Page 279 - PGM Compendium

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.

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