USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > History of Lodge no. 43, F. & A. M. : being the records of the first century of its existence > Part 2
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Provided always that the said above named Brethren and their successors pay due respect to the Right Worshipfull Grand Lodge from whom they have their authority, otherwise this Warrant to be of no Force or Virtue.
Given under our hands and the seal of the Grand Lodge, at Philadelphia, this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, and of Masonry Five thousand seven hundred eighty and five.
JOSEPH HOWELL, Jur., Gd. Sec'y.
L. S. GAVIN HAMILTON, Treas.
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INTRODUCTION.
Notwithstanding the Charter of Lodge No. 43 was granted April 21, 1785, no further movement towards organization was made until July following, when Grand Master William Adcock issued the following dispensation :
By virtue of the power in me vested. I do hereby authorize and empower our worthy Bro. Solomon Etting (Past Master), to install in due form, our trusty and well belov'd Brethren Stephen Chambers, Master, John Doyle, Senior Warden, and Henry Stuber, Junior Warden, of Lodge No. 43, to be held in the Borough of Lancaster, in the State of Pennsylvania, or any where within five miles of the same.
Given under my hand and seal at Philadelphia, the fourteenth day of July, 1785.
Attest,
Signed, M. JENNINGS, D. G. Sec'y.
WILL ADCOCK [G. M. ].
For some reason, which is nowhere set forth, two months were again permitted to intervene before the next step towards organization was taken. On the night of September 14, 1785, the seven original members assembled at the Public House of Frederick Hubley, which was situated on the Southeast Corner of South Queen and Vine Streets, and then and there formally constituted Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M., which act of consti- tution consisted in simply installing the Worshipful Master, Senior and Junior Wardens, as empowered and directed by the Grand Master's dispensation of July 14th.
It was the custom in those days to hold all public and lodge meetings in taverns, as they were the only large buildings, be- sides churches, and the only buildings provided with the neces- sary conveniences.
Lodge No. 43, in point of numbers, is the eighth oldest Lodge now working under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania. Those bearing the lower numbers, are Nos. 2, 3, 9, and 19, of Philadelphia, 21, of Harrisburg, 22, of Sunbury, and 25, of Bristol. But in point of years No. 43 is really seventh, as No. 19 was originally an army lodge, whose charter was sur- rendered, and in January, 1787, a charter was granted to a Philadelphia lodge to be known as No. 19.
The next oldest lodge to No. 43, in Lancaster county, was
22
INTRODUCTION.
No. 46, which was warranted June 7, 1790, was first held at Churchtown, removed to Ephrata, June 2, 1800, vacated April 7, 1806, reinstated, September 1, 1806, removed to New Hol- land November 16, 1812, to Ephrata June 24, 1813, and to Litiz, September 4, 1826, where it died a natural death.
Unity Lodge No. 80 also existed for a time in Lancaster county. It was warranted June 3, 1799 ; was first held at the "United States Arms" inn, in Sadsbury township, Chester county ; on September 1, 18co, moved to Rising Sun tavern, Salisbury township, Lancaster county, where it remained until April 7, 1801, when it was again moved to Chester county, and its charter was vacated October 3, 1808.
The next Lancaster County Lodge, in age, was Philanthropic Lodge No. 104, which was held at the house of Peter Forney in Leacock township. Its charter was granted January 21, 1805. As a number of Brethren, members of Lodge No. 43, residing in the neighborhood of Strasburg, withdrew from the Lodge for the purpose of forming this new Lodge, it was the first legitimate offspring of Lodge No. 43.
Amicitia Lodge No. 116, first located at Elizabethtown, was warranted September 3, 1810, and afterwards removed to Mari- etta. The two latter have not been in existence for many years.
Next in age comes Washington Lodge No. 156; charter granted February 21, 1818; Lodge first held at Chestnut Level, now Drumore Centre. This is the oldest living offspring of Lodge No. 43.
Eastern Star Lodge No. 169 existed for a short time in Co- lumbia. It was warranted September 6, 1819.
Columbia Lodge No. 286 is next in age. Its charter is dated December 19, 1853. Like Washington Lodge, it is living and prosperous.
Next comes Ashara Lodge No. 398, at Marietta, charter granted September 5, 1867.
Next in order is Colerain Lodge No. 417, charter granted March 4, 1868. Was first located a Kirkwood, now at Chris- tiana.
Next is Lamberton Lodge No. 476, of Lancaster, charter granted June 1, 1870.
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INTRODUCTION.
Then, Charles M. Howell Lodge No. 496, at Safe Harbor, charter granted June 7, 1871.
And finally Casiphia Lodge No. 551, at Mount Joy, charter granted June 6, 1877.
Lodge No. 43 smiles with maternal affection upon her seven living daughters, and rejoices in their prosperity.
HISTORY
OF
LODGE No. 43, F. & A. M.
CHAPTER I.
1785-1795.
ON the fourteenth day of September, A. D. 1785, A. L. 5785, Stephen Chambers, Henry Dering and Solomon Etting, Past Masters, and John Doyle, Henry Stuber, Adam Hubley, Jr., and William Feltman, Master Masons, all residents of the Borough of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, having determined to or- ganize a Masonic Lodge and having made all of the necessary preliminary arrangements, including the obtaining a charter and the authority to constitute their Lodge, assembled at the Public House of Frederick Hubley, at which place they had made arrangements for holding their meetings, and then and there formally constituted and started upon its checquered and histor- ical career, our venerable and cherished Lodge.
The records of the proceedings of that first meeting of the Lodge, as preserved in our first minute book, we deem of suffi- cient interest to present in full. They are as follows :
Bv Virtue of a Dispensation granted by the Right Worship- ful William Adcock Esquire, Grand Master-
To Solomon Etting, Past Master.
On the night of the Fourteenth day of September, 1785, at the House of Frederick Hubley .-
Was Enstalled
Stephen Chambers, Master. John Doyle, Sen' Warden, Henry Stuber, Jun' Warden
of Lodge Number 43, in due form .--
(24)
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
The Worshipfull Master then appointed Solomon Etting Treasurer, William Feltman Secretary, Henry Dering Sen" Deacon & Adam Hubley Jun' Deacon, accordingly.
Entered Apprentices Lodge opened in due form.
Present-
Stephen Chambers Mast". John Doyle Sen™
Henry Stuber Jun™ Wardens.
Henry Dering Sen™
Adam Hubley Jun™ Deacons.
William Feltman Secretary.
After the usual ceremonies the Master appointed Brother Henry Dering & Solomon Etting to investigate matters respect- ing the Lodge. To prepare the necessarys wanting, & to pro- vide a Tyler, first examining into his character, & make report thereof at the next Stated Lodge night .- Appointed to be on Wednesday the 12th day of October.
Lodge Closed (in Harmony) until then, unless sooner called, in case of emergency.
It is the universal custom in all organized bodies, as one of their first official acts, to adopt by-laws or rules for their future governance. If any such measure was acted upon at. this first meeting, no record has been kept. In fact we find no mention in the minutes of any By-laws being adopted until the meeting held July 12, 1786. where the following extract appears : "The By-laws of this Lodge, being read and approved of and were accordingly signed by each Bro. present." We find, in the front portion of the first minute book, on the pages preceding the minutes of the first meeting, a set of By-laws with the signatures of a number of the Lodge's earliest members ap- pended ; and, notwithstanding the fact that they are marked as adopted September 14, 1785, yet from the above quoted minutes of July 12, 1786, and no other By-laws noted earlier, as well as from the character of the By-laws themselves, we are of opinion that they were not all at least adopted at the first meeting of the Lodge, but were probably framed at different times as the neces- sities of the case required.
We herewith append a copy of these first By-laws as they appear in the book, with the signatures attached :
BYE-LAWS of Lodge N. 4,, of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons held in the Borough of Lancaster in the State of Penn- sylvania. By Virtue of a Warrant to Brother Stephen Cham-
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
bers, Master, Brother John Doyle Senior Warden, Brother Henry Stuber, Jun" Warden and their Successors being duly Congregated, for ever Granted by the Grand Lodge of Ancient Masons in the City of Philadelphia,
The Right Worshipful, William Adcock Grand Master, Alex- ander Rutherford Deputy Grand Master, George Ord, Senior Grand Warden, William Tilton Junior Grand Warden, with the Consent of the Lodge bearing Date the Twenty first day of April, In the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven Hun- dred & Eighty five And in the year of Masonry Five Thousand Seven Hundred & Eighty Five.
Article Ist. That the regular & Stated Meetings of this Lodge Shall be on the Second Wednesday of every Month, that the Lodge shall be Open'd in half an hour after the time of meeting and the list of the Brethren's Names call'd over by the Secretary, or the Brother that officiates for him .-
2dly. That the Officers of this Lodge shall serve for one whole year Except in case of Misconduct, but if any Brother shall refuse to serve when chosen by a Majority regularly met he shall Pay a Fine of Ten Shillings to the Charity Fund.
3ly. That any Person well Recommended, who desires to have the Degrees of Masonry Confir'd on him in this Lodge shall apply to the Secretary to draw his Petition for which he shall pay the Sum of Three Shillings & Nine pence, which Petition shall remain for One Month in the Lodge before he is Balloted for to give time to the Brethren to enquire into his character and Judge of the Propriety of admitting him, at the expiration of which time he shall be ballotted for if requir'd upon which ballotting, One Black Ball shall be sufficient to ex- clude his admission but if the whole be white he shall Pay be- fore his initiation the Sum of Six Pounds to be deposited in the Hands of the Treasurer .-
Any Brother an Ancient Mason of a fair Character Petitioning to become a member of this Lodge on producing a Certificate & found worthy of becoming a Member, on his Admittance shall pay into the Hands of the Treasurer Thirty Shillings for the benefit of the Lodge. And Three Shillings & Nine Pence to the Secretary for enrolment, in both Cases, the Persons so admitted is to pay the expenses of the Night, if it be an Extra Lodge called for that purpose, but not otherwise, and no Degree of Masonry to be conferr'd unless the Initiation Fees are De- posited in the Hands of the Treasurer. In case of not being found worthy the money so deposited to be return'd to the Person who Petitioned.
4th. That no Brother come to the Lodge without Money to Pay the Expenses of the Night, each member paying into the
27
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
Secretary or any other person appointed Two Shillings & Six pence which the expences of the Lodge in Lodge Hours is not to exceed : And to be collected Just as the Lodge is going to be Closed and if any of the Cash be left unexpended, the Secretary or Person apointed after paying the House shall be accountable for the overpluss and a Minute made of it in the transactions of the night and that Money Dispos'd of as the Officers of the Lodge & a Majority of the Brethren in an Open Stated Lodge shall think fit.
5th. That no Brother be introduc'd as a Visitor in lodge Hours till he is first try'd and aprov'd of, by the report given to the Chair or well known by two or more Members then pres- ent to be a Lawful Ancient Mason & not upon such knowledge if two or more Brothers desire a examination & report.
6th. That when the Master or Deputy takes the Chair and calls to Order then the Brethren shall take their Seats also, and on the Third Stroke of the Masters Hammor there shall be a profound silence and whoever breaks it without leave from the Chair shall be publickly repremanded. Neither shall any hold Private Conference in lodge Hours, nor move about from their Seats without leave of the Master or his Deputy.
7th. That but one of the Brethern shall Speak at the same time and but once to the same Affair unless to explain himself or when call'd upon by the Chair.
8th. That every Brother that Speaks shall rise & keep stand- ing adressing himself to the Chair nor shall any presume to In- terrupt him under the Penalty of being Publickly repremanded as Aforesaid, the Master may call any Member to order who is not a speaking to the Point or question in debate.
9th. That whoever shall be so rude as to hiss a Brother or at what he shall say or has said or redicule or attempt to redicule him or what he has said (and it shall be so Judg'd of by a ma- jority of the Lodge) shall be Publickly reprimanded & if thought necessary by a Majority of the Lodge Publickly confess his fault & upon neglect or refusal so to do he shall be expell'd the Lodge.
Ioth. That any Member that is twice call'd to order at any one assembly for the same offence & is oblidg'd to be call'd on a third time for one of the same Nature, then the Master shall order him to depart from the Lodge for that Night & and the next time of meeting shall Pay a fine of One Shilling to the Charity Fund.
IIth. That any Brother who shall cause any angry dispute to the disturbance of the Brethern in the Lodge, either open or shut, shall be fined Five Shillings, & upon neglect or refusal to pay, shall be expell'd the Lodge and all the Benefits thereof,
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
it shall however be in the Power of the Master & a Majority of the Lodge to Pardon this Offence upon his Submission & re- pentance, and restore him to his Place in the Lodge he paying Ten Shillings to the Charity Fund.
12th. That any Brother who shall profanely Curse or Swear shall for the First Offence Pay Six pence, for the Second One Shilling, for the Third One Shilling & Six Pence and for the Fourth excluded the Communication for the Night.
13th. That no Brother shall Sue or go to Law with an other (in ordinary Cases) 'till he first makes his Complaint to the Master who shall lay the same before the Lodge & if the matter can't be there amicably settled then the party complaining shall obtain leave of the Master to bring his Suit at Law. But to prevent the inconveniency that may attend the above Article either for Conscience sake or otherwise, It's Enacted that the above Law shall not be deem'd or constructed to extend further between Brother & Brother, then as to any Quarrell, Difference or in Ordinary Cases and not with regard to Debts or Contracts. But that every Brother in such Cases shall Judge for himself what is right to be done According to the Land Marks in his own Brest.
14th. That any member of this Lodge who shall be at the Entring, Passing or Raising in a Clandestine manner (that is to say without the Authority of a warrant) any Person or Persons, he or they so offending shall be expell'd & Render'd forever unfit for the Communion of this Lodge and incapable of receiv- ing any of the Benefits arising from it.
15th. That, Provided this Lodge be not furnished with a Tyler paid for that Purpose, the youngest member of this Lodge, if not a Past Master, shall serve the summons's and Tile untill a Stated Tiler be provided any if and refuse to do this duty he shall Pay a fine of Seven Shillings & Six pence to the Charity fund, and the next youngest to do said duty etc.
16th. That no motion for a New regulation in those Laws or Articles shall be made until it be first handed up to the Master in writing and after it has been perus'd by him he is to hand it to ye Secretary who shall publickly Read it, if the motion be Seconded it shall be immediately committed to the consideration of the whole assembly, that their sentiments may be heard about it. After which the Question shall be put by the Chair for the Bretherns determination.
17th. That any Brother that it shall be prov'd against to have carried out to any Person or Persons, not of this Body, any Part or Parts of the conversation, Act or Actions, Thing or Things, done or said in this Lodge, Open or clos'd, shall be Dealt with According to the Nature of the Offence either by Fine
29
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
or otherwise at the discretion of the Lodge, or committee, if it be left to them, as they shall Judge for the good of this Society & the honour to the Craft.
18th. That those our By-Laws shall be read to every Brother made here or enter'd amongst us, the first Night of their being so made or enter'd, who shall sign the same, and must always lay open for the perusual of the Brethern the better to be inade acquainted therewith being of such meterial consequence to every well dispos'd Brother.
19th. That all or any Extraordinary Expences that shall now or hereafter be wanted as Payment for House Rent, Fire wood, Candles & all Utensials for the use of this Lodge shall be paid out of the publick Fund.
20th. That the Committee of this Lodge shall be & consist of the Master, Deputy Master, pass'd Master, Sen' and Jun" Wardens, Treasurer & Secretary, which when regularly met either by appointment or Summond by order of the Master any Five of them shall be a Quoram, and shall do the business for which they are so met provided, the Master, Deputy or pass'd Master preside to the Chair in whom the Issuing the charity & setling all Affairs Refer'd to them by the Lodge according to those Laws & Articles for Charity, & the Regulating this Lodge together with the known usages & Customs of the Antient Craft shall be that to which they shall conform and Confine themselves but if any Debate shall happen to arise the Majority of Votes then present shall determin. Always allow- ing the Chair Two Votes if occasion require.
2Ist. That it shall be the business of the Committee to see that all collections, Contributions, Fines, & other charitable Sums of Money of what kind or nature soever that shall be at any time Brought into this Lodge shall be deposited in the Box, & shall not be disburs'd on any Account whatever with- out an order from the Master or Him that presides, or the Secre- tary by their Order.
22d. That neither the Master Secretary or any other Person shall give or sign any Order on the Treasurer for any Sum of Money untill the same be first approv'd of by a Majority of the Committee then present and it shall be enter'd in the transac- tion Book together with the Names of the Person or Persons to whom the same is to be given.
23d. That no Anonymous letter or Petition or Recommenda- tion by or from any Person on any Account whatsoever be In- troduced or read to this Committee, and that any Person who shall petition this Lodge or Committee for Charity shall be well known to be at least One whole year a Contributing Member to the Fund, or a Traveling Brother who is known to be in Real want & well recommended.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
24th. That no Petition shall be receiv'd or read to or by this Committee but what shall be sign'd with the Names of at least three of the Members of the Lodge and the Merits of the Peti- tioner well vouch'd by them or some worthy Brethern who shall have Personal Knowledge thereof, & no Person shall prefer or bring in any Petition to this Committee but one of the members that signs it, the Petitioner attending in Person except in case of Sickness Lameness or Imprisonment.
25th. That it shall be the Inherant power of this Committee to dispose of the Fund for Charitable Uses & no other (except such Cases as mentioned in Article's 18th & 19th) and that only to such Person or Persons who shall appear by their Petition & Voucher to be in real want of Charitable & Brotherly Assistance & not exceeding the sum of Forty Shillings at any one time, or otherwise to supply them with weekly support as they shall Judge most necessary.
26th. That no Brother who has receiv'd Assistance from this Lodge or Committee of Charity shall Petition a Second time unless some New & well attested Allagation appear, no any Brother who has been made in a Clandestine way, nor any as- sisting at such Irregular making shall be Intitled to receive any assistance therefrom.
27th. That it shall be the Indispensible right of this Lodge to Order the Committee to meet when they shall Judge it neces- sary, who shall then have it in their power to Ajourn them- selves from time to time as the Business may require at any time between the Monthly meeting of the Lodge. Where all the proceedings of the Committee shall be read in order to inform the Lodge of the Charity Extended, and to receive their Con- curance in any matter that may be Refered to them.
28th. That the Committee shall be Allow'd One & Six Pense pr. man at every Meeting on the Business of the Lodge Between its regular_ Meetings & no more to be paid out of the common Stock.
29th. That this Lodge in Case a Brother's Death being a member of this Lodge at least one year, We Shall take Care of the Children of the deceased Brother & provide for them If they are Objects, as far as the Circumstances of the Lodge will Admit in Order to School them & put them to Trades so as they may become Usefull to Society as their Fathers had been.
30th. That if the Widow of a Deceas'd Brother being a Mem- ber of this Lodge for at least one Year shall be left in Distress'd Circumstances she shall be Intitled to the Benefits in the same way & manner as the Deceas'd did in his life time, & shall be reliev'd at the Discretion of the Committee of Charity on proper Application, &c. &c. &c.
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
3Ist. The Committee of this Lodge Mett according to ap- pointment to Consider of the Business refer'd to them on the Quarterly Meetings and after mature Consideration, Agreed that in as much as the Brethern has been at Considerable Expences from time to time in providing for & bearing the necessary Ex- pences of the Lodge, It's therefore thought Reasonable & it is Accordingly Agreed upon.
That all Money arising to this Body for Entering, passing, & Raising in this Lodge, and also for the Initiating of Members not made here & Likewise all those Fines that shall become due from the Brethren not appearing according to their Sum- mon's on Stated Lodge Nights &c. Shall be for the providing all Necessaries & Paying all such Expences as the Brethren & the Officers of the Lodge, When properly Summon'd on Stated Nights shall agree for the care of the Brethren and the Honour of the Craft, untill such time as we are thoroly Furnish'd with proper Meterials for Carrying on our Work in a Prosperous Manner.
32d. All Clandestine Masons who shall apply to be admitted, Members of this Lodge, shall make the applications in the same manner as all other Persons who Pray to become Brothers & shall be treated in all other respects in the same way & shall Pay Six Pounds to the Charity Fund.
33d. Whereas, by the By-Laws of the Grand Lodge for the Province of Pennsylvania it is enacted in By-Law No. 2, that every member of a regular constituted Lodge under the Provincial Grand Warrant shall Pay Quarterly & every Quarter One Shil- ling to the Charity Fund of the said Lodge: But the members of the said Grand Lodge have been graciously Pleased to abate one-half of the said Sum & to demand no more than Six Pence pr Quarter. And Whereas in By-Law No. 16 of this Lodge it is enacted "That each Member of this Lodge shall Pay One Shilling pr Month to the Charity Fund over & above the ex- pense of the Stated Lodge Nights." And Whereas several of the Brethren of this Lodge are now in arrear in the Payments above mentioned But a sufficient Remedy to redress these Griev- ances is much wanted, By reason whereof the Charity Fund is without the support necessary for so noble and Praise-worthy an Institution. Therefore to remedy the Inconveniencies above mention'd and to prevent their Continuance in time to come, It is hereby Unanimously Agreed & Consented to that every member who is or hereafter shall be in Arrear in the Payment above mentioned & so shall continue for the Space of Six Stated Lodge Nights shall (upon notice either written or verbal given him of his so being in arrear & requesting his Payment & at- tendance at the Lodge Room on the 4th, 5th, & 6th, Nights succes-
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HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
sively) be excluded the benefit of this Lodge & all advantages arising therefrom unless payment as aforesaid be made & Grace be granted within two Stated Lodge Nights thereafter by a Majority of the members then to be present. Provided that this By-Law shall not be strain'd construed or meant to extend to those who shall dwell at or above the distance of Fifty miles from the Borough of Lancaster, or to those who shall be regu- larly initiated in any other regular constituted Body of Antient Masons (and that be duly made appear for which purpose the Examination of the Member so absent or Initiated taking ac- cording to the Rules of Masons in such Cases shall be sufficient) or to those who shall have taken regular discharges from this Body.
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