Early Lodges in Erie County

Pre-Morgan Affair

Freemasonry came to Erie County when the early settlers, many of them Freemasons from other jurisdictions, felt it was necessary to form a Masonic Lodge in their present community. For unexplained reasons, efforts to establish a lodge did not come easy.Early History of Freemasonry in Erie County

Lodges

Side Topic: A question arises, why did Barton Lodge receive a Charter and not Porter Lodge? It seems that there might have been two groups working toward a Dispensation at the same time, not knowing of the others’ intentions or there might have been a difference of opinions on how the new Lodge would be established, its name and/or officers, etc. I do not know what the real reason was, so let’s compare the differences:
1. Barton Lodge drew up their petition six months previous to that of Porter Lodge.
2. Porter Lodge received a recommendation, from Western Star Lodge No. 239, six months previous to that of Barton Lodge.
3. The name of Brother James L. Barton for Worshipful Master, appears on both petitions, and a number of the names are identical on both petitions.
4. Barton Lodge’s recommendation from Western Star Lodge No. 239, had the following endorsement:
“That all former recommendations for a Lodge in Black Rock be recalled.”
Although the above does not fully explain the reason for the two petitions, it does show that the Brethren of Western Star Lodge No. 239, with their endorsement, chose the petitioners of Barton Lodge.

The Anti-Masonic Period

Up to this time the Lodges in Erie County were progressing under favorable conditions and on the membership rolls were registered a large number of highly respectable and intelligent citizens. The growth increased the jealousy and ill feeling of the Anti-Masons. The sudden disappearance, therefore, of William Morgan on the 12th of September 1826, who was reported to have been drowned by the Masons in the Niagara River, led to hostile demonstrations. Unfortunately for the Masonic Fraternity, nothing definite could be discovered to the fate of this individual. The adversaries of Masonry, under control of designing leaders, were not slow in making use of the rumor of Morgan’s murder to fan the spark into a flame. Anti-Masonry swept over the land like a whirlwind, shaking the Fraternity to its foundation. Manipulated by skillful but unscrupulous politicians, the Anti-Masonic faction increased in strength and power, and forced many Lodges to discontinue their labors. Finally, in the year 1843, the Anti-Masonic party lost its political power. Anti-Masonry died, and Masonry survived. All efforts to drag it into the dust and to cast suspicion upon its aims were in vain. During the Anti-Masonic period all the Lodges in Erie County ceased their labors, but the revival of Masonry gave out new life to the Fraternity. The old members, with undiminished love for the Craft in their hearts, talked freely about renewing their membership in the Fraternity, and proceeded to draw up a petition, to form a new Lodge in Buffalo, Hiram Lodge No.105

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