Chapter 5 - Ambrose Fraternal Organizations

From: A History of Ambrose, by Delroy J. Gorecki, State Teachers College, Minot, ND
Written May 1962
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Independent Order of Odd Fellows	Ambrose Masonic Lodge
Modern Woodmen of America	Order of the Eastern Star
Brotherhood of American Yeomen	Sons of Norway
Modern Brotherhood of America	Royal Neighbors

Eight secret societies have been organized in the city of Ambrose since it was founded. Of those eight only two remain: The Masonic Lodge and the Order of the Eastern Star. Those that have disbanded are The Sons of Norway, The Odd Fellows, The Modern Woodmen of America, The Brotherhood of American Yeomen, The Modern Brotherhood of America and The Royal Neighbors.

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows:    In 1907 the Odd Fellows (IOOF) was the first lodge to organize in Ambrose.  A. T. Austenson was the first Noble Grand, and Martin Burreson was first treasurer.  No records are now available.  It is known that the lodge held meetings in Miller's Hall for a number of years until those who were charter members began leaving the county. As a result this lodge finally was abandoned.

The Modern Woodmen of America:   The Modern Woodmen of America lodge was organized in July of 1907.   The original members were:

The lodge was active for a number of years. The lodge was forced to disband because of the increasing popularity of the Yeomen and Masons. The last social meeting was held sometime during 1916.

The Brotherhood of American Yeomen:   The Yeomen lodge was organized in 1909 and continued to hold social meetings until about 1920. Very little information is available on this fraternity. It was abandoned because most of the members left the county and not enough were left to put on the work properly. Meetings were held in Miller's Hall.

The Modern Brotherhood of America:   On March 1, 1910 the Progress Lodge No. 1994 - Modern Brotherhood of America was started in Ambrose by District Deputy Elroy. There were 18 members at the time the lodge was formed. The first meeting was held in Miller's Hall and the following were elected to the various offices:

Regular meetings were held in Miller's Hall. This lodge was in existence for about five years when the premiums were raised considerably and the members dropped out rather than pay the increased rates. A very few members kept up the premiums but the social activities of the lodge soon ceased to exist.

Ambrose Masonic Lodge No. 97 A. F. & A. M.:   Not very long after Ambrose was established the Masons began to hold meetings and in the winter of 1909-10 they decided to establish a lodge here. On April 19, 1910 a meeting was held to discuss organization. The following masons were present:

Brother Bruchman was chosen chairman and C. E. Brace secretary. A committee was appointed to do the preliminary work and secure the necessary signatures on the petition asking for a dispensation.

A second meeting was held on April 27, 1910 and the following officers were elected:

The dispensation was granted on August 31, 1910. The lodge started to hold regular meetings and on June 28, 1911 the Grand Lodge was issued the charter. The charter was delivered in person by Grand Master Robert Morrison at a special meeting on August 22, 1911.

There were twenty charter members. They were:

By the end of 1913 the membership had grown to 39 members.

In 1914 a heavy decrease in membership occurred when a new lodge was established in Crosby drawing most of its charter members from the Ambrose Lodge. However, the lodge did continue to grow and at one time had over a hundred members. At present, however the membership has greatly decreased, although the lodge is still somewhat active.

In 1915 the lodge decided it was time they had a building of their own and the temple was erected. Up to this time the meetings had been held in Miller's Hall. The building was dedicated on June 8, 1916 by Grand Master Harry Lord, with Grand Secretary Walter Stockwell delivering the principal address.

In 1924 the lodge sponsored an oratorical contest for the pupils of the school in the lodge jurisdiction. This is believed to be the first of its kind in the state and was so enthusiastically received that it was made an annual event. However, by the year 1945 this type of activity had been discontinued. Although the lodge is now almost purely a social gathering, it was active in the community for many years to lend a helping hand when necessary.

Click here to read an account of the Ambrose Masonic Lodge
from the Divide County History 1974, Crosby, North Dakota

The Order of the Eastern Star:   On May 3, 1917 a special meeting of the Eastern Star was held in the Masonic Temple with Deputy Grand Patron George Goetze. At this meeting the Ambrose Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was instituted and the following members were installed:

May D. Bruchman, William Bruchman, Granville Baker and Andrew Grina complete the list of those named on the charter.

The Ambrose Chapter was constituted on November 9, 1917 and given the number 84.

May D. Bruchman was appointed as Worthy Matron to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Mae White. Helga Almos was installed as Treasurer.

The Order of the Eastern Star continued to grow for many years but like their counterpart, the Masons, they have become increasingly inactive.

Click here to read an account of the Order of the Eastern Star
from the Divide County History 1974, Crosby, North Dakota

The Sons of Norway:   The Ambrose Faedremindet Lodge No. 164 of the Sons of Norway commenced on November 12, 1915.  Organizational work was carried on by Chris Pederson, the organizer for the fourth district, assisted by J. P. Johnson of Eidsvold Lodge No. 12 of Seattle, Washington.

The first officers of the lodge were:

The lodge was organized with 51 charter members:

Although J. Johnson's name is not on the charter list, he was one of the founders of the lodge and a charter member.  His name was evidently left off the list accidentally.

The first meetings were held in Miller's Hall and later meetings were held in the Masonic Temple. In 1923 the lodge purchased the "electric theater" which they used as a lodge hall and also operated as a theater and dance hall. In May of 1935 the lodge installed modern "talkie equipment" to replace the old silent picture machine.

During World War I no social meetings of the lodge were held.  The lodge however did its part in the “unpleasantness."  Besides buying liberty bonds and savings stamps, the lodge contributed to buy an ambulance for the Red Cross.  During the war and for three or four years after the war the lodge had a very hard time with finances.  For some time the treasury was completely depleted.  Only the fact that the Supreme Lodge was willing to accept their promise to pay later enabled them to continue functioning.  The life insurance of the lodge was carried with the Supreme Lodge but the sick benefits were carried with the local lodge.

In the first twenty years of its existence the local lodge paid out over two thousand dollars in sick benefits and other charitable work. They also furnished a room in the community hospital and contributed generously to worthy community projects including a substantial amount to help pay for the x-ray equipment in the hospital. For several years the lodge also maintained a good library of Scandinavian and American-English books for the use of the members of the lodge and these books were also available to the shut-ins.

When the hard years of the thirties came the lodge completely died out.

Click here to read an account of the Sons of Norway
from the Divide County History 1974, Crosby, North Dakota

The Royal Neighbors:   No information is available.

From A History of Ambrose, by Delroy J. Gorecki
State Teachers College, Minot, ND
May 31, 1962
(Edited for Content)