The Washington times., 1906-07-22

Delegates were present from nVe or the
lodges in the territory in question;
the sixth lodge. AleXaudria-Washing
Lodge. No. p, declining TO send depu-
tation. as o majority of that lodge was
unwilling 10 withdraw itself from the
Grand Lodge Of Virginia.
In their letters 10 the mother lodges
Of Maryland and Virginia those inter-
ested I'm tho formation OF the new grand
lodge stated that they were actuated
by no unfriendIy motives. but from con-
siderations resulting from the assump-
ton Of the jurisdiction by Congress over
the District of Columbia. the Importance
of uniting the lodges in district 50
situated was apparent.
Grand Lodge Organized.
, ON January S. 1871. the Grand Lodge
of the District Of columbia was formal
" established and the necessary officers
elected, Valentine Reintzel being chosen
r. w. @. Master; John Kinkaid, Il. W.
d. G. Master; Alex. Mccormick. r ".
Senior Warden, and Charles Jones, r.
w. G. Secretary.
Al me meeting OF the grand lodge, Oc-
tcber s. 1871, a petition was received over
the SIGNATURES of eight OF the members
OF Federal Lodge. No. /, praying fT
a warrant for the fOrmauon Of Leban-
on Lodge. No. Z. This. tie first petitioa
OF its kind received by the grand lodge,
was favorably acted IpoH and the char
ter was granted as of that cate. Union
Lodge. No. g. was granted a ch9rfer
prior TO that. July ., or the same year,
but after a varying career the charter
was surrendered May s, Is35- Evang"ii-
cal Lodge. No. 8. was also granted
charter May 4, 1924, which was surreE-
dered upon the lodge becoming extinct
in 1913.
A Successful Lodge.
The New Jerusalem Lodge. No. 8.
chartered November %. 1924. was more
successful than its consort Of that year,
and has ever been a most thriving body
At the present time 1t has a large and
influential membership that is actively
engaged in behalf Of the several build
ing projects.
-Four years after the founding OF the
New Jerusalem Lodge. Hiram Lodge.
No. 10. was granted a charter under
date of January %, 1898. It's member
shin Is considerably past the 3Oo-mark,
and the furnishings of its lodgeroom are
said to be among the handsomest In the
city.
No further steps were taken looking
To the formation of new lodges until
lS45. when on December q a charter
was granted St. Johns Lodge, No. II.
This lodge is now IN a most tiourishing
condition National Lodge. No. y. was
chartered May of the following year.
At the outbreak of the gold fever in
California a charter was granted No
vember %, 1S4S, by the Grand Lodge OF
the District of Columbia for the forma-
ton of California Lodge, No. 13. This
lodge afterward became California
Lodge. No /, under the jurisdiction of
the Grand Lodge of California. Cali
fornfa Lodge was the last of the lodges
organized under the Grand Lodge of
this Jurisdiction that has In any way
become separated from the mother
body. and all Of the remaining lodges
are in a healthful condition.
Washington Centennial Lodge, No. a.
was the next in line of progression, its
charter being dated November 4, 1852
while Benjamin b. French Lodge, No.
IS. followed under date of December q,
1853. In point of membership B. B.
French Lodge is next 20 the largest in
the city, the last report TO the Grand
Lodge showing considerably over 600
members. 1t has been looked upon as
one OF the most select lodges in the
| Jurisdiction. Dawson Lodge, No. 16. an
other Of the present day favOrites, was
| chartered May 5, 1857.
Civil War Gave Impetus.
| The outbreak of the civil war seemed
10 infuse new life into local Masonic
circles, as three new lodges were char.
tered the first year OF the war. They
were Harmony Lodge, No. Il: Acacia,
| Lodge. No. IS and Lafayette Lodge.
No. 10; whose charters read May 5, De.
| cember IS. and December 2S. respective,
". Lafayette Lodge. No. 19. is now
the banner lodge of the District. with
a membership between 700 and 500. re-
sources considerably in excess of 10000,
and with a charity record that is uu-
exceiled.