Catoctin clarion., 1921-12-01
Warden and David C. Martin the frs

Junior Warden.
The first Communication of Acacia
Lodge was held on January 20, 1872,
in the Odd Fellows room in Mechan-
icstown. Brother Cassell presented a
certificate from John A. Lynch, Grand
Inspector for Frederick County, certi-
flying that he had installed Brother
Cassell w. M. and David G. Martin j..
w. for the ensuing term. Brother
Chas. E. Cassell installed Fl. c. Fore
man S. w., and appointed and Installed
the following officers for the ensuing
year: Cost ]. Carmack, Sec, Geo. w.
Stocksdale, Treas, L. R. Waesche, S.
D., Marion Uhler, J. D., and Geo. M.
Zimmerman, Tyler.
The eight officers constituted the
Charter Members of Acacia Lodge.
From 1872 to 1876 the Lodge took
in the following members: Jas. T.
Waesche, H. M. Parrish, Albert Fore
man, DR.. H. N. Shultz, Van B. Osler,
]. H. Rouzer, John A. Snyder, David
Birely, and Barton H. Knode.
During 1877 and 1878 Masonry
Jagged as most of the working men,
bers were away from the town; there
were only. a few meetings of the
Lodge in the winter months, the men,
bers got behind in dues, and the
Lodge behind to the Grand Lodge,
and at the meeting of the Grand
Lodge in November 1889 it's charter
was recalled. Most Of the members
paid up their dues to the Grand Lodge
and received a Grand Lodge demit.
At the session of the Grand Lodge
held in November 1887, application
was made for the restoration of the
Charter of Acacia Lodge which was
granted, together with its parapher-
MALTA, jewels, ETC., and on December
10, 1887, the Lodge reorganized for
work, all the old members returning,
and the Lodge started to grow and
prosper.
There are only three Of the charter
members living: Brothers Geo. w.
Stocksdale and l.. r. Waesche, of
Thurmont, and David C. Martin, Of
Hagerstown.
At a regular communication of Aca-
cia Lodge held November Oath, 1894,
with the following officers of the
Lodge present, l.. r. Waesche, w. M;
S. M. Birely, S. W.; DR.. f. c. Ke-
fauver, j. w.; VIM. M. Martin, Sect;
Geo. w. Stocksdale, Treas; DR.. Jas.
X. Waters, S. d.; Dr.. Nj. A. Birely,
J. D., and j. H. Rouzer, Tyler, the
following committee was appointed to
make an estimate of the probable
cost to strengthen the second floor,
and put an additional story on the
Bussard building (preSent Masonic
Hall). The Master appointed the fol-
lowing: Brothers Frank Hesson, DR..
f. C. kefauver, DR.. JAS. X. Waters,
Chas. +. Cassell, and VIM. M. Martin.
On motion the w. M. was added. The
Committee reported the cost for re-
pairs would not exceed $425. The
Lodge had about $400. We expected
to raise $500 to $400 by donations
leaving about 500 to be borrowed o.,
the purchase price, leaving net rev
enue to the Lodge of $153.70.
Nine Trustees were elected by Aca-
cia Lodge to hold title and manage
the building for the benefit of the
Lodge. They purchased the building
for $1,7OO and fitted up the first and
second floors for rent, and during the
holidays of 1897 and 1898 they had a
fair in the Town Hall which netted
them about $500, which enabled them
to put the third floor on in 1898. The
present Lodge room was occupied
some time in 1899. The time was
set several times to have Grand
Master Shryock come and dedicate the
same but it never was consummated.
The following is a summary of the
receipts and disbursements of the
Trustees holding for Acacia Lodge to
January 1st, 1921.
Disbursements
Cost of Masonic Building $3,S2O.43
Cost of Furniture 547.44
Postoffice Furniture 1,453.S7
$5,S2l.74
Receipts
Received from Acacia Lodge S S01.56
Received from Donations $4,000
Received from Masonic Fair 10000
Net receipts from Rents 3,031.1S
Bills payable still owing 100000
$5,921.74
For % years Acacia Lodge has
been enjoying a room rent free with
heat (but sometimes the fireman goes
to sleep on the job, and our younger
members should enjoy ere long the
emoluments of a judicious investment,
and help more fully to carry out the
precepts taught to be good Mason.
Acacia Lodge No. 1855, A. F. and A.
NJ, numbers 1876 Master Masons, and
knows of no reason why it should not
continue to prosper.
The present officers of the lodge are