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ROBERT H. McCAUGHEY 1861-1924
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1906-1907
BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 76:
Brother Robert H. McCaughey of Mellette was born at Oregon, Dane County, Wisconsin, November 4, 1861. He received his education in the public schools of that county and in the high school at Mantorville, Dodge County, Minnesota. The family later moved to Spink County, Dakota Territory. Brother McCaughey worked on the farm, taught school, was Treasurer of Spink County, and president of the State Bank of Mellette.
He was married but had no children. He was a member of the Community Church at Mellette.
He was made a Mason in Ashlar Lodge No. 86, Mellette, on May 22, 1899. He was a member of the York Rite Chapter, Council, and Commandery. He attained the rank and decoration of KCCH in the Scottish Rite. He was a member of the Shrine and was a Past Grand Patron, Order of the Eastern Star for South Dakota.
1907
The thirty-third Annual Communication was held at Lead in a new Masonic Temple completed in 1906.
South Dakota and the Grand Lodge were both growing and Grand Master McCaughey reported as follows: "As a Grand Lodge, we have reason to rejoice in the knowledge that we are at peace with all the world, as well as for general prosperity that prevails among the Craft. From the reports of the various lodges it appears that our membership has reached 6,675, or a net gain during the past year of 341. The steadily increasing numbers is a source of satisfaction, and the stronger we become the greater is our responsibility."
He reported that lodges had been constituted at Worthing, Doland, Parkston, Whitewood, and Bonesteel and that dispensations had been granted for lodges at Garden City, Colman, and Burke.
The Grand Lecturer, Benjamin Ives, reported that he had held schools of instruction of from one to four days in seventy-one different lodges in the Grand Jurisdiction. For this service he received the amount of $800.00 which apparently included his travel and living expenses.
Among the eighty-two brethren who had been called by the Silent Reaper, was Brother Frank Kunerth who had been Grand Tyler for the past nine years. He was known and loved by all who knew him.
For several years the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, had met at the same time and in the same town as the Grand Lodge. It was customary to exchange greetings by visiting delegations from each Body. This year something special had been added when in the delegation to the Grand Lodge was Sister Madeliene V. Conkling, Grand Worthy Matron of the World, who extended greetings to the members of the Grand Lodge.
An attempt was made to amend the by-laws to change the Annual Meeting from the second Tuesday in June to the fourth Tuesday in June. This was referred to a special committee who recommended no action at this Session, but that a committee be appointed by the Grand Master to consider the advisability and report to the next Annual Communication.
During the year cornerstones had been laid for new Masonic Temples at Madison, Springfield, as well as for the Benevolent Hall Association of Sturgis.
The Committee on Foreign Correspondence reviewed the proceedings of sixty-two Grand Jurisdictions, in detail, covering 145 pages in the proceedings. It was noted that Grand Master McCaughey had made a rapid and perhaps meteoric advance in South Dakota Masonry. A total of only seven years had elapsed between his initiation as an Entered Apprentice in Ashlar Lodge No. 86 at Mellette and his election as Grand Master in 1906.
