There have been no burials here in over 20 years.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the federal government did not provide assistance for people in need, so many states sent their poor, elderly or disabled citizens to "almshouses" or "poor farms." These homes typically provided little more thana dilapidated roof to sleep under and shoddy care at best. Many state governments seemed to encourage the pathetic nature of these facilities to motivated people not to rely on the institutions. However, many people did not have the resources and ability to gain employment and maintain their lives, so they were forced into dependency on others.
Pennsylvania Freemasons, who numbered 57,266 in 1900, however, wanted to create a safe haven for aging Masons and their families. That was the opposite of the traditional perception of homes for the destitute in the early 1900s. In 1902 Brother Edgar A Tennis R.W.G. M., Lamberton Lodge No. 371 called for a change. He wanted to "…make glad the cottage of the poor and smooth the pillows of the suffering". By 1903 a resolution was adopted to work together to report upon the idea of establishing homes in the central or western Pennsylvania. Finally, in December 1908, The Committee on Masonic Homes received authorization to purchase real estate, employ architects and a superintendent to adopt all plans to erect the Masonic Homes.
By 1909 Elizabethtown, PA was chosen as the site for the retirement center. The complete property consisted of 40 independent parcels totaling 966,741 acres. There were several private residences and eight farms. The plan included a large main building, Grand Lodge Hall. The Elizabethan English Gothic style made an impressive administration headquarters with residence for up to 175 people. Several dozen dwellings near the lodge plus a chapel, school, and hospital completed the design and all united to create the effect of an eight-acre "village" for about 700 people.
The Masonic committee wanted to build permanent sound buildings and make the Homes as self-sustaining as possible. There were 80 springs on the property so that they could be pooled together to provide their own water supply. Heat and electricity came from a central plant and the vast acreage provided an important resource for farming. When 4000 apple, pear, cherry and quince trees were planted in 1910, the orchard was begun.
Initially, the care of dependent adults was the main concern of the Masonic Homes. As time progressed, because of the need, it became apparently the Homes had a plain and unavoidable duty to provide for the maintenance, development and education of orphaned children. In 1913 the plan included a home for orphaned children. The children attended the Elizabethtown Area School District while younger children attended kindergarten on the grounds.
The cemetery was built in 1911 and was known as God's Acre. It is located on the Simon A. Rett property behind the fruit orchard and is still located there today. When people came to the Masonic Homes, they had to turn over all their worldly possessions so that they could be taken care of for the rest of their life. That included their homes, cars, all money, investments etc. This continued for about 80 or 90 years. In turn, a cemetery and tombstones were provided upon death. Every stone was identical in design and size. There about 1750 people buried here. Burials stopped in about 1995 when the cemetery was considered full. After that time, a columbarium was created at Sell Chapel for cremains to be interred.