Brooks Masonic Lodge No. 73 - A Brief History
By the
year 1912 many Freemasons were residing in and around the village of
Brooks and, on November 1st 21 of them assembled at Clark’s Hall on the
corner of 1 St. W and Railroad Ave. These brethren unanimously approved a
motion to organize a Masonic Lodge in Brooks. It was also decided by
ballot that the new Lodge should work in the Ancient York Rite. Clark`s
Hall subsequently became the Lodges’ first home.
The
Grand Master M.W. Bro. Robert Patterson, issued a Dispensation on Dec.
12th, 1912 authorizing the formation of Brooks Lodge. Duly instituted
January 2nd 1913 the Lodge’s first slate of officers was then installed
and invested. R.W. John H. Binns became the Lodge’s first Worshipful
Master. The first candidates were initiated in Brooks Lodge February
11th, 1913 and, on June 24th of that year, the Lodge received its
Charter and was numbered 73 on the Grand Register.
W.
Bro. Dr. Charles E. Anderson, on May 26th, 1915 became the first of
several members of Brooks Lodge to be elected to the office of District
Deputy Grand Master. On Jan 13th, 1917, W. Bro. Joseph Luke Marin had
the distinction of becoming the first Brooks Lodge initiate to have
ascended through the chairs to the office of Worshipful Master. In
September of that same year Brooks Lodge purchased the Edinborough
Rooming House on 2nd Ave West for the sum of $1,000.00. It was
extensively renovated and became the Lodges’ new home, being dedicated
for that purpose on March 19th, 1918.
Throughout
the years of the “Roaring Twenties,” “Dirty Thirties” and World War II,
membership ebbed and flowed. But the Lodge persevered - a tribute to
its dedicated members – and on October 15th, 1957, Bro. James Henry
became the first member of Brooks Lodge to receive a Fifty Year Jewel.
An
Emergent meeting was held on July 22nd, 1969 to approve the purchase of
the former Grace Lutheran Church on 3rd Ave. for use as a Masonic
Temple. The first meeting in the new hall building (Our Present Home)
was held October 21st of that year.
Throughout
its first 100 years, Brooks Lodge has continued to remain an active
Lodge, and it is not uncommon to find Brooks Brethren either
individually, or as part of a team, assisting in Degree Work,
Installation Ceremonies or Educational Presentations in Sister Lodges
both within and without the jurisdiction.
