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(DESCRIPTION OF THE WINTHROP HOUSE)
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It is earnestly hoped that when another Freemasons' Hall is built the edifice will indeed be a Temple worthy of the institution, and also of the Grand East where it will be placed.
 
It is earnestly hoped that when another Freemasons' Hall is built the edifice will indeed be a Temple worthy of the institution, and also of the Grand East where it will be placed.
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 +
=== THE NEW HALL ===
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''From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXIII, No. 6, May 1864; p. 213.''
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'''THE NEW FREEMASONS' HALL.'''
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Since the recent fire the Grand Lodge has leased and appropriately fitted up the commodious halls in Thorndike Building, No. 10 Summer street, next west of Trinity Church. The aparimenis are capacious, elegant, and admirably adapted to the purposes for which they are hereafter to be used until the Grand Lodge shall have erected a building of its own. The Masonic apartments occupy the three upper stones. On the first of these stories is the Grand Secretary's Office, which is'a large and convenient room; adjoining this is a reception and regalia room of convenient size; next to this is the Superintendent's room ; and on the same floor is a Hall 44 feet long and 25 feet wide, with the necessary ante or preparation rooms. This hall has been fitted up in a very neat and beautiful manner for Lodge meetings, and is generally admired, lis drapery and furniture are blue.
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On the next floor above, on the left, is a fine hall, measuring 52 feet Iong and 25 feet wide, which has been appropriately filted up in red, for the use of the Chapters. Opposite to this, on the same floor, is a magnificent hall, 74 feet long by 46 feet wide, which has been carpeted and arranged for the meetings of the Grand Lodge, the Encampments and other Bodies of large membership. It is one of the finest halls in the city, and will conveniently accommodate 400 or 500 persons. In the attic story, above this, are the Banqueting Hall, Pantry, Washroom, Cuisine, and several small rooms for regalia and the other property of the various Masonic Bodies.
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 +
The central location of these apartments, will be found to be very convenient to persons having business at the Grand Secretary's Office, as well us to the great mass of Brethren attached to the various Bodies holding their meetings in them.
  
 
=== LINKS ===
 
=== LINKS ===

Revision as of 20:30, 14 September 2012

BOSTON

LODGES


BUILDINGS

440px-MasonicTemple_TremontSt_Boston_engr_byAnnin_and_Smith_LC.jpg

  • 10/14/1830: IV-195; Laying of corner-stone of Temple Hall for Grand Lodge by Most Wor. Joseph Jenkins. This ceremony was performed in public despite the anti-Masonic opposition then prevalent in Boston.
    • 05/30/1832: IV-255; Public Dedication of the Temple, a public ceremony with an address by Rev. Bernard Whitman.
    • 12/20/1833: IV-309; Due to refusal by the state legislature to restructure the Grand Lodge corporate charter, the building was sold to Bro. Robert Shaw.
  • 04/06/1864: VI-503; The Winthrop House Fire was reported at the Quarterly Communication. (See description below.)

DESCRIPTION OF THE WINTHROP HOUSE

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXIII, No. 6, May 1864; p. 195.

BURNING OF FREEMASONS' HALL.

The splendid apartments which have been for about four years past occupied by the Freemasons of this city, together with the first class Hotel attached to them, and known as the Winthrop House, at the corner of Tremont and Boylston streets, our Brethren every where throughout the country, will regret to learn, were totally destroyed by fire, with all their valuable contents, on the night of Wednesday, the 6ih of April last. The fire originated in a closet, or private passage-way, under the stairs leading to the Masonic Apartments, between the second and third stories : thus cutting off all communication with them, and rendering it imposible to remove any of the rich and valuable materials with which they were filled. Not a single article was saved from the flames. All was consumed and destroyed. No correct estimate, nor even an approximation to an estimate, of the value of the property destroyed in this portion of the building can with any certainty be made. A large portion of it cannot be replaced at any cost. A nearly complete series of the Portraits of the Past Grand Masters of this Commonwealth, many of them of priceless value, including an original of Henry Price, first G. Master in N. America, Gen. Joseph Warren, the first G. Master of the second G. Lodge of Massachusetts, and a large life-size Portrait of Washington, a copy from Stuart, and most of the Grand Masters from 1780, to the present time, among which were those of Dr. John Warren (the brother of Joseph,) Paul Revere, Isaiah Thomas, John Cutler, Benjamin Russell, and other historic names, were all destroyed.

The Masonic Bodies which regularly held their meetings there, were the Grand Lodge, St. John's, St. Andrew's, Massachusetts, Columbian, Mount Lebanon, Germania, Winslow Lewis, Revere, Joseph Warren, and Aberdour; the Grand Chapter, and St. Andrew's and St. Paul's Chapters; the Boston Council of R. and S. Masters; the Boston, De Molay, and St. Bernard Encampments; the Supreme Council and Grand Consistory of the Northern Jurisdiction; the Boston Consistory; Mt. Olivet Chapter Rose Croix; Boston Council of Princes of Jerusalem, and the Boston Grand Lodge of Perfection.

Each of these Bodies had a large amount of property in the building, the value of which we have no certain means of estimating.

  • The Grand Lodge owned the furniture and fixtures of the principal hall, which, with the cost of the adornments, and including the large and splendid organ, but exclusive of the Portraits before referred to, may be estimated at from 8,000 to 10,000, It has also sustained heavy losses in the valuable pictures and original letters in the office of the G. Secretary; among the latter of which, in frames, were autograph Masonic letters of Franklin, Washington, and Lafayette. In this room also was the valuable Library, consisting of about a thousand volumes and a numerous collection of rare Masonic pamphlets, many of which it will be impossible to replace. If any estimate could be made of the value of such a collection, $2,500 would be a low one. It has likewise sustained heavy losses, in common with the whole fraternity of the State, in the destruction of the Records, Charters and papers of decayed Lodges, which from time to time for more than a hundred years past, have been surrendered to it. Of its own particular papers, it has lost many of more or less interest and of considerable value, in a historic point of view. We are happy however to state, that its records are all safe from the beginning of the organization of Masonry in America, in duplicate copies. Those of the volumes that were kept in the Safe of the Grand Secretary, were ruined in their binding, but the contents remain uninjured ; and as it has Leen the practice of the present Secretary to record all reports, papers, and documenls, as they were officially brought before the Grand Lodge, the loss of the files for the last thirty years, is of no particular importance, in a practical sense.
  • The Lodges have each sustained heavy losses in rich Regalia, Jewels and other paraphernalia, of the value of which we can form no estimate.
  • The two Chapters are also heavy sufferers, and their joint losses cannot be less than 5,000 or $6,000.
  • The Encampments are heavy losers. The loss of the Boston Encampment, collectively and individually, we have Heard estimated at $'30,000, on which there was an insurance of $10,000. The De Molay Encampment probably loses not less than $15,000, on which there was no insurance, the policy having expired. The St. Bernard Encampment (new) loses about $5,000, on which there had never been any insurance. The armories of these bodies were tastefully and richly fitted up.
  • The Council of Royal and Select Masters lose a rich and valuable regalia and the furniture appropriate to the conferring of the degrees.
  • The bodies of the Ancient and Accepted Rite lose about $6,000, in regalia and fixtures, on which the Chapter of Rose Croix have an insurance of $2,000.
  • The Supreme Council and the Grand Consistory lose several hundred dollars in regalia and a large amount of manuscripts, documents and other papers of much interest. We are happy to add however, that the records, and other important documents, were not in the building, and are therefore safe.
  • On the building there was an insurance of $55,000, and on the regalia, library, &c., of the Grand Lodge, $6,100=$61,100.

The Hotel was kept by Mr. I. H. Silsbee, and was a first class Public House. The furniture was of the most approved pattern and of high finish. Mr. Silsbee estimates his loss at between 30,000, and $10,000, on which there was an insurance of $20,000. The house was fully occupied by boarders and transient visitors, and their individual losses must have been very heavy : nothing was saved ; many of them escaping wiih scarcely clothes enough to prevent suffering from the cold.

It was doubtless one of the most rapid and destructive fires that has ever occurred in this city. The building was heated throughout by steam, and the woodwork was consequently as dry as tinder, and the flames spread with corresponding rapidity. Those who witnessed it describe it as one of the most grand and awful conflagrations the imagination can picture to itself, and it is a matter of astonishment, as well as of thankfulness, that no lives were lost or serious personal injuries sustained.

The following graphic description of the premises appeared in the Boston Transcript of April 7th, and is so accurately and ably drawn thai we transfer it to our pages as a valuable contribution to the current history of Masonry in this city, and for future reference :—

THE LATE MASONIC BUILDING.

Mr. Editor— The Temple of Freemasonry in Boston has been destroyed, and the mystic brotherhood have lost their halls, where they were wont to meet in social conclave and dispense alms to their suffering Brethren. Now that the arrangements of these halls are fresh in remembrance, it will certainly not be considered amiss to preserve, lor future reference, their general appearance, and that of their ante-rooms and other apartments, such as can be given in a hasty sketch by one who is conversant with all their particulars. It will be remembered that the building which was destroyed on the morning of the sixth of April just past, as originally erected, consisted of three private dwellings, erected on the estate formejy occupied by the mansion house and garden of Joseph Head, Esq., a merchant of Uiis city. These houses were subsequently connected, and enlarged by the addition tf another story and back buildings, and were converted into a public hotel, known as the Winthrop House, in remembrance of John Winthrop, the early colonial governor of Massachusetts.

In the year 1859, the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Massachusetts, having previously sold their stone building, known as the Masonic Temple, the Winthrop House estate was purchased and fitted up for Masonic purposes, reserving the four lowermost stories for a hotel, and changing the attic roof into a French one, thereby gaining several large and valuable halls. The building thus altered stood on a lot of land fronting westerly 89 feet on Tremont street, and 126 feet southerly on Boylston street, with a rear of 83 feet and 5 inches on Head place on the east, and adjoining the house of the late George Head, Esq., 115 feet and 6 inches on the north. On the front of the building, facing the Common, there was an unoccupied portion of paved land, measuring 22 feet at the southern extremity, and 14 feet and 8 inches at the northern boundary, the whole number of square feet belonging to the lot, being 10.479. As was absolutely necessary, with so large a space to cover, there was a small area in the centre of the building, left unbuilt upon, reserved indispensably for air and light, so that, architecturally speaking, the edifice was a quadrangle, six stories in height, with another lofty and capacious story within the casements of the French roof.

The portion of the building occupied as a hotel contained in its three stories and basement about one hundred and forty rooms; while the two uppermost stories and attic afforded accommodations to the Freemasons.

The Masonic apartments were approached over a flight of stairs, unfortunately constiucted of wood, situated on the northerly side of the building, the outer door opening on Tremont street, and serving also as the private entrance for the hotel. The rooms occupied by the Freemasons consisted of three large halls, with the necessary ante-rooms, three armories for the Encampments of Knights Templars, a large banqueting hall, with offices for the Grand Master and Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge, and for the Superintendent of the building, together with committee rooms, corridors, and capacious closets for storing the regalia and working implements of the craft. In all there were about thirty distinct rooms.

After ascending the long staircase which led to the Masonic Halls, a visitor was first struck with astonishment on beholding the rich and costly banners and other paraphernalia belonging to the various Orders, displayed artistically in glazed cases, in several of which were also suspended the jewels worn by the officers of the bodies to which the banners belonged. On proceeding further, the first room on the lowermost Masonic story which met the attention, was the office of the Superintendent, Mr. Luther L. Tarbell, an accomplished Mason, and a person possessing the knowledge and requirements in a most remarkable degree for the office he so well and faithfully filled. Next was situated a dressing-room, with all the conveniences that ingenuity and a regard for comfort could suggest. Advancing further, the visitor entered a corridor, connected with which •were ante-rooms, preparation rooms, and a large store-room for regalia and articles most needed by the Masons in performing and exemplifying their work ; and here was suspended a faithful portrait of the good old Tyler, father Martin, who a year ago tiled his last sublunary Lodge.

On the left of this corridor was tbe enlrance-door to the large hall known as Corinthian Hall, designed for the annual and quarterly meetings of the Grand Lodge, and forlhe monthly communications of the several Masonic bodies holding their meetings in Freemasons' Hall. This hall was probably one of the most superb in the country; as it was most elaborately and carefully finished in the Corinthian Order of architecture, and was distinguished for the harmony of its proportions, the beauty of its finish, and its perfect adaptedness to its purposes. The frescoes were executed most carefully by the late lamented Schutz, in the highest style of the art. The hanging chandeliers, the standing candelabras, and all the minute fixtures about this hall, as well indeed as in the others to be mentioned, were strictly Masonic, and bearing in every possible way the Masonic emblems and devices. The ceiling, which specially attracted attention, on account of its ornameniation, was laid out in plain panels and figured medallions; of the twelve medallions four bore roselts in relief, while the remaining eight were painted with the following objects of Masonic interest:—

  • In the Masonic North, weie the ancient armorial bearings of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, in use until the year 1856, and formerly, as far back as 1477, borne by the Duke of Montacute, and constituted by him to be the arms of the Grand Lodge of England, and these were blended with the Sussex arms; over the West, were the original Montaoute arms, in honor of the Grand Master of England, who granted the first Commission for a Prov. G. Master in Boston in 1733; over the South, were the arms granted to the Freemasons of London by the Clarencieux-King of Arms in 1477, the oldest known Masonic armorial bearings; directly over the canopy in the East, were the arms of the Grand Lodge, as adopted in 1S56: of the remaining four medallions, one had the Bible, another had the pot of incense, a third had a beehive, and the fourth had the winged hour-glass, the symbolism of which is generally well known. In the centre of the ceiling was an allegorical representation of the Genius of Masonry, having in her left hand the square and compasses, and in her right the plumb-line,—the square dedicated to the Master, the compasses to the Craft, and the plumb-line aa the rule by which both are to be tried in their daily life and conversation.
  • The walls were painted so as to represent panels between pilasters, and in these were suspended the portraits of Henry Price, the first Grand Master in Massachusetts; Gen. Joseph Warren, the patriot, also a Grand Master, and of most all of those who have held this position in the State. At the South, West and North were painted, in a most striking manner, the emblematical figures of Faith, Hope and Charity. The canopy and other upholstery and carpeting having blue for their prevailing color, were of the richest and most costly character, and exhibited the same excellent taste which pervaded the whole apartment. Elaborately executed columns of the three original Orders, and an altar, together with a large and costly organ, and other necessary fixtures comprised the fittings of this superb hall.
  • On the same floor, and fronting Tremont street, was the second hall in size, known as the Ionic Hall, with its ante-rooms, this was designed for the use of the Royal Arch Chapters, and was decorated with emblems of the Order, and furnished with red upholstery, and was, as its name imports, finished in the Ionic Older of architecture. In this hall was an organ, and an excellent full length portrait of Washington, a copy from Stuart.
  • On the easterly side of the area, on the same story, were several rooms adapted for the use of the Encampments, Chapters, and the several bodies belonging to the Ancient and Accepted Rite.

The second story partook of the character of an entresol, and contained a large Doric Hall draped in blue, furnished with an organ, an admirably painted copy of the Royal Arch and Master's Carpet, and decorated with the portraits of three eminent Templar Masons, Brothers Hammatt, Lash and Harwood. In the same story were the office of the Grand Secretary, which contained a valuable Masonic library, and many choice relics of the past; the office of the Grand Master, and several smaller rooms for committee purposes and for sodality meetings of the Masonic bodies. Most of these rooms were decorated with photographs of past officers, and some with photographs of all the members of their associations.

In the attic was the large Banqueting Hall and its ante-rooms, (capable of accommodating between four and five hundred persons,) and the three armories of the Boston, De Molay, and St. Bernard Encampments.

The several halls were used by the various bodies which met in Freemasons' Hall, and though they were amply large to accommodate the institution at the time the building was adapted to Masonic purposes, nevertheless larger and more commodious arrangements had become necessary for the rapidly increasing Oider. The fraternity were indebted to the learned and accomplished Mason, Charles W. Moore, Esq., for the admirable adaptedness of this building to the innumerable wants of the several grades of the Masonic bodies which held their meetings wiihin its walls, and to his excellent taste and judgment were due the designs for the decoration of the various apartments.

It is earnestly hoped that when another Freemasons' Hall is built the edifice will indeed be a Temple worthy of the institution, and also of the Grand East where it will be placed.

THE NEW HALL

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXIII, No. 6, May 1864; p. 213.

THE NEW FREEMASONS' HALL.

Since the recent fire the Grand Lodge has leased and appropriately fitted up the commodious halls in Thorndike Building, No. 10 Summer street, next west of Trinity Church. The aparimenis are capacious, elegant, and admirably adapted to the purposes for which they are hereafter to be used until the Grand Lodge shall have erected a building of its own. The Masonic apartments occupy the three upper stones. On the first of these stories is the Grand Secretary's Office, which is'a large and convenient room; adjoining this is a reception and regalia room of convenient size; next to this is the Superintendent's room ; and on the same floor is a Hall 44 feet long and 25 feet wide, with the necessary ante or preparation rooms. This hall has been fitted up in a very neat and beautiful manner for Lodge meetings, and is generally admired, lis drapery and furniture are blue.

On the next floor above, on the left, is a fine hall, measuring 52 feet Iong and 25 feet wide, which has been appropriately filted up in red, for the use of the Chapters. Opposite to this, on the same floor, is a magnificent hall, 74 feet long by 46 feet wide, which has been carpeted and arranged for the meetings of the Grand Lodge, the Encampments and other Bodies of large membership. It is one of the finest halls in the city, and will conveniently accommodate 400 or 500 persons. In the attic story, above this, are the Banqueting Hall, Pantry, Washroom, Cuisine, and several small rooms for regalia and the other property of the various Masonic Bodies.

The central location of these apartments, will be found to be very convenient to persons having business at the Grand Secretary's Office, as well us to the great mass of Brethren attached to the various Bodies holding their meetings in them.

LINKS