Milford chronicle., 1908-01-24

The most important event in Ma
sonfy in lower Delaware for the last
half century occurred in Milford on
Wednesday last, when the new Temple
of Temple Lodge, No. 9, Of Milford, was
formally dedicated by the Grand Lodge
Of Delaware.
The charter of the lodge was grant
ed in 1915, the meeting in the early
years were held in various places in the
town and even in the woods at night,
with no witnesses save the stars. For
many years the fraternity had been
wont to assemble ina room dedicated
to their purpose in the third story OF
the Cooper building.
But with the centennial Ofthe found
ing of the lodge approaching there was
a feeling that a permanent home should
be secured, dedicated to the purpose Of
the fraternity.
With this view the substantial brick
structure on North Front street, was
purchased from the heirs OF the late
Mrs. Ruth Carlisle, last summer and
since that time the various committee
have been busy remOdeling and decor
ating the property.
Particular attention has been given to
the lodge room occupying the third floor
The committee in charge gave the
contract to the decorative department
of John WaIamaker's stores, and the
work was practically completed for the
dedication. The walls are covered with
heavy canvas on which the fresco work
is placed. The furniture is new through
out, specially designed and made, and
the result is that while there are larger
and more osten ntatious lodge rooms in
the State there is nothing IN better
taste or better adopted to the work of
the fraternity. Indeed one of the Grand
Officers stated that in his opinion it is
the handsomest lodge room in the State
not excepting Wilmington.
1t was this temple which was for
mally dedicated on Wednesday.
On the morning train large delega'
tiOn arrived, consisting Of the officers OF
the Grand Lodge and other visitors.
They were met at the station by COM
mittee and escorted to their quarters at
the hotels.
Promptly at p. m. the Grand Lodge
met in q room specially prepared for
HISTORICAL sKETCE
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF TEMPLE LODGE.
Temple Lodge was instituted March
18th, 1915. James Derrickson, Jr., Grand
Warden, installed the officers, who were
Jesse Green, W. NJ, John Mitchell, S.
W.. and James Millechop. J. w.
The above named with Thomas Peter
kin, John Owens, John W. Redden, Will
liam Brinklo, Jr., and Benjamin Ander-
son were the charter members. They
were at this time members of Hope Lodge
No. 4, of Laurel Delaware, where Jesse
Green, a revolutionary hero, resided.
Thomas Peterkin was elected treasurer
at the first meeting and held that office
for eleven years. He seems to have been
one of the most active of the early mem
bers. He died in 1926 and was succeeded
by Peter F. Causey, Sr., who was treas
urer until 1889.
The young organization grew rapidly,
for during the first year thirty names
were added to the roll. The numbers
received after that, vary greatly. Some
wears there were no admissions and no
one was initiated from April 18th, 1881
to December 23rd, 1885. This was the
period of the auti masonic agitation in
the United States. when masonry was
under cloud. The lodge met during
this year of diversity, but evidently the
members were waiting for the storm to
cease. The date of this is indicated by
the large numbers received in 1888, when
the membership was probably doubled.
The Civil War also affected the lodge
disastrously. There we're no admissions
in 1860 and 1861 but when the fight for
union was won, the lodge revived, four
teen having been initiated in 1866.
The members of early days make tre-
ouent mention of banquets, which are
spoken of as ''Elegant Sumptions."
December q, 1916 was great day IN
Milford. Two hundred dollars were ex-
pended in celebration. Rev. John Col
Inns preached a sermon in the Methodist
Church, which was heard by % members
and As visitors. After the sermon John
Mitchell, a prominent resident OF this
village, delivered we'll adapted oration.
The meetings were held in a bui. ling
which stood on the site of the school
house in North Milford, now used for the
primary grades. In 1917 the lodge re-
moved to a room, now the National
Hotel, on the southeast corner of Front
and Walnut streets, North Milford.
Subsequently it bought the school house
referred to above, added second story to
If and met in one of the rooms In 1916
it took possession of the third story Of
the Cooper Building and remained there