MALawrence
LAWRENCE
LODGES
- Grecian Lodge, from 1856 to its merger into Lawrence United Lodge in 1986.
- Lawrence United Lodge, from 1986 to the present.
- Phoenician Lodge, from 1869 to its merger with Tuscan Lodge in 1980.
- Tuscan Lodge, from 1863 to its merger with Phoenician Lodge in 1980.
- Tuscan-Phoenician Lodge, from 1980 to its merger into Lawrence United Lodge in 1987.
BUILDINGS
- 12/11/1872: 1872-205; Hall dedication reported in the Grand Master's Address at the December Quarterly' see below. (held 09/12/1872).
- 04/29/1922: 1922-105; Corner-stone laying, at a Special Communication.
- 04/16/1923: 1923-110; Hall dedication, at a Special Communication.
- 06/21/1988: 1988-79; Hall dedication as "Webster Hall", at a Special Communication.
HALL DEDICATION, SEPTEMBER 1872
From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXXI, No. 12, October 1872, Page 357:
A new and beautiful Masonic Hall, recently erected at Lawrence by Grecian, Tuscan, and Phoenician Lodges, Mount Sinai Chapter and Bethany Commandery, was dedicated to Masonic purposes on Thursday the 12th ult. The ceremonies were performed by M. W. Grand Master Nickerson, assisted by the following brethren of the Grand Lodge.
- R. W. Percival L. Everett, Dep. Gr. M.
- R. W. Charles Kimball, Sen. G. Warden.
- R. W. Tracy P. Cheever, Jun. G. Warden.
- R. W. John McCIellan, Gr. Tress.
- R. W. Charles H. Titus, Gr. Secretary and acting Grand Chaplain.
- R. W. Charles W. Moore, Cor. Gr. Sec'y.
- R. W. William D. Coolidge, Past Grand Master.
- R. W. William Parkman, Past Grand Master.
- R. W. Joseph S. Howe, D. D. Grand Master.
- W. William H. Chessman. G. Marshal.
- R. W. Andrew G. Smith, and W. Samson W. North, as Gr. Stewards,
- W. John Stowe, as Gr. Architect. ,
- Br. F. A. Peirce. Gr. Tyler.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies of dedication, Grand Master Nickerson addressed the brethren present, expressing his pleasure at being present open an occasion so auspicious. The change from the eld apartments could hut excite pride and gratification in the members, who must experience new enjoyment in the performance of Masonic ceremonies amid such pleasant surroundings. The apartments he pronounced among the most tastefully furnished and decorated of any he had seen, and expressed great gratification at the evident prosperity o( the Order in the city, New zeal should be inspired for the principles of our ancient Order. He enjoined upon the members the importance) of harmony, not only between the individual members, but the several lodges; of care to preserve the purity of the Order in the admission of new members, and of charity, that foundation stone of the fraternity. He closed by a renewed expression of his great satisfaction at the prosperous condition of the lodges in Lawrence.
A very neat and interesting address was then delivered by Bro. Dr. John Stowe, in which he sketched with great clearness, the rise and rapid progress of the Order in Lawrence, tracing it from the establishment of Grecian Lodge (originally at Methuen) in 1825, to the present time. The address is ably written, and is of so much interest that we should be pleased to transfer it entire to our pages could we spare the necessary room for the purpose. The three existing Lodges contain an aggregate total membership of 615 brethren; Mt. Sinai Chapter has 177 members ; Lawrence Council 92 members; and Bethany Commandery 140 members — showing an increase since 1848 of 603 members in the Lodges exclusive of the Chapter, Council and Commandery. "This increased membership," says Dr. Stowe, "these new bodies, these commodious apartments of the craft, indicate the rapid and solid growth of Free Masonry since the evening when the brethren met at the house of Dr. Huse to revive their sleeping Lodge. That twelve, seem to have been the twelve apostles of a new era for the order in this vicinity,"
At the conclusion, of the address the Grand Lodge retired, and -were eoon after escorted to the banqueting boll, where, says the Lawrence American (to which we are mainly indebted for the details here given) the tables were elegantly spread, presenting in their tasteful Arrangement, their marked neatness, generous profusion of flowers, including a fragrant little button hole bouquet for each guest, and alike liberal and attractive viands, as pleasing an appearance as any we have ever seen in our city, and in every degree creditable to the caterers.
At the end of the banquet short and pertinent speeches wave made by the Grand Master and other officers of the Grand Lodge, and others, In the evening the ladies of the members were present and united in the social enjoyments of the evening. "From beginning to and, "says the American, "the entire occasion was one of high tone, complete arrangement, without a break or jar and the Masonic Fraternity of our city are alike to congratulate themselves and be congratulated by others, on so worthy, so successful and so auspicious a dedication of rooms, second in tastefulness and elegance, to no others in the State."
The principal hall is in the central portion of the building, extending from front to rear, measuring 36 1-2 x 67 feet, with a height of 30 feet ; this room is constructed with exceeding good taste, finished with heavy Gothic arches on each of the ends and sides, supported by richly ornamented corbels and mouldings, resting at the apex against a broad entablature, with drop ornaments, one at the apex of each arch ; inside the entablature is a wide panel, with heavy mouldings; the finish of the room and the furniture Is in black walnut, the ceiling is elegantly frescoed, and the walls ornamented with paintings and Masonic emblems. On the east side, north of the principal entrance, is the organ, while the officers-' chairs occupy a dais, with appropriate canopy.
The frescoing in this and in all the other halls, is exceedingly well done, and the furnishing is made to correspond. As a whole, the apartments are not only a credit to the enterprise and liberality of the Brethren of Lawrence, but are an honor to the fraternity of the Commonwealth.
