MAGrandMasterCZVisits

GRAND MASTER VISITS TO THE CANAL ZONE AND PANAMA

In 1912, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts granted a charter to Sojourners Lodge of Cristobal, and thereby inaugurated its jurisdiction within the Panama Canal Zone. At that time there was no Grand Lodge holding jurisdiction in Panama; its Grand Lodge would only be instituted in 1917, at which time a treaty was erected between the two Grand Jurisdictions enabling them to operate concurrently.

Between 1912 and the present, a number of Grand Masters have paid official visits to the Canal Zone and Panama Districts. This page summarizes and illustrates those visits.

Lodge visits are noted with a star (★) and the date of the visit.

GRAND MASTER EVERETT C. BENTON, 1913

District Grand Master: None
Lodges:
- Sojourners ★ (01/18/1913)
- Canal Zone, U. D. ★ (01/19/1913)

SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS IN PANAMA

01/18: 1913-1. Special Communication at Cristobal, Canal Zone. Constitution of Sojourners Lodge.
- 1913-2: Grand Lodge opened in the Canal Commission Headquarters. The Grand Lodge was received by the Brethren of the new Lodge.
- 1913-2: Ceremony of constitution and installation of officers.
- 1913-3: Address by the Grand Master.
- 1913-4: Initial organization of Sojourners Lodge, with Wor. Eli D. Sims as its first Master. A list of the 190 Charter members of the lodge.

Hotel Tivoli Dining Room and Exterior, Ancon, Canal Zone

01/19: 1913-8. Special Communication at Ancon, Canal Zone. Fraternal visit to Canal Zone, U.D.
- 1913-8: Opening of Grand Lodge and reception into the lodge-room.
- 1913-9: Brief address by the Grand Master to the Brethren "congratulating them upon the honor of taking part in the first meeting held upon the Pacific coast by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts." Remarks by the Deputy Grand Master and Recording Secretary.
- 1913-9: Banquet at the Tivoli Hotel (shown above).

ACTING GRAND MASTER MELVIN M. JOHNSON, 1917

District Grand Master: Herbert A. White
Lodges:
- Sojourners ★ (02/01/1917)
- Canal Zone
- Army
- Isthmian ★ (02/01/1917)
- Darien

Cristobal Temple and Lodge Room

02/01: 1917-1; Cristobal, Canal Zone. Deputy Grand Lodge.
- 1917-2: Commission to Past Grand Master Johnson, to "perform the following acts:"
  - Open a Deputy Grand Lodge to appoint and install a District Grand Master for the Canal Zone;
  - Deliver a dispensation to brethren in Paraiso, Canal Zone;
  - Hold one or more Lodges of Instruction;
  - Make inquiry about the new Grand Lodge of Panama and advise regarding recognition;
  - Negotiate a treaty and protocol with the new Grand Lodge of Panama regarding relations;
  - "Do and perform all acts for the good of the Craft" that the Grand Master would have power to do if present, and act or refrain from acting at discretion.
- 1917-2: Deputy Grand Lodge opened at Cristobal. Nearly all Masters and Wardens in the Canal Zone and about 300 Brethren were present.
- 1917-3: Announcement that a protocol had been negotiated, and that the Grand Lodge of Panama was to be recognized.
- 1917-4: Installation of officers of Sojourners Lodge.
- 1917-4: Delivery of dispensation to Isthmian Lodge.
- 1917-5: Installation of the first District Grand Master, Rt. Wor. and Maj. Herbert A. White, Judge Advocate for the Canal Zone and Past Master of Army Lodge.
- 1917-5: Exemplification and discussion of ritual.

GRAND MASTER ARTHUR D. PRINCE, 1921

District Grand Master: Ralph Osborn
Lodges:
- Sojourners ★ (02/26/1921)
- Canal Zone ★ (03/09/1921)
- Army ★ (03/07/1921)
- Isthmian ★ (03/07/1921)
- Darien ★ (03/10/1921)
- Sibert ★ (03/02/1921)
- Chagres U. D. ★ (03/09/1921)

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Program for Grand Master Prince's Visit, 1921

Grand Master's Itinerary:
- 02/25: Reception by the District Grand Lodge, with numerous foreign dignitaries present
- 02/25: Visit to the Temple, presentation of a Henry Price Medal to Rt. Wor. Ralph Osborn, District Grand Master.
- 02/26: Fraternal visit to Sojourners Lodge.
- 02/28: Trip through the canal by steamer.
- 03/01: Reception for Mrs. Prince.
- 03/02: Travel to Gatun; visit to Sibert Lodge.
- 03/03: Visit to Union Lodge in Colon, under the Grand Lodge of Panama.
- 03/04: Royal Arch reception at the Hotel Washington.
- 03/05: Council reception at Hotel Tivoli at the Pacific end of the Zone.
- 03/06: Dinner at Union Club, Panama.
- 03/07: Visit to a joint meeting of Army and Isthmian Lodges.
- 03/08: Official reception by the Grand Lodge of Panama; presentation of a Henry Price medal to Grand Master Melhado.
- 03/09: Visit to Canal Zone Lodge in Ancon, and presentation of a dispensation for Chagres Lodge.
- 03/10: Visit to Darien Lodge, Balboa.
- 03/11: Reception by Commandery.

GRAND MASTER ARTHUR D. PRINCE, 1922

District Grand Master: Ralph Osborn
Lodges:
- Sojourners
- Canal Zone ★ (04/23/1922)
- Army
- Isthmian
- Darien
- Sibert
- Chagres ★ (02/23/1922)

Special Communications in the Canal Zone:

02/23: 1922-224. Ancon, Canal Zone. Constitution of Chagres Lodge.
- 1922-224: District Grand Lodge opened and was received by members of the Lodge.
- 1922-224: Acting District Grand Master Clinton G. Carty constituted Chagres Lodge "in due and ancient form and with full ceremonial."
- 1922-225: Organization of the Lodge for 1922.

04/23: 1922-225: Ancon, Canal Zone. Corner stone laying of the Cathedral of St. Luke.
- 1922-226: District Grand Lodge opened at the Lodge Hall of Canal Zone Lodge.
- 1922-226: Procession to site, with members of Sojourners, Canal Zone, Army, Isthmian, Sibert, Darien and Chagres Lodges.

GRAND MASTER DUDLEY H. FERRELL, 1925

District Grand Master: Ralph Osborn
Lodges:
- Sojourners ★ (03/04/1925)
- Canal Zone ★ (03/11/1925)
- Army ★ (03/09/1925)
- Isthmian ★ (03/10/1925)
- Darien ★ (03/10/1925)
- Sibert ★ (03/05/1925)
- Chagres ★ (03/09/1925)

Special Communications in the Canal Zone:

1925-150: (03/03) Reception by Rt. Wor. Ralph Osborn, District Grand Master.
1925-151: (03/04) Visit to District Grand Lodge and Sojourners Lodge, and meeting with representatives of all of the Lodges in the jurisdiction, as well as numerous other visiting Brethren.
1925-152: (03/05) Visit to Sibert Lodge at Gatun; visit to Union Lodge, Colon, of the Grand Lodge of Panama.
1925-153: (03/06) Trip to Ancon; visit to Grand Lodge of Panama. The full text of the Grand Master's greeting appears beginning on Page 1925-154.
1925-158: (03/09) Joint visit to Army and Chagres Lodges at Corozal.
1925-158: (03/10) Joint visit to Isthmian and Darien Lodges at Pedro Miguel.
1925-159: (03/11) Visit to Canal Zone Lodge in Ancon.

GRAND MASTER CURTIS CHIPMAN, 1934

District Grand Master: Lewis B. Bates
Lodges:
- Sojourners ★ (01/31/1934)
- Canal Zone ★ (01/29/1934)
- Army ★ (01/26/1934)
- Isthmian ★ (01/26/1934)
- Darien ★ (01/24/1934)
- Sibert ★ (01/22/1934)
- Chagres ★ (01/24/1934)

Program for Grand Master Chipman's Visit, 1934

Special Communications in the Canal Zone:

1934-24: (01/12) Sailing on M.S. Columbus to the West Indies; visits to Martinique, La Guiara and Caracas in Venezuela; visit to Curaçao.
1934-27: (01/19) Arrival in Cristobal; visit to District Grand Master.
1934-28: (01/20) Special meeting of the District Grand Lodge.
1934-28: (01/21) Tour of Fort Sherman and reception at Strangers' Club in Colon.
1934-29: (01/22) Tour of the Gatun Locks; visit to Sibert Lodge.
1934-30: (01/23) Tour of Ancon and reception of visitors.
1934-30: (01/24) Official review of the Regiment of Coast Artillery; joint meeting of Darien and Chagres Lodges.
1934-31: (01/25) Visit to the Acting Governor of the Canal Zone and the President of Panama with the District Grand Master; dinner with the Grand Master of Panama.
1934-32: (01/26) Madden Dam visit; joint meeting of Army and Isthmian Lodges.
1934-33: (01/27) Special Communication of the Grand Lodge of Panama. Presentation of Henry Price Medals to four Past Grand Masters of Panama. (An engrossed scroll was presented, the contents of which appear beginning on Page 1934-34.)
1934-35: (01/28) Visit to Panama City; Scottish Rite visit; dinner dance at Union Club.
1934-36: (01/29) Visit to Palo Seco leper colony; visit to Canal Zone Lodge; presentation of a gavel to the Grand Master.
1934-36: (01/30) Visit to Gamboa; dinner at Century Club.
1934-37: (01/31) Visit to Asylum; train to Cristobal, visit to Sojourners Lodge.
1934-38: (02/01) Visit to submarine base and air station; dinner at Hotel Washington.
1934-38: (02/02) Visit to Government Printing Plant; farewell dinner.

GRAND MASTER CLAUDE L. ALLEN, 1937

District Grand Master: Lewis B. Bates
Lodges:
- Sojourners ★ (04/23/1937)
- Canal Zone ★ (04/19/1937)
- Army ★ (04/20/1937)
- Isthmian ★ (04/21/1937)
- Darien ★ (04/20/1937)
- Sibert ★ (04/22/1937)
- Chagres ★ (04/20/1937)

GRAND MASTER JOSEPH EARL PERRY, 1939

District Grand Master: Lewis B. Bates
Lodges:
- Sojourners ★ (01/10/1939)
- Canal Zone ★ (01/13/1939)
- Army ★ (01/12/1939)
- Isthmian ★ (01/13/1939)
- Darien ★ (01/12/1939)
- Sibert ★ (01/10/1939)
- Chagres ★ (01/12/1939)

Canal Zone visit, January 1939
From the collection of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts
Front Row: Wor. Cleveland A. Schecker; Wor. H. Mortimer Lockwood; Wor. Wallace B. Ames; Wor. William M. James; R. W. Lewis B. Bates; M. W. Joseph Earl Perry; Wor. James H. Jacob; Wor. Arthur J. Barker; R. W. Earl W. Taylor; Wor. Walter H. Sims
Rear Rows: Wor. Simon P. Williams, Bro. Milton S. Treadwall, Wor. Eugene Provost, Jr., Wor. Floyd E. Malone, Wor. Earl R. Baltozer, Wor. Clare L. Comins, Wor. Henry W. Gerrans, Wor. Charles P. Campbell, Wor. Lawrence Getz, Wor. Arthur M. Vaney, Wor. Thomas G. Sullivan, Bro. John R. McLevy, Bro. Robert L. Davis, Bro. Mack F. Bailey, Wor. John R. Keenan, Wor. C. Norman Little.

At Masonic Temple 01/13/1939:
Grand Master David C. Robles of Panama; Grand Master Perry; District Grand Master Lewis B. Bates

Special Communciations in the Canal Zone:

01/12: 1939-1. Balboa, Canal Zone. Reception for the Grand Lodge of Panama and official visits.
- 1939-2: Official reception of the Grand Lodge of Panama.
- 1939-3: Degree work by Army, Darien and Chagres Lodges.
- 1939-3: "Appropriate addresses" by Grand Master Perry and Grand Master Robles of Panama.

01/14: 1939-4. Panama City, Panama. Reception by the Grand Lodge of Panama.
- 1939-5: Grand Lodge opened and proceeded under escort to the lodge-room, where Most Wor. David C. Robles, Grand Master, received the Grand Master and his officers.
- 1939-6: Address by Wor. German Arroyo, Grand Orator of Panama, and Grand Master Perry (both reproduced in full).