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When the Lodge was instituted, Brother Hayward presented the officers with silver jewels, which have been continuously used to this day.
The limited territorial jurisdiction in which Hayward Lodge was authorized to operate, together with the slow population growth of the area, restricted an increase in Lodge membership. The net result was that, by 1898, a quarter century after the charter was granted, there were only two more members in the Lodge than was the case in 1873.
Brother Henry E. Lea, our first Worshipful Master, did excellent work in laying the foundation of our Lodge. Brother Joseph Freitas served as Master for seven years, 1876 to 1878, 1881, 1882, 1885 and 1886. Worshipful Brother George Duncan served three years, 1879, 1880 and 1883. Brother Louis B. Bernard was elected W.M. in 1884 and again in 1895. Brother Horatio M. Templeton was elected and served as Master from 1887 to 1894.
Early in 1880, a committee of three was appointed to interview the I.O.O.F. for the purpose of having the rent reduced. A report was submitted at the next meeting to the effect that the rent would be $4.00 per month, including light and wood. How times have changed.
In August 1888, the late Brother Simmons purchased a bookcase. It is of interest to note that this same bookcase is today kept in the Library of the Temple and it serves to house the Lodge’s historical book collection.
The records indicate that the duties of Inspector were assumed by whichever Past Grand Master happened to be near enough to do the inspecting, and that, at the visits of the Inspector, he invariably made a few remarks about the “near correctness” of the work.
On November 1, 1889, Worshipful Master Templeton, on behalf of the
Brethren, presented to Past Master J. Freitas, a beautiful Past Master’s Jewel. This is the first record of such a presentation.
In November 1895, a motion was passed and carried to move into the new Odd Fellow’s Hall providing the rent did not exceed $40.00 per annum. The move was made and, after several unsuccessful attempts to have the Masonic sign placed above that of the Native Sons of the Golden West, it was removed.
On September 18, 1896, after two previous attempts had been made, a motion was carried to move back to the old hall with rent set at $36.00 per annum. The furniture, which had been bought for the new hall, was sold to the Odd Fellows for $50.00.
P.M. Brother Herbert Luff was elected to receive the degrees of Masonry on November 20, 1896. He was raised January 5, 1897, appointed Senior Deacon the same evening, and served as Master in 1898, 1899 and 1900. This strange practice of making officers out of totally inexperienced men was prevalent at the turn of the century in practically all of the jurisdictions in the United States. This was probably due to the transportation difficulties of those times.
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