U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- History of Wetzel County, West Virginia by John C. McEldowney, Jr., 1901 Pages 182-183 WETZEL LODGE No. 39, A., F. & A. M. Among the secret orders having lodges in Wetzel county, a leading place must be given to Wetzel Lodge No. 39, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons, of New Martinsville. The first meeting of Wetzel Lodge U. D, was held July 28, 1868, the Rev. R. A. Claughton, of Middlebourne Lodire No. 34. officiating as W. M. The first officers of the Lodge U. D. were as follows: John S. Monroe, Henry S. McCabe, Thomas Cellers. John H. Moore, John Snodgrass and William McMunn. The first work was done September 1, 1808, when John C. McEldowney, William W. Hall, John A. Shriver and John S. Rider were initiated. The first work in the third degree was October 6, 1868, when John C. McEldowney, Robert McEldowney, and William W. Hall were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason. The first funeral service conducted by the Lodge was September 18, 1868, when William M. Bartlett was laid to rest. The charter of Wetzel No. 39 is dated November 10th, 1869, and is signed by William J. Bates, Grand Master, and Thomas H. Logan, Grand Secretary. The Lodge was constituted January 25th, 1870, by Odell S. Long, the most eminent of West Virginia Free Masons, J. V. L. Rogers officiating as Grand Marshal. The first officers under the charter were as follows: John S. Monroe, John S. Rider, John C. McEldowney, Josephus Clark, George E. Boyd, William W. Hall and Thomas J. Hill. The first stated communication under the charter was held February 1st, 1870. The following is a complete list of the Worshipful Masters of Wetzel Lodge No. 39: John S. Monroe, John S. Rider, B. M. Welch (three years in all), John C. McEldowney (two years), John Cherry, J. P. Dunlap, John McComas (two years), M. R. Crouse, Thomas Perry Jacobs (five years in all), F. C. Bucher (four years in all), F. E. McEldowney (two years), Robert McEldowney (three years), W. McG. Hall (three years), Frank W. Clark (three years). For many years the Lodge met in the old Court House, torn down to make way for the new temple of justice now being erected by the county. About three years since the Lodge removed to its present pleasant quarters in the third floor of the MeCaskey Building. The Lodge membership at present is about one hundred, comprising many of the most prominent men of the town and county. The roster of Lodge officers for the year 1901 is as follows: Frank W. Clark, W. M.; John W. Kaufman, S. W.; A. B. Morrison, J. W.; F. E. McEldowney, Treas.; James Bishop, Secretary; O. L. Haught, S. U.; L. V. Mclntire, J. D.; William Debolt, Tiler; John Stamm and J. U. Dayton, Stewards; Key. W. H. Burkhardt, Chaplain. Perhaps the "biggest day"' in the history of the Lodge was August 31st, 1900, on which date the corner stones of the new Wetzel county Court House and of the new M. E. church were Jaid under Masonic auspices, E. M. Turner officiating as Grand Master, and a large body of Knights Templar acting as escort for the Grand Lodge. Wetzel Lodge has been a most important factor in the development of the county, and will continue so to be as long as its members cherish those bright jewels of the Order, "Friendship, Morality and Brotherly Love." ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other articles in this book by going to the following URL which contains a linked index for the book. http://www.us-data.org/wv/wetzel/history/mceldowney.html -------------------------------------------------------------------