Chapter VII
AUSTIN LODGE NO. 10
Austin NVAustin, Nevada, was distinguished not only because of the rich bodies of silver ore which underlaid its surface, but also in lodge circles, on account of the various fraternal societies which came into existence in the town during the early (eighteen) sixties, became firmly established and grew to be dominant factors in the complex, though popular parent organizations within the state.
With the accidental discovery of silver ore in Pony Canyon, the handful of shanty miners who composed the population of the district at the time, was augmented by a rush of fortune mad men and women who flocked to the site by the hundreds.
Among this seething mass of humanity, the most of whom were from the rougher strata of humanity, were many of the better class of citizens whose urge in other days had prompted them to seek and find sanctuary in some of the more popular and progressive fraternal organizations throughout the country. With those who had flocked to Austin were many who had been accustomed to "meet upon the Level, and part upon the Square" and who in the passage of time came to know one another as members of the Craft in Austin, while the urge to congregate in a meeting place dedicated to the purposes of Masonry, resulted in the eventual establishment of the first Masonic lodge in the town, which they designated Lander Lodge.
Other fraternal organizations were set up in town: The Independent Order of Oddfellows, The Ancient Order of United Workmen, and at a later date, the Knights of Pythias. All of these bodies, following fundamental principles for good taught by their organizations, and dedicated to the uplift of humanity, made for a better community, and once they were firmly established in Austin, contributed to the elevation of the moral and social conditions of the town, and became a balancing factor in the control of the religious, political and scholastic welfare of the district.
The chartering of Austin Lodge No. 10 was effected within less than a year after that of Lander Lodge was accomplished. Opinions as to why the two lodges should have been organized at so near a date was, for a long time, a matter of deep conjecture, until the facts were eventually revealed, and the true conditions were made known. These reasons were however, at one period in the existence of both lodges, the instrument of almost disrupting the harmony of both lodges, and putting both out of existance.
Definitely speaking, Lander lodge received its dispensation to organize, on March 25, 1864. Its charter was authorized October 13, the same year. Austin lodge received its warrant of dispensation, April 12, 1865, and its charter was issued October 12 of the same year.
It is claimed that during the year that elapsed between the granting of the two dispensations, considerable inharmony and unrest had developed in Lander lodge through the attitude of some of the members of the lodge. Various reasons brought this situation about. There was a marked line of demarcation between the northern and southern sympathizers who belonged to the lodge, which often broke out in heated argument upon the floor of the lodge. This situation continued until after the battle of Appomatox, and the war was over. However, the waving of the "bloody shirt" continued to stir the membership to unwarranted rantings, and precipitated discord and inharmony. This, together with the element of envy, and the tendency on the part of some to discredit the views and dictates of the Worshipful Master and his Wardens, especially by those who had aspired to position within the lodge, and who had been denied that honor, fanned to a sullen flame the smouldering fires of sectional hatred evidenced during the progress of the war, and finally resulted in the withdrawal from membership, of the majority of those who made up the charter membership of Austin lodge No. 10.
As is usual in such unfortunate developments within a lodge, the withdrawal of these members worked for the good of both lodges. Lander lodge, with a membership of over one hundred thirty-five members, did not feel this loss from its enrollment, and since peace and harmony prevailed among the remaining brethren, they rejoiced that the separation had restored harmony within its ranks, and that the dissatisfied brethren had sought sanctuary in a lodge of their own, at the same time regretting the circumstances which had brought about the separation.
The determination of the dissenting brethren was made early in the year of 1865, when a meeting was called behind closed doors, in the Court room of the Austin County Court House, and two petitions were framed; one to be sent to Lander lodge asking permission to organize a second lodge within the limits of the town of Austin, and adjacent to the charter of their lodge, the other to be carried to Hon. Joseph DeBell, Grand Master of Masons of Nevada, asking that a dispensation be granted to set up a new lodge in Austin. It is said that this meeting of the brethren was held on January 16, 1865. At the following meeting of Lander lodge, the petition addressed to them was presented, signed by twenty-three members. Without mincing matters, nor wasting words, the petition stated the purpose of the request, and asked that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, but hinting, if the request did not obtain, severance of fraternal relations with Lander Lodge would be otherwise obtained. At the conclusion of the reading of the document, action was immediate, and unanimous approval was made.
A second meeting of the petitioners was held in the Court rooms, and again behind closed doors the following week, and it was voted that a messenger should be dispatched to the Grand Master with the petition asking for a dispensation. However, this messenger did not depart at once, being detained on account of a severe snowstorm which blocked the roads, making travel between Austin and Virginia City impossible, until the first week in April, 1865.
The decision of Grand Master DeBell was made without appreciable delay, and a warrant of dispensation was issued to the petitioners, naming Thomas Wren, worshipful master; W. L. Thomas, senior warden, and M. A. Sawtelle, junior warden. It is interesting to note that the newly appointed worshipful master of the lodge was the bearer of the petition.
In the meantime, plans had been made to acquire a meeting place for the new lodge, and to equip their new quarters with suitable furnishings, and to provide necessary jewels and regalia to carry on the work. To this end a one story building constructed of native field rock was acquired, and necessary furniture was installed, the door covered with a handsome carpet, and the latest styled Masonic charts were hung upon the walls. No expense was spared to make the lodge room comfortable and cozy, and a point was stretched in equipping it with fittings equal, if not surpassing in quality the equipment possessed by Lander lodge. The jewels were made from silver taken from the Austin mines, and manufactured by a leading jeweler. The officers collars and aprons were made from silk, bordered with blue velvet ribbon, and embroidered with appropriate hand wrought needle work in delicate Masonic designs. These jewels were presented to the lodge by individual members of the lodge, the names of the donors were engraved on each jewel at the back. The outlay for all this equipment was of a staggering amount, but the expense was borne by personal contributions of the entire membership, and the lodge catapulted into existence with a clean slate, free of indebtedness, and the brethren were happy and contented, and more or less jubilant not only because the lodge was unincumbered, but because they experienced a feeling of superiority over their neighboring lodge. But gradually this unwarranted animosity gave way to friendliness, and soon the past was forgotten, old wounds and grudges were healed and forever settled, and a feeling of unity and harmony prevailed. Both lodges were ashamed of the parts they had played in their pathetic blundering and hastened to undo the damage they had caused in the way of ruffled feelings and unfraternal conduct. The frayed edges of fraternal honor were made whole, and side by side the two lodges worked to carry on the fundamentals of Masonry. It was a happy ending of what might have been a blot upon the escutcheon of Masonry, not only in the town of Austin, but within the state as well. And so fraternity endured in the town where the riffraff and scum of the West had gathered, and where law and order were placed at naught, and disorder and lawlessness were the order of the day.
Much might be said or written of this lamentable situation; harassing accounts given of the miscarriage of justice and the reign of almost terror which for months almost paralyzed the community, until, through the united efforts of the two Masonic lodges and the Independent Order of Oddfellows, together with what other law abiding citizens Austin possessed, crime and disorder were put to rout, the bad men of the town were driven away, and there emerged a purged Austin, all set and primed for greater expansion, and dedicated to the practice of good will and good fellowship.
Strangely enough, Austin lodge never measured up to the progress expected of it by those responsible for its origin. Its fraternal life was short lived as compared to other Masonic units in Nevada. While it enjoyed a certain amount of prosperity, added consistently to its membership, for several prosperous years maintained a sound financial standing, held the interest of its membership, and did not suffer any disasters, yet its standing in the community never attained that degree of popularity enjoyed by Lander Lodge No. 8. At the peak of its membership reached in the year 1868, its roster reflected the names of fifty-seven members. Notwithstanding, it carried on, and always stood four-square towards its neighbor lodge in the town, with which it exchanged fraternal visits, and joined in social events.
But an insidious, unforseen disaster threatened it, which resulted, not by reason of the depletion of ore reserves in the mineral bearing strata of the district, for the supply seemed to be bountiful, and showed no material decrease in volume. Not because of a lack of work in the mines, or upon surface workings, neither was it because of local conditions, but actually because of the exodus of transients and miners from the district, lured by the promise of either fortune or greater financial advantages offered in the many rich new discoveries of ore deposits in various sections of the state, which exodus for several months threatened to paralyze not only the metal industry of Austin, but to disrupt the social and business set-up of the town as well. With these factors at work, it followed that Masonry in the town would suffer, and that the weaker numerically of the two Masonic lodges would be the first to feel the slump; and so, gradually, the inevitable happened, and Austin lodge floundered in deep waters, and went upon the rocks. Eventually the morale of the lodge was weakened through loss of membership, a slowly depleted and dwindling treasury, and the inability of the officers of the lodge to hold meetings occasioned by a lack of necessary quorum. For months the officers attempted to stem the tide of disaster which confronted them; Lander lodge came to their aid and endeavored to sustain and encourage. But all of this was of no avail, and at the annual communication of the Grand Lodge held in Virginia City in 1871, request was made for permission to merge with Lander lodge, and their charter was surrendered. The splendid regalia, the magnificent collars and aprons of the official staff, and the silver jewels, passed into the keeping of the Grand Lodge of Nevada, and were eventually disposed of to Battle Mountain Lodge No. 23, and are today a prized possession of that lodge.
It has been contended and rightfully so, that the progress of Austin lodge was handicapped by the prestige and luster which surrounded Lander lodge No. 8. There is no mistaking the legitimacy of this contention. Quartered in a fine, more commodious building than that in which Austin lodge was housed, it was topped by a membership of more than one hundred members even at the peak of its enrollment in 1868. Thus Lander lodge maintained its outstanding position as a prominent fraternal unit, not only in Austin, but in the state as well, and Austin lodge suffered in consequence, and was dwarfed in importance as well as in rank.
It is unfortunate that the future of Austin lodge could not have been forecast by those responsible for its origin. We of the present day are able to see the end which threatened it, and appreciate the disaster that must eventually engulf it. However, it was not unusual in those days to establish not only one, but in some instances, two or more Masonic lodges in what was deemed thriving communities in Nevada. Virginia City district at one time supported three Masonic lodges before its ore reserves were exhausted. The town of Eureka had several other lodges, beside its Masonic lodge, before the ore deposits petered out and the town folded up, and Austin was no exception to the rule.
Today the memory of Austin lodge is but a dream in Masonic circles. The members of that lodge long ago went the way of all flesh. The old lodge building finally disintegrated, and today its site is all but forgotten. Only the eroded foundation and a pile of crumbled rocks marks its one time existence, and gives mute evidence to "the remorseless hand of Time, and the fickle tide of fortune."
Eventually there was a reversal of the conditions which threatened for a time to bring disaster to the town of Austin. Rich bodies of ore were uncovered at greater depth, and again a fortune mad throng rushed to the spot, when the news of the new strike leaked out, and Austin again experienced all the growing pains and human emotions characteristic of a western mining camp. Haphazard at first, the new excitement gradually subsided, and necessity brought about the adoption of saner and wiser methods of living, and matters were directed toward a definite purpose.
With the return of normalcy, and the influx of new residents, other Masons came from other places, who eventually found a home with the Masons of Austin, and became members of Lander lodge.
No attempt was ever made to revive or reinstate Austin lodge No. 10. The handful of stalwarts who remained faithful to the last, but who were forced to succumb to the inevitable, transferred their membership to Lander lodge, accepted Fate's decree, and though regretfully seeing the charter of their lodge surrendered, and their once cherished lodge and its material possessions swept away, entered into the spirit of the lodge of their adoption, and became faithful and valued members of that lodge.
The illustration accompanying this chapter (which we hope to have available soon - ed.) was taken in 1911 by Past Grand Master Herman Davis, more than fifty years after the building was constructed. The ravages of Time are apparent as we look upon it. The warring of the elements is evident in the worn and delapidated walls, its neglected woodwork, its drooping roof, and in the picture of a tired and time worn structure, its mission long since fulfilled. However it still presented the semblance of a one time sturdiness, respectability, and the fulfillment of an honorable and constructive purpose for which it was originally erected, and to which it was dedicated. Definitely, it was the pride of the membership of Austin lodge No. 10, and could its walls have spoken at the time the picture was taken, they could have told the story of many fraternal events enacted behind closed doors and drawn blinds, and revealed the cadences of long stilled voices which eloquently spoke of those uplifting Masonic Virtues: Brotherly Love, Relief, and Truth.
First Officers of Austin Lodge No. 10
Prominent among the membership of the lodge, and one who was largely responsible for its origin, and who was selected to guide its destiny as its first Master, was Thomas Wren, a member of the Nevada state legal bar, and a well known politician in Nevada. In 1864-65-66 he was city attorney of Austin, and during these years took an active part in the affairs of Austin lodge.
It was he who guided the destiny of that lodge through the first critical months of its existence, and was instrumental in shaping its course and placing its affairs on a sound foundation, fitting it for a useful, though a brief existence among the constituent lodges of Nevada.
William S. Thomas, chosen to be the first senior warden of Austin lodge, was at the time of his induction into the second highest office of the lodge, a man of indomitable will and an inflexible firmness of purpose. He came to Austin during the early days of the mining camp to engage in commercial pursuits. The richness of the mineral lode, however, and the promise of quick returns should he engage in mining, prompted him to forsake his commercial inclinations, and engage in leasing and mining. In this vocation he prospered and accumulated a comfortable, though small fortune. He took an active part in the organization of Austin lodge, and as a reward for his ability as a leader, and in recognition of his capabilities as an organizer, was named the first Senior Warden of the lodge.
The name of Sawtelle is an honored and well known name in Nevada, and Marcus A. Sawtelle, named the first Junior Warden of Austin Lodge, lived up to his heritage. He was destined from his youth to add lustre and honor to the family name, and before his death, made good the promise of a bright existence.
At the height of the mining boom in the newly discovered mineral bearing strata adjacent to what was to become one of the outstanding mining camps of Nevada, Marcus Sawtelle, attracted by the reported glamor and excitement of the new strike, cast his lot with the new camp.
A man of fine physical proportions, possessed of a silvery tongue and a magnetic vitality, he at once found a place in the good graces of the townspeople, and became an outstanding figure in the affairs of the town.
His love for Masonry and his fitness for advancement in the lodge won for him the confidence of his brethren, and brought about his appointment as the first Junior Warden of the lodge. In the year 1870, he was elected Deputy Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Nevada.