GMWeld

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OTIS E. WELD 1840-1897

OtisWeld1894.jpg

Junior Grand Warden, 1880
Grand Master, 1894


TERM

1894

NOTES

MEMORIAL

FROM PROCEEDINGS, 1897

From Proceedings, Page 1897-99:

Our late Grand Master, Otis Everett Weld, was the son of John Davis and Elizabeth Everett Weld, and was born in Boston, May 20, 1840. He was educated in the public schools of the city, and at an early age entered the employ of his relatives, who composed the firm of J. D. and M. Williams, wine merchants. Later he became a member of this house and continued in the business until his death, the name of the firm having been made Otis E. Weld & Co. He was connected with other business interests, notably as one of the Directors of the Third National Bank and of the Boylston Insurance Company, and was a member of several social organizations, being President of the Temple Club at the time of his death.

He was an active member for nearly forty years of the Independent Corps of Cadets, and for twenty years of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. He was a Corporal in the former organization at the time it was called out by Governor Andrew in 1862 to hold Fort Warren, when its regular garrison was ordered to the front, and later held the rank of First Lieutenant for about ten years. He was an active member of Edward W. Kinsley Post, G.A.R., deriving his eligibility to membership from his service at Fort Warren, which was further commemorated by the organization some years ago of the Fort Warren Cadets, who have since met annually to recall the days when the solid men of Boston were called upon to prove their fidelity to flag and country.

Brother Weld received light in the The Lodge of Eleusis Jan. 18, 1866. He was crafted March 26, raised May 17, and elected to .membership October 18, of that year. Serving two years each as Senior Deacon, Junior Warden and Senior Warden, he was elected Worshipful Master Dec. 19, 1872, and held that office for the two years following. He was exalted ih St. Andrew's Royal Arch Chapter Jan. 3, 1867, and elected to membership February 6. In this Body he was for many years Trustee of the General and Permanent Funds. He was knighted in St. Bernard Commandery in 1867, and was its Eminent Commander in 1874 and 1875. He received the degrees conferred by Boston. Council of Royal and Select. Masters in 1869. His connection with the various Bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite dates from 1868. He was crowned a Sovereign Grand' Inspector General of the Thirty-third degree at Milwaukee, Wis., in September, 1878.

Brother Weld was elected a member of the Auditing Committee of this Grand Lodge in December, 1874, and held that office five years. In 1879 he was Grand Pursuivant, and in December of that year was elected Junior Grand Warden by a unanimous vote. He was a member of the Board of Directors from December, 1882, to the close of his term as Grand Master in 1894. Serving one year in the latter position, the condition of his health interfered with a discharge of the duties of the office in a manner satisfactory to himself and prevented his becoming a candidate for re-election. His interest in all that pertained to the affairs of the Craft suffered no abatement, but his attendance at our Masonic gatherings became of necessity irregular. Travelling in the South for his health, the end came unexpectedly, and he died at Savannah, March 17, 1897. His remains were accompanied to Boston by the relative who was with him, and were committed to kindred dust March 20, at Forest. Hills. The Grand Master and R.W. Samuel Wells represented the Grand Lodge as pall-bearers.

R.W. Otis E. Weld, whether we speak of him as Brother, or apply to him any of the words by which we are wont to indicate our fraternal relations, responded fully to them all. Genial in nature, plain and direct in speech and action, his heart beat warmly for all with whom he was connected by the ties of family, by business, or social association, and made its feelings manifest in deeds of benevolence wherever sorrow and want became known to him. He rejoiced in doing for others. He delighted in the exercise of the virtues of charity and hospitality. His remembrance of the claims of his kindred, of those who were in his employ, and his noble contribution to the charitable endowments of this Grand Lodge, as shown in his bequests to them, prove the thoroughness with which he- had learned and obeyed the Scriptural and Masonic injunction to "do good to all, more especially to such as are of the household of faith."

His advancement in our Order was due not alone to his gifts of popularity, boundless though they seemed; not because he was an appreciative student of the ritual, but because the teachings of the Institution permeated his very being; because so far as health and strength permitted he endeavored to prove himself a good Mason: and his Brethren recognized - these qualities in him. Sympathy and generosity were his prominent characteristics.

Above his grave we may fitly place the urn and the broken column, but in the hearts of those who knew and loved him will be found the open book and the sprig of acacia, for in these his virtues will remain on lasting record, and in them his memory will be kept forever green.

Respectfully submitted,
THOMAS W. DAVIS,
HENRY S. ROWE,
GEORGE F. HALL,
Committee.

FROM COUNCIL OF DELIBERATION, 1897

From Proceedings of the Massachusetts Council of Deliberation AASR NMJ 1897, Page 55:

Ill. Bro. Otis Everett Weld was born in Boston, May 14, 1840, and was the son of John Davis Weld and Harriet Elizabeth Everett Weld. His father was a member of the firm of Hodges, Emmons & Weld, and its successor, Atkins & Weld, wholesale grocers, on South Market Street, Boston, and died in 1870.

Onr Brother received his common English education under private teachers, and, in 1856, was graduated from the English High School. The day after his graduation he engaged in the well-known house of John D. and M. Williams, where he remained as clerk, partner and head of the house until his death, which occurred in Savannah, Ga., March 17, 1897. He was buried in Forest Hills Cemetery in West Roxbury, March 20, 1897.

He was trustee for many wards and estates, was a Director of the Third National Bank from Jan. 8, 1878, to March 26, 1881, and from Jan. 14, 1886, to the close of his life. He was a Director in the Boylston Insurance Company from Jan. 20, 1879, to Jan. 15, 1894. He was Secretary of the Temple Club for three years, from January, 1878, and its President in 1881 to 1882.

In 1859, he became a member of the Independent Corps of Cadets and continued his membership during life. lie was Treasurer of the Corps several years. He held in this Corps, subsequently called the First Corps of Cadets, a commission as Lieutenant, commanding a Company from November, 1863, to January, 1873. During the war of the Rebellion, he was mustered into the service of the United States, and was on duty at Fort Warren, Boston, for several weeks. He was a member of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company from about 1879, and was also a member of the Edward W. Kinsley Post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He never married.

Our Ill. Brother received Masonic Light in the Lodge of Eleusis, Boston, Jan. 18, 1866, was raised May 17, 1866, and was elected a member Oct. 18, 1866. He served two years each as Senior Deacon, Junior Warden and Senior Warden, and was elected Wor. Master, Dec. 19, 1872, and for a second term Dec. 18, 1873.

He was exalted in St. Andrew’s Royal Arch Chapter Jan. 2, 1867, affiliated Feb. 6, 1867, and become a life member in 1874. He received the Cryptic degrees in Boston Council of R. and S. Masters in 1869, and took life membership. He was knighted in St. Bernard Commandery June 7, 1867, and became a member Oct. 4. 1867. He was elected Eminent Commander in December, 1873, and again in December, 1874, and to honorary membership Jan. 12, 1876. In the year 1877 be was Treasurer of the Commandery.

In the A. A. Scottish Rite he received the degrees in Boston Lodge of Perfection and Boston Council of P. of J. in 1868, and became a life member in the Lodge that year and in the Council in 1870. He served the Lodge as Ven. Sen., Gr. Warden and Dep. Gr. Master. He received the 18th degree in the Mt. Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix, April 24, 1868, and was elected an honorary member April 7, 1871. He was Junior Warden from May 18, 1871, ten years, to May, 1881, and trustee of the Permanent Fund from December, 1880, the rest of his life, He received the 32d degree in Boston Consistory May 15, 1868, and became a life member. He was a trustee of the Permanent Fund of Massachusetts Consistory from Dec. 20, 1879. lie was made a Sov. Gr. Ins. General, 33°, and Honorary Member of the Supreme Council for the Northern Masonic Jurisdiction, U. S. A., Sept. 18, 1878.

He was a member of the Auditing Committee of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for five years to Dec. 10, 1879, when lie was elected Junior Grand Warden, and became a permanent member of the Grand Body. He was elected a member of the Hoard of Directors of the Grand Lodge Sept. 13. 1882, and served in that capacity to Dec 27, 1894, being President of the Board the last year. He was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge Dec. 13, 1893, and was Installed Dec. 27, 1893. He served in that office one year, declining a re-election on account of i11 health. He was President of the Masonic Education and Charity Trust during his term of service as Grand Master.

In the death of Ill. Brother Weld the cause of Masonry lost a warm friend and supporter. He early gained the love and respect of his associates in the Masonic Institution, and rose by natural steps to the receipt of its highest honors. During the last two years the uncertain state of his health prevented him from taking an active part in Masonry, but his interest in it continued unabated, and he had a special fondness for Knight Tcmplarism and the Scottish Kite In which his influence was much felt. His generous gift of $20,000.00 to the Trustees of the “Masonic Education and Charity Trust" of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts will be gratefully remembered, but it is only one among many proofs of the strong hold which our beloved Institution bad upon his heart.

Theo. H. Emmons,
Daniel W. Lawrence,
Eugene A. Holton,
Committee.

CHARTERS GRANTED


RULINGS

None.


Grand Masters