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RICHARD CAIN McCALLISTER 1837-1923
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1893-1894
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 49:’'
Brother McCallister was born at Gilboa, Ohio, August 23, 1837. At the age of thirteen he moved to Iowa County, Wisconsin, where he resided until 1880. During the same year he came to Dakota and settled in Madison, engaging in the mercantile business. He was a member of the last Territorial Legislature that met at Yankton before the Capitol was moved.
He was made a Mason in Franklin Lodge No. 16, Wisconsin, and affiliated with Evergreen Lodge No. 17, Madison, Dakota Territory, in 1882. In Evergreen Lodge he served as Master five times.
Brother McCallister was the first in this jurisdiction to exercise the ancient constitutional prerogative of the Grand Master of making a Mason at sight. This happened on April 18, 1894, in Coteau Lodge No. 54, Webster, where Charles H. Sheldon, second Governor of South Dakota, received all three degrees in one evening. In commenting upon this special dispensation, Grand Master McCallister, who was present, said, "I am very well aware that Masonry regards no man for his worldly wealth or honor, but in this case, fully believing that the candidate possessed both the external and internal qualifications, I granted the dispensation." The Jurisprudence Committee did not agree and said that the facts in the case reported did not in their judgement justify the exercise of such power.
Hot Springs was the location of the twentieth Annual Communication. From the eighty-five lodges on the rolls, sixty-three were represented.
The Grand Lodge remitted the dues of Groton Lodge No. 65 because a fire had destroyed their hall and property during the year. The same thing had happened to this lodge in 1890.
The committee that had attended the Fraternal Congress of Masons in Chicago reported a productive meeting. An attempt had been made to form a permanent organization but the delegates had turned it down believing it might be the first step in forming a General Grand Lodge.
Brother J. H. Scriven, Grand Lecturer, reported that since no appropriation had been made for the Grand Lecturer, he had visited no lodges officially, but on request had visited several lodges and helped them with the work. He recommended that a salary of $500.00 be included for the Grand Lecturer for the coming year.
Dispensations had been issued during the year for lodges at Bowdle, Langford, and Bryant and Charters were then issued at this Communication for the three along with the Alcester Lodge. A special resolution was introduced to issue a dispensation for a new lodge at Yankton. Believing the Yankton situation to be an emergency, through action of the Jurisprudence Committee the Grand Master was authorized to grant such a dispensation at his discretion.
After serving as Grand Secretary for sixteen years, Brother Charles T. McCoy turned the reins of his office over to Brother George A. Pettigrew.
