|
Freemasonry in NampaThis history has been put together by Worshipful brother Bruce Wethered, a Past Master of Ashlar 29. Many thanks to brother Bruce for the excellent research.
On May 2nd, 1892, Most Worshipful Grand master John H. Myer granted a Dispensation to organize a Lodge in Nampa, to be known as Nampa Lodge, U.D. (Under Dispensation), with brother Fred G. Mock as the Worshipful Master (Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1892). |
They held their first meeting on June 4th and the By-Laws were approved on June 20th. A Charter was granted on September 14th, 1892 and the new Lodge was named Nampa Lodge No. 29. Brother Fred Mock was elected and installed as the first Master of the Lodge. They met in the Odd Fellows Lodge on 12th Avenue (Grand Lodge Proceedings, 1892).
Brother Fred G. Mock was raised on October 4th, 1890 in Burlington Lodge No. 77, Burlington, Colorado. He demitted from that Lodge one year later and affiliated with Boise No. 2. One month later, he withdrew from that lodge to assist in forming Nampa Lodge No. 29. He served as Worshipful Master of Nampa Lodge No. 29 in 1892, 1893, 1894, and again in 1905. He was elected Grand Lecturer in 1893, serving three years. In September 1896, he was elected, from the floor, as Grand Master. This was the first and only time this has ever happened. No Grand Lecturer was elected that year. So, Brother Mock did the work while serving as Grand Master. On retiring from office, he presented to the Grand Lodge the Grand Master's signet ring, which continues to be passed on to each successive Grand Master (The Idaho Freemason, January 1999).
1922 was an exciting year for Nampa No. 29. They had raised enough money, through the sale of bonds, to begin construction on the new Masonic Lodge building in Nampa. Fundraising continued through 1923. The Lodge building was completed in 1923. This was one of the finest Masonic buildings in the state. It had a large Lodge room, red room and library with a fireplace upstairs. Two stairways descended to a large ballroom and a large kitchen.
On May 23rd, 1927, a meeting was held for the purpose of starting an additional Masonic Lodge within the Jurisdiction of Nampa Lodge No. 29. They were satisfied that there were enough sojourners in the area to warrant another Lodge. A waiver of jurisdiction was granted by Nampa 29 on June 24th, 1927. Grand Master Henry P. Glinderman granted a dispensation on July 19th, 1927. The first meeting of Ashlar U.D. was held on July 22nd, 1927. Brother Everett W. Rising was the first Worshipful Master of Ashlar U.D. Brother Everett W. Rising would serve as Grand Master in 1937. A Charter was granted to Ashlar Lodge No. 90 on September 18th, 1927.
As membership declined, Nampa No. 29 and Ashlar No. 90 consolidated in 1989 and renamed Ashlar Lodge No. 29. Ashlar No. 29 continued to meet in the grand and glorious Masonic Temple until 2002. Dues and fundraising activities could no longer support the Nampa Masonic Temple and the building was sold in 2002. Ashlar Lodge No. 29 has returned to its beginning at the Odd Fellows Lodge on 12th Avenue.
There were six Most Worshipful Grand Masters of Idaho from the Nampa Lodges: Fred G. Mock (1896), John D. Bloomfield (1916), Roy N. Gilbert (1928), Everett W. Rising (1937), Philip C. Drew (1990), and Gregory L. Winther (1995). All were leaders in our fraternity and wore their aprons with pleasure to themselves and honor to the fraternity.
Brother Fred G. Mock was raised on October 4th, 1890 in Burlington Lodge No. 77, Burlington, Colorado. He demitted from that Lodge one year later and affiliated with Boise No. 2. One month later, he withdrew from that lodge to assist in forming Nampa Lodge No. 29. He served as Worshipful Master of Nampa Lodge No. 29 in 1892, 1893, 1894, and again in 1905. He was elected Grand Lecturer in 1893, serving three years. In September 1896, he was elected, from the floor, as Grand Master. This was the first and only time this has ever happened. No Grand Lecturer was elected that year. So, Brother Mock did the work while serving as Grand Master. On retiring from office, he presented to the Grand Lodge the Grand Master's signet ring, which continues to be passed on to each successive Grand Master (The Idaho Freemason, January 1999).
1922 was an exciting year for Nampa No. 29. They had raised enough money, through the sale of bonds, to begin construction on the new Masonic Lodge building in Nampa. Fundraising continued through 1923. The Lodge building was completed in 1923. This was one of the finest Masonic buildings in the state. It had a large Lodge room, red room and library with a fireplace upstairs. Two stairways descended to a large ballroom and a large kitchen.
On May 23rd, 1927, a meeting was held for the purpose of starting an additional Masonic Lodge within the Jurisdiction of Nampa Lodge No. 29. They were satisfied that there were enough sojourners in the area to warrant another Lodge. A waiver of jurisdiction was granted by Nampa 29 on June 24th, 1927. Grand Master Henry P. Glinderman granted a dispensation on July 19th, 1927. The first meeting of Ashlar U.D. was held on July 22nd, 1927. Brother Everett W. Rising was the first Worshipful Master of Ashlar U.D. Brother Everett W. Rising would serve as Grand Master in 1937. A Charter was granted to Ashlar Lodge No. 90 on September 18th, 1927.
As membership declined, Nampa No. 29 and Ashlar No. 90 consolidated in 1989 and renamed Ashlar Lodge No. 29. Ashlar No. 29 continued to meet in the grand and glorious Masonic Temple until 2002. Dues and fundraising activities could no longer support the Nampa Masonic Temple and the building was sold in 2002. Ashlar Lodge No. 29 has returned to its beginning at the Odd Fellows Lodge on 12th Avenue.
There were six Most Worshipful Grand Masters of Idaho from the Nampa Lodges: Fred G. Mock (1896), John D. Bloomfield (1916), Roy N. Gilbert (1928), Everett W. Rising (1937), Philip C. Drew (1990), and Gregory L. Winther (1995). All were leaders in our fraternity and wore their aprons with pleasure to themselves and honor to the fraternity.
In 1972, there were over 12,917 Masons and 2,560 Royal Arch Masons in Idaho. February 26, 1972, was a day to remember. Six Nampa Chapter Demolay received the Entered Apprentice Degree in Ashlar Lodge No. 90 (Bruce Wethered, Chris Wethered, Marvin Askey, Chris Kirk, Mike Moon and Brad Faloon). This was an event that had never been seen before in our Lodges and has not been seen since. The Masonic Lodges and concordant bodies were thriving in Nampa.
Nampa #29 had 234 members.
Ashlar #90 had 212 members.
Cyrus Chapter #2 R.A.M. had 141 members.
We had two Eastern Star Chapters, One Amaranth Chapter, two Job's Daughter Bethels and one Demolay Chapter. The Demolay Chapter won most of the awards at the Demolay Conclaves during the years that I was involved. We held our meetings in one of the finest Masonic buildings in the state.
Today, there are less than 3,500 Masons and 432 Royal Arch Masons in Idaho. There is one Masonic Lodge in Nampa, Ashlar 29, with 62 members. Cyrus Chapter #2 has 19 members. Eastern Star, Amaranth, Job's Daughters and Demolay are all gone in Nampa.
This story has played out across our state and across our nation. What is the story in your Lodge and your Masonic community? When we talk about membership, we need to consider a much bigger issue than the membership in Chapter, Council and Commandery. We need to consider the membership in our Blue Lodges.
One thing I have noticed is that the active York Rite Masons around the state are also the active core in their Lodges. Every Lodge has 2 to 4 guys doing most of the work in the Lodge. It's a safe bet that most of these guys are York Rite Masons.
We, as York Rite Masons, need to ask ourselves what we can do to help our Lodges grow. We need to continue to spread the message of York Rite Masonry within our Lodges.
~Bruce Wethered, PM
Nampa #29 had 234 members.
Ashlar #90 had 212 members.
Cyrus Chapter #2 R.A.M. had 141 members.
We had two Eastern Star Chapters, One Amaranth Chapter, two Job's Daughter Bethels and one Demolay Chapter. The Demolay Chapter won most of the awards at the Demolay Conclaves during the years that I was involved. We held our meetings in one of the finest Masonic buildings in the state.
Today, there are less than 3,500 Masons and 432 Royal Arch Masons in Idaho. There is one Masonic Lodge in Nampa, Ashlar 29, with 62 members. Cyrus Chapter #2 has 19 members. Eastern Star, Amaranth, Job's Daughters and Demolay are all gone in Nampa.
This story has played out across our state and across our nation. What is the story in your Lodge and your Masonic community? When we talk about membership, we need to consider a much bigger issue than the membership in Chapter, Council and Commandery. We need to consider the membership in our Blue Lodges.
One thing I have noticed is that the active York Rite Masons around the state are also the active core in their Lodges. Every Lodge has 2 to 4 guys doing most of the work in the Lodge. It's a safe bet that most of these guys are York Rite Masons.
We, as York Rite Masons, need to ask ourselves what we can do to help our Lodges grow. We need to continue to spread the message of York Rite Masonry within our Lodges.
~Bruce Wethered, PM