Difference between revisions of "MAGLCSkinner"

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(MEMORIAL)
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"In the departuie of Grand Chaplain Skinner from our Brotherhood circle we have lost a member cherished by all who knew him, and one widely identified with tbe Masonic Order. He was gathered, like the ripe, full sheaf, unto the Great Harvester. At the age of eighty-two years his loving heart ceased to beat and his earthly activity came gently, painlessly to its end. It seems but a short time since his voice was heard here, and we looked forward to many more occasions when he would sit in the familiar spot, or lead in the accustomed ritual. But even then the burden of years began to find expression, and a casual remark from his lips revealed a feeling of weariness. From thct time he slowly drifted away out 'over tbe bar,' and passed from sight April 22 of this new spring. He has seen his Pilot 'face to face.'
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"In the departuie of Grand Chaplain Skinner from our Brotherhood circle we have lost a member cherished by all who knew him, and one widely identified with tbe Masonic Order. He was gathered, like the ripe, full sheaf, unto the Great Harvester. At the age of eighty-two years his loving heart ceased to beat and his earthly activity came gently, painlessly to its end. It seems but a short time since his voice was heard here, and we looked forward to many more occasions when he would sit in the familiar spot, or lead in the accustomed ritual. But even then the burden of years began to find expression, and a casual remark from his lips revealed a feeling of weariness. From thct time he slowly drifted away out 'over the bar,' and passed from sight April 22 of this new spring. He has seen his Pilot 'face to face.'
  
 
"I think it will be interesting to. give first the record of Brother Skinner's career and offices in Freemasonry. He has come in contact with a legion of members, in various positions and occasions, through a long, devoted service.
 
"I think it will be interesting to. give first the record of Brother Skinner's career and offices in Freemasonry. He has come in contact with a legion of members, in various positions and occasions, through a long, devoted service.
  
"Received Masonic degrees in [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Amicable Amicable] Lodge, Cambridge. Acceptqd, Dec. 3, 1863 ; initirltcd, Dec. 3, 1863; crafted, Feb. 4, 1864; raised, March 4, 1864; demitted in 1868. Joined LaFayette Lodge, Hartford, Conn., 1868, and demitted, Oct. 8, 1878. Joined [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Wyoming Wyoming] Lodge, Melrose, Mass., Feb. 26, 1879; demitted Nov. 23, 1881. Served as Chaplain of [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Wyoming Wyoming] Lodge from September, 1879, to Sept. 1, 1881. Joined [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Soley Soley] Lodge, Somerville, Mass., Sept. 15, 1884; demitted Dec. 17, 1900. Served as Chaplain of [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Soley Soley] Lodge during his membership, sixteen years. Elected to Honorary Membership in [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Amicable Amicable] Lodge, Oambridge, Feb. 6, 1902, and became an active member of said Lodge Feb. 5, 1903, and retained his membership till his decease, April 22, 1906. Served as Chaplain of [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Amicable Amicable] Lodge 1865 and 1866. also 1904-1906. Brother Skinner was first appointed as Grand Chaplain of this Grand Lodge Dec. 27, 1889, and served until Dec. 27, 1893. He was reappointed to that position Dec. 27, 1895, and served until his deceased He was exalted in Cambridge Royal Arch Chapter, Cambridge, Mass., and became a member of that Body Feb. 16, 1866. He was received and greeted in Wolcott Council, No. 1, R.S.M., of Hartford, Conn., Jan. 30, 1868, and held the office of Chaplain therein in 1870 and 187l. Brother Skinner was appointed Grand Chaplain of tbe Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Mass., Dec. 9, 1884, and served in that position until his decease, a pcriod of twenty-one years. He was Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council, R. and S.M. of Massachusetts, from 1891 to his decease, a period of fifteen years. He was knighted in Washington Commandery, Hartford, Conn., April 10, 1868. He was Prelate during the years 1869, 1873, 1874 and 1876. He was also its Captain General in 1871, and Generalissimo, l8?7. He demitted from Washington Commandery, K.'I., 1879, He became a member of Hugh de Payens Cornmrndery, K. T., of Melrose, Mass., March 12, 1879. His rnernber:ship expired Sept. 14, 1887. He was Prelate of this Commandery from Sept. 10, 1879, to Oct. 13, 1886. He retained Associate Memberslrip in Hugh de Payens Commandery, K.T., until his decease.
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"Received Masonic degrees in [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Amicable Amicable] Lodge, Cambridge. Acceptqd, Dec. 3, 1863 ; initirltcd, Dec. 3, 1863; crafted, Feb. 4, 1864; raised, March 4, 1864; demitted in 1868. Joined LaFayette Lodge, Hartford, Conn., 1868, and demitted, Oct. 8, 1878. Joined [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Wyoming Wyoming] Lodge, Melrose, Mass., Feb. 26, 1879; demitted Nov. 23, 1881. Served as Chaplain of [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Wyoming Wyoming] Lodge from September, 1879, to Sept. 1, 1881. Joined [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Soley Soley] Lodge, Somerville, Mass., Sept. 15, 1884; demitted Dec. 17, 1900. Served as Chaplain of [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Soley Soley] Lodge during his membership, sixteen years. Elected to Honorary Membership in [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Amicable Amicable] Lodge, Oambridge, Feb. 6, 1902, and became an active member of said Lodge Feb. 5, 1903, and retained his membership till his decease, April 22, 1906. Served as Chaplain of [http://masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Amicable Amicable] Lodge 1865 and 1866. also 1904-1906. Brother Skinner was first appointed as Grand Chaplain of this Grand Lodge Dec. 27, 1889, and served until Dec. 27, 1893. He was reappointed to that position Dec. 27, 1895, and served until his deceased He was exalted in Cambridge Royal Arch Chapter, Cambridge, Mass., and became a member of that Body Feb. 16, 1866. He was received and greeted in Wolcott Council, No. 1, R.S.M., of Hartford, Conn., Jan. 30, 1868, and held the office of Chaplain therein in 1870 and 187l. Brother Skinner was appointed Grand Chaplain of tbe Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Mass., Dec. 9, 1884, and served in that position until his decease, a pcriod of twenty-one years. He was Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council, R. and S.M. of Massachusetts, from 1891 to his decease, a period of fifteen years. He was knighted in Washington Commandery, Hartford, Conn., April 10, 1868. He was Prelate during the years 1869, 1873, 1874 and 1876. He was also its Captain General in 1871, and Generalissimo, 1877. He demitted from Washington Commandery, K.T., 1879, He became a member of Hugh de Payens Commandery, K. T., of Melrose, Mass., March 12, 1879. His rnernber:ship expired Sept. 14, 1887. He was Prelate of this Commandery from Sept. 10, 1879, to Oct. 13, 1886. He retained Associate Memberslrip in Hugh de Payens Commandery, K.T., until his decease.
  
"Through these facts and figures shine his pelsonality and spirit, giving them their true value and significance.
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"Through these facts and figures shine his personality and spirit, giving them their true value and significance.
  
 
"As a Mason he gave the Order himself, and his best self. In all these relations to different Bodies nt successive stages of his life he was sincerely allied with them in thougbt and feeling. Reverent in prayer, hearty in fellowship, buoyant in belief, genuine in conviction, Brother Skinner conveyed a helpful, strengthening tone, and proved a worthy representative at all times.
 
"As a Mason he gave the Order himself, and his best self. In all these relations to different Bodies nt successive stages of his life he was sincerely allied with them in thougbt and feeling. Reverent in prayer, hearty in fellowship, buoyant in belief, genuine in conviction, Brother Skinner conveyed a helpful, strengthening tone, and proved a worthy representative at all times.

Revision as of 15:03, 10 May 2011

CHARLES A. SKINNER 1824-1906

Grand Chaplain

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1906-45:


I. As a Mason.

"In the departuie of Grand Chaplain Skinner from our Brotherhood circle we have lost a member cherished by all who knew him, and one widely identified with tbe Masonic Order. He was gathered, like the ripe, full sheaf, unto the Great Harvester. At the age of eighty-two years his loving heart ceased to beat and his earthly activity came gently, painlessly to its end. It seems but a short time since his voice was heard here, and we looked forward to many more occasions when he would sit in the familiar spot, or lead in the accustomed ritual. But even then the burden of years began to find expression, and a casual remark from his lips revealed a feeling of weariness. From thct time he slowly drifted away out 'over the bar,' and passed from sight April 22 of this new spring. He has seen his Pilot 'face to face.'

"I think it will be interesting to. give first the record of Brother Skinner's career and offices in Freemasonry. He has come in contact with a legion of members, in various positions and occasions, through a long, devoted service.

"Received Masonic degrees in Amicable Lodge, Cambridge. Acceptqd, Dec. 3, 1863 ; initirltcd, Dec. 3, 1863; crafted, Feb. 4, 1864; raised, March 4, 1864; demitted in 1868. Joined LaFayette Lodge, Hartford, Conn., 1868, and demitted, Oct. 8, 1878. Joined Wyoming Lodge, Melrose, Mass., Feb. 26, 1879; demitted Nov. 23, 1881. Served as Chaplain of Wyoming Lodge from September, 1879, to Sept. 1, 1881. Joined Soley Lodge, Somerville, Mass., Sept. 15, 1884; demitted Dec. 17, 1900. Served as Chaplain of Soley Lodge during his membership, sixteen years. Elected to Honorary Membership in Amicable Lodge, Oambridge, Feb. 6, 1902, and became an active member of said Lodge Feb. 5, 1903, and retained his membership till his decease, April 22, 1906. Served as Chaplain of Amicable Lodge 1865 and 1866. also 1904-1906. Brother Skinner was first appointed as Grand Chaplain of this Grand Lodge Dec. 27, 1889, and served until Dec. 27, 1893. He was reappointed to that position Dec. 27, 1895, and served until his deceased He was exalted in Cambridge Royal Arch Chapter, Cambridge, Mass., and became a member of that Body Feb. 16, 1866. He was received and greeted in Wolcott Council, No. 1, R.S.M., of Hartford, Conn., Jan. 30, 1868, and held the office of Chaplain therein in 1870 and 187l. Brother Skinner was appointed Grand Chaplain of tbe Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Mass., Dec. 9, 1884, and served in that position until his decease, a pcriod of twenty-one years. He was Grand Chaplain of the Grand Council, R. and S.M. of Massachusetts, from 1891 to his decease, a period of fifteen years. He was knighted in Washington Commandery, Hartford, Conn., April 10, 1868. He was Prelate during the years 1869, 1873, 1874 and 1876. He was also its Captain General in 1871, and Generalissimo, 1877. He demitted from Washington Commandery, K.T., 1879, He became a member of Hugh de Payens Commandery, K. T., of Melrose, Mass., March 12, 1879. His rnernber:ship expired Sept. 14, 1887. He was Prelate of this Commandery from Sept. 10, 1879, to Oct. 13, 1886. He retained Associate Memberslrip in Hugh de Payens Commandery, K.T., until his decease.

"Through these facts and figures shine his personality and spirit, giving them their true value and significance.

"As a Mason he gave the Order himself, and his best self. In all these relations to different Bodies nt successive stages of his life he was sincerely allied with them in thougbt and feeling. Reverent in prayer, hearty in fellowship, buoyant in belief, genuine in conviction, Brother Skinner conveyed a helpful, strengthening tone, and proved a worthy representative at all times.

"My chief association with him has been in the Grand Chaplaincy of the Grand Lodge, covering a term of about twelve years. I desire to express my sense of indebtedness for the large, free way in which he met the duties that fell upon us both. Owing to circumstances, I was often obliged to rely on my colleague to respond to calls for dedications and anniversaries and visitations. He was not only adequate, but willing to serve for me and for himself. How acceptable aud satisfying he was at such times in the ritual all know who have listened to the full rich tones of his voice, and caught the spirit of his part."

II. The Clergyman.

"Behind the Mason was the Clergyman, and behind the Clergyman, the Man.

"Brother Skinner was the son of a minister, and inherited the clerical mould of mind. His father, Rev. Warren Skinner, was in his day a noted Universalist divine of aggressive and resolute temper, always found at the firing line of argument. Charles, his son, partook of the earnestness of the father, but it reappeared in a modified form. Our Grand Chaplain combined strength and gentleness. Beneath his smile was the firmness of self reliance, and in his genial grasp, independence was not lost. Those who were present nt the impressive funeral services held at the Cambridge First Universalist Church will recall the estimate of Brother Skinner"s work as a minister given by Dr. Bicknell, who knew him well. He said in substance:

"Dr. Skinner was a man of strong convictions, and yet always charitable towards men of different beliefs. In every community in which be lived he was honored and esteemed. He was greatly helped and inspired for many years by his lovely and talented wife, who passed on some fifteen years ago. In the house of mourning he was a blessed comforter. In the sick room he was an arm, as it were, upon which the sufferer could lean. In companionship he was always genial, gracious and tender. In friendship he was true and warm. In the homes of his parishioners he was a sweet presence. In the pulpit his voice was strong for Christ, his principles and work. He lived the religion he preached. His faith was mighty. Death had no terrors for him. He faced the change calmly and serenely. He made every arrangement for the funeral services. These were written on a sheet of paper, and closed with these words, his dying messcge. 'My love and tliumphant faith to my sons.'

"Of these three sons many will recall Otis Skinner, a leading American dramatic star.

"Brother Skinner's settlements were at Cambridge, Hartford (Conn.), Melrose, Somerville and Swampseott. A few years ago Tufts College conferred on him tbe degree of S.T.D.

"As I have already stated, our Brother selected those who should officiate at his funeral, and wrote full directions as to the character of the service. In company with many friends and representative Bodies, our Grand Master, and other prominent Masons in active and past service were in attendance. A brother clcrgyman speaks thus of the funeral event:

"It seems to us peculiarly fitting that, when after his really sixty years of Christian warfare, his life battle having been fought to a crown-deserving finish, the earthly discharge should find him in the city where he had fulfllled his longest pastorate, and where a cherished few of his old friends were yet living to be his neighbors. It was also, we think, fitting that his honorable career, by appropriate obsequies, was recalled within the same church walls that bad previously echoed to the obsequies of Thomas Whittemore and Lucius R. Paige. His rightful place is in companionship with these, and with such as these; the glorified company of the church triumphant."

III: The Man.

"A few words in closing to bring before us our friend and Brother in his essential character as a man among men.

"As we saw him in his later age - the autumn fulness of his honorable career - we found a mellow quality of good will and kindness. It waited not for speech, but was disclosed in his bearing, his eye, his look. He took counsel of patier:ce, and his judgments were charitable. His type of preaching was, called inspirational by his brother ministers, because he was always at his best in a sermon when he had a simple, dear Gospel theme. Then he poured his faith and hope into it with such fervor as to bear his listeners along on the tide of his joyous message. So was it in his personul influence. A virtue of goodness proceeded from his calm, strong outlook on life. He took cheerful views, he hoped fol the best, be believed in his fellowmen. You felt all this when ;ou met him.

"Freemnsorrry was the world-applicatiou, the mankind interpretation of his ideas. It was natural and inevitabie that he should be at home in our Fellowship. He found his individual ideals multiplied a thousand times, and his personal efforts immeasurably intensified by the Lodges and Degrees of Freemasonry. Next to religion was his loyalty to our Order. Here he helped to cultivate the traits in others which make noble citizens, true woi'shippels .and bloatl patriots. As a man be brought sincerity and affection, and we as men cherished the gift.

"Not only peace to his memory, the peace of a loving remembrance, but power to his memory. that we may often recall his example in days to come, for inspiration and guidance."

Edward A. Horton.



Distinguished Brothers