ENTRANCE TO MASONIC TEMPLE, 508 12TH STREET (1886)
There was much discussion and excitement among the brethren. Many Craft lodge Masons had heard of the endeavor and were anxious to become members of the Rite. The board of directors for the new Masonic Temple was endeavoring to arrange a meeting night for the Rite. Enthusiasm was running high. But questions were in the air. Was it just a few of the enthusiastic brethren that were responsible for the building up of tension? Would there be some who could recall the failure of other bodies and dampen the spirit of those newly created Scottish Rite Masons? There had been differences of opinion as to whether the petition should be for just the Lodge of Perfection or all three Bodies.
At the second meeting Thursday, October 4, 1883, Amasa W. Bishop was presiding, and Charles E. Gillett was Secretary. At this meeting, James B. Merritt moved that the petition to the Grand Consistory be for the three bodies and that all Scottish Rite members in the vicinity be asked to sign it. The motion was carried.
The following members signed the petition: Thomas J. O’Keefe, 14°; James L. Gerrish, 14°; A. W. Collins, 14°; Amasa W. Bishop, 18°; Edwin A. Sherman, 32°; Nathan W. Spaulding, 32°; James B. Merritt, 32°; Josiah W. Dodge, 32°; Maylon W. Upton, 32°; Jeremiah E. Whitcher, 32°; Leroy M7. Allum, 32°; Anthony Chabot, 32°; William T. Hamilton, 32°; Grant 1. Taggart, 32°; Edward H. Morgan, 32°; Alpheus F. Williams, 32°; Charles F. Burnham, 32°; James R. Glover, 32°; Charles E. Gillett, 32°; John M. Buffington, 32°; Carroll Cook, 32°; David McClure, 32°; S. T. Gage, 32°; Alpheus Kendall, 32°; E. H. Woolsey, 32°; Jason J. Braman, 32°; Malachi T. McNeely, 32°; C. Waterhouse, 32°; L. F. Relchling, 32°; William Frank Pierce, 32°; and John A. Benson, 32°.
On Thursday, October 11, 1883, the group’s third meeting was held at the Masonic temple, and the signed petition for the three bodies was given to Edwin Sherman to present to the Grand Consistory at its scheduled meeting on Friday, October 12, 1883.