The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1886-10-03
PIoNEER COUNCIL NO. ea.
The First of the Jersey City Councils of
the Royal Arcunum.

the Royal Arcunum.
The Councils of the Royal Arcanum hav-
ing now reached nearly one thousand in
number, Council bearing as low number
as 30, would certainly be pardoned if it as
sumed great deal of dignity and demand
ed the respect which is always accorded to
age. This honor belongs to Pioneer Copn-
Gil of jersey City, which is very appropria-
tely named for when the Council was in
stituted, November IL, 1877. the Royal Ar
canum only existed in three States, and
this Council was the neither of Councils in
this section. Brother j G.. Suitterlein.
who was connected with LorilIard s great
tobacco factory in Jersey City, read some
thing in paper about the Royal Arcanam,
of which he knew nothing before. He
wrote to Boston for papers whish would
explain the working of the organization.
and after looking into the matter thorough
ly, he went on to Boston and was initiated,
TEis brother then set to work to orSanlze
a Council, and with the cooperation of his
associates in Lorillards factory and others.
Pioneer Council to % was instituted. in
Boerum Hall, on November the 18th. 1877.
The charter members were as follows: j,
g: Suitterlein, Geo. L. Carpenter, Geo. w.
White, Joseph Lent, Martin Il. Bodkin.
Seldom S. Gordon, Partley j. Horner.
Elijah Mason, Jr, BENZ. Franklin, JAS. R. :
Van Pelz, Victor F. Meyer, Mai Mason.
Clarence A. Leonard. H. Z. Kingman. The
first Regent was Elijah Masdn, Jr. Vice.
Regent. Geo. W. White; Orator, George L.
Carpenter; Past Regent, j. G. Suitterlein; :.
Secretary, L. E. Gordon; Collector, Benz.
Franklin, and Treasurer, Mial Mason.
Brother Benjamin Franklin succeeded to
the Regency, and that chair has been filed
in order, as follows: S. J. Gordon, Robert
L. Hill, G. W. Strickland, Peter H. Wayne,
J. Gordon Emmons, Milton Cafferty, Geo.
Carpenter, and Geo. E. Francis. The first
member initiated In Pioneer was Ambrose
Conrad, OF Lorillard's tobacco factory, and
for many years past the faithful Secretary
of the Council. Meetings were held in
Germania Hall until three Ior four years
ago, when the Council removed to Hiram
Ledge rooms, the handsome and spacious
quarters so familiar to Order men in JERSEY
City. The first Supreme representative
from Jersey was from Pioneer-Dr. B. d.
Carpenter at his death, holding the Office
of State Medical Examiner. Members of
Pioneer Council were instrumental in form
ing the first Council in Brooklyn. viz.
Brooklyn Council No. 70, and it was insti-
tlted in April, 1878. They performed a
OAuS0 LUZ AA&uAhlbAn NO. III, the
frat Council organised in New York CITY.
Two Councils have gone out from Pioneer.
vlz. Guiding Star and W. L: Dickinson.
but the membership, Notwithstanding these
depletions, is 1856. The organization of the
Grand Council of New Jersey was brought
about largely through the efforts of Pic
neer, and it was instituted in their rooms.
The membership formerly required to en-
title State to Grand Council was five
huadred, but just as the enthusiastic Jersey
men thought that they wers about to have
this honor conferred upon them the Su-
preme Council raised tie number required
to one thousand. This action aroused the
indignation and resentment of Pioneer
Council, and brought them under the SEN
sure of the Supreme body. Brother s. s.
Gordon was the first Grand Regent. Pho
neer Council has never failed of quorum
summer or winter. The present officers of
the Council are: Regent, Geo. E. Francis;
Vice-Regent, John Lane; Past Regent,
John Walter; Orator, G. E. Richards; Sec
rotary, r. j. A. Nixon Treasurer, Ambrose
Conrad; Collector, J. n. Bogsrdus; Guide,
J. NJ. Clark, Jr. Chaplain, Oliver Washer;
Warden. j. G. Hogan; Sentry, NJ. Mess
ler