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Article AN EXCELLENT LODGE HISTORY. ← Page 2 of 2 Article THE THEATRES. Page 1 of 1
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Excellent Lodge History.
Secretaries of the Lodge was Bro . Bayse Newcomb , afterwards Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania . The recorded minutes , during his Secretaryship , are remarkable for their legibility and beauty . Ou 31 st May 1810 , the Lodge attended the funeral of P . G . M . Bro . William Ball ,
who served as Prov . G . M . of Pennsylvania from 17 G 4 to 1787 , and in 1794 as Grand Master . As in all of our Philadelphia Lodges , for many years , until 1817 , the W . M . ' s were elected every six months , dating from St . John the Evangelist ' s or St . John the Baptist's Day . The first Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street was burned ou 9 th March 1819 , while Washington Lodge was at Labour . The then Secretary , Bro . Nicholas O'Connor , in describing
the event said : "At this moment the Lodge was thrown into tho utmost consternation by the heart-appalling cry of "Fire , " resounding through the spaoious building , which had caught fire and
communicated to the roof , and had made such rapid progress before discovery that the W . M . had not time to closo the Lodge , without risking tho life of the brethren—for in a short timo our much , venerated pile was laid in smoking ruins . "
No . 69 set up " housekeeping" in 1822 , by buying a set of table furniture . Ever since , this Lodge has been furnished with its own appropriately marked and Masonically-decorated ware , the admiration of all Breth
ren who share in their Labour and Refreshment—which with them are never divorced . Their present set of table furniture is valued at 800 dollars . Up to 1843 all the business of the Lods-e had boen conducted in an E . A .
Lodge , as was customary prior to that time in all of the Subordinate Lodges of this jurisdiction . After that date the Grand Lodge required all business to be performed in a M . M . Lodge . In 1844 , the then Secretary of the Lodge ,
Bro . Wm . H . Adams , was elected Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge , and served in that station for twenty-two years , until his death in 1866 . In 1847 a M . M . aged nineteen years petitioned for membership , and the Lodge , by a
Dispensation issued by the Grand Master , was authorized to receive his petition . Bro . Wm . H . Adams' case was nearly a parallel one , and both of these Brethren served as W . M . of Lodge No . 59 at the age of twenty-three years .
Upon the removal of the remains of Bro . Stephen Girard to Girard College , on 30 th September 1851 , this Lodge participated in the procession of the Craft and Masonic ceremonies , on which occasion P . G . M . Bro . Joseph R .
Chandler delivered an eloquent oration , and thirty Lodges , with two thousand Freemasons , participated in the ceremonies . Always remarkable for its liberality at Refreshment , the annual banquet of December 1869
excelled , perhaps , all former occasions in brilliancy , over eight hundred members and visiting Brethren participating in the " feast of reason and flow of soul . " This banquet took place in Horticultural Hall .
Washington Lodge , No . 59 , now includes four hundred and seven members . It is always busy , and during its long existence has never ceased to work . During the
anti-Masonic era of 1828—1840 it was active , and only during one year , 1840 , did it have no initiation . Among the Past Masters we observe the names of the Rev . Henry
S . Getz ( present Grand Chaplain ) ; Dr . David Jayne ; Hon , William B . Hanna , President Judge of the Orphans' Court ; Hon . Joseph T . Pratt , of the Court of Common Pleas ; Geo . W . Kendrick jim . G . H . Priest-elect of the Grand H . R . A . Chapter of Pennsylvania , and other distinguished Brethren
Bro . Reed has placed at the close of this volume a list of the present members , alphabetically arranged ; a complete list of the members from the organization in 1793 to 1884 , arranged in order , by years ; and an enumeration of the
deceased members ; concluding with au index to the body of the work . We have only praise for the entire performance . It is illustrated with three engravingsof the first Hall in which the Lodge met , the present
Masonic Temple of Philadelphia , with the appropriate caption " Then " and " Now , " and a copy of the old illustrated heading used for Lodge notices . This History is issued in
very handsome style , on heavy paper , with broad margin , in handsome typography and with elegant binding . It is a model brief history , and does equal credit to the Lodge , and to its compiler , P . M . Bro . Wm . B . Reed . —Keystone .
The Theatres.
THE THEATRES .
THE STANDARD . HAD le Sienr Froissart , revisiting our land , found himself on Christmas Evo between Norton Folgato and Shoreditch Church ho would certainly not have withdrawn his opinion as to our amusing ourselves " sadly . " The great winter festival found the streets half deserted—and those who had ventured into them went their way as
domurely as though it wore Sunday morning , and all wcro bound for tho Parish Church . Nob an old-fashioned Christmas in any way unless all our traditions are mere picturesque fictions . Thns , nothing Christmas-like being discoverable out of doors , wo will seek it in the Eastern home of Pantomime , and so proceed to the Great National
Standard uhenfcre . Mho dooi-3 have been opened about ten minutes , and the smiling box-keeper announces thero are still two seats unoccupied in the dress circle . We make our way to thorn , past tho mystorions rat-trap like passages contrived by tho Board of Works to ensuro speedy suffocation in cases of panic , and presently find
ourselves nest tho manager ' s box and facing some four or fivo thousand eager faces , whilst the band plays " Wait till the clouds roll by , " and a thousand voices pour forth from tho audience in chorus . Tho chorus stops , and then there is a great buzz of laughter and talk , all good-humoured , and almost as decorous as at a Lyceum first
night . The curtain rises to disclose the plotting of the Spirits of Evil , engaged in forging the glass slipper ( perhaps a curious process of tho contemporary ironmaster ) . The scene changes to a sylvan glade , an exquisite piece of landscape , with tall waving grass in tho middle distauce and a lovely pool behind . Hero the good spirits
appear , in the form of scores of little girls , from five to fifteen , each armed with a golden hearth brush ; and very pretty it was to see how thoroughly the young folks felt their responsible position , and how , when a laugh or titter was threatening , tho little lips tightened and gravity was restored . A very graceful child ( Mdlle . Maroni ) was
promiere danseuso and won warm applause . We aro next introduced to Cinderella's papa and stop sisters . Tbe family is in straitened circumstances , and the neighbouring pawnbroker is called upon to make advances on a flat-iron and the cruet frame . This transaction met with much sympathy from the audience . The
invitation to the ball follows , aud then , in due course , Cinderella ' s coach , worthy Queen Anne , and drawn by six lovely ponies . The ball was shown , with endless masqueradors arriving in coaches or donkey carts . Among the guests were Mr . Gladstone , Justice Manisty , Shakespeare ' s heroes and heroines , and various celebrities . A
minuet was danced . We think tho audience would prefer a gool rattling country dance or jig , say by the Ghost of Hamlet . The abode of the Fire Demons is the next scene , and here Miss Neville , tho Demon King , was extremely effective in her incantation scene . Tho costumes , all red and black , told well , lighted by tho blazing torches the demons waved aronnd them . Acrain to the haunts of
the benevolent fairies , and here came another charming dance by the young coryphees . Then presently the magnificent transformation scone , which for beauty of colour and artistic refinement may challeugo comparison with anything even in Catherina-street . An especially charming effect is produced by a scenic contrivance by
which the centre of tho stage seems filled with translucent water , through which the lilies and naiads rise to the upper air . The picture is so beautiful that only the youngest of the audience can see without regret the clown and pantaloon appear to scare away the vision . The harlequinade that follows is good , as the inweasing laughter
throughout the house proved . Mr . Douglass has spared no pains nor cost to deserve succesd . The young lady ( Miss Minnie Marshall ) who takes the part of Cinderella is quite new to the London stage —• she has for some time been a favourite at Birmingham . She is very young , pretty , and with a total freedom from the
ingenuousness of the stac ^ o ingenue , she trips about like some delightful little kitten . Mr . Williams was rather heavily handicapped in the petticoats of the ugly sister , but he worked with unflagging spirit and fun . Mr . Sass showed his versatility by the very effective old man ho transformed himself into , while his favourite melodramatic villainy quite
disappeared . Miss Nelly Li strange made a very fascinating Prince Charming . The audience were somewhat lacking in appreciation ; the dulness of the streets had got into the theatre , but this has been remedied since , the actors feeling more confidently the pulse
of the public . A few more songs , with chorus for tho youngsters in tho upper circles , would go far to give life and establish that feeling of good fellowship botween tho folks before and behind the footlights which makes tho very life and soul of a Christmas Pantomime .
In our notice , last week , of the funeral of the late Bro , Norris we omitted to mention that his mother Lodge , the Sincerity , No . 174 , was represented by Bros . John Newton P . M . ( Secretary ) and Samuel Rawley , for many years the Treasurer .
The following Festivals were hold at the Freemasons Tavern for tho week ending 10 th January : — Monday—Joppa Lodge , Old Kings' Arms Chnpter , Kobert Burns Lodge , Eclectic Lodge . Tuesday—Albion Lodge , Old Concord
Lodge . Thursday—Caledonian Society , Lodge of regularity , Polish National Lodge , University of London Lodge . Friday—Bedford Lodge , Britannic Chapter , Eclectic Lodge , Oak Lodge , Odd Volumes . S . ituulay—Metropolitan Hate Collectors , Duke of Cornwall Lodgo , Lodge of King Solomon .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
An Excellent Lodge History.
Secretaries of the Lodge was Bro . Bayse Newcomb , afterwards Grand Master of Masons of Pennsylvania . The recorded minutes , during his Secretaryship , are remarkable for their legibility and beauty . Ou 31 st May 1810 , the Lodge attended the funeral of P . G . M . Bro . William Ball ,
who served as Prov . G . M . of Pennsylvania from 17 G 4 to 1787 , and in 1794 as Grand Master . As in all of our Philadelphia Lodges , for many years , until 1817 , the W . M . ' s were elected every six months , dating from St . John the Evangelist ' s or St . John the Baptist's Day . The first Masonic Hall on Chestnut Street was burned ou 9 th March 1819 , while Washington Lodge was at Labour . The then Secretary , Bro . Nicholas O'Connor , in describing
the event said : "At this moment the Lodge was thrown into tho utmost consternation by the heart-appalling cry of "Fire , " resounding through the spaoious building , which had caught fire and
communicated to the roof , and had made such rapid progress before discovery that the W . M . had not time to closo the Lodge , without risking tho life of the brethren—for in a short timo our much , venerated pile was laid in smoking ruins . "
No . 69 set up " housekeeping" in 1822 , by buying a set of table furniture . Ever since , this Lodge has been furnished with its own appropriately marked and Masonically-decorated ware , the admiration of all Breth
ren who share in their Labour and Refreshment—which with them are never divorced . Their present set of table furniture is valued at 800 dollars . Up to 1843 all the business of the Lods-e had boen conducted in an E . A .
Lodge , as was customary prior to that time in all of the Subordinate Lodges of this jurisdiction . After that date the Grand Lodge required all business to be performed in a M . M . Lodge . In 1844 , the then Secretary of the Lodge ,
Bro . Wm . H . Adams , was elected Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge , and served in that station for twenty-two years , until his death in 1866 . In 1847 a M . M . aged nineteen years petitioned for membership , and the Lodge , by a
Dispensation issued by the Grand Master , was authorized to receive his petition . Bro . Wm . H . Adams' case was nearly a parallel one , and both of these Brethren served as W . M . of Lodge No . 59 at the age of twenty-three years .
Upon the removal of the remains of Bro . Stephen Girard to Girard College , on 30 th September 1851 , this Lodge participated in the procession of the Craft and Masonic ceremonies , on which occasion P . G . M . Bro . Joseph R .
Chandler delivered an eloquent oration , and thirty Lodges , with two thousand Freemasons , participated in the ceremonies . Always remarkable for its liberality at Refreshment , the annual banquet of December 1869
excelled , perhaps , all former occasions in brilliancy , over eight hundred members and visiting Brethren participating in the " feast of reason and flow of soul . " This banquet took place in Horticultural Hall .
Washington Lodge , No . 59 , now includes four hundred and seven members . It is always busy , and during its long existence has never ceased to work . During the
anti-Masonic era of 1828—1840 it was active , and only during one year , 1840 , did it have no initiation . Among the Past Masters we observe the names of the Rev . Henry
S . Getz ( present Grand Chaplain ) ; Dr . David Jayne ; Hon , William B . Hanna , President Judge of the Orphans' Court ; Hon . Joseph T . Pratt , of the Court of Common Pleas ; Geo . W . Kendrick jim . G . H . Priest-elect of the Grand H . R . A . Chapter of Pennsylvania , and other distinguished Brethren
Bro . Reed has placed at the close of this volume a list of the present members , alphabetically arranged ; a complete list of the members from the organization in 1793 to 1884 , arranged in order , by years ; and an enumeration of the
deceased members ; concluding with au index to the body of the work . We have only praise for the entire performance . It is illustrated with three engravingsof the first Hall in which the Lodge met , the present
Masonic Temple of Philadelphia , with the appropriate caption " Then " and " Now , " and a copy of the old illustrated heading used for Lodge notices . This History is issued in
very handsome style , on heavy paper , with broad margin , in handsome typography and with elegant binding . It is a model brief history , and does equal credit to the Lodge , and to its compiler , P . M . Bro . Wm . B . Reed . —Keystone .
The Theatres.
THE THEATRES .
THE STANDARD . HAD le Sienr Froissart , revisiting our land , found himself on Christmas Evo between Norton Folgato and Shoreditch Church ho would certainly not have withdrawn his opinion as to our amusing ourselves " sadly . " The great winter festival found the streets half deserted—and those who had ventured into them went their way as
domurely as though it wore Sunday morning , and all wcro bound for tho Parish Church . Nob an old-fashioned Christmas in any way unless all our traditions are mere picturesque fictions . Thns , nothing Christmas-like being discoverable out of doors , wo will seek it in the Eastern home of Pantomime , and so proceed to the Great National
Standard uhenfcre . Mho dooi-3 have been opened about ten minutes , and the smiling box-keeper announces thero are still two seats unoccupied in the dress circle . We make our way to thorn , past tho mystorions rat-trap like passages contrived by tho Board of Works to ensuro speedy suffocation in cases of panic , and presently find
ourselves nest tho manager ' s box and facing some four or fivo thousand eager faces , whilst the band plays " Wait till the clouds roll by , " and a thousand voices pour forth from tho audience in chorus . Tho chorus stops , and then there is a great buzz of laughter and talk , all good-humoured , and almost as decorous as at a Lyceum first
night . The curtain rises to disclose the plotting of the Spirits of Evil , engaged in forging the glass slipper ( perhaps a curious process of tho contemporary ironmaster ) . The scene changes to a sylvan glade , an exquisite piece of landscape , with tall waving grass in tho middle distauce and a lovely pool behind . Hero the good spirits
appear , in the form of scores of little girls , from five to fifteen , each armed with a golden hearth brush ; and very pretty it was to see how thoroughly the young folks felt their responsible position , and how , when a laugh or titter was threatening , tho little lips tightened and gravity was restored . A very graceful child ( Mdlle . Maroni ) was
promiere danseuso and won warm applause . We aro next introduced to Cinderella's papa and stop sisters . Tbe family is in straitened circumstances , and the neighbouring pawnbroker is called upon to make advances on a flat-iron and the cruet frame . This transaction met with much sympathy from the audience . The
invitation to the ball follows , aud then , in due course , Cinderella ' s coach , worthy Queen Anne , and drawn by six lovely ponies . The ball was shown , with endless masqueradors arriving in coaches or donkey carts . Among the guests were Mr . Gladstone , Justice Manisty , Shakespeare ' s heroes and heroines , and various celebrities . A
minuet was danced . We think tho audience would prefer a gool rattling country dance or jig , say by the Ghost of Hamlet . The abode of the Fire Demons is the next scene , and here Miss Neville , tho Demon King , was extremely effective in her incantation scene . Tho costumes , all red and black , told well , lighted by tho blazing torches the demons waved aronnd them . Acrain to the haunts of
the benevolent fairies , and here came another charming dance by the young coryphees . Then presently the magnificent transformation scone , which for beauty of colour and artistic refinement may challeugo comparison with anything even in Catherina-street . An especially charming effect is produced by a scenic contrivance by
which the centre of tho stage seems filled with translucent water , through which the lilies and naiads rise to the upper air . The picture is so beautiful that only the youngest of the audience can see without regret the clown and pantaloon appear to scare away the vision . The harlequinade that follows is good , as the inweasing laughter
throughout the house proved . Mr . Douglass has spared no pains nor cost to deserve succesd . The young lady ( Miss Minnie Marshall ) who takes the part of Cinderella is quite new to the London stage —• she has for some time been a favourite at Birmingham . She is very young , pretty , and with a total freedom from the
ingenuousness of the stac ^ o ingenue , she trips about like some delightful little kitten . Mr . Williams was rather heavily handicapped in the petticoats of the ugly sister , but he worked with unflagging spirit and fun . Mr . Sass showed his versatility by the very effective old man ho transformed himself into , while his favourite melodramatic villainy quite
disappeared . Miss Nelly Li strange made a very fascinating Prince Charming . The audience were somewhat lacking in appreciation ; the dulness of the streets had got into the theatre , but this has been remedied since , the actors feeling more confidently the pulse
of the public . A few more songs , with chorus for tho youngsters in tho upper circles , would go far to give life and establish that feeling of good fellowship botween tho folks before and behind the footlights which makes tho very life and soul of a Christmas Pantomime .
In our notice , last week , of the funeral of the late Bro , Norris we omitted to mention that his mother Lodge , the Sincerity , No . 174 , was represented by Bros . John Newton P . M . ( Secretary ) and Samuel Rawley , for many years the Treasurer .
The following Festivals were hold at the Freemasons Tavern for tho week ending 10 th January : — Monday—Joppa Lodge , Old Kings' Arms Chnpter , Kobert Burns Lodge , Eclectic Lodge . Tuesday—Albion Lodge , Old Concord
Lodge . Thursday—Caledonian Society , Lodge of regularity , Polish National Lodge , University of London Lodge . Friday—Bedford Lodge , Britannic Chapter , Eclectic Lodge , Oak Lodge , Odd Volumes . S . ituulay—Metropolitan Hate Collectors , Duke of Cornwall Lodgo , Lodge of King Solomon .