Our Revolutionary Heritage
The history of Hackenburg-Mt. Moriah Lodge No. 19 is coeval with the birth of the United States of America. Our continuous lineage traces to May 18, 1779, when a "military" or "traveling" warrant was granted to Lodge No. 19 to work within the 1st Pennsylvania Regiment of Artillery.
Our first recorded Worshipful Master was Colonel Thomas Proctor, the organizer and commander of the regiment, who held military commissions signed by Benjamin Franklin. A man of sturdy patriotism and great energy, Proctor’s Masonic zeal kept pace with his military bravery.
The 4th Continental Artillery, commanded by Col. Thomas Proctor
The Sullivan Expedition & Laurel Run
During the Sullivan Expedition of 1779, the artillerymen and brethren of Lodge No. 19 carried the light of Freemasonry directly into the frontier, holding the Lodge's first meetings in the military camps.
The realities of war struck the Lodge during the march. Two of our Masonic brethren, slain in an ambush near Laurel Run, were given a full Masonic burial by the lodge near Wilkes-Barre—a somber, verified testament to the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood forged in the fires of the American Revolution. We proudly continue to honor their sacrifice and our founding military heritage today.