An Outline of the History  of Mount Hermon Lodge, No. 179 A.F. & A.M. Arnon L. Mehring, PM. and Harry B. Shaw, JD. November 1932         ORIGIN OF ITS  NAME         The lodge derives  its name from Mount Hermon in Syria. The summit of the mountain is 9,100 feet above sea level, thus making it the highest point in the country. Because of its elevation it is the most prominent landmark in the section and is visible on clear days from all parts of Palestine. The name itself  means a sacred place and was given to this mountain because a temple was built  on its summit. The summit is a plateau marked by three knolls. These knolls are so situated as to form a triangle around the alter of the ancient temple, the easternmost being the largest of the three. The above brief  explanation demonstrates that the name “Mt. Hermon” is an appropriate one for a lodge of freemasons         ORGANIZATION         On May 26, 1882, Brothers George W. Nagle, Sr., Dr. W.O. Eversfield, Eugene Calvert, W. Y. Page, E. Magruder, R. Johnson, C. Willis and C. O. Carfroll assembled at the Bladensburg School to hear the reading of a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Maryland giving them permission to organize a lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons.  The petition to the Grand Lodge was signed by all of the above except Johnston and Willis and in addition by F. E. Baukhages, Chas. B. Ager, A. Foulk, E. F. Pumphrey and F. H. Smith. The Grand Master,  John S. Tyson, appointed George W. Nagle, W. O. Eversfield and Eugene Calvert as  worshipful master, senior and junior wardens, respectively. At this first meeting those present elected F. E. Baukhages, Secretary, E. Magruder, Treasurer, C. G. Ager, Senior Deacon, C. O. Carroll, Junior Deacon and A. Foulk, Tyler. A constitution and by-laws were adopted at the second meeting held under dispensation on June 1, 1882. The lodge continued to hold meetings all summer. The Grand Lodge had  a representative investigate the U. D. Lodge in the autumn of the same year,  which investigation resulted in the Committees on Charters reporting that “it had found the minutes of Mt. Hermon Lodge, U. D., to be correctly and very neatly kept” and recommending that a charter be granted the Lodge.  This recommendation was approved by the Grand Lodge, and a charter signed by John S. Tyson, Grand Master, and dated November 22, 1882, was received by Mt. Hermon Lodge at its meeting December 6, 1882.         MEETING  PLACES         The first meeting place of the lodge was the old school in Bladensburg.  A controversy arose after a time as to the amount of rent that the lodge was paying and on August 5, 1885, the lodge  decided to find quarters elsewhere. Hyatts Hall, afterwards Dickey's old feed  store recently torn down, was selected October 21, 1884 and on January 6, 1885 the lodge held its first meeting in Hyattsville.  It is interesting to note at  this point that our respected brother, William Pinkney Magruder, who is still  active among us, was the last mason initiated by the lodge at the old Bladensburg meeting place. Long before this happened Louis D. Wine and Geo. J. Johnson offered on May 1, 1883 to present the lodge with a free building site in Hyattsville. The offer was declined with  thanks at the time, but when it was made again years later the lodge on June 16,  1891 accepted the lot on which the present temple stands. Brother Wine, chiefly responsible for the gift and a past master of Hiram Lodge No. 10 of Washington,  D.C., was elected an honorary life member of this lodge October 1, 1895 in token of the lodge’s appreciation.       As soon as the lodge came into possession of the lot the members began to plan to build a temple upon it.  The first building committee was appointed October 18, 1882 and the cornerstone of the new building was laid May 2, 1893, with ceremonies  commensurate with the dignity of the craft. There were present on this occasion eighteen grand lodge officers from Maryland and the District of Columbia, including Past Deputy Grand Master Wm. H. Clark, and Grand Lecturer  Graham Dukehart of Maryland and Grand Master R. Cabell Williamson, Deputy Grand Master H. S. Merrill and Grand Secretary Wm. R. Singleton of the District of Columbia. Hiram Lodge No. 10 of Washington turned out with a full line of officers and 31 members. The 104 visiting brethren represented 26 lodges in seven states. The members  assembled at the old hall at three P. M. and proceeded to the railroad station  where they met a special train from Washington bearing the visitors from that place accompanied by Schroeder’s band. They were also joined by the Cadet Corps and Drum Corps from the Maryland Agriculture College and all paraded to the site of the new building where printed programs were distributed. Grand Lecturer Dukehart gave an address of welcome and Grand Master Williamson laid the corner  stone using the same gavel used by Past Master Geo. Washington at the cornerstone laying of the U. S. Capitol. The solid silver pitcher in which the oil was carried formerly belonged to Capt. Randall Holden of Rhode Island, who  died in 1796. An address by Past Master Richard P. Evans of this lodge. The  opening prayer and benediction were pronounced by Grand Chaplain C. B. Smith of the District of Columbia. There were many  difficulties to be overcome however, by this group of only forty men, and the building was finally completed by the third building committee headed by Jackson  H. Ralston. The lodge moved into the new temple March 3, 1896. On December 6, 1921  a building committee was appointed to plan the construction of a new temple. It was first decided to build on the present site of the Arcade theater.  However,  this decision was later changed and the old temple was rebuilt, being completed late in 1925.  The first meeting in the rebuilt temple was held January 1, 1926  and was followed by a reception and dance.         OFFICERS         The first officers of the lodge were named in the previous section on organization.  For the first few years the lodge held elections twice a year on the meetings closest to the festivals of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, but during the early years never had a full line of junior officers. On October 6, 1885 a motion was passed to increase the tenure of officers to one year. The first chaplain,  Rev. Jno. B. Williams, was elected July 15, 1884. R. P. Evans became the first trustee on June 17, 1884.  The present Board of Trustees consists of Past Masters S. M. McMillan, Joseph S. Haas and T. H. Welsh. The lodge never had any  stewards until August 6, 1895 when M. F. Hobbs was invested Senior Steward. It then managed to get along with only one until February 8, 1896 when R. G. Lamb was invested as the first Junior Steward. The Board of Managers was created  December 3, 1895 and Chas. W. Leannarda, Geo. Tise and Wm. P. Magruder became its first members February 18, 1896. Elections in the early days were almost always closely contested.  for example, in 1896 it took four ballots to elect a master; three, four, two, one and thirteen to elect the  senior and junior wardens, secretary, treasurer and board of managers,  respectively. Until 1902, when S. M. McMillan became master, no one had been elected to the stations of junior warden, senior warden and master in succession, although R. P. Evans had occupied all three offices at different  times.  During the last 20 years, however, succession in office has come to be  nearly a tradition in Mt. Hermon Lodge.  Representatives to the Grand Lodge were elected by the lodge until April 15, 1984, when a motion was passed authorizing the master and wardens to appoint them.  The following members of Mt. Hermon Lodge have served as officers of the Grand Lodge of Maryland: Richard P. Evans, Worshipful Junior Grand Deacon, 1893; Joseph S.  Haas, Worshipful Senior Grand Steward, 1921; Harry B. Major, Dr. S. M. McMillian and Joseph S. Haas, Grand Inspectors. The first committee  to instruct candidates was appointed April 1, 1884. From the present viewpoint, it is rather amusing to observe that two of the three members of this committee had only received the third degree themselves at the previous meeting. The  present school of instruction was organized in 1919, by Past Master McMillan.   After a time it became apparent to the members of this school that they were not  wholly in step with the Grand Lodge, whereupon the lodge authorized brothers  McMillan, Creese and Mehring to attend the Grand Lodge school of instruction in Baltimore at the lodge’s expense until they knew the work exactly as it should be. From this time Mt. Hermon Lodge has had a statewide reputation for the excellence of its work. The list of tylers of the lodge follows: A. Foulk 1892, C. O. Carroll 1882-1886, John T. Fawcett 1887-1888, R. B. Wright 1891-1892, R. F. Anderson 1893, Frank H. Gasch 1894-1895 and 1896-1903, Geo. M. Raub 1896, Geo. W. Whalley 1904-1921, O. C. Fuller  1922-1927, Samuel McR. Meakin 1928, Ira E. Widmeyer 1929-1930, and Milton M. Clark 1931-1932.         MEMBERS         The lodge started  with eleven charter members, whose names were listed previously. F. E.  Baukhages, the first secretary, remained a member until he died November 27, 1911.  All the other charter members had died or left the lodge by this  time. The first  candidate, Francis Gasch, was initiated July 5, 1882. He served the lodge 29 years as Treasurer and was still a member several years after the last of the charter members had ceased to be. The next candidate, Rev. J. B. Williams, was  later chaplain. The third candidate was Rev. Wm. Brayshaw. For 35 years the growth of the lodge was slow but sure.  during this time three to ten new members were received each year. In a few years the number of deaths, demits and suspensions exceeded the number of new members, but, nevertheless, by 1919 the lodge had 200 members. Then the membership grew by leaps and bounds. In the four years 1920 to 1923, inclusive, the membership doubled. 219 brothers were raised in these four years. The largest membership roll the lodge ever had was 554 in 1930 before West Gate Lodge was formed.         NOTABLE  EVENTS         In addition to those previously mentioned the following outstanding events have occurred in the history of the lodge: On July 18, 1882 a number of visiting brothers from Washington presented the lodge with a Bible, square and compasses. On June 14, 1900 Arthur Carr, Sr., Wm. A. Carr and Charles F. Carr, father and 2 sons, were raised to the sublime degree of master mason. The attendance at this remarkable  event was the largest by far up to that time, there being 165 master masons present including Grand Master W. G. Henderson, Past Grand Master David G. Dixon and the Grand Lecturer of the District of Columbia. There were included in the gathering twenty-two past masters and forty lodges were represented. In 1900 lodge  meetings were called off for the first time during the months of July and August. The only regular meeting never held by the lodge was the meeting called for October 16, 1894.  The meeting was not held because of the absence of all three principal officers of the lodge. On march 11, 1919, Deputy Grand Master Warren S. Seipp raised ten brethren to the sublime degree of master mason. This was the largest number of degrees which had been conferred at one meeting up to that time. The attendance was also the largest up to that date, there being 180 resent, representing 31 lodges. On June 12, 1919 the record set at the March meeting was exceeded. On this occasion Grand Master Charles C. Homer, Jr., and Deputy Grand Master Seipp raised twenty-five brethren  at one session. On the occasion there were over 200 present, representing 47 lodges in 17 grand jurisdictions. 1919 continued to  be a prolific masonic year, as on October 27th, Deputy Grand Master Seipp raised  16 brethren in the presence of over 250 masons from 41 lodges. The issuing of a monthly bulletin was inaugurated by Worshipful Master Burslem in 1919. On April 23, 1921  Deputy Grand Master George W. Livingston raised 41 brethren to the sublime degree. This was the largest class ever raised in the lodge at one time. October 18, 1921 marked the occasion of probably the largest attendance of the lodge.  There were 350 present including the brethren from St. Johns Lodge of Baltimore, who  attended in a body. In the year 1921 fifty-one meetings were held, including twenty-three regular and twenty-eight special communications. The first Old  timers night was held June 19, 1928. All master masons who had been members of  the lodge for more than twenty-five years were especially invited guests. Of the twenty-six who were eligible sixteen attended. Special badges were pinned on  each of the sixteen and all were called upon for remarks. The old timers recited many interesting reminiscences of the periods of their membership.  Old Timers night has been continued in every succeeding year at one of the November meetings, and is an event greatly enjoyed by the members. On May 12, 1932, masonic brethren from all over the country joined in dedicating the George Washington Masonic Memorial at Alexandria, Va.  The day was marked by a cold, driving rain. A large delegation of the brethren of Mt. Hermon Lodge, nevertheless, marched or stood in this rain for several hours to do honor to our distinguished past master. The lodge was well represented at recent exercises commemorating the laying of the corner stone of the U. S. Capitol and at those dedicating the Maryland Masonic Home for the Aged.         OTHER  ACTIVITIES         Mt. Hermon Lodge has officiated at the laying of the corner stones of the following structures: Greenmount M. E. Church, Forestville, MD September 18, 1884. Bladensburg School, June 29, 1918. Hyattsville Municipal Building, September 2, 1912. Hyattsville  Presbyterian Church, February 22, 1915. Riverdale School, June 14, 1918. The lodge also assisted in the laying of the corner stone for several of the buildings at the University of Maryland, the masonic temple in Baltimore and of course that of its own temple. A large delegation from this lodge also participated in the  parade and ceremonies at the laying of the corner stone of George Washington Masonic Memorial, Alexandria, Va., November 1, 1923. The first masonic  funeral conducted by the lodge was for Brother John G. Hall on February 18, 1886. Since then the lodge has brought comfort to hundreds of bereaved families by conducting lodge funerals for deceased members. The lodge and its  members have done their share in the upbuilding of the community and in charitable work, the most notable instance of which was the building of the Maryland Masonic Home for the Aged at Bonnie Blink.  The lodge was well represented at each of the corn-husking bees held on Armistice Day at Bonnie  blink for the past four years. During the World War the lodge organized a campaign of their own to sell liberty bonds, war savings stamps and to receive donations for the Red Cross.       AFFILIATED BODIES  AND RELATED LODGES       That Mt. Hermon  Lodge has inspired its members to work for still further light in masonry is  attested to by the organization of the following affiliated masonic bodies, which are composed largely of Mt. Hermon masons: Chillum Castle No. 186, chartered June 9, 1893. Birmingham No. 188, chartered November 18, 1891. Perseverance No. 208, chartered May 12, 1908. Seat Pleasant No. 218, chartered May 14, 1927. West Gate No. 220, chartered November 18,  1930. This lodge has also  had some influence on the history of Freemasonry in the District of Columbia, since A. M. Lawson, previously a member of Mt. Hermon Lodge, was the first master of East Gate Lodge No. 34 of that jurisdiction. Several other officers  and a number of the charter members of this lodge also demitted from Mt. Hermon for the purpose of organizing East Gate Lodge. Years ago it was a custom of Mt. Hermon members moving to Washington to demit to Hiram Lodge No. 10 of that city.  Two of our past masters, F. I. Hunter and S. C. Cox later became  past masters of Hiram Lodge also. Past Master Hunter was also for many years Secretary of Hiram Lodge and his minutes are a monument to his memory. They must  be seen to be appreciated.