The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-03
zERUBBABEA LODGE NO. IS.
An Interesting Sketch of a Well
known Masonic Body.

| presentation OF piece OF stone pufpOrtIng
to have been taken from the Temple OF
Solomon at Jerusalem, gave a very interest
ing sketch of Zerubbabe Lodge, the fol
loving extracts, from which viii doubtless
be read with interest by the fraternity:
Zcrubhabel Lodge originated, as many
other noble institutions have been before
aud since, In consequence of a difference of
opinion among brethren; in our case,
arising from feeling existing with some OF
the members Of the mother lodge tvenera-
bic old Solomons' No y in consequence of a
lack OF unity in regard to the two Grand
Lodges" most interesting account OF
which has been recently written and read
before the Grand Lodge of Georgia by our
most worthy Ju1ior Grand Warden Bro. J..
II. Estill.
The lodge organized in 1899, and out Of
the twenty-five or thirty brothers who then
formed the lodge, one of whom was the
father Of Bro. E. H. Nichols, our present
Junior Warden, but about six remain alive
to-day The others have crossed the river
| before us, called from their labors on earth
to their spiritual refreshment in heaven,
| where with eyes of love they look
down upon us tonight and for
aught we know may be uniting their
praises in happy unison with our
own joyous feelings here on earth. Truly
may it be said of them "They rest from
their labors and their good works do follow
them.n
The charter to our lodge was granted by
| Deputy Grand Master Jonathan Omstead
and we find the names of Frederick w.
| Upper, our first Master, Stephen Gardner,
| S, W., and Octavus Cohen. j. w. At the
meeting on Dec. rs, 1899 we find that the
brethren INDUCED in quite a spirited discus
sion on the matter of balloting for Bros.
George l.. Cope, A. H. Dibble and John j.
| Kelly. AS the balloting was about to COM
mence the Worshipful Master of Solomon's
Lodge arose and objected to the ballot, as
he claimed that the brothers were members
| of Solomon's Lodge. Worshipful Master
| Upper answered that the applicants were
not at fault in the matter, as It was under
| stood that any member of SOlomon's who
| desired To join Zerubbabel could do so with
| out the usual formalitieS. The minutes saw
the discussion was very free, but the Lodge
| proceeded with the ballot and the applicants
were elected. Afterward, for the benefit of
| Free Masonry, these brothers requested a
dimit from Solomon's Lodge, which was
| granted, and the matter amicably settled.
The first funeral we find recorded was of
| Bro. \. L. Sturges, on Christmas day,
1871
In 1912 we find Bro. Isaac D. LaRoche
| Secretary.
In lS43 we find rather a peculiar thing
! occurring. 1t seems that the Grand Lodge
mitted the same 10 this Lodge for approval.
| but instead of approving they were rejected.
| The minutes are not very explicit in this
| matter, but this action shows that the Lodge
even at this early day manifested that indie
| pendence of spirit that has always marked
its career, and places it to-day in the leading
rank of Masonic lodges in the State In
the same year the Lodge moved from the
rooms rented from Solomon's Lodge and
rented rooms from Dekalb Lodge, over the
| present Central Railroad Bank
On July 10, 1915, the lodge was draped in
mourning for the space of thirty days in
! memory Of Past Grand Master Andrew
jackson. of Tennessee.
On May T., lS47, W. NJ. James Buker
presented the lodge with a silver square and
| compass, and on June Is the lodge attended
his funeral, he having been accidentally
killed by being thrown from a horse.
In ls41 we find our present life member
Bro. NJ \. Cohen, who was also member
in 1859, Treasurer of the lodge.
On Dec. p, 1S+9, the officers of the lodge
were publicly installed in the Lutheran
Church Solomon's Lodge No. l and Clinton
| Lodge No. ~ uniting In the ceremony.
In 1850 Bro. Alfred Haywood was Master
| of the lodge.
In 1862 Z. W. Buker became Master and
the lodge tiled by Bro. Jeremiah Cavan-
augh, the father of our present Senior Dea-
| con.
In 1868. on Dec "A, Bro William Green
was elected Master.
In 1866 our eminent Bro. DR.. R J. Num-
was made Master.
In 1869 We find that great tower Of
strength, and perhaps to-day one of the
| brightest opponents of Masonry in the State.
Past Master Thomas Ballanyne W. NJ
In ISL we tnd committee OF Soouou's
Lodge requesting this lodge as a body and
the members individually u subscribe to
the stock of a new Masonic Tsmple. which
eliminated in this elegant building we now
occupy.
On Nov Il, 1871. the lodge paid the last tli-
butte of respect to their first Worshipful Mas
ter. Frederick A Tupper Bro Ballantvue
| continued as Master until December 81
and in November Of that year the lodge was
extended an invitation TO attend the LAYING
OF the corner stone of our present Masonic
Temple.
In 1878 Bro. James Manning was elected
! Master
In March, 1916. under the Mastership of
Bro. Joseph Phillips, our lodge was officially
| visited by Grand Master butter and Grand
Secretary j. f. Blackshear and exemplitied
the work. This, perhaps. was one of the
| proudest nights in the history OF our lodge.
| Who of us that were present on that oct.a-
sion will ever forget the thrill of pardonahle
pride that vibrated through every nerve
when these grand officers addressed the
lodge, and in words of honest praise con
graduated the officers and members of the
lodge and stated that they had never seen
the work excelled anywheref
Bro Phillips was succeeded as Master bv
| 7. VI. James Manning, who in turn was fol
lowed by 2. NJ Ballantyne, and again by
z. NJ. Phillips.
In 1851 this lodge took an active part in
the Masonic Fair for the benefit OF Solo
mons Lodge, and turned over to that lodge
the magnificent sum of -, 40 20.
In ISL the writer was honored with the
| Mastership of the lodge, followed by Bro.
5. W Branch, who in turn was followed by
our present worthy incumbent w. NJ A. c.
| Harmon.
This brings US down to the present night,
when thi, grand old lodge after nearly fifty
years of uninterrupted Masonic life, mas
gained that position that, rs our Right
Worthy Junior Grand Warden, Bro. j. n.
E.still, 50 beautifully expressed in hi se-
! marks few meetings ago, she now stlLds
a one OF the brightest il not the brightest
exemplat OF Masonry in the State: and TO-
night, by the little stone in the centre of
this Masters jewel, she is linked with the
sacred memories of the past, and we feel
sure that this relic, resurrected from the ac-
! cumuiated dust OF ages, viii not he dmned
by being brought to light In n lodge whose
| record from the time of its inception until
the present time has not one blot upon Its
| escutcheon.