En:Harmonie Lodge No. 699

Diese Loge wurde von deutschen Einwanderern gegründet. Bitte unbedingt übersetzen.--Jens Rusch (Diskussion) 18:45, 24. Sep. 2013 (CEST)

Harmonie Lodge No. 699

By the 1840s German-Americans made up one-third of Buffalo’s population and were the largest foreign-born group in the city. In 1848 dispensation was granted to form a German lodge known as Concordia Lodge No. 143, which name represents the Goddess of Concord; “Agreement by Stipulation”; and “Freedom of Peace”. Concordia Lodge’s charter was granted June 13, 1849.

In July 1854, a charter was granted to what Modestia Lodge No. 340, which name refers to one of the patron saints of Masonry, namely John the Evangelist, known as “the modest”. The founders of this Lodge added the two letters “I” and “A” to the end of the “modest”, according to the Latin, meaning “promoters of ”. Therefore “Modestia” means “promoters of Modesty”. This was the second German Lodge to be formed in Buffalo.

No doubt the flourishing condition of our two German sister Lodges in the late 1860’s prompted 17 of their members to petition the Grand Lodge of the State of New York for the formation of yet another German Lodge. Dispensation was granted November 30, 1869, and our lodge, known as Harmonie Lodge No. 699, named after the Greek Goddess of Harmony (Harmonia), came into existence. “Harmonie” is the German spelling of Harmony. The Latinized version of Her name is “Concordia,” which is also the name of the first German Lodge in Buffalo, NY. Concordia provided Harmonie with half of her founding members.

The Charter Members

, with their parent Lodge and original position in Harmonie Lodge, are here noted:

Sebastian C. Keine – Concordia Lodge No. 143 – 1st Worshipful Master

Henry F. Juengling – Modestia Lodge No. 340 – 1st Senior Warden

Henry Breitweiser – Concordia Lodge No. 143 – 1st Junior Warden

Christian Kurtzmann – Modestia Lodge No. 340 – 1st Treasurer

Frederick Traenkle – Concordia Lodge No. 143 – 1st Secretary

Frederick H.C. Mey – Modestia Lodge Ho. 340 – 1st Senior Deacon

John J. Holser – Modestia Lodge No. 340 – 1st Junior Deacon

Henry Kraft – Modestia Lodge No. 340 – 1st Master of Ceremony

Adam Cornelius – Modestia Lodge No. 340 – 1st Steward

Jacob Behm – Concordia Lodge No. 143

Joseph Timmermann – Concordia Lodge No. 143

Robert Hager – Modestia Lodge No. 340

Casper A. Kuster – Modestia Lodge No. 340

Julius F. Schwartz – Modestia Lodge No. 340

Henry D. Keller – Concordia Lodge No. 143

Henry Nauert – Concordia Lodge No. 143

Frank Schaeffer – Concordia Lodge No. 143

The first candidates initiated into Freemasonry at Harmonie Lodge on January 15, 1870 were Bernhardt F. Gentch, William Jaeger, Wemer Nachbar, and Henry D. Zittel.

The first meeting under dispensation was held over Charles’ Ladies Apparel Store at 416 Main Street, just south of Court Street, in Buffalo, New York. Later this became C. A. Weed & Co.’s place of business, and eventually Liberty National Bank, known today as the Liberty Building. This first meeting took place December 15, 1869. The Charter for Harmonie Lodge was granted June 13, 1870.

1888

In 1888, elaborate plans were made for the financing and erection of the Masonic Temple at 43 Niagara Street, Buffalo, New York. The building contract was awarded for the sum of $130,541.00 for labor and material, except the cost of the brick, which was furnished by Brother Louis Kirkland of Concordia Lodge No. 143. Harmonie Lodge had a prominent part in financing the new Temple and owned an equal interest in the Temple property with the other owning bodies. Because of the changing community and the reconstruction of our inner city, the Masonic Temple was razed in 1971. Today, it is the site of the New York State Family Court building of Erie County. When it became necessary to vacate the Temple property, the equity of each owning body was prorated and then paid to each owning body of the Temple. After which, Harmonie Lodge rented lodge room space from Ancient Landmark Temple at 318 Pearl Street for two years, and, in 1973 took up Lodge room rental of Depew Masonic Temple. In September 1994 a move was again made, to Sweet Home Temple in Eggertsville, New York, which is the home of Harmonie Lodge No. 699 today.