History of Masonry and Sellwood/Willamette Lodge

by Gib Thonstad

The many volumes of books written about Freemasonry have provided as many accounts of the origin and the beginning of the Fraternity as can be imagined.  There is no agreed upon date or time.  Some believe that the Fraternity is older then the Roman Empire and dates back to the beginning of ancient Egypt.  It is most certain that there were Master Builders who designed and oversaw the building of the many Monuments that still stand today.  The name Freemason appeared as early as 1212 in connection with master builders.  Perhaps this name was given because the workers and overseers belonged to a close nit guild of men who were in demand and were allowed to travel freely across Europe and were in most cases exempt from any ruler’s taxes. 

But some where in the history of the guild it was infiltrated by choice by learned men desiring to participate in the philosophies of the craft.  Artists, mathematicians, poets, teachers, philosophers and leaders were admitted into the craft which began to change the guild to more then just builders.  This maybe id where the term ‘Accepted’ in our usage was derived.  Men accepted into the craft who were not builders. 

We know that are heritage begins in Europe in the early 15^th and 16^th centuries from written documents from this period.  As the demand for the builder declined and more outsiders joined, its doors were opened and changed the craft to more speculative then operative.  This led to formation in 1717 the Grand Lodge of England.  The guild had become a Fraternity of Men who believed in the universal creed predicated on God’s Fatherhood and Man’s Brotherhood and accounts for our strictly modern speculative activities of today.

The first Lodge in America was chartered on July 30, 1733 in Boston.  The American Lodges of that period usually received their charters from he grand lodges of England or Scotland and did not change until the Revolution.  The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was the first independent group declaring themselves sovereign on March 8, 1777. 

Masons played an essential role in the early colonies and in the formation of the United Stated.  Prominent men such as George Washington – Father of our country, Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Paul Revere, John Adams, John Hancock, James Monroe and Ethan Allen, John Paul Jones James Otis were members of the Fraternity. Eight of the 56 signatures on the Declaration of Independence belonged to avowed Masons, as well as nine on the Constitution. 

As westward growth continued in this country, Masonry moved west as well.  Both Lewis and Clark were Masons.  Multnomah Lodge no. 84 of Missouri at Oregon City was the first lodge in Oregon chartered in 1846.  It has now become Multnomah #1 of the Oregon Grand Lodge.  Willamette Lodge #11 of the Grand Lodge of Calif. Was chartered 1850, and of coarse is now Willamette number 2, which meets in this lodge room.  Sellwood is tied to Willamette for they sponsored Washington #46 which later sponsored Sellwood.  

Sellwood Lodge

Sometime during the month of September 1907, a group of Masons living in the Sellwood area decided it would be in their best interest and the interest of the community to start a new Lodge to be located in the Sellwood neighborhood.  After gathering the sufficient number of interested members (12) and securing a place to hold meetings the group submitted their petition to Washington Lodge # 46, which was the nearest Lodge to their location, who in turn filed a Recommendation with the Grand Lodge that the petition should be acted upon by the Grand Lodge. 

OF NOTE:  As written, at about the same time, members of the Odd Fellows also formed a similar group for the purpose of organizing a lodge of their own in the same neighborhood.  The 2 groups formed a coequal partnership for the furnishing of a lodge hall for their joint use.  Mr. Peter Hume, banker, having been secured by personal obligations of the interested parties, backed their enterprise.

On January the 11, 1908 an Occasional Grand Lodge meeting was called to order in the new lodge room of Sellwood Lodge where the Grand Master, Lot L Pearce, set the Lodge to work under Dispensation of the Grand Lodge with Peter Hume as WM, Edward D Curtis as SW, and J.G. Grim as JW.

From the Book of Proceeding of the Grand Lodge 1908 it is written:  On Jan 11, 1908, I had the pleasure of setting these Brethren to Work in their new Lodge, and found that they had already furnished themselves with a comfortable hall on

Also attending this first meeting was WB Schellingberger, Master of Washington Lodge No. 46.

NOTE:  They received 2 petitions for member ship from Storm C Erie and George D. Reed.

The first stated meeting for Sellwood Lodge was held on Jan. 24, 1908.  That night they received 2 more petitions for member ship from RW Rasmussen and Carl A Ehelebe.

13 members signed the original Petition and became chartered members.  Of the 18 Charter members only 2 received their Degrees in Sellwood.  Storm Erie was the first MM raised in Sellwood Lodge followed by RW Rasmussen.   3 more Masons petitioned for affiliation and were elected members prior to the Issue of the Charter and thereby became chartered members.  Lewis and Harry Stone and H.C. Githers.  Of the 18 original members only 4 served Sellwood as Masters. 

At the time of issuing the Charter, Sellwood had 8 petitioners of which as you know 2 became charter members.  By the end of 1908 a total of 12 men had petitioned the Lodge for membership.

Dates of interest:

Dec 12, 1919 - A resolution was passed that a member that had paid his dues for 25 years would be relief of paying further dues.

July 30, 1920 - The lodge voted to raise the dues from $4.00 to $6.00 a year.

July 30, 1924 - the Trustee’s were empowered to purchase a lot for a future building should a desirable proposition be presented.  At the Aug 8, meeting the Trustee’s reported that they had taken an option on an 80 X 100 ft lot on the SE Corner of 15^th and Tacoma.  By a vote of the Lodge the trustee’s were authorized to purchase the land for $ 1800.00 dollars. 

Sellwood Lodge then formed the Sellwood Masonic Temple Association in Oct 1924, to raise the funds and build a lodge building.   Articles of Incorporation were issued on Nov. 28, 1924.  The SMTA held its first meeting on February 27^th 1925 for the purpose of perfecting the organization of the Corporation.

May 13, 1927 - Bro Charters, chairman of the SMTA reported on the progress of Fund Raising for the new building.

June 27, 1927 – A motion was made to remove the grass from the lot as the neighbors were complaining.

Sept. 29, 1927 - It was reported that a new lease for 2 years had been secured on the current meeting location.

Sometime in 1929 a building was started at

 This building is first mentioned in the minutes of the Jan 10, 1930 stated meeting where the Lodge unanimously voted that the WM and the Sec. were to negotiate a 10 year lease with the SMTA for every Friday night for the monthly rental rate of $150.00 a month. 

At the March 28, 1930 stated meeting, it was stated the Building would be ready for April’s stated meeting.  All Furniture was to be moved on Sunday March 30.

April 11, 1930 - The first meeting in the new building was held.  RW Bro. Sherwood Felky,  DDoGM was received.  A petition for Henry Reece was voted on and approved to receive Degrees,  FC Dick Pearson was in waiting and was raised to the sublime Degree of Master Mason becoming the first man so raised in the new building. 

April 25, 1930 - The WM directed the secretary to write a thank you note to the Brothers Shaw for moving the furniture into the new building.  On June 27, 1930 Henry E. Reese was raised a Master Mason becoming the first to receive all 3 degrees in the new building.

Sept. 6, 1930 - Grand Master Otto C. Hagmeire opened Grand Lodge for the purpose of Dedicating the new Sellwood Masonic Temple.   

At the May 12^th Stated meeting in 1933 the minutes of Sellwood Lodge states they would hold a 25 year Anniversary Celebration on the Saturday evening of June 10^th.      

Skipping to 1958, we come to the 50^th Anniversary Celebration of Sellwood Lodge held on March 14.  On this date the Grand Master and certain members of the Grand Family were in attendance to help in the Celebration.  Entertainment was furnished by the Shrine Chanters.  Remarks were made by RWB Frank Tarrant, DDoGM dist #8, the WM of Washington Lodge, and finally by MWB, Grand Master of Masons in Oregon.

Until 1978 there was not a repeat Master in the Lodge.  WB John Pierson was the first PM to hold the master’s Office having first served in 1973.  Again in 1981, WB John Tucker was elected Master for the 2^nd time having first served the lodge in 1974.  Since this time many Past Masters have had to step up and repeat the office of Master. 

1981 - Timberline Lodge resolved to merge their Lodge with Sellwood Lodge.  The merger was completed in 1982.

1983 - Sellwood Lodge Celebrated their 75^th Anniversary.   That year WB Ron Smith had planned a full calendar of dates and events to Celebrate.  On June 11, an open meeting and dinner was held at the SMT hosting the newly installed Grand Master Finlenson and his Masonic Family.  In attendance was the WM of both Willamette Lodge, WB Bernard Beard and Washington Lodge WB Jim Bellomhy along with the DDoGM dist #8 RWB Gordon F Ralph.

Here we are, 2008, 100 years old.  There is much more history that needs to be investigated and reported on as I have only hit the major points through the years that I deemed interesting.  Several more notable events have happened and I can tell you numerous stories about several of the men who have served this Lodge that I have had the pleasure to meet and get to know starting with Ben Wolff, who was master in 1942. 

The Lodge supported Sellwood Eastern Star, a Job’s Daughters group - Bethel #24, and Sellwood DeMolay.