History of Vulcan #229

The History of Vulcan Lodge #229, Walnut, Kansas.

Vulcan Lodge #229, Walnut, Kansas was chartered on February 20, 1884. Per the annual report sent to the Grand Lodge of Kansas on January 7, 1884; the Lodge membership was as follows:

James M. Goff - Master
Henry B. Bell - Senior Warden
Enoch M. Lyness - Junior Warden
Sidney P. Schilling - Secretary
Nathan B. Gregory - Treasurer
Charles Stevens - Senior Steward
Samuel M. Gwin - Senior Deacon
William J. Prewett - Junior Steward
William H. Miller - Junior Deacon
Abel Long - Tyler

Other members were: George G. Cummings (raised Oct 24, 1883), George W. Ermey (raised Oct. 10, 1883), Edward Fitzgerald (raised Aug. 25, 1883), Charles McCullough (raised Sept. 19, 1883), Isaac M. Mills, John W. Pelsue (raised Aug. 15, 1883), and Frank Swinger (raised Dec12, 1883).

The following information from 1884 to 1918 was taken from the Lodge register of members and the Annual Reports to Grand Lodge. The Lodge record book with minutes from 1883 to 1918 was destroyed in the fire that burnt the lodge hall in 1969.

April 12, 1884 - Robert A. Cunningham raised.
May 10 - Edward E. Pelsue raised.
July 26 - Henry H. Schlictiug raised.
Aug. 9 - Gillard G. Mapes raised.
Oct. 25 - Sebo Viets raised.

June 30, 1885 - Henry E. Rakestraw raised.
July 10 - David B. Gregory raised.
July 23 - Daniel Palmer raised.

Feb. 13, 1886 - Leroy Tramer raised.
Feb. 20 - Bushrod W. Cornwell raised.
July 10 - Samuel F. Malone raised.
July 14 - Milfred E. Howe raised.
July 16 - Philander W. Curtis raised.

Feb. 5, 1887 - Thomas M Smart raised.
May 14 - Louis Chafoman raised.
May 21 - Alfred Warzel raised.
July 8 - Joseph Hitken and Phillip W. Hinsen raised.
Aug. 27 - William B. Ash and Mervin Rakestraw raised.
Nov. 26 - Thomas F. Jones raised.
Dec. 24 - Harry H. Ledlie, telegrapher, raised.

Feb. 29, 1888 - Henry C. Long raised.
April 25 - William C Allen raised.

Jan. 12, 1889 - A.F. Myers raised.
Feb. 9 - James R. Ellis raised.
Feb. 16 - William H Elliott raised.
July 20 - John C. Myers raised.
Oct. 5 - Philip P. Campbell, lawyer, raised.

March 1, 1890 - Charles M. Allen raised.
May 3 - Walter H. Lewis raised.
May 10 - Ralph A. Gillette and George M. Cassidy raised.
May 17 - Andrew M. Patton and George J. Munn, 34, carpenter, raised.
June 14 - Andrew P. Mattson raised.
July 26 - William H. Shireman and Perry A. Morrison raised.
Dec 20 - John Hunker raised.
Dec 22 - Neil McNeil raised.

March 27, 1891 - James Fitzgerald raised.
May 23 - Lewis Hess raised.
Sept. 17 - Pierce Galleher raised.
Oct 17 - Rice B. McCutcheon and Jerry Coover raised
Nov 28 - George A. Long raised.
Dec. 10 - Enoch L. Enloe, teacher, raised.

Mar. 12, 1892 - Emanuel Damerell raised.
June 4 - James E. Randolph raised.
Aug. 6 - William Smith raised.

Sept. 28, 1893 - John A. Gwin raised.

July 14, 1894 - Frank A. Birdwell raised.
Dec 8 - Rolla E. Morgan raised.

Aug. 3, 1895 - William C. Lemler, teacher, raised.
Nov. 2 - John B. McClure raised.
Nov. 30 - John C. McClay raised
Dec. 14 - Oswell Carter raised.

Feb. 5, 1896 - Benjamin F. Summers raised.
March 28 - John W. Morrow, merchant, raised.

Feb. 13, 1897 - Manford Bannam raised.

July 2, 1898 - Alfred D. Orrick raised.
July 16 - Ulrich Jerrett raised

Aug 19, 1899 - William C. Ferg raised.
Sept. 16 - William E. Gregory, farmer, raised.

1900

Jan. 13, 1900 - George H. Hamm, farmer, raised.

Mar. 1, 1901 - Homer M. Jones raised.
April 13 - Harry M. Erhard raised.
June 29 - Carl C. Myers raised.

March 22, 1902 - Roscoe Harlan, farmer, raised.

Feb. 7, 1903 - Julian C. Petit raised.
Feb. 9 - William T. Wallace, 24, farmer, raised.
Mar. 28 - Earnest W. Singleton raised.
April 16 - Lewis M. Kellenbach raised.
May 12 - William T. Hite raised.
May 21 - Charles H. Daggett raised.
June 1 - George E. Hill raised.
June 6 - Fred H. Buchanan, lumber dealer, raised.

July 23, 1904 - Aaron Beever raised.
Sept. 24 - William M. May raised.
Sept. 30 - Francis M. Taylor raised.
Nov. 19 - Leonard Sigler raised.

April 21, 1905 - Isaac E. Clark, grain dealer, raised.
April 29 - Parley E. Berry raised.
June 14 - Rolla B. Stafford raised.
June 15 - John A. Martin, printer, raised.
June 17 - James R. Cox raised.
June 20 - Arthur L. Stevenson raised.

March 3, 1906 - George Goff, 39, banker, raised.
April 7 - Albert J. Seltsim raised.
April 10 - Chester A. Collins raised.
April 13 - Albert W. Hess raised.
April 27 - John A. Hess, 34, hardware merchant, raised.
May 1 - Thomas J. Woodworth raised.
May 5 - Fred W. Geib, 23, railroad clerk, raised.
May 16 - Douglas M. Whitehead, farmer, raised.
July 21 - Charles F. Eldredge, hardware clerk, raised.
July 24 - Warren W. Stevenson raised.
July 28 - William D. Singleton raised.
Aug 4 - Josiah I. Dillenbach raised.
Sept 13 - Ernest Tannehill raised.
Dec. 8 - Moses H. Morrison raised.
Dec. 26 - William Roy Cleveland, 26, teacher, raised.

Jan. 4, 1907 - Lewis H. DeVrese and William Wann raised.
Jan 11 - Ernest W. Jones raised.
Mar 23 - Fred J Warzel raised.
Apr. 13 - Orson F. Lewis raised.
Aug.26 - George W. Singleton, contractor, raised.
Dec. 23 - John W. Mitchell, farmer, raised.

Jan. 23, 1908 - Theodore Beeler raised.
Feb. 1 - Rufus W. Blain raised.
April 11 - Charles Burns, farmer, raised.

May 29, 1909 - Fred T. Griffith, farmer, raised.

1910

April 2, 1910 - Albert Coghill, 43, operated grocery and bulk oil company, raised.
May 21 -Chancey C. Simmons raised.

March 30, 1912 - Isaac W. Teeple, 44, undertaker, raised.

April 19, 1913 - William E. May raised.

Above is a photo on a post card of Main Street, Walnut, Kansas. It was post marked 1914.
Mar. 21, 1914 - Ora Hendricks and Lewis Icke raised
Apr. 18 - William Sigler raised.
Sept. 12 - Augustus E. Hewin raised.
Sept.19 - Alexander Bryans and Clarence H. Pate (for Cherokee Lodge #119), 32, teacher, raised.
Oct. 8 - Samuel L. Hugo, farmer, raised.

May 8, 1915 - William S. Pate, teacher, raised.
May 15 - Christopher C. Groomer, 37, clerk at Carlton store, raised.

June 10, 1916 - Charles V. Kensinger, farmer, restaurant & bakery owner, raised.
June 24 - Elra L. Robison, 30, hardware merchant, raised.
July 1 - Calvin Leroy “Roy” Robison, 33, hardware merchant, raised.


The following are highlights taken from the minutes of the Lodge record book beginning with June 22, 1918. The lodge had stated communications on the Saturday on or before the full moon. The first minutes were from the meeting on June 22, 1918 with James A. Martin as Master and James E. Miller as Secretary. Martin owned the Walnut Eagle newspaper and Miller was the town postmaster. At this meeting they approved the use of the Lodge Hall by the Red Cross. Other events of note from the record book are listed below.

July 5, 1918 – Walter A. Roberts, minister, raised to Master Mason.
July 24 - Raymond L. Coghill, merchant, raised.
Nov. 4 – Martin Melvile, 35, physician, raised to Master Mason.
Nov. 16 – Ralph A. Gillette restored.

Jan. 27, 1919 – Lawrence F. Bowles, 28, farmer, raised.
Feb. 8 – Dues raised to $2.50 per year.
Feb. 17 - R. Henry Shireman, 32, farmer, raised.
April 18 - William Knifong raised.
June 24 - Earnest L. Vehlow, 24, clerk, by special dispensation was raised in two weeks.
Nov. 11 - Lon Allen, 39, harness and shoe repair, raised.
Nov. 28 - Vernon E. Babcock, 26, lumberyard employee, raised.
Dec. 5 - Guy F. Carlton, merchant, raised.
Dec. 26 - Raymond L. Cottrell, 24. Student and former soldier. raised.

1920

Jan. 20, 1920 - Reported that Lodge had $271.71 in the bank. Clarence N. Pate transferred from Cherokee Lodge # 119.
March 29 - Albert F. Schueneman, 47, farmer, raised.
April 2 - Henry J. Miller, 29, dentist, raised.
May 1 - William E. Gregory transferred from Pugallup, Washington. Lodge voted to buy store building below the lodge hall.
May 29 - Frank Sutherland transferred from Knoxville, Illinois.
June 4 - J. Elsworth McChittick, 40, tailor, and W. Leon Mann, 44, farmer, raised.
Sept. 25 - Francis M. Wax transferred from Imogene, Iowa.
Oct. 26 - Wilbur O. Carr, 51, driller, raised.
Nov. 19 - Graydon F. Merion, 32, statistician, raised.
Nov. 26 - Carl Edward Wample raised.
Dec. 13 - Harleigh B. Kensinger, 21, mail clerk, raised.

Jan. 14, 1921 - Harold R. Stephans, 25, farmer, raised.
April 4 - Arlie F. Burris, 25, clerk, raised.
May 9 - Ruben A. Houdashelt, 43, laborer; William Milton Welty, 49, butcher; Charles A. Clark, 36, grain elevator manager; and Fred V. Bowles, 22, farmer raised. Per the article from the Walnut Eagle, Vulcan Lodge sent out invitations because it was raising four candidates in one day. Masons from Hepler, Savonburg, Girard, Stark, Kimball, Urbana, Hiattville, Elsmore, and Marmaton, Kansas and St. Joseph and Galt, Missouri were in attendance.
June 17 - Edward B. Hickman, 54, banker, raised.
June 24 - Henry A. Houdashelt, 21, stock clerk, raised.
Aug. 19 - Fred R. Vehlow raised.
Aug. 26 - Oliver L. Killough, 28, oil tank driver, raised.
Sept. 17 - Charles R. McElwain, transferred from Genesco Lodge 361, Genesco, Kansas and dues were voted to be raised to $3.00 per year beginning the next year.


The following is taken from the 1922 Lodge Directory printed by the Walnut Eagle with photos of all lodge officers. The lodge initiation fee was $40.00; $15.00 was to accompany the petition, $15.00 was for the Entered Apprentice degree, $10.00 was for the Fellow Craft degree, and there was no fee for the Master Mason degree. At the time of printing, the 54 resident brethren were:

Henry E. Action Lon Allen Lawrence F. Bowles Fred V. Bowles
Arlie F. Burns Albert L. Coghill Isaac E. Clark George G. Cummings
Guy F. Carlton Ray N. Cottrell Arthur R. Davis Emmanuel Damerell
Fred W. Geib Chris C. Groomer David B. Gregory William E. Gregory
George Goff Fred T. Griffith George H. Hamm Roscoe C. Harlan
John A. Hess Augustis E. Hewitt Samuel L. Hugo Ruben A. Houdashelt
William R. Hickman Hobart R. Hickman Henry A. Houdashelt Charles V. Kensinger
William Knifong Harleigh B. Kensinger James E. Miller John A. Martin
John W. Michel W. Leon Mann Charles R. McElwain Robert E. Oldham
William S. Pate Clarence H. Pate Roy Robison Elra L. Robison
William H. Shireman Leonard Sigler William Sigler Rolla B. Stafford
Andrew P. Stephens Harold R. Stephens Albert F. Schueneman Frank Sutherland
Isaac W. Teeple Fred R. Vehlow James P. Woodworth Carl E. Wampler
Francis M. Wax William M. Welty

The 45 non-resident brethren were:

Fred H. Buchanan- Centerville, Kansas Rufus W. Blain- Ottawa, Kansas
Orlando L. Bower- Salem, Illinois Parley E. Berry- Big Springs, Alberta
Charles Burns- Girard, Kansas Vernon E. Babcock- Pittsburg, Kansas
Philip P. Campbell- Pittsburg, Kansas Raymond L. Coghill- Tulsa, Oklahoma
Thomas O. Carter- Barstow, California Chester A. Collins- Deridder, Louisiana
William R. Cleveland- Whittier, California J. Ellsworth McChittick- Fresno, California
Wilbur O. Carr- Caney, Kansas Charles A. Clark- Girard, Kansas
Charles F. Emery- Hammond, Illinois Charles Eldredge- Buhl, Idaho
Enoch L. Enloe- Socorro, New Mexico Harry O. Finley- Basin, Wyoming
Ralph A. Gillette- Nevada, Missouri William M. Holeman- Glendale, California
William T. Hite- Kinsley, Kansas Edward B. Hickman- Jefferson City, Missouri
Oliver L. Killough- Savonburg, Kansas William C. Lemler- Girard, Kansas
Karl C. Meyer- Girard, Kansas William E. May- San Diego, California
Moses H. Morrison- Girard, Kansas Jasper Marlatt- Los Angeles, California
Edward Moyer- Elkhart, Kansas Martin Mehrle- Pittsburg, Kansas
Henry J. Miller- Erie, Kansas Graydon F. Merion- Kenvir, Kentucky
John W. Morrow- Craigmyle, Alberta Orlin L. Pruitt- Kansas City, Kansas
William D. Petit- U. S. Army Walter A. Roberts- Towanda, Kansas
Arthur L. Stevenson- Coalinga, California Warren W. Stevenson- Los Angeles, California
George W. Singleton- Clovis, New Mexico Ernest L. Vehlow- Wynona, Oklahoma
William T. Wallace- Cassoday, Kansas Thomas J. Woodworth- Los Altos, California
Fred J. Warzel- Hiattville, Kansas William Wonn- Garden City, Kansas
Douglas M. Whitehead- Girard, Kansas

The 39 brethren that had passed away since the founding of the lodge were:

Enoch M. Lyness Sidney P. Schilling Charles Stevens Abel Long
Nathan B. Gregory John W. Pelsue Edward Fitzgerald Edward E. Pelsue
Jacob B. Watson Alexander Webster Absalom C. Attkisson Thomas M. Smart
Philander W. Curtis William B. Ash Alfred Warzel James M. Goff
Samuel W. Mills Thomas B. McGuire George H. McKee William A. Embree
Thomas Thornburg James M. Fitzgerald William J. Hite S. B. Schrader
Samuel S. Flournoy John F. Miller Archie Markham Henry Damerell
Homer M. Jones Mitchell C. Wilson Ira A. Elledge William S. Finley
Robert A. Cunningham D. Richard Smith William H. May Aaron Bever
Ernest L. Jones Robert J. Moyer John C. Meyer


The following are highlights taken from the minutes of the Lodge record book.

Jan. 6, 1922 - William R. Hickman, 27, bank cashier, raised.
Jan. 7 - Robert E. Oldham transferred from Fulton Lodge 210, Fulton, Kansas. Hobart R. Hickman, 23, insurance agent, raised.
June 3 - Mack D. Scarbrough, 42, railroad section foreman, petitioned and vote was cloudy.
June 23 - Oscar A. Conley, 45, railroad section foreman, raised.
Sept. 22 - Lorenzo D. Conrad, 62, farmer, raised.
Nov. 15 - Phillip H. Clark raised.
Nov. 24 - Buford L. Temple, 21, furniture and undertaking store, raised.
Nov. 28 - Floyd W. Kensinger, 21, baker, raised.
Dec. 2 - announced that Phillip H. Clark, 21, bank clerk, originally from Walnut was raised by Victory Lodge #481 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Dec. 9 - Clifton C. Everts, 25, carpenter, raised.

Jan. 23, 1923 - David B. Gregory one of the oldest members of the lodge passed away. David was one of the founding members of the Walnut Chapter of the Eastern Star.
Jan. 27 - Ernest W. Morgan, 25, draftsman, petitioned and voted was cloudy.
April 30 - Harold A. Shireman, 29, farmer, raised.
May 9 - Byrl J. Johnson, farmer, raised.
May 14 - Guy V. Taylor, 22, farmer, raised.
July 26 - George G. Cummings one of the founding members of the lodge pasted away.
Aug. 10 - Special church services were held for the passing of Master Mason and President of the United States, Warren G. Harding.
Sept. 22 - Henry H. Stout transferred from Prairie Queen Lodge #176.
Dec. 28 - James R. Stout, 31, farmer, raised.

March 15, 1924 - Meeting night changed from the Saturday on or before the full moon to Monday night on or before the full moon.
July 14 - William Wristler, 50, farmer, petitioned and vote was cloudy.
Dec. 12 - Ernest Edward Tucker, 25, driller, raised.

Jan.5, 1925 - John Spickard transferred from Galt Lodge #423, Galt, Missouri.
April 10 - Burned the note on the Lodge building.
June 19 - Charles R. Clark, 23, grain elevator foreman, raised.
June 29 - August C. Johnson transferred from Hepler Lodge #398.

April 19, 1926 - Arthur B. Edwards, 33, farmer, raised.
May & June - New metal ceiling and wallpaper installed in the Lodge.
May 28 - Theodore R. Huning, 24, carpenter, raised.

March 18, 1927 - Walter A. Green, lumber yard manager, raised.
Aug. 26 - William Elsworth Gregory, 21, farmer, raised by special dispensation in one month.

May 5, 1928 - Dues for the next year raised to $4.00 per year.
July 5 - Don B. Gregory, 24, electrician, raised.
Dec. 24 - James A. Martin elected to replace James E. Miller as secretary.

Jan. 29, 1929 - Thomas Tracy Fugate, 37, merchant and World War I veteran, transferred from Pioneer Lodge #340, Pioneer, Louisiana.
April 22 - Jess F. Farris, 26, log man, petitioned and voted dark.
May 20 - Isaac O. Smith, 37, fur dealer, petitioned and voted dark.
Aug. 19 - Christian Yager and Charles Yager transferred from Hiattville Lodge #216. The Yagers ran a pharmacy.

Note during the years of the Great Depression many of the members were suspended for non-payment of dues at one time or another. Most of those suspended were reinstated after 1937.

1930

March 10, 1930 - Ralph Ray Carson, 33, farmer, raised.
Nov. 8 - Charles Yager died.
Dec. 12 - Elra Robison elected to replace James A. Martin as secretary.

March 30, 1931 -Earl Edger Schmutz, 34, lumber dealer, and Elmo F. Blodgett, 30, mechanic, raised.

Sept. 3, 1933 - Howard S. Claypool, doctor, transferred from Syracuse Lodge #309.

1934 - Meetings changed to 1st Monday. Reported dues $3.00 of which $1.60 to Grand Lodge.
Aug. 27 - Forrest E. Hewitt, 22, student, raised.
Sept. 7 - Harry H. Ledlie died.

Jan. 7, 1935 - Gaylord Bink petitioned and voted dark.
May 12 - William Lemler died.

April 6, 1936 - Walter A. Green transferred.
April 14 - Clarence H. Hamm, 22, mechanic, raised.
June 10 - William Holeman died.

Feb. 1, 1937 - Forrest K. Pontious transferred from Erie Lodge.
March 1 - Frank N. Stephans raised.
March 13 - Graydon F. Merion died.
May 11 - Chester A. Collins died.
Dec. 5 - Isaac E. Clark died.
Dec. 6 - James E. Miller elected to replace Elra Robison as secretary. Dues to $3.50

Jan.29, 1938 - Charles Burns died.
Jan. 30 - Recorded that $984.79 was in the bank. Douglas M. Whitehead died.
April 4, - Rev. Travis W. Seiver raised. After this a mountain oyster banquet was held at the Walnut Methodist church where he was minister.
Sept. 5 - Jimmie Gilbert Cunningham transferred from Arma Lodge #408.

Jan. 3, 1939 - George W. Singleton died.
Jan. 16 - Wilbur O. Carr died.
July 23 - Charles A. Clark died.

1940

March 7, 1940 - William Scott Wright, 28, filling station operator, raised.
July 15, - John Casper Seim, 43, railroad section foreman, raised.
Nov. 7 - John C. Lee, 29, railroad section hand, raised.
Dec. 7 -Meetings to 1st and 3rd Mondays

Jan. 6, 1941 - George W. Cougher transferred from Hamilton Lodge #301, Hamilton, Kansas.
Jan. 20 - Enoch L. Enloe died.
Feb. 25 - Paul K. Houdashelt, 37, railroad section laborer, raised.
March 7 - Robert E. Oldham died.
March 11 - Frank Martin Bohlander, 21, school teacher, raised.
Sept. 5 - Donald Sweet, 22, laborer, raised.
Dec. 11 - George J. Munn died.
Dec. 15 - (This was 8 days after the attack on Pearl Harbor) the Lodge voted to buy $500 of government bonds.
Dec. 31 - Per the Grand Lodge report Vulcan Lodge had 59 members consisting of:

Lon Allen Fred Buchanan Vernon Babcock Fred Bowles
Arlie Burns Elmo Blodgett Frank Bohlander Albert Coghill
Oswell Carter William Cleveland Guy Carlton Charles Clark
Lorenzo Conrad Raymond Coghill Jimmie Cunningham George Cougher
Charles Eldredge Clifton Everts Arthur Edwards Thomas Fugate
Chris Groomer George Goff Fred Griffith William E. Gregory
Don Gregory Fred Geib Walter Green William Elsworth Gregory
John Hess George Hamm Clarence Hamm Ruben Houdashelt
Byrl Johnson Theodore Huning Paul Houdashelt August Ray Johnson
John Lee James Miller John Martin John Michel
Martin Mehrle William Pate Clarence Pate William Petit
Forrest Pontious Walter Roberts Albert Schuneman Harold Shireman
John C. Seim Donald Sweet Isaac Teeple Buford Teeple
Guy Taylor Ernest Vehlow Fred R. Vehlow William Welty
William Wallace Scott Wright Christian Yager

Sept. 8, 1942 - Harvey M. McFarland, 30, filling station operator, raised.
Oct. 5 - Lodge voted to pay 1943 dues for Scott Wright, Frank Bohlander, and Donald Sweet as they were in the service.
Oct 23 - Arden F. Schoenig, 30, farmer, raised.

March 31, 1943 – Walter A. Roberts died
Dec. 6 - William Pate elected to replace James Miller as Secretary.
Dec. 13 - Frank Bennett, 30, grocery store manager, raised.

1944 - Meetings changed to 1st and 3rd Thursdays. Degrees now $15/10/10.
Feb. 7 - Lodge voted to pay 1944 dues for members in the service.
Feb. 21 - A & B proficiency card presented to Paul Houdashelt.
April 8 - Long time member James Miller passed away at 74.
May 17 - John W. Doub 52, mail carrier, raised.
June 11 - Albert F. Schueneman died.
July 20 - J. Lynne Moore, barber, transferred from Virginia Lodge #315, Savonburg, Kansas.
Aug. 17 - Fred Clay Bohlander, 52, truck driver, raised.
Sept 18 & 19 - Richard Henry Shireman, Junior , 26, naval officer, by special dispensation from the Grand Master because of World War II, was initiated, passed, and raised in two days while he was home on military leave. At this time, a member normally had to wait a month between degrees.
Oct. 4 - Lawrence Willard Hershberger, 28, defense worker, raised.
Oct. 12 - Veigh Horace Dyer, 46, black smith, raised.
Oct. 29 - Veigh Horace Dyer died.
Dec. 7 - George W. Cox transferred from Osage Lodge #303 Nevada, Missouri and R. Henry Shireman, Senior transferred back from Cedar Lodge, Chanute, Kansas. Merton E. Kennedy petitioned and voted dark. Lodge voted to remit dues for Donald Sweet, Harvey McFarland, Scott Wright, Richard Shireman, Frank Bohlander, and Andrew Schoenig as they were still in the service.
Dec. 27 - Chris Groomer elected to replace William Pate as Secretary. (Note Chris’s handwriting is hard to read.)

Feb. 22, 1945 - Jasper Leo Dougan, 33, defense worker, raised.
April 19 - Lloyd Everett Patterson, 30, defense worker, raised.
May 17 - Reported that the Lodge had $488.22 in checking and $1,000.00 in war bonds.
Dec. 7 - Robert Harrison Doub, 56, machinist, raised.

Note the fire that burnt the Lodge hall destroyed the record books with the minutes from 1946 to 1960. Everything listed from 1946 to 1960 has been pieced together from annual reports, newspaper clippings, the Lodge register, and other records.

Jan. 10, 1946 - Merton E. Kennedy, 46, painter and paperhanger, and Walter Mayberry, 58, farmer & merchant, raised.
Feb. 7 - Harwood G. Foster, 52 MKT operator, and John Jacob Arnold, 61, carpenter, transferred.
Feb. 15 - Howard S. Plum, 44, farmer, raised.
March 21 - John E. Shireman, 23, farmer, raised.
April 4 - Harry Clayton Joseph Kennedy, 38, farmer, raised.
July 18 - Frank Mitchell, 44, farmer, raised.
Sept. 6 - Thomas Henry Weston, 23, farmer, and Robert L. Harvey, 46, minister, raised.
Sept. 21 - Wayne Wright, 32, welder, raised.
Nov. 9 - Otto H. Rines, 30, raised.
Nov. 18 - Frank Bennett died.
Nov. 21 - Calvin L. Cook, 24, carpenter, and John Paul Doub, 32, mechanic, raised.
Dec. 5 - Reported on the annual report that Vulcan Lodge had 85 members.

1947 - Meetings changed to 2nd and 4th Tuesdays
Jan. 16, 1947 - Foster Lyman Jones, 33, Standard Oil company driver, raised.
Feb. 20 - John Wesley Nelson, 22, farmer, raised.
March 20 - Gus C. Kalbe, 53, hedge post yard owner, raised.

Jan. 18, 1948 - John W. Mitchell died.
Jan. 27 - Truman G. Guthridge, 42, farmer, transferred from Thayer.
March 20 - Harlan A. Green, 26, farmer & trucker, (son of Walter) raised.
March 23 - Roscoe L. McDaniel, 49, farmer, and Russell McDaniel, 34, farmer, raised.
April 3 - John A. Martin died.
April 27 - Ralph Wheeler, 42, farmer, raised.
June 4 - Ruben A. Houdashelt died.
June 12 - Walter A. Green died.
Aug. 20 - Fred H. Buchanan died.
Dec. 9 - Robert Marion Taylor, 23, farmer, raised. Note Bob is the fourth generation of his family to join. His father-Guy, grandfather-Robert Oldham, and great grandfather-Francis Wax, were members.
Dec. 28 - Charles William Goodinson, 36, farmer, raised.

Jan. 17, 1949 - Oren A. Baugh, 42, farmer, raised.
April 1 - Donald Morton Taylor, 26, farmer, raised. See note from December 9, 1948.
May 24, - Charles Steven Shireman, 21, farmer, raised.

1950

Jan. 7, 1950 - Donald Mundell, 34, farmer & electrician, raised.
Jan. 16 - Charles F. Eldredge died.
Feb. 14 - John Mitchell, 35, farmer, raised.
May 29 - Clifford M. Shenk, 39, school superintendent, raised.
June 1 - Loren Endicott, 47, farmer, raised.
Sept. 26 - Lloyd G. Harland, 30, teacher, raised.
Nov. 28 - Lewis Franklin McDermed, 40, mechanic, raised.

Jan. 23, 1951 - Henry Isaac Byrd, 61, Methodist minister, transferred.
Feb. 4 - Roy Robison died.
Feb. 22 - William E. Gregory died.
March 10 - William T. Finley, 23, teacher, raised.
April 24 - Joseph W. Markham, 46, farmer, raised.
April 29 - Don B. Gregory died.
Aug. 25 - Wayne Arthur Shireman, 21, US military, raised by special dispensation in four days.
Nov. 17 - Lorenzo D. Conrad died.
Dec. 11 - Frank Bowling, 74, retired railroad mailman, transferred.

Sept. 8, 1952 - Jones M. Mason, 27, teacher, raised.

Feb. 10, 1953 - Leroy J. Fugate, 28, trucker, raised.
April 7 - Robert Doub died.
July 1 - Oscar Masquelier, 30, grocery merchant, raised.
Aug. 23 - George H. Hamm died.
Oct. 10 - Leroy Lynn Peters, 22, student, raised.
Dec. 30 - Thomas Wayne Fugate, 23, student, raised.

Feb. 4, 1954 - John A. Hess died. He ran the hardware store in Walnut for 50 years.
March 9 - Harold Jones, 48, trucker, raised.
March 17 - William H. Bowles, 23, salesman, raised.
Nov. 9 - Raymond Coester, 44, oil driller, raised.
Dec. 7 - William Roy Cleveland died.

Jan.11, 1955 - Howard Ernest Kennedy, 22, farmer, raised.
March 22 - Billy Oscar Wheeler, 21, farmer raised.
April 4 - Lon Allen died.
April 27 - Arlie Burns died.
July 9 - Frank Bowling died.

Jan. 31, 1956 - Lee Roy Church, 25, farmer, raised.

Feb. 7, 1957 - Jon Grieve Herod, 22, student, raised.
May 23 - Ernest Vehlow died.

Feb. 29, 1958 – Chris Groomer died. He had been mayor of Walnut for three terms and police judge for many years. Dues to $4.50 with $3.00 to Grand Lodge
March 18 - Alfred Moore, 21, teacher, raised.
May 1 - Loren Endicott died.
May 27 - Merlin B. Zollers Jr., 23, teacher, raised.
June 10 - Charles Leroy Kelly, 60, foreman Mo-Kan Oil Company, raised.
July 28 - Elra L. Robison died.
Dec. 18 - Fred C. Payne, 46, Standard Oil agent, transferred from Pittsburg.

Jan. 23, 1959 - Guy F. Carlton died.
April 14 - Ronald G. Johnson, 31, truck driver, raised.
May 26 - Donald Franklin French, farmer, raised.
July 15 - John “Cap” Seim died.
Nov. 10 - Charles V. Kensinger died.

1960

May 3, 1960 - Fred Bohlander died.
March 26 - Harleigh J. Everts, bus driver/school janitor, 40, raised.
Nov. 4 - Lloyd Harland died.
Nov. 28 - Ronald G. Johnson died.
Dec. 13 - John C. Lee died.

The following are highlights taken from the minutes of the Lodge record book beginning 1961.

Jan. 24, 1961 - John Henry McDaniel, 59, farmer, transferred membership.
March 5 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on Isaac W. Teeple, passed away 03/02/61.
March 17 - Donald Robert Jones, 24, student & farmer, raised. A “‘coon feed” was held afterwards.
March 22 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on William M. Welty, passed away 03/20/61.
Dec. 7 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on Willard H. Hess.
Dec. 26 - Howard Dean Baugh, 23, gasoline delivery, raised.

March 13, 1962 - Donald Raymond Coester, 26, truck driver, raised.
April 10 - District Deputy Grand Master Bill Wheeler made official visit.
May 8 - Past Masters’ Night with fish fry following meeting. 18 Past Masters in attendance.
Aug. 11 - Christian Yager died.
Dec. 11 - Byrl Johnson died.
Dec. 27 - Lewis Franklin McDermed died.

April 23, 1963 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on J. Lynne Moore, passed away 04/19/63.
April 23 - H. G. Foster presented with 25-year pin by District Deputy Hunley E. Miller
Nov. 26 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on Harold A. Shireman, died 11/24/63.
Dec. 3 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on Thomas Fugate, passed away 11/03/63.

Feb. 20, 1964 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on Merton E. Kennedy, passed away 02/17/64.
Feb. 25 - Unlimited proficiency card presented to R. Henry Shireman Sr.
June 25 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on George Goff, passed away 06/23/64.
Oct 22 - R.H. Shireman replaces H.G. Foster as secretary.
Oct. 26 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on John Doub, passed away 10/03/64. John served in World War I.
Oct. 31 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on Frank Bohlander, passed away 10/29/64.
Nov. 29 - Lloyd Gerald Long, 25, truck driver, raised.
Dec. 31 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on R. Henry Shireman, passed away 12/28/64. Two days prior to this Henry installed the officers for the coming year. Dues to $7.00 – degree work to $15 per degree.

May 16, 1965 - William Everett Augustine, 22, service station manager, raised.
May 25 - William S. Wright presented with 25-year pin at open meeting. Entertainment provided by Joint Rural High School choir.
June 20 - Walnut Methodist Church held St. Johns’ Day Services conducted by Brother Reverend Hubert Hahn.

Jan. 25, 1966 - Paul K. Houdashelt presented with his 25-year pin.
March 25 - Lawrence F. Bowles died.
Oct. 26 - Clifton C. Everts died.

Feb. 14, 1967 - 25-year pin sent to Arden Schoenig.
Feb. 23 - William Lee Guthridge, 30, US Navy, raised. By special dispensation, he was given three degrees in one week.
Aug. 6 - William T. Wallace died.
Dec. 12 - George W. Cougher died.

April 9, 1968 - Dr. Martin Mehrle presented with 50-year pin by Clarence Pate.
Aug. 15 - Lodge opened for conferring last rites on Buford Teeple.
Dec. 12 - Elmo F. Blodgett died.

Jan. 28, 1969 - Martin Mehrle died.
April 8 - District Deputy Grand Master Lee Roy Church made official visit. V.E. Babcock received 50-year pin.
June 10 - Oliver Killough died.
Aug. 24 - Lodge Hall burnt down. The fire started in the old opera building below the temple and spread fast. It burnt the lodge hall and post office and everything there in.
Aug. 26 - Post office representative met with Secretary Harry Kennedy and Lee Roy Church and assured the lodge that if we rebuilt the post office would continue to contract with us for space.
Aug. 27 - Grand Secretary Charles McGinness meet with Master Donald Jones and trustees Harold Jones, Howard Plum, and Lee Roy Church. He wanted the lodge to rebuild and continue serving the post office. He granted permission to meet at Harry Kennedy’s home for business and use Hepler Lodge for degrees. A special dispensation was granted covering this.
Sept. 9 - Purchased the land the old theater occupied ($150.00).
Sept. 10 - Received blue prints for the new post office.
Sept. 13 - Grand Secretary delivered a duplicate charter.
Sept. 23 - Voted to rebuild post office, lodge hall, and dining kitchen to the best possible not to exceed loan of $25,800.
Oct. 19 - Oscar Masquelier died.
Nov. 5 - R.H. Shireman, Jr. and L.W. Hershberger presented with 25-year pins.
Nov. 22 - John J. Arnold presented with 50-year pin by Charles McGinness- Grand Secretary, Joe Wasser- Grand Master, and Harry Kennedy- Secretary.
Dec. 23 - Lodge meet at Methodist church for conferring last rites on John J. Arnold.
Degree work to $50.00

1970

Jan. 25, 1970 - Last rites for John. J. Arnold held at Walnut Methodist Church.
Feb. 24 - District meeting was held in the new Lodge hall with supper at the Methodist church. The Lodge hall was not entirely completed yet.
April 29 - Corner stone ceremony and dedication service held for new lodge hall. The following is from the Erie Record dated May 7, 1970 and the Lodge program for the ceremony:
The ceremonies of cornerstone laying and dedication of Vulcan Lodge No. 220 A.F. &A.M., Walnut, Kansas and of the United States Post Office, Walnut, were held Wednesday April 29, 1970.
At 4 P. M. the Grand Lodge was opened in the building with the dignitaries going through the lodge rooms and coming out the back marching in grand precession following the Girard High School Band to the cornerstone in front of the building. Following the pledge of allegiance, the band played several selections. Walnut Mayor Ben H. Eggleston greeted the dignitaries.
The ceremony of the laying of the cornerstone was under the direction of the Grand Lodge of Kansas with Grand Master H. Jackson Staton in charge. The Reverend (Brother) Hubert Hahn (Walnut Methodist minister), acting Grand Chaplain, gave the invocation.
Items deposited in the cornerstone were as follows: clippings about the Lodge, a list of the 84 Past Masters of Vulcan Lodge, a picture of the first Master, James M. Goff, a list of the present Lodge members, a 75-year history of the Eastern Star to the present date, and booklets from the annual meetings of the Eastern Star and Masons. From the post office a list of the past rural carriers and some current stamps, plus a 1969 50-cent piece from the Farmers State Bank.
Leroy Church presented the Working Tools to the principal architect. Grand Secretary Charles S. McGinness made some remarks. The Reverend Father Robert Watson (Walnut Catholic priest) gave the benediction.
Open house was held at the post office from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. with about 150 persons attending. At 6:30 P. M. a basket dinner was held with a big crowd participating. A floral arrangement was given to the post office and Lodge by the City of Walnut.
The ceremony of dedication was at 7:30 P.M. by the officers of the Grand Lodge of Kansas. Master Paul Houdashelt of Vulcan Lodge #229 gave the welcome. The Grand Lodge officers and Vulcan Lodge officers were introduced. Dedication of the Temple was then held. Singing of Ode was sung by Mrs. Nancy Church, Worthy Matron Walnut Chapter Order of the Eastern Star, and accompanied by Geraldine Clark on piano. E. Dean Kennedy sang a vocal solo. Ned Smith, Potentate, Mirza Shrine Temple A.O.N.M.S. Pittsburg, Kansas gave the address.
Grand Secretary Clara Herdlieka presented Worthy Matron Nancy Church and Worthy Patron Harry Kennedy with the charter and sheaf of wheat, which had been lost when the former lodge hall burned. Grand Lecturer J. Earl Oden gave the response.
C. E. Payne, postal service officer from the regional office at Wichita, Kansas, talked to the group present. Leo Gallagher, contractor, was introduced. It was announced that everything in the Lodge Hall had been donated. Miss Keitha Bohlander sang “Bless This House.” The Rev. Hubert Hahn gave the benediction.
Among the guests attending were eight men from the Masonic Home in Wichita.

June 9 - Lodge conferred last rites on Fred R. Vehlow, passed away 06/06/70.
June 13 - Fred L. Kennedy, 39, raised.
July 24 - H. Joseph Kennedy, 24, student, raised.
Oct. 27 - Final accounting of the new building was given. The building cost $28,224.33. This was paid for with a loan of $17,000 from Farmers State Bank, $5,600 from insurance, and $5,624.33 from personnel and various Lodge gifts.

Feb. 15, 1971 - August Johnson presented his 50-year pin at his home.
March 9 - Robert Fitzgerald, 42, highway worker, raised.
March 23 - Steve Culbertson, 23, MKT railroad agent, raised.
May 18 - E. Dean Kennedy, 22, student, raised.
June 22 - 25-year pins were presented to Truman Guthridge, Howard Plum, John E. Shireman, Harry Kennedy, and Frank Mitchell. A 50-year pin was presented to Fred V. Bowles. A basket dinner preceded the meeting.
Dec. 14 - Dues raised to $10.00.

April 25, 1972 - Foster Jones presented with his 25-year pin.
May 28 - Raymond Coghill presented with 50-year pin.
June 20 - Fund raising fish fry on St. Johns’ day ($150.54)
June - Clifford Shink died.

March 27, 1973 -Ralph Wheeler, Robert Taylor, Harlan Green, Charles Goodinson, and Gus Kalbe received 25-year pins. Guy Taylor received his 50-year pin.
April 10 - Harry C.J. Kennedy awarded Kansas Mason of the Year at ceremonies held at the Scottish Rite Temple in Wichita, Kansas.

March 26, 1974 - District Deputy Grand Master Harry Kennedy made his official visit.
April 9 - 25-year pins presented to A.O. Baugh, C. Steven Shireman, and Donald Taylor by their wives.
Nov. 4 - Lodge conferred last rites on August Ray Johnson.

Jan 14, 1975 - 50-year pins to Charles R. Clark and John Henry McDaniel, 25-year pins to John Mitchell and Don Mundell
March 8 - Guy V. Taylor died.

Jan. 27, 1976 - Merlin Ralph Sandness transferred from Pittsburg Lodge.
March 23 - Kenneth Ray Wheeler, 18, student, raised. This is the first member to petition and join the lodge at the age of 18.
May 25 - Opened Lodge of Sorrow for Clarence Pate at Glenwood cemetery.
Dec. 10 - Ted Hunning presented with 50-year pin by Bee Hive Lodge, Omaha, Nebraska.
Dec. 26 - 50-year pin sent to William Gregory in Loveland, Colorado

March 8, 1977 - Michael Don Delange raised.
Aug. 4 - Charles Leroy Kelly died.

Oct. 19, 1978 - Edwin A. Richardson, 53, Standard Oil driver, raised.

Sept. 15, 1979 - Grand Master presented 25-year pins to Harold Jones and Raymond Coester.
Sept. 25 - Lodge conferred graveside services to Frank Mitchell, passed away 09/21/79.
Oct. 9 - Ed Richardson presented his B proficiency card.

1980

March 20, 1980 - District Deputy Grand Master Donald R. Jones makes official visit to Vulcan Lodge.
Dec. 9 - Dues raised to $25.00.
Dec. 16 - Following a basket dinner, 25-year pins presented to Lee Roy Church, Howard Kennedy, Bill Wheeler, and Charles Oakes

Jan. 9, 1981 - Richard Daniel Wheeler, 19, student, raised.
Jan 13 - Ralph Carson received 50-year pin from Grand Lodge.
Jan. 29 - Reported that the loan is down to $9,000.

Feb. 10, 1982 - Roger Douglas Shireman, 31, service station owner, raised. This is the fourth generation of the Shireman family to join lodge. Other members are his father-Steve, grandfather-Henry, great grandfather-William, uncles-Richard & Jack, and cousins-Harold, Wayne, Bill Bowles, and Harold, Andrew, and Frank Stephans.
Feb. 16 - Lodge conferred last rites on Gus Kalbe died 02/13.
Aug. 3 - Lodge conferred last rites on Harry Kennedy.
Oct. 9 - Donald Wayne Wheeler, 19, student, raised. Don is the youngest of three sons of Bill Wheeler to join lodge.
Oct. 22 - Raymond L. Coghill died.

Feb. 12, 1984 - 100th Anniversary of Vulcan Lodge. Grand Master Richard A. Porter, two other Grand Lodge members, and brethren from Girard, Erie, Cherokee, and Hepler in attendance. 25-year pin presented to Merlen Zollors.
May 31, - Mark Lloyd Church, 25, JC Penney store manager, raised.
Dec 11 - Meetings to be held on 2nd Tuesday of each month.

June 11, 1987 - Vernon Babcock died.
July 28 - Edwin A. Richardson passed away.
Dec. 16 - Charles R. Clark died.

March 18, 1988 - Robert Fitzgerald died.
March 26 - District Deputy Grand Master Mike Delange made his official visit.

Feb. 27, 1989 - Donald Franklin French died.

1990

May 9, 1990 - Harleigh James Everts died.

June 27, 1991 - Grand Master Conrad Johnson visited and presented a 50-year pin to Scott Wright.
June 29 - Lodge conferred last rites on Harold Jones, passed away 06/26/91.

Oct.1, 1994 - Timothy Lee Kennedy, 29, cement plant laborer, and Marvin Kennedy were raised in an “All-the-Way-in-One-Day” ceremony in Pittsburg.

2000

April 13, 2001 -Voted to send Ashley Delange, daughter of Mike Delange to Shrine Bowl Band Camp at Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas.
May 26 - Ryan A. Wheeler, 18, student, raised. This is the fourth generation of the Wheeler and Kennedy family to join Vulcan Lodge. In addition, his maternal great-grandfather, V.V. Murphy, belongs to Rising Sun Lodge, Fort Scott. After closing, a group photo of Ryan, his father-Ken, grandfather-Bill, uncles-Richard and Don, great uncles-Joe, Dean, and Howard Kennedy and Don Jones, and a cousin Tim Kennedy was taken. Ken Wheeler at this time received his 25-years pin.

July 5 - Per the Grand Lodge report Vulcan Lodge had 27 members consisting of:

William E. Augustine William H. Bowles Mark L. Church
Lee Roy Church Michael D. Delange Thomas W. Fugate
*Harlan A. Green *William E. Gregory Jon G. Herod
Donald R. Jones Howard E. Kennedy Timothy L. Kennedy
E. Dean Kennedy H. Joseph Kennedy Fred L. Kennedy
*Harvey M. McFarland *Wayne A. Shireman R. Doug Shireman
*John E. Shireman *C. Steven Shireman *Robert M. Taylor
*Donald M. Taylor Bill O. Wheeler Kenneth R. Wheeler
Richard D. Wheeler Donald W. Wheeler Ryan A. Wheeler
* 50-year member

Note as of 11/18/01, there have been three families that have had four generations belong to Vulcan Lodge. They are the Taylor/Oldham/Wax family, the Shireman/Stephans/Bowles family, and the Kennedy/Wheeler/Jones family. I have color coded these (Jack Shireman married Harry Kennedy’s niece, therefore he is purple) families.

Jan. 8, 2002 -Wilber Wayne Kennedy, farmer/golf course manager, raised. Wilber became the sixth son of Harry Kennedy to join Vulcan Lodge.
February 12 - Mike Delange received his 25-year pin. Bill and Vera Wheeler were introduced as celebrating their 47th Wedding Anniversary. A carry-in dinner preceded the open meeting.
March 12 -Voted to send Ashley Delange, daughter of Mike Delange to Shrine Bowl Band Camp at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas.
April 10 - William E. Gregory, 96, raised on August 26, 1927, received his 75-year pin at home in Loveland, Colorado. Pin presented by Master and delegates of Collins Lodge #19, Collins, Colorado.
October 15 - Harvey McFarland, raised on Sept. 8, 1942, presented his 60-year pin at his home in Pittsburg by Secretary Bill Wheeler

March 11, 2003 -Voted to send Ashley Delange, daughter of Mike Delange to Shrine Bowl Band Camp at Wichita State University, Wichita, Kansas.
May 13 -Family night dinner with 10 Brethren and families for a total of 25 attending.
May 25 -Dustin Andrew Wheeler, 18, student, raised. Mountain oyster dinner preceded the meeting with 25 brethren from Fort Scott, Girard, Erie, Fredonia, Edna, Elk City and Coffeyville Lodges in attendance. Group photo of Dustin, his grandfather- Bill, father- Ken, uncles- Dick and Don, great-uncles Don Jones and Howard Kennedy was taken and sent to The Kansas Mason. Right Worshipable Larry Mersberg, Grand Senior Warden, and Most Worshipable Stanley Browning, Past-Grand Master presented Dustin with his apron. Dustin is the 19th member and 4th generation of his family to join Vulcan Lodge. Great-grandfathers Harry Kennedy and Ralph Wheeler were Past-Master of Vulcan Lodge, and Great-grandfather V.V. Murphy is a member of Rising Sun Lodge, Fort Scott.
June 10 -Lodge voted to award scholarships to descendants of Lodge members. $200.00 was awarded to each of the following to continue their education: Ryan Wheeler attending Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas; Dustin Wheeler attending Coffeyville Community College; Leah Shireman, Michael Delange, Heather Ann Harmon, Patrick Schiefelbein, and Niki Schiefelbein attending Pittsburg State University.
Dec. 30 - Thomas “Chip” More, 41, self-employed bails bondsman, raised. Mountain oyster supper proceeded with 22 brethren from 7 lodges in attendance. C.E. Price, Savonburg, and James Stradley, Fort Scott gave lectures.

Jan. 13, 2004 - Accepted the transfer of Kirk Hart from Rising Sun Lodge#8, Fort Scott
Feb. 14 - Family Night Dinner – 10 Brethren and guests for a total attendance of 27
May 14 - Official visit of District Deputy Don Wheeler
Sept 14 - Voted scholarships to the following students: Dustin Wheeler, Leah Shireman, Michael DeLange, Patrick Schiefelbein, Heather Harmon, and Kara Burns
October 6 - In cooperation with Girard Lodge, presented Crawford County District Hospital #1 with 25 Masonic Teddy Bears and committed to providing each newborn at the hospital with a bear.
Dec. 27 - Several Brethren attended the installation of Brother Wayne Shireman as Master of Daylight Lodge in Shawnee, Kansas. Brother Wayne’s home lodge is Vulcan.

Jan. 15, 2005 -District meeting hosted by Vulcan Lodge and District Deputy Don Wheeler. Fifty-five brethren in attendance. A lunch of mountain oysters was served.
April 9 - Kevin Potts, Pizza Hut manager, received degrees at All-the-Way-in One-Day class at the Scottish Rite Temple in Fort Scott. Vulcan Lodge conferred the Second Degree on the twenty-three candidates with the following officers: Bill Wheeler, Master; Mike Delange, Senior Warden; Don Wheeler, Junior Warden, Ken Wheeler, Senior Deacon; Kirk Hart, Junior Deacon, Ryan Wheeler, Senior Steward; Dick Wheeler, Junior Steward. Brother Ken Wheeler gave the Stair Lecture and Brother Bill Wheeler the “G” Lecture and Charge. Brothers Ken and Ryan Wheeler gave questions and answers. Vulcan also filled the following positions in the Third Degree: Bill Wheeler, Senior Warden; Ken Wheeler, senior steward; Dick Wheeler, Third Roughen.


May 23 -Open meeting to honor 50-year members. District Deputy Gary Adams presented Kevin Potts with his apron. Brother Adams also presented Brother Bill Wheeler with the Kansas Mason Award for 2005. The Most Worshipful Lawrence Mersburg, Grand Master for the Grand Lodge of Kansas then presented Brothers Bill Wheeler and Howard Kennedy with their 50-year emblems. The meeting was preceded by a Chicken Anne’s dinner with 66 brethren and guests in attendance. Grand Lodge officers in attendance included Lawrence Mersburg, Grand Master; Sterling Hornbuckle, Grand Junior Warden; Robert Harrington, Grand Marshall; Fred Miller, Grand Sword Bearer; David Covel, Grand Flag Bearer; Lynn Carson, Grand Pursuivant; Dick Ward, Area Deputy; and Gary Adams, District Deputy.

Photo of Bill Wheeler, GM Larry Mersburg, Howard Kennedy; and Master Ken Wheeler

June 6 - Vulcan Lodge received notice that Brother William Gregory, raised August 26, 1927, had passed to the Supreme Grand Lodge in 2004. Brother Gregory had labored 77 years for the craft.
December 3 - Michael M. Delange, 24 student, raised to the degree of a Master Mason. George Jeffers, Mound City, presented the lectures. Lodge also voted scholarships to Dustin Wheeler, Steve Taylor, Patrick Schiefelbein, Michael Delange, Ashley Delange, Andrew Shireman and Kara Burns.
The Lodge membership at the close of the year stands at 32 up 23% since the year 2000.


April 15, 2006 -Open meeting to present Brothers John Shireman, LeeRoy Church, and Richard Wheeler with service emblems. Right Worshipable Jimmie L. Grassi, Senior, Deputy Grand Master, presented Brother Shireman with a 60-year emblem and Brother Church with a 50-year emblem. Brother Wheeler received a 25-year pin from District Deputy Gary Adams. Forty members and guests attended a dinner before the meeting. Also in attendance was William “Buck” Fisher, Grand Marshall, who acted as photographer for the evening and presented the Lodge with a set of prints on disc.




Photo of Leeroy and Nancy Church, Jack and Marilyn Shireman, and Richard Wheeler.

May 25- Open Lodge of Sorrow for Brother Harvey M. McFarland raised September 8, 1942, who entered the Grand Lodge Above.
October 10- Voted to award scholarships to the following: Dustin Wheeler, Michael DeLange, Ashley DeLange, Andrew Shireman, Patrick Schiefelbein, and Autumn Wellington.
October 28- Christian Jackson, 36, Pizza Hut assistant manager, and Dale Shireman, 29, County equipment operator, raised in a one day conferral. Assisting in the day’s events in addition to the members of Vulcan Lodge were Brothers C.L. Price, Savonburg (Master in 1st); Steve Smith, Erie (Lecture in the 1st); George Jeffers, Blue Mound (Lectures in the 3rd and charges), James Stradley (G Lecture and King Solomon), Fort Scott; and Mike Carnes (Master in 2nd and 3rd), Fort Scott. Brother Dale is now the fifth generation of his family to hold membership in Vulcan Lodge.

November 1- Vulcan lodge receives word that our Osage Orange gavel arrived in England and was used to open the centenary meeting of the four “Vulcan” Lodges in England. Below is a photo of Vulcan 3181 in London Worshipful Master Bernard J. Bowen PAGStB, and David Jeffrey PGSupWks representing the Grand Master of England. The dark blue aprons signify a Grand Lodge Officer. Due to Grand Lodge of England rules. photos could not be taken during open lodge, but these were taken in the Grand Temple after the lodge was closed.. The gavel was presented on our behalf to the Worshipful Master at the beginning of the meeting , and it was used from that point on for the ceremony. After the meeting was over the gavel was passed on to the Worshipful Master of Vulcan 4382 to be used at their meeting the next week who will take the appropriate photos at that lodge. Brother Charles Rogers will attend that meeting and will take it from there to Middlesbrough for the next Vulcan 4510 meeting. Note, in addition to the four Vulcan Lodges in England there are two other current Vulcan Lodges, one in Iowa and the other in Alberta, as well as two merged lodges, Colorado and New Zealand. More information on the Traveling Gavel is on a separate posting.

February 10 25, 2007- Brian Wayne Harris and Gary Skinner (courtesy for Hiattville Lodge) raised. Brethren from Hiattville, Blue Mound, Erie, Fort Scott, and Arma were in attendance. Prior to the degree conferrals, Dee Ward, Area Deputy Grand Master, presented 25-year pins to Doug Shireman and Don Wheeler.

photo of Dee Ward ADGM, Steve Shireman, Doug Shireman, Bill Wheeler, and Don Wheeler.

Back Row: Mike Delange, Ken Wheeler, Kevin Potts. Front Row: Michael Delange, Dale Shireman, Brian Harris, and Ryan Wheeler

April 2 - Lodge conferred last rites on Howard Kennedy, passed away 03/27/07.

Sept 19 - Lodge awarded scholarships to: Ashley Delange, Dustin Wheeler, Autumn Wellington, Melissa Query, and Ali Wheeler. Since 2003 we have awarded a total of $4,300 in scholarships.


Above photo is Bob Tayor with GM Hornbuckle along with Bob's son, granddaughter, and daughter.
June 28, 2008- 60-year pin was presented to Bob Taylor by Grand Master Sterling Hornbuckle. Harlan Green was unable to attend so his 60-year pin was mailed.
Oct 14 - Scholarships were awarded to: Autumn Wellington, Andrew Shireman, Alyshia Potts, Melissa Query, and Ashley Delange.
N0v 11 - Hosted a "Friends of Masons" Night. This allowed us to complete the Grand Lodge "Re-Lighting the Torch" program.

The above photo is Marilyn & Jack Shireman, Margie & Steve Shireman, Don Taylor, and Bob Taylor. The back row is Master Ken Wheeler, GM Roy Sullivan, and GJD Rick Reichert.

May 23, 2009 - 60-year pins and plaques were presented to Steve Shireman and Don Taylor by Grand Master Roy Sullivan. Steve was also presented with the Kansas Mason of the Year Award. Prior to the ceremony a dinner was held with 47 brethren and family members present. In addition to the Grand Master, PGM Sterling Hornbuckle and GJD Rick Reichert were in attendance.

August 24 - Received a plaque from the Kansas Masonic Foundation honoring Brother Tom Fugate as a Diamond Donor ($1,000).

Sept 5 - Lodge hosted the Grand Masters CHIPS (child id) Program during the Walnut Labor Day celebration. Had 63 children go thru the program.

Oct 14 - Scholarships were awarded to: Autumn Wellington, Kinsey Wellington, Mariah Potts, Melissa Sammons, Vicki Kennedy, Ashley Delange, and Kylie Harmon.

2010

Don Wheeler, Mike Delange, Josh Sammons, Dale Shireman, Don Jones, and Bill Wheeler. Back: Dustin Wheeler, Ken Wheeler, Dick Wheeler, and three brethren from Butler, Missouri

March 27 - Joshua Sammons, 22 farmer and student raised. Brethren from Savonburg, Erie, Pittsburg, Weir, Mound City, and Butler, MO in attendance. Prior to the degree a mountain oyster and fish fry was held.

June 18- T. Wayne Fugate was passed away. After graveside services, the family met in the Lodge fellowship hall. They kindly donated $100 to the Lodge, which we have passed on the Kansas Masonic Foundation Cancer Research Center in memory of Brother Fugate, who was a Diamond contributor.
Sept 4- Vulcan Lodge also teamed up with the KMF to host a free cancer-screening clinic as part of the Walnut Labor Day celebration. From 9:00 am to noon, doctors and technicians from KU Med Center screened 111 individuals for skin cancer, bone density, and (UGH!) prostrate issues. Of the six screening clinics conducted across the State, Vulcan was by far the smallest lodge and Walnut the smallest community to host the event, but we had the largest turnout. The doctors asked us to stop bringing people in off the street 15 minutes early just so that they could finish. For our efforts, we received $1,500 from the Foundation. The Lodge then voted to donate the money back to them in the form of fifteen $100 donations in honor of our fifteen oldest members. In the six years that the KMF has been hosting the clinics we are the first Lodge to ever donate the money back to them.

a photo of the doctors and staff from KU

Sept 11- Vulcan played host to four brethren and two of their wives from Vulcan Lodge #4382 in Alfreton, Derbyshire, England. The brethren returned the Vulcan Traveling Gavel, which had been in England over the summer. The Brits flew into Chicago and traveled to Walnut stopping at the Vulcan Lodge in Bristol, Iowa along the way. While in Southeast Kansas, the group toured Fort Scott, saw a 1st degree in Fort Scott, played golf in Girard, rode horses and in a semi near Walnut, and of course dined on Chicken Annies. On Saturday night while the ladies attended a program on quilting, the brethren of Vulcan #229 opened in form on the 3rd degree followed by the brethren of Vulcan #4382 opening on the 1st degree. The English brethren then presented us with an engraved mining safety lantern and an invitation to visit them at anytime. More photos can be seen on a different posting.

October 12-Awarded four $100 Descendents of Vulcan Lodge College Scholarships. This years recipients are: Mariah Potts, Melissa Sammons, Justin Query, and Carly Lallemand.