Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-23

National Lodge, NO. l.. anu Al iiiiho"
| Lodge No %, have called off their COM
nornications scheduled for inauguration
| day.
Myron NJ Parker Lodge, No -: mas d
business meeting scheduled for Marcn T..
| TIL, following extract from the history
of St Johns Lodge. No. IL. Whlch ap,
peared in the last circular OF WoIshlpi u, VI
| Master Fred NJ. Book. Will douotiess 'e
] of interest to the craft in general.
| 1.-The institution of st. Johns Lodge, NO.
II. marked the beginning of new era for
Freemasonry in the District OF CoiuinpIa
| about 1896 the great antl-Masohle
wave which had its origin IN the alleseo
abduction and murder of one Wlliianl
Morgan of Batavia, \. Y, began to sweep
over the country. ,
by 1929, when Andrew Jackson.
| Master of Tennessee, became fresIeeIl'
anti-Masonry had become national
issue and for nearly decade poiltlca
| and social prosecutions seriously threat
ened the life of the fraternity. NoWnei Re
was its force more strongly 1elt IMAM III
| this Jurisdiction. Curiosity attracted a
| few to seek initiation, but many OF the
| fstint-hearted fell away.
From 1888 to 1886 four lodges went
out of existence, two of them never To
| revive. At the height of the dlsturoanGe
Naval Lodge. No. 4, probably met secretly
al the home of the commandant OF the
navy yard and it is recorded that
Masonic procession, common IN Garner
days for the benefit of the Female Ut
phan Asylum of Washington. was post
poned in consequence of the excited state
of public feeling. etc.
so great was the stress upon the
Grand Lodge that from January l. 1872
to November t. 1S45. none OF ITS proceed
ings were printed and the original records
are meager and incomplete. but there is
no doubt that during this period Masonry
reached the low-water mark in this Jurls-
diction.
DESPITE so adverse circumstances, at
a meeting of the Grand Lodge held st.
Johns day, December %. 1915. petition
was presented. signed by George e.
Thomas. James II. Birch. John NJ WI
liams, Joseph D. Ward, Thomas Cope
Joseph F. Brown. Ezra Williams and
Nahum Stone, regular master Masohs:
for a dispensation or warrant OF
constitution for new lodge to be named
ST. Johns Lodge No. IL. and nominating
George C. Thomas to he first worshipful
master. Joseph F.. Brown to be first senior
warden and John NJ. Williams to be first
junior warden. -
1.-THE petition was at once UNANIMOUSLY
granted and the new lodge was. February
%. 1916, instituted and consecrated by
William B. Magruder, most Worshiplui
grand master. and the other ofhcefs OF
the Grand Lodge in its own lodgerooIl al
the northeast corner of PennsylNanla
avenue ana john ND sinai pi'N' - :,
was it's home for more than year. anu
Masonry in this jurisdiction received
fresh impetus.
Arrangements are said to be practically
completed for fraternal visit by Naval
Lodge, No. 4, to John II. b. Latrooe
Lodge, No 165, of Baltimore. Md, on
the evening of Monday, March ~. on
which occasion the master Mason degree
will be exemplified by the Maryland
brethren. A special train on the electric
road will be chartered. and the present
plans include buffet luncheon to be
served on the train during the return run.
The interest aroused by this event gives
every reason to expect that an unusual
number of Masons will avail themselves
of the opportunity to accompany Naval
Lodge on the pilgrimage, which Is de-
signed to connect more closely the fra
ternal relations with the Baltimore MEM
bers of the fraternity.