Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-10-05

From its organization until the time OF
occupying the lodge room in the "Old Ark"
the records show the names of many of the
MOST PROMINENT CITIZENS
of Wheeling as E A., F. G IN NJ. Here
are some of them: Noah Zane, Philip
Dod6ridge, NJ. W. Cfspine. Timothy
Adams, Garrison Jones, S r. Blackwell,
George Duty, w. Chapline, Alexander
Caldwell, Amos Wright, E B SWearingsn,
Joshua Morton, SaIsthiel Curtis,
Jacob Marsilhott, Morgan Nelson,
Levi Mi Is, James W. Clemens. John Gas
horn, John Armstrong, VIM. Hall, J. +.
Trusx, James Johnston, W. B. Hubbard.
EphIaim aid Hsmiltoa Pollock. Jacob
Sipgl. ton, Joseph W. Ray, James W. Rob,
Daniel Murray, and many others.
In 1921 the lodge laid the corner stone
Of the rev st. Matthews church, which was
being built near the corner Of Market and
Eleventh streets.
On May 23d, 1925, Brothers Gauersl
Lafayette, G. Washington Lafayette. VI
Lsvsssfur andCollin King visited the dodge
and after being conducted to the East Gen.
Lafayette was addressed by Mr.. Morgan
Nelson, D. D. G. NJ, as follows:
THE ADDRESS.
"ILIUsTRIoUs,SIs:-0n behalf of the Breth.
ern here assembled permit me the pleasure
of bidciDg you welcome in these
walls deiIcated to friendship and brother
ly love In common with our fellow
creatures we cherish the warmest sentiment
Of admiration for the principles and actions
which have marked every period Of your
life.
ACCEPT the homage of our gratitude for
your srdl Gus exertions in the great cause Of
American liberty. 1t is no small addition
to our Joy that you suffer us to address you
BY the neesring appellstion Of Brother.
That while many Of the Monarchs Of the
Old World exhibit toward Free Masonry
he ike spirit of hostility as toward the
cause of human liberty, you deem it not de.
rogstory to your dignity to level yourself
with the Fraternity andIsignify your appro,
baton of those philsnthropic principles
which are the basis OF our institution.
BE pleased, sir, to accept OF my right
hand, that ancient token Of Brotherly Love,
and allow MI to express my fervent wishes
that the ey ening of your days may prove as
serene and happy as your past life has been
e~ventful and glorious"
TIE DISTINGUISHED BROTHER
in reply said:
That he felt thankful for kind sentiments
expressed towards him; that it was very
gratifying for him TO meet in western Vir-
GINA the same cordial reception with which
his Masonic Brethren had often honored
him in other places; that he had always en-
tertained q high esteem for the Masonic in
situations, but more especially since it had
y petienCtd the bitter prosecutions Of the
Gt.fr pesn despots who had Rsinly attempted
it's 6estrI ctiOn.
AFTER THE ADDRESS
he memte rs were severally presented to the
General
JAY 20, 1926, the Lodge was called to-
r,lLer for The purpose of assisting to lay the
.crner stnr e Of the new Masonic Hall (our
I'D 'Ark"). A large number Of brethren
we rrese't {. A procession was formed
~ prnce. ded to the site Of the new hall
where the corner stone was laid with due
solemnity in ancientform Had those old wor-
thies seen the anything but due solemnity"
With which that day s'work WAS uudone last
Friday afternoon, they would have turned in
their collins.
After the LAYING of the corner stone the
procession moved 10 the Presbyterian
Church, where an Grafton was delivered BY
Worthy Brother W. B. Hubbard, and an
address delivered BY Rev. Brother Arm.
strong. This was followed by dinner at
Ed. Grshsm's Hotel. This was the old
Virginia Hotel, which stood al Main
and Tenth streets. 1t had for its neighbor,
on The north SIDE, the old Court House,
The Masons Of that day seem to have been
MUCH GIVEN TO DINNERS
on al great occasions. All through the
records, wherever any celebration is men
Toned. it always ended in a dinner at Gar
rison's, Jones Inn or Ed. Grahsm's
Hotel.
March 80, 1927, the Lodge moved into the
new Hall. This would seem to fix the
date of the completion of the building
Louis Bayha was the first person initiated
in the new hall, and W. q. Houston the
frst Mason made there. The officers Of the
lodge at the laying of the corner stone were
George DUTY, W. NJ; Joseph W. Ray, Sec.;
J. W. Clemens, 5. W; ". Hsrkins, 8. D.;
W. Hall, ]. W.; John Duty, j. D; M
Thompson, Treas; James Johnston, Tyler.
1t was not until June "a, 1928, that the
Lodge was conseerated to the uses OF Ma
.onry according TO Masonic usages.
In 1926 DR.. James W. Clemens was
-lected W. NJ. and served until 1887, with
he exception Of the year 1884, when Daniel
Murray was elected W. NJ. DR.. Clemens
vas one of the most prominent physicians
n Wheeling and for years had the largest
}~rsctice Of any physician here. BE was
.ssocisted ct one time in business with DR..
Iohn ! risstl, and subsequently DR. Robert
a. Cnmmins commenced practice here ss
j, usr,ner. Besides a thorough knowledge
IF his business, which gained him
be confidence Of his patents, his
Mid and genial manners endeared him
O all cls, ses of our ~cilizsns and no man
n, ever more sincerely mourned hy our
| people tbs he
In 1873, April 2nd, tie Lodge was con-
rer,d for the purpose of attending the fun.
aral of Brother S. A. Westcott, q member OF
Whee ling Lodge No. l2S. This was the
| person who built the large house at the
o,ner of Fourteenth and Chspline streets,
| which has for years been used as q boaEd
IA house, for a county residence 1t front,
| d towards the west AMI the front yard
RAN CLEAR TO THE RIVER,
During the year 1893 from May 6 to
August 5, there was no meeting Of the lodge
owirg to the prevalence Of the Asistic
| cholera. -,
September 10th, 1894, the lodge was call
ID together to join in a funeral procession
pirh other societies, in honor of Brother
General Lafayette. The procession wa
lsrpe with numerous spectators; a eulogy
vas pronounced BY Rev. Brother John
Thomas Wheat.
On April 10, 1899, the building commit.
tee of the new court house in the course oi
erection requested that the fraternity lay the
corner stone Of the same With Masonic Ger
emory, which was acceded to, and tie stone