The Appeal. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. ;) 1889-19??, 1898-01-15
OLDEST MASONS
THE CHICAGO AFRo-AMERIcANS
LONG IN THE ORDER.
Brothers Alfred Wagner, j. w. Dunmore
and W. L. barrow More Than Forty
Years on Their Travels to the East. Ban
+. net Of the Blue Lodges.

For some time the question has been
discussed through the press az to the
Oldest member of the Masonic order, By
this We mean the person who has been
connected with the order the longest
period Of time. Shelbyville, Ind, pre-
SCENTS I. Levinson who was initiated, o.
tober 18th. l846, somewhere over fifty
one years ago. Reedsburg, Wis, names
William H. Young who entered the or
der in 1850. about forty eight years ago.
Elgin. ILL.,. gives the name Of Isaac Buck
who was also made q Mason in 1850.
Among the white Masons it may be said
that Indiana takes the lead. The Afro
American brother now comes forward
and presents two such claimants for
such honors. Brother Alfred Wagner
OF North Star Lodge No. o: this
city received the degree of Master Ma
con in 1854 Brother J. W. Dunmore q
member of John Jones Lodge No. was
received into the order in March 1852,
making him member for q period of
forty-six years. Both of these distin-
guished Masons are living in Chicago
and enjoying good health. Mr.. Wagner
is in his seventy-seventh year. Before
the war he owned and operated a, -four
mill at the corner of Harrison and Girls
void streets (now Pacific ave. Mr..
Dunmore is 6S years old and has lived
in Chicago for more than thirty years.
he has filed about all the prominent of
fees in the Masonic order from worship
fnl Master of the Blue Lodge to Deputy
Inspector General of the supreme couu-
Gil Scottish rite Masons. Notwithstand
ing his age. he Is today one of fsstest de
gree workers in the city and 10 capable
Of making the youngest and strongest
worker seek opportunities for rest when
comforting the royal arch degree.
Attic annual installation Of officers of
the Blue lodges. December eth, Broth
or Richardson who had been absent from
the city for more than twenty years was
present. With one or two exceptions
he was unknown to the one hundred
and twenty five members present. He
was honored with an introduction to the
brethren by the third oldest Afro Amer
lean Mason in the city, Brother w. L.
Darrow also of North Star Lodge No. l.
The brethren made the occasion one of
rejoicing. Brother Richardson was
placed in the East and all present gave
him the right hand of friendship, after
which be, although feeble with age and
fatigued by the exercises of the evening
opened the eyes of the brethren with
"reminiscences of the early days in Chi
cego, concluding his remarks by reciting
Masonic poem, the rendition of which
was most remarkable for man of his
advanced yeare. A banquet was given
at the "B" restaurant where the mem
bvrs did jus ice to the good things set
| before them. " ~. r.
II is rumored that a heavy crash
will be heard in the near future by q
large number of Knights Templar who
are now on the suspended list of the
several communicates In the city. No
tees are out to all such and the law
will have it's course. Suspended will
be the word following the names of
quite number of these do nothing,
suspended drones. after the judgme emit
meeting. January 3lst.