Difference between revisions of "Esoteric"

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=== ANNIVERSARIES ===
 
=== ANNIVERSARIES ===
  
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* [http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=MassachusettsYear1959#12.2F09_Agenda '''1959'''] (50th Anniversary, 05/21: 1959-337)
+
* '''[http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=MassachusettsYear1959 1959]''' (50th Anniversary, Page 1959-337)
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* '''[http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=MassachusettsYear1984 1984]''' (75th Anniversary)
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* '''[http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=MassachusettsYear1984 1984]''' (75th Anniversary, Page 1984-37; see below)
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 +
==== 75TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, MAY 1984 ====
 +
 
 +
''From Proceedings, Page 1984-37:''
 +
 
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''History of Esoteric Lodge 1959-1984'' <br>
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''By Wor. George Rosenfield''
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 +
(A detailed history of Esoteric Lodge for the period from 1908 to 1959 by Worshipful Charles H. Williams may be found in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge for 1959 — pages 96-103, inclusive.)
 +
 
 +
On May 21, 1959, the 50th Anniversary of Esoteric Lodge was held in the Masonic Temple on State Street at 6:00 P.M. with dinner served at 6:30 P.M. and over 200 Brethren in attendance (1959 Mass. 94-103). At 7:30 P.M. an "Anniversary Cake" was placed on display and at 7:45 P.M. all the Brethren assembled in a Consistory room where Most Worshipful [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=GMAJenkins Andrew G. Jenkins] and his suite were received. The gavel of authority was presented to Most Worshipful Brother Jenkins who presided over the meeting.
 +
 
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The history of Esoteric Lodge was read by Worshipful Charles H. Williams, following which Most Worshipful Andrew G. Jenkins addressed the Brethren.
 +
 
 +
Entertainment was provided by a Scotch Singing Team of men from Springfield College. After the close of the meeting by Most Worshipful Andrew G. Jenkins, all adjourned to the Banquet Hall for a reception.
 +
The committees of the 50th Anniversary consisted of:
 +
* Andrew G. Jorgenson, W.M., General Chairman
 +
* C. Edson Bemis, Senior Warden, Co-Chairman
 +
* Charles H. Williams, History
 +
* Haig E. Takorian, Tickets
 +
* Charles J. Sienkiewicz, Notices and Banquet Hall
 +
* Saul Markowitz, Telephone
 +
* [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=GMDarling Edgar W. Darling], Entertainment
 +
 
 +
Esoteric Lodge has been blessed in being able to have numerous social activities during these past seventy-five years, by having Christmas parties for our members' children, ladies' nights, and old-timers' and members' nights. We have given refreshments and entertainment to the hospital patients at Westover Air Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It has been our privilege to enjoy the wonderful work put on by the Order of Rainbow for Girls, and the Order of DeMolay for Boys. The Masonic Home and Hospital have been recipients of gifts and visitations on numerous occasions.
 +
 
 +
Esoteric Lodge had enjoyed a steady growth in membership from 1909 until we reached a peak of 653 members in 1964. Due to deaths and a general decline in the number of men seeking membership in fraternal organizations, our membership now numbers 320. We have had a number of lean years for membership but during the past few years we have enjoyed a steady influx of young men joining the Lodge. Masonry has always prided itself on the quality of its membership rather than quantity. Esoteric Lodge is beginning to grow again slowly but surely.
 +
 
 +
On February 22, 1968, Esoteric Lodge held a Special Communication to honor one of its members, Brother George Aronson who was elected the Illustrious Potentate of Melha Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Some 125 Brethren attended and witnessed a Third Degree as conferred by the Cabari Degree Team of Melha Temple. A gift was presented to Brother Aronson from his many Brethren. The evening festivities were concluded by a delicious catered collation.
 +
 
 +
Through the years, Esoteric Lodge has tried to let the light of Masonry shine so all can see. It was therefore in February, 1975, the Right Worshipful Charles J. Sienkiewicz instituted the use of Masons from Esoteric Lodge and other lodges in the area for the "Pioneer Valley Masonic Hospitality Committee." It was their purpose to make and serve coffee to the young men and women enlisting in the Armed Services from the Springfield Armed Forces Examination and Enlistment Station. To this day Masons in the Springfield area continue to serve the coffee to those young people as they await their induction into the Armed Forces.
 +
 
 +
At the Grand Lodge Stated Communication in December, 1979, Right Worshipful [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=GMDarling Edgar W. Darling] was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, he being the second Brother of Esoteric Lodge so honored; the first being Right Worshipful [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=MAGLJSmith James P. Smith] elected in 1930.
 +
 
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During his term in office, Brother Darling assisted Most Worshipful [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=GMMelanson Arthur H. Melanson] in the merger of [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=SamuelOsgood Samuel Osgood] Lodge with [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=RoswellLee Roswell Lee] Lodge, the former surrendering its Charter.
 +
 
 +
It is interesting to note that Right Worshipful James P. Smith was presiding Junior Grand Warden and was present when Samuel Osgood Lodge received its Charter, and that Right Worshipful Edgar W. Darling was presiding Junior Grand Warden and was present when it was surrendered. Using a Masonic term of one of its bodies, "it was from Alpha to Omega, the first to last, the beginning, the end."
 +
 
 +
Also at the Grand Lodge Stated Communication in December 1979, Worshipful Max C. Kaye was appointed Grand Pursuivant by Most Worshipful Arthur H. Melanson. Esoteric Lodge had two Grand Officers at the same time.
 +
 
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In closing, the thought comes to mind that, no matter how illustrious our past may seem, we need, nevertheless, to fix our eyes and purposes upon the future, looking to further bonds of fellowship and even more honorable achievements than such as have been marked in the seventy-five years of our beloved Esoteric Lodge.
  
 
=== VISITS BY GRAND MASTER ===
 
=== VISITS BY GRAND MASTER ===

Revision as of 17:10, 25 October 2014

ESOTERIC LODGE

Location: Springfield

Chartered By: Dana J. Flanders

Charter Date: 12/08/1909 (1909-200)

Precedence Date: 01/12/1909

Current Status: merged with Samuel D. Sherwood Lodge to form Esoteric-Sherwood Lodge, 06/16/2006.

PAST MASTERS

  • Frank O. Hartwell, 1909-1910; N
  • Thomas C. Hawks, 1911
  • Charles H. Wilson, 1912
  • W. S. C. Russell, 1913
  • George W. Hayden, 1914
  • Charles E. Davis, 1915
  • James P. Smith, 1916
  • Ralph L. Hartwell, 1917
  • John W. Holton, 1918
  • William H. Carr, 1919
  • W. Norton Messenger, 1920
  • Alexander M. Potts, 1921
  • Harold O. Shepard, 1922
  • Arthur C. Fitzpatrick, 1923
  • Joseph Taylor, 1924
  • Homer G. Harris, 1925
  • Joseph A. Lammon, 1926
  • Edwin R. Gifford, 1927
  • Daniel Love, 1928; N
  • Christian E. Jenson, 1929
  • John W. Prevost Jr., 1930
  • John S. Macmillian, 1931
  • Ray Palmer, 1932
  • George R. Vaughan, 1933
  • George A. Guyett, 1934
  • A. Vail Smith Jr., 1935
  • Hugh P. Bemis, 1936
  • Alexander Filkin, 1937
  • Richard W. Kitson, 1938
  • Vernon S. Miller, 1939
  • William W. Willard, 1940
  • Allen S. West, 1941; N
  • William J. O'Neil, 1942
  • Russell A.V. Neilson, 1943
  • Charles E. Hadley, 1944
  • Lawrence C. Carey, 1945
  • Charles H Williams, 1946
  • John E. Joyce, 1947
  • Malcom F. Williams, 1948
  • J. Robert Duncan, 1949
  • Edwin G. Rehbein, 1950
  • Henry W. Kreiner, 1951
  • Alick Dinnie, 1952
  • Robert F. Atwood, 1953
  • Raymond w. Blakesley, 1954
  • Joseph B. Wehmeyer, 1955
  • F. Ray Payne, 1956
  • John Page, 1957
  • Edgar W. Darling, 1958; (PDDGM)
  • Andrew J. Jorgensen, 1959
  • C. Edson Bemis, 1960; N
  • Joseph A. Harrison, 1961
  • Haig E. Takorian, 1962
  • William G. Harrison, 1963
  • Walter S. Roberts, 1964
  • Solomon H. Markowitz, 1965
  • Roy W. MacDonald, 1966
  • Arthur L. Roberts, 1967
  • George Rosenfield, 1968
  • Max C. Kaye, 1969
  • Almon D. Young, 1970
  • Richard F. Richardson, 1971, 1974
  • Bernard Saltzman, 1972
  • Jack R. Mapes, 1973
  • Charles J. Sienkiewicz, 1975; N
  • Wayne Markham, 1976, 1981
  • Theophillus L. Bearse, 1977
  • Robert H. F. Chin, 1978
  • Hyman F. Schogel, 1979
  • George R. Rosenfield, 1980
  • G. Robert Richardson, 1982
  • James A. Warnock, 1983-1984
  • Ramon G. LaPointe, 1985, 1992
  • Robert G. Holmes, 1986-1987
  • Richard M. Page, 1988-1989
  • Robert W. Cherry, 1990-1991
  • Melvin A. Johnson, 1993-1994
  • Alan F. Kaye, 1995-1997; (PDDGM) N
  • Thomas A. Bridges, 1998
  • Stanley J. LaBrecque, 1999-2000; (PDDGM)
  • Michael J. Cooley, 2001
  • Micheal F. Hatcher, 2002
  • Gardiner A. Whitney, Jr., 2003
  • Anthony Ottomaniello, 2004
  • Wayne R. LaPointe, 2005


Continued with Esoteric-Sherwood Lodge.

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1959 (50th Anniversary, Page 1959-337)
  • 1984 (75th Anniversary, Page 1984-37; see below)

75TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, MAY 1984

From Proceedings, Page 1984-37:

History of Esoteric Lodge 1959-1984
By Wor. George Rosenfield

(A detailed history of Esoteric Lodge for the period from 1908 to 1959 by Worshipful Charles H. Williams may be found in the Proceedings of the Grand Lodge for 1959 — pages 96-103, inclusive.)

On May 21, 1959, the 50th Anniversary of Esoteric Lodge was held in the Masonic Temple on State Street at 6:00 P.M. with dinner served at 6:30 P.M. and over 200 Brethren in attendance (1959 Mass. 94-103). At 7:30 P.M. an "Anniversary Cake" was placed on display and at 7:45 P.M. all the Brethren assembled in a Consistory room where Most Worshipful Andrew G. Jenkins and his suite were received. The gavel of authority was presented to Most Worshipful Brother Jenkins who presided over the meeting.

The history of Esoteric Lodge was read by Worshipful Charles H. Williams, following which Most Worshipful Andrew G. Jenkins addressed the Brethren.

Entertainment was provided by a Scotch Singing Team of men from Springfield College. After the close of the meeting by Most Worshipful Andrew G. Jenkins, all adjourned to the Banquet Hall for a reception. The committees of the 50th Anniversary consisted of:

  • Andrew G. Jorgenson, W.M., General Chairman
  • C. Edson Bemis, Senior Warden, Co-Chairman
  • Charles H. Williams, History
  • Haig E. Takorian, Tickets
  • Charles J. Sienkiewicz, Notices and Banquet Hall
  • Saul Markowitz, Telephone
  • Edgar W. Darling, Entertainment

Esoteric Lodge has been blessed in being able to have numerous social activities during these past seventy-five years, by having Christmas parties for our members' children, ladies' nights, and old-timers' and members' nights. We have given refreshments and entertainment to the hospital patients at Westover Air Base in Chicopee, Massachusetts. It has been our privilege to enjoy the wonderful work put on by the Order of Rainbow for Girls, and the Order of DeMolay for Boys. The Masonic Home and Hospital have been recipients of gifts and visitations on numerous occasions.

Esoteric Lodge had enjoyed a steady growth in membership from 1909 until we reached a peak of 653 members in 1964. Due to deaths and a general decline in the number of men seeking membership in fraternal organizations, our membership now numbers 320. We have had a number of lean years for membership but during the past few years we have enjoyed a steady influx of young men joining the Lodge. Masonry has always prided itself on the quality of its membership rather than quantity. Esoteric Lodge is beginning to grow again slowly but surely.

On February 22, 1968, Esoteric Lodge held a Special Communication to honor one of its members, Brother George Aronson who was elected the Illustrious Potentate of Melha Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Some 125 Brethren attended and witnessed a Third Degree as conferred by the Cabari Degree Team of Melha Temple. A gift was presented to Brother Aronson from his many Brethren. The evening festivities were concluded by a delicious catered collation.

Through the years, Esoteric Lodge has tried to let the light of Masonry shine so all can see. It was therefore in February, 1975, the Right Worshipful Charles J. Sienkiewicz instituted the use of Masons from Esoteric Lodge and other lodges in the area for the "Pioneer Valley Masonic Hospitality Committee." It was their purpose to make and serve coffee to the young men and women enlisting in the Armed Services from the Springfield Armed Forces Examination and Enlistment Station. To this day Masons in the Springfield area continue to serve the coffee to those young people as they await their induction into the Armed Forces.

At the Grand Lodge Stated Communication in December, 1979, Right Worshipful Edgar W. Darling was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, he being the second Brother of Esoteric Lodge so honored; the first being Right Worshipful James P. Smith elected in 1930.

During his term in office, Brother Darling assisted Most Worshipful Arthur H. Melanson in the merger of Samuel Osgood Lodge with Roswell Lee Lodge, the former surrendering its Charter.

It is interesting to note that Right Worshipful James P. Smith was presiding Junior Grand Warden and was present when Samuel Osgood Lodge received its Charter, and that Right Worshipful Edgar W. Darling was presiding Junior Grand Warden and was present when it was surrendered. Using a Masonic term of one of its bodies, "it was from Alpha to Omega, the first to last, the beginning, the end."

Also at the Grand Lodge Stated Communication in December 1979, Worshipful Max C. Kaye was appointed Grand Pursuivant by Most Worshipful Arthur H. Melanson. Esoteric Lodge had two Grand Officers at the same time.

In closing, the thought comes to mind that, no matter how illustrious our past may seem, we need, nevertheless, to fix our eyes and purposes upon the future, looking to further bonds of fellowship and even more honorable achievements than such as have been marked in the seventy-five years of our beloved Esoteric Lodge.

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1912 1917 1918 1919 1923 1924 1925 1932 1936 1941 1948 1952 1954 1955 1957 1962 1966 1968 1972 1976 1982 1984 2004

HISTORY

  • 1959 (50th Anniversary History, 05/21: 1959-94)
  • 1984 (75th Anniversary History, 05/19: 1984-37ff)

OTHER

  • 1911 (Acknowledgement of gift, 1911-226)
  • 1924 (Laying of cornerstone, Springfield Masonic Temple, 06/24: 1924-335; Special Communication)
  • 1939 (Reduction of fees authorized, 1939-453)
  • 1940 (Reduction of fees authorized, 1940-58)

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

DISTRICTS

LINKS

The curator for this page is Brother Michael Nemeth. Please direct informational updates and questions to him.

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