Difference between revisions of "MAGLAQuint"

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It is not religion. It is a human Institution. It cannot be, in my view, substituted for religion. Rightly conceived, it never assumes to be. In the Lodge is an open Bible. By the ancient landmarks it must remain open. "You are to regard the volume of the sacred Law," the initiate is told, " as the great light." "In it you will learn the duties you owe to God, your neighbor and yourself." "The Holy Writings," is said to every Master of a Lodge, "will guide to all truth." In the hands of the Grand Master is placed the Bible, open, and he is told "it is to be the rule and guide of our faith." With such clear refusal to be a religion, it interferes with no sects and denominations; it affords one place where, without denial of beliefs, all can recognize the claims of brotherhood in human nature, and have the asperities of dividing lines softened. Why, then, should men look on this Institution with distrust? I can solemnly say, that, in all the obligations I have ever assumed, there is not one which interferes with the duty I owe to my God, my country, my church, my neighbor, my family, or myself. Yet, since 1738, its members are all excommunicated by the Roman Church; and in our day, not a few Protestants are determined on the useless attempt to destroy it.
 
It is not religion. It is a human Institution. It cannot be, in my view, substituted for religion. Rightly conceived, it never assumes to be. In the Lodge is an open Bible. By the ancient landmarks it must remain open. "You are to regard the volume of the sacred Law," the initiate is told, " as the great light." "In it you will learn the duties you owe to God, your neighbor and yourself." "The Holy Writings," is said to every Master of a Lodge, "will guide to all truth." In the hands of the Grand Master is placed the Bible, open, and he is told "it is to be the rule and guide of our faith." With such clear refusal to be a religion, it interferes with no sects and denominations; it affords one place where, without denial of beliefs, all can recognize the claims of brotherhood in human nature, and have the asperities of dividing lines softened. Why, then, should men look on this Institution with distrust? I can solemnly say, that, in all the obligations I have ever assumed, there is not one which interferes with the duty I owe to my God, my country, my church, my neighbor, my family, or myself. Yet, since 1738, its members are all excommunicated by the Roman Church; and in our day, not a few Protestants are determined on the useless attempt to destroy it.
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http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/images/AlonzoHallQuint.jpg
 
http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/images/AlonzoHallQuint.jpg

Revision as of 16:59, 19 July 2011

QUINT, ALONZO HALL 1828-1896

AlonzoHQuint1873.jpg

From Proceedings, Page 1873-382:

REV. ALONZO HALL QUINT, D.D., son of George and Sally W. (Hall) Quint, born in Barnstead, N. II., March 22, 1828, but was a resident of Dover, N. H., from infancy. He graduated at Dartmouth College in 1846, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1852, and with an additional year of study at the Seminary. He was ordained pastor of the Central (Cong.) Church, Jamaica Plain, Dec. 27, 1853, and remained until he entered the service as Chaplain, in 1861, having leave of absence from his church till his resignation of the pastorate in 1863. In the war of 1861-5 he was more than three years Chaplain of the Second Mass. Infantry, well known as originally Col. (afterwards Major-General) Gordon's. In July, 1864 he was installed pastor of the North Cong. Church, New Bedford, where he still remains. From 1855 to 1861 he was a member of the Board of Education of the State of Massachusetts. He is a member of the Massachusetts, and several other Historical Societies. Since 1856 he has been continuously Secretary of the General Association of the Congregational Churches of Massachusetts, being now in his sixth term of office (three years each). In 1870 he was made Chairman of Committee of delegates to frame a constitution, and call the first meeting, of the National Council of the Congregational Churches of the United States; and, on its organization, in November, 1871, was chosen its Secretary for three years.

He received the Degree of D.D., from Dartmouth College, in 1866, and is one of the Board of twelve Trustees of that institution. He has given several Masonic addresses, one of which was at Frederick, Md., St. John's Day, 1861, and one at the fiftieth anniversary of Star in the East Lodge, New Bedford, December, 1873. He has written much for periodicals, especially for the Congregational Quarterly, of which he has been an editor and proprietor since its commencement, January, 1859. Five or six sermons have been published, —among others, the Massachusetts Election Sermon, in 1866; also two volumes, — one of army letters, and the other a complete history of his regiment.

Bro. Quint was initiated into Masonry in the Lodge of St. Andrew, Boston, Oct. 9, 1856; passed Nov. 13, 1856; and raised, under dispensation, Nov. 13, 1856. He is at present the Senior Chaplain of the Grand Lodge. The engraving of his person, which is hereto appended, shows that he was much "thinner" when he came from the war than he is at present. In it one would not readily recognize the image of the portly gentleman who now occasionally conducts the devotional exercises of the Grand Lodge.

On the 17th of December, 1873, he delivered an address before Star in the East Lodge, of New Bedford, on the fiftieth anniversary of the date of its charter, from which an extract is here given : —

Fifty years! It seems a long period. It is more than the lifetime of some of us. But fifty years is a small fraction in the life of the Institution of whose Brotherhood we form a part. The language which our gifted Brother Walter Scott puts into the mouth of the Douglas, we can transfer, and say that this Institution "is seen in the stream, but not in the fountain." No history is able to limit its exact beginning. I will not refer to the legends possessed within, but only to external history. In 1733 the first Lodge was established in Massachusetts. In 1717 four Lodges in London had formed a Grand Lodge; some have foolishly said that to be the origin of Masonry, while it was simply the union of Lodges already existing. In Edinburgh, records now extant in the Lodge go back to 1599. In 1424 a statute of Henry VI. refers to the General Chapters and assemblies of Masons. Far back of that it is well known that the architects and builders of the great works were organized in bands, with masters and other rulers, and travelled wherever their skill was needed; that they had their own secrets of recognition as well as of science; and that beside their place of work, they built huts, from which we have the name "Lodge;" and that on ancient works there are engraved the signs of the Craft. That there should be written records kept by such particular bodies, and handed down to this day, would of course be absurdly impossible. Their substantial organization, independent of each other, but with masters and officers, and even back into Roman history, is undeniable. The builders of the temple at Jerusalem were thus organized. As knowledge of arts and sciences became in modern years more general, their special necessity as builders diminished. Many Lodges became of course extinct. They were operative builders. It was not until more modern times that persons not practical builders were admitted to such as remained. That this was at last done is clear. Probably the first authentic surviving record of such an admission is in the records at Edinburgh, June 8th, 1600. In England that precedent was not followed until 1646. And cases increased, until, from the change of circumstances in social industry, architecture had ceased to be confined to any Guild, and Freemasonry became purely speculative or theoretical. It retained all the brotherly associations. It contained all the emblems of art. But it gave them their symbolic meaning, and applied the ideas of the solid and permanent Craft to morals and benevolence. That a system of such symbols, so full (to its initiate) of the ancient labor, could have been invented with no foundation, is absurd. It is the growth of ages, out of the builders' art.

This accounts for its symbols. To many the symbols seem unmeaning, and the words puerile. So do symbols of the churches, especially of the ritual churches, seem puerile to many, while to those who know them, every one has its sacred meaning. The robes of bishops and priests seem foolish to those ignorant of them, but they are a visible lesson to the worshippers. The world has not outgrown symbols. Symbols are often needed as the illustration of truth. And the great truths embodied in the symbolism of Masonry are to the real student of their meaning fully clear. Need I refer to the one great and sublime fact embodied in the Master's Degree ? If there are any within who fail to see the meaning of the symbols, it is from want of study. The science of them cannot be learned in a day.

You know that there are certain moral principles also embodied. There are equality, charity, fortitude, not in words only, but in symbols. Faith in God, humility, obedience to truth. I need not remind the initiate where they are set forth. "The grand object of Masonry," said that illustrious Brother, George Washington, " is to promote the happiness of the human race." " It is an Order," said another Brother, Lafayette, "whose leading star is philanthropy." "I need not remind you," said that illustrious missionary, Daniel Poor, "that our Institution is founded upon those broad principles of benevolence and humanity which the Governor of the Universe revealed to men." In the words of another Brother, Robert Burns, it believes, "The rank is but the guinea's stamp, The man's the gowd for a' that! "

It is not religion. It is a human Institution. It cannot be, in my view, substituted for religion. Rightly conceived, it never assumes to be. In the Lodge is an open Bible. By the ancient landmarks it must remain open. "You are to regard the volume of the sacred Law," the initiate is told, " as the great light." "In it you will learn the duties you owe to God, your neighbor and yourself." "The Holy Writings," is said to every Master of a Lodge, "will guide to all truth." In the hands of the Grand Master is placed the Bible, open, and he is told "it is to be the rule and guide of our faith." With such clear refusal to be a religion, it interferes with no sects and denominations; it affords one place where, without denial of beliefs, all can recognize the claims of brotherhood in human nature, and have the asperities of dividing lines softened. Why, then, should men look on this Institution with distrust? I can solemnly say, that, in all the obligations I have ever assumed, there is not one which interferes with the duty I owe to my God, my country, my church, my neighbor, my family, or myself. Yet, since 1738, its members are all excommunicated by the Roman Church; and in our day, not a few Protestants are determined on the useless attempt to destroy it.

AlonzoHallQuint.jpg

From Proceedings, Page 1896-313, in Grand Master's Address:

REV. BRO. ALONZO HALL QUINT,. D.D., was born in Barnstead, N.H., March 22, 1828, but was a resident of Dover, N.H., from infancy. He was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1846, and at Andover Theological School in 1852. He was ordained pastor of the Center (Congregational) Church at Jamaica Plain Dec. 27, 1853, and held this relation until his resignation in 1863. During the war he was for three years chaplain of the Second Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. In July, 1864, he was installed as pastor of the North Congregational Church in New Bedford, which he served until 1875. In 1881 he took charge of the Broadway Congregational Church in Somerville, and in 1886 he became pastor of the Allston Congregational Church, which was his last pastorate.

He was a Trustee of Dartmouth College from 1870 until his decease; was a member of the Massachusetts State Board of Education, and. served until he entered the army; was the first person initiated into the Grand Army of the Republic in New England; was Chaplain in Chief of the last named body four years; for twenty-five years Secretary of the Massachusetts General Association of Congregational Churches; was Secretary of the National Council of Congregational Churches from 1871 until his decease. He edited The Congregational Year Book, for many years; and published Potomac and Rapidan and the Record of the Second Massachusetts Infantry. Bro. Quint was a scholar, a patriot and a Christian. He was really one of the great, grand, good men of the last generation.

Bro. Quint was initiated into Freemasonry in the Lodge of St. Andrew, Boston, Oct. 9, 1856, passed Nov. 13, 1856, and raised by dispensation Nov. 13, 1856. Nov. 18, 1858, he became a member of Washington Lodge, Roxbury, and continued a member of this Lodge until his decease. The last Masonic occasion which he attended was probably the Centennial of Washington Lodge held March 17, 1896, when he offered prayer.

Bro. Quint received the Royal Arch degrees in Belknap Chapter, Dover, N.H., May 20, 1857. He was knighted in St. Paul Commandery, Dover, N.H., April 5, 1859, and was admitted a member of De Molay Commandery, K.T., Boston, Sept. 26, 1860. He was installed as Grand Chaplain of this Grand Lodge, Dec. 27, 1870, being appointed to that office by M.W. William Sewall Gardner, Grand Master. He was reappointed by Grand Masters Sereno D. Nickerson, Percival L. Everett, Charles A. Welch and Samuel C. Lawrence, making a continuous service of eleven years as Grand Chaplain.

His services were always freely given to the Brotherhood whenever required. He delivered several Masonic Addresses, one of which was at Frederick, Md., on St. John's Day, 1861, and one at the. Fiftieth Anniversary of Star in the East Lodge, New Bedford, in December. 1873. At the Grand Feast on St. John's Day, Dec. 27, 1871, Bro. Quint referred at length in his Address to the modern crusade of anti-Masonry, whose opposition he had encountered. It shows the loyalty and courage of our now lamented Brother.

Bro. Quint died at the house of a friend, in Boston, on the 4th of November. Funeral services were held in the Congregational Church in Allston and in the First Church in Dover, N.H., to which city his remains were borne for burial. R.W. Brother Nickerson and myself, as representatives of the Grand Lodge, attended the services at Allston.

Biographical Sketch


Distinguished Brothers