The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-09-10

Interesting and Impressive Ceremonies
MT. ARAFAT THE OLDEST LODGE IN MARYLAND
The corner stone of the new Masonic Temple
to be erected by Mount Ararat Lodge, No. a.
Free and Accepted Masons, was laid in Bel Air
on Friday, September 3D., according to the ritual
OF the ancient and honorable order of Free
Masons, by the officers of the Grand Lodge OF
the State. The latter were Gen. Thomas J
Shryock,, Most Worshipful Grand Master; Geo
L. McCahan, r. W. y. G. NJ; L. 4. Schultz
W.; II: II. Garrigues S. G. D.; II. G. Lar
rabee, J. G. d. Richard II; Conway, Grand Mar
shall; Rev. Jas. b. Craighill as Grand Chaplain
w. I'll. Nicholson, Grand Tyler.
The officers and members of the Grand Lodge
were met at the station by a delegation of Mount
Ararat Lodge and escorted to the tenn porary
lodge room in the old Presbyterian Church.
After certain ceremonies at which only the ini-
tlated were permitted to be present, procession
and members of Mt. Ararat Lodge marched to
the site of the proposed new building, at the
hall formerly stood. The foundation of the new
building has been completed and platform had
been erected, upon which the masonic brethren
took their stand. The cornerstone, a large
block of granite, cut by Mr.D Maxwell, of Bel
Air, and containing the date 1886, was carefully
lowered by three distinct motions into place, by
the stone mason, Mr.. Jas. Dunnigan Grand
Master Shryock with trowel in hand; adjusted
masonry We're given While this g Was being DONE
A tin box was placed in receptacle cutin the
cornerstone, in which were deposited copy Of
baltimore city, the proceedings of the Grand
Lodge OF Maryland. proceedings of the last
meeting Of Mt. Ararat Lodge and some of the
current coins of the day.
d. g. NJ Mecah aH,,t then applied the
plumb. They reported in turn that they had
applied their implements and found the stone to
be square, level and plumb and that the crafts
men had performed their duties.
ID. G.. Master McCahanireceived large cornu-
copie, from which he poured upon the stone
May the health of the people employed in
this undertaking be preserved to Them and may
the Supreme Grand Architect bless and prosper
their labors."
s. G. Warden Schultz poured wine upon the
stone and said:
May plenty be showered down upon the peo
pie of this town and may the blessing of the
Bonnteous Giver of all things attend all their
philanthropic undertakings
j. G. Warden Larrabee then poured oil upon
the cornerstone, saying:
May the supreme Ruler of the world preserve
this people in peace and vouchsafe to them the
enjoyment Of every blessing.
Grand Master shryock then approached the
May corn, and wine and oil abound among
men throughout the world. May the blessing of
Almighty God be upon the undertaking and
may the structure here erected be preserved to
the latest ages"
The square level and plumb were then hand
ed to Worshipful Master j. G.. Rouse, of Mount
Ararat Lodge, with an injunction TO guard
them well.
The grand honors, which consisted of clapppg
Grand Master said.
KNOW all of you who hear me. We proclaim
ourselves free and lawful Masons, true to the
laws of our country, and protesting to fear
God and confer benefits on mankind. We prac-
tlce universal beneticence towords all. We have
secrets concealed from the eyes of men which
may not be revealed to any but Masons, and
which no cowan has yet discovered they are,
however, lawful and honorable Unless our
craft was good and our calling honest, these
secrets would not have existed for many
generations,nor should we have had so many il
gfrn Irntl Of ,,ln,
always ready to sanction our proceedings and
contribute to our welfare. We are assembled
IN IN the broad face Of open day, under the canopy
to be erected by Mt. Ararat Lodge. No. A.
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, to be de-
voted to the principles OF universal benevol-
ence, charity and good will to all men,
- The oid Hundred doXology was then sung and
Grand Chaplain Craighill pronounced a benedic-
procession was again formed and the Masons
marched back to their hall where General Shry-
at being present to lay the cornerstone of
building for such an old and venerable lodge
and trusted 1t might remain as monument to
masonry for many ages.
Dinner was served for the visiting masons at
Mr.; w; 5. Forwood's Changers Hotel.
masonry in Maryland, who has thoroughly in
yestigated the subject, said that Mount Ararat
Is the Oldest masonic lodge in the State. 1t is
the identical lodge chartered by Lord Blaney,
Grand Master of England, and organized at
JJoppa, in l7G5, and known as Joppa Lodge, No. ].
Master, Richard Wagstatf, Senior Warden and
John Hammond Dorsey, Junior Warden.
In 17Sl several members, upon attempting to
visit Lodge at Fells Point, were refused ad-
mission because they were alleged to be modern
masons. The Joppa brethren were thereupon
reinitiated in the Ancient" Lodge No. Is, in
Baltimore, NOW known as Washington Lodge,
No. 81 and in 1IS2 received a warrant as
ancient masons from the Grand Lodge of Penn
sylvania, as Lodge No. IS under that jurisdiction.
The Grand Lodge of Maryland having been
organized at Talbot Court House, now Easton,
in 1851. the brethren of Joppa Lodge applied
for and received a warrant from the Grand
Lodge of Maryland for Bel Air Lodge, No. II,
under its jurisdiction, and returned their Penn
sylvania warrant In 1895 Bel Air Lodge No. IA
became dormant but was revived in November
1909, as the present Mount Ararat Lodge, No. A.
Thus. Mount Ararat is the ineal descendant of
the Oldest lodge in Maryland.
Esdraeon Lodge, of Delta was represented by
Messrs John o. Stearns, DR.. W. G. McCurdy
and Arch Wilson.
Members of the Susquehanna and Stephenson
Lodges, of the county, were also present.
The officers of Mount Ararat Lodge are as fol-
lows: Worshipfu Master, j. G. Rouse Senior
Warden, Geo. l.. VanBibber; Junior Warden,
W. Il. l.. Taliaferro: Senior Deacon, Walter w.
Preston Junior Deacon, R. A. Nelson; Tyler,
Wm Wann; Secretary, DR.. e. Hall Richardson
Treasurer Isaac Amos.