Franklin1

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FRANKLIN LODGE

Location: Cheshire; Windsor (1812); Adams (1814)

Chartered By: John Cutler

Charter Date: 06/09/1794 II-56

Precedence Date: 06/09/1794

Current Status: unknown; charter surrendered around 1826; historical notes on pages 1895-95; 1896-187; 1919-52; 1922-299ff; 1933-102; 1968-233.


NOTES

MEMBER LIST, 1802

From Vocal Companion and Masonic Register, Boston, 1802, Part II, Page 13:

  • R. W. Robert Walker, M.
  • W. Chad Brown, S. W.
  • W. Duty Sales, J. W.
  • John Lyon, Tr.
  • Denison Robinson, Sec.

No. Members, 80.

  • Daniel Brown
  • Charles Converse

ø Charter surrendered 06/11/1834


PAST MASTERS

  • Jonathan Remington, 1795
  • Charles Baker, ?; SN
  • Robert Walker, 1802; SN
  • Stoddard Williams, 1804

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Charter: 1794

HISTORY

★ = Text extract listed below.

  • 1895 (Note in historical address at the centenary of Evening Star Lodge, 1895-95 ★)
  • 1896 (Note in historical address at the centenary of Cincinnatus Lodge, 1896-187 ★)
  • 1919 (Note in historical address at the 50th Anniversary of Upton Lodge, 1919-524 ★)
  • 1922 (Remarks in Grand Master's address at the September Quarterly Communication, 09/13/1922 ★)
  • 1922 (Remarks in the 50th Anniversary history of Greylock Lodge, 1922-369 ★)
  • 1935 (Notes included in "The Masonic Predecessors of Mystic Lodge", by Most Wor. Herbert W. Dean, 1935-102)
  • 1945 (Note in historical address at the 75th Anniversary of Upton Lodge, 1945-231 ★)
  • 1957 (Notes included in the centenary of Berkshire Lodge, 1957-151 ★)
  • 1968 (Notes included in the Adams cornerstone laying)
  • 2007 (Notes included in the 150th anniversary of Berkshire Lodge, 2007-150 ★)

EVENING STAR CENTENARY, 1895

From Proceedings, Page 1895-95:

After the union, the first charter granted to a Lodge in Berkshire was issued, June 9, 1794, to Joseph Jarvis and others for a Lodge, to be known as Franklin Lodge, with authority to sit in Cheshire and Lanesboiough, alternately six months in each.

CINCINNATUS CENTENARY, 1896

From Proceedings, Page 1896-187:

Previous to the organization of Cincinnatus Lodge there had been but three Lodges established, in Berkshire county; namely, Franklin Lodge, which met in Cheshire and Lanesborough, alternately six months in each place, Evening Star Lodge, then situated in Lenox, and Berkshire Lodge, which had become extinct and which appears to have been established for a few months in Stockbridge.

HISTORY OF MASONRY IN NORTHERN BERKSHIRE, JUNE 1919

From Proceedings, Page 1919-524:

I have with me tonight the certified copy of the Charter of Franklin Lodge, dated June 9, 1794, signed by John Cutler, Grand Master; Mungo Mackay, Senior Grand Warden; Samuel Parkman, Junior Warden, and Thomas Allen, Secretary.

This book also contains the Constitution signed by the officers and members, one hundred and sixty in number. Many names of old families not only in Cheshire, but in Adams, North Adams, Lanesboro, New Ashford, Pittsfield, and some other adjoining townships will be recognized.

Colonel Wm. H. Phillips says in his Berkshire Hills History that Franklin Lodge when it was organized was the only Masonic Lodge in Massachusetts west of Worcester. He also says that Friendship Lodge of Williamstown was formed about 1800. He is in error, however, for I find the following record not known to him:

"At a meeting of the Grand Lodge held at Bunch of Grapes Tavern, Boston, Mass., July 23, 1785, a petition from a number of Brethren viz.:— Daniel Noble and others, praying for a charter to erect a Lodge in Williamstown, by name of Friendship Lodge was received. The same was read and voted: That the petition be granted and that Israel Jones be appointed Master."

I find Friendship Lodge, of Williamstown, represented by officers sitting in Grand Lodge in 1786, 1789, and 1794.

Franklin Lodge was given a dispensation at one time to hold its meetings alternately in Cheshire and Lanesboro. There seems to be no doubt that meetings were held in Cheshire village, also in Adams, South Village, the latter especially during the last of its existence, but there is no record of any authority to hold its meetings at any places other than on Stafford Hill and in Lanesboro.

Further, it has been claimed that New Providence Grant was at one time attached to Adams; but it was not, and furthermore, the town of Cheshire was incorporated in 1793 and Franklin Lodge was not chartered until 1794. Franklin Lodge, therefore, was entirely a Cheshire institution and was never regularly or legally transferred elsewhere.

This book of the attested copy of the Charter was found by Stoel E. Dean, and given by him to Frank M. Leonard, who in turn gave it to Daniel Upton. Daniel Upton presented it to Berkshire Lodge, December 5, 1898, in whose care it has been since. I would like to say to Berkshire Lodge that if at any time they will return this sacred relic to its original township of Cheshire I will guarantee that Upton Lodge will guard and safely protect it.

In studying these records and considering the very large membership of Franklin Lodge I have been led to wonder how it arrived at such a state of prosperity. Wor. Bro. Edgar W. Chase can tell you of the accounts given him by his grandmother of the gatherings on Stafford Hill, of the many horseback riders who "put up" at the Remington, Mason, and Smith hotels for the night on the first Mondays after the full of the moon, of the big tallow candles made in the big kitchen of the Remington for the Lodge meetings, and of the sumptuous repasts served. There were the best of cooks in those days, as I myself can testify. Not even my wife or my mother ever could make such custard pies, though they made them two inches deep, as did my grandmother in my boyhood days, who was the daughter of David Smith who kept one of the taverns. Lodge meetings in those days meant something when it was necessary to ride on horseback from Williamstown, Hancock, New Ashford, Lanesboro, Pittsfield, Windsor, Savoy, Peru, Cummington, and New Lebanon, over all these Berkshire Hills, through sunshine and rain, over roads which were hardly better than trails, always, however, by the light of the full moon.

I have been led to think also of the religious doctrine taught in those days by Elder Peter Worden, Elder Bloss, and other orthodox pastors, of the hell fire and eternal damnation pictured in the pulpits of those days, and I have wondered if it wasn't a relief to get into a Masonic lodge and experience something of the Trust in God and the Brotherhood of Man," which means, if it means anything, that we always have been in His care, are now, and always will be.

Franklin Lodge is the parent lodge of all Northern Berkshire. Dr. William H. Tyler, of Franklin Lodge, was chiefly instrumental in organizing Mystic Lodge of Lanesboro, obtained its Charter, wrote its By-Laws, and was the first Master. He and several others, eight, I think, members of the Franklin Lodge, petitioned for the Charter of Lafayette. Lafayette preserves a much-prized letter from him, and I have requested their Wor. Master to bring it tonight and I will ask him to read it. From Mystic we have Globe of Hinsdale and Unity of Dalton, while from Lafayette we have Berkshire and Upton, Williams and Greylock.

GRAND MASTER'S ADDRESS, SEPTEMBER 1922

On the occasion of a visit by the officers of the Grand Lodge to the western part of the Commonwealth a curious and interesting relic of early Freemasonry was shown to them by our Senior Grand Warden, Right Worshipful Brother Herbert W. Dean, when an old inn in the village of Cheshire was visited, where we found on the walls of an upper room, painted in large circles, all of the emblems of the Craft.

These had been hidden for many years uncler successive wall coverings and their existence forgotten until uncovered by accident. By good fortune the lady who now owns the old house recognized the paintings as having Masonic interest and informed one of her friends who is a Mason, and now through her forethought and kindness the Masons of that section are planning to preserve this evidence of early Masonry in that section of the State. Right Worshipful Brother Dean has kindiy prepared a brief history of the old Lodge which met in this tavern, together with photographs of the waII decorations, which I now present to you.

OldFranklinLodge1922_0000.jpg OldFranklinLodge1922_0001.jpg
OldFranklinLodge1922_0003.jpg
OldFranklinLodge1922_0002.jpg OldFranklinLodge1922_0004.jpg
Old Masonic Artwork, Cheshire

On June 9, 1794, shortly after the incorporation of Cheshire as a town, twelve of the residents of that part of the town known as Stafford's Hill made application to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts to form a Masonic Lodge with the privilege of meeting six months in Cheshire and six months in Lanesboro. The latter privilege was denied, but the Charter was granted under the name of Franklin Lodge, it being the first Masonic Lodge in Massachusetts located west of Worcester.

In June, 1800, the members of the Lodge again applied for authority to meet alternately three months in Lanesboro and three months in Cheshire. This time the petition was granted.

In 1804 Calvin Hall built a tavern on the main Stage road between Boston and Troy, N.Y., located in what is now the center of the town of Cheshire and opposite the Baptist Church. On the south sicle of the second floor in a room 15 x 30 feet were located. the new Lodge-rooms of Franklin Lodge, whieh following the change in the eenter of population decided to move from their old meeting place on Stafford's Hill.

The new Lodge-rooms were, for those days, elaborately decorated with Masonic emblems painted on the plastered walls by some unknown artist. On the east end of the Lodge-room, between two windows, the decoration showed three steps leading to two pillars supporting an arch, with the keystone in the center. On the north and south walls were six circles, about three feet in diameter, inside of which were the different emblems, the majority as used by us today, while some of them have no place in our present Ritual. Two of the circles have been partly destroyed by making doorways, but the remainder of the decorations are as originally painted.

In 1810 Mystic Lodge, of Pittsfield, was chartered. Presumably most of its Charter members were those raised in Lanesboro by Franklin Loclge. 'This so reduced the membership of Franklin Lodge that in March, 1812, the Grand Lodge found it wise to grant the request that they be permitted to transfer the Lodge to Windsor. In March, 1814. after due investigation permission was granted to move the Lodge to the south part of Adams. Here they held regular meetings until 1827. In the records of the annual meetings of the Grand Lodge it was reported that no returns were received from Franklin Lodge for 1827, 1828, or 1829, after which time there is no mention of them in the Grand Lodge Proceedings and they presumably passed out of existence during one of those years with no record of their formally surrendering their Charter.

In the winter of 1921, while preparing to repaper the room in the old tavern now used as a tea room, the old emblems were discovered under four layers of wall paper. This was carefully removed, the emblems retouched through the generosity of members of Mystic Lodge, of Pittsfield, and it is hoped to preserve this old Lodge-room as a memorial of the oldest Lodge in western Massachusetts.

GREYLOCK 50TH ANNIVERSARY, 1922

From Proceedings, Page 1922-369:

We learn that many years prior to there being a Lodge at North Adams the Brethren frequently walked from here to Cheshire and return between sunset and sunrise to meet with Franklin Lodge which was chartered June 9, 1794. It is also of interest that the meetings were arranged to come at the time of the full moon that the Brethren might have light for the journey. For several years the identity of Franklin Lodge has been lost, due probably to the fact that this was one of the Lodges which disbanded during the anti-Masonic period. On July 18, 1847, a dispensation was granted by the Grand Lodge for the formation of Lafayette Lodge in North Adams.

UPTON 75TH ANNIVERSARY, 1945

From Proceedings, Page 1945-231:

In 1767, men from the Colony of Rhode Island and direct descendants of the men who followed Roger Williams to Rhode Island, purchased a tract of land in a comparative wilderness. This was known as the New Providence Purchase and was situated on the crown of a hill which they called New Providence Hill, now known as Stafford Hill. A flourishing little village with taverns, stores, churches and dwellings came into being. Cheshire, as a Town, did not exist until 1793, when it was formed from sections of four towns, one of which was New Framingham, now known as Lanesborough.

In 1794, twelve residents of Stafford Hill headed by Col. Jonathan Remington, petitioned the Grand Lodge for a dispensation to form a Masonic Lodge, with the privilege of meeting six months in Cheshire and six months in Lanesborough. It was voted by the Grand Lodge that they be indulged in the privilege of holding a Lodge in Cheshire, to be known as Franklin Lodge, and the other part of the prayer, insofar as meeting in Lanesborough, was incompatible with the principles which actuates the conduct and marks the proceedings of the Grand Lodge.

This was the first Lodge chartered in Western Massachusetts after the union in 1792. Previous to this, there had been two chartered by the Massachusetts Grand Lodge — Berkshire in Lenox and Stockbridge in 1777, whose charter was recalled in 1784 for failure to pay Grand Lodge dues, and Friendship of Williamstown, chartered in July, 1785.

Franklin Lodge continued to meet on Stafford Hill until June, 1800, when they again applied for permission to meet alternately three months in Cheshire and three months in Lane-borough. This time the request was granted and this procedure undoubtedly did much to increase the number of members from Lanesborough and vicinity.

In 1804, Calvin Hall, a member of Franklin Lodge, built a fine tavern in what is now the village of Cheshire, on the main stage road between Boston and Troy. Shortly thereafter, Franklin Lodge moved its meeting place to a large room on the south side of this tavern. This room was elaborately decorated with Masonic emblems painted on the walls by some unknown artist. After their discovery in 1921, some of them were restored through the generosity of Mystic Lodge.

FROM CENTENARY HISTORY OF BERKSHIRE LODGE, NOVEMBER 1957

From Proceedings, Page 1957-151:

Franklin Lodge, which originated in Cheshire and which was sometimes referred to as Stafford Hill Lodge because of their meeting place on Stafford Hill, was instituted June 9, 1794. The petitioners, sixteen in number, had requested that they be allowed to sit six months in the Town of Cheshire and six months in the Town of Lanesboro alternately. The Charter was granted, but allowed them to meet only in the Town of Cheshire. However, on June 9, 1800, they again presented their original petition, and this time their prayer was granted, but with the amendment that they alternate every three months instead of every six. Twelve years later, June 9,1812, Franklin Lodge was granted permission, at their request, to move the meeting place from Cheshire to the Town of Windsor in the same County.

The members of Franklin Lodge must certainly have had an abundance of that great American desire to seek out new lands and territories. For on the 13th of September, 1813, just a little over a year later, they petitioned Grand Lodge to move Franklin Lodge from Windsor to Adams, South Village, which was the official title of our present day Town of Adams. And what was then called Adams, North Village, is now the City of North Adams.

This request was not granted, however, until March 14,1814. For forty years these hardy pioneers spread the good will and Brotherly Love of Freemasonry throughout Berkshire County, until at last, in the year 1836, they were no more. Exactly why Franklin Lodge closed its doors for good, we do not know. The only logical reason we can think of is the anti-Masonic pressure brought about by the Morgan incident, which is so familiar to us today.

Some historians claim that Franklin Lodge never met anywhere but in Cheshire. We discount this claim for the simple reason that the Grand Lodge Proceedings (IV Mass. 33ff) tell us that a group of Master Masons petitioned Grand Lodge for a Charter on September 13, 1826, allowing them to meet in the Town of Adams, South Village. This Charter was denied because Grand Lodge thought that the Town was too small to support two Lodges, and named Franklin Lodge as being Chartered in the Town of Adams at that time.

It is our belief that Franklin Lodge unconsciously left the spark that eventually lit the three burning tapers here in our present day Berkshire Lodge.

The Charter Members of Berkshire Lodge, being eager to have a True and Perfect Lodge of Master Masons working under their direction, must have realized that if Masonry could exist in the Town of Adams, South Village, in the years preceding 1836, surely the same growing Town could and would be drawn to this wonderful Fraternity in the year 1857 and in the years to come.

These men must surely have been ardent Masons, their judgment sound, their efforts sincere, because one hundred years of Masonry must have a firm foundation.

And, with this tribute to those men who lived and breathed a hundred years ago, let us once again, figuratively, lay an imaginary corner-stone for the Masonic Temple that Berkshire Lodge has dreamed of in vain, and build a verbal Temple of one hundred years standing, to the memory of those now departed.

FROM CORNER STONE LAYING FOR BERKSHIRE LODGE, OCTOBER 1968

From Proceedings, Page 1968-232:

Franklin Lodge, which originated in Cheshire, and which was sometimes referred to as Stafford Hill Lodge because of their meeting place on Stafford Hill, was instituted on June 9th, 1794. The petitioners, sixteen in number, had requested that they be allowed to sit six months in the Town of Cheshire, and six months in the Town of Lanesboro, alternately. The Charter was granted, but allowed them to meet only in the Town of Cheshire. However, on June 9ih in the year 1800, they again presented their original petition, and this time their prayer was granted, but with the amendment that they alternate every three months instead of every six. Twelve years later, June 9th, 1812, Franklin Lodge was granted permission at their request to move the meeting place from Cheshire to the Town of Windsor in the same County.

The members of Franklin Lodge must certainly have had an abundance of that great American desire to seek out new lands and territories. For on the 13th of September, 1813, just a little over a year later, they petitioned Grand Lodge to move Franklin Lodge from Windsor to Adams, South Village, which was the official title of our present Town of Adams. And what was then called Adams, North Village, is now the City of North Adams. This request was not granted, however, until March 14, 1814. For forty years these hardy pioneers spread the good will and Brotherly Love of Free-masonry throughout Berkshire County, until at last in the year 1836 they were no more. Exactly why Franklin Lodge closed its doors for good, we do not know. The only logical reason we can think of is the Anti-Masonic pressure brought about by the Morgan incident which is so familiar to us today. Some historians claim that Franklin Lodge never met anywhere but in Cheshire.

We discount this claim for the simple reason that the Grand Lodge Proceedings Book of 1826-1844, Page 33, tells us that a group of Master Masons petitioned Grand Lodge for a Charter allowing them to meet in the Town of Adams, South Village, on the 13th of September in 1826. This Charter was denied because Grand Lodge thought that the Town was too small to support two Lodges, and named Franklin Lodge as being Chartered in the Town of Adams at that time.

It is our belief that Franklin Lodge unconsciously left the spark that eventually lit the three burning tapers here in our present day Berkshire Lodge.

BERKSHIRE LODGE 150th ANNIVERSARY, 2007

From Proceedings, Page 2007-153:

Franklin Lodge, which originated in Cheshire, and which was sometimes referred to as Stafford Hill Lodge because of their meeting place on Stafford Hill, was instituted on June 9, 1794. The petitioners, sixteen in number, had requested that they be allowed to sit six months in the town of Cheshire, and six months in the town of Lanesboro, alternately. The Charter was granted, but allowed them to meet only in the town of Cheshire. However, on June 9th in the year 1800, they again presented their original petition, and this time their prayer was granted, but with the amendment that they alternate every three months instead of every six. Twelve years later, June 9, 1812, Franklin Lodge was granted permission, at their request, to move the meeting place from Cheshire to the town of Windsor in the same County.

The members of Franklin Lodge must certainly have had an abundance of that great American desire to seek out new lands and territories. On the 13th of September 1813, just a little over a year later, they petitioned Grand Lodge to move Franklin Lodge from Windsor to Adams, South Village, which was the official title of our present town of Adams. What was then called Adams, North Village, is now the city of North Adams. This request was not granted, however, until March 14, 1814. For forty years these hardy pioneers spread the good will and brotherly love of Freemasonry throughout Berkshire County. In the year 1836, they were no more. Exactly why Franklin Lodge closed its doors for good, we do not know. The only logical reason we can think of is the anti-Masonic pressure brought about by the Morgan Affair. Some historians claim that Franklin Lodge never met anywhere but in Cheshire.

OTHER

  • 1794 (Petition to meet alternately in Lanesborough and Cheshire; II-56)
  • 1800 (Petition to meet alternately in Lanesborough and Cheshire; II-169)
  • 1812 (Petition to remove to Windsor; II-527)
  • 1813 (Petition to remove to Adams; II-570)
  • 1814 (Petition to remove to Adams; II-584)
  • 1822 (Note on delinquency; III-428)
  • 1824 (Note on delinquency; III-471)
  • 1825 (Note on delinquency; III-572)
  • 1827 (Note on delinquency; IV-114)
  • 1828 (Note on delinquency; IV-147)
  • 1829 (Note on delinquency; IV-170)
  • 1922 (Pictures found on Cheshire Lodge Hall; see above)

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

DISTRICTS

1803: District 8 (Berkshires)

1821: District 8


LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges