MarinOur History
Acknowledgments
The compilation of information and the preparation of this information was made in conjunction with the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of Marin Lodge No. 191 F. & A.M. in 1968. Much of the following is adapted from One Hundred Years With Marin Lodge No. 191 F.& A. M. published by the lodge's historical committee that year. We wish to acknowledge the efforts of the efforts of the brothers who took the time to compile the information and who brought it forth in a presentable manner in print for the benefit of the members of our Lodge and their families. These members were:
> Brother Burnell Dalsam
> Brother Jacland Marmur
> Mrs. Edmar Hicks
> Then Secretary Warren Williams PM
We also wish to acknowledge the members of the preceding Historical Committees for their efforts over the years and the members of the Marin Lodge Centennial Committee.
> Bro. William Vanderbilt PM
> Chairman Bro. John Bacigalupi PM
> Bro. Lester Hicks PM
> Bro. Wayne Hudson
> Bro. Ted Murray
> Bro. Carl Riznik
> Bro. Burnell Van Dalsam
> Brother Warren Williams PM
Founding and Early Years
Marin Lodge No. 191 Free and Accepted Masons was granted its Charter on October 15, 1868 during the Nineteenth Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of California.
It was during that year that President Andrew Johnson was acquitted during impeachment proceedings. The Civil War had ended and President Lincoln had been assassinated only three years before. It was a year after the purchase of Alaska from Russia. In California, the gold rush fever was subsiding while in San Francisco Brother Joshua Norton, the self proclaimed "Emperor of the United States," continued to "reign" over his admiring subjects. Across the bay in Oakland, another fine institution was founded that year -- The University of California.
Marin County was chiefly agricultural and residential with taxable property estimated at a value of $2,240,000.00 while San Rafael was a village with a census record of 606 residents and an estimated transient population of around 200.
Although Marin Lodge received its Charter during October, much ground work had been done during the preceding nine months to successfully reach this accomplishment, beginning on the evening of February 1, 1868. On that date, at eight o'clock, nineteen gentlemen recognized each other as Master Masons in good standing in Short's Hall, located on the southwest corner of Fourth and C Streets in San Rafael. Brother Henry McCrea was called to the chair while Brother Solomon Bear was selected to act as Secretary. The first order of business was the appointment of a committee to produce a proper room in which to hold meetings of the proposed lodge.
At the second meeting, held in Short's Hall on February 15th, a room was procured in the San Rafael Hotel, located on the south side of Fourth Street between C and D Streets, known as Angellotti Hall at the rental rate of $300 per year with the proviso that the hall be put in proper order for a Lodge room and that the rent being sometime in the month of April. At this meeting a committee was appointed to solicit and receive contributions to defray the necessary expenses of organizing a lodge.
On March 4th, at the third meeting, and following considerable discussion, "Marin" was adopted as the name of the proposed lodge. Officers to be named in the petition for Dispensation were chosen to be: William N. Anderson, Master; Oliver Irwin, Senior Warden, and William L. Barnard, Junior Warden.
Funds in the amount of $590.00 had been subscribed and paid by May 1st, the date of the fourth and last meeting to be held in Short's Hall, as it was reported that the lodge room had been put in order and was suitable for occupancy. A petition was ordered to be prepared and presented to Occidental Lodge No. 22 of San Francisco with a request that a recommendation be made to Grand Lodge for the issuance of a dispensation for the formation of a new lodge.
The fifth meeting to be held in the new lodge rooms in Angellotti Hall. It was then on June 9th, that the committee on the petition reported that Occidental Lodge No. 22 had made the necessary recommendation, and, all papers being in order, the committee was instructed to transmit the petition and the fee for dispensation to the Grand Secretary with the request that he lay the paper before the Grand Master for his consideration.
The first Lodge meeting held under Dispensation was held in the Hall of Marin Lodge U.D. F. & A. M. in Angellotti Hall, San Rafael July 1st, 1868.
Brother William N. Anderson reported that the Grand Master had been pleased to grant the prayer of the petitioners and that the meeting had been called for the purpose of opening the new Lodge. The Secretary then read the Dispensation signed by William A. Davies, Grand Master, and Lawrence T, Owen, Assistant Grand Secretary. The brethren who had been elected at a previous meeting then took their respective stations.
The Master appointed Solomon Bear, Treasurer; Bradley Hall, Secretary; Thomas H. Hanson, Senior Deacon; Hiram C. Buster, Junior Deacon; and Justin P. Bustin, Tiler. The By-Laws of the Lodge were then read and approved. Brother Reynolds on behalf of California Lodge No. 1, presented Marin Lodge with a Holy Bible.
The first candidates raised by Marin Lodge U. D. were H. H. Butterfield and P. K. Austin, who received their Third Degrees on August 19th, 1868.
The first meeting "Under Charter" were held on November 18th and the following officers were installed by Brother Harrison Jones Past Master of Occidental Lodge No. 22, acting as proxy for Grand Master William A. Davies. William N. Anderson, Worshipful Master; William Holden, Senior Warden; William L. Barnard, Junior Warden; Solomon Bear, Treasurer; Bradley Hall. Secretary; Thomas H. Hanson, Senior Deacon; John Disheimer, Junior Deacon; Henry K. White, Marshal; Peter K. Austin, Senior Steward; Charles Stevens, Junior Steward; and John P. Bustin, Tiler.
The first candidate "Under Charter" was W.D. de Groat, who received his Third Degree on December 3, 1868.
By 1871 the population of San Rafael had grown to 876; a Hook and Ladder Company had bee organized; gas service had begun; a $60,000.00 bond issue for the construction of a new Court House was approved and Marin Lodge moved in its new hall in the Shaver building which was located on the west side of B Street between Third and Fourth Streets. The move was made on August 30th.
On May 16, 1872, the Marin County Board of Supervisors awarded a contract in the amount of $51,000.00 for the construction of a new court house to be located on the square bounded by Fourth Street, Fifth Avenue [Street], A Street and Court Street. This brought about, under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of California, the laying of the cornerstone of the Marin County Court House. San Rafael became incorporated as a Town on April 6, 1874, and by then the railroad had been completed between San Rafael and Sausalito. By 1884 a telephone wire had been strung between San Rafael and Sausalito, thus improving communications and the members of Marin Lodge were beginning to talk abut purchasing a lot upon which to build a building.
In the early part of the year, 1886, a lot was purchased on the corner of Fourth an Lootens Place, with a footage of eighty feet on on Lootens Place and a depth of 110 feet. The price was $25.00 per front foot, or a total of $2,000.00. During the next several year, many committees were appointed to investigate ways an means by which a building could be constructed on this lot which would be suitable for lodge purposes. In May, 1892, a plan was adopted and the new building was completed and ready for occupancy during December of that year.
The building was a two story, wooden framed, with an auditorium on the lower floor and the Lodge room above. The entrance to the lodge and the upper floor was at the east end of the building on Fourth Street while the entrance to the auditorium was on Lootens Place. However, there was a passageway from the lodge entrance to the auditorium which was used by members when banquets were held. For many year, Company D of the California National Guard used the auditorium as its armory. This use was discontinued in 1906. The lodge room was heated by gas stoves and in earlier days gas was also used for lighting purposes.
The following year in 1893 San Rafael became a city - "Fifth Class" - and now had a population of 3,300. Marin County was also growing and now had an assessed valuation of property in the amount of nearly $11,000,000.
Just as the United States was celebrating Admiral Dewey's victory in Manila, thereby ending our war with Spain, so was Marin Lodge celebrating. One of its illustrious members, Past Master Frank M. Angellotti was named Grand Master of Masons in California. He was the first of three of our members to occupy that chair.
By the turn of the century railroading became of ever increasing importance to the economy of the state, the north bay, and particularly to Marin County, where rail lines branched in every direction, including north to Wilits (now the Northwestern Pacific [Railroad]) and Brother A. W. Foster was President of this line.
On March 24, 1909, Marin Lodge conferred the Third Degree on its 191st candidate. Because this number coincided with the number of the Lodge, the occasion called for a celebration consisting of a reunion and a banquet. Shortly thereafter it became increasingly evident that the facilities of the Masonic Building were becoming inadequate and that a newer and larger building should be planned. Although the subject was discussed from time to time, no definite action was taken for another ten years or so. However, the then existing building was completely refurbished during 1912.
By this time, San Rafael boasted a population of about 6,000 and within a few years Fourth and B Streets were paved and electroliers were installed. Muir Woods had been established a National Monument and a highway was under construction between Sausalito and the northern county line. For a while it was believed that Marin County would become a movie capital as several companies began operations in this area, but this dream vanished when they moved to Hollywood because of the more favorable sunny conditions there. Many wealthy persons lived in this area at that time including Brother Captain Robert Dollar, the shipping magnate.
As soon as the United States entered World War I, Marin Lodge began to lose many of its members and officers to the services. During 1918, Worshipful Master A. B. Dewing and Junior Warden Horace W. Rice were inducted and Senior Warden A. L. Borkheim carried on as Acting Worshipful Master for the balance of the year with the help of volunteers to fill the vacant chairs. In all thirty-two members of Marin Lodge served their country during that war. Just prior to the signing of the Armistice, Marin Lodge celebrated its fiftieth anniversary.
During 1921 twenty additional feet of Fourth Street frontage immediately east of that which was owned at the time was purchased and plans were made to raze the old building and build a new structure on this site. Marin Lodge moved its activities to the Elks building on October 22, 1924. This building was located on the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and B Street where the Bank of Marin building now stands (once stood). This was the home of Marin Lodge until the present building was completed in 1925.
Under the sponsorship of Grand Lodge, the cornerstone of the new San Rafael High School was laid on December 13th, 1924. Deputy Grand Master Albert Boynton was assisted by Past Grand Master and Past Master of Marin Lodge, George F. Rodden, and Past Master of Mill Valley Lodge No. 356, Louis James. The building is now the main structure in the complex located at the east end of Fourth Street.
In less than a month the cornerstone of our present building was laid on January 3, 1925 with Most Worshipful Grand Master David J. Reese officiating. Deputy Grand Master Albert Boynton and many other Grand Lodge officers, together with Master Kenneth Spencer assisted, The first meeting held in the new building was on August 29th, 1925, with Grand Master David J. Reese presiding for the dedication ceremonies.
In 1935, the trowel used for the laying of the cornerstone of our building was returned to the Lodge by the widow of Past Grand Master David Reese was returned to the Lodge. The trowel used to lay the cornerstone of the high school had also been returned to the Lodge and these now are deposited in the archives of the Lodge.
Twenty eight members of Marin Lodge served in the armed forces of our country during World War II. Numerous courtesy degrees were conferred during this time, due to the proximity of Hamilton Air Force Base. Members of the Lodge oversubscribed to the Masonic War Relief Fund. For the duration of the war, the banquet hall was used as an office for the Office of Price Administration and Ration Board.
The Diamond Jubilee of Marin Lodge was held on Saturday October 16th, 1943. After an evening of entertainment and historical review, the mortgage on our building was burned in celebration of its having been paid in full.
After many years of discussion, the small banquet room on the second floor, which had been used for light refreshment, was converted into a lounge and recreation room in May 1953. This room contains a small library, a reading room and a pool table.
An event of exceptional Masonic interest took place in the hall of Marin Lodge on April 6th, 1955, when Hamilton Lodge, U.D. of Novato, California, was instituted by the Most Worshipful Henry C. Clausen, Grand Master of Masons in California. It is estimated that over 550 members of the craft filled our Lodge Room to overflowing to witness this ceremony. Several other Grand Lodge officers were in attendance as well as a very fine turn out of Inspectors. Again, on November 2, 1955, there was a huge attendance, when Grand Lodge opened in formal session and opened the Lodge for the purpose of constituting Hamilton Lodge No. 751.
Past Masters Night April 16, 1958, was a gala occasion, for in addition to the Past Masters conferring their usual fine Third Degree, it was on this evening that we used the elevator in our building for the first time. It was fitting on that night, as the Past Masters, over the years, had spend many hours planning for this convenience.
A milestone as reached on the night of January 5, 1961, not only for Marin Lodge but for one of its most esteemed members. It was on this evening Past Master William P. Murray was installed as Treasurer to serve his fiftieth year. He was installed by his son, Past Master Donald F. Murray, and was presented with a plaque to commemorate the event. At the stated meeting of December 11, 1962 Past Master Murray read his final report as Treasurer.
Marin Lodge conducted Masonic funeral services for its oldest member, Brother Grant Wills, who passed away on March 17, 1966, at the age of 100 years. He had been a Mason for over sixty-seven years and on his previous birthday had received many tributes for his longevity, including from our Grand Lodge. Brother Wills received his Third Degree in San Benito Lodge No. 211 at Hollister, California on March 14th 1889. He affiliated with Marin Lodge No. 191 on January 13, 1943.
During the year of 1967 the activities of the Lodge were of a routine nature with two exceptions - notably the work of the building association and the Centennial Committee in preparing for the celebration of our One Hundredth Anniversary in 1968.
At large, the history of our fraternity is generally separated into two time periods: Before and after the formation of the Grand Lodge of England in 1717. Before this time, the facts and origins of Freemasonry are not absolutely known and are therefore frequently explained by theories or legends. After the formation of the Grand Lodge of England, the history of Freemasonry is extremely well-documented and can be traced through the creation of hundreds of Grand Lodges that spread rapidly worldwide.