HIRAM'S HISTORY

Hiram Lodge #50 has had a long history in Madison, Wisconsin. In 1844 Madison Lodge #5 was founded. Ten years later, 19 members left Madison #5 to found Hiram Lodge #50. On February 21, 1854, Hiram Lodge #50 was created by dispensation of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. Since Madison Lodge #5 disputed the right of the Grand Lodge to form a second Lodge in the City of Madison, without the permission of the established lodge ( Madison #5 ), Hiram Lodge #50 didn't recieve its charter until four months later; on June 14, 1854. On the day that Hiram Lodge recieved its Charter, there were 6000 persons living in Madison; Franklin Pierce was President and William Barstow was Governor. The ironclad battleship " Merrimac " was launched on the very day that Hiram Lodge recieved its charter. These were the origional 19 members of Hiram Lodge: Julius T Clark (WM) John Nelson Jones (SW) John Wright (JW) Asher Newton Cross (Tr) John W. Hunt (Se) Daniel M. Seaver (SD) James Halpin (JD) John R. Baltzell (SS) Charles Weed (JS) Algernon S. Wood (Tiler) Beriah Brown J.B. Bowen MD Jonathan Davis Ezra R. Gleason Alezander T. Gray John N. Jones Adolphus Menges Volcott W. Roth The Lodge met in the Oddfellows Building and in 1857 several brothers withdrew to create the German speaking Concordia Lodge #83.( which folded in 1882 ) The lodge moved from place to place until, in 1887, with Madison Lodge #5, the old Presbetyrian Church at the corner of Johnson St. and Wisconsin Ave. was purchased, refurbished and reopened as " Masonic Hall ". The building was replaced in 1925 with the present " Madison Masonic Center ". The 1860s were hard economic times but on May 26, 1863 the lodge was visited by Gen Tom Thunb, and in 1868 assisted in the laying of the cornerstone of the U.S. Courthouse at the corner of East Mifflin and Wisconsin Ave. The 1880s were also hard economic times and saw Captain Henry W. Quentmeyer, (who served as Master from 1897 to 1900 and set up the Financial Committee and Board of trustees) become a hero of the Spanish-American War. In 1917 the Dept. of defense closed the Masonic Temple to conserve energy in the winter months. As a response, Hiram Lodge purchased $1000 worth of Liberty Bonds to support the war effort in World War I. In World War II Capt. Leslie Gilbert, who was a member of Hiram Lodge, went down with his ship, also a hero. Famous Lodge brothers have counted Governors Fairchild and Rennebohm and several congressmen and senators. Hiram Lodge has contributed two Grand Masters to Wiscinson; PGM Ingvald Hembre in 1952 and PGM Dean Massey in 1990 and Past Master, D. James Childs, has served as Grand Treasurer.