An Excerpt from the Wayfarers Lodge #1001 75th Anniversary Program Booklet, Oct 31, 1992
Historical
By Frank H. Welter Sr., P.M.
On February 5th, 1916, twenty five brethren from Evans #524, Park Ridge #873 and Wilmette #931, wet at the Evanston Masonic Hall, located at 810 Davis Street, Evanston, Illinois, with the idea to form a new lodge.
Brother George Tyson, M.D. was selected as the chairman and Brother Carl M. Cooley was selected as Secretary.
During this meeting, it was decided to meet on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. A committee was formed to select a name for the future lodge. Another committee was formed to select names for officers and yet another to start to draw up the by-laws.
At the next meeting held on February 16, 1916, twenty one brethren mat, at which time, the committees reported. Three names were suggested for the Lodge, which were, "Hiram", "Northwestern" and "Cosmopolitan". Dues in the amount of $5.00 were made to help with the expenses.
The third meeting was held on March 1, 1916 and out of nowhere, as far as the minutes show, the name of "Wayfarers" was picked as the new lodge name. A motion was made to make this a permanent organization and calling it the "Wayfarers Club". The motion passed.
During the April 19, 1916 meeting, the by-laws were sent to the Grand Lodge for approval and the fee for the degrees was fixed at $75.00 What would that amount to today? Maybe $750.00?
All during these meetings, there always appeared a bill for cigars.
On July 5th, 1916, the District Deputy Grand Master, Worshipful Brother Robert Holt, presided in the East and a letter from the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Ralph H. Wheeler, was read that instituted Wayfarers Lodge under dispensation. Seventy members had signed a petition to form this new lodge. The District Deputy then invested the jewels of their office and installed in their respective stations as places.
Bro. George Tyson, WM
Bro. George Baker, SW
Bro. E. G. Gross, JW
Bro. George Carmin, Treas.
Bro. Carl Cooley, Sec.
Bro. E. J. Brown, SD
Bro. W. D. Dickson, JD
Bro. Charles Karvin, SS
Bro. Fred L. Kerr, JS
After the by-laws were read and approved, they were then sent to the Grand Lodge for approval. During this meeting, there were twelve petitions for degrees read and referred to the investigation committee.
The remaining minutes of the Lodge under dispensation have been lost over the years.
The Lodge was constituted on November 15, 1916 and I can find nothing on who was there and who represented the Grand Lodge.
Thus our Lodge shall enter the last twenty five years before the century mark. I hope that this Lodge continues with the spirit of good fellowship which has been very prominent as long as I have been a member.
Good Luck Wayfarers,
Frank H. Welter Sr., P.M.
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