Union Lodge No. 5

From the beginning, Union Lodge No. 5 was shaped by men whose influence extended throughout the growing communities of Middletown, Odessa, and the Drawyer’s region. Among the most notable early Brothers was Duncan Beard, the renowned colonial clockmaker. Beard served as Junior Warden at the time of the Lodge’s charter in 1765 and is believed to have later served as Worshipful Master. His leadership, craftsmanship, and contributions to Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church left a lasting imprint on the region. To this day, the Lodge opens at the strike of eight o’clock, honoring the traditions established during his era and echoing the work of one of the clocks he crafted more than 260 years ago. The Lodge’s early Brethren also played important roles during the American Revolution and the formation of the new nation, and their influence remained central to civic, agricultural, and commercial life throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.

Between 1765 and 1779 the Lodge initiated ninety Masons, fifty-seven of whom served in the American Revolution, including two Colonels, nine Captains, and seven Lieutenants, demonstrating the deep connection between the Lodge and the founding generation of the nation. Union Lodge No. 5 also played an important role in the early spread of Freemasonry throughout Delaware. In August of 1775, three visitors from Dover presented themselves at the Lodge and were discovered to have been “clandestinely made” Ancient York Masons. After examination, Union Lodge properly conferred the three degrees of Masonry upon them. Those same men soon received certificates of withdrawal and successfully petitioned the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for a warrant to establish a new lodge. By October 1775, Lodge No. 18 was constituted in Dover, with those three men serving as the charter officers. Lodge minutes also reveal Union Lodge’s role in the establishment of Lodge No. 33 in New Castle in 1780, further demonstrating its influence in the early development of Delaware Masonry.

The turmoil of the American Revolution also touched the Lodge directly. Minutes from September 1777 record that the Brethren were unable to meet the previous month due to the confusion caused by the British Army landing at Elk, an event that occurred shortly before the Battles of Cooch’s Bridge and Brandywine. Despite such disruptions, the Lodge continued its work and remained loyal to the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania when the Grand Lodge of Delaware was first constituted in 1806. Eventually, in 1816, Union Lodge assumed its rightful place under the Grand Lodge of Delaware as Union Lodge No. 5, a position that had been reserved for it since the earlier formation of the Delaware Grand Lodge.

Over its long history, Union Lodge No. 5 has produced several distinguished leaders who rose to serve as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Delaware, including MW Arnold S. Maudain (1826), MW Rev. John C. McCabe (1870–1872), MW William W. Black Jr. (1899), MW Francis W. Hukill (1953), MW Elton P. Holland (1977), MW James E. Waecker Sr. (1995), and MW Earl L. Emerson Jr. (2007). Their service brought honor to the Craft and prestige to the Lodge.

Like many American Lodges in the twentieth century, Union No. 5 experienced fluctuations in membership. The Lodge reached a modern-era peak of 139 members in 1956, but membership gradually declined to around 110 members by 1970, where it remained steady for nearly fifteen years. Despite these changes, the Brethren continued to uphold the traditions and principles of Freemasonry while maintaining their commitment to the community.

A major turning point arrived in the 1980s. In 1984, the passing of PM Clarence Pierce brought an extraordinary gift to the Lodge—his entire estate, including his home, land, vehicle, household goods, and Dart-Kraft stock. At the same time, the Lodge’s aging building, with its third-floor Lodge room and outdated systems, required major upgrades estimated at more than $70,000. Even with repairs, accessibility issues would have remained. The Brethren therefore made the decision to construct a new Lodge building. Brother Harry A. Schagrin donated land on West Park Place, and the Lodge sold both the inherited property and the old building to help fund construction. Phillips Home Builders, owned by PM Carroll C. Burris Jr., constructed the new facility, while members themselves contributed funds to purchase the Lodge room chairs. Grand Master Henry G. Law set the cornerstone on March 16, 1986, and the new Lodge room was formally dedicated on April 27, 1986. The first official communication in the new building was held on the first Tuesday in May 1986 at 8:00 p.m., with PM Carroll C. Burris presiding. Membership soon began to grow again, rising from 117 members in 1984 to 142 by 1990.

In the years that followed, the Lodge made significant efforts to preserve its history and expand its charitable impact. In 1996, a Memorial Library was added to the building to house important artifacts, some dating back to the 1760s, that had been discovered stored in a local bank. The addition was constructed by Phillips Home Builders and funded entirely by PM Carroll C. Burris Jr. and his wife Jean. In 1998, the Lodge established a scholarship program aimed at awarding three $1,000 scholarships annually to graduating students from the local high school. The first scholarships were awarded in 1999, funded through the Lodge’s annual sporting clay shoot, held the first Sunday each May. Since its inception, the program has awarded approximately $80,000 in scholarships to graduating students in the local community, reflecting the Lodge’s continued commitment to supporting education and investing in the next generation. By 2003, membership had grown to 156, and Union Lodge expanded its youth involvement by sponsoring Bethel No. 4 of Job’s Daughters International.

A defining moment in the Lodge’s modern history came in 2015, when Union Lodge No. 5 celebrated the 250th anniversary of its charter. Under the leadership of Worshipful Master PM Glenn L. Davis, the Lodge commemorated a quarter-millennium of Masonic service with both internal celebrations and public events that honored its legacy and strengthened its connection to the community. The Historic Odessa Foundation hosted a major exhibit titled “The 250th Anniversary of Union Lodge No. 5 Charter, 1765–2015” at the Wilson-Warner House. Running from September through October of that year, the exhibit showcased rare artifacts, early jewels attributed to Duncan Beard, Past Master regalia, and historical documents illustrating the Lodge’s long history. During the anniversary year, the Delaware Public Archives also installed an official State Historic Marker recognizing Union Lodge No. 5 and its centuries-long contribution to the history of Middletown and the State of Delaware.

Today, Union Lodge No. 5 continues to carry forward the principles upon which it was founded in 1765—brotherhood, charity, moral instruction, and faithful service to the community. As the nation celebrates the 250th anniversary of the United States of America in 2026, Union Lodge No. 5 likewise marks 260 years of continuous labor in the Craft of Freemasonry. Under the leadership of the current Worshipful Master, Jason D. Crook, the Lodge has reached a modern membership peak of 174 members, reflecting both the strength of its traditions and the vitality of its future. In 2025, the Lodge established the Duncan Beard Service Award, named for one of the Lodge’s earliest and most respected Brethren, to recognize members whose sustained dedication, leadership, and service embody the enduring spirit of Union Lodge No. 5. The inaugural recipients, Bro. Samuel Rodmond Smith, III, PM, and Bro. George Ronald Piser, PM, were honored for their many years of faithful labor and devotion to the Lodge. Guided by the timeless motto of the early Brethren—“Amor Honora et Justicia” (Love, Honor, and Equal Justice)—Union Lodge No. 5 remains committed to preserving the Light of Freemasonry and carrying its legacy forward for generations yet to come.