The Penniless Oil Baron

Edwin L. Drake, Oil Creek Lodge 303 (Now Titusville Lodge 754), drilled the world's first successful oil well in August of 1859.  Seneca oil hired Drake to manage the project but the company was only halfheartedly committed to the effort.  Seneca was so underfunded it hired Drake mainly because, as a former railroad employee, he had free use of the rails.  When the project did not produce immediate results, Seneca bailed out and left Drake on his own.  Brother Drake developed successful drilling techniques which are in use yet today, but failed to patent them and died penniless, having pioneered an industry that has made others billions.

Brother Perkins' Amazing Contraption

The nearly-forgotten Jacob Perkins (1766-1849), St. Peter's Lodge, Newburyport, MA was such a prolific inventor he probably ranks with the likes of Benjamin Franklin or Thomas Edison.  Among his inventions were coinage dies, the first refrigerator, a machine for making nails, improved engraving plates, a "bathometer" to measure the depth of water and a "pleometer" to mark with precision the speed with which a vessel moved through water.  He also engraved England's first adhesive-backed postage stamp, the famous "penny black."  Perhaps his most intriguing invention, however, was the ridiculous-sounding steam gun.  Demonstrations of the amazing contraption fascinated the public.  The weapon was capable of shooting 1,000 rounds per minute and could penetrate its ball-shaped projectiles through eleven one-inch pine boards at a distance of 35 yards.  Perkins even invented an accessory that allowed the gun to shoot around corners, a derivative of which was used in World War II.  In other words, in a day when muskets fired a single bullet and required a tedious reloading process, Brother Perkins invented the ultimate weapon.  The military, however, although impressed by the gun's overwhelming firing power and accuracy, rejected it because it was so powerful it deformed the bullets!

President Harding's Last Speech

Brother Warren G. Harding's last speech was delivered after his death.  Brother Harding had planned to make an address at a meeting of Hollywood Commandery 56, KT, on August 2, 1923, but died earlier that day.  His private secretary, Sir Knight George B. Christian, Marion Lodge 70, Ohio, attended in his stead.  In front of a somber and saddened gathering, Brother Christian gave the speech the President had planned to deliver.

Largest Master's Chair

Ophir Lodge 33, Murphys, California has the largest known Master's chair, measuring 15 feet long.  The chair seats the Master, Past Master and all visiting dignitaries. In use for decades, Ophir now keeps the chair in its upstairs "Museum Lodge" and uses it on special occasions and when performing degree work for other Lodges.

Adding Fuel To The Fire

The Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania dedicated its second home, located on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, in 1809.  A magnificent building for its time, the Philadelphia Masonic Hall was one of that city's landmarks until March 9, 1819.  On that evening, as Washington Lodge 59 was meeting there, a chimney fire swept through the building, completely destroying it.  No one was hurt, and Lodge members saved some property by carrying it out of the building, but much was lost as the fire erupted into what was described as "a great conflagration."  Reports say the inferno became so intense it was visible in New Castle, Delaware, 32 miles away.  A letter from Rebecca Gratz (1781-1869), who lived next door, describes the incident in detail.  In it, she makes it clear the building might have been saved but for the fact that the volunteer firemen who came to fight the fire were drunk!  As the evening progressed and it became clear the Masonic Hall was lost and Ms. Gratz' house was safe, the evening became almost festive as Ms. Gratz added fuel to the fire — pun intended — by serving alcoholic beverages to the fire fighters.

The Rifle That Served For 70 Years

Odus Creamer Horney (1866-1957), Alamo Lodge 44, San Antonio, was an armed forces officer who eventually attained the rank of Brigadier General.  A tinkerer by nature, he developed a new, more comfortable and durable riding saddle for the military.  Then, not satisfied with the standard issue rifle, he designed and built a new model which became the US military's most famous standard issue weapon.  His invention, the Springfield Rifle M1903 was so good it was the standard issue from 1905 through World War II and, although finally replaced by the M1, remained the army's sniper rifle through that conflict, Korea and even Viet Nam, in an astonishing run of nearly 70 years.

Elbridge Gerry's Redistricting Scheme

Elbridge Gerry (1744-1814), Philanthropic Lodge of Marblehead, Massachusetts, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence, fifth Vice President of the US, Governor of Massachusetts, a congressman, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and more.  He is mainly remembered, however, for his efforts to redistrict Massachusetts in an attempt to keep Republicans in power, a tactic which political parties have employed since.  His actions sparked such controversy at the time that his contemporary pundits named the process after him: Gerrymandering.