A Brief History ~ Polar Star Lodge No. 79
Rose Hill Lodge No. 550, Polar Star 79 Vote To Merge
Grand Secretary Honored In Surprise Presentation
RWB Richard L. Smith receives Truman Medal for 2005
Brother Marries in Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge #79
Mark Twain info from The Missouri Grand Lodge Bulletin, 1924

 

A Brief History ~ Polar Star Lodge No. 79, St. Louis
Written by PSRH#79 Member Worshipful Brother Richard B. Ramage,
Appearing in The Missouri Freemason Fall 2004 (Volume 49, No. 4)

ST. LOUIS, MO - During the "fabulous forties" of the 19th Century, steamboats lined the Mississippi riverfront and the downtown area bustled with the vigor and sweat of commerce and transportation.

The steamboat generated most of the business activity and the river men, pilots and captains joined the merchants as important men in the fabric of St. Louis society.

It was during the turmoil of this part of Missouri's history that Polar Star Lodge No. 79 was organized under dispensation on January 14, 1845, was chartered on October 14, 1846, and had its first officers installed on November 12, 1846.

The lodge's ties to the men of the Mississippi River is evident even in its name as Polar Star, or North Star, was an important navigational guide in those days to those who sailed across the oceans or steamed up and down rivers.

The economic synergy provided by the river men and local merchants was evident in the first officers of the Lodge. The top three officers under the new charter were Worshipful Master Edward G. Simons, a grocer; Senior Warden Brother George A. Gannet, a clerk with the Quartermaster Corps.

Other early officers included Worshipful brother John W. Luke, a steamboat captain who served in the East for seven years; Brother William H. Pritchartt, a senior deacon and bookkeeper for steamboat line; Brother Henry Cheeks, a secretary and steamboat clerk, and Brother William P. Cowles, treasurer and commercial merchant.

Those men had no way that an engineer named James Buchanan Eads would start building a bridge across the Mississippi in 1867, finish the job in 1874, and allow trains to span the mighty river and replace steamboats as preferred method of transport for cargo and people.

Among the members during the early years of Polar Star was a pilot who would become world famous. His name was Samuel L. Clemens. His hand-written petition was completed on December 26, 1860. He was recommended by Brother John "Zeb" Leavenworth of the steamboat Pennsylvania and Brother John Thomas "Tom" Moore, a young clerk from another ship, the John J. Roe.

Bro. Clemens was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on July 10, 1861, just as the Civil War began to appear in lodge records. He had, in fact, returned to St. Louis on May 21, 1861 on the Nebraska, the last steamboat to make the trip north before the war closed the river.

Brother Clemens' books, authored under the name Mark Twain, brought adventure and pleasure to the minds of generations of Americans and other readers around the world. As the Civil War tore into America, and Missouri Brethren donned either blue or gray, Brother Clemens joined many men who moved west for that and other reasons. It had been reported that he was Junior Deacon at Beat Mountain Lodge No. 76 at Angels Camp, a California mining camp in February 1865. Three years earlier he had visited Carson Lodge, then under jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of California.

He returned to St. Louis in 1868 after his renowned trip abroad, which served as the basis of his book "Innocents Abroad." He brought with him a gift still the prized possession off his lodge. It is a gavel.

The words inscribed on the metal band scrolled round the handle reads:
"This mallet is of Cedar cut in the Forest of Lebanon whence Solomon obtained the Timbers for the Temple. The handle was cut by Brother Clemens himself from a cedar planted just outside the walls of Jerusalem where Bro. Godfrey DeBoullion, the first Christian conqueror of that City 19th of July, 1099. The gavel in its present form was made at Alexandria, Egypt by order of Bro. Clemens."

On the faceplate are the words:
From Bro. Sam'l L. Clemens, (Mark Twain) to J. J. Pottenger, M.D., March 25, 1868. Presented to Polar Star Lodge No. 79 by J. H. Pottenger to W.M., April 8th, 1868.

The volumes of Polar Star minutes also bear the names of other Brethren prominent in the history of St. Louis and Missouri. A century ago Most Worshipful Brother Leroy Branch Valliant was Grand Master of Missouri (1904-1905). He had been Worshipful master of Polar Star in 1889. A historical note which symbolizes those times: Most Worshipful Brother Valiant had been a captain in the Confederate Army while another Polar Star Brother, John N. Bofinger, was the Union captain who helped Generals Grant and Sherman transported troops and supplies.

One name, Gene McNary, is probably more familiar to current Lodge members. He served as St. Louis County's County Executive from 1975 to 1989 and was then named commissioner of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service.

Polar Star's first home in the Masonic Hall at Third and Pine in downtown St. Louis is long gone. The land in that block and the surrounding area is now home of the famous Gateway Arch, its national park and other development. The Lodge met for years in the big Masonic Temple on Lindell Boulevard in mid-town St. Louis and now meets in Clayton. That town is the seat of the St. Louis County government and is nestled on the western edge of the city of St. Louis, site of the 1904 World's Fair. (You do remember "Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis" don't you?)

An account of Polar Star members' services during the Civil War, Spanish-American War, both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm would make a history in itself. And, it should be noted, some Missouri masons called it the Civil War, while others called it the War Between States.

Polar Star is proud too of those many others, not so famous in the outside world bur written large in the records of the Lodge. For within the Lodge, all are equal in the great brotherhood of the Fraternity and the Brethren's names are those who in their life and work exemplify the great Masonic principles which govern us.

(Editor's Note: This brief history is based on research provided by two past masters of Polar Star Lodge No. 79. The are Right Worshipful Brother David Lewis, who provided much of the information, and Worshipful Brother Richard B. Ramage. The article was written and edited by the latter.)

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Rose Hill Lodge No. 550, Polar Star 79 Vote To Merge

Two lodges with historic ties to St. Louis have voted to merge as Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge No. 79. Rose Hill, which received its charter October 15, 1891, took its name from a real estate subdivision in the western edge of St. Louis. It was started by Freemasons who lived in the area which was sparsely populated, had unpaved streets and with public transportation available only through a narrow gauge railroad.

Most of the Master Masons who ended up founding Rose Hill worked in or near downtown St. Louis. They were tired of making their way home, having supper, and then traveling again to attend a Lodge meeting. Those Brothers decided they wanted a Lodge closer to home. The 18 charter members included the first Worshipful Master, Charles T. Shewell, a salesman for a downtown hat company; the first Senior Warden, Albert B. Bowman, manager of the Erie Engine Works, also downtown, and the first Junior Warden, Moses P. Johnson, in machinery sales downtown.

By 1892 the lodge had built Rose Hill Temple at 5907 Maple Avenue at Hamilton. The lodge met there through the challenges of two World Wars, major renovations and alterations in the 1920s, and a depression that started in 1929.

It is suspected that many a Rose Hill Brother slipped away from work to watch their lodge Brother George Harold (Gorgeous George) Sisler – who received all three degrees in 1920 -- play baseball, especially when he was with the St. Louis Browns from 1915-1922 and 1924-1927. He had a major league batting average of .341, was elected to the Hall of Fame by baseball writers in 1939 and died in Richmond Heights, MO in 1973.

After World War II Rose Hill found new members were coming from other parts of the metropolitan area. In 1957 Rose Hill bought a farm house on what was then a two-lane Olive Street Road in Creve Coeur.  The Brothers met in Overland Temple until a new temple building was dedicated at that site in 1963. Reluctantly left behind in the old building was an organ said to rival that at the Fox Theater..

The temple building at 11222 Olive Blvd. will be home for the new Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge No. 79. It underwent remodeling and renovation during the spring and summer of 2005. Polar Star, which received its charter in 1846, was formed for the most part by the captains of steamboats, other men working on the steamboats and its affiliated firms, and merchants in St. Louis’ downtown area. It first met in the Masonic Temple at 4th and Pine – an area now covered by the Gateway Arch and the surrounding Jefferson National Expansion Memorial. It later met in other St. Louis locations and Clayton.

Early contributions of Polar Star to Freemasonry included two Missouri Grand Masters. They were Most Worshipful Brother John W. Luke, a steamboat captain, 1874, and Most Worshipful Brother Leroy B. Valliant, 1904.

The three Polar Star brothers probably best known to 21st Century Freemasons and others are: 1) A steamboat captain, Samuel L. Clemens, who became a Master Mason on July 10, 1861 and later became famous as author Mark Twain, 2) Gene McNary, who was St. Louis County Executive from 1975 to 1989 before being named commissioner of the federal Immigration and Naturalization Service, and 3) Lester (Al) Greene, Assistant Rabban in the Moolah Shrine Divan.

A more detailed history of Polar Star was printed in the fall 2004 edition of The Missouri Freemason. (That article is above)

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Grand Secretary Honored In Surprise Presentation
Appearing in The Missouri Freemason, Summer 2006 Volume 51, No. 3

Almost 200 members and friends of Missouri’s Masonic family attended a special program that surprised Right Worshipful Brother Ronald D. Miller and honored him for a decade of service to the state’s Grand Lodge. The event was hosted on March 14, 2006 by Polar Star- Rose Hill #79 in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

Those attending first had a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner and watched and listened to an informative program by the Masonic Home staff ~ the reason RWB Miller thought he was attending. Those attending included virtually all of the current Grand Lodge line, many Brothers who had served as Missouri’s Grand Master in the past and top officers of the Eastern Star and other Masonic-affiliated organizations.

The surprise start of the evening started when Polar Star-Rose Hill’s Worshipful master, RWB Randy Berger, called RWB Miller to the East and presented him with a beautiful clock to commemorate his 10 years as Grand Secretary.

RWB Miller quickly quipped that, in being given a clock, “I don’t know if my time is up.”

With Deputy Grand Master RWB Bob Berger sharing emcee duties, the list of distinguished brothers paying tribute to RWB Miller started with complimentary remarks by MWB John M. Nations. His testimonial was followed by others, including many of the Past Grand Masters present.

Past Grand Masters in attendance included: J.C. (Jack) Montgomery, William Chapman, P. Vincent Kinkead, Vern Schneider, Steve Toybes, William Soutiea, Don Scott, Robert Downey and Dan Cole.

Brothers serving on the Home board also attended, as did the staffs of the Grand Lodge and the Masonic Home. Many of them joined in paying tribute to the Grand Secretary. Many District Deputies also attended.

Most of the tribute included descriptions of the Grand Secretary using such words as “integrity”, “devoted service”, and “class.”

RWB Miller responded by saying it has been a privilege to serve with so many fine Grand Masters and other special Brethren. He noted that “each Grand Master brings something special” to the Grand Lodge. He also praised his staff, noting it was their work that helped him look good.

The audience, which filled Polar Star-Rose Hill’s renovated and remodeled lodge hall and several rows of folded chairs set up west of the altar, also joined in singing Happy Birthday to RWB Miller.

The evening of fraternal fellowship ended with those attending doubling back to the lodge’s dining hall for cake and more animated conversation.

Polar Star-Rose Hill was especially happy to host the event as three of its members are in the Grand Line and two of them serve on the Home board.

“Grand Secretary is one of the most challenging and demanding jobs… There is no harder worker in the state of Missouri, I can tell you, than my friend and out brother RWB Ron Miller” – MWB John Nations (Grand Master 2005-2006)

“The character of an organization shows through the people who are in authority. What better person could we have to represent to our general public through thick and thin, through times of joy and even those times of sorrow, than Ron Miller has been for us?” – MWB J.C. Montgomery Jr.

“I cannot do this job by myself. I work with six women who work very hard to make Ron Miller look good” – RWB Ron Miller

“I truly love my job. I can’t wait to get there in the morning, and I can’t leave at night.” – RWB Ron Miller

(Photo of RWB Randy Berger, Worshipful Master of Polar Star-Rose Hill #79 presenting RWB Ron Miller with a clock. Caption reads: Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge #79 Worshipful Master RWB Randy Berger Presents RWB Ron Miller a clock to commemorate his ten years of service as Grand Secretary)

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RWB Richard L. Smith receives Truman Medal for 2005
Appearing in The Missouri Freemason, Summer 2006 Volume 51, No. 3

Each year the Grand Master awards the Truman Medal to a distinguished brother for his service to the fraternity. The 2005 recipient was Richard Smith of Polar Star-Rose Hill #79 and Benjamin Franklin #642. MWB Dr. Elmer Revelle made the following remarks as he honored out outstanding brother.

As I came up through the advancing line I was often told, “The most important decision you will make is your appointment to the Advancing Grand Lodge line.” I have discovered an additional truth during this year: “The most difficult decision is choosing one one brother to receive the Truman Medal.”

My first thought was to find a brother in a lodge making a real difference in his home lodge and/or community. It didn’t take very long to discover that there are far too many brothers doing this to be able to narrow it down to only one. Many of you and other brothers across the state are doing great work for our lodges.

So, I then decided that I had better re-read the resolution that was adopted in 1983: “Be It Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons of the State of Missouri establishes the Truman Medal, to be awarded by the Grand Master to individual Freemasons for their distinguished service to the Fraternity.”

Based on the words “distinguished service to the Fraternity” from the resolution, I went back to the drawing board and asked myself the following two questions:

1. “What brother has given such distinguished service that the impact of his work is still felt today throughout Missouri Freemasonry and will most likely continue to be felt into the future?”

2. “What brother can I hole as a positive example when I issue the challenge to ‘Live in Harmony’?” Brother Dick Smith works well with all sorts of persons and tries to find a workable solution that is ‘win-win’ for all involved.

The answers to these questions helped me narrow the field and select the brother who will receive the Truman Medal this year.

Brother Richard Smith’s Masonic history sounds like so many ~

He has served as:
- Worshipful Master of his Lodge
- District Deputy Grand Master
- Associate Guardian of Job’s Daughters

He is an active member of
- Scottish Rite (Past Master of Kadosh) ~ Scottish Rite Foundation of Missouri
- Shrine
- National Sojourners
- Hero’s of ‘76
- Order of the Eastern Star
- Masonic Home of Missouri Board
- Other Masonic Bodies

Still, this could describe many brothers throughout the state, so let’s narrow it down a little bit more.

He has also previously served in his Masonic area as:
- President of the Scottish Rite club of St. Louis
- Board Member of the Walker Scottish Rite Clinic for Children with Language Disorders
- President off the Square Club of St. Louis

However, these are not the accomplishments that led me to this selection because many brothers have such a Masonic history.

His distinguished service to Missouri Freemasonry takes deep root in the area of Masonic Education. His leadership in Masonic Education has given us (among many other things):
- The Entered Apprentice Video, which is still in use today
- Educational Booklets following each of the 3 degrees
- Officers Manual
- Enhancement of the Achievement Award

His foundational work in these education endeavors also provided the “springboard” for the development of the ‘education’ portion of the Chance To Advance Class. This distinguished brother has served the Grand Lodge if Missouri as a Chairman of the Masonic Education Committee and has also served as President of the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education. He has also given service to the Masonic Fraternity in Missouri as Grand Orator.

This brother became a Master Mason in 1975 in Rose Hill Lodge #550 where he served as a Worshipful Master in 1981. He continues to hold membership in the newly consolidated Polar Star-Rose Hill #79 and in Benjamin Franklin #642.

He and his wife, June, reside in the St. Louis area and have a son, Benjamin who is also a Mason; a daughter, holly; and two grandchildren.

It is an honor for me to call him Brother and Friend. The 2005 recipient of the Truman Medal is Right Worshipful Brother Richard L. Smith.

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Brother Marries in Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge #79
Appearing in The Missouri Freemason, Summer 2006 Volume 51, No. 3

Brother Robert (Bob) Stolzberg and Kathleen (Kass) Adams were married at Polar Star-Rose Hill Lodge #79 in Creve Coeur on January 31, 2006. The ceremony was conducted by Harmony lodge Past master the Rev. Darrel Curtis, senior pastor at St. Marcus German Evangelical Church in St. Louis city. Brother Stolzberg was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Polar Star-Rose Hill a few days before he was married. (Actual event occurred at a C2A Class where Bro. Stolzberg served as the exemplar candidate.) Attending the ceremony were members of the families of the bride and groom and friends, including many Brethren from Polar Star-Rose Hill.

Editors note: We wondered how rare a wedding in a Masonic Lodge might be, so we conducted a little poll on one of our bulletin boards. It turns out weddings in Lodges are not very common, but they do take place now and then. They seem to have been more common in Europe. French brothers who responded said they frequently have a “conjugal recognition” ceremony, which is not actually a wedding. One brother send us a look-length Masonic wedding ceremony from Turkey. None of this seemed as impressive to us as the ceremony at Polar Star-Rose Hill must have been. On behalf of the Masonic brotherhood in Missouri, we wish the bride and groom all the best.

Mark Twain information from The Missouri Grand Lodge Bulletin, 1924
(Reprint) Appearing in The Missouri Freemason, Summer 2006 Volume 51, No. 3

"Mark Twain, of Hannibal, MO., is one of the most widely known Missouri Freemasons. He received his Masonic degrees in 1861 in Polar Star No. 79 in St. Louis. "His brother, Orion [Clemens], had secured an appointment as Secretary of Nevada Territory and easily induced his brother Samuel to accompany him as his private secretary. He had received his third degree on July 10 and on July 26 we find the two brothers at St. louis, Mo., on the overland stage heade for the Territory of nevada, arriving there in August, 1861."

Mark twain obtained his degrees in our lodge on these dates:
E.A. - May 22, 1861
F.C. - June 12, 1861
M.M. - July 10, 1861
Lived: Nov. 30, 1835 - April 21, 1910

Twain presented Polar Star Lodge No. 79 with a special gavel in 1867.

More to come! Polar Star-Rose Hill#79 is Always Making History!