Page 288 - PGM Compendium

of the Grand Lodge. In addition to serving as the Chairman of the Jurisprudence Committee from
1888 through 1893, he served in a variety of other roles. In 1893 he drafted a resolution limiting
the powers of delegates to a Masonic convention to be held in 1894 which essentially prevented
them from considering or supporting the idea of a Grand Lodge of the United States.

Overall, Most Worshipful Brother Ziegler could be a strong traditionalist when it came to
Freemasonry. He had no sympathy or patience for efforts at modernization which he viewed as
blasphemous.

From his arrival in 1879 to his death in 1911, Brother Ziegler was a prominent citizen of the city
of Spokane. He not only founded Spokane Lodge #34 he also was a founder of Oriental Lodge
#72. He was instrumental in the construction of the original Spokane Masonic Temple as well.
After arriving in Spokane, Brother Ziegler opened a hardware business at the corner of Howard
and Riverside Streets. Unfortunately, he carried with him some of the bad luck that had plagued
him in Illinois and his first building in Spokane was destroyed by fire in 1889. Once again he
rebuilt, this time in brick, and the five-story building he constructed was considered the first
skyscraper in the city.

Louis Ziegler passed to the celestial Lodge on January 15, 1911 and his memorial was delivered
at the 1911 Grand Lodge Session by Most Worshipful John Arthur as the two had agreed several
years before. Most Worshipful Brother Ziegler distinguished himself as a great Grand Master in
this jurisdiction. His character and perseverance in the face of extraordinary tragedy provides us
with a shining example of the value of following the principles of Masonry to their fullest.
Hopefully, this summary of Brother Ziegler’s words and actions has done justice to a truly great
Washington Mason.