THE MASONIC ORDER

OF THE BATH

iN THE UNITED STAExit Visual BuilderTES OF AMERICA


History

THE MASONIC ORDER OF THE BATH
(and Wahoo Band)

The original Order of the Bath (designated as the Wahoo Band until 1938) provided for a national body with subordinate bodies made up of members in an individual Lodge of Freemasons, Only one such body was formed and the members were called Active when it was decided to take in other members not of the Lodge, the latter being termed Honorary.

Founded on June 21, 1921 in Red Bank, New Jersey by nine members of Mystic Brotherhood Lodge, No. 21, F. & A. M., as the Wahoo Band. Six years later, on June 22, 1927 five additional members were taken into the Band, and eight days later two more members. Two members were added in 1928, one in 1929, and two in 1930. Member Number No. 20 was inducted on January 20, 1931 at which time the first three Honorary Members were made: Donald J. Sargent of New Jersey, then Grand ______ of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey; J. Hugo Tatsch, originally of Iowa, then living in New York; and William L. Boyden, Librarian of the Supreme Council AASR Washington, D.C. Only fifteen more Active Members were ever inducted, the last on November 3, 1942, thirty-seven in all, they being members of Mystic Brotherhood Lodge. By this time fifty-six Honorary Members had been admitted.

From June 21, 1921, to 1941, Wallace R. Rankin of Mystic Brotherhood Lodge No. 21 in Redbank, New Jersey, served as the King Bird of the Wahoo Band. In 1941 it was decided to reserve the set-up, which had been administered by Wallace B. Rankin (No. 1) as King Bird and Harold Van Buren Voorhis (No. 2) as Quill Bird, or Secretary. The Organization was renamed The Masonic Order of the Bath and the Wahoo Band became an appended degree. In 1941, Wallace B. Rankin was recognized as the first Past Commander-General of the Masonic Order of the Bath.

On November 3, 1942, the thirty-seventh and last Active Member was inducted. On February 19, 1955, the High Council of the Order decided that the numbers of the Honorary Members (designated by “H” after the number on certificates and cards) reached 393, these with the Active Members would be 430. The members would then be registered without the “H” starting with No. 431, thus reflecting the total number of members in the Order since its inception.

In 1955 there had been 393 Honorary Members of the Order of the Bath. They, together with 37 Active Members, made a total of 430 members. It was decided to class all members Active, so there are no numbers to 430 inclusive, the numbers from 431 forward reflecting the active number of members since the inception.

In 1941, Harold Van Buren Voorhis No. 2, of Mystic Brotherhood Lodge No. 21 in Redbank, New Jersey, was elected Commander-General of the Masonic Order of the Bath. In 1957, Harold Van Buren Voorhis No. 2, was elected Commander-General Emeritus, in appreciation of his thirty-seven years of service to the Order. He was granted the privilege of conferring the Order “at-sight”.


Harold Van Buren Voorhis 1977 (From Wikipedia)

In 1957, Albin Chester Anderson No. 97-H, was elected Commander-General of the Masonic Order of the Bath. In 1967, Albin Chester Anderson No. 97-H, was elected Commander-General Emeritus, in appreciation of his seventeen years of service to the Order in various offices.

In 1967, Henry Emmerson, Jr., No. 20-H, of New York, was elected Commander-General of the Order and served until his untimely passing on October 20, 1988.

On October 20, 1988, Harold D. Elliott, II, No. 788, of New Jersey, succeeded to the office of Commander-General of the Masonic Order of the Bath and was confirmed by election by the High Council on February 17, 1989, and served until his untimely passing on March 30, 1995.

On March 30, 1995, the then Lieutenant Commander-General, William R. Deutsch No. 1030 of Illinois succeeded to the office of Commander General of the Masonic Order of the Bath and was confirmed by election by the High Council on February 16, 1996. Most Honorable William R. Deutsch had served as Lieutenant Commander-General since October 20, 1988.

On February 20, 1998, William R. Deutsch resigned as Commander-General and the then Lieutenant Commander-General Allen L. Bruner No. 1667 of North Carolina was elected Commander-General of the Masonic Order of the Bath. Most Honorable Allen L. Bruner had served as Captain General of the Order from October 21, 1988 to March 30, 1995, when he succeeded to the office of Lieutenant Commander General.

On July 11, 2003, Allen L. Bruner resigned as Commander-General of the Masonic Order of the Bath and Reese L. Harrison, Jr., No. 1549 of Texas succeeded to the office of Commander-General of the Masonic Order of the Bath. In his letter of July 11, 2003, the then Commander-General Allen L. Bruner stated “My last ‘official act’ before my resignation takes effect is to name you, Reese Harrison, as my successor.” Most Honorable Reese L. Harrison, Jr., served as Captain General of the Order from March 30, 1995 to February 20, 1998, at which time he was appointed Lieutenant Commander-General of the Order, serving until January 30, 2003, at which time he was appointed Deputy Commander-General of the Order.

ANNUAL MEETINGS – MASONIC ORDER OF THE BATH
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(since 1941)
February 21, 1941 Hotel Hamilton, Washington, D.C.
February 19, 1942 Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C.
February 21, 1943 Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C.
February 20, 1944 Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C.
February 24, 1945 Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C.
1946 NONE
1947 – 1953 Hotel Raleigh, Washington, D.C.
1954 – 1958 Hotel Statler, Washington, D.C.
1959 – 2012 Hotel Washington, Washington, D.C.
2013 – 2015 Hyatt Hotel, Reston Va.
2016 – Present Hyatt Regency Crystal City, Arlington Va.