Norwalk After Two Hundred & Fifty Years

Master was elected ; but was not when the Grand Lodge was formed in 1789, but soon after arfiiliated with it and received a new charter, and at the renumbering of the Lodges in 1796, according to seniority, was numbered 6. It has continued in active existence to the present time, its doors not having been closed during the Anti- Masonic excitement, 1828-1835. In May, 1865, the Lodge celebrated its centennial. There was a large gathering of distinguished Masons and brethren from other lodges. The consent of St. John's Lodge, No. 6, has been given to form the following lodges: Jerusalem, No. 49, of Ridgefield, in 1808; Temple, No. 65, of Westport, in 1824 ; Harmony, No. 67, of New Canaan, in 1825 ; and Old Well, No. 108, in South Norwalk, in 1868; rhe last having concurrent jurisdiction with St. John's, No. 6. The following is a list of brethren who have held the office of Worshipful Master in St. John's Lodge, No. 6, from its organization in 1765 until the present time: Benjamin Isaacs, 11 years; Stephen St. John, 6; Ebenezer Whitney, 3 ; David Lambert, 3 ; Matthew Reed, 5 ; Samuel Burrall, 1 ; Jonathan Knight, 10, Isaac S. Isaacs, 1; Phineas Miller, 2; Tayloi Sherman, 1; Josiah Thatcher, 2; William M. Betts, 1; Moses Greg- ory, 1; Daniel Church, 1; William J. Street, 4; Joseph Keeler, 5 ; William G. Betts, 1 ; Stephen Smith, 2 ; Henry Selleck, 2; Philo Price, 4; Asa E. Smith, 4; James Stevens, 11 ; Henry W. Smith, 5 ; George F. Daskam, 1 ; John A. McLean, 1 ; Dimon Fanton, t ; Eli K. Street, 1 ; William D. Camp, 1 ; Samuel Lynes, M. D., 2; William W. Storey, 1 ; Thomas B. Butler, 1 ; Asa Smith, 1 ; F. St. John Lockwood, 1 ; Edward P. Weed, 1 ; Albert H. Wil- coxson, 1 ; Alfred H. Camp, 6; John H. Aiken, 1 ; Levi Warner, Jr., 1 ; Clauge Guthrie, 1 ; James W. Storey, 3 ; Theodore Wilcox, 1 ; Isaac Church, Jr., 1 ; David Pol- lard, 1 ; Augustus C. Golding, 3 ; Jesse Pollard, 1 ; Mark Harris, 1 ; G. Ward Selleck, 1 ; Daniel C. Nash, 1 ; John Cotter, 2; John H. Lee, 3; Charles W. Many, 2; Brain- erd W. Maples, 1 ; Frederick Mead, 2 ; Arthur C. Wheeler, 2; John H. Wade, 1 ; Edgar N. Sloan, 2; Har- vey M. Kent, 1 ; Samuel H. Huntington, 1 ; George E. Curtis. Of the above George F. Daskam and Asa Smith have been Grand Master of Masons for the State of Con- necticut. 381 Old Well Lodge, No. 108, F. & A. M., was organ- ized under a dispensation granted by M. W. William Storer, Grand Master of Masons, July 27, 1868, and re- ceived a charter from the Grand Lodge May 12, 1869. The charter members were: Theodore Wilcox, W. M.; Samuel Comstock, S. W. ; Frederick A. Kayser, J. W. ; Chester F. Tolles, Treasurer; William S. Knapp, Sec- retary; George W. Knight, S. D., and William B. Reed, J. D. The place of meeting is in Washington street, South Norwalk. Old Well Lodge has been prosperous from the be- ginning and now numbers 193 members. The following is a list of brethren who have held the office of Worshipful Master in Old Well Lodge, No. 108, from its organization in 1868 until the present time: Theodore Wilcox, Samuel Comstock, George W. Knight, Robert M. Wilcox, William H. Raymond, Thaddeus Guyer, George W. Smith, John W. Bogardus, James M. Warden, R. Eugene Kinney, William P. Beers, J. Albert McGinnis, John J. Nash, Charles J. Palmer, Edward K. Diver, Jay Simons, Leo Davis and Chester F. Clark. ROYAL ARCH MASONRY. Washington Chapter, No. 24, R. A. M., was char- tered by the M. E. Grand Chapter of Connecticut, on the 10th day of May, 1827, to be holden in the Town of Norwalk, and named Companions Henry Selleck to be first High Priest; Phineas Miller, first King, and Ste- phen Smith to be first Scribe, most of the members of this new Chapter had been members of Rittenhouse Chapter, No. 11, which had held its convocation in Nor- walk and Stamford, and which from that time held its meetings in Stamford. Shortly after starting out in life Washington Chapter met the wave of anti-masonry which for many years retarded its progress but it sur- vived all persecutions, and to-day continues its work commenced more than seventy years ago. How strong the anti-masonic storm was may be judged from the fact that no new Chapter was chartered after Washing- ton, No. 24, until May, 185 1, a period of twenty-four years. Washington Chapter has always held its meetings in the hall of St. Johns Lodge, No. 6. The following is a list of Companions who have held the office of M. E. High Priest in Washington Chapter, No. 24, from its organization in 1827 until the present time: Henry Selleck, Phineas Miller, William J. Street, Elijah Gregory, James Stevens, Edwin Hoyt, John A. McLean, George F. Daskam, Samuel Lynes, M. D., William W. Storey, Asa Smith, Albert H. Wilcoxson, Edward P. Weed, Stephen Merrill, Augustus C. Gold- mg, Robert M. Wilcox, George W. Smith, William A. Sammis, William Randel Smith, Joseph T. Rice, George Ward Selleck, Wallace Dann, James M. Warden, Theo- dore E. Smith, Elmer J. Fairchild, David Pollard, Far- ron S. Betts, Samuel H. Huntington, George E. Curtis, Arthur C. Wheeler. Companion Asa Smith has held the office of M. E. Grand High Priest for the State of Connecticut. Butler Chapter, No. 38, R. A. M., was organized under a dispensation granted in December, 1873, and Chartered May 12, 1874. Charter members, Robert M. Wilcox, M. E. H. P. ; George W. Smith, E. K. ; Wil- liam B. Reed, E. S. ; W. H. Raymond, C. of H.; Joseph R. Raymond, P. S.; Riston A. Brewer, R. A. C. ; Henry D. Fox, M. 3 V.; Theodore Wilcox, M. 2 V.; Charles B. Dake, M. 1st V.; William Goodwin, Tyler; John E. Smith, Treas.; John W. Craw, Secretary. Butler Chapter holds its Convocations in the hall of Old Well Lodge, No. 108. It has prospered since its institution, and now has 106 members. The following is a list of Companions who have held the office of High Priest in Butler Chapter, No. 38, from its organization in 1873 until the present time: Robert W. Wilcox, 1873-4-5-6-7-8-9; George W. Smith, 1880: Thaddens Guyer, 1 881 -2-3-4-5-8- 9; John W. Bo- gardus, 1886-7; William H. Raymond, 1890; William P. Beers, 1891-2-3-4; Peter Decker, 1895-6-7-8; J. Al- bert McGinnis, 1899; Charles J. Palmer, 1900-01. KNIGHTS TEMPLARS. Clinton Commandery, No. 3, Knights-Templars, was instituted by virtue of a Dispensation issued by De- Witt Clinton, Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templars, in the United States of America, and dated Feb. 9th, 1827, and it was located in the town of Washing-ton, Litchfield County, the first Eminent Commander being Daniel B. Brinsmade. The Commandery was started with eleven Charter members, and created seventeen Knights in about one year. It was one of the three Commanderies which formed the Grand Commandery of Connecticut in 1827, its Eminent Commander being the third officer of that body. The wave of Anti-Masonry soon checked its pro- gress, and in 1847 ** was removed to Norwalk, the two Knights living here, Henry W. Smith and Edwin Hoyt, with John W. Leeds of Stamford affiliated with it, and four Knights being created by the Grand Officers, one of them, James Stevens, was elected Eminent Com- mander, and from that time it has prospered. Its juris- diction then extended over the counties of Fairfield and Litchfield. In. 1855 permission was given to form Ham- ilton Commandery, No. 5, of Bridgeport, and the jurisdiction was divided between them. In 1870 per- mission was given to form Crusader Commandery, No. 10, of Danbnry, and all of the territory north of, and including the town of Ridgefield, was given to Crusader, No. 10. Clinton Commandery has always held its stated conclaves since it was located in Norwalk in the hall of St. Johns Lodge, and on the first Friday of the month. The following is a list of Sir Knights who have held the office of Eminent Commander of Clinton Command- ery from its organization in 1827 until the present time: Daniel B. Brinsmade, James Stevens, George F. Das- kam, William W. Storey, Asa Smith, David M. Lane, Augustus C. Golding, James W. Storey, David Pollard, Edwin Hoyt, George Ward Selleck, Dwight Waugh, Levi C. Hanford, Wallace Dann, Christian Swartz, George W. Raymond, Henry M. Cooley, Frank Street, J. Belden Hurlbutt, Charles E. Dow, Elmer J. Fairchild, Charles N. Wood, Peter Decker, Arthur C. Wheeler, Farron S. Betts, Ferdinand B. Smith. The following have held the office of Grand Master or Grand Com- mander of Knights Templars in the State of Connecti- cut: John A. McLean, George F. Daskam, William W. Storey, Augustus C. Golding, Christian Swartz. All organizations of every kind were invited by circular and also in the local papers to furnish statistics for this de- partment, and if any society is omitted it is because its sec- retary did not respond.— Ed. 325 GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC UCKINGHAM POST, No. 12, Dep't. of Connecticut ; Date of organization, Feb. 25, 1880. Number of members, 85. Objects of the organization — We, the soldiers and sailors, and hon- orably discharged soldiers and sailors of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States, who have con- sented to this Union, having aided in maintaining the honor, integrity and supremacy of the National Govern- ment during the late Rebellion, do unite to establish a permanent association for the objects hereinafter set forth : The objects to be accomplished by this organization are as follows: 1. To preserve and strengthen those kind and fraternal feelings which bind together the soldiers, sai- lors and marines who united to suppress the late Rebel- lion, and to perpetuate the memory and history of the dead. 2. To assist such former comrades in arms as need help and protection, and to extend needful aid to the widows and orphans of those who have fallen. 3. To maintain true allegiance to the United States of America, based upon a paramount respect for, and fidelity to, its Constitution and Laws ; to discoun- tenance whatever tends to weaken loyalty, incites to insurrection, treason or rebellion, or in any manner impairs the efficiency and permanency of our free insti- tutions ; and to encourage the spread of universal liberty, equal rights and justice to all men.