Odd Fellows of Scofield Lodge No. 32

Who met their death in Number Four mine at Scofield on May 1, 1900, in an explosion.

Members of No. 32, May 1, 1900

Members

On September 24, 1898, Grand Master John M. Breeze, accompanied by Grand Secretary W. J. Moore and C. A. Walker of Mystic Lodge twenty-two of Salt Lake, arrived in Scofield for the purpose of instituting a lodge of I. O. O. F.

P. G., James P., Curtin, P. G., Wm. Parmley, Charles Edwards, John James, and Robert Menzies, who bad withdrawn from other lodges for the purpose of instituting a lodge here in Scofield, were the Charter Members.

With this beginning Scofield Lodge thirty-two I. O. O. F. was launched to join the innumerable lodges of the order that are found in nearly every hamlet, town, and city of these United States. The first officers elected were, John James, N. G.; Robert Menzies, V. G.; Alex J. Wilson, Secretary; George Fitzsimmons, Treasurer; James P. Curtin was appointed D. D. G. M.

The same evening that the lodge was instituted the following were initiated and put through the other degrees.

Charter Members

First Officers
John James, N. G.
Robert Menzies, V. G.
Andrew J. Wilson, Secretary

Members

After lodge closed, a banquet was served at the French Hotel, then run by Brother Robert Menzies and wife. After the banquet was served many were the toasts and responses that were made by the Grand Lodge Officers, and the new members all felt that the work of the evening was a grand success, and that Odd Fellowship as taught in the different degrees was grand and ennobling and that by following the principles and charges one could not help but be raised to a higher sense of duty to our fellow man.

The charge to care for the widows and educate the orphans, however grand, did not at that time arouse within us the same sense of duty that is now brought home to us. How prone we were to consider this charge as an easy duty, for the members were all young healthy specimens of true manhood, who thought a long life of usefulness lay before them. But now, alas, all is changed. The brothers who went into the mine on May 1, so light hearted and merry were destined to never look upon the bright face of mother earth again in this life. Their life work was finished and who can say their work was not done well. Could we but pierce the veil that stands between his and our beloved brothers and behold them as they must now appear in the spirit world. Could we have the heart to wish them back with us again, and though we now stand aghast, stunned by the calamity, cannot we still say "The Lord's will be done." They have solved the mystery that stands between the living and the dead, they have solved the question of true fraternity. But while we revere and honor the names of the departed brothers let us not forget that the life work of those who are left is not yet finished. Let us not forget those solemn obligations that we have, as brothers, all taken. Let us not forget the widows who have been left with us as a trust by our deceased brothers. Let us not forget the tears of the fatherless, the orphans who are confided to our care. Let us not forget that we will be called upon at some time in the not far distant future to render up an account of our stewardship, and shall it be said that we have been remiss, that we have in any way betrayed our solemn obligations. Brothers, the time for action is today, tomorrow does not belong to us, then let us be up and doing for there are words of comfort and cheer to be spoken to the lonely widow who sits by her fireside, heartbroken and alone, words of comfort and cheer to her who is left to fight life's battles for herself and her little ones, words of comfort and cheer to the fathers and mothers, who are now sitting in the twilight of the evening that is fast coming on; they having lost the support and prop of their declining years.

Thomas H. Reilley, N. G.
No. 32 Lodge at the time of death.

W. J. Warner, V. G.

Andrew J. Wilson, Secretary.

Does it mean to stand in the lodge room and listen to the words that are read from our ritual, to mechanically repeal obligations that bind us together in a single Brotherhood, or does it not rather mean that we are not bound for this life alone, but yea, even for eternity? Does it not mean that we must stretch forth a hand to those who may have fallen by the wayside too weak to battle alone with the temptations of this world, to lay away in the silent tomb the body of a departed brother with honor and respect, to bury his imperfections and frailties with his dust, and to remember all that was true, good and noble in his life, to make his family our especial care, to teach his orphans not only in matters pertaining to the noise and turmoil of this life, but to point them to a higher, a nobler sphere, to so live that they may say in the words of the immortal poet, William Cullen Bryant:

"So live that when thy summons comes to join
The innumerable caravan which moves
To that mysterious realm where each shall take
His chamber in the silent halls of death.
Thou go not like the quarry slave at night.
Scourged to his dungeon; but, sustained and soothed
By an unfaltering trust, approach thy grave
Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."

Index

Source: History of the Scofield Mine Disaster, by J. W. Dilley, The Skelton Pub. Co., Provo, Utah, 1900.

Editors Note: The I.. O. O. F. were very active in raising money for the benefit of the widows and children along with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This information is included for historical value, it does not mean the people of this project support these institutions.