USA > Washington DC > History of the Grand lodge and of freemasonry in the District of Columbia : with biographical appendix > Part 17
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
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1
NEW MASONIC TEMPLE.
Thirteenth Street and New York Avenue, Northwest.
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IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
The first available return, dated May, 1806, shows a mem- bership of forty-six, in addition to the officers quoted above, and is as follows :
James Burges.
Samuel Lowdermilk.
Benjamin King.
Joseph Cassin.
Shadrack Davis.
Robert Rankin.
Holder Spooner.
Stephen Dykes.
Kimble Easley, Sr.
James Kemp.
Kimble Easley, Jr.
George Brown.
Robert Dillon.
Edward Fitzgerald.
Samuel Whann.
John T. Brown.
Anthony F. Shraub.
Elisha Perry.
Charles C. Herford.
Charles D. Brodie.
David Dobbins.
Thomas Smith.
James B. Potts.
Peter B. Pravote.
William Spooner.
Bartholemew Byns.
John D. Henley.
Joseph Tarbell.
Seth Carter.
James McKaraher.
Winlock Clarke.
John N. Cannon.
John C. Love.
Alex. McWilliams.
John Harrison.
George Dixon.
John P. Lovell.
Charles Lacey.
Isaac Davies.
James H. Kearney.
Robert Alexander.
Samuel Long.
Charles W. Goldsborough.
Robert Harrison.
William Hamden.
Philip Alexander.
For the first fifteen years of its existence the lodge met in a small two-story brick dwelling on Seventh Street, South- east, near M, which is still standing, somewhat modernized.
In the year 1821, the increasing membership necessitating more commodious quarters, a two-story building was erected on the northwest corner of Fifth Street and Virginia Avenue, Southeast, and this edifice possesses the distinction of being one of the earliest erected in the City of Washington for ex- clusively Masonic use.
The first floor in this latter structure, as in the former, was
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used for school purposes, and many East Washington citizens now living received their educational start in life within its walls.
This building, located in what was then the most populous settlement in that part of the city, served its purpose for for- ty-six years, at the expiration of which time another story was added, an extension erected, and other improvements made. The building never having been dedicated previously, the date of the occupancy of the remodeled home in 1867 was made the occasion of elaborate dedicatory ceremonies, Grand Master R. B. Donaldson, then occupying the Grand East, officiating. The event was made additionally memorable by an appropriate historical address by Past Grand Master B. B. French, a frequent visitor to and warm friend of the lodge.
For nearly thirty years this building continued to be the home of the lodge, and it is well within the memory of the present generation of Masons how it became the mecca for all newly-made brethren in the District, and how the fame of its slightly varying rendition of the third degree crowded its comparatively restricted quarters with visitors from this and other jurisdictions.
The increasing membership ultimately forcing the lodge to seek new quarters, a large lot was purchased, in 1893, at the northwest corner of Fourth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, Southeast, and the erection of the present handsome building at once commenced. This great work was undertaken in a season of financial depression by a comparatively small band of men in moderate circumstances, and the ensuing years made frequent and heavy demands on the private means of the brethren, yet they faltered not, but rose superior to every obstacle, and have now won the assured ownership of their beautiful building dedicated to Masonry and a monument to the devotion of the brethren of the lodge.
On July 24, 1894, the cornerstone was laid with unusual ceremony by Grand Master Henry Merrill, and on June 6, 1895, the building was dedicated in due and ancient form by Grand Master David G. Dixon.
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After this last removal the membership rapidly increased from 130 in 1895 to 353 in 1910.
In the Grand Lodge, in the formation of which Naval Lodge, No. 4, as it then became (the " Washington" being dropped), took an active part, the membership has been well represented, four Past Masters having attained the East in that body ; Marmaduke Dove, 1839; William M. Ellis, 1844; Yelverton P. Page, 1863; and George C. Ober, 1910. In addition to the above, each of whom served as Deputy Grand Master, the latter station was also occupied by Thomas How- ard, W. E. Howard, James Nokes, David McComb, and Robert Clarke. This last brother, whose death occurred in February, 1905, and whose remarkable career is well known to many of the brethren of the jurisdiction, also served in nearly every chair in the Grand line, and was Grand Treas- urer from 1847 to 1854.
The oldest affiliated Master Mason in the jurisdiction at the time of his death, which occurred December 20, 1909, was Brother Charles H. Venable, who served as Master of Naval Lodge in 1849, and who, altho bowed by the weight of years, and unable latterly to attend the lodge, yet always took a lively interest in everything pertaining to its welfare.
A fact worthy of special mention in connection with this lodge is that throughout its life, of over a century, the charter has never been surrendered nor suspended, nor has it ever re- motely approached a condition that would warrant such a step.
The centennial anniversary of the granting of its charter was elaborately observed in a series of events commencing May 14, 1905, Sunday, when the lodge attended Divine service in a body, and continuing through largely attended gather- ings held Monday, May 15, for the Grand Lodge and dis- tinguished Masons; Tuesday, May 16, for the members, their ladies and friends, and closing Thursday, May 18, with a banquet for the members solely, all of which functions were pitched upon an unusually high plane, and fittingly closed the
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first century of one of the most progressive lodges in this or any other jurisdiction.
The present list of Past Masters follows:
Edward B. Bury, 70-71; William H. Hoeke, 75-76 ; Joseph H. Hartley, 79; Charles Shelse, 80-82; Chas. A. Stockett, 86 -- 87; Arthur J. Symonds, SS-89; Chas. F. Warren, 90; Philip B. Otterback, 91-92; Jas. Tindall, 92 *; Millard T. Dixon, 94-95; Kenton N. Harper, 96-97; Harry P. Cook, 98; W. T. Hebbard, 99 *; Geo. C. Ober, 99; Silas A. Manuel, 00; Jos. E. Hodgson, 01; David S. Walton, 02, George WV. Baird, 02 ;; Levi C. Blake, 04; Andrew J. White, 05; John H. Wolf, 06; John Scrivener, 07; Jules A. Rodier, 08; John J King, 09; J. Frank Campbell, 10.
Following are the officers for the centennial year :
William J. Johnson, W. M .; George A. Berry, S. W., and Frank H. Kramer, J. W.
POTOMAC LODGE, NO. 5.
This lodge, if the contention is admitted that the repeated revival of an organization after periods of coma by practically the same individuals establishes a claim to continuous existence, has the distinction of having had four dates of warranty, three names, and four numbers.
Constituting, as it did for a number of years, nearly all of organized Masonry in this section, its history is set out in de- tail in the main body of this work, and will therefore be but briefly treated here.
Passing over the matter of the existence of an old lodge in Georgetown, called " St. Andrew's Lodge," fully dealt with in Chapter I, we find that the Grand Lodge of Maryland, at a meeting held April 21, 1789, granted a charter for a lodge to be held in Georgetown, on Potomac River, with Charles Fierer as W. M., and Alexander Grier as S. W. This lodge was the second one chartered by the Grand Lodge of Mary- land, and was officially known as "Lodge No. 9," the desig-
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nation " Potomac" appearing seventeen years later in connec- tion with the third lodge constituted in Georgetown. It is interesting to note that this charter was granted nine days be- fore the inauguration of Gen. Washington as President of the United States.
Lodge No. 9, as has elsewhere been stated, took part in the ceremony of laying the cornerstone of the Capitol Building September 18, 1793, and to its Master at that date, Valentine Reintzel (afterwards first Grand Master of the District of Columbia), was given by President Washington the gavel then used by him, which has been cherished ever since as a precious relic not only by this lodge, which guards it jealously, but by the entire jurisdiction.
In January, 1792, after the custom of the time, the lodge granted a dispensation to certain of its members to open a lodge at Port Tobacco, Md., to be known as St. Columbia, No. 11, and, probably owing to the drain thus caused on the local roster, Lodge No. 9 ceased to exist in the early part of 1794.
October 22, 1795, a quaint petition, elsewhere quoted, was received by the Grand Lodge of Maryland, praying for a charter to issue to certain brethren to form a lodge in George- town, D. C., signed by the following brethren: Anthony Reintzel, John Suter, Jr., George Vaughn, John Reintzel, Thos. Beatty, Jr., Valentine Baganrieff, Charles Minor, James Melvin, Wm. Casey, James Thompson, and Wm. Carey. Of these Thos. Beatty, Jr., James Thompson, and Anthony Reint- zel had been members of Lodge No. 9. The petition being recommended by Federal, No. 15, the warrant was granted, with the title Columbia, No. 19, and went into commission with the following officers: James Melvin, W. M .; James Thompson, S. W .; John Suter, J. W .; John Reintzel, Secre- tary ; Anthony Reintzel, Treasurer.
This lodge lived a little more than a year, and during that period conferred the degrees upon four candidates. The complete minutes of the lodge are in the possession of Po- tomac, and are extensively quoted in other pages, as valuable
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historical material. About the last act of the body was the election of officers for 1797.
From the opening of the latter year until November 10, 1806, over nine years, Georgetown remained without a Ma- sonic organization, but upon the latter date the Grand Lodge of Maryland granted a charter to certain brethren in George- town to form a lodge to be known as Potomac Lodge, No. 43. This charter was not obtained without difficulty, an applica- tion for the same in the preceding May having met with a decided rebuff, the committee of the Grand Lodge, to whom was referred said application, reporting adversely, and saying, among other things, that " the present lodges of the District [are] not too much filled to carry on their work."
The second petition, however, resulting as above, the new lodge at once went actively to work, and has continued with- out break to the present day.
The first officers were: Thomas Pryse, W. M .; Daniel Kurtz, S. W., and John Hollingshead, J. W., while a roster of the earlier members contains the following names, some of which had been identified with one or both of the preceding lodges : John Reintzel, James Melvin, Robert Craig, Thomas Beatty, Jr., Henry Pyfer, George Lambright, Charles Stone, A. L. Jonchever, Lewis Clephinia, James Green, William Colder, Valentine Reintzel, William Ward, William Calder, Alex. L. Jancherz, William Knowles, and James Deaver.
Potomac Lodge took an active part in the formation of the Grand Lodge of the District in 1811, and at that time re- ceived its present number, 5 ; but there is reason to believe that there was reluctance on the part of some of the members to breaking away from the jurisdiction of Maryland, indica- tions of dissatisfaction cropping out from time to time, and finally culminating in the years 1843, 1844, and 1845 in serious efforts to separate from the District Grand Lodge and to enter the jurisdiction either of Maryland or Virginia, but from that time to date the lodge has been one of our most pros- perous and loyal lodges. Its roster in 1910 shows 253 names.
In common with nearly all of the lodges during the anti-
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Masonic excitement, a low ebb was reached in 1836-7, but in 1838 a reorganization was effected by fourteen of the faithful ones, and the lodge took a new lease of life.
The various meeting places of the lodge are touched upon in another chapter, and it is sufficient to say here that the present commodious building was completed and occupied in 1859, and still remains a model structure for the purpose for which erected.
Potomac Lodge has in possession a number of valuable Masonic relics, the most ancient, besides the "St. Andrew's Bible," being a fairly well-preserved certificate of membership made out to Brother Robert Brown, and dated January 19, A. L. 5793, which, perhaps, antedates any other authentic Masonic document in the District.
The lodge has given to the jurisdiction five Grand Masters : Valentine Reintzel, 1811; Daniel Kurtz, 1818-9 ; John Mason, Jr., 1842; Thos. P. Chiffelle, 1886, and Malcolm Seaton, 1902, which list will, in all probability, be added to in the near future by the elevation of the present Grand Standard Bearer. Lem- uel Towers, Jr.
The present list of Past Masters is as follows : J. Holds- worth Gordon, 74, 80; Walter T. Wheatley, 75; Isaac Birch, 82-83; John B. Thomas, 84-86; Jas. S. Hays, 89; Geo. J. Fritch, 91-92; Chas. W. Cornwell, 93; Thos. H. Brinkman, 94; Wm. S. Waddey, 95 ; Edgar J. Hulse, 96 ; Jas. S. Raeburn, 98-99; John A. Lacy, 00 *; Frederick W. Daw, 00; Alpheus W. Hudson, 01; Stanley Billheimer, 02; Benj. B. Hunt, 04; Chas. T. Lindsey, 05; Chas. H. Williams, 06; Lem. Towers, Jr., 07; Richard S. Clifton, 08; Irvin B. Moulton, 09; Wm. Clyde Hunt, 10.
Following are the officers for the centennial year :
Thomas G. King, W. M .; Abram S. McCoy, S. W., and Frederick C. Handy, J. W.
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UNION LODGE, NO. 6.
This lodge was the first chartered by the Grand Lodge of the District, a petition being presented and a warrant ordered to issue July 9, 1811. The document was directed to Samuel B. Ellis, Master ; William Ward, S. W., and William Wood, J. W., while the earliest available roster, that of 1814, gives the following list of members: Thomas C. Monroe, W. M .; George Adams, S. W .; John Waters, J. W .; Robert Brown, Treas .; John McKim, Sec .; Jonathan Criddle, S. D .; John Woodberry, J. D .; John Memtree, Stephen Perrey, Thomas Haliday, William Wood, Fielder Parker, John W. Brashears, William H. Briscoe, Joseph Ward, Walter Cox, James Kelley, James Walker, Samuel Bacon, Isaac Jones, William Bishop, Frederick Cana, Henry B. Joy, Samuel B. Ellis, William Smith, Henry Kurtz, Richard Robinson, Robert Armstead, Benjamin Dyer, William Grille, and James Watson. To the list of early members may also be added the name of Marma- duke Dove, afterward Grand Master of the District.
Union Lodge was the offspring of Naval, No. 4, and drew its material from the same field. The rather unusual relation- ship which long existed between these two lodges is shown by the following extract from "First Century of Naval Lodge, No. 4:"
" Union Lodge for many years occupied the Naval Lodge room as a tenant, and the connection between them at times became so intimate that frequently the two lodges met in joint session, the different offices being filled temporarily by selec- tions from both staffs. This idealic condition, it might be presumed, would lead naturally and quickly to a consolidation, and, indeed, efforts were made at different times to bring about this result, but in every instance failed. Overtures looking to a partnership in the building enterprise, proposed by Naval Lodge in the first decade of its existence, were not well re- ceived, and Union Lodge remained a paying tenant throughout its somewhat stormy life. In connection with this building enterprise it is worthy of note that after the completion of the
JOSEPH C. MCCOY, GRAND MASTER, 1880; GRAND HIGH PRIEST, 1878.
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work referred to, when a proposition was submitted to Union Lodge to become a paying tenant, said Lodge, through a com- mittee, replied expressing surprise at the proposition and tak- ing the remarkable ground that as the building was erected by subscription expressly for the purposes of Masonry, in their opinion all Masons had an equal right to the privilege of sitting in it. They offered, however, to meet half the interest on the deferred payments and half of the other expenses attending it until such time as they had paid as much as Naval Lodge, when they should be considered half owners. By what system of mathematical jugglery they expected ever to catch up with Naval Lodge on this basis it is difficult to conceive. Harmon- ious relations were re-established, and No. 6 remained always a tenant."
Previous to the final surrender of the charter troublous times were experienced, and more than once the lodge tottered on the brink of dissolution. In fact, the Grand Lodge, at the communication of November 2, 1824, declared No. 6 extinct, and ordered the surrender of the constitution, jewels, furni- ture, &c. This action, however, was reconsidered at the fol- lowing meeting in December of the same year.
Ten years later, in December, 1834, the delinquencies of the lodge again came before the Grand Lodge, and an injunction was issued by that body staying all further business transac- tions of the lodge. In May of the following year an offer to surrender the charter was made, but action was deferred on the proposition until November, 1835, when the lodge was finally declared extinct.
Union Lodge was indirectly represented in the Grand East in the person of Marmaduke Dove, originally Master of No. 6, later of Naval, No. 4, and Grand Master in 1839, having previously held the preceding subordinate offices in the Grand Lodge.
Thomas Haliday, the second Master of the Lodge, served as S. G. Warden in 1815, and as G. Treas. 1812-14 and 1816- 20; John Pic as J. G. Warden 1823-4, and William Lambert as G. Secretary 1823-9.
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LEBANON LODGE, NO. 7.
At the regular meeting of Federal Lodge, No. 1, October 7, 1811, a communication was received from nine members there- of, setting forth their intention of petitioning the Grand Lodge for a charter to form another lodge, and praying for a recom- mendation. The instrument, while somewhat lengthy, is couched in conventional terms for the most part, but has added to the regular form the following rather fulsome conclusion, an evident afterthought, if the fact that it is penned in a dif- ferent hand may warrant that assumption :
In case of such an event [the granting of a charter] the warmest sen- sibility of our feelings will be excited by the reflection that altho sepa- rated as members of No. 1 we shall still be united as brothers working under the same parent lodge, and being governed by the same principles and views we will be stimulated by a spirit of emulation in the works that may tend most to the honor, respectability, and advancement of the principles of the Craft. Your advice and instruction we will freely request when circumstances may render it necessary. And we hope you will accept the assurance of our earnest solicitude for the continuance of the prosperity that has heretofore attended No. 1, and be assured of the respect and attachment of your friends and brothers.
No spirit of opposition could possibly live after the recep- tion of this document, and accordingly, on the same evening, the prayer was granted unanimously, and the recommendation prepared, which, being presented, together with a petition for charter, to the Grand Lodge on the following evening, October 8, 1811, was favorably considered, and a charter ordered to issue with the name Lebanon Lodge, No. 7, the first officers named being Charles Glover, Master; James Hewitt (Grand Secretary at the time ), S. W., and John Weightman, J. W.
The charter list contained the following eight names : Charles Glover, James Hewitt, John Weightman, Wm. Hewitt, John Peltz, Thos. B. Briscoe, Pontius D. Stelle, and Andrew T. McCormick.
The first return, January 14, 1812, shows an increase of membership to thirteen, and the growth until 1821 was com- paratively rapid, the list in that year containing thirty-nine
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names and leading all the other local lodges. For the succeed- ing twenty years the number of members varied but little, but as the anti-Masonic period was entered the lodge, in common with the rest, had somewhat of a struggle, the return of 1843 showing an aggregate of eleven members.
The roster of 1814, showing the personnel after two years, follows : John Davidson, W. M .; Wm. Hewitt, S. W .; Ezekiel Macdaniel, J. W .; Washington Boyd, Treas .; James Hewitt, Sec .; Henry Whetcroft, S. D .; and B. H. Tomlinson, J. D .; Charles Glover, Pontius D. Stelle, John Davis, R. C. Weight- inan, John Weightman, John Peltz, Samuel Hoit, Noah Fletcher, Zach. Walker, David Ott, Ben. M. Belt, James H. Blake, James M. Varnum, Nath. H. Heath, Isaac K. Han- son, Eben McDonald, Edw. Stephens, Wm. Lambert, John E. Green, and Charles Lord, with And. T. McCormick as an honorary member.
With the general revival in the middle of the last century, this lodge soon forged to the front, and has for a number of years ranked as one of the large lodges of the District, the membership at the date of this publication reaching the hand- some total of 452.
As an evidence of the fraternal spirit which has always marked this lodge it may be stated that the handsome marble altar now in use by Naval Lodge, No. 4, was formerly the property of Lebanon, and the handiwork of one of its mem- bers, was used by the latter body and the other Masonic lodges meeting in Central Masonic Hall, Ninth and D Streets, N. W., and was, upon their removal to the new Temple at Ninth and F Streets, presented by Lebanon to Naval, June 4, 1870.
No sketch of Lebanon Lodge, however brief, would be com- plete without adverting to the remarkable Masonic career of its first initiate, Roger C. Weightman, who was a continuous member thereof for over sixty-four years, and who was one of only three Masons in this jurisdiction who have been elected to the office of Grand Master without previous service in a subordinate East.
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The first century of this progressive lodge being completed October 8, 1911, elaborate preparations are making to fittingly celebrate that event, in anticipation of which Bro. T. Elwood Davis and W. Bro. Walter T. Paine are engaged in preparing an exhaustive history of the lodge that will prove a valuable addition to local Masonic literature.
Besides R. W. Brother Weightman, who served as Grand Master in 1833, this lodge has furnished seven other Grand Masters, as follows: John Davidson, 1815-16; Wm. Hewitt, 1820-21; W. W. Seaton, 1822-24; Robert Keyworth, 1840- 41, 43 ; Eldred G. Davis, 1877-78 ; David G. Dixon, 1895, and Henry K. Simpson, 1909, each, with the exception of R. C. Weightman and W. W. Seaton, having filled one or more of the subordinate positions.
In addition to the above Joel Downer served as Dep. G. M., 1844; Andrew Glass, J. G. W., 1866, and S. G. W., 1877; Jeremiah Elkins, J. G. W., 1826; James Hewitt, G. Sec., 1811-13 ; William Lambert (of First Meridian fame), G. Sec., 1823-29; Louis Smith, G. Sec., 1831; James Lawrenson, G. Sec., 1836-42 (originally of No. 3 and later of No. 1) ; Robert Coltman, G. Treas., 1846-48, and C. C. Duncanson, 1879- 1901.
Present list of Past Masters : Chas. C. Duncanson, 77; John Boyle, 85 *; Thos. H. Young, 85; Wm. J. Acker, 86; Henry K. Simpson, 87; Edwin I. Nottingham, 88; Theo. G. DeMoll, 89 ; Eugene J. Bernhard, 90-91; Lewes D. Wilson, 93 ; Walter W. Ludlow, 94; Summerfield G. Nottingham, 95; John H. Tatspaugh, 98; John E. Walsh, 99; Daniel W. Skellenger, 00; Wm. C. Fowler, 01; Alfred J. Fairall, 02 *; Arthur H. Smith, 02; J. Gordon Jones, 03; Wm. F. Bowen, 04; Daniel W. Beach, Jr., 05; Chas. S. Heinline, 06; Chas. Walsh, 07; Francis I. Beach, 08; Walter T. Paine, 09; Charles Kattel- mann, Jr., 10.
Officers for the centennial year :
Blair Mckenzie, W. M .; Thomas S. Sergeon, S. W., and Charles S. Shreve, Jr., J. W.
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GRAND MASTER, 1881-1882; GRAND SECRETARY, 1867-1871; GRAND HIGH PRIEST, 1874-1875; GRAND SECRETARY, R. A. M., 1867-1871; GENERAL GRAND HIGH PRIEST, 1886.
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EVANGELICAL LODGE, NO. 8,
Of Alexandria, D. C. [Va.], came into existence under dis- pensation of the then Grand Master, W. W. Seaton, April 23, 1824, and at the next succeeding meeting of the Grand Lodge, May 4, a petition regularly recommended by Brooke Lodge, No. 2, being presented, praying for a warrant of con- stitution, a charter was issued, in which Humphrey Peake was appointed Master; Benjamin G. Thornton, S. W., and Isaac Kell, J. W., of a lodge to be holden in the town of Alexandria, D. C., to be known and designated as “ Evangelical Lodge, No. 8."
This was the third lodge chartered by Virginia and the District of Columbia in Alexandria, and all flourished for a number of years.
For a long period the new lodge met in the hall belonging to Brooke Lodge, No. 2, but for the last few years of its existence held its meetings in the room of Alexandria-Washington Lodge, No. 22, under the jurisdiction of Virginia, thus present- ing the unique spectacle of two lodges owing allegiance to different Grand Lodges working together in the same territory in the greatest harmony. Jurisdictional lines, however, were not so tightly drawn then as now.
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