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 26
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Alexander McCammon," which pleasant duty the committee performed and at a meeting, March 31, of that year, "Right W. D. D. G. M. S. Mckinley, on the part of Lodge 45 pre- sented P. M. A. McCammon with a beautiful and appropriate Diploma, which was received by Brother McCammon with many thanks."
Brother McCammon was one of the charter members . of Zerubbabel Chapter, No. 162. The meeting for constitu- ting the Chapter was held in the little Masonic Hall at the corner of Wood and Third streets, Pittsburgh, December 30, 1846. His name, along with those of Brothers William W. Wilson, James S. Hoon, Samuel Mckinley and others, was on the application sent in 1847 to Sir William B. Hubbard, G. G. Captain General of the General Grand Encampment, K. P., praying for authority to establish an Encampment, as it was then designated, in Pittsburgh. A charter was granted for Pittsburgh Commandery, No. 1, and it was organized May 13, 1847, with Brother McCammon as the first Eminent Commander. He held that office until he was succeeded, December 5, 1852, by Sir William W. Wilson. During the year 1847 Brother McCammon served as a member of Select Council of Pittsburgh from the Fifth ward.
JAMES HERDMAN, 32°
When Brother James Herdman, 32º, died October 31, 1894, at his home in old Allegheny City, now merged into the municipality of Pittsburgh, Milnor lodge, No. 287, of which he was a charter member, adopted memorial resolu- tions, wherein occurs the following:
Having served his time as Master of the lodge, he was elected Treasurer in December, 1855, and re-elected to the same office each succeeding year during the remainder of his life. Therefore, it may be said that he gave more than forty of his best year to its service.
The above statements express a characteristic of Bro- ther Herdman which was in fact, the secret of his success
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as a Mason of usefulness and prominence and as an influen- tial factor in the financial and business development of Pittsburgh in early days. It was characteristic of him that once he took up a policy or line of work, there was no waver- ing in his course of action. For just as he had, as noted above, continued as treasurer of Milnor lodge for forty years, so also for forty years he helped to guide the financial affairs of the Masonic Fund Society as one of the Trustees; so also he remained for twenty-seven years an efficient member of the Committee on Finance of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania; and so also he filled the offices of director and later president of the Pittsburgh Dollar Savings bank for a period of over thirty-five years. He was a man of many activities and had a mind that brought results.
This notable Mason was born in Washington County, Pa., November 26, 1815. He came to Pittsburgh before he was of age, and engaged in the leather business on Wood street near Diamond street. Later he extended his trade to hardware and saddlery, in which business he remained until the year 1880. In 1855 he became one of the incorpor- ators and later the president of the of the Dime Savings Bank, now known as the Dollar Savings Bank, and in 1857 an incorporator of the Iron City Bank. He was also con- nected with the People's Insurance Co. and was a member of the old Railroad Sinking Fund Commission of Pittsburgh, of which he was treasurer. He also served in the Pitts- burgh city councils from the old Third ward and for a num- ber of years was a director of the public schools.
Made a Freemason in Lodge 45 on October 31, 1851, he withdrew from that body to aid in the formation of Milnor Lodge, No. 287, in 1854. At its constitution April 18, of that year, he was made the first Senior Warden, and in the following December was elected Worshipful Master. Hav- ing filled that chair for twelve months, he was elected at the close of 1855 the treasurer of his lodge, and was fill- ing that office at the time of his death in 1894.
From the day he was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Lodge 45 he became conspicuous as an active worker in the Fraternity, closely associated with such Masons as Shaler, Mckinley, Shidle, Hailman, Tindle,
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Pollock and other leading brethren of those times. It seems only a natural thing, therefore, that a Mason of his calibre should become a member of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society, and to this office he was elected by the stockholders in December, 1854. He became a veritable Pillar of the Temple there. Elsewhere in this volume have been related successively his effective work in tiding the Masonic Fund Society over financial troubles and in direct- ing its affairs towards those brilliant successes which have followed his safe and sure guidance.
On December 27, 1867, Brother Richard Vaux, then the R. W. Grand Master of Pennsylvania Masons, appointed Brother Herdman as a member of the Grand Lodge Com- mittee on Finance, and he served on that committee until the last day of his life, in 1894. At the Grand Communi- cation of the Grand Lodge held December 27, 1895, R. W. Grand Master Mathias H. Henderson paid this deserved tribute to the memory and labors of Brother Herdman:
Our Grand Lodge finances have been handled so judiciously that our loans have always occupied a high place in financial centers and have been eagerly sought by conservative investors, who desired a high class security, * *
* Since the creation of the new Masonic Temple Loan (in Philadelphia), a number of faithful breth- ren have given their best energies and much of their time to the duties of the Committee on Finance. I recall in the order of their appointment the names of Robert Clark, P. G. M .; Francis Black- burn, James Herdman, William H. Eagle, John C. Yeager, E. Harper Jeffries, Augustus R. Hall and Robert Dechert. These have all gone to their reward, leaving behind them records showing that they were faithful to every trust. While not wishing to give undue prominence to any, where all were so deserving, I may be excused for calling attention to Brother James Herdman, on account of his long service on the Committee and the unusual difficulties which attended his per- formance of its duties. He was first appointed by G. M. Richard Vaux, December 27, 1867, and was a member of Milnor Lodge, No. 287, of Pittsburgh, where he resided, 354 miles from the seat of the Grand Lodge. Notwithstanding this distance, he rarely missed the regular meetings of the Committee, which are held on the fourth Monday of February, May, August and November, and he attended the one immediately preceding his death, which occurred October 31, 1894, at the age of 79 years. A man of business who was successful in his own affairs, he placed his experience and commercial training at the service of the Grand Lodge, and took pleasure and pride in doing so. He never would accept any return for his traveling ex-
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penses, and after his death suitable resolutions were adopted and presented to his family.
It was during the incumbency of Brother Herdman as a member of the Grand Lodge Finance Committee that an important change was made in the holding of title to the valuable Temple property in Philadelphia. By a deed of trust, title to the property, which had reposed in the R. W. Grand Master, the Grand Lodge conveyed the title to "five brothers to be selected by the Grand Lodge, who, and their successors, shall hold the same in trust;" and at the Quar- terly Communication held December, 1885, on motion of Brother Michael Arnold, it was-
Resolved, that Brothers Richard Vaux, Robert A. Lamberton, E. Coppee Michel, John C. Yeager and James Herdman, be the Trus- tees of the title to the Masonic Temple, in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee of Finance; approved at this Communication of the Grand Lodge.
In the memorable work of establishing the Scottish Rite in the Valley of Pittsburgh, which had its beginning in June, 1852, Brother Herdman took a conspicuous part. In 1854 Brother Herdman became connected with the Rite. In January of that year he received the Ineffable Grades in Gourgas Lodge of Perfection. But he went no further until 1866, when in April he received the Ancient Traditional Degrees in the Pennsylvania Council of Princes of Jerusalem, the grades of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Rose Croix and the Historical and Chevalric grades in the Penn- sylvania Consistory. In that year, 1866, he was chosen treasurer of all the Scottish Rite Bodies and served in that capacity until 1874, when Brother Charles A. Colton, 32°, succeeded him. In October, 1854, Brother Herdman became a member of Zerubbabel Chapter, No. 162, and later was knighted in Tancred Commandery, No. 48, K. T. In the es- tablishment in 1860 of the Masonic Consolidated Charity Fund, which a few years ago was by mutual arrangement merged into the activities of the Masonic Fund Society, Brother Herdman took a leading part. He was the first treasurer and held that office the remainder of his life.
Although the business interests of Brother Herdman were varied and important, he was not what we would call in these days a very rich man. But he was generous and
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had a quiet way of doing charitable acts without the fact being generally known, and he gave liberally to charitable institutions. It has been said of him that he was practically a self-made man in the real sense of the phrase; noted for his simple habits, rigid probity and his extreme reserve, which, however, would relax at the most unexpected moments into a dry and genial frankness and humor.
Brother Herdman died after some weeks of illness on October 31, 1894, and his funeral took place on November 3. On that day at high noon Gourgas Lodge of Perfection, A. A. S. R., held a Lodge of Sorrow in his memory, there being a large attendance of brethren conspicuous in the Order in Pittsburgh. The Lodge of Sorrow was constitu- ted in Freemasons Hall on Fifth avenue as follows: Ills. Brothers Arthur B. Wigley, 33º, Worshipful Master; Allen C. Kerr, 32°, S. W .; Charles M. Bartberger, 32°, J. W .; James B. Youngson, 32°, Chaplain; George W. Guthrie, 33°, Orator; Joseph G. Morris, 32°, M. of C. Other Ills. Brothers present were James I. Buchanan, 33º; David A. Stevenson, 33°; DeWitt C. Carroll, 33°; William H. Slack, 33°; Americus V. Holmes, 33°; James Kerr, 33º; and Char- les W. Batcheler. An extensive account of the funeral was given in the "Pittsburgh Gazette," from which the following is taken:
The last of the charter members of the Pennsylvania Consistory of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons in the Valley of Pitts- burgh was buried according to the simple services of the Order, in the Allegheny cemetery. The funeral took place place at 2 o'clock P. M., from the family residence, No. 30 Arch street, Allegheny. The Rev. Robert Meech, rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Allegheny, conducted the services at the house. The Scottish Rite bodies had held their Lodge of Sorrow at 12:00 M., in the Masonic Hall on Fifth avenue. After a short service, the members proceeded in carriages to the house on Arch street. The funeral procession was a very long one, and in the carriages were the most prominent busi- ness men of the two cities. The Masonic ceremonies at the grave were touching and simple. The Master, Arthur B. Wigley; the S. W., Allen C. Kerr, and the J. W., Charles M. Bartberger, each said a few words as to how the truly good man anticipates death and how his works survive him. The chaplain, James B. Youngson, then offered prayer. Then the W. M., speaking again, referred to the worthiness of the dead brother. The junior warden deposited on the grave a bunch of white flowers, emblematic of the life passed away,
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and the S. W. deposited a bunch of white flowers. Then the W. M., with a wreath of evergreen in his hands, spoke of the virtues of the deceased brother.
The Scottish Rite pall bearers were: William G. McCandless, George W. Guthrie, Joseph Eichbaum, D. A. Stevenson, James I. Buchanan, W. P. Lupton, DeWitt C. Carroll and C. W. Batcheler. The honorary pall bearers were, Thomas H. Lane, A. D. Smith, W. W. Speer, A. W. Pollock, C. A. Cole, S. C. McCandless, A. M. Byers and John Farrell.
The eloquent and sincere memorial resolutions adopted by the Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society, of which Brother Herdman had been so long a member, epitomize his life and services so well that we give them here in full:
Brother James Herdman became a member of the Masonic Fund Society on December 27, 1854. He was elected Treasurer of the So- ciety July 3, 1855, and held that position continuously from that time until his death.
For forty years he served the Society faithfully and efficiently, giving his abilities, time and labor to the duties of his office un- grudgingly, and without asking or receiving any compensation or reward, except the consciousness of a duty well discharged.
He early foresaw the importance of securing the shares of the Society for the various Bodies meeting in the Hall. Through adver- sity and prosperity he adhered to his idea, and to him more than to any other person is due the fact that the control of the property of the Society is vested in those beneficially interested in it, instead of in persons who would be indifferent, or perhaps hostile, to the Frater- nity.
Owing to his position, shareholders desiring to dispose of their shares would offer them to him. He knew the property and firmly believed that it would continually increase in value and ultimately become very productive. He could have purchased the shares and realized for himself the great profit which has been made by the fraternity.
But money so made had no temptation for him. Putting aside all consideration of self, he turned over to the different Masonic Bodies meeting in the Hall all stock purchased by him, at cost; and to his faithfulness and foresight is due the fact that out of 6,186 shares, 5,067 are now owned by them. For this alone, the Fraternity owe to him a debt of deepest gratitude, and should forever cherish his memory.
"Simple in life, honest in purpose, wise in council, conservative in judgment and fearless in action, he discharged the duties of his trust with honor to himself and benefit to those whose interests were entrusted to him"-it was in those words the Trustees of the Dollar Savings Bank referred to him in their tribute to his memory. It is
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a truthful and accurate description of the character of our brother, and it is right and proper to adopt them for our own.
Through his high ability, integrity and industry he rose to a position of great responsibility and influence in the community, where his time and energy were taxed to their fullest capacity. Yet he never failed in the fulfillment of the duties which he owed to the Fraternity. He always found the time and strength to discharge the duties of the many offices to which his brethren called him.
Honored and successful, a smaller man would have been inflated with his own importance; but truly, no man ever saw upon his face a look of pride, save only-
The holy pride of a good intent, The record of a life well spent.
Brother Herdman was held in the greatest affection by his fellow members of Milnor Lodge, No. 287, and they gave eloquent expression to their great loss in the resolu- tions they adopted, and of which the following is a part:
He was our representative on the committee having control and disbursement of the Consolidated Charity Fund of this county and the chairman of its three trustees, elected pursuant to a provision in the late revision of our by-laws. But his attachment to this lodge did not end with the faithful discharge of his official duties. He in- variably attended the meetings of the lodge until failing health pre- vented him. He was comparatively a quiet man; but when he raised his voice in open lodge, it was with no uncertain sound, and always for the good of Masonry in general, and this lodge in particular. After a well spent life he has gone to "his home," where most of the Masons who knew him best and appreciated him most, have preceded him.
There is no one who can exactly fill the place in the lodge made vacant by his death. But we may follow with profit the example he has left us.
JAMES SHIDLE
Now and then it becomes the particular privilege of some great organization in the business, educational or so- cial world to point to the fact that in its directorate suc- cessive generations of one family have had a large share in the management of its affairs. Such a signal instance of the successive representation of one family has fallen to the lot of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society for
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the County of Allegheny, which came into existence in the last month of the year 1847. This representation had its beginning seventy years ago, when Brother James Shidle, a Mason of prominence and influence in the then small city of Pittsburgh, was elected a member of that Board of Trus- tees. And down through that long stretch of years the name of Shidle has been most worthily carried on the list of trustees by father, son and grandson.
James Shidle was elected a trustee on May 16, 1850. His son, Geter C. Shidle, became his successor on the Board December 27, 1882, and his grandson, Fager Jackson Shidle, was elected December 27, 1916, and with earnest devotion to Masonry still remains a member of the Board.
With the exception of the years 1854 and 1857, when he was not a candidate, Brother James Shidle was a trus- tee from 1850 to the time of his death in the year 1879, having therefore held the office for a total period of 27 years. At the annual organization of the Board of Trus- tees in January, 1877, he was chosen president and was fill- ing that position when he died.
At the time of his selection in 1850 as a trustee, Brother Shidle was an extensive dealer in wall paper at No. 59 Smithfield street, Pittsburgh. He had learned the business of manufacturing and selling wall paper in his boyhood days, and later built up a large trade, and in the year 1855 was one of the incorporators of the Pittsburgh Dollar Sav- ings Bank.
While Brother Shidle was a member of only two Ma- sonic Bodies, in these he was ever at the front in advancing the interests of the great Order he loved so well. He had been made a Master Mason, July 18, 1821, in old Milnor Lodge, No. 165, which went out of existence in 1837 and in which he had been worshipful master. Eleven years after the disappearance of Milnor Lodge, he became a charter mem- ber of St. John's Lodge, No. 219, in 1846. He never held an office, except treasurer, in that Body, but was always active in helping along its progress. Having, however, been a past master of the first Milnor Lodge, he was presented, on December 12, 1861, with Past Masters Davage and Evans, by St. John's Lodge with a diploma, "as a token of
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respect for their long, faithful and acceptable services, and the interest ever manifested for the welfare of the lodge." He had been elected treasurer of that lodge, succeeding Brother George W. Layng, who died in 1851, and he con- tinued in that position until his death in 1879. All the records we have of the career of Brother Shidle show that he was held in affectionate esteem by the brethren. On May 14, 1868 St. John's lodge gave him in a gracious manner another testimonial, when its officers and past masters made him a gift of a gold headed cane, he being, as the records of the event states, "the only charter member of St. John's Lodge now remaining in the lodge, and as a brother who has been elected an officer (treasurer) of the lodge at every an- nual election since its constitution," and the gift is made,"as a token of their appreciation of his long, faithful and con- tinued services, of the zeal, integrity and fidelity with which for twenty years he had discharged the duties of treasurer of the lodge, and of their high estimation of his character as an honest, faithful and upright man and Mason."
November 12, 1857, Brother Shidle with Past Master Davage and Senior Warden Wickersham was appointed by St. John's Lodge "to confer with other lodges as to the propriety of establishing a charity fund," which fund, by the concerted action of other lodges, culminated in the Ma- sonic Consolidated Charity Fund in 1860, with a Board of Managers, of which Brother James Shidle was chairman to the end of his days. On October 1, 1850, he became a mem- ber of Zerubbabel Chapter, No. 162.
The death of this valued and esteemed Mason caused sincere sorrow in the breasts of hundreds of people in Pitts- burgh. The Pittsburgh "Post" of January 16, 1879, gave this sketch of his life:
Mr. James Shidle, one of our oldest and most respected citizens, died at his residence, No. 72 Centre avenue, at half-past one o'clock yesterday afternoon. The deceased had been ill for some time. Mr. Shidle was one of the oldest residents of Pittsburgh. He was born in Philadelphia on January 14, 1800. When quite young he took up his residence in Baltimore and after a brief stay there, he decided to emigrate to Pittsburgh-then far West. Conestoga wagons were then not in use, at least between Baltimore and Pittsburgh; and the young man accordingly set out on foot, and walked the entire dis-
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tance. He found a position in Pittsburgh in the exchange office of Mr. John Towne, the first broker's office ever established in Pitts- burgh. Some time afterwards he engaged in the wall paper business with Messrs. Lambie & Patterson at their old mill on Ross street, having accepted the position of foreman. Later on he embarked in the same business for himself, first conducting his trade in the old Point warehouse, near the confluence of the Allegheny and Mononga- hela rivers. He occupied this building in the memorable year of 1832, when the whole Point was submerged by the great flood. He then opened a store on St. Clair street and continued in the wall paper business from that time until January 1, 1878, a period of 46 years, when he retired.
As soon as Mr. Shidle had reached his majority he connected himself with the Masonic fraternity in 1821. He was the father of Geter C. Shidle, the well known citizen who represented the Second Allegheny county district in the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1875-76, and who is himself one of the leading members in Pennsylvania of the Masonic fraternity. James Shidle, the deceased, was a valued and highly respected citizen of this community, was a man of sterling integrity, of kindly disposition and his death will be sadly mourned. Mr. Shidle was 79 years old on Tuesday, the day before his death. He was 58 years a member of the Masonic fraternity.
The funeral of Brother James Shidle took place from his residence on the Friday afternoon following his death, the services being conducted at the home of the deceased by Rev. J. J. Murray, and there was a large attendance of the brethren at the grave. At a meeting of the Board of Trustees held April 1, 1879, the following resolutions were adopted :
Whereas, it has pleased an All-Wise Providence to call from his earthly labors Brother James Shidle, late President of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society; and,
Whereas, it is meet that when a good man dies, that his virtues should be noted, so that his brethren may emulate them; therefore,
Resolved, that we, his intimate friends and companions in office, express our sorrow at the decree which now separates us, but bow in submission to the will of Him who doeth all things well;
Resolved, that through a long life-for he came to his grave in a full age, like the corn cometh in its season-Brother Shidle so conducted himself as to endear him to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance; and in his business relations he leaves a record worthy of imitation;
Resolved, that his death leaves a vacancy on this Board which his successor may feel proud to fill, with like credit to himself and benefit to the Society.
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THOMAS DAVAGE, 32°
Brother Thomas Davage, 32°, was elected a trustee of the Masonic Fund Society in 1854, and served continuously until his death, April 14, 1876. He was one of the Board's most efficient and popular members. At the time of election as trustee he was a manufacturer in Pittsburgh of block and tackle, in which business he continued until his death. He was born near Cowes, Isle of Wight, England December 26, 1800. At the age of 25 years, allured by the spirit of adventure, he adopted the career of sailor, and for five years was on ships sailing the Atlantic ocean. At a later period he came to Pittsburgh to live, and until the year 1832 was employed as a mate on steam boats in the Western rivers. In 1832 he established himself in Pittsburgh in business.
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