Category: Hope Lodge #20

May History Fact of the Month

5/1/2021

Hope Lodge # 20

For decades, MESH Charities of DC has provided and continues to provide invaluable welfare and care of needy Sisters and Brothers, as well as their spouses and dependent children. The Masonic community is forever indebted to MESH for its work. Nearly, 50 years ago, however, MESH was in turmoil and Hope Lodge No. 20 sought to help.

In February of 1972, the employees at the MESH Home went on strike. The situation had become so problematic that police were called to remove an employee who was conducting a sit down strike at the MESH home.

In response, Hope Lodge's Worshipful Master, George Worth, called on the Brethren to provide "all kinds of help to care for the elderly guests at the home." Eastern Star members had provided some help, but more was needed. WM Worth also sought to help the home through the 1972 Association of Worshipful Masters by raising funding and fixing problems with the MESH home.

Ultimately, the National Labor Relations Board found that the officers of MESH had violated the labor rights of the MESH employees and required that MESH offer the employees full reinstatement.

September Historic Fact of the Month

9/1/2018

Hope Lodge #20

On September 16, 1985, the brethren of Hope Lodge #20 hosted the brethren of Concordia Lodge #13 from Baltimore, Maryland. This ordinary stated communication was, in fact, extraordinary as it was the 60th anniversary of Hope Lodge's Bible which was originally gifted by Concordia Lodge on September 1, 1925. On this evening, the 1925 minutes were read before members of Concordia Lodge initiated the rededication ceremony of the Bible and presented Hope Lodge with a beautifully framed picture of both lodges at the 1925 joint meeting which was subsequently hung in the lodge hall. It's also worth noting that many members of William R. Singleton Lodge #30 were also in attendance as they were in the midst of merger negotiations with Hope Lodge.

May Historic Fact of the Month

5/1/2018

Hope Lodge # 20

Hope Lodge No. 20, chartered on May 28, 1967, was the first lodge formed in the jurisdiction after the end of the Civil War. The lodge was consecrated and instituted at Central Masonic Hall, Ninth and D Streets, N.W., in the presence of twenty-five founding members and a large concourse of visitors. The first Master of Hope Lodge was John Cornelius Kondrup who was the Vice Consul of the Embassy of Denmark. Worshipful Brother Kondrup was well known and highly esteemed in diplomatic circles, and in general society in Washington, DC, and was respected by all who knew him.

May History Fact of the Month

Hope Lodge # 20

September Historic Fact of the Month

Hope Lodge #20

May Historic Fact of the Month

Hope Lodge # 20

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