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HARVEY J. RICE 1849-1923

Grand Master of South Dakota, 1892-1893

BIOGRAPHY

From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 48:’'

Harvey James Rice was born April 23, 1849, at Freeport, Stevenson County, Illinois. He attended the common school at Hamilton, Illinois, the University at Carlinsville, Illinois and completed a full course at Bryant and Stratton's Business College at Chicago.

He engaged in the mercantile business in Chicago in 1867, which he sold in 1870, and was station agent for the Chicago and Northwestern Railway at Austin, Illinois, from 1871 to 1873, when he was promoted to the treasury department of the same road, where he remained from 1874 to 1880. He came to Huron, Dakota Territory, in 1880 in the employ of the railroad which line of work he continued for some time. He later opened a store in Huron which he operated for some years.

On December 23, 1869, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Kimes at Hamilton, Illinois. To this union two sons were born.

He became a member of Huron Lodge No. 26 on April 28, 1883. He belonged to Huron Chapter No. 10, R.A.M.; Omega Council No. 2, R. & S.M., Salem; and Huron Council No. 5, Huron. He was a member of La-Co­-Tah Commandery No. 6, Huron; Oriental Consistory No. 1, Yankton; and El Riad Shrine Temple, Sioux Falls. He served as Grand Commander, Knights Templar, and Grand High Priest.

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1893

Brother Rice opened the nineteenth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota at Yankton on June 13, 1893. The Proceedings say, "The Grand Master called the Lodge to order when the Reverend David R. Landis (27) led the brethren in their devotional exercises."

Cornerstones had been laid for Masonic Temples at Milbank and Sturgis and the Temple at Milbank had been dedicated. Fire had destroyed the Masonic Halls at Howard and Hill City but the brethren in each case had saved their charters and records, found new quarters, and continued their lodge activities.

Grand Lecturer, Brother John H. Scriven, presented his fifth annual report. He reported that all of the lodges were working in uniform "True Dakota" style ritual. At the conclusion of his report he tendered his resignation. The Grand Lodge decided to dispense with the office of Grand Lecturer for one year.

The Grand Master reported that a Fraternal Congress of Masons was to be held on August 14, 1893, in Chicago. He appointed a committee of five, with five alternates, to attend the meeting. Action from the floor added the name of the Grand Master and he was to be chairman of the committee.

A resolution was offered and adopted merging the Widows' and Or­phans' Fund and the Grand Charity Fund into one to be known as the Grand Charity Fund.

LODGES

None.

Grand Masters of South Dakota