Evening star., 1900-01-31
Early Days of the Order in This
Section.
MARYLAND VIRGINIA JURISDICTIONS
Record Evidence of an Organlza-
ton in Year 1927.
OLD SCOTCH ASON S

Inc purchase some uOillHS SIiItc Vi tHt
ground at the intersection of New York
avenue Eth ard H streets for site for a
new Masonic temple to take the place of
that at 9ih and streets (erected about
thirty years ago.. which has become made
lodges. chapters, communicates, is to the
public as well as the craft evidence of the
phenomenal growth of the fraternity in
numbers and influence.
The history of the order in this section
of the country is an interesting one, for in
the stories of the settlement of the country
the colonial wars, the struggle for indie
pendenCe, the forming of the government,
the location of the seat of government and
the establishment of the municipal govern
ment, the names of MasOns appear prom
inently. There is said to be little doubt
that Masonry came here with the co,onists
and obtained a foothold in this section early
in the eighteenth century, if not before, and
there are members of the craft walking
he way their fathers trod. who claim de-
scent from Old Scotch Masons-those who
sat in a lodge known as st. Andrews,
on the present site of Georgetown, long an
terror to the laying out of that town.
Dr. Thomas G. Loockerman a son of a
Mason who assisted in organizing the grand
lodge of Maryland at Easton in 11S3-whose
regalia he treasures and who has himself
has made much study of the antiquities of
the craft hereabout He says:
According to fragmentary history and
family tradition Masonry was introduced in
Maryland by the Scotch emigrants. The
English coiOniStS mostly landed at ST.
Mary's. while the Scotch continued up the
Chesapeake or Potomac to the head of
navigation Ohe site of Georgetown). From
the latter as a rendezvous. migrations were
made by the cOlOniSts from time to time as
opportunities opened.
"A lodge was established here, under the
name of ST. Andrews. which is mentioned
in the traditions of some of the oldest
Georgetown families as the Aud Scotch
Lodge. an important institution, in which
al! differences between Masons were re-
ferrcd for adj Istment in the colonial times.
Under m Old Charter.
This Lodge worked under an old charter
granted by the Grand Lodge of Scotland in
1I2I- Rev. DIR. Thomas B. Balch so long
The pastor of the Bridge Street Presbyte-
Iian Church, treasured for years the di-
ploma of his father. Col. Thomas Balch
showing that he was a member of that
lodge in 1I3I. We all know that Masonry
has long been an institution with the
Scotch. and that there We're many of this
nationality among the settlers round about
is apparent from the names on the old
records. as &lsO from the fact that a por-
tiOn OF Prince Georges county, now in
Cluded in the District, was known as Scot
lana Hundred
The site OF Georgetown. as stated above.
having been a rendezvous. there is little
doubt that St. Andrews Lodge was located
here. The inscription in a Bible in the pos
session of Potomac Lodge reads: A pres
ent from Mr.. Colin Campbell to st. An
drew's Lodge. the goth of January. 4II:,.
Bladensburg." And we learn tradtionally
that Blaiensburg was the residence of the
donor a lodge was in existence in Annap-
oils in 1149; one al Joppa, in Baltimore
farr7 a
1853. and 1t is believed that that at Joppa
vas formed. IN part at least. by settlers
frCm this section. for the similarity of
names 50 tends We claim that Masonry
was here introduced by Scotchmen. who or
gauzed St. Andrews Lodge, at or near
what is now Georgetown. and as we find
through the names of members of lodges
and 10 of Georgetown on the roll of No. -.
now FED -ral. No /, of the District. that
the descent is direct from the old Scotch
C3loniStS."
That there We're army lodges during the
revolution. and that Washington. Warren.
Paul Revere. Lafayette. Marshall, Gist and
other famous men were members is certain,
and it is a matter OF history that Wash
fngton and other MasOns held Masonic
lodge in the lodge room at Yorktown after
the surrender of CORVALLIS Washington
was made q Mason in 1f52. in FrederickS-
burg Lodge. No. 4. and in a number of in
stances during the war exemplifed the
teachings of the craft
Continued During war.
Some Of the prominent lodges continued
work during the war. but others suspend
ed on the return of peace the cause was
revived and it is believed the Scotch lodge
of Georgetown resumed work. 1t is also
believed there was a revival. for the evil
dence is seen in the fact that in 1873 the
few lodges in Maryland meeting at Easton
formed the Grand Lodge of the state. and
Alexandria Lodge, of which Washington
was worshipful master. obtained a charter
from the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, as
No. 80. in the same year. Six years later.
in 1Is9. warrant was granted to lodge
in Georgetown. known as No. 8 of Mary
land. to MeSSrS. Fierer and Grier, and other
early members were Thomas Beatty David
Geddes Valentine Reintzell. Charles Gard
uer William Knowles. Peter Casanaye.
David kurtz and S. Turner. jr.
The Georgetown Lodge. No o. participated
il, ih.. ceremony of laying the corner stone
of the Capitol. Washington using the gavel
Of the lodge in performing the service
This has descended to Potomac Lodge, in
whose custody 1t Is a treasured relic.
Removed to Port Tobacco.
In 1794 a number of the members of this
lodge removed to Port Tobacco. Nd, and
the lodge in Georgetown suspended. At
Port Tobacco lodge No. II of Maryland was
formed. in which Messrs. Fierer and Alex
Crier were prominent 1t is probable, too,
tai and the opportunities for work in the
erecti,0 Of public buildings may have Grip
pied the Georgetown lodge. but. as will be
seen the cause there only waned and was
dormant for a time. The lodge in Wash
ington. beginning operations under war
rant to Federal Lodge. No. 10. now No J..
before the suspension Of No 0, the line Is
unbroken at least as far back as 1879. If
not 10 The colonial days
Federal Lodge Gas No. II of MarylanO
now No of the District. received its orig
inaI charter and was organized in Septem-
her 11r;-the warrant being issued to Jas.
H0ban. CIotworthy Stephenson and Andrew
EaStave-and was first located on Capitol
Hill. The Georgetown Masnns. under a
Maryland warrant. October 81. 1I91 TO Col.
James Thompson and John Reintzell,
formed Columbia Lodge. No. 10. but it sus-
pended IN a few years. In this lodge was
Jas Melvin. A. Reintzeil. John Suter. jr.
George Vaughan. William Casey. Charles
Minor and VIM. Tenney. December IS.
179' II participated in the funeral obse-
quieS Of Washington. at Mt. Vernon.
November 6 1872. another Columbia
Lodge formed as No - Of MARYLAND
the warrant for which was issued TO Cbas
Jcnes. Orlando Cook and Ninean Peal
which. as No. 2. District of Columbia Is
IN existence today. In Nav. 1905 Washing
ton Naval Lodge was Instituted near the
navy ward, as No IL. and is now No 4 of
the District Of Columbia. Brook Lodge
If Alexandria was then No. ~ of Virginia