Difference between revisions of "GMWelch"

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Respectfully submitted,<br>
 
Respectfully submitted,<br>
 
[http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=GMNickerson Sereno D. Nickerson]
 
[http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=GMNickerson Sereno D. Nickerson]
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=== SPEECHES ===
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==== [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=GMThomas#GRAND_MASTER_WELCH.27S_SPEECH AT THE RE-INTERMENT OF ISAIAH THOMAS], JUNE 1878 ====
  
 
=== NOTES ===
 
=== NOTES ===

Revision as of 04:01, 11 November 2015

CHARLES A. WELCH 1815-1908

CharlesAWelch1880.jpg

Deputy Grand Master, 1875-1877
Grand Master, 1878-1880


TERM

1878 1879 1880

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1908-13:

Charles A. Welch was born in Boston Jan. 30, 1815. He was initiated in Monitor Lodge, Waltham, April 22, 1861; was Junior Warden of that Lodge in 1865; Senior Warden in 1866 and Worshipful Master in 1868 and 1869.

Brother Welch was District Deputy Grand Master of District No. 4, in 1872, 1873 and 1874; Deputy Grand Master from Dec. 28, 1874, to Dec. 27, 1877, and was Grand Master from Dec. 27, 1877, to Dee. 28, 1880. He was elected a member of the Board of Directors December 13, 1865, and served until Dec. 9, 1896, a period of nearly thirty-one years, when he declined re-election.

Like a shock of corn - fully ripe - he was gathered home by the Great Harvester, Jan. 23, 1908, at the age of ninety-three years.

From Proceedings, Page 1908-17:

'Whom the gods love die young, was said of yore.' In more modern times we have changed all that. Since Christianity and Science have joined hands we have learned to believe that some mortals whom the gods love, or ought to love, are permitted to enjoy an old age serene and bright, blessed with memories of long and faithful service to fellow mortals.

Charles Alfred Welch was born in Boston, on the thirtieth day of January, 1815, and died in Cohasset, Mass., on the twenty-second of January, 1908, lacking only eight days of ninety-three years of age. He was the sixth child of Francis Welch and Margaret Crease (Stackpole) Welch. The father, born Aug. 30, 1776, was made a Mason in Old Colony Lodge, Aug. 21, 1797, became a member of St. John's Lodge, of Boston, Nov. 26, 1800, joined in the procession of 1830, at the laying of the corner-stone of the first Temple in Boston, and died April 27, 1867, aged ninety years and eight months. The grandfather of Charles A. was also a Mason, often present in Lodge and Grand Lodge, and acted as Steward at the Installation of John Rowe as Grand Master, Nov. 23, 1768. It thus appears that our late Grand Master came of good Masonic stock and inherited the disposition to hold fast that which is good. He was initiated in Monitor Lodge, of Waltham, April 22, 1861, became its Junior Warden in 1865, Senior Warden in 1866, Master in 1868 and 1869. His venerable father lived to see his son only one step from the Master's chair.

In December, 1871, Brother Welch was appointed District Deputy Grand Master of what was then the Fourth Masonic District, the Grand Master entertaining the hope that the interest of Brother Welch in the Fraternity might continue and ultimately lead to his election as Grand Master. That anticipation was realized. He was appointed Deputy Grand Master in December, 1874, and served during the three following years. In December, 1877, he was elected Grand Master and re-elected in 1878 and 1879.

Probably the most important service rendered during his Grand Mastership was the arranging for the renewal of the tax for the payment of the debt on the property which we are now occupying. The tax was first laid on the thirteenth of March, 1867, for thirteen years. It is believed that Brother Welch was personally, at that time, strongly opposed to the tax, and in point of fact never himself paid it, but left it for his Lodge to settle. When, however, it became necessary to decide for the future payment of debt and interest, there was no hesitation or delay on his part. He at once arranged for the fullest information to the Lodges as to the necessities of the case and the best means for meeting them. He planned and carried through the measures needful for renewing the tax, and accomplished the task to the general satisfaction.

Brother Welch was accustomed to form his opinions after careful consideration, but, when they were once formed, to change them was almost as impossible as to move the everlasting hills. Yet we have seen that when official duty seemed to require the change he could. and would make it himself, but woe to him who attempted to bring it about by outside pressure.

Brother Welch often referred to the fact that he was born on the site of the old Stackpole house, on the corner of Milk and Devonshire Streets, Boston, a property which his mother inherited. The writer of this memorial has the pleasure of recording that he first saw the light on the opposite corner of Devonshire street a few years after the advent of the hopeful scion of the Welch family.

The birthplace of Brother Welch was further consecrated by the laying of the Corner-stone of the United States Post Office on the sixteenth day of October, 1871, by Grand Master William S. Gardner, in the presence of General Grant and the whole Cabinet. The President maintained through the entire ceremony his usual apparently stolid and indifferent manner, never manifesting the slightest interest, until the Grand Master presented for his inspection the lock of Washington's hair which has been so sacredly preserved in our archives for the last one hundred years.

On that occasion the most imposing Masonic and military procession was organized that had ever been seen in Boston. The Grand Marshal, Col. William T. Grammer, who still lives, was in charge, and the procession and eervices were conducted with the most admirable order and success.

Brother Welch married Aug. 20, 1844, Mary Love Boott, daughter of Kirk Boott, of Boston, who was then engaged in manufacturing in Lowell, where the daughter was born Oct. 4, 1823. She died at Cohasset, March 29, l899. Two sons, Charles A. and Francis Clarke Welch, survive.

The professional life of our Brother was long and distinguished. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1888, studied law in a Boston office, was admitted to the Suffolk Bar in 1837, and in 1838 formed a partnership with Edward D. Sohier, which continued until that gentleman's death in 1888. This long association indicates that they were singularly adapted to working together. During that whole period the firm occupied a foremost position in their profession, it being Mr. Welch's part to argue most of the cases before the full bench. The dry details of the law were not the only matters which found a place in the varied affairs of the office. Each of the partners was gifted with a keen wit, and many an amusing story is told of the give and take which often enlivened the grave and sober conferences.

Brother Welch was admitted to the other branches of Masonry in the usual course, being exalted to the Royal Arch in St. Andrew's Chapter, of Boston, in 1862, becoming a charter member of Waltham Chapter, Knighted in St. Bernard Commandery, presiding in both of the latter Bodies, and receiving the honorary Thirty-third Degree of the Scottish Rite Aug. 17, 1876.

He was elected a member of the Board of Directors of the Grand Lodge Dec. 13, 1865, and served until Dec. 9, 1896, when he declined further election.

In view of the important and arduous duties of his profession, hi€s many other business engagements, official and otherwise, we must wonder that Brother Welch was able and willing to give so much time and strength to the service of the Fraternity.

With the deepest sentiments of gratitude his Brethren may pronounce the plaudit, Well done! good and faithful servant.

Respectfully submitted,
Sereno D. Nickerson

SPEECHES

AT THE RE-INTERMENT OF ISAIAH THOMAS, JUNE 1878

NOTES

CHARTERS GRANTED

CHARTERS RESTORED

RULINGS



Grand Masters