Masonic Lodges #160 & #181

Germania Lodge-Zion Kirche Mai 2011

Germania Lodge #160-The History & First Officers

At the end of 1871, several dedicated Master Masons of German birth met at the home of G.A. Lang at the Northeast corner of Granby and Exeter Streets. The reason for the meeting was to determine ways in which the group could assist German immigrants arriving that were unfamiliar with the language. It was also to establish a Masonic Lodge to enjoy the ideals of Freemasonry and perform its rituals in the German language. They appeared before the Grand Lodge with a petition/request to form this Lodge.

On January 5, 1872, a dispensation was granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons at that time, Brother John H.B. Latrobe.

At the following annual communication of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, held on May 13, 1872, Germania Lodge No. 160 A.F. and A.M. was formally chartered as a subordinated Lodge of the Grand Lodge of Maryland, with the privilege of exemplifying its rituals in the German Language

On May 17, 1872, Germania Lodge officially opened and the First Officers were installed by the Grand Senior Warden, Brother L.A. C. Gerry, representative of the Grand Master.

The First Officers:

Worshipful Master: George Schade

Senior Warden: Louis Muth

Junior Warden: Theodore Staeblein

Treasurer: John Ulrich

Secretary: Henry Yoekler

Members:

• W.E. Soine

• Wm. Holtsmon

• John Gunther

• Jacob Gminder

• G.A. Lang

• L. Loewenstein

• Wm. Seelbach

• Emil E. Carl

• Charles C. Luerssen

• Charles Schaun

• George Siemers

• Ferdinand Freibe

• A.L. Lankau

• Francis Volk

• I.A. Goetz

• Wm. Schnauffer

• Charles Noethen

• A. Weolipp

• George Plitt

• Charles Heuser

• Charles Lenschow

Sincerity Lodge #181

In the very beginning years of Sincerity Lodge #181 the Secretaries also kept their minutes of their meetings in both in German and English side-by-side in every book.

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