Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-12
A BIT OF HISTORY
Which Settles the Question of the
 i Oldest Lodge in the City. .. A Stolen Charter.

in Within the past week the question has come up as to which is the oldest secret lodge in Birmingham. Some say Phenix No. 20, Knights of Pythias; others say Mineral City Lodge No. 401, Knights Tenn plar, and some King Solomon No. 46O, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, but the majority of Birmingham's old landmarks say that Cyrene Commandery No. 10, Knights Templar, is the oldest lodge, and that Jefferson Valley No. Il, Knights of Pythias, is the next oldest, and the statis- | ties prove that such is the case. On March 2, 1871, the petition for the dis. pensation was sent to the right eminent grand commander of the state of Alabama, who was at that time Dr. Walter l.. Bragg l of Montgomery, a member of the grand | commaudery, which had been organized in | Montgomery in December, 1850. 9r The dispensation reached Montgomery | on March and was granted on March A. | The charters were made out and signed by | Dr. Bragg, grand commander, and Daniel | Sayre, grand recorder.
 The dispensation asked that the power of | office be vested in Sir Knights J. B. Luckie | as first commander and fhomas Jeffers as the first captain general, and was signed | by Messrs. James B. Luckie, Thomas Jeff | fers, James NJ. Ware, William J. Thomp- son, Lewis w. Marbee, R. O. Randall, Samuel K. McSpadden. C. L. Ruth, John
 
 | manderies in the state-some Knights | Templar and others Knights of the Red Cross and Knights of Malta. The charter was granted and went into effect on May 4, and was signed by w. L. Bragg, right em- inent grand commanders; George r. l.. Reid, vice. eminent grand commander; James T. Holtzclaw, eminent grand gener- alJssimo; stephen H. Beasley, eminent grand captain general; Daniel Sayre, emil nent grand recorder.
 Thiq twantV- f0ur and 1t is one of the stronest and best equipped communicates in the state, with Ill affil- lated members; and during those twenty four years James B. Luckie, William L. Guide, F. l.. Wadsworth, Julien L. Lock- wood, Charles Wheelock, George $. obear, Russell M. Cunningham, Morrison D. Montague and George F. Wheelock have served as commanders, Dr. James B. Luckie serving two terms.
 This is a bit of history, picked up by an AGE- HERALD reporter, which will settle all disputes as to which is the oldest lodge in the city.
 The next oldest ia Birmingham is Jeffer. son Valley Lodge No. II, Knights of Pythias, which was organized with eigh- teen charter member on March A. 1874, it now being in it's twenty first year. Since the charter there has been enrolled 737 members up to December 27. This IS the only lodge of Knights of Pythias in the city that has a record of all work done since it's establishment, showing every member who was admitted, every one who was released or discharged, those who died cbeen expended since it's organization. eThis is a most wonderful record, and is the only book of the kind known, as it is purely an idea of MT. NJ. T. Stradford, who has been elected keeper of records and seal, now serving his fourth term. F There is another bit of interesting his- tory connected with lodge of some age in iithe city. It is not everyone in the city that knows that several of our most prom dnent citizens years ago, when Birming- ham was nothing but village, went out one dark night and committed tbeft But such is the caSe, and the record of their theft is still in existence, but, un- like other thieves, they are until today praised for stealing, and when they step out of this life there will be men still here who will ever praise them for the theft they committed long years ago.
 DIt was this way: About twenty years ago there was Knights of Pythias lodge in Oxmoor called the Oxmoor lodge. They had secured charter some years pre- vious and the lodge was in hourishing condition. Finally the members, one by one, moved to this city, and after several years large portion had moved here and wanted the lodge moved also; but there was bitter opposition by those still living at Ox- moor and the matter was dropped, but after while renewed again. These members here, seeing tney could do nothing decided to steal the charter, which was done, and until few months ago the lodge has worked and fiourished under the stolen Ox- moor charter.
 Recently their own charter was granted, and now this lodge is the strongest, most hourishing and richest of them all. with the majority of the business men of the city as members, and is and has been known for some years as Phenix No. 25, Knights of Pythias.