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

Immediately after this action was taken by the Grand Master, another petition was presented, asking for another dispensation under
the name of Milo, which was issued, and on June 4, 1846, the Committee on Warrants made a report to the Grand Lodge, then in
session, in which the committee recommended favorable action on the application for a warrant.
The following extract from this report throws some light upon the existing situation so far as it relates to Penn Yan Lodge:
"On the application of the brethren of Penn Yan, now working under dispensation, it appears before your committee that on a former
day the M.'. W.'. Grand Master did grant a dispensation empowering certain brethren of Penn Yan to organize themselves into a
Masonic body and proceed to labor: that after such organization certain facts were presented to the consideration of the Grand
Master, exhibiting a state of things entirely at war with the harmony which should exist in a well-regulated Lodge; that with the facts
before him, the M.'.W.'. Grand Master saw fit to revoke and annul the dispensation granted by him and, instead thereof, to issue a
dispensation to a portion of the body working under the former authority, which present body are known and distinguished as Milo
Lodge, No. ——. This Lodge now asks that a charter may be granted to them and that the jewels, funds and other property which
may have belonged to the other body, working under the former dispensation, be quietly put in their possession.
Your committee recommend that the charter be filled with the names of such officers us they may select and that their petition be
granted."
The recommendation was adopted, and two days after, the warrant was issued. The Lodge has enjoyed an uninterrupted existence
ever since.
The first initiate in the Lodge was JOHN L. LEWIS, JR., who received the first degree May 1, 1846, and was raised on the 22d of
the same month. No sketch of Milo Lodge would he complete without extended reference to this distinguished man and illustrious
Mason.
He was born in Yates County, NY, July 17, 1813: he studied law and was admitted to the bar when but twenty-two years of age; two
years later he was appointed District Attorney, holding this office eleven years, when he was elected County Judge. He became
active in Masonic work immediately after receiving his degrees; serving first as Secretary of his Lodge. He was elected Senior
Warden in 1848; served as Master in 1850-51-52. In 1850 he was Junior Grand Deacon; in 1854 he was elected Deputy Grand
Master, re-elected in 1855, and was Grand Master in 1836-57-58-59.
For over thirty-five years he was an earnest and wise counselor in the deliberations of the Grand Lodge. He died at Penn Yan, NY,
June 11, 1889.
M.'.W.'. JOHN W. VROOMAN, in his address to the Grand Lodge, June 3, 1890, said concerning his Masonic career: "I Fraternally
call your attention to a published history of the Masonic labor and service of JOHN L. LEWIS. You will find it in the printed
transactions of this Grand Body from the year 1850 to the year 1888. Would you see his Masonic Memorial? Look at our present
Constitution, Statutes, Code of Procedure and Rules of Order.
"Would you read one of the Master Masonic orations of this or any other age? Turn to the one he delivered at the dedication of this
building.
"Would you possess a fund of general Masonic information? Study his addresses and his arguments.
"His work was well done. It was all done. Let his own language conclude this brief tribute: ' When my labors are over I seek no
higher praise than the simple, but expressive eulogy inscribed upon the tomb of one of earth's lowly but faithful ones, 'He hath done
what he could.'"
A granite shaft, erected by his brethren, marks his resting place in the cemetery at Penn Yan. It was dedicated by the Grand Master
October 25, 1902.
As a considerable number of the charter members of Milo Lodge had been members of Vernon Lodge, No. 190 (now extinct),
which was organized in 1810, it is proper that some mention should be made of the old Lodge.
The first recorded meeting was held May 8, 1810; its last recorded meeting was held December 27, 1830. This Lodge led an active
career from its organization, and undoubtedly it shared the fate of so many that were forced to succumb to the effect of the anti-
Masonic crusade. In this case, added to the trouble, was the loss of its entire property by fire.
It was warranted March 7, 1810.
The minutes of the Lodge from May 8, 1810, to May 16, 1826, are still in existence and are intact. The old warrant was destroyed in
the fire.
At a session of the Grand Lodge in June, 1827, the Committee on Warrants reported: "That the doings of the M.'.W.'. Grand Master
in granting a dispensation to Vernon Lodge, No. 190, for the continuation of their labors (their original warrant having been burned),
ought to be confirmed, and that a new warrant be granted in the names of the present officers free of expense, and that they retain
their former rank."
There is no record to show that a new warrant was issued.
The original petition, asking for a warrant, is dated Snell, January 27, 1810, and is signed by the following:
Benjamin Shaw. Robert Patterson.
Reuben Weed.
Thomas Lee, Jr.
James Schofield. Joseph Havens.
Joshua Lee.
Stephen Havens.
Harry Smith.
Samuel Lawrence.
John Hobart.
It recommends as officers:
Joshua Lee, Master.
Benjamin Shaw, Senior Warden.
Thomas Lee, Jr., Junior Warden.
The by-laws adopted by the Lodge March 24, 1812, contain some interesting features. The following are excerpts:
6