Memories

Copy and Paste....   http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=151903539

John Bachop Gilfillan  8th Master of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2-- 1863

Little Sketches of Big Folks in Minnesota (Publ. 1907) Transcribed by Nancy OverlanderGilfillan John B, Minneapolis. Res Clifton av, office 721 guaranty bldg.. Lawyer. Born Feb 11, 1835 in barnet Vt, son of Robert Gilfillan. Married in 1870 to Rebecca C Oliphant. Educated in Caledonia Academy Peacham Vt. Moved to St Anthony 1855 and engaged as teacher. Studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1860. Practiced alone 1860-71. Member firm of Lochren, McNair & Gilfillan 1871-85; Gilfillan, Belden & Williard 1885-94. Organizer of Mechanics Inst for literary culture 1859. Organizer and dir of St Anthony School Board; county atty Hennepin county 1863-67, 1869-71 and 1872-75. State senator 1875-85. Elect of U S House of Representatives 1884. Regent of U of M 1880-88.

The lengthier Story below was digested from a book called Progressive men of Minnesota. (Shutter, Marion Daniel, 1853-ed.) Minneapolis Brother John was a Notable Minnesota Mason and member of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2 in Minneapolis Minnesota.. having been initiated passed and raised a Master Mason in Feb and Mar of 1857.   John Bachop Gilfillan iwas a lawyer in Minneapolis. His grand parents on his father's side emigrated from Balfron, Sterling, Scotland, in 1794, and his mother from Glasgow in 1795, and they eventually settled in Caledonia County, Vermont. As the name indicates the neighborhood was populated by emigrants from Scotland, and here in the town of Barnet, Bro John Bachop Gilfillan was born 11 Feb 1835. His father, Robert Gilfillan, was a farmer, and the early years of his boyhood were spent on the farm, with attendance at the district school in the winter. When he was twelve years old his parents moved to the town of Peacham, and he prepared himself for Dartmouth College at the Caledonia Academy, located in that town. In order to contribute to his own support he began teaching in the district schools at the age of seventeen. His brother-in-law, Captain John Martin, had settled in St. Anthony, Minnesota, and Mr. Gilfillan came to visit him in October, 1855, hoping to obtain a position as teacher, but expecting to return later and enter college. The position as teacher was obtained, and the attractions of the West proved to be so strong that he never returned to college. He began the study of law with Nourse & Winthrop, afterwards with Lawrence & Lochren, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar.  He formed a partnership with J. R. Lawrence, which continued until his partner entered the army. Mr. Gilfillan then practiced law alone until 1871, when the firm of Lochren, McNair & Gilfillan was formed. Judge Lochren was subsequently appointed to the district bench, and Mr. McNair died in 1885. In 1885, the survival firm of Gilfillan, Belden & Williard wasthen formed. Mr. Gilfillan, and the firms with which he has been connected enjoyed a large share of the most lucrative and important law practice in the state. He was engaged as an attorney of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad; Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railroad, and the Minneapolis Eastern Railroad.   Mr. Gilfillan often took an active interest in educational matters. As early as 1859 he helped to organize the Mechanics' Institute for Literary Culture, in St. Anthony. He drew up the bill for the organization of the St. Anthony school board, under which the system of graded schools was introduced, and served as a director for nearly ten years. In 1880 he was appointed regent of the state university, and served in that position for eight years. Mr. Gilfillan was a Republican in politics and held several offices, beginning with that of city attorney of St. Anthony soon after his admission to the bar. He was elected county attorney of Hennepin County in 1863, and served until 1867; again from 1869 to 1871, and from 1873 to 1875. In 1875 he was elected to the upper house of the state legislature, and served in that capacity for ten consecutive years. In the earlier years of his service in the senate he was chairman of the committee on taxes and tax laws, and raised these laws into a code which constitute the chief body of the revenue system of the state. Perhaps the most important piece of legislation in which he performed a leading part was that providing for the adjustment of the state railroads bonds. He in fact dictated the terms of the compromise bill which became the law upon which the adjustment was made.  In 1884 Mr. Gilfillan was elected to congress from the district then including both Minneapolis and St. Paul. 

 Gilfillian Home built 1905 Minneapolis MN

At the expiration of his term of office Mr. Gilfillan took his family to Europe and having placed his children in school in Dresden spent nearly two years and a half in travel, visiting every country of Europe except Portugal, and extending his travels into Egypt and the Holy Land. He then returned to the practice of his profession in Minneapolis, in which he was engaged.He was a member and an officer of Westminster Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gilfillan was married in 1870 to Miss Rebecca C. Oliphant, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania. He has four children living. The mother died March 25, 1884. In June, 1893, Mr. Gilfillan was married to Miss Lavinia Coppock, of New Lisbon, Ohio, but at the time of the marriage was a resident of Washington, D. C......

Per Biographical Directory of the United States Congress - http://bioguide.congress.gov:   GILFILLAN, John Bachop, a Representative from Minnesota; born in Barnet, Caledonia County, Vt., February 11, 1835; attended the common schools; was graduated from the Caledonia County Academy in 1855; moved to Minneapolis, Minn.; taught school; studied law; was admitted to the bar in July 1860 and commenced practice in Minneapolis, Minn.; member of the board of education 1860-1868; city prosecuting attorney 1861-1864; prosecuting attorney of Hennepin County 1863-1867 and 1869-1873; alderman of the city of Minneapolis 1865-1869; member of the State senate 1875-1885; regent of the University of Minnesota at Minneapolis 1880-1888; elected as a Republican to the Forty-ninth Congress (March 4, 1885-March 3, 1887); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1886 to the Fiftieth Congress; resumed the practice of law; died in Minneapolis, Minn., August 19, 1924; interment in Lakewood Cemetery.

Rebecca Corse Oliphant was the first wife of John Bachop Gilfillan. Rebecca passed away March 25, 1884, 8 days after the birth of their 5th child, David W. 

Moses Whittier Getchell  The 3rd Master of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2, served as such in 1855, 1859 and again in 1865 .. over 150-160 years ago...  

 Brother Moses was born in Maine in 1824, he became one of the first settlers of Dakota Territories, in an area of what is now Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

In the “History of the City of Minneapolis” by Isaac Atwater, Moses was listed as arriving in Minneapolis in 1848. It shows he became Marshall, Assessor and won election for the third ward several times. In 1853, land records show he bought 47 Acres and in 1856 another 160 Acres. The 1860 Census lists his occupation as Deputy Sheriff. In 1871, he was the Grand Commander of the Freemason chapter in Minnesota. Moses Whittier Getchell married Mary Syrene Townsend on November 29, 1855, in Hennepin County, Minnesota, when he was 31 years old. Sometime between 1875 and 1880, Moses relocated his family to California and bought a farm in Los Angeles next to his wife Mary’s Cousin, Frank Townsend (this is shown in a 1880 Census). The exact date of Moses & Mary’s death was hard to be definitely determined, the 1890 Census reports were all destroyed in a fire. today it is believed that he died in 1892. The old farm house he built was standing for many years. Please bear in mind the book was published about 1910 and the poh ole house may no longer stand...

Bro Herbert Dudley Alden 46th Master of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2 MN

 Brother Herbert D Alden died 25 Oct 1942, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of 84, and was buried thereat, in Lakewood Cemetery. He had become a Master Mason at Minneapolis Lodge #19 and affiliated with Cataract lodge #2 on 3 Nov 1906; Then  advancing through the line and becoming Master of the lodge in 1913.   Herbert Dudley Alden was born in December 1857 in Indiana, the child of the 6th Master of Cataract Lodge, Brother Robert Spencer Alden  and Abbie Caroline. Herbert married Cora L Lawrence in 1880. He then had one son, Herbert Clare Alden in 1885; who also became the 51st Master  of Cataract Lodge; Having been raised as a Master Mason on 26 Dec 1907; He went on to become the 3rd generation of Aldens  who served as Master of  Cataract Lodge  in 1918.

Alfred Elisha Ames 1st Master of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2 MN

A work in progress--more to follow 1st Minnesota GLMW MW Bro Alfred Elisha Ames was a Medical Doctorfirst 100 years of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota , more info:>> http://www.mn-masons.org/


T.F.S.Three, five, and seven By Ed Halpaus, Grand Lodge Education Officer. Number 29 – June 15, 2004 This publication is issued with the permission of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge A.F. and A.M. of Minnesota. Interested in gathering more info about free masonry in your state? contact your states Grand Lodge...in Minnesota its http://www.mn-masons. org/ " Regularly reviewing our rituals will enable us to imprint upon our minds their full meaning. The teachings will become a part of our minds both in and out of Lodge." Brother Burt Prater




The Tiling of a Pioneer Lodge in Minnesota

Who can be the Tyler of a Masonic Lodge? Well the answer is, of course, a Master Mason, but there have been others who have acted as a Tyler , and in particular here in Minnesota there is at least one instance I know of where someone other than a Master Mason has acted as the Tyler for a Lodge. Recently a Brother Mason told me he remembered someone telling him that at the first Lodge meeting in Minnesota they were short a Tyler so a Catholic Nun was asked to Tile the Lodge and she agreed. His question was, if I knew about that, and if it was true, of course I didn't know about it, but I told him I would check it out. Well I did check it out and that story while it has some basis of fact is not correct. According to my sources the rumor of a Catholic Nun tiling a Lodge in early Masonic history in Minnesota didn't happen, and it wasn't the first meeting of Masons of Minnesota, but it was the first official meeting of Cataract Lodge U.D. in 1851. I think, however, I might have an answer as to how that rumor might have started, as well as what really happened. This all has to do with some fairly well known names in Minnesota Masonic History as well as the history of Minnesota , and of the Minneapolis area specifically. In 1851 Brother Alfred Elisha Ames came to Minnesota and settled in St. Anthony Falls , which is now a fine part of the Minneapolis Metro Area. He was made a Mason in Joliet Lodge U.D. in the Jurisdiction of Illinois becoming a Master Mason on March 5, 1840. He was quite a remarkable man, and he was most important in the history of Minnesota Masonry, but that will be a topic for another time. Brother Ames was a Medical Doctor and he became well established with the settlers in the St. Anthony area. As Masons became known to him in the Village, he would take them to his office and personally examine them about things Masonic, and investigate their good standing so that he could vouch for them. He established the first Lodge in that area, there were at that time nine Masons there. So it was in 1851 that these nine brethren met in Brother Ames' office and petitioned the Grand Lodge of Illinois for a dispensation to have a Lodge at St. Anthony. Since Brother Ames was from Illinois and that he was well known there, (having been a State Legislator and a friend of Steven A. Douglas,) it was natural for him to go to that jurisdiction for the dispensation. The dispensation to form Cataract Lodge was granted, but only after Grand Master Thomas J. Pickett had secured a recommendation from the Master of St. Paul Lodge, (now St. Paul Lodge #3,) to assure himself that the new Lodge would in no way conflict with his its work.




One of the nine Masons who signed the petition for dispensation and who was Cataract's first Treasurer was Ard Godfrey. Brother Godfrey was a Master Millwright who came to Minnesota Territory by way of Maine and Tennessee but was a native of Lower Canada. He was evidently made a U.S. Citizen as he was Quarter Master in the U.S. Army during the Mexican war. It is to me interesting to learn why some of our ancestors settled here in Minnesota . I especially think about that in the winter time. There's an old joke here in the Northland when someone from out of state asks on the phone what the weather's like in the winter to answer, Clear and Still; clear up to here and still coming down. My Dad particularly liked that joke. But in the case of Brother Ames I've learned his health wasn't the best. One source says, "Although very successful in his public and private life, he failed in health. Hearing of the healthful invigorating climate in Minnesota , he came here and made it his home." In the case of Brother Godfrey that same source says about him, "Failing in health and suffering from a lung condition, he sought the salubrious climate of Minnesota upon the advice of an old friend. He lived here for 51 years and died at the age of 80." So maybe next winter I'll think a little better about my ancestors settling here in so healthful a climate.




The first Formal meeting of Cataract Lodge was held February 14, 1852 in the front parlor of Brother Ard Godfrey's house, and as Brother Alfred Ames, the Master of the Lodge, wished to have all nine members within the "Parlor Lodge Room," in order to read the dispensation, to make appointments and formally institute the Lodge, one source says he secured the services of Brother Ard Godfrey's sister to act as the Tyler. And according to the book Centennium it says, "She discharged the duties of that office in a very commendable manner." Well this is interesting: A woman Tyler , this I think is where the rumor about a Nun being a Tyler might come from; being Brother Godfrey's sister. However, in the information from the Minnesota Historical Society we get a little different story as regards who acted as the Tyler for that first official communication. Ard Godfrey and Harriet Newell Burr married at Orono , Maine . They arrived at St. Anthony Falls April 12, 1849 and only a few weeks later on May 30th Mrs. Godfrey gave birth to the first white child born at St Anthony Falls, Harriet R. Godfrey.




It is true that the first official communication of Cataract Lodge was held in the parlor of the Godfrey home. But here is where the story differs, and I like this version better – personally.

Being that the Master of the Lodge wanted all of the nine Brethren in the Lodge Room to read the Dispensation etc. Mrs. Godfrey, Brother Ard's Wife, was asked to act as the Tyler, and young Abner, the Godfrey's son, sat on the stairs to watch for intruders. Mrs. Godfrey died in 1897. I like the story about her acting as Tyler because it is so true to life. Most Wives I have known, which includes mine of course plus my mother & mother in law, my married daughters, and a multitude of the wives of my friends and Brothers, would be most willing to do whatever they could to help out their husband. So believing Mrs. Godfrey would do this when her husband asked her is real believable to me. Well anyway there you have it, the story of a woman acting as a Tyler for a Masonic Lodge. No matter which version of the story you prefer there is no truth to the rumor about the woman being a Catholic Nun, but the versions we have are interesting enough without that. Other than that instance, the answer as to who can be a Tyler for a Lodge is that it is to be a Master Mason, (armed with the proper instrument of his office,) but that Master Mason does not need to be a member of that Lodge. The Tyler is the only officer of the Lodge who does not need to be a member of it; he needs to be a member in good standing of a Lodge but not that one. At least that's how it is here in Minnesota .




By the way the First Officers of Cataract Lodge were: Alfred E. Ames, Master, who would in 1853 become the first Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota; William Smith, Senior Warden, who came from Maine and was one of the first settlers to farm land east of St. Anthony; Isaac Brown, Junior Warden, from Maine, the first Sheriff of Hennepin County; Ard Godfrey, Treasurer; Col. John H. Stevens, Secretary. The other members of the Lodge were: J.W.T. Gardner, from Maine, a Captain at Fort Snelling and graduate of West Point; Daniel M. Coolbaugh, from Pennsylvania, and raised in Illinois, a builder who built many of the early stone buildings in St. Anthony; Emmanuel Case, from New York, a merchant, and who in 1853 became the first Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. At that first official communication of Cataract Lodge there were sixteen petitions read; fifteen for degrees and one for affiliation. Some of the first men to be made Masons in Cataract Lodge were: Isaac Atwater, J. G. Lennon, Anson Northrup, J. C. Gairnes, J. H. Murphy and R. W. Cummings. Today this Lodge is Cataract Lodge #2 in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota, and has a charter date of February 24, 1853, which is the date of the formation of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. That date of 1853 is five years before Minnesota became a State, and the Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Minnesota was the first corporation chartered in Minnesota . But why is this Lodge named Cataract? Is it because the first Master of the Lodge being a Medical Doctor he was concerned about the health of the eye; being that sight is one of the five senses most revered by Masons? No, that's not the reason.




This Lodge was situated in St. Anthony Falls , which when I was a kid was called St. Anthony Village , (at least by me.) This village was situated on the Mississippi at a waterfall, hence the first name of the village. The word Cataract has a first meaning of: A decent of water over a steeply sloping surface; a waterfall, especially one of considerable size; any furious rush or downpour of water. So now you know why those early settlers and Masons who formed Cataract Lodge selected that name, they used their vocabulary to denote the location of the Lodge. Today when we hear the word we think of the eye, but its primary definition back then had to do with water. "When Masonry is taught by ritual, symbol, and allegory it is not as easy to follow as the schoolroom method, but it has this advantage; it makes a Mason study and learn for himself, forces him to search out the truth, compels him to take the initiative, so that the very act of learning has increased value." Brother Burt Prate

"When we learn something, we gain knowledge. When we experience this knowledge, we gain understanding. When we teach what we understand, we gain wisdom." Brother Burt Prater

With "Brotherly Love," Ed Halpaus Grand Lodge Education Officer

Sources: Cenetnnium 1853-1953 the first 100 years of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota

Minnesota Territorial Pioneers: R.W. Brother Doug Campbell, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota and Secretary of Cataract Lodge #2... Family Masonic Education Workbook – by Brother Burt Prater... Early Minnesota Masonry..23 February 1853 , Minnesota territories .... A.T.C. Pierson introduced a resolution to authorize a meeting for the purpose of exploring creation of a Grand Lodge in Minnesota.




The meeting took place as planned on February 23, 1853. However, there was no representation from St. John's Lodge. The notification of the meeting had arrived late.

While the special meeting was being held in Stillwater, the convention was proceeding without the St. John's representation. A.E. Ames of Cataract Lodge and A.T.C. Pierson of St. Paul Lodge were elected president and secretary of the convention respectively. Ames then appointed Aaron Goodrich of St. Paul to draft a proposed constitution for them Grand Lodge. Goodrich was at that time a judge in St. Paul. He labored through the night of February 23/24 and produced a brief but very comprehensive constitution. It consisted of four articles, nine rules of order, and three resolutions. Upon the arrival of two members from St. John's late that day, Ames reconvened the convention and the constitution was presented. By the end of the evening the proposed constitution had been approved unanimously for adoption.

The convention elected A.E. Ames to be the first Grand Master.




Following the installation of officers the Grand Master closed the Constitutional Convention and immediately opened the First Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. The only order of business at this first communication was to grant new charters to the three lodges constituting the Grand Lodge. St. John's Lodge became #1, Cataract Lodge became #2, and St. Paul Lodge became #3 in the order of their charter dates. The Grand Lodge was incorporated in accordance with the laws of the Territory of Minnesota and by an act of the Territorial Assembly under the title "The Grand Lodge of Minnesota." In fact, it was the first corporation to be recorded in the state of Minnesota. From this meager start, Masonry has grown and prospered into its present day. There were eight lodges in Minnesota when A.T.C. Pierson assumed the Grand East in 1856. During his nearly 9-year tenure as Grand Master an additional 41 lodges were chartered. The growth of the fraternity followed the expansion of the population along the major rivers. Until 1870, when Palestine Lodge No. 79 was chartered in Duluth, the only Lodge north of St. Cloud was Northern Lights No. 68 U.D. at Pembina on the Red River. This was a military Lodge that later moved to Ft. Garry, Manitoba. In 1873 and 1874 Lodges were chartered in Fergus Falls, Brainerd, and Detroit Lakes. Three Lodges were chartered in the Dakota Territory: Yellowstone No. 88, which surrendered its charter after two years; Shiloh No. 105 (in Fargo); and Bismarck No. 120, which transferred their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Dakota at its formation in 1880. By 1903, our Golden Jubilee year, 255 charters had been granted and there were Lodges in all but the most northern counties. Membership had grown to 18,542 Masons in 239 Lodges (16 lodges had surrendered their charters.) The first step toward building a Masonic Home had been taken in 1902 with the appointment of a committee to collect opinions from the Lodges. In their 1903 report they said: "The committee failed to hear from any of the subordinate Lodges . . ." They recommended that the Grand Master write to each Lodge, directing each to hold a Special Communication to poll the membership and report back to the Grand Master. The Grand Master's letter must have been effective because the Minnesota Masonic Home was incorporated in 1906, and the Home was opened in 1920. Read more>> http://www.mpls19.org/grand_lodge




Lakewood Cem record---follows

Alfred Elisha Ames, M.D., was born at Colchester, Vermont, Dec. 13, 1814. He was the oldest son of Billy and Phebe (Baker) Ames, whose ancestors were early colonists from England.

Alfred E. commenced the study of medicine in 1832. He occasionally taught school and worked at his trade of brickmason. He also varied his labors by publishing an arithmetic. He came West in 1838, locating first at Springfield, Illinois; concluded his medical studies at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1845. Before leaving Illinois he was elected to the state senate. In 1851 he came to St. Anthony Falls, made a claim, and entered into partnership with Dr. J. H. Murphy. In 1852 he served as surgeon at Fort Snelling, and in 1853 was elected to the territorial legislature as a member of the house. In 1854 he was elected probate judge; in 1857 member of the Democratic wing of the constitutional convention, and in 1860 became a member of the state normal board. During the remainder of his life he devoted himself to the practice of medicine, but also served the public in many positions of trust. *He died Dec. 24, 1874* (incorrect5 date).




Dr. Alfred E. Ames was chairman of the committee on school funds, education, and science in the Democratic wing of the state constitutional convention of 1857. He was responsible for the incorporation in the constitution of a clause that fixed the location of the university and provided that it receive all past and future grants of land. In one of the debates he said: "It was necessary to incorporate something into the constitution that would secure to the University of Minnesota the liberal donation made by Congress for that purpose." It is of interest to note that Dr. Ames was a prominent citizen of Minnesota in other respects. He was one of the pioneer physicians in the town of St. Anthony and during part of 1853 held the position of surgeon at Fort Snelling. In 1854 he was elected to the office of probate judge. On January 4, 1856, he drafted a bill for the incorporation of the village of Minneapolis, which later became law; and in April, 1857, he was appointed postmaster of Minneapolis. Biography* Graduated in the first class from Rush Medical College. First doctor, First Masonic Grand Master and First Postmaster in Minneapolis and a founder of the University of Minnesota. First Practicing Physician on the west side of the river.. He used his land liberally for the benefit of the community, presenting the city with two lots for a court house and two for the First Presbyterian church of which he was the first elder.

Here is another version...about this remarkable and Notable Minnesota Freemason....

Alfred Elisha Ames, a physician, came to St. Anthony in 1851. Ames was made a Mason in 1840 in Joliet Lodge in Illinois. He chartered and served as Master in Lodges in Belvidere, Rockton, Roscoe and Rockford all in Illinois. While active in his practice and his community, he suffered from ill health and came to Minnesota for its invigorating climate. As he established his practice at St. Anthony and identified fellow masons, He investigated and examined them until he had nine with which to form a lodge. Being well known to the Grand Master of Illinois, he petitioned for a charter to form Cataract Lodge of St. Anthony on December 13, 1851 – one hundred sixty one years ago last week. Following due investigation and consultation with the recognized Lodge in St. Paul, a dispensation was granted. The first meeting convened at the home of Ard Godfrey, the lodge treasurer. The officers included A.E.Ames as Master, William Smith, Senior Warden, Isaac Brown – the first Sheriff of Hennepin County, Junior Warden, and Col. John H. Stevens as Secretary. Among the first candidates for the degrees of Cataract Lodge were Charles T. Stearns and Franklin Steele.   On February 23 and 24, 1853 a convention of representatives from the three lodges then existing in the Territory of Minnesota convened at the Farrington Building home of St. Paul Lodge- one of the three. Following discussion and negotiation a constitution was written and endorsed and a Grand Lodge was formed with the first officers elected including:   Grand Master; Alfred Elisha Ames, Cataract Lodge, Deputy Grand MasterAaron Goodrich, St. Paul Lodge, Senior Grand WardenDaniel F. Brawley, St. Paul Lodge, Junior Grand WardenAbraham Van Vorhes, St. Johns Lodge,  Grand Treasurer Emanuel Case, Cataract Lodge, Grand Secretary J. George Lennon, Cataract Lodge, Senior Grand Deacon D. W. C. Dunwell, St. Paul Lodge, Junior Grand Deacon David B. Loomis, St. Johns Lodge, Grand Standard Bearer Sylvander Partridge, St. Johns Lodge, Grand Marshall A.T.C.Pierson, St. Paul Lodge, Grand Pursuivant Henry N. Setzer, St. Johns Lodge, Grand Chaplain Rev. J.S.Chamberlain,, Grand Steward Lott Moffet, St. Paul Lodge, Grand Steward Charles W. Borup, Cataract Lodge, Grand Tyler William Hartshorn, St. Paul Lodge  

 While he was active in all the Bodies of Masonry, Dr. Ames heart was in the Ancient Craft Blue Lodge. He was the founder and first Master of Cataract No. 2; also the founder and later the Master of Hennepin Lodge No. 4 for eight years. He was one of the founders of KhurumLodge No. 112 of Minneapolis, and was the first Master of that Lodge at the time of his death. He held the office of Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons, in 1861, and M. W. Grand Master of the Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters, in 1871 and Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar in 1867. He was also a 33º Mason, an Active Member for Minnesota of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern jurisdiction.

In 1851, the University of Minnesota was established as a preparatory school with 20 students and one teacher. It was founded seven years before Minnesota gained statehood. And every year since 1932, the U has paid tribute to its founders with either a Founders Day or a Founders Week.  According to University Archives, a convocation was held on April 21, 1932, for the first Founders Day, to honor the eight men who were responsible for planting the seeds of the University:Alexander Ramsey, William Rainey Marshall, John Wesley North, Henry Hastings Sibley, Henry Mower Rice, Dr.Alfred Elisha Ames, Edward Duffield Neill, and John Sargent Pillsbury. In recent years, Founders Day is celebrated in February to coincide with the execution of the school's charter on February 25, 1851.

 The untimely death of Dr. Alfred Elisha Ames, our first Grand Master, occurred September 23, 1874. On the following Sunday the Grand Lodge convened and, with the respect due a most worthy Mason, accompanied him to his last resting place, according to the custom among Masons. The funeral was attended by a large gathering of his many friends and Masons from Minneapolis and other parts of the state.  In the twenty-three years he lived in Minnesota he was continually active in public life. He was one of the founders of the City of Minneapolis, an early representative of the territorial council, judge of probate, postmaster of Minneapolis, and for many years was a member of the state normal school board. In 1871 he and Dr. David B. Knickerbocker founded a hospital for destitute sick people which later became St. Barnabas Hospital – and ultimately Hennepin County Medical Center. In 1855 he was the first president and one of the founders of the Hennepin County Medical Society. But most of all, he was a country doctor in the pioneer days who worked alone among the sick and afflicted, without the aid of nurses or hospitals. It is our great pleasure to introduce the wife of a Mason; the mother of a Mason and the Great Grand-daughter of Alfred Elisha Ames,our first Master and first Grand Master, to provide a brief family history of Dr. Ames from his families perspective.Brothers and friends please welcome Marcia Akins.....

Please note the Names of the early officers---ALL NOTABLES.....May need to get them entered into Notable list--We see many are from St Johns and St Paul Lodges--would be great to get them involved in a Summertime event at Oakland Cemetery near the State Capitol in 2017... Source: Talk given 21 Dec 2012 at Alfred Elisha Ames Solstice/St John's Day Event at Lakewood Cem  Sponsored by CATARACT LODGE #2

Talk given 21 Dec 2012 at Alfred Elisha Ames Solstice/St John's Day Event at Lakewood Cem  Sponsored by CATARACT LODGE #2  -- talk prepared and given by Lodge Leo and Bro Mark Campbell.. Event planned and coordinated by Glenn D Kiecker

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Alfred Elisha Ames 21 Dec 2012 Solstice Commemoration for Past GLMW Alfred Ames: The event was sponsored by Cataract Lodge #2, organized with help of Bro Glenn d Alien Life Member Cataract Lodge #2 -Also a member of (SUVCW) --in conjunction with St John's day.  The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War was a creation of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) which was formed in 1866. Wanting to pass on its heritage, the GAR in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania created a Corps of Cadets in 1878 which later became the Sons of Veterans of the United States of America (SV). The SV units functioned much as National Guard units and actually served along with state militia during the Spanish American War. In 1904, the SV elected to become a patriotic education society and in 1925 changed its name to Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War (SUVCW). However, to keep the military aspect alive, the SUVCW created within the organization the Sons of Veterans Reserve (SVR) which was carried on the Army rolls as a Reserve contingent. Some SVR units served with the Army during World War I. After World War I, the SVR was listed as a training company of the U.S. Army. In more recent years, the SVR's mission has become historic, ceremonial, and commemorative. Prior to disbanding and before the death of its last member, the GAR officially designated the SUVCW as its successor and heir to its remaining property. The final Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic was held in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1949 and the last member, Albert Woolson died in 1956 at the age of 109 years. addendum redacted by: Glenn d Alien Life Member Cataract Lodge #2   Addendum added by Bro Glenn d Alien Historian Cataract Masonic Lodge #2r...

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Early Minnesota Masonry.. redacted  on 12 Sep 2009

A.T.C. Pierson introduced a resolution to authorize a meeting for the purpose of exploring creation of a  Grand Lodge in Minnesota.The meeting took place as planned on February 23, 1853. However, there was no representation from St. John’s Lodge. The notification of the meeting had arrived late.  While the special meeting was being held in Stillwater, the convention was proceeding without the St. John’s representation. A.E. Ames of Cataract Lodge and A.T.C. Pierson of St. Paul Lodge were elected president and secretary of the convention respectively. Ames then appointed Aaron Goodrich of St. Paul to draft a proposed constitution for them Grand Lodge. Goodrich was at that time a judge in St. Paul. He labored through the night of February 23/24 and produced a brief but very comprehensive constitution. It consisted of four articles, nine rules of order, and three resolutions.  Upon the arrival of two members from St. John’s late that day, Ames reconvened the convention and the constitution was presented. By the end of the evening the proposed constitution had been approved unanimously for adoption.
The convention elected A.E. Ames to be the first Grand Master.   Following the installation of officers the Grand Master closed the Constitutional Convention and immediately opened the First Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. The only order of business at this first communication was to grant new charters to the three lodges constituting the Grand Lodge. St. John’s Lodge became #1, Cataract Lodge became #2, and St. Paul Lodge became #3 in the order of their charter dates.
The Grand Lodge was incorporated in accordance with the laws of the Territory of Minnesota and by an act of the Territorial Assembly under the title “The Grand Lodge of Minnesota.” In fact, it was the first corporation to be recorded in the state of Minnesota. From this meager start, Masonry has grown and prospered into its present day. There were eight lodges in Minnesota when A.T.C. Pierson assumed the Grand East in 1856. During his nearly 9-year tenure as Grand Master an additional 41 lodges were chartered.
The growth of the fraternity followed the expansion of the population along the major rivers. Until 1870, when Palestine Lodge No. 79 was chartered in Duluth, the only Lodge north of St. Cloud was Northern Lights No. 68 U.D. at Pembina on the Red River. This was a military Lodge that later moved to Ft. Garry, Manitoba. In 1873 and 1874 Lodges were chartered in Fergus Falls, Brainerd, and Detroit Lakes. Three Lodges were chartered in the Dakota Territory: Yellowstone No. 88, which surrendered its charter after two years; Shiloh No. 105 (in Fargo); and Bismarck No. 120, which transferred their allegiance to the Grand Lodge of Dakota at its formation in 1880.   By 1903, our Golden Jubilee year, 255 charters had been granted and there were Lodges in all but the most northern counties. Membership had grown to 18,542 Masons in 239 Lodges (16 lodges had surrendered their charters.) The first step toward building a Masonic Home had been taken in 1902 with the appointment of a committee to collect opinions from the Lodges. In their 1903 report they said: “The committee failed to hear from any of the subordinate Lodges . . .” They recommended that the Grand Master write to each Lodge, directing each to hold a Special Communication to poll the membership and report back to the Grand Master.   The Grand Master’s letter must have been effective because the Minnesota Masonic Home was incorporated in 1906, and the Home was opened in 1920.

Additional information about this storyDescriptionBrother A E AMES Minnesota Masons first Grand MasterDate23 February 1853LocationMinnesota territoriesAttached to

• Alfred Elisha Ames (1814 - 1874)  See MN Grand Lodge Annual Reports....

Brother Alfred E. Ames Was not only the first Worshipful Master of Belvidere Lodge in 1848 but in 1849 he participated in the formation of Rockton Lodge #74 and Roscoe Lodge #75, serving also as the first Worshipful Master of Roscoe Lodge and as one of the founders of Rockton Lodge. . A Dispensation was granted for Rockford Lodge No. 102 on February 13, 1851, by the then Grand Master, C. G. T. Taylor. Thirteen members became charter members of the new lodge. Again Brother Ames was the first Worshipful Master, he later went on to become the First Most Worshipful Grand Master of the state of Minnesota. The following information was provided by Douglas Campbell Grand Secretary  Grand Lodge of Minnesota member of our Cataract Lodge No. 2 Of Minnesota http://mn-mason.org Excerpts from the Grand Lodge of Minnesota Centennial book published in 1853.    CATARACT LODGE NO. 2 Alfred Elisha Ames, a physician, came to St. Anthony in 1851 He was a New Englander, born on a farm near Colchester, Vermont, December 13, 1814. At the age of twenty-two he moved west to Illinois where he resided for fifteen years. There he was made a Mason in Joliet Lodge U. D., of Illinois, on March 5, 1840. He founded Lodges at Belvidere, Rockton, Roscoe and Rockford, all in the jurisdiction of Illinois, and served as Master in each of these Lodges. He was a representative in the Illinois state house and was later elected to the senate. Although very successful in his private and public life, he failed in health. Hearing of the healthful, invigorating climate of Minnesota, he came here and made it his home. He was one of the best informed Masons that ever entered the Territory and became the first Grand Master of Masons in Minnesota. He was an outstanding Mason and rendered a life-long service to the Fraternity. The same year that Ames threw his lot in with the settlers of St. Anthony, he founded the first Lodge at that place. As Masons became known to him in the village, he would take them to his office and personally examine them and investigate their good standing, so that he could vouch for them. There were eight, himself making nine in all, and on December 13, 1851, they met in his office and petitioned the Grand Master of Illinois for a dispensation to form Cataract Lodge. It was only natural that Ames would go to Illinois for his authority, he being well known to the Grand Lodge of that jurisdiction. The dispensation was granted, but only after Grand Master Thomas J. Pickett had secured a recommendation from the Master of St. Paul Lodge to assure himself that the new Lodge would in no way conflict with its work. The officers named in the dispensation were Alfred E. Ames, Worshipful Master; William Smith, ...   DEATH OF DOCTOR AMES The untimely death of Dr. Alfred Elisha Ames, our first Grand Master, occurred September 23, 1874. On the following Sunday the Grand Lodge convened and, with the respect due a most worthy Mason, accompanied him to his last resting place, according to the custom among Masons. The funeral was attended by a large gathering of his many friends and Masons from Minneapolis and other parts of the state. While he was active in all the Bodies of Masonry, his heart was in the Ancient Craft Blue Lodge. He was the founder and first Master of Cataract No. 2, also the founder and, later, was the Master of Hennepin No. 4 for eight years. He was one of the founders of Khurum No. 112, of Minneapolis, and was the first Master of that Lodge at the time of his death. He held the office of Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, in 1861, and M. 1. Grand Master of the Grand Council, Royal and Select Masters, in 1871 and Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery, Knights Templar, in 1867. He was also a 33º Mason, an Active Member for Minnesota of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, Southern jurisdiction. In the twenty-three years he had lived in Minnesota he was continually active in public life. He was one of the founders of the City of Minneapolis, an early representative of the territorial council, judge of probate, postmaster of Minneapolis, and for many years was a member of the state normal school board. In 1871 he and Dr. David B. Knickerbocker founded a hospital for destitute sick people which later became St. Barnabas Hospital. In 1855 he was the first president and one of the founders of the Hennepin County Medical Society. But, most of all, he was a country doctor in the pioneer days who worked alone among the sick and afflicted, without the aid of nurses or hospitals.....  The following pertaining to the founding of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota comes from "The History of Freemasonry" by Albert Gallatin Mackey, M. D., 33º and WM. R. Singleton 33º:   The first lodge organized in Minnesota was St. Paul's, No. 1 constituted by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, August 4, 1849; The second lodge was St. John's, No. 1, warranted October 12, 1850, by the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin; and the third was Cataract Lodge No. 168, Founded by the Grand Lodge of Illinois, 1852.These three Lodges, by delegates, met in convention at the city of St. Paul, February 23, 1853, and constituted the Grand Lodge of the State of Minnesota.

Brother Robert S Alden 6th Master of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2

Robert Spencer Alden was born on September 11, 1810, in Vienna, New York. He had one son with Abbie Caroline Strong in December 1857. He died on May 29, 1877, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the age of 66, and was buried thereat in Lakewood Cemetery.   Brother Robert S Alden  became the 6th Master of Cataract Masonic Lodge #2, served as such 1861, after affiliating with Cataract #2; Hailing from Lodge #27 of Indiana. 

Robert Spencer Alden Source: Collections of the Minnesota Historical Society, Volume 14; Minnesota Biographies (1655-1912) published 1912; page 7 ALDEN, ROBERT SPENCER, architect, b. in Verona, N. Y., Sept. 11, 1810; d. In Minneapolis, May 29, 1877. He settled there in 1856; built the Metropolitan hotel, St. Paul, the Academy of Music, Minneapolis, and many other important buildings.