By Carl R. Flohr, P.M.

Members of George Washington Lodge No. 143, Chambersburg, set aside three days late in October to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the lodge hall that has a most unique history.

A meeting of the lodge was scheduled for Friday, Oct. 23, during which James L. Ernette, R.W. Grand Master, was to present 50-Year Emblems of Gold. An anniversary banquet was to follow in the evening. On Saturday, the historic temple was to be open for public tours. A worship service was scheduled for Trinity Episcopal Church for 4 p.m., Sunday.

An official marker by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission stands in front of the temple proclaiming it "Built 1823-1824. Oldest Pennsylvania building erected solely for Masonic use and now used exclusively for that purpose." Further, the marker notes that the historic building was "Spared when Confederates burned the town on July 30, 1864."

The warrant was issued for George Washington Lodge No. 143 in 1815. The land for the Masonic Temple was purchased in 1823, but, due to various circumstances, there is quite a convoluted history of ownership of the property through the years. The Morgan incident and the anti-Masonic movement impacted George Washington Lodge. Its membership was 25 at the end of 1830 and the charter was returned to Grand Lodge in November, 1831. In 1845, George Washington Lodge was reconstituted and returned to labor.

For some time, lodge meetings were held at various locations in Chambersburg. While the temple was not the property of the lodge, it was used as a church printing house. The temple became available in February of 1860 and returned to the possession of George Washington Lodge at a cost of $2,000.

On July 30, 1864, General John McCausland of the Confederate forces marched into Chambersburg and demanded $100,000 in gold, or $50,000 in U.S. currency, or he would burn the town. The ransom was not paid and the town was burned. However, the buildings in the half-block where the Masonic Temple stands were unharmed.