HISTORICAL NOTES

 The history of Robert A. Lamberton Lodge, Number 487, F. & A. M. has been compiled over the last one hundred years by several authors.  From these accounts, we have learned much about the brethren who preceded us, and their aspirations for the future that we now enjoy.  The formation of a new Lodge was considered at a meeting of Master Masons, held in the Masonic Temple on Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, on December 20, 1870.  Brother William J. Kelly, a member of Washington Lodge Number 59, presided.  At this meeting, twenty-three of the brethren present expressed their willingness to resign from their respective Lodges, and to form the new Lodge.  Brother Kelly then prepared a petition to the Right Worshipful Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for a Warrant for a new Lodge.

 Eight more meetings followed, during December of 1870, and January and February of 1871.  During these meetings, the new lodge was named, officers were elected, a meeting date was  selected, and committees were appointed to purchase Lodge Regalia, draft By-Laws, and arrange for the banquet.

 On March 1, 1871, the brethren assembled at twelve o'clock noon in the Masonic Temple on Chestnut Street, where they were duly constituted into a lawful Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons to be known as Robert A. Lamberton Lodge, Number 487, A.Y.M.  Brother Robert A. Lamberton, Right Worshipful Grand Master, assisted by the officers of the Grand Lodge, conducted the usual solemn and impressive ceremonies of the Fraternity.  Godfrey Keebler was installed as the first Worshipful Master;  Henry R. Coulomb as the first Senior Warden; and James E. Kryder as the first Junior Warden, to serve for the balance of the Masonic Year, ending on St. John the Evangelist Day, 1871.

 The minutes of lodge meetings of those years indicate a focus on charity, and on membership and degree work.  Our brothers of those years set an example.  They offered relief to other Masons who lost all they owned in disasters such as the Chicago Fire of 1871 and the Johnstown Flood.  Brother Keebler, our warrant Worshipful Master, donated a large cemetery lot at Fernwood Cemetery, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.  Some of our lodge members are interred there.  An aluminum fence was erected around the lot by Brother Coulomb.  We understand, through records, that the fence stood from 1872 until 1955.

Through the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, the lodge focused on speeches and addresses, and good food.  Banquets sometimes included six to nine courses, and several speakers.  Some of the menus contain what we would regard as exotic items of food and drink.  The reader may also note that these early dinners, before 1906, included the serving of alcoholic beverages in the banquet rooms of the Temple.  This was also a time when banquets included cigars, and lodge rooms held several spittoons for the use of tobacco chewers.  Some of the meals served at these feasts were of great interest.  We wonder how much they would cost today, or if some of the food items are even available!  Here are some examples of menus:

 Annual Banquet, December 6, 1898; Brother Jesse Pitt, Worshipful Master

 Oyster Cocktail served with Cold Beer

Mock Turtle Soup served with Braun Beer

Roast Turkey, served with German Tea (we suspect this also was beer)

Lobster Cutlet, served with Braun Thirst Wash

Chicken Salad, served with A & S Beer

Ice Cream and Cakes with Fruit

Coffee and Cigars

 Six courses of food and five courses of beer!  We wonder who was left to finish off the ice cream and cakes.

 A banquet to celebrate the sesquicentennial of the initiation of Brother George Washington into the Masonic Fraternity was held on November 4, 1902.  The banquet was held in the Temple.  After a dinner of Tenderloin of Beef, followed by Terrapin,  Brother William H.G. Gould, who was Worshipful Master, also presided as toastmaster.  He proposed six to Brother George Washington with Claret Punch.

 The Lodge held its 34th Annual Banquet on Tuesday, December 5, 1905.  Brother  Theodore H. Hauptle was the Worshipful Master.  Among the notable items on the menu that evening was the main course:  Brazilian Squab Duck. There were nine speakers.   On Tuesday, December 4, 1906, at the 35th Annual Banquet, Reverend William Bamford was our Worshipful Master.  The menu does not mention alcoholic beverages or exotic foods, but the brethren did dine on raw oysters, stewed snapper, roast turkey, chicken croquettes, potato balls, water ice, and coffee.  They were entertained, again, by nine speakers.

 On Tuesday,  December 7, 1909, the 38th Annual Anniversary Banquet was presided over by Brother Joseph D. Hendrickson, who was the Worshipful Master.  We believe that this banquet was the talk of the catering business throughout the state.  The dinner that evening included Turtle Soup, Oyster Cocktail, Fried Oysters, Chicken Salad, Roast Turkey, Kennebee Salmon and Maraschino Punch.  This dinner is remarkable in that there were nineteen speakers—Better than two speakers for each course of food.  We can well wonder, at this juncture, what “Beer à la mode” was back in 1890; or what they did to the Schuylkill in those days to make “Schuylkill Water Chilled” worthy of note in two different menus?  Did the “Seegars” of 1888 bear a resemblance to either the “Phillies” of today, or to the “Whiz Kids” of years past?  

 The feeling of the brethren of Robert A. Lamberton Lodge toward good eating in those early years was probably best summarized by a poem found in the Annual Banquet program for Tuesday, December 6, 1910.

              “The happiest people after all

Are those who are worked the hardest

And fed the best.”

 Brother Henry S. Borneman was the Worshipful Master.  There were only four speakers at the banquet.

 World War I brought a change of interest within the Lodge to music.  Musical groups took center stage.  The groups formed included the Lamberton Glee Club, the Lamberton Combined Banjo Orchestra, and The Musical Stewards.  There were many extra meetings, rehearsals (musical and Masonic) and petitions.

 In 1915, Brother Paul L. Levis, who was a member of our lodge, contributed $33,300 for the construction of the Paul L. Levis Memorial Building at Elizabethtown.  This was the first such memorial building constructed with privately contributed funds.

 After World War I, the tempo in the Lodge increased.  We became well known for our various musical organizations.  Some of our nicknames included the “Live Wire Lodge” and “The Musical Lodge.”

The 48th Anniversary Banquet, Brother William R. Smith, Worshipful Master, had an interesting theme for the night:

              “Three Cheers for our

Heroes of Lodge No. 487

Who put the Huns on the Run”

 Entertainment was provided by the Banjo Trio, a nine piece orchestra, and a Glee Club.  Everyone was invited to “The Big Musical Night.”   All were encouraged to sing, whistle or chant:

                4-8-7 is the Lodge

Is the Lodge

4-8-7 is the Lodge

Is the Lodge

We all know it

You all know it

That's why we're here tonight.

 The hit tune of the evening was “I Hate to Stay Home on Lodge Night,” which was sung to the popular World War I tune “Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning.”  The words were:

                O how I hate to stay home on Lodge Night

O how I love to be with the boys

For the hardest blow of all is to hear my wifey call

You've got to stay home

You've got to stay home

You've got to stay home this evening

 The documents in the Library inform us that this banquet was the musical sensation of the Temple.  The evening was spent in a “Frolic of Music, Mirth, and Fellowship.”  Although 1919 was our biggest and busiest year, the marvelous fellowship continued throughout the 1920's.  There was continued entertainment by the Musical Stewards.

 During the 1930's, however, we noted a change.  The Lodge, and its members were not immune to the Great Depression.  We faced many lean years and the long task of digging out.  Lodge Notices were no longer engraved in shades of blue; they were printed in black and white.  A lot of fellows had neither the time nor the money to further their interest in Freemasonry.  Still, Robert A. Lamberton Lodge forged ahead.

Our December Stated Meeting was planned to include elections, installation of officers, and the raising of two bretheren to the Degree of Master Mason.  We were pleasantly surprised when the Grand Lodge honored us by asking us to formally receive twenty-three members of Fortaleza Lodge Number 3, Ceara, Brazil, who sought to participate in an international encounter with brother Master Masons.

The evening started as 6:00 p.m., when the lodge opened.  After closing, and an informal dinner, the lodge was reopened for the degree work, with the visitors present.  Brother John Madeira of West Chester Lodge Number 322 served as interpreter.  Thereafter, Brother Patchell, representing the Grand Lodge, received the visitors.  Brother Thomas J. Miller, Jr., Past Master, of William L. Elkins Lodge Number 646, who succeeded Brother Patchell as District Deputy Grand Master, assisted him.         

Brother Nathaniel Carneiro Neto, Grand Master of the State of Ceara, Brazil, lead the delegation of visitors.  He was accompanied by the Worshipful Master and several members of Fortaleza Lodge, three other Worshipful Masters, several of his Grand Lodge officers, and other Master Masons from the jurisdiction.

Fraternal greetings were exchanged.  Brother Patchell, on behalf of the Grand Lodge, accepted a specially designed, heavy metal commemorative plaque in a wooden presentation box, which was presented by Brother Carneiro.  He also gave Brother Heebner an appropriately dedicated photo book of Brazil.  Our Lodge presented each visitor with a Forget-Me-Not pin and a Grand Lodge medallion.  Some of our visiting bretheren also received our lodge's 125th anniversary plate.  In return, they presented our members with Brazilian Masonic pins before retiring from the lodge, which returned to its regular work.  Robert A. Lamberton Lodge's 125th anniversary was truly a year to remember.

Freemasonry now includes our ladies and our families in its activities.  We have joined with other lodges in promoting Freemasonry by taking part in events and through financial support of Masonic Charities.  Socially, our brethren, their ladies, and their families have participated in numerous district and Grand Lodge entertainments and activities.  The lodge is also well represented at all of the District “A” visitations.

Since its constitution, the lodge has seen its membership trends change, as has Freemasonry in general.  The brethren represent all walks of life, with no one profession or business prevailing.  A small but strong and determined group of brothers continue to “keep the lights burning.”   While remaining diligent in our Masonic Work, we are carrying on the tradition of maintaining a rather informal lodge, where brethren and visitors, alike, are made to feel at home.  Many of our visitors have noticed that we genuinely enjoy both the craft and the fellowship of Freemasonry.  Although we are few in number, we look forward to continuing Robert A. Lamberton Lodge for many happy years to come.

 “REMEMBERING THE PAST — ENSURING THE FUTURE”

 

J.H.

J.M.A., Jr.

C.D.H.

R.R.B.

R.K.S.

M