The Early History Of Star Of The East Lodge #843

The Early History Of Star Of The East Lodge #843

by Hugh R. King

Presented at the 2003 Centenial Celebration

South Fork Country Club, Amagansett, New York

As the Star of the East Lodge had its genesis in Hampton Lodge No. 111 and Wamponamon Lodge No. 437 a short history of those two lodges would be appropriate.

Hampton Lodge No. 111 was established on July 26, 1804. Five of its early officers were masters of vessels tied up at the wharf in Sag Harbor and were probably working for the whaling design. The Masons were honored with special attention and whenever they appeared in public, schools were dismissed and places of business were closed to see the Masons parade. In 1815 an anti-Masonic sentiment spread throughout the state and in 1819 the lodge was disbanded.

In 1856 Wamponamon Lodge No. 843 was initiated; the name of the lodge being suggested by a man from East Hampton named Nathaniel Dominy. Men in East Hampton who were interested in Masonry attended lodge meetings of Wamponamon Lodge held eventually in the former summer home of Mrs. Russell Sage, now the present Whaling Museum in Sag Harbor.

On December 18, 1902, twenty-seven members of the Wamponamon Lodge who lived in East Hampton petitioned the lodge for a dispensation to establish a new lodge. The East Hampton lodge would be called Star of the East Lodge. This dispensation was approved by Wamponamon Lodge. Later District Deputy Grand Master B. Frank Wood approved the dispensation and the first meeting of Star of the East Lodge was held at Oddfellows Hall in East Hampton on March 20, 1903.

At the meeting on March 20, 1903, at Oddfellows Hall in East Hampton, District Deputy Grand Master B. Frank Wood installed the first officers of Star of the East Lodge. He also read the dispensation for Star of the East Lodge from Grand Master Elbert Crandall and presented it to the lodge. The first officers installed to lead Star of The East Lodge were:

Samuel A. Gregory, Master

Frank A. Cartwright, Senior Warden

Teunis R. Barns, Junior Warden

B.Z. Griffing, Secretary

Austin Culver, Treasurer

J.C. Lawrence, Senior Deacon

W.J. Hooper, Junior Deacon

Noram Barns, Senior Master of Ceremonies

F.S. Edwards, Tyler

Joseph S. Osborne, Chaplin

After the installation of the officers of the Star of the East Lodge the entered apprentice degree was exemplified by the officers. Local newspapers reported that it was conducted in a remarkably credible manner.

After the installation and work on the first degree, the lodge members and guests repaired to Clinton Hall (now Clinton Academy). The caterer, John W. Hand, was one of the first three members to be raised by Star of the East Lodge. At Clinton Hall tables were formed in a hollow square with an immense floral piece in the middle of the hall bearing Masonic emblems. Speeches were made by Samuel Gregory and others, and many guest lodges presented congratulations. Wamponamon, the parent lodge of Star of the East, sent a large delegation that came by special train to be present at the ceremonies.

Star of the East later received its charter on June 11, 1903 when another ceremony took place, also attended by Wamponamon Lodge and the Sag Harbor Cornet Band. Wamponamon Lodge was highly supportive of the Star of the East Lodge presenting officers' aprons, jewels, staffs and a Holy Bible for the lodge.

Masonry values the content of the character of its membership, rather than accumulation of worldly goods. It is not surprising then, that the first twenty-seven charter members of Star of the East Lodge came from a variety of professions and occupations. These include merchant, carpenter, plumber, farmer, doctor, painter, insurance agent, butcher, caretaker, minister, fisherman, jeweler, architect 'and a mason'.

However, there were many notable personages among the early membership of Star Of the East Lodge. Samuel Gregory, the first Master of Star of the East Lodge was also the Mayor of the Incorporated Village of East Hampton. He strongly influenced the Village's decision to purchase Home Sweet Home. Dr. David Edwards practiced medicine in East Hampton for more than sixty years, and was credited with delivering at least one thousand babies. Dr. Edward's brother, Everett J. Edwards, was not only a member of the famous Edwards fishing family, but also had built the present East Hampton Star office and served as East Hampton Town Clerk. George Asa Miller was the Supervisor of East Hampton Town for more than twenty five years. Oscar Treder, was an Episcopal minister; John W. Stokes, a Presbyterian minister. Joseph S. Osborne initiated many new businesses in East Hampton. He also transcribed the first five volumes of the East Hampton Town Records and served as Town Clerk for almost twenty six years. Merton H. Edwards - besides serving as Town Justice - was a mainstay of the Springs community for many years.

This trend continued in the Lodge for all the years leading up to our one hundredth anniversary. Many members of the Star of the East Lodge were leaders in the business an profession of the Town and Village of East Hampton; they were also men of impeccable character and a generous spirit. The Lodge grew from the original twenty seven members to a high of two-hundred and fifty four members in 1929. By 1953 the number had fallen to one hundred and ninety eight members and today [2003] the lodge has eighty three members.

The Lodge had only two treasurers during the first fifty years: Austin W. Culver and J. Ferris Halsey. Star of the East Lodge had only five secretaries during the first fifty years. The first, B. Z. Griffing served for twenty six years!

Because some records of the Star of the East Lodge are missing, we cannot reflect an accurate picture of which members or how many served as treasurer or secretary from 1953-2003. Existing records indicate that the Lodge had only six different secretaries during this time. Our present secretary, William Hall, has served for seven years.

During the early history of the Star of the East Lodge an annual banquet was held almost every year. In 1919 the banquet was held at the Sea Spray Inn with the attendance of over a hundred and seventy five members and guests. Entertainment included recitations and performances by a vocal quartet and magicians. Guests danced to the music of Louis Bearst and his orchestra.

The banquet of 1920 also took place at the Sea Spray Inn. Master T.L. Miller gave a short address to those in attendance, which was followed by the evening's entertainment and dancing to a five piece orchestra from New York City. This may be the pattern in subsequent banquets held at the Maidstone Inn (which later burned to the ground) and other venues in the Town of East Hampton.

By 1922 the Star of the East Lodge - which had been meeting at Oddfellows Hall - was looking for a building of their own. Providence intervened with the building of a new school on Newtown Lane. When the existing school building was auctioned in 1922, the Masons made the winning bid of $325 for the new section at the rear of the old building. This was moved on to a building site on the corner of Fifthian Land and Main Street and modified to accommodate the lodge's purposes. A modern Lodge Room was constructed on the second floor, the first floor was converted into a large ballroom, and a kitchen was installed in the rear of the building. Later a basement was built under the entire building where four bowling alleys were installed.

The Star of the East Lodge met in this building until a fire consumed the rear third of the building in 1978. Star of the East Lodge later met in a portable building on Three Mile Harbor Road. When that building was sold, the lodge moved their meetings to the top floor of the Whaling Museum in Sag Harbor, which is also the meeting site for Wamponamon Lodge. We still meet there today.

During the 1920's the Mason held many gatherings, both public and private. In 1923 the Star of the East Lodge held a carnival at the Maidstone Park property adjacent to the train station in the Village of East Hampton. (This is not to be confused with the Maidstone Park in Springs.) The Star of the East Lodge also sponsored four vaudeville-style presentations. The first, in 1925, was done in the new East Hampton High School auditorium for the benefit of the Lodge. In 1927, two were performed at the Edwards' Movie Theater, one in January and another in March. Later, a Vaudeville performance at the Edwards's Movie Theater featured performances by members of the Star of the East lodge. On December 12, 1928 the Star of the East Lodge celebrated its twenty fifth Anniversary at the Oaks Inn (now at the site of J.L. East).

News of the events sponsored by the Star of the East Lodge nearly disappeared from the records of the East Hampton Star during 1930 to the present, except the following exceptions. The Star reported that Star of the East Lodge celebrated its golden anniversary on June 11, 1953 featuring and address by R. W. Raymond C. Ellis, Deputy Grand Master. A history of the lodge up to that time was presented by Clement D. Eichorn. Following the celebration, which was attended by 200 Masons, a light supper was served.

While the Star of the East was not in the public eye from 1953 to 2003, the lodge was vigorously, though quietly, supporting the community. Star of the East has been an ardent supporter of both the Little and Lassie leagues in East Hampton. The lodge has financially supported many community programs in the Township of East Hampton. These include the summer reading program at John Marshall Elementary School, the Retreat (a facility for battered women), Toys for Tots, and many others. Star of the East Lodge also awards two $500.00 college scholarships for deserving East Hampton High School students, as part of the Marsha Kulakowski Scholarship Fund. Through its yearly donations of thousands of dollars to the Masonic Brotherhood Fund the lodge has supported the Masonic Research Laboratory in Utica, New York.

While this history of the Star of the East Lodge is not complete, especially for the years 1953-2003, I hope it will give the readers some insight into the early formative years of Star of the East Lodge #843.

I am greatly indebted to Brother Clement Eichorn for his history of Star of the East Lodge presented to the lodge in 1953 at its 50th anniversary. Also, I appreciate the help of William Hall, Charles Smith, George Neff, and Loretta Orion.

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HONORED MEMBERS OF

STAR OF THE EAST LODGE

Samuel Gregory....Grand Lodge Representative

Oscar Treder.... District Deputy Grand Master

Ralph Dayton....Grand Sword Bearer

J. Thomas Shott....Grand Director of Ceremonies

William LeVesconte....District Deputy Grand Master

Francis Smith....District Deputy Grand Master

John Geehreng....Grand Sword Bearer

Kenneth J. Lockard....Grand Director of Ceremonies

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RECIPIENTS OF THE DEDICATED SERVICE AWARD

Walter Sheades

Charles Talmage

Donald Reutershan

Robert Mulford

Robert P. Lawler

Kenneth D. Hallock

Peter C. Pizzorno

William V. Hall

Alexander S. Walter