MAGLBSawtelle

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BURTON K. SAWTELLE 1903-1990

Junior Grand Warden, 1964

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1990-50:

Right Worshipful Burton Kinsley Sawtelle was born on June 4, 1903 in the town of Winchendon, Massachusetts, the son of Henry H. Sawtelle and Emily P. Goodridge. Brother Sawtelle was an attendant of the Winchendon Public school system graduating from Murdock High School in that town and remained a staunch supporter of the Alumni Association throughout his life. Following graduation he became associated with the Afaska Ereezer Company from which he retired as a foreman in 1968.

Right Worshipful Brother Sawtelle frst knocked on the door of Freemasonry at Artisan Lodge in Winchendon, January 29, 1929, and was raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason on April 16th, 1929. A devoted servant of his Lodge, he served as Worshipful Master in 1940 and 1941. Brother Sawtelle continued to serve Artisan for nearly 30 years as the secretary and was a true inspiration to the many Worshipful Masters he served. As one of the incorporators of the Winchendon Masonic Charitable and Education Society, in which he held many offices, he was instrumental in the planning and construction of the new Masonic Temple which is now the home of Artisan Lodge.

Brother Sawtelle also held membership in the former North Star Royal Arch Chapter in Winchendon and Ivanhoe Commandery Knights Templar #46 in Gardner, Massachusetts, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite in the valley of Boston, Aleppo Temple, Ancient Arabic order Nobles of the Mystic shrine and Faith Chapter Order of the Eastern star in Winchendon, of which he was a past patron, he was also a charter member of its past Matrons and Patrons Association.

Most worshipful Whitfield W. Johnson appointed Brother Sawtelle to serve our Grand Lodge as the District Deputy Grand Master of the Barre 13th Masonic District in both 1954 and 1955. In 1964 our Brother was elected to the office of Junior Grand Warden of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and was appointed the Grand Representative to the Grand Lodge of Argentina, a position he held until poor health caused his resignation in 1983. Right Worshipful Brother Sawtelle was awarded the Henry Price Medal of our Grand Lodge in 1964 for his dedicated service to our Grand Lodge and Masonry in general.

Our Brother also found time to associate himself with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and served as the Noble Grand of Monomonac Lodge of Winchendon and the Winchendon Kiwanis club of which he was the president in 1971 and served as the club's secretary for mLny years. In 1973 he was elected Lt. Govemor of District 17 of Kiwanis Intemational. Brother Sawtelle was for many years a member of the Winchendon Red Cross and served as its chairman. He was a member of the North Congregational Church in Winchendon for more than 50 years.

Right Worshipful Brorher sawtelle was married on August 3rd,, 1932 to his childhood sweetheart, Myrtle Olive Stockwell who predeceased him. This union was blessed with a daughter Elizabeth who survives him along with her daughters, Chrystie and Beckie. On March 27, 1990, at the age of 86 Right Worshipful Burton Kinsley Sawtelle entered the Celestial Lodge above. After cremation, interment was at the convenience of the family on April 3, 1990 in the Riverside Cemetery in Winchendon, Massachusetts.

Brother Sawtelle's life, hobbies, devotion to family and his fellowman are best expressed in the following poem written by his nephew.

Of Burton Kinsley Sawtelle

by Nell Norris

What shall memory hold of him?

Shall it be the skill of an artist and craftsman - in shaping silver into fine jewelry, in fine and intricate crewel stitchery in bold and imaginative interior decoration, or in finding natural harmonies of color and form in flower arrangement and garden design?

Certainly all these! And more.

Shall it be the dedicated public volunteer - cooking meals at the local hospital, decorating ballrooms for local benefit affairs, serving as a poll watcher, or actively promoting the community welfare in local service clubs and fraternal organizations?

Certainly all these! And more.

Shall it be for old-fashioned virtues - of loyalty to church and country. of honesty and abiding integrity, of enduring faithfulness in friendships, of hard work, or of patient acceptance of hard afflictions?

Certainly all these! And more.

Shall it be for a loving heart - of the kind that ennobles his heritage, bridges generations, and binds a family?

Yes, especially that! For that is the framework for all the other pieces of the memory mosaic. His capacity for love is what made him complete and loved in return.

May the memory of Burton Kinsley Sawtelle inspire all of us to dedicated service to God, Family, Country and Mankind.

Respectfully Submitted,
Albert T. Ames
Lewis L. Huston
Ottmar Rau
Committee


Distinguished Brothers