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SAMUEL WELLS 1836-1903

Deputy Grand Master, 1888-1889
Grand Master, 1890-1892.

TERM

1890 1891 1892

NOTES

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1903-117, in Grand Master's Address:

R.W. Samuel Wells, a beloved and highly esteemed Permanent Member of this Grand Lodge, passed into the life eternal Oct. 3, 1903, at his home in Boston, aged sixty-seven years and twenty-four days. A man of wide experience, of marked ability and social excellence, he merited and secured the confidence and esteem of a large circle of friends. He was Grand Treasurer from 1879 to 1887, Deputy Grand Master in 1888 and 1889, and was Grand Master in 1890, 1891 and 1892, which position he filled with honor to himself and with great acceptance to the Brethren. His obsequies took place at the Arlington-street Church, October 6, and were largely attended by friends and prominent citizens. The Grand Lodge was represented by the Grand Master and five of its Past Grand Masters, also several of its Permanent Members.

From Proceedings, Page 1903-147:

R.W. Bro. Samuel Wells was suddenly taken from us. On a Thursday he arrived in Boston from his summer home in Campobello and on the following Saturday, October 3, he breathed his last at bis residence in this city.

Brother Wells, son of Samuel and Louisa Ann (Appleton) Wells, was born in Hallowell, Maine, Sept. 9, 1836. His father, born in 1801, removed to Portland, Maine, in 1844, where he practiced law. He became a justice of the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine, serving as such from 1848 to 1852, and in 1856 and 1857 was the governor of that State. On retiring from the executive chair, he removed, with his family, to Boston, where he practiced his profession until his decease, July 15, 1868.

His son Samuel received his early education at a private school in Portland, Maine. He was graduated from Harvard College in 1857. After his graduation he became a student in his father's office in Boston and was admitted to the Suffolk bar, Dec. 18, 1858. He was married June 11, 1863, to Kate Boott Gannett, daughter of Rev. Ezra Stiles Gannett, D.D., pastor of the Arlington-Street Church, Boston, by whom there were three children: Stiles Gannett, the late Samuel, jr., and Louis Appleton.

Brother Wells continued in practice with his father until the latter's death in 1868, and afterward was alone until about 1871, when he formed a co-partnership with the late Edward Bangs, which has since been continued under the firm name of Bangs and Wells. He was not long engaged in general practice, but confined himself to office business and the management of important trusts. He was one of the leading members of the Boston bar and was recognized as an able, judicious and reliable lawyer. He achieved success through his intellectual ability, sound judgment and great industry. During forty years he won and retained the confidence and respect of the community.

Outside of his profession he was active and efficient. He was president of the State Street Exchange; vice-president of the John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company; a member of the Citizens' Association of Boston, of the Tariff Reform League, Boston Society of Natural History, Boston Young Men's Christian Union, Bunker Hill Monument Association, Bostonian Society and of many other similar organizations; also a founder and the first president of the Exchange Club; a member of several other clubs — as the Union,. St. Botolph, Unitarian, Papyrus and Boston Art Clubs, Beacon Society, all of Boston, and of the University Club in New York city. In these various organizations he was not merely a nominal member, but his tastes, activity and experience made him influential in their management and purpose.

Brother Wells received the first three degrees in Freemasonry in Revere Lodge of Boston in 1862 and 1863, and was elected a member thereof March 3, 1863, and an honorary member Jan. 5, 1875. He served that Lodge in various offices until 1873. He was Worshipful Master that year and in 1874. He was Treasurer of Revere Lodge from 1879 to 1887. He was admitted a member of the First Worshipful Masters' Association in January, 1873, and was its president from 1876 to 1881.

He was Grand Treasurer of the Grand Lodge, A.F. and A.M., of Massachusetts from 1879 to 1887; Deputy Grand Master of the Grand. Lodge of Massachusetts in 1888 and 1889 and Grand Master of the same in 1890, 1891 and 1892.

Brother Wells received the capitular degrees in St. Andrew's Royal Arch Chapter and was admitted to membership therein April 5, 1865. He was created a Knight Templar in St. Bernard Commandery of Boston, Nov. 3, 1865; was its Eminent Commander in 1871 and 1872 and was made an honorary member thereof in 1873. He received the various grades of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite—from the 4° to the 32° inclusive in 1875 and 1876. He was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General at Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 16. 1890, and was crowned an active member, ad vitam, of the Supreme Council, 33° for the District of Massachusetts, Sept. 22, 1892. He was Illustrious Deputy for the District of Massachusetts from Sept. 22, 1893, to Sept. 23, 1897.

The foregoing is the record of the public work of our friend and Brother, but there was other and no less efficient of a private nature. He was active in philanthropic work, not simply as an adviser or manager, but as a willing and generous supporter. He made a close study of scientific matters and was one of the first in this country to employ the microscope in photography. In the threefold capacity of lawyer, scientist and philanthropist, he achieved eminence and honor. As a citizen he was universally respected for his integrity, public spirit and liberality.

To us who were associated with him, and knew him intimately, he was the embodiment of gentleness, humor and generosity. Noise and pageantry were not his choice. His voice was soft and low; his manner gentle, and he always moved amongst us with quiet grace and pleasing smile. His humor was a remarkable trait. He made the most ordinary things bubble with fun. Even in serious, conversations he found the gem of mirth; he held it before us and, with the dexterity of a master, dazzled us with its many beauties. His generosity was to many an unknown quantity; to some of us it was not. He never hesitated to give generously when a call was made upon him for assistance. Brethren — some dead, some living — have unknowingly been the recipients of his cheerful generosity. These traits — gentleness, humor, generosity — were prominent in his character and never failed. By these fraternal cords he bound our hearts to his so strongly that this separation, though temporary, is both painful and sorrowful, yet we will cherish with sincere gratitude the blessed memories of his sterling worth and constant friendship.

The funeral services of our Brother were held in the Arlington-Street Church, Boston, on the 6th of October, 1903, and were attended by a large number of his late associates and friends. His widow with one son and one daughter survive him. Death, the common leveller of humanity, has borne Brother Wells from us. He has joined the great company of our beloved Brethren whose voices on earth are now silent. Sundered fraternal ties have been united in the Celestial Lodge.

"As for our friends, they are not lost;
The several vessels of the fleet,
Though parted now by tempest tossed,
Shall safely in the haven meet."

Fraternally submitted, EDWIN B. HOLMES,
SAMUEL C. LAWRENCE,
CHARLES C. HUTCHINSON,
Committee.

SPEECHES

AT CORNERSTONE LAYING IN PALMER, JULY 1890

From Proceedings, Page 1890-68:

BRETHREN, VETERANS AND FRIENDS: It was truly said, at the beginning of the ceremony you have just witnessed, that from time immemorial it has been the custom of this Ancient and Honorable Fraternity to lay the Corner-stones of public buildings in ancient form. The origin of this custom is lost in the mists of the past. We learn little or nothing concerning it from history, and the traditions of Masonry do not assist our research. We know that Masons formerly were operative before they were speculative, and that they then not only were the actual makers and layers of Corner-stones, but the constructors of the buildings that arose thereon. It has been said that the architects of Tyre formed a religious association under the name of the "Dionysiac Fraternity," about the time of the Ionic migration, fixed approximately at 1044 B.C., nearly five hundred -years before the commencement of King Solomon's Temple; and that this association was exclusively engaged in the construction of temples and theatres in Asia Minor, and that they interwove their substantial work with religious ceremonies and mystical forms.

While this tradition may not be capable of historic proof, yet we see in the ceremony you have participated in to-day internal evidence of the connection, either by direct transmission or by subsequent imitation, with ancient Grecian ceremonies. But however that may be, we know that Freemasons built the cathedral of Strasburg, beginning in 1015 A.D., and continuing to 1439; that of Cologne, founded in 1248; and the magnificent convent of Batalba in Portugal, in the fifteenth century; besides many famous structures in England and on the continent of Europe.

Is it not, therefore, reasonable to infer that in those times, now ancient to $s, the Corner-stones of those religious edifices were laid with forms and ceremonies somewhat resembling those we now use? — perhaps then with pomp and splendor, trumpets and banners, and winding processions of robed priests and Master Masons, instead of our simpler forms, more adapted to the taste of this age.

There is a pleasure in the thought that we have in this ceremony something which connects us with the spirit of the past; that in this age of rush and whirl we can pause for a moment and feel that we are repeating words and actions which were said and done by our predecessors for unknown generations. There is refreshment in this theme, as when the weary traveller on the hot and dusty plain pauses to catch on his sunburnt brow the cool breath from the distant mountain peak.

Our ancient Brethren devoted themselves principally to building religious edifices, and this fact suggests to us a change in the character of modern civilization from that of the old, of which we may well be proud.

To-day we begin a public library for the use of the citizens of this town, a building which could not have been thought of before the invention of printing, nor practically realized until modern inventions and machinery have placed literature within the reach of the poorest.

The secrets of art and architecture that were formerly hid within the breasts of the learned few, and transmitted laboriously by word of mouth to those entitled to receive them, are now open to the eyes of the humblest, and in this building may be learned by all who choose to come and read. In the multiplication of such buildings throughout our land lies the hope and promise of peace and prosperity in the future.

But we have here another purpose, and one which would have pleased but not surprised our ancient Brethren, for they were accustomed from times unknown to reward and commemorate courage and valor. We have in this building a memorial of those who nearly thirty years ago left home and all they loved, to preserve by their suffering and by their courage this country as one and indivisible. To such of your fellow-townsmen as lost their lives in their patriotic efforts you do well to erect this memorial, and to combine with its monumental character the means of teaching children yet unborn the virtues of patriotism, of love of their fellow-men, of charity and good will to all.

MR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN OF THE BUILDING COMMITTEE: On behalf of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, I thank you for the opportunity you have given us of participating in this celebration and assisting you in laying the Corner-stone of a building destined to forever remind your citizens of all that is good and true and noble.

AT CORNERSTONE LAYING IN LOWELL, OCTOBER 1890

From Proceedings, Page 1890-90:

BRETHREN OF THE GRAND LODGE, BROTHER MASONS AND CITIZENS OF LOWELL: — To-day we have left the busy cares of life, the routine of daily work, and the. struggles and labors of business and commerce, to .unite in ceremonies that elevate our thoughts, enlarge our minds, and fill our hearts with love for freedom and equality.

It is fitting that we should leave our homes and shops, mills and factories, and, forgetting the cares of existence, assemble together for the purpose of laying the corner-stone of this building, destined to be the home of free government for this great city.

This ceremony strengthens in the minds and hearts of all the fact that in this country and city the people govern themselves. Here there is no place for that ancient dogma descended from barbaric times and called the "divine right of kings"; here no man is born to rule; here no man acquires the right to govern his fellow-man through inheritance ; and here no one can obtain the-right to authority except by the suffrages of his fellow-men.

We who are now living have so long enjoyed the privilege of freedom in government that we are apt to forget the labors and struggles of our forefathers, in their efforts to procure for us the inestimable privileges which we enjoy. It is hardly more than two hundred years since our ancestors, by great effort, with many differences and disagreements, began the experiments which have led, by slow changes, to our present forms of government, and yet we are impatient because we have not already reached perfection.

There is still much more work for us to do, before we can completely and. satisfactorily solve the problem of how to attain perfection in government. As the builders will add stone to stone and brick to brick in the construction of this building, so let us with patience and industry, gradually work out the solution of this great problem, until we can show the world a perfect model of municipal government. As the founders of your city chained the strength of the free-flowing river, and led it a captive to do the work of thousands of arms, so it will be your privilege to control, educate and direct the intellectual force of your people to the highest and most exalted use of which it is capable.

Before there were City Halls, before there were schools, before there were buildings erected for the administration of justice, when the only public buildings were Temples for religious uses, Masonry began to lay corner-stones, and down through the growth of civilization and the progress of the human race in improvement, Masonry has continued to lay corner-stones.

It has witnessed the wonderful expansion of the human mind as exemplified in the multiplication of such buildings from time to time.

Beginning ages ago with Temples, coming then to monuments and cathedrals, and then to the present time, we find the greatest variety of public buildings in this free republic. Here it has been the privilege of Masons to lay the cornerstones of Post-offices and other public buildings of the United States, State Houses, City Halls, Public Libraries, Memorial Halls, Monuments, Churches, and Masonic buildings. Masons are good citizens, and are always pleased at any opportunity to promote good government, and they believe that in this building will be found an example of organized civil liberty to be followed the world over, and I give you again the charge to let this structure be erected and forever maintained according to the grand plan, in Peace, Harmony and Brotherly Love.

CHARTERS GRANTED

• 12/10/1890 Prospect, Roslindale
• 06/08/1892 Brigham, Ludlow

RULINGS

None.

Grand Masters