Summit County, Ohio - Chapter 17: Fraternal Organizations, 1908

Chapter 17: Fraternal Organizations

A.s the reader runs through the long list of secret societies, and other bodies of men and women united for a common cause, which have existed and prospered in Summit County, almost from its very earliest time, he cannot fail to Ix' impressed with the truth that the spirit of brotherhood has, indeed, been very strong in this community. Today, there are many lodges whose memljershij) rises as high as 400 and 500. Two fraternities witli national plans. The Pathfinders and The Chevaliers, liad their origin here. There is not a single fraternity of any prominence whatsoever that is not represented in Summit County. In addition, there are innumerable non-secret organizations for every conceivable purpose. The last ten years liave been remarkable for the growth of the club idea among the women of the county. The women's clubs of Akron are an important factor in the daily life of that city. Nearly every church has its men's club or its boys' brigade and other associations of its members. Many workingmen are members of trades unions. The farmers have organized granges, horticultural societies and neighborhood clubs. The Summit County citizen who has not '"joined" something is, indeed, a rarity.

The first lodge of any secret society to be formed within the- county was Akron Lodge, No. 83, of the Free and Accepted Masons. Its charter was granted October 21, 1841. Its first master of the lodge was Hon. R. P. Spaulding. He was succeeded in 1842 by Gen. L. V. Bierce who held the office until 1850. Dr. S. W. Bartges then assumed the

G. M. 2nd Vail; R. R. Peebles, G. M. 1st Vail: H. F. Runyeon, guard; Ira A. Priest, chaplain; Geo. W. Shick, M. of C. & D. of M. ; Judson Thomas, Geo. W. Shiek, and Joseph Kolb, prudential committee; and R. A. AValkup and Charles Meier, stewards.

The next Masonic body to be established was Akron Commandery, No. 25, Knights Templar. The commandery officers, for 1907 are: C. S. Eddy, eminent commander: C. C. Benner, general; H. J. Blackburn, captain ; F. W. Shirer, senior warden ; A. A.

KohliT, junior warden; R. F. Palmer, prelate; John Motz, treasurer; Bela B. Clark, recorder; W. H. Douglas, standard bearer; Robert Wilson, sword bearer; C. W. Wicklinc, warder; H. F. Runveon, sentinel; Geo. W. Sliick, M. of C; E.'e. Morse, H. T. Budd, and 11. M. Hagelbarger, guards; W. F. Laubach, G. H. Dunn, and A. W. Hawkins, prudential committee; 0. W. Groff, electrician: and Frank Farst, organi.-it.

The next Ma.sonic body to be established was Adoniram Lodge, No. 517, F. & A. M., the charter for which was granted October 16th, 1878. Its ofRcere in 1907 are: H. J. Blackburn, master; Lee R. Knight, senior warden; J. S. Lowman, junior warden; Geo. W. Shick, treasurer; Norman G. Nelson, secretary; H. H. Garman, senior deacon; C. A. Dixon, junior deacon; A. T. King.sbury, chaplain; H. R. Tucker, tyler; E. E. Morse and C, S. Hiddleson, .stewards; W. B. Baldwin, mai-shal; and F. M. Cooke, J. A. Palmer and D. W. Holloway, prudential committee. In the list of past masters of this lodge appears the name of Henry Perkins, who held the master's chair for four years.

The Akron Masonic Relief A.ssociatioii was incorporated February Ifith, 1888. It.-; object is to provide a fund for funeral and other immediate expenses in the event of the death of one of its members. All master masons in good standing under sixty yeai-s of age are eligible to membership. George Billow is president; John Crisp, vice-president; Geo. W. Shick, trea.surer; W. E. Waugh, secretarv; and O. W. Groff, C. C. Benner, Judson

Thomas, D. ^^^ Holloway, C. W. Wickline, all of Akron; A. A. Cahoon, of Wadsworth; E. Bass, of Hudson ; T. J. Davies, of Barberton; Fred Bolich, of Cuyahoga Falls; and A. B. Young of Kent; are the board of directors.

The Akron Ma.-^onic Temple Company was incorporated May 9, 1896. Its officers are Geo. Billow, president; P. W. Leavitt, vicepresident; W. A. MoClellan, treasurer; A. E. Roach, secretary: and R. M. Pillniore. P. W. Leavitt, Geo. W. Shick, W. A. McClellan, John Crisp, John Motz and George Billow, directors.

The Masonic Club, of Akron, Ohio, was incorporated November 27, 1899. Its object is to promote and cailtivate social and fraternal relations among it? members and also to provide amusement for the members' wives and daughters. It maintains very well appointed club rooms, on the second floor of the Masonic Temple. It-; officers for 1907 are: F. M. Cooke, president; C. W. Wickline, vice-president; Bela B. Clark, secretarv; John Crisp,- treasurer; and H. T. Budd, J. W. Kelley, and D. W. Holloway, directors. It has 309 members at i)resent.

Many Akron Masons are also members of the Society of Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons and of Al Koran 'Temple, nobles of the Mystic Shrine, which is located in Cievehnid, Ohio.

The Odd Fellows were not far behind the Masons in e.stablishing their first lodge in Summit County. On September 16, 1845, Edward Rawson and eight others acting as charter members instituted Summit Lodge No. 50 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. This lodge has had an unbroken record of prosperity since that early day. Its officers in 1907 are: Noble grand, R. A. Porter; vicegrand, Charles P. Gregory; recording secretary, William F. Chandler; financial secretary, Frank T. Hoffman : treasurer. Perry A. Krisher; trastees, W. H. McBarnes, A. C. Bachtel and IT. W. Haupt ; relief committee, Ilenrv Bollincrer.

Granite Lodge, No. 522, I. 0. 0. F., is the German lodge and is located in fine lodge rooms in the Kaiser Block. East Akron is also represented in Odd Fellowship, having a lodge named Apollo Lodge. In Cuyahoga Falls there are Howard Lodge, No. 62, I. 0. 0. F.. and Rebecca Lodge. I. 0. 0. F., Elm 227. The total membership of the five Akron lodgjs in 1907 Avas 1400.

The greatest event in the history of Odd Fellow.ship in Summit County was the dedication of the magnificent New Temple on South Main Street in Akron. The building is one of the finest in the city and consists of eight stories and a tower. It was dedicated with due ceremony on April 2, 1895. It was built by the Akron Odd Fellows Temple Company. The first board of officers were: President, A. C. Bachtel; vice-pre.sident, Lewis Bullinger; .secretary. A. G. Keck; treasurer, Ma.-on Ciiapman. The officers of the Temple Company for 1907 are: President, John Memmer; vice-president, W. H. Lohr; secretary. A. G. Keck; treasurer, A. W. Hawkins.

Othkr Orders

The other orders represented in Akron are the following: Buckley Post, No. 12, Grand Army of the Republic, organized in March 1867, of which Major H. A. Kasson is now commander. Woman's Relief Corps, Buckley Corps, No. 23. Union Veteran's Legion, Abraham Lincoln Command, No. 1 ; Women's Veteran Relief Union, No. 2; Sons of Veterans, Akron Camp, No. 27; Ladies' Aid Society, No. 8, Auxiliary to the Sons of Veterans; Knights of Honor, Acme Lodge and Spartan Lodge; National Union, Diamond Council, 48 ; American Legion of Honor, Akron Council, No. 248; Knights and Ladies of Honor, Agenda Lodge, No. 310 and Akron Lodge,. No. 2518; Royal Arcanum, Provident Council, No. 16; Protected Home Circle, Akron Circle, No. 54 and Summit Circle No. 565; The Maccabees, Akron Tent, No. 26, Lean Tent, No. 282, Charity Tent, No. 538 and Unity Division, Uniformed Rank, No. 14; Ladies of the Maccabees, Busy Bee Hive No. 35, Protective Hive No. 60, Independent Hive No. 147, Favorite Hive No. 164 ; Ladies of the Modern Maccabees; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 363; Sons of St. George, Akron Lodge No. 180 ; Daughters of St. George, Ganter Lodge No. 18 ; Foresters of America, Court. Akron No. 42, and Court Summit City No. 24; Independent Order of Foresters, Court Pride No. 356 and Court Portage Path No. 4470; Companions of the Forest, Pride of Akron Circle, No. 220 ; Royal Neighbors of America, Puritan Camp No. 1746 and Evening Star Camp; Independent Order of Red Men, Saranac Tribe No. 141 and Ogareeta Council No. 29. Modern Woodmen of America, Akron Camp, 4334, Security Camp No. 4937, and Welcome Camp. The Pathfinders, Akron Lodge No. 1, and Acme Lodge No. 135. National Protective Union. Akron Legion No. 712. Junior Order United American Mechanics, Commodore Perry Council No. 209. Daughters of Liberty. Co"- lumbia Council, No. 21. Independent Order of Heptasophs, Akron Conclave, 713. Order of Ben Hur. Antioch Court No. 11. Kniglits and Ladies of Security, Summit Council No. 661 and Liberty Council, No. 1356. Independent Order of the Red Cross, Teutonic Commandery No. 25. United Commercial Travellers, Akron Council No. 87. Royal Templars, Summit Council No. 36. Fraternal Order of Eagles, Akron Aerie 553. Court of Honor, Akron District Court, No. 238. Royal League, Akron Council No. 243. Home Guards of America, Akron Home No. 47. American Insurance Union, Akron Chapter No. 175. Knights of Columbus, Akron Council No. 547. Knights of St. John, Akron Commandery No. 42 and St. George Commandery No. 6. Catholic Knights of America, St. Vincent's Brancli No. 227. Catholic Knights of Ohio, St. Mary'.-i Branch No. 21. Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. 1, and Ladies Auxiliary. Father Mathew Temperance Society, No. 1621. Catholic Ladies of Ohio, St. Rose Branch, No. 5. Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association, Gibbons Branch No. 14, St. Bernard's Branch 37, and St. Mary's Branch No. 78. Ladies' Catholic Benevolent A.ssociation, St. Mary's Branch No. 180. National Association of Stationary Engineei-s, Akron Section No. 28. The Order of Mutual Protection. Independent Order of Good Samaritans and Daughters of Samaria. Western Reserve Lodge, No. L Daughters of Jerusalem, Ida May Council No. 12. United Order of True Reformers, Superior Fountain 1311, and .\kroii Star llHO.

In Barberton, many orders are represented by lodges as follows: Free and Accepted Masons, National Lodge No. 568; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Pharos Lodge No. 863 ; Daughters of Rebecca, Summit Lodge No. 603 ; Knights of Pythias, Barberton Lodge No. 486 ; Modern AVoodmen of America, Alpha Camp No. 3206; Knights of the Maccabees, Barberton Tent 114 ; Ladies of the Maccabees, Lake Anne Hive, No. 104; Independent Order of Red Men, Katonka Tribe, No. 218 and Pocohontas Council ; Woodmen of the World, Magic City Camp No. 136; Pathtinders, Barberton Lodge No. 5; Independent Order of Foresters, Lodge 4058; C. M. B. A. l^ranch 55; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Barberton Lodge No. 982; Fraternal Order of Eagles, Barberton Aerie, No. 562 ; Ancient Order of Hibernians, Barberton Branch ; Junior Order United ^Vnierican Mechanics; Daniel Webster Council No. 161, Barberton Cadets and Daughters of America.

In Cuyahoga Falls the principal organizations are the following: Free and Accepted Masons, Star Lodge No. 187 ; Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Howard Lodge No. 62 ; Royal Arcanum, Enterprise Council No. 234 ; National Union, Security Council, No. 51; Knights of Pythias, Pavonia Lodge No. 301 ; Grand Army of the Republic, Eadie Post No. 37 ; Sons of Veterans, Wood Camp No. 66; Good Templars, Lodge No. 59; l')aughters of Rebecca, Elm Lodge No. 227; Protected Home Circle, Glen No. 85 ; Pythian Si.'itorhood, Ivy Lodge No. 8 ; The Public Library As,sociation, the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and others.