The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-10-09
OLD HIRAM'S ANNIVERSARY
IT'S COMING BIG CELEBRATION IN
NOVEMBER.

Active preparatlons are being made
by the committee who have the matter
in charge for the 150th anniversary OIL
this old historical lodge, which is the
oldest Masonic body in the United
States, and received its charter lou
wears ago this coming November, from
the Grand Lodge of England, then sit
ting in Boston, Mass. The original
parchment charter, which was theh
granted Hiram Lodge, is still in their
possession, and is in good state oA
preservation 1T bears the Grand Lodge
seal and the signitures of hugh NC
Daniel d. grand master; benjamin
Hallowell, S. grand warden; John BOX
Jr., grand warden; Charles Pelham'
grand secretary. Several years ago
Postmaster James d. Dewell, who has
for many years been member ana en-
terprising factor in "Old Hiram, had
this old charter Autographed and many
copies made and distributed among
Hiram's members Nearly all the ola
records of the lodge from its first COM
munication are still kept in good state
of preservation, and are extremely IN
teresttng reading, for those who occa-
sionally are permitted to see them, as
the wording, etc, are SO extremely ola
fashioned in their phraseology, and are
still lust as particular as to all the DO
ings of the lodge.
The first worshipful master, appoint
ed by the Provisional Grand Lodge was
General David Wooster Of revolution
airy fame. At its first meeting, winch
was held at Jehiel Tuttle's residence
(there being no Masonic temples IN
those days., on the festival of st. John,
the evangelist, the following brethren
were present, viz: David Wooster, w.
master: Samuel Mansfield, senior war
den, and Brothers Nathan Whiting,
Archibald Mcneil, Joseph GoldthWait,
Eleazar Fitch, Jedediah Stow Elllhue
Lyman, Jehiel futile, John Harpin,
Benjamin Appleton, Israel Abbott.
These brothers constituted the total
membership of this ancient lodge, at Its
first meeting, and from this beginning
the regular communicat ionS of Hiram
Lodge have been continued, without In
Permission, until the present time, and
from this small beginning its members
have increased, until at this present
date the membership roll numbers some
1000 names Many of it's deceased
members were leading professional and
business men, and not a few were high
" distinguished in the various walks
of life Many of the members of to-day
are noted men influential in our com
munity. The living membership today,
numbers over 900, the largest of any
lodge in this country.
1t is proposed to make this coming
celebration one of much Importance
and interest to the fraternity, and to
this end a large and competent COM
mittee has been appointed from Hiram's
members to make all necessary ar
rangements for the occasion. The
chairman of the reception committee Is
Hon. Lynde Harrison. The financial
committee is composed of the following:
David F. Riser, Frank c. Bushnell, Max
Adler, George E. Frsbie, w. A. Beers,
John r. Pierce, Charles Kleiner, II. G.
Kentfield, William r. Hopson, Minotte
f. Chatfield, Frederick G. Lum, Henry
w. Sanford, A. c. Walton, Max L. Os-
terweis, James Johnson, Edward S,
Swift, Seaman n. Smith, William 3.
Perkins. A descriptive circular will be
issued and sent to each member of the
lodge.
The celebration will occur on the I'd,
Sd and 4th of November next. The first
degree will be exemplified in the lodge
| the second evening; the second degree
on the third evening, and the third de-
| gree on the fourth evening, to be fol-
| lowed by a banquet In the armory. de-
| rectly under the lodge rooms.
| On one OF the three days a public en-
| tertainment will be given, which viii be
| of musical and literary character, and
| will take place at the Hyperion, to be
| followed by grand promenade concert
| in the evening.
| Among the noted visitors for the oc-
| casion will be the grand masters of New
| York Massachusetts and Rhode Island
A history of this old organization will
| be written, giving a description of it's
| doings, etc, from It's birth, and follow
| ing the records UP to the present time.
| The book will cover some 900 pages.
| The several committees will hold fire.
| quent sessions for the perfection Of its
plans.
| Among the many names found on the
roll Of membership of this old historical
| lodge, who are now living and have
| been members for twenty years and
over, most of whom are well known
among our leading professional and
business men of this city, are John c.
| Anderson, Rev. John Anketell, John P,
! Augur, Thomas ]. Alderman, Frank S.
| Andrew, Max Adler, Rufus Blodget,
congressman from New Jersey, DR.
Evelyn L. Blssell, F. r. Bliss, George
| r. Burton, Edward C. Beecher, Friend
II. Brooks, Frank G. Bushnell, w. A.
| Beers who was secretary of the lodge
| over 20 years ago, Charles r. Coan,
| Julius C. Gable, DR. Sherman H. Chap
man, Ex-Lieutenant-Go James
d. Dewell, John F. Douglass, George M.
Grant Captain f. A Gessner, Ex-Gov-
| ernor Henry B. Harrison, Ex-Tax Col
| lector William Hillhouse, Samuel j.
Hoggson, Gen. Colin M. Ingersoll Geo.
w Ives, DR. Robert S. Ives, Prof Benz
Jepson, DR.. Walter Judson, DIR. j. Wal
| do Jewett, Enos S. Kimberly, Augustus
! H Kimberly, Samuel H Kirby, DR. NJ
| r. Linquist, Frederick c, Lum, Benja-
min n Mansfield John w Martin Ed
| ward F Mansfield. Curtis J. Munson,
| Judpa T IT Manson William n North