Masonic Charity Foundation of New Jersey
Lewis M. Parker
Humanitarian Award
Established in 1978 to honor exceptional service to one’s fellow man.
The Parker medal, bearing his likeness and the Masonic Home
Established June 14, 1978
About the Award
The Lewis M. Parker Humanitarian Award was established by the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Home and Charity Foundation of New Jersey on June 14, 1978, to recognize individuals who have shown exceptional service to their fellow man.
The Board instituted the award in the name of humanity, as a token of that recognition. It felt the honor should take the form of a medal, and that the medal should carry the name of a worthy and well-loved Brother of New Jersey Masonry.
With M.W. Brother Parker’s permission, the award was instituted in his name. Since then the Board has conferred it upon those who have shown that exceptional service, and who would wear the medal with honor to the Fraternity.
The Criteria
Given at the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees of the Masonic Charity Foundation of New Jersey — tangibly expressed as a medal bearing the likeness of Lewis M. Parker, P.G.M. — it is awarded for exemplary service to the Masonic Home or other Foundation programs.
Who Was Lewis M. Parker?
A banker, a mayor, a college founder and a Grand Master — Lewis Mulford Parker gave more than half a century to the civic and fraternal life of New Jersey.
- 1903
Born in Trenton
Lewis Mulford Parker was born in Trenton, New Jersey, and grew up attending the city’s public schools.
- 1925
Graduates from Princeton
He went on to Princeton University, graduating in 1925, and then settled in Bordentown — the town whose civic life would occupy him for the next fifty years.
- 1927
Raised a Master Mason
On May 11, 1927 he was Raised a Master Mason in Mount Moriah Lodge No. 28, Bordentown.
- 1931
Master of his Lodge, and a town commissioner
Elected Master of Mount Moriah Lodge, and elected a commissioner of the town of Bordentown — a post he held until 1943. He later served the Grand Lodge in numerous capacities before being appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the Nineteenth District, which he held for six years.
- 1943
Resigns to serve in the Second World War
He stepped down as commissioner to enter the war, serving with distinction in the Army Signal Corps.
- 1948
Elected Junior Grand Warden
Home from military service, he was re-elected to the Board of Town Commissioners — and eventually elected Mayor of Bordentown. He was appointed to the Grand Lodge Committee of Budget, and in 1948 elected Junior Grand Warden.
- 1950
Director, Burlington County Board of Freeholders
An elected member of the Board of Freeholders, he became its Director in 1950.
- 1951
Grand Master of Masons in New Jersey
M.W. Brother Parker served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. He was afterward appointed Grand Instructor, a position he would hold for twenty-one years.
- 1953
Created a 33° Scottish Rite Mason
On September 23, 1953, in Chicago, he was created a 33° Scottish Rite Mason, Northern Masonic Jurisdiction.
- 1966
Founding Chairman, Burlington County College
While serving on the Board of Freeholders, Parker was the prime motivator behind the chartering of Burlington County College in Pemberton. Once the college was established in 1966 he served on its Board of Directors as Founding Chairman.
- 1974
The Student Center takes his name
On his retirement from the college’s board, the Student Center on the Pemberton campus was named in his honor.
- 1986
Called by the Grand Architect
M.W. Brother Parker remained active in both his civic and fraternal work until his death on March 14, 1986. He was buried with a Masonic Marker in Riverside Cemetery, Trenton.
Beyond public life
By profession Parker was a banker, associated with the Trenton Trust Company as its auditor, and a director on the boards of both the First National Bank of Bordentown and Bordentown-People’s Savings and Trust. He was also a member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Bordentown.
Recipients of the Award
39 men and women have received the Parker medal since 1978. The award is conferred at the sole discretion of the Board of Trustees, and so is not given every year.
- W.B. Albert Butto, P.M.
- Bro. Christopher S. Abbott
- R.W. Angelo A. Caprio, P.G.C.
- M.W. David A. Dorworth, P.G.M.
- R.W. Lucian D. Craig, P.G.S.B.
- Bro. Joseph E. Murphy
- Mr. Anthony Argondizza
- R.W. Joseph T. Mezzina, P.G.C.
- M.W. Douglas R. Policastro, P.G.M.
- Bro. Albert Brusco
- Bro. Earl Ewers, Jr.
- Mrs. Barbara N. Fels, P. Adm.
- R.W. John H. MacQuaide, P.D.D.G.M.
- Bro. T. Frederick Small, P. Adm.
- Bro. Arthur Thum
- M.W. Edgar N. Peppler, P.G.M.
- R.W. Verdon R. Skipper, P.G.P.
- R.W. Thomas W. Blair, P.S.G.D.
- Bro. Arthur J. Nelson
- R.W. Michael Grenz, P.G. Mar.
- M.W. Francis R. Mitchell, P.G.M.
- R.W. Ernie Utsch, III, P.G.L.T.
- M.W. Raymond J. Vanden Berghe, Sr., P.G.M.
- R.W. Grayson Lutz, P.G.C.
- M.W. George S. Martin, P.G.M.
- M.W. Thomas R. Dougherty, P.G.M.
- Mrs. Florence Tofts, RN, P. DON
- R.W. Richard Dickinson, P.G.H. Second award
- M.W. William Schoene, Jr., P.G.M.
- Mrs. Anna Finch
- Bro. Frank Gregg
- M.W. Edward R. Woods, P.G.M.
- M.W. Franklin E. Pellegrin, P.G.M.
- R.W. Richard Dickinson, P.G.H.
- R.W. Lawrence B. Koch, P.S.G.M.
- Bro. Joseph E. Becker, P. Adm.
- R.W. Ernest Buttery, P.G.C.
- R.W. Kenneth M. Sternkopf, P.G.M.
- R.W. Earl G. Gieser, P.S.G.D.
Key to abbreviations
- M.W.
- Most Worshipful
- R.W.
- Right Worshipful
- W.B.
- Worshipful Brother
- Bro.
- Brother
- P.M.
- Past Master
- P.G.M.
- Past Grand Master
- P.D.D.G.M.
- Past District Deputy Grand Master
- P.G.C.
- Past Grand Chaplain
- P.S.G.D.
- Past Senior Grand Deacon
- P.G. Mar.
- Past Grand Marshal
- P.G.P.
- Past Grand Pursuivant
- P.G.S.B.
- Past Grand Sword Bearer
- P.G.L.T.
- Past Grand Lodge Trustee
- P.G.H.
- Past Grand Historian
- P.S.G.M.
- Past Secretary to Grand Master
- P. Adm.
- Past Administrator
- P. DON
- Past Director of Nursing
- RN
- Registered Nurse
Supporting the work the medal honors
The service this award recognizes is made possible by the generosity of New Jersey Freemasons and friends of the Foundation.
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