GMFerrell
Contents
DUDLEY HAYS FERRELL 1879-1932
Deputy Grand Master, 1922
Grand Master, 1923-1925.
TERM
SPEECHES
FEAST OF ST. JOHN, DECEMBER 1928
From Proceedings, Page 1928-491:
Most Worshipful Grand Master and my Brethren:
The Most Worshipful Grand Master has already explained the significance of my entrance into the active service of the Craft in Massachusetts, and as they say in certain polite circles of entertainment, "that's that" and nothing further need be said.
I feel very humble tonight. For, when the conversation is concerning the "high lights" of the various administrations of those who have served as Grand Master, it seems to me that very little exists in the story of the three years of 1923 and 1925 inclusive which might be so designated. Realizing what your expectancy has been all the evening in respect to the address to which we are to listen, and sharing thai expectancy with you, I will deny myself a privilege which the Grand Master and Past Grand Masters prize most highly. I will confine myself to few words.
We are a modest group, we Past Grand Masters, but even we find the limit of humility. We can stand it when a man takes out his watch and looks at it while we are speaking, but we do object when after looking at it, he puts it to his ear to see if it is going. However, I must abide by your evident wish, but ask your permission to say one thing in the quietness of that retrospect which gives a measure to the service which one renders to a body. There is one thing that stands out most clearly in my mind, it is an accomplishment, and for it I cannot assume responsibility. I give credit rather to those who preceded me in office of Grand Master, and this is done gladly. They rendered a service which was distinctive. Each made a contribution according to his ability, a contribution of a particular character, and as a result of their efforts, there gradually developed in this Fraternity a certain unease. By this I do not mean restiveness, but rather a feeling of unrest which was indicative of a desire to make Freemasonry articulate. In the years which I particularly remember, I beheld the final awakening of this Craft to the realities of our profession to larger hopes. They evinced a new eagerness to do something and reveal the full substance of our Masonic philosophy. I remember with gratitude the Brethren of this Craft as always willing to do what they could to make a success of any helpful endeavor, the correctness of which bad been impressed upon their minds. This Craft displayed itself as being sensitive to every opportunity for service and ibis happy remembrance went far to strengthen one's faith in the dignity of man and to protect one's belief in the integrity of our Institution.
As the Most Worshipful Grand Master said earlier in the evening, it is true "that the attitude which characterizes Masons, determines more than anything else what accomplishment shall do."
I can testify, .Most Worshipful, to the quality of the attitude which our Brethren of this Jurisdiction have and do evince, and for the coming year your faith in it is wisely invested. There is not a Mason within this Commonwealth who will not gladly give you loyal support. There is not one of us in office or out of office who will not faithfully follow you wherever yon may need, when you say "this is well for the Craft."
It is our remembrance of the past that gives us hope for the future and that remembrance, one of the happiest of my life, is the remembrance of men faithful to their duty.
The happiness I have, therefore, tonight in recalling my years as Grand Master, is in the knowledge of the hope invested in men who took it and glorified ii with the substance of reality.
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page 1932-202:
Brother Ferrell was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 29, 1879, and died at his home in Swampscott, September 15, 1932. Brother Ferrell was a graduate of Princeton University and of the Princeton Theological Seminary. Princeton gave him a Master of Arts degree in 1902. His first pastorate was in Slatington, Pa. His ministerial service was continuous from that time until his death except for the period from t927 to 1931, when he gave his whole time to the service of the Grand Lodge.
Brother Ferrell took his Masonic degrees in Paul Revere Lodge in 1906. He was a Charter member of Baalis Sanford Lodge and its first Master under Charter in 1918. He was Deputy Grand Master in 1922, and Grand Master in 1923,1924, and 1925. ln 1927, on the death of Most Worshipful John Albert Blake, he was chosen Relief Commissioner, assuming at the same time the charge of the departments of Masonic Service and Masonic Education. His service in this important post was of the greatest value to the Fraternity, and it was with great regret that the Grand Lodge released him when the call of his profession became too powerful to be longer resisted and he resigned to accept the very important pastorate of the Second Church in Boston. He was at the time of his death one of the Directors of the Grand Lodge.
Brother Ferrell was a member of Satucket Royal Arch Chapter, Brockton Council of Royal and Select Masters, Bay State Commandery of Knights Templar, and the Scottish Rite bodies in Boston. At the time of his death he was Most Wise Master of Mount Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix.
We mourn not only the loss of a valued and useful Grand Lodge officer but that of a friend whose qualities of mind and heart had endeared him to us all. I cannot do better than quote from the tribute of Dr. Charles E. Park at his funeral: "His was a heart filled with good cheer, a mouth filled with laughter, a tongue which always brought a message of cheer. No man was more able with the spirit. of good cheer to awaken a responsive cheer in the hearts of others."
Eloquent and persuasive in his preaching, he was not less so in his Masonic addresses. Breathing the true spirit of Masonry reinforced by his Masonic knowledge drawn from his experience in high Masonic office, they always inspired the Brethren to wider Masonic vision and more earnest Masonic effort.
From Proceedings, Page 1932-287:
Gone from us a familiar face, a cheery smile, the handclasp of a friend; but memory remains. Now and again, and yet again, upon the silver screen of memory, he lives with us day by day.
And it is not a silent screen. Memory brings back to us voice as well as feature. As we sit musing, we forgather with him again as Christian gentleman, clergyman and pastor; as Master of his Lodge, Deputy Grand Master, and Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts; as the newly installed Most Wise Master of Rose Croix; as Relief Commissioner; as Director of the Grand Lodge; as husband, father, and grandfather; as personal friend; and as Masonic Brother.
M.W. Bro. Ferrell was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, January 29, 1879. He entered the ministry in 1902 and held pastorates at the First Presbyterian Church, Slatington, Pennsylvania (1902-1904) ; Unitarian Church, Natick, Massachusetts (1904-1906); Church of the Unity, Brockton, Massachusetts (1906-1918); Church of the Messiah, MontréaI, Canada (1919-1920); Unitarian Church, Lynn, Massachusetts (1920-1927). At the time of his death he was pastor of the Second Church in Boston (Unitarian).
His Masonic record is as follows: Raised in Paul Revere Lodge, Brockton, Massachusetts, December 18, 1906. Charter Member of Baalis Sanford Lodge, of Brockton, March 13, 1918, and its first Worshipful Master under Charter. He served as Deputy Grand Master of Masons in 1922 and as Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts during the years 1923, 1924, and 1925. He was exalted in Satucket Royal Arch Chapter, of Brockton, in June, 1912, and was Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts from December, 1926, until his death. He received the Cryptic Degrees in Brockton Council of Royal and Select Masters in 1913 and was knighted in Bay State Commandery No. 38, Knights Templar, of Brockton, the same year. The Scottish Rite degrees from the fourth to the thirty-second inclusive were received in the Boston bodies during 1912 and January 1913. After service in various offices in Mt. Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix, he was elected and installed its Most Wise Master on April 15,1932, and was serving in that capacity at the time of his death. On September 16, 1924, in Boston, he was coronetted a Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33d degree, Honorary Member of the Supreme Council.
Among his other outstanding services to the Craft were those as Relief Commissioner of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts from 1927 to 1931 and member of the Board of Directors of the Grand Lodge from 1927 until his death.
He died at his home in Swampscott, Massachusetts, on September 15, 1932, leaving a widow and one daughter, Mrs. Violet Blanchard, and three grandchildren, Virginia, Shirley, and Dudley Ferrell Blanchard.
Deeply and sincerely religious, Dudley Ferrell's God was not only the Grand Architect of the universe, but also a Father rather than a tyrant) and all the world his children. Consequently, Bro. Ferrell never became a hermit or an ascetic. He mingled with his fellowmen, shared in their experiences, understood them. It has been said that "He who would have friends must show himself friendly." Bro. Ferrell had a host of friends. He was the embodiment of friendliness. Gregarious, cordial, sympathetic, he ever carried about him an atmosphere of cheer and helpfulness.
As a ritualist he was superb; as Grand Master he was notably successful as Relief Commissioner he was kindly, sympathetic, and efficient; as a Director his judgment was sound; as a clergyman he was outstanding; as a friend, he was beloved. His death has brought to each of us not only a new recognition of his helpfulness but also a sense of personal loss. While our hearts are burdened with sorrow, it remains for us to turn to the faith of our fathers and his faith that we have not eternally parted.
"Nay, but as one layeth
His worn-out robes away
And taking new ones sayeth,
'These will I wear today,'
So putteth by the spirit
Lightly its garb of flesh
And passeth to inherit
A residence afresh."
Melvin M. Johnson
Harold W. Sprague
Robert G. Rae
Committee
ADDRESSES
AT 125TH ANNIVERSARY OF MONTGOMERY LODGE, SEPTEMBER 1922
NOTES
CHARTERS GRANTED
- 03/14/1923 The Harvard, Cambridge
- 03/14/1923 Milton, Milton
- 09/12/1923 Fourth Estate, Boston
- 09/12/1923 Beaver, Belmont
- 12/12/1923 Chin Ling, Nanking, China
- 03/12/1924 Russell, Arlington
- 03/12/1924 Bay Path, West Brookfield
- 09/10/1924 Eastern Star, Rehoboth
- 12/10/1924 Netop, Seekonk
- 03/11/1925 Elm, West Springfield
- 09/09/1925 United, Cambridge
RULINGS
