H I S T O R Y

NATIONAL SOJOURNERS originated in the Phillippines upon the arrival of a North Dakota Regiment of volunteer infantry about 1 August 1898. The Grand Lodge of North Dakota granted a dispensation for a field Lodge. It first met 21 August l898. Meetings were held each Wednesday and Sunday, and were well attended. The 22 February 1899 meeting in Culi Culi Church was held under fire. Bullets came through the roof and Lodge Officers wore sidearms. The regiment departed 31 July, taking dispensation with them.

Early in 1900 a Sojourners Club was organized in Manilla. On 1 July 1901 the Grand Lodge of California authorized them to form a Lodge. After formation of the Lodge, the Sojourners Club lost its identity.

Late in 1977 officers of various services and some of our allies found a great need for a Masonic Club in Chicago. They began to hold a series of meetings; thus began Sojourners Club. By 1919 a charter was obtained from the State of Illinois, and then a club was formed in Detroit, which has become known as Detroit Chapter #1, and NATIONAL SOJOURNERS was on its way.

During World War II, NATIONAL SOJOURNERS chapters were formed throughout the world, wherever there were American Forces. Today there are chapters in Korea, Okinawa, Panama, and Germany, as well as 150 chapters in the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska).