Masonry in Chateaugay, by Bell Camp

Some of the Early History of the Local Lodge

First Established in 1809

Twice It Was Ransacked and Jewels, &c., Stolen

Who Constituted the Membership.

Of the early Masonic history of Chateaugay but little is known. A great forest was here, extending almost unbroken for hundreds of miles in every direction, inhabited by wild beasts and wilder red savages. Little clearings there were—garden spots in this great wilderness—where the hardy pioneers had felled the giant trees, built their homes and were cultivating the land. Of the comforts and luxuries we now enjoy they knew nothing; even many of the things we deem necessities were to them as yet unborn. Such a garden spot was Chateaugay, first settled by the white race in 1796, when Benjamin Roberts came from Ferrisburg, VT, and Nathan Beman from Plattsburgh. Here, thirteen years later, 1809, Rainbow Lodge, No. 12, A.F.&A.M., was organized. Who the officers were or how many constituted its membership no records are left to tell. We know of but few of those early brothers, many years since passed away, but among them are some whose names are still familiar to our older inhabitants and some left sons and daughters who still are with us. They were: William V. Derby, Judge Gideon Collins, Caleb Seabury, Daniel Goodspeed, Col. Thos. Smith, Peter McGregor, Rev. Ephraim Smith.

Undoubtedly its struggles were hard, but it was composed of hardy woodsmen who counted privation nothing. When in 1812 began the second war with Great Britain we have no doubt but what many of these pioneers of Masonry in Northern New York went forth to fight the enemy of their country. In 1814 a portion of the British army passed through Chateaugay, burning and pillaging as they went, and from this foe Rainbow Lodge did not escape. All the regalia and jewels were stolen and taken to Montreal where some Masons of that city bought them and returned them to Chateaugay. It is said that those same Montreal Masons were some of them officers in the British army, and, therefore, foes of our country, but they were still brothers of the struggling few across the border line and proved this fact by their generosity.

Once again this early history becomes obscure and we find nothing of importance until 1826 when the great anti-Masonic excitement set in. To those unfamiliar with the cause and effect of this great social disturbance a few words may be of interest.

William Morgan, a member of the fraternity of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New York, broke with the order, or rather was expelled, and threatened to publish its secrets. He suddenly disappeared and was never authentically heard of afterward. Rumors of his whereabouts gained currency, but none could ever be traced to a trustworthy origin. The belief became common that either his life had been taken or that he had been privately and permanently exiled into the obscurity of some foreign country. The Masons fell under the suspicion of having abducting him, and a great clamor was raised against the fraternity in New York. The animosity against the Masons extended in other parts of the country and their enemies became united as a political party. De Witt Clinton, one of the most prominent and valuable statesmen of New York, lost his political place and influence on account of his membership with the order. Eventually Masonry proved too powerful for its foes. It has subsequently been proven that the fraternity knew no more of Morgan’s whereabouts than those outside the craft. His so-called “expose” was entirely harmless and never was of the slightest injury to the order, but he evidently became alarmed at the agitation his threats had created and either sought a hiding place or was secreted by his friends and soon after died as a result of a rather disappiated life.

Remote as Chateaugay then was, this excitement reached the settlement, and, when one day it was discovered that the regalia and furniture of the lodge had again disappeared, and as no trace of it could be found with the exception of one collar belonging to Peter McGregor, the members evidently became discouraged and gave up the struggle, for here the history of Masonry in Chateaugay for a period of 34 years ends.

May 22, 1860, on petition of Rev. Andrew M. Millar, Daniel S. Coonley, Amos H. Gustin, John B. Bort, W. W. Scriver, Hiram M. Roberts, and Daniel F. Soper, the Grand Lodge of the State of New York granted to Frontier Lodge, No. 517, A.F.&A.M., a dispensation entitling it to confer the first three degrees in Masonry, and Rev. Andrew M. Millar was elected the first Master under this grant. The first person admitted by degrees was Ossian H. Stiles, who was initiated Entered Apprentice Aug. 7, 1861, passed to the degree of Fellow Craft Aug. 21 and raised to the Master Mason’s degree Sept. 25. During this year Oliver Smith and Don E. Seabury were also admitted, both being raised on Dec. 9^th, and William V. Derby, one of the original members of Rainbow Lodge, was taken into full membership. Dec. 4, 1861, the lodge received its first official visit when R.W. Frank Hopkins, of Ausable Forks, D.D.G.M., was received with the honors due his station. Among those made Master Masons during the second year of the lodge’s existence we note the following familiar names: S. S. Clark, S. Y Jones, W. N. Smith, Hiram Cartwright and Hiram Paddock.

June 6, 1862, the lodge was formally granted a charter and John B. Bort was elected the first Master under this act. The first fifteen years were intensely interesting in degree work, application after application coming in, and the officers had little time to grow rusty. The record of the lodge during these years is as follows:

Year Applications Elected Rejected

1861--4--4--0

1862--15--15--0

1863--20--16--4

1864--41--33--8

1865--43--27--16

1866--23--16--7

1867--20--15--4

1868--20--12--8

1869--12--10--2

1870--11--8--3

1871--7--4--3

1872--2--1--2 (?)

1873--5--3--2

1874--1--0--1

1875--6--6--0

Number of demits granted, 56; withdrawn, 2; deaths, 8; expelled, 4; stricken from roll, 26; unaffiliated for non-payment of dues, 37; total, 133; restored, 31; total membership Jan. 1, 1876, 76. The eight deaths during this period were: Matthew M. Roberts, John Van Vechten, Truman B. Tryon, Silas w. Hatch, George B. Brewer, Hiram G. Childs, Ossian H. Stiles and George P. Stoughton.

Many of these old-time brothers have since passed to the Lodge on High, some have grown too old to continue active, but a great majority of the living ones are still members in good standing, and, while they may seldom attend its meetings, yet they seem to feel as much interest in its welfare as in their younger days. Four there are who are still as active and interested in the work as when youthful blood coursed through their veins. Don E. Seabury, Henry S. Day, John Hughes and M. A. Kennedy are often with us and ever ready to take any part. Their knowledge of the work and their familiarity with Masonic law makes them of inestimable value and their counsel is always sought by the younger members and especially by the officers whenever any perplexing problem comes up. Two of the original charter members, Hiram M. Roberts, of Manchester, NH, and William W. Scriver, of the Masonic Home at Utica, are still living and never fail to pay Frontier Lodge a visit whenever it is in their power to do so.

July 23, 1892, Frontier Lodge was called upon to mourn the death of one who had ever been faithful and true. William V. Derby passed from labor to refreshment at the age of 90 years. He was one of the original members of Rainbow Lodge and had been a Mason 63 years. Soon after uniting with Frontier Lodge he was made its Chaplain and for 25 years served in that capacity.

In ----- the lodge removed from its quarters in the Peaks & Carr block to rooms in the Clark block across the way, where it remained until the fire of 1893 which destroyed every business place on the north side of Main street, and [into?] the flames went everything the lodge possessed. Regalia, jewels, furniture, decorations, all went to help feed the hungry demon. Many of the old records were destroyed or this history might be more complete. But the members were not daunted though they had lost so much. The Presbyterian chapel was leased as a meeting place where the work went on until 1894 when the present quarters were established. After refurnishing and refitting the organization found itself in debt, but the old courage remained and today, after paying all obligations, relieving those in distress and keeping all Grand Lodge assessments paid, there is a tidy little sum in the Bank of Chateaugay laid by for a possible rainy day. The present rooms are large and convenient, well furnished and pleasant. Some things are lacking, but then, we expect someday to have a home of our own. There are about 100 members in good standing and as many more who claim Frontier Lodge as their old home but who, having gone to distant parts, have been transferred to other lodges. Many of the members have taken higher degrees, some having the honor to wear the double eagle of 32.

Those who have been Masters of the lodge one or more terms are: Andrew M. Millar, John B. Bort, Don E. Seabury, Abel H. Miller, Lewis W. Paddock, Dr. George Howe, John Hughes, William W. Scriver, Dr. A. M. Phelps, Thomas W. Cantwell, Isaac Warren, Grant G. Collins, Edward L. Stevens, M. A. Kennedy, Frank P. Kennedy, George W. Foster and Albert S. Barnes.

The present officers are:

W.M.—A. S Barnes

S.W.—H. C. Rodgers

J.W.—C. H. Crawford

Sec.—F. P. Kennedy

Treas.—I. M. Warren

S.D.—U. R. Campbell

J.D.—B. D. Corkins

S.M.C.—Chas. Banbury

J.M.C.—J. B. Cook

Tyler—H. S. Day

Chaplain—D. E. Seabury

Marshal—Thos. Crawford

This year the Grand Lodge of New York appointed to the responsible position of District Deputy Grand Master of the 41^st Masonic District one of our most zealous and hard-working brothers, G. W. Foster, and this week Chateaugay has the honor of having the annual District Convention held in this village, an account of which will be given in our next issue.

It is many thousands of years since Solomon the Wise became the first Most Excellent Grand Master, but throughout these ages Masonry has remained the same. It adopts no particular creed, yet every member must believe in the one ever living and true God. The open Bible is its great light and all its precepts and teachings are found in this book of books. Storms and tempests have hurled their thunders at its head; wave after wave of bright, insidious sand carried about its feet and heaped their sliding grains against its sides. But through the tempests and the storms, through the waves and sands of life, through evil report as well as good. Free Masonry has maintained its beneficent influence, spreading wider and wider over the earth. And a part of this great fraternity is Frontier Lodge. From a most humble beginning it has risen to a place of influence. Enemies it has, but their efforts to overthrow it are of no avail. Every word they have uttered against it has only served to unite its members the more firmly and has brought many good men within its fold.

Long live Frontier Lodge, No. 517.

Chateaugay Record, Friday, Oct. 12, 1906