SDGMFilesF
FREDERICK H. FILES 1862-1911
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1895-1896
BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 54:
Brother Files was born in West Gorham, Maine, December 1, 1862. He attended Limerick High School, Graham Academy, and Westbrook Seminary. At the age of 16 he entered Bates College, remaining one year, and finishing his course at Bowdoin College at Brunswick, Maine, in 1883. He taught five years and was Principal and Preceptor of Boys Hall at Westbrook Seminary. He then studied medicine and completed the course at the Medical Schools at Bowdoin and Portland, after which he was House Physician at the Maine State Hospital. In 1890 he came to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he entered the practice of medicine, removing to Madison in 1900 where he continued his chosen profession.
He was married February 10, 1890, to Miss Mary B. Meserve of Roxbury, Massachusetts, from which union three sons were born. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.
Brother Files was raised in Harmony Lodge No. 38, Maine, October 21, 1885, demitted October 17, 1889, and affiliated with Minnehaha Lodge No. 5, Sioux Falls, December 11, 1889. He was a member of Sioux Falls Chapter No. 2; Cyrene Commandery No. 2, Alpha Council, Sioux Falls; and Oriental Consistory No. 1, Yankton.
1896
When Grand Master Files opened the twenty-second Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge at Huron in 1896, he found in waiting Brother Charles H. Sheldon, Governor of South Dakota. He was presented at the altar and invited to a seat in the East.
The Grand Master ordered that the office of the Senior Grand Steward be left vacant during the Session and his chair suitably draped. This was in respect to Brother Joseph W. Orcutt, Senior Grand Steward, who had died during the year from injuries when he was thrown from his buggy.
The Grand Secretary reported a loss in membership of 35 for the year. This was the first time in the history of the Grand Lodge that a loss had occurred.
Brother John H. Scriven, Grand Lecturer, presented his eighth annual report. The Grand Lodge had voted the year before to continue the office of Grand Lecturer and had appropriated $150.00 for expenses. He reported that the appropriation had been so small that he had been unable to visit all the lodges asking for his services. He thanked the Grand Lodge for the privilege of serving but said he could not afford to take the office again. The Grand Master and the Committee on Ritual urged the Grand Lodge to continue the office and furnish enough money to carry out the work properly. The Finance Committee reported that the finances would not permit any appropriation for the Grand Lecturer for the coming year. The Grand Lodge, on motion of the Grand Master, thanked the retiring Grand Lecturer, Brother John H. Scriven for his many years of devoted service to the Craft.
Dispensations had been issued during the year and charters granted at the Session for lodges at Belle Fourche and Castlewood. A duplicate charter was issued to Montrose Lodge No. 48 because their building and all its contents had burned during the year.
LODGES
- Cedar #124 (06/10/1896)
- Sioux Valley #125 (06/10/1896)
