Another way to be a “man in high standing” was to be a member of the Mount Mariah Masonic Lodge No. 112 in Palmyra. It was and is a selective process to be initiated into masonry.
On December 24, 1802, ten Master Masons of the Palmyra vicinity, whose masonic affiliation was known, signed a petition to form the “Mount Moriah” lodge. They proposed meeting alternately in the town of Palmyra and the town of Phelps. The Mount Mariah Lodge no. 12 was chartered on July 9, 1804. Azel Ensworth was appointed as the first Senior Warden. After 1807 the Mount Moriah lodge met only in Palmyra
This was the first Masonic Lodge organized in Wayne County, New York. The number 112 was given by the Grand Lodge and as the location of King Solomon’s Temple was upon Mount Moriah, so the possible location of the early lodge room was expected to be placed atop the highest elevation overlooking Ganargua Valley. Before there was any construction on the lodge, meetings were held in the homes of Azel Ensworth, Edward Durfee, and the Eagle Hotel. On October12, 1811 the lodge voted to assist “Bro. Cowdry (any relation to Oliver?) to erect a lodge room for the accommodation of Mount Moriah lodge. The location of the lodge room was next to the Presbyterian meetinghouse where the Catholic Church now stands. Providing security for building of the lodge was William H. Cuyler.
Minutes of the Mount Moriah Lodge meetings from the date of its charter (July 9, 1084 to its
Annual Meeting on December 26, 1824 are practically intact and are in the library of the Masonic Lodge in Palmyra. The record shows that 326 masonic meetings were held during this time period. The lodge doesn’t possess a membership record but they do have a list of members owing dues. Significant for our search, on June 24, 1828 the Mount Moriah Lodge reported having 59 members.
It was customary in this lodge to present to candidates and later only those receiving the degree of Master Mason with a Holy Bible.
Baldwin, Thomas – Mount Mariah Masonic Lodge in Palmyra
Beckwith, Nathaniel H. – Senior Warden in Mount Mariah Masonic Lodge in Palmyra
Bryant, William – Masonic Lodge at Canandaigua, New York
Chase, Durfee – expelled from the Royal Arch Chapter for “Unmasonic Conduct – later
Grand Master in the Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge and High Priest in Palmyra’s Eagle Chapter
Cowdery, Lyman
Cuyler, William H.
Durfee, Stephen
Ensworth, Azel – Senior Warden
Grandin, E. B.
Hurd, Lovell – secretary of Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge
McIntyre, Alexander
Robinson, Gain
Smith, Robert W. – Grandmaster of the Mount Mariah Masonic Lodge in Palmyra
Turner, Oramus