The Washington critic., 1889-04-22
a CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The ioOth Anniversary of Potom &c
Lodge of Georgetown.


Lodge of Georgetown.
Potomac Lodge No. Of Masoni cele.
brstcd in Georgetown yesterday tn, cin.
tenary Of It's organization in the Dunbarton
street Church. The church and altar were
handsomely decorated with flowers aud
Masonic devices. Upon broad panel was
the inscription 'lTS9-lSSg Potomac aud
three tall lighted wax tapers symbolized the
altar lights, which were arranged in the
form OF triangle. AT intervals during the
exercises vocal numbers were rendered by
the Franz Abt Club, composed Of 4. =.
Holmes, j. NJ. Buchanan, Fred. Rnoop, 4.
W. Bird, j. y. W. MofTett, w. +. Abbott,
G.. w. Hancock and +. H. Barbarin.
The marble gavel which George Washing
ton used September is, l193, when he lai1
the corner. stone of the Capitol IN this city
and wcll-worn Bible, published at Edin-
burgh, Scotland In l154, were on the read
ing desk. On the fiy-leaf OF the volume Is
the following inscription: "A present from
Mr.. Colin Campbell To Saint Andrews
Lodge, the Both of January, l713, Bladens-
burg This Bible has been In the posses
sion Of Potomac Lodge from it's organiza-
tion under its present name In 1906, aud &c
cording TO the oldest living member of the
lodge II belonged TO the first lodge of Ma
sons organized At Georgetown, having been
presented by resident of Bladensburg.
W.
Potomac Lodge, delivered an address rcla-
tive to the history Of the lodge. At u
meeting Of the Grand Lodge Of Maryland,
April 81, 1880, petition was presented from
number pf brethren OF Georgetown, pray
ing for warrant from the Grand Lodge to
authorize them to convene as q regular
lodge, which petition was granted or this
lodge no relic is possessed but the gavel
used by Washington at the laying OF the
1913, and by him then handed TO the master
Of the lodge, Valentine Reintzel
October %, 1T95, q petition was again re-
eeived by the Grand Lodge Of Maryland
from number OF brethren In Georgetown
praying for warrant anu recommended by
Federal Lodge, No. 10, city Of Washing.
ton, which petition was granted. The see
retary was ordered to make out warrant
for the lodge under the title OF Columbia
Lodge, No. 10. The charter for Federal
Lodge, No. 10, the first lodge formed in
Washington, had been granted by the
Grand Lodge of Maryland, September II,
1923.
OF Columbia Lodge, No. 10, one book of
records is extant, commencing with It's by
laws and the proceedings OF the lodge from
the 1th OF November, IDS. In November,
1906, number OF Masonic brethren thought
II proper that there should be lodge held
III anu lHb HHIlltbs Oh lpll
brothers are recorded as agreeing to pay
the necessary initiation fees, and they also
signed a petition TO the Grand Lodge, In
session at Easton, Md, for warrant to es-
tablish lodge.
At a meeting held November Is, 1906,
Thomas Pryse, who had been sent to Eastou,
reported that he had secured the desired
charters. Committees were thcrcupon APP
pointed 10 make the necessary arrange
ments for the organization OF the lodge,
which was perfected December 10, 1906, un-
der the name Of Potomac Lodge, No. 43.
From that period to the present the lodge
has unnterruptedly maintained its organ
ization-frst as Potomac Lodge, No. i3, of
Maryland, and when the Grand Lodge OF
the District Of Columbia was formed, in
1911, as Potomac Lodge, No. 5, of that
Jurisdiction.
At the conclusion Of the historical Grafton
o short address was delivered by the pastor
Of the church, Rev. f. NJ. b. Rice. Over
$50 Masons, members OF Potomac Lodge
and invited guests, were present during the
ceremonies. The committee Of arrange
ments comprised Messrs. Malcolm Seaton
Isaac Beach, ii. G. Wagner, Thomas p.
Chiflalla, James s. Hays, j. b. Thomas, G.
j. Fritch, G. F. Shekell, w. Nordlinger, b.
+. Snyder, s. Artz, c. II. Demar, Franl,
Thomas, |. Sinshimer, G. w. Oliver, r. A
Daw, A. W. Hudson, A. NJ. Fishel, and
George W. Allen.