked the fagots, and cut
with his own knife the thongs that bound the officer to Resolutions on Formation of Military Lodge
the stake. He led the officer from the place of execution Annual Communication of August 23, 1917
and set him free with the words, “Go, my brother.”
M. W. Brother E. C. Day introduced two resolutions
I doubt not that this present war, when the history with reference to the formation of a military lodge under
is finally written, numerous incidents will be found in the jurisdiction of our Grand Lodge, covering the manner
which Masonry has played its great part, and when at last in which such action might be taken and regarding the
the longed for day shall come when the Great Peace shall payment of fees in such a proposed Lodge. Both resolutions
end forever the Great War, Masonry will play no small were referred to the Committee on Jurisprudence.
part in the final negotiations. The world is small after all,
and the Masonic soldier of the Allied armies will meet
Montana Freemason Page 18 April/May 2020 Volume 96 No. 3