History of Congdon Lodge No. 201 F.&A.M. (1915 - 1986)

Masonry, in this area, predates the American Revolution. We learn from several sources, that in 1786 Baskinridge Lodge No 10 was the only active lodge in New Jersey. It was under warrant from the provincial grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. When the Grand Lodge recalled all warrants, Baskinridge No 10 refused and its warrant and the nucleus of its members met with members of other former New Jersey lodges on January 30, 1787. That meeting, chaired by Wor. Bro. William McKissack of Baskinridge No. 10, legally instituted the Grand Lodge of New Jersey.

Dispensation was given to Baskinridge No. 10 to move to Bedminster or Pluckemin, NJ and become Somerset or Solomon Lodge No. 1. As far as history may be traced that lodge was in existence for only forty years.

A number of masons residing in or near the Village of Baskinridge in 1827, presented to the Grand Master, M.W.John S. Darcy, a petition for a Warrant of Dispensation to open a Lodge, which was granted.

The brethren assembled at the Village of Baskinridge on May 9, 1827. Bro. Jacob Wilson of Cincinnati Lodge No. 17, presented the dispensation of the Grand Master, for the purpose of installing the officers of Baskinridge Lodge No. 56. Edward A Darcy, Physician, of Jerusalem lodge No 40, who was raised on July 23. 1817 was installed Worshipful Master, Cornelius Ludlow, Farmer, of Jerusalem Lodge No 40, raised on February 9, 1824, was installed Senior
Warden, Samuel S. Doty, Physician, of Cincinnati Lodge No 17, raised on August 22, 1825, was installed Junior Warden, Samuel Perry, Farmer, Solomen Lodge No 1, raised August 5, 1819, was installed Treasurer, and Moses Craig, Merchant, Cincinnati Lodge No 17 was installed as Secretary. The regular time for meetings of the Lodge were agreed upon for Wednesday evening on or preceding the full moon.

The first petitioner was Hugh Runyon and the degree was conferred on June 6, 1827. By a Dispensation granted by the M.W. Grand Master, Bro. E. A. Hugh Runyon passed the degree of Fellowcraft and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on September 5, 1827.

The Lodge held its meetings at the Academy in Baskinridge. At the Annual Session of the Grand Lodge, held on November 13, 1827 and having sufficient number of brethren, duly recommended by Cincinnati Lodge No. 17, a warrant was granted. The first meeting under the warrant, was held on November 28, 1827 and the first election of Officers under the new Warrant was held on December 28, 1828. At the Session of the Grand Lodge on November 10, 1829 the Lodge was removed to Little Cross Roads in Somerset County, and the first meeting was held at the Academy in that Village on April 7, 1830. By permission of the Grand Lodge at the Session of November 9, 1830 the Lodge was removed to the village of Peapack, in the same county. By permission of the Grand Lodge on November 8, 1831, the Lodge was removed to the village of Chester in Morris County, and renamed Clinton Lodge #56. At the Annual Session of the Grand Lodge, on November 8, 1842, the Lodge was renumbered to Clinton Lodge No. 8. An Article of Agreement dated July 27, 1831, between the Southern School District of the Township of Chester and the brethren was found. Under this agreement the Lodge is supposed to have built a second story to the School House for Lodge Purposes. At a meeting held on August 9, 1854, demits were granted to 8 members for the purpose of forming a new Lodge at the village of White House in Hunterdon County.

In the year 1885, the Grand Lodge granted permission to remove the place of the Lodge from Peapack to Baskingridge. During the year 1858 there was a large increase in the membership. In the years 1867 and 1869 the Lodge was visited by R.W.. Robert Rusling. On September 14, 1892 , the Warrant of the Lodge was surrendered by the unanimous vote of the Lodge. And the Lodge went Dark.

Twenty-three years later, in 1915 eighteen members of the fraternity living in this general area, gave up a 16 mile round trip by horse and buggy several nights monthly to Morristown to attend Lodge meetings, and with twenty other Master Masons established Congdon Lodge No. 201 F.&A.M. in Bernardsville, NJ.

The 18 brothers from Cincinnati No. 3 and the 20 other brothers who came from lodges in Clinton, Newark, Morristown, Plainfield and Chester were the nucleus of our present Lodge. The Lodge was named in honor of the late Most Worshipful Joseph William Congdon, Grand Master of Masons of The State of New Jersey in 1885 and 1886. He presided over the Centennial Anniversary of our Grand Lodge.

The Lodge was constituted May 29, 1915 at an emergent Communication of the Grand Lodge held in Bernardsville. The Bible that is found on the alter of the Lodge today was presented to Congdon Lodge # 201 that day through the auspices of Kane Lodge # 55 of Newark, New Jersey by W. B. William Sharpe.

The first Worshipful Master elect was Wor. Bro. John McWilliams, who served in both 1915 and 1916. He was raised in Cincinnati Lodge No. 3 on December 3, 1884, demitted February 8, 1915, affiliated with Congdon Lodge No. 201, May 29 1915, and was raised by the Supreme Grand Master on November 13, 1924 at the age of 52. The first member raised was was Bro. Edwin S. Spinning, Charter Member and Past Patron of Star of Faith Chapter No. 92, O.E.S. who entered eternal rest on February 2, 1970.

W. B. William Sharpe, mentioned in the previous paragraph, was the father of W. B. William A. Sharpe, Master of Congdon Lodge # 201 in 1931. His grandson William Sharpe is also active in the Lodge in 1997.

For five years the Lodge met on the top floor of a building across from the local railroad station. Finding need for larger quarters they moved to the second floor of what is now 29 Olcott Square.

In the mid 20's a devastating fire swept through a large group of stores and apartments, and although, the Lodge Room was not damaged by fire, there was considerable water damage to the furnishings and the Lodge paraphernalia. The story goes that the late Wor. Bro. Matthew Linton was walking up from the post office to survey the fire damage, not knowing that it included the Lodge. He saw a familiar piece of paper in the gutter, reaching down to examine it more closely he discovered that it was the Warrant of Congdon Lodge, and so saved our Warrant.

On April 2, 1929, the members realized the hopes of many years when the present Temple was dedicated. Recognized as one of the finer Masonic Structures in New Jersey, the Temple was originally built as a Congregational Church in 1910, complete with a functional bell tower. Difficult times befell the congregation and it was forced to dispose of the property.
Sufficient notes were subscribed to by members of the Lodge to meet the down payment. A mortgage was arranged for the balance and that mortgage has long since been burned. The purchase and remodeling of the property was under the guidance of the Craftsmenís Club.

Prized by the Lodge are three wooden gavels made by the Late Michael L. Connolly, a Charter Member, from the wood of the historic giant oak tree in Basking Ridge.

In 1958, Wor. Bro. John C. Outlaw was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the Eleventh Masonic District by Most Worshipful August Ullrich, Grand Master. R. W. John C. Outlaw served the Grand Lodge from that date until his death, on September 11, 1989, with unselfish dedication. He received the Daniel Coxe Medal in 1968. For his distinguished service to the Craft and the Grand Lodge, Most Worshipful William Schoene, Jr. Grand Master, made "Uncle John" an Honorary Past Grand Master.

In 1970, the Lodge was again honored to have Most Worshipful Edward Rainey appoint Wor. Bro. John W. McArthur to serve as his Junior Grand Steward. In 1980 Most Worshipful Carl O. Brodin, officially visited our Lodge to help us commemorate the 65th anniversary of our founding. In 1985, Mot Worshipful James E. Duke appointed Wor. Bro. Marshall G. Bryant Grand Chaplain.

For many years, the Lodge has held a Christmas party for children in the Temple. The practice was initiated by the late Vincent C. Bonnlander, a Lodge member and rector of St. John's Chapel, known as the Church of St. John on the Mountain. The annual party is still held in his memory.

On January 7, 1980 the last surviving charter member of Congdon Lodge, Bro. Walter Donahue, was raised by the Supreme Grand Master at the age of 97.

PAST MASTERS OF BASKINGRIDGE LODGE NO. 56 (CLINTON LODGE NO 56) (* = Deceased) (** = Dual Member)

1831 * Jeremiah A. Craig
1834 * Nicholas Arrowsmith
1836 * Moses Craig
1837 * Moses Craig
1839 * Moses Craig
1840 * Moses Craig
1841 * Moses Craig
1842 * Moses Craig

PAST MASTERS OF CONGDON LODGE 201 (* = Deceased)

1915* John McWilliams
1916* John McWilliams
1917* Stanford W. Tunison
1918* Clifton C. W. Nobel
1919* Clayton D. Olivst
1920* Frank Van Orden
1921* Robert C. Faust
1922* Phillip E. Hoffman
1923* William A. Allsheskey
1924* Homer T. Brookins
1925* Matthew Linton
1926* Charles Mertz
1927* Albert C. Metz
1928* Walter S. Edgar
1929* Edward H. Osborn
1930* Adolph V. Palumbo
1931* William A. Sharpe
1932* WIlliam R. Seymour
1933* Jim Lowe
1934* Isaac Combs
1935* William H. Greishaber
1936* Reuben R. McClure
1937* Arthur F. Shelley
1938* Christian J. Grossman
1939* C. Lloyd King, Jr.
1940* Michael J. Nervine
1941* Harold B. Thompson
1942* Marsh E. White
1943* George S. Heatlie
1944* Benjamin H. Fitch
1945* Robert E. Darling
1946 E. Haas Gallaway, Sr.
1949* Edward K. Alenius
1950* Clarence C. Pope
1951* John C. Wetzel
1953* John E. Aspray
1954 Edwin H. Perkins
1955* W. Edward Watson
1956* Russell Durham
1957* John C. Outlaw, HPGM (1989)
1958* A. Eugene Earp, Jr.
1959* Russell Durham
1960* Clyde Swendson
1961 Elmer D. Jones
1962* Armand D. Bottiglia
1963* Robert Braithwaite
1964* W. Robert Moore
1965 Dewitt Moore
1966* Lewis F. Mitchell, Jr. PSGM (1990)
1967* Arthur G. Losaw
1967* Stephen B. Heckel, PG Rep (NY) (Affiliated)
1968 John W. MacArthur, PJGS (1970)
1969* William Fox
1970 Gene C. Jonasson
1971 Anthony Balsamello
1972 Horace W. Hardy
1973 Samuel N. Stratton
1974 Leon Spitz
1975 John W. MacArthur, PJGS (1970)
1976 W. Scott Gallaway, Sr.
1977* Floyd C. Cornine
1978 Wallace R. Baird
1979* Howard A. Schantz
1980 Marshall G. Bryant, PGC (1985)
1981* Edward P. Gavurnik
1982* Lewis F. Mithcell, Jr. PSGM (1990)
1983* Paul Labick
1984* Rodney G. Benson
1985 Patrick A. Zaccheo
1986 N. Simon Yemenidjian