Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-05
A PIONEER OF MASONRY.
Sketch of the FIRST Lodge West of the
Waters of the Ohio River.

EhFf'h OF me I1rSt Lodge Nest Oh the
Waters of the Ohio River.
TsPRCtAL TELEGRAM 70 THE pIsPArcH.1
NARIETTA, July 4.-This stsid old town
which celebrated the centennial anniversary
OF its founding T.oy more than three years
since boasts of many antiquities. Its pre-
historic remains are famous among anti
qu9riaps the world over, and there IS
scarcely g house in the town but that con-
tSiRS some relic or memento of colonial OF
Revolutionary times. OF all the antiquities
however. none possesses more interest, not
only for Masons, but tor the uninitiated as
well. as the venerable Masonic Lodge whose
origin dates back lis Years, and which was
the pioneer CT Masonry west of the Ohio
Jjscr.
1mericsn Union Lodge No. j, F. 4 A. NJ,
Gf Ohio was constituted at WaterInsn's
Tavern. Roxbrrv. Mass February 20, I.76,
nearly I've months before the Declaration
OF Independence, by John Rowe, Deputy
Gra1.d Master OF the Grand Lodge of Eng
laGd Tor the colony OF Massachusetts. 1t
worked as q travelling lodge in the
patriot army all through the Rev.
olugionary War. WAS visited by Wash
ingtan ana other patriot chiefs and
continued active work till April 2S, 1888,
after TIE close OF the war when the then
WarsiliEIUl Master. Captain Jonathan
Heart. The army having been mustered out
81 service. declared the lodge closed and
took possession OF the charter and records.
The lodge then continued dormant for sew
craI wears until it was reopened here in
j. . h. Captain Heart under the following
circUIHstances.
The Charter Taken Out West.
Among the men sent out by the Ohio Com
pggy to settle its newly acquired posses
sjoDs west of the Ohio river in l7ss and who
founded the city April Z, of that year, were
several MasOns, some of whom had been
sr74y. These men, together with others
who had been members of local lodges prior
10 coming out, canvassed the formation of a
lodge here for months, but being SO far re-
moved from the nearest Masonic jurisdic-
ton found no solution to their difficulties in
the premises till chance opened upa way out.
Captain Heart the last master of the army
ledge, was ordered to the command of
the opposite bank OF the Muskingum river,
about this time, and Masonic interest
which had tagged somewhat, being revived
by his presence, ne was petltloned by the
little company at Campus MGrtius (the
sSockade, or inclosed portion of Marietta) to
reopen the lodgs. OF his authority to 90 so
he entertained some doubt, but having ,
weighed the matter carefully finally con-
Cluded that he could do it legally and so
notified the petitioners. Accordingly, on
The evening of Saturday, June % 1880 he
proceeded to Campus Martius and formally
reOpened American Union Lodge No. l.
under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge |
elected Master of the lodge which has been |
in existence ever since During the ensu- /
ing Is years American Union Lodge con- /
finued under the jurisdiction of Massa chu-
seJts: but in lS0S instituted a movement /
looking to the formation of a Grand Lodge
FOR Ohio, in which the support of lodges at
Chilicothe, Cincinnati, GAINESVILLE and War
ren co-operated. The movement eliminated 4
in
Delegate Meeting at Chillicoths.
then the seat OF Government of the State, |
and the formation of Grand Lodge. In the |
election OF Grand Master there were two |
candidates-Judge 1chabod Nye, master of |
American Union Lodge, and General Rufus /
Putnam member of the same lodge, the |
latter being successful. whereupon Judge 4
Nye, acting for his lodge, decided to enter it |
IN the new Jurisdiction upon the technical /
pretext that it would involve a surrender of |
the lodge number, the agreement being that /
the lodges uniting to form the new Grand /
Lodge, each OF which vowed fealty to a
different jurisdiction, should surrender their
IN the order of precedence. And, being in
Nye and his adherents succeeded
in preventing it from uniting with the
Grand Lodge OF Ohio for several years. Nor
was it until lsl6 that it was brought under
this jurisdiction, and then only by drastic
Ie%s eass Grand f Master OF who baa
ing for eight years sought to con-
ciIiate it, finally declared American
Union clandestine and commanding persons
manner recognizing it, and also took steps
TO arrest its master, then, as before. master
oi the lodge, thereupon declared it closed |
forever; but it WAS, upon petition of other
members, Immediately reinstituted under |
The same master, name and number since
which time its history has been uneventful
and il has been a most loyal adherent and
supporter of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
Some Very Valuable Records.
This sketch would be incomplete how
ever, without mention of the eminent and |
from a Masonic standpoint. Invaluable
records OF the lodge, which it most carefully |
treasures. securely locked in fre-proof
safe in the lodge room are the minutes OF
meetings held during the Revolution. These |
a:sC other papers of value are still wrapped
III the identical piece of linen cloJh and
f5cd with the same twine when deity
erred up to the Lodge by Captain Heart l01
years ago. These minutes or the army lodge |
contain frequent references TO the presence |
nI Brother Washington as u visitor at its
meetings, and prove that the work OF the
lodge WAS carried on in AL its detail all
through the War OF the Revolution.
Among other articles of value historically, |
also IN possession of the lodge, are the sword
presented by General Washington to Gen
cral RuflS Putnam. together with General
Putnam : camD chest, which is inscribed as
follows: Ii. Putnam, Lieut.. Colon, 22d l:igt."