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NORMAN JACKSON DOOLITTLE 1906-1996
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1959-1960
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 190:
Norman J. Doolittle was born at Mitchell, Davison County, South Dakota, on August 23, 1906, but has spent most of his life in Sioux Falls. He received his elementary and high school education in Sioux Falls.
On December 23, 1928, he was married to Miss Kathryn Jane Dickey. They have one daughter, Elizabeth Jane, two granddaughters, and on grandson. After the death of his wife Kathryn he later married Mrs. Beth Mildred Johnson. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
For years he was with the Standard Oil Company, with the A. Y. McDonald Manufacturing Company and now EROS all of Sioux Falls.
He became a Master Mason in Brighton Park Lodge No. 854, Chicago, and affiliated with Trinity Lodge No. 200, Sioux Falls, on January 30, 1930. He is a member of Sioux Falls Chapter No. 2, Cyrene Commandery No. 2 Alpha Council No. 1, Sioux Falls Consistory, El Riad Shrine, and Jasper Chapter No. 8, Order of the Eastern Star, all of Sioux Falls.
He was a member of Liberty Chapter, DeMolay, serving as Master Counselor and at one time was a member of the Advisory Council. He has also served as Associate Grand Guardian of Job's Daughters.
1960
In opening the eighty-sixth Annual Communication at Sioux Falls in 1960, the Grand Master reviewed the program he had laid out for the past year. He said, "It was my feeling that the time had come for us to get back to basic Masonry and that to accomplish the most good for Masonry in this Grand Jurisdiction, we should emphasize 'the importance of the Entered Apprentice Degree' along with the selection and education of our candidates."
The Grand Secretary, Brother Elvin Strain, in his nineteenth annual report called attention to the increased activity in the constituent lodges during the year but still the year ended with a net loss of 98 members. The number of chartered lodges remained at 168, but the total membership declined to 20,317.
Occasional Grand Lodges had been called during the year for the purpose of dedicating new temples at Sioux Falls, Faulkton, and Lennox, as well as laying the cornerstone for Leola Lodge No. 154, Leola.
An amendment to the Constitution directed the Board of Custodians to publish in Cipher lectures of the Entered Apprentice and Fellow Craft degrees. These were to be distributed to the lodges for use in instructing candidates. The by-laws were amended to increase the per capita dues for each member to $2.00. Of this amount 25 cents was to go to the Temporary Charity Fund and the balance to the General Fund.
The Board of General Activities reported tha t four issues of the Masonic Messenger had been published and distributed during the year. They reported further that they had several other projects ready to go but lacked funds to carry them forward.
The by-laws were amended to establish a standing committee of three to be known as the Committee on Grand Lodge Building.
A Masonry grows older in the Grand Jurisdiction, the list of members the call of the Great Master grows larger. During the year 431 had been called. Among these had been M. E. Crockett and Harry B. Reynolds.
