Craft Masonry in Orange and Rockland Counties, New York

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With the death of Joseph’s father, Joseph Smith Sr., in September 1840, the Prophet found in James Adams a man he came to regard as a surrogate father. Adams may have heard of, and become part of Mormonism in 1836, but his recorded interaction with the Church begins with his meeting with Joseph Smith in Springfield in the fall of 1839. Events resulting from this first meeting made the passing of James Adams in the summer of 1843 an important event in Joseph Smith’s life. Adams was included in Nauvoo ritual innovations and was one of the first inductees into the “endowment” and became a polygamist in the summer of 1843. Smith’s father was the first Church patriarch, and Adams was ordained a patriarch likewise. Other facts could be marshaled to show the high regard Joseph held for James Adams. Adams had an active role in Illinois politics and ran into the usual buzzsaw of political newsprint as a result. [5] He ran for a number of offices including governor, but was unsuccessful in that particular attempt. Adams had been appointed to the office of Probate Judge in Sangamon County, Ill. and held this office until it became an elected position in 1837. In the ensuing election, Adams ran against Anson Henry, a friend of Abraham Lincoln, whose (Lincoln’s) machine proceeded to dig up dirt on Adams. Adams and Lincoln lambasted each other and their allies in the newspapers. In the end, Adams won, but the political war earned him enemies. http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=377754393809 James Adams: First Master of Springfield Lodge No. 4 and first lawyer in Springfield, Illinois. by Springfield Lodge No.4, A.F.&A.M. on Monday, March 22, 2010 at 4:28am Brother Adams was born on January 24, 1783 in Limsbury Township, Hartford County, Connecticut. His parents, Parmenio and Chloe Adams, were hard working farmers in Connecticut. Bro. Adams joined in the labors of maintaining the family farm until he reached young adulthood and decided that he did not want to continue farming. He wanted to study law and moved to Hartford. While in Hartford, Bro. Adams met Harriet Denton and courted her until they were married in 1809. Soon after, they had three children, two daughters and a son, Lucian. The family lived there for a short time before moving to New York. After arriving to the town of Skaneateles is when Bro. Adams became a member of the Fraternity. Although, the records have been destroyed or lost, he became a member of Skaneateles Lodge No. 522 [sic]. Skaneateles, New York was a popular settlement during the early 1800's. It attracted many people that had voyaged to the United States from Great Britain and Scotland. It sits right on the lake in the Finger Lakes region of New York. The Fraternity there had influence from the old lodges in Europe, where so many of the residents once lived. The local lodge there was once known as Corinthian Lodge [222] before being renamed Skaneateles Lodge No. 522 under a new charter in the 1850's. Bro. Adams was one of the first members of the Corinthian Lodge, although much of their records have been lost and there is not an actual date of his initiation into the fraternity. The Adams' then moved to Oswego, New York where he finished his law studies and was admitted to the Bar. His law record has been lost over the years but it is believed that he practiced in Oswego and New York City before making the decision to move west, like so many others during that period. Bro. Adams and his wife arrived in Springfield, Illinois in 1821. He is recorded as being the first lawyer in Springfield and Sangamon County. Springfield was nothing more than a small village at the time, still in its infancy when the Adams' arrived but it was rapidly growing. Many merchants came to Springfield because it was in the middle of the route that many used on their voyage to the great unknown west. Bro. Adams is listed as one of the first owners of downtown real estate in Springfield. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1823 and lived in comfort on the outskirts of the downtown area. He used some of his income to purchase five lots for $13.75 at a public auction when the town was first laid out in 1825. The following day, he purchased six more lots for $17.25. He took an interest in the Fraternity soon after he arrived in Illinois. He attended the first Grand Lodge session held in Vandalia as a guest. His participation in the organization of Sangamo Lodge No. 9 in Springfield is unknown and no record of his involvement in the Fraternity appears until the formation of Springfield Lodge No. 26. His career as an attorney and Justice of the Peace was halted when he served in the Winnebago War in 1827 and then again during the Black Hawk War in 1831-1832. Because of his military service, many resident in Springfield called him, "General" Adams. Although, he was never officially given the rank. His popularity with the people made Bro. Adams a candidate for Governor of Illinois in 1834. He lost the election but his popularity in his hometown remained. He knew Abraham Lincoln well and in 1837 participated in a newspaper battle with the future president over a lot transfer. The history of editorial battles stretched across the country in the days before televeision and radio. This was a way for the participants to use a public forum to discredit the other, often times leaving a humorous note in the pages of history. It is believed that Mr. Lincoln had not petitioned a the lodge because of his feelings towards Adams however, many of Lincoln's very close friends like Meredith Helm and James A. Matheny, both Past Masters of Springfield Lodge No. 4, were very much involved with the Fraternity. Bro. Adams was one of the signers for dispensation for the lodge. The lodge had a charter from the Grand Lodge of Missouri in 1839 under the name Springfield Lodge No. 26. After the second Grand Lodge of Illinois was formed, Adams and Meredith Helm participated in the proceedings in Jacksonville. Afterwards, Bro. Adams was appointed Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois and Springfield Lodge No. 26 became Springfield Lodge No. 4. Bro. Adams was very active during his tenure as Deputy Grand Master. There were lodges being chartered all over the state under the new Grand Lodge and Bro. Adams usually joined in the festivities. Bro. Adams often went to different areas of Illinois. Around 1840, he became associated with Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Mormon faith. Bro. Adams was still in office as Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Illinois when he began to travel back and forth to Nauvoo, Illinois with his friend Joseph Smith, Jr. He helped them establish a lodge there for the members of the Mormon faith that were interested in the Fraternity. At a time when many Mormons were persecuted for their beliefs, Bro. Adams stood by his friend and used his legal knowledge to assist many of the Mormons escape lynchings in Central Illinois. 20
Bro. Adams was in the process of moving permanently to the town of Nauvoo from Springfield when he passed away on August 11, 1843 at the age of 60. He died of Cholera while in Nauvoo and is buried in the cemetery there. His wife Harriet remained in Springfield and died not long after the death of her husband. Joseph Smith, Jr. told his fellow Mormans that he was treated like a son by Adams. The early Mormons respected Bro. James Adams for his contributions to their faith and their founder. He served as a mentor but, more importantly, as a friend to the Mormon creator at a time when the Mormons were not accepted in the area. Many letters can be found where Bro. Adams addressed Smith as, "My son." Bro. Adams left a legacy in Springfield and the Mormon Church. There are many reports of his business deals that were questionable at the time although, with the lack of evidence, much of it could have been attributed to his relationship with the Mormons during a very Anti-Mormon period. Many supporters of Adams became enemies after he became a member of the Church of Latter Day Saints. But, as members of Springfield Lodge No. 4, we will always remember him as our first Worshipful Master and a pioneer member of the early days of the Grand Lodge of Illinois. He was a faithful member of the Fraternity. The Masonic Lodge of Nauvoo gave Bro. Adams Masonic Rites during his funeral. The lodge was disbanded a short time after the death of Bro. Adams and Joseph Smith, Jr. decided that the Fraternity was not something that he wanted members of the Mormon Church to join. He was assassinated a year after the death of Bro. Adams in 1844. Among those signing was James Adams, who swore that he had been a member of the Lodge at Skaneateles, New York, its number "not recollected." It is almost unthinkable that a Mason would ever forget his Lodge number! Lawrence Lodge No. 230, Montgomery, Orange, New York Chartered at Ward's Bridge, Montgomery, May 16, 1814. Officers installed by W.’.M.’. J[ames]. B. Reynolds, of Hiram Lodge [No. 131], of Newburgh July 8, 1864 - REYNOLDS. -- In Harlem, on Wednesday, July 6, JAMES B. REYNOLDS, late of Newburgh, NY, in the 86th year of his age, for nearly 60 years an active and honored member of the Masonic fraternity. His friends, and the members of Harlem Lodge No. 457, and the fraternity in general, are invited to attend the funeral, from his late residence, 3d-av., between 125th and 127th sts., this day, (Friday,) July 8, at 5 o'clock P.M., without further invitation. Cornerstone Lodge No. 231, Monroe, Orange, New York ‘oldest surviving Lodge Room in New York’ [1817] Warrant - 26 May 1814; Charter in No. 711 Lodge Room Minute Books – 1814-1826; in custody of Cornerstone Lodge No. 711, as of 2010. Meeting Places: Met at home of Archibald Smith, Master; Home of David Knight; Oct 1817 McGarrah’s Inn Robert Fowler, Master ESM, Winter 2005. page 9 http://www.esmason.com/magpdf/esm%20w2005.pdf According to W\ Claude Horstmann of Cornerstone Lodge No. 711, {John] McGarrah’s Inn [Berth] was built in the early 1800’s. In 1816 the members of the original Cornerstone Lodge No. 231 convinced the proprietor to include a Masonic Lodge room in an expansion of the Inn. “We still have the original minutes book,” said Horstmann. 21
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Craft Masonry in Orange and Rockland Counties, New York

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