SCIOTO LODGE HISTORY

On September 10, 1805 The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts received a petition presented through Right Worshipful Brother Thad’s M. Harris from Thomas Gibson and others, praying for a charter to holding a lodge in the town of Chillicothe, State of Ohio by the name of Scioto Lodge, which was granted unanimously.  

 

First Meetings

The first meeting of Scioto Lodge took place on November 22, 1805 in the home of Thomas Needham, a tavern keeper. Elections were held and Thomas Gibson was elected Worshipful Master; Jervis Cutler elected Senior Warden; Nathaniel Willis, Junior Warden. Joseph became secretary Pro Tem.

The second meeting held December 4, 1805, was opened in the first degree. Henrie Massie’s name appears as Treasurer, Francis McHenry as Senior Deacon, Seth Thompson as Junior Deacon, James Davenport as Secretary and Oliver Strong as Tyler. One of the items of business was the adoption of lodge by-laws. Unique among the provisions of the by-laws was in the fifth section which subjects each member to a fine of thirty cents for neglect of his attendance on regular nights, unless the majority shall think his excuse sufficient. Two shillings and six pence was considered a common monthly expense for all members.

Elections

Elections were provided for twice a year on the night before the days of St. John the Evangelist (December 27th) and St. John the Baptist (June 24th). “All brethren who have paid up their fines and dues, or have been excused from payment, have the privilege of voting.”

Candidates were considered entitled to vote as soon as they received the first degree and most business was transacted in the Entered Apprentice Degree until October 2, 1822. From that time a limitation was placed on those who had not received all three degrees.

First Candidates

The first candidate raised in Scioto Lodge was Seth Thompson on December 25, 1805. The records do not indicate where Brother Thompson obtained his first two degrees. He became the first Junior Deacon of the lodge the preceding December 4, 1805.

Brother Thomas Needham became the first candidate initiated into Scioto Lodge No. 2 on March 19, 1806. He was the second candidate raised and at his raising he became the 15th member of Scioto Lodge on January 12, 1807.

Early Members of Scioto Lodge #2

 

Nathaniel Willis, first proprietor of the Chillicothe Gazette, was a charter member and first Junior Warden. According to the History of Freemasonry in Ohio this is the same Nathaniel Willis, who along with Paul Revere and several other brethren, dressed themselves in Indian costumes and threw some tea into Boston Harbor on the night of December 16, 1773.

Peter Parcells and James Barnes were raised during 1807 and were the second and third proprietors successively of the Scioto Gazette.

Thomas Kirker of West Union, raised in 1807 was the second Governor of Ohio serving in 1807 and 1808.

Thomas Worthington, the Governor of Ohio in 1814-1818 was admitted a member of Scioto Lodge in 1815.

Duncan McArthur was raised in Scioto Lodge in 1807 and was Governor of Ohio in 1830-1832.

Nathaniel Massie, who first laid out the city of Chillicothe, was admitted a member in 1806.

Thomas Gibson the first Worshipful Master of Scioto Lodge was Auditor of the Territory.

William Creighton was raised in 1807. He became Worshipful Master in 1819 and was the first Secretary of State of Ohio. He proposed and designed the Great Seal of Ohio.

Henry Brush was raised in Scioto Lodge in 1808 and was a prominent Judge and Congressman. He became Worshipful Master in 1809 and Grand Master of Masons in Ohio in 1813-1817.

Other early members of Scioto Lodge #2

Name

Raised

Comments

Philemon Beecher

1807

Judge, Deputy Grand Master 1817

William W. Irvin

1807

Lawyer, Grand Master 1825

Levin Belt

1807

First Mayor of Chillicothe, Grand Junior Deacon1813-1814

Jeremiah McLene

1808

Sheriff and County Recorder, Grand Marshall 1816-1818

John Woodbridge

1808

Cashier Chillicothe Bank, Grand Marshall 1811-1812

John Carlisle

1808

Prominent Merchant

David Kinkead

1808

Prominent Merchant, Grand Treasurer 1813-1817

Robert Kercheval

1810

Grand Secretary 1813-1817

Jacob Burnet

1810

Deputy Grand Master 1810-1812, Grand Orator 1815

Thomas Orr

1808

Prominent Lawyer, Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, 2nd KYCH

Lincoln Goodale

1808

Grand Treasurer 1818-1837, Charter member of Columbus Lodge #30

John Kerr

1808

Merchant, Charter member of Columbus Lodge #30

 

Scioto Lodge Firsts & Other Trivia

  • March 3, 1891—Copies of the Charter of Scioto Lodge and a list of officer from the beginning were made available to membership at a cost of ten cents.
  • April 7, 1891—The records of Scioto Lodge noted the contribution of $50.00 from each of the Treasuries of Scioto Lodge, Chillicothe Chapter and Chillicothe Commandery toward the construction of the Ohio Masonic Home in Springfield, Ohio
  • December 1, 1891—Ordered that its funds be deposited in the First National Bank and that all payments be by check.
  • July 5, 1892—Purchase of eleven chairs of quartered oak upholstered in long nap plain mohair plush, eighty-six feet of settees and one officer’s pedestal for the sum of $800.00.
  • August 2, 1892—First use of a typewriter in preparing an Audit Committee report
  • 1893—First meeting of Eastern Star in Masonic Temples in Ohio was in; the Order of Eastern Star in Chillicothe was first instituted in 1928.
  • September 4, 1894—First use of a typewriter in filling out an annual return.
  • 1895—First installation of a telephone was recommended.
  • 1896—The Masonic Bodies of Chillicothe joined in furnishing Room No. 79 in the tower on the fourth floor of the Masonic Home in Springfield at a cost of $66.66.
  • June 2, 1896—15 members of Scioto Lodge contributed $100.00 each to the Masonic Home.
  • April 5, 1898—First examination of a candidate in the Master Mason Degree.
  • September 6, 1898—First mention of the Order of Eastern Star in the records of Scioto Lodge was made. This was due to a request from the daughter of Moses Merriam who wished to join that order in Coquille City, Oregon.
  • March 1, 1898—Contributed to the relief of the survivors of the Battleship Maine.

In 1856 the state was divided into six districts, under this plan Scioto Lodge was included in the first district which covered thirteen counties in the southwestern corner of the state.

In 1888 the state was now comprised of fifteen districts, at this time Scioto Lodge became part of the Seventh Masonic District. District Lecturers were first appointed in 1856. The first recorded account of an official visitation of a District Lecturer to Scioto Lodge was in 1895.  Right Worshipful Brother E. F. Draper of Peebles Lodge No. 581, Grand Lecturer of the 7th Masonic District visited for the purpose of inspection.

October 1918

Scioto Lodge was ordered to discontinue meeting by the Board of Health on instructions from Major Robinson, Health Officer of Camp Sherman because of the influenza epidemic.

Formation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio

Masonry in Ohio in 1805

At the time Scioto Lodge #2 was chartered by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, there were six other lodges already working in the newly organized State of Ohio. They were:

  •  American Union Lodge No. 1—Chartered by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts February 15, 1776. At the time of its chartering it was a Military Lodge without a fixed meeting place. On June 28, 1790 American Union Lodge established a permanent location. This lodge was recognized by communication from Moses H. Hayes, the Grand Master of Massachusetts on December 6, 1791. The Charter for this lodge was destroyed by fire on March 22, 1801 and, after failing to have a new charter issued by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania, a dispensation was issued on January 1, 1804 by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, to enable American Union Lodge to operate until such time as a Grand Lodge should be formed in Ohio. Brother Rufus Putnam of this lodge was elected first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1808. The Grand Lodge of Ohio did not charter this lodge until 1816 because it refused to surrender its dispensation until that time.

  • Mingo Lodge No. 78—Issued a warrant by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania on March 4, 1799 to hold a lodge at Old Mingo town three miles below the present city of Steubenville, Ohio. This lodge was organized on May 21, 1799 and continued to operate until 1806. It was unheard of after that date.
  • Nova Cesarea Lodge No. 10—Warranted by the Grand Lodge of New Jersey on September 8, 1791 and organized as a lodge on December 27, 1794. Nova Cesarea Lodge No. 10 continued to operate until December 10, 1805 at which time it turned in its warrant to the Grand Lodge of New Jersey and accepted a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Kentucky. It operated until December 7, 1808 when they resolved to return their dispensation to the Grand Lodge of Kentucky and to procure a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Meanwhile a group from this lodge petitioned for the return of their warrant from the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. This petition was not granted. Subsequently both Cincinnati groups joined in the formation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio and became known a Nova Cesarea Harmony Lodge No. 2.
  • Eire Lodge No. 47—Chartered by Grand Lodge of Connecticut on October 19, 1803. This lodge was located in Warren in Trumbull County, Ohio. The lodge was organized on March 16, 1804. The representatives of this lodge were the first to propose, by formal correspondence, the organization of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. This lodge became No. 3 under the Grand Lodge of Ohio by accepting a warrant of dispensation on March 23, 1809 and was chartered on January 5, 1814. Brother Samuel Huntington of this lodge was elected the second Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio.
  • New England Lodge No. 48— The Grand Lodge of Connecticut chartered this lodge located in Worthington, Ohio on October 19, 1803. It was represented at the convention forming the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1808 but the credentials of their representative were not in order and the delegate was not permitted to participate in the proceedings. This situation was corrected before the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1810 and New England Lodge was eventually chartered as No. 4 in 1814.
  • Amity Lodge No. 105—was issued a warrant by the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania on June 24, 1805. Located in Zanesville, Ohio, its first recorded meeting was held on September 26, 1806. This lodge received a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Ohio on January 26, 1809 and was chartered as No. 5 on January 15, 1812. Brother Lewis Cass of this lodge was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ohio in 1810, 1811 and 1812 and was later Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Michigan and Governor of Michigan in 1813.

 

On June 3, 1807 a letter from Erie Lodge No. 47 located at Warren, Ohio was received containing a number of resolutions providing for the formation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Members of Scioto Lodge approved these resolutions and similar resolutions were adopted. A committee of five members was authorized to correspond with the different lodges in the state. A further committee of two members was appointed whose duty it was to meet with such brethren as may be appointed by the other lodges at Chillicothe on December 25, 1807 to form the Grand Lodge of Ohio. Those named of the committee on correspondence were: Levi Belt, Elias Langham, Henrie Massie, William Creighton, and William Seymour. The Delegates were Thomas Gibson and Elias Langham.

As mentioned earlier, American Union Lodge at Marietta refused to surrender it Charter, and the credentials of New England Lodge not being satisfactory, the other four lodges proceeded to organized the Grand Lodge and a resolution was adopted providing for the formation of the Grand Lodge of Ohio with full powers. It was further provided that the first communication be held on Monday, January 1, 1809 which will be held at whatever place the legislature of Ohio is in session.

The several lodges were requested to transmit to their respective Grand Lodges, their lodge dues, and request a certificate thereof and the several charters were to be sent in with these certificates to the Grand Lodge of Ohio, which shall issue new charters to the several lodges, numbering them in order, beginning with the charter of the most ancient date.

 

Officers of The Grand Lodge of Ohio elected:

·       Rufus Putnam, Most Worshipful Grand Master – American Union No. 1

·       Thomas Henderson, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master – Cincinnati No. 13

·       George Todd, Right Worshipful Senior Grand Warden – Erie No. 47

·       Isaac Van Horn, Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden – Amity No. 105

·       Henrie Massie, Grand Treasurer – Scioto No. 2

·       David Putnam, Grand Secretary

·       Philemon Beecher, Grand Senior Deacon – Scioto No. 2

·       Levi Belt, Grand Junior Deacon – Scioto No. 2

·       Charles A. Steuart, Grand Marshall – Scioto No. 2

·       Peter Spurck, Grand Tyler – Scioto No. 2

 

In 1812 the Grand Lodge of Ohio decided to number the charters to be issued to the Lodges, beginning with number 2 in order of the seniority of their original charters. It will be remembered that American Union Lodge had not, at that time surrendered its charter and did not do so until 1816.

A Meeting Place

As Scioto Lodge grew, the necessity of having some permanent home became apparent to the members. On July 18, 1808 Brother William Creighton presented proposals from Brother Humphrey Fullerton respecting the erection of a Masonic Hall, which is as follows:

 

“The subscriber will purchase one half of the East Lot of William Winship’s Block of lots binding on the alley and Second Street, will build a brick building of forty-eight feet by twenty-five, the first story thereof for the used of the Chillicothe Bank, will leave a passage of eight feet, and in fine complete the lower story of the house to be the exclusive property of the subscriber, the passage of eight feet excepted – the upper story, when compleat for use of the lodge will be deeded by the subscriber to the lodge – The Lodge building the upper story at their own expense”

This the lodge acceded to, and in deed of records, Volume 8 page 411, a deed from Thomas James and Wife to Thomas M. Bayley for the property on East Second Street, on the site now occupied by the Majestic Theatre, the south east quarter of the lot. Said deed carried the following exception:

 

“Except the upper story of the house which is not occupied as a lodge room for the Free Masons and the use of the entry leading to said room, the title to which remains with Thomas James.”

This meeting place was used by the members of Scioto Lodge from the time of erection in 1809 until the great fire of 1852 destroyed it. It was also the location of most, if not all, sessions of the Grand Lodge of Ohio until the year 1818. The meetings of the Grand Lodge of Ohio were held in Columbus in 1818 and did not again return to Chillicothe until 1852. This meeting took place October 19, 1852 and was held in Atheneum Hall, located on the North West corner of Walnut and Second Streets with 157 lodges represented by 406 voting members. The Grand Lodge of Ohio met in special session on June 3, 1853 when Most Worshipful Brother William B. Hubbard, Grand Master, laid the corner stone for the new Masonic Temple following the great fire of 1852. The work must have advanced very rapidly, because on October 18, 1853 The Grand Lodge of Ohio met in the new structure.