Held May 18th, 1955 at Tyner School House.
OPEN MEETING. There were 150 guests and members in attendance.
Noble Grand, Rufus Smith, presiding.
The meeting and banquet was opened with a prayer by Rev. J. Robert Coovert, Grand Master of Indiana. We had visitors from South Bend, Portland, Elkhart, Kewanna and Rochester. We had extended invitations over the state to Odd Fellows but due to the lateness of the season many sent their regrets. The delicious banquet was prepared by Mrs. Arthur Long, served by the high school girls and boys and the decorations were beautiful due to the good taste of the Rebekah’s. During the banquet the Nelson Kinney Orchestra played, composed of Nelson, Neva and Doris Kinney and John and Sharon Roose. Janice Shank gave a pantomime. At cake time during the banquet the Grand Master was presented with a birthday cake with appropriate candles. The cake was made by the Rebekah Noble Grand, Arvilla Smith. The banquet and entertainment sent us off to a good start.
After the banquet, the Warden, Glen Long and the Conductor, Welcome Norris, presented the flag and the entire people present gave the oath of Allegiance.
The Address of Welcome was given by Toby Jacobson, Trustee of Polk Twp. It was noted that the following members of Tyner Lodge #821 have been Trustees of Polk.Twp.: namely, Carl Woff, J.M. Schroeder, John Drake, Hershel Bollenbaugh and Raymond McComb. Toby’s address was well received.
Theodore Keller having studied the minutes of our lodge for the past fifty years recited that a petition for a charter of Tyner Lodge #821 I.O.O.F. was filed to the Grand Lodge on February 21. 1905. The petitioners were obligated by Americus Lodge #91 of Plymouth on March 4, 1905, at the home by H.G. Jarrell. The by-laws of Americus #91 were adopted and read by A.J. Wolfe. The following petitioneers were granted a charter on My 18, 1905: Charles Dawson, Ambrose Fink, Watson York, H.G. Jarrell, Eli Wick and our lodge was now in force. 24 petitioned members were taken in on February 28, 1905, 9 remained until their death, one of them Amos Sarber, the father of a present member, Cyris Sarber. These charter members have all passed on.
Welcome Norris came forward with the eulogy. “These men are but a hallowed memory, long gone but not forgotten. Men pass this way but once, these men recognized the Brotherhood of Man and Fatherhood of God. They knew as man sows so do future generations reap. So these, our founding fathers of Tyner Lodge #821 are honored tonight. Their work among us is done. These many years their influence still lives to direct our actions for the goal of our order. As a token that the virtues of our departed brothers dwell greenly in our memories we deposit these evergreens.” Upon the eulogy being completed by Ray Stoneburner came forward slowly and reverently and laid a symbolic wreath showing that these men remained ever green in our memory.
Theodore Keller continues: “On February 6, 1906 Carl Wolff was admitted to this lodge.”
Durwood Strang, our present recording secretary, found in the minutes of this lodge that the secretaries were as follows:
W. S. York from February 1905 to August 11, 1905.
C. H. Powell August 1905 to July 1907.
G. S. Herman from July 1907 to January 1908.
Dan W. Miller from JANUARY 1908 TO January 1909.
Carl Wolff January 1909 to July 1910.
Dan W. Miller January 1910 TO January 1913.
George Dunfee January 1913 to JULY 1913.
Jesse E. Keller July 1913 thru 1914.
Carl Wolff was installed as Secretary January 5, 1915 and continued as Recording Secretary for a period ending January 1, 1946. Thirty years of unselfish service to this community and the teachings of Odd Fellowship as Secretary during Carl Wolff’s years of activity in his lodge attracted such men as William G. Norris, Cyril Sarber, Merl Neiswonger, John Stoneburner, Firm Myers, Ray Jacobson, Frank Martin, Walter Winenger, men who believed in, adhered to and taught Odd Fellowship to their sons. These men have found Odd Fellowship and each has become a leader in this community.
At various District meetings we have heard from time to time of a seven man degree team, that functioned from 1917 to 1924. We called on Dan Miller one of the members of the team and he told us the following facts: “There were seven of them with 2 alternates. The seven men were Jesse Keller, Dan Miller, Homer Stoneburner, Amos Sarber, Earl Bennett, Merle Stoneburner and Mel Sprague. E.J. Robinson went along as musician. In addition we had five men who went with us comprising a thirteen man drill team. Teckenbrock from the Grand Lodge taught us most of one winter. He must have walked a thousand miles in this hall learning the routine. We instructed at Knox, Walkerton, Plymouth, Culver, Tippycanoe, Richland Center and in fact in any district we were called upon in those years. In 1924 we instructed in Greencastle before the Grand Lodge. It was not all work we had many good times in those horse and buggy days staying in hotels over night. I remember at Greencastle we were having a grand pillow fight but were finally quieted by Grand Secretary Leeds who said “an old man must get some sleep, if you young fellows don’t want to sleep get out of here”. We continued to function for about five years and gradually disbanded.
Luis Tellkamp, who was initiated during Carl Wolff’s tenure of office in studying the minutes found as follows: On April 24, 1906, we contributed to the suffering in the San Francisco earth quake. In 1912 a Scoutmaster and Scout Troupe was sponsored by the Lodge. The Scout Master, one Alvin Marsh, We wonder if he remembers. He is now Judge In the Marshall County Circuit Court. To pay dues of the men inducted into the Armed Forces of these United States is and has been routine since 1917. The cemetery deeded by our early members to a perpetual Tyner Cemetery Association with $1,000.00 in cash as a start to the perpetual care of our deed. Gifts to churches in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana, to name a few, are found all thru the minutes. Furnishing a room in the Marshall County Hospital. Sick Benefit and charitable cases taken care of without fanfare or publicity. Fellow Odd Fellows if you will read and study our minutes book while Carl Wolff was Secretary you will be highly gratified by the continued success with which thes men quiety adhered to and practiced the teachings of Odd Fellowship.”
Ronald Carlberg, our present Noble Grand, arose and recited: “We have been telling you about the men who made our lodge possible, now we are going to tell you about ourselves. We are at present renting 22 acres which we have in corn from Max Warren. We were successful last year in this matter and we hope to be this year. Christmas baskets are an annual function of our lodge. We give them to the people whom we feel deserve a remembrance at Christmas time so that they too may feel they have received a gift.” Here Everett Wiliams walked through the hall with a Christmas basket exemplifying our spirit of giving. “When Civil Defense was organized we built a post on the farm of Frank Martin. We desire to give Brother Frank much credit as he sparked the drive BUT WE BUILT THE POST. We have been nationally televised by the U.S. Signal Corps, congratulated by Major McCord of the U.S. Army “as being the only post in the UNITED States built and serviced by fraternalists.” (It was remarked here that three men have been elected sheriff’s of Marshall County out of Tyner Lodge #821, namely: Henry Jerrell, Earl Bennett and Frank Martin.” Carlberg continues: “Annually we give an award of $25.00 to the Senior boy in Tyner High School who we feel has been outstanding for behavior, scholarship and deportment. We place their name on a plaque which remains in the school. Just Monday night we gave this award and the plaque to Ted Jacobson”. (Ted was asked to come out, was introduced to Grand Master Rev. J. Robert Coovert and O.C. Decker, Grand Warden, was congratulated by them. Carlberg continues: “we have a bowling team. We challenge the district. Here is our Captain, Roy Fenimore.” (He stood up and took a bow.) Carroll Zartman just tied for first place in a run off in our bowling tournament and was introduced to the audience. Ray Jacobson due to the fact that he had never missed a bowling game was fitted with a big red ribbon. He was also introduced to the audience. Carlberg continues: “Basket Ball you know is Indiana’s own pastime. We expect to sponsor a basket ball team this fall composed of Tyner Boys and we know they will aquit themselves with honor.”
Merle Neiswonger gave a talk on the Rebekah’s.
Walter Zartman, Past District Deputy, proceded to introduce Rev. J. Robert Coovert and under Zartman’s sponsorship the following members were honored with the emblematic pins for their years in which they had belonged to our lodge:
Carl Wolff 50 years
John Stoneburner 45 years
Jesse Keller 45 years
Merle Neiswonger 35 years
William G. Norris 35 years
Firm Myers 30 years (absent)
Raymond Jacobson 15 years
Frank Martin 15 years
Walter Winenger 15 years
Pete Keller 15 years
Cyril Sarber 15 years
After these pins were distributed being personally given by our Grand Master, Rev. J. Robert Coovert, he was called upon by Mr. Zartman to give an address. The Grand Master’s address was eloquent, inspiring and listened to with the utmost silence. Certainly, our Grand Master is a master of English and an eloquent orator.
After the address of the Grand Master the Noble Grand introduced O.C. Decker, Grand Warden who with a few well-chosen words gave a humorous talk on the merits of Elkhart.
Loren Cunningham, present District Deputy, John Hiatt, Loren Castleman proceeded to give short talks and left us all with feeling of good will.
The meeting finally closed by the Conductor and Warden retiring the Flag of our Country and Rev. J. Robert Coovert, Grand Master, giving the closing benediction.
Durwood Strang, Recording Secretary.
Rufus W. Smith, Noble Grand.