HISTORY OF MARION LODGE

 

1882--1982

 

Wisdom           Strength          Fraternally

 

(As taken from the One Hundredth Anniversary Program)

 

            To All Whom It May Concern:  The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free And Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, and Masonic Jurisdiction and Thereunto belonging, in Ample Form assembled at Philadelphia, in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

               

                Samuel B. Dick                                                                                      Grand Master

                Conrad B. Day                                                                                      Deputy Grand Master

                E. C. Mitchell                                                                                        Senior Grand Warden

                Joseph Eichbaum                                                                                 Junior Grand Warden

 

                Know ye, that we, the said Grand Lodge, of the Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free And Accepted Masons, (according to the Old Constitutions, revived by his Royal Highness Prince Edwin, at York, in the Kingdom of England, in the year of the Christian Era Nine Hundred Twenty and Six, and in the year of Masonry Four Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty and Six) by virtue of the power and authorities vested in us, Do Hereby Constitute and Appoint our Worthy and well beloved Brethren, Zachariah X. Snyder, Worshipful Master, Theodore C. Kenney, Senior Warden and Samuel J. Zearley, Junior Warden, of a Lodge to be called Marion Lodge No. 562 Scottdale, Westmoreland County.

 

                The records leading up to the constitution of Marion Lodge are very meager, but we find the following extracts from the minutes of a stated meeting of King Solomon's Lodge No. 346 at Connellsville, PA, on May 15, 1882:  "Brothers Samuel R. Fairchild, Joseph R. Stauffer, Thomas Tennant, Samuel J. Zearley, and Charles W. Mytinger having complied with the By Laws and having paid all dues to date ask for dimits for the purpose of starting a Lodge of Free And Accepted Masons at Scottdale, PA.  Each one was separately granted a dimit.  "On motion the Worshipful Master and Secretary were instructed to sign a recommendation for a Lodge Warrant for Scottdale, PA."

 

                On June 8, 1882 the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania granted a warrant for Marion Lodge No. 562 to be held in Scottdale, PA or within a distance of 5 miles thereof.  Lodge No. 346 recommended the petition for warrant.  The Lodge was constituted December 20, 1882 with the following officers and warrant members:  Zachariah X. Snyder, Worshipful Master, Theodore C. Kenney, Senior Warden, Samuel J. Zearley, Junior Warden, Joseph R. Stauffer, Treasurer, Samuel R. Fairchild, Secretary, and Thomas Tennant, Charles W. Mytinger, Morgan Kiddle and Joseph Johnson, Members.

 

                The Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania met in Masonic Hall on December 20, 1882, at 2:00 P.M. to constitute and install officers of Marion Lodge No. 562 Free and Accepted Masons.

 

                The first and extra meeting was held in the evening of the same day.  On December 21, 1882 the Lodge held their first stated meeting and elected their officers for the following year 1883.  Zachariah X. Snyder, Worshipful Master, T.C. Kenney, Senior Warden and Samuel J. Zearley, Junior Warden.  At the end of December, 1883 the membership had grown to 21 members.

 

                The first home of the Lodge, known as Masonic Hall, was in the Patterson Building, corner of Pittsburgh and Stoner Streets, Scottdale.  There is evidence, though, that the location was not very satisfactory.  The main objection to the building being the long wooden stairway at the rear of the building, as it was the only entrance to the hall.

 

                Arrangements were finally made on August 30, 1886, to change the meeting place to the newly erected Loucks building on Pittsburgh Street.  This location remained the home of the Lodge until moving into the present quarters.

 

                One cannot read very far in the history of Marion Lodge without being impressed with the many references to charity cases cared for by the Lodge, through the Grand Lodge.  Included among these were donations given to the sufferers of the Charleston, S. Carolina earthquake in 1886, the Johnstown Flood of May 31, 1889 and the San Francisco disaster of April 30, 1906.

 

                The first 25 years were primarily spent acquiring furnishings and regalia for the Lodge.  The growth of the Lodge was steady, the membership grew to 131 members, and the financial status of the Lodge was growing more secure as well.  Invitations were sent out for an observance of our 25 years, however, the records indicate that the invitations were recalled and no observance was held.

 

                On January 7, 1901 Marion Lodge took membership in the Masonic Home of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

 

                War clouds had gathered for our European allies and on August 6, 1914 World War I began.  The United States joined the cause by declaring war on April 2, 1917.  It is interesting to note that 11,323 Masons in Pennsylvania were in active service.  Marion Lodge responded by having 21 members serving in the United States Army.  Of the 21, Brother Howard C. Braddock made the supreme sacrifice, October 14, 1918.  The Lodge donated $150.00 to the local Red Cross, the Trustees resolved to invest all available funds in Liberty Bonds, and 44 members contributed through the Grand Lodge War Relief fund $121.00.

 

                On October 10, 1918 a stated meeting was opened at 7:30 P.M. and closed at 7:50 P.M. due to an order from the PA State Board of Health prohibiting meetings due to an influenza epidemic.

 

                November 13, 1919 Marion Lodge contributed through the Grand Lodge, funds for erecting a monument at Alexandria, Virginia in memory of George Washington, the Mason.

 

                By 1925 membership had grown to 271 members.

 

                The thirties saw everyone struggling through the great Depression and Marion Lodge was no exception.  The banks closed and the Lodge had $1,880.20 in a restricted bank.  Membership fell to 262 members and did not turn upwards until 20 years later.

 

                A meeting was held at 4:00 P.M. on November 14, 1932 in observance of our 50th Anniversary.  At the close of the meeting an elaborate banquet was served at the Y.M.C.A. with the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Brother Benjamin Page as the speaker.

 

                For the first time in history Scottdale witnessed a cornerstone laying according to the ancient usages and customs of the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, when the stone was set in place for the United States Post Office building on May 11, 1935.  Preceding the ceremony a procession of about 400 visiting Masons marched from Masonic Hall to the Post Office building.  Dinner was served to the visiting Masons at the United Brethren and Presbyterian churches.  It was estimated that a crowd of 3,000 people watched the ceremony.

 

                On March 7, 1939, Brother Charles H. Eicher was honored at a testimonial dinner at the First Presbyterian Church, Scottdale for 50 years of service to the Lodge.  He was Worshipful Master in 1893 and became Secretary in 1896, a position he held for 45 consecutive years.

 

                Again the war clouds threatened and on December 7, 1941 the United States was again to enter a Second World War.  A letter from the Grand Lodge asked for our support and loyalty to the United States government with all our energy, property and if need be our lives.  By 1943, there were 13 members serving in the United States Armed Forces and 5 sons of members serving in the United States Armed Forces.

 

                On July 9, 1942 a special meeting was held to determine the interest of the members in purchasing the Loucks building in which the Lodge was currently meeting.  After much discussion and a standing vote, the proposition was voted down.  Five years passed and again the Lodge felt a need for a permanent home.  On April 1, 1947, Brother Eldin G. Daugherty, in behalf of the Lodge and the Trustees, reported on the purchased of the Eicher and Graft building at the corner of Pittsburgh and Chestnut Streets, Scottdale, PA.  All the members present (36) voted in favor of the purchase.  The motion, which was approved, was dependant upon the favorable decision of the Right Worshipful Grand Master.  From the time of the purchased of the Eicher and Graft Building, approximately 8 years had elapsed.  During this period of time major renovations were taking place in order to have suitable Lodge rooms.  The meetings were still being held in the Loucks Building.  It can be noted that most of the labor was done by the members.  In the summer of 1956, Marion Lodge moved to its beautiful new Lodge rooms, which they still occupy today.

 

                Members and friends celebrated the 75th Anniversary of the constitution with a special program.  An informal open house in the Lodge rooms was followed by a banquet in Scottdale Evangelical United Brethren Church.  The Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge addressed the assemblage and 50-year members were recognized.

 

                The membership was again increasing and by 1960, it had grown to 312 members.

 

                In observance of the Bi-Centennial celebration of the United States, a re-dedication ceremony was held October 9, 1975.

 

                On June 2, 1979, Marion Lodge members traveled to Elizabethtown, PA and held a meeting at the Masonic Temple.

 

                The growth of the Lodge to 404 members at the present time and the achievements of the Lodge have been due to the services of many devoted and active Masons.  At the end of our 100 years existence as a Lodge it is entirely fitting and proper that we hesitate and consider the many blessings Almighty God has bestowed on us as a Lodge and as individuals, and firmly resolve in the future to do His will and live up to the teachings of our fraternity.

 

                May we express the hope that Marion Lodge No. 562 will continue in their activities for ages to come.