USA > New Jersey > Camden County > The history of Camden county, New Jersey > Part 93
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IONIC LODGE, No. 94, F. A. M., was organized in the house of James W. Wroth, on Stevens Street, April 20, 1868. The following-named persons were the original members : W. Wallace Goodwin, J. H. Stone, Alexander Mecray, Thomas J. Fran- cis, B. A. Pine, James A. Perry, Frederick P. Pfeiffer, Thomas McDowell, John W. Rogers, James W. Wroth, Isaac C. Githens, Christopher C. Smith, Samuel J. Fenner, Oliver W. Goodwin, George E. Wilson, George W. Watson, Richard Perks, Charles. W. Sartori, John Goldthorpe, Albion Craven, James T. Robertshaw, D. W. J. Hutton, Seth Thomas, Charles H. Snyder, John R. Cunningham and Thomas Hinchman.
They decided upon the formation of a lodge to be called "Corinthian," and selected as temporary officers: W. M., W. W. Goodwin; S. W., Thomas McDowell ; J. W., John W. Rogers. A petition recommended by Camden, No. 15, was presented May 12th and June 22d. A dispensation was granted by R. W. G. S. W. James H. Stevens, who appointed Isaac C. Githens Secretary, and James W. Wroth Treasurer, to act until relieved. They thus worked until February 23, 1869, when they received the charter as Ionic Lodge, No. 94, and in the Central Hall were constituted, and these offi- cers installed : W. M., W. W. Goodwin; S. W., Thomas McDowell; J. W., J. W. Rogers ; Treas- urer, J. W. Wroth ; Secretary, Isaac C. Githens ; Chaplain, William H. Jefferys.
The lodge prospered and increased to over two hundred members, with a strong financial basis,
under the following-named Worthy Masters: W. Wallace Goodwin, Thomas McDowell, John W. Rogers, Seth Thomas, Josiah Matlack, Isaac C. Githens, George Shattuck, William T. Brewer, Edward Furlong, James S. Smyth, John R. Grubb, William C. Goodrich, Charles H. Austin, William S. Casselman, J. B. Kelsey, George H. Hammond and George Van Benschoten. Three flourishing lodges are offshoots of Ionic,-Merchantville, No. 119; Mozart, No. 121; and Haddonfield Lodge, No. 130. The officers for 1886 are: W. M., John D. Leckner, M.D .; S. W., F. F. Hogate; J. W., Thaddeus P. Varney ; Treasurer, Horace Sharp; Secretary, Frank F. Michellon. The latter has held the office since 1871, and Christopher C. Smith has been Tiler since the formation of the lodge.
TRIMBLE LODGE, No. 117, F. A. M., was insti- tuted under warrant bearing date Jannary 19, 1871, and signed by G. M., William E. Pine; D. G. M., William Wallace Goodwin; S. G. W., Nathan Haines ; J. G. W., James V. Bentley ; and G. S., Joseph H. Hough. D. G. M. W. W. Good- win instituted the lodge, assisted by members of the Grand Lodge, in Masonic Hall, and placed these officers in position : W. M., George H. Fair- field ; S. W., George F. Fort; J. W., Marmaduke B. Taylor : S. D., Nathan F. Cowan ; J. D., Fred- erick A. Rex ; Treasurer, H. Genet Taylor; Sec- retary, J. Graham Milligan. The others named in the warrant were William S. Fort and Wilbur F. Rose. The following were the charter mem- bers: George H. Fairfield, George F. Fort, Wil- liam S. Fort, Marmaduke B. Taylor, H. Genet Taylor, Wilbnr F. Rose, J. Graham, E. Milligan, Nathan F. Cowan, Frederick A. Rex. The mem- bership numbers ninety-four, and is increasing steadily. The meetings are held monthly, in Masonic Hall, Fourth and Market. The officers for 1886 are: W. M., Irving Turner; S. W., Charles H. Stiles; J. W., Charles (). Brown ; Treasurer, Nathan F. Cowan, P. M .; Secretary, George H. Fairfield, P. M .; S. D., Jacob Thatcher; J. D., Elmer W. Murdock. This lodge has in its mem- bership some of the most prominent citizens of Camden, including many professional gentlemen, whose names appear in other parts of this work. The meetings are held at Masonic Hall, on the first Friday evening in each month.
MOZART LODGE, No. 121, F. AND A. M., is a German lodge, and received its dispensation from the M. W. Grand Lodge of New Jersey, March 17, 1871. R. W. D. G. M. William Wallace Good- win installed the following officers: W. M., Fred- erick P. Pfeiffer ; S. W., D. G. Langendorf ; J. W.,
560
HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Gustave Grossman; Treasurer, John Welsch; Sec- retary, Charles H. Riceman (deceased); S. D., August C. Riceman ; J. D., George Sensfelder ; M.'s of C., George Goetz (deceased) and Solomon Seybold; Tiler, C. C. Smith, of 94.
The present officers of Mozart Lodge are: W. M., John Heim ; S. W., Frederick Roedel; J. W., Jacob Rettberg; Treasurer, William Stein ; Secretary, Charles Engel, P. M .; S. D., August Weber; J. D., Jacob Vissel; M.'s of C., Christian Eckert and George Pfeiffer; Stewards, Levi Bachrach and Henry Schultz; Tiler, C. C. Smith, of 94. Past Masters : Daniel G. Langendorf, Gustave Gross- man, August C. Riceman, George Sensfelder, Wil- liam Kraft, Charles Engel, George P. Stephany, William Moering, Andrew Kaemmerer, John Heile- man, Frank Mester. Trustees for 1886 are George P. Stephany, P. M., William Moering, P. M., Levi Bachrach. There are forty members. The lodge meets every second Tuesday in the month, at Wildey Hall, corner of Fifth and Pine Streets, at half-past seven o'clock P.M.
SILOAM R. A. CHAPTER, No. 19, ROYAL ARCH MASONS, was consecrated and instituted on Oc tober 8, 1867, with Comp. Wm. Wallace Goodwin M. E. H. P .; Comp. Seth Thomas, E. K .; Comp' J. L. De La Cour, E. S .; Comp. Jas. W. Wroth. Treasurer ; Comp. Chas. I. Fuerig, Secretary. The presiding and subordinate officers, excepting the treasurer and secretary, were changed at the an- nual elections. Comp. Jas. W. Wroth remained treasurer until December, 1868, when he was suc- ceeded by Comp. A. B. Frazee, who, however, served but one year, when Comp. Wroth was again elected treasurer in December, 1869, and served in that position until December, 1878, when he was succeeded by Comp. Nathan F. Cowan, who has been annually re-elected ever since, and holds the position at the present time. Comp. Chas. 1. Frieng remained secretary until December, 1871, when he was succeeded by Comp. George Shattuck, who was succeeded in December, 1875 by Comp. A. Clifford Jackson, who was suc- ceeded, in December, 1877, by Comp. Charles F. Hollingshead, who has been annually re- elected since and holds the position at the present time. The chapter started in 1867 with a membership of fifteen, and now numbers two hundred and fifty, and comprises many of the prominent citizens in this part of the State.
VAN HOOK COUNCIL, NO. 8, ROYAL ANDSELECT MASTERS, is the only council organized in the city of Camden, and, although starting off with but a small membership, has grown to be one of the largest in the State.
The meetings are held in the hall of Excelsior Consistory, corner of Third and Federal Streets, on the second Wednesday evening of each month.
The charter bears date of January 21, 1873. The following were the officers :
Andrew B. Frazee, First Thrice Illustrious Master ; John W. Rogers, First Deputy Illus- trious Master ; Frank A. Fenton, First Principal Conductor of the Work; Jacob H. Yocum, Jr., First Master of Exchequer; George Shattuck, First Recorder ; Richard F. Smith, First Captain of Guard; W. T. Benner, First Conductor of Council ; S. S. Edwards, First Steward ; C. C. Smith, First Sentinel.
Following are the present officers of the council : Geo. W. Steed, Thrice Illustrious Master ; John S. R. Cassady, Deputy Illustrious Master ; John W. Johnson, Principal Conductor of Work ; Andrew B. Frazee, Treasurer ; F. F. Hogate, Re- corder ; N. F. Cowan, Captain of Guard; Geo. F. Hammond, Conductor of Council ; Enos Dismant, Steward ; C. C. Smith, Sentinel.
This council has thirty-one members. Since the organization death has removed eight members of the council, among the number Past Thrice Illustrious Grand Master Frank A. Fenton. Two members of this council have been elevated to the Grand East of this jurisdiction, -Frank A. Fenton, in 1880, and Edward Mills, in 1885.
CYRENE COMMANDERY, No. 7, MASONIC KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, was regularly consecrated and constituted under a warrant from the Grand Commandery of the State of New Jersey, on Oc- tober 16, 1868, at the court-house in the city of Camden, Dr. Thos. J. Corson acting as Grand Commander. The five principal officers of the Commandery installed upon that occasion were,- Sir Wm. Wallace Goodwin, Eminent Com- mander ; Sir Jas. H. Stevens, Generalissimo; Sir John W. Rogers, Captain-General; Sir James W. Wroth, Treasurer ; Sir Chas. I. Fuerig, Recorder. The presiding and subordinate officers, excepting the treasurer and recorder, were changed, as is the usual custom at the annual elections. Sir James W. Wroth, treasurer, was annually re-elected until April 18, 1878, when he was succeeded by Sir Nathan F. Cowan, who has been annually re- elected ever since and holds the position at the present time. Sir Chas. I. Fuerig, recorder, was annually re-elected until March 16, 1871, when he was succeeded by Sir George Shattuck, who was annually re-elected until May 10, 1878, when he was succeeded by Sir Chas. F. Hollingshead, who has been annually re-elected ever since and holds the position at this time.
561
THE CITY OF CAMDEN.
The commandery started with a membership of nineteen, and its present membership is one hun- dred and fifty, and includes many of the prominent business and professional men of the city. The Past Commanders of Cyrene, or those who have filled the position of presiding officer, are as fol- lows : Sirs Wm. Wallace Goodwin, Andrew B. Frazee, J. Layton Register, Geo. E. Wilson, Rich- ard F. Smith, W. B. F. Wood, Jacob H. Yocum, Jr., Robert F. S. Heath, Seth Thomas, Isaac C. Githens, M. B. Taylor, Wm. H. Stansbury, Wm. Kraft, Jas. P. Weatherby, Wm. M. Davison, Francis Cookson and Edward Mills. The Past Commanders of Cyrene who have served as Grand Commanders of the Grand Commandery of New Jersey are Sirs Wm. Wallace Goodwin, Andrew B. Frazee and I. Layton Register. Past Com- mander, Isaac C. Githens is the present Grand Generalissimo of the Grand Commandery.
THE ANCIENT AND ACCEPTED SCOTTISH RITE. -This rite was first organized in the "Valley of Camden," in the early part of the year 1870, but owing to necessary delays in a correspondance with the officers and members of the bodies of the rite located at Mount Holly, the organization was not effected until August 4, 1870, when Excelsior Grand Lodge of Perfection, 14°, was set to work. The membership rapidly increased, and soon the organization of Excelsior Council of Princes of Jerusalem, 15° and 16°, and Excelsior Rose Croix Chapter, 17º and 18°, was completed. Meetings were regularly held until 1875, when, from finan- cial troubles and other causes, the work in these bodies was almost suspended, but through the efforts of a few members it was not permitted to die out.
In 1882, a number of the brethren having died, it was thought proper to hold a "lodge of honor" (being the first ever held in this jurisdiction), at which a large number of Masonic brethren were present, and the beautiful ceremonies not only made a deep impression, but caused new life to be infused into the order. The oration upon this occasion was delivered by Past Thrice Potent Grand Master Marmaduke B. Taylor.
The new seed sown took deep root and the mem- bership increased so rapidly that it was found necessary to make arrangements to organize a consistory in Camden, as the only one in the State, being located at Jersey City, was considered too remote for the brethren in Camden, many of whom had become members of the Philadelphia Consistory.
On the 16th day of November, 1883, Excelsior Consistory was set to work, since which time the
Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite has been the most flourishing Masonic body in the city of Camden.
The first three bodies of the rite originally were installed in Mount Holly, and the same transferred to Camden, the Mount Holly brethren retaining their membership.
The present officers of the consistory are Edward Mills, 32° Illustrious Commander-in-Chief; Mar- maduke B. Taylor, 32° Illustrious First Lieuten- ant Commander; C. Henry Austin, 32º Illustrious Second Lieutenant Commander ; Frank L. Vinton, 32° Grand Master of State; David M. Spence, 32º Grand Chancellor; Joseph F. P. Reed, 32° Grand Treasurer ; Isaac C. Githens, 32° Grand Keeper of the Seals and Archives; Genge F. Hammond, 32º Architect ; George Van Benschoten, 32º Hos- pitaler; George Shattuck, 32º Master of Cere- monies; William H. Thompson, 32º Standard- Bearer ; George W. Steed, 32° Captain of the Guard; Charles H. Gordon, 32° Grand Sentinel.
The present officers of Excelsior Chapter Rose Croix are Geo. W. Steed, 32° M. W. and P. Master ; David M. Spence, 32° M. E. P. and Kt. S. W .; Geo. Van Benschoten, 32° M. E. P. and Kt. J. W .; Edward E. Read, Jr., 32° M. E. and P. Kt. G. Orator; Joseph F. P. Read, 32° Resp. and P. Kt. Treasurer; Edward Mills, 32° Resp. and P. Kt. Secretary ; A. B. Frazee, 33° Resp. and P. Kt. Hospitaler ; Thomas B. Woolston, 32° Resp. and P. Kt. M. of C .; F. F. Hogate, 32° Resp. and P. Kt. C. of G. ; Charles H. Gordon, 32° Resp. Grand Tiler.
The present officers of Excelsior Council, P. of J., are Andrew B. Frazee, 33º M. E. Sov. P. G. Master ; George W. Steed, 32° G. H. P. Deputy Gr. Master ; C. Henry Austin, 32° M. E. Senior Gr. Warden ; Frank B. Delaplaine, 32° M. E. Junior Gr. Warden ; Joseph F. P. Read, 32º Val. Gr. Treasurer ; Edward Mills, 32° Val. Gr. Secretary ; Daniel H. Erdman, 32° Val. Gr. Almoner ; Thomas Mc- Dowell, 32° Val. Gr. M. of C .; F. F. Hogate, 32º Val. Gr. M. of E .; C. H. Gordon, 32° Grand Tyler.
The present officers of Excelsior Lodge of Per- fection are George F. Hammond, 32° T. P. G. M. ; John S. R. Cassady, 32° Deputy G. M .; George Van Benschoten, 32º S. G. W .; Frank B. Dela- plaine, 32º J. G. W. ; J. F. P. Read, 32° Gr. Treas- urer ; Edward Mills, 32° Gr. Secretary ; E. E. Read, Jr., 32° G. M. C .; F. F. Hogate, 32° Gr. C. of G .; George W. Steed, 32° G. Hospitaler; C. H. Gordon, 32° G. Tiler.
The Past Most Wise and Perfect Masters of Excelsior Chapel of Rose Croix are W. W. Good-
562
HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
win, 33°; F. A. Fenton, 32°; A. B. Frazee, 33º; Edward Mills, 33°; J. S. Smith, 32°; Thomas Mc- Dowell, 32°; C. Henry Austin, 32°; George F. Hammond, 32°; George W. Steed, 32º.
The Past Sovereign Prince Grand Masters of Ex- celsior Council of Princes of Jerusalem are W. W. Goodwin, 33º ; W. H. Jeffreys, 33º; J. P. Michellon, 32°; Marmaduke B. Taylor, 32°; Edwin Mills, 32°; A. B. Frazee, 33º.
The Past Thrice Potent Grand Masters of Excel- sior Grand Lodge of Perfection are G. H. Pancoast, 32°; W. W. Goodwin, 33º; James H. Stevens, 32°; Marmaduke B. Taylor, 32°; A. B. Frazee, 33º; J. S. Smith, 32°; Thomas McDowell, 32°; Edwin Mills, 32°; C. Henry Austin, 32°; George F. Ham- mond, 32°. - .
MASONIC LADIES .- The Grand Lodge of Mason- ic Ladies of New Jersey was instituted September 12, 1867, in Mechanics' Hall, Camden, by P. G. I. H. P. Elizabeth C. Cline and G. R. Secretary Elizabeth Craig, of Pennsylvania. The first officers were : G. I. H. P., Mercy Whippy, No. 1, Camden ; G. H. P., Elizabeth Rocap, No. 3, Bridgeton ; G. R. Secretary, Harriet Wright, No. 2, Burlington. There are fifteen lodges within its jurisdiction, with ten hundred and twenty-five members. Its officers are : (+. I. H. P., Elizabeth Shamelia, No. 2, Burlington ; G. H. P., Annie Elliott, No. 9, Bordentown ; G. R. Secty., Annie M. Quick, No. 1, Camden.
Mount Zion Lodge, No. 1, MASONIC LADIES, was institnted in Mechanics' Hall April 4, 1866, with thirty-five charter members, by G. I. H. P. Elizabeth P. Cline and G. R. S. Elizabeth Craig, of Pennsylvania. These officers were installed: P. 1. H. P., Margaret Deith ; I. H. P., Mercy Whippy ; H. P., Coctle; S. C., Mary Burnett; R. Secretary, Susanna Quin ; F.S., Margaretta Hamp- ton ; T., Sarah Gilbert ; S. I., Ruth A. Ross; J. I., Mary M. Lindale; Tiler, Clara Muckleson. The lodge has prospered and a membership of nearly one hundred has accumulated a reserve fund of three thousand dollars.
The officers at present are P. I. H. P., Elizabeth Long ; I. H. P., Emily Weldey; H. P., Kate Tyler ; R. S., Annie M. Quick ; F. S., K. E. Sparks ; T., Ruth A. Ross ; S. of C., Ellen Biddle ; S. I., Margaret Whittle ; J. I., Elizabeth Kleaver; Tiler, Elizabeth Campbell.
The members of Mount Zion Lodge who are Past Great Illustrious High Priestesses of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey are Mercy Whippy, Ruth A. Ross, Mary A. Moore and Eliza J. Leil- back.
Lily of the Valley Lodge, ' No. 6, of Masonic
Ladies was organized May 8, 1867, by Rebecca Thompson, I. G. H. P. ; Emeline Williams, G. H. P .; Elizabeth Craig, G. S. Charter granted to Catherine Caldwell, May A. Merkle, Priscilla B. Ayers, Mary West, Isabella Stanbury, Elizabeth Gordon, Mary W. Saunders, Lizzie Anderson, Kate Cadwell, Sarah Rickard, Annie Ayers, Ann Porter, Elmira B. Wescott, Sarah P. List, Sarah Jackson, Rachel Litcherfelt, Mary A. Laning, Susan A, Vaugn. The following were the officers : G. I. H. P., Rebecca Thompson ; G. H. P., Emeline Williams; G. Sec., Elizabeth Craig. Officers at that time : I. H. P., Priscilla B. Ayres ; P. I. H. P., Mary A. Merkle; H. P., Mary West; S. of Cer., Catharine Cadwell; Rec. Sec., Isabella Stansbury ; Fin. Sec., Elizabeth Gordon ; Treas., Mary W. Saunders ; S. Inspectress, Sarah Rickards ; J. In- spectress, Rachel Litchenfelt ; Tiler, Harriet Stiles; S. I., Mattie Randolph; J. 1., Cecelia Hanley ; Tiler, Anna Smick; Rec. Sec., Kate F. Cadwell ; Fin. Sec., Mary M. Davis ; Treas., Re- becca Eastlack.
COLORED MASONIC BODIES .- Rising Sun Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, composed of col- ored citizens, was formed at the house of Ishmael Locks, southeast corner of Fifth Street and Cherry, under a charter granted to Thomas Barns, W. M .; George Jackson, S. W .; and Wesley Armstrong, J. W., dated May 13, 1847. In 1849 the meet- ings were held in Butler's Hall, built for the pur- pose, on Sycamore Street, east of Seventh. They afterwards met in a hall on Spruce Street, below Third ; in 1874, at Fourth and Walnut, and in 1875 in Newton Hall, Broadway and Newton Avenue, which is now the general headquarters of the several Colored Masonic fraternities. The warrant was granted by the Grand Lodge of Penn- sylvania, which received its warrant from Princes Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, in its turn the recipient of a warrant from the Grand Lodge of England, dated September 29, 1784, granting authority to open and hold African Lodge, No. 459, in the city of Boston.
When the Grand Lodge of New Jersey was formed, June 12, 1848, Rising Sun became No. 4, and, on the union of Colored Masons of the State under one jurisdiction, became No. 1, which num- ber it still holds. Rising Sun has furnished a number of Grand Masters of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey, as follows : George Walton, Anthony Colding, George Jackson, Henry Mackey, Demp- sey D. Butler, R. F. Lovett, Jacob F. Derrickson, William R. Shipley and Philip T. Colding. The officers elected in 1886 are-W. M., James H. Leatherberry ; S. W., William O. Castor; J. W.,
563
THE CITY OF CAMDEN.
Gilbert Webb; Treasurer, Dempsey D. Butler ; Secretary, Jacob T. Derrickson.
Aurora Lodge, No. 9, F. and A. M., also meets in Newton Hall, as do these co-fraternities,- St. Luke's Chapter, No. 1, Royal Arch Masons ; Demolley Commandery, Knights Templar, No. 1; Eureka Chapter, Lodge of Perfection, No. 2, Frank T. Webster, M. P. M. ; Oriental. Council, No. 2, Princes of Jerusalem, John H. Bean, I. M. E .; Union Chapter, Knights of Rose Croix, John W. Mays, M. W .; Dehoco Consistory, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret, Charles N. Robinson, I. S. C.
Aurora Lodge, No. 9, Free and Accepted Ma- sons (colored), was instituted, by dispensation, August 11, 1853, and was duly organized by war- rant under the jurisdiction and authority of the M. W. Union Grand Lodge of New Jersey, and was granted to the following : Aaron Fisher, Enoch Little, Freeman Gould, Samuel Cleaver, Hezekiah Kinching, James Venning and Nicholas Boston. The lodge. was organized, and met for many years, in the rear of the Macedonia Church, but now meets in Newton Hall. From its foundation all obligations have been met, and no one meeting has been omitted.
The present officers are: James Robinson, W. M .; Moses Stevens, S. W .; George Nixon, J. W .; James Martin, T .; Charles N. Robinson.
THE GRAND LODGE OF NEW JERSEY, which meets in Camden, was organized June 12, 1848, by a convention comprising representatives from these lodges: St. John's, No. 8, Trenton ; Unity, No. 11, Burlington ; Mount Moriah, No. 12, Salem, and Rising Sun, No. 19, Camden. The officers elected were M. W. G. M., George Shrive, No. 8; D. G. M., Benjamin Jackson, No. 11; S. G. W., Littleton Williams, No. 19; J. G. W., George Jackson, No. 19; G. Treasurer, Benjamin Stew- ard; Grand Secretary, Joshua Woodlin.
This Grand Lodge was known as the Union Grand Lodge for the State of New Jersey. A question of sovereignty, in 1850, caused a split, · but in 1875, at a convention representing all the lodges of both jurisdictions, when a union of the two bodies was effected, and the M. W. United Lodge for the State of New Jersey was formed, and the officers elected were M. W. G. M., Charles N. Robinson ; D. G. M., Moses Wilcox ; S. G. W., John H. Bean; J. G. W., Pierce Brown ; G. T., I. Sample ; G. S., Jacob T. Derrickson ; Cor. G. S., J. Henry Hall.
The United Grand Lodge meets annually at their Grand East, Broadway and Newton Avenue, on the 27th of December, and controls all the lodges of Colored F. and A. Masons of the State,
numbering thirty, with an aggregate membership of six hundred.
The Past M. W. G. Masters of United Grand Lodge are: 1876-77, Charles N. Robinson ; 1878, Joshua Gurney ; 1879, Philip T. Colding; 1880, Wm. F. Powell; 1881, John W. Mays; 1882, Paul Hammond; 1883, Philip T. Colding ; and 1885, George Bailey, Jr.
The officers for 1886 are M. W. G. M., Francis Farmer; D. G. W. M., John H. Bean ; M. W. G. S. W., John H. Teebut; M. W. G. J. W., Frank H. Chapman; R. W. G. S., Charles N. Robinson ; R. W. G. T., Jacob T. Derrickson ; Deputy of the State of New Jersey for the Thirty-third Degree, P. M. W. G. M., Philip T. Colding.
INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD-FELLOWS.
NEW JERSEY LODGE, NO. 1 .- Ten years after Thomas Wildey had formed the first lodge of In- dependent Order of Odd-Fellows, he came to Cam- den, March 30, 1829, with a charter from the Mary- land Grand Lodge, the fountain-head of Odd-Fel- lowship, and founded New Jersey Lodge, No. 1. Thomas Wildey organized the lodge in person, in the room in Vanxhall Garden. The records have been lost and the names of the first New Jersey Odd-Fellows were lost with them.
New Jersey Lodge has had an honorable and prosperous career. There have been eight hundred initiated, seven hundred and sixty released, sixty- eight buried and thirty-six thousand dollars paid out for sickness and death. The members num- ber three hundred and twenty, and the meetings are held in Central Hall. These have passed the Noble Grand chair: John B. Thompson, James R. Webb, Samuel Ewan, Webster Gill, Daniel J. Shriner, Johu H. Stiles, Reuben Holloway, John Stiles, Jacob P. Stone, Lewis R. Beckett, Wm. K. Burrough, Jonathan J. Sheppard, R. G. Parvin, Alva F. Stetes, Thomas T. Ellis, George W. Ewan, Richard Dillmore, Charles G. Mayhew, Wm. A. Drown, Westcott Campbell, Theodore A. Verlan- der, Wm. O. Lusk, Edward S. King, Joseph M. Bacon, Charles F. Adams, John Smedley, H. H. Pease, Mahlon F. Ivins, Virgil Willett, Harry Powell, Henry Grosskopf, Wm. Husted, Samuel Miles, Stephen Phillips, Samuel Ewen, Benjamin Carlin, Joseph L. Bright and George Fox.
The officers are, N. G., Win. E. Rudolph; V. G., John Corson ; P. S., Virgil Willett; R. S., Charles Stiles ; T., Mahlon F. Ivins ; W., David Phillips ; C., John C. Seal; R. S. S., David Mundy ; L. S. S., George H. Weibel ; R. S. to N. G., P. G., Samuel Mills ; L. S. to N. G., P. G. J. L. Bright; I. G., Albert Phillips; O. G., A. L. Rudolph ; Chaplain,
564
HISTORY OF CAMDEN COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
Wm. P. Partenheimer ; R. S. to V. G., Samuel Mills, Jr. ; L. S. to V. (t., Joseph Ayers.
CHOSEN FRIENDS LODGE, No. 29, I. O. of O. F., of New Jersey, was constituted in Bontemps' Hall, Monday evening, May 12, 1845, at which time a special session of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey was held, and the charter presented to the lodge, these Grand officers officiating : Samuel Read, D. D. G. M., presided, assisted by P. G.'s Wm. C. Mulford and C. W. Roberts, of Washing- ton Lodge, No. 21 ; Joseph Carr, of Mount Holly Lodge, No. 19 ; G. M. John Perry and G. S. Wm. Curtis, of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania ; Grand Sire Howell Hopkins, of the Grand Lodge of U. S .; Horn R. Kneass and Smith Skinner, Rep. to (}. L. of the U. S. from G. L. of Pennsyl- vania ; and brothers from Chosen Friends Lodge, No. 100, of Pennsylvania, including P. G. S. James B. Nicholson, now G. S. of the G. L. of Pennsylvania.
Twenty-two were initiated, including Thomas W. Mulford, John F. Starr, Joseph C. De La Cour, Benjamin Scott, Jr., James W. Shroff, James M. Cassady, Matthew Miller and Michael Letts, and these officers were installed : N. G., John Morgan ; Secretary, Manuel C. White; V. G., Charles Bon- temps ; Treasurer, Isaac Mickle. Chosen Friends has always had a leading influence in the counsels of the order in this State, owing to the men of mark among its members, and of them James M. Cassady and John C. Stratford have been Grand Masters. Its Past Grands number thirty-seven. During its forty years of existence not a meeting has been omitted nor benefits failed of payment when due.
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