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HENRY PRICE LODGE

Location: Charlestown

Chartered By: John T. Heard

Charter Date: 06/08/1859 VI-250

Precedence Date: 05/19/1858

Current Status: in Grand Lodge Vault; merged with Everett C. Benton Lodge to form Price-Benton Lodge, 11/21/2002. Now part of The Consolidated Lodge.

NOTES

• Correspondence with Army Lodge #10, 1864, regarding the donation of regalia

PAST MASTERS

YEARS

1858 1859 1874 1879 1882 1883 1886 1892 1893 1898 1901 1904 1905 1907 1908 1909 1910 1911 1912 1914 1916 1917 1919 1921 1923 1924 1927 1933 1934 1941 1946 1947 1949 1950 1952 1953 1954 1956 1958 1959 1962 1964 1965 1971 1974 1975 1976 2002

EVENTS

RECEPTION, FEBRUARY 1864

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXIII, No. 5, March, 1864, p. 142:

On Monday evening, 9th ult., the members of Henry Price Lodge, in Charlestown, called upon their Brother Lieut. Lucius H. Warren, commanding Co. I, 32d Regt., now on a furlough for re-enlisting as veterans. Rooms were prepared at the Prescot House for their reception. Soon the Charlestown band appeared and discoursed most excellent music. After an hour spent in agreeable conversation, the company were invited into the dining room, where Col. Bigelow had provided a substantial and most inviting supper. Thos. B. Harris, Senior Warden of the Lodge, in a neat speech, gave a hearty welcome to their Brother who had come home from the war, after eighteen months' hard service, and who was soon to return with his regiment to the field. To this Lieut. Warren replied gracefully, thanking the Brethren for the cordial demonstration with whiuh they had surprised them. Speeches were also made by Judge Warren, Hon. Gideon Haynes, Hon. Francis Childs, Horatio Wellington, Esq. Lieut. Walther Everett, of the City Guard, and others. At a seasonable hour this pleasant interview terminated, and on retiring, the band again serenaded and the company cheered. It wae an occasion which will be pleasantly remembered by those who were present.

On Thursday evening following, our young patriotic Brother was honored with a public ball, and made the recipient of a handsome compliment in the presentation of an elegant a word and equipments, by the company under his command. Sergeant Timothy McCarthy, appeared in the ball-room suddenly during the evening with these in his hand, and addressed his commander as follows:

Lieut. Warren :—It has fallen to my lot this evening to perform the pleasant duly, on behalf of the men of your command, of presenting to you a memorial, fitting, as it seems to them and myself, of our association together, and of our general esteem for you as a soldier and man. During the period we have been under your command, and in fact through all the perils of the field, the march, and the bivouac, through which the Stone Light Guard have passed since the corps first left Charlestown, you have proved yourself worthy of our confidence and esteem, and we therefore improve the occasion to present you with this badge of honorable service in the cause of your country—which is the cause of all mankind. In presenting the sword at this time, we have a double purpose. We desire to express through such an emblem our appreciation of the past, and our confidence in your future. Take it and wear it worthily as we know you will, remembering always the motto of the East: " Draw me not without cause—Sheath me not with dishonor:" and let it ever stand as a memorial between us of our confidence in each other. Whither you bear it, we pledge here to follow ; and may our future be a common one, and may each and all of us contribute something to the fame of our native city and State, which shall give Massachusetts a commanding position when the rise, progress and crushing of this wicked rebellion and of its blind leaders, come to be written.

It remains only for me to-express the wish, that in life you may attain honorable success, and attendant happiness.

Lieut. Warren replied as follows :—

I am deeply sensible, Sergeant, of this unexpected mark of your esteem, and am grateful for this most beautiful sword and accompaniments, which you have been pleased to present to me on behalf of my command. I shall cherish these, not for their intrinsic value alone, but for your approbation of the manner in which I have performed the duties that have devolved upon me. I have endeavored to pursue a straightforward course—knowing no partiality, but treating all alike, regardless of consequences :—always acting, as I thought would be for the best interest of my company and the service. I entered into military life, as most of you did, but little acquainted with military matters. I enlisted with you as a private —because I considered it the duty of every young citizen, that he should learn to be a citizen soldier. The sooner one learns to be a good soldier, the better citizen he will make.

Fellow Soldiers : your conduct has well merited all the praise, which has been bestowed upon you. Nothing could surpass your bravery at Fredicksburg, at Chancellorsville, and at Gettysburg. 1 feel proud to command such a company as this ; I have become attached to you as strongly as to my family ; I have endured with you all the hardships and sufferings, which you have passed through, whether on the battlefield, on the march, or in Uie camp. I consider it my hap. py lot to be with you. I rejoice that we were the first from Massachusetts to re-enlist for three years more, and when our term of service is completed, we shall be proud to say, " we belonged to the Army of the Potomac."

Fellow soldiers: I shall preserve this sword in remembrance of the scenes through which we have passed. I shall preserve it untarnished and revere it as "the sword of Bunker Hill."

At the supper, a letter was read from Hon. P. J. Stone, Mayor of the city, enclosing fifty dollars, to be expended as the veterans of this company should think best.

Note: Lt. Lucius Warren, initiated in this lodge in 1860, survived the Civil War and dimitted from it in 1869.

ST. JOHN'S DAY, DECEMBER 1865

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXV, No. 4, February 1866, p. 118:

The anniversary of St. John the Evangelist, was celebrated by Henry Price Lodge, in Charlestown, on Wednesday evening, 27th Dec.; The Lodge assembled at 6 o'clock, and after transacting the business of the evening, with their friends and invited guests repaired to the supper room. At the conclusion of the supper, a handsome silver tea service was presented to Hon. Br. Gideon Haynes, in compliment for kindness and services to Br. Lounsbury, formerly Master of this Lodge. The presentation address was made by Br. W. W. Peirce, and responded to in a feeling manner by Br. Haynes. A silver pitcher and goblet were then presented to Br. Waitt, the retiring Secretary of the Lodge, for past services. This presentation was made by Br. Charles Hurd. A Past Master's Jewel was then presented to Br. T. B. Harris, by Hon. Br. G. Washington Warren. Subsequently speeches were made by Br. Warren, Br. Thomas Hooper (the oldest Mason in Charlestown), Br. George P. Kettell and W. Br. William H. Kent, the latter in reply to a complimentary toast to St. John's Lodge, Boston, of which he is Master. It was a very interesting and pleasant occasion.

GRAVE VISIT, JUNE 1866

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXV, No. 11, September 1866, p. 319:

THE GRAVE OF HENRY PRICE.

Henry Price Lodge of Charlestown paid a memorial visit to the grave of the first Grand Master in America, at Townsend, on Thursday, the 21st of June last. The occasion was one of great interest to all present, fraught, as it must have been, with many pleasant memories and historical suggestions. The officers of the Grand Lodge were politely invited to be present and unite in the ceremonies and festivities of the occasion; but official duties in another part of the State prevented their attendance. Appropriate addresses were made at the grave, and subsequently at the table, by Brothers S. M. Nesmith, Master of the Lodge; L. S. Bancroft of Pepperell; G. W. Warren; W. W. Wheildon; Rev. O. F. Spofford; Gideon Haynes and J. A. D. Worcester of Charlestown; Hon. Charles R. Train of Framingham; E. D. Bancroft of Groton, and others. A full account of the proceedings appeared in the "Bunker Hill Aurora " of the 23d, but did not reach us until after the matter for our present issue was made up. We hope to be able to find room for it in our next.

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXV, No. 12, October 1866, p. 343:

HENRY PRICE LODGE — MASONIC EXCURSION AND FESTIVAL.

Henry Price Lodge of Chariestown made an excursion to Townsend, on Thursday, June 21, accompanied by the Brigade Band of Boston. They took the cars at half-past seven o'clock at the foot of Austin Street, and arrived at Townsend Centre at 9.20. Several of the brethren from Corinthian Lodge of Concord, and St. Paul's and Caleb Butler Lodges of Groton, joined the party at these stations,—so that the company included about one hundred brethren. The day was pleasant and warm, with a fine breeze, and nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the trip or the full enjoyment of the occasion.

Henry Price Lodge was organized as follows:

• S. M. Nesmith, W. M.
• Eben W. Keyes, S. IV.
• Francis Childs, J. W.
• Rev. O. F. Safford, C.
• J. P. Loring, Secretary
• Ashbel Waitt, Treasurer
• Gideon Haynes, M.
• Benjamin Hinckley, S. D.
• G. E. McKay, J. D.
• J. Swords and C. P. Fairbanks, Stewards
• S. W. Lewis, O. S.
• R. Hill, T.

Soon after ten o'clock, the brethren in regalia were formed in procession by the Marshal, Br. Gideon Haynes, and proceeded to the grave of the first Grand Master of Masons in New England, Henry Price, in memory of whom the Lodge in that city was named. The grave is in the old burying-ground of the town, about one mile from the centre, and less than half a mile from the house beyond in.which the worthy father of Masonry in this country lived and ended bis days. A large square slate grave-stone marks the spot, and bears the following inscription: —

In memory of
HENRY PRICE, ESQ.

Was born in London about the year of our Lord 1697. He removed to Boston about the year 1728. Received a deputation, appointing him Grand Master of Masons in New England; and, in the year 1788, was appointed a Cornet in the Governor's troop of Guards with the rank of Major. By his diligence and industry in business, he acquired the means of a comfortable living, with which he removed to Townsend, in the latter part of Ms life. He quitted mortality the 20th of May, A.D. 1780, leaving a widow with two young daughters, with a numerous company of friends and acquaintances, to mourn his departure, who have that ground of hope concerning his present lot which results from his undissembled regard to his Maker and his extensive benevolence to his fellow-creatures, manifested in life by a behavior consistent with his character as a Mason and his nature as a man.

An Honest Man, the noblest work of God.

While the members of this ancient fraternity stood in form around this humble but honored grave, prayer was offered by Rev. Br. O. F. Safford, followed by singing and a dirge by the band. Marshal Haynes then introduced W. Br. S. M. Nesmith, Master of Henry Price Lodge, who addressed the brethren as follows: —

Brethren,—We now stand around the grave of Henry Price,—the first Grand Master of Freemasons in North America. We have selected this day to pay homage and respect to the memory of our departed brother, as it commemorates the anniversary of St. John the Baptist. We have made our pilgrimage hither to gaze for the first time upon the sacred spot, dear to the heart of every true Mason, to look upon the quiet grave where in silent repose rests all that is mortal of him whose honored name we bear. Brethren, I need only to remind you of the sacredness of this place and occasion, — of this beautiful town,—chosen as the last dwelling-place of our Ancient Grand Master,—and of the inhabitants of the town, who hold in great venera¬ tion the memory of Henry Price. But the theme is not mine to dwell upon, nor the time to occupy. We have with us to-day several distinguished Masons,—officers, present and past, of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge,— those who have by pen and word recounted the virtues of him whose memory we gratefully cherish, and who will address you on this interesting occasion.

The Marshal then introduced W. Br. Luther S. Bancroft of Pepperell, who delivered an eloquent and patriotic address to the brethren; and he was followed by R. W. Brothers G. W. Warren, W. W. Wheildon, and C. R. Train, in brief and pertinent and reverent speeches, which, with whatever prepara¬ tion (where there had been none), could not have been better adapted to the occasion and the place. The concluding speech was made by Rev. Br. B. Judd of Townsend, and was excellent both in spirit and tone. A hymn was then sung by the choir and brethren to the tune of Old Hundred, and a benediction pronounced by the Chaplain. During the exercises, the audience, including a large number of citizens and ladies of the place, remained standing under a burning sun, and for much of the time uncovered. All were deeply interested in the purpose and exercises of the occasion, and gave a respectful attention to the several speakers. The band performed some choice pieces of music between the speeches; and, while the brethren lingered around the grave, and the Lodge having to this extent fulfilled the purpose of its coming in a reverential and Christian manner, the procession was again formed, and returned to the centre of the town to dine.

At half-past one o'clock, the company marched into the dinner-hall to the music of the band, the W. M. presiding. Prayer was offered by the Rev. Chaplain, and, without further ceremony, the brethren were invited to partake of the food for the inner man placed before them. The Marshal of the day, Br. Haynes, was appointed toast-master, and in a few introductory words introduced the first toast: —

The memory of our first Grand Master, Henry Price.

He called upon R. W. Br. Warren to respond. Br. Warren gave a brief account of Grand Master Henry Price, of his character and services to the institution; spoke of his removal from West Cambridge to Townsend, of his family and his claims to consideration and honor by the fraternity. He alluded to the working tools of Henry Price Lodge, made from a pear-tree planted by the Grand Master, and presented to the Lodge by Past Grand Master John T. Heard. He concluded with a sentiment: The Masonic family, — May none be admitted to it who cannot show that they are capable of appreciating the virtues of Masonry.

The next sentiment was announced as follows: —

The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, — It is not under petticoat government, although presided over by an excellent "Dame."

R. W. Br. Train was called upon to respond to this toast. He spoke very beautifully and truthfully of the purpose of this visit of Henry Price Lodge, and eloquently enforced the sentiment of brotherly-love which it inculcated. He eulogized the institution for its religious influence and teachings over its members, and spoke very feelingly of the duty which was due from members to society and to each other. He thought this occasion, like much that is presented to us in Masonry, was symbolical, and was the enforcement of the great lesson which was the central idea of Masonry. He wore a Past Master's jewel, which was given to his father in 1796. He concluded with a sentiment from the Scriptures, "Nevertheless in a contrite heart and an humble spirit let us be accepted."

The next sentiment was as follows: —

Freemasonry! — In its fraternal relations, it knows no East, no West, no North, no South.

The toast-master called upon R. W. Br. Wheildon to respond to this sentiment. Admitting the universality of Masonry, Br. Wheildon said he had been thrilled to-day with the sentiments which this visit to the grave of the first Grand Master had inspired, and he thanked the gentleman who had preceded him for the earnest, impressive,'and kindly manner in which he had illustrated and enforced them. It seemed to him as if the occasion was hardly appreciated as an event sure to become historical in the annals of Freemason¬ ry. He said it was a great thing for an association, a community, or a nation, to be able to trace its origin to a respectable source. Our own country among nations stood alone in its ability to point to an ancestry of respectable gentlemen and a Christian people, —the pilgrims of Plymouth. Our Masonic institution, as we have seen to-day, is able to trace its beginning here in New England, and for aught he knew the American continent, to a worthy and upright Mason, who bears upon his grave-stone the highest eulogy which man can bestow upon his fellow-man. He spoke further on this subject, and thought it might, perhaps, be the duty of this Lodge to initiate measures for the erection of a suitable monument over the grave of the first Grand Master whose name it perpetuates.

The next toast, For the beauty and purity of our masonic work in this State, we are largely indebted to the Senior Grand Lecturer, — was responded to by R. W. Br. E. Dana Bancroft, Senior Grand Lecturer, in a very neat and appropriate speech of considerable length, in the course of which he read in a very touching manner the following masonic poem, to be found in the volumes of Moore's Magazine: —

THE SIGN OF DISTRESS.

'Twas a wild, dreary night in cheerless December,
'Twas a night only lit by a meteor's gleam;
'Twas the night, of that night I distinctly remember,
That my soul journeyed forth on the wings of a dream.

That dream found me happy, by tried friends surrounded,
Enjoying with rapture the comforts of wealth;
My cup overflowing with blessings unbounded,
My heart fully charged from the fountains of health.

That dream left me wretched, by friendship forsaken,
Dejected, despairing, and wrapt in dismay;
By poverty, sickness, and ruin o'ertaken,
To every temptation and passion a prey.

Devoid of an end or an aim, I then wandered
O'er highway, and byway, and lone wilderness;
On the past aad the present and future I pondered,
But pride bade me tender no sign of distress.

In frenzy the wine-cup I instantly quaffed at,
And habit and time made me quaff to excess;
But heated by wine, like a madman I laughed at
The thought of e'er giving a sign of distress.

But wine sank me lower by lying pretences;
It battered my raiment and furrowed my face;
It palsied my sinews and pilfered my senses,
And forced me to proffer a sign of distress.

I reeled to a chapel whose churchmen were kneeling,
And asking their Saviour poor sinners to bless;
My claims I presented, — the door of that chapel
Was slammed in my face at the sign of distress.

I strolled to the Priest, —that servant of Heaven,
And sued for relief with a wild eagerness ;
He prayed that my sins might at last be forgiven,
And thought he had answered my sign of distress.

I staggered at last to the home of my mother,
Believing my prayers would meet with success;
But father and mother and sister and brother
Disowned me and taunted my sign of distress.

I lay down to die as a stranger drew nigh me,
A spotless white lambskin adorning his dress;
My eye caught the emblem, and, ere he passed by me,
I gave, as before, the sad sign of distress.

With God-like emotion, that messenger hastens
To grasp and whisper, — "My brother, I bless
The hour of my life when I learned of the Masons
To give and to answer your sign of distress."

Let a sign of distress by a Craftsman be given,
And, though priceless to me is eternity's bliss,
May my name never enter the records of Heaven,
Should I fail to acknowledge that sign of distress.

The next sentiment, given in honor of the clergy attached to the fraternity, was very beautifully responded to by Rev. Br. Safford, in a speech of great purity of thought and expression, and full of interest in the association and its members.

The W. Master, at the suggestion of Br. Warren, called upon toast-master Haynes to say something. Br. Haynes responded in a prompt and spirited manner in an excellent speech. He said he had five hundred and sixteen men under his care and discipline, but never a Mason among them.

The next toast was complimentary to the Groton Lodges, and was eloquently responded to by Br. Luther S. Bancroft.

Toast-master Haynes next gave a toast to King Solomon's Lodge, Charlestown, which was responded to by W. Br. James A. D. Worcester, in a very pleasant and fraternal manner.

The brethren now united in singing Old Lang Syne, accompanied by the band, and thus concluded the festive exercises of the day.

The company took the cars for home at half-past four o'clock, well pleased with the lessons and enjoyments of the day. — Bunker Hill Aurora.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• Frank T. Barron, DDGM, District 3 (East Boston), 1910; District 3 (Boston), 1911, 1912; Memorial
• Francis Childs, DDGM, District 2 (Charlestown), 1875, 1876, 1877; Memorial
• John L. Davis, DDGM, District 3 (Boston), 1938, 1939; SN
• Joseph H. Gleason, DDGM, District 3 (East Boston), 1895; Junior Grand Warden 1897
• Mosier B. Goldberg, DDGM, District 3 (Boston), 1954, 1955; N
• Gideon P. Haynes, DDGM, District 2 (Charlestown), 1871; SN
• Sidney G. Holmes, DDGM, District 3 (Boston), 1968, 1969; N
• Samuel Lieberson, DDGM, District 3 (Boston), 1980, 1981; SN
• Charles S. Robertson, DDGM, District 3 (East Boston), 1886, 1887; Junior Grand Warden 1894
• Charles B. Rogers, DDGM, District 11, 1857-1860; SN
• Willis W. Stover, DDGM, District 3 (Boston), 1920, 1921; Memorial
• G. Washington Warren, Deputy Grand Master 1861

DISTRICTS

1858: District 11

1867: District 2 (Charlestown)

1883: District 3 (East Boston)

1911: District 3 (Boston)

1927: District 3 (Boston)

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges