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CHARLES HILL 1849-1920

Grand Master of South Dakota, 1901-1902

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BIOGRAPHY

From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 68:

Charles Hill, the twenty-eighth Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota, was born at Newmarket, Ontario, Canada, September 12, 1849. He came to the Santee Agency in Nebraska where he was engaged in work among the Indians, later being made Indian Agent. He held this position until 1891, when he moved to Springfield, South Dakota, where he engaged in the banking business.

He married Miss Mary Webster of Columbus, Nebraska, in 1877. To this union were born three sons and two daughters.

Brother Hill was made a Mason in Ionic Lodge in August of 1888 in Nebraska and on November 25, 1890, he affiliated with Mount Zion Lodge No. 6 in Springfield.

• Ancestry.com entry

1902

Grand Master Hill opened the twenty-eighth Annual Communication at Huron in 1902 on a note of sadness. Shortly after the last Annual Session, Brother Theodore S. Parvin, Grand Secretary of Iowa and "our Masonic Father" had been called to the Grand Lodge above. Brother George Pettigrew represented the Grand Lodge of South Dakota at the funeral. Death had also come to Brother William McKinley, President of the United States. It was recommended that a contribution of not less than one dollar per lodge be given toward a suitable monument for Brother McKinley. (Note: a memorial was built and was dedicated in 1907 with Brother and President Theodore Roosevelt in attendance.)

During the year a dispensation had been issued for a new lodge at Geddes and a charter was granted at this Session. A new Masonic Temple had been dedicated at Deadwood and a cornerstone laid for a new Masonic Temple at Yankton.

The Grand Secretary reported a new increase in membership of 207, bringing the total to 5,125. He also reported that the membership register was up-to-date. It included every person who had ever been made a Mason in South Dakota or who had affiliated at any time. It showed the complete Masonic record, as far as could be ascertained, with 10,524 names appearing.

The Jurisprudence Committee received and reviewed the revised by-laws presented by the special Committee on By-Laws and recommended their adoption. By vote of the Grand Lodge they were approved and were ordered printed in the proceedings.

Brother Benjamin F. Ives, Grand Lecturer, reported that he had visited and held schools of instruction of from one to six days in fifty-five lodges. Because of the importance of the work, $600.00 was included in the budget for the Grand Lecturer for the coming year.

The new Masonic Veterans' Association held their second annual meeting.

LODGES

None.

Grand Masters of South Dakota