BlazingStarM

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BLAZING STAR LODGE (MAINE)

Location: Rumford

Chartered By: Francis J. Oliver

Charter Date: 03/10/1819 III-191

Precedence Date: 03/10/1819

Current Status: Under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Maine as Blazing Star #30 in Readfield, Maine.


REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Charter: 1819

PAST MASTERS

  • Joseph K. White, 1819, 1820

HISTORY

From History of Rumford, Oxford County, Maine, by William Barry Lapham:

Freemasonry was planted in Rumford in 1819, and in a fertile soil. The movement had a good backing, and the early members were leading citizens in this and the surrounding towns. The nearest lodge had been at Livermore, and several of the charter members of Blazing Star Lodge had been made masons there. The next nearest one and the oldest in the county was Oxford Lodge at Norway. Blazing Star Lodge, therefore, had a large jurisdiction, including, in addition to the town of Rumford, the towns of Mexico, Dixfield, Andover, Newry, Bethel, Woodstock and Greenwood, besides several plantations.

The early records are lost, and a consecutive history of the lodge from year to year is quite impossible. The lodge prospered for several years. Its meetings were well attended, and there were constant accessions to its numbers from among the best men within its jurisdiction. But the great anti-masonic movement affected the fraternity here as it did nearly everywhere else. The interest became dormant and in many cases died out. The principles of the order were cherished in the hearts of true reasons, but there were no outward demonstrations. This condition of things lasted for several years. There were no meetings, and the valuable early records were either lost or destroyed. Then came a revival; the scattered brethren were called together and the lodge was reorganized. Since that time there has been a steady growth, though slow at times, and Blazing Star Lodge has had its share of prosperity. The jurisdiction of this lodge has been much diminished by the establishment of lodges at Dixfield, Turner, Woodstock and Bethel.

Blazing Star Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was instituted under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, March 11, 1819. The charter members appear to have been Joseph K. White, William Wheeler, Joseph Lufkin, Ingalls Bragg, Farntim Abbot, Henry Farwell, Winthrop Knight, Jonah Hall, Tillson Hall, Obediah Kimball and Abel Wheeler. The first communication is said to have been held at the residence of William Wheeler, who was much interested in the establishment of the lodge.


DISTRICTS

1819: District 9 (Southern Maine)

1820 and after: Grand Lodge of Maine.


LINKS

Maine Lodges under Massachusetts jurisdiction

Massachusetts Lodges