The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-02

Order took place In this couatYy wh9n ne wa
Just emerging into manhood. he was within four
months Of being twenty.one when Fredericksburg
Lodge IN Virginia, entered him as an apprentice
Mason under a special dispensarion OF the Grand
Lodge or Virginia. II was not until 1850 that he
was ''raised 20 the sublime degree OF a Master
Mason.n and given authority TO bear the badge
more ancient than the Golden Fleece ana
more honorable than the star ana Gar.
tor or any other emblematic nonol
or prince or po:entatc.n This event
took place &C Morristown, n J., in . lodge organ.
lied under travelling warrant, General Wash.
ington being present. 81. Jonn's lazy reasonable
claim to he honor OF making Lafayette Mason,
forasmuch as her jewels were used on the occa-
sion as is ser forth in an emanation OF st. Johns
member as follows:--
When Washington with mystic rites
BY Morris camp fires lurid lights,
I crectedl /
St. Johns her Jewels gladly sent
! with Joy We hailed the great event Of Lafayette I
The jewels referred 70 are entered upon St
Johns records as follows:-"TwentYf -four aprons,
two ebony runcheons. four large candlesticks,
three large candle moulds. one silk pedestal cloth.
bound win silver lace; damask cushion, a silver
key, blue ribbon, striped with black, and a silver
level square ana compass, with blue ribbon.r OF
these the only now in possession OF the
lodge is OF the truncneons. Some years ago the
lodge room OF ST. Johns broken into by thieves
ana all the Jewels we're carried of, including those
used by General Washington In the ceremony OF
making Lafayette Master Mason-all but d O
truncheon referred TO. The thieves. doubtless.
sold the silver jewels for ola silver, ignorant OF
their nundred-fold precousness 60 Freemasons.
When Lafayette revisited this country after the
wal for independence he attended q communi
cation or st. johns Lodge. on which
occasion the towels used at Morrstown in 1870
were again used. The chair Lafayette sat In as
Master oil ST. Johns for the time being IL sil pre-.
served bv the oige and held in great reverence.
But the brightest page st. Johns history is "a
be herewith rewritten. This lodge lays lawful
claim 70 having been the first organization OF any
kind In this country to
CELEBRATE WESTINGHOUSE BIRTHDAY.
The occasion OF its dong so was on February
22, 1892 seven years prior to the death OF their
most lustrlous brother, the Father or his Country
and the hero OF the Revolution. Washington died
December 19, 1799 and &c. Jonnis Lodge
postponed its customary festivities on
ST. Johns Day and, instead turned the
occasion into one OF deep mourning for
the loss sustained by IL In common with
the whole country. The following 22d OF Febru-
ary $780, the lodge celebrated, for the second
ton was one OF great soemnity. Among those
| taking leading parts In 1t were the Right Rev.
| Bishop Ogden, of the Episcopal church; Rsv. DR..
| Mcwhorter, the distinguished Irish-American
| Presby terrain OF Newark-one OF whose streets 10
named afier him-Judge Boudinot, DR.. Burnet
| and host OF distinguished brethren. The Grafton
was delivered by william Hasev an eloquent
Jersey lawyer OF that day. Ever since the 22d OF
| February has been annually commemorated BY
| the lodge.
| The lodge has ever held high repute In aud out
OF Masonic circles. and has on It's roll OF member.
ship the names OF some or the very best citizens
| or Newark for the last ia years and even more
| II went on for many years prospecting AMI to
prosper. In the year 1926 however so great an
cutlery had been raised against Masonry that 50.
JOINTS ofncers deemed 1t mprudens 10 celebrate
st. Johns Day with the customary procession. 10
| General Lafayette's visit the same year had the
| effect OF quleting the popular outbreak and 50
Johns increased its membership. Soon after
however, the Morgan excitement and the fury
| against the Masons broke out with increased
\ force. The order was denounced In press and
4 pulpit. Members were assaulted IN the streets
/ ana lodge rooms attacked with stones and other
missiles. Many lodges were closed Between the
years 1923 aud 1888 -. Johns Lodge
had not more than q dozen meetings. No,
| a single application for membership wat
made during the interval On January T.
| 1894 the lodge formally decided to hold no mora
| meetings nntil the storm should blow over: and
1t was not until December 26, 1885, that the lodCs
reorganized and resumed Its regular communL
catlonsu ON the occasion OF the reorganization
] Grand Master John 5. Darcy presided and com
munlcation was read from the Grand Lodge OF tn,
| state permitting st. Johns TO resume It's labors
since then the affairs OF the lodge have prospered
1 so that II is now the mother lodge OF quite fam.
! lily OF lodges IN Newark and other parts OF the
/ state. There il but one more important fact Ia
~. Johns history 10 relate. Out OF compliment
70 Grand Master Breasey. member OF Congress In
1857 IL waived Its title 20 No IN favor OF Breasley
Lodge. In 1912, however, 81. Johns resumed iSs
\ original title OF No. /. II II thus shown. Ia the
i foregoing matter OF Masonic record, that Jersey
Masons have u full title to q front rank among,
the brethren and also IN the Centennial lustre Of
I the Republic.
\
4 NAcONRy IN THE OLD WORLD