Difference between revisions of "Hope"

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HOPE LODGE

Location: Gardner

Chartered By: William Parkman

Charter Date: 03/09/1865 VII-2

Precedence Date: 02/22/1864

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition for Dispensation: 1864
• Petition for Charter: 1865

ANNIVERSARIES

• 1914 (50th Anniversary)
• 1939 (75th Anniversary)
• 1964 (Centenary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1865 (Parkman; Constitution of Lodge and Hall dedication; see description below)
• 1880 (Welch)
• 1897 (Hutchinson; hall dedication; Special Communication)
• 1924 (Ferrell)
• 1927 (Simpson; Veterans' Night)
• 1939 (Perry; 75th Anniversary)
• 1954 (W. Johnson; Cornerstone laying)
• 1955 (W. Johnson; Hall dedication)
• 1964 (Osgood; Centenary)
• 1972 (Maxwell)
• 1979 (Melanson) not in Proceedings
• 2001 (Bauer)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1888 1907 1911 1912 1913 1923 1924 1925 1928 1931 1934 1935 1937 1939 1949 1955 1956 1959 1972 1987 2009

HISTORY

• 1897 (Historical address at hall dedication, 1897-26; see below)
• 1939 (75th Anniversary History, 1939-13)
• 1964 (Centenary History, 1964-6)

HISTORICAL ADDRESS, FEBRUARY 1897

From Proceedings, Page 1897-26:

It is well, whether as individuals or as an organization, when any special anniversary mile-stone in the march of life is reached, to pause, glance back over the past, review its successes and its failures, and seek to profit by their lessons for us in the forward march into the future.

So, upon this special anniversary, as well of the birth of our most illustrious Brother, the immortal George Washington, as our own as a Lodge, we assemble, and for the moment look back into the history of the past of Hope Lodge. It has fallen to the lot of the speaker, by request of the Committee of Arrangements, to act as the historian of the day. Conscious of my lack I am thankful for the honor bestowed. We are as a Lodge thankful for the honor conferred upon us by the presence of the representatives of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge and of so many representatives of the Craft from sister Lodges.

At the twenty-fifth anniversary of Hope Lodge, its history up to that point was given in an eloquent Address by Wor. Bro. John D. Edgell. Of course the historical facts of the present Address must of necessity be a repetition up to that time, with the addition of its history since.

It is not material for us to know whether Freemasonry existed before the flood; we do know that it has existed since. Whether its inception was with the giving of the patterns to Moses in the Mount and the building of the Tabernacle and continued in the building of King Solomon's Temple or not, it is enough for us to know that our beloved Institution is both Ancient and Honorable. "Even monarchs have for a season exchanged the sceptre for the trowel to patronize our mysteries and join in our assemblies."

It has withstood the assaults of ignorance, hypocrisy and superstition, from time immemorial. It has been tried: in the fires of adversity and has come out purified as the fine gold. Evidences of the handiwork of the Craft, of which there can be no doubt, exist, that show its great antiquity. From an essay entitled The First Glimpses of Freemasonry in North America," by R.W. Sereno D. Nickerson, Past Grand Master, and Recording Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, I quote as follows:

"I find that the earliest trace of the existence of Masons or Masonry on this continent so far as we are now aware, is indicated by the discovery of a flat slab of stone, near Annapolis in Nova Scotia, on which was engraved a square and compasses and the date, 1606; this is the earliest footprint of Masonry upon the continent."

The first warranted Lodge of Freemasons in America was at Boston in 1733. Henry Price, of Boston, was appointed Provincial Grand Master — letters of commission coming from Viscount Montague, Grand Master of England. From small beginnings the Institution spread and flourished for a century. Then came the Morgan excitement, that cast a cloud over the Craft until the great light of truth overcame the clouds of prejudice and ignorance, and the Institution came forth into a brighter and purer light from its temporary obscuration.

From that time on Masonry in this country has steadily and quietly pursued its onward march, keeping pace with the "Westward Ho!" of the Republic.

In the year 1864 there were a number of Masons in Gardner, "good men and true," who felt the need of the establishment of a Lodge. Acting upon that desire they petitioned the Grand Lodge to that effect. The following named Brethren were signers of the petition: LEVI HEYWOOD, GEORGE NICHOLS, HORACE WHITNEY, ANDREW J. MOORE, HENRY C. HILL, CHARLES HEYWOOD, EDWARD J. SAWYER, GEORGE E. WOODMAN, JAMES A. LAKIN, NATHANIEL HOLMES.

The Most Worshipful William Parkman, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in him, granted a Dispensation "authorizing and empowering the aforesaid well-beloved Brothers to form and open a Lodge after the manner of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and therein to admit and make Freemasons, according to the ancient customs, and not otherwise."

The records of the Lodge while under Dispensation show a large amount of Masonic work. At the expiration of one year, a second petition was presented to the M. W. Grand Lodge, signed by LEVI HEYWOOD, HORACE WHITNEY, CHARLES HEYWOOD, HENRY C. HILL, EDWARD J. SAWYER, ALONZO B. CLARK, GEORGE HEYWOOD, GEORGE NICHOLS, GEORGE E. WOODMAN, WILLIAM D. HERRICK, A. M. GREENWOOD, NATHANIEL HOLMES, JOHN W. HILL, JAMES H. GREENWOOD, FERNANDO C. WHITCOMB.

The petitioners prayed "that they might be erected and constituted into a regular Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons under the name of Hope Lodge, and that a charter might be issued to them empowering them to assemble in the town of Gardner and discharge the duties of Masonry in a regular and constitutional manner, according to the ancient ways and customs of the Fraternity."

In response to that petition a Charter was granted, specially enjoining upon the Brethren "carefully to transact all matters relating to the Craft; to enter Apprentices, pass Fellow-Crafts, raise Master Masons, collect funds for the relief of poor and distressed Brethren, their widows and orphans; to attend the Communications of the Grand Lodge, and punctually pay all sums assessed for its support," and further it expressly declared that "the precedence of said Lodge in the Grand Lodge and elsewhere should commence from the twenty-second clay of February, Anno Lucis 5864."

This Charter was signed by

• WILLIAM PARKMAN, Grand Master.
• WENDELL T. DAVIS, Senior Grand Warden.
• SOLON THORNTON. Junior Grand Warden.
• CHARLES W. MOORE, Grand Secretary.

The first officers chosen by Hope Lodge were

• CHARLES HEYWOOD, Master.
• HENRY C. HILL, Senior Warden.
• EDWARD J. SAWYER, Junior Warden.
• ALONZO B. CLARK, Treasurer.
• GEORGE HEYWOOD, Secretary.
• GEORGE E. WOODMAN, Senior Deacon.
• GEORGE NICHOLS, Junior Deacon.
• L. S. STOWE, Senior Steward.
• ANDREW J. MOORE, Junior Steward.

Thirty-three Brethren were added to the Fraternity by the work of the Lodge under Dispensation. The rooms used by the Lodge then were over the horse-sheds attached to the store of Abel S. Wood, which stood upon a portion of what subsequently became the lawn of our late Bro. Alvin M. Greenwood. Your historian records with pleasure that he there first beheld 'the "form of a Lodge," and received his first instructions as the youngest Entered Apprentice thereof.

The first official visitation by the Grand Lodge to Hope Lodge was made Dec. 6, 1864. The Most Worshipful William Parkman was attended by the following suite:

• R. W. WENDELL T. DAVIS, Senior Grand Warden
• R. W. WILLIAM D. STRATTON, Grand Marshal, as Junior Grand Warden.
• R. W. FREDERICK J. FOSS, Grand Treasurer.
• R. W. CHARLES W. MOORE, Recording Grand Secretary.
• Bro. EBEN F. GAY, Grand Tyler.

On that occasion the Lodge exemplified the work of the Third degree, Bro. Albert Lovejoy being the candidate.

The Lodge soon outgrew its accommodations and a new Hall was fitted up in the upper portion of the Town Hall building. Most of the older members will remember that we used to reach those rooms by a stairway on the outside of the building; and that we were often reminded (in winter) that "sinners stood upon slippery places." Those rooms were dedicated and consecrated to the uses of Freemasonry on the third day of May, 1865, by appropriate ceremonies, and its officers publicly installed by the Most Worshipful William Parkman and suite.

The Worshipful Masters have been:

• CHARLES HEYWOOD
• CHARLES N. EDGELL
• HENRY C. HILL
• HENRY H. ADAMS
• EDWARD J. SAWYER
• CHARLES A. COWEE
• JOHN D. EDGELL
• ARTHUR P. DERBY
• FRANK W. CUMMINGS
• CHARLES O. PLAUTIER
• CHARLES F. READ
• CALVIN H. HILL
• WILLIAM STONE
• GEORGE E. WALKER
• MARCUS H. HOWE
• VOLNEY W. HOWE
• FLORUS D. RAMSDELL

The oldest member of the Lodge is Seth Heywood, a Brother upon whose head the frosts of more than four score winters sit lightly. One of whom it may be truly said, "the almond-tree doth flourish, yet the grasshopper is no burden." The weight of years permits only occasional visits to the Lodge, but his interest in Masonry, and in Hope Lodge in particular, is still unabated. May many more years of usefulness be added to his already long life!

The Lodge held its first Masonic Festival July 2, 1866; voted aid to the sufferers by the Portland fire, Sept. 18, 1866; attended the dedication of the Masonic Temple, Boston, June 24, 1867; suffered the first death of a member, March 31, 1871; participated in the Centennial celebration of the town, June 27, 1885, entertaining as guests Artisan Lodge, of Winchendon.

From the organization of the Lodge until the present time 277 Brethren have signed its By-Laws. The number of members in good standing to-day is 185. Since the date of organization we have lost by death forty-five members. The following-named Brethren have passed on to "that bourne whence no traveller returns:"

• CHARLES HEYWOOD
• HENRY C. HILL
• EDWARD J. SAWYER
• ALONZO B. CLARK
• JOHN W. HILL
• JAMES H. GREENMAN
• ALVIN M. GREENWOOD
• LEVI HEYWOOD
• GEORGE GREENWOOD
• O. C. GARDNER
• B. S. MASON
• SAMPSON STONE
• JOHN W. WORK
• CHARLES EVERETT
• D. A. NEWTON
• JOHN C. BRYANT
• WILLIAM A. PUTNAM
• E. A. LAMB
• THOMAS GREENWOOD
• ARTHUR W. BROWN
• LYMAN M. DRURY
• NATHANIEL C. HOLMES
• FRANCIS CONANT
• GEORGE W. LUSK

*CHARLES A. PERLEY

• MARCUS WRIGHT
• LEVI N. SMITH
• V. P. PARKHURST
• HARRISON CLOSSON
• JAMES EMERSON
• E. A. DAMON
• R. S. BLODGETT
• A. S. HILL
• ELIPHAS BALLARD
• FREDERICK PARKER
• F. L. SARGENT
• L. M. BAKER
• CHARLES H. VAN DURAN
• CHARLES S. TRAVERSE
• ETHAN W. HOLDEN
• GEORGE W. BLACK
• EDWARD S. KENDALL
• ALBERT W. HOWARD
• EDWIN W. HART
• LYMAN WOODWARD

Truly

"There is a reaper whose name is death
And with his sickle keen,
He reaps the bearded grain with a breath
And the flowers that grow between."

We have always held in grateful remembrance the first three Masters of the Lodge, — its three strong pillars. To maintain the high standard of work set by them has always been the aim of their successors in office; and very much of the prosperity enjoyed may be directly traced thereto.

The establishment of a charity fund was one of the first things attended to; and year by year our fund has increased until now it shows a balance of $3,218.23. A little more than $1,900 was paid into the building fund for the erection of the new Masonic Temple in Boston. We have an efficient Charity Committee whose ministrations are of the quiet, "distilling" kind that refreshes and blesses. I have asked of them no statistics.

The Lodge-room in the Town Hall building, owing to the increase in membership, had for a long time been too small for the Lodge, and they embraced the first opportunity for a change for the better. The result is evident in these beautiful rooms, to-day dedicated to the uses of Masonry. "Hope ends in fruition." So, to-day, Hope Lodge sees the fruition of her hopes for new quarters, in their realization. Upon this thirty-third anniversary of the organization of the Lodge, we can look back with satisfaction over the past and its noble and honorable record. The Thirty-third degree is the highest in Masonry. The Lodge has reached that number in the rolling years of its existence, yet it is still incumbent upoii us to press on to still greater perfection in everything that pertains to true Masonry, remembering that the rough ashler only becomes the perfect by constant labor.

My Brethren: Let us never forget the boundary line of our duty, observing unwaveringly all of its obligations. When we are asked by our friends, not Masons, questions that indicate their honest interest, let us guide them in the light of truth. If they ask us to define Masonry, let us tell them frankly that Masonry is not a religion, but that it is a beautiful system of morality veiled in allegory; and that it is so far interwoven with religion as to lay us under obligations of reverence and homage, and that those obligations are vividly impressed upon the mind of the novice.

Let the Mystic Tie that binds find its exemplification in our daily lives. Let us not grope in the darkness of our own passions and prejudices, but be guided by the three great Lights, and thus we shall not materially err.

"Who, looking backward from his manhood's prime,
Sees not the spectre of his misspent time?
Yet, who, thus looking backward o'er his years,
Feels not his eyelids wet with grateful tears,
If he hath been permitted, weak and sinful as he was,
To cheer and aid, in some ennobling cause,
His fellow-men?

"He has not lived in vain, and while he gives
The praise to Him, in whom he moves and lives
With thankful heart,
He gazes backward, and with hope before,
Knowing that from his works he nevermore
Can henceforth part."

EVENTS

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXIV, No. 8, June 1865, p. 228:

HOPE LODGE, GARDNER. This new Lodge was duly Constituted, under its Charter, on the afternoon of Wednesday, the 3d of May last, by a delegation of the officers of the Grand Lodge. The ceremonies took place in the new Hall, which the Lodge, since the expiration of its Dispensation in March, has fitted up for its accommodation. There were about sixty Brethren present, including visitors from the neighboring towns. At the conclusion of this ceremony, the Lodge took a recess until the evening, when the ladies and invited guests were admitted, and the new Hall was Dedicated in accordance with the ancient customs of the Craft. The company then repaired to the Town Hall, where, in the presence of more than two hundred of the ladies and gehtlemen of the village, the officers of the new Lodge were Installed by the M. W. Grand Master, with the usual ceremonies, interspersed with appropriate music. An able and appropriate address by the Grand Master followed, and was listened to by the large audience present with apparent interest and satisfaction. At the conclusion of which he stated that he had been commissioned by Brother Edward Maynz of this city to present, in his behalf (he being necessarily absent), the new Lodge with a large quarto and beautifully-bound Alta-Bible: which duty he performed in a very graceful and appropriate manner. The Gift was received by the Chaplain of the Lodge, the Rev. Wm. D. Herrick, in suitable terms, and placed upon the altar. Singing by the choir concluded the ceremonies.

We took occasion some time since to speak of this Lodge as one of the best and most perfect in its work, in this jurisdiction; and we have now the great satisfaction of adding, that its new Hall is one of the most beautiful in the Commonwealth, alike in its conveniences, decorations, and furniture. No expense has been spared in fitting it up, and good taste is everywhere manifest in its appointments. It is located in the upper story of the Town Hall building (which is itself an ornament to the village), and is about 55 by 35 feet, exclusive of ante-rooms, of which there are four. The main hall is finely frescoed and appropriately ornamented, and handsomely carpeted; as are all the rooms. The furniture, including the altar, pedestals (representing the three orders of architecture), the chairs and settees, we believe were all made by the Heywood Chair Manufacturing Company, of Gardner, expressly for the Lodge, and do great credit, in the excellence of their workmanship, to the skill and good taste of that popular establishment.

The officers of the new Lodge are as follows:-

• Charles Heywood, W.M.
• Henry C. Hill, S.W.
• Edward J. Sawyer, J.W.
• Alonzo B. Clark, Treas.
• George Heywood, Sec.
• William D. Herrick, Chaplain
• George E. Woodman, S.D.
• George Nichols, J.D.
• John W. Hill, S.S.
• James H. Greenwood, J.S.
• Alvin M. Greenwood, Marshal
• F. C. Whitcomb, Tyler

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• Robert M. Clogston, DDGM, District 13 (Barre), 1962, 1963; N
• John D. Edgell, DDGM, District 12 (Fitchburg), 1883-1885; SN
• Harold Fulsom Brown, DDGM, District 13 (Barre), 1938, 1939; N
• George H. Heywood, Jr., DDGM, District 13 (Barre), 1927, 1928; N
• Albert L. Hughes, DDGM, District 13 (Barre), 1992, 1993
• Jay A. Jolicoeur, DDGM, District 25, 2007, 2008; Deputy Grand Master 2010
• Eino A. Kajander, DDGM, District 13 (Barre), 1966, 1967; N
• Richard A. McAllister, DDGM, District 22, 2009, 2010
• Fordyce T. Reynolds, DDGM, District 13 (Fitchburg), 1923, 1924; N
• Edward J. Sawyer, DDGM, District 8 (Greenfield), 1872-1873; SN
• Edward N. Thompson, DDGM, District 22, 2006, 2007; N
• Edward T. Thompson, DDGM, District 13 (Barre), 1980, 1981
• Elwin C. Wheeler, DDGM, District 12 (Fitchburg), 1900, 1901; SN

DISTRICTS

1867: District 8 (Greenfield)

1883: District 12 (Fitchburg)

1911: District 13 (Fitchburg)

1927: District 13 (Barre)

2003: District 22

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges