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 20
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The following account of the formation of the great procession and the march was made by the Committee on Formation and Movement, which comprised Brother Wil- liam H. Davis, chairman, Brothers Joseph E. Lewis and Eli Edmundson, Jr .:
Seventy-one lodges participated in the ceremonies. Approximate- ly 10,000 members of the Craft were assembled in these lodges. A count was not made. The figures given are based on the reports made by the marshals of the lodges when ready to move. Without exception every lodge appeared with larger numbers than had been first estimated. The Craft was assembled in the tabernacle at Belle- field avenue and Forbes street. This building, temporary in char- acter, had been purchased by Brother John Eichleay, Jr., of Lodge 45. Through his kindness and generosity its use was given to your committee. It furnishes ample accommodations for assembling all the lodges in dry, protected and comfortable quarters.
At the hour set, 11 A. M., the column was put in motion, in
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accordance with the ancient landmarks, the brethren walking in pro- cession two by two. Brother Robert Swan, of St. John's Lodge, No. 219, the Director of Public Works of Pittsburgh, had cleaned the streets over which the procession was to pass, as far as possible. The snow and ice had been hauled away, when this could be done, and sawdust spread over the entire route. This added greatly to the com- fort of the brethren and took from the long march all its unpleasant features. Your committee submits a resolution, thanking Brother Swan for his assistance.
The procession left the tabernacle at 11 A. M., and its head reached the Temple site at 11:25 A. M. It required an hour and twenty minutes for the brethren to march out of the tabernacle. When the Grand Lodge left the Tabernacle the lines had been form- ed. They reached from the site of the Temple along Lytton avenue, Fifth avenue, Thackery avenue, Bayard avenue, Dithridge street, Fifth avenue and Bellefield avenue, a distance of a little more than 8,000 feet, the brethren touching elbow to elbow. The Grand Lodge entered the lines at 12:20 P. M., passed through and reached the platform, where the Grand Lodge Room had been set, at 12:50 P. M. The lodges, which had marched in reverse order, successively passed through the lines from rear to front, and the procession was dismissed at 1:55 P. M.
In closing this report your committee desires to make acknowl- edgment of the courtesy extended to it by the brethren, the ready acquiescence to every request, the assistance given in making the procession a successful demonstration of the strength of the Order, and the cheerful patience manifested during the long wait which was a necessary feature in moving a column of 10,000 men over more than a mile of icy streets.
Much interest was taken in the records, emblems, coins, etc., which were deposited in the corner stone of the great Temple. Chief of these articles, which in future times, if the present edifice is ever torn down, will be treasured as of great historic value, was the splendidly engraved copper plate, with its various inscriptions, which are as follows:
FAITH
HOPE CHARITY.
A. D. 1850
A. L. 5850.
First building, Masonic Hall, Fifth Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. The Corner-stone of this building, erected by the Masonic Fund Society, was laid on the 4th of July, in the 74th year of American Independence.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Bro. James W. Hailman, President
James S. Hoon, Treasurer
" Samuel Mckinley, Secretary
.
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W. J. Davitt, George W. Layng, James Shidle.
This building was destroyed by fire August 12th, A. D. 1887, A. L. 5887.
A. D. 1888. A. L. 5888.
Second building, Freemasons Hall, same location as above.
The Corner-stone of this building, erected by the Masonic Fund Society, was laid on the 11th day of September, in the 112th year of American Indepen- dence, by Joseph Eichbaum, R. W. Grand Master of Masons for the State of Pennsylvania.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
George Glass, President
James Herdman, Treasurer
A. M. Pollock, M. D., Secretary
William G. McCandless,
Geter C. Shidle,
George T. Oliver,
Charles C. Baer.
This building was sold September 16th, A. D. 1913, A. L. 5913.
A. D. 1914.
A. L. 5914.
Third building, Masonic Temple, Fifth-Lytton and Tennyson Avenues, Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Corner-stone of this building, erected by the Masonic Fund Society, was laid on the 10th day of March, in the 138th year of American Indepen- dence, by J. Henry Williams, R. W. Grand Master of Masons, in Pennsylvania.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES.
Alfred S. Bishop, President
Americus V. Holmes, Treasurer
Andrew D. Armstrong, Secretary Harry M. Landis, Joseph E. Lewis,
William M. Hamilton,
Rowland S. Wilson.
WISDOM STRENGTH BEAUTY
Janssen & Abbott, Architects Edward Stotz, Consulting Architect Schenley Farms Co., Builders George Hogg Co., General Contractors.
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BUILDING COMMITTEE.
Alfred S. Bishop
William M. Hamilton
Frank D. Hartman.
Amariah J. Lohr, Chief of Construction
William M. Hamilton, Clerk of the Work.
Within the box placed in the cavity of the corner stone was deposited a handsomely bound Bible, in which was writ- ten the following inscription:
Deposited by the Trustees of the Masonic Fund
Society for the County of Allegheny, March 10th,
A. D. 1914, A. L. 5914, as an evidence of the firm belief of the Masonic Fraternity in the unchange- able truths contained herein.
Other articles deposited in the corner stone were as follows :
The Ahiman Rezon; the following coins: A dollar, half dollar, quarter, a dime, a nickle, and a cent. Articles given by Masonic Bodies: By Lodge 45, a History of Lodge 45 from 1785 to 1910; by St. John's Lodge, No. 219; a silver apron, list of officers and lodge notice; by Franklin Lodge, No. 221, engraved silver plate, with design of Altar and Bible; by Milnor Lodge, No. 287, engraved silver book, with list of officers and a copy of their Constitution; by Hailman Lodge, No. 321, copper plate with landscape engraving; by Dallas Lodge, No. 508, History of the lodge, by-laws and list of officers; by Guyasuta Lodge, No. 513, brass plate with name of officers; by Oakland Lodge, No. 535, silver plate with list of officers; by Duquesne Lodge, No. 546, sil- ver dollar of the Centennial year, 1876, and list of officers; by Fort Pitt Lodge, No. 634, copper plate with "Fort Pitt" design, and list of officers; by Homewood Lodge, No. 635, roster of officers, by-laws and engraved copper plate; by Stucjrath Lodge, No. 430, master's jewel engraved, and list of officers; by Ionic Lodge, No. 525, a list of officers on engraved brass plate; by Braddock Field Lodge, No. 510, silver medal, Masonic emblems and list of officers; by Lafayette Lodge, No. 652, silver plate with lodge emblem; Coraopolis Lodge, No. 674, lodge notice on a scroll and list of officers; by MsKeesport Lodge, No. 641, officers and lodge notice on a scroll; by Valley Lodge, No. 613, list of officers
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HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
on scroll; by Shiloh Chapter, No. 257, engraved silver key- stone, and list of officers; by Tancred Commandery, No. 48, engraved silver plate with Tent and Pilgrim thereon, badge and list of officers; by Duquesne Commandery, No. 72, Com- mandery badge, by-laws and notices ; by Ascalon Command- ery, No. 59, Commandery badge and notices; by Chartiers Commandery, No. 78, Commandery badge, bronze banner and list of officers; by the A. A. S. R., Valley of Pittsburgh, notice of annual Reunion of 1913, Report of Supreme Coun- cil of 100th anniversary, Report of Council of Deliberation for 1913, Plan of Schenley Farms and Address of William M. Hamilton before Masonic Library Association. Other Other Masonic Bodies which deposited notices and other lodge records, were the following: Solomon Lodge, No. 231; Monongahela Lodge, No. 269; Washington Lodge, No. 255; McCandless Lodge, No. 390; Pittsburgh Lodge, No. 484; Avalon Lodge, No. 657; Crescent Lodge, No. 576; Geter C. Shidle Lodge, No. 650; Allegheny Lodge, No. 223; Davage Lodge, No. 374; Centennial Lodge, No. 544; Bellevue Lodge, No. 530; Crafton Lodge, No. 653; Homestead Lodge, No. 582; Corinthian Lodge, No. 573; Alliquippa Lodge, No. 375; Youghiogheny Lodge, No. 583; Oakdale Lodge, No. 669; Doric Lodge, No. 630; Swissvale Lodge, No. 656; Pollock Lodge, No. 502; Verona Lodge, No. 548; Orient Lodge, No. 590; Beta Lodge, No. 647; Zerubbabel Chapter, No. 162; Allegheny Chapter, No. 217; Pittsburgh Chapter, No. 268; Mckeesport Chapter, No. 282; Wilkinsburg Chapter, No. 285; Bellevue Chapter, No. 286; Mizpah Chapter, No. 288; Valley Chapter, No. 289; Homewood Chapter, No. 297; Mt. Moriah Council, No. 2; Allegheny Council, No. 38; Pitts- burgh Commandery, No. 1, K. T .; Allegheny Commandery, No. 35, K. T .; McKeesport Commandery, No. 86, K. T.
And finally over the box and the above mentioned ar- ticles, was carefully draped a large and beautiful silken American flag.
In the local newspapers were published at the time interesting descriptions, highly eulogistic of the great accomplishment of the Masonic Fraternity. In its issue of March 11, 1914, the Pittsburgh "Gazette-Times" said:
More than 12,000 people, including over 9,000 members of the
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Masonic Order in the Pittsburgh district gathered at Fifth and Lytton avenues yesterday and participated in the imposing ceremonies attending the laying of the corner stone of the new Masonic Temple. A number of the prominent men in the Masonic fraternity of Amer- ica were in attendance, and the formalities consisted of customs that have been in use since Masonry had its birth. The Temple when completed will represent an outlay of more than $1,500,000. The Billy Sunday tabernacle at Forbes street and Bellefield avenue was used as a gathering place for the Masons attending the ceremony. The procession presented a splendid appearance, each participant being dressed in accordance with the instructions of the D. D. Grand Master.
In an appreciative editorial the same paper said:
The structure adds another monumental edifice to the unequalled group with which that part of Pittsburgh has been improved and embellished. In its strength and beauty, its dignified and chaste lines, its classic design and the enduring character of its structural details, this Masonic Temple accurately typifies the wonderful organi- zation for whose accommodation it is being erected; and it must ever stand as a credit to the community and to the Society which is building it. Its significance in civic life was evidenced by the admir- ably large turnout of members from so many lodges and sections of this vicinity as were found in line yesterday.
In an editorial the Pittsburgh "Post" of March 10, 1914, gave expression to these fine sentiments:
The laying of the corner stone of the new Masonic Temple today will mark another important step in the material development of Pittsburgh. It means that a section of the city, already noted for architectural grandeur, is to be further beautified by the addition of a Masonic building that will rank with the finest in the United States, a distinction that will excite the pride of every Pittsburgher, whether a member of the fraternity or not. The Masonic Fraternity occupies a large space in the history of Pittsburgh, its influence hav- ing been a factor in our local progress for more than a century. Citizens regardless of creed or affiliations take pride in the thought that this Temple will add so much to the prestige of Pittsburgh.
With the corner stone of the Temple laid under such auspicious circumstances, work on the structure was push- ed forward rapidly. By June first, 1914, the great steel girders and supports were in place to the fifth floor, seven of the twelve immense roof trusses were raised and a great deal of the interior work was completed. Estimates were being made at this date for the extensive equipment of the building, and the elaborateness and extent of these appoint- ments may be judged by the announcement made at a meet-
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ing of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society on June 2, 1914, that the equipment for the kitchen alone would reach $6,500. Twelve months later the great edifice was completed, this important announcement being made formally to the Board of Trustees in a report dated July 25, 1915, by Brother William M. Hamilton, in which he ex- pressed his great satisfaction over the completion of the Temple and resigned from his position as supervisor of con- struction.
The first lodge to meet in the new building was of course old Lodge 45. They had asked for and secured this signal privilege, thus adding another honor to their ancient fame, as they had done in the past when they were the first to hold a lodge meeting in the hall dedicated in 1851 and in that opened to the brethren in 1889. This meeting of Lodge 45 in the present Temple was held Friday evening, February 26, 1915. It was a memorable Masonic event. Among the brethren present were the members of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society, and there was a rich programme of addresses and music. Brother Robert Schweppe, W. M. of Lodge 45, made the address of welcome, and an address was delivered by Brother Samuel B. McCormick, D. D., LL.D., at that time Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh. Other speakers were the Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society and Brother Fred- erick C. Rommel, P. M. of Lodge 45.
Within a short time nearly all the Masonic Bodies with- in the limits of the city of Pittsburgh were domiciled in the new Temple, and there they found accommodations ample, appropriate and attractive. As had been expected, the com- pletion of the Temple gave an impetus to the movement to- wards the formation of new lodges and within two years a number of lodges were added to the fraternity in Pitts- burgh. By the year 1922, to which period this history ex- tends, the following Masonic Bodies were occupying the Temple:
Lodge 45; Franklin Lodge, No. 221: Solomon Lodge, No. 231; Washington Lodge, No. 253; Milnor Lodge No. 287; McCandless Lodge, No. 390; Pittsburgh Lodge, No. 484; Dallas Lodge, No. 508; Oakland Lodge, No. 535; Cres-
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HISTORY OF THE MASONIC FUND SOCIETY
cent Lodge, No. 576; Geter C. Shidle Lodge, No. 650; Tem- ple Lodge, No. 678; Fellowship Lodge, No. 679; Bellefield Lodge, No. 680; George W. Guthrie Lodge, No. 691; So- journers Lodge, No. 693; Loyalty Lodge, No. 699; Theodore Roosevelt Lodge, No. 697; Fraternity Lodge, No. 705.
The following R. A. Chapters :
Zerubabbel Chapter, No. 162; Duquesne Chapter, No. 193; Shiloh Chapter, No. 257; Bellefield Chapter, No. 299; and the Chapter School of Instruction.
The following Councils, R. and S. Masons:
Mt. Moriah Council, No. 2.
The following Commanderies, K. T .:
Pittsburgh Commandery, No. 1; Tancred Commandery, No. 48; Ascalon Commandery, No. 59.
The Pittsburgh Lodge of Instruction.
The following Bodies of the A. A. S. R. in the Valley of Pittsburgh :
Gourgas Lodge of Perfection; Pennsylvania Council of Princes of Jerusalem; Pittsburgh Chapter Rose Croix; the Pennsylvania Consistory.
The Association of Masonic Veterans of Western Penn- sylvania.
And so the great Masonic Temple of Pittsburgh was built and piously dedicated, and so it stands today- massive and imposing, richly and eloquently symbolic of the power, the dignity and the sublime teachings of the Craft. It is a Masonic center where night after night the brethren foregather to exemplify the ancient, yet ever living, lessons of Masonry which have always taught, as they must ever teach, helpfulness and sacrifice in the cause of humanity; sincerity and devotion in the cause of God. Here year after year the great Bodies of the Scottish Rite of the Valley of Pittsburgh convene in their notable Reunions, which are also times of joyous renewal of old ties of friendship and of brotherhood.
And so there have been many memorable gatherings of the brethren in this spacious edifice. But, in addition, there came a time in very recent years, when this Temple of Masonry was devoted to far other purposes than the
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brethren had in contemplation when they raised its stately walls. Devoted to the teachings and blessings of peace, almost in a day its doors were thrown open, generously and patriotically, to the dread cause of war. Thus it came about that within the walls of our Temple of Peace the clanging noises of war were heard, armed soldiers thronged its cor -. ridors, and the trembling hands of anguished mothers lov- ingly prepared soft bandages to bind up the wounds of gallant sons on many a far-off battle field. In Pittsburgh our halls of Masonry have on two great occasions been turned over to the needs of war, and from those halls have gone some of the loveliest youth of the Republic, to fight and to die for the safety of the home and for the perpetuity of freedom and civilization. There still remain amongst us veterans of the great Civil war who recall the days of sixty years ago when in the bright flush of young manhood they learned their first drills on the floors of old Freemasons Hall on Fifth avenue. Those days to them are now but strange dreams-only the memory of a bitterness which kindly Time and fragrant flowers have covered over with forgiveness and united American patriotism.
And then there came, so short a while ago, even more direful days. Germany had let loose upon the world her destructive hordes, and on April 6, 1917, the United States took their righteous stand against the wild and terrible onslaught. We pledged all our people and all our resources to the sacred cause of the allied nations. We prepared to send, and we did send, millions of our splendid young sol- diers to the Old World. That vast action involved vast labor. Our millions of soldiers had to be drilled, instructed and housed, and immense efforts made for their welfare at home and abroad. The city of Pittsburgh opened her gates, and to further carry on the great labors, her churches, her public buildings and the buildings of numerous organiza- tions were turned into homes for soldiers and workshops for war workers. Labor and space were needed on every hand. And then the patriotism and the hospitality of the Masonic Fraternity bloomed forth in all their gracious readiness. The doors of their great Temple in Pittsburgh were flung wide open. Like the sacred Temple of Janus in
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the days of old Rome, so long as there might be war, so long would the portals of our Temple remain unclosed. And for the great work at hand the Masonic edifice was splen- didly adapted, and the keen eyes of army officers were not slow to note the advantages. Within the stately structure they could comfortably house many soldiers, and on its spacious grounds outside they could teach the eager recruits the rudiments of war in the open.
But these gallant officers did not even have to ask for that chance. Upon their very first intimation, the Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society eagerly told them that the building was at their disposal; and they added that if the corridors, the basement, the great dining halls were not ample enough, then the meetings of the lodges would be called off, and the lodge rooms would also be at the disposal of the Army. In May, 1917, soldiers were drilling on the grounds in the rear of the Temple; and even before that date more than 400 young recruits of the Radio Detachment were quartered in the Temple. The Board of Trustees at this time comprised the following: President, George W. McCandless; Treasurer, George W. Wilson; Secretary, Fager J. Shidle; and William Best, Taylor Allderdice, Joseph Lewis and Alfred S. Bishop. The earnestness and readiness with which they met the big demands of the time may be seen by reference to the following record of one of their sessions :
Resolved, (and unanimously carried) that the Chairman of the House Committee be given full power to make such arrangements as he may think best regarding the housing of soldiers, and that the other members of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund So- ciety assist him in this work while said soldiers are located in the Masonic Temple.
And another record reads:
The president stated that the purpose of this meeting was to con- sider the matter of the United States Government being granted the banquet room, the mezzanine floor and billiard room for lodging the soldiers of the National Army.
Affirmative action on the above was unanimously taken, and in addition to those parts of the Temple men- tioned in the resolution, the spacious Library room and the Museum apartment were placed at the disposal of the army
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officers for their headquarters. Many arrangements were made for the comfort of the soldiers, among them the in- stallation in the basement of the Temple of good shower baths.
So for many weeks up to the day of the Armistice the rooms and corridors of the massive Temple resounded with the stern commands of officers and the gay chatter of those gallant boys who were, in addition to their drilling, receiving instructions in Radio Mechanics in the Carnegie Institute of Technology nearby. The senior officer then in command was Captain Hamner Huston, a West Point graduate, an efficient officer and gentleman, whose sincere appreciation of the help of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society was no less obvious than was his splendid devotion to the big task of fitting the young soldiers for the terrible ordeal of actual war. He had an able and popular assistant in the person of Adjutant Dormer. Captain Huston had his headquarters in the Library room of the Masonic Tem- ple, which was fitted up expressly for that purpose, and there could be seen in those days the upstanding, soldierly figures of commissioned and non-commissioned officers giv- ing their quick salutes and making their prompt reports, or indulging, when relaxed discipline permitted, in youthful bandiage or in earnest talk about the tremendous events transpiring "over there." In all, several thousand soldiers were quartered in the Masonic Temple at different times. Early in the year 1918 came Col. John C. W. Brooks, who had been with Pershing at West Point in their cadet days, and had served gallantly in Cuba in the Spanish-American war, and in the Boxer uprising in China and later had been in the Phillipines. It never required much formal negotia- tion between the officers and the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society to keep things in smooth working order about the Temple and they were pleasantly aided by the courteous help of Mr. Frank Orbin, then, as now, busi- ness manager of the Carnegie Institute of Technology, who as the representative of that institution in which the sol- diers were being taught the mechanics of war, helped in arranging for the quartering of the troops in the Masonic Temple.
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But there was still another fine phase of war work going on at the same time in our Temple. Devoted women of the American Red Cross, many in number and constant in duty, gave their services unstintingly. The Eastern Star branch of the Red Cross had been organized and to them the Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society granted the use of the Ladies Reception room in the Temple, properly fur- nished without of course any cost to the workers. They raised money for war work equipment from Masonic Bodies, from charity funds and from other generous sources. They were equipped with sewing, knitting and cutting machines, and all sorts of devices to expedite their work. To the com- fort of the soldier boys these patriotic mothers and sisters devoted themselves untiringly. In the Temple the boys often had lunch with them, often they were taken to pleas- ant homes for a Sunday dinner, and gay automobile rides helped to drive away the heavy thoughts of the coming days of danger and misery in France. Statistics need not be cold and unmeaning when used to express the volume of war work wrought within the walls of the Masonic Tem- ple by these earnest women. They sent to the Red Cross headquarters in Pittsburgh 1,000,000 bandages, surgical dressings and front line packets ; 10,000 pairs of socks; 2,350 sweaters; 472 scarfs; 175 ambulance blankets; 2,204 night shirts ; 800 pairs of pajamas; 7,000 towels; 700 sheets, and hospital gowns by the thousands. In addition there were many garments made for women workers in the camps and also 325 layettes containing complete outfits for new born babes.
When at last the war was ended by the signing of the Armistice on November 11, 1918, the great and good work in the Masonic Temple was brought to a close. The elabor- ate Red Cross working equipment was disposed of by sale, and the proceeds of this sale and all the money still in the treasury of the women workers in the Temple were turned into the headquarters of the American Red Cross in Pitts- burgh.
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