Sibert
Contents
SIBERT LODGE
Location: Gatun, Canal Zone
Chartered By: Leon M. Abbott
Charter Date: 09/10/1919 1919-297
Precedence Date: 12/06/1918
Current Status: merged with Balboa Lodge to form Gatun Lodge, 05/31/1995.
PAST MASTERS
- Robert S. Houston, 1918-1921
- H. Mortimer Lockwood, 1922, 1923
- Charles W. Duey, 1924
- Dow R. Walker, 1925
- Pearl R. Kiger, 1926
- Ernest Mueller, 1927
- Leon J. Egolf, 1928
- Ellis D. Stillwell, 1929
- Frank H. Townsend, 1930
- William C. Smith, 1931
- Frank L. Cunningham, 1932
- Walter L. Roberts, 1933
- Louis F. Hass, 1934
- Robert G. Noe, 1935
- Arthur R. Lane, 1936
- Ramon Otto, 1937
- Ray J. Bunnell, 1938
- Floyd E. Malone, 1939
- Starford Levy Churchill, 1940
- Herbert L. Brezeal, 1941
- Edwin F. Rigby, 1942
- Will R. McCutchan, 1943
- Paul R. Furr, 1944
- Fred A. Newhard, 1945
- Arthur A. Albright, 1946, 1947
- Robert J. Peterson, 1948
- William Badders, 1949-1951
- Curtis H. George, 1952
- Homer V. Crooks, 1953
- Frederick Charles Willoughby, 1954
- Whitman P. Garrett, 1955
- David C. McIlhenny, 1956
- Richard L. Pennington, 1957
- John A. Taylor, 1958
- William B. Wray, 1959
- Robert R. Arnold, 1960
- Walter T. McClure, 1961
- David M. Jenkins, 1962
- Alfred J. Benton, 1963
- Thomas L. Sellers, 1964
- Arthur C. Cherry, 1965
- Leon S. Fishbough, Jr., 1966
- George L. Cooper, 1967
- Ernest R. Yocum, 1968
- William E. Garner, 1969
- Edward C. Blount, 1970
- Donald C. Denis, 1971
- Raymond G. Bush, 1972
- Engelbert J. Berger, 1973
- Howard Nelson Golden, 1974
- Robert L. McAuslin, 1975
- Cullen D. Tomlinson, 1976
- Robert B. Thompson, 1977, 1989, 1991
- Samuel H. Rowley, Jr., 1978
- James B. Wallace, 1979
- Calvin M. Landrum, Jr., 1980
- Kenneth H. Willis, Sr., 1981
- Edsel Walshkey, 1982
- David J. Ley, 1983
- James W. Wood, Jr., 1984
- George M. Walker, 1985
- Victor C. Heyl, 1986, 1988
- Joe M. Taitano, 1987
- Albert J. St. Peter, 1990
- Robert D. Gordon, 1992
- Robert M. Craig, 1993, 1995
- Tommie L. Smith, 1994
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
- Petition for Dispensation: 1918
- Petition for Charter: 1919
- Consolidation Petition (withBalboa] Lodge): 1995
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
- 1921 (Prince)
- 1922 (Prince; cornerstone laying; Special Communication)
- 1925 (Ferrell)
- 1928 (Simpson; 2 visits, including cornerstone laying; Special Communications)
- 1934 (Chipman)
- 1937 (Allen; hall dedication; Special Communication)
- 1939 (Perry; Special Communication)
- 1949 (Keith)
- 1952 (Roy; 2 visits, including cornerstone laying; Special Communications)
- 1956 (W. Johnson; Special Communication)
- 1958 (A. Jenkins; Special Communication)
- 1965 (Osgood; Special Communication)
- 1967 (Booth; Special Communication)
- 1971 (Jaynes; Special Communication)
- 1973 (Vose; Special Communication)
- 1976 (Maxwell; Special Communication)
- 1979 (Melanson; Special Communication)
- 1982 (Berquist; Special Communication)
- 1985 (Richardson; Special Communication)
- 1988 (Ames; Special Communication)
- 1991 (Darling; Special Communication)
- 1994 (Lovering; Special Communication)
BY-LAW CHANGES
1924 1934 1936 1941 1947 1949 1951 1952 1955 1957 1959 1967 1971 1972 1973 1975 1979 1980 1983 1993
EVENTS
LODGE NOTES, SPRING 1993
From TROWEL, Spring 1993, Page 27:
Sibert Lodge (Panama Canal Masonic District. Gatun. Panama) recently had their installation of officers for 1993. The installation is of particular interest for several reasons. Three years ago. not many people thought that Sibert Lodge would ever have another installation. While membership remained well above two hundred members, the active membership was at an all time low. Many business meetings were canceled because not enough members showed up to open the Lodge. The membership of Sibert Lodge is mainly workers from the Panama Canal Commission and soldiers in the U.S. Army. The majority of the Panama Canal Commission members have retired and returned to the states, and at that time (pre just cause) the military members were often on alert and confined to Ft. Sherman. It was decided that Sibert Lodge would close its doors and merge with another Lodge in Panama. However, after repeated pleas from the active members and from candidates awaiting initiation, the District Grand Lodge agreed to wait another year before closing Sibert Lodge down. For this, we would like to thank Right Worshipful Donald P. Garrido (District Grand Master for the Panama Canal Masonic District) and Worshipful Calvin Maxwell Landrum, who agreed to be Master of Sibert Lodge another year, and Worshipful James William Wood, who agreed to take on the job of Secretary and bring all the records up to date.
We found enough Masons to fill the chairs who were willing to work, and we Raised five Masons that year. Last year we Raised nine more and have had several affiliations. Most of the chairs are filled by young Masons who are willing to put in long hours to ensure that the ritual work is done correctly, and at the installation we had sixty people present, counting the wives. Sibert Lodge is alive and prospering with candidates coming in all the time.
The wives of Sibert are active in supporting the Lodge and have contributed greatly to its success. They put on a dinner once a month and have organized themselves into a committee that meets once a month to plan dinners, picnics, a trip into the Interior to donate Christmas gifts to the children of needy families, a Christmas dinner and party for our own children. They have also contributed their personal time in doing work on the Lodge.
The Lodge has truly become a family Lodge. We share Thanksgiving dinner together. Christmas dinner together, and work together. And all of this in a Lodge that would have closed its doors only a few short years ago. Thanks to a lot of hard work by the membership and their families, Sibert Lodge is thriving.
Another point of interest is the fact that the Master and officers of Sibert Lodge wore their army dress greens for the installation this year. This year's installation was the first open installation for Sibert Lodge. The by-laws were changed last year to allow for an open installation, this again allowed the families to participate in the Lodge and has guaranteed another successful year for the Lodge.
God willing, Sibert Lodge will be around for a long time. Our public Awareness Program includes each family inviting another family to the monthly dinners. While we do not (and never will) recruit new members, by inviting new families to share in our closeness and love of each other, we spread good feelings about our Fraternity among those who know little if anything about it.
GRAND LODGE OFFICERS
- David C. McIlhenny, District Grand Master (Canal Zone), 1972-1974
