M⸫W⸫ Gustav H. Schultz

 In this post, we take a break from the somewhat chronological order of our previous posts to introduce a Brother that was raised in Olive Branch Lodge, but who had a greater effect on Masonry in other lodges and in other states.

Gilbert Haven Stephens was the only Grand Master of Masons in Illinois who hailed from Olive Branch Lodge 38, but another Grand Master was raised in the lodge.  Gustav Henry Schultz was initiated in Olive Branch Lodge 38 on June 11, 1911; passed on August 8, 1911; and raised on August 29, 1911.  He dimitted from Olive Branch Lodge 38 on October 13, 1915, by being a Charter member of Anchor Lodge No. 980.  He served Anchor Lodge No. 980 as its first Senior Warden and second Worshipful Master.  He would go to move west, eventually becoming a very active Mason and Grand Master of Masons in the State of Washington.  From the biographical sketch below Brother Schultz was possessed, not only, of great industry as a man and mason, but evidently great humility as well.

Here is a Biographical Sketch of M⸫W⸫ Gustav H. Schultz published on p 172-173 of their Compendium of the Past Grand Masters Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, F&AM of Washington.  https://anyflip.com/pqyyv/ihgt/

Most Worshipful Brother Gustav (Gus) Henry Schultz was born in Danville, Illinois on August 19th, 1878, the third of five children of native German parents who immigrated to this country in 1870 and became naturalized Americans. He attended the public schools of Danville and the Chicago College of Pharmacy. After graduation he was engaged in his own drug business until 1922 when he came West, first to Denver and then to Seattle in 1925.  

Brother Schultz was raised a Master Mason in Olive Branch Lodge No. 38, in Danville,  Illinois, in 1911.  He would become a charter member and the first Senior Warden of Anchor Lodge No. 980, serving as Master in 1916. He was commissioned as Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of Illinois by Most Worshipful Grand Master Elmer Beach. He received the 32nd Degree in Danville Consistory, A.A.S.R., Northern Jurisdiction, and served as its High Priest of the Council, Princes of Jerusalem.   He also became a member of Mohammed Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S., at Peoria. 

At the institution of Totem Lodge U. D. of Seattle in 1938, he served as its Junior Warden, and as its charter Master in 1940. He assisted in the organization and was a dual member of Exemplar Lodge No. 284. He affiliated with Washington Consistory, A.A.S.R., Southern Jurisdiction, in 1937, and was made a Knight Commander Court of Honor in 1943. He was a member of Ballard Chapter No. 26, R. A. M., of Seattle. He was an Honorary Member of Warren G. Harding Lodge No. 260, and of Home Lodge No. 100. 

In 1941, our Brother would be appointed Grand Lecturer of our Grand Jurisdiction by Most Worshipful Brother John A. Emigh, and re-appointed to this position in 1942. At the 86th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Washington at Wenatchee he was elected Junior Grand Warden, and, serving through the line, was elected Grand Master at Spokane in June 1946. 

Perhaps no words could express his way of life better than those with which he closed his message to the Grand Lodge when he presided as Grand Master in 1947:   

"In a few short hours, this gavel will pass to the hand of a very worthy and sincere Mason, and I shall modestly again take my place among my brothers, pledging to the new Grand Master my services and bespeaking for him the same devotion that you have accorded me. We will have come to the end of another year in our Grand Lodge. It has been a wonderful journey for me and a great adventure, an adventure into the joys of companionship—into the loyalty of friendships—into the fellowship of service, with many ever standing by as a great power moving us always forwards."

"To have lived for a year near the very heart of Masonry is a rich experience that you have made possible for me. My record is here. Its mistakes are my own; whatever its accomplishments are due to the part you have all played in establishing it." 

A reply of silence was received when the name of Most Worshipful Brother Gustave Henry Schultz was called on May 7, 1968.

The Civil War years

 

Returning to G. Haven Stephens's article, we learn about the Worshipful Masters who led the lodge through the years of and immediately following the Civil War.

"Masonry was passing through a trying time caused by the Civil War and its effects.  The business of the lodge was taken over by Hiram Beckwith, one of a family which had played an important part in the early history of Danville and whose father’s first name was the source of the name of Danville, (Dan Beckwith).  He was elected in 1863, at a time when every strong healthy man of proper age had answered the call of his country.  Many received their degrees in a limited time before going.

General Carnahan, who distinguished himself as a soldier, was one of those who had all degrees conferred on him in one day.  Dues were remitted on all men in the service and the lodge sent supplies and clothing at various times for their comfort.  It was a trying time but Masonry weathered the storm and proved in every way that its members were loyal, true Americans, fighting for one cause—the saving of the Union.

City’s First Dentist Is Master

In 1865, Jasper C. Winslow became master of the lodge.  He was a lineal descendant of Governor Winslow of the Massachusetts Bay colony, a Mayflower descendant.  One of the first locomotive engineers in the United States, he came to Danville as master mechanic of the Wabash Railroad when the division point was moved from State Line here.  Later, he became the first dentist in our city.  He was the first mayor under the present charter and organized and was a vestryman of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.

With his other talents, he was a naturalist and his geological researches embraced matters which will be forever a part of geological science.  He was known as a man who was a leader in all things looking to the betterment of the community and his brethren as the lodge cooperated in all his undertakings. He was so successful in his leadership as master that he was honored by being reelected year after year and Masonry went forward, becoming a greater influence than ever for the upbuilding of all good things in the community.

The record of W. D. Reynolds, the next master, merits some space in this brief history.  He became the master following Jasper C. Winslow.  He was a jeweler and opened the first jewelry store in Danville.  This was an innovation for the town and proved a busy place in the business district."

Reason Hooton

 When we last visited Brother Stephens's article on the history of Olive Branch Lodge, Brother Lamon was Master.  We now return to the article.  

"The next master played an important part in the affairs of the lodge and city.  He was James H. Phillips, a prominent businessman and one of the founders of the Building and Loan Association with which he worked for many years.  He was installed publicly as Master Dec. 27, 1858 and upheld the dignity and reputation of Masonry during the stormy times preceding and during the Civil War.  The lodge had grown steadily to a membership of 52 and on its membership role were the names of many prominent and influential men of this vicinity.  The affairs of the lodge soon were taken over by a farmer, the first in the list of masters who had followed that vocation.  He was Reason Hooton, father of George Hooton who afterwards became the master.  There have been two other instances where father and son have attained the honor of being masters, Walter S. Matthews and his son, Walter R., and Arthur F. Johnston and his son J. Reno.

Brother Hooton was 53 when he was elected master, but he had been an active mason for many years and came within two votes of being nominated as vice president of the United States.  He was succeeded by W. M. Payne, who lived where Payne Ave. starts on North St., that street having been named after him.  He was the sheriff of Vermilion County and many times was called upon to settle riots and other disturbances caused by discussions on slavery."

Here is a link to an interesting article on the home of Reason Hooton and an incident there involving Abraham Lincoln.  

https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/America/United_States/Illinois/_Texts/DRUOIH/Central_Illinois/20*.html