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Revision as of 18:49, 20 November 2024
THEORUS RICKENBAUGH STONER 1857-1942
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1922-1923
picture
BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 110:
Brother Theorus R. Stoner was born October 28, 1857, at Mifflintown, Juanita County, Pennsylvania. He was brought up in the Church of the Brethren. He attended the public schools of Juanita County and Mifflinton Academy.
He engaged in the mercantile business in Pennsylvania, Nebraska and Lead, South Dakota.
He was married at Lead to Miss Sallie Marie Perkins on October 21, 1896. They had two daughters.
He became a member of Golden Star Lodge No. 9, Lead, South Dakota, on June 20, 1893. He was a member of the York Rite Chapter, Council and Commandery. He served as Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council and as Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery. He was a member of Ararat Shrine Temple in Kansas City and the Order of the Eastern Star in Lead Chapter No. 18.
1923
As he opened the forty-ninth Annual Commumcat1on at Mitchell in 1923 Grand Master Stoner said, "I am pleased to note that all over our fair land there is a great movement among the Craft for better education, higher morals, better social and living conditions. If we succeed in so interesting but one brother that he will read and study Masonry, dig and delve in Masonic lore and teach and practice its principles in his every day life, we have accomplished more for humanity than pinning buttons and emblems on a hundred, and making them Masons in name only."
He was referring, at least in part, to what he called "Mushroom and Commercialized Masonry," a practice of rushing and hurrying of the brothers into and through the so-called higher degrees. He asked that some action be taken to require a one year waiting period.
A dispensation had been issued for a new lodge at Stratford. Lodges had been constituted at Pierpont, Vienna, Letcher, Gann Valley, Sioux Falls, Garretson, Tulare, and Bancroft. Masonic Temples had been dedicated at Beresford, Spencer, and Mobridge.
The Grand Secretary reported that this was the second year that the Bulletin had been sent each month to the secretary of each constituent lodge. During the year Past Grand Masters James Roane and Harvey J. Rice, and John H. Scriven, Past Grand Lecturer, along with 163 brethren had been claimed by death.
The Monument Committee recommended that an appropriation of $1,000.00, or as much as may be necessary, be made to procure a suitable stone, set the same, protect it with a fence, and provide an approach to it. The report was adopted and the same committee was retained to carry out the recommendations made.
The special Committee on Library Building recommended that. the Grand Lodge accept the offer of the brethren and Masonic Bodies of Sioux Falls and agree to erect a building thereon suitable for a Grand Lodge Library, The budding was not to exceed seventy-five thousand dollars. They further recommended that a building committee, composed of the Grand Trustees, the Grand Secretary, and Past Grand Master Charles L. Brockway should proceed with complete authority to create a Building Fund of $5,000.00 to be taken from the Genera lFund, and to levy an assessment of one dollar per capita upon the lodges for the year 1924 and 1925. The Finance Committee concurred and the Grand Lodge adopted the plan. The Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar, and the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters, all of South Dakota, would be given space and quarters in the building and would be invited to assist in the construction.
