Christiana Lodge No. 417 History
Note: This page was borrowed from the First Masonic District of PA's website. Foreword: A committee was appointed to gather material from whatever source was available to write the history of the lodge. Naturally, the stated and special meetings are all recorded in our own Lodge records and in those of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania As we traveled through the hundreds of recorded meetings, we were continually reminded of our youth, manhood, and maturity, thus we thought it only fitting our history should begin with “A Baby Is Born”
A Baby is Born- The umbilical cord is cut and the child must breathe and nourish itself under its own power. With Christiana Lodge No. 417, the birth proceedings had their beginning on November 5, 1867, and the birth was consummated July 9, 1868. The labor pains have long been forgotten and only the records remain. Copies of the original papers show that the founding of Christiana Lodge No. 417 was initiated by six Master Masons from Quarryville Lodge No. 156 and one Master Mason from Skerrett Lodge No. 343. These Brothers petitioned Grand Lodge asking that a Lodge be Warranted in Kirkwood, Colerain Township, Pennsylvania. The Lodge was warranted March 4, 1868, and it was Constituted July 2, 1868 as Colerain Lodge, No. 417. Howell, District Deputy, Grand Master, installed the following officers, James P. Andrews, Worshipful Master, Pennington Moore, Senior Warden, Simeon W. Swisher, Junior Warden, Jere P. Swisher, Treasure, James P. Andrews, Scriptor Pro Temp. History does not provide any information as to the exact location of the actual building where the Lodge held its first meeting, but meetings were held in Kirkwood, Pennsylvania for the next four years. All children have growing pains as well as having the joy of growing up to adulthood. So, on May 16, 1872, Brother William S. Hastings made the motion that “the place of meeting of Colrain Lodge No. 417 be changed to Christiana, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania when a suitable building is provided.” Brother George M. Knight seconded the motion. The Worshipful Master called a special meeting on June 1, 1872, at 5:00 P.M. to vote on the motion and twelve Brothers attended the meeting, ten voting “Yes” and two not voting. The Grand Lodge Officers sent a notice to Colrain Lodge No. 417 granting permission to move the Lodge to Christiana, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. A new building was erected by the Christiana Hall Association for approximately five-thousand ($5,000) dollars. The exact means of financing this new building is lost in antiquity. It is known however that part of this was done by sale of stocks, as there still remains in the Lodge’s bank box ninety-five of these old stocks with an original value of fifty ($50.00) dollars each. The Lodge hall was rented from the Christiana Hall Association for $125.00 a year. Grand Lodge gave its approval to change the name from Colerain Lodge No. 417 to Christiana Lodge No. 417 on August 14, 1873
A boy grows up, he starts to shave, and he socializes with his friends, but he still remains an individual . Christiana Lodge No. 417 grew too. In its younger days, it shared the building with other Lodges such as Knights of Malta, Independent Order of Redmen, and Knights of the Golden Eagle. The building was the social center of Christiana being the scene of many dances and Basketball games. A boy becomes a man and with good training he prospers and takes his proper place in society. Christiana Lodge No. 417 prospered, and on December 7, 1916 the Lodge filed its deed to the Lodge building at the Lancaster County Courthouse. The mortgage was for a total of $5,000.00 Although the indebtedness on the building in 1916 was the same as the original construction cost, the Lodge was healthy, working hard, and even had some money in the bank as reserve. Payments were steadily made on the mortgage from that point on. On June 20, 1918, the Lodge celebrated its 50th Anniversary with ninety-two members present and thirty-two visitors. They reported a membership of two-hundred on December 27, 1918. Habits are formed by a young man during his courting days and his comings and goings are determined by his family and his work. With maturity, Christiana Lodge No. 417 could see that its work habits had to change with the times. The meetings of the Lodge were on the Thursday night on or before the full moon. On October 25, 1928, this was changed to the first Thursday of the month. Wrinkled and grey men see the consummation of their dreams. Not so with Christiana Lodge No. 417. On December 27, 1927, with $1.000.00 still remaining as indebtedness on the mortgage, and additional $1.500.00 was borrowed to give the building a face lift. The mortgage was paid in full in 1945 and the Lodge was only middle aged. From the year 1945, until the year 1962, no serious consideration was given to further alter the Lodge facilities. At the stated meeting in September 1962, it was regularly moved and seconded that a building find be started, and an account was opened in the name of Christiana Lodge No. 417 Building Fund. During the period of 1962 to 1965, inquiries were made as to the cost of remodeling and or cost of building a new Lodge Hall. This investigation revealed the necessity of forming a Masonic Hall Association. Consequently, a committee was appointed, bylaws were written, and approved by the Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania. A charter was obtained and recorded on January 20, 1967 establishing the present Christiana Masonic Hall Association. As we enter into our second century of life, we face a new challenge with complete confidence in the future, our members continue to prove their faith in Freemasonry in general and in this Lodge in particular. The desire to improve our present Lodge facilities appears to be unanimous and the contribution to date of approximately thirteen thousand dollars, now held by the Christiana Masonic Hall Association, is the foundation for the realization of our dream. It is our fondest hope that with the continued support of its members Christiana Lodge No. 417 Free and Accepted Masons will enter a new era believing in the same causes as did our Brothers who gave us first life.
