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

In November, 1827, measures were taken to incorporate the Lodge under an "Act of the Legislature of 1825," which vested it
with authority to own and hold real estate.
When the Anti-Masonic crusade began to exert an influence upon the community it soon affected the Lodge and it was deemed
advisable to cease holding regular meetings but in order to save its real estate and hold the charter it was resolved to hold meetings
at irregular intervals, thus from 1828 to 1846 only one or two meetings were held in each year. In March, 1832, the sale of the real
estate was considered, but the members of the Lodge wisely resolved to guard and preserve its property. They however authorized
the Treasurer to contribute all funds in his hands toward the erection of a Universalist Meeting House in the village; the sum
contributed was $50.00.
The Lodge succeeded in holding its real estate and occupied the building until 1865, when, its growth having made larger
accommodations necessary, it moved to the Phinney Block on Pioneer Street and the old Hall was abandoned for Lodge purposes.
In 1886 the Phinney Block was purchased by the Lodge and the old Hall which had been the scene of so many interesting
events was sold.
In a letter written by WOR. ELIAB P. BYRAM in September, 1892, is the following relating to the Lodge and its old Hall: "It may and
it may not be known to you that it was thro' my instrumentality the Lodge was relieved from the Morgan incubus and resuscitated
into new life and put on the way to its present prosperity, for which I sacrificed both time and money.
"The old Lodge room never was carpeted, and the only seats were coarse benches, one row against the wall on both sides, and
about two feet from them were other benches on both sides of the room, with a shelf on the back side near the top, from which we
took our refreshments, which in early days were never omitted, and all we had to do was to turn in our seats and face the lunch, and
help ourselves. I broached the subject of resurrecting the Lodge to several of my friends with whom I had pleasant associations,
among them DR. F. G. THRALL. DR. WM. H. McNAMEE, WM. K. BINGHAM, EDWIN PIER, two brothers THAYER, who were merchants
from Poughkeepsie, one of them a Mason, and some I cannot recall. I then proposed to the old members of the Lodge to give us
initiation, to which they gladly consented, and we were soon made Masons, and added a carpet and new furniture throughout.
"Before I joined the Lodge they only met once a year, for the old Masons to re-elect themselves officers, so as not to forfeit the
charter."
Although it had succeeded in maintaining its existence it had failed to make proper returns to the Grand Lodge, consequently at
the meeting of the Grand Lodge in June, 1847, it was "Resolved. that R.'. W.'. Br. E. S. Barnum, Senior Grand Warden, be
authorized and requested to demand and receive the warrant and property of the late Otsego Lodge, No. 41, at Cooperstown."
This officer visited the Lodge and upon ascertaining the condition of affairs and fearing that if the Lodge complied with the
resolution demanding its charter it would forfeit all claim to its real estate, an arrangement was made to discontinue holding
meetings for a time and a committee was appointed to confer with the Grand Master and endeavor to revive the old warrant or
secure a new one. The following excerpt from the minutes of the Grand Lodge, under date of June 8, 1848, gives the result of this
effort to revive the Lodge:
"Resolved. That a new warrant he granted to Otsego Lodge, No. 41, in continuance of the old warrant on payment of the
constitutional fee. That ARIEL THAYER be named therein as Master, JAMES L. Fox, Senior Warden and ELIAB P. BYRAM, Junior
Warden. And under the peculiar circumstances of the case said Lodge is also allowed to retain its old warrant with an endorsement
on its face that a new warrant has been issued in continuation thereof. Resolved. That the doings of said Lodge since the forfeiture
of its charter be and they are healed."
The conditions contained in the foregoing having been complied with, a new warrant was issued on June 17, 1848; the Lodge
resumed labor and on August 8, 1848, the officers were installed by JAMES HYDE. At this time it received the number 138. From this
time forward the Lodge has prospered and enjoyed a healthy growth.
In 1877 it purchased a plot in Lakewood Cemetery, Cooperstown, for burial purposes. It has always responded generously to
calls of a charitable nature. On October 17, 1871, it contributed toward the relief of the sufferers from the great fire in Chicago, also
in April, 1900, it quickly responded to the relief of the stricken city of San Francisco. Cal.
It has frequently celebrated the Festival of St. John the Baptist by holding exercises of a public character.
It participated at the laying of the corner-stone of the County Court House at Cooperstown, the Masonic Hall at Schenevus, NY,
the State Armory at Oneonta, NY, and the Home at Utica.
On April 24, 1889, it held "Jubilee" services.
It held a Centennial Celebration on the evening of August 14, 1895, in Fireman's Hall. This event attracted a large gathering. The
exercises consisted of vocal and instrumental music, the reading of a historical sketch of the "Lodge by W. ALBERT T. VAN HORNE
and several addresses y prominent speakers. An address was delivered by M.'. W.'. JOHN STEWART, Past Grand Master of the
Grand Lodge. In concluding his address he said:
"It is with more than usual interest that I come from a distant part of the State, to speak a word of encouragement to you and bid
you God speed in the commencement of another century of Masonic work. May it he even more profitable than the first. May
prosperity he yours, remaining true to the Great Fraternity whose foundation is Truth: whose tenets are 'Friendship. Morality and
Brotherly Love,' and whose capstone is inscribed 'Holiness to the Lord.' "
GRAND LODGE OFFICERS.
Nathaniel P. Willis, District Deputy Grand Master.
MASTERS.
1796. Elihu Phinney.
1797. Elihu Phinney.
1798. Elihu Phinney.
1799. Richard Edwards.
1800. Richard Edwards.
1801. Elihu Phinney.
1802. Joshua Dewey.
1803. Joshua Dewey.
1804. Joshua Dewey.
1805. E. H. Metcalf.
1806. E. H. Metcalf.
1807. E. H. Metcalf.
1808. William Sprague.
1809. William Sprague.
1810. William Sprague.
22