USA > Pennsylvania > Lancaster County > Lancaster > History of Lodge no. 43, F. and A.M., 1785-1910, with biographical sketches of charter members, past masters and present officers, together with a complete list of members of the lodge > Part 11
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The Grand Lodge have been equally attentive to their country Brethren, and although the private merit, the exalted station, and the Masonic zeal of Brother John B. Gibson, were inducements to elect him to the station of Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge, yet I feel justified in saying a powerful motive was, to gratify their Brethren in the interior, and none more than your- selves. During the present year, you have been visited by Brother Gibson, the Deputy Grand Master.
During the last year a Brother was deputed by the then Right Worshipful Grand Master to inspect your labours, which duty, I understood, he had performed to your great improvement and satisfaction. A few years since, I had myself the honor to accom- pany a Grand Officer to a Visitation of your Lodge, and if no good resulted from the exertions he then made for your instruction, it was because you showed a decided, though a respectful indis-
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
position, to conform to the old mode of work, as recognized by the Grand Lodge; and, in his opinion, an unjust partiality to a new system, neither sanctioned by antiquity nor authority.
It is at such a period as this, which might be always termed a new Era in Masonry, that you have arraigned the Grand Lodge for neglect and indifference towards their Brethren in the country.
I have thus recapitulated the grounds upon which you have complained. I trust I have convinced you there is no justification for the measures you have adopted, that they are neither authorized by the circumstances of the case, nor if so, are they within the sphere of your legitimate powers. What then, you will ask, is the remedy for oppression, should the Grand Lodge ever exercise it over the subordinate Lodges? It is ample and obvious whenever the case should occur. A clear and decided majority of the Members of the Grand Lodge belong to the country Lodges, they are all similarly placed, they are united by a common feeling, and whenever oppression is practiced upon them, they will, by simultaneous con- cert, attend at least a single meeting of the Grand Lodge, and secure a restoration of their rights and privileges. There is reason to believe that period has not yet arrived. I fervently hope it never may; but should it ever come to pass, no permanent evil could exist long without the application of an appropriate remedy.
That the blessings of Heaven may descend upon you, my Breth- ren, the craft throughout the globe, yea upon the whole family of mankind, and that these refreshing blessings descending "as the small rain upon the tender herb and as the showers upon the grass," may secure your temporal happiness here and eternal felicity here- after, is the prayer of
Your sincere friend and brother JOSIAH RANDALL, Grand Master.
Philadelphia, September 20, 1822.
Lodge No. 43 was convened in extra meeting on October 2, 1822, and the proceedings of the Grand Lodge, together with the Grand Master's Letter, were read and referred to the committee which had the subject in charge, to report. At the stated meeting of the Lodge held October 9, 1822, the committee presented the fol- lowing report, which was unanimously adopted, and ordered that the report, with the resolutions thereto attached, be printed and copies thereof forwarded to the different Lodges throughout the State and the Grand Lodge.
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
The committee to whom was referred the communication from the Rt. W. G. Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, ac- companied by certain resolutions of the said Grand Lodge, adopted at a special meeting of the Grand Lodge, held on the 20th of Sep- tember, A. D. 1822, submit to this Lodge the following report:
That we have devoted all that attention to the subject referred to us that its importance requires, and the extraordinary charac- ter of the communication would seem to command. And while we express our surprise at the course pursued by the Right Wor- shipful Grand Master, and the Grand Lodge, we are seriously of the opinion that the same is not only a novelty in the annals of Masonry, but contrary to the principles of our Institution.
It appears that the Grand Master has entered upon the field of discussion with a view to refute the complaints of this Lodge, and for that purpose has laboriously produced a copious disserta- tion upon the subject of a circular letter addressed by this Lodge to the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of this commonwealth, and to all the subordinate Lodges under its jurisdiction. And although we admire the indefatigable zeal and Masonic knowledge of our Worshipful Brother, we cannot subscribe to his creed nor adopt his principles.
Your Committee do not think this a proper time to enter upon a discussion of those complaints which this Lodge has made, nor can that discussion be carried on satisfactorily by written com- munications, nor can we perceive that any benefits would result to this Lodge from such discussion; for if we were so fortunate as to convince our Right Worshipful Brother that our grievances do actually exist, and have become intolerable, he might sympathize with, but could not relieve us. And while we duly appreciate his disinterested and paternal affection in condescending to reason with us upon the subject of our complaints, we do most heartily recom- mend to our Brethren, to persist in the course which they have already begun.
The time will come when everything contained in the Grand Master's communication shall be fully and fairly answered; until then we shall desist from any comments upon the Grand Master's communication, except those parts of it which state that this is the only subordinate Lodge which has ever complained of the pro- ceedings of the Grand Lodge, and the only one which has ever desired the establishment of a general Grand Lodge.
That the former of those assertions is altogether unfounded, we refer to the words of the Grand Lodge itself, if complaints against the proceedings and inattention of that body to the country
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
Lodges are entered upon their minutes, if not, we refer to the records of Lodges 146, Meadville, 159, Danville, and 21, Harrisburg, and also to a circular from the Grand to the subordinate Lodges in this state, dated October 20, A. D. 1817, and having attached to it the name of the present Right Worshipful Grand Master.
That a great many of the Lodges in the interior of the State are in favor of the establishment of a general Grand Lodge, is an undeniable truth. The evidence of which, under the hands of the officers and the seals of a number of the most respectable Lodges in the State, has been in the possession of this Lodge ever since December, 1819, by the committee who upon that day represented this Lodge.
If all the complaints which have been made, or which were intended to have been made by our sister Lodges, have not reached the ears of the Grand Lodge, it must in a great degree be owing to the remoteness of the country Lodges from the Grand Lodge, or from a supposition (how well founded, we will not undertake to say), that complaint or supplication would be alike unavailing.
The communication from the Grand Lodge, imposes on us a more solemn and serious duty. If the course pursued by the Right Worshipful Grand Master amuses with its novelty, the measures of the Grand Lodge are calculated to awaken the feelings of every member of the masonic family.
That body has declared that Lodge No. 43 shall lose its charter on the first Monday in November next, unless before that time the members thereof return to their allegiance. It would have comported much better with the tenets of Masonry, if the Grand Lodge had condescended to point out wherein the members of this Lodge has swerved from their allegiance, and called upon them to answer the complaints before the forfeiture should take effect.
The members of this Lodge thought proper to complain of certain abuses which they allege have imperceptibly crept into the Masonic Institution, and to correct those abuses, have recommended a con- vention in which every Lodge may be fully and fairly represented, and for this conduct we are to forfeit our chartered privileges. If our rights as a Lodge are held by such a precarious tenure, we care not how soon they are taken from us; we most sincerely recommend the immediate surrender of them.
In this happy country where every citizen has an undoubted right to examine with scrutinizing eye the conduct of his rulers; to complain of grievances and to resist oppression; to propose amendments or alterations in the form of government, and recom- mend the assembling of a body of representatives of the people to effect that purpose, shall it be said that in the Masonic society
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
which is emphatically styled free, that liberty is not tolerated, and these principles are not recognized? Shall we, who from our infancy have been taught the language of genuine liberty, and that all men are born equally free; that the power delegated to an indi- vidual, or set of men, is for the good of the constituent members of the community, shall we learn a different lesson, and subscribe a different creed, in that society where all meet upon the level?
The principles of liberty have been too ably discussed, and too forcibly impressed both in the senate and in the field, to be so easily forgotten; and if at other times, and in other countries, the conduct of our Lodges would have been treasonable and rebellious, we are sure that in the 19th century, and in our own happy country it cannot be so considered.
If experience has proved that the constitution of our Grand Lodge is defective, it might be questioned whether the Grand Lodge has power to amend or alter it. To that constitution the Grand Lodge owes its existence. A grand convention of Masons on the 25th of September, 1786, adopted it, and every amend- ment or alteration since made, ought to be carefully examined; and surely the Grand Lodge can have no reason to complain, if made amendable to those to whom it owes their existence.
No person ever thought that the ancient land-marks of Masons were violated by a grand convention in 1786, to form a Grand Lodge; and we are sure that no person, who is influenced by the benign spirit of Masonry, will pretend to say that a convention of Masons in 1823, to examine into the proceedings of that Grand Lodge and to endeavor to effect those alterations and amendments to its constitution which experience and a change of times and cir- cumstances may suggest, will be an encroachment upon the ancient land-marks of the order, or a violation of Masonic ties.
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 pur- sued 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 as- sured 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 indignation 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 time when it is to be determined that this Lodge is to be stricken from existence;
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
and that too without notice, without being called upon to defend itself, and without an opportunity of being 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, expressed 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 approba- tion 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 Dele- gates 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 expressed in their circular of August last.
3. Resolved, That whatever necessity may have existed hereto- fore for calling a convention, it is greatly augmented by the opposi- tion 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. and 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 communica- tion, 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 Lancaster 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 jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge be, and they are hereby prohibited 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 foregoing reso- lution of the Grand Lodge I have to request you forthwith 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 W. Master
of Late Lodge No. 43, Lancaster.
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and 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, Reynolds, Lightner, Porter and Smith.
The Lodge also at this meeting, selected delegates to represent the Lodge in the Masonic Convention to be held at Harrisburg on the first Monday in January following. Brothers John Reynolds, George B. Porter, and Ebenezer Wright, were appointed as said delegates with authority fo 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 their 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 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 pro- ceedings of Lodge No. 43 was read, whereupon resolutions 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.
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
A special meeting of Lodge No. 43 was held on Saturday 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 charter, 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 unani- mously 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 December 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 purpose, 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 forwarded as soon as prac- ticable 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 Chair-
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man, and Dr. N. W. Sample, of Lodge No. 104, was elected Secre- tary.
The object of the meeting having been stated by the Chairman, the several communications of Lodge No. 43 and the Grand Lodge were read; whereupon it was
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 Fur- niss, 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 referred to us, and while we do most sincerely deplore the unhappy differ- ences which now exist between the Grand Lodge of this common- wealth 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 honor- able 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
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
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.
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 forth- with 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 communi- cation 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 communi- cation 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.
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
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 period 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 importance. Hence the Lodges outside of Philadelphia and vicinity 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 throughout 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 sufficient 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.
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