Establishment & History of Wathena Lodge No.64
The following document dated February 18, AL5868, is recorded in the original minute book among the records in the archives of the Lodge and it was the beginning of the establishment of Wathena Lodge No. 64
Wathena Lodge
February 18, AL5868
At a meeting of the Masonic brethren of Wathena and vicinity, consisting of Brothers S. Hatch, O. Craig, W.H. Wilson, M. Bryan, W. Craig, J. Gerardy, J. Swister, C. Nahring, M.Hains, A.E. Campbell, T. Higgins, held at Wathena, Doniphan County, State of Kansas, Feby. 15, AL5868, 1868. Brother S. Hatch presented the following dispensation from the Grand Master of the State of Kansas:
From the East of the Grand Lodge of Kansas
To All Good Masons Wheresoever Dispersed Through the World
I, M.S. Adams, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Kansas of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons send greetings whereas a petition has been presented to me by Sunday Brethren to wit; Stedman Hatch, W.H. Smallwood, Obe Craig, A.E. Campbell, and others residing in and in the vicinity of the town of Wathena, in the County of Doniphan, in the State of Kansas. Praying to be constituted into a regular Lodge, and promising to under obedience to the ancient usage's and landmarks of Fraternity and the laws and Edits of the Grand Lodge. And whereas said petitioners have been recommended to me as Master Masons in good standing, by Troy Lodge under this jurisdiction. Now therefore I, M.S. Adams, Grand Master of the M:W: Grand Lodge of Kansas, reposing full confidence in the recommendations aforesaid, and in the Masonic integrity and ability of the Petitioners, and by the virtue of the authority in me vested hereby grant this Dispensation. Empowering and authorizing our Trusty and well beloved Brethren aforesaid to form and open a Lodge after the manner of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and therein to confer the Entered Apprentice, Fellow-Craft and Master Masons Degrees. According to Ancient Custom and not otherwise. Said Lodge to be known as the Wathena Lodge, U.D. This dispensation is to continue in full force until the next regular Communication of the Grand Lodge of Kansas, unless sooner revoked by me, and I do hereby appoint Brother Stedman Hatch to be the first Master, Bro. W.H. Smallwood to be the first Senior Warden, and Obe Craig to be the first Junior Warden of Said Lodge, and it shall be their duty and they are hereby required to return this Dispensation with a correct transcript of their proceedings had under the authority of the same, together with an attached copy of their By-Laws, to our Grand Lodge, aforesaid at the experation of the time herein specified for examination and such further action in the primissis as shall be deemed wise and proper. Given under our hands and the Seal of our Grand Lodge at Leavenworth, this 27th day of January, AL5868 AD1868.
Signed,
M.S, ADAMS, Grand Master
Wherefore Br. S. Hatch proceeded to open a Lodge in due form on the first, second, and third Degrees of Masonry. Br. S. hatch, W.M., Br. W.H. Wilson, S.W., Br. Obe Craig. J.W., Br. Bryant, Treas., Br. Campbell, Sec., Br. Gerardy, S.D., Br. M. Hain, J.D., and Br. Higgins, Tyler. On motion of Br. O. Craig, the W.M. appointed three of committee, consisting of Br. Hains, Br. Obe Craig, and Br. C. Nahring to draft By-Laws for the good of the Lodge.
On motion of Br. Nahring, it was voted that the regular meeting of the Lodge be on the first and third Tuesday of each month. There being no further business, the Lodge was closed in due form on he Third Degree of Masonry until the third Tuesday in Feb. AL5868 AD 1868.
The memories of our members of long standing go back to the days when there was no automobile travel. There were no hard surfaced roads and the members would come by horse and buggy, on horseback or sometimes even walk several miles to attend Lodge. If a storm came up during the night of the meeting and the weather turned bad some of the brethren would stay all night in town and return to their homes the next day.
In the year 1868, the closing period was September 30th, and as recorded in the first Annual Return of Wathena Lodge Under Dispensation, 12 candidates were initiated as an Entered Apprentice, 10 passed on to the Degree of Fellow Craft, and 5 raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. Two were admitted on transfer of membership, bringing the Lodge membership up to 22. Some courtesy Degree work was also done for out of State Lodges on brethren residing in our jurisdiction.
From that first regular meeting on February 15th, 1868, to our present time, Wathena Lodge has continued to grow in membership. Not much of a gain was made in the first 25 years, because in 1893 we had only 31 members. Halfway through our first 100 years, in 1918, the membership was 64. When Wathena Lodge celebrated its 75th anniversary in 1943, there were 106, and when Wathena Lodge celebrated its 100th anniversary we had 173 members, and we are continuing to have Degree work.
It would be almost an impossible task to list the exact number and the names of all the men who have been raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason and made a member of Wathena Lodge No. 64 because many, many have reaped their reward here on this great land of ours and have departed from us.
