SDGMMargolinH
HARRY H. MARGOLIN 1895-1971
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1949-1950
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 169:
Harry H. Margolin was born in Sioux City Iowa on October 10, 1895. He received his grade and high school education at Hawarden, Iowa.
He was married to Corrine B. Rothschild of Washington, Iowa, on November 24, 1921. They had two daughters, Jo Ellen and Phyllis. They had one grandson and two granddaughters.
He operated ladies' ready-to-wear shops, first in Hawarden, Iowa and then in Yankton, South Dakota.
He received his Master Masons Degree in Dale Lodge No. 456, Hawarden, Iowa, on November 11, 1920. He affiliated with St. Andrew's Lodge No. 208 on September 18, 1925. He held membership in the York Rite Chapter and Council. He was a member of Oriental Consistory No. 1 at Yankton, havmg received the 33rd degree Honorary in 1947. He served as Sovereign Grand Inspector General for South Dakota. He was a member of El Riad Shrine Temple in Sioux Falls and Keystone Chapter No. 33, Order of the Eastern Star, in Yankton.
1950
Fifteen distinguished guests were present when Grand Master Margolin opened the seventy-sixth Annual Communication at Custer in 1950. He said, "We are signally honored by having the presence of many distinguished guests from our sister Grand Jurisdictions. It is a delight to extend to them a cordial welcome in behalf of South Dakota Masonry."
The Grand Master was using a special gavel presented to him by his own lodge St. Andrew's No. 208, St. John's Lodge No. 1, and Keystone Chapter No. 33, Order of the Eastern Star, all of Yankton. During the year this gavel had been used by each Grand Master in opening his own Grand Lodge in the states visited by Brother Margolin.
The Grand Secretary reported a total of 168 chartered lodges, a net gain. in membership of 506, with a total membership of 18,462. There had been a net increase of assets in the four Grand Lodge funds totaling $19,834.10 for the year.
A resolution was presented, seconded, and carried asking the incoming Grand Master to appoint a committee to study the advisability of organizing a South Dakota Lodge of Research. Said committee would report at the next Annual Meeting.
Masonic Temples had been dedicated at Wakonda and Elk Point during the year.
Several changes in the Grand Lodge by-laws governing the sale, manufacture, and use of intoxicating malt and spirituous liquor as they apply to members and candidates for Masonry were suggested by the special Committee on the Liquor Law. The Jurisprudence Committee ruled that some of the by-laws needed no clarification and the proposals need not be considered. Several of the amendments when put to a vote were defeatedand others were referred to the constituent lodges for action to be reported at the next Annual Communication.
A vote by the Grand Lodge to increase the annual dues from $1.25 to $1.75 did not carry.
The incoming Grand Master was asked to appoint a committee proposal to place a marker at Elk Point to commemorate the site of the convention forming the Grand Lodge of Dakota.
