Craft Masonry in Albany County, New York - Onondaga and Oswego ...

not unusual when considering the close alliance between the formations of Masters Lodge and the Ineffable and Sublime Grand
Lodge of Perfection. Members of our Lodge have always been closely identified with the Scottish Rite Bodies. Somewhere, we
came across a bit of doggerel which has to do with this august body of gentlemen who “wear the purple of the fraternity”. It is titled:
“33 Degrees”, and reads as follows:
“No fear has Uncle Nason
That he will ever freeze
He can't, for he's a Mason
Of Thirty-three Degrees.”
You will remember that water freezes at 32 degrees, and we fellows who have not attained that “high and exalted station” had better
not put our topcoats in the moth-proof closet just yet.
Article eight on the history of Masters Lodge by Bro. Edgar S. Van Olinda
Submitted by History on Fri, 04/27/2007 - 15:40.
A perusal of copies of the minutes of Masters Lodge in its first few years makes interesting reading. For instance, among the
novelties of the proceedings may be noticed that the sixpence fines in 1770 were devoted to having “the Tyler purchase a pair of
genteel snuffers for the use of the lodge. These were delivered on the 20th of June, with a bill of which sixpence was still due. This
balance was finally made up by Brother Hogan, who arrived at the lodge meeting an hour late. This fine thus released the Lodge
from the burden of debt for `genteel snuffers`. Brother Hogan, in consequence of the enforcement of the by-laws as to his fine,
demanded that his name be erased from the membership roster of the Lodge which was accordingly done so that “he is no longer to
be looked upon as a member.”
On January 27, 1772, it was “resolved that the Lodge furnish the Tyler with twelve pint bowls out of the funds of the Lodge, which he
is accountable for; for if any is broke, the person breaking one is to pay eight pence for the same. Brother Van Rensselaer is to
furnish the Tyler with two quart bowls, which if broke is to be paid for by the person breaking the same.”
On St. John the Evangelist's Day of the same year, a donation was made by the Lodge towards the purchase of an organ for the
Reverend Mr. Munoro of St. Peter's Church.
One of the distinguished members of Masters Lodge was Brigadier-General John Starke. On January 8, 1778, the Revolutionary
War officer petitioned the Lodge for the honors of Masonry. He was balloted upon and presenting himself was initiated. The total
initiation fee was 5 pounds, 12 shillings, which included 4 shillings for extra lodge activities. The following year the fee for initiation
was raised to 16 pounds, 12 shillings. The report to the Grand Lodge on June 18, 1784, showed that John Lansing, Jr., was Master;
Jacob John Lansing and Robert Henry were the Wardens, and P. D. Beekman was Secretary. The total membership at the time
was 91 brothers.
New members of Masters Lodge, as well as many older ones, have heard the phrase “The Holy Saints John.” When is the
expression “Saints John” used and when is it “Saint John”? All lodges are dedicated to the memory of the Holy Saints John. In this
instance it is plural because we allude to two Saints John: Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist.
The use of the singular is confined to one place in the ritual. In the reply to the first question in the First Degree, we find the singular
Saint John, because here we allude to Saint John the Almoner, who was so called because he occupied his time by caring for the
poor and the sick.
The Holy Bible on the altar of every Masonic Lodge should be opened as follows:
First Degree: 133rd Psalm--(The lesson of Harmony).
Second Degree: 7th Chapter of Amos. 7th and 8th verses--(The Working Tools of Fellowcraft).
Third Degree: Ecclesiastes, 12th Chapter, 1st to 7th verses--(Advice on active Life).
The Bible occupies the most important and essential station in our Lodge Room, for without it, all Masonic functions would be
nullified. Other stations in the Lodge may be filled with substitutes. There is no substitute for the Bible.
Article nine on the history of Masters Lodge by Bro. Edgar S. Van Olinda
Submitted by History on Fri, 04/27/2007 - 16:45.
On every regular notice sent to the brothers of Masters Lodge, appears the notation “Warranted March 5, 1768.” This is the date
upon when the Lodge received its Charter under which it presents the three degrees of Masonry. It was received from the Provincial
Grand Lodge, George Harrison, Grand Master. This entity was the predecessor of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York as
now constituted. The first Master of Masters Lodge was William Gamble. Samuel Stringer and Jeremiah Van Rensselaer were the
first Wardens and Francis Pfister, Thomas Lynott, Stephen Tuttle, Thomas Swords, Stephen March, William Hogan, Henry Beasly
and Thomas S. Diamond, were the founding members.
The Lodge was duly opened on April 4, 1768. The first visitor of record was Richard Cartwright. A petition having been received
from Mr. Peter Schuyler, he was unanimously accepted and entered the Lodge accordingly. The expenses for the first meeting were
for the Charity Fund, 8 pounds; for the Tyler, 8 shillings; dues for the remainder of the year, one pound, 10 shillings and for aprons,
two shillings. This made a grand total of 10 pounds.
At succeeding meetings, the minutes record that Brothers Stringer and Van Rensselaer, in compliance with the by-laws, paid six
pence each for arriving late to meetings and that Brother Stringer was ordered to transmit, at the earliest opportunity, three pounds,
five shillings to the Worshipful George Harrison, Provincial Grand Master, as the Lodge fee for its warrant. The Lodge voted to hold
weekly meetings on Wednesday evenings.
There were 14 subscribers to the original Lodge building which was the first Lodge house in America. It stood on the site of the
present Masonic Temple on the north-west corner of Lodge Street and Maiden Lane. The corner-stone was laid with impressive
ceremonies on May 12, 1768.
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