USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > History of Lodge no. 43, F. & A. M. : being the records of the first century of its existence > Part 10
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The Grand Master appears to admit that a subordinate Lodge has a right to complain of grievances which actually exist, and in a proper manner to attempt to remove those evils. The course pursued by the Brethern of Lodge No. 43, appears to your committee to be the only one which reason can dictate, and which Masonic rules would approbate; a right to pursue this course, we feel assured is inherent in every subordinate Lodge, and sooner than surrender this right we would surrender our chartered privileges.
The time selected by the Grand Lodge to pass a censure upon the conduct of Lodge No. 43, cannot fail to excite the just in- dignation of every subordinate Lodge in the Commonwealth. At a special meeting held at the most unfavorable season of the year for the attendance of country members, is chosen as the
108
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
time when it is to be determined that this Lodge is to be stricken from existence; and that too without notice, without being called upon to defend itself, and without an opportunity of be- ing heard, and by a tribunal not assembled on a regular day of meeting, but hastily assembled, perhaps for the express purpose, and when, we confidently believe, not a single member of the Grand Lodge was present, except those residing in the city and suburbs of Philadelphia.
If these things are done in the Green tree, what will be done in the Dry ?
We cannot close this report without expressing our astonish- ment that the measures adopted by this Lodge should meet the disapprobation of the Grand Lodge.
If the conduct of that Lodge has been fair and constitutional, why shrink from an investigation? If their acts will bear the scrutinizing inspection of a full and fair representation from all the constituent Lodges, they ought not only to approbate the course which this Lodge has pursued, but they ought to seek an enquiry, that not only suspicion itself, but all causes of suspicion may be removed. This disapprobation of our proceedings, ex- pressed by the Grand Lodge, ought to operate as an additional inducement to all subordinate Lodges to pursue the course which this Lodge has recommended.
Your committee would therefore submit for adoption the fol- lowing resolutions :-
I. Resolved, That a subordinate Lodge, being a constituent part of the Grand Lodge, has an inherent right to express its approbation or disapprobation of the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, to complain of grievances when they exist, to propose such alterations or amendments to the Constitution of the Grand Lodge, as they shall think proper, and to recommend calling a convention of Delegates to obtain these objects.
2. Resolved, That this Lodge will persist in the course which they have commenced, and if possible, will effect the objects ex- pressed in their circular of August last.
3. Resolved, That whatever necessity may have existed here- tofore for calling a convention, it is greatly augmented by the opposition which the measure has met with from the Grand Lodge.
4. Resolved, That the Secretary be directed to transmit copies of this report and these resolutions to the Grand Lodge, and to all the subordinate Lodges in this commonwealth, as soon as possible.
EBENEZER WRIGHT, JAMES BUCHANAN,
NATHANIEL LIGHTNER, GEORGE B. PORTER, JOHN REYNOLDS.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
A printed copy of this report and the resolutions attached was forwarded to the R. W. Grand Master, and was presented by him to the Grand Lodge at its adjourned communication, held November 4, 1822.
The following is an extract from the minutes of that meeting :
The Grand Master laid before the Grand Lodge, a second circular from Lodge No. 43, whereupon it was
. Resolved, That the warrant of Lodge No. 43 be called in, and that the Worshipful Master of that Lodge be and he is hereby directed and required, forthwith to return the same to the Grand Secretary.
At the stated meeting of Lodge No. 43, held Nov. 13, 1822, the Worshipful Master laid before the Lodge the following com- munication, which he had received from the Grand Secretary.
Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania : In adjourned Grand Quarterly Communication.
PHILADELPHIA, MONDAY, NOV. 4, A. D. 1822, A. L. 5822.
The R. W. Grand Master having laid before the Grand Lodge a second printed Circular from Lodge No. 43, dated at Lancas- ter the 16th of October, 1822, the Grand Lodge then proceeded to the consideration of the subject, whereupon, and on motion, made & seconded, the following resolutions were adopted :
Resolved, That the warrant of Lodge No. 43 be called in, and that the Worshipful Master of that Lodge be, and he is hereby directed & required to return the same to the Grand Secretary.
Resolved, That until Lodge No. 43 shall return to its Masonic faith & allegiance, & shall be reinstated in its former rights & priviledges, the different Lodges & Brethren under the juris- diction of this Grand Lodge be, and they are hereby pro- hibited from holding, with said Lodge No. 43, any Masonic fellowship or communion.
Extract from the minutes,
GEO. A. BAKER, Grd. Secretary.
Philadelphia, Nov. 9, 1822.
WORSHIPFUL SIR & BRO .: In compliance with the forego- ing resolution of the Grand Lodge I have to request you forth- with to return to me the Warrant of Lodge No. 43.
With sentiments of Respect I remain
W. Sir & Brother, Yours fraternally,
GEO. A. BAKER, Grd. Sec'y.
Bro. HENRY KEFFER, late WV. Master
of Late Lodge No. 43, Lancaster.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
The foregoing having been read, the following motion was adopted :
Resolved, Unanimously, that this Lodge cannot comply with the requisition of the Grand Lodge in the communication just read, and further that it knows of no reason why the Lodge should be deprived of its chartered privileges, and cannot admit under the circumstances of this case, the authority of the Grand Lodge to require a surrender of the same.
On motion, Resolved, That the Communication from the Grand Lodge be referred to Messrs. Wright, Buchanan, Rey- nolds, Lightner, Porter and Smith.
The Lodge, also at this meeting, selected delegates to repre- sent the Lodge in the Masonic Convention to be held at Harris- burg on the first Monday in January following. Brothers John Reynolds, George B. Porter, and Ebenezer Wright, were ap- pointed as said delegates with authority to fill any vacancy which might occur.
At an adjourned Communication of the Grand Lodge, held November 18, 1822, the following resolutions were, on motion, adopted :
Resolved, That the Worshipful Master, Wardens and Brethren of the late Lodge No. 43 at Lancaster, be and they are hereby cited to appear before the Grand Lodge on the third Monday in December next, to show cause why they should not individually, be suspended from the rights and privileges as Masons, until they shall return to their fidelity and allegiance to this Grand Lodge.
Resolved, That a personal attendance at the Grand Lodge, in compliance with the above resolution, shall not be required, and that such of the members of the said late lodge as shall on or before ยท the third Monday in December, communicate to the Grand Sec- retary, their dissent from the proceedings of the said lodge relative to the proposed convention to be held at Harrisburg, on the first Monday in January next, shall be, and they are hereby continued in the full enjoyment of their rights and privileges as Masons under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge.
A circular from Lodge No. . 152 at Easton, approving the proceedings of Lodge No. 43 was read, whereupon resolu- tions worded exactly similar to the above were adopted for Lodge No. 152. A printed copy of the above resolutions was forwarded by the Grand Secretary, to each member of Lodges No. 43 and 152.
A special meeting of Lodge No. 43 was held on Saturday
III
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
evening, November 23d, at which the committee to whom was referred the communication from the Grand Lodge, vacating the charter of this Lodge, presented their report, expressing their disapproval of the action of the Grand Lodge, etc. The char- ter, however, was forwarded to the Grand Secretary.
On the 26th of the same month the brethren again assembled in their hall. Bro. M. C. Rogers in the chair, and Bro. F. D. Hubley acting as Secretary.
Bro. Buchanan offered the following resolution which was unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That this meeting will appoint delegates to represent the members of the late Lodge No. 43, who have been cited to appear before the Grand Lodge on the third Monday of Decem- ber next, to show cause why they should not, individually, be suspended from their rights and privileges as Masons.
The following committee of five were appointed for that pur- pose, Bros. M. C. Rogers, Ebenezer Wright, James Buchanan, George B. Porter and Henry Keffer.
On motion it was resolved to hold an adjourned meeting on the second Wednesday of December following.
The following resolution was also adopted :
Resolved, That a general meeting of all the Masons in the county of Lancaster and elsewhere, who can make it convenient to attend, be held at the Lodge Room in Lancaster on Monday the 9th day of December next, at one o'clock, on business of much importance to the craft-and that notice of the same be published in all the newspapers of the county and be also for- warded as soon as practicable to the Worshipful Master of each Lodge in this county.
In pursuance of the above resolution and call the meeting took place as directed, and the following is a correct copy of the printed report of the same.
At a large and respectable meeting of free and accepted Masons, holden in pursuance of public notice, at the Lodge Room of late Lodge No. 43, in the city of Lancaster, December 9, 1822, Gen. Henry Hambright, of Lodge No. 46, Ephrata, was elected Chairman, and Dr. N. W. Sample, of Lodge No. 104, was elected Secretary.
The object of the meeting having been stated by the Chair- man, the several communications of Lodge No. 43 and the Grand Lodge were read ; whereupon it was
II2
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
Resolved, That a Committee of seven be appointed to draft such resolutions as should be expressive of the sentiments of the meeting respecting the unhappy differences between the Grand Lodge and late Lodge No. 43.
The Chairman then appointed Joel Lightner, of Lodge No. 104; Alexander L. Evans, of Lodge No. 116; Lewis Wisler, of Lodge No. 169; Gen. James Caldwell, of Lodge No. 104; Dr. Jacob Moore, of Lodge No. 156 ; James Sweny, of Lodge No. 169; Gardner Furniss, of Lodge No. 156-Which Committee having retired, at 6 o'clock, P. M. returned and submitted to the meeting the following preamble and resolutions :
The Committee to whom was referred the several Communica- tions from late lodge No. 43, and from the Grand Lodge, make the following
REPORT, That we have carefully examined the subject re- ferred to us, and while we do most sincerely deplore the unhappy differences which now exist between the Grand Lodge of this commonwealth and several of the subordinate Lodges, we do most heartily approbate the course pursued by our Brethren of late Lodge No. 43, held in this place.
A Convention of Delegates, from the several Masonic Lodges in this State, we conceive to be the only legitimate body which can correct those errors that now exist in the administration of Masonic Jurisprudence in Pennsylvania, and we regret that this course has not met the approbation of the Grand Lodge.
We would, therefore, recommend to our Masonic Brethren in this State, to unite in their efforts to restore this ancient and honorable Institution to its former purity. Therefore,
I. Resolved, That this meeting do approbate the conduct of those who have resisted the unjustifiable requisitions of the Grand Lodge, and have recommended a Convention to correct those errors which sad experience proves do now exist.
2. Resolved, That the course pursued by the Grand Lodge, in opposition to the contemplated reformation, is unjustifiable and oppressive.
3. Resolved, That we will, notwithstanding the opposition of the Grand Lodge, persevere in our endeavors to purge the Masonic Temple and restore this Honorable Institution to its ancient splendor.
JOEL LIGHTNER, ALEXANDER L. EVANS, LEWIS WISLER, JAMES CALDWELL, JACOB MOORE, JAMES SWENY, GARDNER FURNISS.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
Which preamble and resolutions being read, were unanimously adopted.
On motion, Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be signed by the Chairman and Secretary, and copies thereof be forthwith transmitted to the Grand Lodge and the several subordinate Lodges in this Commonwealth.
HENRY HAMBRIGHT, Chairman. N. W. SAMPLE, Secretary.
The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania held an adjourned com- munication on December 16, 1822, from the proceedings of which we present the following extract :
This being the evening appointed for hearing the citations issued against the late Lodges Nos. 43 and 152, the following communication was read :
The undersigned being appointed a committee on behalf of the Master, Wardens and Brethren of the late Lodge No. 43, are now ready and in attendance to show cause &c. and request to be admitted into the Grand Lodge.
MOLTON C. ROGERS, EBEN. WRIGHT, HENRY KEFFER, G. B. PORTER.
Whereupon, on motion, they were admitted.
The Grand Lodge then proceeded to the consideration of the citations. A Committee of Conference was appointed, and the following resolution was as a result thereof unanimously adopted :
Resolved, That the R. W. Grand Lodge and Lodge No 43 shall mutually rescind all proceedings in their respective Lodges relative to the matters in dispute and that the Warrant of Lodge No. 43 be returned to them.
The same proceedings took place in regard to' Lodge No. 152, at this same meeting.
The charter of Lodge No. 43 was again in the possession of its Master. The old Lodge, after a suspended animation of five weeks, was again a thing of life.
We have chronicled the events of this exciting period of the Lodge's history in the order and manner in which they occurred, without comment, and we now take leave of this unhappy per- iod with this single remark of extenuation :
At these early times, when there were no railroad facilities, when a dollar represented a five or ten fold value of the present time, attending meetings in Philadelphia became events of im-
8
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
portance. Hence the Lodges outside of Philadelphia and vi- cinity were poorly represented in the meetings of the Grand Lodge, and legislation, like the filling of the offices, was largely for Philadelphia. This naturally created dissatisfaction through- out the State. Add to this the misconceptions of the relation of subordinate to Grand Lodge, growing out of this inability to participate in the meetings, and from a want of proper and suf- ficient instruction, and we can readily perceive why the Lodges outside of Philadelphia should view the Grand Lodge as an arbitrary supreme court, whose rulings and actions they hoped to modify by resolutions and conventions, instead of regarding it as a body of which they were an inherent part, with a voice and vote in all its proceedings.
Reconciliation having been effected between the Grand Lodge and Lodge No. 43, and the charter returned, an extra meeting was held December 23, 1822.
This meeting was largely attended. The committee appointed to appear before the Grand Lodge on Monday, the 16th inst., made report, giving a detailed statement of the proceedings in the Grand Lodge, which resulted in a reconciliation between the Grand Lodge and Lodge No. 43, and the restoration of the charter to the Lodge. On motion, it was unanimously resolved that the thanks of the Lodge be presented to the committee who represented the Lodge before the Grand Lodge.
At this meeting an election of officers, to serve for the ensuing Masonic year, was held with the following result: Bro. James Buchanan, W. M .; Bro. Ebenezer Wright, S. W .; Bro. Rudolph C. Nagle, J. W. ; Bro. Benj. Ober, Treas. ; and Bro. Daniel Fuller, Sec.
At this time Bro. Buchanan was representing his district in Congress, and was not present at the meeting. Worshipful Master Bro. Henry Keffer, notified him, by letter, of his elec- tion. On receiving this notification Bro. Buchanan sent the fol- lowing reply in accepting the office.
WASHINGTON, 28th DECEMBER, 1822.
Dear Sir : I yesterday received yours of the 24th instant an- nouncing my unanimous election as Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 43. For this distinguished honor, please accept for yourself & present to the brethren my most grateful acknowledgments.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
You request me to be in Lancaster on the second Wednesday of January next for the purpose of being installed & taking the chair. This will be impossible without violating the duties which I owe to my constituents & to myself. Nothing of im- portance has yet been transacted in Congress nor is it expected there will be until after New Year's day. Immediately after that day all the important business of the session will press upon us ; in some of which our state is very materially interested. It will therefore be out of my power to comply with a request which would be so agreeable to my wishes as that of meeting my Masonic brethren in Lancaster on the second Wednesday of January next. I hope therefore that the Lodge in consideration of my peculiar situation will excuse my absence until the second Wednesday of March next. By that time I trust I shall have acquired sufficient Masonic information to enable me to preside over so respectable a Lodge as No. 43 without disgracing them or myself.
I should be glad to hear from you soon . In the mean time I remain yours fraternally,
MR. HENRY KEFFER.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
At the extra meeting held on St. John's day the officers were installed, with the exception of the Worshipful Master, who was unable to be present.
During the year 1822, two members were initiated, one ad- mitted, four withdrew and two were suspended.
This year witnessed the beginning of the custom of the ap- pointment of District Deputy Grand Masters, and to R. W. Grand Master Josiah Randall belongs the credit of instituting this important office in the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania.
At a meeting of the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge, held January 6, 1812, a resolution was adopted recommending the ap- point ment of District Deputy Grand Masters. No appointments were, however made at that time, and no further action in the matter, was taken until 1822, when R. W. Grand Master Randall made the first appointments. On December 27, 1823, the coun- ties of Lancaster, York and Lebanon were apportioned into a district, to be known as District No. 1, and the retiring Wor- shipful Master of Lodge No. 43, Bro. James Buchanan, was appointed District Deputy Grand Master.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
The Masonic convention which had been called to meet at Harrisburg on January 7, 1823, was duly held on that date. The following is a copy of the circular report of its proceedings, which was sent to every Lodge in the jurisdiction.
MASONIC CONVENTION.
At a meeting of the Delegates from sundry Lodges and other Masons, under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsyl- vania, held at Harrisburg, in the Lodge Room of Perseverance Lodge, No 21, the following Brethren present :
Hon. Edward Herrick, Lodge No. 70, E. Wright, 43, J. D. Biles, 144, H. Frick, 144, C. Gleim, 141, Jonah Brewster, 149, John M'Meens, 106, Ethan Baldwin, 163, G. R. Horter, 21, W. Holbrook, Gen. John H. Wise, 64, H. Minshall, 159, John De Pui, 153, Jeremiah Rees, 21, John Stanley, 119, I. M'Cord, 21, William Greer, 21, Joel Bailey, 21, J. Brubaker, 141, Dr. Thomas T. Huston, 70, and N. B. Wood, 21.
The Hon. Edward Herrick was called to the chair, and Bro- ther N. B. Wood, Esq., was appointed Secretary. The object of the meeting being stated from the chair, whereupon a motion was made and read as follows :
Resolved, That a committee be appointed to draft certain res- olutions expressive of the sense of this Masonic Convention, which was agreed to and the resolution adopted, whereupon the Convention appointed Brothers C. Forward, Wood, Biles, Bald- win and Huston. On motion,
Resolved, That all Masons under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, in this place, be requested to attend the meeting of the delegates in this Convention this evening, at six o'clock.
N. B. WOOD, Sec'y.
Adjourned until that hour.
Same day, 6 o'clock, P. M. The Convention met, in pursu- ance of adjournment. The Hon. Edward Herrick in the chair, and N. B. Wood, Secretary. The following Brethren present : Hon. Edward Herrick, delegate 70 | William Myer, Esq., delegate 108 Dr. Thomas T. Huston, do 70 David R. Porter, Esq., do 178
Ethan Baldwin, Esq., do 163 A. Beaumont, Esq., do 61
do 144 J. D. Biles,
do
144 John Stanley, do 119 21
H. Frick, Esq., Joel Bailey, do
2I
N. B. Wood, Esq.,
George R. Horter, do
21
C. Forward, Esq.,
William Greer, do 21
W. Holbrook, 21
Christian Gleim,
do
141
I. M'Cord, 21
Joseph Brubaker,
Samuel Power, Esq.,
Jonah Brewster, Esq., do
149 William Diven, Esq., 123
John Huss, Esq., do 116
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
James Wright,
21 | John M'Meens, Esq., 106
Fred'k Eichelberger, Esq.,
John M. Eberman,
21
John A. Fisher, Esq.,
Hon. Rees Hill, 153
Henry M'Kinney,
Dr. James Roberts,
21
Samuel Bryan,
Adam Hays, Esq.,
153
Gen. John H. Wise, 64
John Zearing, 21
John A. Kurtz, 21
Ebenezer Wright, Esq., 43
John De Pui, Esq., 153
Nathaniel B. Eldred, del. 147
John Reynolds, Esq., 43
Thomas Wallace.
Robert M'Clure, Esq.,
106
Richard T. Jacobs, 21
Henry Keffer, 43
Henry Minshall, 159
T. Kirk, Esq.,
Jeremiah Rees, 21
John Ryan, Esq.,
121
John Buffington.
The committee who had been appointed in the morning, made report, which was read as follows, to wit :
The committee appointed by the meeting, composed of dele- gates from a number of the Subordinate Lodges, held under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and numerous other Brethren of the Masonic Fraternity, convened at Harris- burg, on the first Monday of January, 1823, to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the said meeting,
REPORT-That they view with deep concern the differences existing between the Grand and Subordinate Lodges of this State. That being extremely anxious to reconcile all such diff- erences, to establish said Lodges in the legitimate exercise of their proper and respective rights, do respectfully represent to the Grand Lodge, that in the opinion of this committee, and in the opinion of the Brethren generally, as far as has come to the knowledge of this committee, very great dissatisfaction with the rules and proceedings of the Grand Lodge generally prevails. That, in the opinion of this committee, the Grand Lodge, will- ing to lend an attentive ear to the complaints of the Masonic Family, will not hesitate to consider such measures as may be suggested for the good of the craft, with such due regard as they are justly entitled to receive.
For years past the Subordinate Lodges have had little influence in the proceedings of the Grand Lodge. They have paid their dues, as in duty bound, but have received no equivalent for the same. A great diversity in the mode of working in the different Lodges, prevails throughout the State. The committee believe this is an evil of serious magnitude : But this is not all: the Ma- sonic Family of Pennsylvania are, in many instances, excluded from participation in the meetings of the craft, in other parts of the world, by reason of the peculiar regulations of their Grand Lodge. This is an hardship not to be borne. The principles of Masonry are universal, and its privileges should be coextensive with them, else we lose its benefits, and Masonry loses its charms. In full
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
confidence of the justice of these remarks, and to remedy all the grievances complained of by our Brethren, and further believing that a knowledge of our wants will ensure the prompt interfer- ence of the Grand Lodge, we submit to their consideration, the following resolutions, with a full reliance on their justice.
Resolved, That the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania shall con- sist of the Masters and Wardens of the Subordinate Lodges, for the time being.
2. That all Past Masters shall be entitled to a seat in the Grand Lodge, with power to vote on all abstract questions of Masonry ; but they shall have no power to vote in any question of taxation, or right claimed by the Grand Lodge over a Subordinate Lodge.
3. That the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania shall have no power to tax a Subordinate Lodge, by dues, dispensation, or otherwise, without the consent of a majority of the whole of the Subordi- nate Lodges first obtained, either by resolutions of the Lodges transmitted to the Grand Lodge, under the seals of the Subordi- nate Lodges, or by a personal representation of those Lodges, through their officers in the Grand Lodge, at some regular Grand Quarterly Communication.
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