History of District 13 - Free and Accepted Masons of Washington
"The realignment of the Masonic Districts made official at the 2005 Annual Communication, I thought a look at the history of District No. 13 might be in order. The information found herein is gleaned from the proceedings of the Grand Lodge dating back to 1933. I had fun researching this; I hope that you enjoy reading it."
- Jim Mendoza
Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 13 (June 2004 – June 2006)
At the 1933 Annual Communication, W\ John H. Reid of University Lodge No. 141 submitted a resolution to implement the District Deputy Grand Master system in the Grand Jurisdiction of Washington.
This was put forth in the belief that “Masonry in the Grand Jurisdiction of Washington will be strengthened and benefited by the adoption of the system of District Deputy Grand Masters, now in operation in other jurisdictions, and that the vast number of details demanding the time of the Grand Master can be more conveniently and adequately delegated by him, and further that the Craft in general of the State will come to a better and more complete understanding of the operation of the Grand Lodge, the duties of its officers and its committees, and that to this end the constituent Lodges will receive the help, guidance, and instruction they may require.”
It was the recommendation of the Committee on Jurisprudence that W\ Reid’s proposal not be accepted. However, a majority – though not unanimous – of the brethren present favored the idea, and M\ W\ John Roberts laid it over for final consideration at the next annual communication.
At the 1934 Annual Communication M\ W\ John Preissner recommended passage of this carry over resolution, and the office of District Deputy Grand Master was established, duties defined, and the jurisdiction divided into Districts.
The first incarnation of District No. 13 was comprised of Corinthian No. 38, Verity No. 59, King Solomon No. 60, Western Star No. 67, Diamond No. 83, Crescent No. 109, Phoenix No. 154, Mark P Waterman No. 177, Des Moines No. 245, and Southgate No. 247.
The Grand Master was empowered to select 30 brethren to initially serve as Deputies. Ten would serve one year terms, ten would serve two year terms, and ten would serve three year terms. Those selected were granted the title of Right Worshipful Sir. Below is a list of those brethren who have been honored to serve this Grand Jurisdiction as Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 13 along with notes of historical interest.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1934 – June 1936 Walberg Tonstad, King Solomon No. 60
June 1936 – June 1937 Frank S. Hallert, Southgate No. 247
June 1937 – June 1940 Stewart E. Perry, Corinthian No. 38 [1]
June 1940 – June 1941 Wilbur E. Daniel, Western Star No. 67
June 1941 – June 1944 Paul Schumacher, King Solomon No. 60
At the 1943 Annual Communication W\ Gail Huhn of Daniel Bagley No. 238 submitted a resolution to change the title given to District Deputies from Right Worshipful to Very Worshipful. Part of this resolution included changing the designation of the office to Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. _____.
The rationale behind the proposal was that “confusion results from the fact that we have a Deputy Grand Master, who is an elective officer, and District Deputy Grand Masters who are appointive.”
The title of Very Worshipful would accord Deputies “a distinctive and permanent title in keeping with their rank and authority, and would leave the title of Right Worshipful applicable only to elective Grand Officers.”
As for changing the designation of the office, it was offered that the new designation “more accurately described the position.”
While receiving a majority favorable but not unanimous, the amendment was laid aside for final consideration at the next Annual Communication where it was subsequently approved. Interestingly enough, it was further determined that the section of the amendment that specifically referred to title be made retroactive.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1944 – June 1947 Orville A. Brown, Phoenix No. 154
June 1947 – June 1949 Gust A. Gray, Crescent No. 109
June 1949 – June 1951 Arthur H. Poultney, Mark P Waterman No. 177
June 1951 – June 1954 John E. Stewart, Verity No. 59
At the 1953 Annual Communication a resolution was brought to the floor recommending that the term of any brother serving as Deputy be a maximum of two years. It was the feeling of those proposing the amendment that “a shorter term will afford an opportunity for a larger number of Brothers to participate, and thus stimulate greater interest in Grand Lodge affairs.” This amendment was recommended for passage by the Committee on Jurisprudence and subsequently accepted by the brethren.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1954 – June 1956 Alvin J. Sholberg, Des Moines No. 245
White Center Lodge No. 300 chartered on June 20, 1956.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1956 – June 1958 William M. Nelson, King Solomon No. 60
June 1958 – June 1960 Guy N. Lafromboise, Crescent No. 109
Thornton F. McElroy Lodge No. 302 (formerly known as Pyramid Lodge U.D.) chartered on June 17, 1959.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1960 – June 1962 Roland N. Kier, Southgate No. 247
In his report to the brethren, M\ W\ Alfred Ring recommended “the rearranging of Districts 4, 5, 6, 7, and 13 and new District formed, namely 31, so that there would be an average of 10 lodges in each District.”
This was done in part as “the large number of lodges in District No. 4 (15 to be exact) has made it rather burdensome for the Deputy in said District.”
As a result of the realignment, District No. 13 became comprised of St. Andrews No. 35 (from District No. 7), Corinthian No. 38, Verity No. 59, King Solomon No. 60, Western Star No. 67, Diamond No. 83, Crescent No. 109, Tyee No. 115 (from District No. 7), Phoenix No. 154, Des Moines No. 245, and Thornton F. McElroy No. 302.
Mark P Waterman No. 177, Southgate No. 247, and White Center No. 300 were assigned to District No. 6.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1962 - June 1964 Robert L. Gilmore, Corinthian No. 38 [2]
June 1964 - June 1966 Edward L. Chalberg, Western Star No. 67
June 1966 - June 1968 C. Stanley Maple, Thornton F. McElroy No. 302
June 1968 - June 1969 James O. Wood, St. Andrews No. 35 [3]
June 1969 - June 1971 Herbert M. Edman, Tyee No. 115 [4]
June 1971 - June 1972 William R. Miller, Thornton F. McElroy No. 302 [5]
June 1972 - June 1974 Peter A. Ekrem, Des Moines No. 245
June 1974 - June 1976 R. Elmo Mefferd, Phoenix No. 154
June 1976 - June 1978 Elmer C. Jensen, Crescent No. 109
June 1978 - June 1980 Ben H. Robertson, Thornton F. McElroy No. 302
June 1980 - June 1981 Floyd D. Wilson, Diamond No. 83
June 1981 - June 1982 Kenneth I. Michaelson, St. Andrews No. 35
June 1982 - June 1984 Sidney Kase, Corinthian No. 38 [6]
June 1984 - June 1986 Leonard A. Gottner, Des Moines No. 245
Cascade Lodge No. 61 consolidated with Western Star Lodge No. 67 on November 18, 1986 under the name of Cascade No. 61.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1986 - June 1988 Wendal H. Kuecker, Thornton F. McElroy No. 302 [7]
June 1988 - June 1990 Kenneth H. Hayes, Corinthian No. 38
Cascade Lodge No. 61 changed name to Western Cascade Lodge No. 61 on February 20, 1990.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1990 - June 1992 Gene Miles, St. Andrews No. 35
June 1992 - June 1994 Richard K. Bish, St. Andrews No. 35
June 1994 - June 1996 Ray A. Limbo, Crescent No. 109
June 1996 - June 1998 Scott A. Muchmore, Corinthian No. 38
Frank S. Land Lodge No. 313 chartered on June 13, 1997.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 1998 - June 2000 Alvin W. Jorgensen, King Solomon No. 60 [8]
Tyee Lodge No. 115 consolidated with Wayfarer Lodge No. 280 on February 28, 1999 under the name of Tyee Lodge No. 115. Tyee Lodge No. 115 changed name to Tyee No. 115, The Wayfarer’s Daylight Lodge on June 11, 1999.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 2000 - June 2002 Garry A. Gerking, Phoenix No. 154
June 2002 - June 2004 Daniel J. Moss, King Solomon No. 60
In the 2003 - 2004 Masonic year, a special study group was commissioned to review the size and scope of all Masonic Districts within the Grand Jurisdiction.
The following considerations were used in evaluating District realignments:
- Desirability of reducing large Districts to a more manageable size.
- Reduce the travel and driving time required by District Deputies for Lodge visitations.
- Assign all Lodges meeting in the same building to the same District.
- Resolve irregularities in the District numbering system.
- St. Andrews No. 35 and Tyee No. 115, The Wayfarer’s Daylight Lodge would be reassigned to District No. 6.
- Corinthian No. 38 and Phoenix No. 154 would be reassigned to District No. 15.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 2004 - June 2006 Jim V. Mendoza, Frank S. Land No. 313 [9]
June 2006 - June 2008 Keven M. Davis, Diamond No. 83
June 2008 – June 2010 Richard S. "Bud" Cook, Verity No. 59
After a request from the Brethren of St. Andrews Lodge No. 35, the lodge was again returned to District #13 After MWB Gale Kinney's report to the annual Grand Lodge June 10. 2010.
Period of Service Deputy Lodge
June 2010 - June 2012 John H. McKinley, Thornton F. McElroy No. 302
June 2012 - June 2014 Jerry D. Buchner, Diamond No. 83
June 2014 - June 2016 David W. Colbeth, King Solomon No. 60
June 2016 - June 2018 Zane P. McCune, Verity Lodge No. 59
June 2018 - June 2020 Todd N. Johnstone, Thornton F. McElroy No. 302
June 2020 - June 2022 Don Downing, King Solomon No. 60
June 2022 - June 2024 Steven J. Dinkins, Frank S. Land No. 313
June 2024 - June 2026 Nicholas (Nick) Franz, Des Moines No. 245
June 2026 - Rick Lee McGann, Verity No. 59
****** Footnotes ***************
[1] Elected Grand Master, June 1947
[2] Elected Grand Master, June 1968
[3] Elected Grand Master, June 1977
[4] Elected Grand Master, June 1981
[5] Elected Grand Master, June 1989
[6] Elected Grand Master, June 1990
[7] Elected Honorary Past Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Alaska, 1997
[8] Elected Grand Master, June 2005
[9] Elected Grand Master, June 2016