History of James M Hays Lodge

James M. Hays Lodge No. 331 is proud to celebrate its 100 year anniversary as a lodge in 2023. Although our locations have changed, our core values have remained the same and a Lodge is not simply a building, but rather the Brethren which make up a Lodge.  Currently, James M Hays Lodge meets in Wauwatosa. Our social events continue to be spread out throughout the region.

The following is an excerpt from Forward Freemasonry, Volume 1, which was edited by Hays member and Past Grand Master Allan E. Iding.  

James M. Hays Lodge No. 331 at Milwaukee and Glendale 

In 1923, another lodge was needed on Milwaukee’s north side. Among the names proposed were those of Abraham Lincoln, Willard A. Van Brunt and James M. Hays. The organizing group of 57 Masons chose Hays, a recently deceased Milwaukee banker who was a Past Master of LaFayette Lodge No 265.  Another Past Master of LaFayette Lodge, Fred Marien (then the Senior Gand Warden of the Grand Lodge), was the building influence in the formation of James M Hays Lodge.  Many of the initial Hays members were members of LaFayette Lodge.

Grand Master John Langdon issued a dispensation to the new lodge in March 1923. The Grand Lodge issued a charter to James M. Hays Lodge No. 331 in June of that year, when the lodge had 72 members. Albert Runnel was the first Master, and Matthew Gunther and Gerhard Fischer were the Wardens.
The lodge held its first regular meeting in Cottrill Hall of Ivanhoe Masonic Temple on North 10th Street near Wisconsin Avenue. However, since James M. Hays Lodge was to be a north side (not a downtown) lodge, the lodge moved to the Owl Building (Pilgrim Hall) at Port Washington Road and Green Bay Avenue in October 1923. “To obtain a more Masonic atmosphere,”
the lodge moved to the building owned by Garfield Lodge on North 27th Street in October 1935. In March 1965, James M. Hays Lodge and Milwaukee Lodge completed the construction of a Masonic building in Glendale, and Hays Lodge moved to its current home.

Hiram W. Sawyer Lodge No. 338 at Milwaukee and Whitefish Bay

Hiram W. Sawyer Lodge received its dispensation in May 1926 and its charter June 9, 1926. The charter members came mainly from Henry L. Palmer Lodge No. 301, but at least six other lodges from Milwaukee County also contributed members. Named for a Past Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin, Hiram W. Sawyer Lodge No. 338 initially met in the city of Milwaukee. For many years, the meetings were at the Garfield Lodge Masonic building on North 27th Street.

In 1968, Hiram W. Sawyer Lodge began meeting in Whitefish Bay at the building owned by Silver Spring Lodge. In December 1980, Hiram W. Sawyer Lodge merged with James M. Hays Lodge. Two Past Masters of Hays Lodge have served as Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin: George Schreiber and Allan Iding. Hays Lodge continues to be active in the metropolitan community, with contributions of time and financial support to various charities and educational groups.

James A. Garfield Lodge No. 309 at Milwaukee and Glendale
The idea of creating a new lodge on what was then Milwaukee’s northwest side was conceived in early 1914 by H. R. Graham, Stanton May,  Gustave Weiss, George Steitz, Henry Paape, Herman Schulenberg, James Peterson and E. W. Sikes. The lodge was initially called Garfield Lodge, in memory of the assassinated President, James A. Garfield, who was a Mason.
The Lodge received its dispensation in June 1914. Henry Maynard was the first Master, with Weiss and Steitz as the Wardens. The Grand Lodge issued a charter to Garfield Lodge No. 309 in June 1915. In March 1922, the lodge changed its name to James A. Garfield Lodge. The first meeting of the lodge was held in the basement of the Auer Avenue Methodist Church on 24th and Auer. Later the lodge moved to St. Paul’s Mission House Guild Hall on 12th and Center.

In October 1921, the lodge moved to its newly constructed Masonic building at 27th and Chambers. The lodge conferred over 200 degrees annually during several years in the 1920s. In the 1930s, however, the Lodge struggled to keep its building from foreclosure. Fortunately, Milwaukee Lodge, Hiram W. Sawyer Lodge and James M. Hays Lodge became tenants of the building.
With the additional help of a significant bequest and the institution of a life membership program, the lodge could burn its mortgage in 1947. In 1954, “Scottie” Shaw, the long time Tiler of the lodge and custodian of the building, retired after 40 years of service.

In the 1940s and ’50s, the degree conferrals resumed. The lodge conducted as many as 15 Entered Apprentice and Fellowcraft Degrees or six Master Mason Degrees on a Saturday. In 1969, James A. Garfield Lodge purchased a one-third ownership interest in the Milwaukee-Hays-Garfield building on North Green Bay Avenue, and the lodge moved to the City of Glendale. James Benz, a Past Master of the Lodge, became Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin in 1978.

Source:  Forward Freemasonry, Volume 1, Allan E Iding, Editor

 

The historical description below is a compilation of our history gathered by Hays brothers:

A Brief History of James M. Hays Lodge # 331 F.&A.M.
In the early 1920s James M. Hays Lodge #331 F& A.M. originated with an idea conceived by several Brethren of LaFayette Lodge # 265, that a new Masonic Lodge was needed to serve the north end of Milwaukee. It is our understanding that these
Brethren were also dissatisfied with the formality of LaFayette Lodge, and wanted to establish a Lodge that offered a more open and friendly atmosphere.

In February of 1923 fifty seven Brethren signed a petition to form this new Lodge. Fred J. Marien, who was Grand Senior Warden at that time, and a Past Master of LaFayette Lodge, guided the establishment of the new Lodge, and on February 13,
1923 chaired a meeting at which thirty three of these Brethren met to establish it’s organization and elect it’s officers.
At this meeting, held in the offices of A.L. Grootemaat and Sons on Port Washington Road, Albert C. Runkel was chosen to be the first Worshipful Master of the new Lodge, Mathew J. Guenther Senior Warden and Gerhard G. Fischer, Junior Warden.
The new Lodge also needed a name, and after consideration of three names at this meeting – James M. Hays, Abraham Lincoln, and Willard Van Brunt, who had contributed the land for the Masonic Home in Dousman, they chose the name James
M .Hays Lodge.

James M. Hays was a man well known to them – he was a Past Master of LaFayette Lodge in 1909, a very active and well respected local Mason, and he had passed away only 8 months earlier on June 30, 1922 at the age of 49. In addition to serving as
Master of LaFayette Lodge he was a Royal Arch Mason, serving as High Priest of Calumet Chapter in 1911; a Knight Templar, serving as Eminent Commander of Ivanhoe Commandery in 1916; and a Scottish Rite Mason, serving as Most Wise
Master of the Chapter of Rose Croix in 1920, just 2 years before his death.
James Muckle Hays was born in Milwaukee on October 15, 1872, the son of Robert and Jane Hays. Robert was a Civil War Veteran, and one of only three letter carriers in Milwaukee at that time.

James M. Hays was educated in the public schools in Milwaukee . He was first employed by the old Wisconsin National Bank as a messenger, and in time, advanced to the position of cashier. Eventually, when the Wisconsin National Bank became the
First Wisconsin National Bank Group, he was made a Vice President. It had often been said of him that “Jim” was never too busy to give consideration to his Brethren and associates of his every day walk of life. This was very much in
keeping with the spirit the founders of James M Hays Lodge wished to infuse in their new Lodge.

On March 13, 1923, Most Worshipful Grand Master John E. Langdon issued a dispensation for the new Lodge to operate, and the first meeting was held the very next evening. The first degree, an Entered Apprentice degree, was conferred on
Brother Arnold B. Meier on April 18, 1923. The Charter, was issued at the Annual Communication on June 13, 1923, and 75 years ago, was presented to the Lodge by Most Worshipful Grand Master Charles B. Lamb on June 25, 1923.

The Lodge met at several locations around the Milwaukee area before building the facility in Glendale, WI. The first few meetings in March of 1923, were held on Wednesday nights in Cottrel Hall, which was a small lodge room on the third floor of
Ivanhoe Temple at 10 th and Wisconsin. After that, meetings were changed to Monday nights. On October 15, 1923 the Lodge began meeting at 1510 Port Washington Road in the “Owl Building” to fulfill the intent of establishing a Lodge which meets on the
north side of Milwaukee. “To obtain a more Masonic atmosphere” on October 21, 1935 the Lodge moved it’s quarters to Garfield Temple at 2976 N. 27 th Street.

In 1958, land was purchased, plans drawn, and bids taken to build a Masonic Temple on north 76 th Street. However, due to the cost, several other Milwaukee Area Lodges were contacted and Milwaukee Lodge #261 became a partner in building the new
Temple. In the mean time, the property on N. 76 th Street was sold, and a site at the intersection of Range Line and Green Bay Roads was acquired. Ground was broken on April 4, 1964, the cornerstone laid on July 25, 1964 and the building dedicated on
February 27, 1965. The first meeting at this facility was held on March 1, 1965.

The North Shore Masonic Center had three owners, including Hays Lodge #331, Milwaukee-Harmony Lodge #261 and James A. Garfield Lodge #309, who was accepted as a co-owner on April 30, 1969. In December 1980 Hiram Sawyer Lodge #338 merged with James M. Hays Lodge, and in 1999, when they gave up their charter, many members of James A. Garfield Lodge #309 transferred, lending their strength and fellowship.

A few years later, with increasing costs of operation, and reduced revenues it became necessary to sell the North Shore Masonic Center. It was sold in December of 2004, and James M. Hays Lodge #331 currently meets at the Humphrey Scottish Rite
Masonic Center, 790 N. Van Buren, Milwaukee.

Brothers George Schreiber and Allan Iding Past Masters of our Lodge served as Grand Master of Masons in Wisconsin, in 1972 and 1981, respectively. Over the years, Hays Boys, have made significant contributions to Wisconsin and Milwaukee
area Masonry, and continue to serve the appendant bodies, as well as the Grand Lodge, itself in prominent positions
Above all, we pride ourselves on the spirit which founded our Lodge and the sincere good fellowship which has characterized the atmosphere in our Lodge though the years and continues to sustain us to this day.