In the middle of 1870 the railroad
came to Manasquan. It linked Manasquan to Camden and Philadelphia in the South, and Long Branch and New York in the North.
With it came other Masons and they became members of, or frequent visitors to Wall Lodge. One of the visitors affiliated with
Wall Lodge became its Master for three years, in 1878, 1879, and 1880. The following year he was appointed to be District Deputy
Grand Master for the then Fourth Masonic District, which included the Manasquan and Wall Lodges. His name was Morgan R. Mulford.
Morgan
R. Mulford had been exalted to a Royal Arch Mason in Washington Chapter #16, of Elizabeth in 1867. He served this Chapter in
various offices before the call of his profession (he was a railroad conductor) took him beyond the cable tow of his Chapter.
While he led a very active life in the Masonic activities of Wall Lodge, the call of Capitular Masonry was ever present, so that in
1882 he began the work that was to be this Chapter -- Goodwin Chapter #36, of Royal Arch Masons.
He knew that he did not have the required
nine in Manasquan, so he brought several members of Wall Lodge to Standard Chapter in Long Branch early in 1882. No sooner did
he get five of them exalted than he began the work to form a Chapter in Manasquan. He sought the permission of Standard Chapter
to form a Chapter in their jurisdiction and with these Brethren and a few others began his work.
Thus three Chapters and nine Companions
formed the base for the foundation of a Chapter:
Morgan R. Mulford—Washington Chapter
Sidney Forman—Hiram Chapter No. 1
Frank R. Philbrick—Standard Chapter No. 35
William H. Cooper—Standard
Chapter No. 35
Rean Van Note—Standard Chapter No. 35
James H. Fisher—Standard Chapter No. 35
Dr. Archibald Higgins—Hiram Chapter No 1
Albert
C. Fisher—Standard Chapter No. 35
Samuel H. Trump—Chapter No. 43, Lancaster PA
The dispensation for the Chapter was granted on July
12, 1882, by the Grand High Priest, Most Excellent Companion I. Layton Register. The Grand Chapter granted a warrant on September
13, 1882. The name of the Chapter was to be Goodwin Chapter -- after William Wallace Goodwin, a prominent New Jersey Freemason
and the third Grand High Priest, in 1859-1860.
The Constitution of Goodwin Chapter, #36, took place in a magnificent public ceremony
on October 2nd, 1882. The Grand High Priest, Charles L. Chovey, reported: "October 2nd (1882), assisted by my associate
Grand and several Past Grand Officers, I constituted Goodwin Chapter, #36, at Manasquan. Most Excellent Companion W. W.
Goodwin, P.G.H.P., at my request performed the installation ceremonies, at the conclusion of which, Most Excellent Companion Register,
P.G.H.P., in his behalf presented the Chapter with a magnificent Bible and Square and Compasses. The ceremonies were public,
and were witnessed by a large company of ladies and gentlemen, who appeared highly pleased and interested."
Two days later, Wednesday,
October 4th, 1882, the first regular Convocation of Goodwin Chapter No. 36, under warrant was held. The "magnificent Square
and Compasses" still grace the altar of Goodwin Chapter, engraved with the name and date of the distinguished donor whose name graces
this Chapter. The present Bible dates to 1924.
One of the great moments in the life of Goodwin Chapter came in April 1922 when
a committee was appointed :"to investigate the proposition of building a new Temple." The committee reported "they were unanimously
in favor of proceeding with the building". On October 12th A.D.1923, A.L.5823, at an Emergent Communication of the Grand lodge
of New Jersey, Most Worshipful Brother Frank C Sayrs, the Grand Master, laid the cornerstone of the Temple of Goodwin Chapter.
It still stands in the center of Manasquan with the legend "MASONIC TEMPLE" on its face.
At the time it had been said that
Goodwin Chapter was the only Royal Arch Chapter to own its own building, and to have a Chapter room designed solely for Royal Arch
work. The furniture of that Chapter room was beautifully made and carved in the motif of Egyptian craftsmanship in the time
of Moses and the Pharaohs.
The stress of hard time of the depression of the Thirties laid a financial strain on the Chapter.
Membership and dues declined and the building was lost through the hardships of those difficult financial years.