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FREDERICK TREON 1855-1933
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1924-1925
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 114:
Brother Frederick Treon was born August 12, 1855, in Shelby County, Indiana. He attended the public schools in his district and in 1879 graduated from Ohio Medical School at Cincinnati.
He began the practice of medicine in Indiana, 1ater moving to the Crow Creek Indian Agency in South Dakota and finally settling in Chamberlain where he was in private practice.
He married Miss Rella A. Lamb at Aurora, Indiana, in 1879. One son, James, blessed this union. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He became a Master Mason in Chamberlain Lodge No. 56 on July 6, 1892. He received the Capitular degrees in Pilgrim Chapter No. 32, Chamberlain, the Cryptic degrees in Alpha Council No. 1, Sioux Falls, and the vows of Christian Knighthood in St. Bernard Commandery No. 11 at Mitchell. He served as Grand High Priest and Right Eminent Grand Commander. He was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and a Past Grand Patron of the Grand Chapter of South Dakota. He was also a member of the El Riad Shrine Temple in Sioux Falls.
1925
Ceremonies marking the Sem1-centennial of the Grand Lodge of South Dakota were part of the agenda of the fifty-first Annual Communication held at Sioux Falls in 1925 with Frederick Treon as Grand Master. This special celebration was carried out by a committee following the ceremony of dedication of the new Library Building on the evening of the first day of the meeting, June 9, 1925.
Because of the death of Frank A. Brown, Past Grand Master, a vacancy was created on the Jurisprudence Committee. It was felt that because of the press of business a full committee was needed. An election on the first af ternoon of the meeting resulted in the election of William E. Milligan.
Unity Lodge No. 130, Sioux Falls, conceived the idea of presenting a Bible, duly inscribed, to every member when he is raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. The Grand Secretary commended this practice and suggested that his office carry a supply of Bibles after a committee had selected a Bible as a standard. The Jurisprudence Committee approved the idea but was of the opinion that the whole matter should be left to the discretion and judgement of the individual lodges and could see no reason to have a supply of Bibles on hand.
Lodges had been constituted at Watertown and Hayti. Cornerstones had been laid for a junior high school at Spearfish, a high school at Hot Springs, the Methodist Church at Colome, a public school building at Deadwood, and a Masonic Temple at Rapid City. A new Masonic Temple had been dedicated at Britton and the new Masonic Library Building in Sioux Falls. Dispensations had been issued for new lodges at Yankton, Mission, and Wall.
For e first time since the Order of the Eastern Star had been founded, they met in a town separate from the Grand Lodge. Their 1925 meeting was held in Aberdeen.
During the year two hundred of the Craft answered the call of the Grand Architect of the Universe. Among these were three Past Grand Masters James Lewis, Frank A. Brown, and Robert H. McCaughey.
The Grand Secretary handed to the Grand Master a new gavel made of Lignum Vitae received from Past Grand Master Louis G. Levoy. It was inscribed:
Presented to the Grand Lodge
A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota by Louis G. Levoy, P.G.M.
1925-50th Anniversary-1925
About January 1, 1925, the Trustees became aware of the fact that the allowances for relief were greatly in excess of the probable income of the Fund. They recommended that a sufficient amount be transferred from the General Fund to the Temporary Charity Fund to cover the overdraft. In the new budget they were cutting the relief given to each recipient.
