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JAMES LEWIS 1855-1924

Grand Master of South Dakota, 1896-1897

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BIOGRAPHY

From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 56:

Brother James Lewis was born in Kane County, Illinois, July 24, 1855. At the age of two years he moved with his parents to Elkader, Clayton County, Iowa. He received his public education in the schools of Elkader, later graduating from Upper Iowa University at Fayette. Following his graduation he entered a drugstore in Elkader and learned the drug business. He moved to Canton, Dakota Territory, in 1880 and purchased a drugstore. He was very active in civic, community, and state affairs. Due to poor health, he sold his drugstore in 1911.

He was married at Canton, September 7, 1882, to Miss Ida M. House. From this union three sons and one daughter were born. He was a member of the Congregational Church.

He was raised in Silver Star Lodge No. 4, Canton, on September 21, 1881. He was a member of Siroc Chapter No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; Cyrene Commandery Knights Templar; and the El Riad Shrine Temple, all of Sioux Falls.

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1897

Mitchell hosted the twenty-third Annual Communication over which Most Worshipful Brother James Lewis presided.

The Grand Master thanked Past Grand Master William Blatt for his excellent reports over the years as the Committee on Correspondence saying, "This position requires great labor and much time and I trust the members of this Grand Lodge appreciate the personal sacrifices Brother Blatt is annually making in accepting this laborious position at the hands of the Grand Master."

Brother Ivan Goodner had been appointed Grand Lecturer for the year but his report showed no work due to lack of an appropriation to cover ex­penses.

The Committee on Ritual recommended that the office of Grand Lecturer be continued and that $500.00 be appropriated for his expenses.

The report of the Grand Secretary showed that Keystone Lodge No. 50 at Hitchcock had surrendered its charter; that St. Lawrence Lodge No. 39 had moved from St. Lawrence to Miller, a distance of two and one-half miles; and that Huron Lodge No. 26 had lost by fire its charter, records,· and paraphenalia. His report also showed an increase of 65 members for the Grand Lodge during the year.

The Grand Master called a special session of the Grand Lodge on January 14, 1897, for the purpose of dedicating a new Masonic Temple at Canton.

Dispensations had been issued during the year, and charters granted at the 1897 Session for lodges at Spencer, Wilmot, and Keystone.

On motion it was resolved,

"The Grand Lodge of South Dakota celebrate the Quadro-Centennial (twenty-fifth) Anniversary of the formation of this Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication to be held in June, 1899. That the Grand Master-elect appoint a committee of five to prepare a program and entertainment to fittingly commemorate this occasion. That Most Worshipful Brother Blatt, Past Grand Master, be appointed Grand Historian to present at the celebration an historical sketch of the Grand Lodge during the twenty-five years of its existence."

The Finance Committee recommended the following budget which was adopted for the ensuing year:

• Expenses of Grand Master, $100.00
• Committee on Correspondence, $100.00
• Salary for Grand Secretary, $600.00
• Contingent Fund, $100.00
• Printing Proceedings, $350.00
• Insurance, $ 45.00
• Grand Charity Fund, $139.38
• Mileage, $1,039.74
• Binding Reports for Grand Lodge Library, $100.00
• Grand Lecturer, $300.00

TOTAL $2,874.12

LODGES

• Spencer #126 (06/09/1897)
• Wilmot #127 (06/09/1897)
• Mt. Aetna #128 (06/09/1897)

• Keystone #50 surrendered charter 05/14/1897
• Crystal #113 surrendered charter 12/06/1897

Grand Masters of South Dakota