Masonic Lodges #160 & #181
Germania Lodge-Zion Kirche Mai 2011
At its conception, the Lodge Bretheran were mostly German speaking, and it was said the Lodge performed all of their degree work in the German language.
Germania Lodge #160 was the first Maryland Lodge working in the German language and received their Charter on May 13,1872. There was a big 50th Anniversary on May 15, 1922. The Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Conrad Rabbe.
Germania Lodge still exists today and maintains a location in Cockeysville, MD.
Today's Officers:
President: Rolf Sorg:
1st Vice President: Ambros Fellner
2nd Vice President: James Yingling
Treasurer: Gary Harthausen, Sr.
Secretary: Ralph Bathgate
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.