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HISTORY OF ON DA WA LODGE #820

  • Meeting of the Master Masons of Mechanicville, NY held in pursuance of following call: We, the undersigned Master Masons residing in the village of Mechanicville, NY and vicinity, personally agree to be present at an informal meeting to be held in the Streamer house on North Main Street on Friday evening, Jan 3rd, 1896 for the purpose of formulating plans, and taking such action as may be deemed feasible for the purpose of securing a charter and instituting a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the village of Mechanicville, NY.   This call was signed by 50 Master Masons.
  • A resolution that recommended the establishment of a new Lodge passed.  With that the Masons sent a letter to the Grand Master informing him of their desire to form a new Lodge in the village of Mechanicville, NY.  Bro. F M Clough was elected Master, Bro. W H Kirkpatrick, elected Sr. Warden,  Bro. F A Palmer elected Jr. Warden, Bro. C W Nash elected Sec’y and Bro. M P Snyder elected Treasurer.
  • On Feb. 19, 1896 the Masons meet at the Odd fellows Hall. Rent was $200.00 per year. Initiation fees were $25.00. $3.00 for affiliation fee and $3.00 for annual dues.
  • A petition for dispensation from surrounding Lodges must be obtained and presented to the Grand Master. A Bro. Snyder went to NY with recommendations from Victor, Montgomery and Clinton Lodges but not from Franklin Lodge. Franklin Lodge did vote at its regular communications on March 5 but was too late to permit the obtaining of the dispensation prior to the next Grand Lodge session.
  • A petition is being sent to the Grand Master of Masons of New York with the undersigned by 50 Masons living in Mechanicville and surrounding area and belonging to a number of different Lodges asking to form a new Lodge in the village of Mechanicville, NY to be named ON DA WA Lodge.
  • Lodge had purchased from Carnegie Music Hall Co., Alter pedestals, Middle Chamber columns, Candlesticks & the letter G for $150.00. Also purchased other articles of such as jewels, aprons for about $100.00.
  • Bro. Snyder along with other Bros. of this body visited Grand Lodge, then in session, and found a dispensation permitting the assembling of ON DA WA Lodge as a regular Masonic body. It was presented to Past Master Sheffer and he in turn presented to W?Bro. Kirkpatrick, as named Master in the document with the dispensation. The dispensation then was read by the Sec’y, the Officers named in the same, took their stations, and this organization merged itself into ON DA WA Lodge.  Also on this night there were 16 petitions for membership and 3 for membership by affiliation. It appears that the Lodge was doing a degree at every meeting.
  • The reception and banquet for the Grand Lodge Officers was held on June 29, 1897. On Nov. 19 and 20, 1897 the Annual Convention of the 20th Masonic District was held at On Da Wa Lodge #820. The Convention was under the charge of R?W?William H Whiting of Rochester, Grand Lecturer of the State of New , Grand Lecturer of the State of New York. On the 19th the first Degree was exemplified. On the 20th in the a.m. the 2nd Degree was exemplified and the 3rd Degree was exemplified in the afternoon and again at 7:30 pm. In each case the Grand Lecturer filled the Masters station
  • Officers were elected at this Communications. Part of the Masters Report for the past 18 months. Petitions received 55, accepted 36, rejected 18, initiated 34, passed 33, raised 33, by affiliation 7, total 40. 1 death. Membership now at 89.