Macedonian

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MACEDONIAN LODGE

MA_Macedonian.jpg

Location: Milton; Quincy ()

Chartered By: Richard Briggs

Charter Date: 06/14/1893 1893-36

Precedence Date: 08/24/1892

Current Status: Active


PAST MASTERS

  • William H. Puffer, 1892; Mem
  • Freeland D. Leslie, 1893, 1894; Mem
  • Edwin D. Wadsworth, 1895, 1896
  • Charles F. Hall, 1897, 1898
  • Frederick W. Archer, 1899, 1900
  • Dexter E. Wadsworth, 1901, 1902
  • Joseph T. Greene, 1903, 1904
  • Charles E. Letteney, 1905, 1906
  • Clarence Boylston, 1907, 1908
  • Edmond J. Carpenter, 1909, 1910
  • Lincoln Damon, 1911, 1912
  • Jesse B. Baxter, 1913, 1914
  • Edward F. W. Bartol, 1915, 1916
  • W. Newton Harlow, 1917, 1918; Mem
  • Charles F. Spargo, 1919, 1920
  • Frederick A. Gaskins, 1921, 1922
  • Frank A. Gibson, 1923, 1924
  • Leon P. Hallett, 1925, 1926
  • Charles D. Kidder, 1927, 1928; SN
  • Winthrop I. Carpenter, 1929, 1930
  • J. Herbert Raymond, 1931, 1932
  • Charles F. Newcomb, 1933, 1934
  • Roland S. Fulton, 1935, 1936; N
  • Alan M. Ross, 1937, 1938
  • John M. Grandy, 1939, 1940
  • John J. Davis, 1941
  • A. Victor Thompson, 1942, 1943; N
  • Alfred V. Huntley, Jr., 1944, 1945
  • Lester C. Fulton, 1946, 1947
  • Jay M. Whitham, 1948
  • A. Ralph Durning, 1949, 1950, 1990; N
  • Ralph A. Powers, 1951, 1952
  • Herbert C. Lang, 1953, 1954
  • Kenneth P. Lodge, 1955, 1956, 1977-1979; N
  • Alfred L. Clapp, 1957, 1958
  • Ellsworth R. Wells, 1959, 1960
  • Charles A. Stellberger, Jr., 1961, 1962, 1976
  • George H. Goodwin, Jr., 1963
  • Roy S. Pihl, 1964
  • Charles I. Foster, 1965
  • Carl L. Douglas, Jr., 1966
  • Charles E. Norton, 1967, 1982, 1983; N
  • A. Robert Lamarra, 1968
  • Frank W. Milne, 1969
  • David W. Ellis, 1970
  • Arthur E. Johnson, 1971, 1991, 1992
  • Norman L. Porter, 1972, 1973
  • David S. Small, 1974, 1975, 1987
  • Henry C. Tiews, 1980, 1981, 1984
  • Roy S. Morrison, 1985, 1986
  • Stephen R. Cappers, 1988
  • David C. Lilley, 1989
  • Howard R. Graden, 1993
  • Charlie M. Long, 1994
  • John D. Cruckshank, II, 1995, 1996
  • Douglas A. Russell, 1997
  • John W. Manzer, 1998
  • Allan R. Webster, 1999
  • Thomas A. Pardy, 2000, 2002-2004
  • Peter F. Jahn, Jr., 2001
  • Robert J. Purcell, 2005-2007
  • Lance P. Powers, 2008
  • John E. Bean, 2009-2012

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1892
  • Petition for Charter: 1893

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1917 (25th Anniversary)
  • 1927 (25th Anniversary)
  • 1942 (50th Anniversary)
  • 1967 (75th Anniversary)
  • 1992 (Centenary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1898 1900 1904 1911 1918 1920 1923 1925 1926 1929 1930 1931 1936 1938 1972 1985 1986 1998 2008 2012

HISTORY

  • 1942 (50th Anniversary History, 1942-151; see below)
  • 1967 (75th Anniversary History, 1967-301)
  • 1992 (Centenary History, 1992-49; see below)

50TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JUNE 1942

From Proceedings, Page 1942-151:

By Worshipful Charles P. Newcomb.

The history of fifty years of any Lodge is a tedious and uninteresting narration if an attempt is made to chronicle all the events in that long span of years. Bearing this in mind, we have endeavored, in presenting this history of Macedonian Lodge, to cover only the high spots as we see them.

In 1892, several Masons in Milton and the Lower Mills Section of Dorchester conceived the idea of establishing a local Lodge and thirty-eight members in good standing petitioned the Grand Lodge for a dispensation to form such a Lodge. Milton is situated in the center of three Masonic Districts and therefore permission to form a new Lodge was requested from and granted by Union Lodge of Dorchester of the Fourth District, Hyde Park Lodge of Hyde Park of the Twenty-fifth District and Rural Lodge of Quincy of the Twenty-sixth District. On June 24, 1892, the Grand Lodge granted a dispensation to start a new Lodge, to be known as Macedonian Lodge and located in the Town of Milton. Between the time the petition was signed and the dispensation granted, one other member joined the ranks so that there were thirty-nine Charter members who signed the By-Laws.

Our Mother Lodge was Union of Dorchester, of which fact we have always been justly proud and this is a good time to explain where Macedonian Lodge derived its name. During the anti-Masonic period in the early part of the nineteenth century, many Lodges surrendered their charters. Union Lodge, however, continued to hold their meetings throughout the period and three of the men responsible for the successful continuance of these meetings were Worshipful Robert M. Todd, Brother Thomas T. Wadsworth and Worshipful Charles Breck. All three of these Brothers lived on the south side of the Neponset River and they took turns transporting the charter from their homes to the Lodge. For this service, their determination and courage, they became known as the "Three Macedonians."

When our Lodge was started, the name Macedonian appealed to the organizers. The cover of our notice is designed with the three Macedonians and the name "Macedonian" across the front in the letters of the Greek alphabet. It will be recollected that Macedonia was one of the greatest empires of ancient times, whose strength was the result of the courage and determination of its leaders. The portraits on our notice, from the left to right, are Worshipful Robert M. Todd, Brother Thomas T. Wads-worth and Worshipful Charles Breck. A son and grandson of Brother Wadsworth were Charter members of Macedonian Lodge and both subsequently became Masters of the Lodge. A son of Worshipful Brother Breck, Brother Charles E. C. Breck, was also a Charter member of the Lodge.

The first meeting of the Lodge was held in Fraternity Hall on June 28, 1892. Thirty-four members were present. Of these members, only one is still living, Brother Scott T. Doten, who is with us tonight. Brother Doten was our first Tyler. Twelve applications for the degrees were received at this first meeting, and also at this meeting, it was voted that the stated communications be held on the fourth Tuesday of each month. This has never been changed.

The annual meetings were voted to be held on the second Tuesday of October but this was changed in 1899 to the second Monday of January, which was continued until 1931, when the annual meeting was changed to the fourth Tuesday of November and no change has been made since.

The original By-Laws of the Lodge were adopted at the fourth regular communication, September 27, 1892.

Fraternity Hall is that portion of our apartments where our smoking room is now located. At the time our Lodge was started, however, there were no toilet or coat rooms. The place where the men's toilet is now located was the kitchen, which was outfitted with a gas stove and sink.

During the first year of our existence, regular meetings were held in July and August. Between August and September meetings, a fire occurred in the building which made the hall unavailable for several months. The members of the first class of candidates therefore took their Entered Apprentice degree in Fraternity Hall, the Fellow Craft Degree in the Milton Town Hall and the Master Mason Degree in the Odd Fellows' Hall on River Street. The members of the first class were Brothers Warren S. Thayer, Alfred H. Crossman, Samuel A. Morse, Bradford O. Hamilton and Charles S. Barker. Only one of these members is still living, Brother Bradford O. Hamilton. In December, 1892, the Lodge returned to Fraternity Hall for the regular communication. Several other organizations of a non-Masonic nature also held their meetings in Fraternity Hall.

In 1903, during the administration of Worshipful Joseph T. Greene, the Lodge membership had reached 147 and the quarters in Fraternity Hall were too small. On March 24, 1903, therefore, it was voted to "lease and furnish" new quarters to be provided in the building. How these new quarters were obtained is of interest.

The room in which we are now sitting was formerly a theatre. The room where the Tyler's desk is located was the balcony. To provide for the new Lodge-room, a new floor was installed, which is the floor of this room. To get the necessary head room, the floor was depressed, which accounts for the inclines at the entrances. Very few Lodges have such an entrance and the candidates entering the room for the first time, hoodwinked, get quite a sensation. The new Lodge-room was finished during the summer of 1903, and on September 11, 1903, Most Worshipful Baalis Sanford paid us a visit for the purpose of dedication. We continued to use Fraternity Hall on our regular communications as a banquet hall and the other organizations continued to use it for their meetings.

In connection with the furnishings of our Lodge-room, it seems appropriate to mention the illuminated symbols of the third degree. These symbols make quite an impression on the candidates and visiting Brethren, as very few Lodges have this feature. In the Fourth District, the only other apartments to have them are at Jamaica Plain.

From the dedication of the new Lodge-room in 1903, conditions remained the same until January, 1922, when at the annual meeting Worshipful Frederick A. Gaskins, who was Master at that time, reported that an opportunity had been offered for the Lodge to purchase the Associates' Building and provide a permanent home for the Lodge. It was voted at this meeting that the Master appoint a committee to confer with the stockholders regarding the purchase of the building. As a result of the conferences, the Milton Masonic Building Association was formed and the building was purchased with the help of the members, who bought shares at $50.00 each. The apartments were then refinished in their present shape and since that time only Masonic bodies or organizations affiliated with Masons have occupied the third floor. At the present time the apartments are used by Macedonian Lodge, Milton Lodge, Milton Chapter Order of Eastern Star and Milton Assembly No. 38, Order of the Rainbow for Girls. Guy Ham Chapter Order of Eastern Star also use the apartments for their installations.

In 1922, the Lodge membership had reached 521 and it became evident that there was a strong feeling that there was room for a second Lodge in Milton. On February 28, 1922, petitions were received at the regular communication of the Lodge for permission to start two new Lodges. After some discussion, it was voted to refer the matter to a committee to report at the March meeting. At this meeting, it was voted that the petition for Chicatawhat Lodge be refused and the petition for Milton Lodge be granted. Milton Lodge was thus started and has been operating in pleasant relations with Macedonian Lodge ever since.

On June 19, 1917, the Lodge celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. At this meeting we were honored by a visit from Most Worshipful Leon M. Abbott and a distinguished suite of Grand Lodge Officers. Eleven of the seventeen living Charter members were present. At this meeting also, Brother H. Clifford Gallagher, who had been Treasurer of the Lodge since its start, was honored by the presentation of a twenty-five year service jewel. Brother Gallagher continued to serve as Treasurer for several years longer.

On December 12, 1919, a special communication was held at the Masonic Apartments in Roxbury, with permission of the Grand Lodge, for the purpose of welcoming home our members who had served in the first World War. Most Worshipful Leon M. Abbott was present at this meeting with his suite of Grand Lodge Officers to participate in the ceremonies. Forty members of Macedonian Lodge who had served in the war were present. A tablet bearing the names of these members hangs on the east wall of our Lodge-room. This tablet was dedicated on January 5, 1921, and Past Grand Master Leon M. Abbott was the principal speaker at the dedication ceremonies.

In 1924, we received a bequest amounting, with interest, to $5607,95 from Charlotte A. Stevens, a daughter of Worshipful Brother Robert M. Todd. This was to be used to provide a suitable memorial for her father. At the June 28, 1927, meeting it was voted to expend the sum of $5000 to purchase a new organ in memory of Brother Todd. This night was the occasion of our thirty-fifth anniversary and we had as our guest Most Worshipful Frank L. Simpson, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts. The new organ was installed during the summer of 1927 and was dedicated on December 27, 1927. Right Worshipful Charles D. Kidder was Master at that time and it was largely through his influence that it was installed. We have always felt that it is a great asset to the Lodge.

When Macedonian Lodge was first organized, it was assigned to the Fourth Masonic District. At that time all the Lodges in the District were under the direction of one District Deputy Grand Master. In 1927 the number of Lodges in the District had so increased that the District was divided into three sections, Dorchester, Roxbury and South Boston, and since then we have been included in the Dorchester Fourth Masonic District.

Since the start of the Lodge we have been very fortunate in the selection of what might be termed our non-advancing officers. These include the Treasurer, Secretary, Marshal and Tyler. We have had only four Treasurers, eight Secretaries, eight Marshals and five Tylers. One of each of these stations has served for over twenty-five years and has been presented with a twenty-five year service jewel, Brother H. Clifford as Treasurer, Brother Arthur W. Jenkins as Secretary, Brother William H. Young as Marshal and Brother James Spencer as Tyler.

During our fifty years of existence, we have received eight visits from Grand Masters. Most Worshipful Leon M. Abbott visited us twice in the capacity of Grand Master and once as Past Grand Master.

Eight hundred fifty-two members have signed our By-laws. Our largest year in membership was 1924, when we had 569 members. Our membership at the present time is 368.

We were fortunate in having at the start of our Lodge leaders of determination and intelligence. The obstacles which confront a new Lodge were safely overcome. While at the early part of the last decade the conditions were serious, because of the fact that the number of new candidates was more than offset by the larger number of deaths of our older members, we have for the past few years been holding our own and we are now in a position where we can look forward with confidence to a continuing prosperity for our second fifty years.

CENTENARY HISTORY, MAY 1992

Please refer to page 301 of the 1967 Grand Lodge Proceedings for the history of the first 75 years of Macedonian Lodge.

On January 25, 1977 Wor. Kenneth P. Lodge appointed R. W. A. Ralph Durning Chairman of a committee to receive our own R. W. Charles E. Norton on his first visit as the District Deputy Grand Master of the Dorchester Fourth Masonic District. It was a great evening for Macedonian Lodge.

In early 1978 it became obvious that Macedonian Lodge would be wise to sell the Masonic Apartments at 60 Adams Street, Milton. The Lodge felt the natural pain of the divergent emotions of the heart versus the sobering business necessities dictated by the mind. The arrangements were made and the building sold. A search committee was organized, and on Tuesday, March 27, 1979 Macedonian Lodge held our first meeting at the Quincy Masonic Temple, 170 Hancock Street, Quincy, Massachusetts.

On May 27, 1980 R. W. James G. Buckley paid a Fraternal Visit to our Lodge. The visit was unexpected, the size of his suite larger than usual and the sidelines were full. A surprised Wor. Kenneth P. Lodge was presented the Joseph Warren Medal. The recipient assumed the East and left us all with a tremendous feeling - a feeling you understand if you know Ken and one that cannot be explained if you don't.

On October 23, 1984 Brother Donald Bradshaw presented an Electronic Organ which he had personally built to the Lodge. Brother Bradshaw served many years as our Organist and made the meeting a great delight. The contribution of an Organist is never appreciated until you have an evening without music. Bro. Bradshaw had an Organ selection at every meeting. A selection always written by a Brother. Don never missed a chance to announce the Composer's Name and Lodge.

Most Worshipful David Borden Richardson presented R.W. A. Ralph Durning his 50 year Medal on March 26, 1985 at our regular communication. To receive a 50 year award is great. To have been so active the entire 50 years is fantastic. Every man in the room knew R.W. Durning would remain just as active in the future. Finally, to have the Grand Master make the presentation in person was the icing on the cake.

Macedonian Lodge felt the move to the Quincy Masonic Temple was a good decision. We enjoyed the facilities and felt very much at home in our new surroundings. Yet we missed our furniture, altar and ornaments we had placed in storage when we moved from Milton. The Quincy Temple had an unfinished room on the third floor called Burgin Hall. It had been named after Brother Thomas Burgin, a distinguished Mason and a former Mayor of the City of Quincy. Permission from the Temple was obtained in early 1989 for us to construct a Lodge Room in Burgin Hall. The officers and members went right to the job. Wor. Henry Tiews designed and built a truly magnificent Arc in the East and our prized emblems were removed from storage and put in place. The formal dedication of our new Lodge was made in October of 1990 when Most Worshipful Albert Timothy Ames, Grand Master, dedicated our new Lodge Room. We all knew we were home. An outstanding feeling. We are all so thankful.

On January 22, 1990 Wor. Henry Tiews was presented the Joseph Warren Medal by R. W. Charles Buckley. Wor. Tiews was serving as the District Deputy Grand Secretary with R. W. Buckley as the District Deputy Grand Master. This association made the presentation all the nicer.

Well, we made it the first one hundred years. We've been told the first hundred years are the hardest. It's good to have the tough part behind us.

Macedonian Lodge has a spirit you can feel when you enter the room. We have an outstanding monthly attendance. The officers for our new Masonic Year are outstanding men. We currently have 94 members. The words of our Grand Master, Most Worshipful Edgar William Darling, ring clear. We need Quality not Quantity. That's Macedonian Lodge!

OTHER


GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

DISTRICTS

1892: District 4 (South Boston)

1911: District 4 (South Boston)

1927: District 4 (Dorchester)

2003: District 8


LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges