Lafayette Lodge #52 A.F. & A.M.
100 South 3rd St. Montezuma, Iowa 50171
Still Under Construction, But take a Look Anyway!
History of Lafayette #52
The Montezuma Lafayette Lodge #52 came into being on January 18, 1855. In 2005 the Lodge commemorated its
anniversary with a rededication ceremony remembering the men who built Lafayette Lodge literally from the ground up. At the same time, this will be a celebration of current members who have followed their predecessors in accepting and
living their lives through the time honored traditions of masonry.
Many things have happened over those years, many members have joined the lodge, and much has changed in Montezuma. And yet - maybe not. In the 160 years since Richard B. Ogden settled just west of the Court House square in 1844 and established the strong roots for a thriving, supportive community, Montezuma has become a home to many generations of fine people who have been proud to call this place their own and to make it their own. Lafayette Lodge #52 has been part of Montezuma since the beginning as many of the area’s original settlers were themselves Masons who had been members of other lodges before moving west.
Montezuma residents, even from the beginning, were people who wanted to get things done “our” way. The early Masons in Montezuma were forced to travel to meetings at the Tri Luminar Lodge #18 in Oskaloosa in the days when the only modes of transportation were either by horse, or by train. A long, and often arduous trip. Nine Masons from
Montezuma concluded that their growing town would benefit from a lodge of its own. So, they petitioned James L. Hogan, Most Worshipful Grand Master of Iowa for permission to hold meetings in Montezuma in 1854, and held their
first in the town in 1855.
These days in our fast paced, high tech world, old and familiar institutions are continually fading away, their members, their great works, and their brilliant histories mostly lost forever. People are either too busy with their lives and jobs, or they believe that becoming a member of an organization is something that their ancestors did in the days before television and computers. Not in Montezuma. The Masonic presence here has withstood many, many changes in a world that its founders never could have foreseen…or even imagined. 150 years is a long time for any cultural institution to remain in place, but our Lodge is still here functioning as a strong and continuously vital member of the community. Perhaps the staying power of the Masonic presence in Montezuma is a testament to the character and the single-minded dedication to community, family, and self that the men who make up this lodge have been, are, and will continue to be.
The following pages cover these past 150 years: the development of our beloved Lafayette Lodge from its initial dispension in 1854 to the rededication in 2005 celebrating 150 years of existence and service to the community. The history of Lafayette Lodge is one that highlights the accomplishments and vision of the people who have immersed themselves in the teachings of Masonry to lead full and productive lives in the pursuit of a better community as a whole.
Lafayette #52 By Year
1854 Grand Lodge granted dispensation for meetings to be held in Montezuma by James L. Hogan Most Worshipful Grand Master of Iowa
Include dispensation Possibly MWGM Hogan’s partial address.
1855 January 18th, first meeting held in Montezuma, WM M. A. Malone
List officers and members present
1855 June 6th 1855 Lafayette Lodge #52 Granted Charter by MWGM Aylett R. Cotton Meeting in Keosauqua June 5-6 during the Grand Lodge Communication. It appears that in five months the Lodge created 23 new Master Masons.
See Vincent Johnson’s paper on 95 year’s, Page two Par. 3 officers
A. Tilton owned buildings and property on West side of Square. We believe that meetings were held upstairs in his building. The Lodge later bought building for $700.
1857 WM J. K. Rayburn’s apron (1855) was in an estate handled by Clyde McFarlin. It was offered to the Lodge if they would mount it for display --- and is still displayed on the north wall of the Lodge room.
1864 Land for the Cemetery was received from Gideon Wilson at a small cost and a mutual agreement was made with I.O.O.F. Lodge to share this plot of ground with trustees selected from each Lodge. This plot of land was named the Masonic & I.O.O.F. Cemetery Association, and incorporated as such. It was cleared of trees, leveled and platted in 1865. The first burial was John Adams in the Old Burial spot at the far west part of the cemetery on a small hill behind the park. The first known burial was Mrs. W. B. Harder.
Reuben Mickel - Grand Master of Iowa 1867-1868
REUBEN MICKEL
LAFAYETTE LODGE #52
MOST WORSHIPFUL GRAND MASTER of IOWA
1867 - 1868
FIRST GRAND MASTER FROM LAFAYETTE #52
RAISED IN THE CRAFT IN 1850
FREEPORT PENNSYLVANIA
ADMITTED LAFAYETTE #52 JULY 28, 1855
DIED DECEMBER 13,1886
JW -- 1856
SW --1857 -- 1861
WM - 1859 --60 -- 62
JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN, 1864
DEPUTY GRAND MASTER, 1866
GRAND MASTER, 1867, 1868
MWGM REMARKS TO THE
1868 GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
HELD IN DES MOINES, IOWA
ON JUNE 2nd, 1868
GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS.
BRETHREN OF THE M.'. W.'. THE GRAND ______:-Through the blessings of God we are again permitted to assemble ill Annual Grand Communication as representatives of the craft in this jurisdiction. Another year with all its hopes and fears has been numbered with the" eternal past" since our last annual gathering, yet we have great cause' for gratitude, while misfortunes and perplexity are the common lot of humanity, and dangers and difficulties throng our pathway on every side, nevertheless it has pleased the" Grand Architect of the Universe" to grant us and those we represent, peace and plenty and a degree of prosperity almost unparalleled in the history of the past. The" devastations of war" have not again scourged, nor laid waste our beloved country; neither has pestilence or "gaunt famine" visited our jurisdiction. For the manifold blessings and comforts thus bounteously vouchsafed, let us be devoutly thankful to the" All-wise and everlasting God," and with singleness of heart and reverential awe implore a continuance of His divine blessings- Let us earnestly invoke His protection and guidance in all the labors and duties devolving upon us through life as men and masons, that whatever we may do may redound to His glory and the good of mankind.
You have come up here from every part of the State, as the honored representatives of the various subordinate _________ in this jurisdiction, to consult together for the best interest of the Royal Craft, and although some of you are here for the first time, and even as strangers, yet that bond of universal brotherhood that binds together this great fraternity, wherever dispersed, will soon cement you together as familiar friends, as you are already members of the same great and rapidly increasing family. On behalf of the Grand ___________ I welcome you. May your intercourse be pleasant and profitable, and your deliberations productive of the greatest good.
My pursuits in life having of necessity partaken more of a practical than of a literary character, you will, I trust, pardon the absence of the graces of rhetoric and allow me ill the briefest and most business-like manner to lay before you a report of my official acts during the year past.
1875 The Lodge sent $20.00 to the Washington Monument building fund in Washington D.C. In today’s money, this amount would be about $2,500. The Lafayette Lodge was invited to the Rededication of the monument when it reopened after extensive repairs and the modernization were finished.
1885 The ground for a new Hall was purchased from A. Tilton for $300 to build a new home for Lafayette #52, as voted in November of 1885. The lodge paid the G.A.R. half the price of a wall to be constructed in the building between the G.A.R. Hall and the Masonic Hall.
1886 The building was started by accepting a bid to dig the hole for $81.00. The stone foundation was erected for $129.00, plastering $112.00, and painting $86.00.
December: the building needed $2,000.00 additional funds so Notes were sold to members for five years at 6 1/2 % interest. The Bank took Notes and paid bills on behalf of the Lodge. The Notes were paid back in less than the five years.
INCLUDE LIST OF NOTES ISSUED and copy of note
1886 December: the building was opened officially with a dinner and dance on the first floor.
This was one of many events that shaped the Masonic presence in Montezuma. Over
120 people enjoyed the dinner and dancing that evening. Wine was included in the festivities.
Include invitation
MASONIC HALL ASSOCIATION
1886 The Masonic Association was incorporated to hold the property of the Lodge and was managed by three trustees. They were responsible for renting the property, providing heat for Lodge meetings, paying taxes on this income as required and reporting such action to the Lodge as deemed necessary if approval was required from members of said Corporation. The Bylaws of the Lodge stated that the Corporation would hold all property of the Lodge. Each Mason has one vote and one share in the Masonic Hall Association. Meetings are held after regular stated meetings as necessary to conduct the business of the Corporation. This move by the leaders at the time indicated a need to remove personal liability from actions of the Lodge and created a means to minimize the possibility of personal financial problems arising in the future.
1889 The Corporation was dissolved November 2nd recorded in book 4, page 266. No minutes were recorded or any action by the members present.
1891 Special Officer collars were purchased.
Have picture included it. Only names of first row known.
Include names of officers on front row, list included.
The Lodge voted that Master Masons were required to pass examinations in third degree in order to vote, hold office, demit or vote.
1897 December 14, 1897. 24 people met in the Lodge and received dispensation to hold meetings and form a Chapter of the order of Eastern Star. Number 232 was assigned when the Charter was granted in October 1898.
Include history and list of members
1905 50-Year Anniversary of Lafayette Lodge. No mention of a program to mark the event.
1911 The Masonic Hall Association was reincorporated September 8th.
1912 William Hutchinson was elected Grand Master of Iowa 1912-1913.
Have picture and data on his fto GL in 1812 proceedings of Grand Lodge
Montezuma's Most Famous Mason
CHARLES CLYDE HUNT
Lafayette Lodge #52
Most Distinguished Member In 150 Years
Raised in the Craft on July 24, 1900
Most Worshipful Honorary Grand Master of Iowa 1946
Deputy Grand Secretary 1917 - 1925
Grand Secretary 1925 -1946
Grand Secretary Emeritus
Charles Clyde Hunt was born at Cleveland, Ohio, on November 9, 1866. His father was a gilder of picture frames but improved his leisure in the study of medicine. He was subsequently licensed to practice medicine and located at Monticello, Iowa, in 1869. C. C. would have been three.
C. C. Hunt secured a job in a local canning factory where he labored for seven years. Apparently by accident he found an old algebra book; he at once became interested and the habit of study, encouraged by his studious disposition and strong mental capabilities, became fixed. Such habits were soon observed by others, and the high school principal outlined a systematic course of study which was rigidly followed. This path led to his graduation from college at Grinnell in 1892 at 26 years of age.
For three years after graduation, Brother Hunt taught school and did other types of work until his appointment as Deputy County Treasurer of Poweshiek County, which position he held for 12 consecutive years, including terms under three different treasurers and opposite political affiliation. He was twice nominated for the office of County Treasurer, and on one occasion he had no opposition in the general election. When the State of Iowa passed the law requiring annual examinations of all county officers, the State Auditor appointed Brother C. C. Hunt as one of the examiners, and at the end of his four-year term he was reappointed. After a courtship mingled with economics and romance, Brother Hunt, On June 30, 1897, married Miss Catherine M. Knapp of Smithfield, Minnesota. Four children were born to them. Brother Hunt was initiated on May 12, passed on May 26 and raised on July 24, all in 1900, in Lafayette Lodge No. 52 at Montezuma, Iowa, where he retained his membership. He served his Mother Lodge as Junior Deacon 1900, Senior Deacon 1901, Senior Warden 1902, Master from 1903 to 1907, inclusive, and as Secretary from 1910 to 1912.
Early in his Masonic life he became interested in the ritual and on October 29 1905, was recognized as a District Lecturer, receiving Certificate No. 44. He actually ranked sixth at the time of his death.
He received the 32nd in Des Moines Consistory in November 1903. He is affiliated with Iowa Consistory at Cedar Rapids on September 19, 1917. He was honored with the K.C.C.H. on October 19, 1937, and with the 33rd on October 21, 1941. The ceremony of recognition of the 33rd was held in Des Moines in November, 1941. Brother Hunt served as Senior Grand Steward of the Grand Lodge in 1911, Junior Grand Deacon in 1912, Deputy Grand Secretary from 1917 to 1925, Librarian and Grand Secretary from 1925 to 1945, and was an Honorary Past Grand Master of Iowa Jurisdiction.
It was for him a period of uncertainty, of experimentation, of feeling out the ice before risking his weight upon it. He was already in middle life. After graduating from Grinnell, he had taught school for some years and then for more then a decade had worked in public office in one of Iowa counties. It was difficult for him to commit himself to Masonic work as a lifetime profession.
I should consider it accurate to say that over a quarter of a century, C. C. Hunt was the greatest specialist in Masonic reference anywhere in the American Craft. He had a genius for it. Of course, it could be said that he had all the advantages of being able to devote almost his full time to it, and that the limitless resources of the Iowa Masonic Library lay outside his office door, and that as Grand Secretary, he could employ all of the machineries of a Grand Lodge for his purposes, but that would be beside the point; hundreds of other Masons across the land have similar opportunities but make nothing of them.
It does little good to have over 50,000 books in a Masonic library, housed in two buildings, if there is no way to get their content. The great majority of these books have either no indexes of their own, or else have useless ones. Their titles usually are not descriptive or are even misleading. If a single book needs an index, how much more does a whole library need one.
Newton Parvin answered that question by deciding to set up an index of the contents of all the books in the Iowa Masonic Library, and assigned C. C. Hunt to the task. Once he had undertaken it, Hunt kept at it with unremitting labor, week after week, month after month, year after year, part of the time assisted by a typist, part of the time alone. Fortunately for himself as well as for us all, he began with the bound volumes of more important magazines which had been published since 1792 throughout the English-speaking world and once he had finished with them went on to the published transactions, proceedings, treatises, and papers of research lodges, and societies throughout that same world. He did not go over them wholesale or in haste, but ran his eye over every paragraph and wherever he came upon an item, however small, of any value for permanent reference purposes, he entered it on a 3x5 index slip, giving the title, date and page number.
When he became Grand Secretary he had to cease work on the index. It was that laborious task carried on over a period of years which gave him his encyclopedic knowledge of the multitudinous facts about the history of Freemasonry throughout the world, over eight centuries of time, and made him the prince of workers in Masonic reference.
He began to write those essays and articles which were to carry his name everywhere. It is impossible to say how many of them he produced, because nobody has ever collected them. Perhaps there were two hundred or so, many of them remaining in manuscript form. Many others appeases in other periodicals or in the form of leaflets, booklets, and brochures. If the whole of them were collected, as they ought to be, they would fill five or six large volumes and why no publisher has collected them is one of the minor mysteries of Masonry. He did all of this in addition to his work as Grand Secretary and Grand Librarian but it was not the only thing he did over and above the duties required by his offices.
He served for ten consecutive years as worthy patron of Lafayette Chapter No. 232, O.E.S., at Montezuma. He served in the Grand Chapter, R.A.M., of Iowa as Grand High Priest in 1919.
Because of him we have one of the better libraries. We should be proud of our library in Cedar Rapids, it is one of six in the world. C. C. Hunt was a great part in making it so. It is my personal belief that C. C. Hunt was a tireless worker. He wanted things completed. He wanted things done correctly. He believed in Masonry and practiced its teachings.
It is said that Masonry takes a good man and makes him a better man, not better than other men, but better than he was before becoming a Mason. Brethren, I think this was true for C. C. Hunt. Brethren, you should be proud that C. C. Hunt was a member of this Lodge. He did justice to the fraternity at the local level. The Grand Lodge of Iowa, A.F. & A.M., was opened in ample form by Grand Master J. Guy Swartslander at 2:35 p.m., July 26, 1948, in the Masonic Temple at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, for the purpose of conducting the funeral services of C. C. Hunt.
Our Temple
by Bro. Charles Clyde Hunt
When our Temple of earth has been finished
And our tools have been laid aside,
When the sound of the gavel is silenced,
And on earth we no longer reside,
We shall rise at the Word of the Master,
And remember the way that we grew,
As the Master of All Good Workmen
Shall put us to work anew.And the faithful there shall be happy,
As they sit near the Golden East
When the gifted shall scorn not the dullard,
But aid both the great and the least.
We shall have real Masons to teach us,
Solomon, Hiram and Paul.
Whose lives have been squared by their service,
As they gave to us of their all.We there will build a new Temple,
Reflecting the will of our God,
Its portals be easy to enter,
For love is its entering rod.
Then each brother shall work without ceasing
For the God whose dealings are square,
He will build the Temple of greatness
For the God who in all things is fair.And only the Master shall praise us,
And only the Master shall blame,
And each for the love that is in him,
With never a thought of fame,
Shall build his part of the Temple,
With care for each detail,
That will raise a perfect structure,
A work that will never fail.
Grand Lodge Officers From Lafayette #52
The following brothers have worn purple of the Fraternity from Lafayette Lodge No. 52:
Clay Burkhardt Junior Grand Deacon, 1952
John W. Carr Junior Grand Deacon, 1894
L. H. Krenmyre Grand Chaplain, 1934
Reuben Mickel Senior Grand Deacon, 1862
Senior Grand Warden, 1864
Deputy Grand Master, 1866
Grand Master, 1867, 1868
C. C. Hunt Senior Grand Steward, 1911
Junior Grand Deacon, 1912
Deputy Grand Secretary, 1917-1925
Grand Secretary, 1925-1945
Grand Secretary Emeritus, 1945-198
Honorary Past Grand Master, 1937
William Hutchinson Grand Master 1912-1913
Had moved to Orange City when elected Grand Master