History of Salt Lake City, Part 151

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company
Number of Pages: 1194

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In 1873, on his return from Europe, David O. Calder was appointed, by President Young, business manager and managing editor of the Deseret News Publishing Establishment, George Q. Cannon being then in Congress. Under Calder's administration, the publishing department of the Church obtained a fi- nancial prosperity and an efficient business system that entitled him to the full credit of a successful business manager. He remained in this position four years, during which time he published the standard works of the Church, and put the paper mill, connected with the establishment, in a prosperous financial condition. His editorial assistants were John Jaques, David W. Evans and John Nicholson ; his assistant business manager, William Perkes.

After the retirement of Calder, the Deseret News passed into the hands of Cannon & Young, as publishers, Brigham Jr. being at the head of the business de- partment, and " George Q." of the editorial; this management, however, was rather nominal than real, their assistants in each department being the daily workers.

In the summer of 1877, Charles W. Penrose became the editor of the Des- eret News, for awhile under George Q. Cannon, but soon his name was raised at the head of the paper as the editor, where it still stands. From its start in June, 1850, to present date, the names thus placed as the representatives of the official organ of the Church are six in number-Willard Richards, Albert Carrington, Elias Smith, George Q. Cannon, David O. Calder, Charles W. Penrose.

During the absence of Mr. Penrose on a mission, Mr. John Nicholson was the practical editor until, towards the close of the year 1885, he was sent to the penitentiary by the decision of Judge Zane, Nicholson being a polygamist. His editorial writings during the eventful period, when it fell his lot to speak for the Church, through its official organ, were very pronounced, and his address to the court previous to the passage of his sentence, won a plain confession from Judge Zane, to the effect "that the said John Nicholson was an honest man, con- scientious in his religious persistency, yet an offender in the eye of the law, deser- ving imprisonment as an example to his people."

The name of Charles W. Penrose still remains at the head of the Deseret News as editor, and by the public, both Mormon and Gentile, he is esteemed as the chief journalist of the Church. His assistant editors have been John Nichol- son, George J. Taylor, John Q. Cannon, O. F. Whitney, George C. Lambert and James H. Anderson.

HISTORY OF FREE MASONRY IN UTAH.

BY CHRISTOPHER DIEHL.

Among the command of A. S. Johnston, who arrived in Utah in 1857, were a few Free Masons, who were desirous to practice in their solitude the teachings

HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.

of the fraternity, and for that purpose resolved to organize a Lodge. They peti- tioned the Grand Lodge of Missouri for a Dispensation, which was granted and under which they opened a Lodge at Camp Floyd, on March 6th, 1859. Under this Dispensation the Lodge worked until the first day of June, 1860, when it received a charter from the Grand Lodge of Missouri under the name of the Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 205: In 1861, the command of Col. Johnston was ordered to New Mexico, and thereby the Lodge was forced to close its labors. It surrendered its charter to the Grand Lodge of Missouri, also all its records, jewels, etc. Every thing was found in perfect order and so much so that the Grand Secretary said of it: " The relationship between this Grand Lodge and her daughter in the then ' Far West ' was of a very affectionate character and the sanie spirit has ever prevailed between her and the former members of the Rocky Mountain Lodge No. 205." Thus ended the first attempt to plant Masonry on Utah soil.

In 1863, Gen. P. E. Connor arrived with two regiments of California volun- teers in this city and established Camp Douglas. This attracted the attention of disappointed miners and business men in our neighboring Territory Nevada, who immigrated hither. Some of these were Masons. They considered the advisa- bility of establishing a Lodge in this city, and for the purpose of organizing, as- sembled on the 11th day of November, 1865, at the Odd Fellows' Hall. Among the assembled Brethren we find the names of James M. Ellis, William G. Higley, Louis Cohn, William L. Halsey, Theodore F. Auerbach, Oliver Durant, Charles Popper and James Thurmond.

A resolution was passed to organize a Lodge, and to petition the Most Wor- shipful Grand Master of Nevada, for a Dispensation. James M. Ellis was nomi- nated as the first Master, William G. Higley as Senior Warden, and William L. Halsey as Junior Warden. Lander Lodge, No. 8, at Austin, Nevada, recom: mended the petition. The then Grand Master of Masons in Nevada, Most Worshipful Joseph DuBell, responded immediately to the request and issued his letter of Dispensation for Mount Moriah Lodge, to be located at Salt Lake City, Utah. But to this Dispensation was an edict attached, requiring the Lodge to be careful, and " exclude all who were of the Mormon faith."

The first meeting of Mount Moriah Lodge was held February 5th, 1866. The thousand volunteers in Camp Douglas and the discovery of gold mines in Montana made Salt Lake City lively and business improving ; and with this the Lodge prospered. Master Masons gathered around her altar and " good men and true " from the profane world petitioned for the degrees. For a while perfect peace and harmony prevailed, but the above cited edict disturbed the waters from underneath and with it the rolling waves soon showed on the surface.

For three consecutive meetings of the Grand Lodge of Nevada the Mount Moriah Lodge petitioned for a charter, which, however, was refused, and in Sep- tember, 1877, even the dispensation was recalled. The Mormon question was the cause ; some of the members of Mount Moriah wanted to be their own judges and say for themselves whom to admit and whom not ; the Grand Lodge of Nev- ada took a different view of the matter and closed the Lodge entirely.

But the members did not lose their courage, they were still united, and on

APPENDIX.

petitioning the Grand Master of Kansas for a Dispensation, they received it, and under which they worked for nearly a year. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Kansas a charter was granted to Mount Moriah Lodge No. 70, bearing date October 21st, 1868. Among the early members of this Lodge the following well known men in Salt Lake City should be named : Louis Cohn, Sol. Siegel, S. J. Nathan, Henry Wagener, Christopher Diehl, Jos. F. Nounnan, Charles Popper and R. N. Baskin. They are all members of the Lodge this very day and work for its interest and growth.

In 1866 Wasatch Lodge was organized under a dispensation granted by the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Montana. The late R. H. Robertson was its first Worshipful Master, and the Lodge prospered under his leadership. In October, 1867, Wasatch Lodge No. 8 was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Mon- tana. Since then this Lodge has done its Masonic work faithfully and well.

Up to the spring of 1867 Mount Moriah and Wasatch Lodges and Utah Lodge No 1, I. O. O. F., met jointly in the upper part of a building on Eist Temple Street, known as Odd Fellow's Hall. (At present the building is occu- pied by the mercantile firm of Barnes & Davis.) The hall was anything but in- viting ; it was small and the ceiling not over nine feet high. It was not suitable for the purposes, and arrangements were inaugurated for new and more elegant epartmenis, which were found in a stone building on the east side of East Tem- ple Street, on the same lot where the Masonic Hall now stands. The three Lodges moved into their new hall in the summer of 1867. In this hall they remained till February 5th, 1872, when the Masons separated from the Odd Fellows and rented a hall by themselves in Trowbridge's building, where they met till November, 1876. The present Masonic Hall, on the third floor of the First National Bank building, was dedicated for Masonic purposes by M. .. W ... Edmund P. Johnson, assisted by the Grand Lodge of Utah, November 14th, 1876.

The third Lodge in Salt Lake City received a Dispensation from Grand Mas- ter Henry M. Teller, of Colorado, and a charter from that Grand Lodge on the 21st day of September, under the name of Argenta Lodge No. 21.

In IS72, these three Lodges concluded to form a Grand Lodge, to which, under the laws of Masonry, they had a right to. A meeting was called for the purpose, and on the 17th day of January, 1872, the Grand Lodge of Utah was organized, O. F. Strickland being its first Grand Master and J. F. Nounnan its first Grand Secretary. At the organization of the Grand Lodge of Utah, Wasatch Lodge No I had forty-eight members on its toll ; Mount Moriah No. 2, fifty-two; and Argenta No. 3, twenty-four ; total, 124.

None of the Lodges were over-burdened with funds and a large increase of members was, under the circumstances, not probable. Let no one think that the founders of the Grand Lodge considered its maintenance an easy work ard light task; on the contrary, every Brother knew the importance of the step that had been taken and a close observer could read in every eye that the grave responsi- bilities resting upon them were deeply felt. At this moment of despondency Brother Robertson arose and delivered, before the final adjournment, a short ad- dress to the assembled Brethren, closing with : " Now we launch our little craft upon the great Masonic sea. We doubt not but in the future, as in the past,

HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.

storms will arise; the wind will howl, and whistle above, and the troubled waters roll beneath us, but with a steady hand at the helm, with the Bible as our Polar Star, the compass as our guide, and ' Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth,' as our motto, we can wrestle with the contending waves and ride upon their billows. We need never cast anchor for repairs."

During the delivery of the address, which was wholly without preparation, not a breath could be heard in the Hall, but at the conclusion, all went to their feet, joy beamed in every eye, one grasped the other's hand, and with a firm reso- lution to succeed in the undertaking, parted in peace and harmony.

The Grand Lodge having been firmly established, soon received recognition from all Grand Lodges in the United States, and from many beyond the seas, as the supreme Masonic authority in Utah, and it has up to this day maintained its position as such, and although small in Lodges and membership, is looked upon as one of the best Grand Lodges on the face of the globe.

Since its organization the Grand Lodge has chartered five more Lodges in the Territory of Utah, viz: Story Lodge No. 4, at Provo, October 8th, 1872 ; Corinne Lodge No. 5, at Corinne, November 11th, 1873; Weber Lodge No. 5, at Ogden, November 12th, 1874; Uintah Lodge No. 7, at Park City, November 24th, 1880 ; and St. John's Lodge No. 8, at Frisco, January 18th, 1882. "These eight Lodges had at the close of the year 1885, a membership of 482, and their cash in the treasuries and value of properties amounted to $20,607. For charitable purposes the Grand Lodge since its organization and the eight Lodges have expended $22, 159.50, which shows that the Masons of Utah practice what they teach.

The following is a list of the Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Utah since its organization :

O. F. Strickland, R. H. Robertson, Louis Cohn, C. W. Bennett. E. P. Johnson, J. M. Orr, John S. Scott, Thomas E. Clohecy, Frank Tilford, P. H. Emerson, William F. James, James Lowe, Parley L. Williams. On the 7th day of October, 1872, Christopher Diehl was elected Grand Secretary, who has held the office ever since.

MASONIC LIBRARY.

Soon after the election of Christopher Diehl as Grand Secretary, he formed the idea of establishing a Masonic Library, and devoted himself to collecting books upon Masonic subjects and upon the history of Utah and Mormonism. The Grand Lodge assisted him liberally with funds, so that in November, 1874, there were on the shelves 179 volumes. But this alone did not suit his taste. A general library was needed in Salt Lake City, and in this opinion he found a companion in Grand Master C. W. Bennett, who, in his annual address in 1875, said :

" At present most of our books treat of Masonic subjects, and it would be hard to find a more complete collection. An extension of the plan will soon make the library embrace books of science and general literature, with history, biography and the like. If you will take the scheme to your good Masonic hearts, and fasten it, I can foresee that the time will speedily come when Brethren who may be among us, far from the sacred influences of happy homes, seeking

APPENDIX.

fortunes in our Rocky Mountain treasure vaults, and our own young men who are liable to the thousand temptations of the frontier life, may be shielded from evil by the kindly influences which our library of the future may offer them. But should you think this, my vision, too highly tinted with the rosy hue, you will agree that every Mason should industriously store his mind with useful knowledge, and that so far as we can, we should encourage all to do so, and render all the aid in our power to that end."

These sentiments of Brother Bennett were the opinion of the Grand Libra- rian at the founding of the library, and their echo produced the greatest happiness in his heart and mind. But owing to the limited room at the Masonic Hall the suggestion of Brother Bennett, though well received and approved by the Grand Lodge, could not be carried into effect. The five Masonic Bodies at Salt Lake City, in renting their present hall, secured with it a large rcom on the second floor of the building, designing it for a library and reading room.

With this addition the library project received a new impetus. The former Ladies' Library Association donated, under certain conditions, for our use over nine hundred volumes, and a committee appointed by the Grand Lodge, consist- ing of Brothers Charles W. Bennett, Frank Tilford and Samuel Kahn, collected in aid of the librory from citizens of this city the large sum of twenty-five hun- dred dollars. New books were immediately purchased, and on the first of Sep- tember, 1877, the library was open for the use and benefit of the Craft and gen- eral public, and kept open two hours every day. At that time the library con- tained seventeen hundred and sixty-eight books of a general character, and three hundred and sixty of a Masonic character. The library soon became the pride of every Utah Mason, and to the honor of the Wasatch, Mount Moriah and Ar- genta Lodges and Utah Chapter and Commandery be it here recorded, that each contributed nobly towards its maintenance.

Since its first opening the library has constantly increased. It has added an- nually from 500 to 700 books, so that it has at the close of the present year, 6,740 volumes of a general character and 772 volumes on purely Masonic subjects, The library loans out for home reading an average of 1,500 books per month, and is visited by about 100 persons daily. The character of the books on the shelves is far superior to many older libraries; the greatest care is taken that none but the productions of the best authors get there. The collection of books on Mormon- ism, pro and con, and early Utah publications, such as newspapers, magazines, etc., cannot be surpassed by any library on this continent or in Europe. Another specialty is made of books on chemistry and mining for the use of the mining population in Utah. He also claims that it has an excellent collection of books on the early settlement of the continent and histories of America and biographies of its great patriots.

INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS.

The first Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows instituted in the Territory, was Utah No. I, which received its dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the United States (now the Sovereign Grand Lodge) on the 4th day of May, 1865, the charter members being R. T. Westbrook, Past Grand ; J. M. Ellis, Past

HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.

Grand ; Willard Kittredge, Past Grand ; Max Wohlgemuth, Fred. Auerbach, L. J. Whitney, Charles Popper and Joseph E. Merrill. This Lodge struggled along alone for years, and at one time it was thought the members would have to aban- don it entirely. In the early part of 1872, however, an application was made for a dispensation to organize Salt Lake Lodge No. 2, with the following charter mem- bers : William Haydon, Past Grand Master, W. A. Perkins, A. Leebes, Past Grand, E. M. Barnum, Past Grand Master, and H. A. Reid. This Lodge was duly insti- tuted on the twenty-eighth day of March, 1872, under and by authority of the Grand Lodge of the United States. In the following year Jordan Lodge, No. 3, was brought to life with the following charter members: William Samson, Julius Jordan, Fred. G. Willis, Alexander Czoniser, George Arbogast and A. J. Kent, Past Grand. This Lodge was duly instituted on the seventeenth day of Novem- ber, 1873, by the same authority as the preceding Lodges. The order now having been firmly planted, the advisability of forming a Grand Lodge was taken into consideration-the three lodges above mentioned being attached to the Grand Lodge of Nevada for working purposes made it somewhat inconvenient. The fol- lowing year, 1874, brought Corinne Lodge, No 4, into existence, which was in- stituted on the 27th of February, when the Past Grands petitioned the Grand Lodge of the United States for a charter to establish a Grand Lodge in this Ter- ritory. The petition was received and a dispensation granted, and the Grand Lodge of Utah was duly instituted on the twenty-ninth day of June, 1874, by special Deputy Grand Secretary J. C. Hemingray, Fred. H. Auerbach being the first Grand Master, William Sampson, Grand Secretary, and J. C. Hemingray the Representative to the Grand Lodge of the United States. Since the institution of the Grand Lodge of the Territory, the order has been steadily increasing. At the close of the year 1885, there were eight subordinate or working lodges, namely : Utah No. 1, Salt Lake City ; Salt Lake No. 2, Salt Lake City ; Jordan No. 3, Salt Lake City ; Union No. 6, Ogden ; Park City No. 7, Park City; Olive Branch No. 8, Park City ; Ridgely Lodge No. 9, Salt Lake City, and Bingham Lodge No. 10, Bingham. These lodges have an aggregate membership of nearly five hundred. They are under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Utah, which meets annually on the third Tuesday in April. It is formed of representatives from the subordinate lodges, at present numbering forty-two. This grand body has control of the order here directing its affairs.

KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS.

On the 15th day of February, 1864, a number of gentlemen assembled for the purpose of organizing or founding a society to be of a secret character, its nl- timate object being friendship, charity and benevolence, and on the 16th of Feb- ruary, 1864, the first member of the order took the obligation and outh of brother- hood. The first Lodge and Order was instituted February 19th, 1864, at Wash- ington, D. C .; the first Grand Lodge on April 8th, 1865. The Supreme Lodge of the Knights was organized and established as the head of the order. the 11th day of August, 1868. During the years 1867 and 1868, Lodges were instituted in several States, and it has continued to spread until it has obtained a footing in every civilized quarter of the globe. In August, 1877, at the session of the Su-

APPENDIX.

preme Lodge, held at Cleveland, Ohio, an Endowment Rank was adopted. The object of this rank is to secure to families of deceased members of the rank a sufficient sum to keep them from immediate want. The Endowment fund has paid to families of deceased Knights in five years, ending March 3d, 1884, $2, 135,936. The number of policy holders March, 1884, was 26,947. The Uniform Rank shows a membership of 4,319 Sir Knights. The total membership of the order is 139,230, and they have a surplus in the exchequer of $1, 427,624.06.

There are 43 Grand Lodges, 1,866 subordinate Lodges and 82 subordinate Lodges under control of the Supreme Lodge, with a total membership of 139,230. The last report shows that the subordinate Lodges in the Grand jurisdiction have a surplus of $408 904.25, and those under the supervision of the Supreme Lodge, $18,719.SI; cash held in the exchequer's hands of the subordinate and Grand Lodges is $1, 235,591.61, making a total of $1, 427,624.06.

THE DESERET UNIVERSITY.

In 1850, on the 28th of February, the Legislature of the provisional State passed an ordinance incorporating the University of the State of Deseret. The charter designated Salt Lake City as the location of the institution, and vested its powers in a chancellor and a board of twelve regents, to be elected annually by the joint vote of both houses of the general assembly. A treasurer was also pro- vided in the same way, while the board was empowered to elect its own secretary. The chancellor was made the chief executive officer of the board.

During the same session of the Legislature, the first chancellor, board of re- gents and treasurer were elected. They were Orson Spencer, as chancellor ; Dan - iel Spencer, Orson Pratt, John M. Bernhisel, Samuel W. Richards, W. W. Phelps, Albert Carrington, Wm. P. Appleby, Daniel H. Wells, Robert L. Campbell, Hosea Stout, Elias Smith and Zerubbabel Snow, as regents, and David Fullmer, as treasurer.

The first meeting of the board of regents was held March 13th, 1850. At this meeting James Lewis was elected secretary, and three members were appointed as a committee to select, in connection with the Governor, a site for the university building, and also locations for primary school buildings.

By an act of the Legislature approved October 4th, 1851, the chancellor and board of regents were authorized to appoint a superintendent of primary schools to be under their supervision and discretionary control, and to award him such salary for his services, at the expense of the Territory, as they might deem expe- dient ; provided, such salary should not exceed one thousand dollars per annum.

On the second Monday of November following its incorporation, the Uni- versity was for the first time opened for the reception of students under the name of the " Parent School." Doctor Cyrus Collins, A. M., a sojourner in the Ter- ritory on his way to California, was employed under the supervision of the chan- cellors to take immediate charge of the school.

The Parent School commenced on Monday, November 11th, at Mrs. Pack's house, Seventh Ward, under the direction and supervision of Professor Orson Spencer.

The second term of the Parent School was advertised to begin on Monday,

HISTORY OF SALT LAKE CITY.

the 17th of February, 1851, in the upper room of the State House, afterwards known as the Council House.

Dr. Collins had retired from the school and Chancellor Orson Spencer and Regent W. W. Phelps assumed the role of instructors. The school opened with about forty pupils. Both male and female pupils were now admitted to the school. The price of tuition had been reduced from eight dollars to five per quarter.

The third term opened October 27th, 1851, in the Thirteenth Ward school house under the same general management and tuition, with the exception that Professor Orson Pratt had been added to the corps of instructors, and that as- tronomy and the higher mathematics were included in the course of study.

October 4th, 1851, the Legislative Assembly passed an act making it the duty of the chancellor and board to appoint a superintendent of common schools, to be under their supervision and discretionary control, and to award him such salary for his services, at the expense of the Territory, as they might deem expedient ; provided, such salary should not exceed one thousand dollars per annum. Elias Smith was first appointed to this office, which he continued to hold till July Ist, 1856, when he was succeeded by Wm. Willis, who was then appointed superinten- dent by the chancellor and board of regents. Mr. Willis continued to act in this capacity until he was succeeded by the appointment of Robert L. Campbell in 1862. Mr. Campbell continued to hold the office under the appointment of the chancellor and board of regents until 1866, when a new, or revised school law left the University without further dictation or control in common school matters.

Owing to the immature condition of the finances of the University and the limited patronage the parent school received, it was discontinued at the close of its fourth term in the spring of 1852. From that time until December, 1867, the University had no department of instruction or school specially its own.

On the 27th of November, 1867, Mr. David O. Calder was elected by the board of regents to reorganize the department of instruction and to act as its principal. The school was opened the following month, December, and con- ducted chiefly as a commercial college till in February, 1869, when Mr. Calder resigned his position as principal. At a meeting of the board of regents held on the Ist day of March following, Doctor John R. Park was elected to succeed Mr. Calder in the management of the school and as its principal.

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History of Salt Lake City, Part 151

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company Number of Pages: 1194

Author: Tullidge, Edward Wheelock
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Salt Lake City, Star printing company
Number of Pages: 1194