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1871

From 1864 through 1871 our lodge was gradually growing.  As today, Brothers came by way of petitions to receive the degrees of Masonry, and some of those began as visitors later to become affiliates.  The total number of petitions received during the 6 ½ year period of this article, was 35.

 

DEMITS

In November of 1864, Brothers Anson S. Ferris, our first Worshipful Master, who came to us from Tehama Lodge No. 3, and George W. Chaplin, our first Secretary, from the Masonic Center No. 131 in Vermont, voluntarily withdrew from the lodge.  Their dues being paid, demits were ordered.  Sad news to lose a brother but of course our lodge would go on.  At a stated meeting on June 23, 1866, less than 2 years later, our Tiler Register showed the signature of Brother A.S. Ferris, visiting us from Tehama No. 3, stopping in to check up on us no doubt.  We do not have a picture of Worshipful Ferris available.  That lodge, now Union-Tehama No. 3, was contacted in hope of obtaining an image but no response has been received at this time.

 

TRAVEL BY MOONLIGHT

An interesting side note, at the February 4, stated meeting in 1865, the by-laws were amended so the stated meetings of the lodge were to be held on Saturdays, on or before the full moon in each month.  This might initially seem odd but when you consider the date, 1865, there were no street lights and at that time of the year it was getting dark around 5:00 PM.  Our Brothers had to travel 10 to 15 miles or more on horse and buggy to attend a lodge meeting at Brother Freeman’s house out on Bilby Road.  The only light they had was the moon and stars.  So this was simply a practical consideration.

 

A DEATH

At this lodge’s first stated meeting in August of 1864 we were presented with 7 petitions to receive the degrees of Masonry.  Among these petitions was a Mr. John Irons.  The committee reporting on Mr. Irons returned a favorable report and Mr. Irons’ petition was balloted and approved.  That next month, September of 1864, he became initiated as an Entered Apprentice.  In October, the following month Brother Irons completed his proficiency and was passed to the degree of Fellowcraft.  It is noted that in November Brother Irons filled in as Tiler and again, the following month, in December, he completed his Fellowcraft proficiency and was raised to the degree of Master Mason.  Never having been a Lodge Officer, Brother Irons filled in when and where he was needed.  From December 1864 through June of 1865, while not called to the position, Brother Irons filled in as Lodge Secretary pro tem.

 

At a Called Meeting on June 16, 1865 it was noted that Brother Irons had passed away on the previous day, having died of “congestive chills after a heart attack of 5 days.”  Brother Irons was 38 years old and our first Lodge Brother to have died.  The following day the lodge opened and “a procession formed and proceeded to the place of internment where he was buried in due and ancient Masonic form.”

 

Brother Irons was initially buried at what is now known as the San Joaquin Cemetery between West Stockton Boulevard and Highway 99, just off of Sheldon Road.  Lodge records document the purchase of a “very respectable monument” for the sum of $50.00 and funeral expenses in the amount of $20.00.  A few years after this, Brother Irons was disinterred and reburied at the newly created Masonic Cemetery at the corner of Highway 99 and Elk Grove Boulevard.

 

NEW LODGE HALL…almost…

From January through May of 1869 there are no entries apparent in either the Tiler Register or the Minutes, a period of 5 months.  However, a loose note in the Minutes indicates that from December 26, 1868 through June 19, 1869 the entries were “moved.”  It is possible that as our Brothers traveled from home to Lodge and back, the Tiler Register and Minutes were inadvertently and temporarily misplaced.  In this case it also seems likely that temporary ledgers would be used.  The search for this missing time period will continue.  However, in the December 26, 1868 minutes our Brothers provide the following:

 

“…the W.M. appointed Bros Allin & Christophel as a committee to wait on D.M. Osburn and to ascertain the lowest amount he would take for his property then occupied by the masons & to make him an offer of $650.00 which he refused to take.  The W.M. then appointed Bros O.S. Freeman and Christophel as a committee to ascertain the lowest rent he would take for the same property per annum and to offer him $60.00 per annum which he also refused to take.”

 

In the book, “Centennial of Elk Grove Lodge No. 173” is referenced that our lodge “met in quarters which they apparently remodeled at Old Elk Grove Corners, but after a dispute about rent they again removed to the Freeman home after the meeting of June 19, 1869.”

 

Our next entry in the Minutes of June 19, 1869 provides the following information.  “Committee on rent of hall reported that it could not be rented for less than $75.00 per annum which this lodge refused to give.”  Our Brothers were still looking for a Lodge Hall to rent.    On December 18, 1869 a committee was appointed to investigate “the utility of procuring the room above the School House at Georgetown to be used as a lodge room.”  A review of local historical records reveals that the community of Georgetown changed its name to Franklin in about 1886.  Built in 1855, the two story school house consisted of a lower story, used for school and church purposes, while the upper story was for a “lyceum”, or secondary school.

 

 

On February 12, 1870 the committee was also instructed to see what the cost of material would be to erect a new lodge and if a lot could be secured.  The following month in March of 1870 an order was moved and carried to authorize the treasurer to pay for lodge furniture.  In May of 1870 a separate committee was appointed to procure a lot for a site where we could build a lodge room.  On July 9, 1870 the Hall site committee reported that it would be better to wait for one year before taking action.  The Hall Site Committee was then discharged.  A new committee was then formed, a Lodge Rental Committee, to locate a potential lodge room to rent for one year.   On September 3, 1870 the Lodge Rental Committee reported in favor of continuing to occupy the room in which they were then meeting, Brother Obediah’s home.  A discussion ensued allowing Mrs. Freeman $50.00 for her services that year and the sum of $50.00 for the preceding year.  The motion was accepted and committee was discharged.  It should be noted that in 1870 the purchasing power of $50.00 was just shy of $1,000.00 today.  In the Accounting ledger dated September 3, 1870 we note a cost of $50.00 for “rent of lodge” for 1869 and a separate entry for $50.00 for the year ending July 1871.

 

More to follow!

-Brother Don Price, Lodge Historian

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