Centennial Of The Great Masonic Train Ride
James A. Marples, 32°
223 East Brownie Street
Rose Hill, Kansas 67133-9706


The “Overland Limited” train which in 1901 carried the “Greatest Masonic Pilgrimage Ever” across America
It was billed as the “Greatest Masonic Pilgrimage Ever,” and it exceeded everyone’s expectations. It covered 11,324 miles of which 4,200 were on the Pacific Ocean. The trip was the brainchild of Ill. Lou B. Winsor, 33°, an intensely active Mason in the Scottish Rite, York Rite, Red Cross of Constantine, and Royal Order of Scotland.
Ill. Winsor (pictured left) served as Grand Secretary, Grand Lodge of Michigan, for many years, but is best remembered as Imperial Potentate of the Shrine of North America (1900-01) as well as a founder of the Jesters (an internal Shrine group) which sprang from the original crew of funsters/merrymakers that accompanied Ill. Winsor on his Masonic trips.
Ill. Winsor believed in friendly smiles and happy waves of greeting among all Freemasons. His personal charisma attracted admirers and companions on his journeys. In early 1901, he boarded a passenger train in Grand Rapids, Michigan, first bound for Chicago, Illinois. From there, the entourage of Masons made stops at Des Moines, Iowa, St. Joseph, Missouri, and Leavenworth, Kansas, the train picking up more and more Masons at every stop.
The train proceeded with astonishing speed across the Kansas prairie. It passed through the author’s hometown of Rose Hill, Kansas, on the tracks of the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway, the railway founded by R.W. Cyrus K. Holliday, long-time Deputy Grand Master of Kansas Masons. The trip continued southbound at blinding speeds for that time until it reached the depot at Dallas, Texas. At Dallas, Ill. Winsor looked out from his window compartment to see an incredible welcoming committee of 500 Masons waving to the slowing train.
Upon seeing this enthusiasm among the Dallas Brethren, more train cars were added, and the happy group headed west to California. Once arriving at San Francisco, the passengers left the train to board a ship bound for Hawaii. Unfortunately, the throng of eager Masonic train-riders was so huge that only a small fraction of them (233) was able to partake in the ocean voyage leg of the journey. Even so, they filled the ship’s passenger capacity. Aside from the crew, the ship was entirely made up of Brethren and/or family members. It is important to note that the ship did not have “wireless” at that time, and weeks passed before land was seen again. So, the Masons created their own entertainment, and the days melted away.
Ill. Winsor wanted to expand Masonic cable tows everywhere around the globe. Since he was Imperial Potentate while also directing this magnificent trip, he constituted Aloha Shrine Temple in Honolulu, Hawaii. He presided as 42 candidates were initiated inside the crater of a (supposedly) extinct volcano where the sands were still hot. Talk about “crossing the hot sands”!
After enjoying the Hawaiian Islands, the party again boarded the ship for the return to California and rejoined the train. Then, the itinerary was further expanded. Instead of turning the train around, it headed north to Seattle, Washington, where even more Shrine Masons welcomed it. Ill. Winsor got off the train and briefly inspected Seattle’s Nile Shrine Temple. After he reboarded the train and directed it eastward, stops were made at Helena, Montana; Fargo, North Dakota; and the twin cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. At each stop, Ill. Winsor expressed kind words of fraternal thanks to those who came to greet fellow members of the Craft. Finally, the last stop was Chicago, Illinois, where the caravan officially disbanded.
Thus, what has been called the “Greatest Masonic Train Ride Ever” made a giant loop around the Great American West. It thrilled the riders, it amazed the spectators, drew new members to Masonry, and left lasting memories. Imperial Sir Winsor envisioned Masonic Brotherhood spanning the miles. His unique travel idea enabled Masons from one part of the nation to meet and greet other Masons from other parts of the nation. The train was not only the way or getting there but also the Masonic cable tow that linked and united these people. They were Brothers and Companions in every sense.

James A. Marples is a Life Member of Mulvane Lodge No. 201, Mulvane Kansas, the El Dorado, Kansas, York Rite Bodies, and the Lincoln, Nebraska, Scottish Rite Bodies. He is a Regular Member of Isis Shrine Temple, Salina Kansas; Associate Member of Anezeh Temple, Mexico City, Mexico; and Honorary Member of 23 other Shrine Temples. He is also a Life Member of the George Washington Masonic Stamp Club; the Masonic Order of the Sword of Bunker Hill; and The Royal Order of Scotland.