The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-08-15
TENTH CONNECTICUT.
Return of Zion Lodge Jewels to Tren-
ton. N. c., After the War.

1 Return Of Zion Lodge Jewels 10 lren-
| ton, N. c., After the War.
The reunion of the Tenth Connecti-
cut, which is to take place at East
Windsor, September 6, has brought to
light some interesting facts concerning
the Free Masonry that was in
| that command during the war
The colonel of the regiment at the out
set, Charles l.. Russell Of Derby, was
killed at Roanoke Island, February 8,
1862. The command was encamped
here before leaving for the front, oc-
cupying the old camp ground that IS
to be COMMUNICATED by the Camp
Field monument. While the regiment
was stationed here Colonel Russell was
raised in st. Johns lodge of this city
by N G. Hinckley, who is now the
senior past worshipful master of the
lodge Colonel Albert w. Drake sue
ceeded Colonel Russell and survived
him only a few months, passing away
June 5, 1862. Drake post of South
Manchester G. A. r., was named in
honor of Colonel Drake. and the grave
of this distinguished soldier will be Wis
tied by the Tenth at It's reunion in
September.
There were a good many Free Ma
sons in the regiment. While on the
march to Kinston, N. G.. where a bat
tie was fought, December IA, 1862, the
command passed through Trenton,
where Zion lodge, No. 81, was located.
The lodge rooms were entered and the
jewels belonging to the body were re-
moved. First Lieutenant John c. Cof-
fin, who was a Mason and the brother
in-law of J. Watson Beach of this city,
discovered the fact that the jewels of
the lodge had been taken, and under
took to recover them. He succeeded in
securing eleven of them. The twelfth
and last one was in the hands Of
soldier who declined to give 1t up.
First Lieutenant Coffin was wounded
December IA at Kinston and died De
cember Is. His brother-in-law MI
Beach went to Kinston for the body
and effects OF the deceased officer. In
his belongings was an account Of the
Masonic jewels, together with the
statement that one of the number was
In the hands of member of the COM
mand. Mr.. Beach, who belonged to st.
Johns lodge, brought the Jewels home
with him and placed them in the trus-
teeship of the lodge. The name of the
man who had the missing jewel was
known, and as he belonged to the fra
ternity, the master of the Grand lodge
in this state undertook to recover it.
1t is hardly necessary to add that his
efforts proved successful
After the war was ended and the
grand master of tie hgrand lodge Of
North Carolina could be communicated
with, plans We're arranged for the res
toration of the jewels to their rightful
owners. They were prepared for the
return to North Carolina by Allyn
Goodwin, an old time Jeweler here
Captain Alfred A. Dickinson, who was
an officer of the Sixteenth Connecticut
and a brother-in-law of Governor Mar
shall Jewell was the trusted messenger
to take back the long treasures. They
were delivered in person to the master
of the lodge.
The incident from beginning to end
was full of interest. Colonel G. H.
Case, who is the chairman of the COM
mittee of arrangements for the reunion
next month of the regiment, Is thir-
ty-second degree Mason and a promi-
nent member of Washington Command
cry, knights Templar. The correspond
ence relating to the restoration of the
jewels in the hands Of Colonel Hinck
ley. Some members of the command
will no doubt have a story or so con-
corning the episode to be related at the
reunion. --Hartford Times.