Mount Moriah's History

A Brief History of
Mount Moriah Lodge

Being one of the oldest lodges in New Jersey, Mount Moriah has a long and distinguished past. In 1979 Most Worshipful Lewis M. Parker perhaps our most illustrious member undertook the task of writing a history of our lodge.  The information below is taken from his work. 

“The first permanent settler on the American continent known to have been a Mason was John Skene, a member of the Lodge at Aberdee in Scotland, who emigrated to America in 1682 and settled on lands only a few miles distant from our Masonic Home in Burlington.  An unknown number of Masons from the Old World followed Skene to these shores.  Daniel Coxe, the first Provincial Grand Master in America, resided in Burlington for a number of years and is buried in Old Saint Mary’s Church there.  Slowly, a few lodges were formed in the colony and State of New Jersey and in 1786, the Grand Lodge of New Jersey came into being. 

Doubtless, there were members of the fraternity living in Bordentown during many of its early years, but it is not until 1843 that there is any record of an attempt to form a local lodge.  In July of that year, a consultation took place between the following brethren who were the only Master Masons known to be residing in the neighborhood at that time, namely, William McKnight, Rev. J.W. Lathrop, Captain McCall, Robert C. Buzby, Commodore Charles Stewart and Isaac Field, Sr.

 Owing to the death of Brother Lathrop and a loss of interest of several of the above-mentioned brethren, the subject was dropped and not revived until April 1853 when seven brethren, namely, Robert C. Buzby, James W. Allen, William Porter, William Nutt, John Holland, Robert Fenton and John O’Conner met at the home of Brother James W. Allen at 104 Prince Street to discuss the matter.  A second meeting was held at the hotel of Edward Bartlett, corner of Main and Crosswicks Streets, at which all seven brethren were present, plus Captain Charles Hinkle.

 At this meeting, it was determined to apply to the Grand Master for a dispensation to open and hold a lodge in Bordentown and it was further resolved that the following brethren should be the officers named in the application, namely:

                 Robert C. Buzby,  Worshipful Master

                 James W. Allen,  Senior Warden

                 William Porter,  Junior Warden 

Our founding brethren lost no time in pursuing their goal.  The minutes of Trenton lodge No 5 for May 3, 1853 records the following: ‘Whereas, a number of brethren of the fraternity of the Borough of Bordentown, Burlington County, being desirous of organizing a Masonic Lodge in said Borough and inasmuch as the regulations of Grand Lodge require that the Petition should be recommended by the nearest Lodge, Therefore, Resolved that this Lodge do recommend the Petition to the Grand Master and hope their prayer may be granted.’”  Thus Mount Moriah Lodge came into existence as a result of the sponsorship of Trenton lodge No. 5. 

“Pursuant to notice given by the Grand Master, a number of brethren assembled in Bordentown on July 8, 1853 for the purpose of organizing the new Lodge.”

 A special Grand Lodge was assembled, and Grand Master Edward Stewart, Deputy Grand Master; Samuel Reed as well as the other members of the Grand Lodge were present.  Representatives were sent from the following Lodges:  Trenton No. 5, Mount Holly No. 14, Camden Lodge No. 15, Amwell Lodge No. 12 in Lambertville.  Pennsylvania also was represented in the presence of members from: Bristol Lodge No. 25, Doylestown Lodge No.245, Lafayette Lodge No. 71 in Philadelphia, and Montgomery Lodge No. 19 from Philadelphia.

 “The Throne of Grace was addressed by Past Master L. H. Scott, and a special Grand Lodge opened.  A dispensation was read authorizing and empowering the brothers therin named to confer the degrees of Entered Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason, and work after Ancient York Masons.”

It is interesting to note that Mount Moriah began it’s days working in the York Rite ritual.  Today we and the Grand Lodge of New Jersey follow the Scottish Rite.

 After the special Grand Lodge was called from labor to refreshment, Mount Moriah Lodge No. 28 was duly opened for the first time by its’  newly appointed Worshipful Master Robert C. Buzby.

 Throughout it’s history, the members of Mount Moriah have always been generous in donating to charitable causes.  The Lodge donated funds to Clara Barton to aid her in her work which became the Red Cross. The cost of an eye operation for a poor member of the Lodge was paid for by the members.

Relief was sent to the victims of the Johnstown flood and to this day Mount Moriah has sent funds to aid the victims of natural disasters around the world.

The Lodge has also reached out to the community,  when the local elementary school was damaged by fire, the Lodge donated the use of the lower floor of the Lodge building for use as the temporary school. 

Another time, a brother of the Lodge whose home was destroyed by fire also lived in the Lodge while the Lodge raised funds to build him a new home. 

Over the years, the Lodge has met in several different buildings.  The Lodge has met in the present building since the turn of the century.  At one time, meetings were held in rooms occupying what in now the third floor.  Renovations placed the present Lodge room on the second floor and added the vaulted ceiling. 

Mount Moriah Lodge has also been fortunate to be the home of five past Grand Masters of New Jersey.  As a result, our Lodge has established a reputation throughout the State as being one of the finest Lodges in the jurisdiction.  Our ritual work is among the best to be seen in the State. 

Like all Lodges, Mount Moriah has established many fine traditions, and sets a high standard for it’s members.