The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-01-10
MASONIC PORTRAITS.
Collection Of Grand Masters
Now On Exhibition in
Trenton.
HOW IT WAS COMPLETED.
Some Of the Pictures We're Very
Hard TO Find-An Interesting
Exhibit.
HOW 1T WAS COMPLETED.

a valuable collection of portraits has
peen placed in the Grand Masters room in
Masonic Temple, Trenton. It includes
the portrait of every Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge of Masons of New Jersey,
IN complete line from Justice Brearley, the
first. to Charles Belcher. the present in
cumbent.
The committee to whom were assigned
the work of gathering the portraits con-
sisted of p. g. NJ. James H. Durant. of
Lafayette Lodge. No. 81. of Railway; p.
g. NJ. Charles H. Mann. of H~addonield
Lodge, No. 130, and P. G. NJ. Joseph
Congdon. of Ivanhoe Lodge. No. SIS.
They We're efficiently aided in their work
by Grand Secretary Thomas Fl. r. Red
way, Grand Treasurer Charles Bechtel
and z. G. M. William S. Whitehead.
The collection of the photographs. paint
lngs, -engravings, ETC., from which the
crayon drawings nave been made involved
an immense deal of labor and search, and
finally it was thought that they would be
unable to procure those of P. G. M. David
Breariey. P. G.. M. John Noble Cum
ming, and P. G. NJ. William H. Earl.
The portrait of Justice Brearley. who
was the first Grand Master. holding that
exalted position from 1876 to 1890. was
finally secured. and now heads the gall
lery.
In the case Of p. G.. M. John H. Cum
ming, the fourth Grand Master. who held
the position in 1796-179S, considerable diff
nculty was experienced, but it was final
ly discovered that an oil painting of the
distinguished frater was in the possess
sion of Frederick Fr~elinghuysen. in New
ark.
The most diligent inquiry failed to dis
cover a picture of p. G.. M. William H.
Earle. until finally it was discovered that
a silhouette was in possession of a grand
daughter. That completed the lire, and
the Grand Lodge of New jersey now
possesses what no other grand jurisdic-
ton does-a complete. gallery of portraits
Of the men who ave presided over her
deliberations for one hundred and nine
years.
The work of preparing the portraits
IN crayon was done BY Charles Italy. of
philadelphia. and his ~ork proclaims him
70 be an artist. Every, one who has seen
the portraits as they hang on the walls
Of the Grand Masters room p~ronounces
them excellent, and they have been sub
enthusiast in his profession, and his
work is certainly worthy of commenda-
ton.
them. n taken togethEr they are a
noble looking body of men, differing in
ing one with the idea that they were men
of character and ability.
Past Grand Master Whitehead is the
oldest of the number now living, there
being but ten who survive.
The list includes David Brearley, 1856
1850; John Beatty, I7s1-1793: Samuel w.
Stockton 1794-l795: John N. Cumming,
1796-179S; Joseph Bloomfield, 1799-180O; John
Beatty, 1S01-1S04: Aaron D.. Woodruff,
1805-1S16; James Giles, 1S17-1819: Jeptha b.
Mum. 1S20-1S23; Samuel J. Read, 1924
1926; John S. Darcy, 1S26-1S27; Isaac H.
Hampton, 1828-1S29; Joseph w. Scott.
1SS0-lS33; 70. Van Arsdale, Jr.. 1S34-1S35;
Charles Burroughs, 1S36-1S3S; William S.
Bowen, 1S39-1S40: Daniel B.. Bruen, 1884,
1913; William H. Earl, 1914; Ira Merchant,
1845-1847. job p. Lewis, 1S4S-1S49; Ed
ward Steward. 1S5o-1Ss5: Daniel Rabbit.
1856; Joseph Trimble, lS57-1S5s; Isaac Van
Wagner, 1860-1Se3; William S. White
head, 1S64-1S67; Henry r. Cannon, 1868
1859; Robert Rushing, 1870; William E.
Rine, 1S71-1S73; w. "A. Pembroke, 1874
1875; Marshall B. Smith. 1S76-1S7S; Ham
ilton Wallis, 1S79-1880; Joseph w. Mar
tin, 1881; William Hardacre, 1882; Henry
Nehsls e, 1SS3-1SS4; Joseph w. Congdon,
18S5-1SSu; Robert M. Moore, 1SS7-1SSS;
Charles H. Mann. 1SS9-1S90; Thomas w.
Tilden, 1S91-1S92; James H. Durand, 1893
1894: Charles Belcher, 1895, making forty
two in all.
The one hundred and ninth annual
communication of the Grand Lodge of
New Jersey will meet in Masonic Temple
on Wednesday,, 18th inst.