The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-06-14
Interesting "Reminiscences.
ORIGIN OF MASONR Y IN FAIR
FIELD COUNTY.
by order of Lancaster Lodge
No. 81.

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No 81.
Lancaster Lodge No. 81 was or
ganized on the - day of January,
1920, with DR.. James Wilson as w.
NJ, the Hon. Chas. R Sherman S. W.,
and Jacob d. Dietrich J. w. The mo-
wing cause to its rise at that time was
as follows:
In 1916, several State Banks were
organized, and among the number
the old Lancaster Ohio Bank. About
the same time the United States Bank
at Philadelphia established branch
bank in Chillicothe. The Ohio banks
were subject to tax or bonus to the
State for their privileges. The branch
under its charter claimed exemption
from taxation by Ohio laws. This
exemption was considered, not only
by the Ohio Banks, but the people,
as unjust-that the U. S. Bank ought
to bear an equal portion of the burdens
imposed on the homo institutions
The branch, also, backed as it was by
the mother bank, oppressed tho State
banks, by drawing their coin out of
their vaults, thereby rendering them
almost useless institutions. This ad-
ded much to fastcn upon the branch
the charge of oppression and unjust
dealing, with not only the State banks
but the people generally. In this
manner the banking continued until
the session Of the Legislature of Ohio,
in the winter of 1918 and 1919, when
an act was passed assessing tax of
100000 upon the branch bank. Pay.
ment by the bank was refused, and
Ralph Osborn, then Auditor of CHEZ
State, issued, as he was required by
the act to do, a writ for the collection
of the amount, which he placed in the
hands of John l.. Harper, then State
Librarian, to execute. Harper ac-
cepted the appointment, went to Chill
licolhe and took Thomas Orr, of that
city, to his assistance, and in the day
time during banking hours, entered
the bank and levied tho whole sum
claimed, conveyed it to Columbus, and
deposited it with the State Treasurer.
The U. S. Bank brought suit against
Harper and Orr as trespasscrs, claim.
ing u large amount of damages They
were arrested and brought to me as
Sheriff of the county of Fairfield, for
safe keeping Ircceived them in the
prison, and knowing them to be hon
orable men. gave them the liberty of
tho whole Jail, upon their pledge that
they would not step out of the doors.
This promise they fulfilled to the let
ter, After month, or perhaps lit.
tie longer thus confined, they obtained
the privilege of the prison bounds,
which extended four hundred yards
from the Jail in every direction
This enlarged their Imprisonment, and
well they enjoyed it. At that time
Dr.. James Wilson resided on the
south east corner of the public square
and Broad street, and G. r. Sherman
on the north east corner of Main
street and High alley. Harper and
Orr were enlightened Master Masons,
and in their pursuit of some new mat
ters to enable them to make their con-
fncment as pleasant as circumstances
would admil, made the acquaintance
of Wilson and Sherman, who both
lived within the prison limits, and
finding them to be also of the same
degree, proposed the establishment
of a Master Mason's Lodge in Lancas-
: ter
Wilson and Sherman readily agreed
10 their suggestion, and all the Ma
; sons then in the town aided the under
taking, and in very short time &
charter was obtained, and Lancaster
Lodge No. 81 was duly organized, il
the north jury room of the Courthouse
on the evening Of the day and year IL
bovo stated. | had, in the month o.
May or first of June, 1912, received the
Entered Apprentice and Fellow Crafts
' degrees in ST. Johns Lodge in Dayton
On my march to Detroit in Gen. Hull's
campaign, war of 1912, and on the
: evening Of the organization (oD No
: 81, think-iL may have been few
@ evenings after, l was raised to the de
e gree of Master, and of course was the
' first made NJ. in the Lodge. Then fol
lowed Gotcib Steinman, John Noble
j, Abram Younkin, Thomas H. Gushing
&C., &C., who were entered, passed anc
G raised in due course OF time, Harpe
i, & Orr rendered essential service to al
u the craft engaged in the organization
OF the Lodge they instructed the of
s fcers in their various duties, and il
s short the Lodge was organized at tha
: time, at their suggestion, and they
= done faithful service in furthering tn,
new and good work.
Harper & Orr remained in custod,
for some timo, until finally the U. S
!. Court declared the Ohio law unconsti
! tutional, when the money drawn from
, the branch bank was returned TO th,
: proper owners, and Harper and Or
were allowed 10 60 their way rejoicing
Harper has long since been dead
and Orr. if living, is resident of th
city of New York.
All the Master Masons then livini
r in Lancaster, namely; DR.. James Will
son, G. R. Sherman, J.. D, Detrick
q Philemon Beecher, VIM. W. Irwin, El
nathan Scofeld, Nathan G. Gilman
v Hugh Boyle, and Hugh Diver, hav
4 all departed this lifc-some of then
long since. The two last named wer
, Catholics, and never appeared in tn
u adm