Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-08
HUNDRED YEARS OLD
COLUMBIA LODGE, NO 8, F. A. A..
NJ, CELEBRATES Anniversary.
Masonic Temple Crowded Last Night
With Members and Friends of
the Organization.

The centennial anniversary celebration OF
Columbia Lodge, No 3, F. A. A. NJ, was
conducted at Masonic Temple Hall last
evening. An atmosphere of generation
| marked the passing Of one hundred years
| as the personnel and dongs of the lodge
| were reviewed. A program, properly pro-
portioned in music, song and speech, was
| rendered while. adding to the finish ami
artistic effect, was the setting of both hall
| and platform in a profusion of gorgeous
hued autumn leaves. Potted plants, palms
and a profusion of variegated colored
| chrysanthemums made the effect a huge
bower in fairy land. Over the platform, in
| red, white and blue electric lights, was
| flashed the words Columbia Lodge, No. 3,
! 1S02-1902,' the illumination being made
just as the worshipful grand master, at
tended by the other officers of the GRAIL
| Lodge, took their places.
While the seats in the huge nall were
| being filled with the friends Of the lodge
| selections were rendered by Donchs Or
cheStra. Then came the address of wei
| come by Mr.. Frank B. Curtis, acting
worshipful master. The address brought
| the audience together into spirit of cor
i dial response. Simple Simon was sung
| by a quartet, the singers being Messrs.
| Mcfarland, Turpin, Kaiser and Humphrey.
| They responded to the generous applause
many times. "reminiscences of the past
| as connected with Columbia Lodge were
given by Mr. Malcolm Seaton NJ. W.. grand
| master of the District of Columbia. '"The
| Clock of the Universe then tolled in the
| deep bass voice of Brother ]. Walter
Humphrey.
History of the Lodge.
brief history of Columbia Lodge, recit-
| ing it's vicissitudes in early times. its finan-
| cial distresses and abandonment of charter
| for short periods, and it's final triumph and
| its progress to it's present position, with
in IN nv md ,hnrS
| told by Mr.. Joseph Solomon. the history
| having been the joint work of Messrs. Vale,
| MuZZy and Solomon.
| Mrs. H. Clay Browning was most cordial
| ly received in her rendition of several So
| prano solos. Later Mrs. Browning and
| Mr.. w. d. Mcfarland sang in duet the
J tower scene from Trovatore. Mr.. A. Sam
| uels heard in a cornet solo, IF You
| Were Only Mine.
Other addresses were made by Mr.. Chas.
| F. Benjamin of Federal Lodge on Mason
ry as Factor in Human Liberty" by Mr..
| j. NJ. Vale past master, on Our Future"
! by Mr.. ]. Claude KEEPER, past master and
| senior grand steward
| The celebration was in charge of a COM
! mittee of arrangements and a reception
committee, the former consisting of Messrs
| Frank b. Curtis, ]. Claude KEEPER, w. s.
| Magill, l.. F. Speer and Martin S. Decker.
The members of the reception committee
| were Messrs. Luther F. Speer, H. T. Otter
dinger, S. H. Moore, Herbert Wright. Iso-
| dore Goldheim, F. A. Burton, DIR. L. F.
Davis, Scott Macgill. w. H. Grosscup, Mil
| ton Herman, Oscar Baum Walter Oliver
| Robert II. Bowdler and James H. Slice.
Chartered in 1902.
Columbia Lodge was first chartered No
vember 8, 1902 Its charter was granted
by the Grand Lodge of Maryland, under
| whose Jurisdiction it was Its first officers
were: Charles Jones. worshipful master;
Patrick Kahn, senior warden, and John
/
Jones held the office for ten years, and
| was succeeded by Ninian Beall.
| The original charter is still in existence.
| It was lost for nearly forty years, and
Lodge by the late Secretary Singleton, in
| 1873. The lodge had prosperous existence
| until 1884, when the anti-Masonic agita-
| ton was started by the publication of what
| purported to be an expose of Free Masonry
by William Morgan, and which gave rise
| to the anti-Mason party. In that year the
lodge suspended, but was revived the fol-
| lowing year. After three years of bitter
struggle the organization was again aban-
| doned the members who remained affiliat-
| ing with other lodges.
! From 1898 until 1865 the lodge was dor
| mant. In April of the latter year It's char
| ter was returned by the Grand Lodge, and
| a reorganization effected. Since then it
has steadily grown until its present mem
| bership is 2O4
Columbia Lodge.
| dedicated to Columbia Masonic Lodge No. g. on
the celebration Of Its hundredth anniversary Wash
| ington, ID. c., November I, 1902
| Columbia, Columbia, masonic IN glory
century chaplet adorns thy brow;
| Liberty nourished thy birth and thy story,
And ''Solomon's Temple emblazons thy vow.
| Columbia Columbia thy Maryland mother
| Still prides in the faith Of her century son;
| From master to warden. steward and
| brother
Thy mission and labor honestly done.
| And when the Great Architect calls us from
| labor"
To join in ''refreshment' at banquets above,
| Wen give the grand sign to our Heavenly
Master
Still centered in Truth and Sweet Brotherly Love
| JOHN A. JOYCE.