MountMoriahR
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MOUNT MORIAH LODGE (Reading)
Location: Reading
Chartered By: Josiah Bartlett
Charter Date: 03/12/1798 II-125
Precedence Date: 03/12/1798
Current Status: in Grand Lodge Vault.
NOTES
Chartered by Josiah Bartlett at the beginning of 1798, before the moratorium on the granting of further charters; ceased work 1829; historical notes page 1920-365, 1920-369, 1938-3. (In 1938, the 50th anniversary history of Golden Rule Lodge included a note suggesting that the Lodge may have disappeared as late as 1842; it is included below as part of the 1835 General Revision.)
According to the history of Good Samaritan Lodge, 1970-548, the lodge ceased work in September 1829.
YEARS
ø Charter surrendered 06/11/1834
HISTORY
- 1938 (Notes in 50th Anniversary History of Golden Rule Lodge, 1938-3; see below)
- 1970 (Notes in Centenary History of Good Samaritan Lodge, 1970-548; see below)
FROM GOLDEN RULE LODGE 50TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JANUARY 1938
From Proceedings, Page 1938-3:
Very Iittle authentic history concerning the lodge is available either at the Grand Lodge Library or elsewhere. The Lodge was probably instituted in 1798. In 1812, when South Reading was incorporated, the Grand Lodge approved the continuante of meetings in the original location, but under the identification of South Reading instead of Reading. Reading Masons immediately petitioned for the formation of a new Masonic Lodge to meet in that town. The petition was acted on favorably, but it does not appear that any Lodge was ever started.
Mount Moriah Lodge held meetings in the old Lafayette House, now known as the Col. James Hartshorne House, just to the West of this meeting place, it having been restored and opened for public use for several years now.
It is known that there was considerable anti-Masonic sentiment in this section about 100 years ago, and at times meetings were undoubtedly held at homes of members. This probably accounts for the absence of records. Most of the paraphernalia belonging to the Lodge has evidently disappeared, although it is stated "unofficially" that the jewels now worn by Wyoming Lodge, of Melrose, are those used by the old Mount Moriah officers. A number of interesting articles are still in existence, however, some of which belong to Golden Rule Lodge.
The date of the dissolution of the Lodge is also very uncertain. Although records at the Grand Lodge Library noted that a Brother represented Mount Moriah Lodge at a Grand Lodge session as late as December 27th 1848, newspaper accounts and other records have noted that the Lodge passed out of existence at varying dates, including 1812, 1835 and 1842.
In 1915 Grand Secretary Frederick W. Hamilton composed a very comprehensive article on "The Period of Persecution" bearing on Masonry in the early 19th century, and considering the hectic years described by the author it may readily be imagined why records are incomplete or missing, besides the mystery incident to anything Masonic, at that period, either in South Reading or anywhere else.
FROM GOOD SAMARITAN LODGE CENTENARY HISTORY, NOVEMBER 1970
From Proceedings, Page 1970-548:
Reading's first Masonic venture dates from Mt. Moriah Lodge in 1798. It was in the First Parish which became South Reading in 1812 and the Town of Wakefield in 1868. Mt. Moriah Lodge was on the second floor of Dr. Hart's home in a specially furnished Lodge room. Many of you know this today as the Col. Hartshorne House, built in 1681 and located on Church Street in Wakefield.
Dr. Hart was a prominent man. He served Reading as Selectman, School Committee member, and Justice of the Peace. He was a patriot in the Revolutionary War and became Vice-President of the Society of the Cincinnati, a memorial society formed May 13, 1783, by officers of the Continental Army. George Washington was elected its first President in May 1784.
Reading was divided in 1812, placing Mt. Moriah in South Reading. Four years later Jacob Goodwin, Daniel Flint and others applied for a charter to establish a new Lodge. Mt. Moriah Lodge approved and also relinquished jurisdiction, but finally ceased to operate about September 1829, and the Mt. Moriah Charter was finally surrendered to the Grand Lodge.
