GOLDEN RULE LODGE #24
F & A M PHA
THE HISTORY
On December 28, 1921 Golden Rule Lodge No. 24 was warranted during the Grand Mastership of Powell K. Martin, to hold its meetings in South Orange, New Jersey. However, in 1926, the Lodge was dissolved and the paraphernalia, which it had used during its short life, was given to Bethel Lodge, No.10 of Orange, New Jersey. Worthy brothers Enoch Brock, Samuel Hunt, Wise Harmon, Howard Longus, and William Ingram had served as Masters of that South Orange Lodge.
A Certain number of the brethren who had been members of the Lodge retained the hope of re-establishing themselves as a Lodge at some future time. Their desires were eventually consummated, for those brethren petitioned the M. W. Grand Master, Edgar S. Ballou, for the privilege of establishing a Lodge in Vauxhall, New Jersey under the name of Golden Rule. That dispensation was granted in September of 1944.
The Lodge, having performed its Masonic work in a proficient manner, was granted at the ninety-seventh annual communication of the Grand Lodge held in Atlantic City in June 1945. The officers named in the warrant were Worshipful Brother Samuel I. Hunt, Master; Washington Koonce, Senior Warden; Henry Scott, Junior Warden; John Alston, Treasurer; and I. Thomas Howe, Secretary.
Golden Rule Lodge #24, held its meetings at the Community Center on Berkley Pl. in Vauxhall on the first and third Fridays up until 1974, when under the Mastership of Otis Appling, the Lodge moved its meeting place to Bethel A.M.E. Church on Hilton Avenue in Vauxhall, then under the Mastership of Jessie Lowe in 1982 the lodge moved its meeting place to the Dr. Myra Kearse Center, 2410 Springfield Ave. Vauxhall, NJ.
During the Grand Mastership of the M.W. Charles W. Campbell, twenty-nine members from the Golden Rule petitioned the Grand Lodge to form a Lodge in Somerville, hence, in July 1972, A.B. Copper was formed.
Golden Rule has produced the following members who were appointed to the high office of District Grand Lecturer of the Sixth Masonic District R.W. Thomas Crutcher, R.W. Thomas Howe, R.W. Clinton Williams,
And, The Most recent, R.W. Otis Appling, R.W. Louis Glenn, R.W. Sydney Jordan, and R.W. Edwin Ross. We also have a number of Grand Lodge Officers serving the Grand Lodge in the capacity of R.W. Henry Hopkins Grand Chaplain R.W. Arnold Williams, Assistant Grand Marshall; R.W. Alvin Mitchell, Assistant Grand Pursuivant; R.W. G. Douglas Bland, Grand Juris Prudence Committee.
We also are very proud to house a number of Oziel Grand Chapter Officers including that of the Worthy Patron of The Oziel Grand Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Stars PHA of the State of New Jersey in the name of Otis Appling.
With the Guidance of the Grand Architect of the Universe, Under the Mastership of Edwin Ross, donations from a number of brothers of Golden Rule Lodge No. 24 and the assistance of the sisters of Golden Rule Chapter No. 50 a Mortgage was obtained and signed by R.W. Louis Glenn and R.W. Arnold Williams on October 24, 1995 for a building at 221 Oswald Place, Vauxhall, NJ which is the new home of the Lodge and Chapter.
With the persistence and guidance of the Past Masters, and the enthusiasm and strength of our new members the history of Golden Rule has, and will continue to prosper with every step we take.
Elected Officers 2009-2010
Derrick Hall Worshipful Master
Damon White Senior Warden
Kerin St.Clair Jr.Warden
RW Ricardo McNeil Treasur
Keshon Bennett Secretary
Past Masters of Golden Rule #24
1944-1945 I. Samuel Hunt
1945-1947 Washington Koonce
1947-1948 David L. Conley
1948-1949 Thomas Crutcher
1949-1950 Thomas Howe
1950-1951 William Parker
1951-1952 Rev. J.D. Bryant
1952-1954 Unknown
1954-1955 Clint Williams
1955-1956 James Gaines
1956-1957 Travers (Last Name)
1957-1958 Malcome Comer
1958-1959 L.C. Wilson
1959-1960 Calob Blackwell
1960-1961 Julian Blackwell
1961-1962 Fred Hopkins
1962-1964 Willie D. White
1964-1966 Lawson Wylie
1966-1969 James Boulware Sr.
1969-1970 John Rivers
1970-1971 Leroy Adkins
1971-1972 Lawson Wylie
1972-1975 Otis Appling
1975-1976 Hardin Stradford Sr.
1976-1977 Caldwell Chisholm
1977-1979 Louis E. Glenn
1979-1980 Alvin Mitchell
1980-1981 Sidney Jorden
1981-1982 James Boulware Jr.
1982-1983 Jesse Lowe
1983-1984 Oliver Adkins Sr.
1984-1985 Joseph A. Williams
1985-1986 Arthur Knighton
1986-1987 Sidney Jorden
1987-1988 Louis Mathews
1988-1989 Henry Hopkins
1989-1990 Henry Wylie
1990-1991 Edward Lambert
1991-1992 Joseph T. Williams
1992-1993 Arnold Williams
1993-1994 Ernest Williams
1994-1995 Hardin Stradford Jr.
1995-1996 Edwin Ross
1996-1997 Emory Hall Jr.
1997-1998 Arnold Williams
1998-1999 Gerald D. Bland
1999-2000 Joseph M. Miller
2000-2001 Kim Williams
2001-2002 Wayne Alston
2002-2003 James Tonic
2003-2004 Louis Moose
2004-2005 Burnett McKnight
2005-2006 Ricardo McNeil
2006-2007 Thelmo Stradford
2007- 2008 Heath Stephen
