Craft Masonry in Westchester and Putnam Counties, New York

death, a period of more than 43 years. He was a Freemason, and took great interest in the order. At different times he was Grand
Chaplain of the Grand Lodges of Connecticut and Pennsylvania, and of the Grand Chapter of Connecticut, he was made a Mason in
1824, in Westchester Lodge, No. 46, of White Plains, NY. He was elected an honorary member of St. John's Lodge, No. 6, of
Norwalk, in 1849, and was chaplain and trustee for many years. He was one of the four Episcopal clergymen in the United States
who have been rector of one parish for a period of forty years. The cane which he held at the time of his death on account of having
been longest in a parish of any rector in the State, went to the Rev. . . Yarrington of Greenwich, who has been rector there for
forty years. Dr. Mead received the degree of LL. D. from Trinity College. He died suddenly, soon after returning from a ride.
Dr. Matson Smith, a member of Westchester Lodge, No. 46, New Rochelle, held for many years the most prominent place among
the physicians of Westchester county. He served as Junior Grand Warden of the “City Grand Lodge” under John Wells, GM.
Huguenot Lodge No. 46, White Plains, New York
See also notes for Westchester Lodge No. 46 above and Huegenot Lodge No. 448 of New Rochelle below
http://www.whiteplainsmasoniclodge.org/History-of-White-Plains-Lodge.html
On 22 Dec 1799, Grand Lodge granted to Huguenot Lodge No. 46 a Dispensation allowing for alternate meetings in Eastchester
and White Plains, because of the "great distances" to be traveled by members;
Dear Sirs:
I have the pleasure to inform you that the Grand Lodge convened an extra last evening respecting the arrangement to take place
on account of the death of our illustrious Brother, George Washington. I took the opportunity of moving on your petition to hold your
Lodge alternately at Eastchester and White Plains, and have the pleasure to inform you that the prayer of the petition was granted
unanimously. It will be communicated to you officially by the earliest opportunity. Remember me to all of our friends and to your
good family.
Yours with esteem,
ABRAHAM SKINNER
The Lodge, accordingly, met at White Plains, at the house of Brother Joseph Hatfield every alternate meeting night. Official notice of
the death of General Washington was not received by the Lodge until 10 Feb 1800, when it was resolved to meet at White Plains on
the 22nd, to pay honor to the memory of him who had done so much for the cause of his country. Brother David Rogers was
requested to prepare and deliver an oration on that day at the Court House. Invitations were then forwarded to all the other Lodges,
and, on the day appointed, the combined Brethren and others met at the home of Captain Hatfield, and proceeded to the Court
House. The White Plains meetings were discontinued in 1802 and the Lodge held its meetings in Eastchester only. Solomon's
Lodge No. 196 was chartered and held its communications in White Plains until 1812, when it was removed to Tarrytown. From then
until 1852, there is no record of Masonry in White Plains.
http://www.newrochelledowntown.com/history/?id=4
The local chapter of the Fraternal Order of Masons was making a clear
statement when it constructed this imposing building at the turn of the 20th
century. Located in the heart of the community’s rapidly growing business
district, the structure was designed to be one of the largest in the downtown,
and the most monumental. The Huguenot Lodge No. 46, F&AM, was formed in
1888, but grew from the Westchester Lodge, F. & A.M., which was begun in
1796. The Huguenot Lodge members met in private homes until money was
raised to erect the downtown building, which was dedicated 19 Nov 1901.
The first and immediate tenant was the New Rochelle Library. Moving out of
their small quarters in the New Rochelle
Trust Company building at 40 Centre
Avenue (no longer standing), the trustees leased two floors of the new Masonic Temple, as it
was called. In addition to stacks of books, the Masonic building allowed the library to offer a
large reading room, a reference room and a special space for children’s books and programs.
As the community grew in leaps and bounds during this decade, so did the library needs of the
community. In 1910 the city joined many other municipalities across the country in requesting
a new library from Andrew Carnegie . Four years after New Rochelle’s application was
approved, the library moved out of the Masonic Temple and into its magnificent “first” (standalone)
library building on Main Street and Pintard Avenue.
In 1938 the Huguenot Lodge [No. 448], with 496 members, was one of three Mason Lodges (chapters) in New Rochelle. During
World War II the building was utilized for a unique and profound project initiated by the many nationally recognized New Rochelle
artists. Now referred to as the World War II Portraits Project , the endeavor ultimately captured the images of over 10,000 service
personnel.
About the architect: The architect of the Masonic Lodge, (now 451-453 Main Street) was George Kramer Thompson (1859 -
1935), a Dubuque, Iowa native who came to New York City in 1879 and studied under prominent New Yorker Frederick H. Withers.
Thompson was in private practice in the City from 1883 - 1916, including a partnership with Francis H. Kimball, d/b/a Thompson &
Kimball. Their commissions include the Manhattan Life Insurance Building (1892) , the Empire Building (1898) , the Standard Oil
Building, and the Trust Company of America Building .
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