Difference between revisions of "MassachusettsYear1872"

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1872

SERENO DWIGHT NICKERSON, Grand Master

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATIONS (held at Masonic Temple, Boston)

• 1872-1: 03/13;
• 1872-45: 06/12;
• 1872-125: 09/11;
• 1872-195: 12/11 (Annual Communication, continued to 12/12).

Grand Constitutions Amendment Proposals:

• 03/13: 1872-27: Proposed amendment to Part 3, Article 7, Section 1, regarding the jewels of Grand Officers; adopted.
• 03/13: 1872-28: Proposed amendment to Part 1, Article 3, Section 1, regarding the time of meeting of the Grand Lodge; referred.
  • 06/12: 1872-117; adopted, Feast of St. John Communication, would now commence at 4 PM ”or at such earlier hour as the Grand Master may direct.”
  • 12/11: 1872-245; further revisions proposed and adopted.
• 03/13: 1872-31: Proposed amendment to Part 1, Article 1, Section 2, regarding the powers of the Board of Directors; adopted.
• 06/12: 1872-118: Proposed amendment to Part 3, Article 4, Section 4, regarding penalties for non-payment of dues; referred.
• 06/12: 1872-124: Proposed amendment to Part 1, Article 3, Section 1, regarding meeting times; referred.
• 09/11: 1872-136: Proposed amendment to Part 4, Article 3, Section 2, regarding rejected applicants; adopted.
• 12/11: 1872-259: Proposed amendment to Part 4, Article 1, Section 5, regarding jurisdictions, along with resolutions regarding the jurisdictional limits of lodges within Boston (including Roxbury, Dorchester, South Boston and East Boston); referred.
• 12/11: 1872-266: Proposed amendment to Part 4, Article 3, Section 2, regarding rejected applicants; referred.

Grand Master‘s Address:

• 03/14: 1872-10; In Memoria; beginning on page 1872-12: visitations as listed below; redistricting as listed below; Declaration of 1831 reprinted and presented to the public; received a bound copy of Anderson‘s Constitutions from the UGLE; more notes on ”Ecce Orienti”; communications from various Grand Lodges seeking recognition; new Coolidge portrait; portrait of Fay to be presented; regulation regarding admission (see below) and notification regarding non payment of dues in Montacute Lodge. Referred, 1872-29.
• 06/12: 1872-118; report of review committee.

Visits:

• Mariners, Cotuit (12/26; constitution of lodge; by Rt. Wor. Joseph K. Baker, DDGM)
• St. Mark‚‘s, Newburyport (01/02; hall dedication, by Rt. Wor. Charles C. Dame as Deputy Grand Master.)
• Mizpah, Cambridge (01/08; installation)
• Mount Hollis, Holliston (01/09; hall dedication, by Rt. Wor. George E. Stacy, DDGM)
• Lowell (02/13; hall dedication, with Pentucket, Ancient York, Kilwinning and Ancient York Lodges in attendance; address by Past Grand Master Gardner.)
• Phoenician, Lawrence (02/21; constitution and installation)
• Robert Lash, Chelsea (02/28; five Past Grand Masters present)
• Corinthian, Concord (02/29; hall dedication; address by Bro. William W. Wheildon)
• Columbian, Boston (03/07)
• Winslow Lewis, Boston (03/08; ”members . . . bade a fond farewell to our Past Grand Master Winslow Lewis, who was to sail on the following day on his fourteenth voyage to Europe.”)

Redistricting:

• New District 17: Hiram, Putnam, Mount Horeb, Mount Hermon, Wyoming, Mount Vernon, William Parkman, Charity, Simon W. Robinson, Good Samaritan.
• Amicable and Mount Olivet from District 4 to District 2;
• Trinity and Wilder from District 11 to District 7.
• ”It is my intention to re-district the whole state. As the districts are now composed the labors of several of the DDGMs are exceedingly burdensome.”

• Regulation regarding admission:1872-19: ”It is hereby ordered that no one be admitted into any of our Lodges who is not known to be a Mason in good and regular standing, unless he is vouched for by some well known Brother, or produces the Certificate of some Grand Lodge and passes a strict examination.”

• 09/11: 1872-139; committee report on December 13, 1871 Grand Master‚‘s Address.
• 12/11: 1872-205; Annual Report. Visits; dispensations; Grand Lodge library; Finances; Chicago returns; insurance on the Temple; method of reducing the debt; Freemason‘s Monthly to cease publication if not supported; Boston fire of 11/09-11/10/1872.

Visits (excluding those listed above):

• Massachusetts, Boston (03/18)
• Eleusis, Boston (03/22)
• Joseph Warren, Boston (03/26)
• Constellation, Dedham (04/02; hall dedication and constitution of lodge)
• South Boston (05/31; hall dedication, visit to St. Paul‚‘s, Gate of the Temple, Adelphi and Rabboni)
• Palestine, Everett (06/11; hall dedication)
• Lawrence (09/12; hall dedication, visit to Grecian, Tuscan and Phoenician)
• North Adams (10/01; hall dedication, constitution of Greylock Lodge and installation)
• Williams, Williamstown (10/02; hall dedication, constitution of lodge)
• Chicopee, Chicopee (10/03; exemplification)
• St. Andrew‚‘s, Boston (10/10; Charles W. Moore anniversary, Special Communication)
• Doric, Hudson (10/18; hall dedication)
• Joseph Warren (10/22)
• Montacute, Worcester (11/04)
• Fellowship, Bridgewater (11/08; hall dedication, installation)

Lodge By-Law Changes:

• 03/13: 1872-43; Chicopee, Corinthian, John Cutler, John Hancock, Norfolk Union, Orphans‘ Hope, Roswell Lee, St. Matthew‘s, Star, approved.

• 06/12: 1872-47; Charles River, Doric, Grecian, Harmony, John Abbot, John Warren, Mount Olivet, Old Colony, Palestine, Paul Revere, Plymouth, Robert Lash, Webster, William Parkman; referred.
  • 06/12: 1872-112; approved with revisions.

• 09/11: 1872-127; Aberdour, Baalbec, Chicopee, Doric, Golden Fleece, Konohassett, Olive Branch, Paul Dean, Rising Star, Saint Paul‘s (Ayer); referred.
  • 09/11: 1872-142; approved with revisions.

• 12/11: 1872-203; Amicable, Ancient York, Artisan, Hyde Park, Mizpah, Mount Lebanon, Mount Tabor, Paul Revere, Pequossette, Quinsigamond, Saint John‘s (Boston), Williams; referred.
  • 12/27: 1871-289; approved with revisions.

• 12/27: 1872-283; Rabboni; referred.
  • 12/27: 1871-289; approved with revisions.

Necrologies and Memorials:

• 03/13: 1872-10: Death of Rt. Wor. William North, Past Senior Grand Warden; mentioned in Grand Master‘s Address.
  • 03/13: 1872-31; Memorial presented by committee.

• 03/13: 1872-12: Death of Rt. Wor. Richard S. Spofford, Past Senior Grand Warden; mentioned in Grand Master‘s Address.
  • 03/13: 1872-33; Memorial presented by committee.

Dispensations for Lodges:

• 03/13: 1872-15: St. Martin‘s, Chatham (01/19)
• 03/13: 1872-15: Charles A. Welch, Maynard (03/01; ”formerly Assabet”)
• 06/12: 1872-122: Charles H. Titus, Taunton (03/15)
• 12/11: 1872-208: Bay State, Montague (09/12)
• 12/11: 1872-208: Athol, Athol (09/12)

Petitions for Charters:

• 03/13: 1872-7: St. Paul‘s Lodge, Groton; for permission to remove to Ayer due to the incorporation of the town by the Massachusetts Legislature. Correspondence with the District Deputy included, endorsing the change. Referred.
  • 09/11: 1872-144; granted.

• 03/13: 1872-9: Hampshire Lodge, Haydenville; referred.
  • 1872-42: granted.

• 03/13: 1872-10: Constellation Lodge, Dedham; referred.
  • 1872-42: granted.

• 06/12: 1872-58; Williams Lodge, Williamstown; referred.
  • 1872-112; The committee found that ”only four of the ten Brethren to whom the Dispensation was granted have signed the petition for Charter, while eighteen who have been made Masons under their Dispensation, have signed the same. . . in the absence of any information upon the subject, your committee would recommend that the dispensation be continued.”
  • 09/11: 1872-127; new petition; referred.
  • 09/11: 1872-143; granted.

• 06/12: 1872-58; Lafayette Lodge, Boston Highlands, to be endorsed due to the annexation of Roxbury by Boston; referred.
  • 1872-109: ”Whether it is as well for the Fraternity, and as well for the several Lodges, that there should be no other limits on the jurisdiction of the Lodges in the city of Boston, is of considerable interest. As it is, old lines of jurisdiction are swept away . . . The committee have no further considered it tha to call its importance in this manner to the attention of the Grand Lodge.”

• 09/11: 1872-128; Greylock, North Adams; referred.
  • 1872-143; granted.

• 09/11: 1872-143; Spencer, Spencer; to be continued to December Quarterly.
  • 12/11: 1872-204; petition for charter, referred.
  • 12/11: 1872-260; granted.

03/14 Agenda

• 1872-29: Appointment of Standing Committees.

• 1872-30: Petition from Blackstone River, North Star, Doric and Alfred Baylies Lodges, regarding formal charity to families of deceased members; referred.
  • 06/12: 1872-111; petitioners ”have leave to withdraw” since no plans of action were offered, and it was inexpedient for the Grand Lodge to legislate on the subject.

06/12 Agenda

• 1872-48; report on the Chicago Relief Fund.

• 1872-48: Petition from brothers of Star Lodge, Athol, regarding the removal of the lodge from Athol Depot, and requesting it be annulled; referred.
  • 1872-104: Complaint dismissed, after extensive comment by committee.

• 1872-113: Committee recommendations on recognition:
  • Grand Lodge of Utah: small, but already recognized by several Grand Lodges; ”It might be inferred . . . that the Institution may be under Mormon influence and controlled by parties inimical to our government and laws; but . . . as evidence of their truth and sincerity . . . its first Grand Master occupies the position of Judge under the United States Government.”
  • Grand Lodge of British Columbia: to be recognized by UGLE, and no ”serious difference” in the formation of Grand Lodges in Canadian provinces.
  • Grand Orient of Brazil, Valley of Lavradio: now ”endeavoring to extend their relation with the regular Grand Masonic powers of the world.”
  • All recognized.

• 1872-119: Invitation to lay the corner-stone of Grace Church, Protestant Episcopal, in North Attleboro.

• 1872-120: New portrait of Grand Master Revere, presented by his grandson John Revere, Esq.
  • 1872-120: Presentation of portrait of Grand Master Fay, from his niece, Miss Maria Fay, presented by Bro. R. S. Fay of Cambridge.

09/11 Agenda

• 1872-130: Communication from the Grand Lodge of Saxony.

12/11 - 12/12 Agenda

A portrait of Past Grand Master John Warren appears opposite the Frontispiece.

• 1872-205ff: Grand Master‚‘s Annual Address.
• 1872-234: Auditing Committee report.
• 1872-236: Report of Sinking Fund.
• 1872-237: Re-election of Rt. Wor. Sereno Dwight Nickerson as Grand Master, and other Grand Lodge officers. Address by the Grand Master.
• 1872-250: Report of committee on jurisdictional limits of lodges; recommendations for revisions to Regulations and Grand Constitutions.
• 1872-261: Report of Charity Committee.
• 1872-262: Report on Voluntary Contributions.
• 1872-278: (December 12 session): Grand Lodge of Instruction.

SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Note: A number of Special Communications were held with no explicit record in the Proceedings.

• 04/02: Dedham; to constitute Constellation Lodge.
• 04/24: Millbury. (?)
• 05/31: South Boston. Hall dedication, for St. Paul‘s, Gate of the Temple, Adelphi and Rabboni Lodges.
• 06/11: Everett. Hall dedication for Palestine Lodge.
• 06/14: 1872-147; North Attleboro; Laying of the Cornerstone of Grace Protestant Episcopal Church.
  • 1872-147: Grand Lodge opened at Wamsutta House.
  • 1872-148: Procession to building site, accompanied by Bristol Commandery, Ezekiel Bates, St. James, St. Alban‘s Lodges - ”a fine array while marching through the leading thoroughfares of that beautiful village.”
  • 1872-148: Cornerstone laying ceremony.
  • 1872-149: Contents of box.
  • 1872-149: Grand Lodge escorted back to Wamsutta House.
• 09/12: Lawrence; Hall dedication, for Tuscan, Phoenician and Grecian Lodges.
• 10/01: North Adams; Constitution of Greylock Lodge, hall dedication.
• 10/02: Williamstown; Constitution of Williams Lodge, hall dedication.
• 10/07: 1872-151; Duxbury; Laying of the Cornerstone of the Myles Standish Monument.
  • 1872-152: Grand Lodge opened at Boston Masonic Temple.
  • 1872-152: Escorted to Old Colony Depot, escorted by Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company; train to Duxbury; collation near train station there.
  • 1872-153: Escorted to Captain‘s Hill by A&H, Plymouth and Corner Stone Lodges to building site; order of march detailed.
  • 1872-155: Copy of metallic plate.
  • 1872-156ff: List of papers in corner-stone. Ceremonies of corner-stone laying. Hymn.
  • 1872-159: Address by Grand Master Nickerson.
• 10/10: 1872-164; Attending a communication of St. Andrew‘s Lodge to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of membership of Rt. Wor. Charles W. Moore.
  • 1872-165; Opening of Grand Lodge in Grand Secretary‚‘s office; procession into Grand Lodge Hall, ”where the members of St. Andrew‘s Lodge, with their ladies and invited guests, had assembled.” Grand Master received by Wor. Thomas E. Chamberlain, Master.
  • 1872-167ff: Address by Rt. Wor. Charles W. Moore.
  • 1872-192; Singing; banquet in Egyptian Hall ”which had been most profusely decorated and beautified for this occasion.”
• 10/18: Hudson; Dedication of hall for Doric Lodge.
• 11/08: Bridgewater; Dedication of hall for Fellowship Lodge.

FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST (held at Masonic Temple, Boston, 12/27/1872)

• 1872-281: Opening and roll call.
• 1872-283: Report of Library Committee.
• 1872-284: Installation of Grand Master Nickerson and other Grand Lodge officers; details of installation.
• 1872-290: List of lodges not represented at Grand Lodge in 1872.
• 1872-290: Communications from various Grand Lodges.
• 1872-292: List of diplomas granted (2,249 in 1872).
• 1872-292: Banquet (no details given.)