A Brief History of Charity Lodge

Founding and Early History

• January 15, 1868 - Based on the recommendation of Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 116, Most Worshipful Grand Master John Coates issued a dispensation for the formation of Bentley Springs Lodge No. 134 in Bentley Springs, Maryland.

• May 11, 1868 - The Lodge was formally chartered. The proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Maryland for 1868 shows Bentley Springs Lodge as having a membership of twenty-one Master Masons, two Fellow Crafts,  and five Entered Apprentices.  These records indicate that the Lodge met on the first and third Saturdays of the month. 

 

• The officers for 1868 were: 

  • Worshipful Master - C. W. Bentley  

  • Senior Warden - Henry Wilhelm

  • Junior Warden - James Hall

  • Secretary - John C. Little

  • Treasurer - Charles Gere

 

The Lodge Moves to Parkton and becomes Charity Lodge

• Meetings were held in the Boarding House in Bentley Springs until May 9, 1888 when, by dispensation of the MWGM Thomas J. Shryock, it was moved to Parkton, MD and renamed Charity Lodge. Meetings were held in the Presbyterian church, which stood on the hill by the railroad.  

• March 30, 1901 - A committee was appointed for the purpose of determining if there was sufficient interest in forming an Order of Eastern Star.

• April 19, 1902 - Charity Lodge moved to the Frederick Road site along the Little Gunpowder Falls.  The building was owned by Mr. J. W. Ayres, who rented it to the Lodge for a sum of $3.00 per month.

• August 17, 1907 - The Frederick Road building was purchased from Mr. Ayers at a price of $1,030. 

• April 3, 1920 - Permission to allow the Order of the Eastern Star to utilize the Lodge for their meetings was granted on April 3, 1920.  Parkton Chapter #42 of the Eastern Star was instituted on May 20, 1920 and constituted on June 4, 1921. 

• 1938 - The Parkton lodge was enlarged and modernized.

 

The Search for a New Location Begins

• June 1972 - Charity Lodge's building in Parkton sustained considerable water damage from Hurricane Agnes. Water reached halfway up the first floor wall. WM Ed Berry headed up a crew of members to repair the extensive damage. Many records and other historical items were damaged beyond salvation during this storm. 

• Since the hurricane, the Lodge membership was interested in relocating out of the flood plain. Most of the surrounding properties were purchased by the State of Maryland,  there was no offer to purchase the Charity Lodge property.

• 1988 - Bill Hughes initiated discussions with Bro. Norris W. Tingle, a lay minister of the Methodist church located at Freeland & Middletown Roads, for the purchase of the church as a new home for Charity Lodge.  WM Les Orlidge submitted the necessary paper work to the Grand Lodge and its committee on lodge buildings.

• January 31, 1989 - The Lodge signed the contract to purchase the property.  After correcting some zoning issues, the building and lot became Lodge property in February at a cost of $65,000.

• 1991 - WM George E. Lang III, PM started the demolition and construction of the new Lodge building.

• Spring 1992 - The State of Maryland purchased the old Parkton Lodge at a cost of $18,700. 

 

Charity Lodge Moves to Freeland

• May 6, 1992 - WM John R. Biggs, Jr. invited MWGM John Smith and his grand line to conduct a Cornerstone Ceremony. 

 

The following items were placed in the "time capsule" within the cornerstone:

• Charity Lodge Communications for 1992

• Picture of the new building prior to renovation.

• Three pictures of the old building in Parkton.

• Pictures of the 1992 Line Officers, and Charity Lodge Past Masters present.

• Glass from the Cornerstone Ceremony.

• Charity Lodge By-laws from 1991.

• Directory of Lodges and concordant Masonic bodies

• 1992 Grand Lodge Directory of Officers, Lodges and Worshipful Masters

• Holy Bible

• Picture of Grand Master Smith

• 1991 Grand Lodge Proceedings

• 1991 Commemorative coin from the Ground Breaking Ceremony at Bonnie Blink

• 1991 Commemorative coin from Harvest Home Day

• Cornerstone Ceremony Program

• Vol. XXXVIII No. 4 of the Knight Templar

• June 1992 issue of the Scottish Rite Journal

• Star Spangled Banner issue of the Scottish Rite magazine.

 

• October 30, 1993 - On Past Masters night, John Dell, PM raised future Worshipful Master Jon Thompson who was the last member to be raised in the old Temple in Parkton. That evening WM Morris Bohlayer was the last Worshipful Master to close the Lodge in the old Temple.

 

• November 27, 1993 - WM Morris Bohlayer opened Lodge in the new building for the very first time. The weather did not treat the Lodge kindly, dumping five inches of rain that weekend. It did not deter many Masons however, as ~100 brethren braved the elements and attended that long awaited meeting.

 

• November 18, 2006 - Brother John R. Biggs, Jr. , PM, is elected Grand Master of Masons in Maryland.