History of Swigert Middletown Lodge No. 218

For years the two lodges of Philip Swigert No. 218 and Middletown Lodge No. 732 met and discussed the need for a merger.  Unfortunately an agreement on consolidation was never realized.  But in the year 2007 things were about to change.  

In April of 2007 brothers from Philip Swigert Lodge No. 218 visited Middletown Lodge No. 732 brothers from both lodges agreed that a merger would be good for each lodge.  Somewhere between the end of April and beginning of May 2007 the brothers from both lodges came together to discuss the issue of merger.  Masters of both lodges appointed exploratory committees that gathered all records and determined if a merger would be feasible.  At the end July of 2007 the committees of both lodges met to discuss if the merger was a good fit.  The members of the two committees found that a merger would be in the best interest of both lodges.  The committees from each lodge was disbanded and one united committee was formed.  The united committee consisted of 12 brothers, seven of which were from Middletown and five of which were from Philip Swigert.  To ensure both lodges had equal representation,  two members from Middletown agreed not to vote.

The members of the committee were as followed:

The united merger committee met once a week at Brother Ben Gray's workplace as a central location.  For several weeks the committee met to hammer out all the details of the merger.  Difficult topics such as the name, location, meeting times, budget, by-laws, slate of officers were discussed and decided on in the ensuing weeks.  As each week passed, each member of the committee was able to voice their concerns and suggestions for the new lodge and each of the twelve members felt more and more like brothers of one lodge.  After many weeks of meetings the merger committee felt they did all that they could and felt the package that was ready to  be presented was the best they had to offer.  Many sentiments were expressed at the last meeting of the merger committee with each brother agreeing they had formed a new bond with each other.  Even if their respective lodges voted down the merger, both brothers from Philip Swigert and Middletown Lodge knew they would be even closer than before.  Notices were sent out to the craft of each lodge to attend lodge and vote on the merger package.  Middletown Lodge No. 732 had a meeting before Philip Swigert No. 218 it was up to Middletown to start the process and for Philip Swigert to end the process.  

On Monday October 15, 2007 Co-Chairman Al Clark presented the merger package to the members of Middletown Lodge No. 732.  After much discussion and questions, the lodge put the question of merger with Philip Swigert  No. 218 to a vote.  The brethren of Middletown Lodge No. 732 voted with a huge majority to merge with Philip Swigert No. 218.  Brethren from Middletown notified Brethren from Philip Swigert of the successful vote and it was now up to the Brethren of Philip Swigert Lodge.    

On Saturday October 20, 2007 Co-Chairman Don White presented the merger package to the members of Philip Swigert No. 218.  After much discussion and questions, the lodge put the question of merger with Middletown No. 732 to a vote.  The brethren of Philip Swigert Lodge # 218 voted with a huge majority to merge with Middletown No. 732.  The Brethren of Middletown was notified, and a letter was drafted, signed by both secretaries of each lodge, and sent to the Grand Secretary and Grand Master notifying them of the vote to merge. 

At the end of November 2007 a letter was received from the Grand Master notifying the members of both lodges to be at a called meeting of the Grand Lodge of Kentucky at Middletown Lodge No. 732 on December 11, 2007 at 7:00 PM for the purpose of consolidation.  On December 11, 2007 Most Worshipful Grand Master F. Keith Dreier and the entire Grand Line opened the meeting for the purpose of consolidation.  After consolidation, the Grand Master installed the officers of the newly formed lodge and set the craft to work as Swigert Middletown Lodge No. 218 F. & A. M.

Below a picture of the first slate of officers for the newly merged lodge with Grand Master F. Keith Dreier.

Copyright 02/15/2010 Swigert Middletown Lodge No. 218 F. & A.M.