SDGMJohnsonE
ERNEST L. JOHNSON 1901-1983
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1958-1959
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 188:
Ernest L. Johnson, the eighty-fifth Grand Master of Masons of Dakota, was born near Gayville, Clay County, South Dakota on August 4, 1901. He received his elementary and high school education at Gayville and graduated from South Dakota State College in Brookings.
He served as a Superintendent of Schools for several years as well as Coach of athletics. He served as a State Representative from Yankton as a for three terms and as State Secretary of Agriculture in Pierre for 1O years. He began farmmg m 1929 and was still engaged in that pursuit when Grand Master. He is now retired and living in Yankton, South Dakota.
On February 7, 1925, he was married to Miss Janice Marie Jeglum They have three children, Warren, Joy, and Gail.
He was made a Mason in Brookings Lodge No. 24 on March 23, 1925 and affiliated with St. John's Lodge No. 1, Yankton, on February 5, 1935. He is a member of Yankton Chapter No. 1 and DeMolay Commandery No. 3 in Yankton and Alpha Council No. 1, Sioux Falls. He is a member of Oriental Consistory No. 1, Yankton, being Coroneted an Inspector General Honorary of the 33rd Degree in 1961. He belongs to Keystone Chapter No. 33, Order of the Eastern Star, in Yankton.
1959
As Grand Master Johnson opened the eighty-fifth Annual Communication at Custer in 1959, he said, "Masonry in South Dakota is in a healthy and prosperous financial condition. The majority of our lodges are debt free and are housed in halls and temples that are a credit to our great order."
He recommended recognition of the youth groups within the state. He said, "I recommend that this Grand Jurisdiction give official recognition to our youth organizations, the Order of DeMolay and Job's Daughters, and, if necessary, that our by-laws be amended to permit our constituent lodges to sponsor these organizations and use lodge funds for that purpose."
The number of chartered lodges remained the same at 168. A small loss of 20 for the year left the membership at 21,414. A motion to increase the per capita dues to $2.00 was defeated.
Three hundred and ninety-seven Masons of South Dakota had obeyed the summons of the Supreme Grand Master. In this group was Past Grand Mast r Samuel G. Mortimer, as well as many brothers who rendered service to their lodges, their city, their state, and nation.
Grand Master Johnson asked the Senior Grand Deacon to escort the officers of Zenith Lodge No. 202, Tulare, to the altar. The Grand 3:ter stated that this was the thirteenth year in succession that the three principal officers of Zenith Lodge had been present at the Annual Communication.
The Board of General Activities reported that the Grand Lodge Masonic Messenger had been issued four times during the year and had been sent to members of the Grand Lodge, and the Worshipful Master and secretary of each lodge. They said it would be continued and improved next year. The Board presented the Grand Lodge with a South Dakota Flag and reported that they could now provide constituent lodges with such flags at a special price.
Past Grand Master Chapman presented the Grand Lodge with a new United States Flag with 49 stars, the new star being for Alaska.
One of the highlights for Grand Master Johnson had been the occasional Grand Lodge Communication called on September 6, 1958, for the purpose of laying and leveling the cornerstone for the new Masonic Temple in Sioux Falls. About 200 Masons had been in attendance.
