Making Good Men Better

For years, there was much talk of moving out of the southeast corner of building the lodge had been renting and building its own temple.  On February 14, 1898, a new building committee was formed.  On April 21, 1898, about three months later, the cornerstone was laid for the new temple.  In less than a year, on March 3, 1899, the new temple was dedicated.  The location, which is the same today, is the first block of South Potomac St. in Hagerstown.

From 1901 to 1927, the lodge experienced great growth and prosperity.  Membership increased from 164 in 1900 to 516 in the early part of 1927 - just five hundred more than the lodge started with 100 years earlier. 

                                                                                                                                                                                    Y.M.C.A.
YMCA

During these years, the lodge received and accepted invitations to officiate at the laying of cornerstones of important new structures in the city.  Among them were the new central Y.M.C.A and the new High School on Potomac Ave.


For many years, Friendship Lodge No. 84 was the only Blue Lodge in Hagerstown.  However, in 1924, some brothers sought permission to start another lodge in Hagerstown.  They were granted permission by Friendship Lodge and by Grand Lodge.  The lodge is named Hagerstown No. 217 and meets on Piper Lane by the mall.

On May 27, 1939, Friendship Lodge No. 84 and Hagerstown Lodge No. 217, escorted by Saint Bernard Commandery No. 9 (Knights Templar), joined together to lay the cornerstone of the new City Hall.

City Hall
City Hall

                                                                                                                                
Through the 1940s-1970s, Friendship Lodge No. 84 was very active and prosperous.  During the 1950s, the temple underwent renovations to add an elevator, a new tile floor, a new oil furnace, redecorated the Lodge rooms, and added an air conditioner.  In 1959, the Good Cheer Club was formed.  This led to a renovation of the kitchen where the Good Cheer Club would serve banquets and dinners at the temple. 

In 1972, the City Club informed Friendship Lodge that they would pay off the last of Friendship Lodge's mortgage on the temple.  This was a gift of over $8,000.  In addition, the City Club would also provide an addition $1,500 to refurbish the the second floor front room. 


At the Bicentennial Celebration of our nation, Friendship Lodge placed several articles into the Bicentennial Time Capsule which was sealed and buried in the southeast corner of the Public Square in Hagerstown.  The capsule is schedule to be opened in 2026 with the contents of our envelope being listed in the September 13, 1976 minutes.