Evening star., 1900-02-01
Progress Of the Order in tho District
Of Columbia.
EARLY OBSTACLES OVER Com E
Interesting History Of the Famous
Fratsrnal Craft.
PIONEERS WITH PURPOSE

LII tne sKetcn OF Masonry In the District,
published in The Star yesterday. the Or
ganization Of the Grand Lodge of Masons
In January. 1911, was noted. The adjacent
grand bodies In Maryland and Virginia
recognized it. In July following a war
rant for a lodge to be known as Union No.
6was granted by it to Samuel B. Ellis, w.
II. ward, W. Wood, F. Cana and Joseph
Whittle, and 1t entered on work near the
Navy Yard, and had an existence till 1885,
wnen It's charter was revoked In October
OF 1911 the project of a convention Of depu-
ties from the state grand lodges to form
general grand lodge for the United States
was fndorsed. On the petition OF Charles
Glover. John Weightman, John Peltz, p.
d. Steele, James Hewitt, VIM. Hewitt.
Thos. Briscoe and A. T. Mccormick all of
Federal Lodge, charter was granted for
Lebanon Lodge, No. Z. This located in the
11th street hall. then known as the Union
lodge room. taking a third interest with
Federal and Columbia lodges, and soon be-
came a prosperous body, including in it's
membership General John Davidson, Henry
Whetcroft, city treasurer for a number Of
years prior to 1890; General T. P. Andrews,
General Weightman, afterward mayor;
David OFT and w. W.. Seaton, afterward
mayor '''
General Grand Lodge Proposed.
The three city lodges, Nos. j, and I,
continued their meetings in the 11th street
hall, where the Grand Lodge held it's ses-
sions. and though numbering in 1872 but
few hundred the formation of a general
grand lodge Of the United States. was pro-
posed by the craft, as also the erection of
a Masonic temple. These subjects were
discussed by the craft for several years.
Washington Naval Lodge, No. 4, was in
the meantime looking for permanent
1x,cf poff y-,H6 h,-
the British on August q. 1914, and the con-
sequent uncertainty causing a suspension
of the project for a time. In 1920, however,
site therefor at the northwest corner of
Virginia avenue and 4th street southeast
was purchased and lodge room erected,
the entire cost being but 81 800. The Royal
Arch Masons had before this organized. IN
1875, the first chapter, of which Dennis
Dunlevy was the high priest and they
were for some years known as Federal. No.
3, Washington Naval. No. 4 and Potomac.
No: s. the grand body embracing the state
of Maryland.
The Grand Lodge and its subordinates on
August q, 1920. on the invitation Of the
mayor and councils, participated in the
ceremony Of laying the corner stone of the
city hall-the Masonic rites conducted by
the grand master, VIM. Hewitt. register
of the city: Rev. A. T. Mccormick. grand
chaplain and a councilman. Offering the
livering the address. This building was SO
far completed by June. 1922. that the coun-
ellis, with the mayor and corporation off,
GERS, were quartered therein.
Henry Clay's Resolution.
The agitation Of the General Grand Lodge
question finally resulted in the call for
meeting Of members Of Congress and others
who We're members of state grand bodies
in the Senate chamber on March 0, 1922
T. r. Ross Of Ohio presided. with VIM.
Darlington of Pennsylvania secretary, and
after consideration a resolution on motion
of Henry Clay was adopted declaring that
1t was eXDedient to constitute a General
Grand Lodge and requesting the state grand
bodies to send delegates here in the fol-
lowing February should they approve the
same. committee on correspondence was
appointed, on which Mr.. Seaton represented
the District.
In 1924 IA new lodge in Alexandria was
granted charter under the name of Evan
gelical, No. 8, which. after an existence of
same year New Jerusalem Ledge, No.9, was
instituted the first officers being w. Hewitt.
W. M; Henry Whetcroft. S. W; Thos.
Stanley, j. w: w. Kerr, secretary; Thos.
Donaho. treasurer; G. Long and ]. Robin
son. deacons. Commencing with barely
sufficient members for the work in the 11th
street building 1t soon became a highly in
fluential body, having in its folds Rev. DIR.
VIM Hawiey of st. Johns Church, C. H.
Witberger, Joseph Abbott. 'Vm. James,
James L. Edwards David A. Gardner, Jas.
a. hennS1S ana otAeES.
The locat tiOn of the city hall on judiciary
Square and the Improvement which fol-
lowed caused some of the craft to regard
the neighborhood as suitable one in which
to erect central hall for the fraternity,
and in the same year 1S22) an effort was
made in this direction but failed. 1t
recommended at several communications
of the Grand Lodge TO erect central hall
for the craft, GranA Master Samuel Burch
warmly commencing it.
Corner Stone Laid
In 1926 the southwest corner Of and ~.
streets was selected and purchased Of b. o.
Tyler the site, the deed being made to
Andrew Tate, Jacob A. Bender w. w Sea-
ton and VIM. Hewitt, the masters OF Lodges
/, 3, and 0. The corner stone was laid
with imposing ceremonies on September 49,
1923, the procession forming at st. Johns
Church twhose rector, Rev. DR.. Hawley,
was the grand chaplain). and there were a
number Of visiting delegations present. The
rite was performed by John N. Moulder as
grand master, and the officers, P. G. M
w. W. Seaton delivering the address May
or Weightman and many officers Of the
corporation were present. This building yet
standing, is of three stories. the upper one
of which was used for the purposes of the
craft and the other portions let out. In it
for many years was located the Columbian
Museum, in which were a number of curl
osities, including the mummies which after
ward rested in the patent office and are now
in the National Museum. Entertainments
were also given here, and Signor Blitz
when a mere youth. made his initial bow to
Washington audience mere handful to
the crowds who greeted him subsequently
an old man and appreciated his feats Of
legerdemain.
In 1927 Washington Naval Lodge, No 4,
replaced its hall at 4th street and Virginia
avenue by a two-story and basement brick
structure, and. using the upper portion for
Masonic purposes; the lower story was de-
voted to education. Here a school was
taught by Mr.. Joshua L. Henshaw a mem-
Der Of the lodge and subsequently the
teacher of the First District Pubic School
House afterward; taught there, and after
them a public school was accommodated.
Some Of the early members of this lodge
were Commodore Joseph Cassin OF the
United States navy, John Davis of Abel.
James Kemp. Shadraeh Davis p pri