Mill Valley Lodge History

Some of The Men who Built Masonry and the Lodge

"Truth is a divine attribute and the foundation of every virtue. To be good and true is the first lesson we are taught in Masonry. On this theme we contemplate; and by its dictates endeavor to regulate our conduct. Hence, while influenced by this principle, hypocrisy and deceit are unknown among us; sincerity and plain dealing distinguish us; and with heart and tongue, we join in promoting each other's welfare and rejoicing in each other's prosperity." [Emphasis added.]

Some suggest that the letter "G" between the square and compass stands for "Gentleman:" This is often said since almost everyone who wears that emblem is one.

Biographical Information about the Early Past Masters

1903-1904 Harvey Klyce - Prominent contractor, President of Town Board of Trustees 1910-1914 and City Building Inspector from 1937-1949. He retired in 1949 at the age of 82 and died two years later. More than 100 buildings in Mill Valley were constructed by him and his schoolhouses, libraries, residences, jails, and other structures dot the state. Klyce built homes for many members of the Lodge, including Frank Bostwick's home "Blink Bonnie" at 45 Cornelia. Klyce used to walk a mile to work at City Hall from his home, which he built, at 501 Throckmorton Avenue. Harvey's sons Melvin and Herbert each became Masters of Mill Valley Lodge

1905 Louis L. Janes - Secretary and resident town director of the Tamalpais Land and Water company; later he became secretary of the Mt. Tamalpais and Muir Woods railway. First town clerk of Mill Valley. Three streets named after Jane family. Florence named after Janes daughter, Eugene after his brother and Janes after himself.

1906 James J. Newlands, Jr. - President for many years of the North Coast Water Co. This company later formed a link with the Marin Municipal Water District. He was one of the subdividors of the Tamalpais Park and Amicita Tracts. He together with William A. Magee owned property consisting of some 500 acres known as Bootjack and Rattlesnake Camps. This later was purchased by the state and is now a public park.

1907 Samuel M. Burt - Early plumbing contractor, later engineer for the Tidewater Associated Oil Company.

1908 Thomas T. Greaves - San Francisco businessman. Instigator and owner of Furniture Exchange in San Francisco.

1909 Frederick William Gordon Selwood - Royal Insurance Company; an editor of the Record.

1910 Alonzo Coffin - President of Town Board of Trustees 1905-1906, owned and operated a pattern shop in San Francisco. He entered the pattern making business at the age of 15, establishing the California Pattern Works of San Francisco. Familiar to all University of California students are the sheaves of wheat decorating old North wall, one of the oldest buildings on the campus. Bro. Coffin designed and made them when he was 17. He was active throughout life in the Washington Grammar School Association, for alumni of Washington Grammar School in San Francisco. As well as being a member and Past Master of Mill Valley Lodge No. 356, he was a member of the California Scottish Rite bodies in San Francisco. At the time of his death at age 82, he lived in Oakland.

1911 Kent J.C. Seymour - Until the earthquake and fire Mr. Seymour operated retail lumber business near Southern Pacific station in San Francisco. After this time he worked for Mill Valley Lumber. He was active on City Council and many other civic committees.

1912 George Hillary Harlan, Sr. - Lawyer. In 1911 he was elected to the State Assembly and helped author the municipal corporation law while in office. He was responsible for interesting townships of Marin County to unite their water companies to form the Marin Municipal Water District, using his own law office to help set up the district. After successful bond election of 1915 he was retained attorney for water district for 25 years. He was also attorney for Tamalpais High School and, after helping found it, the Marin Junior College, where he served as a College Trustee for 13 years; Harlan Hall on the Kentfield campus bears his name. In co-operation with the Assemblyman Frank L. Coombs, he helped write the legislation establishing the Golden Gate Bridge District and later served as first counsel for the bridge directors. He was also attorney and secretary for the Marin Dairymans' Association. He became a 32° member in the A.·.A.·.S.·.R.·. of Freemasonry after serving as Master in 1912. He retired from the legal profession in 1947. Bro. Harlan was entered into rest on May 7, 1960.

1913 Clinton Folger - New Zealand Insurance Co. To his active and aggressive interest in civic and municipal affairs, Mill Valley owes to a great measure the formation of school district and the erection of the Tamalpais Union High School buildings. He was a Tamalpais High School Trustee and director and vice president of the Bank of Mill Valley. He died at 58 years of age.

1914 George F. Cooke - Owned and operated movie Theatre (Hub Theatre, 145 Throckmorton) which was sold in 1952 and became the final home of the Mt. Tamalpais Lodge No. 399, IOOF and Blythedale Rebekah Lodge No. 305.

1915 Horace Coffin - One of the original group that founded Mill Valley Record in 1903. He was a San Francisco financier and credit manager with the firm of Baker, Hamilton, & Pacific.

1924 Frank Clinton Herrick - sales manager for W.F. Fuller Company.

1928 Thomas Fred Bagshaw - Retired as assistant director of the California Department of Public Works; at age 21 began public service with appointment to the Mill Valley Planning Commission; City Councilman, served eight years as Mayor and presided over the construction of the City Hall, Mill Valley Golf Course and Boyle Park tennis courts; elected to the Marin County Board of Supervisors in 1939 and served as its chairman all of his twelve years on the board; also served from 1940 to 1943 as director of the Golden Gate Bridge and Highway District, but resigned when a court test found it was a conflict of interest to serve on both boards; While a bridge director he successfully opposed a plan by a San Francisco bond house to refinance and extend the $35 million bond issue that built the bridge, showing that it would add $10 million in interest to costs; as a Supervisor instrumental in the State's acquisition of Angel Island from the Federal Government and in pressuring the state to build the $56 million Richmond-San Rafael Bridge. He was twice defeated in elections for the State Senate; He was appointed as special assistant to the director of public works by Gov. Bro. Earl Warren; under Gov. Goodwin Knight, Bagshaw was the Director of Public Works, and served as chairman of the California Highway Commission and member of the Toll Bridge Authority, Public Works Board of Allocation and other state boards, commissions and councils. Before working for the State, he owned an import firm in San Francisco from 1929 to 1950 and from 1944 to 1947 owned and published the weekly Marin Journal, later part of the Independent-Journal. Besides being active as a member and officer of Mill Valley Lodge No. 356, he was active with the San Rafael Elks Club, Mill Valley Rotary Club, Mill Valley Tennis Club and Marin Rod and Gun Club.

1934 Carl F. Fennema - An executive of the Golden Gate Ferry Co. After the 1929 merger of GGFC with the Southern Pacific Ferry, under the name Southern Pacific-Golden Gate Ferries, Ltd., Bro. Fennema served as the general manager of the new company. The line had a total of twenty-seven boats, thirteen from the former Golden Gate Ferry (including the Golden Dawn, Golden Era, and Golden Coast) and eleven boats from the Southern Pacific and three obtained from the Northwestern Pacific. Brother Fennema was one of two members of Mill Valley Lodge (the other being David G. Hudtloff) appointed to the City's first Mill Valley Park and Playground Commission: Bro. Fennema was made chairman of the commission.

1935 Arthur F. Thomas – A native of San Francisco, in 1907 he bought property in Mill Valley at 315 Eldridge Avenue: His home was designed by architect J.R. Maybeck of Oakland, and built by Harvey A. Klyce. For fifty years Thomas was a senior executive (General Manager) at Hills Brothers Coffee, Inc. In 1929, he affiliated with Mill Valley Lodge from Mission Lodge No. 169 in San Francisco, having been raised May 27, 1903. Active as a Lodge Trustee and Director of the Hall Association promoting the welfare of the Lodge. Served as High Priest of Mill Valley Chapter No. 108, R.A.M., in 1929 and 1944. He was Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of California in 1941/42. He was also a member King Solomon’s Council No. 29, Royal and Select Masters, and San Francisco Commandery No. 41, Knights Templar, both in San Francisco. For sixteen years he sang tenor with the Loring Club of San Francisco. He was also a member of the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco.

1938 - Samuel G. Bagshaw - Worked for 41 years for Pacific Telephone Co., retiring as personnel supervisor; docent for the Mill Valley Historical Society; lifetime member of the Marin Hearing and Speech Center; member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.

Other Members of Note:

Frank F. Bostwick - President of the Bank of Mill Valley, and was the first Mayor of Mill Valley; he was an organizer of the Mill Valley golf club, before the property was sold to the City. Succeeded Bro. Hemsted as Tax Collector of the town of Mill Valley on Bro. Hemsted's death.

Oscar C. Cappelmann - Royal Insurance Company; City Councilman, Mayor.

Casper J. Gardner - Served as Mill Valley Mayor and subsequently as a Marin County Supervisor for the Third District.

Henry Charles Haake - Southern Pacific Railroad employee.

George H. Harlan, Jr. - Retired naval architect. He was superintending officer of port engineers for the Navy's Sealift Command. He "San Francisco Bay Ferryboats," "Island in Yosemite," and "Those Amazing Cab Forwards" and co-authored "Oil Lamps & Iron Ponies," "Of Walking Beams and Paddle Wheels." He served as president of the Marin Historical Society for five years.

Judge Paul Helmore - Justice of the Peace and Police Judge for the City of Sausalito and Police Judge for the City of Mill Valley. Served as Secretary of Mill Valley Lodge from June 1912 to November 1912, and from 1914 until 1934.

Frank L. Hemsted - Tax Collector of the town of Mill Valley. Succeeded by Bro. Frank Bostwick on the death of Bro. Hemsted.

David G. Hudtloff - One of two Mill Valley Lodge members appointed to the City's first Park and Playground Commission, the other being Carl Fennema, P.M. It is notable that Mary Hudtloff was a charter member of the Mill Valley Review No. 110, Women’s Benefit Association which was chartered in Mill Valley on June 10, 1926 and operated until December 1963.

Francis "Frank" Adam Losh - secretary and inventor

Charles F. Runyon - Secretary of Goodyear Rubber company; President and General Manager of the Mt. Tamalpais & Scenic Railroad.

Frederick Thompson - Chairman of the executive board of the Bank of America in Mill Valley, executive in a Pacific Electric Manufacturing Co. in San Francisco for 30-years, and rancher in Bolinas; appointed receiver of Richfield Oil; He was one of the leaders in raising funds in 1928 to preserve redwood trees on the parcel which was then added to Old Mill Park, in the area where the city library now stands; Served as Marin County Supervisor for the Third District, succeeding Bro. Casper J. Gardner for the seat; was the Marin County chairman of the National Recovery Act campaign during the Great Depression. He was one of the founders of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade which fought General Franco during the Spanish Revolution, and served as secretary-treasurer of an emergency committee to evacuate them from the battle theater; his son David was an officer in the Brigade. During the 1950's he operated a rare book store on Sutter Street in San Francisco. As well as being a member of Mill Valley Lodge No. 356, he was an active member of the Bohemian Club in San Francisco.

Capt. Victor Leon Verdellet - Captain of the North Western Pacific flagship ferry boat Eureka from its re-christening as the Eureka in 1923 until ferry service was discontinued in 1941. Capt. Verdellet was the Eureka's only master of record during the entire time she operated on the Northwestern Pacific: He was at her helm on her maiden voyage in 1923 and he rang up "Finished With Engines" on her last N.W.P. trip in February, 1941. The Eureka is preserved for posterity in close to mint condition at the San Francisco Maritime Museum at the Hyde Street Pier.

Colin Wong, D.D.S. - Born in Canton Province, China. Studied dentistry in the United States, and became a teacher and expert in full mouth reconstruction, with an emphasis on TMJ (temporal mandibular joint dysfunction); served ten years on the Marin Dental Society, serving as its President in 1976, instituting a continuing education program in Marin County and chairing that committee for a decade; he has been very involved with the Academy of Dentistry International, whose purpose is to increase dental education throughout the world, lecturing in China, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Singapore and other locations around the world. His Third Degree was conferred at Mill Valley Lodge No. 356 on August 9, 1966 by the Chinese Acacia Club of San Francisco. He is also a member of the Mill Valley Rotary Club.

Mill Valley Masons and their Pacific Rim Activities

Earl Thacker:

Born: 1900

Initiated 9/12/21
Passed 9/19/21
Raised 9/26/21
Life membership
Died 7/25/71

Honolulu Star Bulletin reported on Monday, July 26, 1971 that he had died. He was a self made millionaire in real estate and tourist-related businesses in Hawaii. "He knew kings, potentates and other heads of state and had been a friend of President Lyndon B. Johnson for 25 years. He came to Hawaii in 1925 and worked for the Bishop Trust Co. for a few years -- 'to get and education,' as he put it. In the 1930's he founded the Earl Thacker Co., his real estate firm, and the Thacker Transportation Co., which is now the Thacker Corp. He was president of Grey line Hawaii from 1938 until his retirement in 1958, and was a vice president and director from 1943 to 1959 of Hawaiian Hotels, today part of the Sheraton holdings in Waikiki. After 1959, Mr. Thacker served as a special representative for Sheraton Corp in real estate matters. From 1953 was public relations counselor for Pan American World Airways and was an executive vice president for Hawaiian Airlines, serving as a public relations and real estate counselor. Mr. Thacker was a past chairman of the Territorial Real Estate Commission and served on the Territorial Board of Harbor Commissioners for 12 years. He was a past president of the Honolulu Realty Board and the Propeller Club of the United States. Mr. Thacker was a member of the Oahu Country Club, the Outrigger Canoe Club and the Central Union Church and was a past Commodore of the Pearl harbor Yacht Club. He was a friend of the great and near-great for at least 40 years. One of his early Hawaii business ventures was finding appropriate places for visiting Hollywood celebrities to stay….Mr. Thacker was a lifelong teetotaler but was an inveterate partygoer and party-giver. One of his greatest pleasures was entertaining friends at his Diamond Head home. The firms he founded are now headed by his on, H. Dickey Thacker." UPI reported, inter alia, "Thacker, born in Oakland, went to sea after high school and by the age of 24 had attained the rank of first officer on the passenger liner USS President Wilson. …He owned the Diamond T. Bar Ranch on Molokai and various other properties." From Lodge bulletins, he had been the personal representative of the Territorial Governor of Hawaii at the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge (taken back to the States on a US warship for the occasion) and the inauguration of the President of the Philippines.

Charles R. Kramer

Born: 6/10/10
Died: 11/23/78

Dual member with St. Johns No. 1072, Thailand under Scottish Charter, 32°, KCCH

Bro. Kramer was a member of the Square and Compass Club of Siam (Thailand), which had been started in 1959 and maintained a membership in 1973 of about 60. The only lodge in Thailand was St. Johns No. 1072, warranted from Scotland. There was also the Bangkok Oasis Shrine Club which had almost annual visits from Islam Shrine. The Taipei Bodies of the Scottish Rite from Taipei, Taiwan came every year to confer the 4th to the 32nd degrees on Thailand candidates. His letter of September 30, 1974 noted: "Masonry seems to be at the crossroad now, and how we act or react is most important if we are to survive. Two things face us right now. 1. What are we doing as a lodge or individual to bring young men into the order. You look at any photo of Masonic activity and all you see is gray hair and few young men. When I was in the DeMolay this was the chief source of new members. 2. Masonry is divided yet between Black and White. This situation will need to be corrected soon as it is a very devisive [sic] force. We are split right here in Bangkok between recognized lodges and Prince Hall Lodges. The United States Government has been a very great factor in bringing this about. Believe it or not the P.H.L. here is 80% white." His letter of December 1, 1975 noted: "During this session of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite in Washington I was elected to the KCCH rank. The investure [sic] will be next week December 4th in Taipei, Taiwan R.O.C. I will be only the second one so raised during the past ten years in S.E.A." His letter of November 9, 1976 noted: "I hope to be party to the initial start on founding the Bangkok Oasis of the Scottish Rite in the Orient of Thailand. This had long been my fondest hope and while I am able to help guide its beginning. This will be an effort to knit the English and American brothers in a common organization. If we are successful in its formation, I have been given assured support from Malaysia of many Malayians and Chinese." His letter of December 5, 1977 notes "Our petition to the Scottish Rite Supreme Commander Bro. Henry C. Clausen was disapproved and he does not favor our forming the first Lodge of Perfection in this area. I have lead an attempt to get our own Bodies started. Bro. Clausen must have his reasons for turning us down although we are not aware of them. This has come as a shock as we have always followed the edict of reaching out for a new member. However, he is the boss so we must abide." Other letters talk about military upheavals in S.E.A. (1973) as affecting degree conferrals, 300% inflation (1/1974) and that many Americans are going to return to the States in mid 1974.

Little was known about the circumstances of his death.

Francis W. Barrington, Cmdr. Born: Feb 21, 1912

Entered: 10/17/44
Passed: 10/31/44
Raised: 11/14/44
Died: 7/22/64

He was Boatswain (President) of the (Masonic) Anchor and Ark Club on Kwajalein Island. The Anchor and Ark Club was recognized by the Grand Master of Massachusetts during the early part of WWII; the club "Is somewhat different than most clubs, it has a certain amount of secret work, some serious and some not so serious, but everyone enjoys it." The Anchor and Ark Club was petitioning for letters temporary to sponsor a DeMolay Chapter because: "A chapter is badly needed here as there is so many youngsters here that have too much time on their hands, and with the brethren here I hope that we can find enough interesting work in the chapter to keep them occupied." (Letter of January 20, 1949; Our secretary noted on the letter "Try to obtain Marin Chapters old robes when they buy the new robes".) A letter of December 4, 1946 relates how he had been quite busy in Masonry during the past year, "Helping out in the lodge at Tsingtao. When they reopened the Lodge there, there were not enough members to fill the officers, so have been filling the chairs of Junior and Senior Deacon. The work in English constitution is quite different but also interesting. The Lodge is the Northern Star of China No. 2673 E.C., in the blue book it is still listed at Newchan, but was actually moved to Tsingtao in 1933. Will try to remember to enclose a photo of the temple [done]. I have left China though. Left on the 19th of October, stopped two weeks in Okinawa, while there I joined their club and became a Sojourner, and am now in Guam. The lodge here, Charleston #44 has reopened and is plenty busy, they meet three times each week, and I understand that they are working every night, was up once saw two thirds, it is good to see our work again."

There is a letter from Northern Star of China Lodge No. 2673 to Mill Valley Lodge No. 356:

"I have the honour and pleasure to in form you that at the Regular Meeting of the above lodge, held at the Masonic Hall, Tsingtao, on Tuesday, 11th June, 1946, the following member of your lodge was unanimously elected a Honorary Member: Bro. FRANCIS WILLIAM BARRINGTON

In recognition of the valuable services extended to our Lodge by the Brethren from the United States Naval forces in general and Bro. Barrington in particular.

On my return from Japanese enternment [sic] camp I found the Masonic Hall stripped of everything in addition to damage to the building, all that we had saved was our WARRANT, we have also been able to recover a certain amount of furniture, however, I will leave it to Bro. Barrington to tell you personally of our many difficulties.

The material as well as personal assistance given to us by the Brethren of the United States Armed Forces enabled us to open the Lodge for our regular meeting in November, 1945, the first Lodge to open in Far East after the Pacific War, and I wish to place on record our most sincere appreciation for all their kindness.

I would ask you to convey to the Wor. Master, Officers and Brethren of your Lodge my personal, as well as those of the Members of the Northern Star of China Lodge No. 2673, E.C., fraternal greetings and all good wishes.

Yours faithfully and fraternally,

H.E. Olsen, Act Master
P.M. Northern Star of China
P.M. Foochow Lodge
P.D.G.S.W. Northern China
P.DG. Sp of W. H'k & S. China"

It's interesting to note that Bro. Barrington had some difficulty joining Mill Valley Lodge. Because he was from the San Diego area and knew no one in Mill Valley Lodge (he was stationed at the Navy Dry Dock Training Station in Tiburon) he had to write to the Lodge in Liberty (near San Diego) with a list of all the people that knew him growing up who might be members of that Lodge and request they submit a recommendation to Mill Valley Lodge: The Secretary of Liberty Lodge reported to Mill Valley Lodge that several members remembered him growing up and gave us their glowing recommendation; he also had glowing recommendations from three Naval Officers at the Tiburon Dry Dock Station. Its clear from his records that men were not only interested in Masonry but were willing to go to great lengths to secure membership. It's too bad that the brothers who vouched for him on his application probably never knew what a credit he proved to be to the Craft.