CharlesCDame

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CHARLES C. DAME LODGE

Location: Georgetown

Chartered By: Charles C. Dame

Charter Date: 12/11/1867 VII-193

Precedence Date: 04/05/1867

Current Status: Active


PAST MASTERS

  • Osgood, Stephen, 1867-1869
  • Nelson, Sherman, 1870, 1871
  • Harriman, Hiram N., 1872, 1873; SN
  • Tenney, George H., 1874, 1875
  • Wilson, Isaac, 1876
  • Handren, William A., 1877
  • Chaplin, Edward A., 1878, 1879
  • Noyes, Chauncey O., 1880, 1881
  • Carter, M. Frank, 1882, 1883
  • Wadleigh, William G., 1884, 1885
  • Osgood, Charles C., 1886, 1887
  • Dodge, Ignatius S., 1888, 1889
  • Simonds, Winfield S., 1890, 1891
  • Holland, J. Douglas, 1892, 1893
  • Butler, William A., 1894, 1895; Mem
  • Howe, Alfred A., 1896, 1897
  • Perley, Albert O., 1898, 1899
  • Batchelder, John, 1900, 19 01
  • Howe, Roger S., 1902, 19 03
  • Baker, Fred W., 1904, 1905
  • Urquhart, William, 1906, 1907
  • Perkins, Harry E., 1908, 1909; Mem
  • Holmes, C. Atherton, 1910, 1911
  • Hatfield, Albert J., 1912, 1913
  • Urguhart, Herbert W., 1914, 1915
  • Poole, William H., 1916, 1917
  • Johnson, Sidney E., 1918, 1919
  • Stackpole, Ralph R., 1920, 1921
  • Hazen, Jacob, 1922, 1923
  • Melvin, Robert A., 1924
  • Reed, A. Raymond, 1925
  • Reed, Herbert C., 1926, 1927
  • Dresser, Leonard M., 1928, 1929
  • Dean, Harold S.,, 1930, 1931; N
  • Pingree, Calvin N., 1932, 1933
  • Brown, Bernard C. , 1934
  • Adams, Robert B., 1935, 1936; SN
  • Thompson, Arthur F., 1937
  • Roberts, Merton E., 1938, 1939
  • Tarbox, Claude R., 1940, 1941
  • Buckmaster, Clarence W., 1942
  • Baker, Charles G., 1943, 1944
  • Pingree, H. Nelson, 1945, 1946; N
  • Rogers, Burton H., 1947
  • Newcomb, Charles I., 1948
  • Toppan, Warren N., 1949, 1950
  • Pingree, Lewis A., 1951, 1952
  • Ray, Weldon M., 1953
  • Roberts, Frank S., 1954
  • Dushame, Harold, 1955
  • Farrar, J. Harold, 1956
  • Knott, William M., 1957
  • Nichols, Richard L., 1958
  • Blair, James A., 1959
  • Gadd, A. Neil,, 1960, 1984; N
  • Wood, Myron O., 1961
  • Hatch, Fairfax, Jr., 1962
  • Roberts, Gardner A., 1963
  • Dexter, Robert C., 1964, 1965
  • Kelley, William, 1966
  • Rudolph, Robert P., 1967
  • Blake, Charles F., 1968
  • Esty, Hobart B., 1969
  • Salter, John P., 1970, 1979
  • Ellis, G. Harvey, 1971; N
  • Mansell, Bruce W., 1972
  • MacDonald, Lee E., 1973
  • Roberts, Harold A., 1974
  • Condon, David H., 1975
  • Garland, Richard E., 1976, 1980
  • Freeman, Charles M., 1977
  • Cronk, Raymond, 1978
  • Costanzo, Anthony J., 1981
  • Amodio, Michael P., 1982
  • Cotton, Vernon N., 1983
  • Wright, Edward C., 1985
  • Johnson, William C., 1986
  • Arakelian, Kevin D., 1987
  • Takesian, Michael K., 1988
  • Kenneally, Bryan N., 1989
  • Barker, Walter E., 1990
  • Perkins, Edwin H., 1991
  • Hamblet, James E., 1992, 1998
  • Langevin, David T., 1993
  • Kenneally, David B., 1994
  • Prescott, Kevin B., 1995
  • Prescott, William B., 1996
  • Prees, Kenneth A., 1997
  • Corthell, Frederick O., 1999, 2003
  • Chorzewski, Ronald C., 2000
  • Redfearn, Shawn E., 2001, 2002
  • Ringuette, Steve M., 2004, 2012
  • Todd, Peter A., 2005
  • Ouellette, Gerard L., 2006
  • O'Shaughnessy, Thomas M., 2007 DDGM
  • Shea, David A., 2008
  • Montes, Carlos, 2009
  • Collins, Nicholas A. J., 2010
  • Stewart, James E., Jr., 2011

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1867
  • Petition for Charter: 1867

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1887 (20th Anniversary)
  • 1918 (50th Anniversary)
  • 1967 (Centenary)
  • 1992 (125th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1874 1875 1880 1891 1918 1921 1928 1945 1956 1957 1959 1962 1965 1970 1973 1976 1979 1981 1982 1994 1997 2001 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2012

HISTORY

  • 1967 (Centenary History, 1967-177)

CENTENARY HISTORY, APRIL 1967

From Proceedings, Page 1967-177:

By Brother Homer K. Tapin.

When the Worshipful Master asked me to give the historical address, he said to make it brief but interesting. The least I can do is be brief. The accuracy of local histories often depends upon the imagination of the author; in this address I shall try to adhere to the facts, while perhaps sacrificing interest.

This is the year for Masonic Anniversaries, this being the 250th Anniversary of the Grand Lodge of England, the 200th Anniversary of the Scottish Rite in North America, the 100th year of the Unity of the Scottish Rite Bodies, and the most important to us, the Centennial of Charles C. Dame Lodge A. F. & A. M.

As we approach the end of the first century of our lodge and look forward to the beginning of the second century, let us look back to the beginning of Masonry in Georgetown to see "from whence we came".

We know that organized Masonry has existed in this area for over two hundred years. St. Johns' Lodge of Newburyport was instituted in 1766. Several other lodges were established in this part of Essex County during the following years. The nearest to us is Merrimack Lodge of Haverhill, whose charter dates from 1802. The Masons who were living in the Georgetown area were members of these nearby Lodges.

The earliest record we have of Masonic activity in this locality is told in Rev. O. S. Butler's address to the lodge on its 25th Anniversary. This was told to him by George Perry, "the old Irish blacksmith of Byfield". About the year 1750 a man traveling through New Rowley, now Georgetown, stopped at a local tavern for the night. While there he became ill, apparently from smallpox, so he was locked in the backroom with no one to care for him, until a man visiting the tavern heard of his plight and also learned that he was a Mason. Upon learning this he took care of the ill brother until he recovered. George Perry died some years before the founding of Charles C. Dame Lodge, but his Masonic membership is attested to by the Rev. O. S. Butler.

In the Union Cemetery there is the Masonic grave-stone of Nathan Rogers, dated 1813, who belonged to King Solomon's Lodge, New Hampshire. Also in the Byfield Cemetery there is the grave stone of James Hall, a native of England, who died in his 85th year in 1825. This stone has Masonic emblems upon it.

Masonry throughout this country sank to a very low condition during the anti-Masonic years, about 1826 to 1840, as a result of the "Morgan affair." It is hard to realize that this could happen in a then Protestant country. Most lodges in this section returned their charters to the Grand Lodge, and the Grand Lodge was in a very weak condition for some time.

One could not hold membership in some of the Protestant churches if he was a Mason. It was during the darkest days of this period that a meeting was held at the Sewall Spoffard Homestead on Andover Street of the leading Masons of this area. About 35 attended this meeting during which a new degree was formed which they called the "Rebound Degree", in which they reaffirmed their previous pledges and promised to renew their Masonic strength. George Spofford, a charter member of Charles C. Dame Lodge, was the last surviving member of this so-called degree. It served its noble purpose in binding its members together so that when the dark clouds began to pass over, a strong flame of Masonic light was still burning.

As the revival of Masonic activities took place, more men from Georgetown became members of the surrounding lodges. At the time of the Civil War there was a strong feeling that it was possible to have a lodge of Masons in Georgetown. This was not possible during the war, however; the town furnished 200 men to the armed forces of which 50 were not to return.

At the end of the Civil War the shoe industry in town began to expand, the town was again becoming prosperous. The veterans returning had new ideas about establishing a lodge of Masons. This led to several discussions and no doubt several different plans. To attend Lodge meant traveling to Haverhill, Newburyport, or Danvers. It was while returning from a meeting in Haverhill that six or seven agreed to a plan and promised to meet in William Harndon's Paint Shop to draw up final plans. This was done in December 1866. In January 1867 it was decided how the money for a Masonic building was to be raised. A meeting of Masons, not a Lodge, was held in Empire Hall, on Union Street, for the purpose of petitioning the Grand Lodge for a charter.

The dispensation to work the degrees was received, bearing the date of April 5, 1867 and the charter bears the date of December 11, 1867. The first regular meeting was held in Empire Hall on April 15, 1867. The first to apply for degrees were James 0. Berry and John H. Lovering. These degrees were conferred in the Town Hall, where meetings were held until the new lodge rooms were ready.

The lodge was named after Charles C. Dame of Newburyport, who was the presiding Grand Master. When the new hall was ready, he attended the first meeting and presented the officers' jewels which are still used.

The lodge was constituted and the hall consecrated by the Grand Lodge on December 26, 1867. The charter was signed by 34 Masons. Stephen Osgood was chosen as first Master, and later he became the first D. D. G. M. from Charles C. Dame Lodge.

The lodge prospered from the start. During the first ten years 111 men were raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason.

On October 26, 1874 the first of two disastrous fires struck our building. This fire destroyed several of the surrounding buildings, but ours was saved although severely damaged. It was several months before meetings could again be held there. In the meantime the Odd Fellows offered the use of their fine rooms, which then occupied the upper floor of Little's Block, for a meeting place.

It is not necessary at this time to list the other officers for each year. Needless to say they have all proven "worthy and well-qualified."

The lodge returned to their own quarters as soon as they could after the fire of 1874. In the following years several Masonic festivals were held, including a large Masonic fair held in 1879 for which the lodge published a newspaper.

On Christmas night in 1885 a fire was discovered in the Adams Block, which adjoins the Masonic building. This fire was soon out of control. Charles Osgood, who was Senior Warden at the time, went into the lodge rooms to save what he could. When the walls of the Adams Block collapsed, killing three young men, he was knocked unconscious, but came to in time to save the officers' jewels and the Great Lights. All else was lost. The building together with several other buildings was completely leveled by the fire. It was a disaster not only to the lodge but to the town. It was some time before normal business could be resumed. Three doctors, all members of the lodge, performed heroic deeds of mercy tending the injured that night. This was done in near zero weather and by torch light. They were Dr. R. B. Root, Dr. R. C. Buze and Dr. Thomas Whittle.

The future of the lodge was in doubt, as there was no insurance. The charter and all records were lost as well as the building. Our neighboring lodges came to our assistance and once again the Odd Fellows offered their rooms for our use.

As soon as the town recovered from the shock of this disaster, the rubble of the Temple was cleared away and plans for rebuilding were made. A group of men organized the Union Building Association. The present building that we now occupy was built. As soon as it was possible, the lodge arranged to rent suitable quarters in this building. The new lodge rooms were consecrated by the Grand Lodge on Dec. 26, 1887 in the presence of the presiding Grand Master and Past Grand Master, M. W. Charles C. Dame.

Charles Osgood, the son of Stephen Osgood, our first Master, was the Master. Our new lodge rooms are being re-consecrated near the one hundredth anniversary of the original consecration.

I have tried to outline the origin and early history of Charles C. Dame Lodge. Since the fire of 1885 we have suffered no major crisis, although we have had to survive two World Wars, a major depression and several minor ones. I have not singled out any one member or groups of members as being outstanding. Read the list of members and each has contributed his share according to his abilities. The thirty-four charter members became firm and solid foundation stones upon which to build a Temple and this foundation has been added to by each succeeding Entered Apprentice as he stood in the Northeast Corner of the Lodge.

As a Lodge of Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons we claim no lasting fame but do offer this "a century of honorable service to God, the grand architect of the universe, our country and to the fraternity".

Now let us turn to the blank pages upon which the record of the next century will be written and see to it that this also becomes an honorable record.

OTHER

  • 1886 (Granting of a replacement charter for one destroyed by fire)

EVENTS

CONSTITUTION OF LODGE, DECEMBER 1867

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXVII, No. 3, January 1868, Page 91:

This is a new Lodge, and one of the most promising in the jurisdiction. It is located at Georgetown, in Essex county, and was duly constituted by the Grand Lodge, on the evening of the 26th of December, in the presence of a large number of brethren from the neighboring Lodges. The ceremonies of dedication and installation were performed by the Grand Master, in his peculiarly impressive and dignified manner.

The Lodge has been in existence, and working under a dispensation, not quite a year, during which time it has nearly doubled its members from among the most respectable and influential residents of the pleasant village in which it is located ; it has put up a large four-story building, and finished and furnished one of the most beautiful halls in the State, richly frescoed and ornamented by Brother Haberstroh, of this city. We refer to these facts with the greater pleasure, because, while they indicate the zeal and liberal spirit of the members, they afford assurance that the Lodge is in the hands of brethren who will so conduct its affairs that it will continue, as now, to honor the name it bears.

The Master of the new Lodge having been installed in his office, the Grand Master arose and addressed the Lodge, as follows : —

Worshipful Master and Brethren of Charles C. Dame Lodge:

I have observed your Lodge from the time when a dispensation was granted for it, and have noticed your progress in the craft with feelings of anxiety which have at last given place to great satisfaction at your advance, and contentment with your condition.

I know that you have taken great pains to select good men and true only for admission to your ranks, and I am satisfied that your solicitude in that respect has been crowned with eminent success. I know that you have shown great zeal in the acquisition of proficiency and skill in masonic work; and I am satisfied that your attainments excel your highest expectations.

Having just received your charter, you stand on the threshold of real Masonic life; well prepared and worthy to fulfill the high duties and wide obligations which shall hereafter be incumbent on you.

It is hardly necessary that I should offer you advice as to your future conduct, and yet it may not be without its use if I say something of the life ahead. Hereafter you will be in relations with your Grand Lodge, and through her, with the great masonic organization, whose mystic ties encompass the earth. These open new subjects of thought, wider spheres of study, and will require greater scope of judgment than the microcosm within the Lodge. The success with which the principles of Freemasonry have been propagated, is due not alone to their intrinsic truth and merit, but also to the wisdom of the principles of organization under which the Craft live, and the fidelity and judgment with which they have been administered. A little Republic we have; but it is one devoted to conservatism and equality, hating change and oppression; great in the law of liberty and toleration; but restraining all tendency to insubordination, licentiousness, or impiety.

As a wise Lodge, you will frown upon all efforts at innovation on the ancient landmarks of organization, as well as of ritual; you will use due care to select steady and conservative representatives of your Lodge, and avoid giving high office to those of erratic and scheming minds, or to ambitious men. You will also see to it that you are faithful in acts and heart to the Grand Lodge, and that you always be found sustaining its just authority, and promoting its conservatism. If you shape your conduct by these rules your future will be honorable and prosperous.

Worshipful Master, I would not hide my earnest desire for your success. I feel that in some sort I may derive a borrowed light from the good name you shall win among Masons. I stand before the altar as your sponsor in baptism, with a godfather's pride in your present promise, and hope for your future performance.

It is customary on such occasions, in the Christian world, that the newly sprinkled infant receive from its sponsor some engraved silver plate of a useful and serviceable character, as a mark of affection.

To you who, in the Masonic world, have this night been severed from the maternal Grand Lodge, through whom you have heretofore drawn your vital force, and who now stand a living, breathing, entity, baptized with a wane, and endowed with a voice, — to you, I repeat, something is due as my namesake, that may not only be useful, but serve to recall me to your memories when I shall have passed away.

Be pleased, then, Worshipful Master of Charles C. Dame Lodge, to accept from me, for your Lodge, this box, containing all the jewels needful for the working of your Lodge, from that of the Worshipful Master to that of the lowest officer. Wear them for my sake; and as you use them, remember that I feel profoundly grateful to every member of this Lodge for the compliment paid me by adopting my name; and shall look on its present and future members as bound to them by more than ordinary masonic ties.

And while my own reputation, in a great measure, is in your hands, so your credit will, to some extent, depend upon my future life. As I have full confidence that no tarnish will come to my name through any act of yours, in like manner, it will be my constant care so to regulate my life as to honor you; but should I, through the weakness of human nature, ever become unworthy of your confidence, or my name bring a blush to your check, then request the Grand Lodge to give you another name, and obliterate the present name from your jewels, that no more remembrance may be had of me in your Lodge forever.

The jewels, which are of the most elegant workmanship, are of silver, ornamented with gold. They were made by Guild & Delano, of this city, at a cost of about three hundred dollars, and are the most splendid complete set of jewels in the State. They are beautiful in their finish and workmanship, and reflect great credit on their makers. The Master of the new Lodge, in response to the address, expressed the gratification of the members of Charles C. Dame Lodge, for the privilege of bearing his name, and appealed to each member to jealously guard the good name as their own, and to remember that in their charge, in a measure, was placed the responsibility that by no act of theirs should any shadow ever be cast upon it. At this moment a large frame which had been hanging face to the wall was suddenly reversed, and to the audience was shown a life-size portrait, in a massive frame, of him after whose name the Lodge is called. No one was more surprised at this exhibition than Brother D. himself, the portrait having been finished from a family picture, without his knowledge. In acknowledging the surprise, he expressed the hope that never might there be any occasion 10 turn it face to the wall again. After the service of installing the officers had been completed, the Grand Lodge, members from other places, and the newly-constituted Lodge, repaired to the banqueting, hall, where a bountiful collation of substantial and luxuries had been made ready.

The officers of the Lodge are as follows : —

  • Stephen Osgood, W.M.
  • Sherman Nelson, S. W.
  • Henry E. Pearson, J. W.
  • Chauncy O. Noyes, Treasurer
  • Milton G. Terry, Secretary
  • Hiram N. Harriman, S. D.
  • Isaac Wilson, J. D.
  • L. F. Carter, S. S.
  • P. J. Lowell, J. S.
  • Rev. O. S. Butler, C.
  • J. G. Barnes, M.
  • E. P. Wildes, O.
  • G. H. Spofford, I. S.
  • W. A. Harnden, T.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS


DISTRICTS

1867: District 6 (Newburyport)

1883: District 9 (Newburyport)

1911: District 10 (Newburyport)

1927: District 10 (Newburyport)

2003: District 11


LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges