Craft Masonry in Oneida County, New York - Onondaga and ...

The first meeting was held on December 25 (Christmas), 1816.
Montgomery Hunt, Master. Colling Locke, Steward.
Ephraim Hart, Senior Warden James Delvin, Steward.
Thomas Walker, Junior Warden. Walter Fleming, Master of Ceremonies.
Asahel Seward, Treasurer. John E. Hinman, Master of Ceremonies.
William Hays, Jr., Secretary. William Clark, Tiler,
John Bernard, Senior Deacon.
R. M. Malcom, Junior Deacon.
were installed by R.'. W.'. NATHANIEL CALKINS.
Utica Lodge has been active and has had an uninterrupted existence since it was first organized in 1816; this is an exceptional
record, as but few Lodges have escaped the perils of depression and lack of interest which so frequently caused a cessation of work
during the early part of the last century. Neither did the Morgan Persecution seriously affect the activity of this Lodge, the record of
meetings from 1828 to 1832 inclusive is as follows:
In 1828 thirteen meetings were held, one petition for degrees was received.
In 1829 eleven meetings were held; five petitions were received; one candidate was raised and three affiliates were received.
In 1830 eight meetings were held; no work was done.
In 1831 nine meetings were held.
In 1832 five meetings were held.
During the early history of the Lodge meetings were held once a month at 5 o'clock P.M.
Membership dues were twenty-five cents for each regular meeting; the expense of a special meeting was paid for by the person
for whose convenience it was called; if an officer was absent he was fined, the Master $1 and other officers fifty cents.
On several occasions the Lodge has been honored by the presence of the Grand Master; on October 31, 1825, the Lodge
participated in the celebration attending the opening of the Erie Canal. A committee was appointed to wait upon Governor DEWITT
CLINTON, who was Grand Master when, the Lodge was organized, and invite him to visit with the brethren.
On December l5, 1822, M.'. W.'. JOSEPH ENOS was entertainer!; M.'. W.'. JOHN D. EVANS was present on September 21, 1854;
M.'. W.'. FRANK R. LAWRENCE on January 20, 1886; M.'. W.'. WILLIAM A. Brodie on April 9, 1894, and M.'. W.'. WILLIAM A.
SUTHERLAND on February 27, 1899.
For many years the Festival of St. John the Baptist was observed by the Lodge. It has also participated in many events of a
public character; it took part in celebrating the completion of the first Atlantic cable, August 30, 1858; the funeral obsequies of
President Abraham Lincoln, April It), 180'S; the ceremonies attending the laying of the corner-stones of the Utica City Hall, 1853;
Utica Orphan Asylum, 1860; Home for Aged Men, 1890 ; Masonic Home, 1891; the State Armory at Utica; the Munson-Williams
Memorial Hall, 1895, and the Masonic Temple at Utica, 1897; it also participated at the dedication of the Home and Masonic Temple
at Utica.
The first place of meeting was in the upper story of a building first used for the village school; use upper story was added by the
fraternity. About 1836 it moved to 2 and 4 Catherine Street, in the building known as Knickerbocker Hall; here it remained three
years, when it moved to the Seymour Block at the corner of Genesee and Broad Streets. On .November 4, 1852, it moved to the
Bradish Block, 183 Genesee Street; this being the anniversary of the initiation of BRO. GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON, dedicatory
services were held by R.'. W.'. EZRA S. BARNUM. It remained here until May, 1878, when it moved to 125 Genesee Street in the
building then known as Masonic Hall where it remained until 1809, with the exception of a few months while it temporarily occupied
quarters in Odd Fellows Temple owing to a fire which compelled it to vacate the rooms in Masonic Hall; in January, 1899, it moved
to its present quarters in the Masonic Temple on Genesee Street.
MEN IN PUBLIC LIFE.
Utica Lodge has had upon its rolls many names of men who have been prominent in professions, in various business
enterprises, as well as a number who have been elected or appointed to public office.
Those who were in public office are:
Benjamin Allen, Assemblyman.
Josiah K. Brown, City Attorney,
Ezra S. Barnum, Coroner, Deputy State Dairy Commission.
Sheriff, Justice of the Peace, Deputy US Marshal, Alderman.
K. Prentiss Bailey, Editor "Utica Daily Observer," Past Master,
State Civil Service Commission.
Gurdon Burchard, Village Trustee.
Benjamin Ballou, Village Trustee.
Samuel A. Beardsley, City Judge,
John Baxter, Village Trustee. Railroad Commissioner.
Edbert Bagg, City Surveyor.
William Clarke, Village President.
Theodore F. Butterfield, Mayor.
Thomas Colling, Village Trustee,
Charles E. Barnard, Mayor. City Clerk.
Lewis H. Babcock, City Attorney.
David W. Childs, Village Clerk.
Francis K. Baxter, City Surveyor.
Perry G. Childs, State Senator.
John R. Baxter, City Surveyor.
Abraham Culver, Village Trustee.
Levi Comstock, Village Trustee.
Ezra S. Cozier, Village Trustee, Village President, City
Treasurer.
Charles B. Coventry, Trustee of State Asylum.
William H. Christian, City Surveyor.
Charles H. Childs, Commissioner, Mohawk River Straightening.
Augustine G. Dauby, Village Trustee, Post Master, Editor "Utica
Observer."
Watson T. Dunmore, County Judge.
Robert Dodd, Coroner.
Walter Embley, Assemblyman.
Theodore S. Faxton, Railroad President, Village Trustee.
Alderman. Sheriff, Mayor, Bank President.
Homer T. Fowler, School Commissioner.
John W. Fuller, City Treasurer.
George D. Frank, County Clerk.
Amos Gay, Village Trustee.
William Geere. Village Trustee.
Samuel B. Garvin, District Attorney.