Here is a chronology of events at Jeptha Lodge #121.
| 1895 |
| 1895 | April 9 | First meeting held, 8:00 P.M., in regular communication at town school building. |
| June 12 | Jeptha Lodge #121 chartered by Grand Lodge of South Dakota. |
| July 9 | First officers installed. |
| | First of many contributions to Children’s Home Society, Sioux Falls. |
| December 17 | By-Laws read, approved. |
| 1896 | December 23 | First recorded “Masonic Banquet,” held at St. James Hotel at a cost of $20.30. |
| | Rent on Masonic Hall: $108 per year. |
| 1897 | January 19 | Paid $50 on $100 note borrowed to pay 1896 rent on Hall ($108 per year). |
| | Voted to allow use of facilities to organize Eastern Star Chapter. |
| 1898 | January | “Moved to pay $1.30 bill for oil and janitor to be paid when possible.” |
| | First recorded School of Instruction held. |
| | Despite financial woes, rejected motion to raise dues from $3 to $4. |
| December | Collected $3.50 in response to a plea from Spencer Lodge to help retire $1,500 mortgage of a deceased Brother. |
| 1899 | Winter | First Masonic Hall burns. |
| 1900 |
| 1900 | February 20 | Lodge subleases space above Moe & Sorenson blacksmith shop for $50 per year. |
| 1901 | | Hired janitor for 50¢ per meeting night. |
| 1902 | | Created permanent Banquet Committee. |
| 1903 | January | First notation of bill for lunch and cigars, which continued for several years. |
| 1904 | | Voted to remit dues of 50-year members. |
| | Twenty-two meetings held. |
| | Voted to frame charter of 1895 and to hang it on wall of lodge room. |
| April | Bill for lunch and cigars to St. James Hotel: $6.00. |
| | Voted to go dark July and August. |
| September | Met with Knights of Pythias about renting Bradley Hall |
| October | Defeated motion to lease Bradley Hall for ten years @ $150 per year. |
| November | Voted to rent Knights of Pythias Hall for $60 per year. Purchased black drape to cover Charter upon the death of a Past Grand Master. |
| 1905 | January | Sold Lodge chairs to W M Jones for $6 per dozen. |
| | First recorded family picnic. |
| 1916 | | Annual contributions to Children’s Home Society began. |
| | Appointed Brother Horace D. Fitch to confer as to purchase of Bible |
| 1909 | | Purchased Bible for Masonic Hall (with O E S) |
| March | Purchased twelve white leather aprons for $5.25 + $1.60 shipping. |
| | First annual Oyster Stew Supper. Cost: $5.15. |
| 1916 | | Only four meetings held. |
| | Voted to accept Flag Ceremony. |
| 1917 | | Purchased flag, with Easter Star. |
| April | Fifteen Brothers visited Hawarden Lodge where Huisman and Robinson were raised to Master Mason. |
| 1918 | February | Paid first electric bill—$8.40 for December 1, 1917, to February 1, 1918—to Hudson Electric Co. |
| March | Gave $5 to war relief. |
| | Farewell for departing servicemen, Brothers Frisbie and Robinson. |
| | Gave $5 to “Armenian cause.” |
| 1919 | | Paid $50 medical bills for distressed Brother. |
| 1920 |
| 1921 | January | Electric heater bought after it was demonstrated by a Brother. |
| February | Fees for each degree to be $10—except for clergy, for whom fees could be waived by unanimous vote. |
| 1922 | April | Purchased alter from Congregational Church for $10. |
| August | 25 chairs and 3 officers’ chairs purchased for $176.01. |
| September | $55 sent to George Washington National Masonic Memorial. |
| 1923 | | Seventeen meetings held. |
| April | Purchased vacuum sweeper with O E S |
| December | Bought Red Cross Bond. |
| 1925 | | Donated $10 to Community Library. |
| 1927 | | Brothers C. A. Vipond, Jay Huisman, and R. E. Iverson gave light dimmer switch still in use today. |
| | A $5 donation was sent to Grand Lodge for flood relief in the South. |
| 1929 | | Held only four meetings. |
| 1930 | | Held only three meetings—one in May and two in December. |
| 1931 | | Rented building from A. I. Eide. Ruth Beadle, janitor, was paid $1/ meeting. |
| | Worked with other Hudson organizations to form relief program for community’s needy, donating $50 to start fund. |
| 1932 | | Voted to accept fees for degrees in $5 installments. |
| 1933 | | Held only four meetings. |
| 1934 | | Voted to allow delinquent members to make payments of $1.25 per year for back dues if current dues paid. |
| | Concert by Shrine Chanters. |
| 1935 | | Benefit card party raised $7.50 to sponsor room in new Community Hospital. |
| | First annual George Washington Birthday Party held. |
| 1936 | | Rented Hall to American Legion for $45 for six months. |
| 1939 | | Voted to rent Masonic Hall to Townsend Club. |
| 1940 |
| 1940 | December | Voted to devote one night per month to entertainment. |
| 1942 | | Celebrated Washington’s birthday with speaker and performance by school band. |
| 1943 | February | Voted to donate “$5 to $10” to memorial honoring Hudson servicemen. |
| September | Card party and donations raised $80 for servicemen—one of many fund-raisers for Masonic Service Association. |
| 1944 | | Gave $5 to Red Cross. |
| 1945 | December 18 | Celebrated 50th Anniversary, with E. F. Strain, Grand Secretary, S. E. George, Senior Grand Warden, and Herman F. Chapman, P G M , present. |
| 1947 | February | Voted to charge $2.50 per night—plus janitor—for Hall rental. |
| May | Stockyards Degree team from Sioux City raised the Cole brothers—Robert Curtis, John Clark, Rolfe, and Hobart—to Master Mason. |
| November | Brother C. A. Vipond provided a moose supper. |
| 1949 | | Worshipful Brother Harley H. Cable, Sr., awarded 50-Year Pin. |
| 1951 | | Brother Walter J. Cole awarded 50-Year Pin. |
| 1952 | | Shrine Degree Team met at School Auditorium, raising Brothers Clarence Nygard and Lyle Hedrick to Master Mason. |
| 1954 | | W Brother Graham presented W M Hobart Cole apron worn by first Master of Jeptha on behalf of Brother Virgil Ferris. |
| | W Brother Harley H. Cable, Sr., served as Junior Grand Steward. |
| | New Master’s apron purchased. |
| 1956 | June 28 | Purchased former Methodist Church for $500, plus $159 in back taxes. |
| | Contributed $150 to Grand Lodge relief fund. |
| Dec. 6 | Moved to new Temple. |
| 1957 | September 24 | Dedicated Masonic Temple. |
| 1958 | | Fifty-three attended Stag Beef Supper. |
| | Purchased Marshal jewel. |
| 1959 | July 19 | W Brother Harley H. Cable presented Bronze Palm Leaf. |
| | Legion of Honor Degree Team of El Raid Shrine raised Brothers Richard Schlup, Leon Marshall, Robert Horst, and William Emmers to Master Mason at School Auditorium. |
| 1960 |
| 1960 | | Brothers Brunner and Krull made three flag holders; presented to Lodge. |
| | Pheasant hunting at Lake Andes. |
| | Corn project: 2,717 bushels, split 40-60, @77¢, raising $1,215.80 after $40 shelling fee. |
| 1961 | | Corn project: 1,630 bushels (Lodge share: 1,004 bushels) @ 87¢, raising $873.60. |
| | New Temple roof cost $555.16. |
| | Masonic and O E S globes installed on Temple; cost: $72.77. |
| 1962 | | Master’s apron purchased for $15. |
| May | Brother William Larson, in poor health, awarded 50-Year Pin in his home. |
| 1964 | | Brothers serve roast beef dinner to honor wives. |
| 1967 | | Northern Pike fish fry. |
| 1969 | April | W Brother Charles A. Vipond awarded 50-Year Pin. |
| 1970 | | Soybean project: Rented 35 acres from Ed Wiebersick. Raised $242, after spending $135 for combining. |
| | Donated $50 to help rebuild Groton Lodge. |
| 1971 | June 15 | W Brother Rev. David Graham presented 50-Year Pin. |
| 1973 | | Painted Temple. |
| | Dues raised to $15. |
| | Gave $25 to Hudson Ambulance. |
| 1975 | | New carpeting laid in lodge room, at cost of $678.55. |
| 1976 | | Twenty-four metal folding chairs purchased. |
| | W Brother Curtis Vipond named District Master. |
| April 27 | Brother Donald Fitch presented with 50 Year Award. |
| 1977 | | Dinner to honor wives and widows. |
| February | Lodge purchased pins for all 25-year Masons. |
| 1978 | | W Brother Horace Fitch awarded 50-Year Pin. |
| 1980 |
| 1981 | | Major remodeling of Temple; ceiling lowered, paneling installed, and basement painted, all at cost of $1,500. |
| | Began delivering Meals-On-Wheels on regular basis. |
| December 5 | Temple rededicated. |
| 1982 | | W Brother Harvey Brunner presented iron Masonic emblem to Lodge. |
| May | Dinner honoring wives and widows became annual event. |
| 1984 | | W Brother Curtis Vipond named Chairman of George Washington National Memorial Committee. |
| 1985 | | Operated Bingo stand at Hudson celebration. |
| | Soybean project netted $793.44. |
| | Rock Valley Lodge donated Pillars used in Fellowcraft degree. |
| 1987 | | Brothers Roger Smith and Dennis Gildemeister presented bulletin board to Lodge. |
| 1988 | | Brother David Hansen presented Square and Compass light bulbs to Lodge. |
| 1989 | June | W Brother Leslie M. Spies installed as Grand Master. W Brother Kenneth Snedeker appointed Senior Grand Deacon. |
| July 23 | Jeptha Lodge hosted reception for new Grand Officers. |
| | Three Masonic signs posted at roads entering Hudson. |
| 1990 | June | W M Tom Lewis served as Master for opening of Grand Lodge; Brother David Hansen presented tribute to U. S. flag; Brother Randy Porter was Senior Grand Steward Pro Tempore. W Brother Kenneth Snedeker named Custodian. |
| September | District Master Lamont Cain presented hand-crafted Masonic Emblem in appreciation of M W Brother Leslie Spies, P G M |
| | New Lodge door installed by Brother Randall Porter. |
| 1991 | | Brothers planted nineteen trees in Hudson City Park. |
| 1992 | | Brother Kenneth Miller awarded 50-Year Pin. |
| 1993 | | New metal roof put on Temple at a cost of $4,326.24. |
| 1995 | June | W Brother Kenneth Snedeker installed as District Master. |
| June 24 | Worshipful Brother Harvey Brunner awarded 50-Year Pin. Cornerstone and time capsule laid to commemorate Lodge’s centennial. Open house and ceremony attended by 120. |
Appendix A: Chronology
