Washington Lodge, No. 220. This lodge was located at Blooming Grove. The charter was dated June 10th, 1813. No record of its work is extant, but it was one of those lodges that went down in the anti-masonic period, and its charter was declared forfeited by grand lodge on the 5th of June, 1834.
Lawrence Lodge, No. 230. On the 1st of December, 1812, the proceedings of grand lodge read: "A petition for a warrant to hold a lodge at Ward's Bridge, in the county of Orange, to be called Lawrence Lodge, recommended by Hiram Lodge, No. 131," was read and granted.
Ward's Bridge was afterwards known as Montgomery. The lodge was doubtless named in honor of the gallant Captain James Lawrence, who, being mortally wounded in the engagement with the Shannon, uttered: "Don't give up the ship!" which have become household words in this country. The lodge was reported as inoperative on the 4th of June, 1819.
Hoffman Lodge, No. 300. At the communication of grand lodge on the 4th of March, 1818, the grand secretary stated that a warrant had been issued "on the 3d of December, 1817, to John Kirby, Stacey Beecher and Isaac Otis, to hold a lodge at Wallkill, in the county of Orange, by the name of Hoffman Lodge, No. 300." The lodge held its meetings in the house of Isaac Otis, at Mechanicstown, which at that time was a more pretentious place than Middletown. The lodge was named in honor of Martin Hoffman who was grand master of the (city) grand lodge during 1823, 1824 and 1825. He presented the lodge with a copy of the Holy Bible which is still in use by Hoffman Lodge, No. 412. The charter of this lodge was declared forfeited by grand lodge on the 7th of June. 1833.
Union Lodge, No. 309. The minutes of grand lodge under date of July 9, 1828, read: "A dispensation granted by the Rt. Worshipful Richard Hatfield, late D. G. M., to hold a lodge in the town of Montgomery, county of Orange, by the name and style of Union Lodge, recommended by Hiram Lodge, No. 131, at Newburgh, was presented, whereupon the grand secretary was ordered to issue a warrant appointing William Williamson, the first master, Daniel Cozens, the first senior warden and Samuel Bookstaver, the first junior warden."
It is rather remarkable that in the midst of the anti-masonic excitement a new masonic lodge should have been established in that locality, but it did not long continue, as we note that the charter was declared forfeited on the 4th of June, 1835.
Mount William Lodge, No. 762. A charter was granted by grand lodge on the 4th of June, 1875. to hold a lodge at Port Jervis, to be known as Mount William Lodge, No. 762. From the report of the district deputy we find that the reason given for surrendering the charter was that the numerous societies in that village was a hindrance to increasing its membership. The warrant was surrendered to grand lodge on the 20th of June, 1882.
The lodges above enumerated have all ceased to exist, and their records, with few exceptions, have been lost. In some instances the charters have been given to lodges that have since been organized in the same locality and they are prized for the association connected with them.
The thirteenth masonic district, as now formed, embraces the counties of Orange and Rockland, and contains sixteen masonic lodges within its jurisdiction. The county of Orange has ten masonic lodges within its borders, and it is with these we now have to do.
Newburgh Lodge, No. 309.—This lodge is located at Newburgh. The charter is dated June 11th, 1853, and was issued to John Gray, master; Andrew Lawson, senior warden, and Henry O. Heustis, junior warden. The lodge held its communications in a building situated on the southwest corner of Front and Third streets, known as Crawford's Hall, from the 28th of July, 1853, at which date the hall was dedicated to masonic purposes. Here it continued until the 24th of June, 1863, when it was moved to the new building erected on the northwest corner of Colden street and Western avenue—afterwards known as Broadway. In this hall all the masonic bodies in Newburgh met for the succeeding twenty-five years. These quarters becoming inadequate for the membership, a lease of the two upper floors in the new Academy of Music, situated on the northwest corner of Broadway and Grand street, was secured. This hall was dedicated on the 11th of September, 1888. The membership of Newburgh Lodge on the 1st of June, 1907, was 370 master masons. The officers were Charles B. Gilchrist, master; Thomas George Courtney, senior warden; Peter Cantline, junior warden; James D. McGiffert, secretary.