USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 32
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THE CATHOLIC CLUB.
Upon the twenty-third day of August, 1891, the corner-stone of the "Catholic Club " house was laid. This handsome structure is situated upon the south side of the Church of the Sacred Heart, and was the first building ever ereeted in this eity devoted exclusively to the social purposes of members of that religious organization.
The elub-house is a spacious building of the same style of architecture as the church. The walls are of gray stone, the Broad street facade being two stories in height, but upon Cooper street three stories appear. The eopings and window arches are of elaborately-carved Indiana limestone. No woodwork is to be seen on the exterior, excepting the window frames. A wide hall leads to the spacious parlor and library. A broad veranda extends around the library, which room, devoted to literary pursuits, contains open fireplaces, with mantels of Pompeian brick and carved oak. A gymnasium, well equipped in every particular, occupies the lower floor. The second story is devoted to the purposes of a billiard-room, which opens upon another broad veranda. Upon this floor is a reading-room, toilet and dressing apartments. Areades divide these rooms, which are all elaborately furnished, making the entire structure one of the finest club-houses in the southern portion of the State.
Upon the day of the corner-stone laying, the Right Reverend Monsigneur McDonnell, of Saint Patrick's Cathedral, New York City, officiated in the stead of the late Bishop Michael J. O' Farrell. A parade of all the Catholic societies preceded the exercises. The Litany was chanted, and the choirs of the Catholic churches rendered the "Gloria " from Mozart's Twelfth Mass. Addresses were made by the Rev. Father Hogan and Mayor Daniel J. Bechtel.
The auspicious corner-stone service was fittingly commemorated in the dedication of the build- ing, which occurred upon the tenth of November, 1892. The feature of this ceremony was the address of John J. Cleary, of the "Advertiser," to Bishop O' Farrell. Mr. William J. Convery was toastmaster.
The life of the club is both social and intellectual. During the winter and particularly upon "Ladies' Nights " the Lyceum Committee arranges for lectures upon historical, political and scien- tifie subjeets, which are usually delivered by prominent Trentonians. Indeed, every effort is made
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that this club should be an attractive and popular feature of the life of the members of the parish. The success of the venture leaves nothing to be desired. The following is the list of officers of the club as at present constituted : Rev. Thaddeus Hogan, President ; John J. Cleary, First Vice President ; Wm. M. Jamieson, Second Vice President ; Thomas Durnan, Recording Secretary ; Patrick A. Durnan, Financial Secretary ; Thomas Campbell, Treasurer ; F. J. Tams, Librarian ; Thomas Dunon, Assistant Librarian. The Board of Governors are : Wm. J. Convery, President ; F. W. Keegan, Secretary ; F. J. Birt, Daniel Desmond, Henry Mclaughlin, William T. Waldron, Patrick Mckeever, Henry Crawford, James Newell.
NEW JERSEY HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
Upon the seventeenth of May, in the city of Newark, the New Jersey Historical Society, with becoming ceremonies, celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The illustrious record of a semi-centen- nial, during which time its large and prieeless collection of books and mementos of the past have been secured, and its publications have been issued, commenced in the city of Trenton. The roll of honor, dated the twenty-seventh of February, 1845, and which was signed in the State Capitol, is as follows : Joseph P. Bradley, Newark ; George Clinton Bush, Trenton ; Rev. Dr. Jonathan Cogswell, New Brunswick ; Rev. Ely F. Cooley, Trenton ; Rt. Rev. George Doane, Burlington ; Richard S. Field, Princeton ; Henry W. Green, Trenton ; Archer Gifford, Newark ; Thomas Gordon, Trenton ; Edward Harris, Trenton ; Samuel R. Hamilton, Trenton ; Charles King, Elizabeth ; William B. Kinney, Newark ; Rev. Aaron A. Marcellus, Freehold ; Rev. Daniel V. MeLean, Free- hold ; Rev. Dr. Nicholas Murray, Elizabeth ; Cortlandt Parker, Newark ; Rev. Andrew B. Patterson, Princeton ; Charles L. Pearson, Trenton ; Stacy G. Potts, Trenton ; Joseph F. Randolph, Trenton ; William B. Robeson, Belvidere ; Charles C. Stratton, Swedesborough ; Dr. Jonathan J. Spencer, Moorestown ; William A. Whitehead, Newark. In the inception of the society, it was designed that its meetings should be held in this city, and that its collections should be stored in the State Capitol. East Jersey, and particularly Newark, being more interested in the work of the organiza- tion than were Trenton and West Jersey, the society soon became permanently located on the banks of the Passaic. Since then it has grown into a most influential institution.
ATHLETIC ORGANIZATIONS.
Trenton in athletics formerly occupied a more prominent place than at present. A decade since the national game of base-ball, together with a cricket club largely composed of English pottery operatives, were phases of the athletic movement. To-day, however, these associations are mere memories. The college and professional games at Princeton, Philadelphia and New York, with varied attractions, have rendered attempts to make Trenton a center for athletic entertainments almost futile. Even the "Trades Leagues " were a practical failure. The last noted event in this city was the University of Pennsylvania-Princeton foot-ball game, when the Red and Blue defeated the Orange and Black, on the Inter-State Fair grounds. This was in November, 1894. Whether or not the efforts to make Trenton the meeting place between rival teams will succeed remains to be seen. The athletic amusements which have the strongest hold upon the city are cycling and canoe- ing. The latter is especially prominent, owing to the character of the Delaware river, with its near- by " Falls," rapids and smooth, wide intervening channel. The rapid-transit facilities to boat- houses are also worthy of particular mention, whilst the low-lying banks of the river afford facilities for the easy and cheap erection of club-houses.
CANOE CLUBS.
Canoeing on the Delaware river owes its origin to the late William M. Carter and Samuel G. Fur- man, who first paddled their craft through Trenton Falls in 1876. For a long time they followed this diversion, practically alone, and it was not until 1884 that the Trenton Canoe Club came into existence. Its founders were William M. Carter, Robert G. Lucas, Frederick F. C. Woodward, Frank W. Sigler and John A. Gallavan, and from this first organization the history of the present canoe clubs may be traced. Within the next few years "unattached " canoeists were to be found upon the river, but the social aspects of the sport soon led to more effective organization. The many
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advantages of the Delaware for this sport led to the organization of the Park Island Canoeing Asso- eiation, which was ineorporated July 22d, 1889, with the following Trustees : Edward D. Anderson, Ellsworth E. Booz, Henry C. Buchanan, J. Wallaee Hoff and Fred. F. C. Woodward. The President
PARK ISLAND CAMP.
was William M. Carter, and the Secretary and Treasurer, William C. Lawrenee. The object of the association is the development and cultivation of manly sports. During the summer of 1889, White's, now Park Island was purchased, and upon its southern extremity a handsome elub-house,
" WAH-WAHI-TAY-SEE."
replete with modern conveniences, has been erected, which was opened upon the first of August, 1891. In the spring of 1890, the famous Canadian war canoe "Wah-wah-tay-see" was launched upon the Delaware river,
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The Algonquin Club House, erected at a cost of $3,000, situated on the proposed River Drive, between Cadwalader Place and the Delaware, was opened in December, 1892. This elub occupies one of the most complete houses on the river, and the club enjoys a representative membership.
At the present time the following canoe clubs are organized : Park Island Canoeing Associa- tion-J. B. Agnew, President ; R. G. Lucas, Vice President ; William C. Lawrence, Secretary- Treasurer.
Iliawatha Canoe Club-Frank W. Allaire, Commodore ; Albert I. Hattersley, Secretary- Treasurer.
Algonquin Canoe Club-Fred. B. Yard, Commodore ; William Kirkbride, Vice Commodore ; E. C. Hill, Purser.
THE TRENTON FIELD CLUB.
In athletic life on shore, the Trenton Field Club was organized in June, 1892. Its grounds are located near West State street, next to the property of Isaac G. Richey, Esquire. The club-house is a small but well-arranged building, overlooking the base-ball field and the tennis courts. Of the Field Club it may be said that it is the most exclusive organization of its type in the city, and its list of members embraces the names of the most fashionable people of the city. Its officers are : President, Frank O. Briggs ; Vice President, Charles S. Van Syckel ; Secretary, Charles E. Gum- mere ; Treasurer, Winthrop Slade.
THE CATHOLIC YOUNG MEN'S ASSOCIATION.
The Catholic Young Men's Association of Saint Mary's Cathedral Parish is one of the oldest Catholic societies in Trenton. It was first organized in 1873, under the name of the Young Men's Catholic Lyceum. It was not then a parish organization, its membership being made up irrespective of parish lines. Subsequently the name was changed to that of the Young Men's Catholic Associa- tion, and again to the Catholic Young Men's Association, to avoid the confusion of having the same initials as the Young Men's Christian Association. The objects of the association have been and are the intellectual and moral advancement of its members. There is at present a membership of about fifty. The rooms of the society are located at 22 East State street, and are nicely furnished. There is a library of about one thousand volumes, many of which were presented by the late Bishop O'Farrell. The association has numbered among its membership many of the leading Catholics of Trenton.
The present officers are : President, John P. Dullard ; Vice President, James Mooney, Jr. ; Recording Secretary Michael Sweeney ; Financial Secretary, John K. Cody ; Treasurer, P. J. Clancy. The pastor of Saint Mary's Cathedral has always been er-officio President.
THE MERCER COUNTY WHEELMEN.
The Mercer County Wheelmen were organized on November 13th, 1889, with twenty-five members. The first officers were Charles Perrine, President ; Harry D. Leavitt, Vice President ; James C. Tattersall, Secretary. The club first had rooms on South Warren street, but the member- ship soon increased and they removed to a spacious house at 110 West Front street. This was followed by another move in 1893 to 128 North Warren street, where they remained until 1894, when the membership had reached the three-hundred mark and they secured the house at 219 East State street, which is adapted in every way to a wheelmen's quarters. This house has been famous as the headquarters of the Lochiel Club, now disbanded, which met there for a number of years. The building is the old Wilkinson property. Handsomely furnished throughout, the establishment is sustained without gambling or a buffet, and is in every respect a model club-house.
The present officers of the club are : President, Postmaster Frank H. Lalor ; Vice President, Louis Fisher ; Treasurer, E. Frank Cabezola ; Financial Secretary, Elmer S. Applegate ; Recording Secretary, Frederick Barlow ; Captain, Thomas W. Obert ; Board of Directors, Howard S. Titus, James G. Lee, Robert V. Whitehead, George C. Shick. The club now numbers three hundred and thirty members, among them some of Trenton's leading citizens.
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THE POTTERS' CLUB.
The commodious club-house of the Potters' National Union of America is located at the junc- tion of Perry street, Clinton and Lincoln avenues. The building was purchased by the potters May 8th, 1893, from George N. Packer for $11,000, under the provisions of an act of April 18th, 1889, which was the first law ever placed upon the statute-books of New Jersey under which labor organizations could hold property. The club-house was formally opened with a banquet, musical exercises and other festivities. The first floor contains double parlors and in the rear are committee and reading-rooms. A piano adorns the parlors, which are handsomely furnished. On the second floor are meeting-rooms and bath-room, and on the third floor are pool and billiard tables. Lectures upon industrial and social subjects are given from time to time, and, on the whole, the club-house has been a decided success. It is situated upon the edge of that portion of Trenton known as the "Staffordshire of America," and the hum of near-by traffic indicates the presence of thousands of skilled and intelligent operatives. At their annual election in July, 1895, the following officers were elected : President, Andrew Blackford ; Vice President, E. J. Whitehead ; Recording Secre- tary, Thomas B. Dennis ; Financial Secretary, W. Sanford ; Treasurer, John D. McCormick.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
SECRET SOCIETIES, ORDERS AND ORGANIZATIONS.
TRENTON A GREAT CENTER IN THE WORK OF SECRET SOCIETIES-A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE HISTORY OF THE MASONS, ODD FELLOWS, KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS, RED MEN, KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE, JUNIOR ORDER AMERICAN MECHANICS AND OTHER BODIES-THE ROMAN CATHOLIC SOCIETIES-THE TEMPERANCE SOCIETIES.
N THE number and character of her secret societies, orders and organizations Trenton occupies a distinctive position. The rapid growth of the fraternal spirit, particularly since the Rebellion, has been exemplified in a remarkable manner within the past few years. There is scarcely a man in Trenton who has attained his majority who is not a member of an organization of some character, be it social, ecclesiastical, political or secret. The town has the reputation throughout the United States of being one of the great centers of organizations, particularly those of a secret nature. The early introduction of the Masonic order and the Odd Fellows shows that this spirit was rife in the city when Trenton was little more than a village. Statistics show that if the present rate of membership increases that Trenton, in proportion to her population, will soon rank among the first cities of the Union in this matter. A cursory review of this phase of municipal life is herewith given.
The introduction of Free Masonry in New Jersey was upon the fifth of June, 1730, when a dis- pensation was granted to a Provincial Grand Master of New Jersey. Daniel Coxe was the first appointed Provincial Grand Master of Masons in the New World.
The Grand Lodge of New Jersey of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons was instituted by a charter from England, December 18th, 1786, and meets annually in Trenton. The Hon. David Brearly, Esquire, Chief Justice of New Jersey, was elected Worshipful Master ; Hon. Robert Lettis Hooper, Vice President of New Jersey, Deputy Grand Master ; William Leddle, Esquire, late High Sheriff of Morris county, Senior Grand Warden ; Daniel Marsh, Esquire, Representative in the Assembly of New Jersey, Junior Grand Warden ; John Noble Cumming, Esquire, late Colonel in the Army of the United States, Grand Secretary ; Maskell Ewing, Jr., Esquire, Clerk of the General Assembly of New Jersey, Deputy Grand Secretary ; Joshua Corson, Esquire, High Sheriff of Hunterdon county, Grand Treasurer. In the next year Trenton Lodge, No. 5, was chartered, being incorporated by the Legislature in 1826. Those to whom the act of incorporation was granted were Thomas L. Woodruff, Charles Burroughs, Zachariah Rossell, John Mershon and William Ker- wood. From No. 5 have sprung all the other lodges in this city.
The other Masonic lodges in this city are Mercer, No. 50, whose warrant was issued January 13th, 1858 ; Ashlar, No. 76, chartered January 18th, 1866, and incorporated on the thirteenth of the following March ; Column Lodge, No. 120, instituted April 13th, 1871 ; Fraternal Lodge, No. 139, organized April 27th, 1874 ; Mereer Lodge of Perfection, A. and A. Rite, institufed April 23d, 1863 ; Mercer Council of Princes of Jerusalem, A. and A. Rite, instituted May 19th, 1864 ; Trenton Chapter, Rose Croix, instituted April 17th, 1868 ; Three-Times-Three Chapter, No. 5, Royal Arch
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Masons, chartered June 15th, 1858 ; Gebal Council, No. 3, Royal and Select Masters, organized under a dispensation from the Grand Council of Pennsylvania, March 16th, 1860; Palestine Com- mandery, No. 4, Knights Templar, chartered September 11th, 1862.
The Masonic Mutual Life Insurance Association was organized December 5th, 1873, and the Masonic Hall Association, incorporated March 12th, 1884, with a capital stock of $100,000, are other phases of Masonic life in this city.
The Independent Order of Odd Fellows was transplanted from London soil to America in 1819.
The Grand Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows was instituted in the old Masonie Hall, in Front street, on the third of August, 1833, by Thomas Wildey, the founder of the order in this country, and at that time the Grand Sire of the Grand Lodge of the United States.
The parent lodge in this city, known as Trenton, No. 3, was instituted August 3d, 1833. After various vicissitudes the lodge is now in a strong position. The other lodges in this city are Concordia, No. 4, instituted December 17th, 1833, which for some years owned Concordia Hall, 33 West State street ; Mercer, No. 34, instituted February 5th, 1846 ; South Trenton, No. 36, instituted February 5th, 1846 ; Schiller, No. 80, instituted August 3d, 1848 ; Cherusker, No. 151, instituted 1870; Fred. D. Stuart, No. 154, instituted December 19th, 1870; Home, No. 211, instituted August 30th, 1887 ; Meni, No. 217.
The Grand Encampment, I. O. O. F., of New Jersey, was instituted by John H. Kennedy, Grand Sire, September 19th, 1843. Trenton Encampment, No. 2, was instituted October 2d, 1837. South Trenton Encampment, No. 40, was instituted April 6th, 1869.
Ruth Rebekah, No 9; Canton Capital City, No. 3; Patriarchs Militant, are other Odd Fellow organizations. There is also an Odd Fellows' Funeral Aid Association and a City Traveling Relief Committee in this order.
In 1864, the Knights of Pythias were organized in Washington. The lodges in this city are Spartacus, No. 10, organized April 9th, 1868; Hamilton, No. 91, organized November 5th, 1873 ; Pythias, No. 61, organized August 15th, 1871; Trenton, No. 60, organized March 10th, 1871, and Excelsior Division, No. 11, U. R. K. of P., organized June 21st, 1886.
The Improved Order of Red Men was introduced into Trenton by the forming of Moax, No. 5, on the first of September, 1851. The remaining Red Men tribes in this city are the Uneas, No. 102 ; Assanpink, No. 86 ; Iroquois, No. 93; Onas, No. 108 ; Onalaska, No. 115, and Indianola Couneil, No. 7, Degree of Pocahontas.
The American Protestant Association is represented by John Calvin Lodge, No. 14, and James A. Garfield Lodge, No. 17.
The Knights of the Golden Eagle were introduced by Trenton Castle, No. 7, sinee which time Mercer Castle, No. 23; Capital Castle, No. 28; Star of Bethlehem, No. 68 (German), and Eyrie Castle, No. 69, have been organized. Neil Burgess Commandery, No. 9, and Mercer Commandery, No. 6, of Company A, Third Battalion, are of the military branch. There is also Laurel Temple, No. 3, Ladies of the Golden Eagle.
The Junior Order of United American Mechanies is represented by various councils in this eity. Enterprise, No. 6, organized October 9th, 1868, marks the initial movement. The other councils are Mercer, No. 50; Commodore Perry, No. 80; Nathan Hale, No. 89 ; Trenton, No. 90; Century, No. 100; Rutherford B. Hayes, No. 143; United States, No. 146; Pride of Trenton Couneil, Daughters of Liberty ; Capital City, No. 20; Mizpah, No. 26, and Pride of Nathan Hale Council, No. 29.
The Patriotic Order Sons of America has the following Washington camps in this city : No. 6, No. 7, No. 14, No. 17.
The Knights of Saint John and Malta are respresented by the Cœur de Lion Encampment, No. 16, with which there is a drill corps.
The Sons of Saint George have a District Lodge of Mercer county, The lodges in Trenton are Chatham, No. 136; Royal Oak, No. 36; Sir Charles Napier, No. 33; Victoria, No. 1, I. O. Daughters of Saint George.
The National Union in Trenton has four councils, Trenton, No. 346 ; Mercer, No. 404 ; John A. Roebling, No. 505 ; Monument, No. 550.
Among other secret societies represented in this city are the Royal Arcanum, Ancient Order of Shepherds, Ancient Order United Workmen, Ancient Order of Foresters, Brotherhood of the
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Union, Order of Chosen Friends, Order of the Golden Chain, Sexennial League, Theatrical Mechanics' Association and Improved Order of Heptasophs.
The Grand Army of the Republic was instituted in Trenton upon the thirty-first of October, 1867. The first post erected was Bayard, No. 8. The petitioners for this post were James S. Kiger, Francis C. Roberson, William W. L. Phillips, John W. Brown, James H. Comings, Gabriel Ten Broeck, Abram G. Staats, Edward M. Anderson, John HI. Allen, Edgar Whittaker. In honor of a distinguished soldier, Aaron Wilkes Post, No. 23, has since been organized.
There are two camps of Sons of Veterans, Ferd. V. Dayton, No. 5, and General Richard A. Donnelly, No. 21, with the Aaron Wilkes Women's Relief Corps, No. 7.
The labor organizations in Trenton are represented by the Potters' National Union of America, Throwers' and Handlers' Association, Jiggermen's Association, Sanitary Pressers' Protective Asso- ciation, all representing various phases of the pottery industry. There are also Trenton Lodge, No. 38, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen ; Washington A. Roebling Lodge, No. 373, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers ; Trenton Lodge, No. 253, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen ; Trenton Typographical Union, No. 71, and the Bricklayers' and Plasterers' Association.
The political organizations of the city include the Democratic League, Republican Club, Ger- mania Republican Club, James Fury Democratic Association, Sixth Ward Republican Association, Fourth Ward Republican Club, Chambersburg Republican League, Seventh Ward Republican Club, Mercer County Democratic Club.
The Saint Patrick's Alliance of America, which is not, as many suppose, a Roman Catholic society, but which is an organization of men of Irish birth or parentage, has in Trenton Branches 1, 2, 4, 5, under the supervision of District No. 7.
Of the Roman Catholic societies, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, organized in Trenton in 1871, has in this city five divisions under the County Board. The Saint Vincent de Paul Society sustains a Particular Council with Saint Mary's Conference, Saint John's Conference (Sacred Heart parish), Our Lady of Lourdes' Conference and Saint Joseph's Conference. The Catholic Benevolent Legion is represented by Father Mackin Council, No. 76; Very Rev. Anthony Smith Council, No. 287 ; Father Otto Keegan Council, No. 350. Of the beneficial societies there are Saint Anthony's, Saint Joseph's, Saint Francis, Saints Peter and Paul (Slavish) and Bavarian. Of the temperance organizations there are the Young Men's Total Abstinence League, with cadets, and the Annunciation (women's) Society. Among the remaining organizations in the city are the Catholic Young Men's Association of Saint Mary's Cathedral, Saint Joseph's Lyceum, Saint Mary's Cadets, Saint Francis Pioneer Corps, Holy Cross Society, Saint Florian Military Society and Saint Stanislaus Society.
Among the social organizations are the Broadway Club, Tuscarora Club, Delaware Club, Eclectic Club, F. L. Nitz Club, In and Out Club, Millham Club, A. L. Weldy Association and the Capital Club, the latter being a leading organization of Afro-Americans.
The temperance organizations in the city of Trenton cluster largely about the work of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union No. 1, which was organized in November, 1876. Since that time three other branches have been instituted. The work which has been done in this con- nection has been of the greatest good to the city, not only in the specific object of the Union, but likewise in various charities. The Union Library and meeting-rooms are the monuments which have been raised in this cause.
Around the name of Henry B. Howell, who with inflexible determination has always fought valiantly under a Temperance banner, the carly history of the temperance movement in Trenton is inscribed. The editor of the "Reformer" for five years, Mr. Howell urged in the carly fifties a cause which was then unpopular. In 1844, Mercer Division of the Sons of Temperance, a secret beneficial order, paved the way for later efforts. On March 18th, 1851, Excelsior Division, No. 4, was organized, which included on its roll of members the most prominent Trentonians of the period. From the Excelsior Division grew the "Reformer " and the "New Jersey Temperance Advocate," and for many years it was an active organization.
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