Lodge History
THE 1970s
During 1970 W. M. Berg had a very difficult decision to make concerning the condition of a few members of the lodge that were to receive their degrees in the Scottish Rite. He had several choices that he could have made including that of placing them on trial or to issue a reprimand during a regular communication of the lodge. He chose the later and his remarks are recorded in the minutes of March 17th.
“ It was brought to my attention that on Thursday evening, February 19, 1970, you sat in a Lodge being held at the Delaware Consistory for the purpose of receiving those degrees necessary to continue your progression in Scottish Rite Masonry. It was also brought to my attention that on the same evening you were neither in proper mental nor physical condition to receive those degrees or even to be sitting in a Masonic Lodge. Therefore, having mad sufficient investigation, it is my duty to remind you of your responsibilities as a Mason to the world as a whole, to your brothers in general and to yourself in particular.” He then proceeded to reprimand them for their actions and again reminded them of their responsibilities as Masons.
W.M. Berg was the original Junior Steward and was the next to last of the original elected and appointed officers when the Lodge was formed. This left only Edwin M. Newth, the original Chaplain, to serve as Master of our lodge.
Our Lodge began traveling to places outside of Delaware and our first visit to the George Washington Memorial was March 30, 1968 where we conferred the Master Mason Degree and we returned to the Memorial several times later. March 20, 1971, May 21, 1983 and April 30, 1968 each time conferring the Master Mason Degree. We traveled to Justice Lodge No. 285 in Atlantic City, N.J. on May 25, 1970 and again on April 9, 1973. Park Lodge No. 516 of New York City on November 5, 1971 and again on April 4, 1975. These visitations were made by bus and we had no difficulty filling them on each of the above occasions. Many long trips were made and sandwiches and sodas were supplied to be consumed on the bus. These trips often included the Grand Master at the time and some visiting brothers from other lodges in our area.
During the 1970's several actions were taken at our Regular Communications
that are still in place today. There were approved motions that would allow the current Worshipful Master to have his and his wife’s tickets purchased for the Grand Master’s Visitation Dinner, our annual Ladies Night and the Grand Master’s Communication in October and a traveling Worshipful Master Aprons be purchased and given to each succeeding Worshipful Master.
It was during W. M. Newth’s year that recommendations he made were executed and are still in use today. First he was successful in having five sets of small squares and compasses purchased to be used on the candidates Bibles during the degrees. He also started having two prints of the W. M. photos instead of just one. This was accomplished by having one done professionally and then a photo taken of the original and stored in the Lodge safe.
Also during his final report he recommended that a Lodge Award be initiated that would honor an outstanding member of the lodge with a Masonic plaque that would have the recipients name and the Lodge name and year inscribed on it. The practice has not been continued as it was hoped. It could be renewed at any time if a W. M. wanted to. The first recipient of this award was Brother Bill Humpleby.
The first Charter Members Night was held on October 20, 1970 during the Grand Master’s visitation. Grand Master Lousell S. Jeuell was the Grand Master this year. James S. Donaldson, Sr. was the first Worshipful Master that was not a Charter Officer although he was a Charter Member of the Lodge. It was during his year that the first visit to Park Lodge was made with the direct assistance of Brother Peter Pena. He was and still is a member of Park Lodge. He made the arrangements with the lodge and was warmly received when he returned with our members and visitors. Peter had actually been serving as Senior Warden of Park Lodge prior to being transferred to Wilmington by the duPont Company. One of the most remarkable pieces of information that was passed on at this visitation was of one of their members that travels from Harrisburg , PA. to New York City twice a month to attend their meetings and was present this night.
Brother Jim Donaldson was a transfer from Ionic Lodge and was another fine addition to our Lodge as was demonstrated by the following he was able to have at his Grand Master’s Visitation Dinner, 103 members in attendance, and also his Ladies Night with 450 members and guests in attendance. This is possibly the largest turnout for either of these events.
Now we find that in 1973 W. M. Martin Levin had the first joint Table Lodge on February 10, 1973. This was held with the three other lodges in Newport and was very well attended.
It was during the year of Martin Levin that all Masons were informed of a Proclamation by then Grand Master Paul E. Ellis of a period of mourning from December 26, 1972 through January 25, 1973 in memory of and in respect for our Most Worshipful Brother, Harry S. Truman, Thirty-third President of the United States and a Past Grand Master of Missouri.
April 9, 1973 another first was presented in Justice Lodge in Atlantic City, N.J.. W. M. Levin and his officers conferred the Master Mason Degree on our candidate in the Delaware ritual. It was on January 25, 1965 that Brother Levin was raised at Justice Lodge during the year of W. M. Fred Quashne.
June 1973 saw the installation of Walter Crawford and during this year the Grand Master’s Visitation was changed from our regular communication to a special communication. This meant changing from a Tuesday night to a Friday night. He also had several programs that were designed to bring to the members attention the reasons for being Masons and how we should live in our relative communities. His annual report stated this theme again and was presented in a manner of a report and not of a recommendation. During the Summer of 1974, after the installation of David B. Craig, Jr. the Deputy Grand Master, Edward Sturgis passed away. This required a special meeting of the Worshipful Masters of District Two to meet and select a nominee for the office of Grand Master. This recommendation to be placed on the floor of Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication to be held in October. The name of Henry E. Snedeker was the name selected and his nomination was accepted and he was elected at the Annual Communication.
This made for some anxious moments as our Grand Master’s Visitation was scheduled for November 22, 1974. The evening was a very successful one as not only were the Masons in attendance but also for the first time the ladies were present and having their dinner with us. After dinner they were conducted to the old lodge room and treated to a Fashion Show by Pomeroys. The evening was enjoyed by all.
This year was a very busy year for all of the officers as there were visitations to both Justice Lodge in Atlantic City and Park Lodge in New York City in addition to the visits to the Delaware and Pennsylvania Lodges.
This year a special fund was established as a Charity Fund to be held and used by the Worshipful Master to assist needy brothers of the Lodge. Funds were to be dispensed only after discussion with the Senior and Junior Wardens. They must all agree that the need was justified.
There were some new approaches to the programs for the Regular Communications. The main ones were three debates. The first one was “Should We Lower the Age From 21 for Petitioners to Petition the Lodge?” This was well ahead of it time as it took many years before the age was actually lowered. The others were “Resolved that the 60 Day Clause be Increased” and “Resolve that the
Perpetual Jurisdiction of a Rejected Candidate is Unjust?” These debates raised many questions from the brothers in attendance and were very well received. Another change in the programming was that at the December meeting a mock trial was held. These were some of the changes that did help to get the members in attendance to participate in the meetings. In this respect they were not only informative but also accomplished a purpose of getting the members involved as well. Due to the active participation of the District Two Masters and Wardens Association by our Worshipful Master and Wardens they got members of other Lodges involved with our Ladies Last night and this resulted in 414 people being in attendance and actually having the event produce a profit of $100.00, thanks to Brother Bill Humpleby and his committee members.
It is believed that because of W.M. Craig’s activities and the support of the members of Christiana Lodge it started things in motion that saw him appointed as Senior Grand Deacon in October of 1975, then elected Junior Grand Warden 1977, Senior Grand Warden 1978, Deputy Grand Master 1979 and then Grand Master in October 1980. He became the first mason to ascend to the office of Grand Master serving in all four stations in succeeding years. He also became the first Grand Master to hold a Public Installation of Grand Lodge Officers. This was held at the Scottish Rite Cathedral and was attended by more than 400 people and received a very positive write-up in the News Journal paper. He was the first Grand Master from Christiana Lodge.
Victor Carre was the next Worshipful Master of our Lodge and his year included the bicentennial year of Grand Lodge. Thanks to Past Master Battaglia who was able to borrow costumes from the Colonials Degree Team all officers of the Lodge were dressed in costumes for the Grand Master’s Visitation. The Worshipful Master also wore the tri-cornered hat of that period. The Grand Master Raymond J. Savage was so impressed that he asked that all in attendance join in a round of applause for Worshipful Master Carre, his officers and members of the lodge, for their efforts in behalf of the bicentennial year.
The Grand Master presented Worshipful Master Carre with a Betsy Ross Flag to be flown here in Christiana Lodge during the Grand Lodge year. Worshipful Master Carre thank our Grand Master for the flag and also thanked Past Masters Joseph Woerner and David B. Craig, Jr. for their efforts in chairing the Grand Master’s Visitation dinner and arrangements. He also thanked Past Master Battaglia for obtaining the colonial costumes for the meeting.
Brother Carre continued the excellent programs for the regular communications by having presentations made that explained the operation of the Shrine Hospitals, a presentation by a survivor of Pearl Harbor, Brother William Stratton of Armstrong Lodge and during Victor’s year he also had the first history of Christiana Lodge by Past Master Frank Battaglia (unfortunately this presentation was lost along with the minutes of the Lodge’s first 26 years.)
The final program of his year was an interpretation of the three scripture readings of the Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft and Master Mason Degrees. The program was presented by Past Master David B. Craig, Jr. There were also different wordings used by the jurisdictions of England and other countries as well as those of ours here in the United States.
James H Ammerman was the next Worshipful Master of the Lodge and he traveled to Ionic Lodge Number 145 of Reistertown, Maryland, where he and his officers conferred the Master Mason Degree on one of our candidates using the Delaware ritual. Many of our members traveled with the officers for this first time visit to Ionic Lodge Number 145.
A very special surprise occurred during his year as the father of one of our members, a native of Iran, visited our lodge. Our member, Brother and Doctor Parvis Mostofofy, introduced his father to the members of the lodge and then interpreted his father’s remarks that follow. He was pleased and honored to be asked to speak to the brethren her in such a holy place of Freemasonry. “I apologize as I cannot speak English well enough to express my feelings. This is the second time I have been in this lodge, and I am very much impressed by the government by your Worshipful Master, a most learned mason. In the ancient customs of the fraternity observed by the lodge; yes most impressed. Your Worshipful Master has asked me to speak on Masonry in Iran. Freemasonry in Iran is secret and dates back 150 years. When Freemasonry was first formed in Iran, it was formed by many, most distinguished men, with much service to our country. The first person to start Freemasonry in Iran was one similar to George Washington in your country. A patriot. The second person was a most distinguished artist in Iran. All these were fathers of a revolution that started 150 years ago. For this reason, Freemasonry was started secretly in Iran, sanctioned by three different Grand Lodges. Grand Lodge of France, Grand Lodge of Germany and the Grand Lodge of Scotland. In fact, Freemasonry was so secretive in Iran, that many lodges did not know the members of other lodges, as all the lodges were active in the revolution. Masonry stayed secret for approximately 70 years, then began to grow very slowly, and today there are 50 lodges in Iran and still growing. All are under one Grand Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Iran which is recognized by all Masonic Grand Lodges in many parts of the world, sent a representative to be present at the constitution” Brother Hussein Mostofofy, has served as Worshipful Master of three lodges in Iran, and had the distinct privilege of serving as acting Grand Master of the Grand lodge of Iran, Under Dispensation. He declined to be the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Iran when the Grand Lodge of Iran was constituted.
Brother Mostofofy notes the differences in ritual her in Delaware, but basically it is the same. Iran is smaller than the United States, But Freemasonry is very active and the lodges are extremely careful and selective in accepting candidates for Freemasonry. There are approximately 3000 Freemasons in Iran today. Brother Hussein extends greetings to the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge of Delaware, to the Worshipful Master, officers and members of Christiana Lodge from the Gand Lodge of Iran. He is very pleased and privileged to have had the opportunity to speak on the origination and development of Freemasonry in Iran. He has enjoyed the hospitality shown him by Christiana lodge and to enjoy a Third Degree conferred here in Christiana Lodge. And through the spirit of brotherhood, he will be back in the United States soon and visit again. Thank you Worshipful Master and the lodge for the honor of speaking to the Brethren.”
Brother Mostofofy then showed slides of Iran. Worshipful Master Ammerman thanked Brothers Hussein and Parvis Mostofofy for the excellent and informative talk on Freemasonry in Iran. He asked the Senior Deacon to conduct Most Worshipful Master Hussein Mostofoty to the alter where Past Master Battaglia presented him with a Masonic Bible from the officers and members of Christiana lodge. A very tragic thing occurred on March 4, 1977 when our Brother Parvis Mostofofy was killed in a traffic accident.