125th Year Observance, part 8: Growth of Freemasonry in Chico

Chico Masonic Cemetery Memorial - then

Chico Lodge No. 111 has added another twenty-five years to the history which precedes this.  We are looking to our anniversary of 125 years, via a Charter that was issued on December 31st and a first lodge meeting that was held on January 10th, at the end of this year and the beginning of the next.  It has been an exciting time of outstanding leaders and of the highest membership and of the establishment of a new lodge in Chico which caused Masonry to continue to grow.  And, pointedly, we are survivors... perhaps the sixty-fifth oldest lodge in the State of California.  This lodge continues as witness to the meaning of Freemasonry, and Masonic history is the bond that ties us all together.

Cornerstone ceremonies are important to Masons because of their symbolism.  In the past twenty-five years, Chico Lodge No.111 has participated with the Grand Lodge of California in the laying of four cornerstones.  Chico Lodge No. 111 acted as host on September 19, 1964, in the laying of the cornerstone at Pleasant Valley High School by Grand Master Elmer Heald, and many past Masters of Chico Lodge assisted in the ceremony.  On April 19, 1968, the Grand Lodge was opened in Chico Lodge No. 111 by Deputy Grand Master Robert A. Crigler who presided over the laying of a cornerstone for the new administration building of Chico Senior High School.  On September 7th of the same year Grand Master Eugene S. Hopp laid the cornerstone of the new Durham High School.  Finally, while Grand Lodge was opened in Paradise for the laying of the Butte College cornerstone on September 10, 1974, many past Masters of Chico Lodge No. 111 participated. 

Chico Masonic Cemetery Memorial - now

The dedication of the Chico Masonic Cemetery Marker was an important event to local Masons.  It is a symbol of our concern and care and is a place of beautiful, quiet dignity.  This Masonic burying ground is contained within the north-west boundary of Chico Cemetery; Chico Lodge No. 111 endowed the permanent care of this section through Chico Cemetery Association on December 8, 1964.  The brick monument was designed by Bro. Loren Ward and was dedicated on May 12, 1962, with Deputy Grand Master Ira W. Coburn presiding.

125th Year Observance - part 7: Allen Wood, first Master of the Chico Lodge

Allen Wood

Recently it has been possible to learn more about the first Master of Chico Lodge 111, Allen Wood.  He was named Master on December 31, 1856, by the Grand Lodge of California for the period of dispensation.  He was succeeded by General John Bidwell as the first elected Master a few months later, and then followed General Bidwell as the first elected Master to serve on full year.

He was a dynamic leader.  Having been born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1812, General Wood was raised in Connecticut, lived briefly in Indiana, and settled in Arkansas in 1839.  He was twice elected to the Arkansas legislature.  In the war with Mexico, Wood was given a captain's commission and raised a company of volunteers who were attached to the twelfth infantry.  He "fought in the battles of Contreras and Cherubusco on August 18 and 29, 1847.  On the latter day, he took command of the regiment, Colonel Bonham having been wounded the night before...For his gallant conduct in these engagements, he was made a brevet major." (From History of Plumas, Lassen and Sierra Counties, Fariss & Smith, 1882)

General Wood came to Butte County, California, in the fall of 1856.  He immediately became a part of that group which asked for a dispensation for Chico Lodge No. 111.  Within two years, General Wood moved to Plumas County, where in 1863 he was affiliated with Sincerity Lodge No. 132 at Rich Bar.  In 1872, he affiliated with Lassen Lodge No. 149 at Susanville and remained a member of that Lodge until his death in 1890.  If he was in a place where there was no Masonic Lodge, he was the sort of man to put it together.  He was the founder of the Royal Arch Chapter at Susanville, the first High Priest of Lassen Chapter No. 47, R.A.M. at Susanville on July 23, 1875, and the first Eminent Commander of Lassen Commandery No. 13, K.T. at Susanville on April 23, 1878, as well as the initial organizer of this Commandery.

In Plumas County, he erected a fine, large hotel, which unfortunately burned, nearly bankrupting him.  In 1860, he was elected on the Douglas ticket to the California Assembly continuing in his life of leadership and service.

125th Year Observance - part 6: John Bidwell and the Chico Lodge

From a detailed reading of the minutes of Chico Lodge No. 111 it is clear that John Bidwell was an extremely important figure in the founding and early history of this Lodge.  There is evidence that he furnished the money necessary for procuring the charter from the Gran Lodge, and there is no evidence that he was ever reimbursed. He provided the first meeting places for the Lodge.  He was a member of most important committees. On numerous occasions he installed the officers for Chico Lodge.  Although his early Masonic history is sketchy and his last years as a Mason are of no consequence, for a period of approximately ten years he was indeed an active and prominent member of Chico Lodge No. 111.

Chico Lodge has occupied four meeting halls, or temples, in its first hundred years of existence.  The first meeting place was in the upstairs floor of John Bidwell's frame store building on his Rancho Chico.  This building was erected in 1852, or earlier, and was located between Bidwell's famous "Old Adobe" and Chico Creek.  This spot was a few yards west of the present Esplanade Bridge over Big Chico Creek and must have been quite close to the bank of the creek.  There are several pictures in existence which show this building, known to have been "Bidwell's Store" as early as 1852, and it is generally believed that this building served as Bidwell's store building until 1861 when John Bidwell  constructed the Bidwell brick store building on the southwest corner of First and Broadway.  No buildings were south of Big Chico Creek until after the town of Chico was laid out by Bidwell in 1860.

For many years it has been suspected that this old frame store building was the site of the first meeting place of Chico Lodge, but the following quoted report, secured from the California State Library in July, 1953, definitely confirms the meeting place: From "California Agricultural Society, official report, 4th annual fair, Stockton, September 29th, 30th, October 1st and 2nd, 1857. (Report of the visiting committee on farms, orchards, vineyards, etc.) (Left Stockton June 8, 1857)"

          "... Fifty miles from Marysville, on Chico Creek, is the extensive farm of Major Bidwell.... His dwelling is a large two-story adobe building.... He has, also, a large wooden building, two stories high, the lower part used as a store, and the upper as a Masonic Hall."  

The proposal for building our present building was first made officially at a meeting of the Masonic Hall Association on February 20, 1908.  The Association had been organized March 15, 1898, and had full jurisdiction over the building properties of the Lodge.  A contract to construct the new Masonic Hall was awarded June 22, 1908.  Oddly, there is apparently no written record to show the date of the first meeting in the present building.  However, several who were present at the Installation of Officers on December 27, 1908, recall that this installation was conducted in the new building.

From the Minute Books of Chico Lodge much of the material was gathered for the preparation of this brief historical summary.  Recognition should be given to the secretaries who have so faithfully and thoroughly recorded the minutes of the Lodge.  Unquestionably the dean of this excellent group was Augustus Leonard Neubarth, better known as "Gus" who served as Secretary of Chico Lodge from 1906 until his death in 1935.  The historical researcher is indebted to such brethren as "Gus" Neubarth, and from the entries of the secretaries one can readily discern the prosperous times as well as the lean times in the history of Chico Lodge has been on of steady, solid growth.

125th Year Observance - part 5: John Bidwell's Masonic activity

The next record of John Bidwell as a Mason is as a member of Butte Lodge No. 36 of Bidwell's Bar, Butte County.  This is in the Returns from Butte Lodge in the Grand Lodge Proceedings of 1855.  Also in 1856 and 1857 he is shown as a member of Butte Lodge No. 36.  In 1858, the year after the founding of Chico Lodge, Bidwell is shown as "withdrawn by Butte Lodge.

In Sherman's "Fifty Years of Masonry in California" it is recorded that John Bidwell was a Past Master of Butte Lodge NO. 36.  All evidence is to the contrary, however.  In the Returns to the Grand Lodge by Butte Lodge No. 36 Bidwell was never listed as Worshipful Master of Past Master up to the time he is listed as "withdrawn."  It is extremely unlikely that Butte Lodge could have consistently overlooked listing as a Past Master the man for whom their community was named had he ever been Master of their Lodge.  From 1857 Bidwell's record is completely with Chico Lodge.  Butte Lodge surrendered its charter in 1864.

In 1859 John Bidwell was Treasurer of Chico Lodge; in 1860, Senior Deacon; in 1861, Secretary; in 1862, Worshipful Master for the second time; in 1863, Senior Deacon again; and, in 1864, Worshipful Master for the third time.  From 1865 Bidwell's activity rapidly lessened.  The Tiler's Register indicates that there were long periods of absence from the Lodge, sometimes of two or three years.  His last signing of the Register was June 4, 1876.

On July 4, 1888, John Bidwell served as Grand Orator, Pro-tem, when the Grand Lodge of California officiated at the laying of the cornerstone of the State Normal School in Chico.

On July 21, 1888, John Bidwell's membership in Chico Lodge terminated.  There is no record of his having affiliated with any other lodge or of renewing his membership in Chico Lodge.

125th Year Observance - part 4: John Bidwell's early Masonic history

John Bidwell

The most prominent of all, however, was General John Bidwell, famous California pioneer and founder of the City of Chico.  His Masonic History is extremely interesting, and his influence in the founding and early years of Chico Lodge was of great importance.

John Bidwell was the first elected Worshipful Master of Chico Lodge.  His early Masonic record is not altogether clear.

In the Grand Lodge returns of November, 1851, San Jose Lodge No. 10 lists the name Bidwell in its listing of Entered Apprentices.  No name or initial is given.  However, the early records of San Jose Lodge No. 10 confirm that this was John Bidwell and that he took the Entered Apprentice degree in that lodge February 13, 1851.  There is no record of where or when John Bidwell received the second and third degrees.  However, there is this much...in 1897, for teh purpose of Masonic History records, Bidwell was asked as to where he was made a Mason.  His letter of reply to this request was as follows:

Near Prattville

Plumas Co., Cal.

Aug. 11, 1897

Hon. Edwin A. Sherman

Oakland, Cal.

My dear Sir: 

          Yours of the 5th inst. has overtaken me on my summer outing in the depths of the Sierra Nevada mts. about 70 miles from Chico.  

          My hand being too unsteady to write with pen and ink, I beg you will excuse use of pencil.

          You ask me to send the name of the lodge where I took the degrees.

          In the winter of 1850-51 a friend persuaded me to take the first degree (Entered A.) at a lodge in San Jose - the name I do not remember.  A few years later at Hamilton, which was then the county seat of Butte, the two following degrees.  There was no lodge there - no lodge room - but the man who acted as Master had authority, as I understood, to confer such degrees - think his name was Morse or Moss - do not know the name - might have been Butte Lodge - the exact years I do not recall.

          Regretting inability to give more fully and accurately the information you require, I have the honor to be

Yours very sincerely

(s) John Bidwell

It is thought that possibly Morse, or Moss, was a "Deputy Grand Master" or similar official from some other Jurisdiction who was empowered to "make Masons and constitute lodges."  This was a common practice in early days, and it is possible that Bidwell was made a Mason at sight or in a loosely constituted lodge under such power.  

In this connection it is interesting to note the following excerpt from Mansfield's "History of Butte County"..."In the fall of 1849, a Mr. Norse called together the Masons who were then at Long's Bar, and under a dispensation of the Grand Lodge of Illinois, of which he was a member, what was said to be the first Masonic meeting held in California assembled.  The convocation was held in a shake shanty so thin that the secrets of the order might have been endangered had it not been for the vigilance of the tyler.  No lodge was chartered there."  The similarity in the names of Morse, Moss and Norse seems more than a coincidence.  Long's Bar was ten or twelve miles from Hamilton.  This seems to tie very closely with Bidwell's letter

125th Year Observance - part 3: Distinguished visitors

Peter Lassen

The first Tiler's Register shows visits on October 17th and October 31st, 1857, of Peter Lassen, famous California pioneer and also very prominent in the earliest Masonic history of this State.

In the one hundred years of Chico Lodge No. 111 many names have been signed on the Roll Book.  Some were those of men who played important roles in the building of this community and of the state.  There was Samuel Neal, one of the first three settlers in this immediate vicinity and who owned extensive tracts of land here as early as 1844, which was even before Bidwell settled on Rancho Chico.  The present Neal Road to Paradise is named for him.  There was Ira Watherbee, proprietor of the mine at Magalia where the famous "Dogtown" nugget was found; Edward B. Pond, later Mayor of San Francisco; August H. Chapman, founder of Chapmantown; G. W. Durham, founder of Durham; J.W.B. Montgomery, Brigadier General of the California National Guard and father of Josephine Montgomery, for whom Josephine Chapter, O.E.S. of Chico was named; Carnot Courtland Mason, who became Grand Commander of Knights Templar of California; and there were numerous important county officials, several State Assemblymen and at least one State Senator.

125th Year Observance - part 2: The Lodge's first official meeting

Seven days later the By-Laws were adopted.  Also at this meeting two petitions for initiation were received.  One of the petitioners was elected and one rejected at the next meeting, held February 21, 1857.  on February 28, 1857, the Lodge initiated Mr. John Maine, their first candidate.  He was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason just fourteen days later.  From February to June of 1857, frequent meetings were held and numerous petitions, both for election and affiliation, were received and acted upon.  All told, during the time the Lodge was working under a Dispensation there were twelve meetings.  Fifteen petitions for degrees were received and two for affiliation.  There were ten first degrees conferred, seven second and five third degrees.

On April 18, 1857, the Secretary was directed to send to the Grand Lodge a written request for a charter, and on May 14, 1857, the charter for Chico Lodge No. 111, F & A. M., was ordered by the Grand Lodge of California.

The first meeting of the Lodge, under charter, was held June 20, 1857, at this meeting "Bro. Jno. Bidwell was Elected and Declared duly Elected Worshipful Master of Chico Lodge No. 111 for the balance of the Masonic year.  Bro. J.B. Smith was Elected S.W.; Bro. A.M. Sadourous was Elected J.W.; Bro. E.B. Kinson was Elected Treasurer; Bro. C. Wheeler was Elected Secretary.  The Lodge then was called to refreshment for a few minutes.  The Lodge again being called on, the Officers Elect were presented for Installation, the Brethren having signified their satisfaction with their choice.  The Lodge was duly Constituted In Form by Worshipful Bro. A.G. Simpson.  The Members of the lodge and all Brethren but those who were Past Masters Retired, and Bro. Jn. Bidwell was Inducted into the Oriental Chair by Past Masters A.G. Simpson and D.A> Brown and Henry Keefer, W.M. of Butte Lodge No. 36" (From the minutes of Just 20, 1857.)

The first Minute Book of the Lodge contains the original By-Laws, immediately following which are to be found eighty-one signatures of the early members of Chico Lodge.  This of course indicates that this Minute, or Record, Book was also used as the first Roll Book for this Lodge.  Dates appearing with the signatures in this book show that it was used for this purpose until sometime in 1961.  Apparently, at that time our present By-Laws and Roll Book was instituted.  Probably an attempt was made to have all of the original signers of the By-Laws place their names in the new book, for thirty-seven names of the early members appear in both books.  This also would account for the blank spaces which occur in the first few pages of our present By-Laws Book.

From a coordinated study and comparison of the first Minute Book and the first Ledger it is shown that the charter members of Chico Lodge No. 111 were Allen Wood, J.B. Smith, John Bidwell, Columbus Wheeler, E.B. Kinson, Alexander Burns, A.M. Sadourus and Wm. V. Polk.