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 – Onalaska Freemasonry Lodge 214 gives donation to the Salvation Army
Wisconsin/US – Freemasons Toys for Tots donation; toys, money delivered
Wisconsin/US – Freemasons donate fire suppression tools
Wisconsin/US – 170th anniversary of Waterloo Masonic Lodge
Wisconsin/US – Freemasons donate life-saving ‘Go Bags’ to State Patrol
Wisconsin/US – Freemasons and American Legion team up for suicide prevention training
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 Freemasons
- Platteville Freemasons support hometown business October 4, 2026Freemasons of Melody Masonic Lodge in Platteville recently donated an AED to the local Country Kitchen in Platteville. Pictured above making the donation are, from left: Ron Jaacks; Chad Holstein, Owner/Manager Country Kitchen; Jim Beals; and Brad Mootz. District 8 Newsletter The post Platteville Freemasons support hometown business appeared first on Wisconsin Freemasons.Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- GL Leadership Team Meeting Proves to be Very Educational October 3, 2026By Rich Rygh Grand Master Joseph E. Thompson and his Lady Julie hosted the fall Grand Lodge Leadership Team Meeting at the Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel and Convention Center September 18-20. It was a very informative and productive weekend focused on education. The Ladies worked on assembling gift bags for Breast Cancer Recovery, this year’s […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- October 2026: The Grand Master’s Message October 1, 2026By Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin Brother Joseph E. Thompson Hello Brethren, Another busy month of spending time with you and enjoying every minute of this marvelous journey. I am blessed to attend your events, making this journey so amazing. August 20, was one of those amazing events. I traveled to Oregon with […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- Lake Lodge Brothers clean up Milwaukee’s Bay View Park Beach September 30, 2026By Brother Andrew Martins Brethren of Lake Lodge No. 189 traded the lodge room for the lakeshore recently, turning out for their second Milwaukee Riverkeeper Adopt-a-River cleanup at Bay View Park since adopting the beach. The event is part of Milwaukee Riverkeeper’s ongoing effort to protect and restore the region’s waterways through hands-on volunteer stewardship. […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- Comedian Pete Lee helps Columbus Freemasons raise money for scholarships September 29, 2026Columbus Freemasons Lodge (No. 75) recently hosted nationally-known comedian Pete Lee. Pete, who has performed numerous times on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, is the son of Brother Bill Lee of Columbus. This was the 11th time Pete has done a benefit for Columbus Lodge. This year Pete brought Shivani Davé to open for […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- Portage Freemasons host Pancake Breakfast September 29, 2026Fort Winnebago Lodge (No. 33) of Portage hosted a breakfast on July 18. This breakfast was by donation — and any donation gets you all-you-can-eat. Pictured above, Brothers Brad Stigney and Jim Shlimovitz teamed up to refill the eggs, sausage and bacon. District 7 Newsletter The post Portage Freemasons host Pancake Breakfast appeared first on Wisconsin […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- Reedsburg’s 3rd Annual Masonic Car Show September 28, 2026Perfect weather and a good selection of cars made for a very enjoyable day at Reedsburg Lodge’s 3rd Annual Masonic Car Show. It was held at Pioneer Village in rural Reedsburg on August 16. Pictured above, Brothers Dereck Bush (left) and Kyle Tennessen present the trophies. Photos by Brother Rich Rygh The post Reedsburg’s 3rd […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- Ladysmith Freemasons support Rusk County Wreaths for Veterans September 27, 2026On Wednesday morning August 19th, two Brothers from Ladysmith Freemasons Lodge (No. 280) met with the Rusk County Coordinators of the Rusk County Wreaths For Veterans program. This is the 9th year that Patti and Dale Bisson are running this program, which covers all of the cemeteries in Rusk County. They are an affiliate of […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- Wisconsin’s 2nd Annual AMD and Knight Masons Ingathering: A Beautiful Day of Masonry September 25, 2026By Brother Jim Hunt On August 15, 2026, Brothers gathered in Wisconsin for the 2nd Annual Allied Masonic Degrees and Knight Masons Ingathering, a day that beautifully brought together Masonic ritual, education, heritage, and fellow-ship. The Ingathering united Great Lakes Council No. 273, Allied Masonic Degrees; Heart of Wisconsin Council No. 331, Allied Masonic Degrees; […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
- Village of Iola ceremony honors USA’s 250th Anniversary September 23, 2026By John Faucher The Village of Iola marked a historic, multi-generational tribute on June 20, as state and local members of the Freemasons gathered at the Omholt & Forsythe S.C. law office at 105 Pine Crest Lane. The event formally dedicated a new 250th-anniversary commemorative flagpole and community colors. The special open lodge public ceremony […]Jeffrey Schoenfeldt
36275 Sunset Drive
Dousman, WI 53118www.wisc-freemasonry.org262-965-2200
