History

THE HISTORY OF OSSEA LODGE NO. 317

The warrant of Ossea Lodge, No. 317, Free and Accepted Masons, was granted at the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania January 11, 1858.

Ossea Lodge organized and installed officers on Wednesday, the 24th day of February A.D. 1858, A.L. 5858 in due and ancient form. The Grand Officers met at 2:00 o'clock P.M. and declared the lodge open in the Master Masons Degree with the following acting Grand Officers present: Brother Bull - Grand Master, Brother Marvin - Senior Grand Warden, Brother Butler - Junior Grand Warden, Brother Taylor - Grand Secretary, Brother Land - District Deputy Grand Master, Brother F.E. Smith - Grand Chaplin, Brother Howes - Senior Grand Deacon, Brother Goodnow - Junior Grand Deacon and Brother A. Marvin - Grand Tyler.

The installing officers present were: Ebenezer Pratt - Worshipful Master, William A. Roe - Senior Warden, William Roberts - Junior Warden, James Kimball - Treasurer, Thomas B. Bryden - Secretary, Robert Roy - Senior Deacon, Angus Griffin - Junior Deacon and H. Carpenter - Tyler.

The business of the first stated meeting was as follows: Petitions for initiation were received from Andie Foley, William F. Mathers and Abram Young. These three men were the first of a long line of brethren who petitioned this lodge for membership. Also, at this meeting a resolution was made that an order be drawn to pay Brother Bull Grand Master, $81.00 for the Warrant and $14.00 for his time in instructions. Money received that evening totaled $10.00. The following officers, members and visitors were present: Officers - E. Pratt, Worshipful Master - William Roe, Senior Warden - William Roberts, Junior Warden - J. Kimball, Treasurer - T.Bryden, Secretary - R. Roy, Senior Deacon - A. Griffin, Junior Deacon - and H. Carpenter, Tyler. Members - J. Riberolle, I. Richards, S. Shumway, J. Duryear and J.D. Richards. Visitors - O. Taylor No. 247 Pennsylvania, W. VanNames No. 117 New York, G.H. Bull No. 105 Pennsylvania, A. Forest No. 166 New York and S. Taylor No. 357 New York.

The following appears from the By-laws of Ossea Lodge No. 317 (printed at the office of the Democrat 1858): The name and style of this lodge shall be Ossea Lodge No. 317 - Quote "Stated meeting shall be held on Tuesday on or preceding every full moon. The working hours shall commence at 6:00 P.M. o'clock from the 25th of September to the 25th of March and 7:00 P.M. o'clock from the 25th of March to the 25th of September throughout all the year." The reason for the stated meeting to be held near the full moon was to allow the members to travel back to their homes by the light of the full moon. During that period some of these men traveled 35 miles to attend this lodge. All special meetings shall be paid by those whose benefit it was convened for. The dues at that time were $2.00 a year and the membership fee was $16.00.

On December 25, 1891 consideration was given to renting space in the Wilcox Block, now occupied by the Commonwealth Bank and Trust Co. and in the Converse Building formerly the R.W. Bailey Hardware Store which was about to be constructed. Approval was given to negotiate a lease for the rental of the Wilcox block, but evidently was never signed.

On November 9, 1893 a lease for 15 years at $300.00 per year rental was signed leasing the Annadale Hall which was the Masonic Temple destroyed by fire on August 19, 1976. The first meeting was held here on May 1, 1894 with George H. Derby as Worshipful Master. The Grand Officers were first present in this building November 30 1894 and the Right Worshipful Grand Master Brother M. Arnold made this statement. Quote "In his opinion, outside of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, our lodge hall was not excelled by any other Masonic Hall in Pennsylvania." We as members of Ossea Lodge, still believe this was true.

The lodge continued renting these same rooms until September 2, 1919, when at a stated meeting brother George M. Spalding made the following resolution: Be it resolved that Ossea Lodge No. 317, Free and Accepted Masons purchase the building now occupied and containing three stories, Lodge rooms, club room, kitchen etc. The price is not to exceed $12,000.00.

On October 7, 1919, Brother Howard F. Marsh and Gregg J. Stewart were appointed as a committee to act in conjunction with the trustees in devising a plan for carrying out the purchase of the building from the R.E. Simpson Estate. At that time the following were elective officers: Andrew J. Dort - Worshipful Master, Rock L. Butler - Senior Warden, Everett W. Mack - Junior Warden, Henry E. Raesly - Secretary, George M. Spalding, Joseph H. Williams and Harry Blatchley - Trustees.

Settlement was made by paying $2000.00 in cash and giving mortgage for $10,000.00. This mortgage was reduced to $8,000.00 and on October 14, 1924 the trustees borrowed an additional $4,000.00 on a second mortgage to make improvements to the front of the building and Lodge Room.

Membership in Ossea Lodge began with 16 members and grew steadily until 1930. The depression came at that time and the membership dropped to a low point of 282 members.

During the latter part of 1939 negotiations were made with the Atlantic and Pacific Tea Co. and a lease was signed whereby they would rent the entire first floor of the Masonic Building. At this time the balance of the first mortgage was $3,000.00 and the second mortgage was $,000.00. Certain improvements were to be made in leasing the building to specification which would cost approximately $7,000.00. On March 20, 1940 the two mortgages and improvements were financed into a new mortgage and the unpaid balance at that time was $13,800.00. Since then regular reductions had been made and on May 1, 1948 the mortgage was paid in full.

A meeting was held for burning of the mortgage May 27, 1948. The Greetings and Purpose of the meeting were set forth by Cecil Walker, Worshipful Master. John Decker, Past Master, acted as Master of Ceremonies. The actual burning of the mortgage was performed by Cecil Walker, Worshipful Master. After comments by members and visitors the lodge was closed.

We owe a debt of gratitude to John H. Decker, Paul B. Yahn and Ralph H. Dewey who as trustees throughout this critical time, brought the lodge from a poor financial standing into a period of prosperity. From 1940 on, the lodge has grown stronger in both finances and members.

One of the highlights in our Masonic History occurred on October 3, 1953 at a special meeting held in George Washington's Masonic National Memorial Building in Alexandria, Virginia. We had 46 members and 34 visitors present for the purpose of conferring two Master Mason degrees.

Ossea Lodge has had a number of distinguished members, two of which were: H. W. Williams who was initiated on June 22, 1858 and went on to become Right Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania in the year 1899. He died in office this same year and was buried with all Masonic Honors while a member of our lodge. William A. Stone initiated on July 16, 1867; passed and raised on August 13, 1867, by dispensation. Brother Stone went on to be Governor of Pennsylvania.

On Saturday, April 19, 1958, Brother Robert E. Taynton Sr., Past Master was installed as District Deputy Grand Master of the 17th Masonic District by Max F. Balcom, Right Worshipful Deputy Grand Master. Brother Taynton was made a 33 degree Mason on September 30, 1964.

On May 24, 1958 Ossea Lodge No. 317 F. & A.M. celebrated its 100th Anniversary with Right Worshipful Grand Master Sanford M. Chilcote and staff present consisting of 17 members as recorded in our minutes.

The last meeting held in Ossea Lodge No. 317 was a Table Lodge for the 17th Masonic District on July 13, 1976, with approximately 95 brethren present.

On August 19, 1976 an unfortunate fire totally destroyed the Ossea Lodge No. 317 F. & A.M. Temple on Main Street.

The Lodge Warrant was salvaged and has been restored as closely as possible to its original condition.

As a result of the loss by fire, it was necessary to get Grand Lodge approval to meet elsewhere. Friendship Lodge No. 247 at Mansfield, Pennsylvania offered us the use of their lodge room and paraphernalia and with Grand Lodge approval we met at Mansfield, Pennsylvania on September 8, 1976. We continued to meet at the Mansfield Lodge until April 6, 1977, when we were given a special dispensation by Grand Lodge to meet in the social room of the Wellsboro Fire Department. We continued to meet there until our new Temple was completed.

After the disastrous fire of August 19, 1976, great preparations were made for the speedy rebuilding of our new Temple. Many of the brothers worked long into the night settling insurance claims, finding a new location for the new Temple, hiring contractors, architects, forming the Ossea Masonic Temple Association, Inc. which would own the Temple, buying furniture and performing the countless chores, and solving the numerous problems attendant to the rebuilding of the Temple.

Finally, on Saturday, March 18, 1978 the cornerstone was laid and the new Temple was dedicated by the Right Worshipful Grand Master, Walter P. Wells, and staff attended with him.

On Saturday, April 30, 1983, Ossea Lodge No. 317 F. & A.M. celebrated its 125th Anniversary. Brother John Kilbourne was Worshipful Master and Samuel C. Williamson was Right Worshipful Grand Master of Pennsylvania at that time.

On Tuesday, June 29, 1984, Right Worshipful Grand Master William A. Carpenter was present at the Stated Meeting of the lodge to present the "Masonic Saints" Award for outstanding service. The award was presented to Brother Walter L. Mathern, P.M. of Ossea Lodge No. 317.

On Tuesday, May 3, 1988, Right Worshipful Grand Master Arthur J. Kurtz was present at the Stated Meeting to honor Cecil L. Walker, P.M., James V. Walker, P.M. and Steven Walker, Worshipful Master for being three generations of the same family to be Worshipful Masters of the same lodge. He presented each of them with Past Masters Aprons..

On February 12, 2005, at a special meeting, Brother Timothy S. McConnell, P.M. was presented to District 17, given his commission, and installed as District Deputy Grand Master by Right Worshipful Grand Master William Slater II.

On Saturday, May 26, 2007, Brother Ronald A. Aungst Sr., R.W.G.M. presented Brother James L. Patterson, P.M. with the "Performance Award" because Ossea Lodge No. 317 met stringent criteria outlined by Pennsylvania Grand Lodge during the 2006 Masonic Year. There were only 30 lodges throughout Pennsylvania that met all of the criteria.

On Saturday, March 15, 2008, Ossea Lodge No. 317 F. & A.M. celebrated its 150th Anniversary. Brother Raymond E. Whitney was Worshipful Master of the lodge. Right Worshipful Grand Master Stephen Gardner was in attendance.