USA > Pennsylvania > Berks County > Reading > History of Chandler Lodge No. 227 : Free & Accepted Masons of Reading, Pennsylvania from 1848 to 1948 > Part 8
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On June 24, 1897, St. John the Baptist's Day, Chandler Lodge officers and members joined the other four Lodges of the city in the ceremonies connected with the laying of the Corner Stone of the New Temple on North Fifth Street. One hundred and eight Breth- ren of Chandler Lodge, under the Marshalship of Brother P. M. S. E. Ancona were present. Almost 400 members of all bodies were present on this occasion, with the thermometer registering 94 degrees in the shade. Grand Lodge was well represented. R. W. Grand Master William J. Kelly presided and R. W. Past Grand Master Michael Arnold delivered the oration.
On December 7, 1897, the following Brethren were elected to office : Jonathan R. Sharman, Worshipful Master ; Walter S. Essick, Senior Warden; Allen G. Quimby, Junior Warden; Henry Price, Trustee; Horace Grander, Representative in the Grand Lodge, and all other officers were reelected.
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ISAAC LAWRENCE
Isaac Lawrence was born in Berks Coun- ty, Pennsylvania, on March 4, 1844. He at- tended the schools of the City of Reading, and upon completion of his education engaged in boating on the Schuylkill Canal for a short period until the Civil War broke out. He en- listed immediately. After the war he was em- ployed at the Reading Hardware Company and served as foreman of the moulding de- partment for many years. He later was em- ployed at the Reading Iron Company and still later at the Malleable Iron Works, Wilmington, Del.
His last years were spent at the Soldiers' Home in Johnson City, Tenn. Brother Lawrence was made a Mason in Chandler Lodge on September 19, 1871, and served as Worshipful Master in 1889 and 1890. He was also a member of the Knights Templar.
Brother Lawrence died February 22, 1908 in Johnson City, Tenn., where he was buried.
WILLIAM F. SHANAMAN
William Franklin Shanaman was born in Reading, Pa., February 6, 1862, and educated in the public schools of this city. He was a manufacturer of brooms practically all of his life, retiring from active business in 1918. His keen intellect and brilliant oratory won for him many positions of honor. He was a mem- ber of City Council four terms, being elected as a Republican from the strongly Democratic old Sixth Ward. He served one term as Mayor of Reading, from 1893 to 1896. He was elected first president of the Blue Eagle Mountain Climbing Club in 1916, and served until his death in 1939. A memorial stone has been erected in his honor in the mountainous section of Northern Berks County. He served as first president of the Wilderness Park Association, affiliate of the climbing club.
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Brother Shanaman was made a Mason in Chandler Lodge on September 4, 1883, and served as Worshipful Master in 1891. He was a life member of Chandler, and remained active until his death. He also held membership in Excelsior Chapter, No. 237, serving as High Priest in 1890; Reading Commandery, No. 42, and Rajah Temple.
Brother Shanaman was especially felicitious in Masonic pre- sentation speeches. Mayor Shanaman's outstanding political triumph was his election to the mayoralty in January, 1893, by a heavy ma- jority, two months after Grover Cleveland had carried the city in the Presidential election of 1892 by an even greater majority. Mayor Shanaman was an active member of the Friendship Fire Company, and for many years was its speechmaker on journeys to other cities.
He died August 21, 1939, and was buried in Charles Evans Cemetery.
SAMUEL E. NIES
Samuel E. Nies was born in Lincoln, Lancaster County December 27, 1849, and at- tended the Wood Corner School in Clay Township. He moved to 826 Chestnut Street, Reading in 1881. In early life he was a cab- inet maker by trade. Later, for many years, he was engaged in the broom manufacturing business with David T. Schmehl, also a mem- ber of Chandler. They operated under the firm name of S. E. Nies and Company.
He was a Quaker and attended services in the Friends Meeting House on North Sixth Street.
Brother Nies was made a Mason in Chandler Lodge on August 7, 1883. He was regarded as one of the most active and devoted Masons of his time. He bore the enviable record of not having missed a meeting in thirty years, and was rewarded for his interest by being twice chosen as Worshipful Master of Chandler Lodge, 1892 and 1894. He served 19 years as Secretary, from 1896 until his death on March 31, 1914. He was High Priest of Excelsior Chapter,
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No. 237, in 1893, and was Eminent Commander of Reading Com- mandery, No. 42, in 1899. Brother Nies died at his residence, 538 Elm Street, and was buried in Charles Evans Cemetery.
HOWARD E. AHRENS
Howard Edwin Ahrens was born in Muhlenberg Township May 13, 1853. He was educated in the public schools of Muhlenberg and Reading and entered the employ of Harry Hawman, contractor and builder. Later he entered the coal and feed business and then conducted a stone quarry. With his brother, James S. Ahrens, also a Past Master of Chandler Lodge, he in 1884 formed the firm of H. E. Ahrens and Brother, general con- tractors. This firm specialized in practically every form of large construction work, especially grading, tunnel construction and erecting trolley lines. Their activities in this line extended as far as Texas. Brother Ahrens became one of the most prominent men in Reading, and was active in civic and fraternal affairs. In 1898 he was elected a member of the Reading School Board. He at one time served in the City of Reading Council and was president of the Allentown and Reading Traction Company. He was a devoted member of Alsace Lutheran Church.
Brother Ahrens was made a Mason in Chandler Lodge on Au- gust 5, 1884 and served as Worshipful Master in 1893. He was Past High Priest in 1891 of Excelsior Chapter, R. A. M .; a member of Reading Commandery, K. T., Reading Consistory, and of Rajah Temple.
Brother Ahrens died in 1918 and is buried in Charles Evans Cemetery, Reading.
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DANIEL M. FREEHAFER
Daniel M. Freehafer was born in Schuyl- kill Haven in 1853. In early life he was a carpenter by trade, and later became one of Reading's most prominent contractors and builders. He specialized in the construction of church buildings, and erected many in Reading and other localities; one of them is the First United Evangelical Church, Eighth and Court Streets, Reading, of which congre- gation he was a very prominent and faithful member. He also built St. Paul's U. E. Church. Both spiritually and materially Brother Freehafer was a "builder". It was his peculiar distinction that he both erected and frequented the house of God.
He was made a Mason in Chandler Lodge on May 7, 1889, and served as Worshipful Master in 1895. Brother Freehafer died Oc- tober 13, 1905, and is buried in Aulenbach's Cemetery, Reading.
GIDEON B. KOSTENBADER
Gideon B. Kostenbader was born in Northampton County in 1856 and was edu- cated in the public schools of that district. He moved to Reading about 1882, and was em- ployed at the Fritz Studio on North Sixth Street for many years. Brother Kostenbader was one of Reading's leading portrait painters and a most widely known artist. For many years he embossed the names of the graduates on the Reading High School diplomas, and those of many other institutions. He was a member of the parish consistory of St. Stephen's Reformed Church and First President of St. Stephen's Men's League.
Brother Kostenbader was made a Mason in Chandler Lodge on October 4, 1892, and served as Worshipful Master in 1896. He was also affiliated with Excelsior Chapter, No. 237; Reading Command- ery, No. 42, and Rajah Temple. He died June 30, 1935.
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HORACE GRANDER
Horace Grander was born in Chester County, August 8, 1859. His parents moved to Reading in 1867, and he received his edu- cation in the Reading grammar schools and Reading High School. He was first employed as transcriber in the law offices of Garrett B. Stevens, where he remained two years. He then occupied a clerical position for two years in the store of Samuel Heckler on Penn Street near Sixth, after which he learned the trade of stove mounting and pattern fitting at Orr, Painter and Co., where he remained for a period of 25 years. He then became master mechanic, in charge of all machinery at Curtis, Jones Shoe Co. factory, for 22 years. Brother Jacob H. McConnell, then a city councilman, appointed him foreman of the city's asphalt plant in which capacity he served until retirement, nine years later. He also served as President of the Neversink Fire Company and as President of the Firemen's Union.
Brother Grander was made a Mason in Chandler Lodge on April 1, 1890, and served as Worshipful Master in 1897. He also held membership in Excelsior Chapter, No. 237; Reading Com- mandery, No. 42, and Rajah Temple. He died in 1944 and was buried in Charles Evans Cemetery.
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CHAPTER VI
1898-1908
This decade saw Chandler Lodge change its place of meeting from City Hall on South Fifth Street to the Masonic Temple on North Fifth Street. The membership reached the 400 mark for the first time, although being close to it for almost four decades. Attend- ance at the meetings was exceptionally good and judging from the large number of visitors present at every meeting, the fraternal spirit was widespread. In spite of the fact that the Lodge funds were invested in the New Temple, the Lodge remained liberal to those in need.
The Spanish-American War being fought at this time was of comparatively short duration, but found the following Brethren who were members of Chandler Lodge at that time enlisting immediately and serving in the U. S. Army: Richard Calvert, Arthur Hole, Charles F. Holl, John F. Mervine, George R. Rhoads and William E. Weidner.
On January 24, 1898, a meeting was called by the Chairman of the Committee on the Fiftieth Anniversary, to which the committee members and all Past Masters were summoned. After considerable discussion it was unanimously agreed that in view of the prospective condition of the Treasury, the funds being invested in the New Temple, it would be unwise to incur any expense whatever in cele- bration of the Fiftieth Anniversary.
At the Anniversary Meeting of May 3, 1898, the minutes in part are as follows : "The Worshipful Master stated the Business of the Lodge being finished and according to the Resolution passed January 5, 1897, and a subsequent resolution concerning the 50th Anniversary, that mention of the proceedings of the past 50 years of the Lodge should be made at this Meeting. The Worshipful Master called on the Senior and Junior Wardens to vacate their Stations and asked Brother Past Master S. E. Ancona to occupy the Chair in the East, Brother Past Master Emanuel J. Rauch to the West and Brother Past Master John C. A. Hoffeditz in the South.
"The Past Masters having taken their Stations, Brother Past Master Ancona, the only surviving Charter member of Chandler
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Lodge, stated that it gave him great pleasure to occupy the chair for a short time exactly fifty years after it was constituted, and thanked the members for the honor. He outlined the formation of the Lodge and spoke very highly of its first Master, Brother John O. D. Lilly, as an efficient officer and a man of sterling principles. He named every one of the Charter Members who was present at the Constitu- tion of the Lodge, and stated that the feeling that existed between the Mother Lodge, No. 62, and Chandler, No. 227, from that time on was friendly and brotherly. He mentioned the different places of meeting, which varied considerably in regards to convenience and space.
"Brother Past Master Emanuel J. Rauch remembered a great many things and related them to those assembled.
"Brother Past Master John C. A. Hoffeditz said that he had only to repeat what Past Masters Ancona and Rauch had already said about the earlier days of Chandler Lodge and that he was pleased with the attendance and interest.
"Brother James M. Roland, who was one of the few remaining who had presented their petitions at the first meeting of the Lodge, was proud of the principles of Free Masonry and hoped the Lodge would always carry out the same principles in the future it had in the past and that the trust imposed in God should always continue throughout our life as well as when we first entered the Lodge.
"Brother Past Master Joseph W. Day also made remarks con- cerning the ambition of the Lodge and its efficient officers.
"Similar remarks were made by Past Masters Howard E. Ahrens, Daniel M. Freehafer, Horace Grander, Gideon B. Kosten- bader and George C. Wilson, our present Treasurer. The Rev. Brother Henry Y. Stoner spoke very nicely, alluding to the spiritual welfare of all mankind and especially Brother Free Masons, who are linked together with such solemn ties that the Brethren should remember them for all time.
"The Secretary read a short synopsis of the business of the Lodge during the past fifty years and stated that :
"1084 petitions were presented; 624 were Entered; 62 were Elected to Membership; 63 Petitions were withdrawn; 17 were ap- proved and time ran out; 22 unfavorable reports ; 7 no reports of
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Committees ; 73 withdrew from Membership; 162 Suspended ; 229 Rejected; 219 died while members of the Lodge.
"Anniversary proceedings being closed, the officers resumed their respective stations. No further business being offered, the Lodge closed in harmony at 10 o'clock and 40 minutes.
"Attest ... SAMUEL E. NIES Secretary."
The following officers were elected at the annual election on December 6, 1898: Brothers Walter S. Essick, Worshipful Master ; Allen G. Quimby, Senior Warden; Irvin W. Kershner, Junior War- den; Jonathan R. Sharman, Representative in Grand Lodge, and all other officers reelected.
At the Stated Meeting of January 3, 1899, the allowance to the Officers for attending the Grand Lodge was reduced from $7 to $5. D. D. Grand Master J. W. Day honored the Lodge with his presence, as he usually did.
The report of the Masonic Temple and Building Trust was read at the May meeting, showing the receipts and expenditures from the commencement of the organization on January 21, 1896. The total amount received from all sources was $72,732.60. The investments of the various Masonic bodies at that time was as follows :
Lodge No. 62 F. & A. M. $12,000.00
Lodge No. 227 F. & A. M. 8,700.00
Lodge No. 367 F. & A. M 500.00
Lodge No. 435 F. & A. M 15,000.00
Lodge No. 549 F. & A. M. 2,300.00
Reading Chapter 3,850.00
Excelsior Chapter
5,000.00
DeMolay Commandery
1,000.00
Reading Commandery
II,000.00
At the Stated Meeting of June 6, a resolution was passed, "directing the Trustees of Chandler Lodge to confer with the Trus- tees of our Sister Lodges to urge and adopt a method whereby the incompleted building on North Fifth Street, known as the Masonic Temple, may be finished in the near future."
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At the Annual Meeting of December 5, 1899, it was Resolved : That Brother George C. Wilson Sr., represent Chandler Lodge, No. 227, at the ceremonies of the different Grand Lodges of Virginia, New York, Maryland and Pennsylvania over the grave at Mt. Vernon, of Brother George Washington, who died December 14, 1799. Chandler Lodge also joined with Lodge No. 62 in a special meeting on December 18 in commemoration of that event.
The following Officers were elected to serve during the year 1900: Brothers Allen G. Quimby, Worshipful Master; Irvin U. Kershner, Senior Warden; Lee C. Bricker, Junior Warden; Jona- than R. Sharman, Treasurer ; Samuel E. Nies, Secretary ; David F. Schmehl, John Drexel and Henry Price, Trustees and Allen G. Quimby, Representative in Grand Lodge.
At the Stated Meeting of May 1, 1900, Brother James W. Yo- cum, a member of the Masonic Temple and Building Trust, made another appeal to the members to come to its rescue and enable the committee to finish its labors. Fifty-three thousand dollars were needed. The Worshipful Master subsequently appointed a commit- tee to solicit subscriptions among the members of Chandler Lodge.
America suffered the loss of the President, Brother William McKinley, who was assassinated.
At the Annual Meeting of December 4, 1900, the following officers were elected for the ensuing Masonic year: Brothers Irvin U. Kershner, Worshipful Master; Lee C. Bricker, Senior Warden; James S. Ahrens, Junior Warden; Jonathan R. Sharman, Treasurer ; Samuel E. Nies, Secretary ; David T. Schmehl, John Drexel and Henry Price, Trustees ; George C. Wilson Sr., Representative to the Grand Lodge.
Nothing of historical importance is noted for the year 1901. The election of officers in December resulted as follows: Brothers Lee C. Bricker, Worshipful Master; James S. Ahrens, Senior War- den; Chester B. Jennings, Junior Warden ; George C. Wilson, Rep- resentative to Grand Lodge, and the other officers were reelected.
At the Stated Meeting of January 10, 1902, D. D. Grand Master Brother Joseph W. Day urged the Lodge to appropriate $20 to defray the necessary expenses of Brother William S. Joslyn, Prin- cipal of the Temple School of Instruction, in coming to Reading to give instruction. The amount requested was paid.
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A Special Meeting was called on July 28, 1902, for the purpose of taking action on a resolution to change the meeting place of the Lodge from City Hall to the Fourth Floor of the New Masonic Temple on North Fifth Street between Washington and Walnut Streets. After considerable discussion, action on the proposal was deferred, until Chandler Lodge was given assurance that the rental base rates would be equitable. The committee appointed to negotiate with the Trustees failed in its efforts.
The Stated Meeting in October was held in City Hall, and when the Guide was directed to retire and prepare the candidate, he re- turned and informed the Worshipful Master that the necessary articles had been removed to the New Temple by the Building Trust. The Master was compelled to order the applicant to retire.
At a special meeting in October Chandler Lodge reluctantly decided to remove to the New Temple, under the terms of the Build- ing Trust.
Brother Sydenham E. Ancona, P. M., was delegated to repre- sent Chandler Lodge at the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Initiation of Brother George Washington into Freemasonry.
The first Stated Meeting of Chandler Lodge in Masonic Temple was held on November 4, 1902, with 108 members and 47 visitors present. A vote of thanks was tendered Brother J. George Hintz for his generous gift to the Fraternity, a new Holy Bible.
The following Officers were elected at the Stated Meeting on December 2, 1902: Brothers James S. Ahrens, Worshipful Master ; Chester B. Jennings, Senior Warden; Fred M. Machemer, Junior Warden; and the other officers were reelected.
At the Stated Meeting on January 6, 1903, the dues were in- creased from $2.50 to $4.00 and from $1.00 to $2.50 per annum.
The Trustees were authorized at the March meeting to have the pictures belonging to Chandler Lodge put in such condition as to be presentable, to be placed in the Lodge room.
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SIXTH MEETING PLACE
Masonic Temple
The sixth meeting place of Chandler Lodge is the present Ma- sonic Temple, 123 North Fifth Street. The Lodge Room is situated on the fourth floor rear, and is 811/2 feet long and 52 feet wide. The
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station of the Worshipful Master is properly at the east end and the entrance is at the west end. The fourth floor may be reached by elevator or by marble stairway.
Flanking the anteroom are two armories used by the local Knight Templar Commanderies, etc. The usual hallway connects the preparing room, examining room, lodge room and anteroom. The lodge room is painted and draped in blue, and has blue floor-cover- ing. All the stations and seats are elevated above the floor. A pipe organ is situated in the north center of the room.
A small dining room, 52 feet by 52 feet, occupies the front or west end of the fourth floor. This is the scene of the usual social hour following or preceding the "work." The kitchen adjoins, and is opposite the elevator and stairs on the north.
The first floor is occupied by a theatre, and two offices are situ- ated in the front, one on each side of the main entrance.
The second floor front is occupied by the Penn Wheelmen, a non-Masonic organization, the theatre extending over the remaining portion.
The third floor is occupied by the Temple Club, and in the rear is a dance hall or dining hall capable of comfortably seating about 450. The food is served from the fourth floor kitchen by dumb- waiters.
The story of the erection of this temple is a sad one, from beginning to end. On January 21, 1896, a Stock Company was formed under Act of Assembly, and became known as the "Masonic Temple and Building Trust of Reading, Penna." It purchased the Wilhelm property, Nos. 121, 123 and 125 North Fifth Street, 60 x 230 feet, at a price of $19,250. The cornerstone of the proposed building, that was to cost about $65,000, was laid June 24, 1897, which was St. John the Baptist's Day.
The building plan was not fully completed and was rather in- definite as time has proven. By May, 1899, a total of $72,732.60 had been collected and expended and building operations came to a halt, while far from completion. Finally additional funds were forth- coming, and building operations resumed, with the following change in plans : The first floor was changed from a drill hall and head- quarters, for the Commanderies, to a theatre, and this necessitated
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raising the entrance, placing steps, and changing the theatre floor to an incline. (The original architect of the building asked to be re- lieved, as he had no knowledge of theatre construction, but was pre- vailed upon to complete the task with as little cost as possible.) The result was an unsatisfactory theatre that needed further change. The final cost was $210,000.
The first meeting in the new Masonic Temple was held by St. John's Lodge on October 3, 1892. All Masonic bodies occupied the building and there are now 14 bodies using the one Lodge Room. All of these organizations are hampered in their work by lack of space and meeting dates, the meetings of necessity being too long, and interest is lost. The fourth floor is absorbing almost the entire cost of the building, while the first three floors provide comparatively little revenue.
The following officers were elected at the Stated Meeting on December 1, 1903: Brothers Chester B. Jennings, Worshipful Mas- ter ; F. M. Machmer, Senior Warden; F. R. Fichthorn, Junior War- den; and all the other officers reelected.
Brother Howard C. Mohr, a resident of Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, paid his dues and asked to have the seal of the lodge at- tached to his receipt, stating that it is demanded by the Masonic authorities of that place. This was agreed to.
District Deputy Grand Master Brother Adam H. Schmehl made his first official visit to Chandler Lodge in February.
At the Stated Meeting on December 6, 1904, the following Brethren were duly elected officers for the ensuing Masonic year : Fred M. Machmer, Worshipful Master; Frank R. Fichthorn, Senior Warden; Harry J. G. Schad, Junior Warden, and all the other of- ficers reelected.
Payment of $20.81 was made to Lodge No. 61, of Wilkes-Barre to reimburse the three Brothers of that Lodge who accompanied the remains of Brother Robert Towns to Reading.
The Masonic Temple and Building Trust issued the following report on January 3, 1905 :
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Operating Account
Receipts
Balance in Bank January 1, 1902.
$ 816.21
Rent-Lodge Room
4,013.50
Rent-Hall
398.00
Rent-Theatre
3,500.00
Rent-Club Rooms'
1,295.00
Rent-Store Rooms
162.75
State taxes returned.
228.22
Total receipts 1904
$10,413.68
Operating Account
Expenditures $ 600.00
Salaries, Tyler
Salaries, Engineers
636.39
Salaries, Cleaners
226.13
Oil, Brushes, etc.
108.3I
Heat
625.55
Light
1,032.35
Taxes
1,128.50
Water
88.94
Insurance
991.25
Interest
2,624.00
Repairs
108.18
Total Expenditures, 1904
8,169.60
Leaving a Balance on January, 1905
$ 2,244.08
Brother Sydenham E. Ancona, P. M., who had resigned at a previous meeting of Chandler Lodge, was invited to attend the stated meeting of March 7, 1905, when a resolution passed at a previous meeting, and ordered to be engrossed, was presented to him by the now Senior P. M. E. J. Rauch. The resolution regretted the act of Brother Ancona in resigning from the lodge which he had so faith- fully served during the 56 years of its existence. Brother Ancona applied for and was elected to membership in 1907.
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