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History program set for Sinclairville

SINCLAIRVILLE — The Sinclairville Free Library invites the public to a local history program “Major Samuel Sinclear and the Early History of Freemasonry in Sinclairville, New York.” Dr. Tom Jordan will present this program on Saturday, Aug. 20 at 11 a.m. This presentation will examine Major Samuel Sinclear’s life experiences during his impressionable years that may have put him on a pathway to the development of his great interest in and everlasting support of Freemasonry. The presentation will then describe Major Sinclear’s efforts to establish Freemasonry in Chautauqua County in the early 19th century.

Major Samuel Sinclear formed a Masonic Society in Sinclairville on Jan. 28, 1819 in response to growing interest in Freemasonry and the difficulties traveling to Masonic meetings at Forest Lodge during the winter months. His Masonic Society became an official entity nearly 200 years ago on Dec. 26, 1822 through a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of New York. Major Sinclear then applied and obtained a charter for Sylvan Lodge 394 on July 7, 1824. This Lodge would eventually surrender its charter in response to the anti-Masonic sentiment of that period and would later be reestablished as Sylvan Lodge 303 by his stepchildren on June 11, 1853.

Dr. Tom Jordan has been a member of Sylvan Lodge 303 for more than 35 years and currently serves as its master. Dr. Jordan is a geophysicist and professional geologist with a PhD from the University at Buffalo, MS from SUNY at Fredonia, and a BA from Alfred University. He currently works as a researcher and part-time faculty at Youngstown State University in Youngstown, Ohio, where his interests include development of forensic geophysics methods that will lead to improvements in law enforcement’s ability to detect and identify clandestine graves. Dr. Jordan resides in rural Pennsylvania with his wife Jane and their three rescue boxer dogs, Daisy Mae, Mr. Bean, and Zayda.

You can find this and other events on our library website: www.sinclairvillelibrary.org or by following Sinclairville Free Library on Facebook. Printed copies of our monthly calendar are available by stopping in during open hours. The Sinclairville Free Library is located at 15 Main Street, Sinclairville. For additional information, please send email to info@sinclairvillelibrary.org or call the library at 716-962-5885. The library will be closed on Monday, Sept. 5 in observance of Labor Day.

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