Establishment of the First Mason Lodge in the Town of Pelham

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The Historic Pelham Blog has included articles before about the founding of the Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M.on November 1, 1908.  See, e.g.:

Mon., Jan. 19, 2015:  More on the Early History of the Mason Lodge of Pelham: Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M.

Wed., Jul. 09, 2014:  Record of the Celebration of the Silver Anniversary of the Mason Lodge of Pelham: Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M.

Mon., May 30, 2005:  Early History of the Winyah Lodge U.D. of Pelham, New York. 

Wed., Mar. 08, 2006:  The 1939 Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Masonic Temple in Pelham, NY.

Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M. was not the first Masonic Lodge established in the little Town of Pelham.  The first such lodge was Pelham Lodge No. 712, F. & A. M. established on City Island in the Town of Pelham in mid-July, 1871.  

On July 20, 1871, The Statesman of Yonkers published a brief notice that "a few evenings since" a group of local Masonic officials including R. W. Stephen S. Marshal (District Deputy Grand Marshal) and George E. C. Seaman (Grand Marshal) installed a group of officers of the new Pelham Lodge including:

John O. Fordham (Master)
James Hyatt (Senior Warden) 
Stephen D. Leviness (Junior Warden)

Source:  CITY ISLAND -- MASONIC, The Statesman [Yonkers, NY], Jul. 20, 1871, Vol. XVI, No. 805, p. 1, col. 4.

This installation was, of course, a formality.  The Lodge had been organized by Pelham citizens the previous year and had been fairly active before the formal installation of its Master, Senior Warden and Junior Warden.

Pelham Lodge No. 712, F. & A. M. remains active to this day.  It provides an early history as follows:

"A group of City Island Masons on or about 1870 decided to form their own lodge. Thereafter, Grand Lodge sent them a dispensation and Pelham Lodge was born. The charter members were: D.W:. Billar, Jerome Bell, John Bowman, Wm. F. Billar, Oswald Bergan, David Carll, John O. Fordham, James Hyatt, Benjamin Hegeman, Stephen D. Leviness, Frederick Price, Charles H. Stringham, and A.B. Wood. 

The first meeting, attended by 12 members and 1 visitor, was held on Saturday, February 4, 1871 with John O. Fordham as Master. By-laws were drafted and it was voted to meet every Tuesday night. A dispensation cost of $80.00 was paid and Pelham Lodge became part of the Ninth Masonic District. The lodge rooms were over a carpenter shop south of where the Island Pub is now located, in a building owned by a Mr. Baxter who later became a Brother. Rent was $100.00 a year without heat and the cost of coal was $6.00 per ton. 

At the fifth meeting on February 28, 1871, By-laws were adopted, and at the eighth meeting, Pelham held its first Master Mason's Degree, at which 3 candidates were raised. The first application to be received was that of Edward L. Wooden, age 25, teacher at City Island's one-room, one-teacher schoolhouse. 

During Pelham's first year, 13 Brothers were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason, making a total of 31 members, 2 Fellowcrafts, and 3 Entered Apprentices. W:. Bro. John O. Fordham was re-elected Master for another year on December 19, 1871. The second Worshipful Master of Pelham Lodge was S. D. Levenap, elected December 24, 1872. Elections were held for the offices of Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Senior Deacon, Junior Deacon, Secretary, and Treasurer."

The detailed history of this first Pelham Masonic Lodge makes fascinating reading.  You may visit it here:  About The Bronx Masonic District:  Pelham Lodge #712 (visited Feb. 18, 2018).

Logo of Pelham Lodge No. 712, F. & A. M.  Note the Nineteenth

Century Sailing Ship and the Lighthouse Evoking the Maritime

History of City Island.  NOTE:  Click on Image to Enlarge.

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More on the Early History of the Mason Lodge of Pelham: Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M.

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I have written before of the early history of the Masonic Lodge known as Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M. (and its temple) established in 1909.  For example, see:  

Mon., May 30, 2005:  Early History of the Winyah Lodge U.D. of Pelham, New York.

Wed., Mar. 08, 2006:  The 1939 Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Masonic Temple in Pelham, NY.

On November 1, 1908, a group of Masons headed by Village of North Pelham druggist Seth T. Lyman, met in the meeting room of Hiawatha Lodge No. 434 F. & A. M. in Mount Vernon to organize a new masonic lodge in the Town of Pelham to be known as Winyah Lodge.  

Winyah Lodge purchased the former club house of The Pelham Village Club in the Village of North Pelham and dedicated it as the Pelham Masonic Temple on Labor Day, September 6, 1909.   

For many years, the Winyah Lodge commemorated the opening of the Temple with special celebrations held on special anniversaries including the 20th, the 25th, and the 30th Anniversaries. Today's posting to the Historic Pelham Blog transcribes an article on the early history of the Winyah Lodge published to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the lodge.

Post Card View of the Village Club Building in

North Pelham Acquired by the Winyah Lodge and

Opened as its Temple in 1909.

Cover of Program for the 30th Anniversary Celebration

of the Dedication of the Masonic Temple in Pelham,

New York, Five Years After the Silver Anniversary Celebration

Described Below. Source: Collection of the Author.

"'WINYAH, TWENTY YEARS AGO'
By WILLIAM R. MONTGOMERY
-----
An intimate story of the founding of Winyah Lodge, No. 866, F. & A. M., written by the lodge historian.  A tribute to the charter members, at observance of the twentieth birthday of the lodge, May 6th.

'A little over twenty years ago, a group of enthusiastic Pelham Masons met at the home of Brother Seth T. Lyman, at the corner of Fifth avenue and First street, where the old Post Office was then located, and decided that a Masonic lodge would be a desirable acquisition for the Town of Pelham.  After considering many names for the new lodge, the unanimous decision was Winyah.

'Winyah is the name of an old Indian tribe who used to live along the coast of South Carolina.  The Bay near Georgetown, S. C., is named Winyah after it.

'In the year 1847 Colonel Richard Lathers of Georgetown, S. C., bought several hundred acres of land in the villages of New Rochelle and Pelhamville extending to Fifth avenue, including what is now known as Pelhamwood.  Colonel Lathers named his homestead Winyah Park, and it was from this park that the name Winyah was taken.  It might be of interest here to state that there was another lodge named Winyah:  this was the Winyah Lodge of Georgetown, S. C., whose charter dates from 1743.  It was one of the oldest lodges of Colonial times.

'After deciding upon Winyah as the name of the new lodge, the twenty Masons petitioned the Grand Master for a dispensation to conduct a lodge in Pelham.  The following names appear on the petition:

Seth T. Lyman, Louis C. Young, Harry A. Anderson, G. I. Karbach, George C. Rupert, H. Elliott Coe, Isaac C. Hill, W.: John T. Logan, Henry L. Rupert, Charles E. Boss, John H. Young, George Stead, Emil Ericson, David B. Algie, W. F. C. Tichborne, Charles R. Wallander, A. Wilbur Crane, Edward Thurnaer, Joseph J. White, Charles A. Barker.

'The Dispensation was duly granted by the Grand Master .: W.: S. Nelson Sawyer, and on November 17, 1908, Winyah Lodge met at the old odge rooms of Hiawatha Lodge No. 434 F. & A. M., in Mount Vernon, with Seth T. Lyman, Master; H. Elliott Coe, Senior Warden, and Louis C. Young, Junior Warden, for the purpose of receiving from R.: W.: Frank V. Millard, District Deputy, the Dispensation empowering the above twenty Masons to conduct Winyah Lodge in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Grand Lodge and their own By-Laws.  On May 6, 1909, the Grand Lodge, assembled in New York, decided that the necessary requirements were fulfilled and thereupon granted a charter constituting Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M.  It is that event that we are tonight commemorating.

'The first Stated Communication of Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M., was held on June 1, 1909, in the lodge rooms of Hiawatha Lodge No. 434, Mount Vernon, N. Y., and upon that occasion the Master, Seth T. Lyman, received the Charter from M.: W.: Edward M. L. Ehlers.  The officers of Winyah Lodge at that time were as follows:

Seth T. Lyman, Master; H. Elliott Coe, Senior Warden; Louis C. Young, Junior Warden; Isaac C. Hill, Treasurer; Joseph W. Stone, Secretary; Albert L. Logan, Senior Deacon; Edward M. C. Logan, Junior Deacon; Julius A. Nelson, Senior Master of Ceremonies; Rohn Rohrs, Jr., Junior Master of Ceremonies; Rev. Herbert H. Brown, Chaplain; Samuel J. Adler, Senior Steward; Horace E. Burnett, Junior Steward; Walter R. Harris, Marhsal; Fred W. Case, Tyler.

Trustees:  William R. Montgomery, Walter F. C. Tichborne, A. Wilbur Crane.

The above officers with the following brethren constituted the thirty-five charter members of Winyah Lodge No. 866, F. & A. M.:

David B. Algie, Harry A. Anderson, Charles E. Boss, Edward M. bray, Barthelemy G. Donzel, Emil Ericson, Ludwig W. Elsinger, Charles Fistere, Albert D. Frost, Andrew Heisser, George C. Rupert, Henry L. Rupert, George Stead, Edward Thurnaer, Joseph J. White, Jacob A. Wirth, Charles R. Wallender, John H. Young.

'Winyah Lodge up to this time had no home of its own, holding the various meetings at Hiawatha Lodge No. 434, in Mount Vernon, N. Y., and Huguenot Lodge No. 46, in New Rochelle, N. Y.  Many of the members of Winyah Lodge with a few non-Masons formed the Hutchinson Realty Co., and built the present Temple.  The first meeting held in the new temple was on October 30, 1909, when the final arrangements for the dedication of the Lodge room were made.  The Temple was duly dedicated on November 6, 1909, by M.: W.: Edward M. L. Ehlers, assisted by the Grand Lodge Officers.  Upon this occasion R.: W.: Charles G. F. Wahle directed the choir of the Church of the Redeemer in the rendition of appropriate music.  It was the largest Masonic gathering ever held in Pelham, and many Masons were unable to gain admission.  After the dedication a banquet was served in the club room, and there were about 250 guests.

'Winyah Lodge received many gifts -- too many to note them all here.  The Holy Bible was presented by W.: John T. Logan and the Square and Compasses by R.: W.: and Mrs. Charles G. F. Wahle.  Both theme gifts are still in use on the Altar.

'The first election of officers of Winyah as a charter lodge took place at the sixth stated communication, held December 21, 1909.

'Seth T. Lyman was re-elected Master; H. Elliott Coe was re-elected Senior Warden; Louis C. Young was re-elected Junior Warden; Isaac C. Hill was re-elected Treasurer and Joseph W. Stone was re-elected.  

'The first public installation of officers was held on January 4, 1910.  R.: W.: Charles G. F. Wahle acting as Grand Master, and W.: John T. Logan as Grand Marshal.  This public installation was greatly enjoyed and so it has ever since been a yearly feature eagerly looked forward to by the brethren and their friends; Judge Wahle always as Grand Master, and John T. Logan, until his death, as Grand Marshal.

'Space does not permit us going further into details regarding the early life of Winyah Lodge,, but we would be unappreciative if we did not, at this time, pay our humble tribute to the invaluable services so faithfully performed and so cheerfully given by R.: W.:: Charles G. F. Wahle, W.: John T. Logan and W.: Adolph Wade.

'Before concluding we must express our appreciation for the work of those who labored so unceasingly for the lodge in its early days especially our beloved first master, R.: W.: Seth T. Lyman, the father of Winyah.'"

Source:  Montgomery, William R., WINYAH, TWENTY YEARS AGO, The Pelham Sun, May 17, 1929, p. 15, cols. 2-3.

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The 1939 Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Dedication of the Masonic Temple in Pelham, NY

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On November 6, 1939, a group of Pelham residents gathered to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of the dedication of the Masonic Temple "Winyah Lodge No. 866 - F. & A.M." A program prepared for the event contains a brief history of the formation of the Winyah Lodge and the dedication of the temple.

An image of the cover of the program appears immediately below. Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting provides an excerpt from the program detailing the early history of the Lodge.

Cover of Program for the 30th Anniversary Celebration

of the Dedication of the Masonic Temple in Pelham, New York.

Source:  Collection of the Author.

"A little over thirty years ago, a group of enthusiastic Pelham Masons met at the home of Brother Seth T. Lyman, at the corner of Fifth Avenue and First Street, where the old Post Office was then located, and decided that a Masonic Lodge would be a desirable acquisition for the Town of Pelham. After considering many names for the new Lodge, the unanimous decision was 'Winyah.'

'Winyah' is the name of an old Indian Tribe which used to live along the coast of South Carolina. The Bay near Georgetown, S. C., is named 'Winyah' after it.

In the year 1847 Colonel Richard Lathers of Georgetown, S. C., bought several hundred acres of land in the Villages of New Rochelle and Pelhamville extending to Fifth Avenue, including what is now known as Pelhamwood. Colonel Lathers named his homestead 'Winyah Park,' and it was from this park that the name 'Winyah' was taken. It might be of interest here to state that there was another Lodge named 'Winyah'; this was 'Winyah Lodge' of Georgetown, S. C., whose Charter dates from 1743. It was one of the oldest Lodges of Colonial times.

After deciding upon 'Winyah' as the name of the new Lodge, the twenty Masons petitioned the Grand Master for a Dispensation to conduct a lodge in Pelham. The following names appear on the petition:

SETH T. LYMAN
LOUIS C. YOUNG
HARRY A. ANDERSON
G. I. KARBACH
GEORGE C. RUPERT
H. ELLIOTT COE
ISAAC C. HILL
W . ' . JOHN T. LOGAN
HENRY L. RUPERT
CHARLES E. BOSS
JOHN H. YOUNG
GEORGE STEAD
EMIL ERICSON
DAVID B. ALGIE
W. F. C. TICHBORNE
CHARLES R. WALLANDER
A. WILBUR CRANE
EDWARD THURNAER
JOSEPH J. WHITE
CHARLES A. BARKER

The Dispensation was duly granted by the Grand Master M . ' . W . ' . S. Nelson Sawyer, and on November 17, 1908, 'Winyah Lodge' met at the old Lodge Rooms of Hiawatha Lodge No. 434, F. & A. M., in Mount Vernon, with Seth T. Lyman, Master; H. Elliott Coe, Senior Warden, and Louis C. Young, Junior Warden, for the purpose of receiving from R . ' . W . ' . Frank V. Millard, District Deputy, the Dispensation empowering the above twenty Masons to conduct 'Winyah Lodge' in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of the Grand Lodge and their own By-Laws. On May 6, 1909, the Grand Lodge, assembled in New York, decided that the necessary requirements were fulfilled and thereupon granted a Charter constituting 'Winyah Lodge No. 866, F. & A. M.' It is that event which we are tonight commemorating.

The first Stated Communication of 'Winyah Lodge No. 866, F. & A. M.,' was held on June 1, 1909, in the Lodge Rooms of Hiawatha Lodge No. 434, Mount Vernon, N. Y., and upon that occasion the Master, Seth T. Lyman, received the Charter from M . ' . W . ' . Edward M. L. Ehlers. The Officers of the 'Winyah Lodge' at that time were as follows:

SETH T. LYMAN. . . . . . . . . . . . Master
H. ELLIOTT COE. . . . . . . . . . . .Senior Warden
LOUIS C. YOUNG. . . . . . . . . . . Junior Warden
ISAAC C. HILL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer
JOSEPH W. STONE. . . . . . . . . . Secretary
ALBERT L. LOGAN. . . . . . . . . . Senior Deacon
EDWARD M. C. LOGAN. . . . . . .Junior Deacon
JULIUS A. NELSON. . . . . . . . . .Senior Master of Ceremonies
JOHN ROHRS, JR. . . . . . . . . . . .Junior Master of Ceremonies
REV. HERBERT H. BROWN. . . Chaplain
SAMUEL J. ADLER. . . . . . . . . . .Senior Steward
HORACE E. BURNETT. . . . . . . .Junior Steward
WALTER R. HARRIS . . . . . . . . . Marshal
FRED W. CASE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tiler

Trustees

WILLIAM R. MONTGOMERY
WALTER F. C. TICHBORNE
A. WILBUR CRANE

The above Officers with the following Brethren, constituted the thirty-five Charter Members of 'Winyah Lodge No. 866, F. & A. M.':

DAVID B. ALGIE
HARRY A. ANDERSON
CHARLES E. BOSS
EDWARD M. BRAY
BARTHELEMY G. DONZEL
EMIL ERICSON
LUDWIG W. EISINGER
CHARLES FISTERE
ALBERT D. FROST
ANDREW HEISSER
GEORGE C. RUPERT
HENRY L. RUPERT
GEORGE STEAD
EDWARD THURNAER
JOSEPH J. WHITE
JACOB A WIRTH
CHARLES R. WALLANDER
JOHN H. YOUNG

'Winyah Lodge' up to this time had no home of its own, holding the various meetings at Hiawatha Lodge No. 434, Mount Vernon, N. Y., and Huguenot Lodge No. 46, in New Rochelle, N. Y. Many of the members of 'Winyah Lodge' with a few non-Masons formed the Hutchinson Realty Co., and built the present Temple. The first meeting held in the new Temple was on October 30, 1909, when the final arrangements for the dedication of the Lodge Room were made. The Temple was duly dedicated on November 6, 1909, by M . ' . W . ' . Edward M. L. Ehlers, assisted by the Grand Lodge Officers. Upon this occasion R. ' . W. ' . Charles G. F. Wahle directed the choir of the Church of the Redeemer in the rendition of appropriate music. It was the largest Masonic gathering ever held in Pelham, and many Masons were unable to gain admission. After the dedication a banquet was served in the Club Room, and there were about 250 guests.

Winyah Lodge received many gifts - too many to note them all here. The Holy Bible was presented by W . ' . John T. Logan, and the Square and Compasses by R . ' . W . ' . and Mrs. Charles G. F. Wahle. Both these gifts are still in use on the Altar.

The first election of Officers of 'Winyah' as a Charter Lodge took place at the Sixth Stated Communication, held December 21, 1909.

Seth T. Lyman was re-elected Master; H. Elliott Coe was re-elected Senior Warden; Louis C. Young was re-elected Junior Warden; Isaac C. Hill was re-elected Treasurer, and Joseph W. Stone was re-elected Secretary.

The first Public Installation of Officers was held on January 4, 1910. R . ' . W . ' . Charles G. F. Wahle acting as Grand Master, and W . ' . John T. Logan as Grand Marshal.

This Public Installation was greatly enjoyed by the Brethren and their friends, and for many years afterward was a yearly feature with 'Winyah.'

Space does not permit us going further into details regarding the early life of Winyah Lodge, but we would be unappreciative if we did not at this time, pay our humble tribute to the invaluable services so faithfully performed and so cheerfully given by

R . ' . W . ' . CHARLES G. G. WAHLE
W . ' . JOHN T. LOGAN
W . ' . ADOLPH WADE

Before concluding we must express our appreciation for the work of those who labored so unceasingly for the Lodge in its early days, especially our beloved first Master,

R . ' . W . ' . SETH T. LYMAN 'The Father of Winyah'

In The East

1909 R . ' . W . ' . SETH T. LYMAN
1910 R . ' . W . ' . SETH T. LYMAN
1911 W . ' . HARRY E. COE (Deceased)
1912 W . ' . ALBERT L. LOGAN
1913 W . ' . LOUIS C. YOUNG (Deceased)
1914 W . ' . HENRY E. R. STACEY
1915 W . ' . JOSEPH W. STONE (Deceased)
1916 R . ' . W . ' . WILLIAM R. MONTGOMERY
1917 W . ' . GEORGE N. RICE
1918 W . ' . JACOB A. WIRTH
1919 W . ' . EDGAR H. LAING (Deceased)
1920 W . ' . WILLIAM S. CAMPH (Deceased)
1921 W . ' . GUSTAVE A. WEIDHAAS (Deceased)
1922 W . ' . HAROLD S. ARCHER
1923 W . ' . FRED BERMAN
1924 W . ' . FREDERICK M. WIRTH
1925 W . ' . JOHN P. W. CEDER
1926 W . ' . BRICE W. TAYLOR
1927 W . ' . UEL R. PERSALL (Deceased)
1928 W . ' . BENJAMIN W. HOBSON
1929 W . ' . WALTER B. ROBINSON (Deceased)
1930 W . ' . J. M. CLAYTON SHINN
1931 W . ' . SIDNEY C. SMITH
1932 W . ' . EDWIN J. LYON
1933 W . ' . ALBERT H. PAYNE
1934 W . ' . KNEELAND S. DURHAM
1935 W . ' . HERBERT L. DOEPEL
1936 W . ' . HARRY F. MELA
1937 W . ' . RALPH W. PIERSALL
1938 W . ' . EARL M. CAMERON
1939 W . ' . JAMES L. CORRICAN"

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Early History of the Winyah Lodge U.D. of Pelham, New York

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The online auction service, eBay, remains a wonderful place to search for items related to the history of Pelham (was well as other communities)! Not long ago I purchased from an eBay seller a copy of "BY-LAWS Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. A. M. PELHAM, N. Y." published before March 8, 1921. The tiny little 17-page booklet includes not only a photograph of Seth T. Lyman who, during the 1890s, built the little drugstore that still stands at One Fifth Avenue, but also a brief history of the lodge. Today's Blog posting will quote that brief history. The "Temple" of the Lodge was opened in 1909. A photograph showing the club house acquired by the Lodge in 1909 appears immediately below.

Post Card View of the Village Club Building in North Pelham

Acquired by the Winyah Lodge and Opened as its Temple in 1909.

"On November 1, 1908, a group of Masons headed by Seth T. Lyman, met in Hiawatha Lodge room in Mount Vernon, New York, to organize a new masonic lodge to be known as Winyah Lodge. The first regular meeting of this group as a masonic lodge under dispensation was also held in the meeting room of Hiawatha Lodge No. 434, F. A. M. on November 17th, 1908. The dispensation granted by the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New York, of which Most Worshipful S. Nelson Sawyer was Grand Master, was read and presented by Right Worshipful Frank V. Millard, District Deputy Grand Master of the 12th Masonic District, which has since been divided to form the first and second Westchester-Putnam Districts.

The officers of Winyah Lodge U. D. who received and worked under this dispensation were:

Seth T. Lyman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Master
H. Elliot Coe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. Warden
Louis C. Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jr. Warden
Isaac C. Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer
H.A. Anderson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary
W .'. John T. Logan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. Deacon
Charles E. Boss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jr. Deacon
George C. Ruppert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. M. of C.
Emil Erickson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jr. M. of C.R.'. W.'. Frank V. Millard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chaplain
John H. Young. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. Steward
A. W. Crane . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jr. Steward
William J. Collins. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tiler

At the second and third communications routine business was attended and petitions for initiation were accepted.

On January 19, 1909 Winyah Lodge U. D. conferred its first Third Degree on Brothers in waiting. They were assisted in the second section by the Degree Team of Hiawatha Lodge No. 434, F. & A. M.

The 11th Stated Communication was held in the meeting room of Huguenot Lodge No. 34 F. & A. M. Winyah Lodge officers conferred the first and second sections of the Third Degree.

Between the 11th and 12th communications, the women folk and friends of Winyah Lodge U. D. held a Military Whist to raise funds for the lodge.

The First Stated Communication of Winyah Lodge No. 866, F. & A. M. was held on June 1, 1909 for the purpose of receiving the charter. The lodge was opened on the Third Degree by Grand Lodge Officers. The Officers of Winyah Lodge No. 866, F. & A. M. who were then installed were:

Seth T. Lyman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Master
H. Elliot Coe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. Warden
Louis C. Young . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jr. Warden
Isaac C. Hill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treasurer
Joseph W. Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SecretaryAlbert Logan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. Deacon
Edward C. Logan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jr. Deacon
Julius Nelson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. M. of C.
John Rohrs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jr. M. of C.
Samuel J. Adler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sr. Steward
Horace Burnett. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jr. Steward
Rev. Herbert Brown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chaplain
Carl Bergwald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Organist
Fred Case. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tiler
Walter Harris. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Marshal

The first act of the new lodge was to dispatch a telegram to the Grand Master to express the thanks of the brethren, to offer a pledge of loyalty and to request that he dedicate the Pelham Masonic Temple on Labor Day, September 6, 1909.

This Temple, formerly a club house, was purchased by Winyah Lodge No. 866, F. & A. M. from the Hutchinson Realty Company. It was dedicated as Pelham Masonic Temple on September 6, 1909. Among those participating in the dedicatory services were, Bethlehem Commandery No. 53 Knights Templar of Mount Vernon, N. Y. The Port Chester Band supplied music. A letter from Most Worshipful S. Nelson Sawyer, Grand Master expressed his regret, that he could not be present and wished Winyah well in their new Temple.

Seth T. Lyman and Mrs. Lyman financed Winyah Lodge U. D. at its inception. This loan was repaid at the Third Communication of Winyah Lodge No. 866, F. & A. M. The Lodge is ever grateful to R.'. W.'. Seth T. Lyman for his continued support and participation throughout the years.

Many friends and members of Winyah made gifts of paraphernalia and equipment to the lodge back in 1909 which is still in use to-day. Look for the inscription on the brass plate on many of them."

Source: BY-LAWS Winyah Lodge No. 866 F. & A. M. PELHAM, N. Y., pp. 2-4 (Pelham, NY: Privately Printed; undated, but with inscription suggesting it predates March 8, 1921).

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Located at http://www.historicpelham.com/.