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... and, on August 3, 1780, the petition was granted and Lodge No. 9
was duly constituted. When Lodge No. 9 commenced its work, there
were twenty-nine Lodges working and, according to the date, Lodge
No. 9 should have received warrant No. 30. Of the original thirty
Masonic Lodges, there are now only seven in existence - No. 2, 3, 9,
Montgomery No. 19 in Philadelphia; Perseverance No. 21 in
Harrisburg; No. 22 in Sunbury and No. 25 in Bristol. Of the seven,
five Lodges have gaps from two to twenty-three years when they
ceased labor for some reason. Lodge No. 9 has a continuous record
since constituted.
The officers above mentioned were installed by Alexander Rutherford,
Grand Master Pro. Tem. at the home of David Copeland, the Innkeeper.
The initiation was fixed at sixty dollars and every member was fined
one dollar for non-attendance. Due to the assistance of the Grand
Secretary's office, valuable records have been brought to light, our
By-laws are complete, the names of all Past Masters from 1780 to
date are known, and the Secretary's notes show our munificent
response to appeals to charity. Children of deceased Brethren were
cared for until they were of working age; widows were given special
financial attention; firewood and food were given to the needy from
the Charity Funds. In the beginning every member of the Lodge was
obligated to pay one shilling per month to the Charity Fund. Even
Burial expenses were assumed by the Lodge in cases of financial
distress. On March 15, 1783 the Provincial Grand Lodge reported that
Lodges Numbered 2, 3, 4, 9, and 13 were the first to establish a
fund for the relief of indigent and distressed Masons. Through the
years this has been an unending cardinal project with No. 9.
On June 27, 1787, our original Warrant from the Grand Lodge of
England was surrendered to the new Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania
which, on September 25, 1786 had ceased working as a Provincial
Grand Lodge. Brother Matthew Hand, Master of Lodge No. 9, received
our new Warrant which is always placed in front of the Worshipful
Master's Station when the Lodge is open.
In 1797, 1798, 1799 and 1802 the September and October meetings of
the Lodge were suspended owing to the great epidemics of Yellow
Fever. The meticulously kept 'Minutes' note that, on July 2, 1802,
one Archibald Owens was expelled for seventy-seven years for
un-Masonic conduct! Our total membership at that time was fifty and
the charge for our banquets was twenty-five cents. A debt we owed to
the Grand Lodge was cancelled when we turned over to them seven
lengths of stove pipe, six chairs, two pine tables, four benches and
a mahogany cabinet. At the same time, we had begun our investments
by the purchase of two Certificates of United States "Sixes"
amounting to two hundred, thirteen pounds, ten shillings and two
pence. The records show that our Initiation fee was Twenty-nine
dollars, dues were fifty cents, and visitors also paid fifty cents,
collected every meeting night. The Tyler's salary was made up from
admissions paid each meeting, as well as from new candidates fees.
The Secretary's salary was $2.00 for each meeting and $1.50 from
each man initiated.
Even in those early years we were a prospering Lodge ever mindful of
Charity obligations to the less fortunate. It was noted in our
Minutes that a cord of wood was given a widow as charity; Tyler
Grey, lacking money to bury his daughter was voted Twenty dollars
for the burial. In 181 2, new aprons for the Officers were bought,
and jewels and swords were purchased for the Masters of Ceremonies.
A new Seal of the Lodge was obtained, the previous one having been
lost. An Edict ordered that no Officer's or Past Master's Jewels
could be taken home, but must be left in the Lodge room. All members
serving in the Armed Forces during the War of 1812 were exonerated
from paying dues. In 1818 the Initiation fee was raised to Thirty
dollars and, on April 2, 1819, Two Hundred dollars was given out of
a loan of Five Hundred dollars to assist in building the Masonic
Hall on the north side of Chestnut Street between 7th and 8th
Streets to replace the one burned down March 9.
The minutes of 1820 noted the first serious rift in the Lodge.
Brother McGuigan,; the Treasurer and Steward, had been suspended for
overcharging the Lodge for liquor and paying the bill in violation
of the By-laws, Section four. He refused to surrender the papers and
monies to his appointed successor, and all bills had been destroyed.
On July 7, 1820, the Grand Lodge appointed a Committee to
investigate and reported in favor of reinstating Brother McGuigan.
His successor, having refused to give up his Station, was removed
from the Lodge by the Deacons as ordered by the Worshipful Master.
It appears that the Lodge had conducted the election out of regular
order without having received permission from the Grand Lodge.
On October 6, 1821, new By-laws were voted upon, among which it is
noted that, Officers elected to serve were fined Two dollars if they
refused to assume the office: the Secretary's salary was Twenty
dollars per annum; the Tyler was to be an expert, attentive to his
duties, sober and not a member of the Lodge, for which he was to
receive Two dollars per night. At the November 1824 meeting there
were thirty-one members and twenty-nine visitors present. The supper
cost fifty cents each.
The year 1836 saw the height of anti-Masonic trouble when the
unsolved disappearance of one William Morgan, whose enmity upon
refusal of the LeRoy Lodge and Chapter to admit him, was the cause
of this trouble. John Quincy Adams, President of the United States
from 1825 to 1829 - and son of a Mason who was second President -
made some strong statements against Freemasonry, which perhaps
partly cause his defeat by Andrew Jackson, Past Grand Master of
Tennessee. During this excitement, Masons who refused to leave their
Lodge were called 'Adhering Masons'. During this period the Lodge
suffered the loss of few members by resignation but instead gained a
number of Petitions for Admission of new members.
On April 2, 1852, a Communication from the Grand Lodge requested all
Officers and Past Masters to wear their jewels and collars in the
Grand Lodge Meetings. That year, on August 7th, Fifty dollars was
given to Brother William Cundy, whose factory had been destroyed by
fire and Five dollars was given to a Brother Mason from Ireland to
'help him get to Pittsburgh'. By now, the Initiation Fee was Fifty
Dollars, Admission was Twenty dollars and the dues were Ten dollars,
while the Secretary received Fifty dollars for his services.
Five years later the assets of the Lodge equaled $2562.30 and the
Secretary was requested to collect all outstanding debts due the
Lodge for which he received ten percent of the proceeds. A Motion on
March 2, 1860 gave retiring Masters a Past Master's collar and apron
to be their property.
From 1861 until 1865 our Nation was racked by Civil War, when
Brother Mason fought against Brother Mason. As members volunteered
for service they were given a Certificate of Membership for
identification and were exempted from payment of dues. On January 1,
1864 all Securities were taken from Brother Peter T. Wright's
Deposit Box and deposited in the names of the Trustees. Investments
of $5129.27 had been made of which $3000.00 was in United States
5/20 Gold Bonds.
'At High Twelve' on June 24, 1868 the cornerstone of the present
Masonic Temple at No. 1 North Broad Street was laid by the Right
Worshipful Grand Master, Richard Vaux, and on the same day, Lodge
No. 9 purchased a sewing machine for the daughter of a deceased
member. On November 3, 1869, Fifty dollars was sent to sufferers of
flood damage. An interesting note of the Minutes records that
'Swords of the Officers be made blunt to save carpets and
furniture!' February 21, 1876 we sent One dollar as requested by a
Confederate Lodge in Selma, Alabama to help lift a mortgage on their
Hall rebuilt after Federal Troops had burned it down April 2, 1865.
1880 was the Centennial year for Lodge No. 9 and, while its
Membership was not large, the character of its Members showed that
the foundations laid down by our Brothers a century before were
still strictly adhered to. Loyalty and Devotion; Peace and Harmony
pervaded the atmosphere of the Lodge and, in the ensuing century it
was fortunate to be governed by its Worshipful Masters with Justice
and Equity, having the full approval and generous support of all
elected and appointed Officers as well as the entire membership.
This membership includes the names of men in all the varied walks of
life, having enrolled members in National, State and City
Governments, Clergymen, Physicians, Lawyers, Teachers and other
honorable careers in the community. The Charities of the Lodge
through the excellent judgment of its Committees, exemplified the
true spirit of Charity, and calls made upon it on behalf of those
whose circumstances and afflictions made their necessities urgent,
met with generous and hearty responses. During 1883, when the
establishment of a Masonic Home was broached, Lodge No. 9 was among
the first to become a Member of the Corporation. Every year a Life
Membership was taken out, which with the voluntary contributions
added earned our Lodge the honored position at the top of the list
of contributors.
Our Membership never exceeded sixty-four in the first fifty years.
By the time we reached our Centennial, the 'high-water' mark for
Membership was in 1874, when we had 202 Members. In the year of our
Sesquicentennial, 1930, we reached our zenith in membership with an
enrollment of 980. That year, Brother Crosby L. Smith was Worshipful
Master and we met in Corinthian Hall of the Masonic Temple. The
Right Worshipful Grand Master accompanied by his Officers paid our
Lodge a Grand Visitation on October 3rd, to assist in celebrating
our One Hundred and Fifty Years of continuous existence.
The preceding year on 'Black Friday', October 24, 1929 had seen the
collapse of the Stock Market when millions of people in all walks of
life were left penniless. Businesses failed and great unemployment
followed. Yet through it all, Lodge No. 9 continued to prosper.
Brother Benjamin L. Berry, P.M. and District Deputy Grand Master was
appointed by the Worshipful Master to take charge of the Religious
Services at the Masonic Home, 3333 N. Broad Street on November 9,
1930. From the will of our late Brother Frederick Jennings, Lodge
No. 9 received the sum of $5000.00 to be used for Charity purposes.
In 1931 the Worshipful Master, Brother P. Davey Critchlow, received
notice that the 200th Anniversary of the Provincial Grand Lodge of
Pennsylvania would be celebrated from October 11th to the 14th and
he appointed our Secretary, Brother Samuel Sigler, P.M. as our
Representative. On November 6, brother David J. Spangler, P.M. gave
a lengthy and instructive History of 200 years of the Provincial
Grand Lodge.
By 1932 the Initiation and Membership Fee was increased from $170.00
to $180.00, forty dollars of which went for the Homes of the Grand
Lodge. In that year $1542.00 was disbursed for Charity. On March 3rd
of the following year, Right Worshipful Past Grand Master Brother J.
Willison Smith visited the Lodge and gave us timely and instructive
advice. By May 5th, the Fee for Initiation and Membership was
reduced to $125.00 and a suggestion from our Secretary that his
salary be reduced by 15% was categorically rejected. Membership had
dropped this year to 820, a loss from the preceding year of 24
Brethren.
On September 7, 1934, an Edict from the Right Worshipful Grand
Master reaffirmed and directed that subordinate Lodges could not
meet in Lodge Rooms or in the same building where there were held
meetings of the Order of the Eastern Star, the White Shrine of
Jerusalem, the Amaranth or any organization whose membership is
comprised of both sexes, and which in any way have Masonic
affiliation as a prerequisite. An accompanying letter addressed to
our Worshipful Master, referred him to Article XVIII, Section 2, of
the Ahiman Rezon, admonishing all Lodges to maintain detailed and
correct records of all accounts and proceedings. Since our Lodge has
always been noted and frequently commended for the excellence of its
records, this in no way affected us.
By 1936 our membership had fallen to 756 and the average attendance
dropped to 92. Consequently we changed our meeting place from
Corinthian Hall to the smaller Norman Hall for the next 36 years.
Due to the attempts of some Lodges to raise money, an Edict was
received from the Right Worshipful Grand Master on February 5, 1937
reading: - "No member of the Fraternity in this Jurisdiction shall
alone, or with others, be a party to any gambling, lottery, or gift
enterprise devised or arranged to raise money which shall directly
or indirectly inure to the benefit of any Masonic Lodge or Masonic
Hall Association in this Jurisdiction." In 1938 the Right Worshipful
Grand Secretary died and the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Brother
Robert R. Lewis appointed Brother Matthew Galt, Junior to fill the
Office of Grand Secretary. On November 30, Brother Samuel Sigler,
P.M., who had been our Secretary for many years also passed away,
and the Worshipful Master appointed Brother David Spangler, P.M. to
be acting Secretary. On motion, his salary was reduced from
$1,000.00 to $750.00 per annum.
During all of the years following the crash of the Stock Market in
October 1929 and until the outbreak of hostilities on September 1,
1939 that ushered in World War II, our beloved Nation was foundering
in the throes of the worst depression to befall us in a century.
Then, as a supplier of necessary war material to those nations
arrayed against the Central Powers, employment rose to an acceptable
level. Yet, in this decade, due to the wise care of our finances by
the Trustees, Lodge No. 9 was able to continue its generous
charities, disbursing over $16,000.00 for benevolent purposes. In
May, 1939 the following Grand Lodge "Declaration of Principles"
appeared in our minutes: -
'Freemasonry is a benevolent, educational and religious Society. Its
principles are proclaimed as widely as men will hear. Its only
secrets are in its methods of recognition and of symbolic
instruction.
It is Charitable in that it is not organized for profit and none of
its income inures to the benefit of any individual but all is
devoted to the promotion of the welfare and happiness of mankind.
It is Benevolent in that it teaches and exemplifies altruism as a
duty.
It is Educational in that it teaches by prescribed Ceremonials a
System of morality and brotherhood based upon the Sacred Law.
It is Religious in that it teaches monotheism, the Holy Bible is
open upon its Altars whenever a Lodge is in Session, reverence for
God is ever present in its Ceremonial, and to its Brethren are
constantly addressed lessons of morality; yet it is not sectarian or
theological.
It is a Social Organization only so far as it furnishes additional
inducements that men may forgather in numbers, thereby providing
more material for its primary work of education, of worship, and of
Charity.
Through the improvement and strengthening of the character of the
individual man, Freemasonry seeks to improve the Community. Thus it
impresses upon its members, the principles of personal righteousness
and personal responsibility, enlightens them as to those things
which make for human welfare, and inspire them with that feeling of
Charity, or Goodwill, toward all mankind which will move them to
translate Principle and Conviction into action.
To that end it teaches and stands for the worship of God; Truth and
Justice; Fraternity and Philanthropy; enlightenment and orderly
liberty, civil, religious and intellectual.
It charges each of its members to be true and loyal to the
Government of the Country to which he holds allegiance and to be
obedient to the law of any State in which he may be.
It believes that the attainment of these objectives is best
accomplished by laying a broad basis of principle upon which men of
every race, Country, Sect and opinion may unite rather than by
setting a restricted platform upon which only those of certain
races, Creeds and opinions can assemble.
Believing these things, this Grand Lodge affirms its continued
adherence to that ancient and approved rule of Freemasonry which
forbids the discussion in Masonic meetings of Creeds, politics, or
other topics likely to excite personal animosities.
It further affirms its Conviction that it is not only Contrary to
the fundamental principles of Freemasonry, but dangerous to its
unity, strength, usefulness and welfare, for Masonic Bodies to take
action or attempt to exercise pressure or influence for or against
any legislation, or in any way to attempt to procure the election or
appointment of governmental officials, or to influence them, whether
or not members of the Fraternity, in the performance of their
official duties.
The true Freemason will act in civil life according to his
individual judgment and the dictates of his Conscience.'
Brother Allen G. Scott was our Worshipful Master in 1940. During
this year the Nine Klub was reorganized to entertain and honor our
Ladies. It held banquets and Christmas parties every year and
formed a Minstrel show to entertain the guests at the Masonic Home,
all at no expense to the Lodge.
In 1941 Brother George H. Wittmer became our Worshipful Master, and
he appointed Brother Allen G. Scott, P.M. to be our Representative
to the Masonic Home of Pennsylvania at 3333 North Broad Street. Our
By-laws were amended, reducing the Fee for Initiation and Membership
to $125.00, of which $40.00 was for the Masonic Homes of the Grand
Lodge; making the Fee for Admission and Advancement of a Fellow
Craft Mason $50.00. Admission of Brethren from Lodges in other
Jurisdictions became $40.00, which was to go to the maintenance of
the Masonic Homes of the Grand Lodge.
December 7, 1941 was the "Day that will live in infamy!" The
Japanese Air Force, without warning or provocation attacked the
United States war fleet that was stationed at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Immediately our Brother Franklin Delano Roosevelt, President of the
United States, in Congress assembled, declared that a state of war
existed between the United States and the Imperial Government of
Japan. This was followed by Germany and Italy, allies of Japan,
declaring war upon us. Beginning with our stated meeting of March 6,
1942 when Brother Archer P. Crosley was Worshipful Master, pursuant
to a Communication from Brother John A. Lathwood, Right Worshipful
Grand Master enjoining our Membership to actively participate in the
Flag Ceremony, consisting of reciting the 'Oath of Allegiance' to
the Flag, followed by singing the first stanza of the 'Star Spangled
Banner.' On May 3rd, it was on motion resolved that all members of
Lodge No. 9, serving in the armed forces of the United States be
exempt of dues for the duration of the War. Resolutions were issued
concerning proper Masonic conduct and loyalty to our Country in
these times of war; of the proper procedure in case of air-raid
alert; of taking proper precautions to guard records and the Lodge
Warrant, and emphasized the importance that Candidates of foreign
birth give proper proof of their Naturalization as a citizen of our
Country.
Within the Lodge in 1943, our Worshipful Master Brother Heywood M.
Wiley entertained a motion that the sum of $1 50.00 be applied to a
fund for celebrating the 175th Anniversary of our Lodge in 1955. On
April 2nd, ten members and twenty sons of members were reported to
be in the armed services and the Committee on Masonic Military and
Naval Services made a collection of money for their use. A revised
Masonic Burial Service was read in open meeting on May 7th. This
permitted the Service to be performed at the Funeral Parlor on the
night previous to the burial. May 2, Brother Stacey F. Wallace, P.M.
and Treasurer passed away. Permission being granted by the Grand
Lodge to fill the vacancy, an election was held, when Brother Donald
F. Graham, P.M. was elected and installed in Ancient Form.
From 1944 to 1954 membership showed a steady increase. These were
joining years throughout the Nation. Peace at long last had come,
prosperity encouraged an optimism and fraternal spirit in our midst
which, in turn, resulted in rapid Masonic growth. In 1945, during
the term when Brother Roy N. Tope was Worshipful Master, Brother
Israel Leopold notified the Lodge that his name had been changed
legally to Ed. Wynn. He was one of the outstanding comedians of his
time and a loyal supporter of Lodge No. 9. In 1946, in March and
April alone, there were seventeen petitions submitted for Initiation
and Membership and, at the annual Meeting in December, 300 Members -
practically half of our entire membership - attended.
April 4, 1947, Brother T. Harrison Gibson, who later was to become a
great benefactor to both the Masonic Home of Pennsylvania and to
Lodge No. 9, was constituted a Life Member. Year after year, more
and more Petitions were being received for Initiation and
Membership, wise investments made by our Trustees permitted our
Treasury to grow; at the same time we were able to withdraw hundreds
of dollars each year for charity purposes. On November 11, 1949,
Brother David J. Spangler, P.M. and Secretary of our Lodge, who had
been Initiated October 9, 191 1, passed away and Brother George H.
Wittmer, P.M. was appointed Acting Secretary for the remainder of
the year. It is of interest to note that, whereas in 1939, the cost
of the retiring Worshipful Master's jewel was $28.00, in 1951 the
cost was $48.00 so long ago had inflation begun!
In 1951 Brother Joel Carver was our Worshipful Master and the
average attendance at stated Meetings was 120. Also during this
year, Membership had grown to 720. Several Edicts and Communications
from the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Brother William E. Yeager,
to our Lodge are of interest. One was to the effect that, "a
physical disqualification arising after initiation of a Brother will
not prevent his advancement provided he is still mentally and
morally fit, and has the ability to give the signs properly." The
Right Worshipful Grand Master also revoked Decision #783 which
permitted Lodge notices to be mailed with open flaps, restoring the
former Decision #388 which had required that all Lodge notices,
except for funerals, must be mailed in sealed envelopes. Another
Communication dated September 28, 1951 from the Right Worshipful
Grand Master, Brother William E. Yeager, stated that showing the
name of the Candidate on whom a Degree is to be conferred must be
discontinued in the Lodge notices.
In 1952, when Brother John W. Loxley was Worshipful Master, Lodge
No. 9 was the recipient of two bequests. Brother Theodore A.
Finkenauer who had been Initiated October 6, 1894 passed away,
bequeathing our Lodge the sum of $3,000.00 absolutely. From the
Estate of Mrs. Edna E. Spangler, deceased wife and widow of Brother
David J. Spangler, P.M. and former Secretary, Lodge No. 9 received a
bequest of $2,000.00 to be used for the maintenance and support of
the Lodge.
On June 6, 1953, our Worshipful Master, Brother Edwin H. Mabry,
appointed a Committee of eight Past Masters: - Brothers Benjamin L.
Berry, Isaac F. Benner, Robert J. Thompson, Crosby L. Smith, P.
Davey Critchlow, Raymond S. Henning, Robert Richards and Edward L.
McElroy, Ch'mn, to formulate a written History of Lodge No. 9 from
its inception, as complete as possible, with cuts of Officers,
Committees, etc., to be completed and printed by September 1, 1955,
for distribution on the 1 75th Anniversary of Lodge No. 9. In the
Minutes of October 2, there appears the first mention of a 'Past
Masters' Night.' All the chairs were occupied by Past Masters and
Brother Joel Carver, P.M. conferred the Sublime Degree of a Master
Mason on Brother Thomas Huffington. The Secretary received a letter
from the Masonic Home of Pennsylvania, 3333 N. Broad Street,
thanking the Lodge for the donation with which they refurbished a
room originally furnished by our Lodge thirty years previously. On
November 8, our Lodge conducted the religious services at the above
Home, following which a Plaque was unveiled in honor of Brother T.
Harrison Gibson, a deceased member of our Lodge and a most generous
benefactor both to the Masonic Home of Pennsylvania and to Lodge No.
9.
Neither the Korean conflict had, nor was our forthcoming embroilment
in Vietnam to have any appreciable effect upon the good fortunes of
Lodge No. 9. In 1954 when Brother Harry S. Nitterauer was our
Worshipful Master, the average attendance at stated meetings was 11
7 and our membership was 730. The first Member ever to receive the
50 Year Masonic Service Emblem was Brother John Schaack who had been
initiated April 7, 1904. A Communication from the Right Worshipful
Grand Master was received relative to the establishment of a Masonic
Blood Bank. On September 11th, at an extra Meeting, held in the
George Washington Memorial, Alexandria, Va., our Lodge was honored
by the presence of Brother Lewis A. Major, Worshipful Master of
Alexandria-Washington Lodge No. 22, A. F. & A. M.
In 1955, while Brother Joseph J. Higgins was our Worshipful Master,
Lodge No. 9 celebrated 175 years of continuous existence. Brother
Higgins appointed Brother Benjamin L. Berry, P.M. Chairman Emeritus,
and Brother Joel Carver, P.M. General Chairman, and all the Elected
Officers as an Executive Committee in order that the entire Lodge
might celebrate this remarkable occasion. One of the features was
that each Member received a plastic coated Card on which his name
and a record of the dates of his Initiation and Advancement were
printed. On October 29, at an Extra Meeting held in Corinthian Hall
of the Masonic Temple, the Worshipful Masters of District 'H' were
presented and welcomed by the Worshipful Master of our Lodge, his
Elected Officers and the 323 Members and 24 Guests who were in
attendance. Then the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Brother Ralph M.
Lehr, was admitted to the Lodge and he announced the presence of the
Officers of the Grand Lodge on their Grand Visitation to Lodge No. 9
on the occasion of the 175th Anniversary of its existence. Thereupon
the Right Worshipful Grand Master and the other Grand Elected and
Appointed Officers were formally admitted. The Worshipful Master
gave the Lodge the Sign to greet the Right Worshipful Grand Master
and, after greeting him in the East, turned the Lodge over to him.
The Right Worshipful Grand Master instructed the Grand Lodge
Officers to relieve the Officers of Lodge No. 9 and take their
places. He then called upon the Officers to make a few remarks. Then
Brother James H. Sims, Chairman of the Trustees of our Lodge,
presented the Right Worshipful Grand Master with a check in the
amount of $5,000.00 and stated that the Trustees had set aside
another $5,000.00 to be presented to the 'Hospital Extension Fund of
the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania' at the unveiling of a Plaque in the
Dispensary in memory of Brother T. Harrison Gibson, a deceased
Member whose generosity had made these presentations possible.
Brother Sims then added that, so long as it is financially possible,
Lodge No. 9 has agreed to make an Annual Donation to the Dispensary
of $2,000.00. The Right Worshipful Grand Master accepted these
munificent donations with thanks and stated that, on completion of
the Hospital Dispensary, he would arrange with our Lodge to make the
presentations to take place in Elizabethtown at the unveiling of the
Plaque in honor of Brother T. Harrison Gibson and Lodge No. 9. The
Grand Lodge Officers then retired to the Banquet room and our
Worshipful Master proceeded to close the Lodge.
In January 1956, our Worshipful Master, Brother Allen G. Schultz,
caused the Amendments to our By-Laws, which had been passed the
previous November, again to be read. By these Amendments, the annual
Dues of Members were raised from $8.00 to $12.00; the Fee for
Initiation and Membership was raised from $150.00 to $200.00, of
which a sum of $60.00 would accrue to the Masonic Homes of the Grand
Lodge; the Treasurer would receive annually $100.00 and be exempt
from paying Dues; the salary of our Secretary would remain at
$1,000.00 per annum and, by Article 6, Section 3, any Member who
has paid full Dues to the Lodgefor3Oyears or more may, by a vote of
the Lodge, be made an Honorary Member and, thereafter, only be
required to pay his Grand Lodge Dues. All of these changes in our
By-Laws were approved by the Grand Lodge with the exception that
they deleted the figure '30' and inserted the figure '35' to be the
length of time that a Member must have been in our Lodge before he
may be deemed an Honorary Member and be eligible for the remittance
of his Dues. On Motion, it was approved that $200.00 be withdrawn
from the treasury and placed in the fund for the celebration of our
on-coming 200th Anniversary in 1980. Our Membership during this year
was 725 while, at the end of 1957, when Brother John A. Staufenberg
was our Worshipful Master, the Membership was 709, twenty-two of our
Members having passed away during the year, two others having been
suspended and eight new applicants having been Initiated. During
that year, the average attendance during Stated Meetings was 99.
Since that year, there has been a modest though steady decline both
in attendance at Stated Meetings and also in total Membership.
Our Worshipful Master in 1958 was Brother Eber B. Wenger. On June 6,
the Right Worshipful Past Grand Master, Brother Charles F. Nitsch
visited our Lodge and gave a very interesting talk on Free Masonry
and the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown. The Right Worshipful Grand
Secretary, Brother George A. Avery, having passed away, the Right
Worshipful Grand Master, Brother Sanford M. Chilcote announced the
appointment of Brother Ashby P. Paul to fill the vacancy.
In 1959, when Brother Gustave Scheerbaum was our Worshipful Master,
at an extra Meeting on June 13 with 51 Members and 60 Visitors
present, our District Deputy Grand Master, Brother Charles E.
Kauffman, conferred upon Brother Thomas Reichhardt the Sublime
Degree of Master Mason. On October 3, Brother Benjamin L. Berry,
P.M. and Past Deputy Grand Master, District 'H', was presented with
a Plaque honoring him for 52 years of active service in Lodge No. 9.
Brother Henry Schleyer, who was our Worshipful Master in 1960,
entertained a Motion to draw $500.00 from our Treasury to be placed
in the Fund for the purpose of celebrating the 200th Anniversary of
our Lodge. The last time that any money had been 'ear-marked' for
this purpose had been 1956. On Motion approved, the salary of the
Tyler was increased to $12.00 per meeting. On December 4 our
Treasurer, Brother Ellwood G. Schmidt announced his resignation from
that position and that he was a candidate for the station of Junior
Warden. In the subsequent election that evening, he was elected. In
the twenty year period between 1941 and 1960, Lodge No. 9 had
withdrawn from its treasury approximately $18,000.00 to be used for
Charitable purposes.
During the year 1961, while Brother William J. Peters, Jr. was our
Worshipful Master, Lodge No. 9 suffered the loss of Brother Benjamin
L. Berry, a Past Master of our Lodge, a 33, Mason, and a former
District Deputy Grand Master. He was born March 29, 1864, initiated
November 4, 1898, was Worshipful Master in 1907 and was, at one
time, Director of Docks, Wharves and Ferries in the City of
Philadelphia. Until his death at the age of 97 years, Brother
Benjamin L. Berry was a very active member of Lodge No. 9. On April
7, at an election held for a successor to Brother Berry as
Representative in the Grand Lodge, Brother Gustave Scheerbaum, our
Worshipful Master in 1959 was elected. On November 3, Right
Worshipful Past Grand Master, Brother Charles H. Nitsch, presented
Brother Crosby L. Smith, our Worshipful Master in 1930, with the 50
year Service Emblem of the Grand Lodge.
In 1962, Brother Robert J. Wood was Worshipful Master of Lodge No.
9. A communication from the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge, referring
to Masons attending meetings of the Order of the Rainbow Girls
and/or Job's Daughters, forbade them to take any active part in, or
to serve on their Advisory Boards. The Right Worshipful Grand
Master, Brother Max F. Balcom, issued the following decision: The
solicitation of a petitioner for initiation and membership in an
Organization which has as a prerequisite, membership in the Masonic
Fraternity, is forbidden before he has received the degree of a
Master Mason, or upon the same night. Such solicitation is forbidden
as conduct unbecoming to a Mason and any violation is fraught with
Masonic discipline. March 2 was designated District 'H' Night and
the District Deputy Grand Master, Brother Charles E. Kauffman was
present. The Officers of District 'H' filled all the chairs and
Brother Ellwood G. Schmidt, Senior Warden of Lodge No. 9 conferred
the Master Mason Degree on Brother Marvin W. Kirkland. On April 6,
the Worshipful Master welcomed a visitation of Brethren from
Riverside Lodge No. 187 and Ionic Lodge No. 94 of New Jersey. On May
4, Brother Harry S. Nitterauer, P.M. and Secretary of the Trustees
of Lodge No. 9, reported that the Trustees were preparing a
presentation of a Program for an Educational Fund to be used by the
Brethren to advance the education of their children.
In 1963, when Brother Ellwood G. Schmidt was Worshipful Master, the
Trustees advised the Brethren that the Educational Fund Program was
prepared and funds were available for that purpose. This is the "T.
Harrison Gibson Educational and Charitable Fund" from which
interest-free loans have been made to students.
In 1964 Brother William J. Fickenscher, Jr. was our Worshipful Master and
an invitation was received and accepted that our Lodge would repay a
visit by Ionic Lodge No. 94 of New Jersey to our Lodge on April 6 of
last year. On April 20 our Lodge was well represented when they
celebrated 'Pennsylvania Night. On May 1, Right Worshipful Past
Grand Master Brother Charles H. Nitsch and Brother Albert H. Bauer,
District Deputy Grand Master, District 'D' were received with
honors. A Table Lodge was held with Brothers Charles H. Nitsch,
Right Worshipful Past Grand Master, Albert H. Bauer, District Deputy
Grand Master and Clarence L. Walker, P.M. Lodge No. 380 being the
principal speakers. On June 5, members of Ionic Lodge, No. 94 of New
Jersey, returned our visit of April 20.
In 1965, Brother G. William Schmidt, Jr. was Worshipful Master of
our Lodge. On March 5, a moment of silent prayer was held for
Brothers and Past Masters Ellwood G. Schmidt and Gustave Scheerbaum,
both of whom had passed away since our meeting in February. On April
2 a special election was held to fill the vacancy for a
Representative in the Grand Lodge left by the death of Brother
Gustave Scheerbaum, P.M. and Brother Heywood M. Wiley, P.M. was
elected. On May 7, a visitation of members of Ionic Lodge No. 94 of
New Jersey was received, and on June 12, members of our Lodge
visited the Masonic Homes in Elizabethtown.
In 1966 the Worshipful Master of our Lodge was Brother Don H.
Stadler. On January 7, the retiring Worshipful Master, Brother G.
William Schmidt, Jr. was presented with his Past Master's Jewel and
Apron and, during the year, $1120.00 was withdrawn from the Treasury
for Charitable purposes. The Membership of the Lodge was 591 and
average monthly attendance was 67.
In 1967, Brother Gerald A. Horn was Worshipful Master of Lodge No.
9. On May 5, he welcomed a visitation by members of Ionic Lodge No.
94 of New Jersey. On September 1, a Communication was received from
the Office of the Right Worshipful Grand Master stating that the
Masonic Employment Bureau had been closed. Brother P. Davey
Critchlow, P.M. reported to the Grand Lodge that, for Insurance
purposes, the value of the property belonging to our Lodge was
$3,361.24. During the year, $1,006.10 had been withdrawn from the
Treasury for Charity purposes. Membership at year's end was 568 and
average attendance at stated meetings was 69.
Brother Charles A. Fricke was Worshipful Master of our Lodge in
1968. On January 5, it was announced that the Right Worshipful Grand
Master would formally present Brother Alfred K. Mills, District
Deputy Grand Master, District 'H' in Corinthian Hall, Saturday,
February 5, at 2:00 p.m. On May 3, a 'Father and Son' ceremony was
held when Brother David Uhlman, Jr. gave a stirring talk on how
Freemasonry could bridge the communication gap between generations.
On September 6, Brother Joel Carver, P.M. gave an interesting
account of the History of Lodge No. 9 from 1780 to the present time.
During the year $1,025.15 was withdrawn for Charity purposes.
Membership as of December 27, 1968 was 556 and average attendance at
Stated Meetings was 61.
In 1969, Brother William M. Norris was our Worshipful Master. On
March 7, Brother George H. Wittmer, P.M. and our Lodge Secretary
passed away and Brother Robert J. Wood, P.M. was appointed Acting
Secretary - a post to which he has been re-elected every year to
date. On Motion approved, a Committee was appointed to institute
action for procuring a suitable memorial for our late Brother George
H. Wittmer. A Communication was received from the Right Worshipful
Grand Master on September 5 to the effect that Members must be
informed regarding approval, disapproval or modification of the
By-Laws or Amendments thereto. During the year, $1,137.60 had been
withdrawn from the Treasury for Charity purposes. The Membership as
of December 27, 1969 was 561 and average attendance at stated
meetings was 61.
In 1970, Brother Dale T. Keddie was Worshipful Master of our Lodge.
On February 6, a 'Table Lodge' was opened at 8:00 PM; and, on March
6, the Chester Chapter of the Order of DeMolay exemplified their
second degree. Twelve members of our Lodge were given the 50-year
Service Emblem of the Grand Lodge. On May 1, Brother Joel Carver,
P.M. and Chairman of the Lodge Trustees, announced that each
graduate of the Patton Masonic Institution for Boys at
Elizabethtown, upon graduation, would receive $25.00 in the name of
Lodge No. 9. On September 4, the Trustees reported that six student
loans, totaling $3,000.00 had been made. In a letter, the Right
Worshipful Grand Master thanked the Lodge for their donation of
$3,700.00 which was used to pay for the carpeting of the dormitories
and dining room in the Patton School for Boys at Elizabethtown. On
October 2, a motion that the Dues of sixty-four 50-year Members be
remitted, was declared Void by the Grand Lodge. During the year, the
sum of $3,265.22 was withdrawn for Charity purposes. Membership as
of December 27, 1970 was 541 and average attendance at stated
meetings was 66.
Brother William F. Ault was our Worshipful Master in 1971. On
February 5, at the close of our Stated Meeting, the members visited
Perkins Lodge No. 402 to witness the presentation of Brother C.
Edward Weaver as our new District Deputy Grand Master. On May 7, we
received a Communication from the Right Worshipful Grand Master
stating that the Grand Lodge Committee on Finance had approved a 116
Bed Extended Care Building adjacent to and connected with the
Freemason's Memorial Hospital at Elizabethtown be built at a cost of
$3,500,000.00, and on June 4, a letter of thanks from the Right
Worshipful Grand Secretary for the Lodge's $2,000.00 contribution to
the Hospital Dispensary in the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown, was
received. Attention was called to Decision LXXIV-46 refusing
permission of a Lodge to make a retiring Worshipful Master an
Honorary Member or to reduce the Dues of a Past Master because of
his Service as a Worshipful Master. On November 5, Worshipful Master
William F. Ault, presented the Lodge with a large Bible in Honor of
his Father, our late Brother William L. Ault, which was placed upon
the Altar. The Trustees of the Lodge made a contribution of
$2,500.00 from the T. Harrison Gibson Fund to the Masonic Homes at
Elizabethtown and a gift of $500.00 to the Philadelphia Shiners'
Hospital for crippled children. During. the year, $2,265.72 was
withdrawn for Charity purposes. As of December 27, 1971, our
Membership was 521 and average attendance at the Stated Meetings was
56.
In 1972, Brother Harry E. Stowman was our Worshipful Master. On
February 4, a Communication from the Right Worshipful Grand Master
was received which revoked Paragraph 7 of Decision XXXVI, and
encouraged Lodges to sponsor activities to which Ladies and Families
of Masons are invited, which activity may be held before or after
Stated, Extra or Special meetings. On March 3, Brother Joel Carver,
P.M. and Chairman of the Trustees, presented a check for $15,000.00
from the T. Harrison Gibson Fund to the District Deputy Grand Master
to be used at the discretion of the Right Worshipful Grand Master
for the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown. On May 5, Lodge No. 9 was
about to make a momentous decision. After meeting for ninety-nine
consecutive years in the Masonic Temple, the Worshipful Master
appointed a Planning Committee which unanimously recommended that
our Lodge seek another place of Meeting. While in 1951 our average
attendance had been 120and our Membership 720. Twenty years later,
attendance at Stated Meetings had declined to 56 and our total
Membership was 521 - a drop of 200 in Membership. The drop in
average attendance was ascertained to be due to reluctance of
members to come into centre city from outlying areas. Membership was
also declining due to deaths, resignations and a paucity of new
applicants.
Numerous Lodge Halls within the city's perimeter were visited by the
Committee, after which Brothers Harry S. Nitterauer and Eber Wenger,
Past Masters and Brother John Creely presented a resolution that our
place of Meeting be changed to the Tacony Masonic Temple located at
4400 Magee Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa., 19135. At an Extra Meeting
held May 30, with 102 Members present, the Planning Committee
explained at length the reasons prompting the change and, after open
debate, a Motion by the Planning Committee to change our Meeting
place to the Tacony Masonic Temple was made, seconded and approved
by a vote of 97 for and 5 against, and it was so ordered. On May 19,
the Right Worshipful Grand Master revised Paragraph 5 of Decision
XXXI II so that with approval of the District Deputy Grand Master, a
relative or friend could participate in Installation ceremonies of
the Order of the Rainbow for Girls and the International Order of
Job's Daughters. Also Paragraph 2, Decision XI I was altered to
permit non-Masons to address banquets and other festivities of a
Masonic Lodge except at an Anniversary or Annual banquet which are
restricted to Masons.
On September 1, our first Stated Meeting in the Tacony Masonic
Temple was held. As a result of this change in our meeting place,
the Lodge was transferred from District "H" to District "D" and
Brother Glen T. Renegar became our District Deputy Grand Master. The
Planning Committee was also given the task of designing a new cover
for our Lodge Meeting notices. A Motion, made by Brother G. William
Schmidt, P.M. that the nineteen books comprising the 'Minutes of the
meetings of Lodge No. 9 since 1789 be micro-filmed and that the film
be stored in the Trustees Safety Deposit Box was seconded and
approved. On October 6, Brother Glen T. Renegar, District Deputy
Grand Master presented the 50-year Masonic Service Emblem to Brother
Heywood M. Wiley, P.M., who had been initiated September 1, 1922. On
October 6, a Communication was received from the Right Worshipful
Grand Secretary acknowledging receipt of a check in the amount of
$22,088.61 from the Estate of Helen R. Pariett, widow of the late
Brother Harold R. Parlett of Lodge No. 9 to the use of the Masonic
Homes of Pennsylvania.
In 1973, our Worshipful Master was Brother Robert L. Brooke, who on
March 2, welcomed visitations of fifty-two Members from Lodge No.
161 of Palmyra, New Jersey and also the Officers from District 'D'.
Past Master, Brother Edgar N. Peppler, of the Palmyra Lodge, gave a
most interesting and informative talk on the, "Entered Apprentice
Mason." On April 6, Brother Glen T. Renegar, District Deputy Grand
Master, District 'D', announced that the Dedication of the Mason's
Health Care Building at Elizabethtown would take place on July 28
and also that an Open House would be held at the Masonic Temple, No.
1 N. Broad Street, Philadelphia on the occasion of its 100th
Anniversary celebration, September 15-16, 1973. Brother Robert H.
Hamilton, deceased member of our Lodge, bequeathed $2,297.54 to the
William L. Elkins Masonic Orphanage for Girls and the Masonic Home
of Pennsylvania and he requested in his Will that they obtain a
suitable memorial in his name. September 5, the Right Worshipful
Grand Master, Brother W. Orville Kimmel, informed the Lodge of the
Appointment of Brother William A. Carpenter, P.M. of Chester Lodge
No. 236 as the Right Worshipful Grand Secretary to fill the vacancy
resulting from the resignation of Brother Ashby B. Paul for reasons
of health. The Board of Governors of the Philadelphia Masonic
Schools of Instruction are financing their operation through a 'per
capita' tax of ten cents per member of the Lodges in Districts 'A'
to 'J' inclusive. For this year, the assessment of Lodge No. 9 was
$49.70. The average attendance at Stated meetings was 74.
In 1974, Brother Helmut M. Boehm was our Worshipful Master and, on
February 1, he welcomed a visitation of thirty-three Members of
Kensington Lodge No. 21 1. Brother Dr. Arturo P. LeFebre, who was
made a Mason in Cuba, addressed our Lodge on "Masonry as a Universal
Fraternity" and answered questions concerning Masonry in Cuba. On
March 1, an Edict was read from the Right Worshipful Grand Master
against, "The Universal League of the Most Ancient and
Honorable
Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons", which has circulated
applications for membership throughout this Jurisdiction, stating
therein that "no member of a Lodge in this Jurisdiction can hold a
membership." The Trustees of Lodge No. 9 made contributions of
$3,000.00 to the Dispensary and $500.00 to the Guest and Building
Fund of the Masonic Homes of Elizabethtown. Following the closing of
our Lodge on April 5, all the members retired to the Banquet room
and joined with their wives to enjoy 'Ladies Night.' Brother Joel
Carver, P.M. gave a talk on the History of Lodge No. 9 and Brother
Heywood M. Wiley, P.M. talked on Freemasonry in general. On May 3,
on motion, it was approved that a bequest of $45,995.02 from the
Estate of Mrs. Matilda E. Neill be deposited in a Federally Insured
Savings Account until further action may be taken by the Trustees of
the Lodge, who subsequently put it for Investment in the Memorial
Fund. On September 6, the Officers of District 'D' visited our
Lodge. The monthly rental for use of the Lodge Room in the Tacony
Masonic Temple was raised from $150.00 to $175.00. On November 1, a
Memorial Service was held to honor our deceased Brethren. On
December 6, our Representative in the Grand Lodge reported that
Article X, Sec. 5 of the Ahiman Rezon had been amended, increasing
mileage allowance to Representatives attending the Grand Lodge, but
that the proposed amendment to create open territory among Symbolic
Lodges was defeated. The average attendance of members at stated
meetings was 63.
In 1975 Brother George B. Scheerbaum served as Worshipful Master. On
December 30, 1974, Brother George H. Earle, III, a member of our
Lodge and a former Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
passed away. On February 7, our Lodge purchased fifty master
reference Editions of the Heirloom Masonic Bible to be used in the
Initiation of Candidates for the Sublime Degree of Master Mason,
which at the close was to be presented to the Candidate. On June 6,
a request was made to the District Deputy Grand Master, which was
subsequently granted, to hold an extra meeting in the George
Washington National Memorial Building in Alexandria, Virginia on
Saturday, June 19, 1976 at which Brother Leon A. Soltysiak was
raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason. On September 5,
Brother Glen T. Renegar, District Deputy Grand Master, after a very
interesting speech on the History of Lodge No. 9, accepted a check
for $15,000.00 from the Trustees of our Lodge as a contribution to
the Building Program of the Masonic Homes of Elizabethtown. Brother
and Mrs. William M. Norris received a special vote of Thanks in
appreciation for the many hours they spent in arranging the Bulletin
Board in the Tacony Masonic Temple lobby that contains a complete
list of the Past Masters and their year of service to Lodge No. 9.
On November 7, a Committee consisting of Past Masters, Brothers
Heywood M. Wiley, Robert L. Brooke and Helmut M. Boehm was appointed
to study a possible revision of the Lodge's By-Laws. On December 5,
our Lodge received a Communication from the Right Worshipful Deputy
Grand Master to the effect that, since Brother Glen T. Renegar,
District Deputy Grand Master had completed ten years in that office,
it was his intention to replace him by Brother Arthur Watley
Buzzard, P.M., Meriden Sun Lodge No. 158. The average attendance at
stated meetings in 1975 was 66.
In 1976 Brother Kenneth D. Guinther became our Worshipful Master. On
January 2, the Right Worshipful Grand Master confirmed the
appointment of Brother Arthur W. Buzzard as District Deputy Grand
Master, and in a letter to our Secretary, Brother Robert J. Wood,
thanked our Lodge for the contribution the Trustees had made of
$4,500.00 to the Masonic Care Center at Elizabethtown. The Committee
of Past Masters that, on November 7, 1975 had been appointed to
revise our By-Laws, made the following recommendations: - (1) For
the Admission of a Brother from another Jurisdiction, a Fee of Ten
dollars be charged, plus Sixty dollars which would be for the
Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown; (2) That Article VII, Section I be
amended to read: "Any Member who has paid full Dues for 35 years or
more, may, by a vote of the Lodge, be made an 'Honorary Member' with
payment of Dues of $8.00 per annum; (3) Article Xi was changed so
that the Committee on Charity could distribute $200.00 instead of
$100.00 in maximum emergency allowances; (4) That annual Dues for
Members would be increased from $12.00 to $16.00. On March 5, the
above proposed amendments were again read, separately acted upon and
approved, except that, after December 3, 1976, the annual Dues of
Members were raised from $12.00 to $18.00. On June 19, the extra
meeting of our Lodge in the George Washington Masonic National
Memorial Building at Alexandria, Virginia, was held at which 33 of
our Members and 39 Visitors were present. On September 3, the Right
Worshipful Grand Master informed us that our proposed amendments to
our By-Laws had been approved. We were informed on December 3 that
the Right Worshipful Grand Master had caused a change to be made in
the Digest of Decisions, XXXVII concerning entertainment so that
Paragraph 2, Sub-paragraph 8 should read: - "Picnics and other
social activities conducted by a Lodge with Masons and/or non-Masons
present may be held on Sunday after 2:00 p.m., provided a Masonic
Temple, Hall or Lodge Room is not used and further provided that no
alcoholic beverages are served at or in conjunction with such a picnic
or social event.
In 1977 the Worshipful Master of Lodge No. 9 was Brother William M.
Wallace. A letter from the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Brother
John L. McCain, that we received January 7, thanked our Lodge for
the donations of $4,000.00 for maintenance of the Dispensary and
$500.00 for the General Fund at the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown.
On March 4, a Ladies Night was fully enjoyed by all following the
closing of the stated meeting. On April 1, Brother Clarence Walker
of Lodge No. 280 gave us a most interesting talk on 'King David and
his Son.' A letter from the Right Worshipful Grand Master received
May 6 reiterated his Decision whereby a period of six months must
elapse between the time a newly-made Mason has the Master Mason
degree conferred upon him, and the date on which he may sign a
petition for admission to another Organization that requires, as a
requisite, membership as a Master Mason. Likewise, the official dues
card issued by a Lodge must be withheld until the newly made Master
Mason has produced a Certificate of Proficiency. On June 3, our
Worshipful Master appointed Past Masters Brothers William M. Norris,
Harry E. Stowman, Jr. and Kenneth D. Guinther to be our Lodge
Committee on Examinations in accordance with instructions of the
Right Worshipful Grand Master. On September 2, we welcomed a
visitation of the Officers of District D'. A Communication from the
Right Worshipful Grand Master informed us that the Mother of a
living Master Mason may be admitted to the Masonic Home at
Elizabethtown provided that the Mason has been in good standing for
ten or more years. Likewise non-ambulatory sisters and daughters of
a deceased or living Master Mason may be admitted provided he has
been in good standing for ten or more years. At year's end, the
Trustees of our Lodge contributed $500.00 to the Masonic Services
Fund.
Brother Carl W. Jackle was our Worshipful Master in 1978. January 8
we received a letter from the Right Worshipful Grand Master in which
he thanked us for our gift of $4,000.00 to the Hospital Dispensary
and of $500.00 to the Guest and Building Fund of the Masonic Homes
at Elizabethtown. A notification of a change in the Digest of
Decisions was received by our Lodge March 3rd, stating that the
Ancient Charges are not a part of the Esoteric work - however, they
must be recited from memory by the Worshipful Master or a Brother
designated by him. May 5th was again 'Ladies Night' and while our
meeting was in progress, they were entertained by music and an
illustrated Travelogue. Acting upon an appeal from the Grand Master,
the Trustees donated the sum of $1,000.00 to the Hospital Visitation
Program of the Masonic Veterans Fund. Two unusual Petitions for
Initiation and Membership were received and favorably processed -
unusual in that they represented simultaneous applications from a
father and a son, Donald Carl Snyder and Donald Carl Snyder, Jr. On
December 1, the Lodge authorized charitable contributions totaling
$1,334.61.
In 1979, Brother George K. Gordon, Jr. became our Worshipful Master.
January 5th saw us thanked by the Right Worshipful Grand Master for
our contribution of $5,149.61 to the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown.
Letters of thanks came from the Shiners' Hospital for Crippled
Children for the donation of $1,000.00 as well as from the Northeast
Chapter of the Order of DeMolay for our support. $1 00.00 was
donated to the Northeast First Aid corps to cover services to our
members attending Lodge meetings in Tacony Temple. On May 4th, sums
of $15,000.00 for a double room and $2,500.00 for its furnishing
were given to the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown in memory of
Members of Lodge No. 9 and T. Harrison Gibson. On Ladies Night
following the close of our stated meeting, Brother Eugene Kelchner,
Grand Historian of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, spoke on 'Famous
Masons in the American Revolution,' and we were further entertained
by Brother Henry Shuttleworth, in colonial costume, the Official
Bell Ringer at Independence Hall. On June 1, Friendship-Bray Chapter
exemplified the second degree of the Order of DeMolay, when as the
result of a well kept secret, Brother Allen G. Scott, P.M. and
Treasurer of Lodge No. 9, was presented with a 50 year Membership
Award of the Order of DeMolay. Our Worshipful Master, Brother
George K. Gordon, Jr., possessor of the Brown Belt in Karate, gave a
very interesting demonstration of that difficult art.
Brother
William M. Patrick, Jr. was elected Worshipful Master for 1980, and
under his leadership many events were planned to commemorate our Two
Hundred Anniversary Year. It was started with a Rededication
Ceremony, in which all the members present took part, followed later
by a precedent setting event - a visit to a Subordinate Lodge in
Pennsylvania by Brother Edward N. Peppier, Most Worshipful Grand
Master of Masons in New Jersey and his entourage of Grand Lodge
Officers. 215 Brethren attended this meeting. On April 30th we
celebrated by holding a meeting in Congress Hall, part of the
historic Independence Hall Shrine where we had met years ago. Many
Brethren came from long distances to attend this meeting, including
a delegation from Commerce Lodge No. 215, Haslingden, England led by
Most Worshipful Brother John Dearden, Past Provincial Grand Standard
Bearer. Many other events highlighted by a Formal Visitation of
Brother Joseph E. Trate, Right Worshipful Grand Master of
Pennsylvania and his Grand Lodge Officers were planned.
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