Wyoming Logo is Exclusive Property of Mary and Don Saban.

A number of Masons living in Cody, Wyoming, on March 26, 1903, secured recommendation from Signet lodge at Meeteetse, which held jurisdiction over that territory at that time, that a local lodge, to be known as Shoshone lodge, be established at Cody, and the petition for dispensation to organize the new lodge was signed by the following Masons, who already held membership in various lodges of Nebraska, Illinois, Montana, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, New York, District of Columbia, Oregon and Wyoming: W. J. Kissick, S. Conant Parks, Fred C. Barnett, John L. Burns, J. G. Lane, John K. Calkins, Mark Chamberlin, Louis Howe, George B. Taylor, Abram C. Newton, H. B. Robertson, Charles Anton Marston, Stillie Riddle, John H. Peake and E. M. Bent. The following were named for the first officers under dispensation: John L. Burns, Worshipful Master; John K. Calkins, Senior Warden; and George B. Taylor, Junior Warden. The petition was forwarded to Grand Master Charles N. Potter, who granted the dispensation on August 7, 1903. On September 2, 1903, the charter was granted to Shoshone lodge, and we were given number 21. The following are listed as its charter members: John L. Burns, John K. Calkins, George B. Taylor, Fred C. Barnett, E. M. Bent, Mark Chamberlin, H. W. Darrah, Thadeus Gregory, Louis Howe, W. J. Kissick, J. G. Lane, C. A. Marston, A. C. Newton, S. C. Parks, J. H. Peake, H. B. Robertson, T. S. Riddle, J. M. Schwoob, H. W. Weston and J. T. Bradbury. The lodge was duly constituted by Brother Elijah P. Bowman as Deputy Grand Master, and the following officers installed: John L. Burns, Worshipful Master; John K. Calkins, Senior Warden; George B. Taylor, Junior Warden; S. Conant Parks, treasurer; H. B. Robertson, secretary; Mark Chamberlin, Senior Deacon; Fred C. Barnett, Junior Deacon; Louis Howe, Senior Steward; John H. Peake, Junior Steward; and J. G. Lane, tyler.

The first lodge meetings were held on the second floor of a frame building which was situated on the main street of the town. The lodge furniture was exceedingly plain, the altar being two nail kegs and a board, and benches used for chairs. In 1906 the lodged moved into the I. 0. 0. F. hall which it rented for two nights each month and here it continued its communications until the fall of 1913 when the Masonic temple was completed. Many hardships bad been encountered and overcome before this temple was finally completed. In 1911 the Cody Masonic Building Company was organized for the purpose of erecting the new temple, the building of which was not begun until the following year, and when it was nearly completed it was blown down by a heavy windstorm, and there being no insurance this disaster proved considerable loss. Work was resumed, however, in spite of the fact that the double expense of building and rebuilding put the lodge heavily in debt. Seven thousand dollars was borrowed on a lodge guaranty and after the lodge moved into its new quarters it paid regular rentalt to the Cody Masonic Building Company. For the next few years its debts and mortgages amounted to something like $35,000, which amount was more than the en-tire temple was valued at at that time and for a time it looked as though the Masons of Cody would lose their Masonic home. Foreclosure proceedings were started against the lodge, but the majority of the faithful brethren who were loathe to give up their home responded to the occasion. On August 20, 1917, they filed articles of incorporation which formed Shoshone lodge No. 21, and for several months untold efforts were spent devising plans whereby the property could be saved, and on December 20, 1917, a resolution was introduced into the lodge to issue bonds, as a corporation, to the amount of $14,000 in order to redeem the first mortgage on the temple, or secure an assignment of the certificate of sale, said bonds to be secured by the real estate. This resolution was accepted and passed, and much credit is due to past Grand Masters Charles H. Townsend, Marion P. Wheeler, Harold Banner and Herbert J. King for their financial assistance and for the floating of these bonds, and Shoshone lodge No. 21 feels that it owes a lasting gratitude to these public spirited men and Masons for their encouragement at a time when it was so sorely needed. Their assistance instilled new enthusiasm into each member, who realizing that the integrity and honor of his lodge was at stake, resolved to do all he could without injury to himself or family and at a specially called meeting for that purpose all the members appeared and rendered all the assistance financially that they possibly could. Five thousand dollars was raised to care for the floating indebtedness and arrangements were then made to take care of the unsecured debts. From that time on the financial difficulty of the lodge gradually lightened and since 1917 the indebtedness has been decreased by one half, much valuable aid also having been given by Darius Chapter No. io of Royal Arch Masons and Constantine Commandery No. 9 of Knights Templar, which latter two Masonic bodies, together with Cedar Chapter No. 14 of the Eastern Star, and the Cody DeMolay Chapter for boys, are now also enjoying this beautiful temple as their home.

Members who have served Shoshone lodge as Worshipful Master since its formation are the following: John L. Burns, 1903 and 1904; Mark Chamberlin, 1905; Fred C. Barnett, 1906; John K. Calkins, 1907; L. L. Newton, 1908; G. W. Wilcox, 1909; J. T. Bradbury, 1910; R. C. Shultz, 1911; Fred A. Dayton, 1912; G. H. Hayes, 1913 and 1914; Marion Williams, 1915; H. W. Darrah, 1916; H. F. Bell, 1917 and 1918; R. W. Allen, 1919; James W. Rousseau, 1920; Carl M. Cox, 1921; F. F. McGee, 1922; O.F. Koenig, 1923; Charles Gawthrop, 1924.

Since the beginning of the lodge with 20 charter members in 1903 it now has a membership of 135 Master Masons, according to its last report to the Grand Lodge at the annual session in August, 1924.

A Little bit o' sunshine

An' a little bit o' rain,

A little bit o' music,

An' a little bit o' pain

A little bit o' playtime,

A little bit o' strife,

With lots o' time for lovin',

That is life.

A little bit o' weepin',

A time for sheddin' tears,

A little bit o' heartache,

Sprinkled all along th' years;

A little bit o' sorrow

That cuts you like a knife,

Jus' to make you sense th'

gladness

That is life.

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