At the monthly Stated Meeting of Montgomery Lodge No. 94, held on June 14, 2016, the thirty five Masons present, including the Deputy Grand Master Douglas N. Kaylor and Grand Marshal, Richard A. Dickersheid, witnessed an historic event – the return of their Lodge’s original set of officers’ jewels. Their return is a great example of the ties of Brotherhood that bind our great Fraternity!
Montgomery Lodge No. 94 was chartered on January 28, 1828. They met for approximately 4 ½ years. On November 10, 1832, the Lodge chose to close its doors, possibly because of the anti-masonic sentiment in the United States at that time, caused by the Morgan Affair. The Grand Lodge of Ohio was informed, and the officer’s jewels were sent to the Grand Lodge.
On September 15, 1837, William J. Reese, Grand Master of Ohio, granted a dispensation to form Batavia Lodge. The Grand Lodge of Ohio loaned Batavia Lodge the officers’ jewels that Montgomery Lodge had surrendered. After Batavia Lodge No. 104 received their charter on June 20, 1838, these jewels were sold to Batavia Lodge for the sum of $32.00.
On October 21, 1846, the Grand Lodge of Ohio adopted a resolution to resuscitate Montgomery Lodge No. 94, who requested their original jewels to be returned. However, since the jewels were sold to Batavia Lodge, the Grand Lodge agreed to give Montgomery Lodge $53.00 to purchase new officers’ jewels.
In 2013, Right Worshipful Brother Kaylor, after speaking to a member of Montgomery Lodge regarding the Lodge history and the story about the officers’ jewels, was curious as to whether Batavia Lodge knew the whereabouts of the jewels. This also excited the curiosity of the members of Batavia Lodge. After due search and inquiry, the original jewels were located in a cigar box tucked away in a drawer.
In 2015, Past District Deputy L. John Lasonczyk, who is a PM of Montgomery Lodge No. 94, spoke to Brad A. Toft, a PM of Batavia Lodge No. 104, regarding the original jewels and requested that should Batavia Lodge ever decide to get rid of these jewels that Montgomery Lodge would love to purchase them from Batavia. Past Master Toft explained that since Batavia Lodge does not use these jewels, he would bring the matter before his Lodge.
Through the generosity of Batavia Lodge No. 104, there return of the jewels became a reality when Toft and a few others from Batavia Lodge and the 6th District traveled to the 1st District to present a shadow box containing the original jewels back to Montgomery Lodge No. 94. The beautiful shadow box, which was made by Brother Gary Conn of Amelia Lodge No. 590, will now be prominently displayed in the lodge room of Montgomery Lodge No. 94.
