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About The Big Timber Pioneer (Big Timber, Mont.) 1983-current | View This Issue
The Big Timber Pioneer (Big Timber, Mont.), 12 Dec. 2003, located at <http://montananewspapers.org/lccn/sn83002511/2003-12-12/ed-1/seq-5/>, image provided by MONTANA NEWSPAPERS, Montana Historical Society, Helena, Montana.
M a s o n s p l a y e d a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n e a r l y h i s t o r y o f M o n t a n a ; v i g i l a n t e s o r g a n i z e Week of December 12-18, 2003 — BIG TIMBER (MT) PIONEER — Page 5 Bannack, lusty and roaring infant o f the Grasshopper diggings, lay in the icy grip o f its first w inter. A solid and steadily thickening mass of ice covered the creek, broken only by the holes made by miners who laughed at the onslaught o f bitter winds and drifting snows as they carried on their feverish search for gold. White frozen smoke poured from the rude chimneys of the 200 log shacks and shanties. It was November. ItS62. In one of the smallest of the entile shelters lay a man-dying. The rigors and hardships of life in a primitive settlement had come to Bannack from St. Louis, knew that his eyes would never again look upon the green freshness o f spring Courageously he faced death, no fear m his fast dimming eyes. He groped for the hand of the friend who sat at his bedside, and turned his head, ' ll is almost the end.\ he whispered. “I could die so much more peacefully if I could know I would he buried by my brothers. Will it he possible?\ In firm strong assurance the friend gripped the dying man's hand. William Bell smiled faintly and closed his eyes. The following morning a notice was tucked on the wall of one of the public buildings: \All Master Masons fore gather at the cabin of Brother Miller on Yankee Flat.\ The time was designated. As the hour approached, solemn and serious groups of men began to wind their way through the drifts to the similar shelters in the settlement and selected for that reason. They glanced curiously at each other, the great majority of them discovering for the first time their brotherhood in a common order. But their greatest surprise was still in store. The cabin of Brother Miller was soon filled to overflowing-and still they came Prompted by the bclow-zero cold, those outside quickly suggested an adjournment to a larger building, one of the largest, in fact, m the camp. Even it was tilled to capacity. The hardy pioneers noted, too, that included in their membership were many of the outstanding leaders and citizens of the new camp. The following day. 76 Masons dropped the evergreen upon the grave of their departed brother. The revelation of power, both in numbers and in leadership, at once prompted the organization of a lodge at Bannack and application for a dispensation was made to the Nebraska Grand Lodge, then the nearest to Montana territory. The dispensation was granted Nathaniel P. Langford, famous chronicler of Montana’s early history, was named as the first master. James Dyke, the first senior warden, and John W Morrison, the first tumor warden It was dated April 27. 1863. Transportation in those day> was slow, however. By the time the application had made the long journey overland to Nebraska and the dispensation had made a correspondingly slow return, things had happened m Montana, gold had been discovered in Alder gulch with a resultant quick shift in the wealth-mad population Most of the applicants for the Bannack dispensation were gone. Thus it was that while the first dispensation for a lodge was granted to Bannack. the first lodge was actually established in Nevada City. Records of the Grand lodge of Nebraska are said to show that the Nebraska Grand Master on April I0, 1863, granted a dispensation to Brothers Mark A. Moore as worshipful master, Samuel W. Stanley as senior warden and Levy J Russell as junior warden. D. at Nevada City, Idaho territory and 13 others to open Idaho lodge U This lodge existed until June 23, 1864. and during its existence raised five or six brothers. Even before the burial of William Bell, a lodge of Masons had been opened and closed in Montana. There is no doubt that the Masonic order played an important part in the establishing of law and order in the territory. Several o f the leaders of the Vigilantes, and in fact much of the membership of that courageous body of men, were Masons. In fact. Cornelius Hedges, an early grand master of the order, made the well-supported statement that while all Vigilantes were in Masons, nearly all Masons in southwestern Montana were Vigilantes Paris S. Pfouts. first president of the Vigilantes’ society, and Wilbur F Sanders, official prosecutor, w'ho had won undying lame through lus fearless prosecution of George Ives, were both prominent Masons, while others in the organi/dtion included Neil Howie. John X Beidler. Charles S. Bagg. Thomas Baumc. Robert Hereford. John Fetherston. William Bcrkin, George Chrisinan. Alexander Davis. J M Fox. A B Dax is and Anton M Holier Earlier m 1863 the Masons ot Bannack. while awaiting their dispensation from Nebraska, had held a number ol social meetings. \In ihe midst of the terrors of that fearful period ol crime.’ said I anglord. “these social gatherings inspired us with a feeling of security which association in any other form never amid have done.\ Henry Plummer, leader of the road agents but also Beaverhead county peace officer, looked askance and with some apprehension upon these assemblages of strong men of the community-the only meetings to which he. as an \officer of the peace” could not gam admittance. Reputable historians say that the bandit chieftain even tried to become a member of the order but that the suspicions against him were too well founded. This statement, however, is misleading. Plummer may have wanted to become a Mason, hut it is doubtful if he actually took steps toward the attainment of the ambition, for the simple reason that no active lodge existed in Bannack to which he could have made formal application. As slated before, the dispensation arrived to late for the actual establishment of a lodge m the first capital. Plummer’s interest and his apprehension were well grounded. Only a few months after the sheriff stood beside a scaffold on a bleak hillside near Bannack and heard a Mason. Wilbur F Sanders, pronounce the finality of his doom, it is useless for you to beg for your life. That affair has been settled and cannot be altered. You are to be hanged!” And with that grim and S e e k h e l p i f y o u t h i n k y o u h a v e t h u m b j o i n t a r t h r i t i s By ELLIE URSINO PA-C Osteoarthritis affects about 40 percent of the population over the age o f 40 years old. It occurs at any joint but mostly those with major and repeated stress. It occurs in joints in response to normal aging, and those affected by major trauma. One area of the body that, if affected* by arthritis can cause major disability in daily activity and hobbies, is the thumb. Women arc twice as likely to be affected by osteoarthritis at the thumb joint than men. This major problem causes the decreasing ability to write, open doors/jars/cans, knitting and other fine motor activities with the thumb. The joint where the thumb attaches to the hand is called the carpometacarpal joint (CMC.) This joint is under constant stress. In some people the ligaments that hold the joint together may have extra laxity, in which the stability of the joint is affected. This can occur with normal wear and tear, geneti cally or with a traumatic injury. Sometimes no reason is found as to why the joint is so lax, such as the case with many post menopausal women with this problem. Symptoms start out with the base o f the thumb being sore where is attaches to the hand. The hand will feel weak, especially with any pinching type motion. Symptoms lend to worsen throughout the day with use of the thumb, and by nightume the thumb is aching and throbbing. Sleep may be affected because o f the pain, and this condi tion may be in association with carpal tunnel syndrome. With a physical exam the liga ments are tested, and in some cases the test can reveal bow hypermo- bile the joint is. Sometimes this can trigger concerns about systemic disease processes as well, such as rheumatoid arthritis and another disorder of hypermobility called Ehlere-Danlos syndrome; those should be looked into as a possible cause. An x-ray can be taken to help identity the degree of arthritis at this jo in t Keep in mind that pain can be severe even without any changes on x-ray. Treatment involves a variety of measures, such as splinting the thumb to help stabilize and prevent excessive movement of the entire thumb. There are thumb stabilizer splints that support the thumb but allow for movement o f the rest o f the hand. These are usually worn for up to six mouths. Taking anti- inftammatory and occasional steroid medications can help decrease the pain and inflam- maUon. Sometimes an injection of a steroid right into the joint can relieve pain and help with mobility. Conservative treatments should be tried for up to a year before a referral is warranted to an orthopedic specialist under most situations. Surgery may be indicat ed when conservative therapy has not worked and/or the pain has got ten to the point that it interferes with activities of daily living and functionality. This common problem can be managed by your current health care provider. If you have any ques tions ask instead of going through pain and dismobility. T he use of the hand is precious; there arc things to help prolong activities, even in those who d o develop arthritis. determined declaration. Montana’s reign of terror began to draw to a dose In the fall of 1863, the miners of Nevada City, a few miles down Alder gulch from Virginia City, made application for a dispensation which was granted by the Nebraska Grand lodge on Nov 17. 1863 A few days later, on Dec. 7. 1863, the Kansas Grand Lodge granted a dispensation to Masons of Virginia City under the leadership of Paris S. Pfouts. A second lodge of Masons was established in Virginia City shortly afterward under the Colorado jurisdiction. Incidental!), though the population has dwindled greatly since that time, both Virginia City lodges still exist As the death of William Bell has led to the first gathering of Masons in Bannack. so the passing of L. Rodney Pocock on March 7. 1865, resulted in the establishing of Helena lodge in that year When the Grand Lodge of Montana was established at Virginia City in January, 1866. Virginia City lodge became No. I of Montana. The second Virginia City lodge became Montana No.2. Helena was No.3. Nevada No.4, and the Morning Star o f Helena. No.5. By 1880. there existed in Montana I9 Masonic lodges. Besides those named, there were Gallatin No 6. Diamond City. No.7, King Salomon, No.9, Flint Creek. No II. Missoula, No.l3, Deer Lodge, No I4, Jefferson, No. 15, Bannack. No.I6, Silver Star, No. 17. Bozeman, No.l8, Sheridan. No.20, Glendale, No.23. Ml. Morian (Butte) No.24. and Fort Benton No.25. The first grand master of the Montana Grand lodge was John J. Hull of Virginia City lodge, elected on Jan. 26, 1866, after a heated battle Several Montana Masons, objected to Hull’s election to the high office on the grounds. according to Cornelius Hedges, fifth grand master, that \he was keeping a hotel and running a grand gambling hall!” \In session.” Hedges said, \there was a good deal more said of the person to be chosen as grand master than on the formation of a grand lodge It was a hot and stormy time from the moment we reached the hotel in Virginia City until we left one week later \ However, the future grand master added. \We closed in more harmony than we had met or acted in.\ Wilbur Fisk Sanders, already a territorial leader and destined to play an even more prominent part in Montana affairs in the years to come, was named as grand secretary Others of the fiist grand olTiceis were Lcander W. frary. deputy grand master: Cornelius Hedges, senior grand warden: Robert P. Scaly junior grand warden. Luther C Lee. grand treasurer, and Hugh Duncan. I- C Cornell. John Potter. Thoma.-» J Dimsdale. C. W Mather. I ewix Trapp and O P. Kavmoud appointive officers. It is interesting to note that one Utah Territory lodge Wasatch No 8. was given a charter by the Montana Grand lodge before the Utah Grand lodge was organized in 1872. Wasatch then became Utah’s No I. Moral standards of Montana’s early Masonry were high. The Grand lodge in 1870 resolved that “indulgence in the vices of i n t e m p e r a n c e . g a m b l i n g , licentiousness, and profanity by members of subordinate lodges in this jurisdiction, is a crime of virtual high treason to the most vital and essential tenets of Masonry.\ Reprinted from the March 15. 1934 issue o f the Big Timber Pioneer. Lucky to survive According to today's regulator, and bureaucrats, those of us who were kids in the I940's, ‘50's, ‘60's, ‘70’s probably shouldn't have sur vived. Our baby cnbs were covered with bright colored lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets, and when wc rode our bikes, we had no helmets. (Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.) As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts o r air hags. Riding in the buck of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the gar den hose and not from a bottle. Horrors! We shared one soft dnnk with four friends, from one bottle, and no one actually died from this. Wc ale cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never over weight because wc were always outside playing. We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the street lights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable. We would spend hours build ing our go-carts out o f scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out wc forgot the brakes. After run ning into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem. We did not have Playstations, Nintendo 64, X-Boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, video tape movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, per sonal computers, or Internet chat rooms. We had friends! We went outside and found them. We fell out o f trees, got cut and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these acci dents. We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms, and although we were told it would happen, wc did not put out very' many eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever. Wc rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door, or rang the bell or just walked in and talked to them. Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to leant to deal with disappointment. The idea of a parent bailing us out tf wc broke a law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. Imagine that! This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers and problem solvers and inventors, ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas. We had freedom, failure, suc cess and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. And, if you are lucky, you're one of them! Congratulations. J u s t F o r F u î t A L o v e L e t t e r I shall seek and find you... I shall take you to bed and have my way with you... I will make you ache, shake and sweat until you moan and groan... I will make you beg for mercy, beg for me to stop... I will exhaust you to the point that you will be relieved when I’m finished with you... And you will be weak for days. All my love, The Flu
