‘The smallest lodge room I’ve ever seen’

    

Truly, if I already hadn’t known this was a research lodge meeting, I’d have assumed it was a beauty pageant—with seventeen Masons having to share one crown! April 11 at Mt. Jackson Lodge 103 in Virginia.

Still catching up on reporting recent events, and today it’ll be last month’s meeting(s) of Civil War Lodge of Research 1865 in Virginia. We sort of enjoyed two lodge communications for the price of one on April 11 in that we opened at Magnetic Lodge 184 in Stanley; we went out to lunch; and then resumed labor and closed at Mt. Jackson Lodge 103, about twenty miles away, in Mt. Jackson. Unorthodox, but we had the necessary dispensation.

We transacted the regular and constitutional business at hand, like electing four new members plus awarding Honorary Membership to Grand Master Szramoski. Those of us who noticed it were perplexed by the appearance of one blue ball inside the box amid the usual white and black ballots.

MAGNETIC EAST—The Master’s station in Magnetic Lodge 184 in Stanley.

But that wasn’t the only notable trait at Magnetic Lodge. The room itself is memorable. Well, the building is small, so you have to expect a little lodge room, but it isn’t until you enter that you can appreciate such an intimate sacred retreat. I guesstimated the square footage, but didn’t write it down, and I’ve since forgotten, but the room is about the size of the budget hotel room I booked.

I failed to capture in a photo the smallness of Magnetic Lodge’s meeting space, but that dining room table at right is squeezed into the West of the room! That’s our Junior Warden, Bro. Alan, in the foreground. The tables and chairs are removed for the meetings.

Best address in town!

While at labor, it was asked whence came Magnetic Lodge’s name but, unfortunately, no one knew, even Jeff and Kenny from the lodge. Afterward, I poked around online, but didn’t find anything conclusive. My best guess is the founders were connected to the mining industry. Magnetic 184 was chartered December 15, 1876 to meet in Marksville (Page County) on the Saturday night after the full moon each month. That area was renowned for mining iron and other minerals throughout the nineteenth century. Furthermore, the Virginia Department of Energy says magnetite, the most magnetic mineral on Earth, has been among the major sources of iron in the Commonwealth. Perhaps lends deeper meaning to divesting the candidate of all minerals and metals!

For lunch, we stopped at the Hawksbill Diner which, simultaneously, looks like nothing remarkable, while obviously being the place preferred by local citizens for their morning and midday meals, to wit:

They also serve RC Cola, which I haven’t had since I don’t know when, but have been seeking since that day. (Yes, I remember John’s of Bleecker Street has it on draught, but these were bottles!)

“Being half past high twelve,” as Worshipful Master Bill Hare phrased it, we settled into our “second meeting” at Mt. Jackson 103 for the work of the lodge. We were treated to a trilogy of Civil War tales, little pertaining to Freemasonry, unfortunately, but stories about local wartime events that, while colorful, don’t seem to have made the history books or the movies. The most detailed narration given concerned the fate of Confederate soldiers executed for horse-theft. It actually was on this date—May 22—in 1865 when Capt. George Summers, age 22, and Sgt. Isaac Newton Koontz, age 20, with others, committed the thefts. A month later, the two were executed without trial at New Market (site of my diminutive hotel accommodation), for the crime, despite already having been forgiven. Please read about this here.

We need another Northerner in the East of CWLR 1865 soon for equal time.

Another history was related by one of our Honorary Members, MW Bro. Kenneth S. Wyvill, Jr., Past Grand Master (2015-16) of the Grand Lodge of Maryland. He spoke of his grandfather, Dr. Wyvill, a physician in Maryland who also served as a courier for the Confederacy. 

On the not quite research side of things, we also heard about a legend dating to the Battle of Gettysburg when the Right Worshipful Grand Master of Pennsylvania arrived on the scene and allegedly opened a lodge where soldiers of both armies met on the level. I can’t recall the name of the brother who shared this account, but he said he’s still trying to find evidence of that lodge meeting and is encouraged by proof he found that Grand Master David C. Skerett, a doctor from Philly, in fact was at Gettysburg.

I love these lighting fixtures. I think this was an exterior light on the lodge’s previous building.

The current light. Somehow not the same.

Speaking of Gettysburg, Civil War Lodge of Research 1865 will meet next on July 18 at Acacia Lodge 586 in Waynesboro—which was constituted on this date—May 22—in 1891. Our Civil War focus that weekend will be the Monterey Pass Battlefield Park and Museum, located only about twenty miles west of Gettysburg.

Everyone stops to photograph the reproduction Gulf station at 6023 Main Street in Mt. Jackson. Read about that here.

Let me again send best wishes to Bro. Bennett Hart, who is both our Secretary and our DDGM, as he recovers from an injury and couldn’t be with us last month. I look forward to shaking his hand soon.

After closing, we dispersed into the late afternoon, not having a group visit to any historic site planned. I headed back to my hotel, where nearby are both the New Market Battlefield State Historical Park and the Virginia Museum of the Civil War. Closing time for both was near, so I had to hustle. Bumped into Bro. Alan inside the museum. Some photos:

Stonewall Jackson greets you outside the museum.

And T.J. inside.

Self-portrait of Julian A. Scott, renowned artist...

…and heroic 16-year-old soldier. Click here.

The Bushong House.

This rustic pile
The simple tale will tell
It marks the spot
Where Woodsons Heroes fell.

The obligatory cannon shot.

     

‘Masonic Week 2010: Order of Knight Masons’

     

Masonic Week 2010: Order of Knight Masons

With only minutes remaining in February – and having just completed a conference call with several Magpie readers clamoring for more information and photos – I want to quickly finish my coverage of Masonic Week 2010, get it over with, and resume forgetting about what a forgettable week it was.

The Grand Council of Knight Masons of the United States met Friday morning (this is February 13) for its annual meeting, with Great Chief’s Council “0” as well.

Grand Council’s officer line for 2010 is:

M.E. Great Chief Edward P. Fagan, Jr.

R.E. Deputy Great Chief C. Michael Watson

R.E. Grand Senior Knight Kevin B. Sample

R.E. Grand Junior Knight Kenneth B. Fischer

R.E. Grand Scribe Douglas L. Jordan

R.E. Grand Treasurer Malcolm R. Holley, Jr.

V.E. Grand Senior Warden David Lee Hargett, Jr.

V.E. Grand Junior Warden Matthew D. Dupee

V.E. Grand Director of Ceremonies Andre E. Lovas

V.E. Grand Priest D. Allen Surratt

V.E. Grand Steward William R. Miller

V.E. Grand Sentinel Joseph S. Crociata

Ex. Grand Musician Chris M. Jessen
Chief of Great Chief’s Council 0 Bryce Hildreth

Our new Most Excellent Great Chief is Edward P. Fagan, Jr. of New York. Turned out our hotel rooms were across from each other, so we walked together to the meeting, chatting about mutual acquaintances. I had no idea he was about to be installed, so in retrospect it was a funny encounter. Seems like a good guy. Past Master of American Lodge of Research, where I’m becoming more active. I’m sure my council (Northern New Jersey No. 10) will host him for an Official Visit before long. We typically get the Great Chief of the USA to stop by during his year in office.

M.E. Dennis N. Zier, at far right, greets those Past Great Chiefs of Grand Councilwho were able to attend the meeting on February 13.

Not that this is doing him any favors, but I salute the valiant Cousin who arose during this meeting to try to present some New Business. Maybe I am the only one unpleasantly surprised to learn there is no New Business budgeted into the agenda of this annual meeting, but is it really possible there can be no New Business in a meeting convened once a year? Is that right? Is that Masonry?

I don’t even know what the man wanted to say, but he mentioned “Good Ol’ Boys,” so I would guess he might be displeased by the insular world of Masonic Week, where the same officers appoint the same officers to high offices, and never have to explain why – because there is no New Business at the meetings. He asked that he be allowed to speak at next year’s meeting.

Please don’t let him down, M.E. Fagan. The Good Ol’ Boys won’t melt if they hear a question from the floor.

At Great Chief’s Council 0 (zero), candidates for initiation

into the Order of Knight Masons await the Obligation.

Matthew Dupee, Edward Fagan, and Dennis Zier moments
before Fagan’s installation as Great Chief of the United States.