USA > New York > A history of Long Island, from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 100
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Five years afterward we find the same offi- cers in the East and West, with Nathaniel Havens, Junior Warden, and Luther Hildreth, Secretary. The list of members comprised about fifty well-known citizens,-names fa- mous in the historic annals of the east end of Long Island, such as Howell, Hildreth, Worth, Crowell, Jennings, Gardiner, Glover, Bishop, Briggs, Baker, Conkling, Hedges, Harris, Top- ping, Seabury and others. The communica- tions of the brethren were held in the attic of the house of Moses Clark, on the corner of Division and Union streets. The house is still standing, having been moved further up the street, next south of the residence of Miss Julia King.
Hampton Lodge, No. III, was at that time the only civic society in Sag Harbor. Neither were there military, firemen's or other organi- zations. The mystery attached to the name and ceremonies of the order lent an attractive interest to every occasion when the brethren appeared in public, and well-accredited tradi- tion says that the schools were dismissed, and the people turned out en masse "to see the Ma- sons parade."
After a while fraternal activity languished, and eventually in 1819 the lodge surrendered its charter, having for fifteen years been
"steadfastly held in the Port of Sag Harbor." About this time politics infested Masonry. In 1827-30 exciting partisan contests followed, in which anti-Masonic sentiment was a powerful agency.
On the east end of Long Island all Masonic affiliation was abandoned. For thirty-eight years thereafter the Masons had no habitation in Sag Harbor, but in 1857 some brethren from other jurisdictions abiding among us, to- gether with the few remaining members of Hampton Lodge, mindful of the precept, "once a Mason always a Mason," concerted to insti- tute a new lodge. Others desirous of joining the order were initiated, passed, and raised in Peconic Lodge, No. 349, of Greenport, with the understanding that they were to become charter members of the new organization when the requisite number was obtained. The char- ter members of the new lodge were: Henry S. Roscoe, Eastern Star, No. 227, New York City; Joseph Stanton, Widow's Son Lodge, North Stonington, Connecticut; Charles H. Reeves, Star of the East, New Bedford, Mas- sachusetts ; J. W. Nickerson, Lebanon, New York City; Noah Washburne, Jacob Leck, Thaddeus Coles, Nathan T. Fordham, Zebu- lon Elliott, of defunct Hampton Lodge, No. III, and James E. Smith, Roswell Warner, Thomas Lister, Nathaniel Dominy, John Stein, John R. Sayre, P. H. Douglas, raised in Pe- conic Lodge, Greenport. These sixteen men having taken the obligation and agreed to dwell together in unity, established Wampona- mon Lodge, No. 437, F. & A. M. The name was settled upon after thoughtful considera- tion. There were those who desired the old name and number to be retained. "Hampton" had local signification, and the three units were unique and easily fixed in the memory. Besides, they indicated seniority in the list of Masonic lodges. But the newly-initiated brethren wished to imprint their own individ- uality upon their offspring, and so they liter- ally "left the west and traveled east" in search of a new name. Wamponamon is the Indian
655
FREEMASONRY ON LONG ISLAND.
appellation for the easternmost point of the promontory of Montauk, and signifies "to the eastward." It is found in the records of the town of Easthampton, and a correlative term in the Indian deeds. It is quaint, original and not likely to be appropriated by other so- cieties.
The first men made Masons in Sag Harbor under the new order of things were: Joshua B. Nickerson, Abner D. Smith, William White, William L. Parsons, Sylvester F. Brown. They were raised under a dispensation in January, 1858, the charter of the lodge not being issued until the June following. The lodge was dedi- cated on June 16, A. L. 5858, and on the same occasion the following officers were duly in- stalled : Henry S. Roscoe, W. M .; James E. Smith, S. W .; Roswell Warner, J. W .; Joseph Stanton, Treasurer ; Sylvester F. Brown, Sec- retary; Nathaniel Dominy, Senior Deacon ; Pulaski A. Douglas, Junior Deacon ; Thomas Lister and William White, Masters of Cere- monies ; Noah Washburn, Tyler.
The first meetings were held in the rooms of Suffolk Lodge, I. O. O. F. Afterward the third story of the south side of the present Nassau House building was obtained. It was furnished not without elegance and comfort, in part due to the good taste and generosity of Dr. Frederick Crocker, for many years treasurer of the lodge.
In 1883 it became necessary to look about for a new home. After the consideration of various schemes it was duly determined to purchase the old Presbyterian Church, then owned by the Episcopal society. A contract of sale was signed with the vestry of Christ Church on December 17, 1883. A fund was raised by bonding the property, which, together with the moneys already accumulated, provided for a thorough reconstruction of the building. The present Masonic Hall is the result. The new hall was opened with a festival and prome- nade concert on July 8th next ensuing. On the evening of November 20th following, the ceremonies of dedicating the new lodge room
were impressively conducted by Right Wor- shipful Frank R. Lawrence, Deputy Grand Master of Masons, and his associate officers of the Grand Lodge. Public addresses were also given in the large hall, and a collation served in Crowell's Hall. The occasion was a mem- orable one. Thus, the structure originally erected in 1817 for the worship of God was again consecrated to the Supreme Architect of the Universe and dedicated to the memories of the Holy Saints John.
It may not be inappropriate to refer, in passing, to the early Masters of the lodge, those who have gone before us, who have seen the Great Light, and who are now no more among the living.
Henry S. Roscoe, the first Master, was a swarthy, dark-eyed man, with black hair and flowing beard. He was of dignified demeanor, well up in his work, and a conscientious be- liever in the tenets of Freemasonry. Restless and nervous, and something of a nomad, he went from this place to East Hampton, and thence to Connecticut, where he died.
The second Worshipful in the East was James E. Smith, an active business man, iden- tified with our early prosperity as a commer- cial mart. He came here from Connecticut when a young man, and lived here until his death. His final mercantile venture was the building of a vessel at the foot of Main street. It was the last one built in Sag Harbor, and was sent to the Pacific coast, where it still bears on its stern the square and compasses which signalized its bridal with the sea, in the waters of our bay.
Joshua B. Nickerson succeeded Captain Smith. He had been one of the argonauts in the search for gold in California. He returned home, having been more successful than many others. Entering into the business activities of our village, a prosperous career was before him, but the insidious disease, consumption, cut him off in the strength of his manhood.
Following came Captain A. Smith French, a typical whaleman, in our characteristic whal-
. .
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HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.
ing times. More than once had he circum- navigated the globe carrying the emblems of Masonry and Masonic charity to the confines of the earth. He was raised in Hawaiian Lodge, No. 21, Sandwich Islands, but was a native of this county. He sleeps beneath the quiet shades of Oakland cemetery. Next came Abner D. Smith, merchant and citizen of good repute, methodical, correct, attentive, who served the lodge with fidelity and zeal, both as Master and Secretary, for several years. Will- iam H. Gleason, a graduate of Yale, wielded the gavel after Smith. A scholar, a politician, a lawyer and a divine, his life work was well done and his career active and honorable.
Of those who have more recently occupied the East, but who have passed beyond the veil, are Benjamin F. Huntting, whose name is es- pecially associated with the purchase and re- construction of the present hall. He was the chairman of the Building Committee and threw all the enthusiasm of his nature into the work, making it a labor of love, and Thomas F. Bisgood, whom we have so lately borne to the silent tomb, a wise counselor, a steadfast and genial friend. These are "the dead but sceptered sovereigns who rule our spirits from their urns."
The lodge was constituted but three years before the beginning of the war of the Re- bellion. Our numbers were few, but Wam- ponamon supplied its honorable quota to the list of self-sacrificing heroes who voluntarily imperiled their lives in defense of the Union. Dr. L. D. Hall, one of the early initiates, and Drayson Fordred, another, a promising young man, were killed upon the field of battle. Sev- eral returned after having won the laurels of honorable conflict.
Among the living members who have achieved Masonic distinction may be men- tioned David A. Emory, who has found light in the East, having become a Deputy Grand Master of the Northern District of the Empire of China. He is still a resident of the Flowery Kingdom. The brother of longest official rec-
ord is Right Worshipful Elbridge G. Howard, who, in a period of twenty years, extending from 1869 to 1889, occupied the Master's sta- tion twelve times. In 1884 he was made Dep- uty Grand Master for this district.
There have been memorable occasions in our history which can only be alluded to here, as matters of record. Conspicuous among these are the public installation, given in December, 1884, and previous to this, in the same eventful year, the entertainment of July 8th, and the dedication of the lodge, November 24th. The commemoration of the emancipation from debt of the order in the State was duly observed April 24, 1889, and the celebration of the one thousandth communication of the lodge on May 2, 1895, was a jubilee of fraternal interest transcendent in our annals. In this festivity Peconic Lodge, of Greenport, joined with us in a body. The whole membership of Wam- ponamon Lodge since the beginning numbers two hundred and ninety-four. There are now living, and in good standing, one hundred and twenty Master Masons, who have traveled the same road and are bound by the same ties of brotherhood.
May the mystic bond never be loosened. Fresh as the green sward upon the promon- tory whose name it bears, may the memory of our lodge forever be ; bright as the beacon light from its headlands, which bids God-speed to the parting traveler ; glad as its beckoning rays that cheer the homeward bound, may its future ever shine. Long live Wamponamon! Esto perpetua !
In 1808 a lodge was warranted at New- town, which seems to have flourished about a decade and then passed away. It was. one of the lodges which, in the panic of 1814. worked a couple of days on the Brooklyn forti- fications, but that is about the only glimpse of it which we get. Then, so far as can be learned, Hohenlinden Lodge, No. 338, organ- ized in 1821, and still extant, and Naval Lodge, No. 391, warranted in 1826, but which almost on receipt of its charter abandoned it, were
657
FREEMASONRY ON LONG ISLAND.
the other lodges instituted on Long Island prior to the outbreak of the Morgan contro- versy, which played such havoc with Free- masonry all over the North American conti- nent, compelled hundreds of lodges and chap- ters to pass out of existence, raised up a powerful if short-lived, political party, at- tempted to seat a President in the White House and almost brought about the complete annihilation of the Masonic fraternity.
From that persecution the craft slowly re- covered and in time was restored to its old strength. Long Island felt the change, al- though it was not until about 1852 that the upward movement still going on may be said to have fairly begun. In that year the whole of Long Island was united with Staten Isl- and and several Hudson River counties into the First Masonic District. In 1859 Long Island was divided, Kings county being placed in the Third Masonic District and Suffolk and Queens in the Fourth. In 1868 Kings
county itself was made the Fourth Dis- trict and in 1873 it was divided. Frequent changes, as a natural result of the wonderful progress made by the fraternity, finally re- sulted in Long Island being divided into three districts-the first three on the roll of the Grand Lodge-and that arrangement seems destined to endure. According to the latest official returns there are now on Long Island about fourteen thousand members of the fra- ternity and seventy-six lodges. In addition there are a great many members of the fra- ternity residing in Kings county and in Queens borough who are members of lodges meeting on Manhattan Island. Taking that into ac- count it is safe to estimate the entire mem- bership of the craft on Long Island at nearly twenty thousand.
The three districts into which Long Island has been divided are made up according to the following official tables :
MASONIC DISTRICT No. 1 (SUFFOLK, NASSAU AND QUEENS).
No.
Lodges
Location
Master
Secretary
Number of Master Masons
60, Suffolk.
Port Jefferson
Geo. W. Rowland.
Thomas H. Saxton ...
117
63 Morton
Hempstead.
Walter N. DeNyse.
George W. Terry.
1556
349 Peconic.
Greenport.
Edwin D. Tuthill
Lewelen F. Terry.
150
437 |Wamponamon
Sag Harbor
Arthur T. Brown.
Thomas W. Lister.
136
193 South Side
Patchogue.
Samuel T. Ferguson
Lemuel B. Green.
175
494 Jephtha
Huntington
Charles H. Walters
Edgar P. Bunce.
94
546 Jamaica.
Jamaica.
Frank E. Hopkins
Fred J. Moore
145
563 Cornucopia
Flushing
Sanford S. Gowdey.
L. Sidney Valentine. . .
186
580 Glen Cove
Glen Cove. .
R. Frank Bowne.
Charles J. Baldwin ...
110
586 Island City
Long Island City.
Frank E. Haff.
J. Robert Laws. .
1558
635 Advauce
Astoria, L. I. City
James Grayson
Henry D. Ing.
97
645 Riverhead.
Riverhead.
Usher B. Howell
George T. Reeve.
181
691 Meridian.
Islip.
Matthew I. Hunt.
Harry P. Haff ..
106
695 Alcyone
Northport
Henry H. Van Dyck
Wm. A. Strawson ....
106
729 Anchor
College Point.
Henry I. Delemain.
Henry L. Partenfelder
50
738 Mizpah
Elmhurst.
Henry Shilson.
Abel Powell ..
109
793 Babylon
Babylon.
Charles Searle
Simon W. Cooper.
81
806 Matinecock.
. Oyster Bay.
Theodore A. Swan.
Walter Franklin.
104
808, Olympia
Far Rockaway
Sanford J. Ellsworth ..
Harry G. Heyson
122
822 Massapequa
Rockville Center.
William H. Holdsworth ..
William J. Carr.
82
Total.
2.468
42
658
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.
MASONIC DISTRICT No. 2 (KINGS COUNTY).
No.
Lodges
Location
Master
Secretary
Number of Master Masons
188 Marsh
1252 Bedford Ave .
Alfred E. Everdell
Henry Hahn.
168
205 Hyatt.
Bedford Ave. & Madison St Lawrence Coffin.
Charles F. Lamy.
2.5.4
284 Baltic.
1252 Bedford Ave ..
Wm. H. Woodcock
Herman Ranken
157
354 Progressive.
Gates & Nostrand Aves. . .
Herbert J. Knapp.
Charles E. Marr.
114
367 Corner Stone.
Grand & Havemeyer Sts. . Charles W. Labdon
Charles W. Carpenter.
359
403 Greenpoint.
Manhattan & Meserole Aves
Edgar H. Hazlewood.
Robert F. Quaille.
302
430 Star of Hope.
Broadway & Boerum St ..
Henry Berau, Jr.
Edward L. Walter ..
269
445 Cassia .
Charles Doman
Frank H. Sawtelle.
226
446 Oltmans
Louis Keller.
John J. Wolf.
185
453 Clinton
Gates & Nostrand Aves .. .
Amos J. Nimmo
Charles B. Valentine. .
224
46] Yew Tree.
1032 Gates Ave.
Ira O. Tracy.
John Watkins.
75
540 Hill Grove.
1252 Bedford Ave.
David F. Moore
W. M. Robinson.
203
618 Tyrian.
Liberty & Wyona Aves
Henry Kahlert.
Fred W. Hancock.
201
656 Euclid .
1030 Gates Ave.
Nathan S. Jones.
Revillo Wells. .
195
678 Seawanhaka
Manhattan & Meserole Aves Chauncey M. Bennett.
Franklin H. Giblett.
140
704 Tuscan ..
1252 Bedford Ave. .
Joseph Marfing.
Christian Sipp.
142
709 Merchants'
Graham Ave. & Broadway
Bernard A. Matschke
Adam Maue ..
161
710 Ridgewood
1030 Gates Ave
Harry H. Gould.
Peter Van Cott.
256
769 Anthon
897 Gates Ave.
Henry H. Celler.
William B. Maas.
126
776 Reliance
Manhattan & Meserole Aves Frank E. Krueger
James H. Merklee
139
817 Sterling . Reid & Gates Aves.
Abram J. Piddian
Alfred L. Cowles.
73
825| Kilwinning
1252 Bedford Ave
Alexander S. Cook
Thomas J. Scott.
102
Total
4,326
MASONIC DISTRICT No. 3 (KINGS COUNTY).
No.
Lodges
Location
Master
Secretary
Number of Master Masons
19 Fortitude
200 Joralemon St .
Martin Miller.
Charles R. Phillips. ...
206
56 St. Albans.
44 Schermerhorn St ..
Charles E. Lane.
Edward J. Salisbury ..
163
137 Anglo-Saxon.
Bedford Av. & Madison St. George Freifeld.
George F. Fagan ..
260
201 Joppa.
200 Joralemon St
Samuel H. Holmes
William H. Riley ..
346
2st Montauk
153 Pierrepont St.
Wm. F. Campbell
Edward P. Thomas.
212
258 Brooklyn.
14 Schermerhorn St.
William F. Wenisch
Alex. Thomson.
207
310 Lexington
153 Pierrepont St
Andrew G. Cooper.
Charles L. Staton
162
322 Star of Bethlehem.
200 Joralemon St
J. Joseph Rossbottom
John C. Mullins
105
361 Central .
Arthur S. Willdigg
J. H. Burley
108
382 Long Island.
153 Pierrepont St.
Valentine Zahn.
Charles L. Clark.
190
409 Commonwealth
Samuel Crook
E. J. Campbell.
515
451 Delta .
200 Joralemon St .
Ira M. Cornwall.
Edwin Schofield.
131
483 Zeredatha.
44 Schermerhorn St.
Chas. Friedenberg, Jr.
William M. Rome ....
252
485 Stella .
14 Nevins St
John H. K. Green
Alfred B. Montgomery
197
511 Kings County.
824 Flatbush Ave.
David Morris Kurtz.
T. Morris Terry.
152
536 Nassau. .
200 Joralemon St .
James Divisich ..
Wm. A. Dwinell.
106
569 Greenwood
7th Ave. & 9tb St.
John D. Goodwin.
John Miller ..
192
574 Bedford
Bedford Av. & Madison St. George H. Packer.
Geo. F. Churchill.
177
535 Cosmopolitan
315 Washington St.
Edward W. Reynolds.
Alfred W. Sloggatt ..
153
647 Mistletoe.
153 Pierrepont St.
Richard E. Shaw
Thos. G. Singleton
1.36
662 Cambridge
200 Joralemon St.
James F. Weales.
John K. Van Sise.
107
717 Orion. .
14 Nevins St.
Alexander Gardner
Charles Delapierre
238
719 Acanthus.
Bedford Av. & Madison St. H. Grant Buswell
William Bower.
339
732 Ezel.
153 Pierrepont St.
James A. Doyle.
Joseph Williams.
136
747 Sanctorum
Union & Court Sts.
Nathan Solomon
Henry Maginness
149
756 Aurora Grata
Bedford Av. & Madison St. Edgar P. Rice
William H. Clark.
156
759 Covenant
44 Schermerhorn St.
John Keating
Edgar D. Davis ..
125
792 Minerva
7th Ave. & 9th St.
Samuel Smith
John T. Whitehead.
225
798 Day Star.
3d Ave. & 54th St.
James Bower, Jr.
James Bower.
177
803 Kedron
Bath Beach.
Allan McLain Rodgers.
. |Josiah W. Perkins.
159
Total.
6,337
. .
Henry Edebohls.
181
638 Crystal Wave
315 Washington St.
Franklin J. Spaulding.
640, Adytum
44 Schermerhorn St.
Edward O' Neil, Jr.
R. W. Gunzenhauser.
157
601 Altair.
Bedford Av. & Madison St. Rufus L. Scott, Jr.
Albert C. Aubrey .
198
636 Manual
Gates & Nostrand Aves.
George E. England.
William Miller.
659
FREEMASONRY ON LONG ISLAND.
About the date of this writing there is a movement on foot looking to the erection of a Masonic Hall in Brooklyn. That there is need of such a structure is apparent to every one; and that the brethren in the borough are numerous enough, wealthy enough and in- fluential enough to make such a movement successful if it is proceeded with, there is no doubt. Yet there are so many things to be considered that a natural conservatism is ap- parent about actually beginning the work. At the same time an option on a site has been secured, quite a large sum has been pledged and an outline architectural scheme has been prepared and so the matter rests, awaiting developments. In the meanwhile, as may be seen from the statistical tables already given, the Brooklyn lodges, as well as the chapters and commanderies, meet in apartments and halls scattered all over the borough. What night be called the headquarters of the fra- ternity is the structure known as the Aurora Grata Cathedral, the local home of the Scot- tish Rite bodies, the Mystic Shrine of many lodges and of the Aurora Grata Club, the lead- ing Masonic social organization of the bor- ough. The Aurora Grata Club was organized in 1887, and has some four hundred members, all connected with the Masonic fraternity. The building it occupies was formerly the parson- age of the Bedford Dutch Reformed Church, and is a comfortable, roomy structure, but the good old dominies of that closely Calvinistic body would hold up their hands in pious horror could they see the improvements and changes which the Masonic brethren have introduced. Even what used to be the holy man's study- his sanctum sanctorum-is almost nightly-in season, of course-given over to merry par- ties; and there are bowling alleys, billiard tables, a reading room and all other accessories of an up-to-date social club. Adjoining the house occupied by the Aurora Grata Club is the cathedral of the same name-the old Re- formed Dutch Church-now adapted for Scot- tish Rite and other Masonic purposes. The Brooklyn Veterans' Association meets in the
basement, and in one corner is their library, a small but wonderfully useful and well se- lected collection of books. The building it- self has seen its best days and the wind on a stormy night seems to have free access to the several apartments. A modern Masonic tem- ple is certainly needed in Brooklyn. The Brooklyn Masonic Veterans' Association is one of the best and grandest developments of the social side of Freemasonry of which we have knowledge. All members must have be- longed to the fraternity for at least twenty- five years and all are therefore men who have passed at least into mid-life, but the organi- zation's motto, "The best of life is yet to come," shows how they face the setting sun siowly sinking in the west. The Veterans' annual dinners are possibly the jolliest "func- tions" of their kind which we know. They combine a splendid bill of fare, splendid sing- ing and some of the best after-dinner oratory heard in Brooklyn. They are generally at- tended by the most active Masons in Brooklyn, as witness the following partial list of those at the gathering of 1901 :
Josephus L. Wood, president of the Brook- lyn Masonic Veterans ; Henry A. Powell, A. H. Nichols, E. W. Mascord, John W. Rich- ardson, James T. Burdick, Jolın H. Visscher, Richard E. Shaw, C. K. G. Visscher, Sidney L. Rowland, Charles F. Bloom, Claudius F. Beatty, Andrew B. Martin, Joseph H. Cum- min, Dr. James T. Terhune, Frederick L. Jenkins, C. W. Hubbell, Rufus L. Scott, John S. Mowry, Edward A. Dubey, R. Van Val- kenburgh, Joseph C. Abell, W. T. Rams- botham, Commodore Edward Hooker. William Van Sise, Charles A. Shaw, J. K. Van Sise, Frank Mapes, J. Carlisle London, John W. Palmer, John T. Palmer, J. Fred Marble, Lee C. Moore, Augustus C. Tate, John W. Mott, L. E. Nicholson, Charles W. Held, George IV. Foote, Frank E. Wilson, Dr. J. J. Terhune, WV. O. Cloges, Stephen W. T. Tennant, J. Har- ris Balston, Wilmon Whilldin, Howard W. Ennis, George W. Arnold, Abram H. Dailey, Robert Rogers, James A. Babcock, The-
660
HISTORY OF LONG ISLAND.
ophilus; Pratt, Herman Canter, Thomas Heil- son, William E. Stein, Lawrence MacNaugh- ton, Charles S. Buell, D. G. Griffiths, Daniel J. Morrison, W. H. Armstrong, Theodore Thieler, John Cuthbert, W. J. Smith, Charles W. Hayes, W. Westlake, C. O. Cowtan, Jo- seph W. Ray, David S. Bruen, Obediah Harned, Thomas W. Corrigan, William P. Christmas, William H. Johnson, Gustavus C. Weber, John C. Waldron, James D. Wright, W: . A. · Mathies, F. Frederick Lenhart, Al- fred Sims, W. J. Allen, Augustus W. Boerner, Joseph H. Loomis, W. A. Campbell, Eli R. Denniston; J. W. Smith, A. E. Leach, Louis Nathan, Rudolph R. Bennett, Isaac Hicks, James E. Martin, G. B. Martin, J. R. Bennett, J. M. Kerrigan, L. A. Lewis, J. T. Ross, Harry T. Cook, J. W. Hawkes, W. H. Jarn- ton, John K. Torfts, James Divisch, Charles Christmas, James L. Waldon, J. G. Ramee, Dr. W. T. Millington, E. L. Spike, T. M. Goddard, Charles Goddard, D. M. Meninger, I. Dunn, Colo Venoni, Isaac S. Waters, Edwin Selvage, Judah Moses, James Parsons, James Macbeth, W. H. Steers, S. Wasserman, Sam- uel Steinbrink, Washington Irving Comes, William M. Clark, G. Turner, J. W. Stopford, H. Mckeon, B. A. Levett, H. A. Aechtemacht, Almet R. Latson, H. G. Buswell, A. E. Bieder- man, George W. Wilson, John W. Carme, George W. Brown, James A. Byxbee, William L. Burke, William Burns, Henry Scheele, Herman Pietsch, M. L. Mann, George W. Cook, G. Greve, C. F. Graves, William Chevi- ton, Charles Schabaker, William H. Phillips, George S. Patton, Joseph M. Cord, Robert E. A. L. Estrange, H. T. Giberson, John Fleming Duncan, Walter MacBain, Charles G. Smith, Elmer E. Cain, William Clowninzer, James Sinn, Dr. W. H. Clowninzer, Henry A. Phil- lips, Henry E. Tuthill, Burton M. Balsh and Thomas G. Singleton.
At the dinner of 1893 addresses were de- livered by three prominent citizens of Brook- lyn-William Sherer, chairman of the New York Clearing House; "Deacon" William Richardson and Mr. St. Clair McKelway, of
the Brooklyn Eagle. These addresses are so elevated in tone and so full of interest to the general reader that we are tempted to reprint them here :
Brother William Sherer responded to the toast of the Grand Lodge, saying: "I am here to-night for the purpose of partaking of this banquet and do what I can to extend the brotherly feeling in Brooklyn. It was my as- signment, I believe, to speak for another Grand Body, the 'Grand. Chapter.' I loaded myself with sufficient ammunition, I thought, to do execution in that direction ; I come here and find that owing to the absence of our Grand Master I am called upon to fill in space- to be occupied by either of those gentlemen, so that much abused institution, the Grand Lodge of the State of New York, that has suffered so often at my hands, is again to be a victim to-night. Brethren, you know the story of the Grand Lodge, now one hundred and twelve years old, representing the constit- uencies of seven hundred and fifty lodges formed with us. You know the purpose for which this annual assemblage of Masons is held. You know every lodge in this State, no matter how small or how large, is afforded equal representation in your own Grand Lodge, and you know the voice of the repre- sentative of the most humble New York body receives as much attention as though he came from the most desirable one in the State, and for harmony, dignity and justice of ruling the Grand Lodge of the State of New York sets an example that the several Houses of Congress and State Legislature may well fol- low. And it is this fact that will, in years to come, as it has in years that have passed, be of great importance to the fraternity in this State, and when you come to think that this Grand Body, without danger and without con- fusion, represents a grand feeling of brother- hood extending amongst more than one hun- dred thousand men, then you see the force that there is in that body. Representatives of more than one hundred thousand men are there to legislate, for what? In the interest of
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