MAGLFPutnam

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FREDERIC L. PUTNAM 1868-1960

FredericPutnam.JPG

Senior Grand Warden, 1936


MEMORIALS

From Proceedings, Page 1960-26:

Born at Malden, Massachusetts, February 4, 1868
Died at Springfield, Vermont, January 4, 1960

Right Worshipful Frederic Lincoln Putnam was the son of Henry L. and Mary E. Putnam and a direct descendant of John Putnam, who settled at Salem, Massachusetts, in 1634. His early life was spent in Malden, Massachusetts, where he attended the public schools, afterwards studying accounting and law. {n 1907 he entered the employ of Middlesex County, and on October 8, 1910, was appointed by the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts fourth Assistant Clerk of the Courts for the County of Middlesex , Later he was advanced to third, second and first Assistant Clerk.

On October 25, 1925, R.W. Brother Putnam married Mary Pearl Gould, daughter of Levi Gould, who for many years was a Middlesex County Commissioner and the first mayor of the City of Melrose, Massachusetts. There were no children and Mrs. Putnam passed on at Melrose December 28, 1940.

On May 18, 1937, owing to the death of the then Clerk of Courts, R.W. Brother Putnam was appointed Clerk of Courts for Middlesex County, to hold office until another was elected and qualified. In 1938 he became a candidate for this office and was elected. He was re-elected in 1940 and in 1946. He did not seek election in 1952, and in January 1953, he retired. In 1941 he received the Award for Meritorious Service (the first in Massachusetts). On March 30, 1944, he married Elizabeth Lloyd Campbell, who survives him, together with several nephews and nieces. He lived for many years, until a few months before his death, in Melrose where he served as Trustee of the Melrose Memorial Building and Trustee of the Wyoming Cemetery. He belonged to the Men's Club of the Melrose Congregational Church and was called upon frequently as a speaker before that and other groups.

In his 91st year, R.W. Brother Putnam passed on after a long illness at Springfield, Vermont, on January 4, 1960. Masonic services were conducted at the Weir Funeral Home in Malden by the Worshipful Master and Officers of Mount Vernon Lodge. Most Worshipful Laurence E. Eaton, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, and his Grand Marshal were also present. The funeral service was private. Interment was in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose.

His Masonic record was long and eminently distinguished. He was received an Entered Apprentice in Mount Vernon Lodge, A.F.& A.M., of Malden on April 4, 1889, passed to the Degree of Fellow Craft May 6, 1889, and raised a Master Mason June 6, 1889. He entered the line in Mount Vernon Lodge almost immediately and served as Worshipful Master in 1900-1901. He was a Charter Member of Mount Scopus Lodge and elected an Honorary Member of several Lodges.

In Grand Lodge he was appointed Senior Grand Deacon in 1903 and District Deputy Grand Master of the Melrose 7th District in 1927. He served as Grand Lecturer from 1904 to 1921 and in 1922 was awarded the Henry Price Medal for outstanding Masonic service. He was elected Senior Grand Warden in 1936 and received a Veteran's Medal in 1939.

In the York Rite, R.W. Brother Putnam received the Royal Arch Degree in Tabernacle Chapter at Malden December 18, 1893. He became a Royal and Select Master in Melrose Council April 18, 1894, and was knighted in Beauseant Commandery, No. 41, K.T., on May 28, 1894, where he served as Prelate and as Eminent Commander in 1905.

In Scottish Rite R.W. Brother Putnam joined Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection October 1, 1920; Giles F. Yates Council of Princes of Jerusalem October 8, 1920; Mount Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix October 15, 1920; and Massachusetts Consistory December 29, 1920. He was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, Honorary Member of the Supreme Council on September 29, 1948, at Boston.

R.W. Brother Putnam was a leader of men - strong in private and public life, strong in character, in integrity, in his profession, in his friendships, in the esteem of his fellow men, and strong in Masonry. The honors and success which came to him were freely accorded, because he was diligent and sincere in all his work and inspiring to all those with whom he was associated in civic and fraternal affairs. He was a man's man, loyal and courageous, who will long be remembered by all who knew him.

Fraternally submitted,
Claude L. Allen
Jacob J. Glazin
Russell E. Pilling
Committee

SPEECHES

AT HALL DEDICATION IN SAUGUS, DECEMBER 1906

From New England Craftsman, Vol. II, No. 5, February 1907, Page 159:

FredericLPutnam1906.jpg

Address Delivered at Dedication of Masonic Apartments
Saugus, Mass., December 20, 1906

According to our ritual, this, as well as every other Lodge Room, is a symbolic representation of King Solomon's Temple. Let us, therefore, consider that magnificent structure as the earliest product of both operative and speculative Masons. We learn from Holy Writ, supplemented by profane history, that the Temple of the Lord at Jerusalem was commenced by Solomon, King of Israel, in the year of the World 2992, and being finished in seven years and six months, was dedicated to the service of the Most High in the year 3000 with solemnity and in the presence of the assembled people of Israel. It stood on Mount Moriah, one of the eminences of the ridge called in Scripture Mount Zion, and was originally the property of Oman the Jebusite, who used it as a threshing-floor, and from whom it was purchased by King David for the purpose of erecting an altar.

The Temple was originally built on a very hard rock, encompassed with great precipieces. The foundations were laid very deep with immense labour and expense. It was 108 feet long, 36 feet wide and 54 feet high. It was surrounded by a white marble wall which was from 4 to 600 feet high and one-half mile in circumference. Besides the 153,303 there were employed 30,000 men of Israel who worked in levies of 10,000 one month in three, under the direction of Adoniram; also 33,600 builders of Hiram. Hiram, King of Tyre, received for what he did, 20,000 measures of wheat and 20 measures of oil; or in our figures 12,960,000 lbs. of wheat and 21,600 of oil each year. He received, besides, large tracts of territory. The Temple itself, which consisted of the porch, the sanctuary and the holy of holies, was but a small part of the edifice on Mount Moriah.

It was surrounded with spacious courts, and the whole structure occupied at least a half a mile in circumference. Upon passing through the outer wall, you came to the first court, called the court of the Gentiles, because the Gentiles were admitted into it, but were prohibited from passing farther. It was surrounded by a range of porticos or cloisters, above which were galleries or apartments supported by pillars of white marble. Passing through the court of the Gentiles you entered the court of the children of Israel, which was separated by a low stone wall, and an ascent of fifteen steps, into two divisions : the outer one being occupied by the women and the inner by the men. Here the Jews were in the habit of resorting daily for the purposes of prayer. Within the court of the Israelites, and separated from it by a wall one cubit in height, was the court of the priests. In the centre of this court was the altar of burnt offerings, to which the people brought their oblations and sacrifices ; but none but the priests were permitted to enter it. From this court twelve steps ascended to the Temple, so called, which as has already been said, was divided into three parts — the porch, the sanctuary and the holy of holies. The porch of the temple was twenty cubits in height and the same in breadth. At its entrance was a gate made entirely of Corinthian brass, the most precious metal known to the ancients. Beside this gate there were the two pillars, Jachin and Boaz, which had been constructed by the architect whom the King of Tyre had sent to Solomon, and which are thus described in Josephus: "Moreover this Hiram made two hollow pillars, whose out sides were of brass, and the thick ness of the brass was four fingers breadth, and the height of the pillars, was eighteen cubits and their circumference twelve cubits; but there was cast with each of these chapters, lily work that stood upon the pillar, and it was elevated five cubits, round about which there was net-work, interwoven with small palms made of brass, and covering the lily work. To this also, were hung two hundred pomegranates in two rows."

From the porch yon entered the sanctuary by a portal, which, instead of folding doors, was furnished with a magnificent vail of many colors, which mystically re-presented the Universe. The breadth of the sanctuary was twenty cubits, and its length forty, or just twice that of the porch and holy o! holies. It occupied therefore, one-half of the body of the temple In the sanctuary were placed the various utensils necessary for the daily worship of the temple, such as the altar of incense, on which incense was daily burnt by the officiating priest; the ten golden candlesticks: and the ten tables on which the offerings were laid previous to the sacrifice. The Holy of Holies, or innermost chamber, was separated from the sanctuary by doors of olive, richly sculptured and inlaid with gold, and covered with vails of blue, purple, scarlet, and the finest linen. The size of the Holy of Holiest was the same as that of the porch, namely twenty cubits square.

It contained the ark of the covenant, which had been transferred into it from the Tabernacle, with its overshadowing cherubim and its mercy-seat. Into the most sacred place, the High Priest alone could enter, and that only once a year, on the day of atonement. The Temple, thus constructed, must have been one of the most magnificent structures of the ancient world. For its erection David had collected more than four thousand millions of dollars. A curious calculation places the cost of the Temple at 4,696,498,435 dollars. If this money was in half eagles and was placed on a plane, allowing one inch to each piece, it would extend 14 824 miles, or more than one half the circumference of the earth. The weight of the stone used in its construction was more than 46,000 tons. Josephus says that the Temple contained 410,000 musical instruments and that Solomon had 14,000 chariots and 12,000 horses.

After its completion it was dedicated by King Solomon, with solemn prayer, and seven days of feasting; during which a peace-offering of 20,000 oxen and 120,000 seeep, was made, to consume which the holy fire came down from Heaven. Thirty-three years after its completion this beautiful edified was despoiled, in the reign of Jeroboam, Dy Shishak, King of Egypt, and finally burnt to the ground by Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, aud the inhabitants of Jerusalem carried as captives to that city in the year 588, B. C, during the reign of Zedikiah. After the captivity, the Temple was rebuilt by Zerubbabel, with greater extent but inferior glory. We are taught to believe that lodges in former times met on high hills or in deep vales; and while there may not have been any special necessity for dedicating such meeting places they were however undoubtedly consecrated to Freemasonry The general custom of dedicating buildings to various uses was without doubt the direct result of the consecration of King Solomon's Temple. We not only claim this ceremony as a right, but as a necessity. Therefore has the Most Worshipful Grand Master with the assistance of the officers of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, dedicated these apartments in the manner of former times, to Freemasonry. During this service there has been poured upon a small piece of canvas, covered with emblems; — corn, wine and oil. This canvas or carpet, is a symbolic representation of the Lodge ; corn, wine and oil are the masonic elements of consecration. They were the most important production of Eastern countries, largely constituting the wealth of the people. In the dedication of the edifices and the consecration of individuals to the purposes of religion, the anointing with oil was considered a most solemn and imporant part of the ceremonial. The tabernacle in the wilderness, and all the holy vessels, were by God's express command anointed with oil; hence our lodges are consecrated to the purposes for which they were built by strewing corn, wine and oil upon them. This mysterious ceremony instructs us to be nourished with the hidden manna of righteousness; to be refreshed with the Word of the Lord, and to rejoice in the riches of Divine Grace. We carry these three elements of consecration in our processions to remind us that in the pilgrimage of life we are to impart a portion of our corn to feed the hungry; a cup of wine to cheer the sorrowful and to pour the healing oil of consolation into the wounds which sickness has caused in the bodies, or affliction sent to the hearts of our fellow creatures. It is noticeable that the corn is contained in a golden goblet while the wine and the oil are in goblets of silver. This should remind us that the first, as a necessity and the staff of life, is of more importance and more worthy of honor than the others, which are but comforts.

Through the officers delegated b)' the Grand Master to perform that duty, has the building been tried by the square, the level and the plumb ; and in each case have they reported that " The craftsman have done their duty." In these words there lies a deep but not an hidden meaning, for they teach and admonish us that from this moment until the last it is expected that each and every one will faithfully perform his duty — his whole duty to God, his neighbor and himself. As the square has been used to see that all parts agree, so does it teach us ever to be square and honorable with all men: That in the great questions of life always upon us to decide, we should be just and honest and ever respectful of the opinions of others. As the level has demonstrated that all parts are level, so should it remind us that no matter where our birth, what our station in life may be, what we have or what we have not, we are all children of one great and everlasting Father in whoso eyes there is but the distinction of good and evil.

As the plumb has shown us that the foundations and the walls are true, so should it teach us to strive to be upright in our walks before God and before man. Borne in the hands of the Grand Chaplain and from which he reads is the Holy Bible, the Word of God. This, the great light in Freemasonry and to all the world, is the gift of God to man that there may always be a light whereby he may be guided to all truth. On this book rest the square and compasses which speak to us in these ceremonies as they do in the work of the Lodge The three lesser lights, typical of the sun, moon and Master of the Lodge, are carried in the procession and deposited on the carpet that the lesson of the government of tin Lodge by its Master may ever bt before us. Here, as we are now. and always when within the lodgi room, are we round and about the altar — the most impressive symbol of the Lodge — for it symbolizes tin presence of the Divine. It constantly reminds us of our nearness to that greatest of earthly institutions, tin Church of God. True Masonry does not usurp the place of the church, but is an hand-maidei thereto. It teaches the dignity o! labor and the equality of man Its principles are based on pun morality — its ethics are the ethics of Christianity — its sentiments tin sentiments of exalted benoveleuce — its doctrines the doctrines of patriot ism and brotherly love. When Christ was asked what is the great est commandment in the law, he answered. "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment, and the second is like unto it — thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the the law and the prophets." This is the essence of all religion and morality, and on this basis has Freemasonry erected its moral temple. God grant that the spirit for which it has ever contended may be the inspiration of every heart, and that we may all work together with such love and unity that the achievements of the future may arise as a mighty rock casting its shadows upon the most glorious achievements of the past. Impressively and in a dignified manner have the apartments of Wm. Sutton Lodge been dedicated to Freemasonry. May the beautiful lessons of these ceremonies — may the glorious thoughts which are a part of them — may all of the teachings of Freemasonry sink deep into our hearts and minds, and may William Sutton Lodge ever prosper thereby.

"Then fix in love's cement the heart,
Study and act the trowel's part,
Strive in the compass' span to live,
And mutual concessions give.

Daily your prayers and alms bestow
As yonder light doth clearly show,
And walking by the plummet just
In God your hope, in God your trust.


Distinguished Brothers