USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 1 > Part 21
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Active lodge work began with the commencement of the new year, John D. Vanderheyden being the first initiate. The secretary reported a membership of forty-two to the Grand lodge in June, 1798. The earliest record of death in the lodge was that of Dr. Samuel Gale, Jan- uary 9, 1799. Ile was buried with the honors of Masonry.
During the winter of 1799 the lodge removed to the inn owned by
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Jonas Morgan at the southeast corner of Third and Elbow (now Fulton) streets, where they were located until February, 1824, when, having obtained a ten year lease of rooms on the fourth floor of the Troy House, they were provided with more convenient quarters. It was in this building that the lodge continued to hold meetings during the anti- Masonie agitation. At the great fire of June 20, 1820, the record book and many valuable papers of the lodge were lost, they being in posses- sion of Henry Stockwell, the secretary.
The lodge took part in the public reception given La Fayette and suite by the citizens of Troy in 1824. In January, 1835, rooms in the Mansion House were leased and one year later they took possession of the rooms, No. 1 Washington square, formerly occupied by the Troy Citizens Corps. The anti-Masonie excitement then having subsided, Free Masonry experienced a revival; the lodge, chapter and encamp- ment were receiving additions to their ranks, which necessitated a re. moval to the Preseott building, 279 River street, in March, 1843. In December, 1853, they again removed and occupied the rooms in the Mutual Bank building, corner of First and State streets, until the com- pletion of the present Masonic Temple, which was dedicated April 2. 1872. This elegant structure was erected and is owned by the Masonic fraternity of Troy. When completed and furnished it cost nearly $100,000. At the renumbering of the lodges in the State in 1839 Apollo was renumbered 13.
Apollo lodge was the third regularly organized society in Troy, and during its long and prosperous career has been closely identified with the interests of Troy. Among its members were many distinguished citizens whose services and means were generously bestowed in pro- moting and sustaining its various enterprises and public institutions. For many years the lodge contributed to the maintenance of the schools and from 1809 until 1846 was an annual contributor to the Troy library.
Its Masonie record is second to none in the Empire State. One of her most distinguished members, the Ilon. John D. Willard, was for several years grand master of the Grand lodge of this State and retired with a brilliant record. The lodge is now rounding the century mark of its existence with a membership of six hundred good and true crafts- men who are justly proud of the achievements of Apollo lodge No. 13.
In 1873 the lodge started a fund to be used to meet the expenses of the proper observance of its centennial in 1896, the plan being to set
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aside one dollar of each initiation fee for the centennial fund. In De- cember, 1822, the treasurer reported that all the outstanding bonds against the lodge had been paid, that the lodge was out of debt and that it owned $16,000 of stock of the Troy Masonic Hall association. The date fixed for the celebration of the centennial of the lodge is Sep- tember 22, 1896.
Of the twenty three charter members of King Solomon's Primitive lodge, thirteen were originally members of Apollo lodge, which united with the applicants for a charter for the new lodge in asking the Grand lodge to grant the petition. The new lodge received its charter June 4, 1842, and its first meeting under that instrument was held in St. John's hall June 30 of that year. The charter members were Nathaniel T. Woodruff, Horace K. Smith, L. McChesney, Caleb Wright, Joseph A. Wood, A. J. Rousseau, Samuel G. Huntington, John S. Perry, John Conkey, Edward Chapin, George R. Davis, Archibald Bull, Richard S. Bryan, John B. Colegrove, Ebenezer Prescott, Oliver Boutwell, Henry W. Holton, Franklin Belcher, George H. Bull, John Blass, Benjamin Cheney, Richard Bloss and Nathan Taylor. The officers named in the charter were: W. M., Achille J. Rousseau; S. W., John S. Perry; J. W., Joseph A. Wood. The following were the first offi- cers appointed by the lodge: Treasurer, Samuel G. Huntington; secre- tary, George 11. Bull; senior deacon, Nathaniel T. Woodruff; junior deacon, Horace K. Smith; masters of ceremonies, George R. Davis, William Perkins; stewards, John B. Colegrove, Benjamin Cheney. July 31, 1850, the lodge held exercises commemorative of the death of General Zachary Taylor, which included the erection, in the Third street Baptist cemetery, of an urn to the memory of the deceased president and warrior. Masons were in attendance from many sections of the State and the proceedings were very imposing. December 27, 1853, the lodge participated in the ceremony of dedicating St. John's hall. February 23, 1871, it subscribed for 560 shares of stock of the Troy Masonic hall association, valued at $14,000. August 2 of the same year it participated in the ceremony of laying the corner stone of the temple. The committee from King Solomon's lodge having a part in making the arrangements for this great event was composed of Frank A. Andros, William R. Hyde and Thomas Caldwell. The committee representing King Solomon's lodge on the general committee on ways and means, composed of representatives of all the Masonic bodies in Troy, formed to raise $20,000 to pay the floating debt on the hall,
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was composed of William Kemp, J. Crawford Green and George B. Smith. An account of these ceremonies will be found in another part of this chapter. The lodge leased rooms in the new temple February 8, 1822, at an annual rental of $360, and held its first meeting there April 4. At the meeting held February 8 the Masonic Board of Relief was reorganized and Alexander B. King, Jesse B. Anthony and Charles W. Peoble were elected to represent the lodge on the board. At the dedieation of the new temple April 2, 1842, described elsewhere, King Solomon's lodge took a prominent part. Its delegation in the com- mittee of arrangements consisted of Alexander B. King, Jesse B. Anthony and Charles W. Peoble.
King Solomon's lodge was highly honored June 3, 1880, when Brother Jesse B. Anthony was elected, by acclamation, to the exalted office of M. W. grand master of the Grand lodge of the State of New York, then in session in New York city. September 26, 1881, the lodge participated in memorial funeral ceremonies over James A. Garfield, president of the United States, which were held in Beman park. October 26, 1886, the lodge sent a check for $2, 109.70 to Grand Master Frank R. Lawrence, as payment of its proportionate share in the indebtedness on account of the New York Masonic Hall and Asylum fund. April 24, 1889, the lodge celebrated the release of the hall and asylum from debt, when addresses were made by Jesse B. Anthony and Rev. J. W. Thomson of Greenwich, N. Y.
The semi-centennial of the lodge was appropriately celebrated Octo- ber 6, 1892. Addresses were delivered by W. Joseph A. Leggett, mas- ter; M. W. Jesse B. Anthony and M. W. James Ten Eyck. In his re- sume of the work of the lodge for the half century Bro. Anthony stated that the total number of petitions received had been 1,184, of which 846 were accepted. The gains were as follows: Charter members, 23; raised, 797; affiliations, 156; restorations, 48; total, 1,024. The losses had been : Deaths, 165; demitted and withdrawn, 191; unaffiliated for non-payment of dues, 226; suspended and expelled, 8; total, 590; leav- ing the membership at that time 434, besides six available entered apprentices. At the banquet which followed there were over 300 brethren and guests. W. Bro. Joseph A. Leggett presided, and toasts were responded to by M. W. James Ten Eyck, grand master; W. Bro. Gilbert Geer, jr., senior past master: W. Bro. Alexander B. King, past master; W. Bro. Charles W. Peoble, W. Bro. Frank A. Andros, W. Bro. Charles M. Austin, W. Bro. Frank M. Fales, W. Bro. Frank C.
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Hartwell, R. W. Solomon Strasser, grand steward of the Grand lodge and past master of Mount Vernon lodge of Albany; and M. W. Jesse B. Anthony.
Mt. Zion Lodge, No. 311, F. & A. M., was chartered June 13, 5853, and instituted July 11, 5853, with the following charter members: John S. Perry, P. L. Jones, John C. House, A. Fisher, De Witt C. Cram, S. C. Dermott, Reed B. Bontecou, Timothy Mann, William E. Potter, Leonard Haight, W. A. Tomlinson, L. Van Valkenburgh, Elias Ross, R. W. Kenyon, John B. Colgrove, James S. Keeler, John Price, Wal- ter J. Seymour, William P. Seymour, Walter L. Kipp, John Oliver, Russell Sage, Samuel Dascam, jr., George L. Garlick, O. A. Arnold, E. IT. Virgil, Marcus Ball, H. V. Barringer, George Bontecou, Amery Felton, II. S. Benediet, R. I. Moc, Jacob Young, George S. Kenyon, Burrows Cure, George T. Blair, Alanson Cook, Job S. Olin, A. B. Moore, J. A. Pullin and II. P. Filer. The first officers elected were: W. M., J. S. Perry; S. W., J. S. Keeler; J. W., R. W. Kenyon; secretary, P. L. Jones; treasurer, E. 11. Virgil; S. D., D. W. C. Cram; J. D., W. J. Seymour. The lodge held its first meeting in the Masonic Temple on River street, moving from there in December, 1853, to the temple on State street, thence to the present Masonic Temple ou Third street. Of the past masters living, all still active members of the lodge, there are the following: II. M. Heller, 1868-'69-70; Fred A. Plum, 1871; Julius R. Pettis, 1874-'75; James Knibbs, 1876-'88-'89; Charles R. Hicks, 1879; David M. Rankin, 1880; E. W. Wood, 1881; J. R. Tor- rance, 1882; Arthur MacArthur, 1883; John II. Tappin, 1881; Charles E. Wilson, 1885; G. A. Van Burgan, 1886; N. L. Hull, 1891; Charles 11. Anthony, 1892 93; Robert W. Potter, 1891 '95; Perry J Heinck, 1896. Mount Zion lodge has participated in all the notable Masonic events in this locality since its institution.
The first Masonic lodge in Lansingburgh was instituted in 1787 un- der the name of Hiram lodge No. 35. It went out of existence in 1810. For twelve years thereafter there was no Masonic lodge in Lansing- burgh. In 1822 a dispensation for a new lodge was granted Brothers Benjamin W. Horr, Chauncey Ives, Nathan Morey, A'van Hawley, Samuel H. Mulford, Samuel S. Bingham, David Reading, Ephraim Goss, B. B. Stearns and Jonathan Choat, and September 26 of the same year the first meeting was held under this dispensation. At the annual communication of the Grand lodge in 1823 a warrant was issued to the lodge under the name of Phoenix lodge No. 361, bearing date of June
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23, 1823. January 6, 1836, the charter was surrendered, and the lodge was reorganized June 14, 1838, under the name of Phoenix lodge No. 58. Since that time the lodge has prospered. The whole number who have been members of the lodge up to the summer of 1896 sinee organ- ization is 543, of whom 143 are still members in good standing. The masters of Phoenix lodge have been :
Benjamin W. Ilorr, 1822-23-24; Ephraim Goss, 1895-26-97; Alexander McCall, 1828-29 -30-31-'32; Samuel S. Bingham, 1833-'34-'38-'39-40-'11; A. L. Lansing, 1835; Daniel King, 1812-43- 14 -49-'50-51-'53; A. Whipple, 1845; N. Weaver, 1816-'55; James M. Austin, 1847-48; D. N. Van Pelt, 1852; John Gilmore, 1854; A. G. Mitchell, 1856-'57; J. 11. Weaver, 1858; Wilham J. Newman, 1859; Samuel King, 1860-61; Charles Weaver, 1862; Alexander King, 1863; Engene Hyatt, 1861-'65; Charles S. Holmes, 1866-'67; Charles W. Derrick, 1868; D. P. Chesbrough, 1869; E. A. Skillman, 1870 -71 19 80; R. A. Derrick, 1872 1878; E. A. Van Pelt, 1871- '81; John R. Engle, 1875; Charles E. Derrick, 1876; P. A. Brewster, 1877 '78; James Gillespie, 1882; R. B. Stiles, 1883-84; F. W. Esmond, 1885-'86; 1. W. Abbott, 1887; G. 1I. Davey, 1888 '89; John Giles, 1890; P. R. Chapman, 1891 ; C. J. Barker, 1892-'93; W. 11. Derrick. 1891 '95; A. C. Rousseau, 1896.
Jerusalem lodge, No. 355, F. & A. M., of Lansingburgh, held its first communication in the rooms of Rising Sun lodge, I. O. O. F., November 18, 1854, acting under a dispensation granted by the Grand lodge, signed by Joseph D. Evans, grand master, and James M. Austin, grand secretary. The following were the charter members: R. J. Ojers and Daniel Sweeny of Apollo lodge, John Gilmore, B. G Hath- away, N. P. Jones, John B. Leke, C. V. W. Burton, A. G. Mitchell, Alfred Shumway, A. D. Wallace and James Vincent of Phoenix lodge The first officers were elected and installed December 14, 1851, as follows: John Gilmore, W. M .; B. G. Hathaway, S. W. ; N. P. Jones, J. W: Daniel Sweeny, treasurer; R. J. Ojers, secretary; James Vin- cent, S. D. ; Alfred Shumway, J. D. ; John B. Leke, tiler. During the forty two years of the existence of the lodge 384 have received Masonic light and knowledge within its walls, some of whom have gained prom- inence both on the battlefield and in the halls of our legislature. At present there are 147 members on the roll, and 120 have died. The masters of Jerusalem lodge have been :
John Gilmore, 1854 and '55; B. G. Hathaway, 1856 and '58; Alfred Shumway, 1857 and '60; Charles Lapham, 3859; Stephen Lavender, 1861; Daniel Ferguson, 1869; Felix Fountain, 1863 and '64; John B. Leke, 1865 and '66; William 11. Shum- way. 1967; Edward Burlingame, 1868; E. J. Evans, 1869, Lee Chamberlin, 1800; J. G. Neal, 1877 and '72; John M. Chambers, 1873, 99, '80 and'S1 ; James M. Snyder, 1874 and '75; George E. Shumway, 1-10; D. C. Sippell, 1877 and '78; John F. Smith,
MASONRY IN RENSSELAER COUNTY. 191
1882 and '84; Adolph Roberts, 1883 and '94; L. G. Flack, 1885 and 'S6; William Gil- more, 1887, '88 and '93; John 11. Franklin, 1889 and '90; William N Smyth, 1891 and '92; Edward W. Wolf, 1895 and '96.
Greenbush lodge, No. 337, F. & A. M., of Greenbush, was instituted February 20, 1854, with nine members, viz. : Norman D. Andrews, master; John C. Roy, S. W .; Martin Miller, J. W. ; Francis C. Tucker, treasurer; John Dunbar, secretary; Edwin F. Lewis, S. D. ; E. Henry Ford, J. D. ; William Townsend, tiler, and Nathaniel P. Layton. The lodge was chartered June 7, 1854, with the following charter members in addition to the above named: John W. Dyer, Thomas R. Mather, Oliver Herbert, Stephen V. R. Goodrich and Charles M. Traver. In December, 1860, James H1. Miller was elected treasurer and has con- tinued in that office to the present time, The masters in the order of their election have been :
Norman D. Andrews, Martin Miller, Thomas R. Mather, Job A. Estabrook, Charles Melius, Frederick S. Fairchild, William 11. Wallace, William 11. Lewis, John S. Hamlin, John G. Cooper, Wilson A. Orentt, Luke Slade, E. C. Crocker, George 11. Russell, Alfred 1 Crandall, George M. Lowrie, Charles C. King, Thomas B. Pur- ves, jr., Stephen Taylor, J. P. Barr, Peter G. Rockefeller, Thomas Penney, T. Al- mern Griffin and James I. Miles, with Charles A. Belden and C. S. Wheeler, mem- bers of this lodge but past masters of other lodges.
The life members of Greenbush lodge are:
E. Henry Ford, Griswold Denison, Garrett M. Van O'Linda, James II. Miller, William Seaton, Charles Melins, William 11. Lewis, Sewall W. Craig, Henry L. Janss, Robert J. White, James A. Morris, William 11. Collins, Robert C. Blackall, Albert P. Traver, Stephen Williams, George Il. Harden, John 12 Dyer, George 'T. Diamond, E. C. Crocker and Jeremiah Fouler.
The lodge was incorporated October 16, 1891, and has had 225 mem- bers up to June, 1896.
Van Rensselaer Lodge, No. 400, F. & A. M., of Hoosick Falls is the offspring of Federal lodge No. 33, and has kept alive its memories and preserved its records. In 1856 Hezekiah Munsell, jr., Seneca Dorr and David Ball, who were members of Federal lodge No. 33 at the time its warrant was forfeited, with Charles Grover, Sidney Smith, Edwin Corbin, Samuel Crosbee and Robert Lord, obtained a dispensation to open and hold a lodge at Hoosick Falls. The first meeting was held under this dispensation February 26, 1856. The officers named in the dispensation were Charles Grover, master; Samuel Crosbee, senior warden; David Ball, junior warden. A. C. Parsons, M. F. White, Charles Byers, William M Cranston and J. L. Crosbee were initiated at
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the first meeting of the lodge, and A. C. Parsons and Charles Byers were the first to receive the third degree. The lodge was known as Hoosiek lodge, U. D., until July 1, 1856, when a warrant was granted it under name of Van Rensselaer lodge, No. 100. August 21, 1856, an emergent Grand lodge was organized by R. W. John S. Perry, D. D. G. M., when the new lodge was constituted and its officers installed in ample form. The lodge held its meetings in the old Phoenix hotel un- til it was destroyed by fire in 1876. In the summer of that year it made arrangements with Hon. Walter A. Wood which resulted in the lease of the present lodge room for a term of years. The membership of the lodge sinee has steadily increased and at present excels in good standing any secret organization in the town of Hoosick. During the latter part of the year 1856 W. Charles Grover, who was first master of the lodge, moved away from Hoosick Falls and at the first annual meet- ing in December of that year, W. Bro. W. M. Cranston was chosen mas- ter and served from 1857 to 1858 The following have been masters of the lodge since then :
John L. Crosbee, 1859 -1860; Marshall F. White, 1861- 1866; John G. Darroch, 1867 1870; James Waddell, 1271-1872; J. Leavitt Lambert, 1973-1874; Isaac A. Allen, 1875- 1876; M. V. B. Peters, 1817-1878; James W. Allen, 1879-1880; Warren F. Peters, 1881-1852; James M. Carpenter, 1883-1881; Jamies E. Estabrook, 1885-1586; James A. Beckett, 1855-1888; George D. Edmans, 1889 -1890; P. McKearin, 1891- 1892; James G. Byers, jr., 1893- 1891; M. J. Early, 1895- -
A memorable occasion in the history of the lodge was the celebration of the 100th anniversary of Free Masonry in Rensselaer county August 16, 1887. The lodge has at present about 120 members.
Homer lodge, No. 76, F. & A. M., was the first Masonic lodge in Schaghticoke. It was organized June 3, 1799, the charter being signed by John Adams, grand secretary, which authorized Josiah Masters to act as master, Jantes S. Masters as senior warden and Jamies Mallory as junior warden. The officers were installed by a delegation from Troy. The lodge met for some time in a building which was south of the Presbyterian parsonage, where the residence of James E. Pinkham now stands, and was destroyed by fire in 1867. In 1824 the Masons offered to put in an attie story in the old Schaghticcke house at their own expense, which they were allowed to do. The lodge held meet- ings there until 1817, when it forfeited its charter.
November 13, 1866, Victor lodge, F. & A. M., was organized in Schaghticoke, the first officers being: W. H. Steele, W. M .; George
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WV. French, S. W. ; Charles A. Pickett, J. W .; John A. Baucus, treas- urer; and Chauncey B. Slocum, corresponding seeretary. This lodge held meetings in the old lodge rooms until the big fire which occurred Friday, September 3, 1880, when the records and paraphernalia were destroyed. This fire destroyed the Schaghticoke honse, Barker's Opera house, and the residences of Mrs. J. D. Richard and Morgan Congdon. Shortly after this the present rooms in the Congdon block were rented and taken possession of September 4 of the same year. Preparations were begin for a thorough renovation of the rooms, the purchase of new furniture and many other improvements. The lodge is in a flourishing condition, its present membership being 114. The records of the lodge up to the year 1880 were burned September 1, 1880. The masters of the lodge sinee that time have been: 1880-1882, George W. Finch; 1883, R. C. Gunner; 1884, George B. Burton; 1885-1888, Edward Burlingame; 1889-1891, George W. Fineh; 1892-1893, Ed. ward Buchanan; 1894-1896, E. Newton Beale.
Sunnyside lodge, No. 431, F. & A. M., of Castleton, is a branch of the old Sehodack Union No. 87 and was organized December 17, 1872. Through the efforts of Franklin P. Harder, Charles Van Buren, Henry Vandenburgh and several others the Masonic spark which had existed in the village for some time was blown into a flame. A meeting was held on the night of December 17, 1872, and the lodge was instituted by Jesse B. Anthony of Troy. The charter members were John D. Smith, John W. MeKnight, Frederick Hill, Franklin P. Harder, Charles Van Buren, Henry Vandenburgh, Charles HI. Smith and George Fisher. At the meeting the following officers were chosen: Franklin 1. Harder, W M .; Charles Van Buren, S. W. ; John D. Smith, J. W. : Henry Vandenburgh, treasurer; John W. MeKnight, secretary; Fred- erick Hill, S. D. ; Charles 11. Smith, J. D. ; George Fisher, tiler. From its incipiency the organization has been prosperous and at present has seventy-eight members in good standing. Regular communications of the lodge are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at the temple on River street.
'The masters of Sunnyside lodge since its organization have been :
1872-1878, F. P. Harder; 1879, Frederick Hill; 1880, John W. MeKnight; 1881, Frederick Hill; 1882, Osborne Earing; 1883, Frederick Hill; 1884, Peter G. Clark ; 1885 -1889, F. P. Harder; 1890, Wm. H. Clapper; 1891, Thomas J. Lape; 1892-1894, George Porter; 1895- - , Charles Van Buren.
Star lodge No. 670, F. and A M., is one of the pioneer lodges of this
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country, its early history dating back into Revolutionary times. At that time the lodge was formed in the town of Petersburgh and existed for a number of years. Its charter was revoked, but in a short time another was seenred. This was subsequently recalled and it was not until 1868 that the charter under which the present lodge exists was obtained. July 6, 1868, a meeting of ten prominent residents of the town was called and the lodge was instituted. The charter members were Rev. Caleb C. Bedell, IL. Moses, sr., O. D. Thurber, E. Craw- ford, G. I. Harmon, M. L. Powers, IL G. Jones, A. Manchester, S. II. Hand and L. Coon. The first officers were: W. M., C. C. Bedell; S. W., M. L. Powers; J. W., H. Moses, sr .; S. D., II. G. Jones; J. D., E. Crawford; treasurer, O. D. Thurber; secretary, G. I. Harmon; tiler, L. Coon. The present officers of the lodge are: W. M., Elmer Lam- phere; S. W., Le Grand Babcock; J. W., Byron Meithew; treasurer, Edwin Manchester; secretary, E. W. Gifford; masters of ceremonies, M. F. Stewart and Andrew Carr.
Patriot lodge No. 39, F. & A. M., existed in Pittstown in the early days of the town. Most of the records of the organization are missing. Those which have been preserved show that in 1795 James McCluing was master, Lyman Ellis secretary, Elias Randall treasurer, Herman Van Veghten S. D., Joseph Fish J. D., William Brown and James Fairbairn stewards and the Rev. Robert Campbell chaplain. Mr. Me. Clung was master until 1797. He was succeeded in 1298 by Herman Van Veghten, from 1799 to 1801 by Robert Van Tyne, in 1802 and 1803 by Andrew Brown, in 1804 and 1805 by Robert Van Tyne, and in 1806 by John Kinnicut. The lodge probably ceased to exist about this time.
The first Masonic lodge organized in the town of Schodack was the old Yates lodge, whose hall was located at the "Brick hotel" at Scho- dack Centre. This organization was effected under a dispensation granted by Governor De Witt Clinton in 1808, he being grand master of the Masonic fraternity at that time, and Christopher C. Yates, a dep- uty grand master, was empowered to organize the Schodack lodge, which received the name of Yates lodge of Ancient York Masons. The charter members were John Herrick, Nicholas Drum, jr., Abraham Lansing, John S. Miller, Obadiah Yates, Frederick Miller, Nathan Burton, John Burton, James Wilson, Eli Chadwick, Charles K. Strong, James Gardner, Michael Van Densen, David Bell, John J. Miller and George H. Birch. The first officers were: Master, John S. Miller; sen-
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ior warden, John Herrick: junior warden, Charles K. Strong; senior deacon, John Burton; junior deacon, Abraham Lansing; treasurer, George HI. Birch; secretary, Nathan Burton; tiler, Obadiah Yates. It appears from the minutes of Yates lodge that another lodge existed somewhere in the town, by the name of Schodack lodge, which may have been in existence when Yates lodge was organized. Yates lodge continued its sessions until 1831, when the record ends.
Schodack Union lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., was organized about the year 1811. The first regular meetings were held at the old brick tavern." Soon after the meeting place was removed to the old tavern at Schodack Centre, known as Masonic hall, and several years later the headquarters was again changed to Scott's Corners. A large number of lodges have sprung from Schodack Union, including Greenbush lodge, Valatie lodge, Sunnyside lodge at Castleton, and Gratitude lodge at Nassau. Among its first masters were James Van Alen of Nassau, and David Booth of Scott's Corners.
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