Union No. 43 / 3 History

The beginnings of Masonry in Oregon are customarily dated from the establishment of Multnomah Lodge No. 84 at Oregon City in 1847 under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Missouri.  Oregon Grand Lodge, constituted in 1851, re chartered Multnomah Lodge as No. 1 and likewise separated Willamette No. 2, Portland, and Lafayette No. 3 from affiliation with the Grand Lodge of California.

Masonry in McMinnville, Oregon, took a preliminary step as early as 1860 when a dispensation for a lodge here, under the sponsorship of Lafayette No. 3, was issued at the Tenth Annual Grand Lodge Communication at Salem.  Events, however, were to delay the actual chartering of Union Lodge No. 43 for another eight years.

John C. Wilkinson, Worshipful Grand Historian of the Oregon Grand Lodge, writes in his History of A. F. & A. M. of Oregon that “McMinnville Lodge No. 31, after waiting several months to receive the charter granted in 1860, had decided the members no longer wanted it and requested the return of their money.  The delay was caused by the loss of their first charter in the Champoeg flood; a second charter was issued and, in due time, signed by the several officers, but the man carrying it lost it again while fording a stream; some two weeks later it was found, somewhat damaged, but before it could reach McMinnville, the brethren there, diminished in numbers by the exodus to the mines, informed the Grand Secretary that they did not want it.”

Volume One of the Lodge Minutes records “in pursuance to a dispensation granted by Most Worshipful Grand Master A. A. Smith, A. F & A. M., dated at Eugene City October 19th, A. D. 1867, to J. A. Richardson, Worshipful Master; J. M. Pierce, Senior Warden; and C. D. Johnson, Junior Warden, and a constitutional member of the Brethren” the first regular communication of Union Lodge No. 43 was held in a hall at the southeast corner of 3rd and Cowls streets.  Present were visiting brethren from Lafayette Lodge No. 3, Amity Lodge No. 20 and Jennings Lodge No. 9.
Highlight of the second quarter of Union Lodge No. 43 history seems to have been the building of the present Masonic Building on 3rd street in the fall of 1914.  The Telephone-Register of that year notes it as “the largest business block in Yamhill County.”  The news account further described the building as approximately 90x100 feet, three stories and basement, of white brick from the native clay at Willamina and costing approximately $40,000.  The new Masonic Building replaced an earlier Temple build on the same site in 1882 at a cost of “not more than $4,000.”  Before 1882 the lodge had met on the second floor of several buildings in the vicinity of 3rd and “C” streets; during the construction of the present building meetings were authorized in the Flynn Building at the southwest corner of 3rd and Baker streets.

Records in the cornerstone of the 1882 building were found water-soaked beyond recognition.  In ceremonies at 3 p.m. October 14 for the cornerstone of the 1914 building, the deposit was made in a copper box lined with glass and covered with a coat of cement.  Items deposited included a brief history of Union Lodge by Secretary Dr. Leroy Lewis, a Masonic history by Brother O. O. Hodson, photographs, a Masonic Directory of 1913, and a Bible donated by Brother B. F. Rhodes.  Judge George H. Burnett of Salem officiated and The Telephone-Register reports “certain ritualistic ceremonies were performed by the brotherhood with corn, wine and oil.”

Brother Lewis closes his cornerstone history with the following paragraph: “The lodge since its organization has had a migratory existence but with the construction of this building it is to be hoped that the brethren have found a permanent home for many years to come.”

The new Temple was provided with electric fixtures for $250, carpets for $889, and a lodge set, including quarter sawed oak desk and altar with filigreed columns, and leather cushioned officer chairs with oak backs, etc. at a cost of $1468.  Earlier in the century the lodge had received as a gift from Brother Captain H. L. Heath three heavy brass candle sticks for use at the altar.  Brother Heath had salvaged these items from a ruined building in the Philippine Island during the Spanish-American War.  (In 1952 altar tapers with emblems for elements were given by Brother H. Wayne Stanard.)  Lodge records of 1917 record also the gift of an illuminated letter “G” made and presented by Brother Milton McGuire.

In June 1897 the Lodge acquired its first addition to the Masonic Cemetery, two and one-half acres of land for $100 and the right to a certain spring of water for $125.  Brother William Chrisman’s will began a Trust Fund of $5,000 to beautify and maintain the cemetery in 1904.  The lodge established a five-member commission, with overlapping terms of office, to supervise and manage this Fund.  Money hereafter coming into possession in trust in connection with the cemetery was to become a part of the Chrisman Trust, which today exceeds $50,000.

Free Masonry has everywhere been always a more matter of men than of buildings, ritual, or procedure.  Some of those men have been more prominent than others in the public affairs of Union Lodge No. 43.  Their names, including those of more than 80 Past Masters, are a matter of conspicuous record.  All honor is their due.  But in the highest sense, the history of this lodge – its first century of achievement – has been written in the hearts of all its brethren, a dedicated inscription to be read only by the Divine Creator himself.

Lafayette No. 3 consolidated with Union No. 43 in 1990 which caused the name of the McMinnville Masonic Lodge to be Changed to its current name of 

  
Union No. 3 A. F. & A. M.