History of Masonry in Troy, OH

Extracts from the by-laws in the minutes of Franklin Lodge No. 14 F. & A. M., Troy, Ohio, in the month of February, 1812, shows the following:

"Preamble: We the members of a lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons under dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of the State aforesaid, in order to regulate and conduct our meetings with decorum and regularity, we do make and accept the following constitution for our government."

The organizers of the new Lodge were mostly, if not wholly, members of St. John's Lodge located in Dayton, Ohio. The first officers of Franklin Lodge were as follows:

Alexander Ewing................... W.B.
Asa Coleman....................... S.W.
Andrew Wallace.................... J.W.
N. K. Clough...................... Sec'y.
B. W. Langley..................... S.D.
Peter Felix....................... J.D.
Robert Hennel..................... Tyler and Steward

Franklin Lodge was not represented in Grand Lodge until 1814, and then Brother Alexander Ewing attended as the Lodge representative. At this Grand Communication of 1814, the Grand Lodge record states that "Brother Ewing offered the following resolution: Resolved by the Grand Lodge of Ohio, that Franklin Lodge No. 14 be authorized to continue working under the dispensation organizing said Lodge, until the next Grand Communication. Which on motion, was adopted."

At the annual communication of the Grand Lodge in 1815, it was "ordered that the Grand Secretary" prepare a charter for Franklin Lodge No. 14.

The Charter members were Alexander Ewing, Asa Coleman, Jacob Mann, Robert Morrison, William Gahagan, John McKinney, Charles Wolverton, C. W. Langley, Peter Felix and Andrew Wallace.

As St. John's Lodge of Dayton had been the mother lodge, it was therefore necessary that a settlement be made. Alexander Ewing and Asa Coleman were appointed as a committee to take of this matter, and according to the minutes, this settlement amounted to $3.25.

The exact location of the first lodge room in Troy is not known, but it is assumed from various references in the records that the meetings were held in rooms in the members' homes. By 1825, however, the Lodge had prospered sufficiently to be able to afford a separate lodge room. That year, lodge quarters were established on the second floor of the home of Brother B. Armstrong. The cost of these quarters was $12.00 per year for rent with candles and firewood furnished. If by chance any of the members of the Armstrong family were ill, the Lodge could not meet.

The Lodge remained in these quarters until 1831, when it was moved to the second floor of the brick home of Brother John Brown. The cost for this room was $10.00 per year for rent, firewood and candles. On May 28, 1839, the Lodge was moved to the second floor of the home of Brother George Keifer, M.D., at a cost of $24.00 per year. The Keifer home is the first quarters of Troy Masons that can be located positively. It was situated at the present site of 112 East Main Street, midway between Mulberry and Walnut Streets on the south side of E. Main Street. When Brother Kiefer supplied the Lodge with a wood stove, the rent was increased to $36.00 per year.

In earlier days, Masonic discipline was quite stern. The expulsion of members was advertised in newspapers. Failure to pay the dues of 12 1/2 cents per month presented sufficient grounds for expulsion. Advertisements of expulsion were published by the Lodge in the papers of Piqua, Dayton, and Troy.

On December 26, 1846, a new Masonic Hall was dedicated. This hall was in a new third story that had been constructed on the Troy Town Hall and was built at a total cost to the Lodge of $340.66. The Town Hall was then located at the southeast corner of Cherry and West Main Streets. This building also housed the Troy Fire Company and the city offices. This arrangement proved unsatisfactory, and in 1872 the Lodge was moved to the Allen building at the northeast corner of the Public Square. In 1882, the Lodge was again moved, this time to the Pearson building, located at the northeast corner of Main and Walnut Streets. This room, on the third story, had been rented from Mr. Pearson by the Coleman Commandery, who in turn rented it to the Lodge for the sum of $100.00 per year.

In 1885, the officers of Franklin Lodge laid the corner stone for the new Miami County Court House before one of the largest crowds ever assembled in Troy.

The Masonic Hall was located in the Pearson block from 1882 until 1908, when Troy Masons constructed the Masonic Temple and then for the first time owned both their quarters and the building in which they were located.

The idea for this Temple was conceived in 1905, when W. Brother Walter Duer was Worshipful Master of Franklin Lodge. The excavation for the new Temple was started on April 2, 1907, and the cornerstone, on the northeast corner, was laid October 25, 1907. A year and a half was required for the completion of the Temple, with Dedication being held on December 20, 1908. The ceremonies were very elaborate, and all of Troy was bedecked with flags and displays for the occasion.

The Troy Masonic Temple Company was incorporated at the time of the construction of the present Temple, and was instituted for the purpose of operating and maintaining the Temple. Stock was sold at $25.00 per share to the several Masonic orders, the Troy Chapter No. 256, Order of Eastern Star, and to individual Masons. The Company was managed by a board of directors who were selected by the stockholders.

For many years, the Company experienced financial difficulties due to an inadequate income from rentals of the commercial units and the rent paid by the several bodies. The situation has been relieved in recent years through the raising of rents, establishment of a maintenance fund financed by annual contributions of the several bodies, and the remodeling of the first floor business rooms resulting in a large increase in rentals from this area.

Over the years, stock held by individuals has decreased to zero, and the holdings of the bodies have increased. The majority of the stock was owned by the Lodge, with the other bodies owning twenty percent.

In 1978, following several changes over the years in the make-up of the Board of Directors, the Temple Company became a non-profit corporation governed by a Board of Trustees. Trustees were members from the four Masonic bodies and the Eastern Star.

The voting members are the presiding officers of the four Masonic bodies and the Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star, and four elected at large by Franklin Lodge. The bodies, however, may elect another member to serve as trustee in lieu of the presiding officers. The associate members are the second in the officer line in the Masonic bodies, and the Worthy Patron of Eastern Star. These associate members are expected to attend the meetings of the Board of Trustees and have voting power in the absence of their respective voting trustees.

Throughout the years, traditions of Troy Masonry have been preserved and the traditions of growth and integrity have been prominent. Mortgage indebtedness on the present Masonic Temple was liquidated in January 1954. Formal mortgage burning ceremonies were held in the Blue Lodge room on April 23, 1954, with members of all the local Masonic bodies and members of the Order of Eastern Star witnessing the actual burning of the mortgage.

On January 9, 1962, the Lodge - having completed 150 years of labor since its institution - was re-consecrated in a solemn ceremony conducted by the Officers of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Ohio under the direction of Daniel C. Jenkins, Grand Master.

On January 5, 1965, exactly 150 years after the granting of its charter, Franklin Lodge celebrated the event with special ceremonies that included a visit from Grand Master Edgar L. Ott.

In 1979, a modern piston style lift elevator replaced the aging elevator. The majority of the cost of the new elevator was derived from gifts and donations contributed by members and the various bodies.

In recent years, the Temple has been plagued with maintenance problems and rising costs. In 1987, it became necessary to replace the roof, and again ask the membership for contributions to cover those costs.

In spite of these problems, 100 years later, the Troy Masonic Temple is outstanding among several buildings in downtown Troy. It has distinctive beauty and characteristics all its own. The Directors and Trustees of the Temple Company during the years have done an outstanding service in keeping the beauty, and maintaining its usefulness to Masonry. Masons of today in Troy owe a deep gratitude to those who have passed on to that Celestial Lodge above.

All members of the Masonic bodies of Troy have been very cooperative in working together for the advancement of Masonry in Troy and throughout the world. WE THANK YOU!