The Washington times., 1906-07-22
Not Less Than 900
Affiliated With District
Organizations.
POTOMAC FIRST IN AGE
Organized III Years Ago,
Became Nucleus of
Great Growth.

i OEEulcSL III the AtAiAS OF the IrdtGE-
nal brotherhood that has interwoven
itself into the very heart Of the city's
/ best interests is TO be found the various
branches of Free and Accepted Masons
with their tWenty-seven lodges, twelve
chapters, five communicates. ana many
other afhliating bodies. embracing var
ious degrees. Having figured In the de-
velopment Of the District for nearly one
hundred and eighteen years the birth
OF that ancient and honored order in
the Capital of the Nation may well be
said 10 be coincident with the founding
OF the city itself.
Today the membership of the lodges
Aalcne approaches the 5000 mark. and
with those added who are affiliated with
the higher degrees. and with the Order
OF the Eastern Star, the immediate
working force Of Masonry in the Dis
triCt of Columbia is not far short OF
is, 600. While membership in a blue
lodge" is Indispensable to entrance into
sthe higher degrees there are thousands
OF members of the chapters, command
cries. and other degrees in this city
who are not members OF any Washington
lodge for the reason that a local resi-
.dence is essential to membership IN q
local lodge, while any blue ledge Mason
in good standing is eligible TO member
ship in the advanced degrees,
Take Degrees Here.
This fact is taken advantage Of by
thousands of those prominent in public
life whose homes are not accessible TO
the higher orders and who fnd their
first opportunity 10 take these degrees
on coming to Washington. For this Tea-
son the grand chapter Of the District
and the grand commandeTy, u say
nothing Of the Scottish Rite. the Evan
gelist Chapter Rose CroiN, the Shrine,
and other high branches OF the order
are probably the most representative,
IN point OF prominence of members. IN
the United States
in point Of financial stability, too, the
order maintains an enyiable position. It's
assets approaching the half-milliOn
mark, while building improvements un-
der way Will double that amount. Thou
sands OF dollars are expended yearly
in that quiet charity which is the most
effective. while the present charity fund
or one lodge alone exceeds 81. 600.
While an extended review of the eN-
istence of Masonry IN the District Of
Columbia must be left to the historian,
who for the past year has been laboring
under the direction of the grand lodge,
there are some incidents in the career
Of the order that stand prominently out
AID command attention.
Potomac Lodge First.
The first movement toward the for
mation of a lodge in this locality re-
Lodge. No. 8. which became a recognized
body April p. 17S9. under dispensation
granted by the grand lodge of Mary
land. II was subsequently reOrganized
as Potomac Lodge. No. 43. on Novem-
Der II. 1SOi. and on February 70. 1911, il
became Potomac Lodge, No. 5. under
the jurisdiction Of the grand lodge Of
the District OF Columbia.
Federal Lodge, No. Is. was organized
under the dispensatiOn Of the grand
lodge of Maryland. their original char
ter bearing the date OF September p.
1792 It's officers were foremost in the
movement for the organization Of the
grand lodge Of the District of Columbia.
and when that organization was per
fectcd this lodge was entered upon its
rolls as Federal Lodge. No. /.
Columbia Lodge was originally char
tered October % 1875. by the Maryland
Grand Lodge, as Columbia Lodge. No.
19. but when a reissue Of the chartes
was made. November 3. 1902, its num-
Der was changed to 50. This lodge also
participated in the formation of tho
Grand Lodge Of the District OF Colum-
bia. under whose jurisdiction IL became,
February 19 1911, Columbia Lodge.
No ?.
/ Alexandra Brooke Lodge. No. A.. was
granted its charter by the Grand Lodge
of Virginia. November %. 1886. Its dele
gates were present and took part in the
formation OF the Grand Lodge OF the
District OF Columbia, upon the records
OF which II was entered as Brooke
Lodge. No. 2, the date of its charter be,
ing the same as that of the four other
lodges that participated I'm the organi-
cation Of the Grand lodge. Brooke Lodge
fiourished for a time. but became ex,
rIinCt IN 1888
Washington Naval Fifth.
The fifth of the lodges that consti-
tuted the charter lodges Of the Grand
Lodge was Washington Naval Lodge.
No. 4. which received its charter from
the Maryland Jurisdiction May Il, 1896.
When its allegiance was transferred TO
this jurisdiction II became Naval Lodge,
No. 4. as which II is still known. This
lodge is reputcd TO be the wealthiest
lodge in Washington. owns a valuable
building in the Southeast section Of tho
city. and is noted for the loyalty and
enterprise of its members.
The year 1sl0 found six young and
healthful lodges In the District of Co
lunbia; four of them being in Washing
ton county. formerly a part OF the State
Of Maryland. and two in Alexandria
county, which has now been receded
20 the State of Virginia. A meeting of
delegates from the several lodges was
accordingly called, looking to the form
alton Of the grand lodge, and on Decem-
- ~. ~ !. .-.. ....-...... ..... Ill.