MAGLEChapin
EDWARD PLINY CHAPIN 1839-1922
Senior Grand Warden, 1896
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page 1922-53:
Born October 7, 1839,
died February 8, 1922.
His birthplace was "OId Chicopee Street," Chicopee, Massachusetts, where many generations of his ancestors had been born. Son of Pliny and Emily (Blackmer) Chapin, he was a direct descendant of Deacon Samuel Chapin whose statue as the personification of "The Puritan" by Saint Gaudens adorns Merrick Park, near Springfield City Library. Right Worshipful Brother Chapin was educated in the Springfield public schools, and upon graduation entered the employ of the Western Railroad, now the Boston & Albany, where he worked as a forwarding clerk, until his appointment as paymaster's clerk at the United States Armory at the beginning of the Civil War.
In 1875 he engaged in the hardware business with his brother-in-law, Charles A. Kibbee, under the firm name of Chapin & Kibbee. Later he was for some time treasurer of the Hampden Paint & Chemical Company, eventually being made president of that company.
In 1883 he was appointed postmaster of Springfield by President Arthur, which office he held for three years.
In 1886 he was appointed to a position on the State Board of Savings Bank Commissioners by Governor Robinson, and made his headquarters in Boston until 1891, when he resigned from that board to accept the presidency of the Pynchon National Bank of Springfield, which position he held until the dissolution of that corporation in 1900 or 1901. After this he spent several years in the banking business in Drummond, Montana, then returned to Springfield for a short time, finally going to West Brattleboro, Vt., where he had lived in recent years, with his daughter, Mrs. Wright. While living in Springfield, Right Worshipful Brother Chapin was interested in many enterprises of a commercial character. He was a member of the finance committee of the Springfield Institution for Savings, president of the Forest Park Heights Company and a member of the Hampden County Horticultural Society. He called the meeting and presided when the Springfield Board of Trade was organized. He was at one time president of the Springfield Cemetery Association and interested in many philanthropic works. In matters political he had considerable interest and served two years as alderman, during which time he reorganized the Fire Department of the city.
Right Worshipful Brother Chapin's interest in the Masonic Institution had extended over half a century, and until the time of his leaving Springfield he had been very active in every work that promoted the good of the Institution.
He was raised in Roswell Lee Lodge, A.F. and A.M. January 25, 1868, was Master of that Lodge in 1875 and, in December, 1894, was appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the Sixteenth Masonic District, and in 1896 was elected Senior Grand Warden of this Grand Lodge. He was exalted in Morning Star Royal Arch Chapter May 8, 1868. He received the Cryptic degrees in Springfield Council, Royal and Select Masters, May 12, 1875. He was knighted in Springfield Commandery, Knights Templars, June 8, 1868, and was Commander in 1878, 1879, and 1880. In the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, he was Grand Junior Warden in 1880 and 1881, Grand Captain General in 1882 and 1883, Grand Generalissimo in 1884, Deputy Grand Commander in 1885, and Grand Commander in 1886. In the Scottish Rite he received the degrees as follows: in Evening Star Lodge of Perfection June 23, 1875, in Massasoit Council, Princes of Jerusalem, December 22, 1892, and in Springfield Chapter of Rose Croix, April 11, 1894. He was president of Springfield Masonic Hall Association at the time of the erection of the present building and continued in that office for several years.
Right Worshipful Brother Chapin was married in June, 1866, to Miss Edna Kibbee, daughter of Dr. C. A. Kibbee, a physician of Springfield. They had four children of whom three are now living, Mrs. F. C. Wright, of West Brattleboro, Vt., Mrs. E. O. Smith, and Horace Chapin, of Springfield.
Right Worshipful Brother Chapin was descended from a long line of New England ancestry of which he was justly proud. From the earliest settlement of the Connecticut Valley to the present time the Chapins have been men of large influence and prominence in the history of that part of Massachusetts, and in the life of our departed Brother were exemplified many of those sterling traits of character for which his ancestors were noted. In his mature manhood he developed to a large degree the initiative and ability of leadership and in many causes for the betterment of his fellow men he was the moving spirit.
He was kind and generous in his dealings with all people with whom he came in contact, and if he had an outstanding fault it was a too implicit faith in the integrity of his brother man. His life was well spent in good works, ancl may his reward be in accordance with the Christian Faith in which he was an implicit believer.
Edwin A. Blodgett,
Edward P. Kendrick,
Dwight H. Keyes,
Committee.
