In its early deliberations the Diamond Anniversary Committee decided that a Lodge ready to celebrate its 75th Anniversary should have its history committed to writing and this history presented as part of the anniversary observance. The Lodge History Committee relied heavily upon past writings, which are by now history in themselves, to bring together this brief g1impse of our past. The first section of this collection was prepared by Brother Henry C. Clarke. Brother Clarke was the first Junior Warden of Orient Lodge and served as Worshipful Master in 1894. In addition he was Secretary of Orient Lodge in its early years.
We do not know the occasion for which this material was written. From the informal language, we presume it was delivered orally at a meeting or dinner. This text was found in the personal effects of Brother Clarke following his death in 1930. It was only recently presented to Orient Lodge.
Brother Clarke’s writings have been published untouched, for in its simplicity lies much of its impact.
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Worshipful Master, Officers, and Brethren, I have been requested by the Worshipful Master and Superintendent Martin to explain to you some of the trials and tribulations through which we passed in order to bring Masonry to Wilkinsburg.
Pittsburgh was incorporated as a city in March, 1816 and the first Church Hill Lodge 145 came about in June, 1816 on the site of our third Masonic Hail, next to the old Penn Avenue Hotel on the Pittsburgh-Philadelphia Turnpike in a log cabin building floored with sawdust, at approximately 739 Penn Avenue. Stated meetings were the first Tuesday, after the full moon. Candles and God supplied the light. Churchill Lodge 145 ceased to meet after’ June 5, 1826, probably because of the Anti-Masonic Crusade. I wish to deny the statement that Church Hill Lodge was suspended for non-payment of dues. The officers Uncle Harry Long and Charles Johnston were honorable men and surrendered their Charter December, 1827 to D.D.Grand Master, Judge Charles Shaler, Judge of Common Pleas and Quarter Sessions and a member of No. 45, the oldest lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains. It appears that Lodges 19, 22, and 45 were the only ones to survive the Anti Masonic Crusade. Charity Lodge 144, constituted May 2, 1816, met for the last time September 8, 1827, three months before Church Hill Lodge charter was surrendered.
From that time until March 28, 1892, or approximately 65 years no successful efforts had been made to reorganize Church Hill Lodge or constitute another in Wilkinsburg.
In April 1891, I moved my office to Wilkinsburg. There I met and became friends with Brother C.H. Covell, a pharmacist, and Brother George A. Jackson, the postmaster at Edgewood Park. We agreed that there should be a Masonic Lodge in Wilkinsburg with about fifty Master Masons in Wilkinsburg and Edgewood. To our surprise most every one of these Masons had a reason, and most of them very good reasons, why he would not wish to leave his own lodge. Such fine brothers as S.A. Steele, P.M. 253; J. Q. Wagley, 223; Anschutz, 219; John Kennedy and Gromlish, 287; Nath. Williams, 221; John Bevan, 484; McKibben and Niel, 253; J.K. Becker, 508; and James Kerr, Jr., 269, the oldest Past Master and by service the oldest 32 and 33 degree, Shriner, Recorder, and First Potentate in Allegheny County. The objections could not be overcome, and we had to look for other members.
Nevertheless, we talked lodge every day, morning, noon and night and we had it for breakfast, dinner, and supper, and even took it to bed with us. New businesses were coming to Wilkinsburg. Brother Covell tackled everyone who came his way, particularly in his fine drug store on Rebecca Avenue. Brother; Jackson and I did the same, emphasizing the great advantage of having a lodge in Wilkinsburg. Our dues would be only $4.00; they were $5.00 in Pittsburgh lodges. We looked all around for a suitable hall, and we read all the By-laws of Lodges 219, 221, 253, 576.
We finally drew up a set of By-laws for our own group to be known as Orient Lodge, No. 590. Brother Balph furnished type-written copies for the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge. We selected a Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Secretary, and Treasurer. We began to meet in a room above Covell’s Drug Store in the 600 block of Rebecca Avenue with actually no furniture. We used boxes for pedestals and chairs. There we practiced the arts and crafts together with the Steps, Signs, etc. I recall that Dr. Riggs came in and informed us that Reverend Meeham had just come to town and would make us a good Chaplain. All we needed now was members. H.I. Mitchell was the next new-comer. Brothers Covell, Jackon, and I called on Brother Mitchell with our plans and offered him Deacon if he would come with us. Reverend Samuel Moore was raised in 253, and we promised him and Brother Meehm Chaplains and exempt from dues. Brothers Tomb and Coe were made Guides, Brothers Newbaker, C.B. Stewart, Masters of Ceremonies, W.I. Mitchell and T.E. Ventner, Deacons, Brothers Hoffman and Miller, Trustees.
At this juncture a brother who was a very near and dear friend of mine and a 32°degree met me at the Wilkinsburg Station, and advised me to give up the idea of a lodge in Wilkinsburg, saying that it would take $1000.00 to start it, that we would all have to resign from our various lodges and, if we did not get a charter, we would be out in the cold and might not get back into any lodge, and that the Grand Lodge Members of the Pittsburgh lodges would oppose our charter. I thanked the brother for his kindness and told him we were all ready to start and were going to see the District Deputy Grand Master that very evening.
Covell, Jackson, and I called on James W. Brown that evening and set forth in glowing terms why we should have a Masonic Lodge in Wilkinsburg. There was a possibility of fifty members. William Brinker would let us have a fine hall for $150.00 a year, light and heat furnished, a hall that we were sure would be satisfactory to the Grand Lodge.
He listed all the things necessary for starting a new lodge. After a survey he informed us we would have to have shutters on the windows. I went to Brother Brinker and infonned him that I was chairman of the hall committee, and, if he would put up the shutters, we would pay him $160.00 per year instead of $150.00. He consented. It cost Brother Brinker $14.00 per window for 14 windows or $196.00 to get $10.00 additional rent. He spent an additional $50.00 for partitions, a platfonn, etc.
I knew Brothers Eichbaum, Balmani, Jas. W. Brown, and Bill Brown, 510. These were the 33rd degree and high boys in those days, and we began to feel safer concerning our Charter when these voiced no real objections.
On January 14, 1892 H.T. Elliot and I tendered our resignations to St. John 219. Brother Eichman moved that the By-laws be suspended and that our dues be remitted. This was the only lodge that seemed willing to offer us any encouragement.
On Tuesday, February 19, 1892, a meeting was called to elect officers of Orient Lodge after due notice to all Master Masons in Wilkinsburg. We had but seven Orient Lodge members and five visitors present. Brother John Walkinshaw was chairman, A.W. Nicholson, Theodore Anschutz, McKibben, and Geo. Cromlish were appointed tellers.
. . . the donations made that meeting are as follows:
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Total $200.00
With the $200.00 we applied and paid for the Charter of 590. Then we received word that the Charter had been granted as of March 28, 1892. There was still a great need for money.
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We had 16 to ballot on the first Tuesday in April; 10 were approved. I entered 4 and A.W. Nicholson the 5th one and gave the recapitulation. He was the only one in Wilkinsburg who could do that in the new way. The second Tuesday 5 more were entered, and we had 10 on the way. I am not sure how many were entered on the first Tuesday in May, but 5 were passed, and they had to stand an examination in open lodge and I assure you we closed about 2:00 A.M.In the first two years we had no deaths, but in the third year we lost Brother C.B. Stewart, and there never was a more sympathetic and solemn funeral. We had a good landlord who furnished us with light and heat whether we had any money or not.
After supper and donation for the corner stone of the McNair School we were broke again. At this supper event, we met at a brother’s house and separately introduced Grand Master Mr. Henderson, Jas. Eichbaum, and Thos. J. Hudson.
During the fifth year Brother Tomb gave us a boat excursion to East Liverpool, Ohio. We saw plenty of water, but were a pretty dry bunch when we reached East Liverpool after eating so many ham sandwiches.
The young bloods thought it was too hard to climb the golden stairs and made a motion that we move to the Jackson Building on Penn Avenue at $300.00 per year. I thought it was the right time to buy and build. The Smith property was offered for $8500. This was opposed. One year later it sold for $16,000.
Brother Brinker still offered his hall for one or two years more. He had never charged us for light or heat or one cent for extra meetings.
We had taken in 60 members @ $50, but still there was no money in the treasury. We moved to Jackson Hall, and trouble commenced. We had to install light and heat, and buy furniture. We requested another $10 donation from all with a promise of its return if possible. Of course it was never possible. We also had to properly decorate the hall. Orlando Miller donated $200.00, and we made him a life member.
During the five years we had brought our membership up to 200. It was suggested that we buy the Y.M.C.A. property on Ross Avenue for $6000 by assessing $30 per member, but we could not overcome the opposition to this. Some influential members did not believe that a Masonic Lodge should own its own home. It is not my purpose here to trace the fast growth of Masonry here in Wilkinsburg: how it eventually encompassed 10% of the population and 40% of the male voters. We had 5 burgesses, and many bankers and business men.
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Brother Clarke’s writings stopped at this point. Although the transition seems abrupt at times and some random thoughts appear, the voids were probably filled by adlib remarks from this man who did so much to give’ Masonry a start in Wilkinsburg.
We turn now to the section prepared by Brother Vernon L. MacFadden. Brother MacFadden served as Worshipful Master of Orient Lodge in 1940. He prepared this text on the occasion of our 60th anniversary in 1952. This text, although more formally prepared than Brother Clarke’s, was also delivered orally. A few minor changes were made by the History Committee to Brother MacFadden’s writings with the intent of making the text more readable. Certain sections of the original text which were pertinent to the 60th anniversary, but add little to the historical tone, were removed or edited to adapt it for reading.
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This is a history of the Lodge rather than one of individuals. To fully appreciate Masonry in Wilkinsburg at the time of the constitution of Orient Lodge, we must go back to the beginning of the 19th Century. In June, 1816, the first Lodge of Wilkinsburg, known as Church Hall Lodge, No. 145, was constituted. Its charter membership consisted of nine Brethren; this included its officers. Little remains on record of their fraternal history, and the Lodge existed but ten short years. Nevertheless, the fact that the foundation of Masonic tradition was built solidly cannot be denied. Five of the nine charter members of old Church Hall Lodge were also active members, and some of them officials, of the oldest church in this vicinity—that solid rock of Christianity, Beulah Presbyterian Church.
For sixty-six years Wilkinsburg was without a Masonic Lodge, sixty-six of the Borough’s most changeable and formative years. But the influence of the little log cabin Lodge, and that of the Fraternity, reborn after the tragic Anti-Masonry affair, and rebuilt following the Civil War, grew stronger and persisted. The rock upon which Wilkinsburg’s next Lodge, our own Orient, has rested differs little in character from that upon which Church Hall weathered the storms of its brief career until it succombed to a nation-wide flood of prejudice and hatred.
In the Spring of 1889 a group of regular Master Masons met in Brinker’s Hall at the corner of Franklin and Hay Streets. That meeting was recorded in their minutes as the “first regular meeting of the Wilkinsburg Master Masons Association”. Subsequent notices disclose that the Association objectives were benevolence and friendship. The Associatiop was composed of members of several lodges in this area and their work together produced the desire for a centrally located Lodge closer to their homes. Not quite three years later, on March 28, 1892, Orient Lodge, #590, was born in the same Hall, and twelve of its Charter Members were members of the Wilkinsburg Master Masons Association. Three of them had become Orient’s first W.M., S.W., and Treasurer.
The petition for the warrant of constitution of Orient Lodge was signed by thirty-six Master Masons, all of whom became our Charter Members. This petition wars recommended to the favorable consideration of Grand Lodge by Hailman Lodge #321 which gave us eight of our Charter Members including our first W.M. The petition was recommended also by Braddock’s Field Lodge #510 though no Braddock’s Field Brethren left their Lodge to become part of the new Lodge.
It is interesting to note in passing, however, that the W.M. of Braddock’s Field Lodge at that time was the late Bro. Samuel Hamilton, later our District Deputy Grand Master for many years. His name is now borne by the youngest lodge which meets in Wilkinsburg, Lodge No. 746.
The ceremony of constitution of Orient Lodge occurred at a special communication of Grand Lodge held in Brinker’s Hall on March 28, 1892. Bro. J. Simpson Africa was Right Worshipful Grand Master. Coincidentally, it may be noted that this section of Wilkinsburg, in which our Temple is located, was once a portion of a tract of land that one time was actually named Africa. The Right Worshipful Grand Secretary was Micheal Nisbet. The following is an extract of the·minutes of that Special Communication: “Grand Lodge opened in ample form at 12 o’clock 15 min. 34 Lodges represented”. There were 109 names recorded as being present. The Grand Secretary read the warrant for a Lodge to be called Orient Lodge, #590, to be held at Wilkinsburg, Allegheny Co.
”All but Past Masters having retired Bro. Rowland A. Balph was duly installed as W.M. The Brethren who had retired were re-admitted when Bro. George A. Jackson was duly installed as S.W., Bro. Henry C. Clarke, J.W. William M. Brinker, Treas., and Bro. Carlton Hills Covell, Sec’y, in due and ancient form.”
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”Grand Lodge closed in harmony at 3 o’clock 10 min. P.M.”
The first meeting of Orient Lodge, a special meeting, was held the same evening, 11 members and 10 visitors were present. The Lodge indicated at this initial meeting that it would lead a clean life for the first bills recorded as paid were two dollars for one half dozen towels and five dollars for a toilet set. At this first meeting committees were appointed, and the By-laws of Crescent Lodge #576 were adopted “until such time as the conunittee on Bylaws reports”.
The members of Orient Lodge at its beginning were of varying trades and professions, none predominating. There were among them machinists, railroad engineers, printers, commission merchants, grocers, real estate men, druggists, bakers, lumbermen, ministers, tinner, tailor, doctor, and an ice dealer; and the first man to petition the Lodge for membership after its constitution was an artist.
The first initiations were held on May 3,1892 when John Reece, Orlando Miller, Richard T. Anderson, James L. Snodes, and Henry R. Walkinshaw were separately introduced and received the first degree in Freemasonry.
Bro. Walkinshaw passed away in June, 1945, having been a member of this Lodge for over fifty-three years.
In 1892, at the time our first initiations were held, candidates were examined for advancement on the floor of the open lodge. This procedure was followed until April, 1893, when an edict from the Grand Master made the Worshipful Master alone responsible for the decision as to whether a candidate should advance or not.
In August of 1895 at the request of the Wilkinsburg School Board, our Lodge had charge of the ceremonies at the laying of the Cornerstone of the Second Ward School Building, the McNair School, just across the street, and which was removed in 1951. Following the ceremonies at the laying of the Cornerstone, a banquet was held in honor of Grand Lodge which was with us on that occasion.
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On April 5, 1898 Orient held its first meeting in new quarters in Jackson Hall at Penn and Wood. The members pledged seven hundred dollars for furnishings. In the latter part of the following month the Lodge was saddened by the death of our first Secretary, Bro. Carlton H. Covell. A special meeting was held at 9:30 P.M. for the Lodge services. The following morning members of the Lodge escorted the body to Rock Creen, Ohio for a Masonic funeral.
As early as September, 1899 a committee was appointed to find a site upon which a building could be erected for the use of this Lodge.
Bro. John Reece, our first initiated member died in June, 1900. A beautiful sentiment was drafted by a committee and it is recorded in the minutes.
On February 16, 1904 the Lodge moved again, this time to Masonic Hall, 733 Penn Avenue. As the Minutes have it; “We will have the first stated or special meeting after a fire escape has been placed on that building”.A record attendance for the conferring of a degree was attained on June 14, 1904. According to the Minutes the only work done that evening was an Entered Apprentice degree. There were two hundred and fifty Brethren present to see the work. Would our present floor officers appreciate such an audience today? That was in the middle of June too!
Orient Lodge has on five occasions returned the service of recommending a petition for the formation of a new Lodge to the favorable consideration of the Grand Lodge. The first of these occurred in November, 1904. The new Lodge was Homewood, No. 635. In addition to the goodwill thus transferred, Orient donated a new Bible and the carpet and alter lights which had been used in our former Lodge Room. The new Lodge was constituted in March, 1905 in the Lodge Room at 733 Penn Avenue. On May I, 1906 Orient Lodge recommended the constitution of Beta Lodge, No. 647. In November, 1907 Orient Lodge recommended the formation of Swissvale Lodge, No. 656. The formation of Wilkinsburg Lodge, No. 683 was recommended in October, 1915. The most recent lodge to be recommended by Orient Lodge, No. 590, is the youngest which meets in this Masonic Temple, Samuel Hamilton Lodge, No. 746, which was recommended in June 1, 1926.
While Masonic Funeral services were being conducted in the memory of our late Bro. P.M. James D. Carothers in December, 1905 a fire broke out in an adjoining building and forced the interruption of the services. They were completed in an appropriate manner at the next stated meeting. The Brethren of Orient Lodge humbly realized an opportunity of service to humanity on May 1, 1906 when one hundred dollars was sent to the relief of suffering Brethren and their families in the San Francisco earthquake area.
In 1907 our Trustees met with the Trustees of Beta Lodge and Wilkinsburg Royal Arch Chapter, No. 285 relative to the purchase of property for the several Masonic bodies in Wilkinsburg.
In September of 1911 and March of 1914 Orient Lodge met with the Lodges of several neighboring Districts for two notable events. The first occurred in Memorial Hall, Pittsburgh, for the purpose of celebrating the 125th Anniversary of the Independence of the G.L. of Pennsylvania. In 1786 following the formation of the United States of America, the Provincial Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania declared its independence from the Grand Lodge of England and became the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Most Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania and Masonic Jurisdiction thereunto belonging. Orient Lodge participation in the 125th Anniversary of this event was called a Special Meeting of the Lodge. It is recorded that there were present 99 Members and 2418 Visitors. In March, 1914, a Special Meeting of Orient Lodge was held for the purpose of assisting in the laying of the Cornerstone of the new Masonic Temple in Oakland. 140 Members and 7695 Visitors were present for this event.
The Cornerstone of the building, in which we now meet, was laid on Saturday afternoon, July 22, 1916. There are listed in the Minutes 291 Brethren present, 150 members of Orient, 74 members of Beta, and 67 visitors. The Brethren formed at Masonic Hall in Penn Avenue and marched to the site of our present Masonic Temple where the ceremonies were conducted by Grand Lodge officers headed by Bro. John S. Sell, Acting R.W.G.M. There are certainly some reading this who participated in and retain vivid memories of that event.
A short time later our Lodge sold most of its paraphernalia and furniture to the Masonic Temple Association in exchange for capital stock in the Association.
The final meeting held by Orient Lodge in Masonic Hall at 733 Penn Avenue, which had been the home of the Lodge for thirteen years (above the Feed Store, as many of the older Brethren affectionately termed the location) occurred on April 21, 1917. That Lodge Room had been the scene of countless fond memories for so many of our Brethren; and the last meeting was a parting with the old familiar quarters, a farewell. The last meeting was oddly enough, mayhap appropriately enough, the occasion of a Masonic Burial Service, in memory of our late Bro. David F. Lane.
The Lodge began its meetings in our present quarters in this Temple on May 1, 1917. May 1, you know, has always been, or used to be, a traditional Moving Day. So our Lodge ran true to form, Of course it was a stated meeting, and attended by 234 Members and 230 Visitors. At this meeting a communication was read from D.D.G.M. Bro. William A. Jordan directing that the anthem, “My Country ’Tis of Thee” be sung by the Members of the Lodge at each stated and extra meeting, immediately upon the conclusion of the opening prayer. The United States was then—as on our 50th Anniversary—and—as now—at war!
In November of 1917 the Lodge was electrified by the reading of a resolution which had been recently adopted by the Grand Lodge—and which has been heard again in later years notably after Pearl Harbor. The resolution of 1917, after preambles, was as follows: “Therefore, be it resolved, That we, in Grand Lodge assembled, for and on behalf of ourselves and—Brethren Freemasons in Pennsylvania, do hereby solemnly pledge to the Government of the United States of America. our unwavering loyalty and support: with our lives, if need be; our every energy; and our worldly goods; to the end that justice and right prevails, and peace, permanent peace, may be established.”
During the period of World War #1, in response to suggestions from D.D.G.M. Bro. William A. Jordan, the Secretary was instructed to keep a record of all members who entered the service of our Country either as volunteers or by selective conscription and also to procure identification medals for these members. This was of value in arranging a tablet in honor of those Brethren. The tablet is now suspended on the North wall of the Ante-room and bears 51 names.
In the early part of the 19th Century the Grand Lodge of Pennsylva,tia was forced by Yellow Fever to dispense with several meetings. Similarly, in the early part of November, 1918 Orient Lodge was forced to withhold meetings “on account of influenza prevailing over the entire community”.
In September, 1921 the R.W.G.M’s edict apropos of Members’ affiliation with the Order of the Eastern Star and similar organizations was read. Subsequently 127 members of Orient Lodge renounced all affiliation with such groups. Our membership at that time was about 800, so the relatively small proportion affected is apparent.
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Our Lodge bore its share of the Relief of Mississippi Flood suffers of 1927, when the misery there was so intense and widespread.
Since 1931 several important functions have been observed and events have been celebrated with gratifying attendance solemnity and dignity by Orient Lodge. They are as follows: October, 1931, the 200th Anniversary of Freemasonry in Pennsylvania; April 5, 1932, Orient Lodge’s 40th Anniversary, a gala affair; and in October, 1937, the 150th Anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America, that document which, in addition to so many other previous privileges, permits us to freely participate in such a thoroughly reverent and American fraternity as the Free and accepted Masons of Pennsylvania.
What was possibly the greatest attendance at a Masonic meet1ng in this Temple, surely the largest for Orient Lodge, occurred on March 1. 1938 at a so-called “Scotch Night”. This was when a number of Scots Brethren exemplified the purported manner of ritualistic Masonic work as conducted in Scotland —complete —with bagpipes. There were in attendance that night 44 members and 443 visitors. Those who attended will recall that it was an overflow meeting in every sense of the word.
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One of Orient Lodge’s most famous members set aside the Trestle Board of Life and knocked at the doorway of the Temple above on April 19, 1919. Bro. Robert R. Garland, once prominent businessman of Pittsburgh became internationally famous and loved or scourged, depending upon view point, as the Father of Daylight Saving Time. He was a man strong in the courage of his convictions,—a worthy Brother of our Craft. Prior to his death he was a guest in the Masonic Homes at Elizabethtown having been admitted in November of 1948. As mentioned before he died in April of 1949-as you may have noted —during Daylight Saving Time.Earlier we noted that 51 members of Orient Lodge served the Allied Forces in the First World War. In World War #2 there were 30. These are figures which have been reported to the Lodge and Grand Lodge.
At this point your Lodge History Committee turned to the task of recounting recent history of Orient Lodge. When reduced to writing. recent history pales in insignificance when compared with the early formative years of Wilkinsburg Masonry and our own Orient Lodge. Perhaps much of the problem lies in our inability to recognize history as we live it.
We could read the roll of distinguished and loved Members of Orient Lodge who have died since Brother MacFadden’s summary of our past. Names which must be included in such a list are Brother MacFadden who gave so much of his time and efforts to our Lodge; Brother William B. McKechnie, who brought the borough of Wilkinsburg to the attention of our nation while gracing the game of baseball; and Brother Samuel Mawhinney, who certainly was “Mr. Masonry” in Wilkinsburg for so many years. We could turn to the brighter side and point with pride to our Brothers Anthony H. Clarke and Edward T. Arters, who were made 33° Masons a few years ago, Brother Clarke in 1948 and Brother Arters in 1964.
To single out so few, although very worthy of mention, is to slight so many also worthy of mention. Orient Lodge owes so much to so many men, men who have made their task look so easy that it is difficult to appreciate their individual contributions. Perhaps later historians will properly recognize these men and they will he formalized into our history.
The past is important to us in so many ways.
Many who will read this collection have lived through much of this period and have shared in its joys and sorrows. It is hoped that this collection has helped to recreate a few of the more important events.
For many who have shared only the recent events, there is much to be gained by reading of the trials and tribulations of our early Brethren.
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It is interesting to note that each of Orient’s 25th anniversary cycles has been observed while the United States was engaged in a war of various proportions, either declared or undeclared (1917–1942–1967). The year 1992 will be our next cycle.
It may be of interest that 1967 is also the Two Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the birth of modern Masonry, for on June 24th, 1717, representatives of four London Lodges “and some ’others” met and formed the first Grand Lodge.
Although we look to the future with a great deal of uncertainty, we approach it boldly with our experiences gained from the past, our ChristIan faith, and a strong fraternal organization. The future is just as bright as we make it.
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Years 1967–1991
The past twenty-five years have not been very kind to Orient Lodge. We had a membership high of almost 1,000 in 1956 but have seen a steady decline to just over 300 at the end of 1991. Our program shows the rise and fall of membership over the 100 year period. Unfortunately, the deceased column in these tables carries the heaviest impact on our declining membership. We can look at these numhers and remember well some of our Brothers who have gone on to be with the Great Architect of the Universe.
With the decline in new members entering the Lodge, several Past Masters had to return to the floor to keep the Lodge operating in a reasonable fashion. Two Past Masters have served four times each as Worshipful Master, one Past Master served three times, while others served two times. The Lodge could not have continued to function without this show of dedication and we could not have observed our 100th Anniversary. We owe so much to a small number of dedicated individuals.
The Masonic Temple in Wilkinsburg was the meeting place for Orient Lodge since it was built in 1917. In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, it became apparent that we could not continue to operate this building. The building would require large capital investments to put it in good condition. With the steady decline in membership in all bodies the ability to raise this capital was questionable. Many of the older members could not climb the stairs and the Wilkinsburg area was becoming less attractive from a safety point of view.
With great personal regrets, the only sensible decision we could reach was to sell the building and scatter the Lodges. Orient Lodge approved a move to Monroeville. Our first meeting in the Masonic Temple in Monroeville was on September 7, 1982.
While Orient Lodge had been an owner/tenant in the Wilkinsburg Masonic Temple, we moved to Monroeville strictly as a tenant. At this writing Orient Lodge is still a tenant.
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This would seem to be an appropriate point to refer to the 25 year war cycle in the history of Orient Lodge. As pointed out in the earlier text, our nation has been involved in a war each time Orient Lodge observed a 25 year mark in its history (1917–1942–1967). This time we not only missed the Persian Gulf war by a full year, but we are seeing the end of the cold war and hopefully the end of global wars. You younger brothers will have to be on guard for what may happen in 2017. May it bring you a happy 125th Anniversary and world peace.
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Wilkinsburg Public Library Digital Archives:
100th Anniversary, 1892–1992, Orient Lodge No. 590, Free & Accepted Masons, Wilkinsburg, Pa.