Our Lodge's Namesake
How is M.W. Grand Master Joseph Trimble remembered officially in the archives and legend of New Jersey's Freemasonry? The short answer, according to the official records, is as follows: "JOSEPH TRIMBLE (1815-1884) An authority in Masonic jurisprudence, and an expert in ritual, who "brought about a uniform, commonly acceptable ritual in New Jersey." Elected Grand Master from the floor in 1857. Lodge: Camden 15. Residence: Camden and Moorestown." However, we're getting ahead of a biography which presents us with an interesting and valuable lesson in Masonic leadership; one we can still learn from to this very day. There are few Masons anywhere celebrated with the Constitution of a Lodge in their name during their lives. Joseph Trimble lived until 1884. The Lodge was named in his honor fully thirteen years prior to his death. Why did the founding fathers name a Lodge in his honor? Why did his work so impress the good men of his time? What are the relevant facts? To begin with, it is well known that Camden Lodge No. 15, Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New Jersey, was constituted in November 1821 and later became the Mother Lodge of Trimble Lodge No. 117. The application for a warrant proposed that this new lodge be named "Trimble" to honor Most Worshipful Joseph Trimble, Past Grand Master of Masons for the State of New Jersey in 1857, 1858 and 1859. He also served as the Worshipful Master of Camden Lodge No. 15 in 1854, 1861 and 1862. However, during his years as Grand Master of Masons in the State of New Jersey, what contributions could he have possibly made that warranted such favorable and auspicious notice? Why do Masons remember his name affectionately? To understand the legacy that M.W.G.M. Joseph Trimble bequeathed to Masonry and our Grand Lodge, one must reflect a bit on the times. It was a period of extraordinary challenges facing the craft during a perilous period in our Country's history. We know the times were indeed troubled during those years leading up to the Great Civil War. As national concerns mounted, the Craft in New Jersey was also facing some internal challenges to both its unity and its character. We know it was a time of concern on many fronts. How would the Craft care for the relief of deserving members, widows and orphans? This matter was not yet resolved. How could the Craft cope with such extraordinary growth? It was a period of massing numbers in the fraternity in New Jersey. In 1852, for example, there were but twenty lodges numbering only 600 members. After M.W.G.M. Joseph Trimble's time as Grand Master, by the year 1862, there were sixty lodges with about 3,400 members! The growth can be attributed to several causes. Railroad expansion and the evolution of a state highway system fostered a growth in the state's population along the highways and rail lines. New communities sprung up and the invention of new methods of communications afforded the Craft many opportunities to make good men even better. The period's immigrations reinforced this trend as well. However, while the reasons were many, the challenges presented to the fraternity by such growth were yet to be addressed. The explosive growth certainly must have presented Grand Masters and Grand Lodge with unprecedented problems and opportunities. A system of lodge guidance and support was required. The Constitution and By-Laws were given much attention but progress was slow. To gain insight into the role that Joseph Trimble played in addressing these issues, the following excerpt from "The History of Freemasonry in New Jersey* is consulted. This document formed the basis for much of this research and tells the tale most eloquently: ...A continuing concern of Grand Lodge had been, and still is, the ritual work as practiced in New Jersey. Time-honored monitors were followed by many lodges, and over the years attractive and striking variations had crept into the work of the various lodges. A Grand Lecturer had been appointed in 1825, or at least such an appointment recommended, to assist the Grand Lodge officers in their supervisory duties and to relieve them of some of the burdens of visitation and instruction. In 1858, Most Worshipful Joseph Trimble, Grand Master, who was an accomplished ritualist, and personally concerned with the variance in the ritual work, appointed a Grand Lecturer whose office continued (with but one lapse of one year) in later times. The work selected and taught was essentially the same as that in use today, and was based on the Baltimore Work of 1843 (referred to as the New Jersey Revised Work) and did much to ensure precision and uniformity." High praise indeed for this gentleman from Camden. In 1858, there was a realization that no historical account of Grand Lodge was to be found. Its proceedings were often inaccurate or self-contradictory. M.W. Grand Master Joseph Trimble's period of tenure set the Craft at labor to safely preserve and record its history. This prudent and lasting course of action was initiated with the appointment of a committee on history in 1858. While that committee's work was met with some measure of frustration, this action marked the first recorded initiation of such an effort which owes its genesis to the period of Joseph Trimble's three year tenure. Clearly, his many contributions to our fraternity are lasting and immutable. Is it little wonder that the members of Trimble Lodge proudly practice that ritual and attend to its recordings - both by hand and electronically - with great care? Doing less would unfairly reflect on the heritage we owe both to M.W.G.M. Joseph Trimble and those visionary Trimble Lodge Founders who paid homage to his efforts in 1871 at the time of our Constitution. We have much for which to be grateful. We also have a strict standard of excellence to which we aspire. Our White Apron Brothers, Honorary Members, Master and Wardens recognize their commitment to his legacy. Other good men wishing to be part of Trimble's future must consider the same facts Joseph Trimble did in those ancient records and historic annals which he initiated. As was true in his day it is true now...2B1Ask1...Trimble Lodge proudly remembers a great Mason and a proud son of New Jersey.
"JOSEPH TRIMBLE (1815-1884) An authority in Masonic jurisprudence, and an expert in ritual, who "brought about a uniform, commonly acceptable ritual in New Jersey." Elected Grand Master from the floor in 1857. Lodge: Camden 15. Residence: Camden and Moorestown."
However, we're getting ahead of a biography which presents us with an interesting and valuable lesson in Masonic leadership; one we can still learn from to this very day. There are few Masons anywhere celebrated with the Constitution of a Lodge in their name during their lives. Joseph Trimble lived until 1884. The Lodge was named in his honor fully thirteen years prior to his death.
Why did the founding fathers name a Lodge in his honor? Why did his work so impress the good men of his time? What are the relevant facts? To begin with, it is well known that Camden Lodge No. 15, Free and Accepted Masons in the State of New Jersey, was constituted in November 1821 and later became the Mother Lodge of Trimble Lodge No. 117.
The application for a warrant proposed that this new lodge be named "Trimble" to honor Most Worshipful Joseph Trimble, Past Grand Master of Masons for the State of New Jersey in 1857, 1858 and 1859. He also served as the Worshipful Master of Camden Lodge No. 15 in 1854, 1861 and 1862.
However, during his years as Grand Master of Masons in the State of New Jersey, what contributions could he have possibly made that warranted such favorable and auspicious notice? Why do Masons remember his name affectionately? To understand the legacy that M.W.G.M. Joseph Trimble bequeathed to Masonry and our Grand Lodge, one must reflect a bit on the times. It was a period of extraordinary challenges facing the craft during a perilous period in our Country's history.
The growth can be attributed to several causes. Railroad expansion and the evolution of a state highway system fostered a growth in the state's population along the highways and rail lines. New communities sprung up and the invention of new methods of communications afforded the Craft many opportunities to make good men even better. The period's immigrations reinforced this trend as well. However, while the reasons were many, the challenges presented to the fraternity by such growth were yet to be addressed.
The explosive growth certainly must have presented Grand Masters and Grand Lodge with unprecedented problems and opportunities. A system of lodge guidance and support was required. The Constitution and By-Laws were given much attention but progress was slow.
To gain insight into the role that Joseph Trimble played in addressing these issues, the following excerpt from "The History of Freemasonry in New Jersey* is consulted. This document formed the basis for much of this research and tells the tale most eloquently:
...A continuing concern of Grand Lodge had been, and still is, the ritual work as practiced in New Jersey. Time-honored monitors were followed by many lodges, and over the years attractive and striking variations had crept into the work of the various lodges. A Grand Lecturer had been appointed in 1825, or at least such an appointment recommended, to assist the Grand Lodge officers in their supervisory duties and to relieve them of some of the burdens of visitation and instruction. In 1858, Most Worshipful Joseph Trimble, Grand Master, who was an accomplished ritualist, and personally concerned with the variance in the ritual work, appointed a Grand Lecturer whose office continued (with but one lapse of one year) in later times. The work selected and taught was essentially the same as that in use today, and was based on the Baltimore Work of 1843 (referred to as the New Jersey Revised Work) and did much to ensure precision and uniformity." High praise indeed for this gentleman from Camden.
In 1858, there was a realization that no historical account of Grand Lodge was to be found. Its proceedings were often inaccurate or self-contradictory. M.W. Grand Master Joseph Trimble's period of tenure set the Craft at labor to safely preserve and record its history. This prudent and lasting course of action was initiated with the appointment of a committee on history in 1858. While that committee's work was met with some measure of frustration, this action marked the first recorded initiation of such an effort which owes its genesis to the period of Joseph Trimble's three year tenure.
Clearly, his many contributions to our fraternity are lasting and immutable. Is it little wonder that the members of Trimble Lodge proudly practice that ritual and attend to its recordings - both by hand and electronically - with great care? Doing less would unfairly reflect on the heritage we owe both to M.W.G.M. Joseph Trimble and those visionary Trimble Lodge Founders who paid homage to his efforts in 1871 at the time of our Constitution.
We have much for which to be grateful. We also have a strict standard of excellence to which we aspire. Our White Apron Brothers, Honorary Members, Master and Wardens recognize their commitment to his legacy. Other good men wishing to be part of Trimble's future must consider the same facts Joseph Trimble did in those ancient records and historic annals which he initiated. As was true in his day it is true now...2B1Ask1...Trimble Lodge proudly remembers a great Mason and a proud son of New Jersey.
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*History of Freemasonry in New Jersey 1787-1987, Written And Prepared By The History Committee, First Edition, 1987.pub. unk.; bearing Seal of The Grand Lodge of New Jersey. This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page