RIOrpheus36
Contents
LODGE
Location: X
Chartered By: X
Dispensation Date: date
Charter Date: date
Current Status: status
PAST MASTERS
NOTES
Meeting Date: Third Monday
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
ANNIVERSARIES
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
BY-LAW CHANGES
HISTORY
This Lodge is an outgrowth of a musical society composed of five young men, who in the winter of 1860-61 met together for mutual improvement. Their names were George B. Chace, who presided at the piano and acted as Director; Thomas P. Fenner, Herman Decker, Eli Smith, and Edwin Baker. So much did they enjoy the rehearsal of the beautiful part-songs for male voices, that it was deemed advisable to try the experiment out on a larger scale during the next winter, and accordingly, there was formed on Wednesday, November 13, 1861, the organization long known as the Orpheus Club.
On May 19, 1879, a Charter was granted to Orpheus Lodge No. 36 and its by-laws approved by the Grand Lodge. But, as dual memberships were not allowed and as many of the thirty-six petitioners declined to leave their Mother Lodges, the Charter was not accepted until May 5, 1880. On that date the Club voted to cease to exist and the new Lodge voted to transfer to honorary membership those club members who did not wish to become active members by demit. The Lodge was publicly constituted by Most Worshipful Grand Master Edward L. Freeman in Mason’s Hall, What Cheer Building, on May 12, 1880, with William Russell Greene as its first Master.
This is how Orpheus Lodge began, and after having installed ninety-six Masters, the Lodge is still a place where friendship and brotherly love prevail. As recently as January 15, 1873, Most Worshipful Grand Master George E. Kettleband gave a special dispensation to some of the members of Orpheus Lodge to form the “Armenian Degree Team” to present the Third Degree in their native tongue. Many men from many ethnic backgrounds have bee brought to light and with them has come their culture to enrich Orpheus Lodge.
