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BEAVER LODGE

Location: Belmont

Chartered By: Dudley M. Ferrell

Charter Date: 09/22/1923 V-264

Precedence Date: 11/14/1922

Current Status: in Grand Lodge Vault; merged with Belmont Lodge to form Belmont-Beaver Lodge, 09/15/1980.

PAST MASTERS

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition For Dispensation: 1922
• Petition For Charter: 1923
• Petition for Merger: 1980

ANNIVERSARIES

• 1947 (25th Anniversary; Special GL Communication)
• 1972 (50th Anniversary; Special GL Communication)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1923 (Ferrell)
• 1940 (Perry)
• 1947 (Wragg; 25th Anniversary)
• 1972 (Vose; 25th Anniversary)
• 1980 (Melanson; merger with Belmont Lodge)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1944 1946 1947 1953 1954 1961 1964 1972

HISTORY

• 1947 (25th Anniversary History, 1947-330; see below)
• 1972 (50th Anniversary History, 1972-338)

25TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, NOVEMBER 1947

From Proceedings, Page 1947-330:

By Right Worshipful Amos L. Taylor.

During the first World War, the Knights of Columbus and the Y. M. C. A. were allowed to maintain headquarters at each encampment for their respective members. Masons felt excluded, with the result that special Masonic Lodges were instituted at or near camps, and a great many of the soldiers hastened home at the first opportunity to join the Masonic Order, each in his own town. This demand for Masonry continued long after the War. I heard it stated repeatedly that a soldier in the service must be either a Mason or a member of the Knights of Columbus. This situation, together with increasing salaries and compensation, which produced more money for use, as well as the fundamental principles of Masonry, caused a rapid increase in membership in our Masonic Lodges. Belmont Lodge, organized on March 9, 1865, joined in this rapid increase. During the year 1920, when I was Master of that Lodge, ninety-two received degrees, with eight membership additions, making a total membership of over four hundred.

During this period the increase in population in Belmont was very rapid, doubling between 1910 and 1920 and again between 1920 and 1930. To meet all these conditions, it seemed desirable to have a new Lodge for the benefit of a large number of members of the Masonic Fraternity who were moving into the town.

The retiring Master and officers of Belmont Lodge for the year 1920, with many others, were much impressed with the need of some relief. Some of the line officers of Belmont Lodge, together with resident Past Masters, were asked to attend a conference in June, 1921. Worshipful Elmer C. Read, Past Master of Columbian Lodge, presided. An informal discussion took place, and it was decided that probably the time had come to organize a new Lodge. It was voted to appoint a committee to investigate the question for details of such organization. The committee appointed was Wor. Amos L. Taylor, Wor. Elmer C. Read, Wor. Royal T. Brodrick, and Bro. Louis A. Jones. This committee called a meeting for early in September, 1921, and recommended that a new Lodge be organized. A general discussion took place, and it appeared that the new Presiding Master of Belmont Lodge was opposed to this and requested that Belmont Lodge be given time to work out its problems. As a result, it was decided to do nothing further at this time. In June, 1922, Wor. Judge Arthur P. Stone, the Presiding Master of Belmont Lodge, conferred with Worshipful Brothers Taylor and Read. He stated that the membership of Belmont Lodge was over five hundred, the number of candidates for the decrees was maintained, and he felt there should be another Lodge. In the meantime, Belmont Royal Arch Chapter had been organized on October 13, 1920, with unusual success.

Thereupon, a petition was prepared for dispensation and signed by more than enough to meet the requirements of the Grand Constitutions. Notice was sent of a meeting of those who had signed the application, to be held September 19, 1922, in the Masonic Apartments, for the purpose of completing the organization, choosing a name, and completing all other details. This was signed by Wor. Brothers Taylor, Read and Stone.

The meeting was held and Wor. Brother Stone presided, with eighteen being present. Wor. Brother Taylor presented the petition for dispensation. A long list of names for the Lodge was suggested, and after discussion, it was unanimously voted to adopt the name Beaver Lodge, because of (1) the location of Beaver Brook and the beaver ponds and dams in the Waverley District. It was thought desirable to have something of a local character suggested by the name; (2) the fact that the beaver had long been an emblem of the Grand Lodge and appeared on its official seal; (3) the well-known characteristics of the beaver.

A written ballot was taken for suggested officers, and the following were unanimously elected:

• Wor. Amos L. Taylor, Worshipful Master
• Elmer C. Read, Senior Warden
• Royal T. Brodrick, Junior Warden

Committees were appointed to draft by-laws, provide for accommodations and other details. The matter of procuring further signatures to the application was left to the Master and Wardens, who thereafter circulated the petition for dispensation, and at the next regular monthly meeting of Belmont Lodge, held on September 21, 1922, after due notice, it was voted that Belmont Lodge recommend that the Most Worshipful Grand Master issue to the Most Worshipful Everett C. Benton, Worshipful Judge Arthur P. Stone and numerous other Master Masons, petitioners therefor, a dispensation for the forming and holding in the Town of Belmont a new Lodge to be known as Beaver Lodge. It was also voted to allow Beaver Lodge the use of the Masonic Apartments and equipment.

A list of Master Masons residing in Belmont and not belonging to Belmont Lodge was compiled and a written invitation sent to each one to sign the application for dispensation. The charter membership fee was fixed at $25. The petition for dispensation was dated September 12, 1922. The first two signatures were by Most Worshipful Everett C. Benton and Right Worshipful Roscoe Pound. This was presented to the Grand Lodge, and on November 14, 1922, Right Worshipful Dudley H. Ferrell, Acting Grand Master, granted a dispensation and appointed Worshipful Amos L. Taylor to be the first Master, Worshipful Elmer C. Read to be the first Senior Warden, and Worshipful Royal T. Brodrick to be the first Junior Warden, with instructions to return the dispensation with a transcript of all proceedings at the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge to be held in September, 1923. The dispensation was delivered to Right Worshipful Fred M. Blanchard, District Deputy Grand Master for the 5th Masonic District, for the purpose of instituting Beaver Lodge under Dispensation.

A meeting was called and held November 18, 1922, at which Right Worshipful Brother Blanchard appeared, called the meeting to order, produced and read the official dispensation instituting Beaver Lodge. He then proceeded to install the Master and Wardens and the remaining officers as appointed by the Worshipful Master, being the first list of officers as set forth in the program for this celebration. The District Deputy Grand Marshal then made the proclamation declaring Beaver Lodge under Dispensation legally instituted. There were sixty members present. Short addresses were delivered by Most Worshipful Brother Benton, Right Worshipful Roscoe Pound, Worshipful Brother Stone, Master of Belmont Lodge, and Worshipful Brother Read, who extended the greetings of Belmont Royal Arch Chapter. All the officers so elected and appointed alternated—a member of Belmont Lodge with a member of some other Lodge outside the Town. Of the original ninety-two members, forty-six were members of Belmont Lodge, thirty-nine were members of other Lodges in Massachusetts, and seven were members of Lodges outside the State. The work while under dispensation proceeded smoothly. Twelve candidates were raised, three entered, and one passed. Brother H. Thaxter Underwood designed the seal. Most of the Lodge equipment was donated by various Brethren, and the aprons, jewels, collars, and other articles of equipment procured as soon as they could be made. At the second meeting, held on November 27, 1922, applications for degrees were presented by five. One of these was Brother Charles A. Prescott, who has been our Electrician ever since he received the degrees, with a special collar and jewel approved by the Grand Lodge. Another of these first candidates was Dr. Frank Clyde Leavitt, a dentist fifty years of age. While receiving the first section of the first degree at the altar, while the Worshipful Master held his hand for instruction, Dr. Leavitt fell over on the altar unconscious. The Master called the Lodge at ease. Fortunately, the Junior Steward was a physician, who took charge immediately. Brother Leavitt was carried out of the lodge-room. After half an hour, he was brought back, and Dr. Bean reported that he could go on with the work. After that, Brother Leavitt had no trouble.

During the winter, while the Lodge was conferring the Master's Degree upon one of the Brethren, while the candidate was reclining on a couch at the west of the altar, the lights went out. The Master ordered the Lodge to be at ease and communicated with the electric light department of the Town and was informed that it might be an hour before light service could be resumed. The Master then asked the Brethren to visit their automobiles or their homes in the vicinity and procure flashlights. This was done. About twenty-five flashlights were brought in, and the candidate was duly raised in the light of these flashes in full form.

An interesting event under dispensation was the first Ladies' Night, held April 27, 1923. William Lyman Underwood, an eminent scientist and professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, delivered a very popular, illustrated lecture on the beaver, being entitled The Engineer of the Forest. He showed many pictures taken by him personally, showing the beaver, its home, habits, means of support, and living conditions. He stated that the drawing of the beaver upon the official seal had been submitted to him and he had approved it before its release. Among other things, he stated that the beaver was especially noted for his industry, foresight and engineering ability in constructing dams, cutting down trees, and building his home. It appears on a seal of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At the twelfth meeting of Beaver Lodge, held on September 24, 1923, appropriate resolutions were adopted in memory of Brother Warren Gamaliel Harding, twenty-eighth President of the United States, who died on August 2, 1923, in San Francisco.

At the Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge held on September 12, 1923, it was voted to approve the report of the Master and Wardens of Beaver Lodge, setting forth the proceedings of this Lodge under Dispensation, with the by-laws adopted, and showing its financial condition. Thereupon, a special meeting was called and held on October 15, 1923, when the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Dudley H. Ferrell and his Suite attended and duly constituted Beaver Lodge in ancient Masonic form. All the officers were installed to the positions occupied by each while under dispensation. There were 196 present at the meeting.

After these ceremonies, it was discovered that the Junior Warden was missing from the lodge-room, and after a search, he was found and brought into the room bearing a bronze casket as a receptacle for suitable tokens to be presented and deposited therein. This was done and the casket was sealed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, after he had deposited in behalf of the Grand Lodge a Henry Price medal, to be opened only after fifty years. The Charter, as finally delivered, contained ninety-six names, as four more Brethren had asked to be included.

The history of the office of Chaplain in Beaver Lodge is interesting. While I was Master of Belmont Lodge, I raised there Rev. Brother Oliver B. Purrington, Pastor of All Saints Episcopal Church in Belmont, and he was the only minister who signed the application for dispensation. I asked him to serve as the first Chaplain. He said he didn't expect to remain in Belmont long, but he would serve while he was here and give us opportunity to get someone else. In the meantime, Belmont Methodist Episcopal Church had become established in the Town, and a young man from Boston University Theological School was installed as its first regular minister. His name was Daniel Joseph Imler, then twenty-nine years of age. I made inquiries and found that he was not a Mason and that there was no pastor of any church in Belmont who was a Mason other than Brother Purrington. Soon after this, Brother A. Glenn Simm told me that this Methodist minister had approached him about becoming a Mason, but before doing so, desired more information about its principles and purposes. Thereupon, by invitation, I called upon Mr. Imler with Brother Simm and spent a happy hour. Mr. Imler stated that in his early youth he had had unfavorable impressions of Masonry. Since he had come to Belmont, the impressions had been good, and he asked many questions about the Fraternity. He said he would like to join the Fraternity if he was satisfied that it was consistent with his duties as a Methodist minister. In due course, Brother Simm presented his application, at a meeting held March 26,1923, and he became the successor to Rev. Brother Purrington as our Chaplain.

When Rev. Brother Purrington retired, I asked him if he had enjoyed the work and his connections with the Lodge. He said: "Mr. Taylor, you don't know what a relief it is for me to come here among you men and get away from so many women." He was a bachelor, had been popular with his church membership, and especially the unmarried women. Rev. Brother Imler has been our Chaplain ever since and is now Chaplain of the Grand Lodge. He has delivered charges to nearly all the candidates who have been raised since in this Lodge. It has become an event in our proceedings. Considerably later on, in due course, Dr. Edwin C. Broome, Jr., the minister of the Unitarian Church in this Town, was raised in this Lodge and appointed Associate Chaplain. Still later, Rev. Brother John P. Fitzsimmons, minister of the Plymouth Congregational Church, was raised in this Lodge and also appointed Associate Chaplain. Consequently, during the twenty-five years of its existence, the Lodge has had as Chaplain an Episcopal minister, a Methodist minister, a Unitarian minister and a Congregational minister, all of whom have worked with us and together on the highest plane and endeared themselves to our membership. It should be noted in passing that throughout our entire history we have attended Divine Worship substantially once a year in some church, often with other Masonic bodies in this Town or with other Lodges in the 5th Masonic District in adjoining places.

On May 24, 1926, Most Worshipful Brother Ferrell, then Past Grand Master, made us a visit and gave a stereopticon lecture on Masonry in Latin America, assisted by Right Worshipful Frank H. Hilton. Two hundred were present.

On October 25, 1926, we received a remarkable address by Rev. Brother Edward T. Sullivan.

On March 28, 1927, while Worshipful A. Glenn Simm was presiding Master, it was resolved "that Beaver Lodge has with great pleasure learned of the political, social and Masonic activities of our Worshipful Master, and especially congratulates him upon the birth of a daughter on May 22, 1927, being the first child born to a Worshipful Master of this Lodge while presiding Master, and that she be and hereby is adopted as the daughter of Beaver Lodge, and that a floral tribute be sent to her and her mother ..." Ever since, she has been called Beaver.

During the years 1928 and 1929 the then Worshipful Brother Amos L. Taylor was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of the Waltham 5th Masonic District. He appointed Worshipful Royal T. Broderick as his Marshal and Worshipful John S. Moore as his Secretary.

The District Deputy was especially charged by Most Worshipful Frank L. Simpson to organize a Lodge of Instruction in the 5th Masonic District, where he said there was opposition to it. Right Worshipful Brother Taylor duly accomplished this and organized the 34th Lodge of Instruction, of which Worshipful Elmer C. Read was the first Senior Warden and the second Master, after overcoming some serious opposition.

Right Worshipful Brother Taylor also raised his son, A. Leavitt Taylor, in this Lodge on May 22, 1939.

We have been fortunate in the fact that our members have, for the most part, been of the general class who have not called upon the Lodge for financial assistance. Only a very small amount has been required for this purpose, although the majority of our Charter Members were men somewhere around middle life. Perhaps we are too young yet to know just how this may work out. The important fact is that the financial position of the Lodge has always been very sound. We made a good start, as our report to the Grand Lodge at the end of the dispensation period and after payment for our equipment, regalia and organization fees showed a balance of $774.92, which the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge told me at the time was phenomenal. With that, through the years we have been able to build up our charity fund and our life membership fund and are now in excellent financial condition. We have had a line of good businessmen as Masters and Wardens.

Beaver Lodge has always responded promptly and generously from its general funds for the support of the Grand Lodge and its activities. These especially include special aid for the Masonic Home, Juniper Hall Hospital, for Florida relief, for the George Washington Memorial, for motion picture equipment at the Masonic Home, for afghans and other articles for the Red Cross, and especially for the Grand Lodge plan of Soldiers' Relief.

After Beaver Lodge was well established, there were six bodies in our Masonic Apartments which had been leased in Belmont for many prior years. Beaver Lodge took the initiative and organized the Belmont Masonic Association, which took over the lease, and arranges for sub-rentals to fit increasing demands. This was voted April 23, 1928. On February 22, 1932, there was a short service of celebration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Worshipful Brother George Washington.

Beaver Lodge, since its organization, has never had an official banner. We had long been looking for one, with the result that on February 22, 1933, Brother William C. Anderson presented as a gift to the Lodge the beautiful Beaver Lodge banner, made by his mother in Sweden, admitted duty free after some difficulty, and which now is displayed in our Apartment.

It is interesting to remember that when a young man was taking his first degree, in response to the ancient Masonic question, he first stated that he put his trust in the Masonic Fraternity. He demonstrated that he was sincere in his statement because afterwards he became Master of this Lodge, has been very active throughout his experience, and is now our esteemed and beloved Secretary, who has done much to make this program successful.

As already seen, Belmont Royal Arch Chapter was organized in 1920. This Lodge followed in 1922. Many of our organizers were members of the Chapter and Past High Priests. I especially refer to Charles E. Lawrence, who was the first High Priest of Belmont Royal Arch Chapter and Past High Priest of St. Andrew's Chapter in Boston. He was the first Marshal of Beaver Lodge, and it is interesting to note that his son, Charles E. Lawrence, Jr., is now Marshal of this Lodge, after having completed his Master's term.

Another of our organizers who was a member of the Chapter and Past High Priest is Worshipful Brother Elmer C. Read, who was the first Senior Warden of this Lodge, its second Master, the first King of Belmont Royal Arch Chapter, and High Priest of that Chapter when we were constituted. He was President of the Past Masters' Association; District Deputy Grand High Priest of our 15th Capitular District; and also Past High Priest of St. Paul's Chapter in Boston. He raised his two sons, Ellsworth W. Read and Leslie C. Read, to membership in this Lodge.

The association of our Lodge with Belmont Royal Arch Chapter has been continually friendly and co-operative. Some eight of our members have been High Priest of that Chapter, and a goodly number of members of this Lodge have always been and now are members of that Chapter. In fact, at the installation of our current officers on September 22, 1947, the installing officer, when he installed the Inside Sentinel, told him that his serious attention to his duties insured him election as Master of this Lodge and as High Priest of the Belmont Royal Arch Chapter in 1960.

The growth of this Lodge has been steady. We started with ninety-six names on the Charter. We now have left on our membership roll twenty-nine of the original charter members. Our membership to this evening is 284, with five more men accepted for the degrees. When we organized, there was considerable sentiment for limiting our membership to 250 members by provision of the by-laws. At the request of the Master of Belmont Lodge, this was eliminated. There is real sentiment to keep the membership of this Lodge about where it is. Personally I hope that we will not exceed three hundred. From my long years of experience and observation, and especially while I was District Deputy for this District, I formed the very definite opinion that the smaller Lodges much better meet the problems of the Fraternity and carry out its idealism and usefulness. This experience also has led me to believe that we should rarely, if ever, accept a man for the degrees who does not reside in our Town, and practically never have a Brother appointed to the line of officers unless he is a resident who understands our history and tradition and our local problems. We have been exceedingly fortunate in having a line of officers, without exception, of education, ability, judgment, discretion and understanding.

Our relations with Belmont Lodge have at all times been happy. Many of our members are still members of Belmont Lodge. The two Lodges have worked together on the question of general requirements, fees to be charged, use of these apartments and equipment, and the innumerable details which come up at almost every meeting; and we rejoice with that Lodge in its pride in having produced a Most Worshipful Grand Master, Joseph Earl Perry, while we had a Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Louis A. Jones, and a Senior Grand Warden, Right Worshipful Frank H. Hilton, now Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, who has served with distinction. Both of these Brothers were charter members.

An important phase of the situation is the relation of the Masonic Lodge to the Town to which it is accredited. We have been very fortunate as our relations with the official part of Belmont have been very friendly, even intimate. Many of our Past Masters, officers and members have been town officials. Many of these are Town Meeting Members in the representative form of town government which we have here. The influence of the three Masonic bodies in this town in town affairs is far-reaching for the accomplishment of good government. When I was Master of Belmont Lodge, the then Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons, at a Quarterly Communication, stated that he had received a letter from an esteemed citizen of an adjoining town to the effect that the Masons of that town were quite in control of the town government and its affairs, and he thought that the Grand Lodge might not approve. The Most Worshipful Grand Master stated that he had made some investigation and found that the statements in the letter were probably true; that the Masons were doing a good job in that town and he hoped the conditions there might long continue. He afterwards told me that he referred to Belmont and gave me the name of the man who wrote the letter, who was not a Mason, but whose sons are now Masons. I speak of this in no narrow or political sense. Masonry stands for political freedom if for anything during the conflict with absolutism in various forms. We may all properly work together for good government through the means that appeal to us most highly. Belmont has always been a Masonic town.

In conclusion, our relations with the churches, with the civic organizations, with all Masonic bodies, and with our citizens have been on a high plane. We have striven to demonstrate the fundamental principles of brotherly love, relief and truth, temperance, fortitude, prudence and justice, and in our humble way, to help, aid and assist. After the tumult and the shouting of this celebration have disappeared, may we join with the poet and say: "Lord, God of Hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget, lest we forget."

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• Charles F. Giles, DDGM, District 5 (Waltham), 1954, 1955; N
• William E. Olsson, DDGM, District 5 (Brighton), 1960, 1961; N
• Amos L. Taylor, DDGM, District 5 (Waltham), 1928, 1929; N

DISTRICTS

1922: District 5 (Waltham)

1927: District 5 (Waltham)

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges