International Order of Raccoons

From 1 November, 1952 until 1 June, 1957, the Honeymooners was one of television’s most popular shows. As part of the show, bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) and sewer worker Ed Norton (Art Carney) were members of the Raccoon Lodge in Brooklyn, New York. The fraternity was called the International Order of Friendly Sons of the Raccoons, the International Order of Loyal Raccoons, or at times, the Royal Order of Raccoons. Founded by Toots Mondello and Herman Hildebrand in 1907, their motto was "E Pluribus Raccoon."

The handshake involved touching elbows (first right then left), followed by a "Woooooo" sounding cry as they wiggled the raccoon tail on their lodge hat. They ended by chorusing: "Brothers under the pelt."

Don't go off Half-Cocked

You've heard the phrase "Don't go off half-cocked?" When Samuel Colt designed his famous peacemaker, the Colt 45's trigger had three positions. The first trigger pull like a safety. The second position allowed the gun to be loaded, or unloaded. If you pulled the trigger while at the second click, two things would happen. Either the trigger would hit the bullet and fire out the barrel, or if the bullet was misaligned it would fire out the side the barrel and blow your hand off... that's why you never want to go off half-cocked!

Samuel Colt Samuel Colt was an American inventor and industrialist, and was born on July 19th, 1814. He passed away on January 10th, 1862 in Hartford, Connecticut, where he was a member of St. Johns Lodge.

Tombstone Masonic Lodge

Chartered on March 25th, 1882 as KING SOLOMON Lodge No. 5 F&AM by the Grand Lodge of F&AM of the Territory of Arizona. Officially named KING SOLOMON LODGE No. 5, TERRITORIAL LODGE, F&AM of Arizona under the Grand Lodge of F&AM of Arizona. It was a year of prosperity and turmoil in Tombstone. Miners, prospectors, ranchers, and business people from all walks of life were drawn to this western boomtown just grasping for the chance to become wealthy.

We are proudly located in “rootin’ tootin’ shootin'” Tombstone, Arizona! Lodge is held in historic Schieffelin Hall and has been holding lodge there since 1881, and hold the OK Coral Degree at least once a year.

Dutch Flat Masonic Lodge

Dutch Flat was first settled in 1851 by a group of German miners, and the town was granted a post office in 1856. Thousands of miners worked the ridges. Besides it's prominence as a mining center, it was also a stage station, making it one of the largest, and most important towns in the county from about 1864 to 1866.

The town has been preserved against the ravages of fire, storm and commercialism that have spoiled other Mother Lode gems. Among the oldest buildings are the Odd Fellows Hall, Masonic Temple, the Dutch Flat Hotel, Methodist Church and the Dutch Flat Trading Post and Store all of the 1850s.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *