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1864

DUPLICATION OF RECORDS

Here is something of a curiosity.  Our lodge’s first book of Minutes was started with our first meeting on August 6, 1864 with the final entry on December 27, 1882, creating a span of 18 years and 4 months.  This first book of Minutes is identified in our library reference system as MIN1.  Simple enough, however, on January 31, 1874, our second book of Minutes (MIN2) was started.  This is approximately 8 years short of the completion of the first book.  A comparison of both documents reveals they are duplicates of each other.  The handwriting is different indicating a separate scribe but both are signed after each meeting by the Master and Secretary whose signatures in most cases appear to be a match.  This second collection of Minutes ends on September 3, 1881, a span of 7 years and 7 months and over a full year shy of the completion MIN1.  Our third volume of Minutes (MIN3) started October 1, 1881, the very next month after completion of MIN2.  The entries up until December 27, 1882, like those in MIN2 are duplicates of those contained in MIN1.  We have yet to find any rationale for this duplicative work, but I am grateful.  When words or a name of a new member is in doubt, it can be compared to the other copy which sometimes allows for a more legible text.

 

BROTHER SILAS CLARK STEWART

As an example of patience and consistency I would point out Brother Silas Clark Stewart, who first signed the Tiler Register in July of 1876, visiting us from the Amboy Lodge No. 650 out of Amboy, New York.  Brother Stewart signed in as a visitor virtually every month for the next 16 months until the Minutes of January, 1878 which offer that Brother Stewart had presented a petition to affiliate with Elk Grove Lodge No. 173.  A committee was assigned who reported on Brother Stewart’s petition as favorable.  The committee was discharged and Brother Stewart was balloted and rejected.  Of course no explanation as to why as that information is kept confidential and not discussed.  Then in December of that year another application for membership was presented.  It was noted at the time that Brother Stewart was 35 years old and by occupation a carpenter.  In January of 1879 the committee on the application of Brother Stewart again reported favorable, however, this time he was balloted and elected.  In July of 1879 the Minutes reflect that our lodge “Secretary was instructed to correspond with the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of New York in regard to the Amboy Lodge and Brother Stewart’s demit.  Elk Grove Lodge No. 173 received a response the following month from the Grand Secretary of New York stating that the request had been passed on to the Amboy Lodge.  In September, it is noted that Brother Stewart signed the Tiler’s Register as Senior Deacon.  During the meeting it was discussed that a communication had been received from Amboy Lodge No. 650 accompanied with Brother Stewarts’ demit, “with satisfactory explanations in regard to the delay.”  Brother Stewart being present signed the by-laws and became a member of this lodge.” Obviously willing to fill in when and where needed, In October Brother Stewart signed the Tiler Register as Treasurer pro tem.  In November of 1879 he was appointed as Senior Deacon for the ensuing Masonic Year.

 

MUTUAL AID

In September of 1878 we received a communication from the Grand Master asking for aid to assist our Brethren in the Southern part of the state who were suffering from Yellow Fever.  An order was drawn for $20.00 (over $500 in today’s currency).  In March of 1879 a letter from Grand Secretary Abell was received that not all the funds were required and a certain percentage in the amount of $8.90 was being refunded.  Our lodge ordered the funds to remain with the Grand Lodge and credited to that year’s dues.

 

A LODGE FLAG?

On December 11th, 1880, Brother J.W. Andrews was appointed to a committee of one to procure a “signal flag.”  This was following the completion of our new lodge on Main Street
(Elk Grove Boulevard).  At the January 15th, 1881 meeting it appeared that our brothers were prepared to grant Brother Andrews more time in procuring the signal flag but it was noted during the meeting that “the same [was] flying at the masthead.”

 

This raises a few questions.  First, is there a possibility that one or more of our Brothers had naval experience?  Signal flags were commonly used at sea for ships to communicate with each other.  Also the term “mast” is a nautical term for the tall upright post to which a sail is attached.  The “masthead” would be the top of that post.  Did our Lodge have a mast?  This might be different than a flagpole affixed to the ground but perhaps mounted on top of the lodge as a mast would be on a ship.  Next, was this really a signal flag?  It seems like there would be no purpose for such a thing.  Was the term “signal flag” used by our brothers to denote an actual Masonic flag?  This seems more likely.  There is documentation of other lodges displaying their own flags, many of them custom designed.  However with the time elapsed between Brother Andrews receiving this assignment and procuring the flag, just over a month, it is likely that the flag was a standard Masonic flag rather than any custom design, perhaps something like the one pictured here.

 

 

At the March stated meeting in 1881 a bill in the amount of $3.50 for the purchase of the signal flag.  That would be approximately $90.00 in today’s currency.

 

 

An entry in the Lodge receipts book dated March 1st, 1881 shows we paid $14.50 for the cornerstone to our new lodge building.  By July of 1881 carpeting had been laid down in the lodge, however, there is no record of that expense in any record so far.

 

HALL RENTAL

It was also determined at the meeting on December 11th 1880 that a committee consisting of Brothers O.S. Freeman, J.N. Andrews and N. Stewart were to confer with a similar committee from the Odd Fellows in regard to renting them the Masonic Hall.  There is no indication which Hall they were talking about as it is evident that we still owned the previous hall as we were still receiving rent from the Chinese laundry located on the ground floor.  By February the report was received, placed on file, and the committee discharged.

 

-Brother Don Price, Lodge Historian

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