Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-16
MASONRY IN THE DISTRICT
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE

formation of the Grand Lodge in 1SlO-11
located as follows: Federal and Columbia
at the Union lodgeroom, on 18th street
northwest; Washington Naval, in leased
quarters on eth street southeast: Poto-
mac, in its own hall. on Jefferson street.
Georgetown. and Brooke Lodge, in AL
exandria. Va.
The Grand Lodge naturally found it's
first home in Union lodgeroom. but as
early as 1916 movement was started
looking to the procuring of more suit
able Masonic building. but, the Grand
! Lodge frowning upon the project, it died
a-borning, and the next development
| in this line was the erection by Naval
Lodge, No. 4. of a two-story brick build
ing on the northwest corner of 9Th street
and Virginia avenue southeast. in 1S2O-21.
at a cost of $3.327.Ol. This unpretentious
structure. located in the center of the
most populous section of the hill, was not
only the home of Naval and Union Lodge.
No q, during its life. but also supplied
quarters for schoolroom for many
years. and many of our older citizens of
Capitol Hill received their educational
start within its walls.
Early Day Communications.
For the first half century OF the exist
ence OF the Grand Lodge, the distances
between the several sections of the city
being great, the roads Of the worst and
the means of transportation the most
primitive. the communications. both
regular and special, were frequently held
In the different lodgerOoms, east, west
and central, and even Alexandria. as
matter Of accommodation to all the
members and thus, although from time
to time acquiring some proprietary in
terest in certain rooms as headquarters,
the Grand Lodge led a nOmadic existence
from its origin until the occupation of
the temple at 9th and + streets north
west, and it may be noted in passing
that other than lodgerooms were some
times used on emergent occasions. as
we find a meeting opened February 70,
1926, in the city hall. on the first degree,
for the purpose OF proceeding to ST.
Johns Church to listen to discourse
on washington" and at another time
meeting opened in this same church
to attend a corner stone laying. These
instances need not be multiplied. but
uncover condition of affairs unknown
at present.
In 1926 the southwest corner Of and
AZ streets northwest John Marshall
place., was selected and purchased as the
site for new temple. the recent erection
of the city hall in that neighborhood COM
mending it as a proper location. The
chased of B. o. Tyler, was made to An
drew Tate. jacob A. Bender, w. w. Sea-
ton and William Hewitt, the masters, re-
spectively. Of Lodges l. 3. and 9. The
COTHSI SlOIlc was ldlu OcplcIuUCI 10, 1CSO,
with elaborate ceremonies.
Procession to New Temple.
The Grand Lodge was opened in ample
form in st. Johns Church. and pro-
ceeded to the site. escorted by a process
sion Of so varied and dignified character
and so unique withal as to deserve de-
tailed description, and no apology Is
needed for reproducing in extenso the or
der of arrangement, which was as fol-
lows:
Tilers Of Lodges Nos. l, ). and 9, with
drawn swords
Two Stewards. with white DDS.
Entered APPRENTICE MaSOns.
Fellows OF the Craft.
Master Masons.
Junior DeacOns of Lodges.
Senior Deacons.
Secretaries
TreasurerS
Past Junior Wardens.
Past Senior WardenS.
Past Masters.
Masters of Lodges.
Members and Officers of Washington
Royal Arch Chapter.
The Grand Chapter Of the District Of
Columbia
Music.
Grand Tiler and Grand Steward.
Two Stewards, with white rods.
Reverend Clergy Of the District Of Co.
Architect Of the Public Buildings
Assistant Postmaster General.
Commissioner of the General Land Office:
Register of the Treasury OF the United
States.
Auditors of the Treasury.
Treasurer of the United States.
Controllers of the Treasury.
Commissioners Of the Navy, with their
Secretary.
Senior Naval OFFICER at the seat of Gov
eminent
Typographical Engineer.
Chief Engineer Of the United States:
United States. with the General Staff
of the Army at the City OF
Washington.
Librarian OF Congress.
Members and Officers Of Congress.
Functtonaries of Foreign Governments.
Postmaster General.
Members Of the Board Of Common Council.
President and Secretary of that Board.
Mayors Of Alexandria and Georgetown.
Mayor and Register of the City of Wash
ington.
Grand Pursuivant, with drawn Sword.
Master Builders of. the Edifice. with trow-
els, planes, etc. each with his
appropriate tooD.
Architect Of the Work.
The Golden Plumb. Level, Square, Com
passes and Mallet, each borne by
a Master Mason.
A Master Mason, with the Cornucopia.
Two Master Masons with Cups-one with
Wine, the other Oil.
The Corinthian. Ionic and Doric Lights.
borne by three Master Masons.
Two Stewards with white rods.
Deacons of the Grand Lodge.
Past Grand Secretaries and Treasurers.
Grand Secretary and Grand Treasurer.
Bible.
Borne by Past Master, with Steward
on each side).
Grand Chaplain and Orator.
The Book of Constitutions, borne by
Master Mason.
General Committee to superintend the
Building. and Committee of
Arrangements.
Past Grand Wardens.
Grand Wardens bearing the Ionic and
Doric Orders.
Past Deputy Grand Masters.
Deputy Grand Master. bearing the Corin
THAN Order.
The Globe, borne by a Master Mason.
Past Grand Masters.
A Herald. with Golden Rod.
The Grand Master attended by a Herald
on each side. with Golden Rod.
Grand Sword Bearer.
Two Stewards. with Rods.
Judges of the several Courts of the Dis
trict OF Columbia.
Marshal of the District and his Deputies.
Clerks OF Courts of the District with