The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-10-02
RELATES HISTORY
OF 100 YEARS IN
ORANGE MASONRY
Story OF Union Lodge Prepared
to Commemorate Centennial
Anniversary.

For the celebration next month OF
the IN hundredth anniversary of the
institution of Union Lodge No. 81, Free
and Accepted Masons, of Orange, G.
Hewlett Davis, who was selected his
torian of the lodge three years ago is
finishing his labors in arranging an
important history of the community
of the Oranges as well as Masonic his
tory. The book will be entitled "One
Hundred Years of Free Masonry in the
Oranges
Mr.. Davis obtained much information
for his book in a recent trip abroad.
The book will give a valuable insight
in Masonic history, and will also be an
authority on Oranges remote and mod
ern history.
One chapter Is entitled "Origin and
Antiquity of Masonry" and deals so
intimately with the history of the craft
that Mr.. Davis was able to reproduce
a letter written by King Edward VII.
of England. The records and dates
We're obtained in England, where Mr..
Davis had access to the English lodges,
property and books. An important adj
dition to the literature of Masonry will
~ IT. Jaws . SiiuPtti titltitu WIN
tary Maneuvers of General Washing
ton in the Territory Now Occupied as
the Oranges This will relate not only
the first retreat of Washington when
he stopped at the Oranges, but will
also deal with a subsequent trip to the
community and will be preceded by a
brief sketch of the Masonic life of Cen
eral Washington. Washington's Masonic
~ -trI l-z+-a = 49, -
the historian has found that all his
staff aided in the removal of the par
a~phernalia of st. Johns Lodge, Of
Newark, when the British and Hes
slams threatened the Jersey headquar-
tiers, and utilized the emblems and
furniture in giving General Lafayette
degrees in Morristown. The relation of
Masonry to the Christian church will
also be a feature of the work.
The prominence of the Orange or
ganization will result in an important
celebration of it's one hundredth ami
versary on November 10. Charles Berg,
master of the lodge, and hrs Iellow off,
GERS are taking a deep interest in plans
for the coming celebration, and Masons
throughout the State will probably as
sist the Orange lodge In its celebra-
ton.
From authentic records it appears
that the original charter of Union
Lodge, dated November 10, 1909, pre-
scribed that it's regular communications
should be held alternately in Orange
and Bloomfield, two years In each
place.
Officers installed. at the first formal
meeting of the lodge, December 2s,
1903, were: Jeptha Baldwin, w. NJ;
Alexandria Wilson, s. w. Matthias
Smith, J. W.; Stephen D. Day, treas
urer; William w. Baldwin, secretary;
stephen Tichenor, S. D.; Moses Condit,
jr., j. d.: Simeon Baldwin, NJ. c.; Abra-
ham Winans and Benjamin Lindsey,
stewards; Linus Baldwin, tyler. There
were eighty at the meeting.
Union Lodge was the first Masonic
order established in Essex county, con-
sequently the visiting Masons, who
were greatly in the majority, must
have travelled by horse from n~eighbor-
ing counties. All those present at the
first meeting attended church before
dinner and were accompanied to Con-
dts inn, later called Widow Condit's.
by two clergymen. The record of min
utes for many subsequent years recite
dinners had at widow Condit's." The
famous Condit's inn is embodied in the
old portion of the building in Main
street known at this time as the Cen
trail Hotel. Mr.. Condit, the inn-keeper.
was a member of Union Lodge.