Difference between revisions of "MassachusettsDistricts"
| Line 46: | Line 46: | ||
When the anti-Masonic movement swept over Massachusetts a few years later, these district alignments would all but disappear along with at least half of the lodges listed in the 1821 roster. | When the anti-Masonic movement swept over Massachusetts a few years later, these district alignments would all but disappear along with at least half of the lodges listed in the 1821 roster. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== 1826 ADDITION OF DISTRICT 13 ==== | ||
| + | |||
| + | A 13th District was added at the end of 1826. The first two District Deputy Grand Masters were resident in Taunton; the lodges in this district are assigned based on conjecture, as there is no record in the ''Proceedings''. | ||
Revision as of 00:15, 24 August 2010
Contents
MASSACHUSETTS MASONIC DISTRICTS
The first division of the Massachusetts jurisdiction into Masonic Districts occurred at the December 1801 Annual Communication, when a committee assigned to revise the Grand Constitutions proposed a system and the creation of a new officer, the District Deputy Grand Master.
It is unclear whether District Deputies were appointed in 1802, but they were in place by 1803, as there are notes in the Proceedings indicating that certain District Deputies were acting under instruction of the Grand Master to dedicate halls and constitute lodges.
The form of districts and the duties of District Deputies were formally established in the 9th Section of the 1811 Grand Constitutions.
1803-1820 DISTRICT ALIGNMENTS
There were 12 districts in existence in 1803, and lodges constituted subsequent to that time were added to the district closest to their meeting place. The Boston (1st) District was by far the largest, while the Islands (12th) District was the smallest. Maine was represented by three Districts (the 9th, 10th and 11th); lodges outside Massachusetts proper, such as those in Ohio or the lodges in Demarara or Puerto Rico were not assigned to any district.
When Maine became a state and established its own Grand Lodge, the districts were reorganized.
Districts in 1803:
- Boston and Vicinity
- Newburyport and North Shore
- South Shore and Cape Cod
- Southeast
- Framingham, West and North
- Central Massachusetts and Worcester
- North Central Massachusetts
- Berkshires
- Southern Maine
- Central Maine
- Eastern Maine
- Islands
1821 REDISTRICTING
With the departure of lodges situated in Maine, Grand Master John Dixwell arranged new districts for the Jurisdiction. The number remained twelve (at least at the outset; a thirteenth district was added some time before 1825). These districts had far fewer lodges than the previous ones. (Note: the 1821 list, beginning on page III-335, does not have names for these districts; these labels are provided as a guide to their location.)
Districts in 1821:
- Boston and Vicinity (8 lodges)
- Newburyport and North Shore (9 lodges)
- South Shore (5 lodges)
- Southeast (8 lodges)
- Framingham, West and North (8 lodges)
- Central Massachusetts and Worcester (8 lodges)
- North Central Massachusetts (6 lodges)
- Berkshires (9 lodges)
- North Shore (9 lodges)
- Connecticut Valley (8 lodges)
- Cape Cod (5 lodges)
- Islands (3 lodges)
When the anti-Masonic movement swept over Massachusetts a few years later, these district alignments would all but disappear along with at least half of the lodges listed in the 1821 roster.
1826 ADDITION OF DISTRICT 13
A 13th District was added at the end of 1826. The first two District Deputy Grand Masters were resident in Taunton; the lodges in this district are assigned based on conjecture, as there is no record in the Proceedings.
