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JOHN SAMUEL ROWE 1919-1975
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1960-1961
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 192:
John S. Rowe was born at Lead, South Dakota, on July 2, 1919. He attended the public schools in Lead, graduatmg from high school in 1937. He is a very active member of the Methodist Church, hav•mg served in various offices during the years.
He was employed by the Homestake Mining Company for ten years, was a salesman for the Curtiss Candy Company for eight years, and for five years owned his own grocery store known as Rowe's Market. Since 1962 he has been Grand Secretary and at present is Grand Treasurer-Secretary.
He served in the United States Air Force from December, 1942, to 1946 during World War II.
On March 3, 1940, he was married to Edith Frazier and they have two sons - David, born May 24, 1951 and Darrell, born March 11, 1954.
Brother Rowe became a member of Golden Star Lodge No. 9 on June 5, 1947. He is a member of Dakota Chapter No. 3, Lead, Black Hills Council No. 3, Dakota Commandery No. 1, and Black Hills Consistory, Deadwood. He is a member of Naja Shrine Temple, Deadwood, and Order of the Eastern Star, Lead. In the Consistory he has attained the Rank and Honor of the Knight Commander Court of Honor.
1961
As Grand Master Rowe opened the eighty-seventh Annual Communication at Lead in 1961, he said, "In all our thoughts we should never forget our youth and youth organizations, especially our own DeMolay and Jobs Daughters. Where better can we put Masonic teachings to use than in our youth? Let us never forget, 'Youth is the foundation for the building of life.' Let's see to it that the foundation is firm! If Masonry is the cornerstone, certainly we owe it to our youth to show them that only the strongest stones are used in making great buildings."
An interesting report by Grand Treasurer George Toft showed a balance in the Memorial Fund of $42,104.30, an accumulation over the years. He also reported that from the budget of $37,299.00 set up for the year that $3,912.44 remained on hand.
It was announced by the Grand Master that Brother Sigurd Anderson, former Governor of South Dakota, had been the speaker at the banquet of the Grand Masters' Conference in Washington, D.C., in February.
Grand Secretary Elvin Strain said, "This is my twentieth annual report to the Grand Lodge. In sixteen reports we showed a net gain in membership." The records show a loss of 222 for the year with no decrease from the 168 chartered lodges, thus bringing the otal membership to 20,098.
The Grand Trustees reported that $22,355.00 had been spent during the year for charity cases to needy Brother Master Masons their widows, and orphans. Along with this, $500.00 is sent each year to both the South Dakota Children's Home, Sioux Falls, and the Eastern Star Home at Redfield.
A new temple had been dedicated at Claremont on November 10, 1960, bY the Grand Master and his Officers.
This was the third year for the publication of the Masonic Messenger. However, this year the Junior Wardens were added to the mailing list. In his address to the members of the Grand Lodge, Brother Rowe asked that, if possible, the publication go to all members. ' A proposed amendment to the by-!aws to combine the office of Grand Treasurer and Grand Secretary was carried over because other sections of the by-laws needed to be revised first.
Brother Harry C. Scofield of Midland Lodge No. 183 was presented at the altar by Brother Norman J. Doolittle, Past Grand Master, who announced that Brother Scofield was now the proud grandfather of his fiftieth grandchild and also had fourteen great-grandchildren.
Information on comprehensive public liability insurance coverage by the Grand Lodge was presented and detailed for action. It was accepted by the Grand Lodge and $2,000.00 was placed in the budget to carry it out.
