William Wallace Goodwin was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, on the 13th of April, 1833. Goodwin Chapter was named in his
honor when he was only forty-nine. His accomplishments must have been outstanding to receive such a an accolade at such an early
age.
William Wallace was the son of Oliver W. Goodwin, and born of an old and distinguished Wethersfield line. His father,
a mechanical engineer, was a specialist in the design and construction of gas works and associated heating equipment. His son
became involved in the same line of work. Both of them moved to New Jersey, and settled in Bordentown. They established
the Goodwin Gas Stove and Meter Company, of which the son was president for many years.
Burlington Lodge, #32, was warranted in Burlington
on January 10, 1855, and shortly thereafter both father and son became members. William Wallace Goodwin was initiated Entered
Apprentice on May 1, 1855: passed on May 28, 1855: raised to the sublimed Degree on June 4, 1855. This must have gone beyond
the rules of the Craft as the dispensations of the Grand Master for 1855 do not indicate that Burlington Lodge #32, had been granted
dispensation to waive the one month between conferring of degrees. He was, however, one of the youngest members of that Lodge.
He
was exalted in Boudinot Chapter, #5 (now #3), in 1855 also. He became the second High Priest of that Chapter in 1856, and as
the presiding officer, played an important part in being the host of the representatives of Hiram Chapter #4 of Eatontown; Enterprise
Chapter, #2, of Jersey City; and Boudinot Chapter, #5: when they met in the Odd Fellow's Hall in Burlington to form the second Grand
Royal Arch Chapter of New Jersey. The date was December 30, 1856.
At the election of Grand Officers at the preliminary meeting,
he was elected to be Grand King of that fledgling Grand Chapter. At the tender age of twenty-three he was installed with those
officers on February 13, 1857, just sixty days prior to his twenty-fourth birthday.
Perhaps an idea of the respect in which he was
held may be gleaned from this resolution passed at the formation Convention: "On motion of Companion Goodwin: RESOLVED, That
Companions Goodwin, Tator, and Doggett be a Committee to draft a Constitution for the government of this body". The resolution
placed the first three Grand High Priests of the present Grand Chapter on the Committee, but the youngest is the chairman.