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 6
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The great day came at last. The weather was delight- ful and the sun sent down its cheeriest beams. The Grand Master and Officers of the Grand Lodge had arrived in Pittsburgh the day before, and it is to be remembered that seventy-one years ago a journey from Philadelphia, even though part of the way could be made on railway trains, was a matter of days and wearisome inconveniences. The R. W. Grand Master of Pennsylvania at that date was Brother William Whitney, and he was accompanied to Pitts- burgh by the R. W. Deputy Grand Master, Brother Anthony Bourneville; the Grand Chaplain, Brother J. L. Burrows and others whose names have not been left on any record of that event. As for the records of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society, they never make mention of the ceremonies or of the personages attending it. Fortu- nately there was a competent and sympathetic chronicler on hand, in the person of Mr. Lecky Harper, then the pro- prietor and editor of the Pittsburgh "Morning Post." This amiable and popular gentleman was, to use the parlance of our day, an enthusiastic "booster" of everything Masonic, particularly in and about Pittsburgh. To his paper we are indebted for a detailed and vivid narrative of the event. Spe- cial attention had been given for the formation of the pro- cession and the route over which it was to pass, by the chief marshal, Brother John Birmingham, and he published in the "Post" the following notice on July 3:
Blue Lodges, Royal Arch Chapter and Grand Lodge will meet at Wilkins Hall; Knights Templar at their room, corner of Third and Wood streets, at 9 o'clock, A. M.
Route of Procession: From Wilkins Hall down Fourth to Wood, down Wood to Water, down Water to Market, along Market to Fifth,
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up Fifth to the Masonic Building, when the ceremonies of laying the Corner Stone will take place. After the Corner Stone is laid the pro- cession will move up Fifth to Smithfield, along Smithfield to Sixth, up Sixth to the Grant Street Baptist Church, where an Oration will be delivered by the Rev. Sir Knight J. D. McCabe, of Wheeling, Va. Seats will be reserved for the ladies and citizens who may be pleased to honor us with their presence. After the Oration, the procession will move along Grant to Seventh, down Seventh to Hand, down Hand to Penn, down Penn to the Exchange Hotel, where a Collation will be served up for the Brethren.
John Birmingham, Grand Marshal.
The arrangements thus made by Captain John Bir- mingham were carried out to the letter. But it requires some effort of the imagination to picture in these days the quaint aspect of the streets of Pittsburgh as they were on the day nearly three-quarters of a century ago when Chief Marshal Birmingham and his aids led that procession of earnest Masons, at the head of which walked gravely the R. W. Grand Master of the Jurisdiction of Pennsylvania. The event was in every way a success and made a deep and most favorable impression upon the people of Pittsburgh, where unhappily still seethed, mostly for political purposes and profit, the ugly outpourings of the detested spirit of antimasonry. By reason of the fact that Mr. Lecky Harper, who in those days guided the destinies of the Pittsburgh "Post," possessed as a newspaper man the "instinct for news," and was entirely free from the virus of antimasonry, we are able to give here in detail all the features of the cer- emonies attendant upon the laying of the corner stone of the new Hall on Fifth street. Having published no morning "Post" on the fifth of July, Mr. Harper devoted much space in the issue of July 6 to the Masonic demonstration, and from his paper we take the following description and formation of the procession :
Among the many interesting celebrations and ceremonies on the glorious 4th of July, those of the Masonic Fraternity were unquestion- ably the most interesting and imposing. We never witnessed any- thing more impressive and gorgeous. A celebration such as the one which called so large a number of Free Masons together is certainly an important event in the history of Pittsburg. Here in times past, fanaticism and bigotry held almost undisputed sway. The dema-
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gogue, the hypocrite and the knave banded together for the purpose of heaping obloquy upon the Order that existed for many long cen- turies before Christ's Mission upon the earth, and still exists in all its original strength, purity and beauty. But the prejudices kindled by fanaticism have had their day; and the persecutors of Masons are now confined to a very few narrow-minded persons, who resort to such desperate measures for the purpose of making political capital.
The procession of the Fourth formed at Wilkins hall about 10 o'clock, as previously announced, and marched in the following order: Down Fourth street to Wood, down Wood to Water, down Water to Market, along Market to Fifth and down Fifth to the Masonic build- ing:
Two Tylers with Swords, Music Two Stewards, Two and Two, Entered Apprentices, Two and Two, Fellow Craft, Master Masons,
Junior Wardens, Senior Wardens,
Masters of Lodges, Organized Lodges, Past Masters, Mark Masters, Most Excellent Masters, Carriages Containing Guests.
Royal Arch Masons, Two and Two, Music, Grand Tyler, Grand Steward with White Rod, A Past Master with Vessel Containing Corn, Principal Architect, Two Past Masters, with Vessels Containing Oil and Wine, Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer, A Past Master with One Light, Holy Bible, Square and Compass, by Master of Lodge with Two Stewards,
Two Past Masters with Lights, Grand Chaplain, Grand Orator, Two Grand Wardens, Deputy Grand Master, Past Deputy Grand Masters, A Master with the Book of Constitutions, Two Grand Deacons, with Black Rods, Two Stewards with White Rods, Grand Sword Bearer,
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Grand Master, President and Trustees of Masonic Fund Society, Knights Templar.
Grand Marshal Birmingham had for his aids the following: Com- panion J. P. Glass, Comp. W. D. Wood and Comp. Samuel Snowden. The ceremonies of laying the Corner Stone were surpassingly beauti- ful and interesting. The stone was cut out so as to receive a copper box, about 12 inches square. In this box was deposited a copper plate, with the following inscription :
FAITH ANNO DOMINI, 1850
HOPE CHARITY ANNO LUCIS, 5850
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.
James W. Hailman, President,
Sam'l Mckinley, Secretary, James S. Hoon, Treasurer. George W. Layng,
W. J. Davitt, James Shidle.
Wm. Whitney, Grand Master
for the State of Pennsylvania.
ZACHARY TAYLOR, President of the United States. Wm. F. Johnston, Governor of Pennsylvania.
WISDOM
Joseph W. Kerr, Architect. Boyd & Murdock, Builders. STRENGTH BEAUTY
In the box placed in the Corner Stone the following articles were also deposited: The Holy Bible, presented by Miss Jeanette C. Davitt; the different American coins, viz: A gold dollar piece, a silver dollar, half dollar, quarter dollar, 10 and 5 cent pieces, a copper or cent; and one copy of the Daily Morning Post, dated July 4, 1850.
Mr. Mckinley pronounced the work well done. Mr. James W. Hailman, one of the trustees, then delivered a very eloquent and ap- propriate address; after which, the procession again formed and marched to the Second Baptist Church on Grant street, which was soon filled to overflowing.
As soon as order was restored, the Throne of Grace was ad-
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dressed by the Rev. M. Killikenny, of Kittanning. The Orator of the day, the Rev. J. D. McCabe, of Wheeling, then delivered one of the most eloquent, patriotic and feeling addresses it has ever been our good fortune to hear. Although evidently prepared on short notice, it was truly a beautiful production; and the clear, deep, musical voice of the speaker gave it additional force and strength. Mr. McCabe's reputation as an orator had preceded him; but still we were not pre- pared to hear anything half so good from him as was his oration on this occasion. We shall not attempt to give even a synopsis of the Rev. gentleman's remarks, for we would thereby do him and the sub- ject gross injustice. We trust, however, that the oration will be pub- lished.
After Mr. McCabe had concluded, Judge Shaler, of this city, arose for the purpose, he said, of thanking, in behalf of the Masonic Fraternity, the trustees of the Baptist church for their kindness in unanimously passing a resolution allowing the Masons the use of their church. This act, declared Judge Shaler, was especially ap- preciated, as the trustees of the other churches had declined to show a similar liberality. He therefore proposed to the fraternity to raise a collection for the benefit of the church, which appeal was promptly responded to, and the snug little sum of $75 was raised on the spot.
A number of chants and appropriate pieces of music were ad- mirably sung by the choir; and after the ceremonies were over, the procession was again formed, and marched to the Exchange Hotel, where an excellent dinner was served up by Mr. Owston. About 230 persons sat down to the tables.
Altogether the ceremonies were deeply interesting, and the best feeling imaginable prevailed amongst all who participated. Not a single unpleasant incident occurred to disturb the harmony of the proceedings.
Thus closes Mr. Harper's vivid, valuable and apprecia- tive account of the laying of the corner stone of a structure which when completed became at once, both from its high import as a Masonic building and from its architectural excellence, a distinct and important ornament to the city. And we do not think it amiss to register here a sincere ex- pression of gratitude to the memory of Mr. Leckey Harper, who has left us the only adequate description of the cere- monies of an event which was a great step in the triumphant progress of the Craft in Western Pennsylvania.
Supplementary to Mr. Harper's narrative, we are able to give here some further details of this masonically his- toric celebration. The corner stone was laid in place by D. D. Grand Master Samuel Mckinley, according to the
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ancient rites, and as each article, enumerated by Mr. Har- per, was deposited in the copper box in the cavity in the corner stone, it was mentioned in a loud voice by Brother John Irons, W. M. of the Lodge at Uniontown. The arti- cles themselves were placed in the box by Brother C. Head- ly, W. M. of Columbia Lodge, No. 91, of Philadelphia. Silence being proclaimed, the workmen's tools were then presented to the R. W. Grand Master, who applied the Square, Plumb and Level to the stone, and pronounced it "well formed, true and trusty." The stone was then ad- justed to its place and the Rev. Sir Knight J. L. Burrows, Grand Chaplain, pronounced the prescribed prayer. The R. W. Grand Master then received from Brother Charles Shaler the Cornucopia; from Brother R. E. Brown the ves- sel with wine; from Brother Brenneman the vessel with oil, and then poured the contents of each upon the stone. After a formal announcement by the Grand Chaplain, D. D. Grand Master Mckinley struck the stone with his gavel, and the public grand honors of Masonry were given. The Grand Master then delivered to Brother James W. Kerr, the architect, the working tools, saying:
Brother Architect-I present you these implements of architec- ture, and entrust to your care the direction and superintendence of this building; and we have confidence from your known skill as a master workman, that this edifice, when finished, will present to the inhabitants of this city and to the world, strength, beauty and per- manency, forming a line parallel with the immutability of our laws, and the great moral truths therein to be taught and inculcated.
Brother Hailman, President of the Board of Trustees, then delivered an address felicitiously worded, expressing sublime Masonic principles, after which the procession moved to the Baptist church on Grant street, of which Rev. J. H. Burlingham was then pastor. A large number of ladies were in the audience, and the choir under the di- rection of Brother S. W. Stone, vocal conductor, and Brother Henry Roboch, organist, rendered with fine effect the "Mas- ter Mason's Song," after which the Grand Chaplain offered prayer. The choir again sang, followed by the address of Brother McCabe, of Wheeling, P. G. H. P. of the G. R. A. Chapter of Virginia and M. E. Grand Prelate of the Grand Encampment, K. T., of Virginia.
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Thus these memorable ceremonies came to an end, and as the brethren and their friends retired from the church, the choir sang the following impressive lines: When shall we meet again- Meet ne'er to sever; When will Hope wreathe her chain Around us forever.
Truly it can be said that every feature of this event was impressive and the whole a Masonic triumph. The breth- ren had ample justification for the feeling of elation that must have filled their hearts as they saw that Masonically historic day come to a close. Yet there was one cloud of disappointment that affected particularly the members of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society and which was soon to develop into sad results. It will be seen by reference to the minutes, heretofore quoted, of meetings of the Board that the name of Brother George W. Layng does not appear on these records for several sessions prior to the ceremonies of July 4th. He had left Pittsburgh some time before on a mission of filial duty. His aged father was at that time residing at Mobile, Alabama, where the dreaded scourge of cholera was raging, as it was, but in a much less degree, in the city of Pittsburg and environments. Brother Layng brought his father to Pittsburgh a day or so after the date of the laying of the corner stone. On the evening of July 10, at about six o'clock as he was about to enter an omnibus to go to his home on Center avenue, he was suddenly stricken with cholera and fell to the ground. He was immediately conveyed to his home, and to the great sorrow of his many friends he passed to his eternal rest at three o'clock the next morning. A few days later his daugh- ter, a charming girl of eighteen years of age, was struck down by the same terrible plague and soon followed her father to the grave. To add to the bitter woes of that bereft household, the wife of Brother Layng was also stricken by the same disease, but after much suffering she recovered. Thus passed away one of the creators of the Masonic Fund Society and one who had always labored zealously and effectively towards the establishment of Masonry in Western Pennsylvania and had been untiring
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in his efforts to bring about the construction of the Masonic building.
Within a short time after the laying of the corner stone there were two vacancies on the Board of Trustees, that of Brother Layng, who had died and that of Brother William Noble, who had resigned. To fill these vacancies the stockholders held a meeting on July 23, 1850, and at this session Brother Charles Shaler, prominent as a citizen and as a Mason, was brought into the Board of Trustees. The other new member chosen was Brother J. L. Stewart, of Lodge 45. No mention of the ceremonies of July 4th is made in the record of this stockholders' meeting. The first direct reference made to the new building after the laying of the corner stone is found in the minutes of a session of the Board of Trustees, held August 8, 1850, as follows :
On motion, Resolved that the estimate of work done and ma- terial furnished to the Hall be paid.
Bros. Stewart, Shidle and Hoon were appointed Building Com- mittee for the present month.
It is evident from the above that funds were coming in, and it may with good reason be supposed that the interest aroused by the Fourth of July demonstration had not only brought the local Craft into greater prominence, but had also loosened up many more Masonic purse strings. So having got the corner stone duly placed, and with funds on hand, the work on the Hall was vigorously pushed onward, as it was particularly desirous to have it under roof before the winter set in. In fact, they got along so well with the construction that practical arrangements were soon com- pleted to procure tenants for those portions of the struc- ture to be rented for business purposes. Already in the preceding May this matter had been taken up by the Trus- tees, and an effort was being made to have the United States Post office located in the new building, as is shown by the following record of a meeting of October 3, 1850:
Stated meeting of Trustees held at Hall, October 3, 1850.
Present: J. W. Hailman, president; Hoon, Treasurer; Mckinley, Sec'y; also Bros. Shidle and Stewart.
The President was pleased to appoint Bros. Hoon, Shaler & Shi- dle Building Com. for the present month.
Also Bros. Shaler & Shidle a Committee to confer with the Post
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Master relative to renting the first story of Hall, and on motion made and seconded, the President was requested to serve as Chairman of said Com.
But negotiations for the post office fell through. Short- ly after the above mentioned meeting this advertisement ap- peared in local newspapers:
THE FIRST FLOOR AND BASEMENT OF THE MASONIC HALL FIFTH STREET,
The First Floor is subdivided into two Store Rooms, 20 x 60 feet, ' and will be very desirable for Fancy Stores. Two Rooms back, suitable for offices-access to which is by a wide Hall running through the Centre of the building. The basement will be fur- nished in a neat manner and will be suitable for Retail Variety Stores, Trunk and Harness Makers, &c.
The whole will be ready by the first of April.
James W. Hailman, Water Street.
Further progress is shown by the records of a meeting held October 12, 1850:
On motion the Building Com. was instructed to take proposals for gas fixtures, and, in connection with the Architect, to have the same completed at the earliest time possible.
The last record for the year 1850 in connection with the building operations is that of a session of the Trustees on December 30:
On motion Resolved that the Building Com. is hereby instructed to have the 1st Story and Basement Rooms furnished by the 1st of April.
In the meantime the public watched the construction of the edifice with much interest. For those days it would be an imposing structure. And indeed, in the year 1850 Fifth street needed imposing structures. It also sadly needed street improvements. A rather disgusted news- paper man complains in his paper that it makes one quite weary to struggle through "the mud up from Wood street to Grant street." But he found some hope in the rumor that Fifth street would soon be vastly improved by the "laying down of a handsome board pavement." Board pave- ments were much in fashion then and most welcome, as where there were no board pavements there was mud or dust. So that with the completion of the Masonic Hall and the proposed construction of other buildings along the thoroughfare, the prospects for transforming Fifth street
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were not without solid base. Nor did the erection of the Hall go on without encouraging newspaper notice. On Au- gust 22, 1850, Mr. Lecky Harper made this enthusiastic ob- servation :
The work on the Masonic Temple on Fifth street is progressing rapidly. When completed it will be altogether the most magnificent building in the city, or in the West.
This flattering declaration was supplemented by the same gentleman by the announcement, on October 5, that "the brick work of the Masonic Temple has been com- pleted." Apparently from these notices, the structure was not to be, in the popular estimation, merely a "Hall." It was to be a "Temple." Nor did the year 1850 go by with- out some recognition from the Grand Lodge itself. We find in the minutes of the Annual Grand Communication, De- cember 27, that the R. W. Grand Master, Brother William Whitney, who had officiated at the laying of the corner stone, was pleased to say :
The Brethren of Pittsburgh have, I understand, at considerable expense, commenced the erection of a neat and commodious hall, in which to hold their meetings, and they expect to have it completed and ready for dedication in the course of the coming year.
For the Masonic brethren throughout Pennsylvania, and particularly in Pittsburgh, the year 1850 ended with the brightest prospects for future growth in numbers and influence. In his address before the Grand Lodge Decem- ber 27, 1850, the R. W. Grand Master had said:
The city (Philadelphia) lodges have all paid up their dues. The country lodges have done the same, with but very few exceptions. From the lodges generally, under this jurisdiction, we are receiving such flattering accounts of their prosperity as to induce us to believe that few, if any, hereafter will long remain in arrears .**** I think that I may say with confidence, that at no period, within the memory of the most aged brother now present, has our Order, throughout the State, been so prosperous as we find it at the present time.
In Pittsburgh and in the adjacent territory where there were Masonic lodges, not only were they all flourishing, but the most fraternal harmony prevailed. The city itself was making great strides in the way of increase of population and industrial and commercial expansion. At the begin- ning of 1850 there were within the limits of the municipali- ty and near by, thirteen rolling mills, thirty large foun-
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dries, five large cotton mills, a copper smelting works and many other smaller enterprises. Arrangements were being completed for the construction of a City Hall and market house, and the United States government was about to be- gin the erection of its Custom House and post office build- ing on Fifth street, almost side by side with the new Hall of the Masons. According to the minutes of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Fund Society, no difficulty was then being experienced in securing money to defray the cost of the construction work on their building. Old sub- scriptions were being paid and new ones secured, with the result that building operations went on without delay.
We shall now return to the records of the Board of Trustees for further information relative to the completion of the building, the negotiations for tenants and the ar- rangements for the dedication of the edifice, in 1851. The first record of this year dealing with the building is that of a Trustees' meeting on January 7, where it is stated that "the president appointed Bros. Shidle, Hoon and English Building Com. for the present month." At the next gather- ing of the Trustees, February 7, 1851, the following action was taken:
Resolved that the Building Committee be instructed to have the first story divided with hall in centre and store room and adjoining room on either side of hall.
Resolved, that the President advertise the rooms on the first story for rent.
The President appointed Bros. Shidle and McCammon building Com. for present month.
As is shown by the records and by the promptness with which the rooms in the Hall were subsequently rented, good tenants were not difficult to secure. But also there came some applications from would-be renters who were not so desirable. Certain persons wished to rent parts of the new structure, when completed, for restaurant and saloon pur- poses. It was at this period that the Trustees of the Ma- sonic Fund Society reached a conviction and established a precedent from which no deviation has ever been allowed in the management of all the edifices which have been suc- cesively erected by the Craft within the city of Pittsburgh. They then decided, and at subsequent times firmly adhered
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to their decision, that there should be no part of their Ma- sonic building devoted to either restaurants or to saloons. Their first action on this matter was unanimously taken at a meeting of the Trustees, the minutes of which read as follows :
Trustees met in Hall March 4th, A. D. 1851. Pres .: Bros. Hail- man, Shaler, McCammon, Shidle & Mckinley. Minutes of Stated and Adj'd Meetings read and apprv'd. An application having been made to the president to rent one of the store rooms for a Restaurant, on Motion made and seconded, it was unanimously Resolved, That no part of the building be rented for a restaurant or drinking house.
The president was pleased to appoint Bros. Shidle, McCammon & Hoon building Com. for the present month.
The above action and decision were in full consonance with an earlier and notable declaration on the same subject expressed at a great convocation of the brethren in Pitts- burgh, an all too brief record of which has been preserved in the minutes of a meeting of Lodge 45, held August 28, 1850, as follows :
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