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History of Mill Valley Lodge
No. 356 F & AM

by Harvey A. Klyce

"The Historical Society of Mill Valley asked me to give a few highlights in the organization of our Lodge. I shall endeavor to give the preliminary steps of formation and proceedings prior to our organization:

From childhood, I have always been interested in masonry. My Father and uncles were Master Masons.

In my home town, Alamo, Tennessee, our Masonic Hall was built over our church, which was donated by my father. He was a very enthusiastic Mason.

I left home before I was old enough to join the Order. I came to California and lived in several cities before I came to Mill Valley in 1895.

Sometime in 1902, Mr. McLoud, who was living in Mill Valley, suggested that we start a Masonic Lodge here. It was such a good idea, that soon others were interested. We then talked about the best way to accomplish it.

Past Grand Master Stevens was living in Mill Valley at the time. I went to him to find out what steps were necessary to organize a lodge. He told me that we had to become Masons first; then get permission from the nearest Masonic Lodge, in order to form a Lodge; also to get a dispensation from the Grand Maser of the Grand Lodge, before we could start.

I talked with several of my friends about joining. There were five of us: Luis L. Janes, James Newlands, Jr., Samuel Burt, Arthur McLoud, and myself (Harvey A. Klyce).

We put our petitions in Marin Lodge at San Rafael, with the understanding that we would afterwards demit from that Lodge, and form one in Mill Valley.

At that time, 1902, Mr. George Murray was Master of Marin Lodge, and Dr. George F. Rodden [future Grand Master of California], Senior Warden. They gladly granted our request.

I was the first to receive the degrees. Then, who was to coach me? No one in Mill Valley was able to do so. A friend in San Rafael, Mr. Thos. Bonneau, a Past Master of Marin Lodge, kindly agreed to coach me. We made arrangements to meet on the Ferry Boats, traveling to and from San Francisco. On Sundays I went to his home.

I received my "Entered Apprentice Degree" July 23, 1902; passed a week later and was raised August 6, 1902. I took my degrees on three successive Wednesday nights.

About this time Pacific Lodge was going to move into the Grand Lodge Building of San Francisco. Mr. Charles Bunker of Mission Lodge, San Francisco, thought I could buy part of our Lodge paraphernalia very reasonably from the Pacific Lodge. We purchased two columns, a flight of stairs, charts for different lectures, three candlesticks, etc. I brought this paraphernalia and stored it in my large but finished basement.

Mrs. Klyce, my wife, made the Masonic Aprons for us.

Mr. Luis L. Janes, Secretary of the Tamalpais Land and Water Company, suggested we get busy towards organizing our lodge. We then canvassed the town to find out the number of Masons living in Mill Valley and sent them invitations to meet at my home, to take up the matter of organizing a lodge in Mill Valley.

The meeting was well attended. We discussed what was best to do, and appointed committees to look up all data regarding the formation. At this time I was elected to take the office of Master.

Mr. A.F. Thomas, at that time Auditor of the North Shore Railroad, and Past Master of Durant Lodge, Berkeley, California, taught me the Master's work. He came to my house ever evening to coach me. As soon as I had perfected my work, we decided to hold a practice meeting.

There was only one hall available in Mill Valley, Grethel's Hall, situated over his Bakery Shop [18 Miller Avenue, currently site of the Well's Fargo Bank]. We held our Practice Meeting there. The Grand Lodge sent a committee to investigate the hall and decided against it as not suitable for Masonic purposes; it being too easy for "Eavesdroppers".

I then fixed up a Lodge Room in my Recreation room in the basement of my home. I blacked out the windows so no one could look in or hear what was said. We had chairs, pedestals, charts, tables, in fact everything needed.

We met at my home while we planned for the future.

The present land site of the Lodge was for sale. Mr. James Newlands, Jr., negotiated with the owner and we purchased this site. There were three small stores and two cottages here. Mr. Kahill agreed to sell for $3,500. I put my check for $3,500 in escrow to pay for the property. We made plans and started to build our Lodge Building.

By the time we had our Lodge well organized, the building was ready for use.

We formed a stock company and fixed the stock at $6.00 per share. Several of us took 100 shares. The Stockholders were: L.L. Janes, James Newlands, Jr., Thomas Becker, F. Pane, F. Schlingman, Samuel Burt, Charles Bunker, and Harvey A. Klyce. We raised enough money to swing the deal.

Marin Lodge gave us our Jewels.

After we received our dispensation, the question arose of who would receive their degrees first. I informed them that the degrees would be given in the order that the petitions were received. Fred F. Runyon was the first to be raised in Mill Valley Lodge.

Mr. Seaman, Principal of the Mill Valley Schools, was appointed Secretary of the Lodge, but as he left Mill Valley shortly afterwards, Bro. Fred Runyon was appointed to take his place. It is fitting to remark, now some 45 years later, that Fred Runyon's secretarial work was a work of art. The books were so beautifully kept. His work was like fine copper plate work; perfect in every detail.

We took ten petitions on our first stated meeting, and voted on them at our next stated meeting.

When we surrendered our books to the Grand Secretary, we had initiated ten, passed ten, and raised three to be Master Masons.

On the communication of the Grand Lodge in October 1903, we received our Charter and were congratulated on the excellent work we had accomplished. Later the program of the Grand Lodge announced that Mill Valley Lodge was to be constituted and installed.

Our first "Banquet" was in honor of Alonzo Coffin. Mission Lodge put on the degree.

About this time, 1903, the Eastern Star was organized. Mrs. Kent J.C. Seymour, was the first Worthy Matron. Later she became Mrs. Thomas Greaves. ["In 1904 a local chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star was formed. Mrs. Mary Seymour, later known as Mrs. Mary Greaves, was the first Matron of the Chapter. She later became the Worthy Grand matron of the Grand Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, State of California. Mr. Harvey A. Klyce served as first Worthy Patron of the Chapter. Later Mr. Thos. T. Greaves filled the office." From a Mill Valley History Room oral history, Acts of Early Mill Valley and Surroundings: 1579-1947 at page 14, by Carrie Gray Klyce]

The dues of the Lodge were at first $12.00 per year. The Lodge paid the Hall Association $25.00 per month.

The income received from the three stores and two cottages amounted to $117.00 per month.

In place of declaring a dividend, we allowed this money to accumulate to take care of taxes, insurance, interest, and a sinking fund for the debt. When the Lodge had accumulated enough funds to take over the property, the stockholders turned in their stock, which cost $6.00 a share, for $5.00 a share.

Harvey Asbury Klyce
Past Master
"Architect and Builder"
of Mill Valley Lodge."

Mill Valley’s New Master Joins New California Bodies A.·.A.·.S.·.R.·.

On July 8, 1903, California Council, Knights Kadosh, met under authority of Letters Temporary issued by Brother W. Frank Pierce, 33°, S.G.I.G., who installed the …Charter Officers. On July 22, 1903, the first Knight Kadosh Degree (30°), was conferred on a class of twenty-seven candidates, among whom was Harvey A. Klyce, incumbent Master of Mill Valley Lodge. The History of California Bodies, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry - 1902-1962, Gordon F. Black, 32°, K.C.C.H. (San Francisco, 1962) Bro. Klyce received the 32° August 17, 1904.

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