A big THANK YOU to the Yuba Feather Museum for this special Masonic display! |
After the events of the morning we moved on to the picnic
grounds and a delicious BBQ. This gave us time to visit and relax before the final
event of the day, a visit to the local museum. Adam Kendall of the
Henry Coil Museum got up and spoke to us and alluded to an article of historical significance in the
Masonic display at the Yuba Feather Museum in Forbestown. The article, as
far as they know, is the only one of its kind to exist in California…. Many of us
wandered over to the Museum for this special exhibit.
The 1860's Gold Collar, donated to the museum by the Persons family, belonged to Horace T. Persons an affiliate member of Forbestown Lodge No. 50. The collar is from the Rite of Memphis. Ahhh… you have never heard of the Rite of Memphis? Neither had we… To quote Adam Kendall, “These rites (Memphis, Misraim, Memphis-Misraim) all share a commonality with the heritage of Egyptian Masonry (aka The Egyptian Rite) as propagated by Cagliostro. These (and other smaller rites either legal or spurious) are not completely understood within the United States, and are thus rare and much maligned……. the Rite of Memphis was not considered spurious in the US, but the fight by the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite was certainly gearing up. Likely, the Rite of Memphis, like the Scottish Rite, was only conferring its high degrees beyond the Master Mason degree, thus allowing our friend here to join Forbestown and remain a regular Mason. Many high degree systems have versions of the first three Craft (Blue) Masonic Degrees, but do not legally work them—preferring instead to allow the ruling grand lodge to administer those versions, or their own traditional degrees.” Those of you who have not been to the museum who would like to see the display need to go soon. The museum is open Saturday and Sundays noon to four p.m. through August 30th, which is CLOSING DAY…. after which the display will be changed for the 2015 season. There are other items in this display on loan from area lodges or donated to the museum such as was the coat and hat (pictured) from Marysville No. 7. The Museum and Gold Trader Flat (the museums village) have a special day, August 2nd, known as “Forbestown Daze” and on that day there will be food, entertainment and outlaws, etc.. They will be open THAT DAY ONLY from 9 a.m. – 4p.m. The Museum is located at 19096 New York Flat Road, Forbestown. |
- EVENTS -
No Officers Association - dark
No OES - dark
AUGUST
2nd
Forbestown has potluck at 6:30 - Stated follows at 7:30 as usual!
5th
Orland Laurel #245 7 p.m.
Oroville #103 7 p.m.
12th
Chico-Leland Stanford #111 7:30 p.m.
14th
North Butte #230 7 p.m.
Chico Shrine Club - Wrecking Crew 6 p.m.
20th
Butte Commandry #5 7:30 p.m.
No OES - dark
AUGUST
2nd
Forbestown has potluck at 6:30 - Stated follows at 7:30 as usual!
5th
Orland Laurel #245 7 p.m.
Oroville #103 7 p.m.
12th
Chico-Leland Stanford #111 7:30 p.m.
14th
North Butte #230 7 p.m.
Chico Shrine Club - Wrecking Crew 6 p.m.
20th
Butte Commandry #5 7:30 p.m.
History Corner
Who is Robert Eccleston? Pioneer? Famous indian fighter? Discoverer? Business owner? Mason? Member of Forbestown Lodge No. 50? Yes!
If you do a bit of research you will discover that this gentleman has an interesting history. According to one newspaper article he was born March 4, 1830 in New York City and joined the earliest pioneers in traveling across the continent. In the spring of 1851 he served with a small group of Indian fighters known as the Mariposa Battalion with Major James D. Savage under the command of Captain Kirkpatrick. While chasing Indians, they stumbled upon the Yosemite Valley.
He married September 17, 1857 according to a news article in Colusi County (probably Colusa) at Oak Hollow to Miss Josephine Young. He had settled in Sutter, Butte and Placer counties to do mining. Then settled in Forbestown to raise cattle and owned a Meat Market in Forbestown where, according to another article, "on the first of August 1861, eighteen months after the first conflagration, the fiery brands were again thrown broadcast o'er the peaceful hamlet, and destruction more dire than ever stalked through the streets.... Eccleston and Brother's Meat Market suffered a like fate, to the tune of $6,000....." the whole town suffered including other Lodge members and the Lodge itself to the tune of $400. He was a charter member of Forbestown Lodge. The Ecclestons buried a son in Forbestown. I have not found listed, except once, the death and burial in the Forbestown Masonic cemetery of their little 5 year old son also named Robert. His headstone stands as testament to their loss.
One article states that he made three trips across the plains and in 1867 went to New York and on the return west settled in Arizona, Tombstone to be exact, of which it says he was one of the builders of said town. So, I have to point out here that I don't think he did all this traveling around alone! Since he and his wife were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and they had at least four sons that lived to adulthood, and according to one obit, two daughters, I would guess that Josephine Young-Eccleston was quite the hardy woman and traveler too! After 15 years in Tombstone they picked up once again and moved to Oregon where they lived until 1900 when they moved to Oakland, California.
Mr Eccleston kept many illustrated diaries which are now in the Bancroft Library.
If you do a bit of research you will discover that this gentleman has an interesting history. According to one newspaper article he was born March 4, 1830 in New York City and joined the earliest pioneers in traveling across the continent. In the spring of 1851 he served with a small group of Indian fighters known as the Mariposa Battalion with Major James D. Savage under the command of Captain Kirkpatrick. While chasing Indians, they stumbled upon the Yosemite Valley.
He married September 17, 1857 according to a news article in Colusi County (probably Colusa) at Oak Hollow to Miss Josephine Young. He had settled in Sutter, Butte and Placer counties to do mining. Then settled in Forbestown to raise cattle and owned a Meat Market in Forbestown where, according to another article, "on the first of August 1861, eighteen months after the first conflagration, the fiery brands were again thrown broadcast o'er the peaceful hamlet, and destruction more dire than ever stalked through the streets.... Eccleston and Brother's Meat Market suffered a like fate, to the tune of $6,000....." the whole town suffered including other Lodge members and the Lodge itself to the tune of $400. He was a charter member of Forbestown Lodge. The Ecclestons buried a son in Forbestown. I have not found listed, except once, the death and burial in the Forbestown Masonic cemetery of their little 5 year old son also named Robert. His headstone stands as testament to their loss.
One article states that he made three trips across the plains and in 1867 went to New York and on the return west settled in Arizona, Tombstone to be exact, of which it says he was one of the builders of said town. So, I have to point out here that I don't think he did all this traveling around alone! Since he and his wife were able to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary and they had at least four sons that lived to adulthood, and according to one obit, two daughters, I would guess that Josephine Young-Eccleston was quite the hardy woman and traveler too! After 15 years in Tombstone they picked up once again and moved to Oregon where they lived until 1900 when they moved to Oakland, California.
Mr Eccleston kept many illustrated diaries which are now in the Bancroft Library.