Bloke
Premium Member
Doing some research and stumbled on something which might be of interest to my American Brothers.
Wikipedia tells me
Robert Edward Coontz (June 11, 1864 – January 26, 1935) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who sailed with the Great White Fleet and served as the second Chief of Naval Operations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Coontz
He is not listed in the above as a Freemason, and using google.com.au I only get few results with him in connection to Freemasonry. He is not in Wikipedia's list of Freemasons.
Yet, in 1925, we have this in a Melbourne Newspaper
Freemason's Message
In reply to a message sent to him on Tuesday to Admiral Coontz, Mr. William Stewart, the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons, has received the following message: - "Thank you for your fraternal message, which is being sent out to all ships visiting Melbourne."
It strongly *suggests* the Admiral *might* have been a brother...Coontz might also just have been a point of contact, but you would think his staff officers would have dealt with such a message, and our Grand Sec would not have sent a "fraternal message" to the Admiral unless he was a brother.. but perhaps someone in the States could actually track the correspondence..
Interestingly I found out who Coontz was because of an Obit in the same paper which mentioned he was Commander-in-Chief of the USA Navy in 1923 - so he's a big deal (to me..)
1925 'Freemasons' Message.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 17 July, p. 11. , viewed 24 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2141599
1935 'OBITUARY', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 28 January, p. 6. , viewed 24 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11010578
I might follow this up on my end.. because the Fleet visiting Melbourne and this message might have resulted in some American/Aussie Fraternal meetings in Melbourne during the time...
Wikipedia tells me
Robert Edward Coontz (June 11, 1864 – January 26, 1935) was an admiral in the United States Navy, who sailed with the Great White Fleet and served as the second Chief of Naval Operations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Coontz
He is not listed in the above as a Freemason, and using google.com.au I only get few results with him in connection to Freemasonry. He is not in Wikipedia's list of Freemasons.
Yet, in 1925, we have this in a Melbourne Newspaper
Freemason's Message
In reply to a message sent to him on Tuesday to Admiral Coontz, Mr. William Stewart, the Grand Secretary of the United Grand Lodge of Freemasons, has received the following message: - "Thank you for your fraternal message, which is being sent out to all ships visiting Melbourne."
It strongly *suggests* the Admiral *might* have been a brother...Coontz might also just have been a point of contact, but you would think his staff officers would have dealt with such a message, and our Grand Sec would not have sent a "fraternal message" to the Admiral unless he was a brother.. but perhaps someone in the States could actually track the correspondence..
Interestingly I found out who Coontz was because of an Obit in the same paper which mentioned he was Commander-in-Chief of the USA Navy in 1923 - so he's a big deal (to me..)
1925 'Freemasons' Message.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 17 July, p. 11. , viewed 24 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2141599
1935 'OBITUARY', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 28 January, p. 6. , viewed 24 Nov 2016, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11010578
I might follow this up on my end.. because the Fleet visiting Melbourne and this message might have resulted in some American/Aussie Fraternal meetings in Melbourne during the time...
