Fultonville Lodge No. 531, F & AM (1st& 3rd Wednesday)

Current as of: 06/25/97

At an informal meeting held in Fultonville, NY the following is recorded:

"At a meeting of the following named Brothers, L. V. Peek, A. Spaulding, L. J. Bennett, J. W. Wilson, Jacob Horning, Douw Wemple, Nicholas Wemple, Jacob W. Horton, A. B. Miller, Giles H. Mount, George Ehle, Robert B. Harris met in the village of Fultonville for the purpose of organizing a Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons at said place.

"Whereupon on motion Brother L. V. Peek was called to the Chair and John W. Wilson, Secretary. On motion it was resolved that the Lodge about to be formed should be called FULTONVILLE Lodge of Fultonville and the same was unanimously adopted.

"On a motion it was resolved to go into an election of officers which resulted as follows: Thompson Burton, W,M;  Jacob W. Horton, SW;  Walter Cross, JW;  Lorenzo V. Peek, SD;  Nicholas Wemple, JD;  John W. Wilson, Secretary;  Lewis J. Bennett, Treasurer;  Giles H. Mount, Tiler.

"On motion, Brothers Burton, Peek and Bennett were appointed a committee to procure a room for Lodge purposes, to furnish the ordinary paraphernalia, and also to circulate a subscription, the proceeds of which to be used for Lodge purposes generally.

"L. V. Peek, J. W. Horton, Douw Wemple, George Ehle, A. B. Miller, John W. WiLson, L. J. Bennett and Robert Harris paid $5.00 each on subscription."

The above are the first recorded minutes of Fultonville Lodge No. 531, which are complete to the present time.  There were meetings probably held before this time, as the minutes of St. Patrick's Lodge show the following:  "Minutes of Sept. 18, 1862; F. Burdick, Master; T. Burton, SW; G. Henry, JW Pro Tem. 'On Motion Resolved That the consent of St. Patrick's Lodge No. 4 be given to our Brethren at Fultonville for the purpose of establishing a new Lodge.'"

Application was made to the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of New York for a Dispensation which was granted and received on the 29th of December, 1862.  On January 7, 1863 a meeting was held under the new dispensation in the rooms of G. H. Manning.  At this meeting committees were appointed for the formation of by-laws and the procurement of furniture and such articles as were necessary for the use of the Lodge.  At this meeting the first applications for membership were received from Cornelius VanBuren, John H. Morrison, Gilbert H. Manning and William H. Wemple.

On January 14, 1863 another meeting was held in G. H. Manning's rooms.  At this meeting another application was received and the First Degree was exemplified.