The Story of John A. Brashear The Lodge

1925        2004 

With the rapid development of the community of Dormont, Pa., from 1915 to 1925, Dormont Lodge No. 684 was experiencing a remarkable growth in membership. After mature deliberation with the officers of Dormont Lodge and other Masons in the community, they had decided that the time had arrived for the formation of a new Lodge. This resulted in the constitution of John A. Brashear Lodge No. 743. Brother Ralph Radcliffe who had served as Worshipful Master of Guyasuta Lodge No. 513 in 1912, had expressed and interest in the project and was invited to become the Master of the new lodge. 

Brother Radcliffe accepted the invitation and requested that Brothers Andrew P. Martin, Worshipful Master of Guyasuta Lodge No. 513 (1910) and Charles W. McDonald be invited to affiliate with the new lodge with Brother McDonald, to serve as Secretary. At a meeting held September 17, 1925, and after the appropriate procedures had been followed, the new lodge name was approved by all. Also at this meeting, they approved the first Thursday of each month as the time for holding stated meetings and closed the opportunity for signing the application for the warrant of Constitution with a total of 119 signatures being recorded. 

Grand Lodge set a date of December 15, 1925 at 12:00 noon, as the time for John A. Brashear Lodge No. 743 to be constituted, at which time the laying of the corner stone was  performed by Brother William D. Mcllroy, District Deputy Grand Master and the officers of Guyasuta Lodge No. 513. The first meeting of John A. Brashear Lodge No. 743 was held January 7, 1926. At this meeting there were two bibles, an ashler, and 18 petitions for initiation presented. 

Some interesting facts include, at a stated meeting held February 16, 1928 and May 17, 1928 there were 96 members present with 337 visitors and 406 visitors respectively . The meeting of June 21, 1928 was the start of our annual strawberries and short cake night. In the early morning of December 28, 1938 the lodge hall suffered a serious fire causing considerable damage to the building, lodge room, and paraphernalia. On April 14, 1939 the meetings were resumed in the newly renovated lodge room at the West Liberty Avenue building. The last stated meeting of John A. Brashear Lodge No.743 at the West Liberty Ave Hall was June 17, 1993. The following 3 months were used to get the new Masonic Hall at 541 McNeilly Rd. prepared for the September meeting. Although the Lodge Hall was not completely ready, enough progress was made by all the lodges for John A. Brashear No. 743 to hold the first stated meeting in the new lodge room on September 7, 1993. The first stated meeting of the new millennium, was held by John A. Brashear Lodge No. 743 on January 4, 2000. 

The seventieth anniversary celebration was held on Sunday October 22, 1995 at The Banquets Unlimited featuring the music of Cliff Spratt.  Brother Richard S Curry, Jr. presiding.  The first Stated Meeting of the new millennium was held by John A. Brashear Lodge on January 4, 2000 with Brother Joseph L. Betz presiding as Worshipful Master.  The Seventy-fifth anniversary celebration was held on Saturday September 9, 2000 at the greater Pittsburgh Masonic center.  There was an open meeting and a dinner banquet held.  The R.W. Grand Master, Robert L. Dluge, Jr. was present with other Grand Lodge Officers and their ladies.  There was entertainment with a souvenir and program booklet given to all present.  Brother Joseph L. Betz was the presiding Worshipful Master with Brother Milan M. Tomich 33°, P.M. serving as the Chairman of the gala event.

On December 27, 2003 the lodge opened up its official internet site on the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania's server at http://www.pagrandlodge.org/district57/743/index.htm Brashear's website committee included Joseph A. Thomson, P. M., Giulio Magrini, Presiding Master, and Frank R. Kirsopp, P.M. Webmaster.

On February 3, 2004 John A. Brashear Lodge did a reprise of the award - winning program initiated by Anthony J. Brozovich, P.M. in 1993.  the program titled, "The Memorialization of George Washington at the Time of His Death" was again performed that night.  The program was enacted in colonial costumes and was both entertaining and educational for all in attendance.

Tuesday March 2, 2004 marked the initiation of the Milan M. Tomich Masonic Excellence Award.  On Hand were the American Serbian Eastern Rite Brothers, District Deputy David W. Morgans, as well as many Brethren from other Jurisdictions, who attended to honor the memory of Brother Milan M. Tomich, 33°, P.M.A. of our lodge.  This award was created to recognize the many worthy Masons in action in Brashear, as was so ably demonstrated in the past by Brother Tomich. The first recipients of the award were: Anthony J. Brozovich, P.M., Frank R. Kirsopp, P.M., and Joseph A. Thomson, P.M.  Their wives received beautiful Masonic tapestries to recognize their invaluable support in service to our Fraternity.  Brother Giulio Magrini was the presiding Master of the occasion.

The rich tradition established since 1925 has continued through the years in the membership of our Lodge.  But as times have changed our fraternity has seen subtle adaptations that we think will improve and preserve it throughout the years.  With the popularity of the internet our Lodge has developed a community of e-mail messages that will spread our fraternal greetings and update our brothers in lodge.  Through this program our lodge has overcome any circumstances of distance or infirmity and enhanced the work of our lodge.  And the development of this web site has enabled us to share our lodge with you, regardless of your location in the world.  We welcome you and all masons to our site, and hope your stay is a pleasant one.  When our fellow travelers have occasion to be in Pittsburgh we hope you will take the opportunity to come to our lodge.  Our Stated Meetings are the first Tuesday of the month.  We also urge you to tell us your thoughts of this web site, and sign the guest book.  We are proud to maintain and include all brethren in the household of the faithful in our hearts, in our lodge, and through this website.