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Enterprise #70 History (Page 2) On March 22 that same year, a twenty-four inch by eleven inch cornerstone was laid in a ceremony conducted by H D Moncur, Master. One hundred masons observed the ceremonies that included insertion behind the cornerstone of a sealed lead box containing the Enterprise Charter and sundry documents. By December 1908, the new temple was completed and the first meeting was held there. This was indeed a memorable accomplishment by a membership of approximately 1 50 dedicated Masons. Dedication services were observed at a special meeting on Tuesday, May 30, 1911. Grand Master Dana Reid Weller and Grand Lecturer Thomas J Baker conducted the ceremony witnessed by many Masons from the surrounding area. A dinner followed the event. According to the Marysville Appeal of August 27, 1914, the marble stone inscribed with the Masonic emblem was removed from the old Masonic Hall at Second and Bridge Street, where it had rested for nearly Fifty years, and was placed in the new temple . Weighing Two hundred pounds, the stone was originally carted by team from Sacramento in 1869. The diamond jubilee was celebrated by (275) two hundred and seventy-five Masons on January 4, 1930, in the Masonic Temple. Following a dinner in the banquet room, the celebration continued in the lodge hall with talks by Charles M Wolenberg, Grand Master; Thomas J Baker, Grand Lecturer; Charles E Quaid, Past Master; James R Robinson, Master of Enterprise Lodge #70; and the Reverend J J Evans. Interspersed during the evening were serenades by the Ben Ali Shrine Temple Chanters. Lodge Membership was now 251 and by 1949 reached 279. A notable third degree was put on by Enterprise on March 25, 1937. A father assisted by his four sons raised a fifth son. Clyde B Harter, Master in 1904 and acting Master, with his sons Orlin, Chauncey, Leonard, and Howard, master in 1923, raised Gordon (the fifth brother) to the sublime Degree of Master Mason. The one hundredth birthday of Enterprise Lodge #70 was observed during the stated meeting January 4, 1955, by one hundred masons following a 6:30 PM dinner. James H Barr, Master, gave a brief history of the lodge and paid tribute to those "Pioneer Masons, who in spite of trials and trying times, have brought down to us our wonderful lodge, Enterprise Lodge #70." Enterprise Lodge #70, (1984) is in its one hundred twenty-ninth year with 299 members ably led by enthusiastic officers. As it ever has been, the Lodge is financially solvent and for many years has been debt free. In the year 1992, Roses Bar #89 in Smartsville, due to a lack of membership wanting to hold officer stations started the procedure for consolidation. By a unanimous ballot of all members, they elected to consolidate with Enterprise Lodge #70. Membership in Enterprise by a unanimous ballot of its membership elected to allow Roses Bar #89 to consolidate with its Lodge. By the November Stated Meeting in 1992, the consolidation was final. After consolidation, membership was 334 members. With the funds that was acquired through consolidation was used to upgrade the heating and air conditioning of the Temple. In the years of 1996 and 1997, the Master, Edmund C Smith (1997) expended many hours of energy and devotion to make Enterprise Lodge #70 a point of Historical Interest. This feat was accomplished by September of 1997. Membership at this time was 287. ************************************************************************************************* |