Lansdowne Lodge No. 711, F.&A.M.

Lansdowne Lodge No. 711, F.&A.M.

Lansdowne, PA

19050

Dean A. Spangler, Worshipful Master

HISTORY OF OUR LODGE

Lansdowne Lodge No. 711 F.&A.M.

Constituted September 8, 1921 A.D., 5921 A.L.

A Brief History of Lansdowne Lodge

No. 711, Free and Accepted Masons

Freemasonry can be traced by history and tradition to the remotest ages of the world, and it is upon this foundation that the structure was erected of which Lansdowne Lodge became one of the Living Stones.

Lansdowne Lodge No. 711 Free and Accepted Masons was the outgrowth of many spontaneous hopes for a lodge in the Borough of Lansdowne. These hopes awaited an opportunity to crystallize into a definite expression. During the holidays of December, 1920, brothers began to approach brother Masons until finally in January, 1921, the first meeting of the leaders in the movement was held. At the first meeting the following were present:

James T. Stewart	Fernwood Lodge #543
Walter Bowers	Bartram Lodge #298
A. Culver Boyd	Bartram Lodge #298
John B. Davis	Fernwood Lodge #543
Simeon J. Fedrick	Fernwood Lodge #543
Robert W. Gick	Bartram Lodge #298
Edwin B. Lewis	Fernwood Lodge #543
William H. Munch	Fernwood Lodge #543
Frank C. Nieweg	Columbia Lodge #91
E. G. Raymond Young	Bartram Lodge #298

The names of Masons who resided in and near Lansdowne were presented. These names were distributed among the members present with the intention of learning the general feeling as to the organization of a Lodge in the Borough.

A fortnight later, the ten gentlemen met in the office of the Burgess; they entered with zeal upon the undertaking. It was reported that at least sixty Masons in Lansdowne would join the movement. Eleven Pioneers thereupon organized themselves into a committee with James T. Stewart, Chairman, and Frank C. Nieweg, Secretary, and issued a call for a general meeting of Lansdowne Masons to be held in the auditorium of the Lansdowne High School on February 25, 1921. The meeting surprised everyone. Over a hundred Masons were present. Mr. Stewart, as Chairman, presided and explained the purpose of the meeting. He was followed by Burgess William A. McEwen, who itemized the possible cost of forming the Lodge and securing and furnishing the rooms for it.

Dr. John B. Davis, who had interviewed Mr. John A. Perry, went at some length into the details of securing the Charter and methods to bring about affiliations in this new undertaking. Cards were signed by seventy-two Masons, stating their wish to become charter members. With this support, it was then decided to ratify the Committee’s personnel as the Committee to Organize a Masonic Lodge to be known as the Lansdowne Lodge. Mr. Stewart was named Chairman and Treasurer and Mr. Nieweg, Secretary of the Organization Committee. The charter membership fee was set at twenty-five dollars with an extra twenty dollar fee forthose who joined from a jurisdiction outside of Pennsylvania. This fee was to go to the Grand Lodge for the Masonic Home at Elizabethtown.

The next ten weeks were productive. Certificates of resignation from nearby and distant Lodges, accompanied by payments of the charter-membership fees swarmed into the hands of the Secretary. Filed and recorded, they grew beyond the hundred mark, until on May 20, 1921, the day set for the final organization and for the signing of the application for the Charter, they totaled one hundred twenty four.

The Organization Committee that evening, reported upon its work since the February meeting. Mr. Stewart, Chairman, announced that the Lodge had entered upon a five year lease for the second floor of the former Post Office Building on South Lansdowne Avenue at nine hundred dollars a year, beginning July 1, 1921. The Committee would wait upon the Officers of the Grand Lodge Wednesday, June 1, 1921, to petition for the Charter. Such progress had been made that now he wanted to call upon other charter members for help in construction and equipping the new hall.

Following the reports, the charter members elected unanimously Dr. Robert W. Gick, Worshipful Master; Dr. John B. Davis, Senior Warden; A. Culver Boyd, Junior warden; James T. Stewart, Treasurer; and Frank C. Nieweg, Secretary.

On the evening of Wednesday, June 1, 1921, the Committee attended the session of the Grand Lodge at the Masonic Temple, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the close of the session, they waited upon Right Worshipful Grand Master John S. Sell. After some questions relative to their ability to finance their undertaking, the Officers of the Grand Lodge granted the Charter to Lansdowne Lodge No. 711.

All groups had their problems well in hand, so that when the Lodge was constituted September 8,1921, at 11:00 A.M., the rooms were admirably furnished, beautifully carpeted and decorated. It was a fitting setting for the noble work done as well as that about to be undertaken. There were forty-eight different lodges represented in the forming of the new Lansdowne Lodge, thirty-eight lodges in PA, one in RI, five NJ lodges, three NY lodges and one IL lodge. The largest number was from Lodge No. 298 with thirty-six members, second largest was from Lodge No. 543 with twenty-two members.

On September 8, 1921, the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania held a Special Communication at the Masonic Hall, Lansdowne, PA. Brother John S. Sell, Right Worshipful Grand Master, and other Grand Lodge Officers were present. The Grand Lodge opened in ample form at twelve o’clock, five minutes. The Grand Secretary read the warrant granted by the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for the constitution of Lansdowne Lodge No. 711 to be held at Lansdowne, PA. The Ceremony of Conservation having been concluded, all but Past Masters retired when Brother Robert W. Gick was duly installed as Worshipful Master in ancient form. The brethren who had retired were then readmitted when the other Lodge Officers were installed. The Grand Master then constituted one hundred twenty-four brothers into a lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. The Grand Master then proclaimed Lansdowne Lodge No. 711 duly constituted.

The following evening, September 9, 1921, the first stated meeting was held with ninety-five members present. There were thirty-four petitions for initiation and membership received. At the October stated meeting, the by-laws were presented and read. Dues were set at $9.00 per year.

During the first twenty-five years, the Lodge grew steadily. Characteristic of the growth were periods of prosperity and depression. When the Lansdowne Bank and Trust Company closed during the “crash” of 1929, pledges were taken from the members to loan money to the Lodge since its funds were lost in the bank’s closing. The average loans of $25.00 per member were never repaid.

At the stated meeting of April 8,1949, a motion was resolved that the trustees of Lansdowne Lodge be instructed to proceed with the purchase of the National Bank of Lansdowne at a cost of forty thousand dollars. At the May 13,1949 stated meeting, it was resolved that the trustees would assume the authority to take care of all details in connection with the purchase of the building. Eleven years after purchasing the building, 1961, Arthur G. Miller, W.M., announced that the mortgage was paid in full. A remodeling project was started in 1962, first on the banquet room, which was completed in the summer of that year. Work progressed with the remodeling of the Lodge Room, which was completed in 1971, in accordance with the goal for the Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration. An open house was held on October 24,1971 so that the membership and their families could view the beautiful job that was done.

In 1999 a project was started to install an elevator in the building to enable all of our brethren to share in our meetings and fellowship. The project was funded in full by the membership. Many hours of labor were shared by volunteers who helped to install the elevator.

Compiled by Paul J. Gossin, P.M.

Send e-mail for Lansdowne Lodge No. 711 F.&A.M. to Bro. Richard Caruth, P.M.