d13history

The realignment of the Masonic Districts made official at he 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[1]	Corinthian No. 38
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.

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.

June 1954 – June 1956

Alvin J Sholberg

Des Moines No. 245

White Center Lodge No. 300 chartered on June 20, 1956

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 UD) chartered on June 17, 1959

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.

June 1962 – June 1964	Robert L Gilmore[2]	Corinthian No. 38
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[3]	St Andrews No. 35
June 1969 – June 1971	Herbert M Edman[4]	Tyee No. 115
June 1971 – June 1972	William R Miller[5]	Thornton F McElroy No 302
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[6]	Corinthian No. 38
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

June 1986 – June 1988	Wendal H Kuecker[7]	Thornton F McElroy No. 302
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

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 No. 313

Frank S Land Lodge No. 313 chartered on June 13, 1997

June 1998 – June 2000

Alvin W Jorgensen[8]

King Solomon No. 60

Frank S Land No. 313

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

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.

The careful analysis performed by these dedicated brethren revealed significant changes primarily in the Puget Sound region as a result of Lodge consolidations and/or transferring to different locations. Taking into account the criteria used to evaluate the Districts and the dynamics of changes already made or scheduled, M\W\ Sat Tashiro announced on January 5, 2005 the following changes with respect to District No. 13:

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.

These changes became effective upon the receipt and approval of the M\ W\ Tashiro’s report to the Grand Lodge on June 8, 2005.

June 2004 – June 2006	Jim V Mendoza	Frank S Land No. 313
June 2006 – June 2008	Keven Davis	Diamond No. 83

[7] Elected Honorary Past Grand Master, Grand Lodge of Alaska, 1977