A BRIEF HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY
The Freemasons are the oldest and most widely known fraternal organization in the world. Symbolically, the Craft dates back to the days of Solomon and his building of the first temple in Jerusalem. The oldest document that makes reference to Masons is the Regius Poem, circa 1425. The illustrious roots of the organization date to when its members were operative Mason
s who built castles and cathedrals throughout Europe in the Middle Ages. The foundation of the ritual is based on the story of the building of King Solomon’s Temple. It incorporates metaphors with symbolic meaning from architecture, engineering, masonry and construction. It uses the signs and words developed by the Masonic guilds as methods of recognition and the language evolved from a number of sources. The organization, as we know it today, began in the early 18th century in England when the Masons started to accept members who were not members of the Mason's craft — these men were referred to as "speculative Masons" or "accepted Masons. Freemasonry was brought to the United States by our early settlers and the craft became very popular in colonial America. Henry Price, a Boston merchant and tailor, received a deputation from the Grand Lord of England to form the first Provincial Grand Lodge in the Western Hemisphere. Among the country’s early Masonic leaders were George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Paul Revere, and John Hancock. Another influential Mason, Chief Justice John Marshall, served as Chief of the Supreme Court for more than 34 years and shaped the court into its present form. government provided no social "safety net," the Masonic tradition of founding orphanages, homes for widows, and care for the aged provided the only protection many people knew. Over the centuries, Freemasonry has developed into a worldwide fraternity emphasizing personal study, self-improvement, and social betterment by way of individual involvement and philanthropy. The dignity of man, the liberty of the individual, the right of all persons to worship as they choose, and the importance of education stand at the forefront of Masonic thought. Today, there are approximately five million Freemasons throughout the world. Nearly three million of them reside in the United States. At the dawn of the 21st century, Freemasons continue their tradition of building bridges of brotherhood as they strive to make good men better. MINNESOTA FREEMASONS
2016 will mark the 163rd anniversary of the establishment of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota. Today there are 152 lodges statewide, with approximately 14,000 members. A brief history on the first 150 years of Minnesota Masonry was prepared for the Grand Lodge of Minnesota Sesquicentennial in 2003. A BRIEF HISTORY OF TUSLER-SUMMIT MASONIC LODGE
1906 TO 1931
(Notes Taken from the 50-Year History of the Lodge)
Eleven brothers met on October 17, 1903 to discuss the possibility of forming a Masonic Lodge in the area where they lived. The meeting was held in a furniture manufacturing business owned by one of these individuals; they all lived in St. A pledge of support was written and circulated in the area to develop further support beyond those at this initial meeting. The response was not favorable and is not documented. Eleven brothers met again on November 19, 1904; some at this meeting were at the initial meeting. This meeting became more formal with the election of a chairman and secretary; Fred Joerns and William P. Gray, respectively. The pledge document from a year earlier was ‘resurrected’ and the vote to circulate that pledge for broader support was unanimous. This second meeting was held in the anteroom of the Odd Fellows Hall at the corner of Hampden and Raymond. A third meeting was held at the Manufacturers’ Exposition Building to review the number of signatures on the pledge; no date was given. The number of signatures seemed sufficient to move forward and the following officers were elected and the petition was signed for presentation to the Grand Lodge:
Worshipful Master: Brother Fred Joerns
Senior Warden Brother: W. Turner
Junior Warden: George E. Rouse
The name of Interurban was selected for the new lodge but was changed to Ramsey before dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge. Special recognition was given to the two primary supporters of forming a new lodge: Brother C. Pohling and A. Curtis;
the work they began was ably completed by Brothers Fred Joerns, O. F. Bardwell, and G. E. Rouse. That original petition for dispensation presented to the Grand Lodge was signed by thirty-four members ranging in age from 29 years to 69 years. Those names are given in the “Brief History of Tusler Lodge” which was written for its 50th Anniversary. The first meeting of Ramsey Lodge was held on April 7, 1905. The members of this new Lodge had just one visitor, Grand Master Henry M. Tusler. Two petitions for membership were received at this meeting. The Lodge approved renting their space from the Odd Fellows Hall for $4 per night. November 17, 1905 was the meeting at which it was resolved to petition the Grand Lodge for a charter. The January 5, 1906 meeting saw the Lodge change its name from Ramsey to Tusler as it submitted its petition to the Grand Lodge for a charter. It was resolved that the installation of officers for this newly chartered Lodge be public and by INVITATION ONLY. It was further resolved that all masons residing in St. Anthony Park and their families should be invited to this installation and that Most Worshipful Grand master Henry. M. Tusler be respectfully requested to conduct the ceremony of installation. Those officers were installed on February 2, 1906. Dues were affixed at $3 per year. July 25, 1914 was a special meeting of the Lodge from which the members escorted members of the Grand Lodge to North St. Anthony Park for the laying of the cornerstone of St. Mathews Episcopal Church. Tusler Lodge closed 1915 with 116 members. Tusler Lodge had now been in existence long enough so the conferring of the 3rd degree on two new brothers could be ‘performed’ by past masters, and therefore October 2, 1914 became the first ‘Past Masters Night.’
Tusler Lodge held its first meeting in a ‘home of their own’ on October 6, 1916 in the building purchased from St. Anthony Park Methodist Church at the corner of Raymond and Manvel. An arrangement was made for the St. Anthony Park Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star to hold their meetings at the Lodge for $5 per month. New ‘ground was broken’ when Tusler Lodge invited master masons from the several Lodges in St. Paul to occupy chairs in Tusler Lodge for conferring the 3rd degree on candidates. The date was Saturday, April 27, 1916. Charitable giving beyond the community and state began when the Lodge answered the call of Masons to help children orphaned by World Was I. Because of the many social activities of the Lodge, a series of improvements were made to their building. Dues were raised to $4 per year in 1921. The following year, the Lodge authorized $5.65 for the purchase of equipment for its newly formed kittenball team. Tusler then became a member of the newly formed Masonic Athletic Association. Construction of the George Washington National Masonic Memorial was in the planning stages and Grand Master Herman Held solicited funds in 1923. The Installation of Officers of Tusler Lodge was conducted on December 21, 1923. MWB Henry M. Tusler was the installing officer. He died seventeen days later at the age of 79. (editor’s note: It appears that MWB Tusler was the installing officer for Tusler Lodge every year since installing the first slate of Tusler offers when he was the ‘sitting’ Grand Master of Minnesota. A very eloquent and profound Resolution of Condolence was adopted by Tusler Lodge and can read in its entirety in the ‘Brief History of Tusler Lodge.’)
The next incoming Master of the Lodge was installed by the outgoing Master of Tulser Lodge which became a tradition for the Lodge. The Masonic Home was dedicated on September 7, 1927 and Tusler Lodge was well represented. Needing funding for yet another improvement to the building due to its many activities, several brothers just returning from a very successful catch from their ‘annual deer hunt’ donated enough venison to feed 175 people. Editor’s Note: This is but a ‘peek’ at the well-written history of Tusler Lodge; later renamed Tusler-Summit. You’ve just read notes from the first 25 years, additional notes from subsequent years will appear soon. In the meantime, if you would like a complete history of the Lodge…ask a Brother.
