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The opening of
the initial meeting of Kosciuszko Lodge, was accomplished on the evening of June
6, 1927, at the Old Fraternal Hall, 337 East Fordham, Road, Bronx,
New York The event was heralded as the most important and unique
in the annals of Freemasonry, since Kosciuszko Lodge emerged as the first
Lodge composed of men of Polish and Slavic descent in the United States of
America. R.·.W.·. John L. Little, District Deputy Grand Master of
the Bronx District, read the Articles
of Dispensation and Kosciuszko Lodge U.D. began to function. Kosciuszko Lodge was welcomed into the Bronx District and assured of wholehearted cooperation by a number of distinguished craftsmen. W.·. Philip Wall, in the name of Trowel Lodge No. 873, presented the Lodge with Wardens Columns. Excellent Comp. Alfred Gatow, High Priest of Ivy Chapter No. 238, R.A.M. presented the Ballot Box. W.·. Harry Aery and W.·. Gustav Fausel, on behalf of Angle Lodge No. 988, presented a set of Working Tools. An American Flag was presented to the Lodge by W.·. Paul L. Odell on behalf of the True Course Lodge No. 1077. There were tears in the eyes of those Charter Members whose lifelong dream was finally realized. There was faith and hope in their hearts, that future members would build Kosciuszko Lodge into a great and lasting segment of our beloved fraternity. One year later, with probationary period over, Kosciuszko Lodge U.D. was officially born as Kosciuszko Lodge N0. 1085, Free and Accepted Masons. On the night of May 31, 1928 R.·.W.·. John Lecky, District Deputy Grand Master of the Bronx District and acting for the Grand Master, the Most Worshipful John A. Dutton, presented the Grand Lodge Charter to Kosciuszko’s first Master of the Lodge W.·. John A. Wasilewski. With the Fraternal Hall filled to capacity and number of Grand Lodge dignitaries in attendance, the following officers were installed:
The Early Period The first important event of Kosciuszko Lodge took place on August 15, 1929. With W.·. John A. Wasilewski presiding, the Lodge honored four of its stalwart friends of the Lodge, by bestowing Honorary Memberships upon R.·.W.·. Ossian Lang; R.·.W.·. Edward Feih; R.·.W.·. John Lecky and R.·.W.·. Robert B. Wilson. In addition, each of the Honorary Members were presented with a gift to commemorate the event. Another important event was recorded when Brother Emil S. Brykczynski, Treasurer of the Lodge, donated a sum of $300.00 to the Grand Lodge Library for the purchase of books on Polish Freemasonry. In presenting the gift to the Library, Brother Brykczynski was accompanied by a delegation of Kosciuszko Lodge members and the Brethren of the Bronx District. The first dinner-dance of the Lodge was held on March 1, 1930, attended by many members and friends of Kosciuszko Lodge. The guest of Honor was Dr. M. Marchlewski, Consul General of Poland in New York. To commemorate the event, Dr. Marchlewski presented to the Lodge a medal of Adam Mickiewicz. Poland’s great poet. The medal was sculptured by Antoine Bourdelle and was accepted for the Lodge by W.·. John A. Wasilewski. The medal was exhibited in the Grand Lodge Library for many years. The Grand Lodge of F. and A. M. of the State of New York, officially recognized the Grand Lodge of Poland at its 151st Communication held May 3,4 and 5, 1932. The recognition of the Grand Lodge of Poland paved the way for mutual brotherly relations between the Masons of Poland and our Kosciuszko Lodge. The most impressive ceremony in our Lodge occurred on February 20, 1933 at which time R.·.W.·. Emil S. Brykczynski was presented with his commission as Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Poland near the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. In the presence of M.·.W.·. Christopher C. Mollenhauer, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, the Commission was presented by R.·.W.·. Walter C. Martin, District Deputy Grand Master, the Jewel by R.·.W.·. Robert B. Wilson and the Apron by R.·.W.·. Edward Feih. Ten Years Later At the Annual Communication of December 9,1938, W.·. Stanley Ozimek was elected Master; Brother Casimir H. Brykczynski - Senior Warden; Brother Joseph B. Barrett - Junior Warden; Brother Frank Golankiewicz – Treasurer and Brother Thaddeus V. Ziembinski – Secretary. The election night also marked the end of Kosciuszko’s tenth year of existence. Although, numerically still the smallest Lodge in the Bronx District, registering but 56 members, the spirit and enthusiasm among members continued to prevail.
W.·. Stanley Ozimek The 400th Anniversary of the death of Nicholas Copernicus, the Polish Astronomer, was observed by the Lodge on May 14, 1943. W.·. Henry Archacki, Master of the Lodge, arranged an outstanding program. Dr. Ludwig Krzyzanowski, Managing Editor of “New Europe” delivered the principal address. At the meeting of September 10, 1943, A memorial service was held for two of Kosciuszko’s Charter Members. Grief stricken members of the Lodge, paid high tribute to W.·. John A. Wasilewski, Kosciuszko’s first Master and R.·.W.·. Emil S. Brykczynski, past Master and Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Poland, who were called to the Grand Lodge on High on May 9 and August 11 respectively. The 15th Anniversary of Kosciuszko Lodge was observed on November 12, 1943. A beautiful 36 page Historical Brochure compiled and written by W.·. Henry Archacki, was published and distributed to all attending the meeting. The Brouchure also included and articule written by W.·. Henry Archacki entitled “ A Brief History of Polish Freemasonry.” Among the many Masonic dignitaries present were M.·.W.·. Charles H. Johnson, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York R.·.W.·. Victor Clump, District Deputy Grand Master and many thers. The 15th Anniversary was widely publicized in the several daily papers as well as in number of Masonic periodicals. The New York Masonic Outlook printed the following in its January 1944 issue: “ Kosciuszko Lodge No.1085 F.& A.M. of the Bronx Masonic District, has had for many years, the unique distinction of being the only Polish Lodge in the world. When the 151sr Communication of Grand Lodge of New York, recognized the newly formed Grand Lodge of Poland, it marked the first re-birth of Polish Masonry since 1820. Recognition of the Grand Lodge of Poland also brought recognition to Kosciuszko Lodge in 1933, when the late R.·.W.·. Emil S. Brykczynski, was appointed Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Poland near the Grand Lodge of the State on New York by M.·.W.·. Christopher C. Mollenhauer.” Since that time, Kosciuszko Lodge, named after the Revolutionary hero and Polish Patriot, Tadeusz Kosciuszko, has maintained a steady growth and on the occasion of its fifteenth anniversary, arranged a fitting program at which the guest of honor and the principal speaker was Most Worshipful Charles H. Johnson. The affair brought out the largest gatherings of recent years in the Bronx District and a handsomely printed Historical Brochure was presented to all present. The War Years At the start of 1944 with W.·. Thaddeus V. Ziembinski, presiding as Master, Kosciuszko Lodge was now well established and on the threshold of Masonic manhood. Spirit and enthusiasm among the members was the signal theme and desire to bring Kosciuszko further into Masonic limelight. The year 1944 saw Kosciuszko Lodge become the first in the Bronx District to obtain 100% quota in contributions to the Masonic War Chest Fund. The year 1944, will also be remembered as the year in which our gallant American soldiers crashed trough the blood-soaked beaches of Normandy, to write the final chapter to one of the most wide spread wars and the costliest in human life. The Bicentennial Years The Bicentennial observance of the birth of Brigadier General Tadeusz Kosciuszko was celebrated by Kosciuszko Lodge on February 27, 1946. An elaborate program was arranged by W.·. Henry Archacki – Chairman of Committee and Past Master of Kosciuszko Lodge, with W.·. James W. Nitecki entertained a number of Military guests at a dinner held prior to the celebration. The dinner was held at the New York Athletic Club, Bew York City, and among the distinguished guests invited were: R.·.W.·. Edward Feih, R.·.W.·. Robert B. Wilson, R.·.W.·. and Major General Walter DeLamater, Colonel Carl A. Loeb, Colonel Charles E. Greenough, Colonel Perly C. Gray, Colonel Leonard A. Keyes, Capt. R.A. Wahrman and M.·.W.·. Charles W. Froessel, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, who also was the principal speaker. The life of Tadeusz Kosciuszko was depicted in a 16 page brochure, written by W.·. Henry Archacki and distributed to all attending the ceremonies that evening. Carrying
on Plans to hold the 25th Anniversary celebration of Kosciuszko Lodge in 1953 were formulated at a meeting of January 22, 1947. A fund of $1,000.00 was agreed upon to cover the costs associated with the forthcoming celebration. W.·. Matthew Jankowski, Master of the Lodge appointed W.·. Thaddeus V. Ziembinski General Chairman. The annual meeting of December17, 1948, marked the end of the 20th year for Kosciuszko Lodge. Twenty years of diligent work and dedication to the principles of freemasonry brought Kosciuszko Lodge from its original 13 Charter Members to a total of 78. At the annual meeting of Masters and Past Masters Association of the Bronx Masonic District, held January, 1948, W.·. Thaddeus V. Ziembinski was elected President, and Brother Charles J. Sulewski was elected Secretary of the 1948 Wardens association. The second member of the Kosciuszko Lodge to be honored with the purple of the Fraternity was R.·.W.·. Walter A. Klass, who was appointed by M.·.W.·. Frank M. Totton, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, to be Grand Representative of the Grand Orient of Amazonas and Acre near the Grand Lodge of New York. With W.·. Martin S. Ziembinski presiding as Master of the Lodge, Investiture Ceremonies for R.·.W.·. Walter A. Klass were held on February 18, 1949 at Guild Hall. R.·.W.·. Klass became a member of Henry Clay Lodge No. 277 F. & A.M. on December 3, 1915, affiliated with Kosciuszko Lodge on June 6, 1927 and was elected Master December 15, 1930. The new Grand Representative was presented with the Commission of his Office by R.·.W.·. Henry Emmerson, DDGM, Bronx District. R.·.W.·. Edward Feih presented him with the Apron and R.·.W.·. Robert B. Wilson presented the Jewel. He was escorted into Lodge Room by W.·. Thaddeus V. Ziembinski and Past Masters of Kosciuszko Lodge. Prior to the Ceremonies, a dinner was tendered R.·.W.·. Walter A. Klass by the Past Masters of Kosciuszko Lodge at the Masonic Club, 71 West 23rd Street, New York.
More honors were bestowed upon Kosciuszko Lodge members when W.·. Charles J. Sulewski was elected President of the 1950 Masters Associations of the Bronx District and appointed Chairman of the 1951 Bronx Masonic Charity Ball. Heads were bowed in grief, for an old and faithful worker of Kosciuszko Lodge. R.·.W.·. Robert B. Wilson affectionately known as “Bob” passed away in his 84th year on February 23, 1951. R.·.W.·. Brother Wilson together with R.·.W.·. Feih worked tirelessly, to help Kosciuszko Lodge obtain its Charter in 1928. Masonic
Church Service
First Annual Church Service and Breakfast was held by Kosciuszko Lodge on Sunday, November 25, 1951. Many members of the Lodge attended the Service which was held at Polish National Church, Brooklyn, NY, immediately thereafter proceeding to the prospect Hall for breakfast. Speakers at the breakfast were R.·.W.·. Charles R. Mott – District Deputy Grand Master, Bronx District; R.·.W.·. Edward Feih; R.·.W.·. Walter A. Klass and W.·. Richard L. Zima, Master of the Lodge. W.·. Thaddeus V. Ziembinski presided at the breakfast. In Memoriam
On the afternoon of January 12, 19552, the Bronx Masonic District and particularly Kosciuszko Lodge suffered a grievous and irreparable loss. Suddenly and unexpectedly R.·.W.·. Edward Feih, Past DDGM of the Bronx District and Honorary Member of Kosciuszko Lodge, was called to the Celestial Lodge on High. Thus was brought to a close a life rich in honor and achievement. The members were deeply shocked by the passing of this illustrious and beloved member of our Fraternity, and it was mainly trough his efforts that Kosciuszko Lodge became a reality twenty five years ago. For his devotion and work in Masonry, R.·.W.·. Brother Feih was honored by many Masonic bodies. He was elected Honorary Member of Kosciuszko Lodge in 1928. Honored By Grand Lodge On May 27, 1952, Kosciuszko Lodge was honored for the third time with the purple of the Fraternity, when Most Worshipful Ward B. Arbury, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, appointed R.·.W.·. Thaddeus V. Ziembinski, District Deputy Grand Master of the Bronx District. Presentation ceremonies were held on September 12, 1952 at the Bronx Masonic Temple. Presiding during the Investiture ceremonies was W.·. Martin S. Ziembinski, brother of the District Deputy. Invocation and Benediction was pronounced by the R.·.W.·. P.J. Zaccara, Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York. Commission was presented by R.·.W.·. Charles R. Mott, Past DDGM, the Apron, by R.·.W.·. James F. Reynolds, Past DDGM and Past Senior Deacon of the Grand Lodge of New York; the Jewel by R.·.W.·. John Lecky, Past District Deputy Grand Master.
R.·.W.·. Thaddeus V. Ziembinski On September 8, 1952 R.·.W.·. Thaddeus V. Ziembinski, placed a wreath at the foot of Kosciuszko’s Monument at West Point, New York, commemorating the 175th anniversary of General Kosciuszko’s appointment as Chief Engineer in charge of fortifications of West Point by General George Washington. Present on that occasions were: R.·.W.·. and Captain Maurice M. Witherspoon, Director of Public Relations, Grand Lodge; R.·.W.·. Walter A. Klass; W.·. Charles S. Brykczynski, several members of the West Point personnel and many others.
Kosciuszko Lodge’s Charter issued by Grand Lodge of
New York on May 3, 1928
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