GMBenton

EVERETT CHAMBERLIN BENTON 1862-1924

Deputy Grand Master, 1906
Grand Master, 1912-1913

TERM

1912 1913

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1924-25:

Born in Guildhall, Vermont, Sept. 25th, 1862.
Died at his home in Belmont, Mass., Feb. 4th, 1924.

For some time we who were friends of Brother Benton have been aware that he has been making a valiant fight for the recovery of his health, and after his recent experience while attending the laying of the corner-stone of the Washington Memorial we could but anticipate the issue which has come all too soon, and his going out from our earthly association lends a touch of personal sorrow to the entire membership of this Grand Lodge.

In his notable career he evidenced the possibilities which lie before the youth of a republic like ours.

Sprung from sturdy old Colonial stock, with but few advantages as a boy, by his own genius and ability he rose to an enviable position in the business world and a large place in political and fraternal circles. At nineteen years of age he came to Boston and found employment with the John C. Paige Company: became in time a partner and later organized and was president of the Massachusetts Fire and Marine Insurance Company and was one of the best known and most successful insurance men of New England.

In addition to his large business interests he applied himself unstintingly to the affairs of state and nation. He served for eleven years upon the Republican State Committee, being three times a delegate to the National Convention and in 1904 he was a delegate at large. He was on the staff of Governor Greenhalge with the rank of Colonel and he was appointed by Governor Guild as a member of the Metropolitan Park Commission. He was a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Real Estate Exchange, the Boston Yacht Club, the Boston Athletic Association, the Algonquin Club, the Oakley Country Club, and the Belmont Spring Country Club, and he was a Past Commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. He was a loyal, ardent, and enthusiastic Mason and the recipient of its highest honors both in the York and Scottish Rites.

He was Past Master of Benton Lodge No. 88, of Guildhall, and District Deputy Grand Master and Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Vermont. He was Thrice Illustrious Master of Boston Council and Grand Principal Conductor of the Work and Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of Massachusetts.

He was Commander of St. Bernard Commandery and Deputy Grand Commander and Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He was Commander-in-Chief of Massachusetts Consistory and was crowned. an honorary member of the Supreme Council, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite. He was Deputy Grand Master of this Grand Lodge in 1906 and Grand Master in 1912 and 1913.

A masterly man: a true and worthy citizen: a representative Mason. We register our regard for him and inscribe his name among those who have honored the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts.

From Proceedings, Page 1924-325:

Past Grand Master Everett C. Benton ended this life at his home on Oakley Road, Belmont, Massachusetts, on Monday, February 4, 1924, following a long illness.

Most Worshipful Brother Benton was born in Guildhall, Vermont, on September 27, 1862, the son of Judge Charles Emerson Benton and Ada (Chamberlain) Benton. His father was a descendant of Captain Jacob Benton, who served under General Washington at Valley Forge. Another great-grandfather was with Ethan Allen at the capture of Ticonderoga. His earliest known forbear was John Benton, who lived in 1540 in the old town of Epping, County of Essex, England, located about eighteen miles from London.

Brother Benton took great pride in his native town of Guiidhall, where he erected and presented, in 1901, a beautiful Public Library and Masonic Hall, which were dedicated with Masonic ceremonies. He also caused to be erected in 1889 a stone monument on the site of the first church in that town, the occasion marking its one hundredth anniversary.

A comprehensive history of Guildhall was not only written by him as a young man, but he likewise did all the work of publishing the book, setting the type and printing it on a private press at his own residence.

He attended the St. Johnsbury (Vt.) Academy and also Colebrook (N.H.) Academy. While still a youth he obtained employment in the office of a country newspaper, the Essex County Herald, where was inculcated a fascination for the "fourth estate" that in later years found expression in Belmont's first local newspaper, the Courier, established in 1889, the proprietorship of which he shared with Harry W. Poor, now night editor of the Boston Globe. Twenty-five years after its suspension, the Courier was revived by his son, Brother Jay R,. Benton, now Attorney General of Massachusetts, who continued its publication for several years.

At the age of nineteen he came to Boston, where he entered the insurance office of John C. Paige. Through application to his work he was promoted as a department head, and when reorganization was brought about by the death of the head of the firm, Brother Benton was admitted to partnership in its extensively developed business. He also organized the Massachusetts Fire and Marine Insurance Company.

In 1885 he married Miss Willena Rogers, and in April of the following year they came to Waverley to reside, making their home on Hawthorne Street, and later moving to White Street in the same village. In 1904 he bought the Cushing estate, one of the show places of Middlesex County, the name of which, "Belmont," was bestowed upon the town itself on its incorporation in 1850. Upon many occasions the estate has been thrown open to the public for the benefit of worthy charities. Two years ago he opened his estate for an open air production of Patience, given under the auspices of the Civic Association.

Brother Benton was active in every movement pertaining to the town's welfare, and held the office of town moderator for many years. He was instrumental in bringing about the organization of the Payson Park Congregational Church about a dozen years ago, and more recently the Methodist Episcopal Church, both of these congregations being given the use of the chapel on his estate until edifices of their own were built. A few years ago he likewise was instrumental in the securing of a bell for the Payson Park Church, the committee on which he served selecting the bell after hearing its beautiful tones transmitted from the foundry in another state by telephone.

Thirty years or more ago, before the modernizing of Belmont's fire department, Brother Benton secured possession of an old hand engine, "Cushing 4," which had previously served as a protection to the Cushing property and neighborhood, and organized a volunteer fire company, of which he was chosen foreman. Of this company but one or two members survive him. He was for many years a member of the board of trustees of the Belmont Savings Bank, and was also one of the original board of directors of the Waverley Co-operative Bank.

In 1894 Governor Greenhalge appointed Brother Benton a member of his staff with the rank of colonel, and he served in that capacity for three years. Upon his appointment he was tendered a public reception at the old Waverley Hall by the citizens of the town, the affair being one of considerable prominence. He was elected to the Republican State Committee in 1891 and served on various subcommittees. He was vice-chairman of the State Committee in 1896, and in the following year was elected to the Executive Council from the district of which Belmont was a part, serving on Committees on Pardons, Harbors, Public Lands, Charitable Institutions, Prisons, and Military and Naval Affairs.

He may be said to have begun his public life ai an assistant County Clerk of Essex County, Vt., subsequently becoming clerk to the Secretary of the State of Vermont, previous to his coming to Boston in 1882.

He was appointed by Governor Guild a member of the Metropolitan Park Commission, and advocated regulations permitting a freer use of the parks by the publie. He was a delegate-at-large to the Republican National Convention in 1904 which nominated Theodore Roosevelt for president. In 1912 he was a candidate for the governorship of Massachusetts.

He was appointed by Governor McCall on the State Public Safety Committee of One Hundred. President Wilson appointed him a member of the local Draft Board during the late war, but he vould not serve because of illness. He was a member of the last Constitutional Convention, elected from the Eighth Congressional District.

In his Masonic affiliations Brother Benton had been wideiy known. IIe was raised a Master Mason in Simon W. Robinson Lodge in Lexington, in 1895, and became a member of Waltham Royal Arch Chapter a year later and of Boston Council of Royal and Select Masters in 1901 and member of St. Bernard Commandery in 1902, and had been an officer of St. Andrew's Chapter. IIe received the degrees of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite in 1895 and received the thirty-third degree, honorary, in 1902.

Brother Benton was the founder and first Worshipful Master of Benton Lodge No. 88 of Guildhall, Vermont. He was also first District Deputy Grand Master for the Fourteenth Masonic District, of Vermont, and in 1905 was elected Grand Junior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Vermont. He presided over Boston Council of Royal and Select Masters for a year, beginning in October, 1904, was Eminent Commander of St. Bernard Commandery in 1906, and Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in 1906. In December of that year, he was elected Commander-in-Chief of the Massachusetts Consistory for a term of three years. In 1912 and 1913 he served as Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts.

He was affiliated with both the Blue Lodges in Belmont, being a Charter member of Beaver Lodge.

In 1913 he made an eighteen thousand mile trip to South America, his chief purpose being to Constitute Sojourners Lodge in the Canal Zone. He also made visits to Masonic Lodges in Peru and Chile, being the first Grand Master to visit our Lodges in Chile.

Besides his wife he is survived by three sons and three daughters. The sons are Brother Jay Rogers Benton, Attorney General for this Commonwealth, who lives in BeImont; Charles E. Benton, of Belmont, who is with his father's firm, John C. Paige & Co., and Josiah H. Benton, of the First National Bank of Boston. The daughters are Mrs. Carl E. Lonegren, formerly Blanche Benton, now of Minneapolis, Minn.; Mrs. Edward Emerson Wood, Jr., of Belmont, formerly Dorothy Benton; and Miss Hannah Slade Benton, of Belmont, whose engagement to Collins Graham, also of Belmont, was announced in January.

Brother Benton was a member of the Boston Chamber of Commerce, the Massachusetts Real Estate Exchange, and at one time its vice-president, and belonged to the Boston Yacht Club, Boston Athletic Association, Algonquin Club, Oakley Country Club, and Belmont Springs Country Club. He was a Past Commander of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. Brother Benton served as president of the Beacon Society and also of the Vermont Association of Boston, and as a director in many corporations.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, February 7, a private service for members of Brother Benton's immediate family being held at his home conducted by Rev. Edward A. Horton, D.D., Chaplain of the Massachusetts Senate and of our Grand Lodge. The body was then taken to the Park Street Church, Boston, where more than a thousand persons, including business and fraternal associates and public officials, attended the service conducted by Rev. A. Z. Conrad, D.D., pastor of the church. A special section was reserved in the church for the employees of John C. Paige & Co. and for the officers and members of the Grand Lodge who attended in Special Communication. The front of the auditorium was hidden in a mass of floral tributes reaching to the pulpit and the principal music was.furnished by the choir of Massachusetts Consistory. Following the service by Dr. Conrad, the Masonic burial service was conducted by M.W. Dudley H. Ferrell, Grand Master, and the officers and members of the Grand Lodge. During both the private service at Belmont, and that at the Park Street Chureh, the bell of the Payson Park Church was tolled as a mark of respect. Interment was in Belmont Cemetery.

Most Worshipful Brother Benton made his own place in the world and it was a conspicuous one. Of old New England stock, he exhibited many of its characteristics. Sturdy, energetic, and active he forged his way to the front in civic, political, and Masonic life. He was, however, a very companionable man and made hosts of friends in all walks of life.

Always God-fearing, the later years of his life were assiduously devoted to the practice of Christian virtues and to such influence he gave the whole strength of his unusual personality.

His genial presence, his sound. judgment, his constructive criticism and. advice have left a substantial imprint upon the community and the Fraternity and a memory which will last long in the minds of those who were so fortunate as to be his associates and friends.

Respectfully submitted,
Melvin M. Johnson,
Leon M. Abbott,
J. Albert Blake,
Committee.