
Freemasonry in Wisconsin first took an organized form on the night of December 27, 1823, when seven army officers and three civilians met at the home of Brother George Johnston on the west bank of the Fox River in what is now Green Bay. The soldiers were attached to the 3rd US Infantry Regiment, stationed at Fort Howard, under the command of Col. John McNeil, also a Freemason. Wisconsin was then part of the territory of Michigan and very lightly settled. The regiment was there to maintain order and protect the settlers in this vast wilderness.
Desiring to form a lodge, the men sent a petition to the Grand Lodge of New York requesting a charter. Dispensation for the formation of a lodge was granted, and on September 2, 1824, the interested brethren met again to organize it. Their charter from the Grand Lodge of New York was dated December 3rd.
During the following year, Menomonie Lodge № 374 ceased to be a military lodge and became civilian. An 1854 address given in Green Bay showcased the Lodge’s records dating back to 1827 and its cessation as a Lodge in 1830. It was, therefore, never chartered as a “Wisconsin” lodge; moreover, its New York charter was destroyed in a fire during 1870 at Washington Lodge № 21, Green Bay.
Carved out of the original Michigan Territory in 1836, the rich lead mines of the southwestern Wisconsin territory attracted a large influx of settlers, including influential men from Missouri and Illinois. These men also formed Masonic Lodges.
Melody Lodge № 49 under the Grand Lodge of Missouri received a dispensation at Mineral Point on October 8, 1840. Organized on July 27, 1841, it was granted a charter in October 1842 and began work on February 15, 1843. On January 10, 1843, a second dispensation came from Missouri to form Lodge № 65, about 20 miles from Mineral Point in Platteville. With dispensation granted on June 12, 1843, The Grand Lodge of Illinois, as that area’s Grand jurisdiction, chartered Milwaukee Lodge № 22.
On January 17, 1844 representatives of these Lodges established the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin. The Lodges were re-chartered according to seniority: Mineral Point № 1, Melody № 2, and Kilbourn № 3 (who changed its name to Milwaukee founding father Bryon Kilbourn). Fifty years later, in 1894, there were over 260 Lodges and more than 15,500 members. Membership in Wisconsin peaked in 1960 with over 300 Lodges and more 59,000 brothers.
Wisconsin freemasons support a wide variety of charities. First is the Wisconsin Masonic Foundation that provides worthy students educational scholarships. The Foundation provides care for the aged at its Three Pillars Senior Living Communities in Dousman, the Masonic Home Foundation Fund and Masonic Medical Fund. The service and Assistance Fund improve the lives of veterans at four Wisconsin VA Hospitals but is also ready to assist in time of national natural disasters. Lastly, the Grand Lodge sponsors a state-wide youth soccer game for exceptional athletes. Of course, most Lodges sponsor and support local charities and philanthropic endeavors.
Today Grand Master L. Arby Humphrey presides over 181 Lodges with a membership over 11,000. Among the many distinguished and honored masons of the Badger State are all five Ringling brothers’ circus owners, former Governor and Secretary of Health & Human Services Tommy Thompson, former Wisconsin Governor Lee Dreyfus and former Wisconsin Attorney General, and Past Grand Master, J.B. Van Hollen.
Wisconsin/US – Masonic Gala to benefit Wisconsin State Patrol
Wisconsin/US – Freemasons make donations to Superior first responders
Wisconsin/US – Janesville Masonic Center Damaged by Multiple Gunshots
Wisconsin/US – Masonic Lodge helps food bank
Wisconsin/US – Wautoma Freemasons welcomes you to Scholarship Fundraising Dinner
Wisconsin/US – Prince Hall Masonic Temple promotes gun safety after several kids shot and injured
Wisconsin/US – Freemasons to provide lifesaving devices for state patrol vehicles
Wisconsin/U.S. – Barnes freemasons present firefighting tool to Solon Springs
Wisconsin/U.S. – Merrill Freemasons donate fire suppression tool
Wisconsin/U.S. – Waukesha Masonic Lodge celebrates 170 years
Wisconsin/U.S. – Masonic Temple donates Fire Suppression Tool to Sheriff’s Office
Wisconsin/U.S. – Viroqua’s Masonic Building turns 100
Wisconsin/U.S. – Wautoma Masonic Lodge presents Redgranite FD with FST
Wisconsin/U.S. – Masonic Lodge makes donation for police dog training
Wisconsin/U.S. – Freemasons provide new firefighting tool to Douglas County departments
Wisconsin/U.S. – Not so Mysterious: Past and Present Masonic Temples Build Community
Wisconsin/U.S. – Wautoma Masonic Union sponsors Father’s Day picnic
Wisconsin/U.S. – Ground broken for new Masonic lodge
Wisconsin/U.S. – Historic Masonic Center windows get some watchers
Wisconsin/U.S. – Masonic Lodge Delivered 241 Meals
Wisconsin/U.S. – Past and Present Masonic Temples Build Community
Wisconsin/U.S. – A Portage County Sheriff was shot by outlaws in 1875. His Civil War sword has new owners.
Rod Rommel and Masonic Day of Light in Wisconsin
36275 Sunset Drive
Dousman, WI 53118www.wisc-freemasonry.org262-965-2200