By Jan Howard

Freemasonry has a long history in Newtown, and Hiram Chapter No 1 in Newtown was the first chapter chartered in Connecticut.

The chapter's history is divided into two parts. The first period of records begins with the institution of the lodge in New Haven on January 6, 1791, and extends to April 15, 1848.

Its charter, which was revoked in 1851, was restored in 1866. This second period continues to the present.

The original charter is dated January 19, 1791. The first master was Peter Nichols, who was installed by Grand Master Pierpont Edwards. Bennett Perry, a physician, was the first senior warden and Jonathan Prindle, a tailor by trade, was junior warden.

Meetings were held in several places through the years. From 1791 until October 5, 1821, they were held in Mr Perry's house on Newtown Street (now Main Street). In 1821 it assembled at Czar Keeler's lodge room on Newtown Street, where it remained until November 5, 1823. Ezra Levan Johnson, Newtown's first historian, believed that Mr Perry's house was later known as Dick's Hotel and the Newtown Inn, now the site of the C.H. Booth Library.

From 1823 to 1825, lodge meetings were held in William Blakesley's lodge room, which was probably the ballroom in Mr Blakesley's house at the head of the street.

According to Johnson's history, Sarah Grace Glover, Mr Blakesley's daughter, "found in the attic of the Blakesley house what is probably the original altar of Hiram Lodge." She later presented it to the lodge.

Johnson's history also said that an oil painting of the Trestle Board hanging in the East, "was also discovered some years ago stowed away in a barn, and fortunately brought to light, retouched and saved to us as a relic, and a token of the zeal and enthusiasm of our ancient brethren of Newtown."

On October 14, 1824, there was a movement to build a Masonic Hall. "Voted, that the Master Lodge agree to build a Masonic Hall provided that the chapter will defray one-half of the expense." Later it was voted that Theophilus Nichols, Henry Dutton, and Alexander Hall serve as a committee to act with the committee appointed to build the hall. In June 1825, the lodge furniture was moved to the new hall at the north end of Newtown Street.

The lodge was incorporated by special act of the General Assembly the first Wednesday in May 1825. On June 7, 1826, the lodge voted to have the hall insured for $500.

This hall was sold April 15, 1848, to D.H. Belden for $100 and all personal property was disposed of.

Johnson's history states, "The men who founded this lodge were real enthusiastic Masons. They were trying to be men. There was an earnestness and dignity in their proceeding, which indicate a deep sense of obligation to each other, and a genuine reverence for the science of morality; they made some effort to be of use to one another. 'Brotherly love, relief and truth' were not mere high sounding words to them."

According to the history, "They aimed at real self improvement by having lectures, orations, and other addresses." The members also met to listen to sermons on the anniversary of St John Baptist and on St John Evangelist's Day.

Some of the most prominent citizens of Newtown were members. David Baldwin, 1758–1811, who spent his whole life in Newtown, was very active in Masonic circles. According to Johnson's history, he was described in the Fairfield County Record as a merchant, a prominent and leading man, and a militia general, and popularly known as "General."

Judge Samuel C. Blackman, attorney David H. Belden, and the Rev Daniel Burhans, who served as Trinity's rector for 31 years, were active Masons. Asa Chapman of Newtown, who was master in 1800, was head of the Chapman Law School and judge of the Supreme Court. Henry Dutton, the master in 1827, was judge of the Supreme Court and governor of Connecticut.

In 1851 the charter of the lodge was revoked. From 1860 to 1866, however, there was renewed interest in establishing a lodge in town. Newtown men, meanwhile, had joined lodges in Bethel and Monroe.

In May 1866 a petition was granted for a new lodge in Newtown. Julius Sanford was the first master, William Horr, senior warden, and George Woffenden, junior warden.

The first meeting place was established by Mr Sanford in a place he owned near the Foundry pond. The first installation of officers was held June 25, 1866.

In 1873 the lodge was removed to a hall owned by Smith P. Glover on the corner of Church Hill and Washington Avenue, where it continued until the building was destroyed by fire May 31, 1905. Temporarily the lodge found met in Minott Augur's hall over the Sandy Hook Market on the opposite corner next to Glover's brick store.

On June 21, 1906, it was voted to build a new Masonic Hall. Funds were raised, and A.M. Brisco, L.C. Morris, C.P. Northrop, S.A. Blackman, and G.A. Northrop served as the building committee. The contract was for $2,949.50. The lodge moved into its new home on Washington Avenue on November 21, 1906.

The hall was dedicated on June 26, 1907, with 200 members of the Masonic fraternity in attendance.

Freemasonry

Freemasonry, the largest secret society in the world, has approximately five million members.

The Masons have no central authority, with the highest authorities in the United States being state and provincial grand lodges.

Symbolic rites and ceremonies utilize the instruments of the stonemason — the plumb, square, level, and compasses — but the membership is not limited to working stonemasons.

Freemasonry principles have been traditionally liberal and democratic. Anderson's Constitutions (1723), the bylaws of the oldest lodge, the Grand Lodge of England, according to The Columbia Encyclopedia, "cites religious toleration, loyalty to local government, and political compromise as basic to the Masonic ideal. Masons are expected to believe in a Supreme Being, use a holy book appropriate to the religion of the lodge's members, and maintain a vow of secrecy concerning the order's ceremonies."

Masons generally meet in a Masonic temple. The lodge consists of three degrees, first, second, and third, which correspond to the three levels of the medieval stonemason's guilds, apprentice, journeyman, and master.

It is thought that Freemasonry arose from English and Scottish stonemasons and cathedral builders in the Middle Ages, perhaps as early as the 14th Century. Some Masonry historians claim the order's roots go back to antiquity.

Philadelphia was the site of the first United States lodge in 1730. Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, and Paul Revere were Masons, as was George Washington. Thirteen presidents and many members of Congress were also members.

There has been opposition to Freemasonry through the years, from the Anti-Masonic party in the United States and the Roman Catholic Church, with Pope Clement XII first expressing church opposition in 1738. Members of the Catholic Church are still discouraged from joining the order.

Under fascism and Nazism, lodges in Italy, Austria, and Germany were suppressed, and there are no lodges in China.

The meetings of Hiram Lodge No 18, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in Newtown, meets the first and third Wednesday of each month, except July and August, at 7:30 pm in the Masonic Temple at 3 Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook. Hiram Chapter No 1, Royal Arch Masons, meets the second Wednesday of each month, except July and August, at 7:30 pm in the Masonic Temple.

Information for this story was taken from Newtown's History and Historian Ezra Levan Johnson, prepared by Jane Eliza Johnson, and The Columbia Encyclopedia.