A brief history
The earliest records of this Lodge are of a meeting held March 23rd 1891, while the Lodge was under dispensation. This was probably one of the first formal meetings of the Lodge, as it occurred not a great time after the meeting of the Grand Lodge when the dispensation was granted, and the Lodge also took action at that time fixing the amount of the fees for the degrees.
The original members of the Lodge seem, from the minutes to have been: W.F. White, the first Master who passed away December 12, 1915, M. Joel Mc Mullen who demitted December 27, 1912, G.W. Trask, who passed away April 10, 1908, J.K. Munnerlyn who demitted December 24, 1901, W.A. Hart who passed away April 21, 1915,and E.D. Shaw who passed away February 9, 1909, making seven in all, the smallest number to which a dispensation is granted. The Lodge just doubled in number during the year of its dispensation, admitting three by affiliation and Raising four. The first initiate of the new Lodge was J.E. Crane, who was given the first degree April 21, 1891; Passed January 12, 1892; and Raised April 12, 1892. He demitted December 27, 1892. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge of Florida of 1916, Brother Crane was elected Grand Master of the Craft throughout the state.
The first meeting of the Lodge after the receipt of the charter, which was granted January 20, 1892, Angus Paterson being Grand Master, was on February 9, 1892, at which time the following officers were installed by Brothers Webster and B. McMullen of Star Lodge No. 78.
Worshipful Master, W. F. White
Senior Warden, Fred Thompson
Junior Warden, G.W. Trask
Treasurer, O. P. Smith
Secretary, J.K. Munnerlyn
Senior Deacon, M.J. McMullen
Junior Deacon, J.P. Nash
Tyler, W.A. Hart
The other Master Masons of the Lodge at this time were: Brothers E.D. Shaw, J.H. Drew, J.L. Taylor, J.D. Rodgers, Wm Simpson and W.P. Williams.
In the early years Clearwater Harbor Lodge No. 127 had never been a large Lodge, but has grown surely if slowly in its first 25 years of existence. During the first 25 years the Lodge Raised 60 good men and true to the sublime degree of a Master Mason, and has affiliated to membership 64 Brethren. The Lodge has been compelled to use the supreme penalty of Freemasonry but once in the first 25 years.
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