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GEORGE ARMSTRONG JOHNSTON 1846-1927

Note that the Centenary History lists his birth year as 1847, but this ancestry.com entry definitively says 1846.

Grand Master of South Dakota, 1891-1892

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BIOGRAPHY

From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 47:’'

Brother George A. Johnston was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, August 14, 1847 see above. He attended the public schools in his county, afterward attending high school and then Iowa College where he graduated in law. He taught school for a time. In 1876 he moved to Canton, Dakota Territory, where he set up a law practice. After a short while he moved to Mitchell where he continued his law practice.

He was married July 2, 1881, to Miss Clara R. Howell. Two children were born from this union, Albert who died in infancy and Lucile. He was made a Mason in Silver Star Lodge No. 4, Canton, on June 20, 1881. On April 25, 1882, he became a charter member of Resurgam Lodge No. 31, Mitchell. He was a member of Mitchell Chapter No. 16, Royal Arch Masons, and St. Bernard Commandery No. 11, both of Mitchell, as well as the El Riad Shrine Temple, Sioux Falls.

1892

Grand Master Johnston presided over the Annual Communication at Sioux Falls in 1892. The Communication was well attended with representatives present from 70 of the 78 lodges. The membership had in­ creased by 220 during the year and now stood at 3,725.

The first Masonic monument to a Past Grand Master was erected to the memory of George H. Hand in 1892. He served as Grand Master for four terms, 1877, 1878, 1879, and 1880. His death came on March 10, 1891. The Grand Lodge had authorized the erection of such a monument and Grand Master Johnston appointed a committee to carry out the wishes of the Grand Body. The committee solicited funds from the membership, receiving a total of $722.00. Brother Hand was buried in Yankton and the monument was erected on the Hand lot. It cost $680.00. It is made of granite, is fifteen feet high, weighs nine tons, and is obelisk in style.

The Grand Lecturer, Brother John H. Scriven, discharged his duties in an efficient and creditable manner. The new plan of having the Grand Lodge pay the Grand Lecturer, instead of the several lodges visited, had worked very well.

Dispensations had been issued for lodges at Hill City, Clear Lake, and Hecla. Charters were granted to these lodges at the 1892 Session.

• Find A Grave entry

Grand Masters of South Dakota