SDGMHallC
CHARLES NEWTON HALL 1885-1951
Grand Master of South Dakota, 1940-1941
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BIOGRAPHY
From "The First 100 Years of the Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M. of South Dakota, 1875-1975", Page 152:
Brother Charles N. Hall was born in Madison, Wisconsin, April 28k 1885. He received his elementary and high schooI education there and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin. He established a law practice in Huron in 1909.
He was married to Miss Susan Layne in Fargo, North Dakota, December 23, 1909. This union was blessed with three children, James, Eleanor, and Mary.
Brother Hall was raised in Madison Lodge No. 5, Madison, Wisconsin, June 5, 1909, and affiliated with Huron Lodge No. 26 on October 6, 1909. He was a member of the York Rite Bodies, Chapter, Council, and Commandery, and the Eastern Star, all of Huron. He was also a member of Oriental Consistory No. 1, Yankton.
1941
The first steps in a program which led to the establishment of Masonic Service recreational centers at military camps were taken at the sixty-seventh Annual Communication held in Huron in 1941. Following an explanation by Carl H. Claudy, executive secretary of the Masonic Service Association, it was decided to support the project and meet the quota of ten cents per capita.
Grand Master Charles N. Hall asked that the constituent lodges make use of the booklet, Masonry, An Introduction. Also he asked that a part of one meeting a month be used for discussion of a Masonic topic and that a speakers' bureau be considered for use in the lodges.
Grand Secretary W. D. Swain retired from office saying, "A lot of water has gone over the dam in these years and it has not all been clear and tranquil, but I am hopeful that the Grand Secretary's office is in better shape today than it was when I took it over five years ago." Brother Elvin Strain was selected as the new secretary.
The Board of General Activities reported that 28 brothers had received 50-year medals during the year. This was the largest group to have received the award since the new medal was used.
A new Masonic Temple had been dedicated at Bryant by the Grand Lodge Officers under the direction of the Grand Master.
It was resolved and adopted: "That after the annual reports of the constituent lodges have been received at the office of the Grand Secretary, he shall make a list of all members who have been suspended, expelled, or demttted. That a copy of this list shall be mailed to all Chapters, Commanderies, Consistories, and the Shrine Temples in South Dakota."
The following amendment on delinquent members was adopted and made a part of the by-laws: "In no case shall a lodge carry a delinquent member for more than two years."
The Committee on Resolutions presented as part of their report the llowmg: "That to our brethren in the oppressed and embattled countries of Europe, we extend our deepest sympathy in their terrible trial and tribulation and would remind that 'he that endureth to the end the same shall be saved.'"
