Chicopee

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CHICOPEE LODGE

Location: Chicopee

Chartered By: George M. Randall

Charter Date: 12/27/1849 V-264

Precedence Date: 12/22/1848

Current Status: Active


REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1848
  • Petition for Charter: 1849

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1948 (Centenary)
  • 1973 (125th Anniversary)
  • 1999 (150th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1872 1875 1876 1898 1900 1912 1919 1921 1927 1930 1934 1935 1937 1952 1958 1969 1970 1976 1977 1993 1995 2004 2007 2010

HISTORY

  • 1875 (History at Hall Dedication; not in Proceedings; see below)
  • 1948 (Centenary History, 1948-148)
  • 1973 (125th Anniversary History, 1973-54)

OTHER

  • 1935 (Petition for reduction of fees)
  • 1936 (Petition for reduction of fees)

EVENTS

HALL DEDICATION, OCTOBER 1875

From New England Freemason, Vol. II, No. 11, November 1875, Page 515:

Dedication of a New Hall at Chicopee, Mass. A Special Communication of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was held at Chicopee, on the 12th inst., for the purpose of dedicating the new hall, and installing the Officers elect, of Chicopee Lodge. The ceremony was performed by Most Worshipful Grand Master Percival Lowell Everett, assisted by Rt. W. Brothers Abraham H. Rowland, Jr., D. D. G. M. of the 14th, and John Wetherbee, D. D. G. M. of the 18th Masonic Districts, and a full suite of Grand Officers.

The hour appointed for the dedication was 3 P. M., long before which time the hall was thronged, not only with the members of Chicopee Lodge, but also by delegations from nearly all the Lodges in the Tenth Masonic District, who had assembled to congratulate the Brethren of Chicopee Lodge, and rejoice with them on the successful completion of their undertaking. To the experienced eye, it was plainly visible that there was no common interest taken by the visiting Brethren, but that while Chicopee Lodge rejoiced, they were filled with pride, not for that Lodge alone, but also for that as one of the Lodges composing the Tenth Masonic District, whose welfare was so dear to their hearts, and in whose prosperity they so deeply rejoiced.

The ceremonies of dedication having been concluded, the Brethren were called from labor to refreshment, and were all invited to partake of a bounteous collation spread by Chicopee Lodge. The time for installation having been fixed at 6 P. M., the Brethren were given an hour in which to rest and exchange greetings.

The installation was to be public, and long before the appointed hour the ladies began to pour thick and fast into the building, until "there was hurrying to and fro" for seats to accommodate the throng who had pressed and compressed themselves into the hall. Punctual to the hour, the Grand Officers entered, and the Officers of the Lodge were duly installed; the Most Worshipful Grand Master performing the ceremony for the Worshipful Master, the Grand Wardens for the Senior and Junior Wardens, and the Deputy Grand Master for the other officers.

The usual proclamation having been made, the Grand Master addressed the Brethren, reminding the Master of the cares and responsibilities devolving upon him, that in a great measure the success and harmony of the Lodge depended upon his efforts, and charging the Brethren to be active and zealous in his support. The Deputy Grand Master, being called upon, responded in his usual felicitous manner, remarking that, being a lawyer by profession, it was not meet for him to make extended remarks, that being the appropriate duty of the chaplains, who were expected to guide and cheer us on in the right path, and yet who, he feared in some cases, were like finger-boards, set up to point in a direction in which they themselves never travelled.

The Senior Grand Warden being called upon, responded that, as it was his good fortune to have been born, Masonically, in Chicopee Lodge, it was difficult for him to make remarks. To censure he could not, while to praise might seem vanity. He, with those around him, however, was proud of Chicopee Lodge, proud of the Tenth Masonic District, and proud of the beautiful Connecticut valley in which they resided; proud of Chicopee Lodge for the taste, spirit and liberality which had been displayed in the erection of their beautiful hall; proud of the Tenth Masonic District for its zeal and enthusiasm in Masonry, and for the great interest in and attachment of the Brethren to each other and the Fraternity; proud of the Connecticut valley, which possessed peculiar charms to them; and not to them alone were its beauties visible, for that day he had heard a desire expressed by a Past Grand ' Master, then present with them, that he might remove to it and spend his declining days in this beautiful region. He reminded the Brother that the whitening locks upon his venerable head were admonishing him that the end was approaching, and that in delay there was danger, and assured him that, should he pass from life in this peaceful valley, all would be well with him. In conclusion, he expressed the hope that nought but harmonious sounds should ever reverberate through that beautiful hall, and that no contention should ever arise among the Brethren of that Lodge, save that noble contention, or rather emulation, of who best can work and best agree.

The Junior Grand Warden responded that a Lodge was supported by three great pillars, called wisdom, strength and beauty. The pillar of wisdom was represented by the Worshipful Master, the pillar of strength by the Senior Warden, while it was his pleasure as Junior Warden to represent the pillar of beauty.

The R. W. Charles H. Titus, as ever, was ready to point out the duties of Masons and give words of encouragement and cheer. Past Grand Master Coolidge, ever eloquent, was especially so on this occasion, and expressed himself as enraptured with the syren voices of the quartette who had so beautifully performed the musical part of the ceremony.

Remarks were also made by Brothers Samuel B. Spooner, of Springfield, and A. H. Howland, of New Bedford; and a sketch of the history of Chicopee Lodge was read by the Chaplain, Rev. Bro. Barrows, which he has kindly abridged for our columns.

Among the many pleasant and valuable decorations of the Lodge room was a marble bust of the late Bro. John Chase, who was a charter member of the Lodge and a pioneer in the town. He was the engineer who first laid out the water privilege at Chicopee Falls, and afterwards that at Chicopee or Cabotville. There was suspended on the wall, also, the portrait of Benning Leavitt, who was installed as Treasurer on this occasion for the twenty-seventh time, and who has been present, with very few exceptions, at all the meetings of the Lodge.

The exercises were interspersed with songs from a quartette, and music by the Germania Band, of Boston. After the conclusion of the exercises, all were invited to partake of another collation ; having done ample justice to which, the more sedate departed to their homes, while the younger portion repaired to the Town Hall, there to enjoy the pleasures of the mazy dance.

The Grand Master and suite, after viewing the happy company from a gallery for a season, and fearing perhaps that longer temptation might be irresistible, took their departure. Upon retiring to rest, some were soon locked in the arms of Morpheus, while others discovered, when too late, that five suppers are not conducive to sound sleep.

BARROWS HISTORY OF THE LODGE

The following is a condensation of an address, given by the chaplain, Rev. J. S. Barrows, containing a brief and succinct history of the Lodge.

1849 was a year memorable in the annals of the goodly town of Chicopee, because of many important events, the inception of projects, the organizing of movements which were to give character to the town, carrying their influence down through the coming ages to the end of time. The great event of the year, overshadowing, in its far-reaching, reformatory and energizing influences, other and, at the time, seemingly superior movements, pregnant with good in a thousand ways, was the organization of the Chicopee Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons. There arc some things which, in their magnitude and weight of conceived and confessed importance, grow upon us more- and more as we are removed from them. They are too large, far-reaching, multiform in beneficent works, to be grasped by our narrowness of vision all at once. Their virtues rival themselves to us, and sparkle in brilliancy and glory as the stars come out of the sky at night, one by one, one by one, until we cannot count them, and stand gazing in a bewilderment of rapture.

Whatever has for its foundation principle, true greatness and real goodness, (and these cannot be divorced,) must live and expand. The opposite must ultimately die. Truth and right have inherent life, strength, must triumph and ultimately become universal. Wrong has inherent rottenness, and is finite.

Before I became a Mason I said to myself, "Why has this ancient Order so strong a hold on thinking, high-minded, honorable men all over Christendom? Why is it marching on through the higher orders of society as though destined to fill the whole earth?" I said, "This Temple must stand on solid rock ; for storms of hate and rage, full of satanic fury, have beat upon it again and again, but it stands, more a praise and a glory to-day than ever."

I said this much to myself, and knew no more. I am inside today, and know a little more than then. I have obtained further light. Then I saw through a glass, darkly; but now face to face. Shall 1 tell you a great secret of Masonry: the secret of its strength, power, perpetuity ? Why the gates of hell have not, shall not, cannot prevail against her? Why no weapon formed against her prospers? Because she has laid her corner-stone deep and broad in God's eternal truth and right. Because she acknowledges and reveres God and His Word. Because upon her consecrated altar, in the centre of every Hall she dedicates, there she places the open Bible. Because she has framed her laws, drawn her ritual, her formulas and her vows, so largely from that Book of books, carefully avoiding anything inharmonious therewith! That is the secret I give you.

And bo, looking back twenty-six years, we say that was an auspicious year, month, day, when, in the year 1849, in the month of December, on the 26th day, a Charter was granted to the petitioners of Chicopee for a Masonic Lodge.

The petitioners were 25 in number. Prominent among these were, John Chase, familiarly called "Uncle John," a bust of whom, through the generosity of Mrs. Eliza Douglass, adorns our Hall; "Father Bliss," Benning Leavitt, alive and with us to-day, who has been a Mason now for 50 years, and has held the office of Treasurer of the Lodge ever since its organization, a portrait of whose noble and happy face, with fatherly benignity, beams down upon us from its place on the wall.

The following is a list of the petitioners in their order on the old record: Jeremy Bliss, Rufus Whittier, Sam'l D.Sizer, Lucius Haithan, Augustus Fowler, H. Hutchings, James M. Smith, Wm. W. Johnson, Daniel Leavitt, Wm. P. Winkley, E. Renney, Daniel R. Perkins, J. W. Belcher, A. Nettleton, G. H. Carpenter, A. W. Quint, A. Alvard, Benning Leavitt, John Chase, David Bemis, James Lyon, J. P. Bridgman, Isaiah Allen, Samuel S. Smith, Jonathan Pease. Most of these have passed, as we hope, to the purer Lodge above; many of them of blessed memory. But four of the Charter Members, so far as we are aware, are alive to-day: W. W. Johnson, James M. Smith, Benning Leavitt, and William P. Winkley.

The following brethren have served, and in the order named, as masters: Rufus Whittier, while working under dispensation; Wm. W. Johnson, first master after receiving the charter, serving six years in all; Charles Sherman; Rev. C. H. Webster, two years; M. D. Whitaker, two years; Geo. M. Stearns, two years; P. S. Holden, two years; J. P. Woodworth; Nelson Whittier; E. N. Snow; G. D. Williams; Wm. J. Sawin, two years; C. N. Smith, three years; Wm. M. Stebbins, two years.

The present officers are C. N. Smith, W. M.; Richard Danks, S. W.; A. J. Jenks, J. W.; who, with their associates in office, are men of whom we are not ashamed.

The years in which the Lodge has enjoyed the largest prosperity, as would appear from the books, were from '67 to '71, inclusive. In '67-8-9 there were 135 applicants for admission, of whom seventy were accepted, and sixty-five rejected. We do not mention this latter number after the manner in which ladies are said sometimes to boast of discarded lovers, but as evidencing that the Lodge carefully guarded the door to the Order, not caring so much for members as for men. The whole number that have been before the Lodge in any manner is 543. Present membership, 184,

The Lodge first met in a building then known as "Odd Fellows' Hall," now better known as Capt. McLealond's Hall. They soon removed to Benning Leavitt's Hall, where they have continued to meet until the present time, nearly a quarter of a century. The rooms were not large, perfectly convenient or richly furnished. Nevertheless, much work and good was done, and many profitable and happy hours were spent therein. Pleasant memories linger about the consecrated spot!

The Brethren had it in their hearts to provide and furnish a larger, more commodious and elegant suite of rooms. After a little free discussion, with remarkable unanimity of judgment, they set about the work. This convenient, well-furnished hall, which has this day been dedicated after the manner of our Order, with its happily arrayed ante-rooms, is the result. The expense of furnishing the rooms has been, in round numbers, $2,000, all of which has been provided for by Chicopee Lodge; no mean evidence, I submit, of appreciation of the benefits to be derived from, and love for, Masonry. It has been done with a cheerfulness and heartiness with which any service is ever rendered, or offering made, which is prompted by deep, abiding love. May those who have so liberally and cheerfully given, with some sacrifice, it may be, in other things, receive back again in sweet enjoyment themselves, or sweeter consciousness of having labored and sacrificed for the good of those to come after them. May its freshness and beauty, and these speaking symbols over and about us, be typical of the purity of our hearts and the rectitude of our lives ; and may the glory of this latter Temple bo greater than the glory of the former, and this year of 1875 more memorable and auspicious of good to the Order and the town, than the year 1849.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS


DISTRICTS

1849: District 9

1867: District 10 (Springfield)

1883: District 16 (Chicopee)

1911: District 17 (Holyoke)

1914: District 33 (Springfield)

1927: District 18 (Chicopee)

2003: District 27


LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges