A bit of ancient history of Momauguin Lodge. - - - -

During 1929 masons living in East Haven and those from Adelphi Lodge decided that it was time for East Haven to have its own lodge.  The necessary committee was formed and they prepared the necessary ground work and then petitioned the Grand Lodge for a charter.  The charter was granted on February 5th, 1930 and the lodge was named for a section of East Haven named after an indian tribe of the area.

In those days in Masonry, each lodge had a territory assigned to it.  Anyone petitioning to join Masonry must have petitioned the lodge in his assigned area, but that person could petition a lodge in another area.  However, the lodge being petitioned must secure a release of jurisdiction from the lodge holding jurisdiction before accepting the petition.

East Haven in those days was under the jurisdiction of Adelphi Lodge in Fair Haven.  Animosity soon arose between the mother lodge and its daughter as Adelphi would not relinquish its right to jurisdiction of East Haven to Momauguin Lodge.

This feeling still existed into the 1960's when Momauguin needed a temporary new home and a committee consisting of the Master (formerly from Adelphi Lodge) and others through meeting with Adelphi Lodge, would not consider the Fair Haven Temple as a meeting home, but instead took the offer of Widow's Son meeting place in Branford.

But time erases all feelings and in the late 1980's, the membership of bot h lodges were visiting each other without regard of the happenings of the 1930's.

Now a little bit of background for mergers - - - -

It is unfortunate that notes of committee meetings are not kept for future reference and that lodge minutes only contain a sentence or two of the action and reports of the committees.

In the late 1970's and early 1980's signs were appearing that some city lodges and small country lodge were in trouble.  They were recycling officers.  Masters and Wardens were repeating in office.  This is particularly true in some city lodges.

During this period of time, the Grand Lodge Committee on Welfare of Lodges was trying to meet with those lodges showing signs of trouble to offer them help with any problems that develop in the process of merging with another lodge.

One such lodge was Adelphi Lodge No. 63, as it had its own meeting hall within several miles of the large Masonic Meeting Hall in New Haven.  Its lodge spirit prevented anything coming from these meetings, keeping in mind that Adelphi Lodge was the second oldest lodge in New Haven.

Over the years individual masons have talked with members of Adelphi Lodge on a one to one basis, encouraging them to use their influence to dispose of the Fair Haven Masonic Hall and take a meeting place in the Masonic Temple of New Haven, one of the outstanding Masonic places in the state.

During this period of time throughout the state, we see the mergers of lodges happening and the Masonic meeting halls disappearing.  The Masonic meeting halls in our larger cities have gone, Hartford, Bridgeport and Waterbury.  (Waterbury lodge has since secured a new home on the outskirts of Waterbury).

Some of these lodges from cities moved to the surrounding towns to meet in existing masonic meeting halls and some have merged with these lodges in the smaller towns.

In New Haven, we have Olive Branch Lodge No. 84 (chartered 1857) and Connecticut Rock Lodge No. 92 (Chartered 1864) merging into Hiram No. 1.  The number tells the story.  Also there were merging of lodges in Fairfield, West Hartford, Waterbury, Deep River and probably the oldest of all in Naugatuck.  There may be more that I have missed so I stand to be corrected.

Now the facts and opinions regarding the merging of Momauguin Lodge No. 138 into Adelphi Lodge No. 63 which will become to be known for future ages as Adelphi-Momauguin No. 63.

It is during this period that Adelphi and Momauguin Lodges had problems with recycling of officers and lacking attendance at its meetings, the declining membership and the lack of new petitioners who will attend meetings and from which to pick its new officers.

The secretary of Adelphi Lodge due to advancing years had requesting for several years for the lodge to find a new secretary to relieve him of his duties but without success, he had served 23 years as secretary and as assistant secretary for several years.

In late 1990 ad early 1991, rumors were happening that Momauguin Lodge was considering merger possibilities.  Also there were rumors concerning Wooster Lodge No. 79 being in the same straits.

In early 1992, members of Momauguin Lodge were putting out feelers on merger, but the feelers came with conditions such as a lodge's willingness to accept the membership, etc.  (sort of like for the best deal for its membership which can be understandable).

Momauguin Lodge appointed a committee to consider a merger plan during this period of 1992.

The committee from Momauguin Lodge prepared a letter and a questionnaire that was sent to the nearby lodges requesting information on their ideas of a merger and whether it was practicable.

From this point in the narration, it is from the Adelphi Lodge's records and minutes.

A letter was received from Momauguin Lodge in November 1992 as noted in the minutes of Nov. 17, 1992 requesting information regarding a merger.  This again in the minutes of December 1st, 1992 and December 15, 1992 meetings.

At a stated meeting of Jan. 19, 1993, the lodge was informed that Momauguin Lodge's committee on merger was disbanded as all the committee's work was ended at the close of the year.  Also that a new committee on mergers had been appointed.

In Momauguin's Bulletin of Feb. 1993, the merger committee recommended that the  lodge affilate with Adelphi, that the necessary details were being finalized by their committee.

A diversion, from the minutes of March, 1993, we learn from the minutes there is talk of selling the property (that is the property and building which has been the home of Adelphi Lodge since 1924) and the possibility of asking the New Haven Masonic Temple for meeting space.

The then Deputy Grand Master hearing these rumors had made an inquiry on the future of Adelphi Lodge and any merger possibilities with the possibility of Adelphi selling its meeting hall and moving into the New Haven Masonic Temple.

On April 6, 1993, W.M. Bailey was informed that Momauguin would vote on the merger on Monday.  The results of the ballot was 85% in favor of the merger.

A letter was received from Momauguin dated April 25th, 1993 with the necessary attachments to accomplish a merger.

On May 4, 1993, this letter was received from Momauguin No. 138 regarding the proposed merger.  This letter was read and the membership in attendance voted to accept this proposal.

This was the first reading as required by Grand Lodge.

At the stated communication on May 18, 1993, the second reading of the proposal was read as required.

On June 1st, 1993, the stated communication, the third required reading, the Master then called for a vote, a ballot was taken which was unanimous.

The Master then appointed a By-laws Committee to review the present By-Laws and to make the necessary changes and corrections to accommodate this merger.  The By-Laws Committee then announced it would hold two meetings in July and welcomed all interested brothers to attend and submit their ideas.

The proposed By-Laws changes were published in the Sept./Oct. Trestleboard and read at the first stated meeting in Sept.  The recommended changes in the By-Laws were then voted on as previous notification to the membership on the changes having been published and mailed to each member.

At the Semi-Annual Meeting of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut held in Wallingford in Octoboer 1993, the merger agreement between Adelphi Lodge No. 63 and Momauguin Lodge No. 138 and that of the Grand Lodge Committee of Welfare of Lodges comments of the merger were approved.

At the first meeting in October, 1993, the Master announced that on December 7th, 1993, there would be a Unification Dinner for the members of the Combined lodge, it being the Annual Meeting.

As the annual meeting had been changed to the first meeting in December, the Grand Master and Deputy Grand Master with the District Deputies present, the election of the officers for the merged Adelphi-Momauguin Lodge were elected by ballot.  W:.B:. John G. Radeach was elected the first Master of the merged lodge.  W:.B:. John Radeach is a P.M. from the former Momauguin Lodge.  W:.B:. Lawrence Blossom, P.M., Senior Warden, B:. Arthur Bailey, Junior Warden, W:.B:. James F. Quarz, P.M., Treasurer and W:.B:. James Cesaro, P.M. as Secretary.

W:.B:. Don Gelo, the outgoing Master of Momauguin Lodge met in the East with the Past Masters of the Momauguin Lodge was presented his Past Master's Apron.  This would be the last time that a Past Master's apron for Momauguin Lodge would be presented in lodge.

M:.W:. Grand Master Hawkins congratulated W.M. Wayne Bailey on his trying two years of service to the fraternity and to Adelphi Lodge.

W.M. Bailey asked the Grand Master to close Adelphi Lodge, who in his remarks refused stating this was the last time Bailey would have to close Adelphi Lodge.

The officers of the combined-merged lodge was held in January 1994 by the Adelphi's usual installing team lead by R:.W:.B:. Carl Ek and his team with the assistance of District Deputies from the 4th Masonic District.

In attendance was a large delegation from Grand Lodge and the surrounding lodges.

Master Radeach in his acceptance announced a vigorous program for the coming year to keep the lodge active.

We find that during the first year of this merger that two petitions were received and these brothers raised.  What is interesting is that these two new brothers are faithful in their attendance and have since been appointed into the officer's line and we hope they will continue with their interest in Masonry and continue as an officer of Adelphi-Momauguin Lodge No. 63.

[Minor spelling and grammatical errors were corrected in this document]