Knights of the Golden Eagle
Knights of the Golden Eagle — Camden, New Jersey.
The Knights of the Golden Eagle in Camden, New Jersey
Prowell’s History of Camden County, New Jersey — 1886
KNIGHTS OF THE GOLDEN EAGLE
The Knights of the Golden Eagle is a secret benevolent institution, founded in Baltimore, Md., February 6, 1873, and is now in successful operation in the States of Maryland, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Delaware, New Jersey, California, Ohio, New York, Iowa, Georgia, Connecticut, West Virginia, Indiana, Michigan, Missouri, Colorado, Virginia, Illinois, Alabama and the District of Columbia. It is based upon the most liberal principles consistent with future prosperity, and has for its motto, “Fidelity, Valor and Honor,” a trinity of graces which are taught in its ritual.
The order has for its main object the promotion of the principles of true benevolence, associating its members together for purposes of mutual relief against the trials and difficulties which attach to sickness, distress and death, so far as they may be mitigated by sympathy and pecuniary assistance. It studiously avoids all sectarian and political controversy, and aims to cultivate the social, moral and intellectual feelings of its members, and to promote their welfare in all the walks of life.
The Order of the Knights of the Golden Eagle was introduced into the State of New Jersey in the summer of 1883, Camden Castle, No. 1, being instituted in August of that year with twenty-four members. During the year 1884 four new castles were instituted, at Millville, Camden, Mount Holly and Salem, respectively — the membership, at the close of the year, being five hundred and eighty-four. In 1885 the number of castles was increased to ten, with a membership of one thousand and one, and from January 1, 1886, to the present time thirteen new castles have been formed, and the membership increased to over two thousand.
The Grand Castle of New Jersey was instituted July 16, 1884, the officers at institution being: Past Grand Chief, John P. Price; Grand Chief, Joseph H. Minnett; Grand Vice-Chief, William A. Garrison; Grand Master of Records, Daniel M. Stevens; Grand Keeper of Exchequer, P. P. Achenbach; Grand Sir Herald, George J. Robertson; Grand High Priest, Henry F. Bacon; Grand First Guardsman, S. Luther Richmond; Grand Second Guardsman, George W. Stevens.
The present officers are: Past Grand Chief, William A. Garrison, Westville; Grand Chief, Henry F. Bacon, Salem (P. O. Box 200); Grand Vice-Chief, Irving W. Kelly, Perry and Montgomery Streets, Trenton; Grand Sir Herald, P. P. Achenbach, 712 Carman Street, Camden; Grand High Priest, John S. Broughton, Trenton; Grand Master of Records, E. D. Senseman, 580 Clinton Street, Camden; Grand Keeper of Exchequer, F. A. Buren, Merchantville; Grand First Guardsman, George Williams, Wrightsville; Grand Second Guardsman, William F. Perry, Quinton.
The next annual session will be held in Camden on the first Wednesday in March, 1887.
Camden Castle, No. 1, was instituted August 9, 1883, with the following officers: P. C., Joseph T. Fortiner; N. C., Charles Brown; V. C., Joseph Rubicam; H. P., John C. Newhouse; V. H., Watson Stevens; K. of E., Charles Aston; C. of E., Herman Rosade; M. of R., E. D. Senseman; Sir H., Joseph C. Madara; W. B., William B. Vannaman; W. C., John J. Pierson, Jr.; Ens., George A. Bingham; Esq., William S. Caume; 1st G., John J. Pierson, Sr.; 2d G., Thomas T. Madara.
The present officers are: P. C., Robert F. Stockton; N. C., Birtus A. Wagner; V. C., Edwin F. Jones; H. P., William S. Carels; V. H., George Cook; M. of R., Howard M. Sexton; C. of E., Herman Rosade; K. of E., Charles Brown; S. H., William P. Fowler.
The lodge meets every Friday evening at Lincoln Hall, Third and Market Streets. The membership is three hundred and forty.
Washington Castle, No. 3, was instituted April 4, 1884. The officers at institution were: P. C., John N. Madara; N. C., Daniel M. Stevens; V. C., H. Frank Pettit; V. H., Andrew G. Vannaman; H. P., James H. Reeves; K. of E., Elmer E. Cox; C. of E., Samuel A. Barto; M. of R., George W. Stevens; Sir H., George S. Fox; W. B., C. O. Pedrick; W. C., James Hoagland; Ensign, Lemuel Pike; Esq., James Hartley; 1st G., John Allen; 2d G., W. B. Waters.
The present officers are: P. C., Joseph W. Jackson; N. C., James Spence; V. C., William B. Gibbs; H. P., H. W. Howland; V. H., John P. R. Carney; M. of R., George W. Stevens; C. of E., Charles Sayre; K. of E., Elmer E. Cox; S. H., William B. Slocum.
The lodge meets every Friday night, at Wildey Hall, Fifth and Pine Streets. The number of members is two hundred and thirty-three.
Red Cross Castle, No. 6, was instituted January 23, 1885, with the following officers: P. C., W. H. Tyler; N. C., F. T. Steinbach; H. P., Adam Hoffman; V. H., Hiram Walton; M. of R., George S. Bundick; C. of E., Isaac Buzby.
The present officers are: P. C., Frederick Fearn; N. C., Adam Hoffman; V. C., Joseph M. Taylor; H. P., E. O. Smith; M. of R., Walter Hart; C. of E., John Neff; K. of E., Moses Gour; S. H., D. Ewan.
The lodge meets every Monday night, at Gour’s Hall, 249 Kaighn Avenue. The number of members is seventy-five.
White Cross Castle, No. 19, was instituted August 20, 1886, with the following officers: P. C., William H. Snyder; N. C., Richard Twelves; V. C., W. D. Reel; H. P., Morris E. Michel; V. H., Joseph Engard; M. of R., W. H. Wagoner; C. of E., Richard A. Outwater Sr.; K. of E., Frank Mester; Sir H., George W. Reese; W. B., E. W. Shallcross; W. C., Harry E. Horner; Ens., Morris Odell; Esq., C. E. Swaney; First Guard, W. H. Strang; Second Guard, C. E. Bowker.
The lodge meets every Monday night at the northwest corner of Second and Federal Streets, Camden. The present membership is ninety.
Monarch Castle, No. 9, was instituted November 11, 1886, the officers at institution being: P. C., George L. Frazee; N. C., Charles E. Lane; V. C., Samuel R. Murray; H. P., N. N. Wentz; V. H., J. K. Hibbs; M. of R., Frank S. Fithian; C. of E., Abram H. Allen; K. of E., Thomas B. Woolston; S. H., James Rudolph; W. B., Horace J. Parks; W. C., C. P. Baker; Ens., William H. Smith, Jr.; Esq., George Ewan; First Guard, Charles H. Savidge; Second Guard, George Ewan.
The present officers are P. C., John W. Mickle; N. C., George C. Vankirk; V. C., Edwin S. Titus; H. P., R. M. Coffman; V. H., D. P. Steiner; M. of R., E. D. Senseman; C. of E., Abram H. Allen; K. of E., Washington Bucknell; Sir H., William M. Callingham; W. B., Charles Kain; W. C., Theo. Austermuhl; Ens., William M. Strohl; Esq., John F. Wilkins; First Guard, Jacob E. Miller; Second Guard, William P. Riker.
Meetings are held every Wednesday night at the northwest corner of Fourth and Federal Streets. The present membership is one hundred and thirteen.
Knights of the Golden Eagle
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Special Session of the Grand Castle of New Jersey.
A special session of the Grand Castle, K. G. E., of New Jersey, was held in the hall of Monarch Castle at Camden on Friday evening. The past chief’s degree was conferred upon forty past chiefs and the secret work of the order was exemplified by Grand Instructor Strang, of No. 19. A committee of nine, consisting of Past Chiefs Walter A. Barwis, of Mt. Holly; James B. Nixon, of Atlantic City; F. M. Lewis, of Bridgeton; W. A. Fowler, of Camden; Daniel M. Stevens, of Camden; H. K. Seddinger, of Cramer Hill; E. M. Tilton, of Haddonfield; W. H. Strang, of Camden, and George L. Frazee, of Camden, were appointed to make arrangements for the proper representation of the State of New Jersey in the parade in honor of the Supreme Castle at Washington, D. C., in May next. P. C. H. Frank Pettit, of Washington Castle, No. 3, was appointed to fill the vacancy in the post of Grand Vice Chief and was installed into his new office. The following nominations were made: For Grand Chief, H. Frank Pettit, No. 3; for Trustee, W. A. Fowler, No. 9 [?] W. D. Reel, No. 9.
Knights of the Golden Eagle
Philadelphia Inquirer —
The annual session of the Grand Castle, Knights of the Golden Eagle, was held in Bridgeton last Tuesday. Past Chief Pettit, of Camden, presided until the installation in the afternoon, when Grand Chief Wm. W. Hewitt, of Bridgeton, occupied the chair. About 200 Past Chiefs were present. The reports showed that there were 41 castles in the State, with a membership of 4,189; 357 sick members had been relieved during the year; there had been 20 deaths, and 757 persons had been initiated during the year. In the evening there was a parade with over 500 Knights in line. Lieutenant General Louis E. Stilz, of Philadelphia, with his staff, was present. The town was generally illuminated. The following are the new officers: Past Grand Chief, H. Frank Pettit, Camden; Grand Chief, William N. Hewitt, Bridgeton; Grand Vice Chief, George L. Frazee, Camden; Grand High Priest, Dr. H. A. Bennett, Point Pleasant; Grand Master of Records, E. D. Senseman, Camden; Grand Keeper of Exchequer, F. A. Buren, Merchantville; Grand Sir Herald, F. Wayland Potter, Camden; Grand First Guardsman, George Wimer, Palmyra; Grand Second Guardsman, Edward F. B[?]on, Salem. Trenton was decided upon as the place of the next annual meeting.