The Newtown bee., 1904-05-27

bury. At the session of the GraEd lodge in l79l a charter was granted to these nine brethren and dated January l2, 1791, naming Ezra Curtis as first master, which charter we still have. And here l 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 E. A. was a Mason inIfact aswell 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 l E. A. degree, elections, ballotting | for candidates, and all other business, except conferring the other degrees, was done Tn the D. A. degree. Prob ably but few who were made after 1850 are aware of this radical change in the management of lodges business. Just when the change was made is not l show, but on our old books, so far as l have found, (and our records are very | nearly complete up to December, 183O), about every communication was open l 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- l the other degrees after the organiza- tion of the lodge. The first communi- CdUlOu was ucAu cDl udIy If, 1t0I. uc brethren met at the house of Brother John Beardsley, where they were called to order, lodge duly opened, and officers installed by w. B. Joseph l.. Wooster, W. M. of St Johns lodge, No. 8, of l Stratford. The brethren then went in procession to the meeting house where 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 com ] 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 were held at the house of Brother John Beardsley until August, 1791,' when it was voted to hold future communica- tions at Brother N. DeForest's north chamber. March 3l, 1791, the lodge was visited by our second Grand Mas ter, William Judd.
 December 29, 1799, it was voted, day and for then two 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 1799 the project of build- ing a 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 S2 names on the roll. The records show that at the dedication procession was formed | from the new lodge room, accOmpan- | jed by band of music, and proceeded | to the meeting-house, where was de- livered a 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 mirth. 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 solemn manner, after which Brother March 31, 1792, the lodge was again visited by Grand Master Judd.
 July F, 1872, the lodge laid the cor nerstone of the Episcopal church at
 Huntington Center, King Hiram
 lodge, No. 12, taking part in the cere- monies. In 1919 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 Ant1- 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 racordS Tn 1S16 there were 16 initial tions, which was the largest number
 in any one year. In 1923 there were six. In 1924, eight. In 1925, seven. In
 In 1881, one, and the last From De cember 23. 1850, at which time officers
 were elected, until Decem Der 4, 1885,
 there are no records. December "A, 1885, officers elected. December 22,
 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 record in pencil of communication in December, 184O
 The lodge was not represented in the
 Grand lodge during the years 1832-3-4
 December 3l, 1855, resolution was
 offered and committee appointed to
 report in what manner the funds O1 the lodge should be disposed of, consis
 tent with the principles of Masonry
 The resolution offered was as follows
 pose of the fundssof the lodge in some way, providing, however, that some object to which they may be devoted shall be selected which shall not be in
 consistent with the object for whicf ' it was given" The committee offered