The first recorded meeting was February 4, 1944 in the
IOOF Hall. Estelle Higgons served as Chairperson and Mary Swope as Secretary.
Institution took place June 17, 1944 at 4:00 P.M. Worthy Grand Patron Oscar
Maeder presided at the Institution and the Grand Officers installed the first
officers of Delta Chapter. Delta’s first Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron were
Estelle Higgons and Harry Weible. At 7:30 P.M. the same evening the "Mother
Chapter," Canton Chapter No. 190 assumed the stations and initiated the
first class of candidates.
The first Inspection was August 25, 1944 with Worthy
Grand Patron Oscar Meader as the Inspecting Officer. Delight Auxiliary was
organized November 17, 1944, names after its first president Delight Wheeler.
Many fund raising projects were carried out and since this was during the war,
two wheel chairs and two massaging machines were donated to Fletcher Hospital.
Also, our members gave of their time generously to serve as helpers at Aultman
Hospital.
In 1948, we purchased new pedestals as the ones we were
using were borrowed. We assisted in organizing Canton Bethel No. 31, Job’s
Daughters, June 29, 1949. Verna Keefer was their first Guardian. We helped them
financially with a gift of $35 at their Institution and the purchasing of robes
at a cost of $150, and we continue to help the Bethel.
January 28, 1955 something new was added – Delta
Delights – the News bulletin. In 1959, we gave $60 for the support of one
Korean child for one year in the Masonic Orphanage in Korea. This was the Worthy
Grand Matron’s project.
Our first Deputy Grand Matron was Burdella Carl. In 1952,
Carrol Kettering was appointed Deputy Grand Matron, Eleanor Green was appointed
Grand Representative of British Columbia in 1961. Elizabeth Wallace served as
District President in 1965, and in 1968 was appointed Deputy Grand Matron. In
1978 Inez Miller was appointed Deputy Grand Matron, and in 1983 Jane Bayley was
appointed to serve as Grand Representative of Manitoba. In 1968 Helen Ittner was
appointed to serve as the Grand Chaplain and Carol Jones served as President of
the District 13 Association in 1989. In 1992, Carol Jones was appointed to serve
as Grand Ruth and in 1997, she was appointed to serve as Grand Warder. In 1998,
Carol Jones was elected to serve as the Associate Grand Conductress and Barbara
Turner was appointed Deputy Grand Matron. In 1999, Carol Jones was elected Grand
Conductress and in 2000 she was elected Associate Grand Matron. She will serve
as Worthy Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Ohio in 2001.
Ruth E. Wilkes has served 17 years as Secretary for Delta
Chapter and Beverly Gallon has served 13 years as Treasurer. We have presented
more than 75 50-Year pins. Throughout the years, Delta Chapter has served many
delicious dinners in the Canton Masonic Temple under the supervision of Johnnie
Jones, a Past Patron of Delta Chapter
As the years have gone by, we have had many worthy
Matrons and Worthy Patron and each year has been different and interesting. They
have all left their mark in the history of Delta Chapter.