Living History of HDA #23

R∴W∴ Gary Mandel DSA, Secretary

The passage of time has been measured in terms of progress and achievements. Every lodge has a history and every mason has a legacy.

He is the guardian of a living archive of symbolic information. The minutes of the Lodge gives the brother access to his heritage. With the old ledgers he can stop time and bring the past back into the present.

The brother has only to go  to the Masonic Grand Lodge Library and read the books that sat on the laps of his forefathers. The brothers are the living history of HDA #23. The generations of the Masonic families are the builders and the landmarks. Our children will one day become the elder statesmen of the lodge, eye-witnesses to decades of pride in Masonic life. What better feeling than seeing, a son, or grandson sitting in the East.

Our ancestors measured out work and play on their 24 inch gauges. They drew plans on their trestle boards for future generations. What were the angles of their work? What were their morals, values, and beliefs? What symbols of life kept them just and moral in society. As long and hard as they traveled what kept their provisional dwellings from falling down. They were “Builders of Houses not built with Hands”, they would circumambulate upon the roads of the world, leaving landmarks. The milestones would indicate the distance an upright man has covered since leaving a point within a Circle...

The merger of three lodges in the 1900’s; John Hancock, Dirigo, and Adelphi brought about what we know today as Hancock Dirigo Adelphi Lodge # 23.  John Hancock #70 antedates by many years the granting of the Charter now in its possession. Hancock gets its mortar from the members of Silentia Lodge No. 360 (now 198) and Naval Lodge No. 391(now 69) and from proper jurisdiction. There were two Grand Lodges claiming authority in the New York State in the 1850’s.This caused confusion and a division of previously brotherly lodges.

Some of Naval Lodge members desired to affiliate with one Grand Lodge while others maintained their allegiance to the other Grand Lodge. On March 26,1830, Naval Lodge No. 69 held a meeting at “Howard House”, NYC. In the absence of a warrant, a special dispensation was secured by M∴W∴ Isaac Phillips, Grand Master of the Phillips Grand Lodge. This dispensation was granted to William Gilpin, Senior Warden of Naval Lodge, who expressed his determination to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Willard Grand Lodge. At this meeting M∴W∴ Isaac Phillips was present, and William Gilpin presided.

The following pledge was unanimously adopted:  “that the name of Naval Lodge No. 69 is now abandoned, and the name of John Hancock #70 to be adopted. That we surrender the old warrant and take up one with the new name and number”. The Committee called for R∴W∴ Grand Secretary James M. Austin, and ascertained from him that the next junior vacant number is 70. The Grand Secretary informed the Committee that where two Lodges have the same name and number and do not consolidate, that the one changing its number should also change its name. The Committee came to the conclusion to create another name. After suggesting various names, a name was selected unlike any other under in the jurisdiction. John Hancock is the name of the first signer of the Declaration of Independence. The resolution was adopted, and our forefathers received the Charter now in our possession, dated June 24th, 1858.

Hancock’s life flows from those brothers attending both Naval and Silentia Lodges. Naval Lodge, instituted in 1826 met near the Brooklyn Navy Yard, submitted to the anti-Masonic persecution and was compelled to suspend work. In May, 1832 after only six years of existence Silentia Lodge surrendered its Charter, together with all books, jewels and hangings,. A revival of the Lodge came about by the formation of the St. John's Grand Lodge in 1837.

 “working in peace and harmony, with a fair prospect of increasing our number, which no doubt we will do as fast as Prudence will permit. Your Committee would recommend to the members of the Lodge, particularly our younger members punctual and regular attendance at the Lodge meetings, That the elder members should  mentor the younger brothers. To perfect themselves in the work of the several degrees; that when called upon to fill the several Stations in the Lodge, they may acquit themselves with credit and with satisfaction and instruction to the Brethren. “(Dec 14, 1857) In order to arbitrarily settle any confusion, the United Grand Lodge decided that Lodges possessing the original, old warrants should keep hold of them. Therefore Naval Lodge No. 69, who’s Master in 1850 had kept possession of the original charter dated June 8th, 1826, retained that name and number together with the charter, and a committee was appointed by this Lodge to select a new name and number. W∴M∴ Richard Wiggins, and the Treasurer, John M. Marsh, with six other members of Silentia, together with surviving members of the defunct Naval Lodge, remained loyal to the old Grand Lodge, and on December 6th, 1837, received the charter of Naval Lodge. At a meeting of the Grand Lodge on March 7th, 1838, all of the property of the old Lodge which had been surrendered to the Grand Lodge was given to the new Lodge. Shortly after this it moved to New York City.

Prominent in the affairs of Silentia Lodge, subsequently of Naval Lodge, and then of John Hancock Lodge, stands the name of R∴W∴ John M. Marsh, born at Milton, N. J., February 17th, 1803. He came to New York in 1824 and established a printing business at No. 5 Eldridge Street, which he managed for over 30 years; for several years he did the printing for the Grand Lodge. He invented a cylinder printing machine, was to be first to print gold upon silk, and the first to use white ink upon a black background. In 1852 he was one of the presidential electors on the Pierce and King ticket. He was a member of the Grand Stewards Lodge for several years. In January 1860, while he was Treasurer of John Hancock Lodge, he was presented with a silver goblet, and in accepting the gift made an address which sheds much interesting light upon the origin of our Lodge. In part he said: he was initiated in Silentia Lodge in 1825, That in 1837, the  “Attwood” or St. Johns Grand Lodge came into existence and that almost half of the members of Silentia Lodge rebelled and joined that jurisdiction. They took with them the Warrant, Regalia, Furniture and Books. However they did not get the funds. These were demanded by the Grand Lodge and after a time surrendered. The members of Silentia Lodge that were faithful to the Grand Lodge applied for and took up the Warrant that had been surrendered by Naval Lodge. The warrant, jewels, regalia, and funds of Silentia Lodge were returned.

W∴Titus M. Evans, the Master of John Hancock Lodge in 1858, delivered a series of lectures. The following is an extract from his closing lecture.

In speaking of the effects of slander, he said: ”Take away the good name of a brother and you take all an honest man lives for; wealth will not restore it, for it is not bought with gold. My brothers, if you permit a brother‘s fair name to be tampered with look at the injury your thoughtless act may do to him. it may not only injure him, but his offspring after he has been laid in his grave. It may descend to his children, blasting their prospects as it did their fathers, who it may be was innocent of that imputed to him. I look upon slander as one of the most heinous of sins, next to that of ingratitude. It has blasted the prospects of many a noble mind, and made desolate many a happy home; it has caused the family tie to be broken, and severed the hearts of those who were united in love; it has entered the holy sanctuary and thrown its firebrand of discord among the devotees of Jehovah, and sent many to wretchedness, want and an untimely grave. Beware, my brothers, how you tamper, or allow others to tamper, with the reputation of a brother, even in jest; speak of them in their absence as you would in their presence, for remember, sooner or later the sin will return upon you; for God will bring every secret thing to judgment, whether it be good or whether it be evil; and rest assured that, as Abraham said: The judge of all the world will do right.

 In 1845 the Lodges were renumbered, and Naval Lodge received the number 69. In 1849 when difficulties arose in the Grand Lodge, relative to the rights of Past Masters, Naval Lodge took sides with the old Grand Lodge that recognized the rights of Past Masters. Time passed, due to other influences, Naval Lodge No. 69 ties were severed and Brothers went off taking with them the warrant, jewels and books to the other Grand Lodge. Naval applied to the Grand Lodge under whose jurisdiction they had been working for another warrant. The warrant was granted with the same name and number. Brethren were at a stand which of the Grand Lodges to recognize. Both Grand Lodge Jurisdictions found trouble in gaining admission in Lodges when traveling through States of the Union. The feeling seemed to be disorder in Naval Lodge, as the members were not willing to make any change of jurisdiction, Some wanted to surrender the warrant, books, furniture, funds, etc., to the Grand Lodge, which they later did. They afterwards applied for the same warrant again, and only those who were willing to acknowledge the Grand Lodge under which they had been working were permitted to sign the petition for the warrant, which was granted again together with the furniture, funds, etc., thereby excluding all those unhappy Brothers. Leaving each to follow such a course as to them seemed best.

Since that time John Hancock Brothers have lived in harmony amongst the Brothers. When the union of the two Grand Lodges took place in 1858, under the Articles of Union it was agreed that those subordinate Lodges having the old or original Warrants should retain them and their numbers. had to take a new number, and our Lodge under the circumstances preferred a new name also. A noble one, the light of the Declaration of Independence., John Hancock the bold signer of the Declaration of Independence.

The first meeting of John Hancock Lodge No. 70 under its new Charter, granted June 24th, 1858, was held in Freemasons Hall, 594 Broadway., The W∴M∴ Evans read the warrant of John Hancock Lodge, No. 70, and opened the Lodge on the M. M. Degree. An investigation committee was appointed to investigate the character and standing in society of the candidates. They found them to be moral, honest and discreet men, according to the Provision of the By-laws. When on Motion the Report was received, the Committee discharged and the candidate was balloted for. Whereupon the W∴M∴ declared the candidate duly elected and accepted. Whereupon, the candidate paid the remainder of his initiation fee, amounting to $15.50.

 On October 11th, 1865, Captain Thomas P. Stetson, a worthy member of John Hancock Lodge No. 70 on his last voyage to Havre (France), rescued many of the passengers and crew of the English ship William Nelson, burnt at sea. Stetson saved all 43 passengers on board before pursuing his voyage. He felt that ” that the highest and holiest mission of man is in the saving of life and alleviating the sufferings of humanity." He would go on to save many other lives in his pursits.

John Hancock 70, has had an harmonious and industrious existence. Its brothers have always held moral principles and the education of its brethren above all else. On May 9th, 1859, Hancock moved to No. 207 Bowery, remaining there until May 14th, 1862, when it moved to Odd Fellows Hall. There it remained until the early part of 1878 when it moved to Masonic Hall. Later, in 1878, it met at No. 2 Bleecker Street; in 1880 at 4th Avenue and 14th Street; in 1881 at No. 2 Rivington Street. In 1891 it moved to the Grand Opera House at 8th Avenue and 23rd Street, and in 1893 it again returned to Masonic Hall, where it met continuously.

John Hancock Lodge is the mother of two Lodges, Centennial Lodge No. 763, instituted in 1876, and Civic Lodge No. 853, instituted in 1900. Members of John Hancock Lodge were also among the charter members of Elbe Lodge and of Council Lodge.

John Hancock weathered many wars in its history, the Civil War, Spanish War and the World Wars. In each of these, John Hancock Lodge had Brothers serving our country in battle. The Brothers of the Lodge who served the flag had their names symbolized by stars in the Lodge service flag. In 1917, John Hancock was the first Lodge to unfurl a service flag in New York State. The pages of Hancock’s history are consummate with incidents of note. On March 26, 1830, Naval Lodge a meeting was held at the Howard House, In the absence of a warrant. a dispensation was procured from M∴W∴ Isaac Phillips, Grand Master of the Phillips Grand Lodge. This dispensation was granted to William Gilpin, at that time Senior Warden of Naval Lodge. The warrant of Naval Lodge was in possession of W∴ Nathan Roberts, the Master, who expressed his determination to acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Willard Grand Lodge. At this meeting M∴W∴Isaac Phillips was present, and William Gilpin presided. The following resolution was unanimously adopted:

That Naval; Lodge No. 69 acknowledges and recognizes the Grand Lodge of the State of New York of which M∴W∴ Isaac Phillips is Grand Master.

The next meeting was held at the Howard House, 492 Broadway, on April 4th, 1850. The records state that in the absence of the warrant of the Lodge, a dispensation from M∴W∴ Isaac Phillips of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York was had, authorizing and empowering Bro. William Gilpin, Senior Warden of Naval Lodge No. 69, to continue the Lodge and transact such business as is proper and necessary for a Lodge to do. The Lodge continued to work under this authority until it was granted a charter by the Phillips Grand Lodge on June 20, 1850, under the title of Naval Lodge No. 69. On that date R∴W∴ James Herring, Grand Secretary, installed W∴ William Gilpin as Master, Leonard Burnham as Senior Warden, and F. Eickell as Junior Warden. For eight years the Lodge continued as Naval Lodge No. 69 under the jurisdiction of the Phillips Grand Lodge.

The following is a list of the Masters during that time: 1850 William Gilpin, 1851 P. W. Frank, 1852 Leonard Buruham, 1853 Leonard Burnham, 1854 Leonard Buruham, 1855 Leonard Buruham, 1856 Leonard Burnham,  and 1857 David Bedford.

The last named, W∴ David Bedford, was for many years a criminal recorder of Jersey City, New Jersey. In 1858, the Finance Committee made the following report, destined to be the final financial report of the Lodge under its old name and number: “Naval Lodge No. 69 does hereby acknowledge and recognize the Grand Lodge of the State of New York of which M∴W∴ Isaac Phillips is Grand Master”. The next meeting was held at the Howard House, 492 Broadway, on April 4th,1850. The records state that in the absence of the warrant of the Lodge, a dispensation from M∴W∴ Isaac Phillips of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York was had, authorizing and empowering Bro. William Gilpin, Senior Warden of Naval Lodge No. 69, to continue the Lodge and transact such business as is proper and necessary for a Lodge to do. The Lodge continued to work under this authority until it was granted a charter by the Phillips Grand Lodge on June 20th, 1850, under the title of Naval Lodge No. 69. On that date R∴W∴ James Herring, Grand Secretary, installed W∴ William Gilpin as Master. For eight years the Lodge continued as Naval Lodge No. 69 under the jurisdiction of the Phillips Grand Lodge.

Masters Speech from-“Sixty-Fifth Anniversary” of John Hancock #70

“In the life of human-kind there are both the humble and those of high station. There comes at certain intervals a day or a stone in the march of time. In consequence, birthdays and wedding anniversaries are almost universally celebrated as events of joy and pleasant association, and friends and dear ones commonly unite in the festivities. In the life of a great institution, likewise, come these epochs of time, milestones which mark the eras in its history. In the month of June in the year 1858, the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of the State of New York granted a Charter to a group of some 40 Masons in the city of New York, and today in these later years John Hancock #70 had, 535 Masonic descendants.

At the 65th Celebration at John Hancock #70, the guest of honor, was the Most Worshipful Brother Arthur S. Tompkins, Grand Master of Masons in the State of New York, together with his Official Staff, and visitors and delegations from Hospital at Utica. The Hospital at Utica was started over three years ago, and John Hancock Lodge was a leader in the drive at all times, and the renewal of the drive this year has taken its place as one of the three or four Lodges in the State to place five figures before the decimal in its contributions to this Fund. No worthier cause could be fostered and no finer response book, is as a tribute to the members of this Lodge who so willingly and gladly subscribed, to such serious Masonic work and real humanitarian service accomplished, add years of peaceful, harmonious forging of the links and bonds of a real Brotherhood, genuine friendship and sincere affection, social intercourse and common interests which have brought 535 Men and Masons together as one happy family. You have the recipe for progress and achievement, which makes of our 200 year celebration a truly worthy and glorious event.

“To our Masonic descendants, the future members of John Hancock Lodge, we bequeath a great name and a great Lodge, so to be kept and perpetuated to posterity. Though we may be permitted a backward glance of pride on such an occasion as this, it is to the future greatness to the continued ascendancy John Hancock Lodge that we must turn our eyes and bend our efforts and consecrate ourselves today. God grant that it may ever be so”.