USA > Washington DC > History of the Grand lodge and of freemasonry in the District of Columbia : with biographical appendix > Part 20
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The list of charter members, unusually long, follows: H. J. Alvord, T. S. Burr, P. B. Brown, Louis Burgdorf, F. H. Barroll, F. Bartlett, H. P. Bennett, J. H. Benton, J. V. Bryan, P. M. Clark, E. G. Chambers, D. A. Clayton, Paul C. Cook, J. H. Clements, Jos. Clare, J. T. Clements, Jr., J. W. Dwyer, Jas. H. Durham, Jeff. Fowler, G. W. Francis, F. W. C. Fox, E. A. Gillett, G. W. Goodall, H. A. Grannis, J. A. Graham, O. T. Gilman, J. B. Hutchinson, R. Hodgkins, R. J. Harrison, E. H. Kern, N. D. Larner, Peter Lammond, W. E. Moran, A. F. Moulden, J. H. Patrick, J. H. Reiss, C. W. Smith, G. E. W. Sharretts, E. A. Smith, Jacob D. Stone, R. H. Stewart, R. M. Sykes, Jno. H. Smoot, Thos. J. Williams, W. D. Wyville, John C. Wilson, R. E. Woodward, W. V. W. Weaver, and W. G. Whittlesey, forty-nine in all.
The growth of this lodge has been rapid and practically continuous, the membership in two years numbering 179, in ten years mounting to 258, and soon reaching first place in nu- merical strength in the jurisdiction, a distinction it still holds, the latest return crediting it with 753 names.
Four Grand Masters have come out of LaFayette Lodge : Joseph S. McCoy, 1880; Noble D. Larner, 1881-82; Henry S. Merrill, 1894, and Augustus B. Coolidge, 1908, all of whom, with the exception of Noble D. Larner, filling the several subordinate offices of the Grand Lodge, the latter's prior service consisting of a five-year term as Grand Secretary, from 1867 to 1871, inclusive.
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The present list of Past Masters is as follows: Henry A. Whallon, 68-69; Frank M. Marshall, 72; Jos. S. McCoy, 73-74; Burton R. Ross, 75-76; Albert F. Fox, 79; W. Harry Olcott, 82 ; Hiram H. Martin, 86; Wm. S. Parks, 87; Henry S. Merrill, 88 ; Melchoir B. Strickler, 89 *; John M. Mckinney, 89; Calvin Neilson, 90 *; Jas. H. Wardle, 90; Leonard C. Wood, 92; Thos. W. Cridler, 93; J. Wilson Townsend, 94; Augustus B. Coolidge, 95; John B. Daish, 97; Thos. P. Mor- gan, 98; Benj. S. Graves, 99; J. Chester Bowen, 01; Wm. T. Galliher, 02; John B. Hopkins, 03 *; W. Spencer Armstrong, 03; Jas. L. Marshall, 05; Jacob H. Lichliter, 06; Hart Mom- sen, 07; Wm. H. Raymond, 08 *; Wm. H. Wanamaker, 08; Jas. L. Wilmeth, 09* ; John B. Nichols, 09; Gratz E. Dunkum, 10.
Following are the officers for the centennial year :
John R. Wright, W. M .; Charles H. Galliher, S. W., and James A. Hartsock, J. W.
HOPE LODGE, NO. 20.
As the dark clouds of Rebellion rolled away, the Capital City, together with the whole country, entered upon an era of readjustment and recovery, with optimism and hope as the guiding stars, and thus it naturally came about that the first lodge formed under the new conditions had not far to seek for an appropriate name, and the spirit that actuated the founders in forming and naming this new member of the local Masonic family has ever since been characteristic of their successors, and has brought to No. 20 an unusual degree of popularity and well-being.
At the semi-annual communication of the Grand Lodge held May 7, 1867, a petition in due form was received praying for a charter to form a lodge to be known as Hope Lodge, No. 20, and, being favorably considered, a charter was or- dered to issue accordingly, and on the 28th of the same month the new lodge was consecrated and instituted at Central Ma-
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sonic Hall, Ninth and D Streets, N. W., in the presence of twenty-five of the members and a large concourse of visitors.
The petition above referred to was signed by the following brethren: Alan C. Adamson, Edward C. Atkins, John R. Arrison, Heinrich H. Boyer, Harry V. Cole, John J. Callahan, T. Harry Donehue, Charles H. Dickson, A. Ferdinand Des- sau, Julius Emmner, Albert M. Evans, Edgar Tewkes, Thomas H. Graham, Richard Goodhart, John H. Houston, Samuel Houston, James A. Jenkins, John C. Kondrup, Max Louis, William Mertz, Richard Morgan, Lewis S. Moe, John F. Mullowny, Walter S. McNairy, Jacob Peyser, Granville C. Ricketts, Slater B. Russell, Isaac B. Ruff, A. Rodrique, H. Dwight Smith, George J. Schwab, S. Norris Thorne, T. D. Winter, and James Wright, while the officers named in the first return were Henry V. Cole, W. M .; Samuel Houston, S. W .; and William Mertz, J. W.
The list of members had passed the hundred mark by 1875, and has shown an excellent average increase since, the present roster containing 354 names.
In July, 1867, the lodge decided to leave the Central Ma- sonic Hall, and for several years was a tenant of Hiram Lodge, at Nineteenth Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W., moved to Lodge Room No. 2 in the old Temple, Ninth and F Streets, December 22, 1871, and again changed to the new Temple upon its completion.
Admiral George W. Baird (Retired) has the distinction of being the only Grand Master as yet furnished by Hope Lodge, and previous to his occupancy of that chair, in 1896, he also served in the several subordinate Grand Lodge offices. In addition to this representation, Charles O. Brown filled the position of J. G. W. in 1883, and S. G. W. in 1884.
The present list of Past Masters is as follows: Wm. A. Craig, 80; Thos. W. Sanner, 81; Geo. W. Baird, 83; Fred. G. Dieterich, 86; John S. Mills, 87; Wm. P. Challice, 88; Clar- ence Lewis, 89; Wmn. Briggs, 90; J. Harry Cunningham, 91; Chas. I. Snook, 92; Wm. A. Cohill, 93; Chas. W. Henshaw, 94; Frank P. Hays, 95 *; Chas. C. Van Horn, 98; Nathan S.
L.
THOMAS P. CHIFFELLE, GRAND MASTER, 1886.
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. Meyer, 99; John H. Small, Jr., 001; Geo. A. Cohill, 00; John D. Hinternesch, 01; Chas. Long, 02; Chas. M. Shinn, 03f; John F. Collins, 03; Alex. Wolf, 04; John H. Von Herr- man, 05; Edward Y. Davidson, 06; John H. Hoffacker, 07; Allan R. Searle, 08; Edwin C. Dutton, 09; Horace P. Mc- Intosh, 10.
Following are the officers for the centennial year :
Rudolph B. Behrend, W. M .; Harry G. Sherwood, S. W., and Grant S. Barnhart, J. W.
ANACOSTIA LODGE, NO. 21.
Under date of September 14, 1868, seven Master Masons, residing in Uniontown (now Anacostia), D. C., formally re- quested an endorsement from Naval Lodge, No. 4, of their petition to Grand Master B. B. French, for a dispensation to form a new lodge in that suburb, but, for some reason which the kindly mists of the years has veiled, No. 4, altho con- ceding the petitioners to be Master Masons in good standing, refused a recommendation.
Through the good offices of M. W. Bro. French, however, a later petition, dated December 17, of the same year, met with better success, whereupon the Grand Master issued a dis- pensation in form, dated December 22, 1868, authorizing the formation in Uniontown of a lodge to be known as Anacostia Lodge, U. D., and appointed " our trusty and well beloved brother" William F. Farish, as Master; Bro. George H. Martin as S. W., and Bro. Charles S. Wheeler as J. W.
This dispensation being returned at the communication of the Grand Lodge December 28, 1868, accompanied by a regular petition signed by Brothers Wm. F. Farish, John R. McConnell, Charles S. Wheeler, Wm. H. Wheeler, Jno. Cruik- shank, and B. F. Wilkins, a charter was the same evening ordered to issue, with the title of Anacostia Lodge, No. 21.
The institution took place March 8, 1869, at the lodge room in Uniontown, the occasion being made memorable by the presence of R. W. Bro. A. G. Mackey, the noted Masonic
I5
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writer and jurist, and M. W. Bro. W. F. Saunders, Grand Master of Montana Territory, the former, on invitation of Grand Master Donaldson, conducting the ceremony and in- stalling the officers.
The building in which the initial meeting was held was a rough two-story frame structure, the lower part of which was used as a blacksmith and wheelwright shop, located on Har- rison, near Monroe Street, Uniontown.
The lodge at once fell upon evil days. At the annual com- munication of November 2, 1869, Grand Master Donaldson reported that Anacostia Lodge, from various causes, one of which was the removal of some of its charter members, had not succeeded well, and on his recommendation a committee was appointed to investigate the conditions.
The report of this committee is a lengthy one, and shows that the membership had become so depleted that it was almost impossible to get enough together to open the lodge; that no degrees could be conferred for this and the further reason that the necessary furniture was lacking ; that the lodge was in debt, and the outlook indeed gloomy.
In these straightened circumstances the lodge almost reached the point of surrendering the charter, indeed, took it under consideration, but, in December, 1869, finally determined to make another effort, took hold with new vigor, and in a short time got upon its feet again.
Some idea of the isolation of the section at that time may be gained from the report of the Grand Master the preceding year that the visitation had not been made to Anacostia Lodge by reason of the difficulty of getting across the Anacostia River.
On November 15, 1880, the lodge purchased the present site, corner Jackson and Pierce Streets, 78 by 90 feet, im- proved by a school building, readily made available for lodge purposes. The first meeting in the new home was held May 2, 1881, the building being dedicated to Masonic purposes by Grand Master Larner, October 31 of the same year.
Eight years thereafter the quarters were found to be inade-
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quate, and, the membership having now increased to fifty-six, the present handsome edifice was contracted for. The frame building previously used was moved to a point immediately in the rear of the present edifice and is still standing (see illustration). During the erection of this hall the lodge met in the room of Naval Lodge, through the fraternal courtesy of that body, and this is only one of many gracious incidents going to show that the original unpleasantness between these two lodges had been short lived, and had given place to the most cordial relations.
On July 2, 1890, the cornerstone of the new hall was laid by Grand Master Sample, who also dedicated the building No- vember 4, 1890.
While never a large lodge, the growth has been healthy, the roster now showing 225 names.
No. 22 has as yet furnished no representative to the of- ficial line of the Grand Lodge.
The present list of Past Masters is as follows: John H. Mills, 71-72, 95 ; Henry Kuhn, 85, 92-93 ; Samuel E. Shields, 88; Alex. B. Garden, 90; Thos. E. Sherman, 93 ;; Adolphus Gude, 94; Wilbur S. Dodge, 96; Wm. F. Gude, 98; Julius W. Tolson, 99-03; Wm. T. Galliher, 03 ;; Chas. J. James, 04; Warren Tolson, 03; Edgar R. Balderston, 06; Walter B. Fry, 07; Wm. R. Rauchenstein, 08; Samuel W. Pumphrey, 09; Jas. A. Sample, 10 ;; George H. Copes, 10.
Following are the officers for the centennial year :
Wilbur H. Lawrence, W. M .; Charles F. Roberts, S. W., and Milton J. Fillius, J. W.
GEORGE C. WHITING LODGE, NO. 22.
December 22, 1868, Grand Master B. B. French, in re- sponse to a petition in due form signed by nineteen Master Masons and recommended by Potomac Lodge, No. 5, issued a dispensation for a lodge to be held in Georgetown, D. C., to be known as George Washington Lodge, U. D., and in the same instrument appointed M. C. Causten to be the first
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Master, S. Norris Thorne the first S. W., and George F. Wet- zerich the first J. W. thereof.
At the installation communication, held December 28, 1868, this dispensation was returned and a petition for charter, bearing the same signatures, presented to the Grand Lodge, which at once granted the prayer, and ordered the charter to issue, with the name George C. Whiting Lodge, No. 22, this name having been chosen after it was pointed out to the peti- tioners that the word " Washington," being already used in two local lodge designations, might operate to cause confu- sion. Before the final selection, however, other names were considered, the word " Analostan" having its advocates.
The signers of the two petitions, among whom it is perhaps worthy of note that not one came out of Potomac Lodge, were as follows: M. C. Causten, S. Norris Thorne, Geo. R. McKnight, F. W. Storch, S. B. Palmer, John H. Darne, Sam- uel C. Palmer, Caspar Mauman, V. Shinn, Geo. F. Wetzerich, A. Otis Houghton, Wilson N. Fuller, A. C. Prather, Robert Butler, John Q. Larman, James H. Ball, T. M. K. Mills, Bodisco Williams, and Henry A. Sylvester.
The formal institution of the new lodge, the twin of Ana- costia, No. 21, the dates of both dispensations and petitions for charter coinciding, took place January 14, 1869.
George C. Whiting, while drawing from the same field as Potomac, has always had the most amicable relations there- with, and for its entire life has been a joint occupant of the same lodge room. Altho the field divided between them has been somewhat restricted both of these Georgetown lodges have enjoyed a healthy average growth, the latest roster of No. 22 containing 272 names.
That the lodge is not only an active and progressive member of the Masonic family but an unusually sociable one, is shown by the fact that for a period of years the annual recurrence of its birthday has been celebrated by an elaborate feast, to which the members and friends are invited to the capacity of the large banquet hall.
One Grand Master, Samuel C. Palmer, 1898, has claimed
J.m. Yzmaga.
GRAND MASTER. 1887; GRAND HIGH PRIEST, 1885.
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George C. Whiting as his lodge, but it is practically certain that in the year following this publication-1912-Ben W. Murch, the present Deputy, will receive his merited pro- motion and creditably fill the Grand East. Both of the above have also served in the several subordinate offices of the Grand Lodge.
The present list of Past Masters is as follows : Samuel C. Palmer, 72-73; Wm. H. Griffin, 80; Chas. Becker, 83-84; John C. Athey, 85 ; Henry C. Craig, 86-87; Wm. B. Easton, 88-89; Frank I. N. J. Tennyson, 90; Chauncey G. Graham, 91; Jas. T. Greaves, 94; Rezin W. Darby, 95; Walter T. Weaver, 97; Ben W. Murch, 98-99; Benj. F. Harper, 00; Harry Becker, 01; Wm. M. Bornheim, 02; E. Harry L. Myers, 03; Ammon H. Johnson, 04; Edward S. Smith, 05; Wm. H. Harrison, 06; Elbert W. R. Ewing, 07 *; David F. Dumberth, 07; Wm. A. Brodie, 08; Wm. F. Young, 09 *; Wm. E. Greaves, 09 ; Harry K. Pimper, 10.
Following are the officers for the centennial year :
Isaac B. Nordlinger, W. M .; Ernest H. Fowler, S. W., and Richard H. Young, J. W.
PENTALPHA LODGE, NO. 23.
The first date appended to any paper relating to this lodge is that of January 11, 1869, which is found heading the orig- inal draft of the petition for the dispensation, in which, " for the convenience of our respective dwellings and other good reasons us thereunto moving," fifty-five worthy Master Ma- sons requested Grand Master Donaldson to empower them to hold a regular lodge, to be known as Pentalpha.
The original word is " Capital," which is erased by line and the word " Pentalpha" interlined by pencil. According to the Historian of the lodge, Bro. Edward A. Keeler, a number of names were tentatively considered during the formative period including Capital, Capital City, Unity, Mt. Vernon, Fidelity, King Solomon, and Excelsior, and Capital was at first selected, but before the first meeting, February 10, 1869, was aban-
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doned for that of Capital City, under which title said meet- ing was held, a vote of the lodge, however, the same evening, changing and settling the designation permanently to Pen- talpha.
The word is that of the triple triangle or Pentalpha of Pythagoras, and is derived from the Greek pente, five, and alpha, the letter A, and refers to the fact that its configuration presents the form of that letter in five different positions. As a Masonic emblem it forms the outlines of the five-pointed star which is typical of the unseen bond that unites the whole Fraternity.
The petition was recommended by LaFayette Lodge, No. 19, and Washington Centennial Lodge, No. 14, both on Feb- ruary 4, 1869, and the prayer was granted by the Grand Master February 8, 1869, the first officers empowered to act being Joseph Daniels, W. M .; John W. Griffin, S. W., and Lewis G. Stephens, J. W.
At the semi-annual communication of the Grand Lodge, May 4, 1869, a petition for a charter was presented and grant- ed for the formation of Pentalpha Lodge, No. 23. This pe- tition carried fifty-seven signatures, and it is of interest to note that, both in the list appended to the petition for dispensation as well as that for charter, the autograph signature of James A. Garfield appears. The charter members follow : John W. Griffin, Lewis G. Stephens, Henry O. Hood, James C. Poyn- ton, J. Daniels, Benj. W. Browne, John C. Stewart, J. P. Richardson, E. Warren Hale, H. O. Noyes, H. D. Barr, Henry T. Munson, Chas. H. Hall, Chas. C. Casey, J. O. P. Burnside, J. A. Duren, H. H. Day, H. C. Burr, N. P. Chip- man, E. T. Bower, T. B. Amiss, J. G. Richards, James A. Gar- field, Frank G. Daniels, Charles H. Dwinal, A. J. Bentley, Henry Clay McLean, O. W. Cooke, W. H. Whitney, J. N. Whitney, James E. Waugh, W. S. Roose, Wm. H. Barton, H. S. Washburn, E. F. M. Fachtz, M. E. N. Howell, J. F. Stock, James J. Barns, F. R. Griffith, E. W. W. Griffin, James S. Grinnell, D. T. Pierce, Jno. J. Knox, Ben. F. French, W. T. Turpin, Joseph Stephenson, W. T. Johnson, A. T. C. Dodge,
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Charles E. Coon, N. O. Chapman, Chas. Warren, George W. Balloch, J. M. Mason, C. B. Blanchard, H. A. Higgins, Chas. W. Denison, and William R. Singleton.
On May 7 the formal institution took place, and thus was fairly started the career of this exceptionally progressive lodge, progressive in that it has taken the initiative in many concerted movements, charitable and general, prominent among these being the proposed Garfield Memorial Institute, which between 1882 and 1885 gave promise of success, but later languished, the funds, however, being diverted to the Masonic Home at Louisville, Ky .; the agitation in 1895 of the project of building a new temple, which antedated by two years the movement which finally bore fruit, and the launch- ing of the successful enterprise of erecting a suitable monu- ment to the memory of the late Grand Secretary, William R. Singleton. It has also been progressive numerically and now numbers 360.
A most excellent plan of building up a charity fund was adopted by this lodge January 1, 1879, whereby fifty per cent. of the net amount from fees for the degrees in excess of $200 is set apart and securely invested for this purpose. This fund has now reached the handsome figure of $10,317.84, and as an example of systematic benevolence is worthy of imitation.
On the evening of April 18, 1871, at a special meeting ot this lodge, at which, according to the record, there were pres- ent "the largest number of brethren ever congregated in a subordinate lodge in this jurisdiction," the E. A. degree was conferred according to the English ritual, by W. Bro. Lord Tenderden, P. M. of Harmony Lodge, No. 255, Richmond, Surrey, England.
Our late lamented Brother James A. Garfield, as appears above, was a charter member of this lodge and a continuous and active member thereof until his death, which was especially mourned by the Masonic brethren of this jurisdiction, with whom he had been intimately associated. A suitable me- morial pamphlet containing his Masonic career was published by the lodge in 1881, and is still available.
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Ex-President Theodore Roosevelt is also borne on the rolls of the lodge as an honorary member.
The thirty-fifth anniversary of the institution was cele- brated in 1904 in an elaborate manner, and the occasion given more than passing interest by the publication at that time of an interesting historical booklet from the pen of the Historian above referred to.
Pentalpha has furnished two Grand Masters to the juris- diction : José M. Yznaga, 1887, and Matthew Trimble, 1897, while in the person of W. W. Jermane, the present S. G. D., the lodge has yet another candidate for that office. M. W. Bros. Yznaga and Trimble both served the Grand Lodge in the several subordinate Grand Lodge positions. In addition to the above, Wm. R. Singleton filled the office of Grand Secretary from 1876 to 1901, the longest official local Grand Lodge service.
The present list of Past Masters is as follows: Wm. H. Appleton, 76; Arthur A. Birney, 82; Calvin E. Town, 86; Jerome B. Burke, 87; John K. Robinson, 88; Wm. R. Bushby, 89 ; Wm. J. Naylor, 91; Harry W. Smith, 93; Geo. P. Davis, 94 *; Theo. B. Hibbs, 94 *; Samuel A. Hollingshead, 95; Jos. C. Johnson, 96; Harold A. Trembley, 97; Wmn. J. Wallace, 99; Wm. A. Kimmel, 01, 04; Wilfred M. Barton, 02; Alex. Gordon, Jr., 03; Wm. W. Jermane, 05; Isaac B. Field, 06; Jacob W. Collins, 07; Harry McK. Luckett, 08; John H. An- derson, 09; Harry I. Cramer, 10 *; Castleman P. Boss, 10.
Following are the officers for the centennial year :
Horace S. Naylor, W. M .; D. Fulton Harris, S. W., and Paul Schureman, J. W.
STANSBURY LODGE, NO. 24.
Early in June, 1873, a request was made of M. W. Grand Master Charles F. Stansbury for a dispensation "to form a Masonic lodge at Brightwood, D. C., or within three miles thereof," to be known as Stansbury Lodge. The request was signed by the following-named: George W. Balloch, Benj.
LE
JACKSON AND PIERCE STREETS, ANACOSTIA, D. C. Home of Anacostia Lodge, No. 21, from 1890 to date.
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IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
M. Barker, E. J. Middleton, Jr., Marion Osborn, Benj. D. Carpenter, W. W. Cowling, Benj. W. Summy, B. D. Fabyan, and Fred. G. Rohr.
The dispensation was granted June 25, 1873, the Grand Master, however, deprecating the use of his name, on the ground that " only when a man has sealed his history in death can the space he occupied be truly measured and his virtues and failings fairly weighed."
At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge, Novem- ber 12, 1873, a petition for charter in due form and signed by the same brethren as above, was presented, with the recom- mendation of Federal Lodge, No. 1, and, the prayer being granted, the charter was the same evening ordered to issue under the name of Stansbury Lodge, No. 24.
The officers U. D. and the first officers under the charter were: George W. Balloch, a distinguished Federal General of the Civil War, W. M .; B. D. Carpenter, S. W .; W. W. Cowling, J. W .; Benj. M. Barker, Secretary, and B. W. Summy, Treasurer. Of the charter members but two, B. W. Summy and Marion Osborn (the last named the first tiler), are living at the date of publication.
The lodge was formally instituted in Hiram Lodge room, December 23, 1873, but had occupied while U. D. and con- tinued to occupy for a short time after receiving a charter an upper room in Brightwood Driving Park Inn.
While starting with barely a constitutional number of Ma- sons to enable them to get a dispensation this lodge displayed at the very outset a most remarkably progressive spirit by commencing at once the erection of their present commodious building, at the corner of Georgia (then Brightwood) Avenue and Piney Branch Road, and pushing it with such celerity that five days after the date of their dispensation the Grand Lodge officiated at the laying of the cornerstone, and on February 26, 1874, dedicated the completed edifice, into which the lodge at once moved and has since remained.
In 1888 a substantial addition was made to the building, the expense of which was materially lightened .by the proceeds of
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a successful fair held in the old skating rink on E Street, N. W., under the auspices of the ladies interested in the mem- bership, and it is proper to state in this connection that this lodge has been particularly fortunate in enlisting in its service a most efficient Ladies' Auxiliary, which is regularly organized and has been of great assistance, especially in enabling it to cultivate the social side of lodge life, a side, it may be re- marked, not always given the importance it deserves.
When the little coterie of brethren formed this lodge Bright- wood was far more isolated than at present, no street-car line being in existence in that section, the roads in bad condition, and the surrounding country sparsely settled, in striking con- trast to the rapid-transit facilities of the present, and the al- most continuous succession of city blocks rapidly reaching out to and threatening, in the very near future, to absorb this thriving village.
By the end of the year 1874 the membership had increased to twenty-six, and ten years later to fifty-one, since which time the growth has been very satisfactory, the last return footing up 240 members.
Stansbury has furnished one Grand Master to the jurisdic- tion, in the person of Frederick G. Alexander, who occupied that office in 1892, and who had also previously filled the sev- eral subordinate stations in the Grand Lodge.
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