Fort George G. Meade: The First 100 Years

38 THE FIRST 100 YEARS
J. Irving Waters, a longtime lodge official, described
activities at the Masonic Hall during the busy war years:
"During WWI, the lodge–only 10 years old at
the time–raised approximately 200 candidates, of
whom the greater majority were military personnel,
and about 50 percent of whom were raised as
courtesies to other jurisdictions… Grand Master
Shryock instructed the Worshipful Master–our
present Secretary, Bro. J. Irving Waters, who was
Master of Odenton Lodge in 1918, 1919, and
1920–to “feed them” at every meeting, and to
send the bills to the Grand Lodge. His instructions
were followed and every meeting was followed by
a collation which might consist of everything from
a hot dog to a turkey dinner–a tradition which has
continued… The general and the private frequently
sat elbow to elbow in the Lodge Room and at the
tables. Whatever their relative positions might be in
the outside world, within the special world of the
Lodge they were brethren, and “on the level” with
each other."
The influenza epidemic of 1918 provided another vivid
reminder of the close ties between Odenton, railroads,
and Camp Meade. Army trucks delivered caskets with
the remains of flu victims from the cantonment to the
Pennsylvania Railroad station in Odenton. Caskets were
stacked on the platform until they could be loaded into
trains for shipment to their final resting places.
WWI left its mark on Odenton. Today, the Odenton
Historic District is one of the nation’s most complete
and best preserved WWI homefront communities.
Parishioners of Epiphany Episcopal Church meet in the
1918 Epiphany Chapel and Church House. The Odenton
Heritage Society Historical Center is housed in the 1912
Masonic Hall. The 1917 Citizens State Bank houses
Odenton Historical Society history displays and a coffee
shop for railroad passengers.
***
(Pg. 36) Odenton train station. Odenton’s close proximity
to Camp Meade resulted in an economic boom for the town.
Businesses and social organizations helped to fill free time
and maintain soldier morale.
(Below and right) Local Masons, The Salvation Army and
others hung signs and offered welcome to the troops, hoping
to provide them with a respite from their service and an
opportunity to spend their hard earned pay.