Our story - page 5
Palestine Lodge No. 189
The members of Patmos Lodge living in Catonsville became dissatisfied with traveling to Ellicott’s Mills for meetings because of the distance and because of the occasional flooding of the Patapsco River. On November 18, 1891, The Grand Lodge of Maryland granted a charter to John H. Iglehart, Charles L. Hartley, and James McNabb, members of Patmos, to form Palestine Lodge No. 189 in Catonsville. This daughter Lodge has served its members and community well.
The members of Patmos Lodge living in Catonsville became dissatisfied with traveling to Ellicott’s Mills for meetings because of the distance and because of the occasional flooding of the Patapsco River. On November 18, 1891, The Grand Lodge of Maryland granted a charter to John H. Iglehart, Charles L. Hartley, and James McNabb, members of Patmos, to form Palestine Lodge No. 189 in Catonsville. This daughter Lodge has served its members and community well.
The George Washington Jewel
On March 16, 1897, Patmos Lodge held a meeting in the “Assembly Room,” located on Frederick Road, now West Main Street, about one mile west of the present Lodge building. The purpose of the meeting was the safe care of Patmos’ “George Washington jewel.” On February 23, 1891, State Senator William B. Peter of Howard County had presented Patmos Lodge with a Masonic “jewel” which had been worn by George Washington. The jewel is a small heart shaped gold pin, representing a sword pointing toward a naked heart. Senator Peter had received the pin from the Custis family of Virginia. It was “placed in the care of the Masonic Veteran Association of Baltimore for safe keeping as the property of Patmos Lodge” by Rev. Henry Branch, D.D., Grand Chaplain. The Washington pin is now among the collection of the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Maryland.
On March 16, 1897, Patmos Lodge held a meeting in the “Assembly Room,” located on Frederick Road, now West Main Street, about one mile west of the present Lodge building. The purpose of the meeting was the safe care of Patmos’ “George Washington jewel.” On February 23, 1891, State Senator William B. Peter of Howard County had presented Patmos Lodge with a Masonic “jewel” which had been worn by George Washington. The jewel is a small heart shaped gold pin, representing a sword pointing toward a naked heart. Senator Peter had received the pin from the Custis family of Virginia. It was “placed in the care of the Masonic Veteran Association of Baltimore for safe keeping as the property of Patmos Lodge” by Rev. Henry Branch, D.D., Grand Chaplain. The Washington pin is now among the collection of the Museum of the Grand Lodge of Maryland.
Charity
The early minutes of Patmos Lodge show regular relief to distressed members and citizens. The very earliest records indicate it was the practice for the Master or Secretary or another officer to relieve a Brother, and then to be reimbursed at a subsequent lodge meeting. These payments were usually a few dollars, but sometimes quite significant. Here are some charitable outlays worth reporting in detail:
The lodge established a charity fund on February 20, 1866, with a tax of 50¢ per quarter per member.
February 5, 1877: “On motion, the sum of $50.00 was appropriated for the relief of the destitute poor in the vicinity.”
On September 1, 1878, the lodge sent $40.00 to Grand Master Latrobe “for the relief of the yellow fever sufferers of the South.”
In 1860, Chicago was well on its way to becoming one of the great shipping centers of the United States. But due to the sudden influx of merchandise, huge warehouses were constructed quickly and cheaply, creating a jerry-built city almost entirely of wood. When the Great Chicago Fire started on October 8, 1871, it raged through the city and destroyed four square miles of businesses and homes which stood helpless against the flames. At least 300 people were killed, 900,000 left homeless, and about $200 million in property was destroyed. A special communication was held by Patmos Lodge on October 12th, 1871, barely before the ashes were cool. All of the officers were present, except the Junior Deacon. Jesse Reynolds was appointed to fill the vacancy. The minutes clearly describe the response of Patmos Lodge to the disaster.
“The Lodge was opened on the Third Degree, when the Worshipful Master made known the object of the meeting by reading a communication from the Grand Master calling upon the Masonic Lodges of the state to contribute for the relief of our Brethren who have suffered by the last calamity by fire in Chicago. The Worshipful Master explained that this meeting was called in accordance with this request of the Grand Master, and called upon the members present to contribute; when one hundred and fourteen and 50/100 dollars were immediately subscribed by the Brethren present. On motion the sum of fifty dollars was appropriated from the funds of the Lodge for the same purpose. Twenty four dollars additional was raised by the above committee, making a total of one hundred and eighty-eight and 50/100 dollars ($188.50) [equivalent to about $3,500.00 today!] raised by this Lodge for the relief of our Brethren in Chicago.”
The early minutes of Patmos Lodge show regular relief to distressed members and citizens. The very earliest records indicate it was the practice for the Master or Secretary or another officer to relieve a Brother, and then to be reimbursed at a subsequent lodge meeting. These payments were usually a few dollars, but sometimes quite significant. Here are some charitable outlays worth reporting in detail:
The lodge established a charity fund on February 20, 1866, with a tax of 50¢ per quarter per member.
February 5, 1877: “On motion, the sum of $50.00 was appropriated for the relief of the destitute poor in the vicinity.”
On September 1, 1878, the lodge sent $40.00 to Grand Master Latrobe “for the relief of the yellow fever sufferers of the South.”
In 1860, Chicago was well on its way to becoming one of the great shipping centers of the United States. But due to the sudden influx of merchandise, huge warehouses were constructed quickly and cheaply, creating a jerry-built city almost entirely of wood. When the Great Chicago Fire started on October 8, 1871, it raged through the city and destroyed four square miles of businesses and homes which stood helpless against the flames. At least 300 people were killed, 900,000 left homeless, and about $200 million in property was destroyed. A special communication was held by Patmos Lodge on October 12th, 1871, barely before the ashes were cool. All of the officers were present, except the Junior Deacon. Jesse Reynolds was appointed to fill the vacancy. The minutes clearly describe the response of Patmos Lodge to the disaster.
“The Lodge was opened on the Third Degree, when the Worshipful Master made known the object of the meeting by reading a communication from the Grand Master calling upon the Masonic Lodges of the state to contribute for the relief of our Brethren who have suffered by the last calamity by fire in Chicago. The Worshipful Master explained that this meeting was called in accordance with this request of the Grand Master, and called upon the members present to contribute; when one hundred and fourteen and 50/100 dollars were immediately subscribed by the Brethren present. On motion the sum of fifty dollars was appropriated from the funds of the Lodge for the same purpose. Twenty four dollars additional was raised by the above committee, making a total of one hundred and eighty-eight and 50/100 dollars ($188.50) [equivalent to about $3,500.00 today!] raised by this Lodge for the relief of our Brethren in Chicago.”