History of Lodge no. 43, F. & A. M. : being the records of the first century of its existence, Part 1

Author: Welchans, George Reuben, 1845-1925
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Lancaster, Pa. : Inquirer Print. Co.
Number of Pages: 316


USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > History of Lodge no. 43, F. & A. M. : being the records of the first century of its existence > Part 1


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1785


1885


HISTORYDI LODGE


0


KANCASTER PA.


HOLY BIBLE


COMPLIMENTS OF


Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M., 1


LANCASTER, PA.


A Carpenter.


GEN


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 03213 1796


Gc 974.802 L22we Welchans, George Reuben, 1845-1925. History of Lodge no. 43, F. & A. M.


Electron of Officers


BROTHER,


Y OU are requefied to attend the Duties of your Lodge, No. 43, Ancient YORK MASONS, at the Lodge-Room, in e LANCASTER, at Jes o'Clock, on the Evening of the Joch


Inftant. At your Peril fail not.


By Order of the worshipful Mafter, 6 J. J. Jannah SECRET! Lancaster, December 10th 1792.


*


FAC SIMILE OF ONE OF THE EARLIEST LODGE NOTICES.


es


HISTORY


OF


LODGE No. 43, F. & A. M.


BEING THE RECORDS


OF THE


FIRST CENTURY OF ITS EXISTENCE


ALSO


A REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, BIO- GRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF ITS CHARTER MEMBERS, PAST MASTERS, AND PRESENT OFFICERS,


AND


A COMPLETE LIST OF THE MEMBERS OF THE LODGE.


BY P. M. GEORGE R. WELCHANS, M. D.


LANCASTER, PA. 1885.


Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street PO Box 2270 Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270


PRESS OF INQUIRER PRINTING COMPANY, PRINTERS AND BINDERS, LANCASTER, PA.


COMMITTEE ON PRINTING HISTORY.


A T the stated meeting of Lodge No. 43, held May 13th, 1885, the following Committee was appointed for the purpose of taking charge of all matters in connection with the printing and distribution of the History of the Lodge, as prepared by Bro. P. M. George R. Welchans, M. D.


JOSHUA L. LYTE, W. M. CHARLES M. HOWELL, P. M. GEORGE R. WELCHANS, P. M. JOEL S. EABY, P. M. HUGH S. GARA, SEC.


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OFFICERS.


R. W. GRAND LODGE OF PENNSYLVANIA.


- 1885.


. R. W. GRAND MASTER, E. COPPEE MITCHELL.


R. W. DEPUTY GRAND MASTER, JOSEPH EICHBAUM.


R. W. SENIOR GRAND WARDEN, CLIFFORD P. McCALLA.


R. W. JUNIOR GRAND WARDEN, J. SIMPSON AFRICA.


R. W. GRAND TREASURER, THOMAS R. PATTON.


R. W. GRAND SECRETARY, MICHAEL NISBET. (vi)


LETTER FROM THE R. W. GRAND MASTER.


OFFICE OF THE R. W. THE GRAND MASTER OF 1


FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS OF PENNA., ETC. MASONIC TEMPLE, PHILADELPHIA, November 17, 1885. ) DR. GEORGE R. WELCHANS, Past Master of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M., Lancaster, Pa.


Dear Sir and Brother: I have read with pleasure your very interesting history of Lodge No. 43, during the first century of its existence. It is full of valuable information-not only con- cerning your own Lodge, but of the Fraternity in Pennsylvania -which is not given in connected form in any other work that I know of ; and it bears most evident marks of the care and labor which you have bestowed upon it.


It is with great pleasure that I give hereby my official consent to its publication.


[SEAL ]


Yours fraternally, E. COPPEE MITCHELL, Grand Master. ( vii )


OFFICERS.


LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.


1885.


WORSHIPFUL MASTER, JOSHUA LOUIS LYTE.


SENIOR WARDEN, JOHN C. CARTER.


JUNIOR WARDEN, GEORGE B. WILLSON.


TREASURER, CHARLES A. HEINITSH.


SECRETARY, HUGH S. GARA. ( viii )


PREFACE.


A T the stated meeting of Lodge No. 43, F. & A. M., held at their Hall, on Wednesday evening, December 8, 1875, a resolution was offered and unanimously adopted, appointing a committee of five of the oldest Past Masters and members of the Lodge to prepare and have published in pamphlet form a History of Lodge No. 43, they reporting to the Lodge before printing the same.


This committee, after some consideration of the subject, took no further action, and the resolution was not carried into effect.


At the stated meeting of the Lodge held March 14, 1883, the mover of the above resolution again brought the subject to the attention of the Lodge, as the following extract from the Min- utes of that date will show :


"Brother P. M. Dr. George R. Welchans stated that in two years the Lodge will be called upon to celebrate its Centennial Anniversary, and spoke of the importance of having the History of the Lodge prepared for that time ; he therefore moved that Bro. Secretary Hugh S. Gara be appointed to prepare the His- tory.


" The motion was unanimously agreed to."


At the stated meeting of February 13, 1884, Bro. Secretary Gara informed the Lodge that it was impossible for him to per- form this task, and asked to be relieved of the same. Worship- ful Master Bro. James B. Strine having, with great reluctance, accepted Bro. Gara's declination, was pleased to appoint the undersigned as his successor.


Realizing the vastness and responsibility of the undertaking, and the difficulties with which it was beset, it was with reluctance and fear that we consented to attempt that which others, better fitted for the task, were unwilling to undertake ; and we sincerely


(ix)


PREFACE.


trust that the earnest efforts we have made to obtain and record only facts, as they developed in the history of the Lodge during the past century, will merit the approval of the Brethren.


In addition to the records and papers of Lodge No. 43, and of the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, we desire at this place to acknowledge our indebtedness for information gleaned from the different Histories of Pennsylvania and Lan- caster County, and from Harris's Biographical History of Lan- caster County. We also gratefully acknowledge obligations to Past Master Charles M. Howell, and Brothers Hugh S. Gara, Christian Gast, and Christian Widmyer, of Lodge No. 43, also to Bro. P. M. Charles E. Meyer, of Lodge No. 295, Philadel- phia, and to Bro. P. M. J. Henry Brown, of Philadelphia Lodge, No. 72, formerly of Lodge No. 43 and its oldest living Past Master, for valuable assistance rendered.


The reminiscences of these Brethren, who have been long in the faith, aided, in some instance, by valuable documents in their possession, have been the means of supplying missing links, thus rendering more complete the record of our eventful history.


To our present Worshipful Master, Bro. Joshua L. Lyte, belongs a large share of whatever credit may be due for the acceptable manner in which this work has been arranged in book form.


Our task is ended. The work is yours ; and notwithstanding all its faults and shortcomings it will serve to preserve for you, and perpetuate for your posterity, the records of the first century of the existence of Lodge No. 43, F. & A. M.


GEORGE R. WELCHANS.


Lancaster, Pa., December, 1885.


CONTENTS.


PAGE


Frontispiece .


2


Action of the Lodge on Printing its History . 5


Officers of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania . 6


Letter from R. W. Grand Master E. Coppee Mitchell, Esq. 7


Officers of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M. S


Preface


9


INTRODUCTION.


Origin of Free Masonry in this Country, in Pennsylvania, and in Lancaster County-Preliminary Meetings of Lodge No. 43-Application for a War- rant-The old Original Warrant of the Lodge-Dispensation to Consti- tute Lodge No. 43-Its Constitution-List of Lodges in Lancaster County and Date of Their Warrants. 17


CHAPTER I.


1785 to 1795-The First Meeting of the Lodge-Copy of Proceedings of the First Meeting-The First By-Laws-Signers of the First By-Laws-First Petition for, and Initiation to Membership-Proceedings of the Grand Lodge in its Declaration of Independence of Great Britain-The New Warrant for Lodge No. 43-First Elections for Officers of the Lodge- Different Places of Meeting of the Lodge-Record of Initiations, Admis- sions, Deaths, Withdrawals, etc., during the First Ten Years of the Lodge's Existence-Biographical Sketch of Bro. Matthias Slough . 24


CHAPTER II.


1795 to 1805-Elections of Officers-First Action toward the Erection of a Masonic Hall-Different Sites for the Same Considered-Consent of the Corporation Authorities of the Borough obtained for the Erection of a Lodge Room over the New Market House-Estimate of the Expense of Building-Agreement Made between the Corporation and the Lodge- Agreement Made between the Committees of the Corporation and Lodge No. 43 and the Workmen-Removal of the Lodge to the "Fountain Inn"- Funeral Procession in Honor of Bro. Gen. George Washington, Dec'd .- First Meeting of the Lodge in its new Lodge Room-Description of the Hall at that Time-The Use of the Lodge Room for Holding Court, etc. Financial Condition of the Lodge-Renting of the Lodge Room, and Re-


( xi )


xii


CONTENTS.


PAGE


moval of the Lodge to the " Indian King"-First Grand Visitation- Withdrawal of Members to form Philanthropic Lodge, No. 104-Record of Initiations, Admissions, Deaths, etc., for the Ten Years 44


CHAPTER III.


1805 to 1815-Finances-Bills Receivable and Bills Payable Large, but Cash Credit Light-Grand Lodge Dues and Other Debts Pressing-W. M. Bro. Wm. Kirkpatrick to the Rescue-Better Times-The First Expulsion in 1807-First Steps Taken Towards the Establishment of a Royal Arch Chapter-Organization of Chapter No. 43, R. A. M .- Removal of the Lodge to Its Own Lodge Room-Clothing Worn in Lodge and Funeral Processions-The Brethren Called from Labor to Refreshment-Bio- graphical Sketch of Bro. John Banister Gibson, LL.D .- The Masonic Term Made Twelve Months in 1814 . 58


CHAPTER IN.


1815 to 1825-" Bull" from the R. W. Grand Master-First Seeds of Dis- satisfaction-Dedication of the Masonic Hall at Marietta-Initiation of Bro. James Buchanan-Withdrawal of Members to Form Washington Lodge No. 156-First Step Taken in the Difficulties Between the Lodge and the Grand Lodge-Circular Letter to the Different Lodges Through- out the Jurisdiction-Replies to the Circular Letter-Answer to the Let- ter from Lodge No. 51-Report of Committee to Attend Communication of the Grand Lodge-Letter from Industry Lodge No. 131-Reply to the Letter from No. 131-Donation to Suffering Savannah-Appointment of Grand Lecturers-Report of Committee of Grand Lodge on Applica- tion of Lodges No. 21 and 43 for Charity to the Widow of a Past Master -Report of Committee of Lodge No. 43 on the State of Masonry in this Commonwealth-Action of the R. W. Grand Lodge with Reference to the Same-Report of the Committee of the Grand Lodge-Letter from the R. W. Grand Master-Report of the Committee of the Lodge on the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge and the R. W. Grand Master's Letter-Action of the Grand Lodge in Vacating the Warrant of Lodge No. 43-The Officers and Members Cited to Appear before the Grand Lodge-Convention of the Masons of Lancaster County in the Lodge Room at Lancaster-Resolutions with Reference to the Differences Be- tween the Grand Lodge and Late Lodge No. 43-Committee of Late Lodge No. 43 before the Grand Lodge-Resolution to Rescind All Pro- ceedings and that the Warrant Be Returned-Resuscitation of the Lodge -Bro. James Buchanan's Letter on Being Notified of his Election as Worshipful Master-First Appointment of District Deputy Grand Mas. ters-Masonic Convention at Harrisburg-Official Visitation of R. W. Grand Master Josiah Randall, Esq .- Procession and Sermon at Church.


66


CONTENTS.


xili


PAGE


CHAPTER V.


1825 to 1835-Bro. P. M. George B. Porter appointed District Deputy Grand Master-Visit of Bro. Gen. Lafayette to Lancaster-Subordinate Chap- ters of R. A. M. of the State Placed Under the Control of the Grand Holy Royal Arch Chapter-Report of Committee of Lodge No. 43 on the Subject-The Lodge Room Enlarged-Economy of the Brethren- Bro. P. M. Samuel Humes, M. D., Appointed District Deputy Grand Mas- ter-Anti-Masonic Times-Its Effect Upon Lodge No. 43-Reaction and Reorganization-The Roll of Honor 123


CHAPTER VI.


1835 to 1845-Bro. P. M. Thomas Jeffries Appointed District Deputy Grand Master-The First Charity Committee - Attempt to Form a Second Lodge in Lancaster-Grand Visitation by R. W. Grand Master John M. Read, Esq .- The Oldest Living Members of Lodge No. 43-Repairs to Lodge Room -- Bro. P. M. Robert Moderwell Appointed District Deputy Grand Master-The First Grievance Committee. 138


CHAPTER VII.


1845 to 1855-Financial Embarrassment-Action of the Lodge on the Death of Bro. Ex-President Andrew Jackson-Resolution on the Withdrawal of W. M. Bro. James Regan-Grand Visitation by R. W. Grand Master James Page, Esq .- Action of the Lodge on the Death of Bro. Ex-Presi- dent James K. Polk-Introduction of Gas into the Hall-The Beginning of the Accumulation of a Permanent Fund-The First Board of Trus- tees-Procession and Ceremonies in the Removal of the Remains of Bro. Stephen Girard to their Final Resting-place-Resolutions on the Death of Bro. D. D. G. M. George B. Kerfoot, M. D .- Bro. P. M. J. B. Kauff- man Appointed District Deputy Grand Master-The Masonic Temples in Philadelphia-Death of Past Grand Master Bro. John Steel-The Title to the Lodge Property Recorded-Withdrawal of Brethren to Form Col- umbia Lodge, No. 286 145


CHAPTER VIII.


1855 to 1865-The Prosperity of the Lodge-Dedication of the Chestnut Street Masonic Temple, Philadelphia-Bro. P. M. Charles M. Howell Appointed District Deputy Grand Master-Adjoining Property Purchased by the Lodge-Laying of the Corner-stone of the New Building-The Lodge Room Enlarged-Expense of Building-Bonds Issued-Grand Visitation by R. W. Grand Master Peter Williamson, Esq .- Bro. P. M. James Buchanan Elected an Honorary Member-Resolutions on the Death of Bro. P. M. Robert Moderwell-The Lodge's Patriotism at the Breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861-The First Distribution of Money


xiv


CONTENTS.


PAGE Among the Widows of Deceased Members-Grand Banquet in Fulton Hall-The Return of the 79th Regiment Penna. Vols .- Dedication of the Masonic Hall at York, Pa 156


CHAPTER IX.


1865 to 1875-Visit of P. G. M. William Barger, Esq .- Lecture by Rev. Bro. John Chambers-The Bonds all Canceled-Bro. P. M. Charles M. Howell Elected Representative to the Grand Lodge-Grand Visitation by R. W. Deputy Grand Master Richard Vaux, Esq .- Withdrawal of Brethren to Form Ashara Lodge, No. 398-Death of R. W. Grand Master John L. Goddard-Funeral Ceremonies of our Late Bro. P. M. James Buchanan -Masonic Emblems from Mount Vernon-Withdrawal of Brethren to Form Lamberton Lodge, No. 476-Withdrawal of Brethren to Form Charles M. Howell Lodge, No. 496-Withdrawal of Brethren to Form a New Lodge at Christiana-Dedication of the New Masonic Temple, Broad Street, Philadelphia-Relief for the Sufferers from the Chicago and Somerset Fires . 168


CHAPTER X.


1875 to 1885-Improvements-Withdrawal of Members to Form Casiphia Lodge, No. 551-Reception by the Lodge to its Members and Their Families on the Completion of the Improvements to the Hall-Funeral of Bro. Rear Admiral Wm. Reynolds-Grand Visitation by R. W. Grand Master Michael Nisbet, Esq .- Testimonial to Bro. Treasurer Charles A. Heinitsh-Funeral of Bro. Gen. James L. Reynolds-Death of Bro. President James A. Garfield-The Sesqui- Centennial Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania-Grand Visitation by R. W. Grand Master Samuel B. Dick, Esq .- A New Entrance to the Hall on West King Street-Records of the One Hundred Years-Inventory of the Lodge's Possessions 177


CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.


Committee of Arrangements-Programme Adopted-Invitations-Telegrams and Letters of Regret-Centennial Meeting-Worshipful Master's Ad- dress-Sketch of the History of Lodge No. 43-Other Addresses-The Banquet-Menu-The Centennial Poem-Toasts and Responses . . 187


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


Albright, Frederick S. 245


Albright, Jacob 230


Atlee, John L., Jr., M. D. . 243


Atlee, William Augustus . 244


Barton, Mathias . 213


Baumgardner, Henry 241


XV


CONTENTS.


Breneman, B. Frank


252


Brown, J. Henry


233


Buchanan, James


224


Carpenter, Henry, M. D.


244


Carpenter, Jacob 216


262


Chambers, Stephen 207


Dering, Henry .


210


Doyle, John


208


Eaby, Joel S.


260


Eichler, Henry P.


257


Etting, Solomon .


209


Feltman, William


212


Gamble, James


214


Gara, Hugh S.


265


Getz, Peter .


215


Hamilton, William


218


Heinitsh, Charles A.


264


Heinitsh, William E.


246


Henry, Abraham


217


Henry, Benjamin West


217


Howell, Charles M.


236


Hubley, Adam, Jr ..


210


Hull, John


258


Humes, Samuel, M. D.


219


Hurst, Elam D.


241


Jeffries, Thomas


221


Kaufman, Junius B.


235


Keffer, Henry . 223


Keller, John Jacob . 235


Kerfoot, George B., M. I). 232 Kirkpatrick, William 214


Kline, George M.


243


Landis, John


227


Lightner, Nathaniel


219


Lyte, Eliphalet Oram


259


Lyte, Joshua Louis .


261


Marshall, George A.


260


Marshall, William O. .


258


Mathiot, John .


226


McCalla, John, D. D. S.


239


McElwee, Robert · 218


McKelly, Matthew 226


PAGE


Carter, John C.


Cooper, Charles W 238


xvi


CONTENTS.


PAGE


McLenigan, Elijah .


229


Miller, Alexander


228


Miller, John ..


217


Moderwell, Robert


228


Moore, James 212


Morris, John .


216


Morton, William A.


246


Mosher, Jeremiah


215


Mosher, Joseph


232


Porter, George B.


222


Reed, George K.


249


Rees, John


265


Regan, James


233


Reynolds, John


220


Reynolds, Samuel H.


247


Ringwalt, Adam Z. .


249


Rogers, Molton C. .


219


Rohrer, Jeremiah


251


Russell, David N.


248


Schaeffer, Emanuel


231


Słaymaker, Jasper


225


Smith, Charles, LL. D.


212


Sprenger, John Jacob


240


Strine, James B. .


261


Stuber, Henry, M. D. .


208


Thomas, Abner


227


Warfel, John B. .


253


Welchans, George R., M. D.


254


Wentz, Charles E.


234


Whitaker, George H.


221


Widmyer, Christian


266


Wickersham, James P., LL. D.


255


Willson, George B.


263


Wilson, William A.


250


Wright, Ebenezer . .


225


LIST OF MEMBERS . 269


INTRODUCTION.


F REEMASONRY was warranted in Pennsylvania on June 5th, 1730, by "His Grace, Thomas, Duke of Norfolk, Earl Marshal and Hereditary Marshal of England, * * Chief of the illustrious family of Howards, and Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons of England," who, on that date, deputized Brother Daniel Cox, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Province of New Jersey, as "Provincial Grand Master of the Province of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. in America."


The question of priority in the date of organization of a lodge in this country has long been in dispute. For many years, how- ever, precedence had been generally conceded to St. John's Lodge, Boston, Mass., they claiming the date of July 30, 1733, but having no written charter of older date than February 7, 1783, (vide Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for 1870, page 429.) On February 27, 1884, Bro. Clifford P. MacCalla, of Philadelphia, at present R. W. Senior Grand Warden of the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, discovered in the Library of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania, a ledger account book of St. John's Lodge, Philadelphia, with a list of its members from June 24, 1731, to June 24, 1738. These are the earliest records in existence of any Lodge in America, and taken with other documentary evidence previously pro- duced, undoubtedly prove that the first charter granted by Pro- vincial Grand Master Daniel Cox, was issued to St. John's Lodge of Philadelphia, and this was the beginning of Masonry in this country.


It is a fact worthy of note that one of the founders of Masonry in this country was a resident of Lancaster. Bro. Henry Bell, of Lancaster, Pa., in a letter dated November 17, 1754, and


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2


18


INTRODUCTION.


written to Bro. Thomas Cadwallader, M. D., of Philadelphia, says: "As you well know, I was one of the originators of the first Masonic Lodge in Philadelphia. A party of us used to meet at the Tun Tavern, in Water Street, and sometimes opened a Lodge there. Once, in the fall of 1730, we formed a design of obtaining a charter for a regular Lodge, and made application to the Grand Lodge of England for one ; but before receiving it, we heard that Daniel Cox, of New Jersey, had been appointed by that Grand Lodge as Provincial Grand Master of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We therefore made application to him, and our request was granted." This letter would indi- cate that one of the first, if not the first Mason who lived in Lancaster, was Bro. Henry Bell.


The first Masonic Lodge held in Lancaster County, was Per- severance Lodge No. 21, which was warranted October 4, 1779, and was held at Lower Paxton, Lancaster County. Paxton is now in Dauphin County, a county which did not exist until 1785, and the Lodge is now held at Harrisburg.


The earliest traditions of the meeting of Brethren of the Craft, in the Borough of Lancaster, extend back to the year 1778, These meetings were undoubtedly of an informal character, as no records or minutes of a Lodge of Masons in Lancaster can be found prior to 1785.


In the early part of the year 1785, seven Master Masons, then residents of the Borough of Lancaster, viz. : Stephen Chambers, John Doyle, Henry Stuber, Henry Dering, Adam Hubley, Jr., Solomon Etting and William Feltman, determined to organize a Lodge of Masons in the borough. Three of these brethren, Stephen Chambers, Henry Dering and Solomon Etting, were Past Masters. All of them were highly respected and honored citizens, and most of them had been officers of distinction in the Revolutionary Army. Their biographies will be found in the chapter devoted to that purpose.


No minutes of any of their preliminary meetings have been preserved, so that the earliest record of their proceedings is the minute of their application for a charter, in the proceedings of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, an extract of which we here present :


19


INTRODUCTION.


EXTRA GRAND LODGE, PHILADELPHIA, April 21, 1785. Bro. William Tilton, J. G. W., in the chair.


A petition from a number of Brethren from the Borough of Lancaster, praying for a warrant, was taken into consideration.


On motion, agreed, that the Secretary prepare a warrant No. 43, with the name of Stephen Chambers, Master ; John Doyle, Senior Warden, and Henry Stuber, Junior Warden, to be delivered on their paying for the same. The Secretary in- formed this Lodge that he has received from one of the brethren of the said proposed Lodge, the sum of twenty-eight dollars, which he paid into the hands of the Grand Treasurer.


This resolution of the Provincial Grand Lodge was at once put into execution, and a warrant issued in accordance, bearing date the same as the meeting of the Grand Lodge on which it was adopted, viz .: the 21st day of April, A. D. 1785, and of Masonry 5785, and the following is the true copy.


WILLIAM ADCOCK, Grand Master.


ALEX'R RUTHERFORD, Deputy Grand Master.


GEORGE ORD, S. G. IV. WILLIAM TILTON, J. G. WV. To all Whom it may Concern :


We, the Grand Lodge of the most ancient and honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons, according to the Old Institution, held in the City of Philadelphia for the Province of Pennsylvania, by virtue of a Provincial Grand Warrant from the Grand Lodge of London, Great Britain, whereof then the Right Worshipfull and Right Honorable Thomas Erskine, Earl of Kelly, Viscount Fenton, Lord Baron of Pitten Weem, etc., in Great Brittain, was Grand Master of Masons, The Right Worshipfull Mr. William Osbourne, Deputy Grand Master, The Right Worshipfull Mr. William Dickey, Senior Grand Warden, The Right Worshipfull James Gibson, Esquire, Junior Grand War- den, under their hands and seals of their Grand Lodge, con- stituting and appointing the Right Worshipfull William Ball, Esquire, Grand Master of Masons for the Province of Pennsyl- vania and the Territories thereunto belonging, The Right Wor- shipfull Captain Blaithwaite Jones, Deputy Grand Master, The Right Worshipfull Mr. David Hall, Senior Grand Warden, and the Right Worshipfull Mr. Hugh Lennox, Junior Grand Warden, authorizing and empowering the said William Ball, Captain Blaithwaite Jones, David Hall and Hugh Lennox and their successors, to grant Dispensation Warrants and Constitutions, for the forming, holding and well governing Lodges within their Jurisdiction, as by the said Warrant, bearing date the


20


INTRODUCTION.


twentieth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred sixty and four, and of Masonry five thousand seven hundred sixty and four.


Reference being thereunto had may more fully and at large appear.


Now know ye that we, William Adcock, Esquire, Grand Master; Alexander Rutherford, Deputy Grand Master; George Ord, Senior Grand Warden, and William Tilton, Junior Grand Warden, present and legal successors to the above named Pro- vincial Grand Officers as by the Grand Lodge books reference being to them had may appear, By Virtue of the Power to us granted by the above in part recited Warrant, do hereby author- ize and empower our trusty and well beloved brethren, Stephen Chambers, Master ; John Doyle, Senior Warden, and Henry Stuber, Junior Warden, of a New Lodge Number Forty-three, to be held in the Borough of Lancaster, in the State of Pennsyl- vania, or any where within five miles of the same.


And we do further authorize and empower our said trusty and well beloved Brethren Stephen Chambers, John Doyle and Henry Stuber, to admit and make Free Masons according to the most ancient custom of the Royal Craft in all ages and nations throughout the known world and not contrarywise.


· And we do further empower and appoint the said Stephen Chambers, John Doyle and Henry Stuber and their successors to hear and determine all and singular matters and things re- lating to the Craft within the jurisdiction of the said Lodge Number Forty-three.


And lastly, we do hereby authorize and empower our said trusty and well beloved Brethren Stephen Chambers, Master, John Doyle, Senior Warden, and Henry Stuber, Junior Warden, to nominate, choose and Install their successors, to whom they shall deliver this Warrant, and Invest them with all their Powers and Dignities as Free Masons ; and such successors shall in like manner nominate, choose and install their successors, etc., etc., etc. Such installation to be upon or near every St. John's day during the continuance of this Lodge for ever.




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