The Formation of Mariners’ Lodge 150 F&AM

Barnegat, New Jersey

Angel CamiloHistorian

In Memory of Our Departed Brother Jacob Kline Historian

1880 Barnegat, New Jersey

Barnegat, New Jersey was a small coastal town on the Jersey Shore alive with commerce in the shipping trade and a vibrant Masonic community. The Masonic Lodge was located in Tuckerton, NJ.

The stages and vessels were the only public conveyances to the city of Tuckerton until 1871 when the Tuckerton Railroad was built. In 1879 TR&W Railroad built an extension to Barnegat which ran a three round trip schedule.

The stagecoach and the trains stopped running early in the evening, much earlier than the end of the lodge

meetings.

1880 Tuckerton Train Station, New Jersey

A problem presented itself to the brethren of Barnegat.How do we get home after the lodge meeting?

Tuckerton Lodge #4 on the corner of Wood and Church Streets was established in 1820. The building has been used by the Lodge continuously since 1825, and is perhaps the oldest continuously used Masonic Lodge in New Jersey.

On January 13th 1880 there met in the room over the Butcher Shop in Barnegat, New Jersey, Brothers Joseph A. Pharro, Henry A. Talbert, Leander Fox, Joseph Helfrich and Jeremiah S. Storms. After an animated discussion of the subject “Masonry in Barnegat” lasting for one hour, they adjourned until Wednesday evening January 14th 1880. On that date Brother Alexander Chandler joined the aforementioned brothers. The discussion continued and it was agreed to open a School in Masonry .

Joseph Helfrich

Jeremiah S. StormsLeander Fox

On Wednesday January 28th after much study and discussion it was ordered that Brother Jeremiah Storms be authorized to communicate with Worshipful Master T. W. Brown of Tuckerton Lodge.

An agreement was signed by all the brothers that lived in Barnegat to share in the expenses attendant upon the education of the necessary officers.

Jeremiah Storms after visiting Tuckerton Lodge reported that the Brethren of Tuckerton Lodge were in favor of having a Lodge organized in Barnegat, feeling that it would be beneficial to both the mother lodge and the brethren residing in Barnegat.

Barnegat Feb.7 1881 At an Emergent Communication of The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge Of New Jersey was held in the Lodge Room of Mariners Lodge Barnegat, NJ on Monday February 7 AD 1881 Al 5881. There were present... 

Mariners’ Lodge Room 1910

Bro. Jos W. Martin W.G.M.Bro. William Handacre W.D.G.M Bro. Henry Vehslage W.G.S.WBro. Jos. W. Congdon W.G.Jr WBro. Chas Betchel W.G.TreasurerBro. Thomas H. Redway W.D.G.Secty.Bro. W.C. Abbe W.G.S.D. PrateBro. Gustavus M. Murray W.G. ChaplainBro. Thomas H. Cooper W.G.Jr.DBro. Charles Russ W.G. MarshallBro. T. W. Brown W.S.G.S.Bro. Albert L Randolph W.Jr.G.S.Bro. Thomas Cook W.G.S.B.Bro. Heber Wells G. InstructerBro. Henry S. Haines G.T. Protem andBro. Isaac Van Wagner W.P.G.M.

The Lodge was opened in due form and with the brethren composing Mariners Lodge and visiting brethren were placed in charge of the Grand Marshall who formed a procession and proceeded to the M. E. Church where Mariners Lodge No.150 was Constituted in ample form and the officers were duly installed in there respective offices by the officers of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of New Jersey.

Angel CamiloHistorian

Mariners’ Lodge 150 F&AMFirst Trestle Board