SDGMEngdahlT
THEODORE N. ENGDAHL 1887-1957
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1943-1944
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 157:
Theodore N. Engdahl, the seventieth Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota was born at Milbank, Dakota Territory, May 2, 1887. He was educated in the public schools of Minnesota and was trained for Civil Engineering. He entered the Indian Service at Elbow Woods North Dakota, on June 27, 1907. He was employed by the Interior Department of the United States Government and held the position of Road Engineer at the Sisseton Indian Reservation.
Brother Engdahl was married to Rosina Wuster of Ryder, North Dakota. They had three children, two sons and one daughter. His church affiliation was Episcopal.
He was made a Mason in Lakeview Lodge No. 143, Ortonville, Minnesota, on February 10, 1909. He transferred to Joppa Lodge No. 95, Stanley, North Dakota, on March 8, 1921, affiliating at that time. On November 6, 1934, he affiliated with Sisseton Lodge No. 131, Sisseton, South Dakota. The Capitular Degrees were received in Rabboni Chapter No. 24, Bowbells, North Dakota. He was a member of the Consistory at Aberdeen, South Dakota, and a member of Electa Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, at Stanley, North Dakota.
1944
"Travel conditions have been hard. With the limited amount of gasoline, it has been a problem to get to the different parts of the state, and for this reason I have been forced to miss meetings with many of you." These were the words of Grand Master Engdahl as he opened the seventieth Annual Meeting at Huron in 1944.
The primary project of the Grand Master during the year had been the gathering of funds for the Masonic Service Centers. In this project, along with the committee, he had been successful, as South Dakota stood number four in the total amount of money contributed to the Association for the year. He said, "I want to thank the committee for doing a swell job and I want to especially thank Brother Guy Harvey for the fine piece of work he did as the secretary of this committee and for the fine publicity he gave the Masonic Service Association and the Grand Lodge of South Dakota."
During the year Highland Lodge No. 213, Lake City, had consolidated with Benevolent Lodge No. 98, Britton. The Grand Lodge had authorize the issuance of twenty-five 50-year medals and three 60-year palms. Ninety courtesy degrees for other Grand Jurisdictions had been conferred and other Grand Jurisdictions had conferred eighty-seven degrees as a courtesy to South Dakota.
The Board of General Activities, as instructed at the last Annual Communication, presented two plans for publishing and distributing a Grand Lodge bulletin along with estimated costs. Plan I would furnish a copy to all members; Plan II would furnish a limited number of copies.
The Board of Custodians in a thoughtful report said in part, "Ritual is the foundation of Masonry, but merely learning the words and passing over the symbolism, history, and philosophy of our work defeats the purpose we are striving for, i.e.. promotion of the welfare of the Craft through work." In further comment they said, "Grand Lodge needs Grand Lecturer! We believe that in no other way can our lodges get the training they need, and in no other way can we get the desired uniformity in the work."
The Masonic banquet was held at the First Methodist Church. Mrs. Harriette Maltby, Worthy Grand Matron of the Order of the Eastern Star, accompanied by Miss Norma Martin, Grand Marshal were honored guests. Colonel and Brother Otto B. Linstad U.S.A. (retired) gave the principal address.
Due to lessened demands for charity and increased returns from investments, the Temporary Charity Fund again showed a surplus. The Trustees began a program of returning the funds they had borrowed over the years from the Permanent Charity Fund to bolster the Temporary Charity Fund.
