A Brief History of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska
A Brief History of the Grand Lodge of Nebraska
In the year 1875, the Grand Lodge of Missouri granted a warrant to constitutional number of Master Masons to constitute and establish a Lodge to be known as Rough Ashler No. 74, A.F. & A.M., with location in Omaha, Nebraska. Shortly afterwards other Lodges were established by the Grand Lodges of Iowa and Missouri in Nebraska. The Lodges in Nebraska, of the Missouri and Iowa Jurisdiction, became interested in the formation of a Grand Lodge of Nebraska Jurisdiction. Rough Ashler No. 74, of the Missouri Jurisdiction, being the oldest Lodge in the State was requested to issue a call for the convention of several lodges, to be held July 19th, 1919. Brother Walter Seals, Worshipful Master of Rough Ashler Lodge, issued the call, and the meeting was opened at 10:45 A.M., July 19, 1919, in Omaha, Nebraska with six Lodges represented and immediately went into a temporary organization.
Brother Nathaniel Hunter, Rough Ashler No.74(Missouri Jurisdiction was elected Temporary Chairman and Brother Trago T. McWilliams, Lebanon Lodge No. 126 (Missouri Jurisdiction) was elected Temporary Secretary. After serious and varied discussion from many angles, all present expressed strong and enthusiastic desire for a Grand Lodge of Masons in the State of Nebraska.
The following Brothers were present with authority to vote from their respective Lodges: Rescue Lodge No. 25, Omaha (Iowa Jurisdiction): Past Masters F.L. Barnett, Charles W. Dickerson, C.M. Simmons, W.H. Washington, and Worshipful Master Perry R. Warner, Senior Warden G.D. Gordon, Junior Warden S.E. Ward. Rough Ashler Lodge No. 74, Omaha (Missouri Jurisdiction): Past Masters R.B. Rhodes, J.H. Williams, Nathaniel Hunter, J.H. Wakefield, and Worshipful Master Walter L. Seals, Senior Warden Charles C. Dudley, Junior Warden W.O. Dunn. Excelsior Lodge No. 110, Omaha (Missouri Jurisdiction): Worshipful Master J. Noah Thomas, Senior Warden John Crawford, Junior Warden Charles Hicks. Lebanon Lodge No. 126, Lincoln (Missouri Jurisdiction): Past Masters, Richard H. Young, John C. Galbraith, and Worshipful Master Trago T. McWilliams, Senior Warden William Woods, Junior Warden, David Nichols. Marvin Lodge No. 38, Hastings (Iowa Jurisdiction): Past Master R. P. Booth, proxy for the Worshipful Master.