HISTORY OF HIRAM LODGE No. 5
Organized: October 31, 1876
(Jersey City - Mt. Holly - Lawnside)
In 1851, Mt. Lebanon Lodge No. 5 was warranted to hold its monthly communications in Mount Holly, NJ by the National Compact. In 1853, this lodge was listed as a suspended member of the Grand Lodge. There was no records found that would indicate the lodge was organized prior to the consolidation.
An independent constituent, established in 1850, was known as Friendship Lodge No. 5 and was situated at Free Haven. The name of this body was changed to Hiram Lodge No. 5 in 1876 as it remains today. It is well to pause and remark about the historical background and the name of the town in which Hiram Lodge No. 5 is located. Ralph Smith, an ardent abolitionist of Haddonfield, acquired a tract of land in 1841 and sold lots from it to Negroes for a mere trifle. It was one of the stations in a system developed for runaway slaves, “The Underground Railroad”, who found refuge and gave it the name Free Haven. The community was already a settlement when Fort Sumter was attacked and after the surrender of General Lee, Free Haven was given the name Snow Hill by a group who had migrated there from Snow Hill, Maryland. In 1907, the name of the place was changed to Lawnside, its present appellation.
Hiram Lodge No. 5 at Lawnside has furnished Most Worshipful Walter Miller, Grand Master in 1893 and Grand Treasurer from 1859-1911. Right Worshipful Roscoe L. Moore also served as Grand Treasurer from 1924-1930. Right Worshipful Isaac R. Bryant served as Assistant Grand Secretary. During the years of 1949-1952 he served as Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Prince Hall Newsletter, “The Pillar”. From 1952-54 R.W. I. R. Bryant served in the office of Grand Trustee. In 1954, R.W. Isaac R. Bryant received the distinct honor of being elected to the office of Senior Grand Warden where he gave faithful and loyal service until his resignation in 1955.
Hiram Lodge No. 5 has also furnished some District Deputy Grand Masters and District Grand Lecturers. R.W. Elmer V. Bennett now deceased, District Deputy Grand Master for the 1st Masonic District from 1921-1923 and 1928. R.W. Hiram Jones, deceased, served as District Deputy Grand Master from 1949-1950. R.W. Gerald G. Hamm, Jr. served as District Deputy Grand Master from 2008-2011 and R.W. Jonathan Lumpkin is currently serving as District Deputy Grand Master. Hiram Lodge No. 5 has several District Grand Lecturers namely; R.W. Van Farmer, R.W. Robert Harper, R.W. Fitzgerald Benson, Sr., R.W. Jasper Lofton, R.W. Jonathan Lumpkin and currently R.W. Michael A. Wiggins.
P.M. James M. Cooper was Secretary of Hiram Lodge No. 5 for 30 years before 1947 and a Mason for 50 years in 1962. P.M. Edgar A. Landin was Tyler of the Lodge for a great many years and 48 years as a Mason in 1962. As of 2009, the Lodge currently has some additional 50 year members namely; P.M. Alexander Martin, and P.M. Robert Doughty.
When Robert Doughty was Worshipful Master, his mother Mrs. Edna Doughty, donated her corner store to be used as the new Lodge. Over the years the Lodge has continued to grow and a second floor was added to accommodate the increase in membership.
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