cr ft m sonry - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District Historical ...

Lessinger, Charles 1959
Weingarten, Philip 1960
Small, Sam 1961
Blumberg, Gabreal 1962
Crown, Lawrence 1963
Reiser, Eugene 1964
Bennett, Lawrence J. 1965
Schwartz, Harry 1966
Birnbaum, Martin 1967
Pine, Harris 1968
Osso, Robert 1969
Freeman, Herbert 1970
Rosenfeld, Elroy 1971
Levy, Ronald 1972
Snyder, Irving 1973
Levine, Arthur 1974
Levy, Ronald 1975
Ziegler, Milton 1976
Wheelock, Avery D. 1977
1978
Hart, Earl L. 1979
Merged with Philo 968 1980
1908 4 Jun Bro. Dr. Meyer removed from the city and Bro. Frank Dellow, Jr., was appointed Secretary.
W.’. Solomon was appointed a member of the Board of Relief to represent the Lodge. The initiation fee was raised to $40. At the
close of the first year there were 55 members.
1909 27 May the first anniversary was celebrated with a reception. SW Fenner presented the Lodge with the original corn,
wine and oil used at its consecration, which was artistically mounted and framed for permanent preservation.
21 Oct Bro. Joseph Rhein removed from the city and Bro. Leo Karp was appointed Tyler in his place.
1910 On 10 Jan Frederick Fenner was installed as Master. An oil painting of W.’. Solomon was ordered in April. The By-Laws
were amended to change the meeting night from Thursday to Wednesday at 8:00 p.m. On 26 May there was a reception and dance
in celebration of the 2nd Anniversary.
1911 4 Jan Isaac Schwartz was installed as Master. In April B. Michael resigned as organist and Prof. H. Vibbard was
appointed in his place. In May the Lodge took a trip to the Masonic Home in Utica by special car. The Lodge ordered an oil painting
of W.’. Fenner.
1912 George E. Pabst was appointed organist. W.’. Schwartz organized a Fellowcraft Club to promote new interest in the
Lodge, with B. G. Rudolph as Chairman. The new club entertained the officers of the Lodge, held an outing at Long Branch Park
and formed a Fellowcraft Team for the Third Degree. The original officers of the Lodge worked the First Degree on 31 Jan. W.’.
Solomon, W.’. Schwartz and N. J. Phillips were appointed a committee pertaining to the new Syracuse Masonic Temple, then being
planned to be built. For a more complete account of the Syracuse Masonic Temple, see further details under Central City Lodge No.
305 above. On 25 Sep the initiation fee was raised to $50. The Lodge purchased costumes for the Third Degree drama.
1915 W.’. Schwartz was elected Secretary. In October the Master appointed a committee for Laying the Cornerstone of the
new Masonic Temple: W.’.s Solomon and Gorder, and Bros. Sugarman, Bronson and Phillips. The Masonic Club held an open
house in celebration of this on 3 Nov 1915. On 16 Dec Charter Member Bro. Samuel Kopelowich passed to the Celestial Lodge
Above.
1916 The Lodge ordered a quartette for all degrees. The new Temple was opened for inspection on 30 May. The original
officers conferred the Third Degree on 7 Jun and Bro. Walter H. Scammel of Tully Lodge was made on Honorary Member of Mount
Sinai Lodge. On 3 Jul and emergent communication was called to attend the funeral of W.’. Fenner, a Charter Member and Past
Master of the Lodge. At the request of W.’. Fenner, the Past Master’s Jewel presented to him was presented to the Lodge and was
placed in a frame.
1917 The United States had entered the First World War and the Lodge bought Liberty Bonds. In September the Grand
Lodge convened; honor was ordered for War Service of all Masons. Mount Sinai Lodge passed a motion to present Masonic rings to
each Brother who joined the service. SW, Robert Sauber, died in Dunkirk, NY on 2 December. Bros. Sugarman, Bronson and
Shapiro went to Buffalo for the Masonic funeral; Perseverance Lodge acted with the Lodge and also furnished cars. On 25 and 28
Dec a special dispensation was given to confer the three Degrees in one night on soldiers.
1918 In January the Lodge issued its first bulletin and Bro. Timmons gave a very interesting program on the American Flag.
The first Masonic Ball was held on Washington’s birthday. 13, 20 and 27 Mar special dispensation again obtained to confer three
degrees on soldiers. 14 Apr there was an emergent communication to attend the funeral of W.’. Swartz, one of the largest ever held
at the Masonic Temple; standing room only. On 22 May W.’. Wm. H. H. Chamberlain gave the Masters a dinner at the Onondaga
Hotel to plan War Relief work. .M.’.W.’. Wm. S. Farmer was present. Mt. Sinai Lodge gave $1320 to the Fund - $360 over their
quota. The Lodge celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 27 May, with M.’.W.’. Wm. S. Farmer in attendance. W.’. Bronson presented
W.’. Solomon a Masonic ring in token of high regard and Brotherly love as founder and first Master of the Lodge. On 8 Jun the
Grand Master entertained the Grand Lodge officers and the Masters of the City Lodges at Bellevue Country Club. In the evening a
banquet was held at the Onondaga Hotel in honor of the Grand Master. The Grand Master appointed W.’. Solomon a member of the
Charity Committee of Grand Lodge; the Lodge made M.’.W.’. Farmer an honorary member.
During the Summer the Lodge worked degrees on soldiers several times. In the Fall they gave their consent for Danforth and
Salina Lodges to receive dispensations.
From the History of Philetus Lodge No. 1023, F&AM, Binghamton, New York.
http://www.stmarksphiletus.org/history.html
The history of Philetus Lodge No. 1023, F&AM began early in 1922, when a petition was submitted to Grand Lodge with the aid of
its Mother Lodge, Philo Lodge No. 968 of Syracuse, NY, to establish a fourth Masonic Lodge in Binghamton. On 11 Jul 1923, in the
Masonic Temple at 83 State Street, Miles M. Smith, DDGM of the Broome-Chenango District, formally instituted the Lodge as
Philetus Lodge U.D., F&AM. Attending this important occasion was Isadore Rothchild, Philo Lodge No. 968 (Master 1920-21; Grand
Director of Ceremonies, 1922-23). Among the Masters and Past Masters also in attendance: Warren Winkelstein (Master, 1923),
Philo Lodge No. 968 and Sigmund Sugarman (Master 1916-17), Mt. Sinai Lodge No. 864.
In 1977, negotiations and required procedures began to merge Philetus Lodge No. 1023 with St. Mark’s Lodge No. 1001,
culminating on 1 Jul 1978 with a new charter for St. Mark’s-Philetus Lodge No. 1001.
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