HISTORY OF RIO HONDO #800, F. & A.M. EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA

Compiled by Howard M. Magill, Past Master, 1963 

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Rio Hondo Lodge #800, of El Monte, California, was started and made to progress due to the ideas of a group of Masons wanting to demonstrate to the public that Masonry is a progressive science and that it could be made better in the San Gabriel Valley if managed in the proper way. There is no doubt in anyone's mind who has searched out what Rio Hondo Lodge has done in all progressive Masonic ideas that it has been successful in reaching its goal. 

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FORMING THE CLUB 

In 1956 talk was started about forming a Masonic Club with the idea that in time it would become a recognized Masonic Lodge. It was not until December of 1957 that a letter over the signature of a sojourner, Brother John C. Parsons, a fifty year member of Arkadelphia Lodge #119, Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and residing in West Arcadia, California, was sent to the Grand Secretary's office in San Francisco, California, asking permission to form a Masonic Club to be known as Fuente De Rio Hondo. Permission was granted but a recommendation was made that the name be shortened to Rio Hondo. The meeting place was Lexington Temple on Thursday evenings. Brother Fred L. Ferguson, Sr., was named Inspector and later Brother Herb Van Riper, a past Master of West Covina Lodge #758, was appointed as Officers' Coach. Progress was made in Masonic procedures such as rituals and examinations, but it was not until January of 1960 that enough Charter members (numbering 37) were obtained, and an application was made to Grand Lodge for a dispensation to form the Club into a Lodge. This request was granted in May 1960, after a thorough search was made by Grand Lodge Officers and different Grand Lodge Committees. On May 12, 1960, the Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden Guy B. Mize opened Lodge in Lexing ton Temple in El Monte and officially instituted the right of Rio Hondo to act as a Masonic Lodge under dispensation. In the Grand Lodge Communication of October 1960, a review was made of Rio Hondo U.D. and a charter was issued giving Rio Hondo an official title and the number 800. 

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THE LODGE UNDER DISPENSATION

At the time of Dispensation the Charter Members were (with known deaths in parenthesis) Elie Amiel, Leslie Frampton, Sammie Phipps, Gay Ganes (1904-1975), Frank Konza, Evert Carter (1889-1965), George Pollett, Lee Runnells (1909-1976), Howard Magill, Lorin Austin, June "Jack" Tucker, Junior "D" Dunning, Charles Jones, Edwin Nelson, John Hudson (1923-1979), Frank Mendez, John Strayhorn, Alfred Grumet, Paul Grumet (1915-1961), Henry Grumet, Sanford Grumet, Sir Charles Markwith (1879-1973), Jack Malone (1914-1973), Ernest Thomas (1901-1977), Harry Peel, Irving Rubinstein, William Warner, Irving Zuckerman, Richmond Hill (1901-1970), Thomas Fletcher (1910-1961), Irvin Kaufman, Joseph Siwicki, John Herman, Roy Rice, Francis Townsend, Jack Rudy and Peter Brogan. 

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FIRST INSTALLATION

The Officers installed at the first installation on were Worshipful Master Elie Amiel, Senior Warden Sammie Phipps, Junior Warden Evert Carter, Treasurer Sanford Grumet, Secretary Frank Mendez, Senior Deacon Howard Magill, Junior Deacon Leslie Frampton, Marshal Joseph Siwicki, Chaplain John Hudson, Senior Steward Peter Brogan, Junior Steward Jack Tucker, and Tiler Jack Malone. Fees for the degrees were set at $125.00 on the following breakdown: First degree would be $45.00, second degree the same, and the third degree would be $40.00 There would be a $25.00 do nation for the Homes Endowment Program and a $1.00 donation (later raised to $5.00) for the George Washington Memorial plus a donation for the Grand Lodge Memorial Temple in San Francisco. It was decided that there would not be any charge for affiliation if within California jurisdiction. If the affiliation came from an out-of state jurisdiction, the charge would be $25.00 for Home Endowment. May 12th, 1960, 

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THE LODGE WAS CHARTERED 

At the Grand Lodge Communication of 1960, a thorough check was made on Rio Hondo U.D. records and as a result a charter was issued, giving the Lodge the number 800 and the responsibility to act as a recognized chartered California Lodge. 

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On November 9, 1960, Grand Lodge opened a special meeting at Lexington #104 Temple in El Monte with the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Alfred Breslauer in the East and other Grand Officers filling the chairs and the Charter was placed in effect. 

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ASSISTANCE AND GIFTS 

During the time while waiting for the dispensation to be issued (or between January and May 12th of 1960), the Inspector, Right Worshipful Fred L. Ferguson, Sr., asked other lodges, especially in his district, to make donations of equipment or of anything else that could be used by Rio Hondo Club. Brother John Parsons advertised in several Masonic publications and received a congratulatory letter