GMLewis

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WINSLOW LEWIS, JR. 1799-1875

WinslowLewis2_1871.jpg

Junior Grand Steward, 1834-1835
Grand Sword Bearer, 1836
Corresponding Grand Secretary, 1841-1844
Junior Grand Warden, 1841-1843
Grand Marshal, 1845
Deputy Grand Master, 1846-1847
Grand Master, 1855-1856; 1860.


TERM

1855 1856

1860

SPEECHES

From Proceedings, Page VI-269; December 14, 1859, report of the Library Committee:

The Committee on the Library Report— That its increase during the past year, has not added much numerically to its importance, still a few additions have been made of great value, and which did not accrue to the G Lodge at its expense.

Your Committee regret to state that the annual Report of the Proceedings of the G. Lodges of the United States are sadly incomplete in your Library and that their is not one perfect set of any Gd Lodge proceedings, no, not even of our own. The very last acquisition to the Library, (and every intelligent Mason would suppose it should have been the very first) was the "Freemasons Magazine — the work of your own Gd Secy: everywhere, known, every where prized, as the very best exponent of Masonic Law — the most conservative, as well as the oldest in the Union — a perfect series of which is with great difficulty obtained for a sum less than $110.

Undoubtedly there are many who may be disposed to decry the formation of a Library, especially those of the cui bono species, who deem it a Bibliomania, involving expenditure, without return. It may releive such who look to the pecuniary outlay, to learn that the now valuable Collection of the G Lodge of Massachusetts, has only cost the Institution the paltry sum of about $150.

Is a Masonic Library profitless? When the future historian of our country shall have occasion to portray these popular excitements which have agitated society, and among them, the wrorst of them all, the Anti-masonic, where could he glean all on the subject, where could he turn for the most extensive details of that nefarious Body, but to the ample pages of the Masonic Mirror — a work of rarement and fidelity, and which has become, even now, a rarity among book-collectors, a book so rare, that your committee, know of no other perfect copy, than the one in your collection.

How often is it necessary to consult authorities, and seek information on the History of the Order and on the various subjects connected w7ith it? How desirable it is, that those who hold official positions should have a "Collectania from whence to derive such opinions or decisions as their stations impose—much perhaps that is generally considered as worthless is sent forth from the press. But every department of literature has its trash mingled with its good, still that work, which has in it no one idea, either curious, quaint or original, must of itself be a curiosity.

The Library of the G. Lodge is therefore like all collections, a collection of the valuable mingled with the almost useless, we say almost, for many of these "turn up" to satisfy the literary researches of some antiquarian minds seekers of the "odds and ends" of the of the teeming press chiffoniers, who raking from the gutters of intellectual sewers, sometimes from the mud itself bring to light that which is valuable and worthy of preservation.

Your Committee would therefore solicit from the Brethren, donations of any books or pamphlets, good, bad, or indifferent, which have any relation, direct or indirect with Freemasonry, for or against it.

Among the very few donors, our excellent Br. Thos. Waterman must again be mentioned as having contributed a very choice collection of bound volumes of pamphlets, interspersed with which are short biographies of the shining lights of our Order by his pen. Your committee in thanking him for his liberality would commend him as an example to others "to go and do likewise".

From Proceedings, Page VI-345; December 10, 1860, correspondence with the Grand Lodge of Virginia:

M W. [John R. McDaniels] G. Master of the Gd. Lodge of Virginia.

Dear Brother.

The period has arrived (alas! that it should ever be so.) when it behoves every one who has lived and flourished under the benign influence of our glorious Union, to exert his best endeavors to obviate that sad impulse which threatens its dissolution. In the relations of fellow-citizens of a wide spread republic, our efforts have proved ineffectual. Fanaticism is the predominate demon, and the ties which have bound the South and North so long together, which carried them shoulder to shoulder in the days of our fathers, and have continued them in their prosperity as a United Nation, are now in preparation to be severed.

It is too late to avert the calamity. Is there nought remains of conservatism to be tried? Have we not an institution which binds us together not only as fellow citizens but as Brothers, and as Brothers can we lacerate those pledges, the foundation of our Faith & Practice? Therefore may we not look to it as a strong element to allay the bitter anguish of these dark days in our Nations' History ?

It was my good fortune to visit Richmond with a band of our Order, and to witness and feel the mighty operation which cemented the hearts of all the participants on that occasion.

The influences of that meeting are ineffaceable the impress indelible, with such feelings of so powerful a fraternization, how disunion must pall the hearts of those whose affections as Brothers are so warmed towards those so dear to them in Virginia, and as one I was resolved to pour out my own, and to express to you what I deem to be, the predominate sentiment in Boston, if not, in the whole jurisdiction over which I have the honor to preside, and I assure my dear Brother, that we cling to you, not only as Brothers, but as Fellow-citizens; and may that evil day be far removed, when Virginia and Massachusetts, the States which gave to our country a Washington and a Franklin and to Freemasonry two of its brightest lights, shall be found opposed as enemies, and severed as components of United States.

May God avert that terrible issue: and may He instil into the hearts of all of our Order, the observance of that precept of his Holy Word, that first before to every neophyte in Free-masonry. "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for Brethren to dwell together in unity," and may all under your fraternal jurisdiction, demonstrate by their acts, that in the "Old Dominion" fellow citizens, and Brotherly Love, as Masons shall now, in this the perilous hour, as heretofore under the days of prosperity, be their aim and Resolve. — "So mote it be."

From Proceedings, Page VI-544; December 13, 1864, report of Library Committee:

The Com. on the Library of the G. Lodge are compelled to present a Report on that which is not extant on those things which now "are among the things that were now to be cataloguised as res non inventi non existentibus.

All that was, of a really excellent Library, so recently a proud monument of the literature of Freemasonry, belonging to this G. Lodge is burned among the ashes and rubbish of our Temple. That collection of Masonic Works, was a valuable one, collected by the labors of years. Most of it was the gift of two of the Brethren, and towards it this Body paid but a small sum. It was insured for $400. The Com. however have to congratulate the Fraternity (it being accidentally in the hands of the binder) that the most rare work, and of which no other perfect copy can be found, the Masonic Mirror, was preserved. It consists of two folio, and seven quarto volumes. It embodies all the details of that exciting period when Anti-Masonry was rampant and utter downfall, death and everlasting interment.

The Directors of the Corporation have placed the amount received from the insurance, in the hands of the Com. on the Library, and already many works have been purchased, and several donations have been made, and the Com. would express in behalf of this G. Lodge their thanks to the G. Lodge of Maryland, Ohio, Illinois and Louisiana for their donations of copies of their transactions.

A Masonic Library cannot now be readily obtained. It is a well known fact, that works on the subject of Freemasonry, are eagerly sought for, and obtain large prices and that several of the Brethren in this jurisdiction, have at a great expense, their private collections which have been obtained after much research, at the cost of much time and expenditure of money. Moreover, our Library cannot be enlarged by purchase, at this time, of foreign wrorks, on account of the enhanced cost of importation.

The Com. therefore, look to their Masonic Brethren for their voluntary contributions, surely there should be a response from all, who are or should be interested in this matter.

The Com. are willing to contribute all their attention and care, to effect so desirable an object—a catalogue hasbeen already prepared and every book and pamphlet registered and a column denoting the name of the donor of each gift. They trust to see that column filled with the names of the ardent lovers of the Order, and its interests, and among these interests should be the founding of a storehouse of Masonic Literature.


NOTES

CHARTERS GRANTED

1855-1856:

1860:

CHARTERS RESTORED

1855-1856:



Grand Masters