Overseas Lodge #40 F & A.M. is Rhode Islands premier Military Masonic Lodge
Masonic Lodges Do Not Just Happen To Happen… It Takes A Particular Set Of Circumstances Whereby A Group Of Dedicated Masons Promote An Idea To Establish A New Lodge….. But To Establish A Military Lodge, Especially Overseas, Is Unique Indeed.
Born On Enemy Soil Overseas Lodge No. 40 Is Distinctive In Many Ways…. We Are The Only Military Lodge Chartered By The Grand Lodge Of Rhode Island, And The Only Masonic Lodge In Which The Line Officers Wear Their Uniform Instead Of Tuxedos.
Furthermore, As Per Our By-Laws, Our Entire Membership Is Composed Of Honorably Discharged Veterans And Those Currently On Active Duty, Or Drilling With A Reserve Unit Of The Armed Forces.
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Overseas Lodge Is A Descendent Of The “War To End All Wars” Known As “World War 1, And Is An “Off Spring” Of The Third American Army.
It Was 98 Years Ago – Monday, April 7, 1917 – United States Entered World War One – After Three Years Of German Arrogance And Atrocities… Which Included:
• Sabotage In Our Factories
• U Boat Sinking Of Neautral Merchant Marine Vessels
• Torpedoing Of The Lusitania (Without Warnings)
• Drowning 1153 Men, Woman & Children……….
But The Final Straw Was………
• The Interception Of A Coded Telegram (March 1, 1917 ) To The German Ambassador In Washington
• The Telegram Urged Mexico To Join With Germany & Japan In Waging War On The United States
• Mexico Was Promised The States Of Texas, Arizona, And New Mexico
President Wilson Called A “Special Session Of Congress”…. And After Considerable Debate – Voted 82 to 6 – To Declare War On Germany.
President Wilson Signed The “Declaration Of War” The Next Day….. And Believe It Or Not – Patriotism “Burst Into Bloom” As Never Before……
• Men Rushed Into Recruiting Stations To Enlist…….
• Parades “Popped Up” Everywhere – And New Songs Sprang Up All
Over The Country.
One of the first & most popular tunes was written by a native Rhode
Islander…… A 33rd Degree Mason & Past Master Of St. Ceile, Lodge Of New York (A Professional Entertainers Lodge)
• The Song Was Titled “Over There” And Was On The Lips Of Practically Every Soldier As He Shipped Overseas.
• And, The Brother I Have Been Referring To Is George M. Cohan
November 11, 1919 Saw The Signing Of The Armistice Halting Hostilities… Which Led To The Sending Of Allied Troops Into Germany, As An Army Of Occupation. No History Of Overseas Lodge Would Be Complete Without First
Relating The Story Of The 3rd American Army Masonic Club Which Was Organized Shortly After The Army Of Occupation Moved In
The 3rd American Army (With Headquarters In Coblenz, Germany) Took Over The American Sector Of The Occupation Of Germany
• Was There Masonic Activity Commenced
• And Which Rhode Islanders Played A Big Part In Forming A Masonic Club And A Military Masonic Lodge.
The Idea To Form A Mason Club (In The Army Of Occupation) Was The Result Of A Chance Meeting Of Two Masons, In Office Of The Military Police Headquarters.
• The Desk Sargent – A Mason From Philadelphia – Recognized A Masonic Ring – On The Finger Of The Hospital Sargent Earl H. Mason Of Redwood Lodge No. 35 Of Providence RI
They Talked Masonry At Length
• Wondered How Many Masons Were Stationed In The Army Of Occupation
• Agreed It Would Be Nice To Have A Place Where Masons Could Get Together On A Regular Basis
They Decided To Schedule An Organizational Meeting In The Office Of Military Police Headquarters.. And Publicize The Fact A Masonic Club Was Being Formed
• Their Efforts Paid Of …
• 45 Masons Attended The Organizational Meeting
• Rhode Island Was Represented By Captain Elgin G. Davis Of Harmony Lodge No. 9 (Cranston )
• Sgt. Earl H. Mason Of Redwood Lodge No. 35 (Providence)
At The First Meeting;
• Elected Officers & Agreed To Hold Regular Meetings On Monday Evenings.
• Prepared A Formal Request To The Billeting Officers To Arrange Suitable Quarters They Could Rent For The Club Purposes.
• They Also Contacted The Y.M.C.A. Officials To Arrange Temporary Use Of A Room In Their Building For Their Meetings – And Use Of Their Recreational Facilities
• The Y.M.C.A. Official Graciously Authorized That, And Free Of Charge
The 1st Meeting Was Attended By Over 100 Masons …
• At Their Meetings – Were Treated With “Top Notch” Entertainment . . . Acquired From The Cabarets & Beer Gardens Of The City
• The Entertainment Was Requested By Some Masons Who Were Military Police – In Uniform, On Duty . . . And Since,
Since All Occupied Territory Was Under Marshal Law – And The Beer Gardens & Cabarets Were Depended On The Military Police For Their License – To Stay Open & Conduct Business..
• Entertainment Was Furnished Free – As The Licenses Could Hardly Afford Not To Send Their Entertainers – At The Appointed Time, On Monday Evenings.
Beer Was Also Served At The Monday Meetings – Also Free Of Charge…
• The Beer Was Confiscated Beer By The Military Police Who Were Masons, Members Of The Club.
While This Procedure Was Productive For The Club, And May Have Been Within Legal Limits,……
• Such “High Handed Methods” Certainly Were Unethical And Unmasonic Within A Month Of The Club Epestence – All Hell Broke Lose!
• Learned The Billeting Officer Has Discovered Their Doings And Rejected The Club’s Request To Rent Quarters For Their Meetings.
• They Also Discovered The Commanding General Of The 3rd American Army Had Learned Of The Club’s Dubious Activities, And … Was About To Issue An Order Disbanding The Club And Forbidding Masons To Hold Any Meeting ( In The Occupied Zone)
Obviously, Such A Distrous Result Would Have Placed A Disgraceful Stigma On The Fair Name Of Freemasonry Fortunately For Masonry …
• A Patient At The Military Hospital Was Informed Of The State Of Affairs That Had Developed By Some Doctors Who Were Concerned Masons
• They Urgently Requested His Assistance And Arranged To DischargeHim ( That Day) From The Hospital
The Patient Major Winfield S. Solomon, A Past Master Of Morning Star Lodge, And A District Deputy Grand Master Immediately Contacted The Commanding General
• He Requested A Deferment Of Action, And Also Requested A Conference, Which Was Granted.
• Major Solomon Assembled A Delegation Of Masons, All - High Ranking Officers And A Group Of Prominent Y.M.C.A. Officials.
• They Met With The General ( A Non Mason ) And Convinced Him Of Their Sincerity Of Purpose In The Cause Of Freemasonry
The General, Knowing The Men Of The Army Of Occupation Needed Wholesome Recreation…
• He Authorized The Delegation To Reorganize The Club But With Strict Orders To Function Properly
In The Re-Organization, Major Solomon Was Elected President
• From That Point On – The Club Grew “ In Leaps & Bounds”
Established Requirements For Membership In The Club Was An Official Credential – And Payment Of 20 Marks
• 20 Marks Originally Amounted To About Two American Dollars … Later About $1.50 …. However,
• If Any Brother Was Unable To Pay The Fee – He Was Admitted To Membership Without Charge – There Were No Dues
Notification Cards Were Sent To The Home Lodges Of Every Brother Who Joined The Club.
• Hundreds Of Replies Were Received … Many Of Whom Expressed Pleasure & Thanks In Hearing About The Members Whose Welfare & Where – Abouts Had Been Unknown.
The Camaraderie ( Among Soldiers & Marine ) In The Club Was Outstanding .. One Example Is .. Many Members Came From Long
Distances To Attend Meetings … Particularly Marines Who Came From 35 Miles Down The Rhine By Train – There Being No Late Trains The Marines Were Taken Home In Army Trucks. Possibly Because The Sargent In Charge Of The Motor Pool Was A Mason.
Club Membership & Activities Continued To Grow Whereby …
• A Drastic Need For A Permanent Secretary / Registrar Outside Of The Military Personnel Was Apparent
• Was Essential To Find Such An Individual Unhampered By Military Duties, If The Club’s Facilities Were To Function Properly – And Remain Available On A Full Time Basis
Again, Rhode Island Had The Right Man At The Right Place…
• A Member Of Roger Williams Lodge No. 32, The Deputy Grand Master Of The Grand Lodge Of Rhode Island – R. W. James C. Collins Was Serving In Coblenz As A Y.M.C.A. Secretary
Once Again Major Solomon Came To The Rescue ….
• At His Request, The Y.M.C.A. Authorized James Collins To Serve Full Time As The Club’s Secretary / Registrar
• He Did An Outstanding Job Full Time Until He Had To Return To Providence – To Be Installed As Grand Master Of Rhode Island masonry
And Speaking Of The Y.M.C.A. It Should Be Noted:
• The Club Learned Some Young Ladies Connected With The Y.M.C.A. – Were Taking Up A Collection To Buy Flowers To Decorate Some Graves Of American Soldiers Buried In The Allied Cemetery.
• The Club Contacted The Ladies & Arranged To Defray All Expenses …. As A Result,
• On Memorial Day, A Delegation Of Club Members Assisted The Ladies – Who Together – Decorated All 500 Graves Of American Soldiers….
• In Addition, The Club Decorated 50 Graves Of French Soldiers Buried In Coblenz.
Another Commendable Accomplishment Was The Result Of Learning That Some Masons ( In Medical Corp ) Had Identified Several Graves Of Masons Who Had Died In Coblenz
• The Club Had Crosses Made, Appropriately Lettered, And Placed On Their Grave…
• Photographs Were Taken Of Each Grave And Sent To The Respective Lodges & Families Back Home
Many Letters ( From The Lodges & Families ) Were Received Expressing Their Appreciation In Learning The Where Abouts Of Their Loved Ones.
