Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-10-07
125TH ANNIVERSARY
OF WASHINGTON LODGE
Local Order of Masons to Cele-
brate Event Evening of DC.
tOber 13-Universfty the Only
Organization in City With
Older Charter

Washington Lodge. No. 3, r. and A. NJ.
VIII observe on Wednesday. October 10 at
the Masonic Temple, tho l25th Anniversary
OF the founding Of the order. 1t was
founded on October 49, 1915, when the
grand lodge of Vermont. convened in
Windsor. granted charter to IL breth-
rem under the name OF Washington Lodge
No. Z. which afterwards became Washing
ton Lodge. No. 3. The membership OF the
lodge Ia now AL
The call 70, this anniversary celebra-
ton. sent out yesterday by the invita-
tion committee, composed of Ernest A.
Brodte. John b. Trail and Roy H.
Eaton. is as follows
Burlington. VI.
oct. l. 1920
Dear cir and brother:
The one hundred and twenty-fifth an
nivereary Of the founding OF Was nington
Lodge. No. 2. F. and A. NJ occurs on
Wednesday. October II, 1872. In observ-
ance Of this notable event. the members
Of tho lodge and their masonic brethren
members Of other lodges, will gather in
the lodge rooms in Masonic Temple on
the evening Of Wednesday, October 49,
1920 at I;2O O'Clock, az which time appro-
pirate exercises will he held. including
tine prese nta,ion of historical sketches Of
this Ancient and Honorable Institution"
and an address Of interest to all Masons
by prominent speaker. Special vocal and
instrumental music will be furnished md
refres nments will be served in the ban
auet han. You are fraternally and cour-
teously invited to attend"
No other organza ton In this city ex-
cept the university. chartered in 1871, ante
dates Washington Lodge Vermont had
! been admitted 10 the Union but four
| wears. Vt is estimated that at that date
! u79S) Burlington had a population Of abou,
| 500 souls The first pos'office WAS opened
| In 1922 The first court house built in 1875.
The first jail built In i7as. The first news
paper. the Burlington Mercury. publish ed
\ 10 1877. The first college commencement
I was in 1904. The first successful stea m
| boat in the world was the Vermont IT
this town In 1902.
! The lodge suffered a great loss in the
| burning Of the records and books OF the
, lodge in the court house fire in June
1928
The first meetings of the lodge were
held in the house of Gideon King, who
kept a hotel at the corner of King and
Water street King street was named after
| him.
! The laying Of the corner stone Of the
University, under General Lafayette in
June. 1922. was participated in by Wash
! inston Lodge. The lodge also participated
| in the ceremonies in connection with the
! laying of the corner stone OF many other
| prominent buildings erected in the early
years of the last century.
! From 1902 the meetings Of the lodge were
| held in the court house until the burning
| Of that structure in 1893 Then rooms were
secured In the building on ST. Paul street
| next, south Of the express office. From
there the lodge moved In 1874 TO rooms IN
| the Turk block on College street. where
| they remained until the building and
| completion Of the present Masonic Tenn
Pile in which the lodge secured the large
and commodious quarters now occupied
! by them
The living past masters of the lodge are
| Henry e. Humphrey. Leverett F. Ensles
nv, Don A. Stone. Herbert NJ. Mcintosh
J. Holmes Jackson, Ernest A. Brodie
Merton e. Grandy. Arthur G. Mansur
Malcolm G. Clark Daniel A. Loomts
Simon L. Platka Merritt F.. Sornborger
James n Macomber. Howard n. Shufejt
Walter W. Virgins. Everett s. Towne.
The present officers Of the lodge are
George NJ Herbers, w. NJ. Howard X
Leatherman. S. w; Henry W. Blackburn
!. w; w Merton C. Grandy. treasurer
! Roy n. Eaton. secretary: Frank J. Hen
dee. 6. d. william s Wager. t. n: VII
liam Fl. Louther S. S: Henry r Way, j
$; Neil l.. Stanley. chaplain Lester T
Millington. marshal, Melvin 8. Mcleod
organist william n. Folsom. Tyler: w
Merritt F.. SornborGer, trustee: finance
committee. Walter G.. Tsham, Charles f
Beach, and Harvey T. Rutter