Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1889-08-08
FREE MASONRY.
A Short Sketch of the Order In
this Section.

A Short sketch of the Order In
this Section.
The early history of Free Masonry
in New Jersey is involved in shade
of obscurity, yet there is evidence that
it existed in the province nearly GEN.
tury and half ago, and was intro
duced but a few years after its revival
in England. In 1929 Daniel Coke, a
large proprietor in West Jersey, and
for many years Justice of the Su-
preme Court, was appointed Provincial
Grand Master for New Jersey, under
the seal Of the Duke of Norfolk, Grand
Master of England. There is no evil
dence that the appointment resulted
in the establishment of any lodges in
the province, and it is presumable that
in these times temporary lodges were
convened, at irregular intervals, to
give the craftsmen an opportunity of
enjoying fraternal amenities, and pro-
noting the cultivation of Masonic
science among the scattered brethren.
At these esoteric communications it is
probable that candidates were initiated
into the ancient mysteries of the craft
under dispensation from the Grand
Master.
The first deputation for New York
was granted in 1887. during the Grand
Mastership of the Earl of Darnley, to
Richard Riggs as Provincial Grand
Master, and neither is there any record
of his having established any lodges or
doing anything towards organizing or
extending the order.
By the deputation of Grand Master
Coke, therefore, whose jurisdiction in
cluded New York and several other
provinces, it is safe to say that the
history of Free Masonry on American
soil had it's starting point in the prov
ince of New Jersey.
On Dec. 18, 1856, a convention was
held in New Brunswick, and a Grand
Lodge was organized, the Hon. David
Brearley, Chief Justice of the State,
being elected Grand Master. From
that time Masonry in New Jersey has
a distinctive history, and the growth
and prosperity of the institution in the
century which has elapsed since the
organization of that body, both at
home and in other States, is a matter
of pride and congratulation to the
more than twelve thousand craftsmen
now within the borders of the foster
mother of American Free Masonry.
The first regularly organized lodge
of which we have any record, and
which antedates the Grand Lodge by
nearly quarter of century, is st.
Johns Lodge, No. 1, F. and A. M, of
Newark, which was instituted the 18th
day of May, 1861.
Brearley Lodge, No. 2, F. A. M. of
Bridgeton, was instituted on Novem-
ber 18th, 1890, by Col. John N. Cum
mings, Grand Master of New Jersey,
with James Giles, subsequently al
ways styled GeneraD as Master. The
lodge was named ''Brearley Lodge, No.
g." after David Brearley, the first Chief
Justice of this State, and charter was
granted them dated Jan. II, 1901. 1t
may properly be observed here that
Col. Cummings, soldier of the Revo-
luton, who instituted Brearley Lodge,
was the paternal grandfather of the
very estimable wife of the Rev. Angus
tus Brodhead, D. D., so recently de-
ceased, and late pastor of the First
Presbyterian church of this city.
This is the decade of Centennial
celebrations, and in less than eighteen
months old Brearley Lodge will doubt
less celebrate its organization with
great eclat. 1t might truly be said,
that this venerated lodge is the parent
society of all the older Masonic Lodges
in South Jersey. Its Centennial An
niversary will be most important
historical event as we'll as an unusually