Lodge History
Completing the 1960s
Fred Quashne was elected Worshipful Master, Alvah Spahr, Senior Warden, Charles Sears, Junior Warden, Frank A. Battaglia, P.M., Secretary and David B. Craig, Jr., Treasurer on June 16, 1964. On June 26, 1964, Past Master Francis A. Battaglia installed W. M. Quashne, S. W. Spahr and W. M. Quashne installed the Secretary and Treasurer and his appointed officers. Junior Warden Charles Sears was installed by W. M. Quashne at a special communication of the lodge on September 1, 1964. Past Master Battaglia was presented his Past Master’s ring by Senior Warden Spahr and his Past Master’s apron by Worshipful Master Quashne at the June 26 meeting.
During Worshipful Master Quashne’s year Brothers Al Spahn and Gene Thompson presented the flag pole that stands in the front of the Temple to the Newport Masonic Hall Company along with an American Flag that had flown over our Capital in Washington, D.C. that was given to them by United States Representative from Delaware, William V. Roth
It should be noted that all of the original line officers continued to serve the Lodge and became Worshipful Masters.
The first visitation from another lodge, Justice Lodge No. 285 A.F. & A.M. from Atlantic City, New Jersey was on October 9, 1964 when W.M. Quashne conferred the M.M. Degree on F. C. Donald Pepper. We later visited Justice Lodge in January 25, 1965, when W.M. Quashne raised F.C. Martin H. Levin.
It didn’t take long for Christiana Lodge to earn a reputation as being very proficient in the ritual work of this Grand Lodge. It also helped to spread friendship and fellowship to the members of other lodges. The Grand Master’s Visitation to Christiana Lodge on March 21, 1966 was the first time that our ladies dined with us as well as those of the Grand Staff. Entertainment was provided by the wives of the Lodge officers for the ladies while M.W. R. Franklin Gordy and his staff were received in the Lodge. P. M Al Spahr was an appointed officer of his staff and he was the first member of our Lodge to serve on a Grand Master’s staff. Many favorable comments were made at the next communication of the Lodge but unfortunately the practice of having the wives participate did not continue after this time until the year 1970-71 when W. M. Edwin M. Newth had the wives of the lodge officers assist in serving a buffet dinner for the Grand Lodge Staff. During W. M. Craig’s year the ladies were again invited to attend and join us for dinner and all ladies in attendance were treated to a fashion show while the Grand Master and his staff were received in Lodge. This practice has been held in most of the years since the November 1974 communication. It was not always a fashion show but entertainment was provided for the ladies.
During the late 1960's Christiana Lodge was asked to do courtesy work for Opa Locka Lodge Number 287 of Florida. The lodge then proceeded to confer the Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft and Master Mason Degrees on Brother Henry Forrest. He learned the catechism of the Delaware ritual prior to advancing to the next degree.
During W. M. John Stroup’s year the lodge traveled to Alexandria, VA, and conferred the Master Mason Degree at the Washington Memorial. This was followed up in January1968 when he had as his speaker for the evening M. W. Past Grand Master of Connecticut Conrad Hahn and the Executive Secretary of the Masonic Service Association. Brother Hahn was a noted speaker and traveled to many different Jurisdictions to speak to his Masonic Brothers. When he arrived at our lodge, he was greeted by W.M. Stroup and M.W. Grand Master Elmer Randall and PGM Edward E. Clough, Arthur G. Craig and William Cantwell.
The year 1969 was the first year that we lost brothers due to their passing. It happened three times in just more than two months. The lodge lost Brothers William L. Finerty, January 16, Brother Alexander Parker, January 29, and Brother George C. Potts, Jr., on March 28, 1969. It was a direct result of these unfortunate deaths that Brother Esau Kaleel saw a need when Masonic Services are performed at the various funeral homes. He and his wife made and donated 35 white cloth aprons to the lodge to be used only at Masonic Funeral Services. This guaranteed that our Lodge would always have clean aprons for these occasions. The aprons were presented to W. M. Carl S. Russell at the April 15, 1969 regular communication of the lodge. W.M. Russell thanked brother Kaleel for his generous gift to the lodge.
Also during April of 1969 Milltown Holding Corp. was formed and shares of stock were sold. The hope was that Christiana Lodge would be able to have a new lodge building constructed to permit Newport Hall Company to make better use of the temple and give a boost to Masonry by having a new facility in a growing population area and have more men petition our lodge by having a meeting place nearer to their homes. Unfortunately this never did materialize and shares that had been previously sold were bought back by the holding company or purchasers cashed in their shares and then donated the money to Christiana Lodge. The idea was a good one at the time but today it appears to have been a saving event for our lodge. We would have financial problems due to our declining membership and increasing cost of maintaining the property. W. M. Peter Berg had created a clever idea to demonstrate the plans. He presented a football as our symbolic emblem for raising the funds needed to purchase the ground and construct a new building. At this time the estimated cost to construct our new temple was between $69,000.00 and $79,000.00. No telling what it might actually cost by today’s estimates.