At 4 O'clock on Saturday
afternoon January 16, 1904 a large crowd assembled in the new Temple located
on Chestnut Street between 3rd and 4th, to see Daylight Lodge U.D. set to
work. All the lodges in the city, some from the Interior and several from
Indiana were represented and the spacious hall was comfortably filled. Grand
Master Owen D. Thomas, of Lebanon, was present and was received with the
honors befitting his rank.
A lodge of Master Masons was opened by
the Grand Master with the following temporary officers: Charles A.
Sommervillle, Sr. Warden; H.R. Kendall, Jr. Warden; S. A. Lederman, Sr.
Deacon; Z.T. Randolph, Jr. Deacon; Charles A. Dailey, Secretary; and Joseph
T. Davidson, Tyler. The invocation at the opening of the lodge was delivered
by the Rev. Dr. E. L. Powell.
Past Master J.T. Funk was invited to
act as Marshall and thereupon the following officers were installed in ample
form: Isaac T. Woodson Jr., Master, David W. Gray, Sr. Warden; Barman
Hoeppner, Jr. Warden; Ernest W. Sprague, Sr. Deacon; J. L. Lisle, Jr.
Deacon; C. Henry Stege and J.O. Dolfinger, Stewards; Stephen D. Smith,
Secretary; John A. Gray, Treasurer; W.B. Gossett, Tyler.
Before relinquishing control of the
gavel, Grand Master Thomas Installed Capt. H.B. Grant as Grand Secretary of
the Grand Lodge.
At the close of the installation
ceremonies the Grand Master delivered a brief address in which he spoke
earnestly of the duties incumbent upon all true Masons as imposed by their
obligation not merely to assist their brethren in need but also to whisper
words of warning and to aid in the reformation of such as have gone astray.
When Worshipful Master Woodson took
the gavel he called upon Bishop Dudley to offer prayer, which he did in a
feeling manner. He then requested Sr. Warden Gray to explain the object of
the new lodge, which he did in a very satisfactory way. He spoke of the
number of persons who cannot attend night meetings for various reasons.
Some are obliged to work, others live
out of the city so far that they cannot conveniently come in or stay in and
other reasons influence some. Past Master J.T. Funk followed along the same
lines and in addition, mentioned the interesting fact that the fine Bible
upon the altar was a gift to the lodge from the wife of Worshipful Master
Bro. Funk expressed gratification at the encouragement given the new lodge
and returned thanks to all for the courtesies and favors and to the brethren
in attendance for their presence.
Three petitions for initiation were
received and referred. The next stated meeting of the lodge was fixed for
January 30, 1904. A number of Committee a were appointed to draft By-Laws,
arrange for permanent quarters, etc.
The regular business being ended,
there were other addresses by Bishop Dudley, Dr. Powell, H.B. Grant and
Charles A. Sommerville. As the time was limited the addresses were brief,
but very much to the point. The opening meeting of Daylight Lodge was
unanimously voted to be a great success and it is the general impression
that it fills a want that is felt by many residents of the city and suburbs.
Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM was then
chartered on October 18th, 1904. The Lodge has occupied several buildings in
it's history, and currently meets at The Shively Masonic Building on the 2nd
Saturday of every month.
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Biography of our First Master |
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Bro.
Isaac T. Woodson, Jr. |
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Date of Birth-
December 16, 1872 in Woodsonville, KY.
1897- Received Blue Lodge degrees in Louisville Lodge #400
1898- Steward Louisville Lodge #400
1899- Jr. Deacon Louisville Lodge #400
1900- Sr. Deacon Louisville Lodge #400
1903- Demitted Louisville Lodge #400 December 7, 1903
1904- Installed as Master of Daylight Lodge U. D. in January 1904 later
chartered on October 18th 1904 as Daylight Lodge #760 |
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Isaac T. Woodson Jr. was President of the Woodson and Kratch Monument Co.,
which is still on East Broadway next to the Railroad overpass.
Brother Woodson received his Scottish Rite Degrees in November 1922. He
became a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 1925. He received his
33rd Degree in 1929 and the Grand Cross in October 1935.
He served as Grand Master of the Grand Consistory of Kentucky A.A.S.R.
from the late 1920's until his death in 1939. Brother Woodson also was
Grand Master during the building of the Scottish Rite Temple and oversaw
it's construction from 1930 to 1931.
A memorial service was held for him on January 1, 1940 under the direction
of Brother John Henry Cowles 33 Degree, Sovereign Grand Commander of the
Supreme Council 33 Degree A.A.S.R. |
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Bro.
Richard Priest Dietzman 33° |
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(PLEASE CLICK ON
EACH IMAGE BELOW TO VIEW FULL SIZE) |
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Past
Master- Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM |
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Past
Grand Master- Grand Consistory of Kentucky A.A.S.R., 1922-1924 |
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Past
Grand Master- Grand Lodge of Kentucky F&AM, 1933-1934 |
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Biography
of Bro.
William J. Netherton, P.P. |
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Past Master of
Daylight Lodge #760 F&AM |
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1937 |
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Illustrious William J. Netherton, P.P., was an avid Mason. He was active
in many Masonic organizations and reached the pinnacle of success in most
of them. He was a gentleman's gentleman and, although being a tough
taskmaster, a thorough scholar of Masonry, and a good businessman, he was
always on the side of progress and doing what was right to improve the
fraternity. And he was a wonderful friend to all who knew him.
William Jefferson Netherton was born in the Worthington community in
Northeast Jefferson County on March 2, 1898. He loved to tell the story of
driving cattle from Worthington to the Bourbon Stockyards. That entailed a
long journey down Highway 22, which in those days was a dirt road, but
still took the meandering path the paved highway follows today.
"Bill," as best known to his friends, was a 1917 Louisville Male High
School graduate. The University of Kentucky claimed him for two years,
until he was inducted into the armed forces, serving until the Armistice
of World War I. He left college and his beloved Sigma Nu fraternity to
enter the real estate department of The Louisville Trust Company (now part
of Bank One). He remained with the company until 1930 when he formed the
Kesselring-Netherton Company, realtors and mortgage brokers. The firm was
quite successful.
Bill's Masonic career was almost legendary. He received his Entered
Apprentice Degree in Pewee Valley Lodge No. 829 in March 1919, and was
raised in November of the same year. In 1934 he demitted to Daylight Lodge
No. 760, and served as its Master in 1937.
He was exalted a Royal Arch Mason on May 17, 1926 in King Solomon Chapter
No. 5 and was elected High Priest in August 1931. The Cryptic Rites were
conferred on him in Louisville Council No. 4 on May 27. 1926 and he was
elevated to the office Illustrious Master in 1933. In February 1934, he
was dubbed and created a Knight Templar in Louisville-DeMolay Commandery
No. 12, and was Commander in 1941.
Illustrious Brother Netherton was also active in the Louisville Scottish
Rite Bodies and Kosair Shrine Temple. He became a 32° Scottish Rite Mason
in May 1938. He was coroneted a 33° Mason on October 18, 1973. He crossed
the hot sands of the Shrine in the Spring of 1938, and served as Potentate
of Kosair Shrine Temple in 1951.
In 1945, Bill was initiated in
Shrewsbury Priory No. 4, Knights of the York Cross of Honor, then demitted
in order to found Kentucky Priory No. 25, being its first Eminent Prior in
1945. At the 119th Annual Assembly of the Grand Council of Kentucky, Royal
and Select Masters, he was advanced to the office of Most Illustrious
Grand Master.
One of his most prestigious
honors was that of serving the Red Cross of Constantine locally as
Sovereign in 1950, then enduring the long path to become Grand Sovereign
of the nationwide organization in 1973. He was honored with the title of
Knight Grand Cross in the Red Cross of Constantine.
Just a little thing that shows Bill's devotion to Masonry was that
annually he conducted York Rite Christmas services in the basement of his
home.
When he became Potentate of Kosair Shrine Temple, he said, "Let each of us
highly resolve that for the year 1951 we will do everything possible to
promote the interests of our Temple, and further, that we will do all that
is becoming to men and Masons, so that in the end we may truly deserve the
right to be called Shriners and Brothers."
Illustrious Brother Bill Netherton portrayed during his lifetime, in a
very large degree, the kindly, helpful and dependable characteristics
which made one proud to have called him Brother, Noble and Friend. His
days were long, happy, friendly and productive. He passed away September
8. 1984.
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