The Newtown bee., 1904-05-27
The New Masonic Temple, Monroe.
 From Photograph by F. P. Sherman
to have been made in No. ' of Wood

to have been made in No. ' of Wood bury. At the session of the Grand lodge in l79l a charter was granted to these nine brethren and dated January 12, 179l, naming Ezra Curtis as first master, which charter we still have. And here 1 would call attention to one fact that probably is not we'll under stood except by few of the older members. Previous to 1850 an B. A. was Mason infact as'well as in name. The order of business was then direct ly the reverse of what it is at the pres ent time. Lodges were opened in the
 B. A. degree, elections ballotting for candidates, and all other business, except conferring the other degrees, was done Ill the E. A. degree. Prob ably but few who were made after 1850 are aware of this radical change in the management of lodge, business. Just when the change was made is not known as there is nothing on record to show, but on our old books, so far as l have found, (and our records are very nearly complete up to December, 1S3O), about every communication was open ed, all business done and closed on B. A. degree. In fact only five of the charter members were master MaSOnS, the other four being B. A. only ,receiv- the other degrees after the organiza- tion of the lodge. The first communi- cation was held February IA, 179l. The brethren met at the house of Brother John Beardsley, where they were called installed by w. B. Joseph L. Wooster, VIM. of St Johns lodge, No. 8, of Stratford. The brethren then went in procession to the meeting house where a discourse was delivered by Rev Brother Philo Perry, after which they proceeded to Brother N. .DeForest's home and partook of an elegant dinner, then returned to the lodge room and proceeded to business. At this con- munication Wells Lewis was voted for to serve as tyler, and he was then and there initiated so as to enable him to act in that capacity. Fees for degrees were: Initiating, e3 3s; passing, 6s; raising, 12s. The communications Beardsley until August, 1791, when it was voted to hold future communica tions at Brother N. DeForest's north chamber. March 31, 1791, the lodge was visited by our second Grand Mas ter, William Judd.
 December 29, 1799, it was voted, that the members, this day and for thettwo succeeding Sab baths, wear badge of mourning for our late brother, George Washington; not General Washington nor Ex-Presi dent Washington, but simply Brother George Washington. Some time dur ing the year 179S the project of build ing new lodge room began to be dis cuSsed, which finally resulted in it's completion and dedication on Decem- Der 30, 1900. Up to the time of the dedication there were 82 names on the roll. The records show that. at the dedication a procession was formed from the new lodge room; accOmpan- jed by band of music, and proceeded to the meeting-house, where was de- livered sermon by the Rev Brother Todd, from there proceeded to Broth CTS Beardsley and Wheeler's and par took of an excellent dinner in gaiety and miTth. From the tenor of some of the bills presented at different times we can readily believe this statement. They then returned to the hall, which Brother Todd proceeded to dedicate in a solemn manner, after which Brother David Allen delivered short address. March 31, 1792, the lodge was again visited by Grand Master Judd.
 July l2, 1912, the lodge laid the cor
 lC1oUOIO O1 UlC NP1OCOpo1 NuulOA GU Huntington Center, King Hiram ledge, No. 12, taking part in the cere- monies. In 1879 and again in 1921 the lodge was visited by that well known Masonic authority, Jeremy l.. Cross. The records show continuous season of prosperity and harmony until the storm of Antl- Masonry which swept over the country from and after 1926, and which caused the extinction of so many lodges, Washington, No. 19, among the others.
 To show something of the; effect of that storm I will refer again to the records. In 1916 there were 16 initia- tions, which was the largest number in any one year. In 1923 there were six. In 1924, eight. In 1925, seven. In 1926, four. In 1927, four. In 1928, one. In 1881, one, and the last. From De- were elected, until December 4, 1885, there are no records. December "A, 1885, officers elected. December P, 1886, officers elected for the last time so far as can be found by the records. A communication was held April 20
 1857. There is also a record in pencil of a communication in December, 184O. The lodge was not represented in the
 Grand lodge during the years 1S32-3-4
 December 31, 1885, resolution was
 offered and a committee appointed to
 report in what manner the funds of
 the lodge should be disposed of, consis
 tent with the principles of Masonry.
 The resolution offered was as follows:
 ''That we deem it expedient to dis pose of the fundsrof the lodge in some
 way, providing, however, that some Eobject to which they may be devoted sshan be selected which shall not be in-
 consistent with the object for which
 it was given" The committee offered