Location Location Location
The rise of Metuchen
Woodbridge Township, the oldest original Township in New Jersey, was granted a Royal Charter on June 1st 1669 by King Charles ll of England. Later the New Jersey Township Act of 1798 incorporated Woodbridge Township as one of the 104 Townships in the State. At the time Metuchen was a small settlement of just ten or so houses surrounded by farmland and woodland some distance to the west of the main settlement, and so it remained until the development of turnpikes and the arrival of the railroad.
So until 1806 Metuchen was just a dot on the map, but the arrival of the Middlesex and Essex Turnpike (now Middlesex Avenue) placed Metuchen on a main route north and south. The arrival of the Perth Amboy and Bound Brook Turnpike (now Amboy Avenue) and the crossroads it created at the intersection of present day Middlesex Avenue and New Durham Road led to the development of a small community of taverns and residences a little distance from Main Street. However, a second crossroad at Main Street and the Middlesex Turnpike, followed by the later construction of the New Jersey Railroad Station (later to become the Pennsylvania Railroad) at Main Street and Woodbridge Avenue, established Main Street as the center of the village.
In 1870 Raritan Township, later renamed as Edison Township, was incorporated, withdrawing from the larger Woodbridge and Piscataway Townships; Metuchen was its largest village. The final development took place in 1900 when Metuchen was incorporated as a Borough, giving it a wider ability to determine its own future.
The “railroad era” was the beginning of the growth of Metuchen as a suburban community. Access to other towns became easier, allowing people to commute for work. Indeed, by the end of the 19th Century the Pennsylvania Railroad (previously the NJRR) and the Lehigh Railroad, the mainly industrial railroad which arrived in 1873, provided 26 passenger trains to New York daily.
Thus it was that Metuchen became a desirable place to live and began to attract wealth from northern New Jersey and New York. The country setting with wide-open spaces awaiting development gave rise to the many notable and historic buildings in the village, not the least of which is the fine building which has been the home of Mt Zion Lodge #135 for nearly 100 years.
The rise, fall and rise of Masonry in New Jersey
At a meeting held in the White Hall Tavern in New Brunswick on December 18th 1786 the Grand Lodge of the State of New Jersey was born. Despite the difficulties of time and distance, fifty eight Lodges were appropriately warranted by 1842. However, there were problems, and it was clear that in many respects the administration of the Grand Lodge was not fit for purpose. Elected Officers met too infrequently to be effective, and the business of the Grand Lodge was mired in inefficiency. Subordinate Lodges were also delinquent in communicating effectively, in providing requested information and in paying dues efficiently. The lack of clear rules and guidance led to continuous disputes which put Lodges and Brethren at odds with each other.
There were also issues which were beyond Grand Lodge’s control. The Anti-Masonic Party, the first ‘third party’ in American history, which regarded Masonry as exclusive and undemocratic, thrived on suspicion and hatred of the Craft and, as a result, Masonry was a ready target for political opportunists who opposed President Andrew Jackson, a prominent Mason. Further, the Morgan affair, used by politicians to foster ill-will, often supported by the press and the pulpit, caused a rise in anti-Masonic sentiment across New Jersey to such an extent that by 1842 only eight of the fifty two warranted Lodges were considered to be working.
After the furor had died down and anti-Masonry feelings had subsided somewhat, a recovery began. Fourteen Lodges that had been thought inactive were resuscitated. By 1862 there were sixty lodges with 3,400 members, and by 1866 there were seventy six working Lodges with a total membership of 5,054 Masons. Just two years later, in 1868, Woodbridge Township became the home of the newly warranted Americus Lodge #83, at 94 Green St, Woodbridge.
The growth of Masonry in this period has many possible causes. The development of roads and rail, the increased and more mobile population, the Civil War and immigration all had their part to play, and it has already been shown that two of these causes had affected the growth and prosperity of Metuchen.
Masonry comes to Metuchen
In 1873 three Master Masons demitted from Americus Lodge #83 and they joined with seven other Master Masons, who demitted from Lodges in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, to become the Charter Members of a new Lodge called Mt. Zion, to be based in Metuchen. The proposal to start a new Lodge was submitted to Grand Lodge and was given the support it needed to begin work.
Mt. Zion Lodge under Dispensation
No Lodge is given its Warrant immediately. A Lodge has to prove its intent and its worth by serving for a year under Dispensation. So it was that, on March 6th, 1873, Mt. Zion Lodge met for its first Regular Communication. The meeting was convened by R.W. William E Pembrook, the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New Jersey, whose duty it was to deliver the Dispensation under which the Lodge would operate for the year. After the Dispensation was delivered the Lodge was opened in due form with nine Master Masons occupying the Officers Chairs.
Joseph L Moss Sr. Worshipful Master
Erastus H Tappen Senior Warden
R Bruce Crowell Junior Warden
George H Mead Treasurer
Edgar L Pierson Secretary
Charles A Bloomfield Senior Deacon
Albin N Whittier Junior Deacon
Thomas N Acken Senior Master of Ceremonies
Edward A Gariss Acting Tyler
Of the two other Charter Members, Addison L Scott was present, while George Greason was unable to attend through illness.
The only order of business was the delivery of instructions by the Deputy Grand Master about the rights and privileges of a Lodge under Dispensation, and it set the scene for several months of frenetic activity creating a sound footing for the new Lodge.
Mt. Zion Lodge’s Founding Fathers
Joseph Lafayette Moss Sr. 1823-1905.
Served as a Major in the 5th Pennsylvania Cavalry in 1861, later becoming Lt. Col. in the 12th Pennsylvania Cavalry in 1862. Raised in Philadelphia Lodge #2, Pennsylvania. He moved to Metuchen where he was a Broker and Justice of the Peace. First Master of Mt. Zion Lodge in 1874.
Erastus H Tappen 1841-1931
A Farmer and Market Gardener from Metuchen. Raised in Americus #83 in 1872. Master of Mt. Zion in 1875
Robert Bruce Crowell 1833-1920
A Farmer. Also acted as Clerk to the Board of Education for 33 years. Raised in Benevolent #25, New York. Master of Mt. Zion in 1907 and 1908.
George H Mead
Plumber. Raised in Mosaic #418, New York. Served as Treasurer in 1873-4.
Edgar L Pierson 1843-1916
A House Builder and Real Estate Agent. Raised in St John #1, Newark, NJ. Secretary 1873-4. Master of Mt. Zion in 1877-1878.
Charles A Bloomfield 1849-1929
A New York Lawyer and later the founder of the Bloomfield Clay Company. Raised in Belleville #108, New York. Master of Mt. Zion in 1909
Albin M Whittier 1841-?
A Butcher with a business on Main St. Raised in Americus #83. Junior Deacon 1873-1876
Thomas N Acken 1841-1896
A Clay Merchant. Raised in Americus #83. Master of Ceremonies 1873-1874.
Addison L Scott 1835-1904
A New York Lawyer. Raised in Oswego #127, New York. Master of Mt. Zion in 1876.
George Greason d.1873
Raised in Acacia #327, New York. Owner of the Greason Building on Main St, Metuchen, which was used by the Lodge from March 13th 1873 until the move to Robins Hall in April 1874.
As W.B. Charles B Carman, the mover behind the publication of the Lodge History written for the 100th Anniversary, wrote, “Members of Mt. Zion Lodge are grateful to these Charter Members who had the foresight to organize our Lodge”.
From ‘Under Dispensation’ to ‘Warranted’
As already shown above, the first meeting of the Lodge under Dispensation was held on March 6th 1873. From the moment the Dispensation had been granted and handed to the members, it was up to the Lodge to show that it had earned the trust put in them by Grand Lodge to create a Lodge worthy of being granted a Warrant.
To this end the Lodge held 37 meetings during the course of the year, 18 being Regular Communications. Determination to get the work done could be seen when the May 8th meeting was canceled owing to the ‘inclement weather’, but was immediately rearranged for the following Monday to continue the Degree work being done.
Among the priorities were adding to the membership of the Lodge, looking for adequate accommodation to meet the needs of a potentially increased membership, ensuring that the Lodge could meet its obligations in terms of ritual, and, by no means least, ensuring that the Lodge could maintain financial viability.
Very quickly the Lodge received petitions for membership from locals, notably including Nathan Robins and Wright Robins, local business men, and Joseph L Moss Jr., son of the Master of the Lodge. In all, nine new Master Masons were raised, all fulfilling the Master’s admonition that applicants who were accepted should be of the right moral character and would uphold Masonic principles.
Many of the Emergent Communications were used to work on ritual so that Degree work would be of the highest standard possible. Some of the meeting time also dealt with matters concerning insurance and the viability of staying in the current property or looking elsewhere.
The issue of property became central late in the year when Bro. Nathan Robins offered to lease Rooms in Robins Hall on Main Street to the Lodge at a rent of $200 per year. The Lodge asked for certain alterations to be made, which were accepted, but caused the rent to be raised to $225 per year. After heated discussion, and two tied votes, the Master placed his vote on the side of accepting the $225 rent, and the lease was signed in April 1874.
A lease of that magnitude was likely to be a strain on Lodge finances, but the accounts at the end of 1873 were healthy, and showed what could be done.
So the Lodge proved itself worthy and, at the first meeting on January 29th 1874, M.W. William Pembrook, in his new role as the Most Worshipful Grand Master of New Jersey, presented a Warrant dated January 22nd 1874 to Mt. Zion Lodge #135 of Free and Accepted Masons.
The Grand Lodge Warrant presented to Mt. Zion Lodge in 1874
So Where Can Mt. Zion Lodge Meet?
The 1873 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey recorded the work of the Committee appointed to consider Dispensations as follows:
“In the case of the application for a Lodge at Metuchen, the committee would recommend, inasmuch as the brethren petitioning have not yet secured a safe and convenient Lodge-room, that a dispensation be granted said brethren to form a Lodge, to be known as Mt. Zion Lodge, No 135, with permission to meet in the Lodge-room of Americus Lodge No 83, at Woodbridge, until the completion of their hall, when, upon the presentation of satisfactory evidence to the Grand Master that they have secured a Lodge-room, a warrant shall be issued to said Lodge.”
The Greason Building
George Greason was one of the Charter Members of Mt. Zion Lodge, and he owned the substantial three storied building at 433 Main Street, Metuchen. He made the third floor available to the Lodge at a cost of $37.50 per month, and made sure that everything was ready for the opening meeting scheduled for March 6th, 1873. This meant that the special permission given by Grand Lodge was no longer an issue. Sadly, George was not able to attend that meeting due to illness, and he died just five days later. The Lodge was able to make use of the rooms for several months while more permanent rooms were sought. On Thursday March 13th, the New Brunswick Weekly Freedonia (now New Brunswick Home News) reported in very flowery language that the new Freemasons Hall had opened on March 6th, and that the secrets contained therein were not to be divulged to the general public!
The Greason Building. 433 Main St, Metuchen
The Greason Building was only an interim solution to the problem, so, in October 1873, a committee was empowered to investigate the possibility of renting rooms in Robins Hall.
Robins Hall
Nathan Robins, a prominent Metuchen businessman, was one of the first people to be raised to Master Mason in 1873. He and his brothers were responsible for the construction of Robins Hall, a substantial, and still surviving, building at 401 Main Street. The three story structure housed first floor businesses, a second floor space that was able to host social events ranging from school graduations to dances, to theater and movies, and a third floor which was ideal for the Lodge, provided that some partitions could be installed. As already described, terms were agreed, alterations were made, votes were taken, and the lease was signed on April 2 1874 for five years, with options to continue to ten.
In 1880 the Lodge persuaded Bro. Robins to reduce the rent to $37.50 per quarter, but this arrangement did not last too long, for in 1885 the rent went back up to $50. This prompted the Trustees to look for other suitable rooms at a cheaper rate, but, as nothing was available, the new rent was accepted, with an option to renew for two more years, an option that extended far beyond the original plan.
Robins Hall at 401 Main Street.
By 1906 Bro. Robins was no longer the owner of Robins Hall, but was acting as agent for the new owner, John Foster. In June 1906 the Lodge asked Bro. Robins to approach Mr. Foster with a view to getting essential repairs done. The reply from Mr. Foster was clearly not to the liking of the members, and the secretary proposed that the owner be told that the Lodge “will stand no part of the expenses in making repairs”. So the Lodge set up a committee to investigate the possibility of renting rooms in the new building that the Metuchen National Bank had erected at 406 Main Street.
By November 1907 it was clear that negotiations with the Bank had gone well, for the committee was empowered by the Lodge to make a lease with the Bank for a 5 year rental at $300 per year, with an option for 5 further years. Notice was given in January 1908 that the Lodge would be vacating Robins Hall on April 1st, and the final meeting there was on March 26th, the new lease with the Bank having been finally approved at the previous meeting.
The Metuchen National Bank
M.W. A H McGregor, Grand Master, sanctioned the move to the new premises, but was unable to attend the first meeting there on April 9th 1908. Instead, R.W. W D Wolfskeil, Deputy Grand Master, attended, accompanied by R.W. Charles Russ, District Deputy Grand Master. The occasion was marked with a ‘suitable repast’, as previously proposed by Bro. Charles Bloomfield, Senior Warden.
The rooms were significantly more expensive than the previous accommodation, but the Lodge was able to offset some of the cost by subletting to other organizations, as had previously been done at Robins Hall.
There are very few references to the Bank in Lodge minutes, which suggests that the relationship with the Bank was satisfactory, the question of heat in the winter months being one small wrinkle. However, the Lodge was always on the lookout for land which could be developed. At least two sites were looked at, but proved to be unsuitable. But by 1925 there had been some behind the scenes work done, and eventually, on June 9th 1927, a resolution was put to the members that the Metuchen National Bank be informed that the Lodge would be vacating their rooms on and after September 1st 1927. Members must have been aware of what was happening, but there is nothing in the minutes. The secretary was instructed to inform utility companies of the move, and to communicate with Grand Lodge to get final approval. The meeting on June 23rd was devoted to organizing the move during the summer recess so that the Lodge could reopen in September in its new accommodation.
483 Middlesex Avenue
Wernik House, 483 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen
In the 1974 Lodge History W.B. Charles Carman wrote that ‘in 1927, the Trustees of the Lodge decided it would be advisable to own its own building. After a careful study it was decided to purchase the Metuchen Club located at 483 Middlesex Avenue. The Metuchen Masonic Building Association, Inc was set up purchase and manage the building and the Warranty Deed, dated October 15, 1927, was recorded on October 18, 1927 in Book of Deeds 899, page 85 in the Middlesex County Clerk’s Office’. Further research has revealed that the members of the Metuchen Club had been searching for a buyer for some time so that the Club could purchase the land on Plainfield Road which they have now occupied for around 100 years. The members needed a place to establish a golf course, as their previous golfing had been taking place along the unpaved Middlesex Avenue and Oak Avenue. Casual golfing of this nature became impossible when Middlesex Avenue became part of the transcontinental Lincoln Highway and was ‘macadamized’, thus increasing the amount of vehicular traffic and speeding up the development of residential housing. Washington Wilson, Master of the Lodge in 1905 and 1906, was one of the prime movers behind the sale on behalf of the Metuchen Club, and was, no doubt, pleased to receive an offer from the Lodge to purchase the property, and he must also have appreciated that the Lodge would benefit from the sale. In any event, the Lodge held its first meeting in the new accommodation on September 8th 1927 with 70 members in attendance along with the D.D.G.M., R.W. Walter G Hoehler and 21 other visitors.
The present building at 483 Middlesex Avenue is now 125 years old after being built as a replacement for the previous building that had been destroyed by fire. As it has gotten older the costs of maintaining it have increased, and equipment has become increasingly obsolete. With these factors in mind it seemed in 2010 that a new arrangement needed to be made to keep the building as an operational Lodge. At this point Malcolm Wernik PGM used his positions as a Past Master of the Lodge and Past Grand Master of New Jersey, as well as being a major donor to the YMCA, to point out a win-win solution. He encouraged the YMCA, which had been looking for a suitable place to locate its local Headquarters, to purchase the building with an arrangement that would allow the Lodge to operate in perpetuity without having to bear unmanageable costs. So, in 2027, the Lodge will be able to celebrate 100 years of occupancy in its magnificent location at Wernik House, 483 Middlesex Avenue, Metuchen.