THE FIRST GRAND LODGE IN MISSOURI
265
was regarded as well out in the country. The dimensions of the house are given as 36 feet front by 18 feet in depth, two rooms above and two below. One of the novelties introduced in the building were window panes 13x18 inches, "extra large size" imported from Pittsburg. In this building Colonel Riddick made his home until 1823 when it was purchased and used as a public resort known as VauxHall Garden. His last recorded Masonic appearance was when he accompanied the Grand Lodge, August 31, 1823, for the purpose of laying the cornerstone of the first Presbyterian Church erected west of the Mississippi River; the Grand Lodge met ill the hall of Missouri Lodge No. 1 and marched in procession to the site of the new church, north-west corner of Fourth and St. Charles, a location at that time somewhat remote from the center of population. The greatest work done by Colonel Riddick was with the land titles of property in the Territory, which resulted in the securing ofa magnificent fund for the support of the public school system. Following the transfer of government in 1804, the United States found itself confronted with the problem of confirming all the land grants made by the French and Spanish governments which had owned the