History

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Our Lodge had a very significant moment in its history that was missed and is very much worth mentioning. This historical moment occurred earlier this year in February.

 

Washington Lodge No. 20, the fourth Lodge organized in the City of Sacramento, could be well described as an embodiment of courage and optimism.

 

It came into existence at anything but a propitious time. Its sister Lodges -- Tehama, Jennings, and Sutter -- were in dire straits. Tehama and Jennings were staggering under a huge relief debt, their load of sick and destitute increasing with every wave of migration into the gold country. Jennings could not stave off the inevitable much longer, and Sutter, which had lost its hall in flames, was already done for.

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Then, too, their troubles were by no means alleviated by the periodic overflowing of the Sacramento River.

 

Twice in early 1850, the whole town, save for a bot of high ground near Tenth Street, was inundated by floods that caused untold damage and misery.

 

Many a brother knew what it was to see most of his household belongings, and even whole buildings, float off toward San Francisco on swirling muddy waters. And these were nothing compared with the ever-present dread of cholera.

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Nevertheless, twenty (20) Master Masons, presided over by Jesse M. Morrill, met in the business office of Joel Ball, on February 19th, 1852, for the purpose of organizing another Lodge, to be known as Washington Lodge.

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They drew up and signed a petition for dispensation, recommended by Tehama Lodge, and presented it to Deputy Grand Master B. D. Hyam, who granted it two days later.

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Charles Duncombe was Master; Jesse M. Morrill, Senior Warden; and Jeb L. Thompson, Junior Warden.

 

On May 5th, 1852, they received their charter, as Washington Lodge No. 20.

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On May 13th, 1852, Nathaniel Greene Curtis was elected the first regular Worshipful Master of Washington Lodge No. 20 under the charter.

 

He was re-elected Worshipful Master of the same in 1853-1854 and 1857.

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Brother Curtis also served as Grand Master of Masons of California in 1857-1858-1859-1860. He laid the cornerstones of the State Capitol in Sacramento, and also of the Masonic Temple in San Francisco.

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This Worshipful Brother remained a member of Washington Lodge No. 20 for a period of 45 years, 4 months, and 21 days, until passing to the Eternal Orient on July 12th, 1897, aged 71 years, 5 months, and 4 days, mourned by his family and the entire State of California.

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One of the earliest noticeable characteristics of Washington Lodge was the general levelheadedness and solid business methods of its guiding spirits.

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As early as the second meeting under dispensation, they concerned themselves not only with obtaining just a meeting place but with obtaining a meeting place of their own. Therefore, they appointed Joel Ball, J.A. Bullard, and Nathaniel Greene Curtis on a committee to confer with the various Masonic and Odd Fellows Lodges of the city on purchasing "a suitable lot on which to build a Masons and Odd Fellows Hall."

 

Moreover, they carried this same practicality into their charitable works. The charity box was on the altar at every meeting, "if not for a specific purpose," as Ingram observed, "then for raising funds for general relief." But there was no handing out of relief to every Tom, Dick, or Harry claiming Masonic Affiliation. The brethren of Washington Lodge first made sure he was worthy of it.

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In May 1853, when Washington Lodge sent its first returns to Grand Lodge, it had 39 Master Masons on its roll. Thus, it missed by 1 the doubling of its original number of members. A year later, it more than doubled its 1853 figure, having 94 Master Masons.

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Many additions were by affiliation, among them Governor John Bigler, a member of Tehama Lodge No. 3. Most of the 1854 gains were from initiations.

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In one of the upcoming issues, I’ll add a section here about the Gold Rush and Freemasonry in Sacramento that will add detail.

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Answer to the Quiz

 

• Yoda

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