FRIENDSHIP AND EXCELLENCE

Golden Rule has been blessed not only with a friendly spirit but with no end of "professional" Masonic talent-all the line officers, coaches, and with hardly exception by those taking candidates' examinations have striven for perfection in their ritualistic work.

Past Masters have attended in almost total strength at lodge installations, stated meetings, Past Masters' Night dinners, barbecues, and other affairs to the envy of most other San Jose lodges. Over the years they have exhibited another unique characteristic. They let the newly installed Worshipful Masters run the show without interference of any kind, but always have been eager and willing to assist singly or in number when requested to help solve any current problem. They have accepted a credo that might be summed up in such words as "you have had your turn, now let the Worshipful Master have his."

Golden Rule has had seven Pastors by Affiliation: Louis M. Kimberlin, William Wiley, Edgar W. Roberts, and Louis L. Mullins, all deceased, an honor now shared by William W. Eilers, Past Inspector of the 374th Masonic District and Past Master of Willow Glen Lodge No. 676; Alfred H. Robins, Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 2, Salt Lake City, Utah; and George Allen, Seat Pleasant AF&AM Lodge No. 218, District Heights, Md., all active and in fre- quent lodge and lodge affairs attendance.

Among Golden Rule 50-year members is John S. Hasen, who also was honored when he had reached his 50th year in 1974 as a Past Master of Golden Rule.

The Supreme Council of the 33rd Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction, U.S.A., has conferred the 33rd Degree on eight Golden Rule members-Horace Cureton, A.A. Hapgood, Charles D. Griffel, J. Ross Kennedy, Frank G. Freeman, Raymond E. Oberg, Charles J. McDonald, and David W. Knapp Sr.

(1920) IN THE BEGINNING

25 Master Masons gathered in the Masonic Temple, 272 South First Street, San Jose, California, on Thursday, Jan. 28, 1920, at 7:30 p.m. Their purpose was to take the preliminary steps necessary in the formation of a new Masonic Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the jurisdiction of California. Also present was the District Inspector, John P. Jarman. Bro. Albert Edan Sandbo, Past Master of San Jose Lodge No. 10 in 1917, was chosen to act as chairman, and Bro. Horace Miner Gruwell as secretary.

First Things First--A Name

The chairman stated the purpose of the meeting and suggested that the first order of business should be the selection of a name for the proposed new lodge. After discussion and a motion by Bro. John S. Hasen it was voted that the name be "Fellowship Lodge." By unanimous consent the following were chosen to be nominated and "respectfully recommended" in the peti- tion for dispensation to form a new lodge: Bro. Albert Edan Sandbo, Master; Bro. Louis Theron Smith, Senior Warden; and Bro. Alfred Adams Hapgood, Junior Warden. A petition for dispensation to form a new lodge then was prepared by Bro. H. Ray Fry, Clarence McWilliams, and Joseph Phillip Schaefer, and was addressed to the Most Worshipful Charles Albert Adams, Grand Master of Masons in California. The following Brethren signed the document, all being members of California lodges, save one, Bro. Frederick William lmker.

Charter Members

San Jose Lodge No. 10-Albert Edan Sandbo, Frank Valpey Campbell, George Eber Tarieton, Clarence McWilliams, Walter Armstead Folger, Alfred Adams Hapgood, Horace Miner Gruwell, Alfred Bertrand Cooper, Joseph Phillip Schaefer, John S. Hasen, William Grey Tayler, John Samuel Staub, Elmer Julius Chaboya, H. Ray Fry, James Louis Kimberlin.

Friendship Lodge No. 210-Horace Cureton, Ellis Lehr Jenkinson, George Clayton Hines, William Thomas Lloyd.

Fraternity Lodge No. 399-Louis Theron Smith, Past Master; Guy Ellsworth Marshall.

Liberty Lodge No. 299-Louis Melvin Kimberlin.

Guadalupe Lodge No. 237-Willard Barlett Rice.

Argonaut Lodge No. 461-Vincent Burton Stone.

Ivanhoe Lodge No. 446 (Missouri)-Frederick William lmker.

$9 Dues Collected

Bro. H. Ray Fry was unanimously selected to be Treasurer and collected $9 in dues from 15 of those present to defray the cost of the dispensation and other incidental expenses. The meeting was adjourned to be reconvened at the call of the chairman.

The second preliminary meeting was held in Masonic Temple on Feb. 16, 1920, at 7:30 p.m. It was learned that the name "Fellowship" was in use by a California lodge, and after considerable deliberation the name "Golden Rule" was selected with "Unity" as an alternate. Bro. Sandbo stated that arrangements had been made for use of the third floor lodge room on Monday evenings for the following rental: First three months, free; $25 per month thereafter, until the membership reached 100.

A third preliminary meeting was called by the chairman on March 8, 1920, to elect a Treasurer and a Secretary with this result: H. Ray Fry, Treasurer, and Willard B. Rice, Secretary, elected unanimously. The meeting adjourned in preparation for the first meeting of Golden Rule Lodge, U.D., later that evening.

First Meeting Under Dispensation

Let the record show, from the source, the minutes: "Hall of Golden Rule Lodge U.D., F.&A.M., San Jose, March 8, A.L. 5920. Pursuant to notice given by the chairman, the petitioners for a Dispensation to form and open a lodge at the place above named met in the lodge room at 8 p.m. with the signers of the petition being present. The meeting was called to order by District Inspector J.R Jarman and opened in the Third Degree. By his dir- ection the Secretary read the following:

At this point the Dispensation, signed by the Most Worshipful Charles Albert Adams, Grand Master, and attested by John Wicher, Grand Secretary, was read, thus setting Golden Rule Lodge in motion for the first time.

"The names of the elected and appointed officers for the new lodge were read by the Secretary: Albert Edan Sandbo, Worshipful Master; Louis Theron Smith, Senior Warden; Alfred Adams Hapgood, Junior Warden; H. Ray Fry, Treasurer; Willard Bartlett Rice, Secretary; William T. Lloyd, Chap- lain; John S. Hasen, Senior Deacon; Frank Valpey Campbell, Junior Deacon; Clarence McWilliams, Senior Steward; George Eber Tarleton, Junior Steward; Horace M. Gruwell, Marshal. District Inspector J.P. Jarman read the charges to the officers who then took their stations and the lodge was opened in the Third Degree of Masonry. Petitions for the degrees were received from Chester Taylor, Clarence Henry Waterman, Ernest Cleveland Fairchild, William Bariet and Simeon T. Andrews."

Simeon Andrews, First One Raised

Bro. T.P. Mitchell, member of Fraternity Lodge No. 399, became Tiler at the April 12 stated meeting. Five candidates were initiated at the special meeting April 19. Bro. Simeon Andrews was passed to the Degree of Fellow- craft on May 3 and raised May 17, 1920-first member to be raised in Golden Rule Lodge.

Golden Rule's first banquet was served April 19, 1920, arranged by the Junior Warden and Stewards. Two months later, June 14, by-laws were adopted and dues set at $9; application fee, $50; stated meetings scheduled the second Monday each month at 8 p.m.

Delegates Named to Grand Lodge

Important business was on the agenda for the stated meeting Sept. 13, 1920-selection of delegates to the annual Grand Lodge communication; namely, the Master and the Senior and Junior Wardens, who were ordered to prepare a petition for a charter and present it to the Grand Lodge for approval.

The Most Worshipful Grand Master, George F. Rodden, and his corps of Grand Lodge officers opened the Grand Lodge in our lodge room Oct. 18, 1920, for the purpose of constituting Golden Rule Lodge No. 479 and installing its officers.

A great many of the Grand Lodge stations were filled temporarily by prominent local Masons on this occasion. The charter was read by the Grand Secretary and the officers who had served since the Dispensation was issued March 8 were installed by the Grand Master. A banquet ensued.

To read about the first officers and the first past master click here.
Or, read Past Masters: A Closer Look from our home page.