Secret Societies Franklin Twp from Beers History of Warren County, Ohio

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The History of Warren County, Ohio

Secret Societies

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Transcription contributed by Martie Callihan 1 February 2005

Sources:

The History of Warren County Ohio
Part IV Township Histories
Franklin Township by W. C. Reeder
(Chicago, IL: W. H. Beers Co, 1882; reprint, Mt. Vernon, IN: Windmill Publications, 1992)


Page
548

Franklin was early the seat of a lodge of Freemasons. Dispensation was granted to work at Franklin by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, December 17, 1819, and, under date of December 15, 1820, Eastern Star Lodge, No. 55, began its work, with William C. Schenck, W. M.; James W. Lanier, S. W.; and Gar-

Page
549
ret Schenck, J. W. The meetings were held in various rooms rented from private parties, until 1848, when they helped build the school building and held their meetings in the north room until the building of the Odd Fellows building in 1868 and 1869, when they purchased the north room of the third story and have occupied it ever since. The lodge has always been a live one and has admitted about 200 members since its first organization. During the Morgan excitement, meetings were suspended, but since the revival of the work the lodge has prospered. They have a nicely furnished room, a library of several hundred volumes of rare value. The active members number about sixty. The present officers are: R. F. Ireland, W. M.; I. S. Reece, S. W.; and C. S. Mickle, J. W. Meetings are held monthly.

Warren Lodge, No. 11, I. O. O. F.. has long been known in this part of the State, being one of the oldest lodges of Odd Fellows, They built the south room in the third story of the schoolhouse, and finally erected the magnificent building on the southeast corner of Center and Fourth streets. This was erected at a cost of about $20,000, the first story containing three storerooms, the upper, a large room, a spacious passage-way and five offices, the upper containing two halls. They rented the storerooms and offices and also their hall to other lodges, but, being embarrassed, retaining their hall, finally sold out the-building, to the First National Bank; this left them clear of debt. They have meetings of the lodge on Monday night of each week. The Encampment meets on Wednesday night twice per month and the Rebekah Lodge on Thursday nights twice per month. An African lodge of Odd Fellows meets on Friday nights.

American Lodge, No. 72, K. of P., was instituted July 4, 1874, with the following-named persons as members: E. C. Ralston, J. H. S. Smith, Joseph Turney, C. E. Denise, C. M. Anderson, James C. Evans, James C. Blood, Samuel C. Warner, Robert Warner, Frank Emley, J. W. Bonner, I. T. Baker, W. F. Hailman, Arth Rockhill, Gus U. Folk, E. M. Burrowes, James T. Schenck, F. R. Evans, J. D. Miller, Richard Emerson, Charles Adams and Christ Shirley. The lodge has been prosperous financially and pays $3 per week benefits and $20 funeral fund. The officers at present are as follows: Christ Shirley, P. C.; W. E. Yates, C. 0.; L. H. Isenmenger, V. C.; John W. Bonner, P.; J. C. Blood, K. of R. and S.; Richard Emerson, M. of E.; M. E. Emley, M.. of F.; Charles Crist, M. at A.; George W. Brown, I. G.; John Maloney, O. G. The lodge meets on Tuesday nights of each week and is well attended.


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