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Left Burton Saction Est Ort 1943
Suy Swartslander.
J. Guy Swartslander GRAND MASTER OF MASONS IN JOWA, 1948-1949
By EARL B. DELZELL, GRAND SECRETARY
Much has been written and said about Brother J. Guy Swartslander during the past year. To those who knew him intimately, it was no surprise that he gave Grand Lodge a most meritorious administration. To those to whom his name was in the beginning an unpronounceable jargon, it became a shibboleth of genuine fellowship and fraternalism. Entering upon his year as Grand Master with popularity, he emerged with even more popularity because of his effi- cient administration.
Inasmuch as his biographical sketch has heretofore ap- peared, a brief synopsis of personal and Masonic references is sufficient.
Porn on March 22, 1898, in Indianola, Iowa, the only town he has ever called home, Brother Swartslander here received his high school and college training, married Miss Geraldine Smith, began work in the postal service, and is now Assistant Postmaster. Here their son Lester was born and later was made a Master Mason during his father's year as Grand Master. Here it was that he joined the Methodist Church of which he is now an officer. When he marched off to World War I, it was from Indianola.
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Brother Swartslander received his Masonic, Degrees in Warren Lodge in 1920, became Master in 1926, and for sev- eral years has served as Secretary. He is also active in the Order of Eastern Star and Des Moines Consistory. He was issued District Lecturer's Certificate No. 511 in 1928 and has improved with age. He is regarded by many as one of the very best ritualists in the State, not only in his know- ledge of the Ritual and floor work, but his gracious manner in instruction. In 1933 he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon; in 1935 he was elected Junior Grand Warden; in 1942 he was appointed Deputy Grand Master; and in 1948 he was elected Grand Master.
Iowa Masonry has been advanced because of the adminis- tration of J. Guy Swartslander. He brought to the Grand Lodge a maturity of judgment, a youthful enthusiasm, a wholesome character, and a forward vision. I am personally very happy to have been associated with Brother Swarts- lander during the past year, during which fine fraternal relations have been established, and a wider, deeper reali- zation of the significance and impact of Masonry has been made possible. Still a comparatively young man, we look to him for a continuation of leadership.
Annals of the
Grand Lodge of Iowa A. F. & A. M.
VOLUME LVI 1949
Earl B. Delzell, Grand Secretary Cedar Rapids, Iowa
TO THE READER
The Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa should be bound as follows: Title-pages and General Indices accompanying the last part of the first eight volumes. For those later apply to the Grand Sec- retary.
Volume
I.
(Reprint), 1844-53.
II.
(Reprint), 1854-58.
III.
1859-63.
66
IV.
1864-1868.
66
V.
Part I, Journal 1869-73.
Part II, Reports on Foreign Correspondence, etc.
60
VI. 1874-76.
1877-79.
Volume XXXIX.
1931.
"
X.
1885-87.
66
XLI.
1933.
XLII.
1934.
66
XIV.
1894-95.
66
XLIV.
1936.
66
XV.
1896-97.
66
XLV.
1937.
66
XVI.
1898-99.
6
XLVI.
1938.
66
XVII.
1900-01.
66
XLVIII.
1940.
66
XVIII. XIX
1904-05.
66
L.
1942.
66
XXI.
1908-09.
66
LI.
1943.
XXII.
1910-11.
66
LII.
1944.
XXIII.
1912-13.
66
LIII.
1945-46.
66
XXIV.
1914-15.
66
LIV.
1947.
66
XXVI.
1918.
66
LVI.
1949.
XXVII.
1919.
60
XXVIII.
1920.
66
XXIX.
1921.
66
XXX.
1922.
66
XXXI.
1923.
66
XXXII.
1924.
66
XXXIII.
1925.
66
XXXIV.
1926.
66
XXXV.
1927.
XXXVI.
1928.
XXXVII.
1929.
XXXVIII.
1930.
XL.
1932.
XI.
1888-89.
66
XII.
1890-91.
XLIII.
1935.
XIII.
1892-93.
1902-03.
XLIX.
1941.
66
XX.
XXV.
1916-17.
66
LV.
1948.
VII.
VIII.
1880-82.
IX.
1883-84.
6
Bound Volumes will be distributed to such Public and National Libraries and Foreign Grand Bodies as have heretofore received them.
Grand Secretary.
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, August 2, 1949.
XLVII.
1939.
1906-07.
TABLE OF CONTENTS, 1949
Grand Master J. Guy Swartslander
Portraits
2, 14
Biography
3
Communications
First Day
15, 84
Second Day
106, 151
Third Day
200
Minutes
First Day
106
Second Day 200
Third Day 233
Memorial Tablets
242, 243, 265, 267
ADDENDA
Comments by Visiting Brethren Before Grand Lodge 235
APPENDIX A
Statistics
Iowa Lodges
Arranged by Towns 274
Arranged Numerically 278
Worshipful Masters and Secretaries 278
Synopsis of Returns 279
Recapitulation
308
Grand Masters of United States
310
Grand Secretaries
United States
312
Foreign Jurisdictions
313
Membership in United States and Canada 315
APPENDIX B
Biographical Sketches of Elective Grand Officers and
Deputy Grand Master, 1949-50 317
APPENDIX C
Report on Fraternal Review 327
ILLUSTRATIONS
J. Guy Swartslander, Retiring Grand Master
2, 14
Flag Presented to Grand Lodge
14
Earl B. Delzell, Grand Secretary
14
James F. Risher, Grand Master, South Carolina
14
Floyd Philbrick, P.S.G.W
14
Masonic Sanitarium
110
Don Carpenter, Incoming Grand Master
318
Harry K. Burmeister, Deputy Grand Master
320
Harry Downs, Senior Grand Warden.
322
Foster G. Iddings, Junior Grand Warden
324
C. Dale Cox, Grand Treasurer
326
Ernest R. Moore, P.G.M., Fraternal Reviewer
App. C-2
PUBLIC EXERCISES
Brother Ray T. Moore (639), Chairman of the local Exec- utive Committee, presided at the opening exercises pre- liminary to the Grand Lodge sessions.
Brother Richard Wagner (639), pastor of the local First Congregational Church, gave the following invocation :
Almighty God, our Father and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we thank Thee for the many and countless blessings which Thou hast presented for our good. We are grateful for all blessings, of home, church, community, and country, and especially this morning are we deeply gratified for all those blessings that come to us through our brotherhood. We thank Thee for the richness of vision and faith displayed by those who founded cur Order and those who built and continued it through the years; and we pray Thee help us who now live to build a structure of something ever finer and grander with fabric of truth, beauty, and goodness. We pray blessings upon our country and upon our President of these United States and all who are in authority; guide them by Thy will and strengthen them by Thy power. We thank Thee with all the gratitude of our hearts for the heritage of a free land. In time of prosperity fill our hearts with interest, and in time of trouble draw us into a life of service and closer brotherhood. Suffer not our trust in Thee to fail. Do for us all those things we could and should ask of Thee at this time, and pardon our sins for Christ's sake. Amen.
MUSIC
Several vocal selections were given by Miss Rose Marie Jun of Radio Station WMT, accompanied by Mr. Harry Christensen at the piano. Mr. Christensen had previously given a thirty-minute organ concert.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME
Brother Moore, after a brief word of greeting, introduced Brother Dwight Krumboltz (639), Assistant City Attor- ney, who, in the absence of the Mayor, Brother Frank Hahn, gave the following address of welcome:
It is with a feeling of real pleasure that we greet you this morning in behalf of the City of Cedar Rapids. I regret very much that our genial, distinguished, and capable Mayor is not here this morning to do this personally. He wanted me to express to you his regret that he could not be here because of an engagement that took him out of town today.
I want to say that I happen to hold the position of City Prosecutor, which is a little different from City Solicitor, because the prosecutor has charge of the prosecution of all cases in violation of City Ordi- nances. Just why I should be here to greet you is a little in doubt,
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but upon a little reflection maybe we will conclude it is all right any- way, because if any of you should run afoul of the law and appear in our court this morning, or any of the mornings while you are here, you can step up to me and shake my hand and say "I have met you before," and it may help.
I hope you will all thoroughly enjoy your stay in Cedar Rapids. We are very proud of our city, and we feel we have good reason to be proud of our city. You know some time ago a very prominent maga- zine enumerated the best cities in the United States in which to live. They said Madison, Wisconsin, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, were good places to live-in fact, very good places to live. I have been in Madison, Wisconsin, a good many times, and just a few days ago I returned from Ann Arbor, Michigan, where I attended my Class Reunion, Law Class of 1924. After looking Ann Arbor over and after reviewing in my mind what Madison, Wisconsin, is like, I am content that I stopped here. Cedar Rapids has it all over those other two places because there there are principally educational institu- tions. If it wasn't for their great universities they wouldn't amount to much-but Cedar Rapids is a great place to live. We have an educa- tional institution here; we are right in the heart of the garden spot of the world; the finest farm land to be found anywhere. We are well diversified; we have all kinds of factories, food processing, and in- dustry of various kinds that is widely diversified, so we feel that in good times and in bad times, on all occasions, Cedar Rapids is a good place to live. We hope while you are here you will take occasion to visit our public buildings and stores, and that you will see our college and our schools; that you will visit our various points of interest here and thoroughly enjoy yourselves. We want you to forget about your troubles, you folks that have come in from all parts of the State of Iowa. Some of you may have made the mistake of bringing along with you responsibilities and worries which you should have left behind. This is a sort of a vacation for you, and we want you to feel that you are worry-free and here to have a good time in Cedar Rapids.
We are proud of our Order; we are proud of what Masonry stands for; and it is due to the high principles of Masonry that we have the stability and strength in this country of ours today; and so it is with a great deal of pleasure we welcome to Cedar Rapids you, members of the Grand Lodge of the State of Iowa.
RESPONSE
The Deputy Grand Master, Millard D. Thomas (633), re- sponded as follows :
At least Brother Krumboltz has relieved our minds this morning as to what we shall do if we get a parking ticket. While we are in the City of Cedar Rapids, he has asked us to leave our worries behind, so to begin with that is one of the worries we are going to leave behind.
We are very happy for this generous invitation to all the privileges of this fine City of Cedar Rapids. We believe Brother Krumboltz should be proud of Cedar Rapids, as we all are proud of the localities in which we live and associate with our fellows; and we, too, are
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1949]
proud of Cedar Rapids. We are always very happy to come to Cedar Rapids for various reasons. Cedar Rapids is a beautiful city. They know in Cedar Rapids what hospitality means, and we 87,000 Masons in the State of Iowa all have a part in the ownership of Cedar Rapids, because here is located perhaps the greatest Masonic Library not only in the United States but in the whole world; and so, for that reason we are proud to be here today.
We are beginning this communication with great expectations, as we always do, because Masonry, as you all know, is work and action. We expect to labor here during the next two and a half days not alone for the satisfaction it gives us as individuals, but for the glory of our great Order in this Grand Jurisdiction and the contribution we make as Masons to this great democracy in which we live. And when we leave when this session is over we will leave reluctantly, knowing we have left behind many, many friends whom we will long to see in the days to come. And I am sure that we will all feel when we do leave this fair city that we will look forward to your invitation to be with you again at some future time, and when that invitation comes I am sure we will look forward with the same joy and anticipation that we have toward this communication.
Again, on behalf of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, I wish to thank Brother Krumboltz and our brethren in Cedar Rapids, as well as you good people in general, for the very generous reception that is always accorded us.
GREETINGS FROM GRAND CHAPTER, O. E. S.
Mrs. Gladys Haycock, Grand Secretary of the Grand Chap- ter, Order of the Eastern Star, in the absence of the Worthy Grand Matron, Mrs. Lucille Johnson, brought the greetings from that Order:
Worshipful Grand Master, you have now reached the end of your year in the East, and many hours, days, and months of devoted ser- vice have been given your Order by you, but we know that not only the Masonic Fraternity, but you personally have benefited by this experience. Though you may not have realized all of your hopes and desires, yet I feel sure that your achievements have more than repaid you for your untiring efforts in behalf of the Grand Lodge of Iowa.
We are not strangers, for in these two great fraternities that are united by the dearest ties and bonds, we find a common objective- that of giving personal effect to one of the beneficent purposes of Freemasonry; that of providing for the welfare of your wives, daugh- ters, mothers, and sisters. Here, too, the widows of your brothers who have passed on to that Grand Lodge above may unite with us in promoting Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
Masonry has meant much to our communities, our state, our nation, and our world. The members of the Order of the Eastern Star deeply appreciate our Masonic brothers, and constantly hope that we may be worthy helpmates, and deserving of your attention and support.
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What we as an Order have done in the past is now history; we can- not nor should not boast about what we may do now, but we are justi- fiably proud of our organization, which stands for good wherever it appears. Founded upon eternal principles of Truth, Justice, and Loving Kindness, it has survived changing creeds and the strain and unrest prevalent in the world. In our teachings may be found the panacea to the world's ills, if we but search for them and apply them to our daily living. We must deepen our faith in God and reconsecrate ourselves to the principles of the Son of God; unselfishness, forgive- ness, and brotherly love must prevail in our hearts. There is no other way to restore that peace that this troubled world so sorely needs.
This year our motto is "Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men;" our watchwords are "Forgetting Self and Living for Others;" our theme- "Pathways to Peace," and our daily guide the Golden Rule.
Our objectives are to give further assistance to our Eastern Star Masonic Home and to give aid and cheer to needy Masonic families overseas, and to children on the Island of Sylt. We have heard this urgent call and will lend our efforts to assure them that it has not been made in vain; that out of our abundance we will send to these fellow brothers and their families the things that they so desparately need. Thus may we truly exemplify "Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth," and may we hope to secure that Good Will that should con- tribute much to the restoration of peace, by restoring to these needy, not only their self-respect, but more than that, their confidence in the true meaning of these great fraternities.
Our philosophies are as sound as the eternal hills of God. Here we may make beautiful friendships and enjoy perfect fellowship, for ours are kindred spirits, and our ideals are high.
The open Bible always rests on our Holy Altar; here we find the message of the Christ, whose Star appeared in the East and who came to earth to bring to it, "Peace and Good Will to Men." He has taught us Faith in God, Hope of Immortality, and Charity to all Man- kind, and we can show our best and truest service to God by the ser- vice that we render to our sisters and brothers, and to all men.
If we make life a pursuit of highest ideals, a constant search for Truth, and a never-failing opportunity for service, then, through us, the ideals of both Masonry and the Order of the Eastern Star will be real, and meaningful, as they should be.
Please accept these flowers as a token of the good will that exists between our Orders, and an expression of our best wishes for a most successful session.
RESPONSE
In accepting these flowers, the Grand Master said:
It is a real pleasure for me to be able to respond to this gift of this beautiful bouquet of flowers presented to us on behalf of the Order of Eastern Star by their Grand Secretary. To me it is an expression of the friendship and good will that exists between our two Orders. I have found in my travels around my jurisdiction-particularly in the smaller lodges-that where there is a chapter of the Order of Eastern
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Star things in the lodge rooms are in just a little better condition than in those lodges that aren't fortunate enough to have a chapter of the Order of Eastern Star; and as we travel around we do appre- ciate those things.
Sister Gladys, will you convey to your Worthy Grand Matron and members of your Order the thanks of the 87,000 Masons of Iowa for this expression of good will.
INTRODUCTIONS
Brother Moore presented the Masters of the three local lodges-Edward H. Files of Crescent; Carl R. Butterfield of Mt. Hermon; and Byron Wayland of Mizpah. He then introduced the Grand Master, J. Guy Swartslander, who in turn presented his official family and the one who had kept the home fires burning and who had obviously led a some- what lonely life during the past Masonic year, but who had been with him in spirit as he had traveled over the State, Mrs. Swartslander.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Brother Moore announced that there would be a six o'clock dinner that evening (Tuesday) in the downstairs armory for all Masons, their wives, and guests. At eight o'clock in the auditorium of the Coliseum the Shrine Chanters of El Kahir Temple would give a forty-minute concert, after which James F. Risher, Grand Master of Masons in South Carolina, would give the address of the evening.
Announcement was also made of the luncheon for ladies to be held at the Embassy Club on Wednesday noon, to be fol- lowed by a tour of the city.
Following the benediction by Brother Wagner, all who were not members of the Fraternity were requested to re- tire.
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Earl B. Delzell, Grand Secretary; James F. Risher, Grand Master, South Carolina; J. Guy Swartslander, Grand Master; and
Floyd Philbrick, P. S. G. W., in front of the Flag which had been flown over the National Capitol and was presented to the Grand Lodge of lowa by Brother B. B. Hickenlooper, United States Senator from lowa.
Proceedings of the GRAND LODGE OF IOWA
One Hundred and Fifth Annual Communication
Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Tuesday, June 14 A. D. 1949, A. L. 5949
Most Worshipful J. Guy Swartslander, Grand Master
Right Worshipful Earl B. Delzell, Grand Secretary
The Grand Lodge of Iowa, A. F. & A. M., was opened in ample form by J. Guy Swartslander (53), Grand Master, who requested the Grand Chaplain, Clayton B. Wittstruck (550), to give the invocation.
PRELIMINARY REPORT ON CREDENTIALS
Earl B. Delzell (263), Grand Secretary, reporting for the Committee on Credentials, stated that a quorum was present for the transaction of business.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS
The following distinguished visitors were introduced to the Grand Lodge and were accorded the Public Grand Hon- ors :
James F. Risher, Grand Master of Masons in South Caro- lina.
John W. Thornburgh, Grand Master of Masons in Indiana.
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Dwight L. Smith, Past Grand Master and Grand Secre- tary of the Grand Lodge of Indiana.
Harry F. Sunderland, Grand Master of Masons in Mis- souri.
Harold L. Reader, Past Grand Master and Grand Secre- tary of the Grand Lodge of Missouri.
Morris E. Ewing, Past Grand Master, Missouri.
Ben Patton, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois.
Ernest F. Schiefelbein, Grand Master of Masons in Ne- braska.
E. S. Lofton, Grand King of the Grand Chapter R. A. M. of Iowa, personal representative of Harold R. Smiley, Grand High Priest.
J. Ellitt Grayson, Grand Master, Grand Council R. & S. M. of Iowa.
Earl B. Delzell, Grand Commander, Grand Commandery K. T. of Iowa.
William Koch, Sovereign Grand Inspector General of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, Southern Jurisdiction, for the State of Iowa.
Earl E. Dusenbery, General Grand High Priest of the General Grand Chapter Royal Arch Masons of the United States.
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FRATERNAL GREETINGS PERSONALLY EXTENDED FOR SOUTH DAKOTA'S DIAMOND ANNIVERSARY
The Grand Master appointed Burton H. Saxton (633), P.G.M., to personally convey the fraternal greetings of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota in its Seventy-fifth Anniver- sary Communication on June 14, 15, and 16, 1949. This choice was very appropriate inasmuch as Brother Saxton had been very close to the South Dakota brethren not only geographically but fraternally.
In recognition of this, Brother Saxton was elected to Honorary Membership in that Grand Jurisdiction and has recently received an Official Certificate in testimony there- of.
Brother Saxton made a brief report on his visitation, from which we quote :
On Tuesday, June 14, I had the privilege of representing the Grand Lodge of Iowa at the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota, held this year at Sioux Falls. I had willingly accepted the assignment offered me by Grand Master Swartslander, especially in view of the contacts established in former years with certain of their Grand and Past Grand Officers who were interested in the work of our Committee on Masonic Education.
This communication has the added significance of marking their 75th anniversary the Grand Lodge of Dakota Territory having been organized in 1874. It was not until 1889 that the Territory was di- vided, with statehood being achieved by South Dakota that same year, and their Grand Lodge began its independent career.
The presiding Grand Master was Brother Albro C. Ayres of Dead- wood-a son of the first Grand Master of Masons after South Dakota had achieved statehood. There were many distinguished visitors from other Grand Jurisdictions, some from considerable distances, such as New York, Mississippi, Washington, D. C., Montana, and Manitoba.
We are especially concerned in their history because the Grand Lodge of Iowa chartered the first six lodges in Dakota Territory prior to the organization of their own Grand Lodge. Those lodges were all within the boundaries of what later became South Dakota, and all are active today, with a combined membership of nearly 1,500.
The two-day communication was held in the Sioux Falls Coliseum, as was the banquet Tuesday evening (in the Annex) with more than 400 in attendance. The committee reports reflected a healthy condi- tion generally, and the spirit of the entire affair was exceptionally fine.
The Grand Lodge recessed at four o'clock Tuesday to lay the cor- nerstone of the new Nursery of the old established Children's Home-
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one of the notable institutions of the State, and in, which Masonry has had its full share of interest.
Prior to the recess I addressed the Grand Lodge briefly, stressing the value of the work they were encouraged by our committee some years ago to adopt, and reminding them of our genuine interest in their progress. Every courtesy was shown during my stay, and I was especially appreciative of Grand Secretary Strain's thoughtfulness, and of the unfailing kindness of my old friend and personal host, Past Grand Master Herman F. Chapman.
PRESENTATION OF FLAG FLOWN OVER UNITED STATES CAPITOL
A
Following months of preliminary planning, a flag which had flown over the United States Capitol at Washington, D. C., was presented to the Grand Lodge of Iowa by Brother Bourke B. Hickenlooper, United States Senator from Iowa. The original plan was that Brother Hickenlooper would make a personal presentation on the first day of Grand Lodge, which incidentally was Flag Day, but senatorial duties prevented, and Floyd Philbrick (639), P.S.G.W., was designated to make the formal presentation. Brother Philbrick addressed the Grand Lodge as follows:
We are all American minded and we are always particularly con- scious of certain days in our American life-of Independence Day and the things for which it stands, and Memorial Day. Perhaps we sometimes forget the 14th of June, but it was 172 years ago today, nearly a year after the Declaration of Independence had been signed and given to this foundling nation and to the world, that the Conti- nental Congress passed the resolution designating a flag, the flag of the United States; thirteen stripes alternate red and white, with thirteen stars of white on a blue field, representing a new constellation, a new constellation among the nations of the world. Today the Grand Lodge of Iowa meets on the 172nd anniversary of Flag Day, and today I appear before you, my brethren of the Grand Lodge, in a representa- tive capacity.
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