SDGMCrockettM
MARION E. CROCKETT 1875-1959
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1935-1936
BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 140:
Marion E. Crockett, the sixty-second Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota, was born on a farm near Ridge Prairie, Saline County, Missouri, April 18, 1875.
His early education was received in and around his home, his high school at Nelson, Missouri, and a course at Missouri Valley College, Marshall, Missouri. He was a graduate of Lowe Business College, Minot, North Dakota and of Drew College of Pharmacy.
After teaching for five years he migrated to Towner, North Dakota where he homesteaded. During the next span of years he worked in a bank and in a drugstore. He left the drugstore and went into the United States Land Office Service and later into the Postal Service. In 1907 he entered the drug business again, buying a drugstore in Bird Island, Minnesota, and in 1909 traded it for a drugstore in Sisseton, South Dakota.
On August 8, 1906, he was united in marriage to Miss Della Mae Feeter at Bird Island, Minnesota. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church.
He became a Mason in Bird Island Lodge No. 31, Bird Island, Minnesota, on August 21, 1907. He affiliated with Sisseton Lodge No. 131 on September 1, 1915. He was a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Council, and was created a Knight Templar. He served as Grand High Priest and Grand Master of the Grand Council. He was a member of the Scottish Rite, the Eastern Star, and the Shrine.
1936
Grand Master Crockett opened the sixty-second Annual Communication at Huron in 1936 on a thoughtful note when he said, "Through these recent years just experienced, we have observed the activities of our Order grow weaker and weaker until we become alarmed, not that our great fraternity will vanish, but how and when the cause will be removed."
The Grand Jurisdiction had been divided into twenty-four districts under the District Deputy system, but to more evenly divide the lodges another district was added during the year.
The Grand Master recommended that some type of "news letter" or "Trestle Board" be published for the membership.
Pleasant Lodge No. 197 of Vienna and Oakwood Lodge No. 182 of Bruce had surrendered their charters.
At the conclusion of his forty-second annual report Brother George A. Petttgrew, Grand Secretary and Past Grand Master, said, "I feel that the time has come after 57 years a Mason when I should consider my health, and welfare of those near and dear to me, and the best interests of this Grand Lodge. I therefore request that this Grand Lodge will not consider me further for the office of Grand Secretary." In appreciation of the '"inestimable value of his services, not only to this Grand Lodge, but to the Craft in general" he was unanimously elected Grand Secretary Emeritus for life. Brother W. D. Swain was elected Grand Secretary.
A new Masonic Temple had been dedicated at Tripp and a cornerstone had been laid for a new Temple at Newell.
Brother Sanford G. Donaldson presented the Grand Lodge a gavel with the following inscription: "This gavel was made from the cottonwood framing of the first territorial Capitol building in Yankton where Freemasonry was born. Presented to the M. W. Grand Lodge A.F. and A.M. by the Territorial Jubliee Committee, June 10, 1936." It was received and ordered placed in the Grand Lodge Library Museum.
