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The report on the Inspection of the Army Lodge in
France during the war and its records and books, was
given during the 1919 Annual Communication.

Inspection of Montana Army Lodge No. 1.
Our inspection of Montana Army Lodge No. 1 at
St. Aignan found its books, records, and finances
in excellent condition. The paraphernalia were of
course, and necessarily, limited, but investigation
showed that our Worshipful Master, Major Foot,
and his most efficient corps of officers had overcome
many difficulties presented by war and had
successfully carried on the fraternal work of this
Army Lodge with credit, not only to themselves but
also to Montana Masonry.
The date of this inspection was also the occasion
of the installation of the undersigned as Senior
Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Masons of
Montana. This installation of a Grand Lodge officer
by one of its own subordinate Lodges on foreign soil,
constitutes an event unique in the annals of Montana
Masonry. It was the sincere regret of your Senior
Grand Warden that, because of slight deviation from
our own Masonic traditions, we were unable to clasp
in fraternal fellowship the willing hand of our French
Masonic Brethren.

It was requested that a careful record of this meeting
with all names and addresses of acting Grand Lodge
Officers be transmitted to you with the complete
records of this Lodge.

In commenting upon the establishment of army
Lodges in wartime for the actual work of receiving
petitions and conferring degrees, the undersigned Major Leroy A. Foot, W.M. Montana Army Lodge No. 1
concludes it to be inadvisable.

While the minutes of Montana Army Lodge No.
1 show an enviable record, we believe its brilliant
success due to the individual efforts of the Worshipful
Master and his splendid corps of Montana officers,
who perseveringly overcame all difficulties presented
by unforeseen transfers, changes of personnel, poor
housing conditions, etc., and that Masonic clubs
(which, by the way, existed in every camp of any size),
and through the Masonic fraternity of the country in
which our troops may be.

Respectfully submitted,
R. J. Hathaway
Senior Grand Warden

You will note in the article above “Inspection of Montana
Army Lodge No. 1.” that while this Lodge was operating
overseas and in combat conditions, they still provided their
books and fi nances for inspection.
Montana Freemason Page 32 April/May 2020 Volume 96 No.3