Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-16
OLD MASONIC TEMPLE
Building to Be SuppIanted by
Massive Structure.
CORNER STONE LAID IN 1868
Association Incorporated by Act Of
Congress in 1854.
NAMES OF CHARTER MEMBERS
"reminiscences of the Early Days Of
Free Masonry in District
of Columbia.
NAMES OF CHARTER MEMBERS
Written for The Star.


sion when the corner stone of the new
Masonic Temple will be laid with appro-
pirate ceremonies, a retrospect would not
be without interest, not only to the Mason
of the time when,'' but the later made
craftsman of the present.
We will date back to the time when the
fraternity held its meetings in hall at
the corner of 10th and E streets, known as
the old Medical College. Outgrowing their
accommodations. upon the instance Of Past
Grand Master J. w. Marin and Peter H
Hooe a lease was obtained upon the third
and fourth floors of the property at the
corner of 9th and d streets at an expense
of $500 per annum.
The blue lodges occupied the third floor,
and the chapters and Communicates the
upper or fourth floor. 1t was here that the
writer sought and obtained light in an
cient craft, capitular and templar Masonry.
In 1864 petition was presented to Con-
gress to charter Masonic Hall Associa-
| ton to build such an edif1ce as the great
| ly increased numbers of the craft de-
manded. The act for charter was duly
granted and approved April %, 1864.
The Charter Members.
There were eighteen names upon the
| charter, representing the Grand Encamp-
| ment of knights Templar United States.
the General Grand Cbapter Roval Arch
-, -, CO.. 49,,
Aa'o'' cN''eu saws 'ie vi anu i@ouse VI
| the District of Columbia, its several sub
| ordinate lodges, and also the chapters and
communicates of the District of Columbia.
| AS every one Of the charter members has
passed into the hidden life we honor their
memory In giving their names to those
| who knew them in 1868. follows:
Benjamin Brown French, Grand En-
plar
RoDert McMurdy, General Grand Chap
ter. Royal Arch Masons United States.
]. w Marin. Lodge No. l.
n. Acker, Lodge No 7.
b. kloman' Lodge NO D.
D. %. 1 vi toli, iIouSe W ~. %
7 Van Piswick Iodpe No IA
J. c. Mcclure Lodge No. Is.
F. l.. Harvey Lodge No 16
T. NJ. Hanson, Lodge No. IS.
Noble D. Iarner Lodge No 10
William NJ Smith, Columbia Chapter, No.
II: now No /
w q Parkhurst WASHINGTON Chanter
No ~: now No
lanes Steele, Mt Vernon Chapter. No 90.
nov, No 2
r. d Gilman WASHINGTON Commanderv
No. / Grand Encampment. United States
w p ParteJIo Columbia Commanderv
No . Grand Fncamnn1ent Tinted States
MANY of these brethren were known
tbroncbout tho world as "yiea and ac
on,niished Masons'' Of skill and abilitv-
zeaIpns workers for the henefit If fba
craft
authority conferred.
The corporation created by the act was
autborizad IN take and hoL No mora land
- =. ,.oosu.r'-,, g., H.. 49,, -
IMAM Is necessary ioi d Si'e upon Witch
to erect Masonic HAL suitable Tor the
transactions of the association and the pro-
motion NJ the nrincinles and nurnoses of
-, 80
'he craft
Tile lot upon which the temple was
etee.eu 'Ist s-O,oov me olis,nai ,aea 10
s,,ts,i,y,,ad tbarofor 1rha rr,ro;ra h,i,d
owe aoto- o,,a nou,,;,,, &c also ne ara,;
| ,aot. Cl,ss ga I-aronoarh,,har 49, ,o,,,
sipce ,assod awav
The size Of the lot was 6ftv-tvo feet an
9th street and 132 feet on F street. The
architecture OF the building is known as
! the modern renaissance OF the nineteenth
century, thus giving the very imprint of
' re-, s,ii n',o III m VI 1aI,, we tho I'VE