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

Jephtha's first Junior Warden John H. Jarvis's travelling papers, September 27, 1861
On display in the southwest corner of the Lodge room
The first applications of membership were received, investigated and subsequently raised. Asa C. Thurber and Jehiel Grumman of
Northport; Theodore S. Lawndes, John T. Bennett, Jonas Pearsall of Huntington, and John W. Dickerson of Centreport were the first
brothers raised. In the early years the predominant professions of the Brothers were Seamen, Yeoman, Ship's Carpenter’s,
Captains and Sailmakers, for at the time Huntington was a busy seaport for ferries to New York and Connecticut, and for the
shipping of produce. Many Brothers raised in the new Lodge, in later years, went on to form Alcyone Lodge No. 695 of Northport,
Babylon Lodge No. 793 of Babylon, Matinnecock Lodge No. 806 of Oyster Bay and Glen Cove Lodge.
In June 1860, after receiving a Charter from Grand Lodge, the Dispensation expired and the Lodge became known as Jephtha
Lodge No. 494. Our Most Worshipful Grand Master was John W. Simons, Deputy Grand Master Finlay M. King and Grand
Secretary James M. Austin. A pubic dedication was held in June 1860 and from that day on Jephtha Lodge has prospered.
A Lodge Seal was procured in September 1860 and at the end of the first year, membership totaled 53 Brothers. Initiation fee was
$15 and dues $3. In 1869, with initiative and foresight, the Lodge purchased a plot of land on New York Avenue for $1000, for the
erection of a Temple in later years. In the interim the Lodge leased the property for $50 per year. By 1865, the Lodge moved to a
room over O. S. Sammis on the NW corner of Main St. and New York Ave.
During the early years of the Lodge, the Worshipful Master paid all the bills by a motion being made for the Master to draw a warrant
on the treasury for the necessary amount. The Lodge was always closed on Harmony and Peace. From its beginning in 1860, when
a Brother left the Lodge for that House not made with hands eternal in the Heavens, the Lodge had a Special Communication. They
assembled in the Lodge Room, opened the Lodge, then retired to accompany the remains of our deceased Brother to the church for
religious service, then to the place of burial for a Masonic service, thereafter returning to the Lodge for closing.
After 25 years, the Lodge has 67 Brothers, with initiation fees of $25 and dues of $4. On October 14, 1897, the original Suffolk
District (consisting of Queens, Nassau and Suffolk) was designated as two separate Masonic Districts of Nassau and Suffolk by
Grand Master W:.M:. W.A. Sutherland. In 1899 Grand Lodge honored Jephtha Lodge for the first time by appointing R:.W:. Brother
Douglas Conklin District Deputy Grand Master of the Nassau and Suffolk District.
After many dreams and schemed of the members, Jephtha finally concluded to erect its own temple. In the spring of 1904, W:.M:.
Edgar P. Bunce appointed a building committee naming E.B. Hawkins, A.E. Lowndes, A.B. Gildersleeve, A.S. Pettit and Edward
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