Bethany

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BETHANY LODGE

Location: Merrimac

Chartered By: William Sewall Gardner

Charter Date: 12/08/1869 VII-406

Precedence Date: 12/08/1868

Current Status: Active


PAST MASTERS

  • Morton B. Merrill, 1869-1871; Mem
  • Eldridge C. Sawyer, 1872-1874
  • Frank Wiggin, 1875
  • Alexander Smart, 1876, 1877
  • Ora A. Little, 1878, 1879
  • Ralph H. Smart, 1880, 1881
  • Fred M. Chase, 1882, 1883
  • M. Perry Sargent, 1884, 1885
  • William F. Ward, 1886, 1887
  • John P. Thornell, 1888, 1889
  • Herman W. Kelly, 1890, 1891
  • Daniel J. Poore, 1892-1894; SN
  • Alexander Hanna, 1895, 1896
  • Bion Green, 1897, 1898
  • Zanes Lovell, 1899
  • Fred B. Judkins, 1900, 1901
  • Clifton B. Heath, 1902
  • William L. Smart, 1903, 1904
  • William Jonah, 1905, 1906
  • Oliver Jordan, 1907, 1908
  • John W. Grocut, 1909, 1910
  • Frank E. Pease, 1911, 1912
  • Charles W. Cutts, 1913
  • Frederick E. Grant, 1914, 1915
  • Albert P. Wadleigh, 1916, 1917
  • L. Allen Williams, 1918, 1919
  • Frank F. Philbrick, 1920
  • William H. Franklin, Jr., 1921, 1922; N
  • Carlton C. Witham, 1923
  • George E. Franklin, 1924, 1925
  • George L. Hosford, 1926, 1927
  • G. Willis Cummings, 1928, 1929
  • A. R. Waterhouse, 1930, 1931
  • Howard C. Lovell, 1932, 1933
  • Elmer T. Grant, 1934
  • Willard T. Kelly, 1935, 1936
  • Cecil E. Welch, 1937, 1938; N
  • Alexander Q. Blake, 1939, 1940
  • Edward B. Germain, 1941
  • Malcolm A. Eaton, 1942
  • Chauncey D. McKay, 1943, 1944
  • Alvin F. Heath, 1945
  • Frank M. Hargreaves, 1946, 1947; N
  • Isaiah Chase, 1948
  • Lloyd S. Ray, 1949; N
  • Edgar P. Sargent, 1950
  • Frank J. Russo, 1951, 1952
  • Frederick C. Chase, 1953, 1954
  • John T. Franklin, 1955
  • Gerald M. Hargraves, 1956
  • Edward L. Smith, 1957
  • A. Noel Roy, 1958
  • Arthur E. Sharp, 1959
  • George P. Hardie, 1960
  • Harold M. Daniels, 1961
  • Leonard R. Burrill, 1962
  • Harold M. Waterhouse, Jr., 1963
  • Harry M. Fleet, 1964
  • Wayne W. Williams, Sr., 1965
  • Francis Drenth, 1966
  • Willard C. Gowan, 1967
  • George A. Waterhouse, 1968
  • Merton E. Chute, 1969, 1970; PDDGM
  • Byron S. Reynolds, 1971
  • Richard T. Smith, 1972, 1998
  • Kenneth E. Randall, 1973, 1986
  • Richard N. Kendrick, 1974, 2000
  • Russell M. Poor, 1975
  • Carrol E. Twist, 1976
  • Russell E. Smith, 1977
  • Richard A. Waterhouse, 1978
  • Wayne G. Maglione, 1979
  • Ernest D. Sargent, 1980, 1990
  • Laurence J. Gardella, 1981, 1982; PDDGM
  • Walter E. Barker, Jr., 1983
  • R. Thomas Smith, Jr., 1984
  • Joseph R. Burks, 1985
  • Guy R. Williams, 1987
  • Edwin H. Wright, 1988, 1989
  • Carl L. Booth, 1991
  • Richard W. Lacombe, 1992
  • Glenn W. Coffin, 1993, 1995
  • Matthew A. Keiser, 1994, 2002
  • John E. O'Neal, Jr., 1996, 1997, 1999
  • Byron E. McNutt, 2001
  • Charles H. Graber, 2004
  • J. Charles Rutledge, 2005; PDDGM
  • Willard C. Walker, Jr., 2006
  • Keith J. Zibolis, 2007, 2008
  • Normand L. Lavoie, 2009
  • Anthony M. Noguiera, 2010-2012

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1868
  • Petition for Charter: 1869

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1920 (50th Anniversary)
  • 1969 (Centenary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1878 1881 1887 1892 1902 1904 1913 1921 1939 1957 1958 1970 1971 1972 1988 1992 2009

HISTORY

  • 1920 (50th Anniversary History, 1920-7)
  • 1969 (Centenary History, 1969-286)

50TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, DECEMBER 1919

REMINISCENCES BY BRO. ELBRIDGE C. SAWYER

From Proceedings, Page 1920-3:

Only surviving charter member of Bethany Lodge.

Most Worshipful Grand Master, Officers and Members of the Grand Lodge, Brethren of Bethany Lodge, and all Visiting Members:

It is a great pleasure to me to be able to greet you all at this, our golden anniversary.

I see by the order of exercises that the part assigned to me is reminiscences. I have made a few notes of things which I have remembered of the past. I shall try to go back to the foundation of Bethany.

About fifty-two years ago the two villages of West and South Amesbury were both thriving places. Everybody had work with good wages at that time, and all were satisfied to work and enjoy themselves. There were no labor unions or strikes; any workman who was not satisfied with his job was at liberty to go out and get another. There were pleasant relations between the employer and the employees. We had no electric cars then, no horse cars, or even bicycles. If we wanted to go out of town, we either walked or hired a team from the stables. The nearest Masonic Lodge was Warren Lodge at Amesbury, about four miles away, where most of the Masons took their degrees.

In the latter part of 1867 some of the Brothers proposed that we try to see what could be done about having a Lodge at West Amesbury, and we decided to talk this matter up and see what could be done. We got a list of all the members at this end of the town and found there were twenty or more in the two villages and nearly all were in favor, of going along and seeing what could be done.

A meeting was called and we met at the shop of Bro. George Larkin. There were, I think, fifteen present at that meeting and we decided to go on. We had another meeting and in December, 1867, a meeting was called for organization of the committee. I regret that a copy of the minutes of these meetings was not preserved as I have not been able to find them. As I remember, we chose a committee to go to work at once. There was a committee on membership, a committee on finance, a committee on rooms, and also Brethren selected to learn the Lodge work. as not one of us at that time had ever held any office in a Lodge. A committee was appointed to select some Brother who would take up this work and be prepared to fill the chair as Master of the Lodge. This meeting was adjourned for one week, at which time Bro. Morton B. Merrill was unanimously elected. Brother Merrill, who was not a politician, wished for a little time to think it over. Voted to adjourn for one week at which time Brother Merrill would decide and report. We all promised to stand by him and do anything he might wish to help him. At the next meeting Brother Merrill informed the Brethren that there was another place to be filled as important to the work of the Lodge as the Master, and if he could have Brother Sawyer, your humble servant, with him as Senior Deacon, he would try to do the best he could.

You see, we had all promised to do anything he wished to have the work go along, and there was nothing for me to say but "Brother Merrill, I am with you." The Brethren were very kind and informed us that we would not be called upon to do auything except attend to the duties of organizing.

The members of Warren Lodge were very kind to us and promised to assist us when they could. They elected Brother Merrill to the office of Senior Deacon for the year 1868, and we went to Amesbury during the year every week and sometimes twice weekly to attend the communications which they held every Saturday evening. We also went to Boston and spent some time with the Grand Lecturers who kindly offered to help us. We had many cold nights that winter, going home any time from midnight to two o'clock in the morning. As we were working in the same shop at the time we spent many hours in familiarizing ourselves with the work together. The other committees went along with their parts all right. Cleary and Goodwin were putting up the building which we now occupy as a Lodge-room and offered to put on another story and finish a hall for us if we would take a lease of it. Satisfactory arrangements were made by the committee. The committee on membership found that there were twenty-five Masons, good and true, who were waiting and willing to take the responsibility of forming a Lodge. The following Brethren signed the petition:

  • Joseph W. Sargent
  • John K. Sargent
  • Isaac B. Little
  • Charles W. Sawyer
  • Thomas H. Goodwin
  • Henry J. Cushing
  • J. Austin Lancaster
  • Nelson S. Hoyt
  • Joseph B. Cilley
  • Charles W. Emerson
  • George Adams
  • F. M. Ordway
  • Bailey Sargent
  • Isaac Jones
  • A. A. Sawyer
  • Elbridge C. Sawyer
  • Andrew J. Lovell
  • Horace L. Swain
  • Morton B. Merrill
  • Jona B. Sargent
  • J. S. Nichols
  • A. L. Baxter
  • Wendell B. Whittier
  • Edwin Sargent

  • E. C. Hopkins

This petition we presented to the Grand Lodge and in due time received a Dispensation to commence the eighth day of December, 1868. I think our first meeting as a Lodge under this Dispensation was on January 5, 1869, when we commenced our real work which I shall leave for our worthy Secretary', as Historian, to complete.

Brethren, fifty years ago tonight Bethany Lodge was Dedicated and Consecrated in our present Lodge-room by the officers of the Grand Lodge. As usual in the consecration, the corn, wine, and oil were used. After the ceremony I picked up from the carpet by curiosity a small amount of this corn which had been used. I have preserved it until this time, and now wish to present it to the Master of Bethany Lodge and hope he will see it is deposited in the archives of the Lodge as a memento of that occasion.

50TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY

From Proceedings, Page 1920-7:

By Wor. Albert P. Wadleigh:

Agreeably to a Dispensation granted by Most Worshipful [http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title= GMGardner William Sewall Gardner], Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, Bethany Lodge of Merrimac, Massachusetts, held its first meeting, according to existing records, January 5, 1869, with Worshipful Morton B. Merrill presiding as Master. At this meeting a code of by-laws was read and accepted.

The original members of Bethany Lodge, upon whose petition presented to the Most Worshipful Grand Master (after Warren Lodge of Amesbury had consented to the prayer of the petitioners and the District Deputy Grand Master for the Sixth Masonic District had approved the petition, at the Annual Communication of the M.W. Grand Lodge held December 8, 1869, at which time a charter was granted, were:

  • Joseph W. Sargent
  • Charles W. Emerson
  • John K. Sargent
  • George Adams
  • Isaac B. Little
  • F. M. Ordway
  • J. Austin Lancaster
  • A. A. Sawyer
  • Nelson S. Hoyt
  • Elbridge C. Sawyer
  • Joseph B. Cilley
  • Andrew J. Lovell
  • Horace L. Swain
  • Charles W. Sawyer
  • E. C. Hopkins
  • Thomas H. Goodwin
  • Bailey Sargent
  • Henry J. Cushing
  • Isaac Jones
  • A. L. Baxter
  • Morton B. Merrill
  • Wendell B. Whittier
  • Jona B. Sargent
  • Edwin Sargent

  • J. S. Nichols

At the first meeting, January 5, 1869 (under Dispensation), six applications were received. All the petitioners in due time were elected and became members, namely:

  • Nathan J. Spofford
  • M. Perry Sargent
  • Otis Sargent
  • John V. Holt
  • Albert Sargent
  • Oscar F. Seavey

On April 6, 1869, Bethany Lodge raised the first candidate on the Third Degree in the person of Bro. Nathan J. Spofford.

Of the twenty-five charter members, today, fifty years afterwards, only one brother, Elbridge C. Sawyer, of Beverly, survives.

During the first year of its existence Bethany Lodge received many beautiful gifts at the hands of several Brethren to be used in the work of the Lodge; viz.:—a beautiful copy of the Holy Bible from William P. Sargent and John P, Whittier, April 3, 1869; Stewards' and Deacons' rods, July 6, 1869, from Bro. Hayden Sargent: May 5, 1869, a set of jewels presented by Bro. James R. Nichols, of Saggahew Lodge of Haverhill, "as a testimonial of his regards": March 2, 1869, Marshal's baton from William H. Blodgett. Various other necessary ornaments and jewels have been presented to the Lodge from time to time.

On the evening of December 30, 1869, in the hall we now occupy (although our present quarters are remodeled), Bethany Lodge was duly Constituted. Most Worshipful Past Grand Master Charles C. Dame of Newburyport Constituted and Consecrated the Lodge and installed its officers. Addresses were made by M. W. Brother Dame and by Brothers Gay, Pike, Stevens, and others.

June 18, 1870. Special Communication, Bethany Lodge proceeded to Haverhill and attended the funeral of Bro. Moses Wingate who, at the time of his death aged one hundred and one years, was said to be the oldest Mason in the United States.

October 9, 1872. Public installation, Joseph Sidney Howe, District Deputy Grand Master, Sixth Masonic District, officiating.

July 1, 1873. A committee was appointed to procure fans (an evident indication of hot weather).

July 27, 1879. Special communication for the purpose of laying the corner-stone of the new town hall of Merrimac by R. W. Wyzeman Marshall as Deputy Grand Master, Bro. Frank E. Jones as Deputy Grand Marshal, Past Master E. C. Sawyer, Bro. Alexander Smart, Deputy Senior Grand Warden, Bro. Warren E. George, Deputy Junior Grand Warden. The Deputy Grand Lodge was escorted by Bethany Lodge to the parade grounds to form a procession consisting of Col. C. R. Mudge Post 114, G. A. R. and officers and citizens of the town of Merrimac, preceded by Goodwin's Cornet Band. Tim procession marched around the square to the site of the new town house where the cornerstone was laid by the Deputy Grand Lodge with appropriate ceremonies in accordance with due and ancient Masonic form, after which speeches were made by William P. Sargent of Boston, Patten Sargent, Esq., and others. Sixty-six Brethren participated.

June 5, 1877, Bro. D. J. Poor presented the Lodge with two jewels, the rough and perfect Ashlers, March 4, 1879, George N. Goodwin was installed as organist, and held the position continuously for nearly forty years. August 5, 1879, George W. "Weymouth was raised. He was afterwards Congressman from the Fitchburg district.

August, 1881, the members and their ladies enjoyed an excursion to the Isles of Shoals on the Startled Pawn. On September 6, 1881, a vote of thanks was extended to the excursion committee, an indication of a successful event.

March 7, 1882, Bro. Benjamin Watkins, of Doric Kilwinning Lodge, Glasgow, Scotland, visited Bethany Lodge, it being an unusual occurrence.

May 2, 1882, a large delegation of Brethren from Star in the East Lodge, of Exeter, N. H., was present. The Third Degree was exemplified after which an excellent repast was served in Mechanics' Hall. After supplying the wants of the inner man, a "feast of reason and a flow of soul" was listened to. Ninety-nine Brethren were present.

November 8, 1882. Most Worshipful Grand Master Samuel C. Lawrence was present and addressed the Lodge.

In 1883, R. W. Morton B. Merrill, a charter member and Past Master of this Lodge, made his official visitation as District Deputy Grand Master with Wor. Bro. Oliver A. Roberts as District Deputy Grand Senior Warden and Wor. Bro. Green Davis as District Deputy Grand Junior Warden. An address was made by Wor. Oliver A. Roberts, Town of Bethany, Holy Land, from which our Lodge was named.

In 1884, R .W. Oliver A. Roberts, of Salisbury, was District Deputy Grand Master. R. W. Brother Roberts, though not a member of Bethany Lodge, was a frequent visitor and it is a pleasure to realize that he is still with us performing faithful service in the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.

October 10, 1894. Bethany Lodge held a communication for the purpose of dedicating its new hall (into which the Lodge had just moved in the Little and Larkin block). The Lodge had held its meeting in the Cleary or Lovell block for a period of twenty-five years, and in 1918, twenty-four years later, went back to its original, although remodeled abode. At this communication, October 10, 1891, a very elaborate program was carried out. The hall was Dedicated by the following Grand Officers: Acting Grand Master; R. W. Edwin B. Holmes, Deputy Grand Master; R. W. Henry G. Fay, Deputy Senior Grand Warden; R. W. William H. H. Soule, Deputy Junior Grand Warden; R. W. Charles A. Robertson, Grand Treasurer; Wor. Edward A. Fitts, Grand Secretary; M. W. Sereno D. Nickerson, Past Grand Master, Grand Marshal; Wor. Charles Harris, Grand Chaplain; Wor. Rev. George J. Prescott, Grand Tyler; Wor. Charles F. Dame, Grand Steward; Wor. William A. Carrie, Grand Steward; Wor. Charles T. Chase.

In 1897 and 1898 Wor. Bro. Daniel J. Poore, of Bethany Lodge, was honored with the appointment of District Deputy Grand Master, being the only Brother besides Wor. Bro. Morton B. Merrill, who was Bethany's first Master, to hold that distinguished position.

June 15, 1901, R. W. Daniel Jefferson Poore died and on June 18, 1901, Haverhill Commandery and Bethany Lodge performed the burial service.

October 2, 1917, Most Wor. Leon M. Abbott, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, accompanied by R. W. Benjamin B. Gilman, District Deputy Grand Master, R. W. William M. Farrington, Senior Grand Warden, R. W. Edward N. West, Grand Marshal, and R. W. Frederick W. Hamilton, Grand Secretary, made a fraternal visit to Bethany Lodge.

September, 1918, Bethany Lodge held its Communication (after twenty-four years' absence) in its original, although remodeled Lodge Room.

Such is the record of Bethany Lodge as it may be written. During the passage of its fifty years, over three hundred petitioners have knocked at its portals and have gained admission. The lapse of time, the falling sands of the hour glass as they slowly waste away, and the hand of the reaper have caused many of our Brethren to pass beyond the western horizon, but in immortality they survive. Of one hundred and eleven members twenty-six years ago, thirty-two are on the roll today. We, their successors, one hundred and sixty in number, inspired by their faithful efforts, their high sense of honor and duty, their general application of the rules of conduct in the rectitude of life, will endeavor to carry on.

Milton in his Defense of the People of England said: "1 am not one who has disgraced beauty of sentiment by deformity of conduct, or the maxims of a freeman by the actions of a slave; but, by the grace of God, I have kept my life unsullied."

Hamilton tells us: "The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the hand of the Divinity itself, and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power." (1775)

This is a glimpse of the spirit of true Masonry, of a faith unshaken, a life unsullied, a chain unbroken, the 'perpetuation of a mystic tie. So stands Bethany Lodge with its record clear, firm in its adherence to the ancient landmarks; its spirit aglow for the righteous progress of ma ii kirn I, and as immovable as the massive pyramids or the Sphinx itself to those who would destroy liberty within the law. As a great poet has said:

"There is yet a liberty unsung
By poets and by Senators unpraised,
Which monarchs cannot grant, nor all the powers
Of earth and hell confederate take away.
A liberty which persecution, fraud,
Oppression, prisons, have no power to bind;
Which whoso tastes can be enslaved no more.
'Tis Liberty of heart, derived from Heaven,
Bought with His blood, who gave it to mankind,
And sealed with the same token. It is held
By charter, and that charter sanctioned sure
By the unimpeachable and awful oath
And promise of a God. His other gifts
All bear the royal stamp that speaks them his,
And are august; but this transcends them all.

Officers of Bethany Lodge. 1869-1919.

MASTERS.

  • Morton B. Merrill 1869-1872
  • Elbridge C. Sawyer 1872-1875
  • Frank Wiggin 1875-1876
  • Alexander Smart 1876-1878
  • Oro C. Little 1878-1880
  • Ralph H. Sargent 1880-1882
  • Fred M. Chase 1882-1884
  • M. Perry Sargent 1884-1886
  • William F. Ward 1886-1888
  • John H. P. Thornell 1888-1890
  • Herman W. Kelly 1890-1892
  • Daniel T. Poore 1892-1894
  • Alexander Hanna 1894-1896
  • Bion Green 1896-1898
  • Zenas Lovell 1898-1899
  • Frederick B. Judkins 1899-1901
  • Clifton B. Heath 1901-1902
  • William L. Smart 1902-1904
  • William S. Jonah 1904-1906
  • Oliver W. Jordan 1906-1908
  • John W. J. Grocut 1908-1910
  • Frank E. Pease 1910-1912
  • Charles W. Cutts 1912-1913
  • Frederick C. Grant 1913-1915
  • Albert P. Wadleigh 1915-1917
  • J. Allen Williams 1917-1919
  • Frank F. Philbrick 1919-

SENIOR WARDENS.

  • Charles W. Sawyer 1869-1871
  • Elbridge C. Sawyer 1871-1872
  • Frank Wiggin 1872-1875
  • Alexander Smart 1875-1876
  • Oro O. Little 1876-1978
  • Oscar F. Seavey 1878-1879
  • Ralph H. Sargent 1879-1880
  • Herman W. Kelly 1880-1881
  • LeBurton W. Colby 1881-1883
  • C. Fawn Clement 1883-1884
  • William F. Ward 1884-1886
  • John H. P. Thornell 1886-1888
  • Eiehard S. Bailey 1888-1890
  • Daniel J. Poore 1890-1892
  • Alexander Hanna 1892-1894
  • Bion Green 1894-1896
  • Zenas Lovell 1896-1898
  • Frederick B. Judkins 1898-1899
  • Clifton B. Heath 1899-1901
  • William L. Smart 1901-1902
  • William S. Jonah 1902-1904
  • Oliver W. Jordan 1904-1906
  • John W. J. Grocut 1906-1908
  • Frank E. Pease 1908-1910
  • Charles W. Cutts 1910-1912
  • Frederick C. Grant 1912-1913
  • Albert P. Wadleigh 1913-1915
  • J. Allen Williams 1915-1917

  • H. Franklin, Jr. 1917-1918
  • Frank F. Philbrick 1918-1919

  • H. Franklin, Jr. 1919-

JUNIOR WARDENS.

  • Andrew J. Lovell 1869-1871
  • Frank Wiggin 1871-1872
  • Abram L. Baxter 1872-1874
  • Alexander Smart 1874-1875
  • Warren E. George 1875-1877
  • Frank E. Little 1877-1878

Finish page:

OTHER

  • 1876 (Cornerstone laying, Merrimack Town Hall)

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS


DISTRICTS

1868: District 6 (Newburyport)

1883: District 9 (Newburyport)

1911: District 10 (Newburyport)

1927: District 10 (Newburyport)

2003: District 11


LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges