BayState

BAY STATE LODGE

Location: Montague

Chartered By: Sereno D. Nickerson

Charter Date: 09/10/1873 V-264

Precedence Date: 09/12/1872

Current Status: in Grand Lodge Vault; merged with Mechanics’ Lodge into Harmony Lodge, 11/17/2004.

PAST MASTERS

Isaac Chenery, 1872
C. Orville Sawyer, 1873
William E. Dudley, 1874, 1884, 1888
Daniel Field, 1877, 1878
Dwight C. Bangs, 1879, 1880
Seymour Rockwell, 1875, 1876, 1881; SN
Miner C. Dudley, 1882
Norris S. Henry, 1883, 1885, 1886
George A. Paull, 1887
William K. Lamson, 1889-1891
J. Sumner Ball, 1892, 1893
Lucius S. Field, 1894
John A. Taggart, 1895-1897; Mem
George G. Henry, 1898, 1899
Frank A. Dean, 1900, 1901
John S. Hunt, 1902, 1903
Robert H. Hamilton, 1904, 1905
Arthur D. Smith, 1906
William W. Mathewson, 1907, 1908; Mem
William M. Stebbins, 1909, 1910
Herbert J. Leland, 1911-1913
George H. Richards, 1914
Luey E. Billings, 1915
Richard H. Billings, 1916, 1917
Walter H. Eddy, 1918, 1919
Earle A. Brown, 1920, 1921; N
John D. Payne, 1922, 1923
Walter E. Clark, 1924
Charles W. Parsons, 1925, 1926
Robert Dykes, 1927, 1928
Raymond E. Colburn, 1929
Donald E. Mathewson, 1930, 1931; N
Abram Rosberry, 1932
Whitfield Moretti, 1933, 1934
Lewis H. Haskins, 1935, 1936
Robert L. Bartlett, 1937, 1938
Arnold D. Pierce, 1939, 1940
Ralph R. Bitzer, 1941, 1942
Lawrence A. Comins, 1943
Arthur E. Fiske, 1944
Nelson A. Spring, 1945
Alvin F. Newton, 1946, 1947
Archie M. Dunham, 1948
Robert M. Ripley, 1949
Everett S. Martin, 1950-1952; N
Glenn C. Gillette, 1953
Wallace C. Stebbins, 1954, 1955
George P. Felton, 1956, 1957
Sherman W. Sadler, 1958
Clifford H. Blinn, 1959
Allen O. Fiske, 1960
William H. Ingalls, 1961
Robert R. Campbell, 1962
Warren N. Welch, 1963; N
Robert A. Washer, 1964, 1965
William T. Reade, Jr., 1966
Joseph N. LaClaire, 1967, 1968
Arnold E. Cutler, 1969, 1970
Wilton F. Stone, 1971, 1972
Harry S. Norwood, 1973, 1974
Roy A. LaClaire, 1975, 1976
Robert G. Billings, 1977
Roland S. Packard, 1978, 1979
Stephen A. Blinn, 1980, 1981
Duane E. Jenks, 1982, 1983
Robert W. Jenks, Jr., 1984, 1985
Jonathan Rastallis, 1986, 1987
Daryl S. Jenks, 1988, 1989
Albert W. Welch, 1990, 1991
Thomas C. Kurtyka, 1992, 1993, 1998, 1999
Graydon W. Mundell, 1994
Richard G. Podlenski, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001
Douglas H. Meattey, 1997; N

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

Petition for Dispensation: 1872
Petition for Charter: 1873
Consolidation Petition (Mechanics’ and Harmony Lodges): 2004

ANNIVERSARIES

1922 (50th Anniversary)
1947 (75th Anniversary)
1972 (Centenary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

1873 (Nickerson; Constitution of Lodge)
1884' (Acting Grand Master Sereno D. Nickerson; Hall dedication)
1922 (Prince; 50th Anniversary and Hall dedication)
1927 (Simpson; Veterans' Night)
1947 (Wragg; 75th Anniversary)
1972 (Vose; Centenary)
2004 (Hicks; consolidation with Mechanics’ and Harmony)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1884 1885 1896 1908 1912 1926 1931 1933 1942 1946 1953 1963 1964 1972 1974 1992

HISTORY

1922 (50th Anniversary Historical Sketch, 1922-128; see below)
1947 (75th Anniversary History, 1947-103)
1972 (Centenary History, 1972-285)

75TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, MAY 1922

By Brother Austin M. Lawrence.

For some years prior to 1872 there were several Masons living in Montague who belonged to Republican Lodge, of Greenfield, and Harmony Lodge, of Northfield. In 1870 the Millers Falls Company had started their tool works at Grout's Corner (now Millers Falls), bringing together members from different Lodges who began casting about for a Lodge home.

Turners Falls, then a small village, was similarly situated, neither place having adequate buildings for Lodge purposes. The Montague contingent, appreciating the situation, and all business pertaining to town government being transacted here, regarded it an opportune time to form a Masonic Lodge.

No reeords of preliminary proeedure are extant. The building in the rear of the town hall, built and used by Elisha Wright for a wagon shop, and later by Bates Brothers, now of Athol, for a wallet shop, was fitted up with a Lodge-room on the second floor and rented at one hundred dollars per year from its owner, R,. Bruee Chamberlain, who later became a member of the Lodge.

On September 12, 1872, the following Brethren were granted a Dispensation by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, authorizing and empowering them to form and open a Lodge after the manner of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons.

Isaac Chenery, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
Dr. Anson F. Cobb, Harmony Lodge, Northfield
George A. Clapp, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
Jerry W. Dugan, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
Benjamin Fay, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
George F. Richardson, Vermont Lodge No. 18, Windsor, Vt.
Gilman A. Moore, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
James S. Richardson, Blazing Star Lodge No. 23, Townshend, Vt.
Seymour Rockwell, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
C. Orville Sawyer, Rutland Lodge No. 477, Rutland, Ill.
J. Spaulding Pierce, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
Henry H. Taylor, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
Charles M. Whitmore, Republican Lodge, Greenfield
Charles P. Wright, Republican Lodge, Greenfield

Under this Dispensation the Lodge held regular and special communications for one year, a Charter being granted dated September 12, 1873.

No reeords are to be found between the above date and January 8, 1872, when a new record book was started, in which fifty blank pages appear - apparently left for the purpose of copying the first proceedings of the Lodge.

Following is a verbatim aecount of the first meeting reported, during Dispensation :

A.D. 1873 A.L. 5873. SPECIAL COMMUNICATION.

Bay State Lodge, Montague, was organized. at seven-thirty o'clock p.m. for the purpose of opening with:

Worshipful C. O. Sawyer, Master
J. W. Dugan, Senior Warclen
I. Chenery, Treasurer
S. Rockwell, Senior Deacon
Rev. David Cronyn, Chaplain
G. A. Clapp . Senior Steward
Albert Hunter, Junior Warden
C. P. Wright, Secretary
A. F. Cobb, Junior Deacon
G. A. Moore, Marshal
H. H. Taylor, Junior Steward
J. S. Pierce, Tyler

The Lodge was opened on the 3d degree in due form.

By-Iaws of Republican Lodge read by secretary. Motion was made by Brother Rockwell, and seconded by Brother I. Chenery, that a committee of three be appointed for the purpose of revising these By-Iaws for the government of Bay State Lodge.

No further business appearing, Lodge was closed in due form.

Members present: Brothers G. F. Richardson, J. S. Richardson, Fay, and Dudley.
Visitors: Brothers 'Watson, Marvel, Whitney, and Alexander.

Attest: C. P. WRIGHT, Secretary.

On Oetober 30, 1873, Bay State Lodge was duly Constituted, its officers installed, and its first building Dedicated, by Most Worshipful Grand Master Sereno D. Nickerson. Lodge was opened at 11.30 a.m. and elosed in due form at 2 p.m.

As the Lodge increased in membership it became apparent that larger quarters were necessary, and various plans were discussed from time to time and investigations made, one being the enlargement of the original building, and another reconstruction of the H. J. Day building opposite Montague Inn. Finaiiy the present building, known as "the old shoe shop," was purchased of George A. Clapp for $1,000, and fitted up for Lodge purposes, under direction of a committee named by Worshipful Master William E. Dudley, consisting of Seymour Rockwell, Georgb A. Clapp, F. O. Johnson, E. L. Bartlett, and Isaac Chenery, and on November 19, 1884, the builcling was Dedicated by officers from the Grand Lodge, Most-Worshipful Nickerson and suite.

This Lodge-room, regarded as ample and well appointed for the time, served until June, 1920, when a committee was elected consisting of Austin M. Lawrence, Walter E. Clark, and Worshipful William M. Stebbins, to reconstruct the place, making such alterations as in their judgment might seem best.

At this time labor and required material were at the limit of high cost. As an offset to this condition, however, interest and enthusiasm looking to a restored Lodge home were on a still higher plane, and when on the opening night it was known that the expense of restoration amounting to $3,600, was assured, enthusiasm and congratulations were "free for all."

Hand in hand with the oversight of the work was the management of the financial interests by Worshipful Master Earle A. Brown, Brother Walter E. Clark, and Worshipful Brother William M. Stebbins whose report, rendered at a regular communication November 14, was accepted and ordered spread upon the records, and a rising vote of thanks accorded the committee for their faithful and efficient service.

The spirit of giving for restoration seemed almost phenomenal. Contributions came in ranging from "the widow's mite," to that from one family which contributed $215; from twelve of the Brethren gifts aggregated $700; .with small amounts grading up from $5, the fund went "over the top." We gather from reports of former times that charity began at home.

The altar, still in use, was given by Brother Edgar L. Bartlett, who is the "unknown brother" who donated the wiring of the building when electric lighting was installed. Other furniture of the second lodge-room was donated by Brothers I. Chenery, C. T. Lanphair, C. A. Martin, F. F. McCue, L. M. Davis, Wm.McCoy, Frank Loveland, James Ryan, N. M. T:[enry, William H. Ward, G. A. Paull, Dr. A. F. Cobb, J. H. White, and Arthur Caswell.

Brother George A. Clapp is said to have donated one hundred dollars when the building was purchased, eleven hundred dollars being the price. Its foundation could not be put in for that sum at the present time.

There are three charter members of Bay State Lodge now living: Gilman A. Moore and J. H. Dugan of Montague, and James S. Richardson of San Diego, Cal. An interesting coincidence in connection with these men, seventy-five, seventy-six, and seventy-seven years of age, respectively, is that they resided when boys within speaking distance on Central Street in Montague.

Bay State is unusual among country Lodges in possessing among its members a thirty-third and last degree Brother, Past Master William Watson Mathewson, Past District Deputy Grand Master; King, Franklin Chapter Royal Arch Masons; Deputy Master, Titus Strong Council, R. and. S. M.; Past Commander, Connecticut Valley Commandery, Knights Templars; Past Thrice Potent Master, Greenfield Lodge of Perfection; Most Wise Master, Greenfield Chapter, Rose Croix.

Past Master Earle A. Brown is credited with having governed his Lodge with the most equal regularity during his two years' administration. A record number of candidates were received into the Lodge, including the father.of the Master, and both father and son have since been made thirty-second rlegree Masons.

A goodly number of Bay State members are members of the higher bodies convening in Greenfield and Springfield - Greenfield Lodge of Perfection, exemplifying the Scottish Rite degrees, being regarded as most sublime and instructive.

As a fitting tribute at this time to the late Worshipful Brother C. Orville Sawyer, who was a leading spirit in the formation of Bay State Lodge and its first Master, we append the memorial lines placed upon the records.

"Inasmuch as C. Orville Sawyer, a beloved Brother and honorary member of our Lodge, was taken away December 30, 1920, we offer this in memoriam:

"By his decease one of the four Charter members has been taken from our midst. Though a citizen of another town, his relations with us for many years were so intimate and loyal that in this loss we feel an acute and personal bereavement.

"As one of the founders of Bay State Lodge of Masons, its first Master, and one of its most loyal supporters, he deserves a conspicuous place in the annals of its illustrious members.

"He was ahvays devoted to its interests and most noble principles. His fine rendition of ritualistic work and the eloquent appeal of his inspiring talks will never be forgotten.

"As the first principal of Montague High Schooi he endeared himself to both pupils and townspeople by the faithful and intelligent performance of his cluties in that position.

"He exemplified the high principles of our Order in his family relations and his business career. His life in its fulfillment expressed the beauty and majesty of its teachings.

"To his family we extend. heartfelt sympathy. We desire that this memorial be placed upon our records and a copy be sent to the widow of the departed, trusting that she may be comforted and sustained by our Heavenly Father.

John A. Taggart,
Robert A. Hamilton,
Austin M. Lawrence,
Committee."

We remember today our many true and faithful Brothers who have gone to the Celestial Lodge above. They are broadcasting to us good cheer and best wishes for the future.

Bay State Lodge has been honored by membership among the clergy, from its founding, ancl it is seldom at visitation time but that one or more attend from Lodges in the district.