Officers of Charity Lodge No. 144 with visiting officers of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. From left, front row, Lynn Baker, District Deputy Grand Master 46th; Jeffrey Wonderling, Right Worshipful Junior Grand Warden; Raymond T. Dietz, Right Worshipful Grand Master; Russ Baker, Assistant Marshall; Ernest R. Ritter IV, Worshipful Master, Charity Lodge No. 144; second row, Robert Yost, Past Master; Samuel French, treasurer; Gale Roland, Past Master, Senior Warden; John Nace, Junior Warden; James Dieffenderfer, Past Master; Robert Hughes, Past Master, secretary; third row, William Whitmyer, Chaplain; Samuel Beltz, William Porter, Gordon Buchman, Caroll Keefer, Past Master; Gary Deutschle, Past Master, and George Ritter.

LEWISBURG — Charity Lodge No. 144 of Free and Accepted Masons launched its third century of charity and fellowship with a banquet held at the First Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg on May 7.

More than 150 Masonic members and their guests gathered to mark the Lodge’s 200th anniversary with presentations by Masonic officers Raymond T. Dietz, Right Worshipful Grand Master of Pennsylvania; Lynn B. Baker, 46th District Deputy Grand Master; and Charity Lodge’s Worshipful Master Ernest R. Ritter IV. The Zembo Temple Highlanders Pipe Band, which plays throughout Central Pennsylvania, provided the evening’s entertainment.

Chartered on May 2, 1816, Charity Lodge No. 144 was originally based in Milton with meetings continuing there until 1827. In 1844-59 years after the founding of Lewisburg by Ludwig Derr and two years prior to the founding of Bucknell University — the Lodge was reconstituted in Lewisburg, where it has been an integral part of the community for more than 170 years.

This summer Charity Lodge No. 144 will host Buffalo Valley Recreation Authority summer camp activities — including cooking and acting classes — for sixth through eighth graders in the Masonic Hall at 28 N. Front St., Lewisburg.