Saint Joseph Lodge No.78 Chartered October 14th 1846

The Petition for the first Masonic Lodge in Buchanan County was applied through Liberty Lodge No.31, issued May 11th 1841 by R.W.B. Joseph Foster Deputy Grand Master, Secretary Protem, Grand Lodge of Missouri U.S.A. The name given was Katzell Lodge. Chartered members were Eli Hubbel, Worshipful Master; John Browning, Senior Warden; Simeon Kemper, Junior Warden; R. Duncan, Treasurer; Frederick Waymore, Secretary; and J. Selsil, Tiler. James Highly was also a charter member .

Eli Hubbel was a member of Wisdom Lodge from Massachusetts,
John Browning from Liberty Lodge No.31 Missouri,
Simeon Kemper from Montgomery Lodge No.23 Kentucky,
Frederick Waymore from Lipton Lodge No.33 Indiana.
Also chartered with this first dispensation were John Edgar from Liberty Lodge No.31 Missouri,
Cornelius Gilliam from the Lodge at Jefferson City Missouri and S.K. Waymore from Lipton Lodge No.33 in Indiana. Katzell Lodge met in regular stated communications until a Charter was issued as Sparta Lodge No.46 at the next annual Grand Lodge proceedings October 8th 1842.

(The above picture is an Artist's view of St. Joseph in 1858 looking toward Wyeth Hill, the Missouri River and the future site of the Court House built in 1871.)

Earlier in 1827, there was a Trading Post along the Missouri River at the mouth of Blacksnake Creek named Blacksnake Hills, owned and operated by Joseph Robidoux, who traded with the Native Americans. For many years the only evidence of European settlement within a 50 mile radius was a large log house surrounded by a stockade built by Robidoux to conduct his business. There were no cameras with which to record a picture of the Blacksnake Hills Trading Post but the journal of Richard Hayes McDonald from Kentucky wrote a description at the time. The journal is deposited in the Library of the Commonwealth of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia:

"From his cousin's, Richard went to where the city of St. Joseph is now located, and where the only occupant and owner of a business house was a Frenchman named Robadoux [sic], who had lived there a number of years as an Indian trader, and who was at that time still engaged in the occupation. He was moving around dressed in an old, red flannel shirt, his trousers strapped around his waist, on his head a slouched hat, and so tanned and weather-beaten that is was difficult to tell whether he was a white man, a mulatto, or an Indian. his establishment consisted of three log-cabins, one or more of which were filled with furs of otter, beaver, buffalo, deer, bear, and other skins; in the other buildings were stored provisions, trinkets, and supplies for the Indians, the latter chiefly in whiskey, tobacco, and liquors. The old man seemed to be a very energetic, enterprising, shrewd business manager. He was familiar with several dialects of Indian language, and was highly respected by all the natives who dealt with him...', 'From this trading outpost grew the city of St. Joseph, in many respects, perhaps, the most promising city west of St. Louis and this side of the Rocky Mountains. Many of its handsome streets are named after Roubadoux or some members of his family, and their foreign sound might surprise a stranger unacquainted with the origin of the nomenclature.' (From "Old Saint Joe, Gateway To The West, 1799 - 1932, Sheridan A. Logan, copywrite 1979, John Sublett Logan Foundation).

Mr. Robidoux contracted two Surveyors to create plats for a town he had proposed to build next to his Post in the area named Saint Michael's Meadow. This area was mentioned by Meriwether Louis, in his journal on July 7th in the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804. Brothers Frederick W. Smith and Simeon Kemper, both members of Sparta Lodge No.46 surveyed plats for the settlement. Brother Frederick W. Smith named his plat Saint Joseph after Mr. Robidoux's, Patron Saint and Simeon Kemper named his plat Robidoux. Frederick Smith's plat was selected and was recorded at St. Louis, Missouri in July 1843. The population at that time was about 200.
In 1845 a Dispensation was created for a new Lodge to be located at Saint Joseph. It's name was DeWitt Lodge. In 1846 the County Seat for Buchanan County was relocated from Sparta to Saint Joseph and a Charter was granted for St. Joseph Lodge No.78 October 14th 1846 with Sinclair K. Miller, Worshipful Master; Simeon Kemper, Senior Warden; and James Highley, Junior Warden. Within the first year Samuel E. Love was elected Secretary. Joseph Robidoux's son Felix was a charter member. there were a total of 22 members by October 2nd 1847.
Picture from: "The Lewis and Clark Journey of Discovery"
http://www.nps.gov/archive/jeff/lewisclark2/circa1804/StLouis/blockinfo/Block6ARobidoux.htm

St. Joseph Lodge No.78 A.F. & A.M. Installs Officers For The Upcoming Year

Submitted by the Secretary, RWB Wesley F Revels

On Tuesday September 7th, the 165th year since St. Joseph Lodge #78 was chartered, the elected and appointed officers were installed for 2010 - 2011. Pictured below in the first row from left to right are:
R.W.B. Larry Lambing, Installing Officer and Past Master of Charity/Zeradetha Lodge and Past District Deputy Grand Master.
Nighram M. Johnson, Junior Stewart,
W.B. Marion H. Boydston, Senior Warden,
R.W.B. Dennis A. Bonjour, Worshipful Master,
LeRoy H. Maxwell III, Junior Warden,
D. Brian Carroll, Tiler
R.W.B. Virgil Simpson, Installing Chaplain and Past Master of Charity/Zeradetha Lodge and Past District Deputy Grand Master.
In the second row are pictured left to right:
W.B. Timothy J. Conard, Senior Deacon,
W.B. Carl C. Jennings, Treasurer,
R.W.B. Wesley F. Revels, Secretary,
W.B. John C. Keys, Junior Stewart,
W.B. Arthur F. Haynes, Marshal,
Junichiro Ichikawa, Junior Deacon,
R.W.B. Jim Brown, Installing Chaplain and Past Master of Brotherhood Lodge. R.W.B. Dennis A. Bonjour, serving as Worshipful Master, was initially raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on October 6th 1989 at Brotherhood Lodge #269, and is affiliated with and Past Master of all but three of the eleven Lodges in this 7th Masonic District of Missouri, U.S.A. Dennis also served as District Deputy Grand Master in 1998.

W.B. Marion Boydston, this year's Senior Warden, moved from Adelphi Lodge at Camdon Point, Missouri to St. Joseph Lodge in 2006 and has served as Junior and Senior Deacon and Junior Warden. W.B. Boydston was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in 1992, served three times as Worshipful Master and was also Treasurer at Adelphi Lodge. LeRoy H. Maxwell III, serving as Junior Warden and Junichiro Ichikawa, Junior Deacon are two of our newest Brothers and we are proud to have them as officers of our Lodge. W.B. Timothy J. Conard, was last year's Worshipful Master and W.B. Carl C. Jennings is a Past Master from 2008 and 2006. R.W.B. Wesley F. Revels is a Past Master of St. Joseph No.78 in 2004 and has duel membership with Lincoln Lodge No. 138. Brother Revels, also served District 7 as Deputy Grand Lecturer in 2004. To his left is W.B. John C. Keys, Past Master in 2007.

Report Submitted To The Grand Lodge Of Missouri

Number of Members: 236

Number Living Endowed Members: 29

Number 50Yr Members: 38

Members Raised to the Sublime Degree of Mastermason:

Marc M Pournazari, 7-Jul-2009

Nighram M Johnson, 21-Aug-2009

Richard L Phillips, 4-Aug-2009

Junichiro Ichikawa, 16-March-2010

Thomas M Curtain,  17-April-2010

Members Deceased:

From September 2008 - May 2010

Lester L Einbender, 7-Aug-2008

John D Schildknecht, 11-Sep-2008

Billy D Browning, 18-Sep-2008

Donald E Schuler, 10-Oct-2008

Gerald G Lieppman, 10-Nov-2008

William E Hurst Jr, 9-Jan-2009

Raymond K Alt, 11-Jan-2009

Mickey R Gill Sr, 8-Feb-2009

Ben Rich, 27-May-2009

Charles W Pettit, 13-Aug-2009

Gilbert E Vogel, 11-Sept-2009

Henry C Kirschner, 28-Nov-2009

Darrell W Casey, 20-Dec-2009

Harold W Cole, 28-Dec-2009

Guy D Saxton, 12-Jan-2010

Harold E Schaeffer, 21-Jan-2010

Leo Shanks, 22-Feb-2010

Steven F McGuire, 19-Mar-2010

Elmer E Bosley, 20-Mar-2010

LeRoy R Walker, 29-Mar-2010

John T Duncan, 21-May-2010

JOIN ST JOSEPH LODGE NO78

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HEROES AND PATRIOTS REMEMBERED

Submitted by RWB Wesley F Revels

Past Masters Of St. Joseph Lodge No.78

As new members of the fraternity we come to a meal and sit in fellowship, greeting each other with open hands of friendship. A new member may not know anyone else in the Lodge except maybe a relative or close friend. As we grow in Freemasonry we also become friends with long time members many who have contributed greatly to the fabric of our neighborhoods, communities and country. With this article I am writing about one such person who many call a true friend within the fraternity. His name is Rupert Patterson. Lodge records show Brother Rupert B Patterson, was Initiated as a Freemason September 3rd 1957, Passed to the degree of Fellow Craft November 5th of the same year, Raised to the sublime degree of MasterMason February 4th 1958 and Worshipful Master of St. Joseph Lodge No.78 in 1975.  WB Patterson, received his 50 year certification February 4th 2008.

Worshipful Brother B Patterson served in the 2nd World War, landing on Omaha Beach in July 1944 in the Normandy Invasion and witnessed the liberation of Germany during Nazi occupation in 1945. It has always been a great honor and pleasure to sit in Lodge with Rupert. Words can not express the thanks I feel when ever I am in his presence.

During the Central Europe Campaign from April 2nd - May 8th 1945, a local newspaper reported that as the allied forces pushed into Germany, 18 young infantrymen using small arms fire and two heavy mortars including Pfc. Patterson, from the 320th Regiment of the 35th "Yoo-Hoo" Santa-Fe Division, broke up a determined German counterattack at Trabitz, near the Elbe river.  It was WB Patterson, who alerted the Regiment and countered a German offensive on their position.  "Having set up a defensive position at the edge of town, shortly after dawn, they saw an outnumbering force of Germans approaching. Waiting until the Germans were about 450 yards from their position, the 18 infantrymen created tremendous fire power with their rifles, automatic weapons and mortars. The enemy continued to advance slowly under the heavy fire, but after several mortar shells were laid in on them, with many casualties and fatalities on both sides, the remaining Germans withdrew."

Top: The 35th Division, crossing the Saar river at the Elbe.
Below: A captured Vengeance-2 Rocket, originally being transported for launch from Northern France toward England.

The 35th Infantry Division was activated on December 23rd 1940, as the National Guard Division from Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska and departed for Europe on May 12th 1944. After receiving further training, the division landed on Omaha Beachhead, Normandy, early July 1944 and entered combat on July 17th fighting in the Normandy hedgerows North of Saint-Lo. The division beat off 12 counterattacks at Emelie before entering Saint-Lo by July 18th located about 30 miles South of Normandy beachhead, then continued by taking part in the offensive action Southwest of Saint-Lo pushing the Nazi Germans across the Vire river on August 2nd, breaking out of the Cotentin Penninsula en-route to the Mortain-Avranches corridor. The 35th Infantry Division helped rescue the 30th Division's "Lost Battalion" August 7th - 13th 1944.

After successfully overcoming the enemy across France through Orleans and Sens, the 35th Division attacked across the Mosseile. September 13th - 15th captured Nancy and by October secured Chambray driving the Nazi Germans to their border. After some rest and rehabilitation , the 35th Division moved to Arlon in Belgium and in December 25 - 26th took part in the fighting to relieve Bastone by eliminating four German divisions. By early 1945 after successfully engaging in many more battles traveling South from Belgium, reached the Rhine at Wesel, and smashed across the Herne Canal, reaching the Ruhr river in early April and was ordered to cross the Elbe. The 35th continued occupation until VE-day and arrived in New York City , September 10th 1945.

Map showing the theater tour of the 320th Infantry Division.

In his official report, Maj. Norman C. Carey reported that on April 12th, Gen. Baade received orders for the 35th Division to join the assault on the Elbe river, disengaging along the Rhine-Herne Canal, and turning over its sector to the 75th and 79th Divisions and pulling out units as soon as they could be released. Gen. Baade ordered the Division to move by combat teams as soon as they were able to do so, beginning with Combat team 137 on April 12th, followed by Combat team 320 on the 13th and Combat team 134 on the 14th, accompanied by attached tanks, tank destroyers. engineers, and anti-aircraft units, the 35th G.I.'s loaded into 2 & 1/2 ton trucks, 1/2 ton trucks and jeeps and barreled along the Autobahn through farmland, timber and scattered towns along the way. The 137th Combat team met no serious organized resistance as it closed into positions along the West bank of the Elbe. But the 320th Division was not so fortunate. After reaching the Elbe river South of Magdeburg and near Barby they were joined with the 83rd Division and on arrival ordered to attack at their position immediately across the Saale river where it joined the Elbe river and drive the Nazi Germans from the West bank of the Elbe. This action helped secure the bridgehead and permit the engineers to put up a second pontoon bridge across the Elbe without being under fire and supplementing the Harry Truman Bridge built in the initial crossing. This became the last coordinated major attack for the 35th Division and the last river crossing for the war.

Credits:

Click here
for more in formation
about the 35th Infantry Division.


War Photographs: From the 35th Infantry Division website, "The Campaign For Central Europe". Portrait from Rupert Patterson

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The Bill Of Rights. A Nation Born Of An Idea. The United States Of America

Freemasonry Is More Than A Fraternity. It Is An Expression Of Freedom.

The 1st Amendment: Congress shall make no law abridging freedom of religion, speech, press, assembly and petition.

The 2nd Amendment: The right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

The 3rd Amendment: there shall be no quartering of soldiers in a citizen's home without consent of the owner during times of peace or according to the strict letter of the law during times of war.

The 4th Amendment: The right of the poeple to be secure in their persons, houses, papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The 5th Amendment: The right of "Due Process of Law" to all citizens. No person can be prosecuted twice, "double jeopardy".

The 6th Amendment: the right to a "speedy and public" trial before an "impartial" jury.

The 7th Amendment: No civil case decided by a jury may be reexamined in any court of the United States.

The 8th Amendment: "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusuall punishments inflicted."

The 9th amendment: We can not know the conditions of future generations, therefore we each must do our part, through giant steps, to carry freedom one stage farther than where we found it.

The 10th Amendment: Powers not delegated expressly by the Constitution of the United States nor prohibited by the states are reserved to the states and to the people.

Saint Joseph Lodge #78 Celebrates 50 Year Member

Dean F Proffitt and wife Shirley were the center of attention at our last meeting Tuesday September 17th. Dean received his award for being a member in good standing for 50 years at St. Joseph Lodge #78. Retired from the St. Joseph Light and Power company after 37 years, Dean was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on August 16th 1960. Dean served in the military and was engaged in the Korean Theater.

Standing at Shirley's left is Timothy J. Conard our current Worshipful Master and to Dean's right is Junichiro Ichikawa originally from Japan and member of St. Joseph Lodge #78. Directly behind Shirley standing is Rite Worshipful Brother William J. Bowser, Past Master of St. Joseph Lodge in 1991 and current District Deputy Grand Master of the 7th District. Standing directly behind Worshipful Brother Timothy Conard is Alan Evans, Past Master of Beeville Lodge #261 in Beeville Texas. Standing in the center in the rear is Rite Worshipful Brother Jim Brown, Past Master of several Lodges in the district and Past District Deputy Grand Lecturer. Jim presided over the ceremony presenting Dean with his certificate and 50 year pin.

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Includes a rare interview with Dr. Robert Lomas,
author if "The Hiram Key".

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