Evening star., 1900-02-01

lodge located at Pennsylvania avenue and
10th street, where 1T now is.
TroublesOme Times.
The ti-Masonic excitement following
the mysterious disappearance of one Nor
gan, who, It is said. had betrayed the Sc
crets of the craft, somewhat affected the
fraternity here, and at one time members
were ostracised by the general public. In
1898 No. Lodge Brook of Alexandria)
ceased to exist; Columbia, No. 8, in 1888
surrendered its charter, as also Evangelical,
No. 8, of Alexandria, in 1s43. The little
body heroically kept up its meetings ana
the faithful few saved the cause from dy-
ing. In Georgetown. Potomac Lodge, in
1912, moved from the banks of the canal to
O dwelling house on Washington street, op-
posite the Union Hotel, fitting up the third
story as q lodge room, and was Tor ten
years here located. To add to the troubles
Of the lodges at AZ and d streets their
property proved a burden. and litigation re
suited. both within and without the pale of
the fraternity. The result was that in 1913
the property went into private hands, and
to this day is it used as an office building.
Lodges !, Z and We're then weak, but in
working order and without a home. Nos. L
and found temporary quarters at Penn
sylvania avenue and 18th street, and No. 3
first on Pennsylvania avenue west of 41a
street. and subsequently In the Circus
building on street (now the site of the
Havenner bakery. Some of the Grand Lodge
property as also some of the Royal Arch
paraphernaia, found its way to the Med
ical College building, northeast corner of
10th and e streets, and the chapters here
located. the three lodges-1, { and 3-subse-
quently moving in.
Revival of Interest.
In a few years thereafter there seemed to
be a revival of the work, and in 1916 it
took a new lease of life, Gen. George c.
Thomas and Gen. James Shields each. with
their associates, obtaining warrants for new
lodges. These were ST. Johns, No. II, and
National. No. IL, the first including in its
folds quite a number of professional gen.
tlemen ana the latter a number of officers
of the general government. Gen. Shields
was the commissioner of the general land
office at this time, but he resigned and took
command in Mexico, where he distin-
guiShed himself At the close of the war,
on his return to the city, Masonic well
come was accorded him and Gen. Quitman.
his co-patriot, concluding with a banquet
at Eberbach's Columbian, corner of Sth and
Z streets.
Smithsonian Corner Stone.
The fraternity took more than an ord-
nary interest in the establishment of the
Smithsonian Institution, and on the occa-
sion of laying the corner stone, in 1s47,
performed that ceremony, the Grand Lodge
and subordinates being present In force.
In 1915 a number Of the District Masons
had an attack Of the gold fever, and Mr..
S. Yorke At Lee and Others were intrusted
with a charter CNo. 13), under which Cali
fornia Lodge was instituted in San Fran
CISCO which is now No. of that state.
1t was in the project of erecting the
Washington National Monument that the
fraternity took prominent part. 1t was
early in the century that the subject was
broached Of erecting a Masonic memorial
to this iiiustrous chief, but when the move
ment took the form of a general one the
Masons gave way to the popular efforts in
that direction, warmly seconding 1t by the
use OF their influence and purses.
Part Taken by MasOns.
In the ceremonies Of laying the corner
stone, on July 4, 1s4s, the Masons took a
prominent part, those of the District hav-
ing many visiting lodges and delegations
as their guests and there was a splendid
showing. The corner stone was laid by Col.
B. B. French, the grand master, who de-
livered an interesting address on the Ma
sonic lKe Of Washington. while the general
address was by r. c. Winthrop, then
Speaker Of the House of Representatives.
In 1852 Potomac Lodge, No. 5, sold its
Washington street property in Georgetown
and rente4 q portion OF the third floor of
Forrest Hall, which it fitted for a lodge
room.
The centenary Of the making Mason
Of George Washington was fttingly OBJ
served by the institution Of q lodge desfg-
mated as Washington Centennial, No. IA,
located in South Washington (then the is
land), but now at 9th and F streets The
following year lodge numbered 10 was
formed and named in honor of the retiring
grand master, B. B. French.
In 1854 new home for the. lodges In
Central Hall doth and e streets) was
found at the southwest corner of 9th and
D streets, and this became the general
headquarters Of the local craft. Here was
the waning cause resuscitated, new life en-
tered its veins, the vacant seats in the old
lodges were filled and new lodges formed.
On August 10, 1855. Potomac Lodge, hav-
ing purchased the site on High (32O street,
laid the corner stone for its new hall.
into which 1t moved in May, 1859, and
still works. This with the ground cost
$14 600.
Masonic Hall Association.
It was during the civil war that Masonry
was active here, for among the many thou
sands who found their way to this city
there were many craftsmen, and they fra
ternized in the lodges here, and opportu-
mites for Masonic work were not neglected
As in the prsviousswars. there were army
lodges formed. The necessity o. 4 building