The following is the History of Harmony Lodge, No. 18, as written by Alex Wright, in 1933. No attempt was made to update or change this original document since he obviously put into it a lot of work. The original formatting was lost by saving this as a text document, but that is the only deviation from the original.
"A HISTORY OF HARMONY LODGE, NO. 18 F. & A.M.
1933
BY
ALEX WRIGHT
SECRETARY
WITH SUBSTITUTE AND AMENDED BY-LAWS
To the Worshipful Master and Brethren of Harmony Lodge, F. & A. M.,
In presenting to you a history of our Lodge, I want at the outset to enumerate a few of the trials and tribulations I have had in securing and compiling the material contained herein. As is generally known among us, the records for the first seven years of our existence were destroyed by fire and consequently the history of those years had to be replaced by such official data as could be collected from various sources and from memory, principally through the brethren active in the Lodge at that time.
I appealed to Grand Secretary Horace W. Tyler for such facts as he could produce, but he was unable to help me to any great extent and stated that his office had no apparent official record of the meeting place of Harmony Lodge at the time of its organization nor subsequent meetings during its earliest days. Brief and disconnected correspondence of the period and none too elaborate annual reports also of record in his office, failed to give much of historical value. However, in past conversations with the older, and now deceased members of this Lodge, or members of the surviving families, I have collected some facts that may be of interest. We know that thirteen Master Masons signed a petition for a new Lodge in the town of
Farther on in this article will be found brief personal sketches of these pioneers that you may determine the kind and character of such men and Masons of that day.
Among the preliminaries necessary to the securing of a dispensation to organize the new Lodge, the following record will be of interest and is copied from the minutes of Olympia Lodge, No. 1, of that period. The petition as presented bore no date, or, if so, failed to be included in the record.
To the W. M., Officers and Brethren of
Enclosed we hand you a copy of a petition to the M. W. Grand Lodge of Washington Territory, for dispensation to form a new Lodge in the town of Olympia, believing that the best interest of the institution of Masonry in this place demand it. We therefore most earnestly but respectfully ask your Lodge to recommend to the M. W. Grand Lodge, that the prayer of our petition be granted and as in duty bound your petitioners will ever pray, etc.
Signed: J. H. Munson, F. M. Sargent, N. Crosby, Jr., Peter Dean, L. G. Abbott, W. W. Miller, E. L. Smith, R. C. Crawford, C. H. Hale, C. S. King, J. L. Myers.
The following is a copy of the proceedings had in Olympia Lodge, No. 1, F. & A.M.:
Hall of Olympia Lodge, No. 1, F. & A. Masons.
A communication accompanied by a formal petition to the Grand Lodge was received from sundry resident Brethren of this City asking the Lodge to recommend the Petitioners to the Grand Lodge, the said Petitioners being desirous of establishing a new Lodge in the Town of
I certify that the foregoing is a true and correct transcript of the minutes of Olympia Lodge, No. 1, in relation to the matter therein referred to made and adopted at a regular meeting of the Lodge held at Masonic Hall in
T. M. Reed, Secy. Pro. Tem.
The following is a copy of a portion of the record of the proceedings of Olympia Lodge, No. 1, stated meeting, held Feb. 4, 1871. Present: W. E. Boon, L. Bettman, Wm. Billings, Ben. Harned, T. F. McElroy, Robert Frost, Fred A. Clark, A. Farquhar, Willard, Reed, Evans, Weed, Hale, Sparks, Myers, Jas. Biles, Berry, Ethridge, Gunn, Rogers, Sylvester, Cooper, Young, Crosby, Lane, Shelton, Hubbard, Waldrick, Offut, Mengle, Munson, Stevens, Sohm, Treen, J.B. Biles, Grainger, Steel, Vincent, Hartsuck, and visiting Brothers Lauthan, Roberts, Crawford, Robinson, Smith, Lowe, Hayden Deer, Webster, and others.
A Lodge of Master Masons was opened in due and ancient form. Petition for recommendation for organizing of a new Lodge in
T. F. McElroy, Secy.
A letter to the Grand Master.
Hall of Olympia Lodge, No. 1, A. F. & A. M.
M. W. J. T. Jordon, Grand Master.
At a stated meeting of Olympia Lodge, No. 1, held on the evening of February 4, 1871, a petition was received from Bros. I. Harris, R. C. Crawford, L. G. Abbott, George Robinson, F. M. Sargent, J. M. Lowe, E. L. Smith, John Webster, L. L. Barlow, M. H. Scott and E. P. Ferry, praying a recommendation from the Lodge to the M. W. Grand Master that Letters of Dispensation be granted them to organize a Lodge in the Town of Olympia. On motion to recommend it was carried by a vote of twenty to eighteen.
Witness the Seal of the Lodge.
T. F. McElroy, Secretary.
A copy of the Petition Sent to the Grand Lodge With the Names of the Signers in Their Own Hand Writing.
To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the
The undersigned petitioners being Ancient, Free and Accepted Master Masons having the prosperity of the Fraternity at heart, and willing to exert their best endeavors to promote and diffuse the genuine principles of Masonry, respectfully represent:
That for the convenience of their respective dwellings and for other good reasons they are desirous of forming a new Lodge in the Town of
Signed:
(The above being copied from the original petition and now in the hands of the Secretary, it was ordered suitably framed and placed among the cherished possessions and exhibits on the walls of the
I have one communication that I think belongs in the early history of Harmony Lodge.
E. L. Smith, Esq.,
Olympia, W. T.
Dear Sir & Bro.:
Enclosed you will find Dispensation for a new Lodge at
Hoping that happiness and prosperity will crown every effort, I am very truly and fraternally yours,
JOHN T. JORDON, Grand Master.
The first stated communication of Harmony Lodge, U.D., of which we have any record is taken from the
I will now endeavor to enumerate those charter members briefly as they concern this Lodge, with a personal sketch of each. This I do principally from memory and hearsay, together with what records are available.
EZRA L. SMITH
Ezra L. Smith was the first Worshipful Master of Harmony Lodge. He was born in the state of
General Assembly and was credited with being largely instrumental in holding
JOHN R. THOMPSON
John R. Thompson, a charter member and one of the signers of the dispensation for Harmony Lodge, was born in England of Scottish parents while on their way to
Grand Bible Bearer in 1880 and 1881. Changing his residence to
ROBERT FROST
Robert Frost, the second Worshipful Master of Harmony Lodge, in 1872, was born in
LEWIS G. ABBOTT
Brother Lewis G. Abbott, father of our present Tyler, Wm. J. (Bill) Abbott, was born in February, 1829, near
pre-empted a farm seven miles south of
ISAAC HARRIS
Brother Isaac Harris was a charter member of Harmony Lodge and an early pioneer of this section. He came to the
MOSES H. SCOTT
Brother Moses H. Scott was a charter member of Harmony Lodge and came to us from Merced Lodge, No. 176, of
JESSE M. LOWE
Brother Jesse M. Lowe, also a charter member of this Lodge, came on dimit from Mystic Circle Lodge, No. 109, of
JACOB L. MYERS
Bro. Jacob L. Myers, a charter member, came on dimit from Olympia Lodge, No. 1. His occupation was that of a laborer. He cleared and improved the site where the Woman's Club now stands. He was Senior Steward in 1875, Tyler in 1876, 1877 and 1878, Junior Deacon in 1879 and Treasurer in 1880, 1881, 1882, 1883, 1884. Dimited Nov. 26, 1887. Died in the Soldiers' Home at
FRANCIS MARION SARGENT
Brother Francis Marion Sargent was a charter member of this Lodge. He was a member of Grand Mound Lodge, No. 3, until the surrender of their charter, and affiliating with us by reason of that fact. He was one of a pioneer family of Sargents that settled near Grand Mound in the early days. As a young man he taught school and was married to one of the Biles girls of Tumwater, another one of the pioneer families of the territory, the head of the Biles family taking an active part in the early Masonic history of
GEORGE ROBINSON
Brother George Robinson was a charter member and the first Junior Warden of Harmony Lodge. He came on dimit from British Columbia Lodge, No. 1187, of
JOHN WEBSTER
Brother John Webster, a charter member, was the first Tyler of Harmony Lodge,
JOSIAH H. MUNSON
Brother Josiah H. Munson was a pioneer of the Puget Sound country, coming from the state of
Treasurer in 1884. In 1887 he was dropped for N. P. D.
ELISHA P. FERRY
Brother Elisha P. Ferry was born in
The foregoing are the men and Masons who organized Harmony Lodge, No. 18, sixty-two years ago and who started it on its way under dispensation, March 25, 1871. As will be seen, four of them were honored by being elected Worshipful Master of the Lodge: Ezra L. Smith, a charter member, being Master in 1871; Robert Frost, a charter member, Master in 1872; Elisha P. Ferry, a charter member, Master in 1873, 1874, 1875, 1878; John R. Thompson, a charter member, in 1881.
PAST MASTERS OF HARMONY LODGE, NO. 18.
1. Ezra L. Smith. Master in 1871. A charter member.
2. Robert Frost. Master in 1872. A charter member.
3. Elisah P. Ferry. Master in 1873, 1874, 1875, 1878. A charter member.
4. Henry Sabin. Master in 1876-1879. Was a gunsmith and made a Mason in Harmony Lodge.
5. Robert Mack. Master in 1877. A saddler by trade. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge.
6. George Gaston. Master in 1880. Woodsman. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge.
7. John R. Thompson. A charter member. Master in 1881.
8. N.S. Porter. A lawyer. Received his Fellow Craft and Master Mason degrees in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885, 1886, 1895.
9. Charles J. Petterson. Lumberman. Was Master in 1887. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge.
10. Thomas H. Cavanaugh. Timber inspector. Came to us on dimit from Orient Lodge No. 51, of
11.
12. James Renwick Pattison. A native son. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1893.
13. John C. Rathbun. On dimit from Midland Lodge, No. 623,
14. William L. Bilger. Merchant. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1896.
15. Fletcher D. Frost. A farmer. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1897.
16. Brad
17. W. A. Lang. A mechanic. Came on dimit from Unity Lodge, No. 273,
18. Ezra Calhoun. Came on dimit from Scott Lodge, No. 120,
19. Alex Wright. Fireman. Master in 1902-1903. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge.
20. Herman Whitney. Logger. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1904.
21. Charles V. Leach. Deputy Clerk, Superior Court. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1905-1906.
22. John H. Schively. Deputy Insurance Commissioner. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1908.
23.
24. R.H. Luepke. Bookkeeper. Received his degrees in Harmony Lodge on request from Garden City Lodge, No. 141,
25. William T. Wright. Laborer. Received on dimit from King David Loge, No. 407,
26. Sam Y. Bennett. Farmer. Received on dimit from Tenino Lodge, no. 86. Was Master in 1912.
27. William J. Abbott. Farmer. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1913.
28. John W. Dent. Carpenter. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1915.
29. Robert W. Bates. Millman. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1916.
30. James E. Clark. Printer. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1918.
31. R. James Morris. Lumberman. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1919-1920.
32. Albert G. Kerns. Lumberman. Received by dimit from Arlington Lodge, No. 129,
33. Fredrick H. Higgins. Blacksmith. Received on dimit from
34. Charles D. Lindley. Machinist. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1923.
35. John W. Stevenson. Shipbuilder. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1924.
36. J. Orvil Rummens. State employee. Received on dimit from Evening Star Lodge, No. 30,
37. Harry R. Lindley. Dye works owner. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1926.
38. Charles B. Collins. Salesman. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1927.
39. Theodore A. Randall. Assistant Auditor. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1928.
40. George W.
41. Thad. E. Child. Printer. Was made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1930.
42. Lloyd A. Smith. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1931.
43. Raymond E. Jorgenson. Butcher. Made a Mason in Harmony Lodge. Was Master in 1932.
Of these forty-three men, twenty-seven are still living, four have dimited and are members of other Lodges.
The men who have been elected and served as Treasurer of Harmony Lodge:
1. Moses H. Scott-1871-1872.
2. Robert Frost-1873.
3. J.M. Lowe-1874-1875.
4. John R. Thompson-1876-1877.
5. George Gaston-1878.
6. John P. Crins-1879.
7. J.L. Myers-1880-1881-1882-1883-1884.
8. J.H. Munson-1885.
9. E.H. Jones-1886
10. Henry Sabin-1887.
11. G. Kaufman-1888-1889-1890-1891-1892-1893-1894-1895-1896-1897-1898-1899-1900.
12. William J. Foster-1901-1902-1903-1904-1905-1906-1907-1908-1909-1910-1911-1912-1213-1914-1915-1916-1917-1918-1919-1920-1921-1922-1923-1924-1925-1926.
13. Lindley R. Morf-1927-1928-1929-1930-1931-1932-
The men who have been elected Secretary of Harmony Lodge:
1. Josiah H. Munson-1871-1872-1873-1874-1875-1876.
2. Victor F. Tull-1877.
3. John R. Thompson-1878.
4. James E. Clark-1879.
5. Henry Sabin-1880-1881-1882-1883-1884-1885-1886-1889, 1890.
6. Nathan S. Porter-1887-1888-1896-1897-1898-1899.
7. F.H. Van Eaton-1891-1892.
8. John C. Rathbun-1893.
9. Brad W. Davis-1894-1895-1900-1904-1905-1906-1915.
10. Lewis G. Abbott-1901.
11. E.E. Martin-1902-1903.
12. Chas. V. Leach-1907.
13. Alex Wright-1908-1909-1910-1911-1912-1913-1914-1915-1916-1917-1918-1919-1920-1921-1922-1923-1924-1925-1926-1927-1928-1929-1930-1931-1932.
Harmony Lodge has received four hundred and forty petitions for the degrees and affiliations, many of them rejected, and have issued many dimits. Today we have on the Lodge roll of members one hundred and eighty-seven in good standing, and men of nearly every business, trade and profession. Two members of Harmony Lodge have been elected and served as Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of Washington. Brother Elisha P. Ferry was elected in 1878 and Brother Nathan Smith Porter was elected in 1888. Bro. Porter was also further honored by being elected Grand Treasurer in June, 1900, and re-elected every year thereafter until 1920.
On February 22, 1873, there was conferred a third degree in Harmony Lodge that should be remembered. As there is no official record of just everything that occurred at that meeting, I will relate a part of what happened that evening as it was told to me. While the candidate was being obligated there was a very severe earthquake shock. Everyone forgot the candidate during the excitement and ran downstairs. When they decided that there had been no particular damage done they returned to the Lodge room to find the candidate still at the altar. When asked what he thought of the earthquake, he exclaimed: "Earthquake! I thought that was a part of the ceremony!"
ALEX WRIGHT, Secretary.
BY-LAWS
OF
HARMONY LODGE, NO. 18
F. 7 A. M.
Adopted
The 9th day of November, A. D. 1928;
A.L. 5828.
Harmony Lodge No. 18
F. & A. M.
SUBSTITUTED AND AMENDED BY-LAWS
NAME
Section 1. The name of this Lodge shall be HARMONY LODGE No. 18, F. & A. M.
Stated Communications
Sec. 2. The stated communications of this Lodge shall be held on the second and fourth Fridays of each month at the hour of eight o'clock P. M.
Meeting Place
Sec. 3. All communications of the Lodge shall be held in the
Initiation Fee
Sec. 4. The fee for the three degrees shall be Fifty-five Dollars ($55) and shall in every instance accompany the petition, and be in addition to the contribution to the Masonic Home fund as and when required by the Grand Lodge statutes.
Segregation of Initiation Fee
Sec. 5. When, for any cause, it will be necessary to divide or segregate the fee for the degrees it shall be done as follows, to-wit: For the Second Degree, Fifteen Dollars ($15), and for the Third Degree, Twenty Dollars ($20).
Annual Dues
Sec. 6. The annual dues for each member shall be Six Dollars ($6), payable in advance on or before the first stated communication in each year. Members raised during the year shall pay the following dues: Between January 1st and March 31st, Six Dollars ($6); between April 1st and June 30th, Four and 50-100 Dollars ($4.50); between July 1st and September 30th, Three Dollars ($3); between October 1st and December 31st, one and 50-100 Dollars ($1.50).
Affiliation Fee
Sec. 7. There shall be no fee for affiliation, but one year's dues shall accompany the petition for affiliation, and be in addition to the contribution to the Masonic Home fund as and when required by the Grand Lodge statutes.
Finance Committee
Sec. 8. There shall be a Finance Committee composed of the Senior Warden, Junior Warden, and one other member, to be appointed by the Master of the Lodge, whose duties it shall be to examine and pass upon all bills presented to the Lodge; to examine the annual reports, books, vouchers, etc., of the Treasurer and Secretary, making a detailed report in writing at the next stated communication of the Lodge following the installation of officers; and, subject to the approval of the Master of the Lodge, invest the accumulated funds of the Lodge in excess of current expenses.
Donation of Funds
Sec. 9. Except upon the unanimous consent of all members present and voting, no donation of the funds from the Treasury of this Lodge shall be made to any institution whatsoever which is not under the sole management of a regularly constituted Masonic Body.
Relief
Sec. 10. The Worshipful Master shall be empowered to draw on the Treasury for sums not exceeding Twenty Dollars ($20) each draft, for the relief of indigent members or their families, and shall report the same to the Lodge at the next stated communication.
Compensation of Secretary
Sec. 11. The Secretary shall receive as compensation for his services as Secretary of the Lodge, such sum as the Lodge may determine by resolution.
Compensation of
Sec. 12. The
Life Membership
Sec. 13. Any member of the Lodge in good standing, who has rendered exceptional service to Freemasonry, may be elected to life membership at any stated communication, by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the members present taken by written ballot, provided that thirty days previous nomination shall have been given in open Lodge. Life members shall be exempt from the payment of all dues and assessments levied by the Lodge.
Amendments
Sec. 14. Amendments to these By-Laws shall be proposed in writing at a stated communication and approved by a two-thirds vote of all members present at a subsequent stated communication.
THIS IS TO CERTIFY, That the resolution to amend Sec. 13 of these By-Laws was introduced Nov. 23rd, and passed Dec. 14th, 1928.
T. A. RANDALL, W. M.,
ALEX WRIGHT, Secretary.
SUGGESTED ORDER OF BUSINESS
1. Opening Ceremony
2. Reading Minutes of Previous Communication
3. Reception of Petitions
4. Appointment of committees on Petitions
5. Report of Committees on Petitions
6. Balloting
7. Communications
8. Bills
9. Unfinished Business
10. New Business
11. Conferring of Degrees
12. Report of Special and Standing Committees
13. Report of Sickness and Distress
14. Good of Masonry
15.
16. Closing Ceremony.
LIST OF OFFICERS
Harmony Lodge, No. 18, F. & A. M.
1933
Louis D. Johnson, W. M.
William Wilkening, S. W.
Bert W. Allen, J. W.
Frank O. Scott, Treasurer
Alex Wright, Secretary
George W. Davis, Chaplain
Samuel W. Bennett, Marshal
Fred W. Wuest, S. D.
Dan H. Lind, J. D.
Humphry G. Williams, S. S.
William J. Abbott,
FINANCE COMMITTEE
William Wilkening, Bert W. Allen, Ray E. Jorgenson."
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