A History of Algeria Shrine
(as taken from the 1988 100th Anniversary Publication)

​We are proud of Algeria’s place in Shrine history of being the first Shrine Temple in the Northwest.  We are especially proud of our Nobles in their dedication and devotion toward laboring for and giving to the philanthropic cause of Shrinedom, Shriner’s Hospitals for Children.

​

The Beginning

Algeria Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Mother Temple of the Northwest, was granted a dispensation to operate by grand Imperial Potentate Sam Briggs on March 23, 1888, and was chartered on June 25, 1888, the 41st Temple in Shrinedom. On March 23, 1888, six nobles were created for Algeria.

It is fair to ask, “Why Helena?” a small community in what was still Montana Territory.  There were many other older and more established communities with larger populations.

“Why Helena?”  There were many interesting reasons “Why?”.  Reports at that time ranked Montana first in production of gold and silver.  We produced one fourth of all the gold and silver produced in the USA and its estimated value was $86 million dollars.  It has been said that Helena had more millionaires per capita than any other city in the US.

A new railroad was completed from Helena to Butte, financed by Helena money.  Helena had 240 telephones, street railways and a new sewer system under construction.  The first regular passenger train from Helena to St. Paul began operation in November.

Colonel Broadwater had announced plans to build a hotel and natatorium and develop the Ten Mile hot springs.  The Natatorium was the largest indoor naturally heated pool in the world.

A new electric light plant was under construction.  Real estate transfers in the first week of December were $400,000.00.  The Montana Club held a public reception in its new quarters and the public used the first elevator in Montana.

The daughter of one of our charter members was the first female notary public in Montana.  Women were allowed to vote in school elections.

The above items are from “Quarries of Last Chance Gulch” by Noble Wm. C. Campbell.

In addition to all these, Montana, and Helena in particular, were supporters of the Masonic fraternity beginning in 1864. The Montana Grand Lodge was formed in 1866.  The Scottish Rite came to Helena in 1881.  Harry Comly, charter member of Algeria, was its first Inspector General.

The chapter of Royal Arch Masons came to Helena on September 24, 1868.  The Helena Commandry was chartered on January 21, 1869, and the Grand Commandry was organized in Helena on May 14, 1888.

Helena had all the qualifications for admission to the Shrine except for someone to start the movement.  That man arrived in Helena in the person of Halsey W. Lombard, a Noble of Tripoli Temple, Milwaukee.

According to Algeria records, correspondence with the Imperial Council began on February 1, 1888.  Dispensation was issued on March 23, 1888, the same date that six Nobles were created.  In another place, the records show the grant was made on March 26, 1888, that being the date that Grand Imperial Briggs appointed Noble Halsey W. Lombard of Tripoli Temple as a Special Deputy to communicate the order to W. N. Baldwin and five associates to establish Algeria Temple at Helena, Montana.  All other references are to March 23, 1888.

​

Charter Members

The five men, other than Baldwin, were H. H. Guthrie, J. C. Major, T. H. Kleinschmidt, James W. Hathaway, and colonel C. B. Nolan.  During the first year, other nobles were created including Judge Hiram Knowles, former Governor B. Platte Carpenter, . M. Glair, A. B. Cook, A. J. Davidson, Harry R. Comly, Richard Lockey and George Booker.

The actual number of members is open to question.  In Imperial Proceedings as of June 25, 1888, the number is listed at 38.  However, in the same proceedings under date of January 01, 1888, the same number of 38 is used.  On January 01, 1889, there were 69 and by May 1, 1889, there were 83 Algerians.

Prior to the establishment of Algeria, Proceedings of 1883 show the name of Anthony Wayne Barnard of Islam Temple as a Deputy in Montana.  He resided in butte City.  

Potentate Baldwin attended the Imperial Council meeting in 1889 and he drew expenses of $119.40.  There were at that session 50 charted Temples with a membership of 10, 032.

There were differing opinions as to the numerical ranking of Algeria Temple.  Sol Hepner at Algeria’s Golden Anniversary stated that Algeria was number 44 Temple.  Bill Campbell in “The Quarries of Last Chance Gulch” also uses that figure.

According to Imperial records at the close of 1887 there were 28 chartered temples with 16 operating under dispensation.  Four of these were entered as being officially charted in the minutes of 1888.  In the order of charters issued, Algeria was number 41.   There were 12 Temples charted on that date, June 25, 1888.

Algeria’s Distinctive Fez

The minutes of December 13, 1906, contain reference to a discussion concerning “the Algeria Fez”.  On motion of Francis D. Jones, duly seconded and carried “it was ordered that the J. Benton Leggat insignia of fez be accepted at a cost not to exceed $3.50”.  This was before there was any Imperial authorization to wear any insignia on the Fez, it being officially described as “the red Turkish Fez with black tassel”.

In 1915 Imperial did authorize the Shrine Insignia on the Fez.  This was different than the one being worn by Algerians.  At a meeting in 1915, a committee was appointed to meet with the Imperial Potentate to discuss the Algeria insignia.

The Seventh Report of the Jurisprudence and Laws Committee of the Imperial council, 1915, amended Article X111, Section 2, to read as follows: “Facsimile of a scimitar and that portion of the jewel of the order consisting of the crescent, sphinx-head, etc…”.  This was the first time that Imperial had made any statement as to any insignia on the fez.

Obviously, the Imperial description was not the same as the J. Benton Leggat” emblem, as pictures taken of the Algeria Ban and Patrol indicate.  In addition, at the September meeting of Algeria following the Imperial session came the following: “Upon motion duly made and carried, it was ordered that the matter of emblem on ‘Algeria’s Fez” be taken up with the Imperial Potentate and see if he will pas them.”  Nothing further can be found in Imperial proceeding or Algeria minutes concerning the matter.  It must be assumed that the Imperial Potentate approved as we are still wearing the emblem adopted in 1906.

On this day, March 21, 1988, I have received from the Assistant Rabban skip Allen, a program from the Annual meeting of 1907.  In that program are two representations of Algeria’s Fez.  One is the fez worn by the Potentate Ben E. Calkins and is too small to reproduce.  Bill Campbell in the “Quarries of Last Chance Gulch” state as follows: “The first mention of the Shrine appeared in the Herald on July 29, 1888, when it reported that the night before, Gus Williams appeared in a comedy at the Ming theatre, (Now the Consistory Shrine Temple).  Members of the Helena branch of the Order of the Mystic Shrine attended in a body.  A banquet was held in the Masonic Temple for Mr. and Mrs. Williams.” (William’s name is found in the roster of Mecca Temple.)

 

Baldwin Elected Potentate

The first regular meeting of Algeria was held April 12, 1888, with W. N. Baldwin being elected Potentate, and H. H. Guthrie as Recorder.  Meetings were held each month and on December 6, 1888, another election was held.  Baldwin was again elected Potentate and George Booker was elected Recorder, a position he held for the next 26 years.

Potentate W. N. Baldwin was the first member of Algeria to become a member of the Imperial Council, having been elected in 1889.  He died in Cleveland, Ohio on March 9, 1891.  There is a short biographical sketch of his life in the Imperial Proceedings of that year.

Algeria, because of its early constitution had a hand in the formation or attempted formation of several Temples.  The minutes of September 5, 1889, mention that the Temple would recommend the granting of a Charter in Ogden, Utah.  Apparently, nothing came of this attempt.  In 1896 Algeria received a request from Imperial to recommend a new Temple in Boise City, Idaho.  It has been said that Algeria also recommended Al Azahar Temple in Calgary and we know that several Temples in the West requested permission for Algeria members to sign applications for Charters.

The Imperial minutes of 1983 record the receipt of the Bylaws of Algeria Temple.  If they were approved, no mention was made of that fact.  Later the By-Laws were amended providing for the initiation of candidates during the months of March, June, September, and December.

Also in 1893, James H. Monteath, Chief Rabban of Butte city was appointed to the Imperial Ritual Committee.  Noble Monteath never be3came Potentate of Algeria.

​

Algeria’s First Home

Hopes for a Shrine Temple came early.  In April of 1893, a committee was appointed to examine plans for construction of a new Temple over the new Opera House.  It is assumed that they were meeting in the Masonic Temple on Broadway.

On June 6, 1910, Richard Lockey proposed a resolution relative to building a Temple.  This was a reaffirmation of a Resolution made at the Annual Meeting in December of 1909.

At the November 7, 1912, meeting, a resolution was presented to allow the Temple to participate in the purchase of the Opera House.  The Resolution was made a Special Order of Business for December 5, 1912.  At that meeting, the members authorized the Trustees of the Temple to unite with the Trusteed of the Scottish Rite to acquire a piece of land facing Breckenridge in the rear of the Opera House. 

Another Resolution was passed authorizing the acquisition separately or jointly with Masonic bodies…” property known as Helena Theatre consisting of a lot fronting 48.25 feet on Jackson Street and extending back a depth of 191.5 feet with a frontage on Breckenridge Street 19.5 feet etc.…. $15,000 cash to rent for one year at a rental netting 5% on the purchase price.”  They then appropriated $5,000.00 out of the Building fund.  (Thus, was created the Consistory Shrine Temple Association.)

In the year following, the building was rented and then began the remodeling.  On April 17, 1915, a receptacle containing memorabilia was laid under the left-hand pillar.  The dedication took place on July 10 with a Ceremonial and other activities.  The Potentate was to entertain the visiting Imperial Officers and there was a reception at the Capitol for the ladies.

Some Costs would be of interest.  The Hutchings organ cost $5, 000.00; the stage settings were $6, 188 and the electrical control board $1, 050.  The organ has been appraised at $50,000.

​

The Moorish Mosque

Within four years, the membership had grown so rapidly that the building on Jackson Street was no longer adequate.  At a meeting in May 1919, a committee was appointed to look into possible sites for construction of a new Temple.  Ten sites were submitted at the meeting of July 1919 and a site at the intersection of Benton Avenue and Neill Avenue was selected. At a special meeting on July 21, the option on that property was taken up and the architects’ plans approved.

The cornerstone of the new Temple was laid on June 19, 1920, by Most Worshipful Grand Master W. L. Parmelee.  An address was delivered by Imperial Potentate W. Freeland Kendrick.

The building was dedicated April 8, 1921, by Imperial Potentate E. L. Garretson.  This ceremony was followed by a ceremonial with 396 novices.  This new Temple cost nearly $360,000 and had the tenth largest auditorium in the United States.

The earthquakes of 1935 seriously damaged the Temple and at the same time there was a drastic reduction in membership due to the depression and also the formation of a third Tempe in Montana.  Alge4ria Temple found itself in serious financial trouble.  In June 1936 it was proposed to sell the building to the City of Helena and the sale was agreed to in 1938.  The building became the Helena Civic Center.

 

Consistory Shrine Building

Algeria resumed its activities in the Temple on Jackson Street.  In 1941 an elevator was installed and in 1943 the C.S.T. Board entered into a lease agreement with the Masonic Temple Trust and the other Masonic bodies moved into the building.  In 1946 the Scottish Rite and Algeria held a joint meeting and burned the mortgage.

In 1952 a committee was appointed to look into the purchase of the adjoining building owned by Montana Power Company.  This building was built by the Helena Light and Traction Company, sold to the Power Co.  and used as a sub-station.  The building was finally purchased in March 1953 at a cost of $20,000.

By 1955, architects had plans for remodeling the building (now known as the Annex) but no money was available.  It was announced that volunteer labor under the direction of Fred Johnson would proceed to build a second floor, with the space acquired to be the “Shrine Room”.  At the same time, the Uniformed Bodies of Helena agreed to help finance the construction of a garage on the back lot to house parade vehicles.

In 1969, the Temple was apprized of the fact that the property was to be included in an urban Renewal Project.  By 1972 it was apparent that the Urban Renewal Project could result in the taking of the building and land.  By 1973, Urban Plans called for condemnation of the property and its subsequent demolition.  Several appraisals were made to determine value with no agreement reached. Finally, in 1974, it was agreed the Urban Renewal would take the garage and that property behind the building with damages to be awarded.  At the same time the C.S.T. Board was protesting the inclusion of the property in a Special Improvement district to no avail.  In January 1975, the taking was completed with damages set at $90,000.00.  

In 1976, a poll was taken to see if there was any interest in building new Temple.  The response was negative, but in 1977, the Diehl family in memory of Noble George Diehl offered the Temple land in the eastern part of Helena at a bargain price.  The agreement was that if no building was built, the Diehls would buy it back plus all taxes that had been paid.  The purchase for $12,500 was approved.  As a result, another poll was taken and again the membership rejected the idea of a new Temple.  The land acquired was eventually sold with a profit to the temple of some $30,000.00 due to the good offices of William Diehl.

In the years of problems with Urban Renewal and the uncertain state of the building, and while the membership debated a new Temple, the existing structure was deteriorating badly.  Now the C.S.T. Board had to make up for lost time.  Consequently, the following changes were made:  1.  The auditorium was redecorated with a new sub floor and carpet.  A new front curtain for the stage was installed, courtesy of Tom and Louise Battershell.
2.  The kitchen was remodeled with new equipment and flooring.  3.  The organ was cleaned and tuned.  4.  New Shrine offices were put in the Annex.  5.  A Uniformed Bodies office and lounge was formed.  6.  The granite façade on the front of the building was partially removed and re-set.  7.  A new roof was put on both buildings.  All this was done without having to borrow money.  Both buildings have been insulated and made energy efficient.

Algeria has a Temple adequate for its needs and if valued at replacement cost is worth several millions.