History
To a larger picture, right click on picture, Open e image a new tap. than you can enlarge the image.
The Iron Worker and King Solomon
"Behold I have created the smith
that bloweth the coals in the fire
and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work."
Color picture ARTIST-Christian Schussele - Oil on canvas 1863
Universal Craftsmen Council of Engineers History
From The Builder Magazine - April 1922
THE CLEVELAND FEDERATION OF CRAFTSMEN
BY BRO. O. N. POMEROY, OHIO
On the 20th day of October 1898, the writer called on a brother engineer in his engine room - Benjamin Dettleback was his name - and in the course of a conversation made the remark that an organization of engineers composed entirely of Master Masons would be an ideal thing. Brother Dettleback was so favorably impressed with the scheme that for the next few weeks we met as often as we could to talk the matter over. At last, we decided to canvass the city to discover how many engineers might be eligible. We worked on this until December 10th, 1899, when we inserted a notice in one of our daily papers calling a meeting at the Forest City House.
We met on December 22, 1899, with the twenty-seven present. As a result of the conference, we organized, calling ourselves Craftsmen. Owing to the opposition encountered on the part of those Masonic brethren who were fearful lest this might prove an unwarrantable innovation in the Fraternity we found it uphill work. But we were very careful not to infringe upon any of the laws and usages of the Fraternity and we kept at it with much patience until at last the most skeptical conceded our success.
That which was begun in Cleveland took root in other parts of the country so that today we have Councils of Engineers from Manitoba to Texas, San Francisco to Boston. A great organization has come into being, known as The Universal Craftsman Council of Engineers. This larger organization came into existence through a conference held in my home at Cleveland on September 14th, 1903, when there were present besides myself nine delegates, their names being: Benjamin Dettleback, of Cleveland; Oscar Mabie and John L. O'Brien of Chicago; John H. Leathers, of Rochester, New York; Charles E. Davey of Detroit; and James Gillespie of Philadelphia. This organization now numbers over sixty councils and is powerful enough to enable Masonic engineers to hold their own in the competitive market. In many of the large cities today they are in possession of from seventy to ninety percent of all the principal power plants, and in the Chicago district alone 1300 of the most prominent plants are in the hands of Craftsmen. Also, the organization publishes and sends to each member, The Universal Engineer which is everywhere conceded to be one of the best, if not the best, journal of its kind.
To return to Cleveland. The Masonic brothers of the city who were not engineers but who followed similar crafts became so much interested in our work, and were so eager to share in the benefits which we had won for ourselves, that they asked for rights of affiliation: but the Constitution of our International made it impossible for us to accept them, so we urged them to form similar organizations of their own. This they did, and now we have nine crafts so organized, among them being workers in electricity, wood, plumbing, steam-fitting, printing, sheet-metal, building, etc. These comprise a total membership of over one thousand, and they are altogether joined in the organization known as The Cleveland Federation of Craftsmen.
Each of the nine bodies has a representation on the board of control of three for the first hundred members, and one additional for every hundred or major fraction thereof above one hundred. The Federation meets each month to transact such business as may call for deliberation, and at this meeting, each constituent body reports the number of men out of employment. Each council has its employment committee and the Federation has a general employment committee composed of one member from each council. If any reader should suppose that these are committees in name only he has another guess coming, for they are active twenty-four hours a day. The Federation of Craftsmen has just purchased a fine twenty-two-room residence in the heart of the city to serve as headquarters and club rooms.
Move History Links
Google Books
This is a copy of our first Articles of Incorporation 1903.
These Articles of Incorporation
of
The Universal Craftsmen Council of Engineers
Witnesseth, That we, the undersigned, all of whom are citizens of the state of Ohio, desiring to form a corporation, not for profit, under the general corporation laws of said state, do hereby certify:
FIRST. The name of said corporation shall be The Universal Craftsmen Council of Engineers.
SECOND. Said corporation hall be located, and its principal business transacted at Cleveland, in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.
THIRD. The purpose for which said corporation is formed for the better education, improvement and elevation of engineers both in and out of the Masonic Fraternity; to bring such members of the Craft into closer contact individually; to comfort and relieve their necessities; to promote and maintain the best interests of its membership intellectually, morally, socially and materially; the society hereby incorporated to be and become the Grand Council of said association or brotherhood of engineers with power to grant charters or certificates of organization to subordinate councils or lodges and to revoke same; anywhere throughout the United States, its territories, colonies and dependencies and throughout the world; to establish and promulgate all proper and necessary laws, edicts, rules and regulations calculated and intended to maintain said Grand Council; and establish, maintain and promote subordinate councils and lodges; and to advance in every proper, legal and honorable way the best interests of said Grand and subordinate councils and lodges and the membership thereof individually and generally. This corporation to be the initial and united Grand Council from which and authorized by which all other subordinate councils and lodges to be known under said name shall be authorized and established.
In Witness Whereof, we have hereunto set our hands this thirty-first day of October, 1903.
ISI Osmer N. Pomeroy
ISI Benjamin Dettelbach
ISI Frank E. Peck
ISI Elwin E. Salisbury
ISI Chas. F. Seigrist
The Universal Engineer was the official publication of the Universal Craftsmen Council of Engineers of the World. The organization includes Engineers, Electricians, Plumbers and Steam Fitters, Woodworkers, Printing Trades, and Sheet Metal Workers. The focus of the magazine are the Engineers, Electricians, Plumbers, and Woodworkers.
More on the Ironworker :solomon_and_the_iron_worker
Pin, Lapel.
Author:
Imprint:
Description:
Details:
Medium:
Provenance:
Historical Notes:
Summary:
Hierarchical Place Name:
Library of Congress Subjects:
History Subjects:
Genre:
Related People:
1921 circa
1 item ; 1.58 cm diameter.
Color :Blue, gold, white
Metal, enamel (fused coating)
The Universal Craftsmen's Council of Engineers presented the pin to President Warren G. Harding at the White House while in session in Washington, D.C. The Ohio Historical Society received the pin from the Harding Memorial Association in 1979.
Warren Gamaliel Harding (1865-1923) was born in Corsica (now called Blooming Grove), a small town in Morrow County, Ohio. Harding graduated from Ohio Central College in Iberia at the age of sixteen. His family moved to Marion, where Harding taught school and briefly studied law. He worked occasionally as a reporter for a local paper before buying the Marion Star in 1884. Willing to follow the lead of political bosses, Harding advanced rapidly in Ohio politics, serving as state senator and lieutenant governor. In 1914 Harding was elected to the U.S. Senate. He launched his famous "front porch" 1920 presidential campaign from his home in Marion. He won the presidency with 60 percent of the popular vote, promising a "return to normalcy" following the wave of reforms begun during Woodrow Wilson's administration. As president, Harding appointed several friends to federal office who proved untrustworthy. His administration was tainted by corruption, and the infamous "Teapot Dome" scandal (in which Harding's secretary of the interior leased a government petroleum reserve to a private oil company) nearly destroyed his presidency. After he died in office in August 1923, other scandals were uncovered, further tarnishing Harding's reputation.
Metal lapel pin features a gold square and compass. Gold lettering reads: "Universal Craftsmen's Council of Engineers." Whitehead & Hoag of Newark, New Jersey, made the pin around 1921. The pin has a screw back.
United States of America -- New Jersey -- Essex County -- Newark
Harding, Warren G. (Warren Gamaliel), 1865-1923
Republican Party (U.S. : 1854- )
Universal Craftsmen Council of Engineers of the World
* Grand Council 1903-04 *
I need help in naming the individuals. Even though the names are there they don't match the rows. Help!
John L. Obrien - Last one standing on Right
JOHN H. LEATHERS - First one seated on the left
picture will be coming
First Charter from the State on Ohio
I found this, history. Maybe this is something that can be read at some of your meeting. Or parts of it. This was printed monthly. I also have a later year 1922. As You can see, they sold ads to offset the printing cost and made money to. Does any of your councils have old publications like this? The Grand Council would be interested in getting copies of them, if you do, for it history. In one of the publications it talk about Chicago Council 1 having a 1,000 members by it self and another council was close behind on members. As I repeated to you several times, this organization had several thousands of members at one time and here is the proof. Well now you can read it and enjoy.
To a larger picture, right click on picture, Open e image a new tap. than you can enlarge the image.
Souvenir Program Convention Books
other
Grand Council of the Universal Craftsmen Council of Engineers © | UCCEGC © | All Rights Reserved
This webpage was updated July 18, 2022
Best view at 1024 by 768
Geoffrey Lasswell © WebMaster