A Fine Grand Lodge of California Vellum Certificate Announcing Albert W. Bee as a Member and Dated 1855.

San Francisco: W. E. Goldsmoth and F. Moody, Engravers for the Grand Lodge, 1855. This original certificate measures 20 x 16 1/4 inches and is printed on vellum. The design is quite elaborate and was done by John W. Damon. It still bears the original stamped blue seal on a ribbon threaded through the parchment. It states the Albert W, Lee of the El Dorado Lodge (no. 26) is accepted as a member of the Grand Lodge of California. It is signed by Grand Master William H. Howard (who held that position for only three years after whcih he joined the Virginai City Chapter) and Grand Secretary Alex G. Abell (smudged). Perhaps they are secretive but the earliest other such cerificate from the Grand Lodge of California was dated 1960 (Bauer).Masonry has been an integral part of California for more than 150 years. During the Gold Rush of 1849, thousands of settlers came to California in search of fortune. Many of these men were Masons and brought with them Masonic values and traditions. Not surprisingly, some of California’s first Masonic lodges were established in the mining towns of the Gold Country. In 1850 - the same year that California became a state - the Grand Lodge of California was established in Sacramento. Within 10 years, the number of Masonic lodges in the new state had grown from 11 to 130, while membership soared from 258 to more than 5,000. Over the years, the Masons have played a key role in shaping the history of California. To date, 19 California governors have been Masons, and at least four California Masons have been elected to the U.S. Senate. Today there are more than 50,000 members and about 330 lodges, making the Grand Lodge of California one of the largest in the world.The certificate is made out for Albert W. Bee, a 49er who was lucky enough to find sufficient gold to enable him to leave the diggings and open a stationary store in Placerville He was involved with numerous civic programs and was highly esteemed. His younger brother, Frededrick was also a 49er and lived a long and prosperous life. In May, 1858, the Placerville and Humboldt Telegraph Company was formed with Albert Bee as one of the incorporators. The mission of the company was to build a telegraph from Placerville, CA to Carson Valley, Nevada Territory to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. In September, 1858 the Placerville and Humboldt Telegraph Company incorporated and elected Frederick Bee as president. George Chorpenning and his brother were the largest shareholders. Albert W. Bee, Catherine Bee, and Frederick Bee were also shareholders. On November 30, 1858, Bee wrote to William M. Gwin to encourage a government subsidy to complete the telegraph to Salt Lake City, Utah Territory. Legislative Assembly of Utah Territory approved the incorporation of Placerville, Humboldt and Salt Lake Telegraph Company on January 21, 1859. Bee announced the impending completion of the telegraph line in San Francisco in August, 1859. Theodore Judah, William M. Gwin, Albert W. Bee,Sr., George Chorpening, Manuel M. Noah and Frederick Bee were sojourning in Washington, D.C. in March, 1860. Pacific Telegraph Act of 1860 was approved on June 16, 1860. Hiram Sibley, of Rochester, NY, was awarded the contract to construct the Pacific Telegraph in September,1860. In May, 1861 Pacific Telegraph Company formed in Rochester, NY and Albert W. Bee, Sr. was elected as a director. At 10 pm on October 26, 1861 this message from San Francisco was received by Cyrus W. Field in New York, “The Pacific telegraph calls the Atlantic cable AW Bee”. In November, 1861 Albert W. Bee, Sr. resigned from Pacific Telegraph Company. Soon thereafter Bee quit and followed the silver rush out to Nevada. Albert W. Bee died in November, 1863 in Austin, Nevada Territory, where he had been engaged in silver mining in Reese River Valley.