The idea of forming a neighborhood Lodge on the South Hill originated in the minds of 3 men; A.P. Moore, W.I. Harvey and Robert B. Soper, all residents in the neighborhood and all with more or less extensive acquaintance among the residents. Mr. Moore had the largest acquaintance because he had been a grocery merchant in the neighborhood for many years.
Their first step was to compile a list of some 60 names of known Masons who were unaffiliated, or members of Lodges outside of the concurrent Jurisdiction of the Spokane city Lodges. The task of methodically contacting each one on the list occupied their time in the evening after work, on Sundays and holidays and upon chance meetings occupied their time during the spring and summer of 1921. By September they had secured 55 applications with demits attached and these together with a letter asking authority to form a Lodge on the South Hill with A.P. Moore as Worshipful Master, W.I. Harvey as Senior Warden and Robert B. Soper as Junior Warden was delivered to Grand Master John Gifford, who finding the documents in order and almost four times the required minimum number of petitions, did on September 19, 1921 sign a dispensation granting the request.
A preliminary meeting was held in the building formerly occupied by the congregation of the Manito Methodist Church with a surprisingly large attendance. A temporary chairman and secretary was selected and the purpose of the meeting stated, which included the selection of a full lineup of officers, authorizing the 3 principal officers to find and prepare a temporary meeting place and draw up a set of By-laws. The concluding business was a request for a small donation to be used as a petty cash fund to take care of unavoidable expenses incurred prior to the first meeting.
The officers selected were A.P. Moore as Worshipful Master; W.I. Harvey as Senior Warden; Robert B. Soper as Junior Warden; G.E. Fredricks as Treasurer; John Sarginson as Secretary; Emil V. Olsen as Senior Deacon; David R. Glasgow as Junior Deacon; Archie Liggert as Senior Steward; Clarence Glasser as Junior Steward; George R. Harbinson as Chaplain; and V.K. Whittaker as Tyler.
The first meeting of Manito Lodge U.D. was held on October 3, 1921, just 14 days after the dispensation had been signed. In that brief two weeks time the officers had found a vacant store room and had secured the Grand Master’s permission to use it temporarily.
When the first candidate was ready, the officers were ready and conferred the degree in a most creditable manner. Petitions continued to come in and in doing the work they were able during the nine months between the first meeting in October and the Grand Lodge meeting in June 1922 to make a highly satisfactory report of their activities while under dispensation. The charter was granted in June 1922 while MWB John Gifford was Grand Master and the Lodge was given the number 246 with membership of 64.
The temporary meeting place of Manito Lodge would not accommodate a full attendance of the membership and it was out of the question to think of having the Grand Lodge ceremony there so they were forced to accept the hospitality of the main Temple downtown; and on the afternoon of August 31, 1922 Manito Lodge #246 was Constituted with full Grand Lodge ceremony under the direction of Grand Master James McCormack.
The Cornerstone for Manito Lodge #246 was laid by the Grand Lodge on May 15, 1923 with MWB James McCormack, Grand Master, presiding; and on September 19, 1923 (two years to the day after Dispensation was signed) the doors of the completed Temple were thrown open for the admission of the Grand Lodge to be opened by Grand Master Tom Holman, who dedicated it for its intended use.
Members of Manito Lodge #246 to receive Grand Lodge appointments
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WB Arthur G Nelson, Grand Sword Bearer
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WB Arthur G Nelson, Deputy in District No. 27
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WB Arthur G Nelson, Credentials Committee
1944-1953 WB Arthur G Nelson, Credentials Committee
1952 WB F.R. Lilly, Research and Education Committee
1958-1959 WB Lloyd D Martin, Deputy in District No. 27
1961 WB Lloyd D Martin, Research and Education Committee
1962 WB Lloyd D Martin, Grand Historian
1964 WB Dale I Thomas, Junior Grand Deacon
1969 WB Macy Forsyth, Deputy in District No. 27
1970 WB Macy Forsyth, Deputy in District No. 33
1972 WB John D Stainer, Junior Grand Steward
1973 WB John D Stainer, Masonic Home Endowment Committee
1974 WB John D Stainer, Chairman Masonic Home Endowment Committee
1975 WB John D Stainer, Grand Historian
1976 WB John D Stainer, Deputy in District No. 33
1977 WB John D Stainer, Deputy in District No. 33
1978 WB John D Stainer, Grand Lecturer
1980 WB John D Stainer, Senior Grand Deacon
1980 WB Norman Anderson, DeMolay Committee
2000 WB Jim Nichols, Deputy in District No. 33
2003 WB Lawrence Coulson, Grand Sword Bearer
2007-2008 WB Brian Gilbert, Deputy in District No. 33