cr ft m sonry - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District Historical ...

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It was early in the year of 1853 that a group of Masons, members of Syracuse Lodge No. 102, feeling there was a need for expanded activities in the Masonic Fraternity in the City of Syracuse, made application to Grand Lodge of this State for a dispensation to form a new Lodge to be known as Central City Lodge. The outstanding and exemplary character of the petitioners, together with the favorable recommendation of Syracuse Lodge No. 102, resulted in a procedure most unusual in that the customary trial period under dispensation was waived, and the warrant for the Lodge was promptly issued and its charter bears the date of 11 Jun 1854. First Officers: George N. Williams, Master Druggist. b/ ca 1819, Franklin, CT. Initiated in Mt. Morris Lodge No. 122, New York. Master in 1853, attended Grand Lodge as representative in June 1854. Appointed to Committee on Grievances, June 1854. Joshua G. Bigelow, SW Physician, b. ca 1822 in Oswego County. Initiated in Sylvan Lodge No. 44. Robert M. Richardson, JW Attorney, by ca 1819. Charter Members: Barnum, Isaac D. Saddler. Devendorf, H. H. Bank Teller, b. ca 1834. Hamilton, William F. Merchant, b. ca 1830 in Onondaga, NY. Initiated in Syracuse Lodge No. 102. Leach, James S. Attorney, b. ca 1809, resided in Syracuse. Initiated in Sylvan Lodge No. 44. Marvin, Edgar Merchant, b. ca 1827. Initiated in Syracuse Lodge No. 102. Mathews, James H. Bookkeeper, b. ca 1829 in Salina, Onondaga, NY. Initiated in Syracuse Lodge No. 102. Nye, James W. Attorney, b. ca 1831. Paige, Clinton F. Attorney, b. ca 1829 in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York. Initiated 11 Mar, Passed 17 Mar, Raised 24 Mar 1853 in Syracuse Lodge No. 102. Master 1855-60. Grand Master in 1863-64. Phillips, John H. Bookkeeper, b. ca 1831 in Dryden, Tompkins County, New York. Pratt, William H. H. Secretary IOOF, b. ca 1816 in Prattsville, NY. Initiated in Joppa Lodge, Brooklyn. Seymour, Joseph Silversmith, b. ca 1824 in Schoharie, NY. Initiated in Syracuse Lodge No. 102 Thomson, David W. Tailor, b. ca 1819. Meeting Places: 1. 1854. First displayed it three great lights in the Stanley Block, which later occupied the site of the Merchant National Bank Building on S. Warren Street. 2. Building on S. Salina Street, which would be about number 317, however the buildings have so changed at this location that it would be very difficult to determine the exact position of this meeting place. 3. In the year 1871 the Lodge moved to a location further south in the same block of S. Salina Street, into a building known as the Crouse-Lyman-Gifford Estate Building. The entrance was located at what would be about 339 S. Salina Street. The Lodge remained at this location for about 45 years. Those of our members who received their degrees in these old quarters would recall with sentimental regard those old Lodge rooms, unique in many respects, but whose memories remind us of the happy days of our Masonic careers. There one found Masonic brotherhood at its best. It was at this location that quarters were fitted up for the use of other Masonic bodies known as Central City, which included: Central City Chapter 70, RAM Central City Council 13, Royal and Select Masters (Cryptic) Central City Commandery No. 25, K.T., and Central City Bodies, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite (A.A.S.R.) In Jan 1902 a most disastrous fire swept through these quarters with great loss to the various Masonic bodies, including the early records, and thus was lost much data and valuable and intimate information regarding the early history of the Lodge. 4. It was at this time that Syracuse Lodge No. 501, with generous hospitality, permitted Central City Lodge No. 305 to use their rooms, and thus our Lodge was able to continue its work without interruption in the Greyhound Building (photo), located at the northwest corner of James and Warren Streets. The Lodge continued to meet there for several months while its old quarters were being repaired. --------- 1000th to 2500th Members On 20 Dec 1910 a Third Degree was conferred on a class of five, and this marked the 1000th member of the Lodge, or 1000 members in 57 years, for an average of nearly 20 per year in “good” and well as “bad” years. By 1917 the total had increased to 1217 Brothers. We continued to grow to 2500 members, but due to deaths, demits and members dropped for non-payment of dues, we started to go downward by 1957 with a total of 950 Brothers spread throughout the United States and in many foreign lands. --------- 16
Syracuse Masonic Temple 5. In 1917 our Lodge joined with the other Masonic bodies in the City of Syracuse to occupy the new Masonic Temple located at 320 Montgomery Street, where it was one of the four owner Lodges, which were: Central City Lodge No. 305 Syracuse Lodge No. 501 Salt Springs Lodge No. 520 Mount Sinai Lodge No. 864 The cornerstone of this building was laid on 4 Nov 1915 when Central City Lodge No. 305 joined the other Masonic bodies in the city and with the officers of the Grand Lodge in the formal ceremony. Herbert W. Greenland recorded the story of the Syracuse Masonic Temple’s conception and subsequent building in his booklet, “Free Masonry in Syracuse and Vicinity, published by the Syracuse Journal at the Dedication of the Syracuse Masonic Temple, February 22, 1917.” The interesting account that he then gave is as follows: 1879 - The erection of a temple to hold all of the Masonic Bodies had long been an ardent desire of the Syracuse Masons. In 1879, committees were appointed by the three lodges (Central City 305, Syracuse 501 and Salt Springs 520), and an organization formed, who secured options on many sites at prices which we now realize were very low, but then the present only was considered and the brethren were reluctant to mortgage the future, so the whole project was abandoned. 1891 - The Masons of the city again felt the time was ripe to build their temple. An organization of the three lodges was formed with about 200 members. Brother Austin C. Wood was the president and Brother Benjamin F. Stevens, secretary. Up to 1894 subscriptions for bonds to the amount of $25,000 were received. Unfortunately at that time the great financial troubles of the country set in and many of the subscribers found it impossible to meet their payments. A meeting was called and it was voted to pay back the amount subscribed and again abandon the undertaking. During its existence the association held many entertainments and the proceeds thereof enabled it to pay all of its expenses and also the interest on all subscriptions. 21 Jan 1909 - Syracuse Lodge was summoned to take action regarding the purchase for a Masonic Building of the Jones property on the southwest corner of South Salina and Adams Streets, upon which an option was secured for $30,000. There was a large attendance and a special committee was appointed to consider the proposition. April 1 the committee reported that only an unsatisfactory progress had been made and asked to be discharged, which was done. 2 Feb 1912 - Central City Lodge No. 305 sent communications to the other lodges announcing that a committee had been appointed to consider a plan for the erection of a Masonic Temple and asked that like committees be appointed to co-operate therewith. Several meetings of the committee were held and reports made to their respective lodges, but on account of a difference of opinion among the members of the several lodges as to the erection of a strictly “Fraternal” building, or of a “Commercial-Fraternal” building, there was no union of effort and the committees were discharged. Central City Lodge, however, authorized the purchase of the property 604 (620) South Salina Street with the intention of erecting thereon a Temple for the Central City Bodies, but upon the agreement of the Masonic Bodies of Syracuse upon the site of Montgomery Street, it abandoned the project and contracted to convey the South Salina Street site to the Syracuse Temple Association for $33.500. The history of the new temple, from the inception to completion is fully related in the dedication program, so it will not be necessary to give it here. 22 Feb 1917 - distinctively marks the division between the old and new in the local history of Free Masonry in Syracuse and may be compared to the entrance of the Chosen People of God into the promised land, after their wanderings for forty years in the wilderness. For nearly a hundred years the craft, in its various lodges and other bodies, has held meetings in numerous localities, wherever quarters were available, which were fitted up and maintained by great individual expense, only to be discarded after a time to repeat the experiment in other places. What we and our predecessors have hoped for and dreamed of is now realized. We will hereafter be under one roof, a united family where one may have any and all degrees of Masonry, as well as of the allied organizations, conferred. Where no distinction can exist, “save that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree.” --------- Here follows the tribute of the General Temple Committee: Dream of Generation of Masons Fulfilled The dream of a generation of Masons in Syracuse came to a full and happy realization. Too high a tribute cannot be paid to the small, generous hand of our brothers, whose unceasing activity and unfailing perseverance have translated a glorious vision into a still more glorious reality. Credit is due the Masons whose financial assistance made it possible to enter upon the project so happily concluded. To all who have borne a hand in this project the consciousness of a work well done will be a proud memory in the years to come. Space does not permit an extended explanation of the history of our Temple. Its roots reach back into the years where dreamers in Masonry foresaw in marble and stone a living example of the strength and vitality of our institution. It immediate history began with a meeting in November 1914, with the following representatives: Central City Lodge: Edward E. Haun, George N. Crouse and William F. Canough 17
Page 1 and 2: 208 years of CR FT M SONRY in Onond
Page 3 and 4: That he was really a Mason is doubt
Page 5 and 6: In Part I of this work, covering th
Page 7 and 8: Syracuse Lodge No. 102 recorded 256
Page 9 and 10: Selected Biographical or Historical
Page 11 and 12: Alvin Munn Ball, son of Lebbeus, Jr
Page 13 and 14: Robert Gilmore, elected Master 1827
Page 15: Notes - glh: Oliver Hessler appears
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Page 43 and 44: Vol 1 - the work of George J. Gardn
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