SDGMMilliganW
WILLIAM E. MILLIGAN 1867-1930
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1907-1908
BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 78:
William E. Milligan was born in Fingal, County of Elgin, Province of Ontario. Canada. on April 8, 1867. He attended the public schools of Fingal and the high school as well as the Collegiate Institute at St. Thomas, Ontario. After finishing school he engaged m commercial pursuits at West Superior, Wisconsin, and later at Sioux City, Iowa. In 1897 he moved to Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he engaged in the insurance business.
Brother Milligan belonged to the Episcopal Church and, contrary to all laws of both Church and State and the constant advice of friends, stood almost alone among the Brotherhood of South Dakota, a bachelor.
He was made a Master Mason in Aberdeen Lodge No. 38, October 16, 1900. He received the Capitular Degrees in Aberdeen Chapter No. 14 in 1901. He was knighted in Damascus Commandery No. 10 at Aberdeen in 1902. In 1905 he became a member of the Scottish Rite. He was a member of the Yelduz Shrine Temple in Aberdeen and a member of Omega Council No. 3, Royal and Select Masters, at Salem.
1908
When Grand Master Milligan opened the thirty-fourth Annual Communication at Mitchell in 1908, he said, "I bring you words of good cheer. Our state in its abundant prosperity is striding forward. Masonry is keeping pace with that development, not only by the infusion of new blood, but many worthy brothers from other Grand Jurisdictions are settling in our midst and uniting with us in advancing the tenets of our profession."
The Grand Secretary reported, "The past twelve months have been the most prosperous that Masonry has had since the organization of this Grand Lodge." The statistics he read were as follows: Number of lodges - 115, Members in good standing - 7,196, and Net gain for the year - 538.
Cornerstones had been laid for the administration building of the Nor thern Normal and Industrial School at Aberdeen and for the Masonic Temple at Woonsocket.
Authority was granted at this Session to the Grand Master to change the dates of any Communication in the case of an emergency. A special Committee on By-laws proposed the following addition to Section I of the Grand Lodge by-laws: "Provided that should an exigency arise, the Grand Master may change the date of meeting to any date not more than thirty days before or after the second Tuesday in June, and he shall give at least sixty days notice of such change to each constituent lodge in this Jurisdiction." The change was unanimously adopted.
Dispensations had been issued to form lodges at Northville, Dallas, Lemmon, and Wolsey. Atwood Lodge No. 147 at Colman had been constituted and the officers installed. A duplicate charter was issued to Gate City lodge No. 14 at Gary as their original charter had been destroyed by fire.
In his report the Grand Secretary said, "It is the opinion of your Grand Secretary that this Grand Jurisdiction is large and strong enough to issue its own Monitor." Accordingly, by resolution it was decided that the incoming Grand Master should appoint a committee to prepare and have printed a Monitor for use of the lodges. The Monitor was to contain the adopted work, and also contain the Burial Service, Constitution and Consecration Installation, Laying of Foundation Stones, and such other forms as were de med advisable; the same to then be furnished the lodges at cost.
Brother William Blatt, Past Grand Master, after an absence of several years from the state unexpectedly put in an appearance and his welcome was a spontaneous outburst of good feeling. Brother Blatt was highly regarded for his work during the formative period of this Grand Lodge.
Following the cornerstone laying at Northern Normal on October 16, 1907. the Grand Lodge delegation and friends had participated in the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the organization of Aberdeen Lodge No. 38. The occasion was marked by the raising of Harry F. Brown to the degree of Master Mason. The candidate was the son of Frank A. Brown, Past Grand Master. The work was done exclusively by Past Grand Masters. A program of historical sketches, music, and addresses were enjoyed by about 300 who attended the banquet.
LODGES
- Garden City #146 (06/12/1907)
- Atwood #147 (06/12/1907)
