The U.S./French Masonic Banquet 10 February, 1919

Trait d’Union Lodge

Saint-Nazaire, France

On 10 February, 1919, American Masons from American Base Section No. 1 and French Masons from Trait d’Union Lodge in Saint-Nazaire, France, held a banquet to celebrate fraternalism and brotherly love between the two countries. They created this flag as a souvenir to commemorate the occasion.

There is one of these souvenir flags on display in the museum of the Grand Orient de France in Paris.

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The Builder Magazine, July 1921, Volume VII, Number 7, pg. 34

The Builder Magazine, July 1921, Volume VII, Number 7, pg. 34

The AMGWP was asked to research the American participants in this banquet as most of the records in Saint-Nazaire were lost as a result of World War II. A summary of our research is at the bottom of the page.

Our research has led to some amazing discoveries that are presented on this page as well as the “Masonic Club American Base Section No. 1” page.

The one thing I learned from researching this celebration is that you cannot tell the story of this banquet without going back to the extraordinary series of events that this Masonic Club in Saint-Nazaire set in motion (See “Masonic Club American Base Section No. 1” page). 

This banquet was the culmination of a national Masonic movement started by a simple letter sent from the Masonic Club in Saint-Nazaire requesting some reading materials.

This end-of-the-war fraternal dinner cemented bonds that have echoed for a century and continue to this day.

Bro. Charles F. Irwin was stationed in Saint-Nazaire and visited the lodge there several times. He wrote of his experiences and friendship with the Masons of Trait d’Union lodge in The Builder Magazine, Vol. 7, 1921:

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More on the friendship between American and French Masons.

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He also praises the brethren of the clubs.

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I was recently with the Masons of Saint-Nazaire and they again proved, 100 years later, that they are still indeed the flower of the city.

 

G. Corneau, Grand Master of the GODF in 1920:

Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, 1920, pg 53.

Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Iowa, 1920, pg 53.

So Mote It Be.

 

The menu from the “Homeward Bound” Banquet of the Montoir Masonic Club, American Base Section No. 1, held on Wednesday, 4 June, 1919:

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Possible Attendees of the Banquet of 10 February, 1919:

 

Scottish Rite Committee:

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Illustrious Bro. George F. Moore 33° •       Grand Commander, Southern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite •       Attorney.  Native of Montgomery, Alabama •       U.S. Attorney under President Grover Cleveland. •       Editor, “New Age Magazine” •       Honorary member, the Supreme Council of the Republic of France

 

Illustrious Bro. Sam P. Cochran 33° •       Sovereign Grand Inspector General of Texas •       Past Grand Master of Masons in Texas •       Member Grand Council of the Order of DeMolay •       “Adopted” French war orphan Mademoiselle Reine Lanthionette. •       Represented the Grand Lodge of Texas at the Dedicatory Ceremonials of the Masonic Peace Memorial in London.

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Masonic Club, Base Section No. 1:  Saint-Nazaire:

Bro. W.F. Jerome – Founding President Bro. Morgan Taylor – Founding Treasurer      Bro. Capt. Robert C. Murphy – M.C., Secretary   Bro. Hall G. Van Vlack – Secretary, Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Inferieure) Masonic Club.     Bro. Dr. Ferguson – In charge of Base Hospital No. 101      Brethren of Camp Gren Masonic Club, Base Section No. 1      Brethren of the 17th Armored Engineer Battalion      Brethren of the 70th Artillery C.A.C.       Brethren of the 46th Company Band, 20th Engineers      Bro. Charles W. Connery – Manager, Masonic Club, Paris (Maybe)

M.W. Juett - Photo courtesy of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, 1929

M.W. Juett - Photo courtesy of the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky, 1929

M.W. Dr. John W. Juett - President, Masonic Club

  • Grand Master of Kentucky in 1929.

  • Y.M.C.A Secretary in France during The Great War.

  • Worked in the Embarkation Service at Saint-Nazaire.

  • Departed France on 12 August, 1919, aboard the U.S.S. Northern Pacific.


Bro. Capt. Dr. J.W. Woodbridge

  • Base Hospital No. 1, Medical Corps, Saint-Nazaire

  • Practicing Physician at Cylinder before joining the service. Kossuth County, Iowa.

  • Departed Saint-Nazaire on 19 July, 1919.

Bro. Sgt. Edmond Dupras – Secret Service •       Founding Secretary •       Departure Date to France:  14 March, 1918, Hoboken, New Jersey •       Hometown:  Montreal, Canada •       Military Unit:  Qmc NA •       Rank:  Sergeant •       Service Number:  1053259 •       Motorcycle Company No. 303 Quartermaster Corps National Army •       Wounded in action after courageously helping evacuate his wounded friend.

Bro. Charles H. Huntley - General Secretary of the Masonic Clubs in the Saint-Nazaire area. •       Native of Schnectady, New York •       Worked for the Y.M.C.A. •       Adjutant General of the Grand Dugout of America •       Originator of the “S.O.L.” Degree •       Purely Military •       One lesson is exalted patriotism •       Conveyed on between 5,000 and 10,000 Masons in France

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Bro. Sgt. George F. Reubert Guiding Star Lodge No. 565 – The Bronx, New York •       Piano Dealer •       Raised 9 October, 1917. •       Member of the 70th Artillery C.A.C. •       Departed Saint-Nazaire:  12 February, 1919, aboard the USS Manchuria.

Bro. Jesse R. Ayer Sea and Field Lodge No. 4 – Marseilles, France (Grand Lodge of New York) •       Junior Warden of Sea and Field Lodge No. 4 •       Resident of Michigan

 

Montoir Masonic Club (Formed 20 March, 1919):

Bro. Lt. Orville L. Dennis (Attendance Confirmed) Golden City Lodge No. 1 - Golden, Colorado

  • 231st Co., 16th Battalion, Military Police Corps.

  • Left for France on 4 June, 1918, aboard the U.S.S. Baltic out of New York, NY.

  • Departed France on 19 July, 1919, aboard the U.S.S. Kroonland out of Saint-Nazaire.

Bro. Colonel O. R. Cole, C.O. – Camp Guthrie Camp Commander (Honorary President) Bro. Chaplain C. F. Irwin (President) Bro. C. W. Harris, Y.M.C.A. (Vice President)     Bro. Private Charles J. Novak (Secretary)

17th Engineer Regiment:

  • W. D. Geohagen

  • R. A. Barber

  • W. H. Hope

  • C. J. Surbeck

  • G. C. Crabbe

  • R. W. Swanson

  • R. Terrell

  • J. H. Radcliffe

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Bro. Pvt. William Kaiser

  • Battery D, 75th Artillery CAC, 91st Division

  • Departed for France on 5 October, 1918, aboard the U.S.S. Sibony out of Hoboken, NJ.

  • Departed France on 30 June, 1919, out of Saint-Nazaire.

Bro. Sgt. Major Lohn

  • 91st Division

Bro. John L. Sugden Oak Park Lodge No. 540 - Chicago, Illinois

  • Secretary in the overseas service of the Y.M.C.A. in Saint-Nazaire. Civilian Aide.

  • V.P. of the Masonic Club in Saint-Nazaire.

  • Departed France on 5 July, 1919, aboard the U.S.S. Leviathan out of Brest, headed for Hoboken, NJ.

Bro. Lt. William Wallace Weyler Emporia Lodge No. 12 – Emporia, Kansas •       Raised 28 February, 1916 •       Treasurer, Montoir Masonic Club (Est. 20 March, 1919) •       Departed Hoboken, New Jersey:  23 September, 1918 aboard the U.S.S. President Grant. •       Departed Saint-Nazaire:  19 July, 1919, aboard the U.S.S. Kroonland. •       Member of Motor Company 9, Ammunition Train in support of the “Rainbow Division”. •       Son or Rear Admiral George J. Weyler

Bro. C. W. Harris •       Y.M.C.A. •       Vice President of Masonic Club •       Convict

Stay tuned as we continue to update this page as our research progresses.