GMAllen
Contents
CLAUDE L. ALLEN 1878-1961
Deputy Grand Master, 1921
Grand Master, 1935-1937
- FindAGrave page
- Marriage ceremony performed by Paul Sterling
TERM
NOTES
- Paper on Gambling, presented at the Conference of Grand Masters, February 1936
SPEECHES
FEAST OF ST. JOHN, DECEMBER 1935
From Proceedings, Page 1935-352:
Brethren: Again I am delighted to extend to you a cordial and fraternal welcome to this time-honored Feast, which it has been the custom, privilege, and pleasure of Massachusetts Masons to observe for more than two hundred years.
We are particularly pleased to welcome and have with us our friends from other Grand Jurisdictions. As we embark upon a new year of Masonic activity, may we do so in a spirit of thankfulness and appreciation for the many blessings which it has been our privilege to enjoy through our affiliations with our Brethren in Freemasonry, and a firm purpose to exemplify in our daily lives the teachings of our beloved Order. Of little avail are our avowed beliefs if we do nor in our daily activities of life exemplify our tenets and traditions. We must not emulate the example of the father who said to his son, "Don't do as I do, but do as I tell you to do." We cannot hope to maintain our high standing or respect in the community if we attempt to take the position that father did. In other words, we must in our every-day lives and contacts with our fellow men practise what we preach in our Masonic meetings.
It is fully expressed in the fourth of the ancient charges, to which every Master of a Lodge must signify his assent before his investiture: "to work diligently, live creditably, and act honorably by all men." If you add to that the admonition to have faith in God, to be friendly and sympathetic with your fellow men, regardless of their race, creed, or religion, it is my honest opinion that you will have included the fundamentals necessary tor a useful and happy Masonic life.
We are asked, "What about the world changes going on around us? Must we change our philosophy and practices to keep up with the times?" My answer would be that I do not believe that we need either a new philosophy of life or of Masonry, but rather a return to the fundamental philosophies of our forefathers; a sincere and profound belief in God, and an earnest desire to live in accordance with His teachings. Clear thinking, courageous, constructive, intelligent leadership are fully as necessary today as at any period in the world's history, but our clear thinking and constructive leadership should be directed not to the creation of new philosophies of life, but to the guiding of our footsteps and our sons' footsteps through the maze of new and fallacious doctrines and theories that surround us, back to the philosophies of our fathers, and of our fathers' fathers, ever bearing in mind the proud and indisputable fact that Masons, guided by their Masonic principles and teachings, took a leading part in laying the cornerstone of our government which has survived all attacks from within and without, and has been the admiration, and perhaps even the envy of the civilized peoples of the world for many generations. Let us reaffirm our belief in God and our faith in the principles upon which our government was founded, and let us oppose with all the vigor we possess the "isms" which do not adhere to these principles. Let us never forget that the strength ot our Order lies in the character of its manhood and the solidity of its principles. Without that solid foundation of character and principle, Masonry could not have carried on successfully during the past two hundred years. So long as we continue to build upon that solid foundation of character, strengthening the structure by Masonic education, through our Lodges of Instruction and by all other means at our disposal, I am convinced that we will be prepared to cope successfully with all the problems that may come through the world changes going on about us.
Let us reflect upon the words of a great German philosopher, a Mason of long years standing:
"Great Architect of earth and heaven,
By time nor space confined,
Enlarge our love to comprehend
Our Brethren—all mankind.
Where'er we are, whate'er we do,
Thy presence let us own;
Thine Eye, all-seeing, marks our deeds,
To Thee our thoughts are known.
While Nature's work and Science's laws
We labor to reveal,
O! be our duty done to Thee
With fervency and zeal.
With Faith our guide, and humble Hope,
Warm Charity and Love
May all at last he raised to share
Thy Perfect Light above."
REMARKS AT QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION, SEPTEMBER 1936
From Proceedings, Page 1936-150:
LODGE ACTIVITIES
Although no figures are yet available as to the number of initiates for the year ending August 31, 1936, it seems probable at this time that when they are compiled they may show some improvement over the last three years, which have been practically the same. Quite a good many Lodges have had several applications for the degrees this past year, where they have had none for a year or two previously, but in many Lodges there is still not enough degree work to fully occupy the time of regular meetings and it is hoped that this fact may not be allowed to detract from the interest in the meetings and the attendance at them.
In days when candidates have been more plentiful it is quite possible that the regular degree work at each meeting furnished sufficient interest for fair attendance at Lodge meetings, but in Lodges where there are not sufficient candidates at the present time to fully bring about this result the success of the Lodge and of its meetings must of necessity depend largely upon the initiative of the Worshipful Master to supply something of interest to the members to take the place of the degree work. Every Master should sense this responsibility and take a personal pride and satisfaction in keeping up or bringing back his Lodge attendance by providing interesting notices and meetings. Many Masters are very resourceful in this respect and need no assistance or suggestions in bringing about this desired result, but others, through lack of initiative, pressure of other matters, or for other reasons, may welcome suggestions as to how this can be accomplished.
With this thought in mind, I have asked the Director of Education in addition to assisting Masters whenever called upon to do so by supplying the names of speakers for Lodge meetings, to prepare a list of suggestions for the use of Masters, with the hope that it may assist them in working out a sort of projected program for the year, following in a general way the idea of these programs as so successfully used in the Lodges of Instruction. Of course, it is not entirely possible for a Master to completely arrange a program for the year because provisions must always be made for receipt of applications and the working of the degrees. But it is both possible and practical for a Master to formulate in his mind a schedule of activities for such meetings as may not be wholly taken up with degree work, and in some cases as supplemental to the degree work on the same evening.
We often hear the remark made that we get out of Masonry just as much as we put into it. I think we might paraphrase that a bit and say that the members of a Lodge get out of their Lodge just what the Master puts into it. In other words, no Lodge can operate successfully and no Master of a Lodge can leave behind him a record in which he may feel just pride if he merely does the things in the performance of his duties as Master that come to him in a routine way, without exercising his own initiative and directing his own thoughts and ideas to the creation of Masonic interest.
It is true that with the multiplicity of interests confronting most of us miller present conditions, Masonry has much keener competition in retaining the enthusiasm and interest of its members than ever before; that Masonry is able to meet this competition and carry on successfully is amply demonstrated in Lodges where the Master is on his toes and alive to his responsibilities. If any of you Masters within the sound of my voice have been allowing your Lodges to drift, I hope you will accept this as a suggestion that it is the proper time for you to chart a course of Masonic interest and activity for your Lodge and its members, and yourself firmly grasp the tiller and steer your Lodge true to that course.
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page 1961-110:
Claude LeRoy Allen, Senior Past Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, died at the age of eighty-three on March 21, 1961, in Willemstad, Curaçao, while on a vacation cruise.
In his long life he had been a leader in civic, legislative, banking, philanthropic and Masonic circles and, in 1958, Suffolk University conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Jurisprudence.
He was born in South Thomaston, Maine, on January 11, 1878. All of his ancestors, so far as he had any record, had resided in Maine, and principally in the small towns surrounding Rockland, Maine.
He graduated from Boston English High School and from Boston University Law School in 1900. For six decades he was active in the practice of law in Boston, coming to his office daily as long as he lived. For years he was a member of the law firm of Allen and Barnes, and later, until his death, he headed the law firm of Allen and Redding. For many years he was counsel for the Grand Lodge. He was a member of the Middlesex County and the Massachusetts Bar Associations and of the Bar of the Supreme Court.
He served as a Melrose Alderman in 1905, as City Solicitor from 1906 to 1912, and in the Massachusetts Senate in 1912 and 1913. For fifteen years he was President of the Melrose Hospital. He was for many years President of the Melrose National Bank and Trust Company, and was Board Chairman of the Melrose Trust Company and counsel for the Somerville National Bank and the Melrose Co-operative Bank
Active in Masonry since 1904, he became Worshipful Master of Wyoming Lodge in 1917, was Deputy Grand Master in 1921, and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts from 1935 to 1937.
In 1923 he became a member of all York Rite bodies in Melrose and of the Scottish Rite bodies in Boston; and in 1936 he received the Honorary 33rd degree in Atlantic City. In 1940 he was elected an Active Member of the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction and served as Deputy for Massachusetts from 1948 to 1960. He was also an Active Member of the Supreme Council of the Order of DeMolay.
A few of his civic affiliations were: service as Chairman of the Draft Board during World War I; member of the Melrose Lodge of Elks; the Boston and Melrose City Clubs; the Bellevue, the Rockport and the Nashua Country Clubs.
He is survived by his wife Anna (Comins); a son, Claude LeRoy Allen, Jr,, Headmaster of Hebron Academy, Hebron, Maine; and a daughter, Mrs. Beatrice Page, wife of Dr. Irvine H. Page, famed cardiologist.
His Masonic record is included in the Necrology.
He was a wise counsellor, a loyal friend, a genial companion, a patriotic and generous citizen and public servant. His friendships were nationwide and his Masonic stature was worldwide. He will be widely and sincerely missed, but his kindly, constructive influence will long remain.
Fraternally submitted,
Joseph Earl Perry
Thomas S. Roy
Whitfield W. Johnson
Committee
CHARTERS GRANTED
None.
RULINGS
