Freemasonry in the Canal Zone

The District Grand Lodge

At the Panama Canal Lodge of Instruction
in the Republic of Panama
 Agenda
• Panama History
• The Spanish Era XV – XIX
• Panama Railway
• French Canal
• Freemasonry at the Panama Canal
• Freemasons on the Isthmus
• Beginning
• Sojourners Lodge
• Army Lodge
• Twin City
• Darien Lodge
• Sibert Lodge
First Part: Panama History
 The Spanish Era
• Many years before the Pilgrim Fathers
landed on the bleak shores of New
England, four logical routes
were already recognized for a Canal
across the Isthmus between North and
South America and surveys had been
made with the idea in view of creating a
man-made channel between the Atlantic
and Pacific Oceans.

• Vasco Nunez de Balboa, discoverer of the

Pacific, is believed to have been the first
to conceive the idea of uniting the two
oceans by a canal. In 1529 Alvaro de
Saavedra completed plans for the building
of an interoceanic waterway, but died
before his plans could be submitted to his
king.
The Spanish Era
• In 1534 Charles V ordered
the Governor of the Region
of Panama to make surveys
of a route following the
Chagres River, which is
more or less the course of
the present Panama Canal.

• This was done but the

Governor reported that no
monarch could hope to
accomplish such a feat as
joining the two oceans.
The Spanish Era
• Nothing much was done for nearly two
centuries until near the end of the 18th
century, Baron Von Humboldt, the famous
geographer, visited the Isthmus and
became much interested in the matter. His
writings were widely read in England,
France, Spain, and the United States.

• In 1814 the Spaniard Cortez adopted a

formal decree for the construction of the
Isthmian Canal and authorized the
formation of a company to undertake the
work. Within a decade all of Spain's
colonies in Central and South America
established their independence and the
possibility of Spain taking part in the great
project faded away.
 The Panama Railway
• While the Camino Real, and later the
Las Cruces trail, served communication across the isthmus
for over three centuries, by the 19th century it was
becoming clear that a cheaper and faster alternative was
required. Given the difficulty of constructing a canal with the
available technology, a railway seemed an excellent
opportunity.

• The discovery of gold in California attracted a multitude of

"Forty-niners" who, urged on by the true spirit of the pioneer
and a cupidity that was dauntless, flocked to the Isthmus in
such numbers that the need was infinitely increased for a
regular line of steamships between the Atlantic and Pacific
ports.
 The Panama Railway
• There were three routes to California from the East Coast.
• Across the continent .
• He could take a ship for the long, uncomfortable
and dangerous voyage around Cape Horn,
• or he could make the "pleasant voyage to Panama, stroll
across the fifty miles of Isthmus to the Pacific and, after
another easy sea voyage, find himself in San Francisco.“

• The Panama Railway was built across the isthmus

from 1850 to 1855, running 47 miles (76 km) from
Colón, on the Atlantic Coast, to Panama City on the
Pacific.
• The project was an engineering marvel of its age,
carried out in brutally difficult conditions. Although
there is no way of knowing the exact number of
workers who died during construction, estimates
range from 6,000 to as high as 12,000 killed, many
of them from cholera and malaria.
The French Canal
• The first comprehensive survey by the French was made in 1843 by
Napoleon Garella.
• He favored the Panama Route and submitted plans to utilize the
waters of the Chagres River.
• He proposed a ship tunnel through the continental divide and a
canal with 34 locks on the Atlantic slope and 16 on the Pacific.
• He estimated the cost of the canal with a tunnel at $25,000,000 and
at $28,000,000 with an open cut.
• Soon after numerous other explorations were made by the
Government and private companies of the United States, Great
Britain and France.
• Among the countless proposals made, none was more fanciful,
considering present day ship traffic, than the ship railway proposed
in 1881, by James B. Eads, capable of transporting, in a specially
built ship cradle, ocean-going vessels of up to 5000 tons.
The French Canal
• In January 1881, the first detachment of
workers was sent out. Between 1882 and
1888 the work went forward with dispatch
and much was accomplished, but at great
cost of human lives and money.
• After seven years of work, it was found that a sea level canal was
not feasible and a provisional change of plans was made which
provided for a high level canal with a system of
locks. Needless to say the
work failed.
The Panama Canal Era
• The State of Panama revolted and declared its independence from
Colombia on November 3, 1903.
• A treaty was negotiated between Panama and the United States and
on May 4, 1904.
• Lt. Mark Brooke, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army, acting in
accordance with instructions received from the Secretary of War,
went to the headquarters of the French Canal Company and
accepted, in the name of the United States, the transfer of its
properties for the sum of $40,000,000.
• You are all familiar with the problems that the United States
encountered so there is no need to go into details except to say that
on August 15, 1914 the Canal was opened to traffic.
• With that bit of background, let us get back to the main subject.
The Panama Canal Era
Second Part: Freemasonry at the
Panama Canal
Symbolic Masonry on the Isthmus
• One of the earliest lodges of which records exists was called
Fidelidad No. 48, of the Grand Orient of New Granada (later to
be called Colombia) in the city of Colon, Department of
Panama.
• This lodge, working in the Spanish language, was composed of
merchants and professional men of Colon and employees of the
Panama Railroad. As many of the employees of the Panama
Railroad were Englishmen and Americans who did not speak
Spanish fluently, it was thought advisable to erect an English-
speaking lodge, so a petition to the Grand Lodge of Scotland
was signed by these Masons.
• In February of 1898 a charter under the name of Sojourners' Lodge
No. 874 was granted to the petitioners by the Grand Lodge of
Scotland.
Freemasonry in the Canal Zone
• Masonry in the Canal Zone • The long delays in
had its beginnings in 1898 communications between
when Sojourners Lodge No. Scotland and the desire for
874 was founded in Colon, closer ties with their homeland,
Republic of Panama, under the led the members to seek a
Grand Lodge of Scotland. connection with a Grand Lodge
• As more and more Americans in the United States.
arrived on the Isthmus to work • One of the Grand Lodges
for the Panama Railroad and contacted was the Grand
the Canal, they began to apply Lodge of Massachusetts.
to Sojourners Lodge as • On September 11, 1912, Most
affiliated members or as Worshipful Everett C. Benton,
candidates for the degrees. Grand Master of the Grand
• Over a period of years the Lodge of Massachusetts,
membership in Sojourners announced in the regular
Lodge became predominantly Quarterly Communication two
American. dispensations
Freemasonry in the Canal Zone
• "I have granted two • On September 11, 1912, forty-three
dispensations for new lodges-- Masons submitted a prayer for
one at the Canal Zone, dispensation to form Canal Zone
Panama, called 'Sojourners Lodge on the Pacific side.
Lodge' ...." • The dispensation was issued on
• At the Annual Communication December 10, 1913.
of the Grand Lodge held • Prior to this
December 11, 1912, the the only
Committee on Charters and lodge was on
By-laws recommended that a the Atlantic
Charter be issued. side which
• This recommendation was entailed
unanimously approved by the travel across the Isthmus by
Grand Lodge and Sojourners railroad and
Lodge became the senior a very long
lodge on the Canal Zone. night.
Sojourners Lodge
• Early in January, 1913, Most Worshipful Benton,
accompanied by the Deputy Grand Master, Right
Worshipful Herbert E. Fletcher and the Recording Grand
Secretary, Right Worshipful Thomas W. Davis,
journeyed to the Canal Zone.
• On January 18 opened a Special Communication of the
Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for the purpose of
constituting Sojourners Lodge and installing the officers.
• It is recorded that there were present Masons from forty
states, two dependencies and four foreign countries.
There were 190 charter members in the lodge.
Sojourners Lodge
• The following day, January 19, 1913, Most Worshipful
Benton opened another Special Communication of the
Grand Lodge at Ancon, Canal Zone, to pay a fraternal
visit to Canal Zone Lodge at its first meeting under
dispensation.
•The following year, Right
Worshipful Herbert Fletcher,
now a Past Deputy Grand
Master, returned to the Isthmus
to open a Deputy Grand Lodge
for the purpose of constituting
Canal Zone Lodge and
installing its officers on
February 21, 1914.
Army Lodge
• During the forenoon of November 23, 1914, the USAT
Buford docked at Pier 8, Cristobal, with the 5th U.S.
Infantry on board.
• Among her passengers were 1st Lt. George W. Edgerly
and many other Masons, both officers and enlisted men.
• The 5th Infantry was to be stationed at Camp Empire about
midway of the Isthmus making attendance at either
Sojourners or Canal Zone Lodges very inconvenient.
• As there were many Masons in this area, Brother Edgerly
took it upon himself to call a meeting on April 27th for
interested members of the Craft.
• Thirty-two Brethren attended and a petition was drawn up.
It was voted to call themselves Army Lodge.
Army Lodge
• The signatures of fifty Brethren were obtained and the
petition forwarded.
• On June 8, 1915 the Grand Master, Most Worshipful
Melvin M. Johnson, granted the dispensation and
appointed Brother Edgerly to be the first Master.
• On March 8, 1916 the Charter was granted but the
formal ceremony of constitution was not held until May
20, 1916 at which time Worshipful John B. Fields, acting
on a commission as proxy for the Grand Master,
presided.
• More than three hundred Masons attended the affair.
Twin City Masonic Club
• In the latter part of 1915 a • This petition with fifty
group of old-fashioned signatures was forwarded to
Masons, who had a desire for the Most Worshipful Grand
good fellowship and Lodge.
brotherhood, banded together • Their prayer was answered by
to organize the "Twin City permission to form Isthmian
Masonic Club." Lodge and met regularly under
• The meetings of this Masonic dispensation until May 31,
Club were held regularly each 1918 at which time it was
month until May 4, 1917. constituted.
• In the latter part of 1916, they
originated a Petition for a
Dispensation to erect a Blue
Lodge.
The Masonic
Club Of
Empire
Panama Canal Lodge Building
• In 1918 the Panama
Canal moved the Lodge
Building from Paraiso to
Pedro Miguel.
• In those days it was
customary for the Canal
Zone Government to
furnish, for a nominal fee,
a Lodge Hall in each
community for meeting
places for employee
groups, unions,
community and lodge
meetings, etc.
Darien Lodge
• In 1917, eighty- eight
Master Masons signed a
petition for a dispensation
to start a lodge to be
called Darien Lodge in
Balboa.
• This was granted on May
16, 1917.
• Special Communication
held on August 8, 1918
the lodge was constituted
in full form according to
the Ancient usages of the
Craft.
Sibert Lodge
• It was reported in the • The Charter for Sibert
Communication of Lodge was approved by
December 11, 1918, that Grand Lodge on
a Special Warrant had September 10, 1919 and
been issued on the lodge was constituted
December 6 to by Right Worshipful
Worshipful Francis M. Ralph Osborn, District
Easton and forty-three Grand Master, on
others to form Sibert February 2, 1920.
Lodge (under
dispensation) at Gatun,
Canal Zone.
Chagres Lodge
• The last lodge to be • Seven lodges were
erected in the Canal Zone constituted in the period
was Chagres Lodge 1912 through 1922.
which was warranted • Masonry had expanded
under dispensation on to the point where a close
March 8, 1921. tie with the Grand Lodge
• The Charter was was needed to expedite
approved on December and handle the affairs in
14,1921 by Grand Lodge the Canal Zone.
and the lodge constituted
at a Special DGL
Communication, February
6,1922, by WM Clinton G.
Garty acting as DGM.
Deputy Grand Lodge
• In February of 1916 the Board of Directors of the Grand
Lodge gave the Grand Master authority to send
someone to the Canal Zone to give attention to such
matters connected with the lodges there as were
demanding early consideration.
• During 1916 the Grand Master was unable to prevail
upon anyone of suitable rank to undertake the trip to the
Canal Zone.
• A petition for a dispensation for a new lodge at Paraiso
required careful deliberation and intimate knowledge of
local conditions to assure a wise decision. Late in the
year, the newly- formed Grand Lodge of Panama asked
for recognition of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
 • On January 30, 1917 Most
Worshipful Johnson met with
First Treaty
the Grand Lodge of Panama
and signed the Treaty which
is still in effect after sixty
years.
• This Treaty governs the
relationships between the
lodges of the Grand Lodge
of Massachusetts and the
Grand Lodge of Panama.
Deputy Grand Lodge
• On January 31, 1917 Most Worshipful Johnson opened
a Deputy Grand Lodge at Cristobal, Canal Zone, at
which his commission from the Grand Master was read
in the presence of about three hundred Masons.
• Right Worshipful Herbert A. White was installed as the
first District Grand Master of the Canal Zone Masonic
District, the officers of Sojourners Lodge were installed,
and the dispensation for Isthmian Lodge was presented
to the committee of that lodge.
• The evening ended with the exemplification of the
second section of the third degree.
District Grand Lodge
• In a Special Communication of the District Grand Lodge held Friday,
May 31, 1918 at Cristobal, Right Worshipful Ralph Osborn was
installed (in English) by Most Worshipful Guillermo Andreve, Grand
Master of Panama, and the officers of the Grand Lodge of Panama.
• The Grand Master reported that "The occasion was a very delightful
one and marked another step in the development and strengthening
of the cordial relations which exist between the Grand Lodge of
• Massachusetts and the Grand Lodge of Panama." On this same
night Right Worshipful Osborn and the District Grand Lodge
constituted Isthmian Lodge and installed its officers. On Thursday,
August 8, 1918 a Special Communication of the District Grand
Lodge was opened at Balboa to constitute Darien Lodge and install
its officers.
 M.:W.:M.: Visits
• It has been the custom for each Grand Master to make
an extended visit to the Canal Zone, once during his
term of office, generally during the second year.
• These visits have taken the form of visiting two or three
lodge groups in joint communication at which a degree
would be conferred, visitation to the District Master's
Reception for all Masons on the Isthmus and their wives,
to meet the Grand Master and his official party.
• The visits have included meeting certain high officials of
the Panama Canal and military, sightseeing in both the
Canal Zone and the Republic of Panama.
Appendix Bodies
• York Rite Masonry was introduced as early as 1910 when a
dispensation was issued for Canal Zone Chapter No. 1, Royal Arch
Masons, located on the Pacific side, and on October 30, 1916, one
was issued for Canal Zone Chapter No. 2 located on the Atlantic
side. Canal Zone Comandery No. 1, K. T. and Canal Zone Council
No. 1, R. & S.M. followed in due time.

• Scottish Rite, under the Southern Jurisdiction, followed along with

the Shrine. Abou Saad Temple, A.A.N.O.M.S. has one of the largest
Jurisdictions of any Temple, as it includes Central and South
America as well as Puerto Rico.

• There were four Chapters of the Order of the Eastern Star, two
Chapters of DeMolay, and three Chapters of Rainbow for Girls. Two
Chapters of National Sojourners and a Conclave of the Red Cross of
Constantine.
Bibliography
• http://panama- http://panamacanalmuseum.org/
maps.com/display-
panamahistorical.htm
• R. W. Howard W. Osborn,
PDGM of the District Grand
Lodge of Massachusetts,
• http://www.masonicworld.com/
education/articles/freemasonry
_in_the_canal_zone.htm
• Ill. Rolando A. Linares, Jr., 33°
• Masons and Masonry on the
Panama Canal, 1904-1914
Thanks

The Right Worshipful District Grand Lodge

of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of Massachusetts
At Panama