USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > History of Lodge no. 43, F. & A. M. : being the records of the first century of its existence > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23
An application having been made to the Lodge for the rental of the Lodge room by the Register- and Comptroller-Generals, and finding they could benefit their depleted treasury by this means, the Brethren determined to so rent the room and hold the meetings of the Lodge elsewhere. At the October meeting it was unanimously agreed to rent a room for Lodge meetings in the public house of Robert Wilson, which was situated on the south- west corner of South Queen and German streets, and known as the Indian King. This room was secured at an annual rental of
56
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
twelve dollars, and in this place the Lodge continued to hold its meetings until June 24, 1809.
The first grand visitation with which Lodge No. 43 was ever honored was on December 19, 1803, at which time, at an extra meeting called for the purpose, the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Israel Israel, honored the Lodge with his presence. On rising, the Grand Master expressed his approbation at the man- ner in which the business of the Lodge had been conducted, and stated that he was well pleased with the order, decorum and harmony that prevailed. During the year 1803, six members were initiated, one admitted, and one withdrew.
The first business of importance transacted in the beginning of the year 1804 was the amendment of the By-Laws in the mat- ter of dues and fees. These alterations were as follows :
A petition for initiation and membership must be accompanied by a fee of ten ($10.00) dollars, which sum shall be in payment of his initiation. Before he can be passed to the degree of a Fellow Craft Mason, he must pay the additional sum of six ($6.00) dollars, and on being raised to the degree of a Master Mason, he must pay the further sum of four ($4.00) dollars. He shall also pay on the night of his initiation, to the Tyler, the sum of one dollar ; to the Secretary for enrolling, half a dol- lar, and to the Treasurer, for the use of the Grand Lodge Char- ity Fund, the sum of five shillings.
Every member was required to pay one shilling quarterly for the use of the Grand Lodge Charity Fund, and one shilling on each stated night for the use of the charity fund of this Lodge. The fee for membership was placed at four ($4.00) dollars, which was also for the use of the charity fund.
At the June meeting, the following Brethren were elected officers for the ensuing six months : Bro. Wm. Kirkpatrick, W. M .; Bro. Robt. McElwee, S. W .; Bro. Wm. Boyd, J. W .; and Bro. E. H. Halstead was appointed Secretary. Bro. Halstead died before his term of office had expired.
At the stated meeting in December a petition, addressed to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and signed by Bros. Joel Lightner, Wm. Russell, Samuel Ramsey, Joshua Bowman, Wm. Henderson, Eli Thomas, Jesse Cloud, Isaac W. Vanleer, George
57
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
Eckert, Joseph Lefever, and Nathaniel Watson, all residing in the neighborhood of Strasburg, was presented and read, pray- ing to be erected into a separate Lodge, also petitioning Lodge No. 43 to permit them to withdraw from the Lodge, and to re- commend the Grand Lodge to grant them a Charter. The prayer of the petitioners was granted, and they were warranted by the Grand Lodge on January 21, 1805. This was the first Lodge which grew out of the membership of No. 43. It was named Philanthropic Lodge, No. 104, and its meetings were held at the public house of Peter Forney, in Leacock township.
The December election resulted in a reëlection of all the officers then in the chairs.
During the year 1804, eight members were initiated, one was admitted, one withdrew, and one died. The brethren who offered their resignations for the purpose of forming Lodge No. 104, did not comply with the by-laws until the January meeting of 1805, hence their withdrawal is credited to that year.
CHAPTER III.
1805-1815.
THE year 1805 did not open very auspiciously for the Lodge. The meetings were slimly attended, the officers found great difficulty in collecting from the members the money due the Lodge, the Lodge was still in debt for the erection of the hall, and had been for some time delinquent in its Grand Lodge dues.
The Lodge had neglected their Grand Lodge dues so long, and they had accumulated to such an amount, that at the meeting of the Grand Lodge held May 14th, it was resolved that unless they were paid within six months, the warrant of the Lodge would be suspended. An examination of the Treasurer's ac- counts at this time shows the following as the assets of the Lodge :
Sundry Book Accounts considered good £124.14. 4
Ditto bad & doubtful 96. 6. 9
Notes & Specialities (good) . . 24. 5.10. Ditto (doubtful) 52. 7. 0 Total .
£390. 3. 5
Apparent Cash balance in the hands of Treasurer £92. 9. 612
The Worshipful Master and Treasurer were directed to col- lect the amount due for rent of Lodge room and to apply all the available funds towards liquidating the debts and Grand Lodge dues. The straitened circumstances of the Lodge, as well as the generosity, liberality and fraternal devotion of its Worship- ful Master, Bro. Wm. Kirkpatrick, is apparent from the fact that the Lodge, after paying its other pressing debts, was only able to raise twenty-five dollars, and the W. M., from his pri- vate resources, contributed twenty-five dollars additional towards the payment of the Grand Lodge dues.
In forwarding these fifty dollars, the Lodge presented a can-
( 58)
59
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
did statement of its embarrassed financial condition, and re- spectfully petitioned the Grand Lodge for a remission of the balance of its indebtedness.
To the credit of the Grand Lodge be it said, that it gener- ously accepted the fifty dollars as settlement in full for the Grand Lodge dues of Lodge No. 43, to St. John's day, June 24, 1885. By this generous act on the part of the Grand Lodge new life was infused into the Lodge and renewed interest awak- ened among its members. From this time the Lodge assumed a more flourishing condition, meeting its current expenses, pay- ing with regularity its Grand Lodge dues, improving its furniture and regalia, and soon having a surplus fund.
At the stated meeting in June, the officers of the Lodge were reelected and Bro. B. Lauman was appointed Secretary and Bro. John Stone Deputy Secretary ; the latter a new office.
For the first twenty-five or thirty years of the Lodge's exis- tence, it was the rule and custom whenever a brother received his first or entered apprentice degree, for the Worshipful Master to appoint two experienced members as his guardians or instruc- tors. Certainly no harm could grow out of so excellent a pro- ceeding.
The officers of the Lodge were again reelected at the Decem- ber meeting :
At the close of the year, owing to the discharge of various debts, the Lodge was indebted to the Treasurer one pound, thirteen shillings, while the outstanding amount due the Lodge was £252.0.0. Three members were initiated during the year and eleven withdrew.
At the stated meeting of June 11, 1806, Bro. John Gallagher was elected J. W., Bro. Wm. Greer was appointed Secretary, and the other officers were reelected.
At the December meeting the following Brethren were elected officers of the Lodge : Robert McElwee, W. M .; Wm. P. Atlee, S. W., and John Gallagher, J. W.
The financial condition of the Lodge having improved, the Lodge was occasionally called from labor to refreshment. Dur- ing the year four were initiated, one admitted and two withdrew.
In April, 1807, Bro. Peter Getz presented to the Lodge a hand- some sword for the use of the Tyler.
60
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
At the June and December meetings of this year the officers of the Lodge were all reelected.
The year 1807 deserves special note in this place, as having been the first year in the history of the Lodge in which it was called upon to expel one of its members for unmasonic conduct. The offence committed being that of "absconding, defrauding several of the brethren, and not paying his lodge dues."
During the year two were initiated, one admitted, two with- drew and one was expelled.
The year 1808 found the treasury of the Lodge so much im- proved that, at the stated meeting in March, a loan of $200 was made to one of the members, on a note with approved security.
At the stated meeting in June, Bro. Gustavus Stoy was elected J. W. and Bro. Samuel Reynolds was appointed Secretary. The other officers were reelected.
At the stated meeting held October 12, 1808, it was resolved that the members of the Lodge be specially summoned to attend the next stated night for the purpose of taking the necessary steps to establish a Royal Arch Chapter.
At the next meeting, held November 9th, it was unanimously agreed to establish a Royal Arch Chapter in the Lodge, and " Bros. Wm. Hamilton, Jere. Mosher and E. Atlee were ap- pointed a committee, on behalf of the Lodge, to draft an ad- dress to Bros. Wm. Kirkpatrick and Robt. McElwee, informing them that this Lodge have agreed to a resolution for establishing a Royal Arch Chapter, and they or either of them are authorized to take the proper steps to obtain a dispensation from the R. W. Grand Lodge, if they find it necessary." At the following meeting, held December 14th, the Worshipful Master presented the rules and regulations necessary for the establishing of a Royal Arch Chapter. These rules being read, Bro. Robt. Mc- Elwee (who was a Royal Arch Mason) was requested to procure the signatures of a sufficient number of Royal Arch Masons to a petition and forward the same, or take such steps as they may deem necessary for the purpose of getting a dispensation from the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. These were the pre- liminary steps taken in the organization of Chapter No. 43, R A. M. The Grand H. R. A. Chapter of Pennsylvania was
61
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
organized in 1795, but did not issue warrants to subordinate Chapters until 1824, and the R. W. Grand Lodge at this time granted authority to lodges to establish Royal Arch Chapters; which Chapters held their meetings and performed their labors under the sanction of the Charter of the Lodge.
At the stated meeting of the Lodge, held December 14, 1So8, the Worshipful Master and Senior Warden declining reelection, Bro. P. M. Wm. Kirkpatrick was again called upon to preside over the Lodge. Bro. Jeremiah Mosher was elected Senior Warden; Bro. Wm. Hamilton, Junior Warden, and Bro. Egbert Taylor, Treasurer.
Five members were initiated during the year.
Bro. P. M. Robert McElwee, who had been appointed to take the necessary steps for securing the authority to form a Royal Arch Chapter, obtained the cooperation of the following Royal Arch Masons: Andrew Nelson, John G. Bull, Christian Sheets, and Pennel Beale, of Philadelphia; James Kelton and James Banes, of Chester county ; Jonas Preston, of Delaware ; John Orr, of Harrisburg, and Robert Gibbs, of Lancaster : and, hav- ing petitioned the R. W. Grand Lodge for the authority, received the same on March 1, 1809. An extra meeting of Lodge No. 43 was convened on the evening of March 2d, and Chapter No. 43, R. A. M., was then and there organized.
All the expenses incurred in establishing the Chapter were paid out of the treasury of the Lodge, and so long as the Chapter held its existence under the warrant of the Lodge, the Treasurer of the Lodge managed the finances of both bodies, designating the separate accounts as of the "Blue Lodge" and of the " Red Lodge."
The chapter continued to meet and work under the charter of the Lodge until February, 1826, when they received a warrant from the Grand H. R. A. Chapter of Pennsylvania.
In April, 1809, the tenants occupying the Lodge rooms va- cated them. At an extra meeting held May 30th, it was re- solved " that the next stated meeting of this Lodge be held in the Lodge Room over the Market House." Accordingly the Lodge was removed to its own hall, and the stated meet- ing of June 14, 1809, was held therein. The wanderings of the
62
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
Lodge were over. In its own appropriate home it has con- tinued to meet for the past seventy-six years.
Owing to the difficulties and inconveniences in traveling in those times (there being no railroads), it was almost impossible for members living at a distance from Philadelphia to attend the meetings of the Grand Lodge. It was therefore the custom to select some brother Mason residing in Philadelphia to act as proxy and representative. Bro. Thomas Hennessy was the proxy and representative of Lodge No. 43 at this time.
The officers of the Lodge were all reelected at the June meet- ing.
On St. John's day, June 24th, the brethren indulged in a public procession, in which they were joined by a number of brethren from the other Lodges of the county.
The following extract from the minutes of the May meeting explains who were the participants and how they were clothed :
On Motion and Seconded, agreed, that the W. M. be re- quested to write letters of invitation to the Worshipful Masters of Lodge No. 46 at Ephrata, and Lodge No. 104 at Leacock township, and send them a number of blank requests (for them to give to such as they think proper) to attend at a procession of Lodge No. 43, on St. John's day next, (the 24th of June) and to mention in particular, that every visitor must bring his printed Notice with him or he can not be admitted. Also, that every visiting Br must furnish himself with an apron, white gloves, and Blue Sash, agreeable to his grade.
At this same meeting it was agreed that the Tyler be in- structed to inform the absent brethren that they are to furnish themselves with aprons, white gloves, and blue sash at their own expense.
The clothing used at this time in funeral processions of de- ceased members was black dress suit, white sash, crape on the arm, white gloves, and a sprig of evergreen. Each brother was required to provide his own outfit. On Saturday, August 5th, the brethren, clothed as above, attended the funeral of their deceased Brother, Col. Wilder Bevans.
The election in December resulted as follows: Bro. Jeremiah Mosher, W. M .; Bro. Wm. Hamilton, S. W .; and Bro. Win. Pitt Atlee, J. W.
63
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
The year 1809 had been a prosperous one for the Lodge.
Eleven members were initiated. five admitted, two withdrew, one died, and one was expelled.
A number of special meetings were found necessary during the year, in order to accomplish the unusual amount of work. The Brethren did not fail to enjoy the fruits of prosperity, for we find on several occasions during the year they indulged in Lodge suppers. We present two accounts of these occasions (verbatim et literatim) :
Lodge No. 43. 1809. To Robert Wilson, Dr.
January 31st. To 28 Suppers (a), 100 each . $14.00
66 Jo Bottles wine 10.00
$24.00
The Gentlemen of the Lodge:
To Robt. Wilson,
To 4lb. of candles . £0.16.0
To 16 gils. wine and brandy at the time fixing the Certins . .
To one Supper from 20 to 24 gentlemen. Col" Moser 0. 15.0
in the chare . 3.15.0
April 12th, 1809. 5.6.0
The year ISIo was an uneventful one. Six new members were added to the Lodge, five being by initiation and one by election. The records show two to have been suspended. At the stated meetings for June and December the officers of the Lodge were reëlected, and Bro. Henry Antes was appointed Secretary. At this time the east or corner room was occupied by the Auditor- General.
The minute-book containing the records of the Lodge from June ISII to January 1816, has been lost for many years. As long ago as 1823 this book has been reported as missing, and repeated efforts inade since then have failed to disclose its whereabouts. The initiations, admissions, elections, etc., for that period of time, have been obtained from the records of the R. W. Grand Lodge.
At the stated meeting on June .12, 18II, the following Breth- ren were elected for the ensuing term: Bro. Wm. Hamilton,
64
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
W. M .; Bro. Wm. Kirkpatrick, S. W .; Bro. Jeremiah Mosher, J. W .; Bro. Egbert Taylor, Treasurer, and Bro. Henry Antes, Secretary. At the December meeting Bro. Hamilton was re- elected W. M .; Bro. Jere. Mosher was elected S. W .; Bro. Sam'l Humes, J. W., and the Treasurer and Secretary were reëlected.
During the year 1811 seven members were initiated, two ad- mitted, and one withdrew.
At the meeting of the Lodge held December 30, 1811, John Banister Gibson, LL. D., was admitted a member of the Lodge. He was a Fellow Craft Mason, and was the same eve- ning raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. He also became a member of Chapter No. 43, R. A. M. John Banister Gibson was the son of Lieut. Col. George Gibson, an officer of the Revolutionary Army, who fell in St. Clair's expedition against the Indians on the Miami, in 1791. He was born in Sherman's Valley, Perry county, Pa., November 8, 1780. He was a graduate of Dickinson College, studied law in the office of the Hon. Thomas Duncan, and was admitted to the Cumberland county bar in 1803. He practiced in Carlisle and Beaver, Pa., and in Hagerstown, Md. In 1810 and ISII he was elected to the Legislature. In July, 1813, he was appointed President Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District of Pennsylvania, and three years after was commissioned an Associate Judge of the Supreme Court. In 1827, he was appointed Chief Justice, and reappointed in 1838. In 1851 the Judiciary was made elective, and he was elected an Associate Justice and served until attacked by his last illness.
He withdrew from Lodge No, 43 on March 11, 1812. In 1814 he became affiliated with Lodge No. 61, of Wilkesbarre, Pa., and was elected R. W. Grand Master of the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in December, 1824, which office he filled one year. He died in Philadelphia on May 3, 1853.
The election in June, 1812, resulted as follows : Bro. Wm. Hamilton, W. M .; Bro. Wm. Kirkpatick, S. W .; Bro. Jere. Mosher, J. W., and the Treasurer and Secretary again reelected. In December, Bro. Sam'l Humes was elected W. M .; Bro. Na- thaniel Lightner, S. W .; Bro. Daniel Lefevre, J. W .; Bro.
65
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
Benjamin Ober, Treasurer, and Bro. Henry E. Heinitsh, Secre- tary.
The year 1812 is noticeable as witnessing the greatest number of additions to the membership of the Lodge, of any year since its foundation. Sixteen were initiated, one admitted, two sus- pended, and one expelled.
At the stated meeting in June, 1813, the following brethren were elected officers for the ensuing term of six months: Na- thaniel Lightner, W. M .; Charles H. Cordes, S. W .; Stacey Sween, J. W .; Benj. Ober, Treasurer, and H. E. Heinitsh, Secretary, and at the December meeting Bro. Nathaniel Light- ner was reëlected W. M .; Bro. Molton C. Rogers was elected S. W .; Bro. John Reynolds, J. W., and the Treasurer and Sec- retary were reëlected.
During this year nine members were initiated and one with- drew.
The custom of holding elections for officers twice a year was discontinued this year, and the Masonic term was made to ex- tend from St. John the Evangelist's day of one year to that of the next. We accordingly find the next election held in De- cember, 1814, which resulted in the selection of the following brethren as the officers for the ensuing Masonic year: Molton C. Rogers, W. M .; John Reynolds, S. W .; George H. Whit- eker, J. W .; Benj. Ober, Treasurer, and Isaac Lightner, Secre- tary.
During the year 1814 nine members were initiated and one withdrew.
5
CHAPTER IV.
1815-1825.
THE opening year of this chapter being included in those of which the records have been lost, we have little of interest to present. The election for officers took place at the stated meeting in December and resulted as follows: Bro. John Rey- nolds, W. M .; Bro: Geo. H. Whitaker, S. W .; Bro. Thos. Jeffries, J. W. ; Bro. Benj. Ober, Treasurer, and Bro. H. E. Heinitsh, Secretary.
During this year ten members were initiated, six withdrew, and one died.
At the stated meeting of March 13, 1816, the Lodge was hon- ored with the presence of several prominent visiting Brethren, one of them an officer of the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylva- nia, another was a Past Master from Lebanon. At the invitation of the W. M., Bro. John Reynolds, the brother from Lebanon, worked the E. A. Degree upon candidate Samuel Greer.
The Lebanon brother must have been overzealous in the dis- charge of his duties, and probably the officers of the Lodge vied with each other as to who could best work in the presence of these strangers. For the return of the Philadelphia Brethren to their homes was followed by a " Bull" from the R. W. Grand Master, which stated he had been informed that certain forms and ceremonies had been introduced in carrying on the labors of the Lodge, different from those recognized by the R. W. Grand Lodge. If such were the case, he enjoined, required and directed, that they conform most strictly to all the true and an- cient landmarks and forms and ceremonies as approved by the R. W. Grand Lodge, without any deviations therefrom or addi- tions thereto, etc., etc.
This letter of rebuke was not received by the officers and mem- bers of the Lodge with any marked degree of humility. In fact
(66)
67
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
it was to them a revelation; for, up to this time, they believed themselves to be in the true faith, and they could not believe themselves to be censurable. A committee, composed of Bros. Hamilton, Lightner, Mosher, Rogers and Shippen, was ap- pointed to draft an answer to R. W. Grand Master Kerr's letter. This was a formidable committee, which, for social standing, force of character and brains, could scarcely be surpassed in any Lodge in the jurisdiction; but their cause was not of such a character as to be influenced by any degree of ability or intelli- gence. This correspondence could end with but one result, and that not in favor of the subordinate body. The fact developed was, that throughout the jurisdiction there existed a lack of uni- formity in methods ; and this may be justly styled the first seed of dissatisfaction sown between the Grand Lodge and the Sub- ordinate Lodges throughout the State, which in a few years brought forth an abundant fruit of a bitter variety, and which we will chronicle in its appropriate place.
On September 28th, 1816, the officers and members of Lodge No 43, by special invitation of the brethren in Marietta, repre- sented the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, and conducted the ceremonies of dedication of the new Masonic Hall in Marietta. The Lodge meeting in that place, at this time, was Amicitia Lodge, No. 116, which had removed there from Elizabethtown.
During this year the Lodge seems to have been somewhat cramped for room, hence we find at the meeting in September a committee was appointed to wait on the Commissioners or Bur- gesses, and ascertain whether the room adjoining the Lodge room (the east room, then in use by the corporation) could be obtained for the use of the Lodge. This committee seem to have been unsuccessful, for at the meeting in November a resolution was unanimously adopted, appointing a committee to ascertain the correct amount of expenditures in erecting the Lodge room, and to meet the Burgesses of the borough, and treat with them for the sale of our rights and privileges in the same. This committee were also unsuccessful, the hall never passed out of the possession of the Lodge, and it was a number of years afterwards before the Lodge obtained exclusive control of the east room.
At the stated meeting of December 11th, Bro. James Buchanan
68
HISTORY OF LODGE NO. 43, F. & A. M.
was approved, and received the first degree in Free Masonry. At this meeting the following brethren were duly elected officers for the ensuing year: George H. Whitaker, W. M .; Thomas Jeffries, S. W .; Jacob Brenner, J. W. ; Benjamin Ober, Treas- urer, Frederick Hubley, Secretary. During the year seven Brethren were initiated, six withdrew, one died, and one was expelled.
The year 1817 was an uneventful one for the Lodge. Five members were initiated, two admitted, five withdrew, and one was suspended. The officers of the Lodge were reelected for the ensuing year.
At the stated meeting in January, 1818, a petition was pre- sented from a number of brethren, praying the Lodge to recom- mend to the favorable consideration of the Grand Lodge, their application to that body for a warrant to hold a Lodge at Chest- nut Level, in Lancaster county. The Lodge recommended the same, and the Grand Lodge issued the charter in the name of Washington Lodge, No. 156. A number of the members of No. 43 withdrew for the purpose of forming this new Lodge. Wash- ington Lodge is now held at Drumore Centre.
On St. John's day, June 24th, the Lodge had a public pro- cession.
The first step in the movement which brought much trouble upon the Lodge and ended in the loss of its charter, was taken at the stated meeting in November, when the following resolu- tion was adopted, " that a Committee be appointed to meet any Committee which may be appointed by any of the Lodges of this Commonwealth and draw up a petition to be presented to the Grand Lodge for to introduce a regular mode of working, &c., throughout the State, and that they make report, &c." This committee failed to perform the duty assigned them, and it was not until the following summer that the movement as- sumed any definite shape and importance.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.