USA > Washington DC > The chronicles of Georgetown, D.C., from 1751-1878 > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
289
POTOMAC LODGE, F. A. A. M.
mead's burying-ground, where they were deposited with their kindred earth, and the usual Masonic cere- monies performed by the Master and brethren.
" Our next book of records commences with the proceedings of a meeting held April 25th, 1836, John Myers, Master, and Thomas Holtzman, Secretary, and ends with the record of the meeting of October 27th, 1845, Edgar Patterson, Master, and James Goszler, Secretary.
"During 1836 and 1837, through the inattention and falling off of its members, the lodge was at a very low ebb, and was only kept up by the exertions of some few of the more zealous of the brethren. In 1837 but five meetings were held during the entire year. Perhaps this was owing to the reaction from the anti-masonic excitement which was then passing away. But on February 19th, 1838, a meeting was held, John Myers, Master, and Samuel Cropley acting as Secretary, when they reorganized the lodge by pass- ing the following resolution :
"' Resolved, That the members present are of the opinion that this lodge ought to be recognized, and that those members who have from time to time as- sembled here for the purpose be now considered as the only members, viz : John Myers, Jeremiah Orme, Henry W. Tilley, Samuel Cunningham, William Jew- ell, Samuel Cropley, Daniel Kurtz, William Hayman, Samuel Clark, Hiram Howard, Sebre Howard, Daniel Ragan, Jonathan Y. Young, and Robert Boyd; and that it be so represented to the Grand Lodge, and that the residue be dropped from the roll for non-regular
7
الصديد |
290
POTOMAC LODGE, F. A. A. M.
attendance, and so reported. That all dues charged on the lodge books be abandoned as uncollectable, and that regular dues be collected from the acknowl- edged members from and after the regular meeting in this month from which the reorganization is to be dated.'
" Of the fourteen brethren who thus in 1838 reor- ganized the lodge, but three, we believe, are now liv- ing ; and but two, Henry W. Tilley and Samuel Crop- ley, are now members of it. In December, 1840, James King, who had for some years been absent from Georgetown, was, by a resolution of the lodge, admit- ted a member on the same terms as the original four- teen who thus reorganized the lodge, and on the same evening was elected the Master.
" In 1840 the lodge and stockholders sold the house on Jefferson Street, erected in 1810 for a Masonic Hall, but for some time afterwards rented, and still held their meetings in, the upper story; but in 1842 they bought a house on Washington Street, opposite to the Union Hotel, the third story of which they fitted up as a lodge room, and thenceforth met in it.
" During the years 1843, 1844, and 1845, from some cause of dissatisfaction with the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, this lodge made persistent efforts to withdraw from its jurisdiction. At one time a com- mittee was appointed to communicate with the Grand Lodge of Maryland on the subject. Committees of conference were also appointed to meet committees from the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia in
ك وال الم
291
POTOMAC LODGE, F. A. A. M.
reference to it, and on May 5th, 1845, a resolution was offered and passed, proposing to surrender the charter, and appointing a committee to ascertain and report the state of the funds of the lodge, and also to confer with the proper officers of the Grand Lodges of Virginia and Maryland, to ascertain what course should be pursued to obtain a charter from either of said Grand Lodges.
" In 1811 our lodge appears to have drawn rather reluctantly from the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, to assist in forming the Grand Lodge of the District of Columbia, and from the notices on our record, a feeling of discontent with the Grand Lodge to which they were attached seems frequently to have existed. As one illustration, we will cite that on No- vember 25th, 1830, Brothers Kurtz, Haller, and Myers were appointed a committee, 'Respecfully to memo- rialize the Grand Lodges of the District of Columbia and State of Maryland upon the re-ceding of this lodge back to the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Mary- land.' After 1845 our lodge appears to have become better contented with their condition, for from that time we find no record of any more propositions of the kind.
" The next book of records contains the proceed- ings of the lodge from November 24th, 1845, when Edgar Patterson was Master, and James Goszler Sec- retary, to December 20th, 1854, when James Goszler was Master, and George Thompson Secretary.
" In 1852 the lodge sold the building on Washing- ton Street, which they had occupied since 1842, and
292
POTOMAC LODGE, F. A. A. M.
rented part of the third story of Forrest Hall, which they fitted up and furnished as a Masonic lodge room, in which to hold their meetings.
" For some years past the Masonic fraternity in the United States had been gradually recovering from the depressing influences of the anti-masonic excitement. Other secret societies had appeared in the meantime, which, by their popularity and vast increase, seemed for awhile to over-shadow our beloved institution ; but Masonry, the oldest secret society now existing, by its sterling good qualities, gradually won its way to com- mand again, as it deserved, the respect of our country- men generally. Soon after their removal to Forrest Hall, our lodge felt the benefit of the general revival of an interest in Masonry ; and from this cause, to- gether with the zeal and attention of its officers and members, and probably, also, the change of the place of meeting to a more central location in the town, speedily had a considerable addition to its member- ship of worthy brethren and a rapid increase of its prosperity.
" Our next book of records commences with the pro- ceedings of a meeting held December 27th, 1854, when James Goszler was Master, and M. Adler, Secretary, and ends with the record of the proceedings of the meeting of October 10th, 1859, when the same breth- ren were still respectively Master and Secretary.
" We have now arrived at times in the history of our lodge, which, doubtless, are familiar to most of our brethren, for it was during this period that, perhaps, a majority of our present members were initiated. Our
1
293
POTOMAC LODGE, F. A. A. M.
lodge was no longer feebly keeping its existence by the untiring exertions of a few zealous brethren, but with the revival of an interest in Masonry, numbers were seeking admission into its sacred retreats, and our gates were besieged with the applicants for en- trance. In spite of the predictions of the anti-masons in 1836, that Masonry would soon pass away with other relics of barbarism, and be classed among the things that were, and that posterity would wonder that their ancestors could take pleasure in its solemn and unmeaning mummery, and be deluded by such a dangerous and wicked institution, Masonry had now become more popular than ever before in its history in this country, and more firmly rooted amongst our people.
" With its increase of numbers and prosperity, the lodge soon became desirous of having a more spacious and convenient lodge room, in a building erected es- pecially for Masonic purposes. After several propo- sitions, they finally, in 1858, purchased for three thou- sand dollars the property on which our Masonic Hall now stands, then occupied by some old brick houses. The purchase money was advanced on the security of the property by one of our brethren. The lodge sub- scribed for five hundred dollars in stock, and the re- mainder was taken entirely amongst our members, with one exception, and that one a brother Mason ; and the property is now owned, with that exception, exclu- sively by the lodge and its individual members. On the 19th of August, 1858, after a procession of the brethren, the corner-stone of the building was laid in
38
-
1
السن
294
POTOMAC LODGE, F. A. A. M.
ample Masonic form, after which an address was de- livered by the Grand Master, George C. Whiting, at the close of which he highly praised our members for their spirit shown in the attempt, by the members of a single lodge, to erect in the heart of the city such a building, to be devoted exclusively to Masonic pur- poses. The building was finished by the following May, 1859, when the lodge took possession of it, and first met in the lofty, spacious, and convenient room we now occupy. It cost about eleven thousand dol- lars, considerably more than was estimated, which, added to three thousand dollars paid for the property, makes the entire cost about fourteen thousand dollars. What debts were incurred in its erection have mostly been paid, and we have every reason to believe that in two or three years they will all be liquidated, and the property will be owned, free from any incumbrance, by the lodge and stockholders.
" Our next book of records, containing the proceed- ings from October 10th, 1859, to the present time, is the one now in use by the secretary; and as we have not had it in our possession, not deeming that it was our duty according to the resolution under which we are acting to obtain it, we do not notice any of the events that have happened since that time. They are familiarly known to most of our brethren.
" We have dwelt more upon the history of our lodge in past times than in those with which we are cotem- poraneous, and have endeavored to redeem from for- getfulness and record those things, the memory of which is rapidly passing away with the actors in them.
of ent cons in
295
POTOMAC LODGE, F. A. A. M.
Our records are now well kept and carefully preserved ; and at some future time, if desired, some of the breth- ren can take up the history of the lodge where we have left off.
" Up to 1813, and, perhaps, even later, the regular business of the lodge, even to the election of officers, was transacted in the E. A. degree, and, unless for the purpose of conferring one of the other degrees, was always opened in that degree. After 1825, the lodge was generally opened in the M. M. degree, but up to 1841, would occasionally be opened, and all the regu- lar business, such as reading the proceedings of last meeting, receiving petitions for initiation, referring them to committees, &c., be carried on either in the E. A. or F. C. degrees ; and when they expected to work in either of those degrees they generally opened in them.
"In 1795 and 1796, the Past Master's degree was con- ferred by the lodge on nearly all their members, and up to 1843 or 1844, that degree was conferred by the lodge on any officer elect, and occasionally on any brother who wished to receive it.
" According to our records, our lodge seems to have had and exercised the power to do many things to which it is not now considered competent, unless by direction and consent of the Grand Lodge. For in- stance, with an applicant for initiation or for any de- gree, our lodge exercised the power within itself to declare it a case of emergency, and to initiate a candi- date or confer the degrees at any time they saw fit; also to make arrangements for, and have a Masonic procession at, any time or on any occasions the officers
296
POTOMAC LODGE, F. A. A. M.
and members judged best. Also, without permission from, or consultation with, the Grand Lodge, to lay, Masonically, the corner-stones of public buildings. We may mention, among others, that in 1811 this lodge laid the corner-stone of the Lancaster School- house ; in 1829, of the Methodist Protestant Church, and in 1831, of the Georgetown Poor-house, all in this town. On May 25th, 1829, it is recorded on our min- utes that an application was made to this lodge to lay the corner-stone of the first lock on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, whereupon it was resolved : ' That in case the Grand Lodge refuse (they being first invited) this
It lodge will undertake to perform that ceremony.' was finally done by the Grand Lodge, who at first, on account of the anti-masonic excitement so prevalent at that time, hesitated to undertake it; but it is evi- dent that our lodge then had no doubt of their power and ability, with or without the Grand Lodge or their permission, to do the same.
" We only chronicle the facts, and from these it ap- pears certain that the subordinate lodge now has less, and the Grand Lodge claims and exercises much more power than in former times.
" We herewith present in all seven books of records, four ledgers, one used in 1810 and 1811, one from 1824 to 1836, one from March, 1845, to March, 1856, and one used from March, 1856, to January 1st, 1862; also, two stock books, one from 1825 to 1828, concern- ing the stock in the old Masonic Hall, on Jefferson Street, and one from 1843 to 1853, concerning the stock in the building on Washington Street.
الأق كندا
297
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
" We append a list of books in our possession be- longing to the lodge, but have been unable to obtain many which, according to the records, have from time to time been purchased by or given to it; for instance, of the Freemason's Monthly Magazine we have only been able to find fifty-two numbers, although the lodge sub- scribed to it from 1843 to 1862, and had several vol- umes bound, which we also were unable to find.
" Respectfully submitted, JOSEPH LIBBEY, JR., CHARLES M. MATTHEWS,
" GEORGETOWN, D. C., November 6, 1865."
Committee.
SKETCH OF THE CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
The State of Maryland, by the numerous acts of its legislature passed in 1826, 1827, 1830, 1831, 1835, 1836, 1843, and 1845, made large appropriations for the completion of the canal, and assumed entire control over the same, by the election of a president and directors, who would push on the work to its fixed des- tination. After many years of financial adversity, and difficulties of every kind to contend with, and fre- quent change of its president and directors, James M. Coale was finally elected president. Mr. Coale was a gentleman of great financial skill, and possessed of industry and indomitable perseverance in any under- taking, especially in the then deplorable condition of the canal company. He was elected president of the canal company in August, 1843. The company was prostrated and paralyzed, and its prospects were gloomy in the extreme. It was destitute of means
·
298
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
and devoid of credit. It was overwhelmed with diffi- culties. In addition to its enormous liabilities to the State of Maryland, which were secured by mortgage liens on the canal and its revenues, the debts and obligations of the company due to individuals by the treasurer's report of October 1st, 1843, amounted to one million one hundred and seventy-four thousand five hundred and sixty-six dollars. Some of these creditors, to whom large amounts were due for work, had been reduced from affluence to poverty by the failure of the company to meet its engagements. President Coale, when he entered upon the duties of his office, infused new life and vitality into the com- pany.
In the year 1842 the Legislature of Maryland, with a view of reducing the liabilities of the State and sev- ering its connection with internal improvement com- panies, passed a law authorizing the treasurer of the State to sell all of Maryland's interest in the public works. He was authorized to sell the whole of the interest of Maryland in the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company (at that time amounting to eight millions of dollars) for five millions, payable in bonds or certificates of debts of the State, bearing an interest not less than five per cent. After advertising the sale of the State's interest in numerous newspapers, he did not receive a single bid.
When president Coale took charge of the canal, with a view to its final completion, it was only navi- gable to dam No. 6, one hundred and thirty-four miles from Georgetown, to which point it had been
-
299
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
finished in 1839, leaving fifty miles in an unfinished condition to complete it to Cumberland, the cost of which was then estimated by the chief engineer at one million five hundred and forty-five thousand dol- lars. The United States and the citizens of the Dis- trict of Columbia and all the private stockholders had long previously discontinued their assistance, and the State of Maryland, which had from the beginning sus- tained the company under all disasters, was no longer able to render assistance. It had nothing to depend upon to sustain it but the receipts from tolls and water rents, and these were insufficient to discharge current expenses.
The chronicler, availing himself of the numerous reports made by the president to the stockholders, will quote from them numerous extracts which will give a general outline of the completion of the canal to Cumberland.
" In former years, and before its treasury had be- come exhausted, the deficiencies for these purposes had been supplied from the appropriations of the State and the general funds of the company. Although the practice of receiving scrip, in payment of tolls, had been abandoned, a debt had been accumulated, and was in arrear for current expenses incurred during the three preceding years, to the amount of sixty-nine thousand two hundred and fifty-six dollars and sixty- five cents, which was, principally, due to the agents and laborers, then on the finished portion of the canal. for services that were indispensable to its operations. It was difficult to obtain even the necessary supplies
£
1
300
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
of provisions for the hands, and far more difficult, under the circumstances, to retain them in service. In consequence of heavy breaches in the canal, pro- duced by the extraordinary freshets of April and Sep- tember, 1843, which were repaired principally by the aid of accommodations from the banks, the deficit at the close of that year was unusually large and embarrass- ing. The whole revenues of the year only amounted to forty-seven thousand six hundred and thirty-five dollars and fifty-one cents, and the current expenses to eighty-three thousand seven hundred and ninety-two dollars and eighty cents, showing an excess of ex- penses over income to the amount of thirty-six thou- sand one hundred and fifty seven dollars and twenty- nine cents. Such was the melancholy condition of the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Company in the year 1843. It could scarcely have been considered a very politic step for any set of gentlemen to connect themselves with the company at that period, for the purpose of endeavoring to retrieve it from its fall, and complete the canal to Cumberland; for the way of the world, generally, is to give credit to official labor, not accord- ing to the difficulties it has to overcome, but accord- ing to the measure of success with which it is crowned, and the chances of success were clearly against them.
" In January, 1844, the company succeeded, after much controversy, in rescuing from assumed forfeit- ure £15,500 of the sterling bonds, which, in 1839, had been hypothecated in England, and which had been regarded as irrecoverably lost, together with a small amount of coupons overdue, by means of which it was
一
IE
301
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
enabled to discharge, to a considerable extent, the debts for current expenses, and, also, which was in- peratively called for, put the canal in somewhat better order than it had previously been. But the relief thus afforded was, necessarily, but temporary in its char- acter, and some permanent increase in the income be- came a subject of indispensable necessity, to maintain the navigation, and keep in motion the operations of the company. With a view to secure this as far as practicable, until the canal should be finished to its available terminus when expedients would no longer be necessary, an arrangement was concluded with the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company, in September, 1843, by which that company agreed to fix the charge for the transportation of coal at two cents per ton per mile from Cumberland to dam No. 6, there to be trans- ferred to the canal; and at that rate to transport it for any person or persons so long, as in their judgment, it should not interfere with their general trade nor re- quire a material augmentation of their machinery. By reason of this arrangement, four thousand eight hundred and seventy-one tons of coal were transported on the canal during the year 1844, nearly the whole of which was transferred from the railroad at dam No. 6; and even with the aid of this amount, which was merely a beginning of the trade, the tolls of the year, for the first time, exceeded fifty thousand dollars of available funds. In the years 1841 and 1842, the tolls were nominally above that sum, but serip was then re- ceived in payment, which was bought at about fifty cents on the dollar; and the principal articles of trade
39
302
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
on the canal were then put at the highest rate of tolls authorized by the charter, so that the increased charge might, in some respect, compensate for the depreciated value of the funds in which it was paid.
" The arrangement with the Baltimore & Ohio Rail- road Company, if it had been continued and carried out in good faith on their part, would, both in its im- mediate effects and future results, have been of much benefit to this company in the then existing state of its affairs. It was, however, for very unsound and un- satisfactory reasons, as given, abandoned by the rail- road company in May, 1845, soon after the passage of the act providing for the completion of the canal to Cumberland, which, probably, had more effect in pro- ducing the abandonment than the grounds upon which it was placed. But the arrangement was merely in- tended by this company as the expedient of the day. The paramount and controlling importance of the early completion of the canal to Cumberland was always kept steadily in view. From the belief that the previous failures to obtain the necessary legislation from Maryland to enable the company to accomplish this great object, had resulted from a want of proper information in regard to the state of its affairs and the expediency of completing the canal, the president and directors in November, 1843, presented a special report to the stockholders, designed for publication, and to be submitted to the general assembly at the en- suing session, in which those objeets were fully and clearly explained. The idea which had been started several years previously, and which was at that time
T
303
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
revived with increased zeal and ardor, that the facili- ties of connection with the railroad at dam No. 6, su- perseded the necessity of extending the canal beyond that point, was likewise combatted and refuted ; and the policy and indispensable necessity of completing the work to Cumberland, merely viewing it as a finan- cial measure to Maryland, made manifest. The plan suggested, in consideration of the prostrate credit of the State, and which was alleged to be practicable if unencumbered with injurious restrictions, was the waver by the legislature of the State liens on the rev- enues of the canal, so as to empower the company to issue its bonds, with preferred liens on its revenues, to an amount not exceeding two millions of dollars. In principle and amount, it was similar to the measure which had been proposed and rejected by the legisla- ture at the December sessions of 1841 and 1842.
" After showing that bids had been made to finish the canal for a less sum, in current money, than the engineer's estimate, which was one million five hundred and forty-five thousand dollars, the report proceeded : ' In order, however, to give full strength to the credit of the company, so as to enable it to procure the required sum, upon fair and advantageous terms, it will be in- dispensably necessary to waive the State liens to a much larger amount, so that a broad and tangible basis may be presented for the bonds to rest upon. By this same means, the company will have to provide for the payment of the aceruing interest on the sum that may be required for the construction of the work, until the net revenues of the canal become adequate
ARE
304
CHESAPEAKE & OHIO CANAL.
to the purpose, which cannot justly be calculated on until a year after it reaches Cumberland, unless, in- deed (which was one of the objects of the connection), the coal trade shall be so much built up, under the operation of the arrangement with the railroad com- pany, as to give it a sufficient tonnage immediately upon its being completed to that point. But this ex- pectation ought not to govern the action of the legis- lature in this behalf. The better fortified the bonds are, the greater will be their value ; and as no more will be issued than will be necessary to finish the work and pay the interest on the cost thereof, in aid of the net tolls of the canal until they become sufficient for the purpose, together with a small outlay for repairs and improvements on the finished portion of the line, it will be to the interest of the State to leave a broad margin to the credit of the company. With this view, and to provide against all contingences, we would rec- ommend a waiver of the State liens to such amount as may be found necessary for those purposes, not ex- ceeding the sum of two millions of dollars. This we would consider an ample and available provision for all the demands in the premises.'
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.