Central Lodge #44 F&AM

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Central Lodge #44 F&AM

Central Lodge #44, Free and Accepted Masons, was constituted on September 6, 1856 in Vincentown NJ. Right Worshipful Theodore R. Rogers; Joseph L. Government."

Central Lodge #44, Free and Accepted Masons, was constituted on September 6, 1856. According to the minute’s book and the notes available from that time, "A meeting of Free and Accepted Ancient York Masons, to be called Central Lodge." Its officers and charter members were members of Mount Holly Lodge #14, who for reasons, although valid at the time, are not known to us now; saw fit to break away

from the Mount Holly Lodge and petition the Grand Lodge to warrant a new Lodge. Varick, District Deputy Grand Master, installed Charles C. Simms as Worshipful Master; George C. Brown as Senior Warden, and Alexander Elwell as Junior Warden. The remaining signers of the petition were George Harvey of Louisiana; William B. Oliphant, and Charles K. Hulme of Bristol, Pa ... These were the Charter Members of Central Lodge #-l-l and by December of 1856 twelve more members who had demitted from Mount Holly Lodge # 14, something that would not take place today, joined them. The first years were marked by a slow increase in members and the loss of others by death, the call to arms, as Brother Charles C. Simms attended only one meeting after his installation as Master. He was "called to sea by the U.S. Others demitted after several years for reasons apparent only to them. But membership grew until the outbreak of the Civil War and then there was a period of steady loss; by the end of 1865 there were only twenty-seven left. The minute books and collection of random notes for the time give instances and insight to the finances of the Lodge. On May 15, 1857 the Lodge offered a reward of $5.00 for the return of the first minute book, which was either lost or stolen. Also an entry mentions the Members approving the payment of twenty-five cents for lamp oil. Those years were difficult ones, not entirely because of money, but during the Civil War years there were few members in attendance. The Lodge continued to meet in Mount Holly until January 1863, when they decided to move to Vincentown. The first recorded meeting being on February 27, 1863 in the Odd Fellows Hall.

06/18/2026

📜 What a fantastic night at the Lodge! 🏛️✨
We had an incredible meeting last night filled with living history and well-deserved celebration!

🇺🇸 A Trip Back to 1776 🦅
We were honored to welcome WB Earl Groendyke from the THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION as our guest speaker. He gave a captivating presentation on the 5 courageous signers of the Declaration of Independence who hailed right here from New Jersey! ✍️
Earl didn't just talk the talk—he truly played the part, dressing in superior period clothing that looked like he stepped straight out of 1776! 🎩✨

🎖️ Honoring 20 Years of Service 🤝
The evening got even better as we celebrated a major milestone for one of our own. We had the absolute privilege of presenting our distinguished white apron, Brother Randy Ware, with his 20-Year Masonic Service Pin!

✨ Thank you, Brother Randy, for two decades of dedication, brotherhood, and commitment to the Craft.

Thank you to everyone who came out to make last night so memorable. Here’s to history, heritage, and lifelong brotherhood! 🥂

#1776

06/06/2026

What a Great Hoagie Sale! The lodge came together once again to knock out 120 + hoagies and we made them in record time! Thanks to all the Brothers who participated today, the Lodge couldn’t have done it without you.

05/30/2026

🇺🇸🧭 Fraternity Friday: Brother Harry S. Truman

A President, a Soldier, and a Mason through and through

Today we shine the spotlight on a man whose life reads like an American epic — farmer, soldier, senator, President of the United States, and above all… a dedicated Freemason whose love for the Craft shaped his character and leadership.
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🎖️ His Military Service: Duty Before Glory
• Captain of Battery D, 129th Field Artillery, 35th Division in World War I
• Led his men through the Meuse‑Argonne Offensive
• Earned deep respect for his calm, disciplined leadership under fire
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🏛️ His Presidency: Decisions That Shaped the World
• Oversaw the end of World War II
• Launched the Marshall Plan to rebuild Europe
• Helped create NATO
• Ordered desegregation of the U.S. military
• Guided America through the early Cold War
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🔺📐 His Masonic Journey: A Brother First, A President Second
• Initiated, Passed, and Raised in 1909 at Belton Lodge No. 450, Missouri
• Grand Master of Masons in Missouri (1940–1941) — years before becoming President
• Known for his precise memory of ritual and often conferred degrees personally
• Received the 33° Scottish Rite in 1945
• Proudly kept his Masonic apron close, even in the White House
• Often said his Masonic honors meant more to him than any political office
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🔨📜 A Brother’s Legacy
Harry S. Truman lived the Craft — not in words, but in action. His leadership, humility, and devotion to duty reflect the very principles we strive to uphold as Masons.

A soldier.
A president.
A Brother.
And a shining example of how Masonic light can guide a man through every station of life.

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 Vincentown Memorial Day Parade — What a Day! 🇺🇸

What an incredible honor it was for Central Lodge to again take part in the Vincentown Memorial Day Parade this morning! Despite the rain trying its best to slow us down, a determined group of Brothers braved the weather — and thankfully, we only had to deal with a light mist. The spirit of the day never faded.

One of the biggest highlights was having our float, which enabled Brothers who couldn’t walk the full route to still take part proudly. Seeing us all together — rain jackets, smiles, and all — was a powerful reminder of what Brotherhood truly means.

A huge thank‑you to Brother Scott Megee and his son for all their hard work with the tractor and trailer. Your dedication made it possible for Central to finally have a float in the parade, and without you, some of our members simply wouldn’t have been able to take part. Your efforts embodied the very heart of service and fraternity.

🇺🇸 Proud to represent. Proud to serve. Proud to remember. 🇺🇸

05/23/2026

🇺🇸🧱 Fraternity Friday: Brother Ulysses S. Grant 🧱🇺🇸

Few figures shaped America like Ulysses S. Grant — the relentless Union general who secured victory in the Civil War and later served two terms as the 18th President of the United States. His leadership preserved the Union, defended Reconstruction, and helped define the nation after the war.

But beyond the battlefield and the presidency stood something many never hear about:

🔨✨ Ulysses S. Grant was a proud Freemason.

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🪖 Military & Presidential Snapshot

• Commanding General of the Union Army — accepted Lee’s surrender at Appomattox.
• 18th President (1869–1877) — fought for civil rights, battled the K*K, and pushed for national unity.
• Respected Statesman — toured the world after his presidency as a symbol of American leadership.

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🔱 Grant’s Masonic Journey — The Heart of His Story

Grant sought the Craft not for honor, but for meaning and brotherhood after the Civil War.

• Petitioned: 1865
• Initiated: March 22, 1866
• Passed: March 24, 1866
• Raised: March 28, 1866
• Lodge: Keystone Lodge No. 243, St. Louis, Missouri

He completed his degrees in six days, a testament to both his sincerity and the lodge’s recognition of his extraordinary responsibilities. Grant remained active in the fraternity, visiting lodges and supporting Masonic causes throughout his life.

🧱 A Brother Guided by Masonic Virtues

Grant embodied:

• Duty
• Integrity
• Equality of all men before God

These values echoed through his wartime leadership and his presidential defense of civil rights.

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⭐ General of the Armies — A Historic Masonic Distinction

In 2022, Ulysses S. Grant was posthumously promoted to General of the Armies of the United States, the highest rank in American military history.

And here’s the powerful Masonic connection worth spotlighting:

🟦 Only THREE people in U.S. history have held the rank of General of the Armies — and ALL THREE were Freemasons:

• George Washington
• John J. Pershing
• Ulysses S. Grant

A legacy of leadership.
A legacy of service.
A legacy of Brotherhood.

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✨ Today we proudly honor Brother Ulysses S. Grant — Soldier, President, and Mason.

05/16/2026

🇺🇸Friday Fraternal Spotlight: General of the Armies John J. “Black Jack” Pershing 🇺🇸

A Mason First, A Legend Always

Before the medals, before the fame, before he commanded millions of men on foreign soil…
John J. Pershing stood in a Masonic lodge as a humble Brother.

Raised in Lincoln Lodge No. 19 in 1888, Pershing embraced the Craft’s teachings of duty, discipline, integrity, and moral leadership long before the world knew his name. Those virtues shaped the man who would soon shape the U.S. Army itself.

⭐ The Highest Rank of His Lifetime ⭐

In 1919, the United States Congress recognized Pershing’s extraordinary leadership in World War I by promoting him to:

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ GENERAL OF THE ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This was not just a promotion, it was a national declaration that Pershing’s service stood in a category of its own.

To this day, only three men have ever held this title:

• George Washington (posthumously elevated in 1976 and placed above all others)
• John J. Pershing (the only man to hold the rank while alive)
• Ulysses S. Grant (posthumously elevated in 2022)

By law, Washington outranks all, while Pershing and Grant share equal precedence beneath him.

But Pershing alone wore the stars in real time, commanding the respect of nations and the loyalty of millions.

A Masonic Journey That Forged a Leader

Pershing’s Masonic path wasn’t a footnote — it was a foundation.

• Initiated, Passed & Raised in Lincoln Lodge No. 19
• Raised: December 22, 1888
• Practiced the Craft’s virtues throughout his military career
• Known for his unwavering commitment to temperance, justice, fortitude, and brotherly love
• His leadership style reflected the Lodge: calm, principled, disciplined, and deeply moral
• Many of the officers he mentored: Eisenhower, Patton, Bradley, Marshall, carried forward those same values

The man who led the American Expeditionary Forces was not just a general.
He was a Brother.

🪖 A Legacy That Still Shapes the Army

Pershing commanded over 2 million American soldiers in World War I, modernized U.S. military doctrine, and trained the generation who would win World War II.

His influence is still felt in every American uniform worn today.

✨ Fraternally, we honor General of the Armies John J. Pershing — a Mason, a leader of leaders, and a man whose character was as great as his rank.

05/15/2026

🇺🇸🧱 Central Lodge No. 44 — A Night of New Beginnings 🧱🇺🇸

Tonight, Central Lodge No. 44 proudly completed our first Entered Apprentice Degree of the year. We welcomed two new candidates who have now taken their first step into the Brotherhood of Freemasonry.

It was an evening filled with great ritual work, fellowship, and the shared commitment to helping good men become even better. We look forward to supporting our newly initiated Brothers as they begin their Masonic journey and grow in Light, knowledge, and purpose.

Congratulations, Brothers! The Craft stands with you.
🧱✨

05/09/2026

🇺🇸🔥 Friday Fraternal Spotlight: Audie Murphy (Second Time Around) 🔥🇺🇸

Today we honor Brother Audie Leon Murphy (again) — one of the few Masons we will mention twice in our series (can you guess the others)?🧱🔨

We honored brother Murphy in the past but highlighted his Movie career and focused on his Masonic Journey. TODAY, we honor his military career and how he became the most decorated soldier in American history!

⭐ A Warrior Beyond Measure
By age 20, Murphy had earned:
• Medal of Honor 🥇
• Distinguished Service Cross
• 2 Silver Stars
• Legion of Merit
• 2 Bronze Stars
• 3 Purple Hearts 💜
• And every combat award for valor the U.S. Army could give at the time.

🔥 The Stand That Echoes Through History
In January 1945 near Holtzwihr, France, Murphy mounted a burning tank destroyer and held off an entire German company alone, directing artillery fire while firing a .50‑cal machine gun.

He stayed on that flaming vehicle until out of ammunition — then led a counterattack that drove the enemy back.

🎖️ A Brother, A Soldier, A Legend
After the war, Murphy championed veterans’ issues, PTSD awareness, and the sacrifices of those who never returned. He later became a Hollywood actor, but his greatest role was always that of a humble American hero.

🧱✨ Fraternally, we honor his courage, character, and commitment to service.
May we strive to live with even a fraction of his bravery and integrity.

05/02/2026

Thursday, May 14 at 7 PM

05/01/2026

🪖⚔️ Fraternal Fridays: Brother Nelson A. Miles – Soldier, Leader, and Freemason ⚙️🛠️

This week we honor Brother Nelson Appleton Miles (1839–1925), a towering figure in American military history and a dedicated Freemason whose life exemplified courage, duty, and fraternal values.

Military Journey
Born in Massachusetts, Miles volunteered for the Union Army at the outbreak of the Civil War with no formal military training. He rose rapidly from First Lieutenant in the 22nd Massachusetts Infantry to Major General of Volunteers by age 26.

He fought in nearly every major campaign of the Army of the Potomac—Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville (where he earned the Medal of Honor for gallantry despite severe wounds), the Overland Campaign, and Appomattox. Wounded four times, he became known for his bravery and leadership.

After the war, he continued in the Regular Army, earning the nickname “Bearcoat” for his bearskin coat on the frontier. He played key roles in the Indian Wars, commanding campaigns against the Kiowa, Comanche, Sioux, Nez Perce (pursuing Chief Joseph), and Geronimo’s Apaches. In 1898, during the Spanish-American War, he led the invasion of Puerto Rico and served as its first Military Governor.

He capped his career as the last Commanding General of the United States Army (1895–1903), before the position evolved into Chief of Staff. He retired as a Lieutenant General and remained active in veterans’ organizations like the Grand Army of the Republic and the Military Order of the Loyal Legion.

Masonic Journey
While building his distinguished military record, Brother Miles also answered the call of Freemasonry. He was initiated into Peter Williamson Lodge No. 323 in 1872. He advanced through the degrees and served as Worshipful Master of his lodge in 1877—a testament to the trust and respect his brethren placed in him during a demanding period of frontier service.

Like many military Masons of his era, Miles embodied the Craft’s ideals of brotherhood, integrity, and moral courage amid the trials of war and command. He was raised to the 32nd degree in the Scottish Rite, reflecting a deeper commitment to Masonic philosophy and the pursuit of further light.

Brother Miles reminds us that true leadership combines battlefield valor with the quiet strength of fraternal bonds. His life shows how Masonry can support and enrich a man dedicated to service—whether in uniform or in the lodge.

“In the Lodge and on the field, character is forged in the heat of trial.”
Share this with your brothers and comment below: What lessons from Brother Miles’ life resonate with you most?

The three pictures show Brother Miles in his early and late military career and Shaun Johnston portraying Brother Miles In the 2007 HBO film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

Address

Old Town Hall, 2nd Floor, 23 Plum Street [Mail To: PO Box 2383]
Vincentown, NJ
08088

Telephone

(609) 206-6583

Website

http://www.centrallodge44.com/

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