Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-22

ordinate bodies. This committee, unlike
Its predecessors. stuck by its guns. April
porating the Masonic Hall Association
of the District of Columbia" which act
was approved April %. 1864. There were
eighteen names on the charter, represent
Templar, United States; the General
Grand Chapter, Royal Arch Masons,
United States; the Grand Lodge Of the
District of Columbia, its several subor-
dinate lodges, and also the chapters and
| Communicates of the District of Columbia.
The charter members not one of whom is
with us in the flesh today, were as fol-
lows: b. B. French, G. f., X. T.; Robert
McMurdy, G. G. c., r. 4. NJ; Charles f.
Lodge No. l. N. Acker. No. I; r. ISloman.
No. Q: j. B. Turton, No. IL; l.. Gassen-
heimer. No. IL; ]. Van Riswick. No. II; J.
C. Mcclure. No -; F L: Harvey. No. IS;
No. 10; W. NJ. Smith, r. A. Chapter. No.
1; w. G. Parkhurst. No. .: James Steele,
No. 3; u. D. Gilman, Washington Com
mandery. No. 1, and w. r. Particle, Co
lumbia, No. ,
Purchased Land From Gonzaga.
The directors appointed pursuant to this
act purchased from Gonzaga Church and
College lot on the northwest cornen of
9th and F streets northwest having
and LII feet inches on F., for the sum
of $4,000. The buildings upon the site
were put under rental temporarily. but In
a few years were demolished. and on May
90 1868. the corner stone was laid.
Members of the fraternity in the several
departments were excused by executive
order, to take part in the ceremonies. and
it is interesting to note that Brother An
drew johnson. then President of the United
States, marched over the entire route of
parade in his character as a master Ma
son. Unlike the demonstration that
marked the laying of the corner stone at
Az and D streets. the procession on this
occasion was strictly Masonic one, and
included In its escort Communicates l
and g the G. r. A. Chapter and subordi
nate chapters, and followed closely the
arrangement of the present day. The
route was as follows Starting at 9th
and E, down 9th to Pennsylvania ave-
nue., to 18th street. to H, to New York
avenue, to 7th street and Massachusetts,
avenue. Massachusetts avenue to 4th
street. to Indiana avenue. thence to 9Th
street, along 9TH to F, and thence to 9th.
Rather long route, one may be per-
mitted to observe, to cover two squares.
The ceremony was most impressively
conducted by Grand Master B. B. French
and the grafton of the day was delivered
by Brother III. p. III. Bromwell. repre-
sentative from Illinois. and past grand
master Of that jurisdiction. During the
exercises appropriate music was rendered
by the band and by specially organized
choir OF the singers on the platform
on that occasion there remain with us
three-D. L. Burnett, E e. w. Griffin
active members of the fraternity, to whom
many honOrs have come
Temple Dedicated.
AS early as December II. 1868, the
Grand Lodge met in the temple for a
public installation, but were not per-
manently located there until May, 1870,
in which month the building was ap-
propriately dedicated according to the
ancient usages, the grafton on this &C.
casion being delivered by the late Brother
Ben: Perley POore.
The growth Of the fraternity at this
period was not confined to the central
Lodge, for early in May. 1867, Naval
Lodge. In the eastern section. found it
necessary to enlarge It's quarters.
ing at 9Th street and virginia avenue a
distance of eight feet to the building
line on 9th street and adding ANOTHER
story.
The dedicatory ceremonies took place
October H. 1867, and gained special i'm
portance from the fact that the building
had been occupied previously for forty
five years without any such Formally.
The building is still standing, and is
Masons of the District.
Over In the West End another lodge,
room was dedicated December g. 1857, Tor
Hiram Lodge. No. 10. over Redferns
Pennsylvania avenue. They remained
here. however. comparatively short
time. the dedication Of their present room
at the southwest corner of 18th street
and Pennsylvania avenue taking place
October 80. 1872. For some years prior
to the completion Of the new temple at
9th and New Jerusalem and Nope were
tenants OF Hiram.
In Cniontown (Anacostia) Masonry ar
rived upon the institution, March 8, 1869,
of Anacostia Lodge, No. II. which was
located for number of years in a rough
twO-Story frame structure on Harrison
near Monroe street. but later. in $780,
purchased it's present site,. at that time
improved by two-story frame building,
in the upper story of which the lodge
met for ten years. In 1890 the present
handsome edifice was erected. the lodge
meeting in Naval Lodge Hall. 9Th street
and Virginia avenue southeast. during
the period of construction.
Stansbury. No. "a, came into existence
November II, 1873, and occupying an en-
tirey new field in the northern suburbs
Hall, In which 1t found home. being
dedicated to Masonry In 1874.
Financial Difficulties Arise.
| While the fraternity was thus reaching
out and including new territory. affairs
| at the temple were anything but salts
| factory AS early as May, 1876, the
financial conduct OF that enterprise was
| becoming a matter Of serious moment.
| and for a period of years number of
| abortive attempts were made to ease the
| situation, among the propositions ad-
| vanced being one to call on the ladies of
i the fraternity to assist in liquidating the
1 debt; another to ask the cooperation OF
4 other jurisdictions and third to hold a
! fair. The second only Of these expert
ments was tried. and, while number
4 substantial aid came not. 1t was the old
| story Of history repeating itself.
| In 1886, a room being dedicated in the
| Scottish Rite Cathedral 1907 G street
| northwest, and several of the lodges find-
| ing quarters there. the revenues OF the
temple were still further reduced, and
| the situation became much more en-
! barrassing.
| In 1890. at which time the fraternity
| held but one-third Of the stock OF the
| temple an offer was received to purchase
| the building. The proposition was then
| advanced and debated to sell and divide
| by the fraternity in q site. title to which
| should be vested in the Grand Lodge. No
decision was reached. and for the next
1 five years q succession of committees
labored fruitlessly with the problem.
| In the meantime new territory was be-
| ing opened up. NJ. NJ. Parker Lodge. No
o. being instituted in 1891. and occupying
a hall at the corner Of Sd and H streets
northeast. where 1t remained until March