Grand Lodge of New York - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic District ...

The Charter was granted on June 11, 1859, and the Lodge first met on the third story of the Fonda & Numan Building on Warren
Street.
There is much speculation as to the separation of the two Lodges. During that period, there was social unrest, including two civil
causes which were being expounded by many of the people in the area supporting the Fraternity. The first was the Temperance
Movement. Two of the foremost leaders in the area advocating temperance were Austin Holden and Orange Ferriss.
The Fraternity assisted the Temperance societies which were in the area. Both Sons of Temperance ca. 1850 and the Independent
Order of Good Templars ca. 1871, had use of the Lodge rooms for meetings. Around 1850 the custom of the day was to hold a
Masonic meeting, then at its close, those members belonging to the Sons of Temperance would stay on, their non-Masonic
members entering at this time. Orange Ferriss addressed the Glens Falls Temperance Society on September 15, 1837.
Section 3 of the original Glens Falls By-Laws reads: "No member or candidate shall be admitted as a member of this Lodge who
shall make, buy, sell or use as a beverage any spiritous or malt liquors, wine or cider." At a meeting of 121 held 16 Feb 1848, the
following resolution was adopted: "That the members of this Lodge attend the Temperance Celebration on the 22nd as temperance
men." A large Masonic group attended the Temperance celebration which was held on 22 Feb 1848.
The other civil cause was the American Party, sometimes known as the Know-Nothings. The political views of this group were
extreme, especially with respect to their desires to curtail immigration from foreign countries, and make more stringent our
naturalization laws, and also a revulsion to the program in our government with respect to slavery. The people associated with this
group included: Zabina Ellis, editor of the Free Press; Avery Tiffany; James Ferguson; Bethuel Peck.
Zabina Ellis retired from publishing in 1843. Came out of retirement in 1851, bought The Clarion, which became the Free Press. In
1854 supported Know-Nothing Party, and continued to do so.
Nativism began to gain support around 1841. This was chiefly an anti-Catholic movement which grew as the number of Catholic
immigrants increased and the government began to support parochial schools.
This movement first came forward as the American Republican Party which was formed in 1843. In 1845 it evolved into the Native
American Party, and by the early 1850's, changed its name to the American Party.
The American Party culminated with the nominating of Millard Fillmore for President in 1856. He accepted nomination in a published
letter from Paris on May 21, 1856. He was also nominated by the Whig Party. The American Party platform as established on
February 21, 1856, contained a total of 16 points, with the predominant theme "Americans to Rule America". Just before the
election, it was revised to contain only 8 key points and was substantially toned down. The main issue during the campaign was
slavery. The anti-slavery contingent abandoned the American Party and jumped to the newly formed Republican Party.
After their crushing defeat in the 1856 elections, remnants of the American Party and the Whig Party joined to form the
Constitutional Union Party in the 1860 Presidential election. Abraham Lincoln elected President (Republican).
It is interesting to note that the first initiates were Frederick Ranger, son of Samuel Ranger who was at one time a member of
Hamilton Lodge and one time Justice of the Peace; and Leonard McDonald, son of William McDonald, the first initiate in Hamilton
Lodge on December 22, 1806.
The first year added 15 new members, among them being Hiram Harris, long the editor of the Democratic weekly paradoxically
named the Republican, and two no less stalwart Republican local leaders, Jerome Lapham (Chairman Town War Committee 1864-
65; Member of State Assembly 1865; Village President 1867; State Senator 1862-63) and Meredith Little.
The first Lodge room was in what was colloquially known as the "Masonic Block" on Warren Street, located where the Vermillia
market afterward stood.
Members in public life:
John Dix Governor of NY 1911-1912;
Enoch Rosekrans, Justice of Supreme Court (Supreme Court of NY 1855-71);
James Holden State Historian;
Daniel DeLong and Austin Holden State Assemblymen;
E.H. Brereton State Senator;
George Raley County Judge;
S.D. Kendrick Mayor of Glens Falls;
Sterling Higley City Chamberlain;
Gerald Solomon U.S. Congress;
Edison Fitch Grand Master of Quebec;
Congressman Orange Ferriss: County Judge 1851-63, U.S. Congress 1866-71, Commissioner Southern Claims 1871-87,
Second Auditor of U.S. Treasury 1880;
Judge Andrew Cheritree Town Supervisor of Luzerne; District Attorney 1871; County Judge 1882-1900;
Senator Henry E.H. Brereton;
Assemblymen:
Austin Holden,
Jerome Lapham,
Delcour Potter,
James Porteous,
William Cameron (Supervisor of Queensbury 1890),
Howard Conkling,
Charles Hitchcock (State Assembly 1899,1900; Supervisor Town of Queensbury, Village Treasurer)
Loyal Davis (School Commissioner Warren County 1887 & 1900-02; State Assembly 1903-04; Town of Queensbury
Supervisor 1906-07; County Attorney 1908; Captain Company K, 2nd NY Volunteer Infantry 1898; Lt. Col. 2nd Regiment
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