MASalem

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SALEM

LODGES

BUILDINGS

NOTE ON HALL RENOVATION, SEPTEMBER 1885

From Liberal Freemason, Vol. IX, No. 6, September 1885, Page 192:

Work has commenced upon the remodeling of Kinsman Hall, in Salem, Mass., as an asylum for the different Masonic bodies in that city. There is to be a banquet hall 45 by 26 feet, with a capacity for from 250 to 300 persons, a large hal1 45 by 37 feet, with 1665 square feet of floor surface for the lodges, anterooms for Essex Lodge, Starr King Lodge, Washington R. A. Chapter, Salem Council R. and S. Masters, the Lodge of Perfection, and Winslow Lewis Commandery, K. T., including an armory for the latter. The armory will be 29 feet by 19. There will be a parlor, smoking-room and other convenient features. The finish will be ash, and the frescoing very elegant. The rooms are to be ready for occupancy October first.

NOTE ON HALL BUILDING, MARCH 1906

From New England Craftsman, Vol. I, No. 6, March 1906, Page 210:

SALEM'S NEW MASONIC HALL ASSURED. The new Masonic building proposed for Salem may be regarded as assured, unless the owners of the lots desired hold their property at prohibitive prices. One location which was recently offered to a club for headquarters at $47,000 is now held at $65,000. This is because the owners are interested in other estates in the vicinity and think such a building as is proposed to erect for a Masonic hall will draw tenants from these less modern buildings. The stock for the new edifice is practically subscribed.

NOTE ON HALL BUILDING, MAY 1916

From New England Craftsman, Vol. XI, No. 8, May 1916, Page 274:

Salem, Mass., Masons are to have a new temple which is already in use though not completed or dedicated. The first meeting was held by Essex Lodge, May 2d andd was largely attended by members and visitors. A supper was served in the banquet hall on the seventh floor to 400 Masons.

The honor of inducting the first candidate into the order in the new quarters fell Right Worshipful George B. Farrington of Salem, who was assisted by officers of the Starr King Lodge of Salem.

Among the features of the new temple is an Estey organ that cost $3,000, the armory of the Winslow Lewis Commandery, and a room in reproduction of a room in Westminster Abbey.

The formal dedication will take place on St. John's Day, June 24, when exercises will be conducted by Grand Master Johnson of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The dedication will take place one year from the date of the laying of the corner-stone by Grand Master Johnson.

HALL DEDICATION, JUNE 1916

From New England Craftsman, Vol. XI, No. 9, July 1916, Page 320:

The fine new Masonic Temple at CD Salem, Mass., was dedicated with imposing ceremony and in the presence of a large assembly by the officers of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, Saturday, June 24th. This event was exactly one year after the corner stone of the building was laid by Grand Master Johnson. Previous to the dedicatory exercises a delightful luncheon by Bro. Schleuber of Lynn, was served to the officers of the Grand Lodge, the officers of Essex and Starr King Lodges, the past masters of each of these lodges, the presiding officers of each Masonic body in Salem, the officers of the building association, and those prominent in the work of building, together with the masters of sundry lodges in the vicinity of Salem.

Promptly at 3 o'clock, George W. Blinn, W. M. of Starr King Lodge called that lodge to order and it was organized, followed a few minutes later by Harry P. Gifford, W. M. of Essex Lodge, who likewise organized that lodge.

The presence of the Grand Master was then officially made known and he with his suite was received with honor clue their stations.

The visiting party was made up as follows: Melvin M. Johnson, G. M.; Wm. H. L. Odell, D. G. M.; H. P. Ballard, acting S. G. W.; Roscoe E. Learned, J. G. W.; Charles H. Ramsay, G. T.; Frederick W. Hamilton, G. S.; Rev. R. Perry Bush, D. D., G. C.; Wm. M. Farrington, G. M.; Frederick L. Putnam, G. L.; Charles T. Cottrell, J. G. D.; Charles H. Marble, J. G. S.; Arthur A. Sondheim, J. G. S.; Theodore L. Kelley, G. S. B.; Lewis M. Witherell, G. P.; George W. Chester, G. Tyler.

Accompanying the grand master and his suite were the following members of the grand lodge: J. Albert Blake, P. G. M.; Charles M. Green, P. D. G. M.; Rev. W. H. Rider, D. D., P. D. G. M.; James M. Gleason, P. G. W. William F. Davis, P. G. W.; Frank W. Mead, P. G. W.; Wm. M. Belcher, P. G. W.; Charles S. Robertson, P. G. W.; Henry J. Mills, P. G. W.; Albro A. Osgood, P. G. W.; George B. Farrington, D. D. G. M.; Benjamin B. Gilman, D. D. G. M., and Gardner R. P. Barker P. D. D. G. M.

After the visitors had been received Grand Master Johnson tool charge of the proceedings and officially dedicated the temple to the uses of Freemasonry, with the ancient rite which have so many times been performed, but which never were witnessed by a more attentive audienc than on this occasion.

Every inch of space that could be used in the handsome lodge room was occupied by spectators, over 600 members of the local and lodges from the surrounding places witnessing the dedication.

The music for the occasion was furnished by the Weber Male Quartet composed of A. C. Prescott, A. F Cole, G. H. Woods and W. E. Davidson.

The dedication ceremonies over. Wor. Bro. John M. Raymond was introduced and presented to the building association a handsome stand of silk colors, the National and State flags. His presentation address was patriotic to the core and was loudly applauded at the end. The handsome gift was received by Grand Master Johnson in a speech enthused with patriotic fervor. The address wa punctuated with applause, and at H~ close enthusiasm rose to a high pitch, as the handsome organ pealed out the Star Spangled Banner, and every one of the people gathered in that hall sung that grand old tune in a manner that was inspiring. It was an occasion that will linger long in the memory of those fortunate enough to have been present.

Hon. William H. Gove, president of the building association, received the flags from the grand master and they were promptly placed in position at the main entrance to the building and •were seen by several thousand who visited the temple in the evening.

Grand Master Johnson then presented Wor. Bro. George L. Hyde and Bro. George W. S. Rollins each with a Henry Price medal. Henry Price was the founder of Masonry in Massachusetts and these medals were presented the two brethren because they have been members of the Masonic fraternity for 50 or more years. Each recipient was given a fine reception.

The ceremonies being over the lodge was closed and the company proceeded to inspect the building.

During the evening more than 2000 persons passed through the Masonic quarters. Reaching the upper part of the building by elevator the tour of inspection began with the Armory of Winslow Lewis Commandery, K. T., passing from there to the corridor and then into the handsome room which was taken from the old Peabody mansion, the former Cadet armory. The visitor next inspected the chapter room and the sundry anterooms, and then arrived at the lodge room, which was the centre of attraction.

The lodge room is painted white, with mahogany furniture and delf Wue carpet and trimmings. The lighting effects were demonstrated by Wor. Bro. Harry Kingsley and others, .they being shown to their best advantage. The lighting in itself is an attraction.

At the handsome $3000 organ sat, at various times during the afternoon and evening, Messrs. Sonier and Sawyer of the Estey Organ Co., and Organist J. Frank Ross of Danvers, who played selections that brought out the beauties of this handsome instrument.

The banquet hall is on the fifth floor. On this occasion a dainty buffet lunch was served by Caterer Schleuber.

From the banquet hall the visitors returned to the main apartments by an entirely different route, each man receiving a miniature trowel as a souvenir of the occasion.

The affair was finely managed, and the big crowd was handled without confusion, the result of the efforts of a committee composed as follows: W. M. Harry P. Gilford, S. W. Adelbert Dennett and J. W. Frank T. Goodell of Essex Lodge, and W. M. George W. Blinn, S. W. Harry W. Kimball and J. W. Walter B. Edgell of Starr King Lodge.

Many ladies were present in the evening. Some of them wore elaborate gowns and all were charming accessories of a delightful occasion.

A large delegation of Masons from Essex and Starr King Lodges Sunday, June 25th, completed the observance of St. John's day by attending services in the South church, where a sermon was preached by the pastor, Rev. Thomas G. Langdale, who is also chaplain of the Starr King Lodge.

The clergyman took his text from I Kings 8:30: "Hearken thou to the supplication of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place; and hear thou in Heaven thy dwelling place, and when thou hearest, forgive." The pastor said, in part:

"Solomon's problem is ours. To live in peace with our fellow men and do our duty to the world, so combining the two that the one shall not interfere with the other. Its seeming simplicity is not the least of its difficulties. We live in conditions where God's claim on us for righteousness must come first, and where our consciousness of sin forgiven is the starting point of a broad inclusive brotherhood that makes us akin to all with whom we have to do, without regard to the outward circumstances of our lives. It was to this end that the Master of man, the Lord Jesus Christ, took upon him a human form and became obedient unto death, that through him we might be led to serve our fellowmen where we are and as we find them.

"An illustration of the practical working of this spirit is seen in the work of the churches and of the Red Cross in the different countries of stricken Europe, and co-operating with them beyond what is commonly known, Free Masonry has played an important part.

"President William Dewitt Hyde in his latest book, 'The Gospel of Good Will,' states my concluding thought in these words: 'Forgiveness is the most distinctive note Christ brought to the world, and explains why he was so insistent on repentance. For until the wrong doer repents it is neither rational or righteous to forgive him. Forgiveness is kindness toward a person who has been doing something which we abhor. It is close and friendly contact with a person whose act and attitude we shrink from and antagonize. It is not natural and, therefore, rare. When it occurs it is supernatural and indicates the presence in the heart of him who forgives, of something superhuman, divine That something is good will in it:-most costly sacrificial form.' In other words Jesus Christ brings Got' into our lives when in every possibli way we seek forgiveness from God and give it to our fellow man. Whei this spirit becomes regnant we maj expect to hear the angels sing the anthem of old, 'On earth peace, goo<! will toward men.'

"Today in the midst of the world's strife, our churches and lodges and social orders of many descriptions an living in a degree of harmony perhap never equaled in the world's life. We are at peace with one another an< our only emulation is in good work by which we may raise to a higher plane the common life of men, eacl doing its part, each contributing it share. It is not that we lack peace, but rather that good spirit whicl makes our life a unit and which tht world sadly lacks. I commend to you as I commend to myself the recognition of the primal need of God's for giveness for our personal sins, ii. order that we may have a broad charity for others; and having learned the secret of good will ourselves, to pass it on to the next man. who is our touching point with tht universe."

LINKS

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