Buchanan County, Missouri - Chapter 26: Societies, 1904

Lodges, Benevolent, Social A^^D Trade Organizations - Free Masons, Odd Fellows AND Others - The Turn-Verein, Maennerchor and Other German-Speaking Societies - Turnfests and Saengerfests - Musical Development in St. Joseph - The St. Joseph Philharmonia, the Mendelssohn Society and Other Similar Organizations - The Red Ribbon Club.

The first fraternal organization in Buchanan County was Sparta Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M., instituted May 11, 1841, under a dispensation, and originally called Katzeel Lodge. It was chartered October 8, 1841. Eli Hubbel was worshipful master, J. Brownson, senior warden, and J. A. Anthony, junior warden. R. Duncan was treasurer, T. Waymire, secretary and G. Selsil, tyler. This lodge was merged into DeWitt Lodge, organized in St. Joseph under a dispensation in October,

1846. The name was changed to St. Joseph Lodge and the number 78, was affixed by the grand secretary. Sinclair K. Miller was worshipful master, 1845 to 1850. This lodge is still in existence.

The following are the other Masonic bodies now existing in St. Joseph as they appear in order in the Masonic directory : Zeredatha Lodge, No. 189, A. F. & A. M., chartered May 28. 1859; Charity Lodge, No. 331, A. F. & A. M., chartered October 13, 1870; King Hill Lodge, No. 376, A. F. & A. M., chartered

The office of grand master of the State has been held by the following residents of St. Joseph : William R. Penick, Joseph S. Browne, James W. Boyd and Harry Keene.

of the Council of Royal and Select Masters has been held by Joseph S. Browne, William R. Penick, William G. Hall, W. A. Lord, Ulrich Schneider and E. F. Hartzell.

The Odd Fellows are a close second to the Masons in St. Joseph in point of age. King Hill Lodge, No. 19, was instituted on October 15, 1846, at the residence of Joseph Hull, on the west side of Main street, between Francis and Jules streets. The charter members were D. B. Welding, Eli Hewitt, S. L. Leonard. Eli Bowman, C. F. Emery and Dr. J. H. Crane. In 1858 this lodge erected a threestory building, facing west, at the southeast corner of Fifth and Felix streets. The lower floor was for business, the second for lodge rooms and on the third floor there was an auditorium. This was for some years the first-class theatre of the city and among other notables, Edwin Forrest played there. At one time there was a stock company connected with the theatre. The hall was also used for social and political gatherings. During the war the property was lost by the provisions of a mortgage and was acquired by J. W. Bailey and William R. Penick. When it was destroyed by fire, as mentioned in a foregoing chapter, in January of 1879, it was occupied by J. W. Bailey & Compa-ny, with a large dry goods business. In 1880, Mr. Bailey, Isaac Curd, J. B. Brady and Louis Hax built the block facing Felix street, which extends from Fifth street east to the alley.

18, i860. Enterprise Lodge, No. 232, was instituted April 19, 1870. During the summer of 1898 this lodge purchased the large building at Seventh and Charles streets, which had been erected by the St. Joseph Turn-Verein and which had been lost by that association. St. Joseph Lodge, No. 432, was instituted in 1883; Invincible Lodge, No. 470, in 1893, and the South Park Lodge in 1898.

There have been two sessions of the State Grand Lodge in St. Joseph - the 53rd session, held in 1890, and the 60th session, held in 1898. The office of grand master of the State was held in 1861 by Col. John Doniphan, who, however, lived at Weston at that time ; in 1869, by R. J. S. Wise, of St. Joseph; in 1874, by L. T. Minturn, of Amazonia, who held his membership in St. Joseph, and in 1894, by R. M. Abercrombie, of St. Joseph.

There are five Rebekah lodges: Evening Star, No. 5, instituted in 1892; Enterprise, No. 140, 1894; Humboldt,, No. 146, 1894; Eclipse, No. 157, 1894; King Hill, No. 219, 1896. There is also a branch of the Patriarchs Militant, Canton St. Joseph, No. 3, instituted in 1879. Of the encampment degree there are two branches, Hesperian Encampment, No. 8, and St. Joseph Encampment, No. 51. R. M. Abercrombie has held the office of grand patriarch of the State Encar-.i,ment.

The German-Americans have been prominently identified with the history and development of St. Joseph from an early day. The Turn-Verein, one of the most active agents in this work, was formed May 23, 1855, with Charles Zipf as first speaker, Charles Jessen as second speaker, Charles Albrecht as secretary A. Althaus as master of property and Peter Walter as treasurer. The corner-stone of the old "Turnhalle" was laid March 29, i860, and the building was occupied during the following August. When the Ci\'il W^ar Ijroke out, the Turners stanchly avowed loyalty to the Union, their hall was dubbed the "cradle of liberty" and the stars and stripes boldly flung to the breezes. When the mob that had taken the flag from the Post Oflice 'declared that these colors should also be torn from the staff, two Turners, Valentine Moosman and J. H. Schaefer, went upon the roof in the face of danger, guarded by Robert Bradshaw with a drawn pistol and Charles Mast with a rifle, lowered the flag and brought it safely into the building. Moosman then tore down a Confederate flag that had been hoisted on Market square. ' Among the St. Joseph Turners who served in the war were the following: W. Baumer went to Omaha and was made colonel of the First Regiment, Nebraska Infantry ; Herman Lund went to Quincy and rose to the rank of captain ; Charles F. Ernst and Charles Springer were in the 12th Regiment, Missouri Cavalry, the former as captain and the latter as lieutenant. Charles Weideman died from wounds received at the battle of Lexington, while Louis Graffenstein and Charles Ludi were killed at Missouri City.

The St. Joseph Turn-Verein was affiliated with the St. Louis Turn-Bezirk until May i, 1866, when the Kan.sas Turn-Bezirk was formed. The first turnfest of this federation was held in this city October 1-3, 1866. Leavenworth, Kansas City, Atchison, Wyandotte Lawrence, Brunswick, Junction City and Fort Scott were represented.

In 1870 ground was purchased at the northeast corner of Eighth and Sylvanie streets for the purpose of building a new hall, and the corner-stone was laid. This project was abandoned, however, and the ground sold. A second turnfest of the Kansas Turn-

Bezirk was held in St. Joseph August 6-9, 1870. In 1885 the Missouri Valley Turn-Bezirk was formed and the first turnfest of the new federation was held here August 14-17, 1886.

A new hall was built upon the site of the "cradle of liberty," at Seventh and Charles streets, in the summer of 1890. The cornerstone was laid with a parade and appropri-ate ceremonies on Sunday, June 8, 1890, and the dedication took place October 26, 1890. The new building cost $50,000. In August of 1897 the property was sold under a deed of trust and purchased by the creditors. During the summer of 1898 the property was purchased by Enterprise Lodge of Odd Fellows. For several years the Turn-Verein was without a home, but in 1903 the western portion of the building containing the gymnasium and auditorium, was purchased from the Odd Fellows for $15,000.

Since the earliest times there has been a tendency in St. Joseph toward high-class music. Rosenblatt's brass band, which was formed by Herman Rosenblatt in 1854, was welcomed and given all possible encouragement by the people of those days, and for many years this organization was famous throughout the West. But the brass band was not commensurate. There were many excellent voices and much latent musical talent, which craved development and expansion. In 1857 Prof. Otto Behr was induced to come to St. Joseph. To this gentleman is due the credit of erecting and maintaining a standard of excellence which will be regarded with admiration and reverence for years to come. Professor Behr was born in Germany and educated at Leipsic. He located in New York some years before coming to St. Joseph. In the summer of 1898 he returned to his old home, aluK^st blind and light in purse, after spending the best part of his hfe here. He had met with financial reverses before his eyes began to dim. But he is none the less esteemed and revered in St. Joseph, where he wrought so nobly and so successfully for his art.

In 1866 the St. Joseph Philharmonia was organized and placed under the direction of Professor Behr. This society embraced the best instrumental and vocal talent of the city, and there was also a large list of honorary and contributing members. Five or six grand concerts were generally given each season. The Philharmonia existed for about to years.

The St. Joseph Maennerchor was another successful musical society. It was organized May 22, 1868, and the membership was mostly German-American. This society was affiliated with the Pioneer Saengerbund, and two of the annual song festivals of the federation were held in St. Joseph. The first saengerfest began on April 30, 1873, continuing several days, and formed a part of the general festival program in honor of the completion of the bridge. The second was held in June of 1883. Maennerchor Hall was on the third floor of the McLaughlin Building, at Third and Felix streets. Among those who served as musical directors were Prof. Felix B. Canfield, Professor Kaiser and Prof. William Plato. The Maennerchor merged into the Turn-Verein in 1888.

Professor's Behr's second successful effort to organize the talent for the exemplification of high-class music was represented in the Mendelssohn musical organization, which was formed in 1882. modeled after the Philharmonia, and which existed until 1891. Concerts were given in the Court House, where a suitable auditorium had been prepared, until the destruction of that building by fire, in March of 1885. Various halls were then used unti\ tlie completion of the Y. M. C. A. auditorium. Other musical organizations of the past were the Arion, the Apollo. Harmonia and Concordia. During 1900-03, the St. Joseph Choral Society flourished under the direction of Prof. Ben. Stanley.

A famous local organization in its day was the Red Ribbon Reform Club, which was organized December t6, 1877, by J. C. Bontecue, a temperance revivalist. There was a membership of 1,200. The club occupied rooms in Tootle's Opera House until May, 1878, when the upper portion of the three-story building at the southeast corner of Second and Francis streets was fitted up, with a library, stage, etc. Theatrical and literary entertainments were here given. The place is yet known as Red Ribbon Hall. The organization flourished for about four years. The first officers of the club were : Mordecai Oliver, president ; C. B. Wilkinson, first vice-president; Thomas F. Ryan, second vice-president ; William H. Wood, third vice-president ; James C. Cozine, secretary; E. A. Smith, financial secretary; T. V\an Natta, treasurer; J. A. Winsch, first marshal ; R. \. Craig, second marshal ; Thomas

The St. Joseph Mechanical and Scientific Library Association was incorporated February 27, 1886. George R. Mann was president and Charles A. Pfeiffer secretary and treasurer. Charles Nowland and F. W. Gensen were also members. A large number of public documents which had been collected were turned over to the Free Public Library in 1892.

Of the labor organizations in the city. Typographical Union No. 40 is the oldest. It was organized in June of 1859, and has had a continuous existence.