The Penn's Grove record., 1921-04-22
TALL CEDARS TO MEET
Their History and Growth As a
Social Auxiliary to the
Free MaSOns

IVA -AA@gS+
ity in years, but growing rapidly in
numbers and influence, the young fra
ternal organization known as the Tall
Cedars OF Lebanon is rapidly forging
to the front among the various organi-
cations Of Free Masonry. This will be
demonstrated to the world at large
during the last week Of this month,
when the first national convention Of
the Tall Cedars will be held in Allan
tic City from April 70 to 28 inclusive.
While many meetings Of the Supreme
Forest have been held, this is to be
a noteworthy occasion in that it will
be the first meeting Of the member
ship at large.
organized in 1902, when the Su-
preme Forest was formed and charter
ed at Trenton, the fraternity has gone
forward by leaps and bounds. At first
its subordinate Forests were confined
pretty largely to the Garden State; but
now 1t is being organized in other
states. The membership ranges well
over the 10000 mark, with large ac-
QUESTIONS annually.
The Iall Cedars of Lebanon was ORR
ginally the outgrowth of an old custom
OF the Masons OF New Jersey, mem
bers OF the Grand Lodge, holding, once
d year, during the session OF the
Grand Lodge, a social night which
they called Tall Cedars or Lebanon.
Master MasonS wanted a system of
meeting places where sociabiIty could
have 1ull sway without elaborate ex-
pense, and the new organization
brought together thousands who had
no inclination to become either Knights
IempIar or Scottish Rite Masons.
Biblical significance attaches to the
name Of the fraternity. Lebanon is a
range OF mountains IN Syria, extend
ing from Sidon to Tyre, and forming
the northern boundary Of Palestine.
From ancient time it has been famous
for its cedars, many OF them fifty to
eighty feet high, and covering a wide
space of ground. Hiram King, of
Tyre, furnished cedar trees for the
temple Of Solomon. In scriptural sym
biology the cedar tree vas the symbol
of eternity, because its substance
never decays. The Ark of the Cove
nant was made of cedar. The cedar
was always maintained in the rites of
Free Masonry because Of the use
made of them by Solomon and Ze-
rubbabel in the construction of their
temples. Cedars in Syria are rever-
enced by the native inhabitants as liv-
ing records of Solomon's power. His
tory records how the ancient Maronite
patriarch was once accustomed to cele-
brate there thu festival of the Trans
f~guration at an altar of rough stones.
Just as the cedar tree, starting from
a small shoot, sends its roots through
out the earth and extends its branches
from an overwhelming trunk, so has
the modern order flourished and de
veloped. The side degree of Tall
Cedars of Lebanon is said to be of un-
known but very ancient origin. 1t Is
said to be more than a century old,
and to have been known in various
parts of the world.
David H. Lukens, of Trenton, is the
accredited founder of the modern or
der. Having had the degree conferred
upon him by a Philadelphia lodge.
Lukens was destined to become known
as "The Grand Old Man" and "The
Father of Cedarism." The first ses-
sion of the Supreme Forest was held
in Trenton on February 6, 1903, and
Glassboro Forest No. l is pointed out
as the first subordinate Forest. Meet
ings were held in various New Jersey
towns and there quickly followed the
organization of Forests in Morris
County, Morristown, Mt. Holly, Tren-
ton, Camden, Elizabeth and B~ridgeton,
These were all charter members of the
Supreme Forest.
With the election of Frank W,
Bowen as Supreme Tall Cedar in 1905,
the order began to grow in a preten-
tious manner. Essex County Forest
No. s. Newark, was organized in 1905.
and was followed shortly afterward by
Monmouth County Forest, No. 9, II
Ocean Grove. In November, 1905, the
first Forest outside of New Jersey was
! formed with the institution of Penn
~svlvania Forest, No. 10, in Jenkin-
town. The year 1907 saw the estab,
lishment of five new Forests. They
we're Atlantic City, No. Il; New
Brunswick. No. y; Hunterdon County
j No. 10, at High Bridge; Warner
County, No. Il, at Ph~illipsburg; Cape
MAY, No. 10, and Philadelphia, No. 16
In 1908 but n new Forest was start
ed, kentucky Forest, No. Il, at Pa
ducah, Ky.
Under the leadership of Benjamin
Bacharach, who was elected Supreme
Tall Cedar in 1909, the fraternit!
gathered new strength and impetus
During his term he instituted BayvieV
Forest, No. IS, keyport, n. j.; Ocean
County Forest, at Tuckerton; Brandy,
wine Forest, No. 20, at Wilmington
and Penn Forest, No. 81, at Chester
In 1910, while William L. Blanchard
of Essex County Forest, was Supreme
Tall Cedar, a new lodge was put in a
West Chester, Pa.
Penns Grove Forest for a long time
was under the jurisdiction of Salem
Forest, but on March 10Th, 1920, they
secured a charter and organized g
local Forest and are No. 81. They
now have 259 members and are grow
ing rapidly. T. Vandyke Sickler is
Grand Tall Cedar of Penns Grove
Forest. They will attend the National
Convention next week in a body, over
100 members having signiied their in
tention of making the trip from here,
They also hope to capture n of the
prizes to be awarded as they have just