[FHStoday] REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE

[lewis n. wynne]

Return-path: <Neumluth@aol.com> 
From: Neumluth@aol.com 
Full-name: Neumluth 
Message-ID: <df.c81847a.274699c2@aol.com> 
Date: Fri, 17 Nov 2000 09:25:06 EST 
Subject: Inquiry 
To: TebeauLib@aol.com 
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Dear Friends, I am a member of the Florida Historical Society and I am 
wondering if you could help me find some information about the name of a 
building here in Mount Dora for which we are seeking a Florida State Historic 
Marker. The building is owned by the Witherspoon Lodge of Free and Accepted 
Masons, No. 111. It is the name Witherspoon about which I seek information. 
The Lodge adopted the name Witherspoon back around 1898 and, after it 
acquired the building it now uses, the name was also used to refer to the 
building. In searching for the source of the name Witherspoon I have learned 
that there was a Rev. John Witherspoon who came from Scotland and was a 
signer of the Declaration of Independence. Later he was a delegate to the 
constitutional convention of the state of New Jersey when it ratified the 
constitution. He also became President of the educational institution which 
later became Princeton University. However, the Witherspoon Lodge here in 
Mount Dora is in the tradition of the African American Prince Hall Masonic 
Lodges. I have been told that there are a number of African American 
Witherspoon Lodges in Florida, and in the country at large. Hence it is 
possible that these lodges took their name from another Witherspoon, perhaps 
an African American. Do you have any information in the library which would 
shed light on this? Thank you for any help you can give me. Sincerely, Dr. 
Sara F Luther, 601 N McDonald St, Apt 410, Mount Dora, FL 32757