THE BUILDER OCTOBER 1929

American Army Lodges in the World War
Saxonia Lodge No. 1, "Somewhere at Sea"

By BRO. CHARLES F. IRWIN, Associate Editor

PROPERLY speaking, this was not a Lodge and perhaps ought not to be
granted a place among those which I have described heretofore in
this series of histories. But nevertheless in order to cover as
completely as possible the period of the World War with the record
of the Craft with regard to organized fellowship, I feel that I
should present to our readers the story.

By recalling the periods of the entrance into the War of America,
we must fasten upon the date of April 6, 1917. From this date all
our American interests in the War officially begin. By this point
we are able to measure the promptness with which various elements
with in our American Masonry responded by the gathering together of
draftsmen for mutual fellowship.

Among the very first contingents of the military forces to be
ordered to overseas duty were the 18th Engineers, 17th Engineers,
numbers of Casuals, journeying to Europe for future assignments,
newspaper men, and the Masons of the ships crew. I have several
very interesting stories connected with this occasion.

Saxonia Lodge was in reality an evening's social fellowship on the
part of Freemasons traveling on the Cunard Liner Saxonia during the
month of August in 1917. With the close of the evening's
entertainment the "Lodge" ceased to exist and became most pleasant
memory. But within its short career it demonstrates the elements of
fellowship which later on sprang into existence throughout the
A.E.F.

The story comes to us from two sources. From an article which
appeared in some Masonic periodical, the name of which was
unfortunately not attached to the page in my files. I regret
exceedingly my inability to give due and public credit to this
paper. Nor is the name of the author given. It is a fragment cast
up upon the shore out of the mass of material being slowly rescued
for the Masonic History of the great struggle. The second is
contained in a letter written to me by my good friend and Brother,
Alsa C. Howard, late of the regular army, and a most indefatigable
Masonic student and worker. His manuscripts which he alas so
generously submitted to me through the years contain a great mass
of incidents of especial interest to Masonic students, for Bro.
Howard journeyed around the world with the Army, and turned every
opportunity that presented itself to make Masonic contacts to full
account.

I might say that in addition to these two accounts, another very
close and intimate friend presented me some years ago with one of
the Menu cards used on the occasion of the Saxonia Lodge Incident.
He was a Chaplain in the service, and it fell into his hands years
ago. I refer to Dr. W. A. Atkinson, of Rochester, Penna.
Unfortunately two pages are missing, those which contained the menu
on the occasion, and gave the story of the incident. The story has
been recovered but the menu unfortunately is lost. Being a British
Liner I have no doubt that the refreshments were in line with the
liberal characteristics of that people.

The story of the Saxonia Lodge therefore is pieced together from
the sources that are at hand.

The first is entitled "A Lodge of Inherent Right." I quote:

In the pages of the American Mason (Philadelphia), the following
relation is given which is of unusual interest in more than one
particular. Especially is the narrative notable as showing that a
body of Masons, thus thrown together, re-assumed an inherent right
delegated to Grand Lodges under ordinary circumstances, and
constituted themselves into an "Occasional Lodge" as was the custom
of our Masonic forbears.

The Nineteenth Engineers, Railway, was recruited largely from among
the employees of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and in company with the
Eighteenth Engineers, Railway, from the Pacific Coast, sailed from
New York on August 9, 1917. The big Cunard Liner "Saxonia," then
used as a troopship by the English authorities, on which we were
sailing put in at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and there joined the convoy
which was being formed. Quite a number of passengers, both civilian
and military, were on board other than the two regiments mentioned.

A few days out from Halifax the present writer had occasion to be
discussing Masonic matters with Brother William H. Ingram,
Secretary of Anglo-Saxon Lodge No. 343, Paris, France. It was
suggested that as a large number of those on board were wearing
Masonic emblems it would be a very appropriate matter to hold a
meeting of all Masons on board for the purpose of discussing
Masonic matters in general. The idea was deemed quite practicable,
so steps were immediately taken to carry it into execution. A
number of the ship's officers were found to be Masons, which
facilitated matters very much. Suitable space and cooperation were
provided.

Brother Howard Clarke, Major, M. C., and myself had sat in Lodge
together, as had Brother Clarke and Brother William H Nelson,
Captain, Eighteenth Engineers, Railway. With that trio acting as an
examining committee all the members were tried and examined
according to Masonic standards, and the evening of August 19, 1917,
selected as the date for the meeting. The aft smoking room had been
well prepared for the occasion and well in advance of 8 P. M., the
hour set for the opening, all were present.

The authority for this meeting was that old Masonic regulation that
permit three Past Masters, when assembled, to hold Masonic
communication. Brother L. A. Nutter, P. M., Gate City Lodge No.
522, Kansas City, Mo.; Brother E. C. Boddy, P. M., Corinthian
Temple No. 805, Rochester, N. Y.; and myself, a Grand Lodge
official, believed we were well within our prerogatives in holding
this meeting. Among those present the following members of the
Nineteenth Engineers were recognized:

Clarke, Leon L., Colfax No. 378, Lowell, Indiana.
Kline, Thomas S., St. Johns No. 2, Middletown, Conn.
Harrell, C. H., Manassas No. 182, Manassas, Virginia.
Holm, John L., Lansing No. 33 Lansing, Michigan.
Joseph T. Cedwyn, Peter Williamson No. 323, Seranton, PA.
Kline, Ben. W., Logan Lodge No. 490, Altoona, PA.
Kauffman, Reginald Wright, Mt. Horeb Lodge No. 528, Phila., Pa.
Kraft, R. W., Golden Rule Lodge No. 159, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Mallam, T. S., Logan Lodge No. 490, Altoona, Penna.
Miehe, Wm. J., Naphtali Lodge No. 25, St. Louis, Mo.
Medley, John E., St. Johns Lodge No. 115, Phila., Pa.
Murbaek, C. F., Superior Lodge No. 179, West Unity, Ohio.
MacColman, D., Concordia Lodge No. 13, Balto, Md.
Pettry, B. L., Odell Lodge No. 115, Madison, W. Va.
Wells, Frank H., Mt. Pickering Lodge No. 446, Chester Springs, Pa.
Welch, William, Mercer Lodge No. 50, Trenton, N. J.
Wightman, Frank A., Mountain Lodge No. 28, Altoona, pa.

and many others whom the writer did not happen to get the names and
addresses of. The number assembled was just about the most
enthusiastic crowd that the writer ever met with.

The following officers were elected and installed:

W.M. I. A. Nutter, Gate City Lodge No. 322, Kansas City, Mo.
S.W. Alsa C. Howard, Hancock Lodge No. 311, Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
J.W. Wm. H. Nelson, Green Lake Lodge No. 149, Seattle, Wash.
Sec. Wm. H. Ingram, Anglo-Saxon Lodge No. 343, Paris, France.

The name "Saxonia" was proposed and unanimously selected for the
name of the Lodge, in honor of the ship on which we were at the
time sailing. After opening of the Lodge a number of speeches were
made by various brethren present upon Masonic topics. They were
well received. A novel feature of the meeting, and commented upon
at that time, was the fact that all present were wearing life belts
fastened around them and automatic pistols in their belts.

My second informant, Bro. Howard, has the following story to tell
of this unique event.

"SAXONIA," LODGE NO. 1. A.F. & A.M.

"Whenever indulging in Masonic reminiscences the present writer
always recalls with pride and much gratification the formation and
organization of Saxonia Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M. This occurred on
board the big Cunard liner 'Saxonia' when in the danger zone, on
August 19, 1917. Saxonia Lodge No. 1 was formed as the result of a
Conversation between Bro. Wm. H. Ingram, of Anglo-Saxon Lodge No.
343, Paris, France, and the present writer, one afternoon while in
midocean.

"The suggestion of a meeting of all the Masons on board for the
purpose of cementing the ties of brotherly love and for discussing
matters of Masonic interest was warmly received, and steps were
immediately taken to bring the thought to fruition.

"Brothers Howard Clarke of Corregidor No. 3, Manila, P. I., Wm. H.
Nelson, of Green Lake Lodge No. 149, Seattle, Wash., and myself,
had sat in Lodge and could thus vouch for each other. With this
nucleus to start with the members of the Craft on board were
strictly tried and duly examined according to Masonic customs and
usages.

"The after smoking room, through courtesy of the ship officials,
was prepared and tendered us for the meeting; accordingly at 8.30
P.M., August 19, 1917, 56 earnest brethren of the Craft from among
the officers of 17th and 18th engineers, U.S. Army, and the ship
officers duly assembled therein for this auspicious event. After
being called to order the following officers were elected and
installed:

W.M. L. A. Nutter, P. M., Gate City Lodge No. 522, Kansas City, Mo.
S.W. Alsa C. Howard, P. G. C., Hancock Lodge No. 311, Ft.
Leavenworth, Kan.
J.W. Wm. H. Nelson, Green Lake Lodge No. 149, Seattle, Wash.
Sec. Mom. H. Ingram, Anglo-Saxon Lodge No. 343, Paris, France.
Trs  E. H. Taylor, West Cheshire No. 2977, Birkenhead, England.
M.C. A. H. Rostron, Minerva No. 2433, Birkenhead, England.
Chpl. Howard Clarke, Corregidor No. 3, Manila, P. I.
Mshl. Geo. M. Rice, Arcana No. 76, Seattle, Wash.
S.D. Wm. J. Miehe, Naphtali No. 25, St. Louis, Mo.
J.D. G. A. Kendrick, King Solomon No. 60, Auburn, Wash.
S.S. Wm. Ballyn, St. John No. 673, Liverpool, England.
J.S. C. A. Pauson, Fidelity No. 120, San Francisco, Calif.
I.G. F. Murback, Superior No. 179, West Unity, Ohio.
Tyl. T. H. Darrow, Lakeside No. 42, Sand Point, Idaho.
Org. Demon H. Evans, Green Lake No. 149, Seattle, Wash.

"The Lodge was then opened in due and ancient form.

After opening Lodge, by way of introduction, each member arose, in
turn, and gave his name, residence and home Lodge. It was
interesting as well as surprising to meet with members of the Craft
from such widely separated places as Paris, France, and Manila,
P.I.; and from Fort William, Canada, to Needles, in southern
California.

"Several of the brethren then gave impromptu remarks upon matters
of Masonic interest. No degrees were conferred. One interesting
feature of this meeting, unique in Masonic history, too, was the
fact that all members present were wearing cork life preservers and
had automatic pistols attached to their belts. This fact, to those
present was but an illustration of that 'being duly and truly
prepared'; it may be said also to show that even the dangers of a
German submarine could not prevent the assembling of loyal Masons.

"The formation of this dodge also affords an excellent illustration
of the freedom to travel in foreign countries as known in
Freemasonry, and that in accordance with the teachings of the
Craft, its members in times of trial and trouble never forget the
lessons of the early degrees as exemplified by the legend of the
widow's son.

"Among those present Bros. A. H. Rostron, of Minerva No. 2433,
Birkenhead, England, who won Congressional recognition by the
manner in which he drove his ship through ice floes to the rescue
of the 'Titanic' survivors; and Bro. Reginald Wright Kauffman, Mt.
Horeb Lodge No. 528, Philadelphia, Pa.; Bro. Hugh Wiley, Fort
William Lodge No. 415, Fort William, Canada; the latter two being
well-known magazine writers.

"Saxonia Lodge No. 1 was held under the auspices of the Grand Lodge
of England, the Saxonia being a British ship. There is a provision
in the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of England, so I understand,
which provides that three Past Masters, or Grand Lodge officials,
may meet and after strict trial and due examination, hold masonic
communication. This is also in accordance with masonic custom from
time immemorial. Therefore Bro. L. A. Nutter, P. M. of Gate City
Lodge No. 522, Kansas City, Mo.; and Bro. E. C. Boddy, P. M.,
Corinthian Temple 805, Rochester, N. Y.; and myself were acting
well within our rights and privileges."

From the minutes of this interesting meeting aboard the Saxonia, I
glean the following:

SAXONIA LODGE NO. 1

Not forgetful of that great Masonic virtue Charity, a collection of
$56.00 was taken up, which was turned over to Brother Rostron, to
forward through his own Lodge to the Grand Lodge of England for use
of same in charity work. A pretty gavel and plate was made by the
ship's carpenter which was used in the Lodge meeting, and
afterwards presented by the Lodge officials as a committee to Bro.
Rostron at his station on the bridge of the ship. Attractive roster
cards, as well as membership cards, had been prepared by Bro. Warm
Ballyn, of St. Johns No. 673, Liverpool, England, Chief Steward of
the Saxonia, and were his contribution to the enjoyment of the
meeting. It is not known to the writer if there has ever before
been a similar use of the Cunard Stamship Company's Menu Cards.

There being no further business the Lodge was closed in due and
ancient form. Thus the organization and disbanding of Saxonia Lodge
No. 1 came and went. It has passed into history, leaving a lasting
and deep impression in the memory, of at least one of its members
which as stated before, is recalled with great personal
gratification.


Thus the historians whom we have come upon. There remains the Menu
Card referred to above, a cut of which appears with this article.
The face of the Menu is in colors presenting a fine view of the
Chamber of Deputies in Paris, France. The name of the Lodge
follows, together with the list of officers. The back of the card
presents in fine colors a plaque displaying the letters "R  F."
that is, the Republic of France, together with the words Liberte,
Fraternite, Egalite. The whole being topped by the words " Cunard
Line." Upon the inside faces of these backs is found a Roster of
the Masons who were present at the meeting, and a brief invitation
in the following words:

"SAXONIA" LODGE NO. 1

Of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons
S.S. "Saxonia,' Somewhere at Sea, 18th August, 1917.

Dear Sir and Brother:

You are respectfully requested to attend the Masonic Duties of this
lodge on Sunday, the nineteenth day of August, 1917, at 8.30 P. M.
prompt.

Yours fraternally,

L. A. NETTER, W. M., 
WM. H. INGRAM. Secry.

One more word in connection with this history. Within recent time
I have met with one of the former soldiers of the 18th Engineers,
and he informs me that it was current rumor on the Saxonia that
only commissioned officers were in attendance at this event on the
Saxonia. Which if it should prove to be true would detract from the
full value this gathering had, as a meeting of the Masons upon
board the ship. In this respect it falls far short of the historic
meeting on the Sierra Madre Mountains in Mexico the year before at
which ALL MASONS met upon the level and parted on the square.

In this story you have therefore one of those rare Masonic events
when a group of like minded Craftsmen, finding themselves in close
proximity, find a way whereby they may pass a few hours in those
scenes which delight the Masonic heart wherever it may beat.

Amid the war's alarms and its terrors Masons manage to find a
period wherein they may lay aside for the moment their military
cares and yield themselves to the social fellowship of the
Fraternity. And the incident merits being recorded among the many
Masonic stories that we are endeavoring to recover and to
perpetuate in this series of papers.

LIBERATION LODGE NO. 8, BORDEAUX, FRANCE.

I SHOULD hasten at once to correct any erroneous impression the
above heading might give to the casual reader. This Lodge was not
an American Lodge. The sole reason for giving its record in this
series is because of the prominent place American Masons in the
A.E.F. had in bringing it into life. My purpose is to indicate to
the Masonic Student that there are fields in Masonic Research that
transcend the strict lines of our American System and wherever
these lines cut across the established life of our own system it is
valuable for the student to have this material at hand.

In my wide survey of the Masonic situation during the World War it
has been my privilege to come in contact with American Masons of
all types of temperament and experience. Among this number very
shortly after the war was my introduction by way of correspondence
with Brother Alsa C. Howard at that time in the regular service.
Bro. Howard at the entrance of our country into the war was a
Sergeant in the U. S. Army. He was commissioned and at first held
the rank of Lieutenant. He was promoted, in France, to the grade of
Captain, then Major. Upon the return of our country to peace time
conditions, he returned to his rank of Sergeant and my last
intercourse with him, he was still holding that rank.

As an old Army man Bro. Howard was able to visit all parts of the
world and always took occasion to visit Masonic bodies. For that
reason he has a world-wide friendship with Masons of many lands.

While stationed in Bordeaux during the war, Bro. Howard became
associated with a number of British Masons who were in that city in
civil, diplomatic and military service for their King and Empire.
Bordeaux has been closely associated in history with the British
Empire and has always been regarded as a point of unusual value to
the interests of the Island Government. The finest reciprocal
friendship exists between the native French population and these
Englishmen.

Bordeaux moreover was one of the first points in France to come
under the survey of our government when it was definitely decided
that America should enter the war. Its fine harbor and facilities
for the erection of huge warehouses, made it inevitably one of the
great ports of entry for American men, munitions and supplies. In
fact during 1918-19 the great system of depots that sprang into
existence at Bordeaux and the vast harbor improvements speak a
brilliant word for the genius of the American engineer.

Early in the fall of 1917 American troops began to appear in
Bordeaux. The 15th Engineers, a group from Pittsburgh, were the
first on the ground. These were shortly relieved by detachments
from the 18th Engineers and others, until at last a stream of
American troops began to enter the port. Thousands became attached
to the permanent personnel of the city and the adjacent camps. 

Now among these thousands of Americans swarming in and about
Bordeaux were large numbers of Craftsmen and inevitably they drew
together until Masonic Clubs flourished in camps, single
organizations, the city itself, and in  1919 in the University of
Bordeaux.

The contact with the French and the British Masons came in due time
and many an evening was spent in fraternal and social fellowship.

My material at hand, to deal with this situation and to tell to my
readers the story of Liberation Lodge, is quite abundant and comes
from all three sources, American, British and French. For general
purposes I shall confine myself however to correspondence with
Brother Howard and with Brother W. Hennessey Cook, an official of
Lloyds, now located in Paris. Bro. Cook was the representative of
the great British Company in Bordeaux during the war and was very
prominent in fraternal activities. For purposes of continuity I
shall reserve much of his material to the closing words on
Liberation Lodge, for he has furnished me with a pen sketch of the
post-war activities of this Lodge.

To understand the situation we must go back to the year 1910. At
that time a large and scattered group of British Masons sojourning
in France, started a movement whereby they might have Lodges in
which to satisfy their craving for Masonic intercourse. As is well
known the regular French Masonic organizations were not recognized
by the English Grand Lodge. Consequently these scattered groups of
British Masons conceived the idea of having a system in France that
should be regarded by their own Grand Lodge as regular.

From a pamphlet they issued some years ago over the signature of
the Grand Secretary, Bro. G. L. Jollois, they display the various
steps by which they came into existence. The story is long and
cannot all be given here. Suffice it to say that their organization
is now known as La Grande Loge Nationole Independente et Reguliere
pour la France et yes Colonies Francais, i.e., The National Grand
Lodge of France. They have received recognition from the Grand
Lodge of England and from a number of our own American Grand
Lodges.

Were I to wander from my role as historian, and enter the field as
an interpreter of Masonic movements, I might indicate where my
sympathies lie with regard to this system of Lodges in France. I
might also be compelled to call the attention of the Masonic world
to some of the strange idiosyncracies of Grand Lodges who have
recognized this system in France, who are yet at the same time
supersensitive with regard to "Invasion of Territory," "courtesy
toward other Grand Lodges," and such "Landmarks." But the Masonic
world is full of inconsistencies and so it does not become me to
enter the controversial ranks. Only this to say, that very frankly,
the origin of this system of Masonry in France is plainly,
according to our standards, an invasion of the territory of another
nation. The results however of this new system are happy so far as
the nonFrench residents in France are concerned. But I cannot leave
this trail without remarking that the desire that animates the
Italian Masons residing in Pennsylvania and the non-English group
in New York, and the alien group in Louisiana or Mississippi, is
the same as the identical feeling that our British friends had in
France when they originated the "National" Grand Lodge of France,
which, when one thinks of it, is an absurdly inappropriate title.
I am not placing any strictures upon this group nor indicating any
personal bias one way or the other. But I am laying a background
for the reader to study as this story unfolds.

Now to facts. The National Grand Lodge was instituted in November,
1913. It came through certain French Masonic groups that had
agreements and understandings running back many years, together
with this group of very active and fine British sojourners. By
forming a concordat with the various elements involved they emerged
as a Grand Lodge system. So far as I can untangle the story a few
scattered French Lodges, some of which were in Paris, were taken
into the system and practically reorganized with British Masons
either in office or behind the whole movement. Among these Lodges
were the following: "Brittanic Lodge," Paris; "Jeanne d'Arc Lodge,"
Rouen; "Le Centre des Amis," Paris; and "Loge Anglaise" No. 204,
Bordeaux (English Register).

This Lodge was founded in 1732, figuring as No. 363 on that
Register, in 1766. Its number was changed to 298 in 1770; in 1780
to 240; in 1792, to the number 204. In 1803 it passed under the
government of the Grand Orient of France, and so remained until
1913, when it once more returned to the Register of the Grand Lodge
of England. These things should be kept in mind in order that the
American Masonic Student may be guided in his research into the
French problem.

White in France during the war I noticed in the several newspapers
printed for English-speaking soldiers notices of certain Masonic
functions and events that puzzled me. Such for example as one that
referred to the Lodge Jeanne d'Arc" at Rouen. In this notice the
Installation of Officers for the ensuing year (1919) were given in
full, which is a thing that is never done with our French Brethren
on account of the persecution they meet constantly from the Roman
Catholic Church. The entire roster of names proved to be military
men in the British Army.

In later years the movement has been gradually to turn the Lodges
over to native French Masons, who are therefore producing a
distinctive French Grand Lodge. But during the war it must be borne
in mind that the British practically offered and dominated the few
Lodges in the "National" Grand Lodge system.

And this brings us to Bordeaux, and to Liberation Lodge No. 8.

I shall now quote Bro. Howard's story, that his view of the
situation may be recorded, he being one of the foremost Americans
concerned in the incident. He says:

"The 18th Engineers, Railway, U. S. Army, with whom I was serving,
immediately after arrival overseas, was sent to Bordeaux, France,
for duty, in preparation of existing dock facilities and the
construction of new docks, wharves, and storage space. This was in
August, 1917. I thought that a club where Masonic matters might be
discussed, ties renewed, new friendships formed, conferences held,
oversight of sick and needy Brothers arranged, was practical.

"I discussed this with a number of Masons in my regiment, and as a
result searched for a suitable location for a club center. I
visited the "English Club" composed of resident Englishmen, and
made inquiry regarding a suitable location. Some of them became
very interested in our idea, and introduced me to Bro. Wm.
Hennessey Cook, P. M. of Canada Lodge No. 3527, London, England. He
entered heartily into our project. He however broached the
situation with regard to International Freemasonry, and believed
that instead of our forming a Masonic Club, that if a Lodge were
instituted composed of the Masons of the three great nations,
France, Great Britain and America, it would be a larger and finer
achievement.

"I agreed to the suggestion and we consulted together how best to
place the situation before the three groups of Masons. Bro. Cook
carried the suggestion to the Grand Lodge of England; to the
National Grand Lodge of France; and to the Grand Lodge of Aquitaine
at Bordeaux. I tried by correspondence to put the matter in a clear
light before the Grand Lodges of America."

Howard here discovered what my readers know he would encounter. He
mentions a meeting of Grand Masters where the matter must have been
brought to their attention and of course there was no agreement on
the suggestion. Thus the American situation was an unbroken refusal
even to discuss the proposition.

In the meanwhile, to return to Howard's recital:

"Our plan met with a hearty approval by the Grand Lodge of England,
and the National Grand Lodge of France. Some American Grand Lodges
interposed no clear objections, such as New York, Ohio, Illinois,
Massachusetts, and perhaps some others; I do not recall. Others,
like California and Oregon, viewed our desire with disfavor.

"With the English and French Grand Lodge ("National" Grand Lodge of
France) authorities in agreement as to the formation of a new
Lodge, an application was made in due form to the Grande Loge
Nationale for a charter, which was granted and a date set by that
body for the consecration and installation ceremonies. The
following named Master Masons, in a meeting regularly called for
the purpose on the evening of September 17, 1917, in due form
petitioned the Grand Lodge (of France) For a charter for the new
Lodge, named Liberation No. 8. The Roster of those present and
whose names were attached to this petition were as follows:

William Hennessey Cook, Canada No. 3527, London, England. 
Alsa Chester Howard, Hancock No. 311, Est. Leavenworth, Kan. 
Frank Ralph Pearson, Charter Rock No. 410, Berkeley, Calif.
Theodore Gustave Lechten, California No. 1, San Francisco, Calif.
Ralph Bushnell Aitken, Roseville No. 432, Roseville, Calif.
Austin G. Marsh, Ely No. 29, Ely, Nevada.
John Howe, Canby No. 147, Canby, Minnesota.
John Mrilliam Clay, Hollenbeek No. 319, Los Angeles, Calif. 
Donald McVicar Wallace, Temescal No. 314, Corona, Calif.
Willie Willard Graham, Verde No. 14, Jerome, Ariz.
Benjamin Taylor, Francis Drake No. 396, San Francisco, Calif.
Herbert Preston, Trinity College No. 1765, London, England.
Irwin Harold Reimers, Yosemite No. 99, Mereed, Calif.
Alfred E. Middlehurst, Reno No. 140, Hutchinson, Kan.

The following named Master Masons were chosen to occupy the several
stations in the new Lodge, as follows:

William Hennessey Cook - Worshipful Master. 
Alsa C. Howard - Senior Warden. 
Frank Ralph Pearson - Junior Warden.

The elections were unanimous and without contest. Election was by
acclaim."

A pause here by us to see where we are. We find that there are 14
names attached to the petition. And of these names 12 are members
of American Lodges. And of the three leading officers elected to
the three leading stations, two bear the names of American Lodges.
Hence our inclusion of this event among the American Series of
Field Lodges during the War. Howard continues:

"Lodge Anglaise No. 204, Bordeaux, France, stood sponsor for us
before the world in the founding of the new Lodge, mentioned from
hereon as Liberation No. 8.

"On the afternoon of December 8, 1917, members of the Grand Lodge
of England, the Grand National Lodge of France, and of the Grand
Lodge Provincial d'Aquitaine, and a large number of brothers, met
at the beautiful Salle Franklyn, Bordeaux, and consecrated
Liberation No. 8 in due and ancient form. The consecration
ceremonies were begun by M. Wor. G. M. F. Eigau, Provincial Grand
Lodge d'Aquitaine, who opened his Grand Lodge, announced the object
of the meeting, officially received the Grand Lodge Nationale, and
then vacated all Stations to the Grand Lodge Nationale for the
further conducting of the ceremonies.

"Wor. Bro. Edmund Heish, Grand Junior Warden, Grande Loge
Nationale, acting for the Grand Master, installed Bro. Wm.
Hennessey Crook as W. M.; Very Wor. Douglas Magnus Nicholson, Grand
Treas., installed the present writes [Bro. Howard] as Senior
Warden; and Wor. Bro. F. Eigau, installed Bro. Frank R. Pearson as
Junior Warden. This was the most impressive installation ceremony
that the writer has ever witnessed, and no doubt the other members
present were as deeply impressed with the stately dignity and the
solemnity which characterized the ceremonies throughout.

"The other Stations were filled at a subsequent meeting. The
consecrating ceremonies were then concluded in due and ancient form
and then the newly constituted Lodge closed. After the closing of
the Lodge all present were invited to a banquet such as only the
best French chefs can prepare. Speeches, toasts, and a rapid
interchange of wit marked this most auspicious occasion at the hour
of "high Twelve" (I am sure Bro. Howard slips here, for it must
have been "low Twelve." However after that splendid banquet we
forgive him, I am sure !) the Lodge was closed.

"There were present Masons from eight or nine countries."

The Lodge seems to have flourished under this set of officers. They
did considerable work. Quite a number of Americans were initiated,
passed and raised, most of them, however, only to discover upon
their return to America that their several Grand Lodges refused to
recognize their regularity. In some cases known to me these were
healed by proceeding along the same road that other brothers have
traveled as though they had never been made Masons before.

Bro. Howard was transferred to other parts of France in the course
of time and lost personal touch with the Lodge. With the exception
of the following note from him, his story ends:

"Some time after the consecration of liberation No. 8, Bro. Cook
informs me that the Lodge was going strong. It had at that time
some 12 candidates waiting for the degrees. Fourteen applications
for the degrees were also waiting." Howard then proceeds: "At the
next meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge I was elected Grand
Master of Ceremonies. Later I was presented with a very beautiful
'Founder's Badge,' or jewel."

Turning now to Bro. Cook, former Master of Liberation No. 8, I
quote from a letter dated Nov. 26. 1928, in which he says:

All l can do today is to give you a very few brief words on
developments which have taken place in Liberation Lodge No. 8,
Bordeaux, since 1918. Obviously on the termination of the war, all
those Brethren who had joined and who had returned to the U.S.A.,
ceased to be paying members, and for a time the funds of the Lodge
were hardly sufficient to carry on the work, and by the most
careful economies, the W. M., Brother Preston, has succeeded in
carrying on the Lodge through troubled waters.

At that time the Lodge numbered only about 22 paying members,
whereas, during the war it had a roll call of about 60. Since then
members have steadily increased and today they number about 38
paying members.

The various Masters who succeeded one another have shown
considerable aptitude and even their good example has served to
emulate interest from Norwegian and Danish Brethren.

At the beginning of this year (1928) there was a demand made to the
Grand Lodge (National Grand Lodge of France), to enable the Lodge
Burdigala to work with a French translation of the English Ritual.
I understand that quite a large number of the members of Liberation
are also members of the Burdigala and assist in the propagation of
masonry in the French language.

In any case I can assure you that the Masonic keenness is fully
developed by the two Lodges in Bordeaux and that they frequently
send representatives to Paris to take part in other Masonic
meetings which are taking place there.

I have but a few more mentions made of this Lodge in paragraphs
from various Masonic friends scattered throughout our land. In a
letter dated December 12, 1928, my friend, Bro. William C. Prime of
New York, says:

William Hennessey Cook, who was Master of Liberation No. 8 in 1918,
was then as I remember it, Manager of Lloyd's Bank, Bordeaux
Branch, but was afterwards transferred to Paris, where he is now
either a manager or submanager of the head office of Lloyd's Bank
in Paris. Liberation Lodge was organized under the stress of the
war by the influence among others of Americans temporarily located
in or near Bordeaux, with Britons in charge, naturally. From my
point of view it was and is entirely regular, as one of the other
Lodges of the Grande Loge Nationale which was founded in 1913 under
the auspices or wing so to call it, of the Grand Lodge of England,
and with its kindly influence. It was a weak group and is not
strong now, although no French Jurisdictions are numerically strong
as compared with American. It organized a Lodge in Rouen, one in
Nice, and several elsewhere, which I think dropped after the War,
because the English-speaking men who formed them, mostly service
men, British or Irish, moved out. I cannot tell you just now how
many (American) jurisdictions recognized them. The Grand Lodge of
New York has done so within the past year. I know that Iowa and New
Jersey and several others did during the War and so far as I know
have not withdrawn recognition.

In a paragraph from the Temple Bulletin (a publication I much
regret to have no further designation to identify), entitled "Blue
Lodges of the Trenches," I find the following:

Among the many beautiful evidences of Masonic Brotherhood in the
trenches in western France, the founding of a new English speaking
Lodge, by American soldiers of the A. E. F., is of significant
interest. "Liberation" Lodge No. 8, was consecrated by French and
English officers of the Grand Loge Nationale, Independent and
Regular for France and the French Colonies. During the installation
the Worshipful Master wore an apron used two hundred years ago in
the Lodge where the ceremony took place, probably the oldest
Masonic apron in existence.

William Hennessey Cook was installed as W. M., and Lieut. A. C.
Howard, who had been instrumental in organizing the Lodge, became
S. W.

At the meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge, F. & A. M., held
February 2, the following Grand Officers were elected in the Temple
recently acquired in the city of Bordeaux: G. M. Bro. Eigau; Deputy
G. M., Bro. Gendron; G. S. W., Bro. Cook; G. J. W., Bro. Maura; G.
M. C., Bro. Howard; G. Chapl., Bro Perche; G. Org., Bro. Preston.

It will be of keen interest to the Craft to learn that the U. S. A.
is represented in the Grand Lodge by Brothers Cook, Howard and
Preston, who are also officers in the new English-speaking Lodge
"Liberation No. 8."

In the Report of the Overseas Masonic Mission page 175 I have come
upon this note:

Returning to Bordeaux with Brother Collins (April 6) from Camp de
Souge, he (Prime) attended a session of Liberation Lodge at the
Masonic Temple, occupied by the Loge Anglaise, founded in 1734
(1732) under dispensation of the Grand Lodge of England, and at
various times thereafter, holding obedience to the Grand Orient, or
the Grand Lodge of England, but now holding obedience to the Grand
Loge Nationale, and being one of the constituent lodges which
formed that grand body in the autumn of 1913.

He took part in conferring the Masonic degrees on 4 members of the
A. E. F. in the afternoon, and on 8 in the evening. He also
conferred with Capt. John D. Hatch and associates regarding the
establishment of a Masonic Club in Bordeaux, which was shortly
after established with the zealous aid and support of Brother
Collins.

One other clipping is in my files. It is a part of a letter written
to Bro. James G. Frey, editor of the American Tyler Keystone of
Battle Creek, Michigan, by Bro. Jesse R. Aver of Michigan:

I moved from Is-sur-Tille to Bordeaux July 1, 1918, I found no
Masonic Club and few Masons, at first, but a little investigation
developed a Lodge under the Grand Lodge of England, meeting in an
abandoned old church down town. The Master was agent for a British
bank and some barriers had to be broken down before I could talk to
him privately. But once identified and satisfied I had no ax to
grind, the traditional British reserve thawed and several American
Brothers had the pleasure of seeing the British work.

From this group of testimonies gathered through the years from such
diverse and scattered sources I have tried to reconstruct for you
this story. The Lodge was heavily officered by American Masons from
its origin to their transfer out of the Bordeaux area and by their
efforts they were instrumental in aiding to a very large degree the
launching of this Lodge, which has ever since been at work under
the Constitution of the National Grand Lodge of France. It is the
sole example thus far discovered by me in my wartime researches
where American Masons in the A. E. F. or elsewhere participated
personally and actively in the formation of a Lodge holding
allegiance to a Grand Lodge not American.

As to the regularity of the process from an American standpoint
there can be little doubt but that these brethren transgressed
seriously their American Grand Lodge Laws. From a British and
French standpoint there was no irregularity, as is attested by the
recognition of the lodge by both the Grand Lodge of England and the
National Grand Lodge of France. It is further strengthened by the
later recognition extended by the several American Grand Lodges as
already mentioned.

The record is written and the story thus brought to all Masonic
students interested in knowing and preserving the movements of the
Craft in times of war.

Special appreciation is herewith extended to those brethren who
made possible the collection and elaboration of the portions of the
story as given.
