Robert N. Clarkson, 32°
401 N. Hoback Street, Helena, Montana 59601-3701
Clarkson@mt.net

The Officers of the Grand Lodge of Montana ritually anointed the symbolic cornerstone used during the centennial re-enactment with corn, wine, and oil.

On August 25, 2003, Montana's Grand Lodge Officers participated in the rededication of the cornerstone of the monumental arch, originally dedicated by Brother and President Theodore Roosevelt in 1903, which marks the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Montana Masonic Grand Lodge Officers marched through the ancient 50-foot stone archway marking the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park on the bright sunny morning of August 25, 2003, for the purpose of rededicating the cornerstone to the structure to mark its centennial year. The Yellowstone National Park officials invited Masons from the three states (Wyoming, Montana, Idaho) bordering the park to participate in the gateway's centennial in recognition of the role the Fraternity has played in the development of the premier U.S. National Park and in helping to preserve the park's unique features and wildlife.

Charles Cook and David Folsom, who explored the park in 1869 to verify rumors of its many geothermal and natural wonders, were both Master Masons. Nathanal Langford, the first Super-intendent of the park (1872-1877), served as Montana Grand Master in 1869. Langford was attracted to Montana following the first gold discoveries in Alder Gulch and Virginia City. He chronicled the establishment of justice and order in the early mining camps through vigilance committees in his book Vigilante Days and Ways. Langford and his partner Cornelius Hedges, also a Mason who became the Montana Lodge Grand Master in 1870 and served as Grand Secretary from 1871 until 1907, were leading members of the Washburn Expedition to assess the region for the Ulysses S. Grant Administration in 1870. As a result of that expedition, the region became our nation's first National Park by an Act of Congress in 1872.

The U.S. Army maintained a cavalry fort to guard the park during its early years until 1918. The early principal military commanders for the Park Guard stationed at Fort Yellowstone, near the present-day Mammoth Hotsprings, were members of the Craft. The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers arch construction supervisor, Hiram Chittendem, and the commander of the Cavalry Unit Stationed at Fort Yellowstone, Major Reamer, were both Masons. Harry Childs, who built the Old Faithful Inn and was one of the founders of the Yellowstone Park Company, was a Freemason.

The archway was first proposed in November 1902 to enhance the gateway marking the entrance to the National Park, situated on a hillside above the old Northern Pacific Railroad Depot, through which the tour coaches could carry passengers from the trains to the park's many scenic wonders. According to a newspaper at the time, the idea for the original Masonic dedication of the archway was proposed by Bro. Charles W. Miller, an employee of the Yellowstone Park Company, with the support of Livingston Lodge No. 32, Livingston, Montana, members Henry Klamer, Alex Lyall, W. A. Hall, George Trischman, and C. C. Brandon. On April 13, 1903, these members of Livingston Lodge sent a letter of invitation to President Theodore Roosevelt, who was camped near Yancy's Hole (the present Tower Junction), to invite the President and Brother Mason to participate in a cornerstone laying ceremony planned for April 24, 1903. The President accepted their invitation and referred the matter to the Montana Grand Master, M.W. Frank E. Smith, in Phillipsburg, Montana. Since the cornerstone laying ceremony, the entryway has been called the "Roosevelt Arch." However, the President never personally visited the completed structure.

Between 2,000 and 4,000 people, many representing the area's Masonic Lodges, attended the original cornerstone laying ceremony for the archway. They flooded the tiny town of Gardiner arriving on special railroad trains and horse-drawn coaches. Security was tight, as President Roosevelt had only recently assumed the office following the assassination of President McKinley less than two years previously. Armed guards were posted on the closely surrounding hillsides at the arch. The speakers' platform and roped pathway were lined with cavalrymen and special deputies. The dignitaries with speaking parts wore Prince Albert coats and silk hats. All members of the Craft in attendance wore characteristic white aprons. Nearly as many persons attended the re-enactment centennial ceremonies held this past summer.

The re-enactment ceremony followed much the same program as the original event. The First Corps U.S. Army Band from Ft. Lewis provided music, and the national colors were presented by a mounted cavalry honor guard. Mary Hagemeyer, President of the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce, addressed the crowd and read greetings from Montana Governor Judy Martz. Suzanne Lewis, Superintendent of Yellowstone Park, made some brief remarks and introduced the other speakers during the ceremony. Keynote speakers for the first half of the ceremony were Fran P. Mainella, Director National Park Service, and Theodore Roosevelt IV, a Managing Director at Lehman Brothers Invest-ment Services, Chairman of the League of Conservation Voters, and great great grandson of the former President. After a short recess, the Masonic Officials marched through the arch onto the speaker's platform to perform the re-dedication of the cornerstone. Montana Grand Chaplin, John H. "Jack" Fohn, 33°, opened the ceremony with prayer. M.W. Alan D. Harkins, 32°, K.C.C.H., Grand Master of Montana Masons, with all the members of the Montana Grand Lodge attending, conducted the cornerstone re-dedication. M.W. Harkins read greetings from the Grand Lodges of neighboring states. Anointing the stone with the corn, wine, and oil respectively were Deputy Grand Master David L. Prewett, 32°, K.C.C.H.; R.W. Grand Senior Warden Jack Anderson; and R.W. Grand Junior Warden Thomas E. Valente, Jr., 32°, K.C.C.H. Brother Jim Sweeney, a retired Park Ranger, introduced Mark Klemmetsrud, acting as President and Brother Theodore Roosevelt, who spread cement upon the symbolic stone. The dedication was followed by a re-creation of President Theodore Roosevelt's address and remarks from 1903 by Klemmetsrud, who works for the National Parks Service as a Roosevelt re-enactor. Many favorable remarks regarding the Masonic Fraternity, as well as explanations of the Craft's rituals and symbolism were made during the second half of the ceremony by both the Grand Master and Mark Klemmetsrud, who quoted from the former President's speeches expressing the President's love for Freemasonry.

Following the two-hour ceremony, the citizens of Gardiner provided a lavish luncheon barbecue for all the attendees in Roosevelt Park at the base of the curve winding up to the park's impressive north gate Roosevelt Archway.

Historic details were provided by the Montana Grand Lodge and extracted from "The Roosevelt Arch," an article by L. Whittlesey and P. Schullery from Yellowstone Science Magazine (Summer 2003 Vol. 11 No. 3). Other details were provided by the Yellowstone National Park Information Office.

Robert Noel Clarkson has been a photojournalist for over 30 years and has many published images and articles to his credit. He owns Clarkson Studio in Helena Montana, and recently opened The Sleepy Senator, a small luxury bed and breakfast near the Montana State Capitol Building. He is Past Master of Morning Star Lodge No. 5, a member of the Helena, Montana, York Rite Bodies, Scottish Rite Bodies of Helena, and Algeria Shrine Temple. He may be contacted at 406.442.2046 or by e-mail at clarkson@mt.net.