Brotherhood

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BROTHERHOOD LODGE

Location: Boston

Chartered By: Frank L. Simpson

Charter Date: 09/14/1927 1927-247

Precedence Date: 12/08/1926

Current Status: in Grand Lodge Vault; merged into Moses Michael Hays Lodge, 07/15/1986.

PAST MASTERS

  • Charles H. Pike, 1926
  • Robert C. Foster, 1927
  • Lawrence S. Bearse, 1928; SN
  • Jacob Wasserman, 1929
  • Robert J. Snow, 1930
  • S. Richard Sherman, 1931
  • Robert Goldstein, 1932
  • Jacob J. Spiegel, 1933
  • Robert Levine, 1934
  • Maurice A. Lesser, 1935
  • Louis Jacobs, 1936-1937
  • Leon Rubin, 1938
  • David M. Brackman, 1939
  • David T. Gordon, 1940
  • Louis J. Roazen, 1941; N
  • Donald Stahl, 1942
  • Abraham J. Wolfe, 1943
  • Hyman J. Torf, 1944
  • Edward M. Raverby, 1945
  • James W. Kofman, 1946
  • Phineas Berenson, 1947
  • Jacob M. Poster, 1948
  • William Kopans, 1949
  • Sidney J. Simons, 1950
  • Benjamin H. Singer, 1951
  • A. Edward Greenman, 1952; SN
  • Aaron H. Sibley, 1953; N
  • Hyman W. Krigman, 1954
  • Nathaniel E. Marshall, 1955
  • Marcus Josephson, 1956
  • Allen J. Shatz, 1957
  • Morton Pantuck, 1958
  • Henry Shapiro, 1959
  • Arthur L. Sherman, 1960
  • Harvey S. Seidman, 1961
  • Nelson J. Waters, 1962
  • Arnold A. Schaffer, 1963
  • Wolf Shapiro, 1964
  • Irving H. Gale, 1965
  • Richard L. Endlander, 1966
  • Sumner Bauman, 1967, 1975
  • Eli Fleishman, 1968
  • Edmond M. Kladky, 1969, 1974
  • Arthur H. Shapiro, 1970, 1976; PDDGM
  • Richard I. Lubets, 1971
  • John D. Miller, 1972
  • Kenneth M. Abelson, 1973
  • B. Norman Seigenberg, 1977
  • Frederic N. Cohen, 1978
  • Haskell C. Williams, 1979, 1983
  • William Mills, 1980, 1984
  • David J. Bernstein, 1981
  • Martin H. Green, 1982
  • Jeremy L. Muller, 1985

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1936 (10th Anniversary)
  • 1951 (25th Anniversary)
  • 1976 (50th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1928 1929 1932 1933 1935 1945 1947 1948 1949 1951 1952 1969 1971 1973 1975 1976 1982

HISTORY

  • 1936 (10th Anniversary History, 1936-80)
  • 1951 (25th Anniversary History, 1951-214)
  • 1976 (50th Anniversary History, 1976-312)

10TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, MAY 1936

By Wor. Maurice A. Lesser.

"What is Time? The shadow on the dial, the striking of the clock, the running of the sand, day and night, summer and winter, months, years, centuries; these are but arbitrary and outward signs, the measures of time, not time itself. Time is the life of the soul; if not this, then tell me what is time." Longfellow.

Since Brotherhood Lodge was instituted, ten years have come and gone, but in their passage they are not spent; for us, they are but space filled with accomplishments, perpetuated by this Lodge of Light. Conceived in a spirit exalted by immortal ideals, motivated by thoughts pure, and exertions unselfish, the new Lodge, born of an old and tried Order, is destined to a place of distinction in the archives of Masonry.

In 1926, Right Worshipful Herbert S. Locke, escorted by his Marshal, Worshipful Byron S. Jackson, instituted our Lodge, with Worshipful Charles H. Pike, its first Master. Worshipful Charles H. Pike, endowed with those enduring qualities which combine independence of thought, strength of character, and habit of industry, clothed our Lodge with dignity and unity of purpose. Through his capable leadership, his great interest, caution, and sublime thought, coupled with an enthusiasm ripened by experience and good judgment, the young Lodge won the approbation of the Grand Lodge and on November 2, 1927 was constituted by Most Worshipful Frank L. Simpson with an awe-inspiring ritualistic ceremony which will ever live in the minds and hearts of those who witnessed it.

On December 20, 1927, Worshipful Robert C. Foster was installed Master. As a result of his able leadership, our Lodge prospered and our First Annual Ladies' Night was instituted. It was a year of harmony and rejoicing under the guiding influence of a man of initiative. September 18, 1928, found Worshipful Lawrence S. Bearse presiding in the East. He placed our Lodge on a sound financial basis, the benefits of which will accrue as the years roll on. Tireless in endeavor, unassuming by nature, and loyal to every principle propounded by Masonic ritual, he has been elevated to the position of District Deputy Grand Master for the Roxbury Fourth Masonic District.

Worshipful Jacob Wasserman became Master September 17, 1929. Aggressive, enthusiastic, punctilious, his was an administration lacking in no detail. He instituted our first Children's Party and our first Informal Ladies' Night, functions we eagerly anticipate each year. He also started our first Brotherhood News Bulletin, under the editorship of Brother Sidney Dunne. With ringing eloquence Worshipful Jacob Wasserman made our Masonic ritual live its true grandeur.

(>n September 16, 1930, Worshipful Robert J, Snow assumed his station in the East. Quiet, modest, and unassuming, he gave us an administration which was efficient and harmonious. Faithful in every duty and considerate in every need of sympathy, he has ever held a fond place in our hearts. He is our present District Deputy Grand Secretary, discharging the important duties of his office with fidelity and aptitude.

On September 15, 1931, Worshipful S. Richard Sherman became our leader. His earnestness, devotion to duty, fairness, and executive ability made his regime one of distinction. His was an extremely active year, replete with good fellowship and much hard work. He was a real disciplinarian, making officers' rehearsals a night of labor. I, too, had to toe the mark. For us soldiers, marching the steps to suit the eagle eye of Worshipful S. Richard Sherman meant so much less work for Uncle Sam. Verbum sapientibus sufficit — a word to the wise is sufficient — and now the officers of Brotherhood Lodge march to perfection.

Worshipful Robert Goldstein became Master on September 22, 1932. As evidence of his generosity and love for the Craft, on the night of his installation he tendered a banquet at the Statler Hotel. To him goes the honor of having instituted the Philanthropic Fund of Brotherhood Lodge which has since grown threefold, gripping the imagination and spirit of our Masonic fraternity and receiving the approbation of our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Claude Leroy Allen.

Through the Philanthropic Fund, Brotherhood Lodge has raised the drooping head of many an orphan, and many a child of sorrow has been made happy by its generosity. Through it, Brotherhood Lodge chanted the hymn of charity — its gentle music unheard, yet its echoes cheer the soul of those in despair, restoring hope to the languid, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, ministering to the unfortunate.

On September 19, 1933, Worshipful Jacob Spiegel became Master. During his administration a "Jacob Daniels Night" was celebrated on the occasion of his seventieth birthday. It was an evening we shall ever remember. During his term of office three Brotherhood News Bulletins were issued. His silver tongue, quickness in mastering intricate problems, tact, foresight, and dependability, his admirable discretion in every avenue of service and charity mark him one of Brotherhood's great Masters. He was guided by the exigencies of the hour rather than by the limitations of the alphabet, ever realizing that law and regulation must be sensitive to life. By virtue of such an understanding of Masonry his judgment and fairness have brought happiness to many a member in distress or despair. His constant exertions in behalf of Brotherhood Lodge will long remain riveted in the minds of his brethren.

Worshipful Robert Levine was elected Master on September 4, 1934. Kindness, comfort, and cheer are in his tongue; charity, sympathy, and generosity in his heart; purity in his soul. He is truly a prince of peace and good will, treating the high and low, rich and poor, great and small alike, with kindness, sympathy, and devotion. Always alert to preserve equality ami justice, he championed the rights of the forgotten man. To self-aggrandizement he gave no sanction; to personal gain he was no partner. He is a bright example of one who lives within the compass and acts upon the square.

Our history would be incomplete without giving due credit to our Treasurer, Secretary, and Chaplain, who have served continuously and faithfully during these formative years.

Brother Jacob Daniels, the father of Brotherhood Lodge, its time-honored Treasurer, executes his trust with ability and fidelity, exemplifying the finer qualities of mind and heart. His is the magnanimity of an unselfish spirit; his is a true nobility. Through his untiring diligence and perseverance, Brotherhood Lodge was instituted, a dream he long visualized, an ambition he long cherished. Eager to serve humanity, constant in endeavor, and unwearied by difficulties, he is the champion of the doctrine that the laws of happiness are the laws of service. He will ever be praised by his own works.

Brother Abraham A. Simons may be compared to no less a personality than Benjamin Franklin. When Benjamin Franklin visited the court of France in the singular capacity of ambassador of good will, serving his country by making friends, he was characterized by a famous Latin sentence — Eripuit caelo fulmen, sceptrumque tvrannis — he snatched the lightning out of heaven and the sceptre from the tyrants. While there were no violent currents to control, lightning to harness, thunder storms to dispel, or tyrants to subdue, our Secretary, Brother Simons, by virtue of his keen, alert intellect, skillful diplomacy, and intimate knowledge of every member of the Lodge,was fully equipped to meet any situation which might arise. Zealous in maintaining the high moral character and standards of our Lodge, he has always been considerate, affable, courteous, and devoted in his dealing with the Brethren. He has won our respect and affection through his personality, industry, sincerity, and diligence. He is a real emissary of good will, a consummate Secretary, a powerful bulwark and pillar of Brotherhood Lodge. He is above all, a true and loyal friend.

Brother Henry Augustus Howard, our beloved Chaplain, has ever preached quality rather than quantity, principles rather than men. He is truly symbolic of integrity of character and nobility of purpose. Of distinguished ancestry, he followed the rules of life and conduct which made him so devoted to the cardinal virtues of our Institution. Intellectual in his attainments, he has inscribed his worth on our memories and enshrined his virtues in our hearts by the dignity and humility of his character, the record of his irreproachable life, the lustre of his honored Masonic principles, his fraternal spirit of love and esteem. His name will be as eternal in our archives as his own imperishable worth.

To my officers I owe an everlasting debt of gratitude, not only for the wisdom of their counsel, the unselfishness of their service, their loyalty, enthusiasm, and tireless devotion, but for the virtues of their character which I enjoyed through their friendship. To have been privileged to work with them is of itself an honor and a distinction. If my efforts have met with any measure of success, their co-operation has helped attain it.

To the Brethren of our Lodge whose work is unheralded and virtues unsung, we are ever grateful. They leave us a heritage both in material and example of which we are justly proud. Through their co-operation, through their ideals and lofty purpose, a most promising future is assured, in which new chapters will be written to enrich an immortal and glorious past.

Worshipful Maurice A. Lesser, by Bro. Abraham A. Simons.

A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Medical School, Lecturer in Medicine and Preventive Medicine at Boston University for the past ten years, Worshipful Maurice A. Lesser ascended the East September 17, 1935, well trained and well equipped for his arduous duties. His installation was unique. He had two distinguished Marshals escort him to the East, Professor Alexander S. Begg, Waterhouse Professor of Anatomy and Dean of Boston University School of Medicine, and Right Worshipful Frank L. Cushing, Past District Deputy Grand Master for the Dorchester Fourth Masonic District with Worshipful Jacob Spiegel, the Installing Officer. The ritualistic installation ceremonies and the eloquent words of Worshipful Jacob Spiegel, &nd the incoming Master, Worshipful Maurice A. Lesser, will never be forgotten by over three hundred Masons who came to pay our Master tribute. Among the notable guests, there were numerous Professors of Medicine.

Every meeting in the administration of Worshipful Maurice A. Lesser has been designated a special night. Souvenir programs, with a Masonic emblem typifying the spirit of the night and containing an impressive message by our Worshipful Master set a worthy precedent.

Our October meeting was "Charter members' Night." Our guest of honor, Most Worshipful Frank L. Simpson, presented each Charter member a life membership card. Every Past Master of Brotherhood Lodge attendetl, showing the extent of co-operation with the new regime.

A "Medico-Judiciary Night" was held in November with three hundred and thirty persons at dinner—a record attendance. Prominent judges and professors graced the occasion.

December ushered in our "Informal Ladies' Night." This evening will be remembered by the enthusiastic members and their ladies for many years to come. Brother Charles Allen Goldberg was commended by the Worshipful Master for the unusually refined type of entertainment.

In January, a "Captains of Industry Night" featured the evening. Dr. Samuel Caldwell, Professor of Electrical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, demonstrated by means of elaborate apparatus the speed of our "Modern Age," so vividly described by our Worshipful Master in his message to the Captains of Industry.

On Washington's Birthday, Brotherhood Lodge held its annual "Forma] Ladies' Night" at the Statler Hotel. It was most unusual in every detail. Our Worshipful Master is writing a special report of this party in which he will express his appreciation to the several brethren and to Worshipful Jacob Spiegel in particular, through whose tireless work this affair was made outstanding.

In March, our Chaplain was honored with a "Henry Augustus Howard Night" on the occasion of his seventy-second birthday. Most Worshipful James A. Tillinghast, Grand Master of Masons of Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations, accompanied by his Grand Marshal, Worshipful Albert W. Claflin, added measurably to the dignity of the occasion.

April witnessed "Little America Night" with the emblems of all three degrees embodied in our souvenir program, giving a Masonic meaning to that famous expedition. Stevenson Corey, of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, delivered a most illuminating and delightful lecture. The acting Governor of New Hampshire, Brother Charles M. Dale, gave the candidates an unusually fine charge.

Tonight, we are celebrating our Tenth Anniversary, with the Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, Most Worshipful Claude Leroy Allen, and his distinguished suite contributing to the dignity of the evening.

In June we will feature "University Night" with Right Worshipful Roscoe Pound, Past Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts and Dean of Harvard Law School, delivering the charge to the candidates.

What a Banner Year for Brotherhood Lodge! How interesting and uplifting have been our meetings, with numerous innovations, new adaptations and exemplifications of our ever-ancient Masonic ritual.

No better endorsement of the administration of Worshipful Maurice A. Lesser could be given than that indicated by the attendance and enthusiasm at the meetings. We who know our Worshipful Master realize that no matter where the future may direct his footsteps, he will always walk humbly in the path of his Maker — his life dedicated to the service of humanity.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

DISTRICTS

1926: District 3 (East Boston)

1927: District 4 (Dorchester)

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges

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