SDGMSimonsL
LEONARD MONROE SIMONS 1874-1940
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1926-1927
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 119:
Leonard M. Simons, the fifty-third Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota was born in the city of Fulton, Oswego County, New York, January 22, 1874. He received his early education in Fulton. In the late eighties he arrived in Redfield, Dakota Territory, where he attended and graduated from Redfield College. He then entered the University of South Dakota Law School of which he was a graduate. After practicing law in Mitchell for four years, he moved his practice to Belle Fourche.
He was married March 7, 1908, at Deadwood to Miss Florence L. Dickson, and they had two daughters.
He was raised in Incense Lodge No. 2, Vermillion, on March 21, 1905. He demitted and affiliated with Resurgam Lodge No. 31, Mitchell, on July 10, 1906. When he left Mitchell, he demitted and affiliated with Cedar Lodge No. 124, Belle Fourche, on May 7, 1909.
He was a member of the York Rite Chapter, Council, and Commandery. At Deadwood he was a member of the Scottish Rite and the Naja Shrine Temple.
1927
"The Eastern portion of South Dakota has passed through one of the most depressing years in its history and this has had its influence upon the institution of Masonry, affecting its growth, diminishing the enthusiasm which ordinarily prevails and, as a result, our growth as a jurisdiction has not been what we might have hoped," so said Grand Master Simons as he opened the fifty-third Annual Communication at Aberdeen in 1927.
The number of chartered lodges had increased to 174 with a membership of 19,683. The addition of 51 members for the year was much less than the usual annual increase.
During the year a hurricane had swept over the lower part of Florida with great damage. Also, severe floods had swept over Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas causing severe damage and loss of life. The Masonic Bodies of South Dakota responded with donations of $769.50 for Florida and $2,876.30 for the other three states.
One hundred fifty-nine brethren had passed to the lodge on High during the year. Among this group was Past Grand Master Edgar D. Brookman, Brother Edmund Cook, a member of the Mileage Committee for many years, and Past Grand Master Theodore D. Kanouse.
The Grand Master said in his report, "I earnestly recommend that the term of office of the Grand Master be extended to two years. One really is just beginning to grasp the work of the office when his time of service is over and his usefulness curtailed." The Jurisprudence Committee did not concur.
The Annual Conference of Grand Masters had been held in Chicago on November 16, 1926. The Grand Master had been in attendance and reported that thirty-nine jurisdictions had been represented. The Masonic Service Association meeting had followed the meeting of the Grand Masters.
The Board of Trustees reported that during the year $7,839.98 had been expended on charity cases from the Temporary Grand Charity Fund.
Dispensations for new lodges had been issued to brethren at Bison and Harrisburg. Lodges had been constituted at New Effington, Lake City, Aberdeen, and Wall.
Three visitors were welcomed to the meeting, Brother John Pickard, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Missouri; Brother Frank C. Falkenstein, Grand Master of North Dakota; and Brother Walter L. Stockwell, Past Grand Master and Grand Secretary of North Dakota.
The Committee on Monument reported that a perpetual easement been secured from the city of Vermillion to erect and maintain a monument had been secured from the city of Vermillion They asked for one thousand dollars or any part thereof that might be necessary and $25.00 a year for the care of the site, which was granted.
The report of the Custodians again showed that the work load was being carried by the chairman, Brother H. M. Hammond. He had made 37 visits compared to a total of 12 for the other four members. The Board recommended, and it was adopted, that they be authorized to prepare a revision of the ritual for the consideration of the Grand Lodge at the next Annual Communication.
