Masonic Dedication

Tillman County Historical Society

Annual Meeting

April 22, 2012

Members of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Oklahoma (at right) dedicated cornerstones at the Tillman County Historical Society's annual meeting.

 Stones Dedicated in Masonic Ceremony

Officials of the Oklahoma Grand Masonic Lodge came to Frederick on Sunday afternoon, April 22, to dedicate old and new cornerstones at the Tillman County Historical Society’s Pioneer Townsite Museum.

Grand Master Randall Rogers of McAlister led the ceremony which is largely unchanged from the 1922 Masonic dedication of the cornerstone at the old Frederick High School (Central Elementary). Two new stones were dedicated at the April 22 ceremony – a Masonic stone and a stone to represent the Pioneer Townsite. All three stones will be displayed in a permanent monument that will be erected in coming months at the museum.

The April 22, 2012, dedication was set exactly 33 years after dedication of the Tillman County Historical Society’s initial project – restoration of the 1902 Horse Creek School. On April 22, 1979, approximately 700 people gathered on a Sunday afternoon to dedicate the schoolhouse. The one-room Horse Creek School still stands as an anchor of the museum complex.

Masonic Grand Master Randy Rogers reaches for the winning ticket.

Raffle of Caboose Reproduction

Following dedication of the stones, a drawing was held to determine winner of the historical society’s Frisco caboose reproduction.

     Grand Master Randy Rogers did the honors of drawing the ticket. Winner was Cade Varner, the grandson of Lori and Keith Varner of Frederick.

1922 FHS Cornerstone

Early photo of the 1922 Frederick High School.

1922 Corner Stone Rededicated

     Masons from Oklahoma's Grand Lodge will rededicate the original cornerstone from the recently razed 1922 Frederick High School (later Central Grade School) in ceremonies at the Pioneer Townsite Museum on Sunday afternoon, April 22, 2012. The ceremony will begin at 2:00 p.m. and will be part of the Tillman County Historical Society's 2012 annual meeting.

Preserved cornerstone from 1922 school

     The public is invited to attend.

     The cornerstone will be on permanent display at the museum and will eventually be part of a monument that will be constructed using brick from the 1922 school.

     The school stood for almost 90 years at South 12th and Dahlia in Frederick.

     Masons first dedicated the cornerstone when the building was under construction in a ceremony that was held on Tuesday afternoon, June 13, 1922.


     Articles about the original dedication from The Frederick Free Press follow:

From The Frederick Free Press, June 8, 1922

CORNERSTONE IS TO BE LAID TUESDAY

Past Grand Master Joe W. Morris, of Snyder, will act as master of ceremonies in the laying of the $150.00 corner stone for the high school auditorium and gymnasium, which will take place at 2 o’clock Tuesday afternoon (June 13, 1922) at the new high school building, in charge of Frederick lodge No. 249, A.F. & A.M. The Masons will meet at the lodge room at 2 o’clock and march to the high school building in a body.

Stone as it sat at northwest corner of the school.

A.M. Dennis, master of the lodge, has named the following officers for the event.

J.H. Zumwalt, grand marshal; L.C. Harris, grand tyler; R.H. Sims, grand persuivant; E.A. Hall, grand steward; R. N. Dennis, junior steward.

F.W. Hurst, grand lecturer; S.J. Mathies, grand orator; Rev. G.A. Caatfield, grand chaplain; R.F. Steward, brand bible bearer; Dr. J.A. Gillis, grand secretary; H.V. Worthington, grand treasurer; J.B. Wilson, grand senior warden; W.G. Roe, junior warden; Geo. McLellan, grand deputy master; J.W. Morris, grand master; A.M. Dennis, grand senior deacon; I. Ferguson, grand junior deacon; R.J. Harris, grand architect.

From The Frederick Free Press, June 15, 1922

CORNER STONE FOR THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL LAID TUESDAY

With a large crowd present at the new high school building and auditorium site on Twelfth Street the Frederick Masons laid the cornerstone for the structure Tuesday afternoon shortly after 2 o’clock. The Masons met at their hall and marched to the building headed by the Frederick Commercial Band. After a few numbers by the band the service was held. The ceremonies consisted of addresses, prayers and an ode, after which under the direction of acting Grand Master J.W. Morris the spread on the stone.

Splendid prospects for a bumper plenty, peace and gladness were corn, oil and wine, symbols of peace and gladness, were spread on the stone.

In a brief speech by Rev. Robert Hogson, pastor of the First Presbyterian church at Altus, he told of the work and origin of the Masons, of what they had done and were doing for the civilization.

 Mr. Morris was assisted in the laying of the stone by the officers of the Frederick Lodge No. 249.

The ceremonies were most impressive and a great many of the citizens were present for the occasion. Most of the downtown stores closed from 2:30 to 3:30.