USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > The history of the Masonic fund society for the county of Allegheny from the year 1847 to 1923; with biographical sketches of deceased members of the Board of trustees By Hiram Schock. > Part 12
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 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30
Whereas, application has been made for the use of the Concert room for a billiard room, with the privilege of a bar therein for the sale of liquors.
Resolved, that it is incompatible with the teachings of the Order and the good standing of the Fraternity in this city to grant the use of any part of this building for the sale of liquor; and the Trustees are hereby instructed not to lease it with this privilege attached, in any case.
On September 7 the secretary was authorized "to rent the Concert room to the First Universalist Society, to be occupied on Sunday and Sunday nights only, for $300 per annum, the Universalist Society to furnish their own jani- tor, and the Masonic Fund Society to furnish light and fuel." Now and then odd features get into the minutes of the meetings. Doubtless in future times when many of the ne- cessities of sixty years ago have become mysteries some- body will read, perhaps with solemn shakings of the head, this terrible entry, in connection with bills to be paid, in the minutes of a meeting of the worthy members of the Masonic Fund Society :
"Ricketson, for Whiskey & Alcohol for meter .... $11.05."
But elderly men of the present day chuckle reminis- cently as they give the historical information that the afore- mentioned dealings with the Demon Rum was not for the purpose of wetting mortal throats. It was the gas burner
126
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
of those times that had the unholy thirst. Like the flint which was used to prime the ancient muskets, whiskey or alcohol was needed to start the gas into illuminating activi- ties.
It is interesting to note at this time the evidences of the continued popularity of the auditorium, or "Concert room", of the Masonic Hall as a place convenient for the meeting of various organizations. Mention of some of these has already been made, and in addition we find in the min- utes of a meeting on November 30, 1858, a resolution to "allow the Young Men's Christian Association to use the Concert room of the Hall from 111/2 to 121/2 o'clock every day of the week, except Sunday, for holding a Union prayer meeting, at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents per day, the Association to furnish their own janitor." At this meet- ing, November 30, Brothers Davage and Phillips were "ap- pointed a committee to audit the accounts of the secretary and treasurer;" and the following result is given at a meet- ing December 27:
The Auditing Committee presented their report, of which the fol- lowing is a copy: The undersigned committee appointed to examine the books and accounts of the Secretary and Treasurer of the Ma- sonic Fund Society during the year 1858 to December 1st, respectfully report that they have attended to that duty and find them to be cor- rect.
Dated Dec'r 16th, 1858.
Wm. Phillips, Thos. Davage.
The above report was, on motion duly seconded, accepted and ordered to be entered in the Minute Book.
At a stockholders' meeting of this year, December 6, the trustees were the recipients of a commendation from a high authority, in the shape of a resolution presented by that noted lawyer and jurist, William McCandless, as these records show:
A resolution offered by Wilson McCandless, Esq., was unanimous- ly passed, complimenting the Trustees of the Society on the elegance and beauty displayed in carrying into effect the resolution passed at the last annual meeting, relative to refitting the third story of the Hall.
The election for trustees for the year 1859 was held by the stockholders in December, 1858, and we find for the first
127
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
time an extended record of the manner of conducting the elections and the number of ballots cast:
Pittsburgh, Dec'r 27, 1858.
This being the day designated by the Constitution to elect a Board of Trustees to serve for the ensuing year, pursuant to notice published in the daily newspapers, the Stockholders assembled at the Hall, 5th St., at 6 o'c P. M., and organized by selecting John Evans and W. T. Moore for Judges, and T. W. Wright and G. M. Bacon secretaries. The Polls were closed at 8 o'c P. M., and the result was found as follows; viz .:
J. W. Hailman received.
68 votes
Wm. Phillips
84 66
Thos. Davage 66 67
A. M. Pollock 66 83
68
66
Jas. Herdman
68
66
Jas. Shidle
68
66
S. M. Wickersham
21
C. Shaler
18
66
Thos. Palmer
18
Wilson McCandless " 1
The seven gentlemen first named above, having received a ma- jority of all the votes (86) polled, were declared duly elected.
John Evans
Judges.
W. F. Moore
G. M. Bacon
T. W. Wright Sec'tys.
It will be seen by the above record that so well were the stockholders gratified with the course of the Trustees dur- ing the year 1858, so fraught with financial bothers, that the entire seven were re-elected. It should be here explain- ed in that case of Judge Charles Shaler who received 18 votes as noted above, that he was not a candidate at the time. He was a popular man and Mason, and usually when he was not a candidate for election as trustee there were always a number of votes cast for him anyhow. The Board organized January 3, 1859, by retaining Hailman as presi- dent, Herdman as treasurer and Pollock as secretary. Brother Arthur Prichard was chosen janitor. At a meeting held March 1 the secretary was by resolution, invested with authority to "do all the renting of the building, on such terms as he may deem proper, with the assent of the Board of Trustees." This arrangement was, however, only tem- porary. The minutes of the remaining meetings of the
Wm. Noble
128
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
trustees throughout the year 1859 contain nothing of spe- cial interest; but they show that bills aggregating several thousand dollars were promptly paid in full, as presented to the Board. In fact, the Masonic Fund Society found them- selves at the close of the year 1859 in a financial condition of the most encouraging nature, and the outlook was so re- assuring that they felt sure they could count on a continu- ance of the promising status as to money matters. They then determined to make arrangements for future pay- ments of certain charges resting on their property. These charges were ground rents which went with the land they had acquired on Fifth avenue and on which their Hall stood. These rents aggregated annually about $150 and it was de- termined to get rid of them as soon as possible by purchase. They decided in order to accumulate funds for this purpose, to create a Sinking Fund, and this plan was recommneded and endorsed at a stockholders' meeting held December 5, 1859, as follows:
On motion, it was resolved that the Board of Trustees be and they are hereby recommended to set apart, annually, if practicable, the sum of one thousand dollars, and thereby create a Sinking Fund, for the purpose exclusively of liquidating the ground rent falling due on the Hall, at or before its maturity.
This recommendation was carried out by the Board, the Sinking Fund was created, and, as we shall see further on, proved to be an excellent arrangement. It was in fact, by this method that the ground rents were finally extinguished.
The entire Board of Trustees was re-elected for the year 1860, and the trustees re-elected Brothers Hailman, Herd- man and Pollock to the three offices of the Board. The min- utes of the first half of this year deal mostly with the prompt payment of bills and other routine matters. The days of doubt and of financial difficulties were over; and even when the dreadful turmoil of the Civil war broke loose in the coming year, the trustees could feel that both the fraternity and the Masonic Fund Society were on a solid and durable foundation. But in July of 1860 the trustees and the local Craft in general met with a great loss by the death of another esteemed and influential Mason. On the third day of that month Brother James S. Hailman breathed
129
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
his last. He had long been in ill health, and his recent ex- tended trip to Europe had brought no permanent relief. He had been made a Mason in Lodge 45 in 1846; and he had been one of the first seven trustees of the Masonic Fund Society, where his presence, his example and his activities had been of immense value to the Craft. He did great work in aiding to establish the various Bodies of the Fraternity in Allegheny county, and as a citizen, a merchant and a banker had won high and deserved prominence and popular confidence. He died in his beautiful home on Shady avenue, in Pittsburgh, mourned by all the Craft.
Brother Hailman was succeeded as President of the Board of Trustees by Col. William Phillips, and at a special stockholders' meeting called July 20 to fill the vacancy on the Board caused by the death of Hailman, William J. Ander- son was unanimously elected. He was a member of Frank- lin Lodge, No. 221, and a member of the firm of John Ander- son & Co., iron founders.
At a meeting of the Board held July 17 the secretary was directed "to have the stock and loan accounts adjusted and the interest thereon calculated;" and at a session on August 7 the following action was taken:
The Secretary reported that he had arranged the stock accounts and calculated the interest due up to May 1st, 1860; then read a list of the stockholders and the amount of stock and interest to which they are individually entitled. Total amount of stock, $31,388.52.
On motion, of Mr. Herdman, it was resolved that the interest on the stock held in Philadelphia, due up to May 1st, 1860, made a total amount of $1,066.50, being for five years, viz: from May, 1855, to- gether with $300.00 due to the Grand Lodge on certificate of loan for the same time, be paid by the Treasurer in the month of September next; and that the back interest on all other stock be credited to the stockholders in stock.
This was, in effect, the most satisfactory financial re- port that had as yet been made. They could now pay up all the accumulated interest of five years back. There was a hearty readiness on the part of the local brethren to accept the payment of their interest in stock, and the cash dis- bursements to the Philadelphia stockholders was in accord- ance with the policy adopted, as we have seen, years before.
130
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
The payments of dividends was renewed, as shown by this entry in the minutes of a meeting November 6:
Resolved, that this Society do now declare a dividend of three per cent. on the last six months, to the 1st inst., payable on and after the tenth (10th) day of January, 1861.
The annual meeting of the stockholders held December 5, 1860, was presided over by Brother Isaac Whittier, of St. John's Lodge, No. 219. The report of President Phillips was accepted, and after noting that fact the secretary of the meeting gives this information:
After which, remarks were made by several of the stockholders, complimenting the Trustees on the successful manner in which they had managed the affairs of the Society.
Also the Trustees were directed "to have a gas light placed over the entrance nearest to Wood street." For the year 1861 all the old trustees were re-elected, and the Board then consisted of Brothers Phillips, President; Herdman treasurer; Pollock secretary, and Noble, Shidle, Davage and Anderson. At the last meeting of the Board in 1860, December 31, the auditing committee made a report which showed "the amount of the receipts over the disbursements to be $385.33."
One material factor in the improved financial status of the Society at this time was the increased revenue from ren- tals of those portions of the Masonic building devoted to stores and to public entertainments. Considerable money had been spent on improvements in the structure, and the "Concert room" had been handsomely refitted and made more convenient for audiences and performers. As a result, after it had been reopened at the beginning of 1861 there came numerous applications for its use. The first extended lease made is noted in the minutes of a meeting of the Board, February 4, 1861:
The secretary reported that he had leased the Concert room to James Matthews, Jr., for fourteen months from the first day of Feb'y inst., with the privilege of four years more, at a rate of $1500.00 per annum, payable monthly, with undoubted security, said Matthews to use the room for the purposes now used, and not to sell spirituous liquors or convert it into a billiard saloon.
Mr. Matthews, who acted under the firm name of J. Matthews & Co., intended to give a series of popular theat-
131
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
rical entertainments, and the first of these was given Thurs- day evening, February 28, 1861. It was well attended. The newspapers had published friendly notices, the Pittsburgh "Gazette," announcing that "Masonic Hall will be opened to the public on Thursday evening under the management of Mr. James Matthews, a gentleman well known in this city." But in April following the great Civil war broke out and for a long time little attention was paid to popular entertain- ments, except those devoted to the welfare of the soldiers. In that month, therefore, Matthews, seeing failure ahead, asked the trustees to cancel his lease. They generously agreed to do so, and at a meeting held June 4 Secretary Pol- lock reported that he had "allowed Mr. Matthews to give up the Concert room, provided he paid the rent to the 1st of May and put the room in the same condition it was when he took it." Nevertheless, within a year after the outbreak of the war the "Concert room" was again in much demand. But it was also devoted to purely patriotic purposes. With- out any expense to the government, draft boards met there, and many times it was used for drilling the young soldiers, ardently demanding to go to the Front. And it is not amiss to recall here that again, nearly sixty years afterwards, the Trustees of the same Masonic Fund Society gave to the Government of the United States a large part of the great Temple now standing, and thousands of splendid young American soldiers found there comfortable quarters, while being prepared to go to battlefields in France.
Routine matters and the prompt payments of bills com- prise most of the records of the meetings of the Board dur- ing 1861; but on November 1 of that year a six per cent. dividend was declared "out of the profits of the last year, ending Oct. 31st, 1861, payable on and after the 16th day of December next; public notice to be given about the 1st of December." The stockholders held a most amiable session in December and signalized their approbation of the work of the Board by voting for nobody but the Trustees then in office.
Secretary Pollock notes in his minutes of the first meeting in 1862 on February 4, that the Auditing Commit- tee presented a report in which they declare they have at-
132
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
tended to the duties assigned them, and then add that they "take great pleasure in stating that they found the books in good order and the accounts exactly correct." The minutes show that tenants for the store rooms were not hard to se- cure, and Brothers Pollock, Shidle, Herdman and Davage were designated as a committee to look around and "decide what painting and repairing was necessary to be done to the building, both inside and out." November 1 a six per cent. dividend was declared "out of the profits of the last year, ending October 31, 1862." The seven trustees were all kept in office for the year 1863, and while the minutes for that year are mostly of a routine order, they indicate that the trustees were paying strict attention to all details and steadily improving the financial condition of the Society. An important action was taken at a meeting held December 1, when the treasurer was authorized "to pay on the first day of January, 1864, two thousand dollars on the perma- nent debt of the Society."
The old Board was chosen to serve for the year 1864. Nothing of particular note appears on the minutes for those twelve months, and the usual six per cent. dividend was de- clared. For the year 1865 the members of the Board were again re-elected at the stockholders' meeting, and at the first session of the Board that year the Hall Committee was "authorized to put a new floor on the stage." The seven trustees were kept in office for the year 1866, with Brother Phillips President, Herdman treasurer and Pollock secretary. At the meeting January 1 of this year Brother Charles F. Porter, a member of Milnor Lodge, No. 287, was elected jan- itor of the Masonic building, to replace Brother Arthur Prichard, who had become incapacitated by illness. In con- nection with this matter the following appears on the min- utes :
Charles F. Porter was elected janitor at a salary of $500 per an- num, and the secretary was authorized to write to the presiding Offi- cers of the different Bodies meeting in the Hall and ask their co-oper- ation in securing an efficient person for janitor, by appointing Mr. Porter as Tyler, if consistent with their duties to their Lodges.
Mr. A. Prichard who so long and faithfully filled the position of janitor, is now permanently disabled by sickness, and we make this
133
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
record as an expression of our regret for the necessity of making a change.
At a later meeting the salary of the janitor was raised to $600 a year. The usual six per cent dividend was de- clared on November 5 and when the stockholders assembled in December they re-elected all the Trustees for the year 1867, and again formally expressed words of satisfaction over the good management of the affairs of the Society. The Board met for the first time that year, 1867, on Febru- ary 5 and the use of the "Concert room" was granted free of charge for a concert for the benefit of the poor of the city. At this meeting appeared the good results of the sink- ing fund which had been created in December, 1859, the purpose being the accumulation of a fund with which to buy and extinguish the ground rents on the lot on Fifth avenue. Each successive year something had been added to that fund, and by the year 1867 there was a respectable amount on hand for the purpose. So at a meeting held February 5 of that year a resolution was adopted "authorizing the Treasurer, Brother Herdman, to buy out the ground rents owned by the heirs of Mrs. Anderson at a sum not exceeding the par value." The treasurer promptly attended to the matter and at a meeting held April 2 he reported that he had purchased and extinguished some old ground rents at a cost of $1,000. There was still another of these rent charges existing, but this too was brought to an end by purchase, as reported to the Trustees by Treasurer Herd- man at a meeting held August 6, 1867.
For the year 1868 all the trustees were again chosen; but nothing of note appears upon the minutes for the twelve months, and the whole Board was re-elected in December to serve for the year 1869. We read in the minutes of a meet- ing of the Board, September 7, that "the use of the hall was granted to the ladies of Trinity (Episcopal) church for one or two nights in October, for charitable purposes." These free uses of the hall for charitable purposes were of fre- quent occurrence.
One of the problems which always comes to the front in the course of the occupation of Masonic Halls or Temples, that of space for the various bodies, rose up to bother the
134
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
minds of the Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society during the period with which we are now concerned. The great war between the North and South had ended and the Masonic Craft was in 1869 making great strides in membership. The various Bodies were crowding the Hall. More space was needed, and already the idea of a new and larger Masonic building was being spread. The Trustees took up this ques- tion and suggestions were offered as to what changes might be made in the Fifth avenue structure in order to provide more room. But the only proposition that seemed at all practicable under the circumstances was to make use of the auditorium for lodge purposes. At a meeting of stockhold- ers held December 6, 1869, the proposition to transform the "Concert room" into one or more lodge rooms was consid- ered. The trustees were, on motion, directed to look into the matter, and "if they think it feasible and proper, they are hereby authorized to make said alteration." But the matter seems to have gone no further; there are no other references to it in any of the records, and the suggested alterations were never made. Another problem, not so easi- ly disposed of, came up for consideration at a session of the trustees held December 7, of the same year. Charges had been made that the room in which the Blue Lodges met had not been kept in good condition, and after some debate at this meeting of the subject, action was taken. It has par- ticular importance as showing the relationship between the Masonic Bodies of that period and the Board of Trustees, with regard to the occupation of the Masonic Hall. The record is as follows:
After due deliberation, the following resolution was passed unani- mously: Resolved, that the duties of the person appointed as janitor of the Masonic Hall shall consist in a general supervision of all parts of the building and the property therein contained, not belonging to the Lodges individually; and that the janitor of the Hall is not by virtue of his office to act as Tyler to the Lodges. Each Lodge having the power to appoint its own Tyler, it is, in our opinion, clearly the duty of the Lodges to compel the party whom they may appoint as Tyler to keep the Lodge room and furniture clean and in good con- dition.
We consider the relation between the Trustees and the Lodges the same as landlord and tenant; therefore, it would follow that our
135
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
duty to our tenants is to keep the premises in good tenantable condi- tion.
Another matter, which furnishes interesting informa- tion, came up at this same session of the Board. A com- munication was read from St. John's Lodge, No. 219, which had been brought, as the minutes state, "through a commit- tee consisting of Messrs. Isaac Broome, Wm. Halpin and S. M. Wickersham," in which it was asked "how much of the stock of this Society was held by the Lodges and how much by persons outside of the Order." In the same minutes is this copy of the reply sent by Secretary Pollock :
In reply to your communication, based on the action of your Lodge at a stated meeting held November 11, 1869, I would reply that the document to which you refer did not reach me till last night, (Dec. 7). This will account for the failure to reply.
The Lodges hold about twenty thousand dollars of the stock of the Masonic Fund Society, and individuals about ten thousand.
The individual holders of the stock were located in many different places; but it may be said here that only a comparatively small portion of the individual holdings was distributed among people who did not belong to the Masonic fraternity.
The stockholders at the end of the year were retained in office for the twelve months of 1870, and, as the minutes of their meeting show, no matters outside of the line of rou- tine were brought up. Many bills were paid and the usual six per cent. dividend was declared. For the year 1871 there was again no change in the membership of the Board. Dur- ing that period a good deal of money was expended in the way of improvements to the building and refurnishing the interior. On October 3 a bill of $868.11 for carpets was ordered paid. The same trustees were chosen for 1872 dur- ing which period the records are barren of anything of special note, and when the stockholders got together in December they unanimously re-elected the old Board for the year 1873. At a meeting of the Board February 4, of this year the matter of the secretary's pay was disposed of in this manner: "On motion, resolved that $300 be paid the Sec- retary for past services, (A. M. Pollock), and that his salary be increased to $500 per annum from the commencement of the present year."
.
136
HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
In this year, 1873, we find a record of formal and prac- tical action taken with reference to the realization of the fundamental purpose for which the Masonic Fund Society for the County of Allegheny was created. That purpose was the extension and proper distribution of a fund for purely charitable uses. In the past the financial condition of the Society had not permitted an extensive and sys- tematic practice of fraternal benevolence. Nevertheless, the Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society had not been re- miss in adhering practically to that provision in their char- ter, which says: "The object of the Society shall be the dis- tribution of Charity; the relief of such of the Masonic fra- ternity, their widows and orphan children, as may require its aid." On many occasions, with true Masonic unobtru- siveness and without making a record of the act, substan- tial aid had gone out from the Trustees. Destitute or sick brethren in need were helped, and for years there was a large fund, kept in existence for the maintenance of the helpless daughter of one of the creator's of the Masonic Fund Society, who at his death had left only a small portion of this world's goods. But now, in 1873, the Masonic Fund Society, having weathered rough financial storms, having had in the earlier years the support of a membership which always gave what it could, but which was then too weak in numbers to give with the bounty of our days, was at last in position to begin that splendid course of fraternal benevo- lence which has marked its notable and honorable career to this day. In the By-Laws of the Masonic Fund Society is this provision :
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.