Guernsey County, Ohio - Chapter 10, 1911

Chapter 10

The following- chapter treats upon the fraternal orders of Guernsey county, anil especially on the three great societies known as the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias.

The First Masonic Lodge

Among the early settlers in Guernsey county there was a fraternal feeling that is sadly lacking in some ways today. That this feeling might he cultivated the more, as soon as there were enough Masons in the country convenient to any one locality, they sought the organization of a lodge. The first meeting in Guernsey county was held for this purpose at the house of George R. Tingle, in Cambridge, June 22, 1S22, or as Masons count datings, A. L. ^22. There were present, Zaccheus Beatty, Lloyd Talbott. Francis Dusconchett, Benjamin F. Bill, Andrew Metcalf, James M. Bell, George H. Sinclair and William Taylor, all Masons of the Ancient York Rite. Beatty, Talbott and Bell \vere appointed a committee to establish a lodge. At the second meeting, held at the same place on July 1st, the committee was authorized to borrow sixty dollars on the joint note of the persons named. That sum, then comparatively large, was thought sufficient to pav the expenses of procuring a dispensation and ultimately a charter. It was then agreed that it should be called Guernsey Lodge, and J. M. Bell was chosen for its master, A. Metcalf for senior warden, and B. F. Bill for junior warden. The other officers were appointed. The petition to the grand lodge was signed by the persons before named, and John Connelly, Henry H. Evans, Thomas Lenfesty, John Barton. Hans Weaver and John Dickson. The sixty dollars to procure the charter was borrowed from Thomas W'itten. The committee procured a large room upstairs in the court house for the meeting of the lodge, and the north small room, as stipulated, "for such purposes as they might desire."

Tuesday. August 20, 1822. A. L. 5822. Guernsey Lodge No. 66 was opened. By-laws were adopted, and the fee for degrees was fixed at three dollars. Robert B. Moore, of Frankfort, Guernsey countv. Ohio, was the first man to be made a Mason in this county; William Slinner, the second; William Clark, the third; Daniel D'Yarmett, the fourth, and Amrah Day. the fifth. The first meetings were held under dispensation issued by John Snow, grand master of Ohio, but after the next meeting of the grand lodge a charter was received signed by John Snow, grand master, and Thomas Corwin, deputy grand master. The old officers were re-elected, and the lodge began work February i, 1823, by initiating William Findley. of Senecaville. A brick lodge room was erected on North Seventh street and was long known as "the old Free-Masons Lodge."

Notwithstanding the anti-secret element that at an early day. in this and many other states, sought to thwart the plans of Masonry, including the church and clergy of different denominations, the order, after about ten years, grew rapidly and has continued to grow and has now become popular. Today there are strong Masonic lodges at Cambridge, Quaker City, Pleasant City and Cumberland.

Cambridge Lodge No. 66

Cambridge Lodge No. 66, Free and Accepted Masons, was chartered in 1822 and its charter members Were as follows: John Entz, W. Maynard, John King, Mathew Gaston, I. Nisswander, Jeremiah Jefferson. D. K. Wise, Z. C. Suitt, Wyatt Hutchison, Zadock Davis. These men are all deceased.

Cambridge Lodge No. 66. in the summer of 1910, enjoyed a membership of three hundred and eight, including non-resident members - one hundred and ninety-two residents. The officers at this date are : J. W. Scott, worshipful master: C. A. Barber, senior warden; J. A. Bell, junior warden; S. M. Burgess, treasurer; T. C. Purkey, secretary; L. S. Reasoner, senior

This chapter was granted a charter in [853. The following composed the charter membership: Kinsey Maxfield; Joshua Hunt. Isaac Parish, Phineas Inskip, F. 11. Jennings, Mathew Gaston, William Morrison, John Lawrence. S. B. McMillen, Thomas Maxfield.

Guernsey Council No. 74, Royal And Select Masters

Cambridge Commandery was granted a charter in 1888. Its charter members were as follows: W. S. Campbell. S. A. Lafferty, J. C. Webb, R. W. Zahniser, C S. Carr, Thomas Padden, William Ouinn. A. C. Cochran, Thomas Greenland, A. J. Hutchinson, S. F. Storer, George W. Miskimin. M. R. Patterson. W. G. Van Buskirk.

Princes Of Jerusalem

Cambridge Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons (sixteenth degree), was chartered May 14, 1857. The first members were : C. L. Madison. A. J. Hutchison, Mathew Gaston, J. H. Eaton. E. W. Mathews, K. H. Van Rensselaer.

Cambridge Grand Chapter, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons (eighteenth degree), received its charter September 10, 1880. Its charter members were: W. A. Campbell. A. J. Hutchison, John Meyer, William M. Scott, A. C. Cochran. C. L. Madison, Asher Williams, K. H. Van Rensselaer, E. R. Van Rensselaer.

Nobles Of The Mystic Shrine

There are now twenty-two members of the Masonic fraternity who belong to the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, holding membership at either one or the other of these cities. Wheeling. Columbus, Cleveland or Erie, Pennsylvania.

The charter was granted to this chapter in 1905 and it now has a membership of seventy-two. The past worthy matrons have been Mrs. Julia B. Hawthorne, Mrs. Dora I. Hartley, Mrs. Ida Carlisle. Mrs. Adrianna Barr. Past worthy patrons : J. G. Stewart. C. R. Potter, J. W. Scott. R. C. Shaw.

The officers for 1910 are: George Gillespie, worshipful master: C. J. Fackiner, senior warden; J. T. Flanagan, junior warden; H. W. Spaid, secretary; John Bauer, treasurer: J. W. Wilson, senior deacon; Charles Corbin, junior deacon; J. J. A. Secrest, tyler.

Quaker City Lodge was chartered in 1875 and its charter members were these: T. D. Petty. J. A. McEwen, P. Lochary, S. P. Rogers. Alexander Cochran. S. C. Gephart. C. T. Gibson. John B. Lydick, I. T. Rigel. John Webster. G. H. Brown.

The charter was granted to the Eastern Star chapter at Byesville, Ohio, in 1905 and the following constitutes its list of past worthy matrons and past worthy patrons : Worthy matrons, Mrs. Martha Porter. Mrs. Lulu Patton, Mrs. Mary Tuck, Rilla M. Gage, Jennie Barnes. Past worthy patrons. E. D. Trott, Harry C. Porter, J. A. Hoopman. The total membership is now forty-one.

Cumberland Chapter Xo. no was chartered October 19, 1899. It now has a membership of sixty-four. Its past worthy matrons have been Laura McClelland, Mary McCortle, Lida McClelland, Margaret Waller, Louella M. St. Clair, and the past worthy patrons have been Henry F. St. Clair, Albert White, W. G. Nichols.

Pleasant City Chapter No. 227 was chartered in 1890 and now has a membership of thirty-nine. The past worthy matrons are Minnie Secrest, Lizzie Trott, Ida Secrest. Past worthy patrons are W. F. Trott and Jonas Larrick.

The Masonic Temple

The Masonic Temple at Cambridge, this county, had its corner stone dedicated, when laid, July 4, 1905. It is an imposing brick structure, costing, exclusive of grounds, twenty-three thousand dollars. Its location is at No. 726 Wheeling avenue, where social rooms are kept open for visiting members.

Masonic Calendar

It may be of interest to those who are not connected with this ancient and honorable fraternity to know of its calendar and dates. Ancient-craft Masons commence their era with the creation of the world, calling it Anno Lncis, "in the year of light."

The Order of High Priesthood dates from the year id" the blessing of Abraham by the Highpriest Melchizedek, Anno Benefacio, "in the year of the blessing."

organized or regularly instituted. Thursday, May 15. [856, by special Deputy Grand Master Alexander E. Glenn in their lodge room, located in the east half of the second story of the Wells block, owned by Samuel Wells, and situated on the site now occupied by the Carnes block, on the southeast corner of Wheeling avenue and Seventh street. The charter members were R. F. Burt. Washington Maynard, R. 1'.. Graham, B. S. Herring and William McKemion. The first officers installed were: Washington Maynard, noble grand; R. F. Bnrt, vice-grand; Richard B. Graham, secretary; Benjamin S. Herring, treasurer.

The lodge had a membership of one hundred and ninety-eight in 1905 and now has ahout two hundred and ten members. It meets in its own magnificent hall on Wheeling avenue, which building was erected in 1896-97 and is known as the Temple. It is a handsome structure with stone trimmings and is fifty by one hundred feet in size. In this building the postoffice is kepi at present under lease. The building and site cost twenty thousand dollars and its furnishings are the best in Ohio. The present officers are: Noble grand, Clarence Murphy; vice-grand. J. W. Berry; recording secretary, L. R. Campbell; financial secretary. W. R. Sprague ; treasurer, C. W. Forney; trustees. W. B. Green. H. W. Luccock and M. Fordyce.

Cam Bridge Encampment, Patriarchs Militant

Cambridge Encampment No. 150 was instituted June 3. 1872. It had a membership of ninety-seven in 1907 and is in a prosperous condition today, fits present ( 1910) officers are: Chief patriarch, Fred A. Linn: senior warden. S. F. Porter; junior warden. Harry Maffet; high priest, H. A. Hammond : scribe. W. R. Sprague ; treasurer, T. \Y. Ogier.

The other encampment in Guernsey county is located at Pleasant City. It was instituted November 15. 1892, and in 1907 had sixty-six members. It is known as Foster Encampment No. 270.

The subordinate lodge at Pleasant City, known as Dyson Lodge, was instituted in 1894 and bears the state number of 816. It now has a membership of two hundred and meets in a leased Hall.

Other Lodges

Cumberland Lodge No. 200, of the Odd Fellows order, was instituted June 2. 1852, with charter members as follows: B. Thomas, R. B. Graham. Joseph Gamble, M. B. Casey. S. Rae and S. Agnew. The lodge meets in its own hall. Its original officers were: B. Thomas, noble grand; M. B. Casey, vice-grand; R. B. Graham, secretary: S. Rea, treasurer. The 1910 officers are: Noble grand, E. J. West ; vice-grand, S. V. Spinner; recordingsecretary, S. F. Moorhead ; financial secretary. George H. David ; treasurer, J. M. Bracken.

Knights Of Pythias

present officers are: Chancellor, William Bramhall; prelate, Fred L. Sears; master of work, Charles S. Rainey; keeper of records and seal, Fred W. Arnold: master of finance, Charles Y. Graham; master of exchequer, Theodore Doselm : master at arms, Frank S. Dollison; inner guard, J. O, Duniver; outer guard, William C. Duff.

The lodge meets each Tuesday evening at the corner of Wheeling avenue and South Seventh street, in I. B. Colley's business block, where, on the third Hour, they have a well equipped hall and lodge rooms.

The officers at the time of its institution were as follows: Past chief, Hannah Allison: most excellent chief, Cora Cornelius: excellent senior, Alice Duffey; excellent junior, June Nicholson; manager, Lutitia Pritchard: mistress of records and correspondence, Anna Linn: mistress of finance, Laura Austin: protector, Lizzie Hall; outer guard, Sadie Boyd.

The present officers of Golden Rod Temple are as follows: Past chief. Clara Clagett ; -most excellent chief, Mamie Greenwald: excellent senior, Essie Curby; excellent junior, Beulah Nichols; manager. Laura Jackson: mistress of records and correspondence, Clara Linn: mistress of finance. Delia Geary; protector, Sadie Finley; outer guard. Anna Smith: pianist, Grace Sills; assistant pianist. Janey Remer.

I76 Guernsey County, Ohio Quaker City Lodge No. 3Io

Seneca Lodge No. yij. Knights of Pythias, at Senecaville, Ohio, was instituted June 25, 1902, by Pleasant City Lodge. The first members included these, with officers: C. W. Steele, chancellor commander; A. W. Watson, vice-chancellor ; J. T. Day, N. Lapage, J. W. Steele and C. A. Lapage. The present officers are : C. W. Moorehead, chancellor commander; F. W. Secrest, vice-chancellor. The present membership of this lodge is forty-five. They meet in Odd Fellows hall. The keeper of records and seal is J. W. Daniel.

Benevolent And Protective Order Of Elks

Cambridge Lodge No. 448, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. was instituted August 3, 1898, with thirty-seven charter members, as follows: