Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-16

1t is said that prior to the institution of
California No. /, lodge was started
with E. P. Jones at it's head, and con-
| tlnued in operation until gold was dis
covered in lS4S, when the members con.
| Guided to suspend the workings of the
Lodge and go to the mines, packing up
their regalia and destroying their books.
so that the outside vandal might not pro-
fame them. In 1851 2. G. James Smiley
instituted
A LODGE IN SACRAMENTO.
Styling it Sacramento Lodge No. 2, P.
q. Smiley acting as d. d. Grand Sire in
the absence of Alexander V. Frazier.
The next lodge organized in California
was San Francisco Lodge No. 8, insti-
tuted by d. D. Grand Sire James Smiley.
This lodge wss organized by seven mem
bers, and it was declared, though not
properly, regularly organized lodge.
They did not have a dispensation, or
documents of any kind, and were there
fore an informal association of the Order.
But the informality of their organization
did not prevent them from going into
the good work of the society with heart
and soul, and it was not long before they
had the largest roll of membership of
any lodge in the jurisdiction.
Eureka Lodge, No. 4, was next insti-
tuted by P. g., G. G. Hayden on January
7, 1852, under dispensation from the
Grand Lodge of the United States, which
dispensation was dated January 2, 1852,
and from the fact of its being impossible
that dispensation could travel from
Baltimore to San Francisco in four days
it is evident that this lodge, like No. 8,
was informally organized.
IN SAN JOAQUIN.
The mex. lodge instituted was Charity
Lodge, No. 6, in Stockton, on February
IA, 1852, by j. M. Coughlin, acting for
D. D. Grand Sire James Smiley. This
lodge should have been No. 5, as Yuba
Lodge, which bears that number, was
not chartered until after the organization
Of the Grand Lodge of California, in
1858.
Auburn Lodge No. was next organized
by P. G. 1. N. Mcneil. under DISPENSE
ton dated October Z, 1852. Ell Dorado
No. 8, was next instituted on September
"a, 1852, by P. G. John F. Morse. The
lodge was again reorganized on January
7, 1858, by d. d. Grand Sire s. P. Parker,
the first organization having been in
formal.
THE FIRST GRAND LODGE.
A dispensation was issued to California
Lodge No. l. Sacramento Lodge No. 2,
San Francisco Lodge No. 3, Eureka
Lodge No. 4, and Charity Lodge No. 6.
All these lodges were represented in q
convention of Past Grands from each
lodge, and, by a vote OF the convention,
Auburn Lodge No. and Ell Dorado
Lodge No. we're also admitted and en-
titled to the same privilege &C
corded to the lodges named in the
charter. D. D. Grand Sire S. HI.
Parker called the Convention to order
and P. G. T. R. johnson was requested
to act as Secretary pro tenn. The follow
ing permanent officers were then elected
and installed: P. Il. John F. Morse, r.
W. D. Grand Master; P. G. E. w. Colt,
R. w. Grand Warden; P. G. T. r. John
son, R. w. Grand Secretary; P. G. J. M.
Coughlin, B. w. Grand Treasurer; P. q.
j. Zachariah, w. Grand Marshal; P. G..
L. F. Zantzinger, Grand Conductor; P.
&. A. j. Lucas, Grand Guardian.
A constitution and rules of order were
adopted and petitions for four subordi-
nate Lodges were granted, to be located
at Marysville, Diamond Springs, Sonora
and Stockton, and Past Grand Matthew
Burden was elected Right Worthy Grand
lsCpIcSChIdIlF0 " tuc 0tduu lUuSo Ol
the United States. The
PROGRESS MADE BY THE ORDER
Since that time has been simply marvel
Gus. 1t started with the State, grew
with its growth and strengthened with
it's strength. Thirty-nine years ago a
crier went round the streets of small
village built among sand dunes, ringing
a bell, calling together few struggling
brothers of the Order, not finding suffi-
cient number to properly start one small
lodge, and tomorrow great convention
meets in great city, heralded by great
daily journals. What change!
Thirty-nine years ago a small in
significant lodge, and to- day q
great and influential association.
Great, not alone in numbers and in
wealth, but in good deeds, influential,
not because of its power, because that
power has ever been used for the right
and in the interest Of common human
ity. Some idea can be formed of how
rapidly the Order has grown in this State
from the following figures: In June, 1853,
there were 605 members of the Order in
the State, in Is lodges, with revenue of
$1,942.5S.
When the Grand Lodge assembled in
San Francisco last May the Grand Secre-
tary reported that there were 341 lodges
in the State, with total membership of
1928, and 125 Rebekah Lodges. He
he also submitted the following table
showing the increase for each year from
1858 to the present time: