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 6
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It was a rule and custom of the Lodge at this time to have the By. Laws read in open Lodge on every St. John's day; at this meeting however we find this rule was, on motion, dispensed with.
The year 1800 opens for the Lodge with an extra meeting, called on January 6th, for the purpose of considering the subject of the removal of the Lodge to some more convenient place. It was agreed to move that afternoon to the house of Mrs. Edwards (a former place of meeting, now the Fountain Inn).
An extra meeting was also called the following morning, at the new place of meeting, for the purpose of paying respect to the mem- ory of our late brother, Gen. George Washington, who had died at Mt. Vernon on the 14th ult.
The following is the minute made of said meeting, and of the procession:
Agreeable to order, the Lodge met at the house of Mrs. Edwards, on the morning of the 7th inst. After making the necessary arrange- ments, and clothed in the proper mourning agreeable to ancient custom, and being joined by a number of respectable Brethren from different parts of the State,-they moved in due form from the Lodge and joined the Funeral Procession in honor, and as a mark of their veneration for the memory of their departed Brother General George Washington.
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
At the stated meeting for January, which was held the following night, it was resolved,"That the Lodge be put in complete mourn- ing, and the Brethren wear the emblem of mourning on their aprons, jewels, &c., for the ensuing six months." It was also resolved, that an oration be prepared and delivered in the Lodge room on Wash- ington's birthday, February 22d. Bro. William C. Frazer was appointed for this purpose. He performed his duty in an able manner at 2:30 o'clock on the afternoon of that day.
At the stated meeting held March 12th, it was:
Resolved, unanimously, that Brother William C. Frazer receive the thanks of this Lodge for the very elegant and well adapted Oration prepared by him and delivered in this Lodge on the 22d ultimo, in honor of our dearly beloved and ever to be lamented deceased Brother General George Washington.
Brother Henry Dering, one of the charter members of the Lodge, one whose active interest continued up to the time of his death, died on the 6th of April. At the stated meeting of April 9th, it was agreed that the members of the Lodge wear crape on the left arm until the next stated meeting, as mourning for the departed Brother.
At this time a number of the members were in arrears for dues, and the balance of their subscription to the building fund. Many of them had given notes for their indebtedness, which they failed to meet, so that the Lodge became financially embarrassed, and could neither discharge its indebtedness for the building nor its Grand Lodge dues.
The full amount of the notes held by the Lodge against delin- quent members was £93.2.4, some of which remain unpaid at the present time.
The election in June resulted in the reelection of all the officers.
The new Lodge room being finally completed in August, an extra meeting was held on the 25th inst. for the purpose of making arrangements for removal. It was agreed that the Lodge should be removed to the new building before the next stated meeting in September, and Brothers Benj. W. Henry, Peter Getz and Jacob Carpenter were appointed a committee to superintend the removal.
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Accordingly we find the Lodge holding its stated meeting of Sep- tember 10, 1800, in the "New Lodge Room."
The hall, then just finished, consisted of four rooms and an entry or hall running the entire length of the building on the north side. It was entered by a stairway at the northeast corner of the building. There was at the east end a room intended for the use of the corporation authorities and other public purposes. Adjoin- ing this room on the west was the largest room, intended for the Lodge room, while at the extreme west end were two small rooms, intended for the tylers and preparing rooms. The building was bounded on the north by the open Market Square, on the east by Penn Square (the lot now occupied by City Hall buildings be- ing at that time vacant), on the south by West King street, and on the west by an open street or alley, called Union Court, now the property of the Lodge, upon which is erected our store-room, armory, portion of the stairs and the ante-rooms. The long entry on the north side of the building, besides being a passage-way, was used as a banquet room. At a later date long tables were placed there for banquet purposes, and this place was the scene of many convivial gatherings by the fathers of our Lodge.
The principal business of the first meeting of the Lodge in its new hall, was the approval and initiation of Bros. Alexander McIntire and John Rohrer.
The following month (October, 1800), Michael Rine, High Sheriff of Lancaster county, made application to the Lodge for the use of, its room for holding the County Courts. Permission being granted, the November term of court was held in the hall, the Commis- sioners paying $30 for the privilege. After this date the courts were held there for some time.
At the December meeting, Bro. Jacob Carpenter was elected Worshipful Master, Bro. Benj. W. Henry, Senior Warden, and Bro. Geo. Keip, Junior Warden.
The additions to the Lodge during the year 1800 were three initiated and one admitted.
In February, 1801, an application was made to the Lodge for the use of the room for holding a ball, which called forth the fol- lowing preamble and resolutions:
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Whereas, there has been an application made to the W. M. of this Lodge, by a number of Gentlemen of this Borough to grant them the privilege of holding a Dance or Assembly in the Lodge Room-Whereupon the following Resolutions were proposed and agreed to.
Resolved, that the Building erected by Lodge No. 43 is exclusively the property of said Lodge, subject to the fulfilment of the agree- ment made with the Corporation.
Resolved, that the thanks of the Lodge are due to a number of the Inhabitants of the Borough, who subscribed liberally thereto; but it was understood at the time of subscribing and so declared by the members of the Lodge, that such subscriptions gave no right to any person or persons either separately from, or jointly with the Lodge, it is further declared, that such Subscribers have no interest in said Building.
Resolved, that when the Lodge can conveniantly accomodate their fellow Citizens, Subscribers or others, with a temporary use of the Lodge Room, without interfering with the meeting of the Lodge, that it would be liberal, and honorable, to do so. Therefore it is
Resolved, that on application to the Worshipful Master he is hereby authorized by and with the consent of the Lodge to permit any number of Gentlemen, to have the occasional use of the Lodge Room, not injuring the same, and repairing any casual Damage to the Glass or other part of the Building.
During the summer of 1801 the "Musical Society of the Borough" were permitted to use the room for their meeting and practice.
The Lodge had, for some time, experienced considerable difficulty in the collection of dues from its members. Committees were fre- quently appointed to assist the proper officers in making the collec- tions, and resolutions of various kinds were frequently offered. Finally, failing in all these measures, at the June meeting of this year it was resolved to adopt the expedient of calling over the names of the delinquents, three times each meeting for three successive meetings, and any member still remaining in arrears on the third stated night, after having been in this manner nine times solemnly called on for his dues, should be excluded and expelled from the Lodge. We find two members were thus solemnly dealt with and disposed of.
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The June election resulted in the reelection of all the officers.
In July a letter was presented and read, informing the Lodge that the Grand Lodge had purchased a house and lot of ground in the city of Philadelphia for the use of the Grand Lodge, and requesting this Lodge to loan on interest to the Grand Lodge any money which could with convenience be spared. When we consider that the Lodge was at this time in arrears for Grand Lodge dues, was still in debt for its building, and had a treasury made up mainly of notes taken from its members for dues and subscriptions to the building fund, we can appreciate the action of the Lodge on this communication. "The sense of the Lodge being taken it was resolved, that under the present exigence sit- uation, this Lodge can not advance money."
The following were elected officers for the ensuing six months at the December meeting: Bro. Jacob Carpenter, W. M .; Bro. Benj. W. Henry, S. W .; Bro. Geo. Keip, J. W .; Bro. Jacob Martin, Treasurer. Bro. George Miller was appointed Secretary in the place of Bro. John Morris, who removed to Philadelphia.
During the year 1801, seven members were initiated, four with- drew, and two were suspended.
Very little of interest occurred during the year 1802. The meetings as a rule were poorly attended, but three new members were initiated and one withdrew.
At the June meeting Bro. Wm. Kirkpatrick was again honored by being chosen Worshipful Master, but declined to serve, when the following brethren were elected for the ensuing term of six months: Benjamin W. Henry, W. M .; George Keip, S. W., and John Kerr, J. W. At the December meeting the W. M. and S. W. were reelected, and Bro. Wm. Pitt Atlee was elected J. W.
The financial condition of the Lodge at this time was as follows:
Cash in the hands of Treasurer £o. 0. 0 Balance due the Treasurer . 8.1I
Amount due the Lodge for Dues, etc. 156.12.1I
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Bonds & Notes. 84. I. 972
Subscription fund . 95. 6.101/2
" paid by the Lodge on account of building . 706. 7.II
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
At the stated meeting of June 8, 1803, the Lodge again called our worthy Bro. Wm. Kirkpatrick to the chair. Bro. Wm. P. Atlee was elected S. W., and Bro. Robert McElwee, J. W. These brethren were reelected at the December meeting.
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 unani- mously agreed to rent a room for Lodge meetings in the public house of Robert Wilson, which was situated on the southwest corner of South Queen and German streets, and known as the Indian King. This room was secured at an annual rental of 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 manner in which the business of the Lodge had been conducted, and stated that he was well pleased with the order, decorum and harmony that pre- vailed. 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 matter 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 dollar, and to the Treasurer, for the use of the Grand Lodge Charity Fund, the sum of five shillings.
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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 Eckert, Joseph Levefer, and Nathaniel Watson, all residing in the neighborhood of Strasburg, was presented and read, praying to be erected into a separate Lodge, also petitioning Lodge No. 43 to permit them to withdraw from the Lodge, and to recommend 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.
Nº 43
LODGE
STER.
HOLINESS
25 €,
The Maften
BBardcus, & Gcerctary
TO THE
of LODGE, Nº. 43, held in the Borough of LANCASTER, in the' Commonwealth of PENNSYLVANIA; DO certify, that Brother AND Rufiel
LORD.
has been initiated into all the Mysteries of our ancient and honourable Fraternity OF FREE and ACCEPTED ANCIENT YORK MASONS. And, during his Stay amongft us, has behaved himself as becometh a worthy Brother ; and as fuch (he having dif- charged all Lodge-Dues ) WE recommend him to all FREE and ACCEPTED ANCIENT YORK MASONS, round the Globe.
GIVEN under our Hands, and the Seal of the LODGE, the 9th Day of January 1005 and of MASONRY, 5805
in the Year of our LORD,
ATTEST. In Stone
Secretary.
Amkirkpatrick. wpl. Mafter. Robert M. Elwy Senr. Warden.
,
junr. Warden.
REDUCED REPRODUCTION OF AN OLD CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP IN LODGE No. 43
.
CHAPTER III.
1805-1815.
T HE 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 accounts 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 collect 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 Worshipful 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 private resources, contributed twenty-five dollars additional towards the payment of the Grand Lodge dues.
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
In forwarding these fifty dollars, the Lodge presented a candid statement of its embarrassed financial condition, and respectfully 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 generously accepted the fifty dollars as settlement in full for the Grand Lodge dues of Lodge No. 43, to St. John's day, June 24, 1805. By this generous act on the part of the Grand Lodge new life was infused into the Lodge and renewed interest awakened among its members. From this time the Lodge assumed a more flourishing condition, meeting its current expenses, paying 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 reëlected 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 existence, 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 instructors. Cer- tainly no harm could grow out of so excellent a proceeding.
The officers of the Lodge were again reelected at the December 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 1I, 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. During the year four were initiated, one admitted and two withdrew.
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
In April, 1807, Bro. Peter Getz presented to the Lodge a hand- some sword for the use of the Tyler.
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 offense 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 improved 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 appointed a com- mittee, on behalf of the Lodge, to draft an address 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. McElwee (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 6
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
dispensation from the R. W. Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. These were the preliminary steps taken in the organization of Chapter No. 43, R. A. M. The Grand H. R. A. Chapter of Pennsylvania was 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, 1808, 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 Harris- burg, and Robert Gibbs, of Lancaster: and, having petitioned the R. W. Grand Lodge for the authority, received the same on March I, 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 vacated them. At an extra meeting held May 30th, it was resolved "that
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
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 meeting of June 14, 1809, was held therein. The wanderings of the Lodge were over. In its own appropriate home it has continued 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 meeting.
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 requested 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 instructed 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 deceased 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,
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History of Lodge No. 43, F. and A. M.
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