Resurgens: Hiram Returns
The first of Mena's Historic York Rite Bodies Restored After Decades of Darkness
MENA, Ark. - Jan. 17, 2026
The road to recovering Mena’s full Masonic heritage began Friday night, 16 January 2026, with a single step: the return of the Chapter.
For the first time since the 1990s, the Royal Arch, often described as the summit of ancient craft masonry, has a home in Polk County. In a ceremony at the Mena Lodge hall, officers from the Grand York Rite of Arkansas granted a Dispensation to Hiram Chapter U.D., marking the first phase of a strategic plan to restore the full York Rite system to the city by the end of 2026.
The “Keystone” Is Set
In Masonic architecture, the “Keystone” is the central wedge that allows an arch to bear weight. Its restoration Friday night serves a literal function for the local fraternity: it creates the necessary structural support for a Council of Cryptic Masons, planned for later this spring, and a Commandery of Knights Templar, targeted for year’s end.
Without a healthy Chapter, the arch cannot stand. On Friday, the keystone was finally set back in place.
A Probationary Mission
The new body is designated “Under Dispensation” (U.D.), a probationary status that raises the stakes for the coming year. It grants the Chapter the right to work but requires the officers to prove their proficiency and sustainability before receiving a permanent Charter. They have until the Grand Sessions in March 2027 to demonstrate that Mena can maintain the legacy it has revived.
Echoes of 1920
The restoration marks a poetic return to form for the Mena bodies. Historical records show that in 1920, community leader E.W. St. John served as the High Priest of the original Hiram Chapter No. 106.
Just as St. John and his contemporaries, such as Mark P. Olney and W.J. Lauck, used the York Rite to build leadership skills that served the entire state, this new body offers a similar training ground for a new generation.
Leading the effort is Trey Youngdahl, installed Friday as the High Priest. He is supported by a full line of officers including Matt Cearley, James Earl Turner, Jim Fry, Eric Engelke, Donald Dean Davis, David Boyer, Bill Scott, Charlie Ford, Terry Fuquay, and Randy Webster, who was installed as Secretary.
Webster, a Past Commander, noted that the Secretary’s desk was once occupied by Mark P. Olney himself, highlighting the continuity between the two eras.
The installation was conducted by Randy Gilless, Past Most Excellent Grand High Priest, with M.E. Ray Matthew presiding over the opening ceremonies.
Photo Gallery: The Red Coats Return
Resurgens: The defining moment of the evening. Officers of the Grand York Rite present the Dispensation to High Priest Trey Youngdahl (center). This document is the “birth certificate” of the new body, officially ending the period of darkness for the Chapter in Mena.
The Obligation: The full officer line of Hiram Chapter U.D. takes their oath. The restoration of the Chapter allows local Masons to complete their York Rite journey in Mena rather than traveling to Hot Springs or Fort Smith.
The Authority: M.E. Ray Matthew presides over the opening ceremonies. The presence of the distinctive red jackets signals the return of the Capitular degrees to the Mena Lodge room for the first time in thirty years.
The Olney Parallel: A view from the Secretary’s desk. In 1920, this seat was held by Masonic titan Mark P. Olney. Today, it serves as the administrative hub for the Chapter’s “Under Dispensation” period, where the work of earning a permanent charter will take place.
Meeting Information
Hiram Chapter U.D. meets on the 3rd Friday of the month at 7:00 PM at the Mena Lodge. Master Masons interested in petitioning for the Capitular Degrees are invited to contact the Secretary.
Randy Webster
The Ouachita Optic - Resurgens tenebras vera lux dimovet