History

  • March 16, 1834
    • Henry Champney Loomis born in the township of Otto, in Cattaraugus County, New York to Bliss and Betsey Loomis in a log cabin.  He is destined to become a future Kansas Mason and only Kansas Grand Master from Winfield #110.
  • 1862
    • Henry Loomis is made a Master Mason in New York state.
    • Henry Loomis fights for the Union in the Civil War rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  He was wounded in the arm and leg.
  • 1868
    • Henry Loomis comes to the Walnut Valley as a bridge builder
    • Cowley County has more stone arch bridges than any other county in the United States
  • May 2, 1870
    • Henry Loomis becomes the first county clerk of Cowley County
  • July 5, 1871
    • Dispensation granted to new Adelphi Lodge, U. D. (Under Disaensation) by the Grand Lodge of Kansas
  • October 17, 1872
    • Adelphi Lodge #110 in Winfield, Kansas chartered by the Grand Lodge of Kansas.

  • November 20, 1873
    • Adelphi Masons and Odd Fellows rent upper story of building next to Samuel Myton's hardware store.

  • July 31, 1874
    • Samuel Myton announces plans to build two story building on site of his present building.

  • October 22, 1874
    • Dexter Lodge #156 chartered by the Grand Lodge of Kansas.

  • November 19, 1874
    • The contractors, Stewart & Simpson complete the Samuel Myton's building.

  • January 7, 1875
    • Adelphi Masons rent upper story of Samuel Myton's building.

  • September 20, 1876
    • Sid Majors opens the newly refurbished Lagonda Hotel and changes the name to the Central Hotel.

  • December 25, 1876

    • Adelphi Lodge #110 lays cornerstone at Methodist Episcopal Church, Winfield, Kansas
  • May 3, 1880
    • Central Hotel burns to the ground.

  • June 26, 1880

    • Adelphi Lodge #110 lays cornerstone at unnamed church

  • March 28, 1883
    • Samuel Myton purchases lot previously occupied by the Central Hotel.

  • May 29, 1889

    • 54 brothers become first Masons of Winfield, U. D.

    • Br. Frank B. Day becomes Winfield, U. D.'s first Worshipful Master

  • 1890
    • Winfield Lodge #58 in Winfield, Kansas chartered by the Grand Lodge of Kansas
  • February 18, 1892
    • Maple City Lodge #342 chartered by the Grand Lodge of Kansas.

  • 1895

    • Henry Loomis becomes Worshipful Master of Winfield Lodge #58
    • W. M. Henry Loomis conferred 152 degrees; Initiated 47; Passed 51; Raised 54.  The most of any Kansas lodge for that year.  40 more than Albert Pike Lodge in Wichita.  The runner-up.
  • March 25, 1895
    • W. Br. Henry Loomis certified as a Ritualist
  • December 15, 1891
    • W. Br. Frank B. Day, first Worshipful Master of Winfield U. D., dies at 31 years of age.
  • April 3, 1895
    • W. Br. Henry Loomis commissioned as Assistant Lecturer
  • 1896-1898
    • Henry Loomis serves as mayor of Winfield.

  • 1899
    • Henry Loomis becomes Grand Master of Kansas. The only Winfield Mason ever to do so.

  • August 14, 1902
    • Last stated meeting of Winfield Lodge #58.

    • Winfield Lodge #58 consolidated with Adelphi Lodge #110.

    • Adelphi Lodge #110 petitions Grand Lodge to change name to Winfield Lodge #110

  • May 7, 1903
    • Adelphi Lodge #110 was renamed Winfield Lodge #110.
  • October 14, 1905
    • M. W. Henry Loomis dies at 71 years of age.  His will states he has no kith or kin.  He is buried at the Union-Graham Cemetery.

  • January 7, 1909

    • Cowley County Courthouse cornerstone set by M. W. Oliver P. Fuller

  • Feburary 17, 1920
    • Winfield Lodge #110 buys S. H. Myton Building for $25,000.00.

  • 1920
    • Winfield Lodge #110 installs Masonic themed stained glass on 2nd floor.

  • December 10, 1920 

    • Dedication of the Winfield Lodge Building by Grand Master Hugh P. Farrelly.  The event was attended by about 350 Master Masons, their wives and friends.  Preceding the ceremony, a bounteous supper was served in the dining room with an orchestra providing the events entertainment.

  • 1955
    • Winfield Lodge reports a total of 450 Master Masons in its annual report to Grand Lodge.
  • December 1, 1977
    • Maple City Lodge #342 consolidated with Dexter Lodge #156.

  • October 13, 2002

    • Grand Lodge A.F. & A.M.of Kansas and Prince Hall Grand Lodge F. & A.M. of Kansas were opened simultaneously on the 3rd Degree for the purpose of rededicating the lodge on the occasion of its 130th anniversary.  A historic first for the two Grand Lodges.
  • July 13, 2005
    • Chautauqua #355 Lodge (Cedar Vale) consolidated with Winfield Lodge #110.

  • December 19, 2011
    • Last stated meeting of Dexter Lodge #156.

    • Dexter Lodge #156 consolidated with Winfield Lodge #110

  • 2020
    • Winfield Masons celebrate 100 years of owning their building.
  • 2022
    • Winfield Masons celebrate 150 years of Masonry in Winfield.

Famous Kansas Masons

Famous Civil War Masons with ties to Kansas are Union General Dan Butterfield and Confederate General Lewis A. Armistead, both of whom were members of Union Lodge No. 7 in Junction City, Kansas.

Automotive giant Walter Chrysler (Apollo Lodge No. 297, Ellis, Kansas)

Air Force General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold (Union Lodge No. 7)

Army General Jonathan M. Wainwright (Union Lodge No. 7)

Noted Psychiatrist Karl A. Menninger (Topeka Lodge No. 17)

Former U.S. Senator and Majority Leader Bob Dole (Russell Lodge No. 177, Russell, Kansas)

Emmett Leo Kelly (Sarasota Lodge No. 147, Sarasota, Florida) was an American circus performer, who created the clown figure "Weary Willie", based on the hobos of the Great Depression in the 1930s.  He was born in Sedan, Kansas.

James Naismith (Lawrence Lodge No. 6), inventor of Basketball

James Stevens (Winfield Lodge #110) Time magazines Person of the Year in 2006 and Past Master of Gene Autry Lodge #185, Catoosa, Oklahoma.