Grand Lodge of New York - Masonic Lodge Histories Lodge Nos ...

"I vouch for all the within petitioners as being Master Masons in good standing.
A. TORRANCE, P. M.,
Lockport Lodge, No. 73."
A dispensation was issued by M.'. W.'. JOHN D. WILLARD at the City of Troy, N. Y., March 29, 1848.
The Lodge was constituted July 5, 1848, by BRO. A. TORRANCE, Past Master of Lockport Lodge, No. 73. The following is his
report of this event:
"To the R't Worshipful R. R. BOYD, Grand Secretary. "
Dear Sir:
"In compliance with a dispensation from the R't Worshipful Oscar Coles, Deputy Grand Master of Masons in the State of New
York. I have this day, assisted by a sufficient number of Brethren, constituted Lewiston Frontier Lodge, No. 132, and installed the
officers in their respective offices in form.
"Given under my hand this fifth day of July, A. L. 5848.
A. TORRANCE, P. M.,
Lockport Lodge, No. 73."
The warrant granted on July 10, 1848, names as officers:
JOHN T. BEARDSLEY, Master.
AMBROSE THOMAS, Senior Warden.
ASAHEL LYON, Junior Warden.
The first meeting under dispensation was held April 5, 1848, and at this time the following appointments were made:
SEYMOUR SCOVELL. Treasurer.
JAMES H. PAIGE, Secretary.
JOHN HULL, Senior Deacon.
JOHN LADD, Junior Deacon.
JOHN MORRISON, Tiler.
Two more meetings were held in April, the second on the 12th and the third on the 19th; at the fourth meeting, held May 10th,
the first applications for degrees were received, and on May 24th two candidates were initiated. This was the first work done by the
Lodge.
On June 1st, By-laws were adopted and on motion it was
"Resolved, That three persons be selected by the Lodge to recommend to the Grand Lodge the first officers of the Lodge, and
on ballot and motion JOHN T. BEARDSLEY was elected to be recommended as Master, AMBROSE THOMAS, Senior Warden, and
ASAHEL LYON, Junior Warden."
When first organized the Lodge met at the Lewiston Hotel in the village of Lewiston, where it remained until March 23, 1853,
when a resolution was adopted to remove the Lodge to Niagara Falls. The first meeting held at the Falls was on April 20, 1853.
This change in location was not officially approved by the Grand Lodge until June 8th, 1854, when the Committee on Warrants
made the following report, which was adopted:
"In relation to the application for the removal of Lewiston Frontier Lodge, No. 132, from Lewiston to Niagara Falls, they
recommend that the same is hereby sanctioned by this Grand Lodge, and that its name he changed to Niagara Frontier Lodge, No.
132."
The first meeting place at the Falls was in the Devoe Block, corner of Main and Thomas Streets, remaining here until 1862, when
it moved to the Porter Block, where it remained until 1894, when it again moved, this time to its present quarters in the Gluck
Building.
Recently the Lodge purchased property on the corner of Fourth, Walnut and Main Streets, where it is erecting a building for its
own use.
The Lodge was represented at the laying of the corner-stone of the Home at Utica, May 21, 1891, and at the dedication of same
October 5, 1892. It also participated at the laying of the corner-stone of the U. S. Government Building at Niagara Falls, May 24,
1906.
The fiftieth anniversary of the Lodge was celebrated April 6, 1898. On this occasion an address was delivered by M.’ . W.'.
Benjamin Flagler.
In his address, speaking of the Lodge, he said:
"Its influence in this community has been for its good and the high and noble objects of our institution have been kept in view. The
labors of the Lodge room have not been the bounds of the sphere of duty. The brethren have been found beside the bed of suffering
and the pillow of the dying, in the cheerless abodes of want and around the open grave, and while we may not always have done
well and wisely all we should have done, still I may safely say that something has been done towards making men good citizens,
good fathers, brothers and husbands, and much to alleviate the wants of the poor and distressed, the widows and the fatherless.
We should keep in grateful remembrance the brethren who throughout the storm of anti-masonry, in the face of all the
misrepresentations and persecutions, maintained their faith, and who, notwithstanding the obstacles to be surmounted, again
organized a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons and re-lighted the fires of Masonic zeal and labor. At that time they were all past
the meridian of life and have since passed over the ' dark river,' where let us hope they were found to be ' living stones fitly prepared
for that spiritual building, the house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.'
"The influence of their example should not be lost upon us, and now as we are entering on a new era in the history of our Lodge,
let us emulate their good works and show to the world, in our enlarged capabilities, that we are not degenerate sons of worthy
sires."
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