SDGMGoodnerE
IVAN WILBUR GOODNER 1858-1931
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1904-1905
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 72:
Ivan W. Goodner, the thirty-first Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota, was born in Washington County, Illinois, July 24, 1858. He at tended schools in Illinois, Michigan, and New York and the School of Law at the University of Nebraska. He started as a court reporter but turned to the practice of Law in Pierre, South Dakota.
He married Minnie Ada Perry at West Brattleboro, Vermont, September 16, 1880, who with four children comprised the family.
He was made a Mason March 4, 1892, in Pierre Lodge No. 27. He was a Royal Arch Mason in Pierre Chapter No. 22 and was Knighted in LaCoTah Commandery No. 6 at Huron.
1905
Prior to opening the thirty-first Annual Communication at Aberdeen in 1905, Grand Master Ivan W. Goodner announced the death of the Senior Grand Warden, Brother Charles Albert Fisher, as of July 9, 1904. He asked the Grand Chaplain to offer a prayer.
During the year the Grim Reaper had removed sixty-one brethren from the rolls. Brother Fisher and Past Grand Master Albert Coe were in this group.
The total membership was now 5,957 with a net gain during the year of 291 new members. This led the Grand Master to remark, "The year has been one of peace and Masonic prosperity. We have little but good to report of the Craft."
Wilmot Lodge No. 127 surrendered its charter on January 5, 1905. Another group of brethren from Wilmot had been issued a dispensation to form a lodge on January 26, 1905. Lodges had been constituted at Hartford, Oldham, and White Rock.
Cornerstones had been laid during the year for a Masonic Hall at Miller (and later dedicated), the County Court House at Faulkton, and the United States Court House at Pierre.
The Grand Secretary again issued his appeal of two years before for a Lodge Historian in each lodge to assemble and keep records of historical interest. He also called attention to the custom of many of the Grand Lodges to have an Orator whose duty it was at the Grand Annual Communications to deliver an address upon some subject in Masonry. He recommended that the incoming Grand Master appoint a Grand Orator to deliver an address at the next Grand Annual Communication.
LODGES
Lodges listed as chartered appear also in the previous year.
- Wilmot #127 surrendered charter on 01/05/1905.
