MayFlower

MAY FLOWER LODGE

Location: Middleboro

Chartered By: William Parkman

Charter Date: 03/09/1865 VII-2

Precedence Date: 03/04/1864

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

John Shaw, Jr., 1864, 1865
Benjamin F. Tripp, 1866, 1867
Andrew B. Bosworth, 1868-1871
Charles H. Carpenter, 1872
Reland F. Barrows, 1873, 1885
Francis R. Eaton, 1874, 1875
Warren H. Southworth, 1876, 1877
James M. Coombs, Jr., 1878, 1879
Charles L. Starkey, 1880, 1903
Charles W. Drake, 1881, 1882
Otis L. Barden, 1883, 1884
James H. Weston, 1886, 1887
Arlon R. Dustin, 1888, 1889; N
George W. Lovell, 1890, 1891
Homer R. Caswell, 1892, 1893
George A. Cox, 1894, 1895; Mem
Josiah H. Cushing, 1896, 1897
William R. Mitchell, 1898, 1999
Wilkes H. F. Pettee, 1900
Ichabod B. Thomas, 1901, 1902
George E. White, 1904
Winsor F. Fryer, 1905, 1906
Sylvanus L. Brett, 1907, 1908
George F. Cox, 1909, 1910
Charles N. Warren, 1911, 1912
Harold S. Thomas, 1913, 1914
Theodore N. Wood, 1915, 1916; N
William W. Brackett, 1917, 1918
John G. Paun, 1919-1920
Clarington H. Berry, 1921, 1922
Albert A. Thomas, 1923, 1924
Arthur W. Cunningham, 1925, 1926
Fred F. Churbuck, 1927, 1928
Mryon L. Hinckley, 1929, 1930
Ichabod B. Thomas, Jr., 1931, 1932
Frederick S. Weston, 1933, 1934; N
Ernest S. Pratt, 1935, 1936
Dalton L. Penniman, 1937; N
N. Merill Sampson, 1938
Robert A. Clark, 1939, 1940
Frank J. Dow, 1941, 1942
Clyde S. Thomas, 1943, 1944
Norman W. Lindsay, 1945, 1946
Willard A. Dunham, 1947
Walter R. Norris, 1948
Roderick G. Matheson, 1949
Frederic J. Carey, 1950
G. Ward Stetson, 1951; N
Lloyd E. Banks, 1952
Walter J. D. Mcneil, 1953
Paul Weaver, 1954
Winthrop K. Winberg, 1955
Charles R. Carey, 1956
Adnah H. Harlow, 1957
Donland A. Martin, 1958
Arthur A. Hanson, 1959; N
Edwin O. Wilson, 1960
Robert L. Cushing, 1961
Crawford Wright, 1962
Arthur P. Craig, 1963
J. Warren Tufts, 1964
Bruce G. Atwood, 1965
William R. Holmes, 1966
Stanley E. Barnicoat, 1967
H. Alden Sinnott, Jr., 1968
Norman F. Franz, 1969
Robert F. Mizaras, 1970
Preston H. Richmond, 1971
Oliver Harju, 1972-1973
Maurice K. Richmond, 1974
Herbert E. Day, 1975
William C. Allison, 1976, 1992; PDDGM
Joseph W. Macallister, 1977
Herbert E. Thompson, Jr., 1978-1979
Herbert E. Day, 1980
Albert J. Hardy, 1981
Raymond L. Patton, 1982
Raymond W. Hertz, 1983
Clifford W. Holman, 1984
Paul W. Bain, 1985
Joseph Russo, Jr., 1986; PDDGM
Richard A. Franz, 1987
Norman F. Franz, 1988
James E. Manchester, 1989
Donald H. Plant, 1990
Edward J. Broussard, 1991
Paul M. Whalen, 1993
Richard S. Nantais, 1994
Mark C. Donegan, 1995
Michael A. Fruzzetti, 1996
Kenneth H. Nantais, 1997
Michael J. Douglas, 1998; PDDGM
Louis M. DeMelo, 1999
Henry E. Goodnow, Jr., 2000
Benjamin Barker, 2001
Walter A. Bradford, 2002
David W. Romer, 2003
James A. Coffin, Jr., 2004-2005
C. Steven Blanchard, 2007-2008
Barry E. Standish, 2006; PDDGM
David G. Goodfellow, 2009
Robert C. Asbury, 2010
Robert A. Hughes, 2011, 2012

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

Petition for Dispensation: 1864
Petition for Charter: 1865

ANNIVERSARIES

1914 (50th Anniversary)
1939 (75th Anniversary)
1964 (Centenary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

1865 (Parkman; Constitution of Lodge and installation; see below)
1882 (Lawrence)
1901 (Gallagher; corner stone laying; Special Communication)
1914 (M. Johnson; 50th Anniversary; Special Communication)
'1939 (Hon. Past Grand Master Frederick Hamilton; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
1944 (A. Coolidge; "Ryder Night")
1964 (Osgood; Centenary; Special Communication)
1979 (Melanson; Hall dedication; Special Communication)
1984 (Richardson; Dedication if new dining hall)
1990 (Darling)
1999 (Bauer; table lodge)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1882 1884 1885 1892 1898 1907 1916 1920 1930 1956 1968 1977 1982 1989 2006 2007

HISTORY

1914 (* Account of the "early days of the Lodge", 1914-24)
1939 (75th Anniversary History, 1939-119)
1964 (Centenary History, 1964-95)
1979 (Meeting Places of May Flower Lodge, 1979-91; see below)

75TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, MARCH 1939

From Proceedings, Page 1939-119:

By R. W. Frederick S. Weston.

We are gathered here tonight to celebrate our Seventy-fifth Anniversary and to pay honor to Worshipful John Shaw, Jr. and his valiant little band of Masons who had the necessary initiative to charter and to man the good ship May Flower, and whose enthusiasm, fortitude and untiring labor with eyes ever on the charted course, made it possible for us to enjoy the privileges of Masonry in the town of Middleborough.

Let us take time to turn back the pages of our records and trace the history of May Flower Lodge.

A Masonic Lodge in Middleborough was not an innovation. Records show that a Lodge known as Social Harmony was chartered March 12, 1823 and flourished until anti-masonic times when its Charter was returned to the Grand Lodge. This Charter was returned June 19, 1856, to Brothers Hercules Thomas and Benjamin Leonard of Middleboro and Thomas Savery of Wareham, and is now located in the town of Wareham. Among the local members of that lodge were: Calvin Murdock, George Sturtevant, better known as Dr. George; Rev. Philip Colby of the Congregational Church at North Middleboro, Gamaliel Rounseville, storekeeper and first Secretary of the Lodge, Cephas Thompson, an artist, Benjamin Leonard, Branch Harlow, High Sheriff of Plymouth County, Josiah Tinkham, familiarly known as "Captain Siah", and somewhat of a singer, Earl Sproat, owner of the historic Judge Oliver House, Jason Wilbur, a prominent builder, and Abraham Bryant an iron worker, the last survivor of that Lodge in this town. Of more than passing interest is the fact that Abbie K. T. Carey, ninety-eight years old, a daughter of said Gamaliel Rounseville, still resides in Middleborough, and talks interestingly of the old days. During the anti-masonic times the records of Social Harmony Lodge were concealed in the eaves of the house now standing at No. 41 North Street.

From the historical sketch of Wor. Bro. Warren Homer Southworth given at our Fiftieth Anniversary celebration and duly recorded by our then as now, most efficient Secretary, Wor. Bro. Charles N. Warren, was gleaned the following information concerning events prior to the first recorded meeting. Wor. Bro. Southworth was raised January 17, 1865.

In 1854 Charles Henry Carpenter came to this town from Middleboro, Vermont, where he had been made a Mason in Union Lodge No. 2 in 1849. He was a watchmaker and jeweler.
In 1860 John Shaw, Jr., who came to Middleboro about 1852, proprietor of a drug and stationery store, Andrew M. Eaton, a shoe dealer who, during his life served the town as Town Clerk and Treasurer and Representative in the Legislature; Theodore H. Alden, a shoe dealer; and George F. Hartwell, a merchant tailor, received their Masonic degree in Social Harmony Lodge at Wareham. During the years from 1860 to 1R64 the following Masons also settled in Middleboro:
Stillman B. Pratt, of United Brethren Lodge, of Marlboro, Mass., came here to occupy the position of editor of the Middleboro Gazette which position was then held by his father, Rev. Stillman Pratt, who was the second editor of that publication.
Russell B. Burnes, of King David Lodge, of Taunton, Mass., a railroad conductor, Albert Alden, of St. Alban's Lodge, of Foxboro, Mass., who established a large manufactory of straw goods; and last, Benjamin F. Tripp, of Star in the East Lodge,

of New Bedford, Mass., who was engaged in that place in the manufacturing of pumps and blocks for whale ships and on coming to Middleboro became a manufacturer of and dealer in confectionery. These Brothers held numerous unofficial meetings mostly in the rear room of Brother Shaw's store.

Brother Tripp at the time of his removal to Middleboro was holding the position of Senior Deacon in Star in the East Lodge and being probably the best posted in Masonry of any of the brothers seemed to possess the necessary enthusiasm for business and a petition for a Dispensation was asked for.

There does not appear to be any recorded meeting of the Masons who prepared the Petition to the Grand Master for a Dispensation to be congregated into a regular Lodge under the name and title of May Flower Lodge, with permission to hold the same in the town of Middleborough; neither are there any records to show how or why the name of the Lodge was chosen.

The first meeting of record was held in a small room in Doan and Shaw's block; this was an unfinished room on the second floor; the second from the front in the south end of the block. For this meeting a few chairs were brought up, an empty packing case and a bag of roofing sand left from alterations on the building served as the altar, a Bible from Bro. Shaw's store and a carpenter's square and compass from the hardware store of Mr. Doane (later a member) were the three great lights. A part of the records of that meeting follows:

Middleboro, Mass., April 5th, 1864.

A meeting of the petitioners for a Masonic Lodge in this town was held in Doan & Shaw's Block. The following Dispensation from the Grand Master authorizing the within named petitioners to form themselves into a Lodge to be known as May Flower Lodge was read by Worshipful John Shaw, Jr., Master:

COPY

To all persons to whom these presents may come. Greeting:

Whereas a Petition has been presented to me by sundry Brethren, to wit: John Shaw, Jr., Charles H. Carpenter, Russell B. Humes, George F. Hartwell, Stillman B. Pratt, Benjamin F. Tripp, Andrew M. Eaton, T. H. Alden, and Albert Alden, etc.

The Petition was approved by the District Deputy Grand Master for the Seventh Masonic District and the Petitioners were recommended by Fellowship Lodge of Bridgewater. Brother John Shaw, Jr. was appointed to be the First Master; Brother Charles H. Carpenter to be the First Senior Warden, and Brother Russell B. Burnes to be the First Junior Warden of said lodge.

The Dispensation bears the date of March 4, 1864 and was signed by William Parkman, Grand Master and Charles W. Moore, Grand Secretary.

At this meeting the following officers were appointed:

George F. Hartwell, Treasurer
Stillman B. Pratt, Secretary
Benjamin F. Tripp, Senior Deacon
Andrew M. Eaton, Junior Deacon
Theodore H. Alden, Tyler

Also the first petitions, four in number, were received; the first visitor, Peleg Noyes, of Pawcatuck, Stonington, Conn., was recorded; the following Committees were appointed: Finance Committee, Committee to draft rules for the government of the Lodge; a Committee of one to secure a place of meeting for the Lodge; a Committee to tit up a room with all necessary Lodge furniture; and it was voted that the Secretary be instructed to borrow a sum of money not to exceed $400. for the use of the Lodge.

The year the Lodge was working under Dispensation, the same year that General Sherman was making his famous march to the sea, the Officers of May Flower Lodge must have spent tramping up and down the stairs of the Doane and Shaw Building; They certainly were busy men as the records show that during that time they held eleven Regular and twenty-nine Special Communications. They managed to hold no Jess than one Regular and six Special Communications in the short month of February, 1865.

The Entered Apprentice Degree was conferred for the first time upon Henry H. Shaw at a Special Communication, May 17, 1864. The Fellow Craft Degree was conferred for the first time upon Brothers Henry H. Shaw, Arnold B. Sandford, and Lysander Richmond, at the Regular Communication, August 2, 1864; and the Master Masons Degree for the first time upon the above named Brothers at a Special Communication, September 13, 1864, with nineteen visitors recorded from Fall River, New Bedford, Bridgewater, Abington, and Taunton. In all twenty-nine received their first Degree, twenty-three their Second Degree, and twenty-two their Third Degree while the Lodge was working under Dispensation.

The Petitioners for a Charter for May Flower Lodge were John Shaw, Jr., Charles H. Carpenter, George F. Hartwell, Stillman B. Pratt, Benjamin F. Tripp, Andrew M. Eaton, Theodore H. Alden, Lucien Wilbur, Andrew B. Bosworth, Lorenzo R. Swift, Henry H. Shaw, and Southworth Loring. The date of the Charter is March 9, 1865, with Precedence from March 4, 1864, and for the Constitution of the Lodge the following is taken verbatim from the Lodge records:

"On Tuesday evening, March 21st, A. L. 5865 the petitioners for a Charter for May Flower Lodge assembled in Masonic Hall, Middleboro; At which time the Lodge was duly constituted, The hall dedicated and the following Officers installed by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, viz.:

John Shaw, Jr., W. M.

C. H. Carpenter, S. W.

Benj. F. Tripp, J. W.

Geo. F. Hartwell, Treasurer

Lucien Wilbur, Secretary

A. B. Bosworth, S. D.

A. M. Eaton, J. D.

Lorenzo R. Swift, S. S.

H. H. Shaw, J. S.

Southworth Loring, Tyler.

The Grand Lodge was represented as follows, viz.:

M. W. William Parkman, G. M.

R. W. Charles C. Dame, D. G. M.

R. W. Solon Thornton, as S. G. W.

R. W. William F. Davis as J. G. W.

R. W. Edward Stevens as G. Treas.

R. W. Chas. W. Moore as G. Sec.

W. and Rev. S. F. Whidden as G. Chap.

W. William D. Stratton as G. Marshal

Eben P. Gay, Gr. Tyler

After the Grand Lodge had taken its leave the Lodge was closed in due form by the W. M.
Lucien Wilbur, Secretary."

The first Brother raised under the Chartered Lodge was Henry L. Williams on March 28, 1865. The By-Laws designated the 1st Tuesday as the regular meeting and that has remained unchanged.

The Lodge-rooms were furnished and the furnishings insured at the time the Lodge was Constituted, including carpeting at a cost of $2.87. In those days the District Deputy Grand Masters were instructed to see that every Lodge had a Masters carpet.

Evidently the problem of ventilation was an issue then as in later years, including our present apartments, as at the Regular Communication April 4, 1865, a committee was appointed "to take into consideration ventilation of hall etc.". The Ventilation Committee was instructed to procure one of Grand Marshal Stratton's pictures of the new Masonic building now in process of building in Boston, and to procure a suitable frame for the same. (Possibly this was to be used in the manner of an East Indian Punkah.)

December 4, 1866, voted to hire a musical instrument for the Lodge; February 5, 1867, voted to chose a Committee to procure a Photograph Album; and May 7, 1867 voted to procure white leather aprons for every member of the Lodge, this probably-completed the Lodge furnishings.

June 4, 1867, it was voted to attend the dedication of the Masonic Temple, Boston, June 24th, provided forty members would agree to go and at June 11, special, it was voted to procure the services of the Middlcboro Cornet Band to accompany the Lodge, forty members having agreed to go. It is reported that, tint being satisfied with marching around Boston, they marched all over town on their return home.

Except for the months July, August, and September 1879, when the Lodge occupied the G. A. R. Hall in the Thatcher Building while their new rooms were in process of construction on the third floor of the Doane & Shaw Building, at that time also known as Union Block, Mayflower Lodge occupied rooms in the Doane &: Shaw Building until the present Lodge rooms were fitted up in the Peirce Building. Wor. William R. Mitchell was Chairman of the Building Committee and Wor. Warren Homer Southworth had charge of the construction of the Peirce Building and also designed the scroll-dado in the Lodge Rooms.

On Friday, June 7, 1901, the new Lodge Apartments were dedicated by M.W. Charles T. Gallagher, Grand Master of Masons, and Suite. The Grand Master was received by W. Master Ichabod Bradford Thomas. After dedicating the Hall to Freemasonry, to Virtue, and to Universal Benevolence, in accordance with ancient form and usage and the ritual of the Grand Lodge, M. W. Charles T. Gallagher, who as a boy had spent his summers in the lowlands where Middleboro adjoins Halifax and Bridgewater, pleasingly addressed about two hundred Brethren and ladies assembled for the occasion.

The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Lodge was fittingly celebrated March 3, 1914. This celebration took the form of a banquet held in the Y. M. C. A. Hal!. Most Wor. Melvin Maynard Johnson, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, and suite assisted in making the evening one long to be remembered. Rt. W. Bro. George Alton Cox introduced The Most Wor. Grand Master who was welcomed by Wor. Master Harold S. Thomas and occupied the East. The Brethren then went to the Y. M. C. A. Building and after partaking of a bounteous feast, Wor. Master Thomas acted as toastmaster and introduced the speakers. The speaking was in the form of response to toasts drunk by the Brothers standing. The principal toasts were:

To May Flower Lodge, responded to by Wor. Brother Warren H. Southworth, the then oldest living member of May Flower Lodge, who gave an interesting history sketch of the beginning of the Lodge.
To the Memory of John Shaw, First Master of May Flower Lodge, responded to by Bro. George E. Doane.
To the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, responded to most eloquently by Most Worshipful Melvin Maynard Johnson, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, and
To May Flower Lodge of the Future responded to by Wor. William R. Mitchell.

Informal toasts were also responded to by members of the Grand Lodge suite.

An honored guest on that occasion was Rt. Wor. Bro. Albert H. W. Carpenter, brother of Charles H. Carpenter, who while Master of Star in the East Lodge, of New Bedford, acted as Grand Lecturer for May Flower Lodge during the first year of its existence, teaching the Master of the Lodge a large part of the work while visiting here.

During the World War twenty-two members of May Flower Lodge were in the service and a bronze tablet bearing their mimes was unveiled by the Lodge June 2, 1927.

April 5th, 1927, the first Veteran's Medals were presented by Most Wor. Frank L. Simpson, Grand Master, to Wor. Bro. George W. Lovell, Wor. Bro. Otis L. Barden and Brothers Edward Bryant, Everett T. Lincoln, Cornelius H. Leonard, and Albert T. Savery each a Mason for more than fifty years.

May Flower Lodge has had many noted visitors, but none better known than Charles S. Stratton, of St. Johns Lodge No. 3, Bridgeport, Conn., better known to the world as General Tom Thumb, husband of one of Middleboro's famous Lilliputians, Lavinia Warren Bump. Among the cherished possessions of the Lodge is a Masonic apron 206 years old that was presented to Bro. Charles S. Stratton in Canada in 1863. He was a frequent visitor to May Flower Lodge and first recorded as such August 16, 1864. Another cherished memento is the traveling card of our late Bro. John N. Holmes, Master of Whaling Bark Sea Fox, New Bedford, who was killed by an explosion of gun powder on the West Coast of Africa, where it was found in the possession of a native by Mr. Crapo, another whaler who knew Bro. Holmes and returned it to the Lodge.

May Flower Lodge at the end of the first twenty-five years had one hundred and three members. This was increased to two hundred and three at the end of fifty years, climbed to its peak in 1929 with four hundred and six members; and now has three hundred and forty-eight members.

During this period May Flower Lodge has had forty Masters, most of them serving two years, the third Master, Andrew B. Bosworth, serving four years. However, in accordance with the trend of the times, the present fashion seems to be more pay and less hours. Our oldest living Past Master is Wor. Bro. George W. Lovell, who will be eighty-eight years old next April, Master in 1890-91, but outranked by Rt. Wor. Bro. Arlon R. Dustin, Wor. Master in 1888-89 and our first District Deputy Grand Master in the horse and buggy days of 1896 and 1897, otherwise known as the "Gay Nineties."

May Flower Lodge has been assigned to five Masonic Districts, the 7th, 14th, 23rd, District 29 29th, and the District 28 Taunton 28th. Besides Rt. Wor. Bro. Dustin, May Flower Lodge has been honored by having three other District Deputy Grand Masters: Rt. Wor. Bros. Alton A. Cox— 1909-10; Theodore N. Wood— 1929-30 and Frederick S. Weston 1939.

Wor. Bro. John Shaw, Jr., the first Master of the Lodge was born on a farm in Carver, Mass., Dec. 3rd, 1822, and died in Middleborough, Mass., Dec. 10, 1891. His education ended in the district school. He was always of a studious nature and in later years became an unusually well read man and one of Middleborough's best known citizens. He represented the town in the legislature for two years and served as Town Clerk and assistant postmaster. A personal and more intimate picture of Wor. Bro. Shaw was given me by Wor. Bro. Lovell who had an office in the back room of his drug store for a number of years. I quote from his letter, "He was of a kindly disposition, keen wit and a true friend and a loyal Mason. During his last sickness one night when Bro. Geo. Doane was with him, he had a bad coughing spell and when he came out of it he said, 'I didn't know but you were going to lose your patient that time, George;' he was the first Past Master to pass away, twenty seven years after he first stood in the Fast."

Also from Wor. Bro. Lovell's letter comes a picture of the conditions of May Flower in its early years. "When I joined the lodge in 1875 I was the youngest member, twenty-four years old, but soon after that they began to take in new members — young. The Lodge was at a kind of a stand still at that time, and was in debt. We talked the matter over and decided to clear up the debt. We all contributed and no sooner than the debt was paid than our proportion of the Grand Lodge debt was thrust upon us. This looked like a hard task, bur we overcame it and came out clean and clear and the Lodge seemed to take on new life.

"Our entertainments were simple. We would have a leader or speaker and the ladies would bring the refreshments, and we would have a social time. And sometimes after the Lodge closed Bro. Benj. Bump would make an oyster stew and we would have a little social time together."

The part played by John Shaw, Jr. and his little band of Masons and those who followed after him, in preserving and propagating the principles of Masonry through three quarters of a century is our heritage. May we not be found wanting.

THE HERITAGE

"Our Fathers in a wondrous age,
Ere yet the Earth was small,
Ensured to us an heritage,
And doubted not at all
That we, the children of their heart,
Which then did beat so high,
In later time should play like part
For our posterity.

A thousand years they steadfast built,
To 'vantage us and ours,
The Walls that were a world's despair,
The sea-constraining Towers:
Yet in their midmost pride they knew,
And unto Kings made known,
Not all from these their strength they drew,
Their faith from brass or stone.

Youth's passion, manhood's fierce intent,
With age's judgment wise,
They spent, and counted not they spent,
At daily sacrifice.
Not Iambs alone nor purchased doves
Or tithe of Trader's gold—
Their lives most dear, their dearer loves,
They offered up of old.

Refraining e'en from lawful things,
They bowed the neck to bear
The unadorned yoke that brings
Stark toil and sternest care.
Wherefore through them is Freedom sure:
Wherefore through them we stand,
From all but sloth and pride secure,
In a delightsome land.

Then, fretful, murmur not they gave
So great a charge to keep,
Nor dream that awestruck Time shall save
Their labor while we sleep.
Dear-bought and clear, a thousand year.
Our Fathers' title runs.
Make we likewise their sacrifice,
Defrauding not our sons."

MEETING PLACES OF MAY FLOWER LODGE, MAY 1979

From Proceedings, Page 1979-71:

May Flower Lodge came into existence on March 4, 1864 when twelve Masons of the Middleborough area petitioned Grand Lodge for a charter. The first meetings were held at the Doane & Shaw Block on South Main Street during the period between April, 1864 to August, 1864. The Lodge took up temporary residence in the Tripp Confectionery store in rooms suitably furnished while new quarters were being prepared. The Lodge moved into its newly furnished quarters on the second floor of the Doane & Shaw Block in April, 1868.

These quarters were occupied until October, 1879, when the third floor of the same building was completed, it having been planned and constructed with special reference to Lodge purposes.

These rooms were used until June 7, 1901, when the Lodge moved to the corner of North Main and Centre Streets in the Peirce Building. The building, and in particular the third floor, was designed with May Flower Lodge in mind as the occupants.

This brings us to our present quarters that were occupied for the first time on September 6, 1977. These quarters are being dedicated today, with Most Worshipful Arthur H. Melanson, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, officiating.

The origin of this Temple was through a gift of the Barrows family. Fletcher Lawton Barrows willed his home and property to May Flower Lodge through his son, F. Lawton Barrows, Jr., who still resides here with his wife, Betty. Only a few members of the Lodge knew of this, but no action was taken until September 1976 when the Lodge was trying to decide whether or not to refurbish its present (at that time) quarters or build a new Temple.

Under the then presiding Master, Worshipful Joseph W. MacAllister, plans were laid for our new Temple. The Lodge voted to accept the proposal as set forth at the business meeting of October 5, 1977 and the work began.

Hours of labor were necessary before construction of the new Lodge rooms could begin. A section of the house measuring 15' x 32' had to be removed. The Barrows' kitchen, which was on the first floor in the rear section, had to be relocated on the second floor of their newrliving area, and a complete stairway from the basement to the attic had to be constructed.

Construction of the lodge facilities consisted of adding a onestory wood frame building with an 'A'-frame roof, containing a lodge room measuring 35' x 50', and a ramped corridor 70' long leading to the Men's and Ladies' restrooms, kitchen and banquet hall in the rear. This whole structure was connected to the front portion of the Barrows house, and to the garage in the rear, which was converted into a banquet hall measuring 30' x 50'.

The construction of the building was made as close as possible to the existing building in architecture. Doors and windows taken from the section of the house that was removed, were used as much as possible. The lodge room is fitted with the same furniture, rug and ornamental woodwork that was in the old quarters.

This article would not be complete unless some mention was made of the labors that were put into building our new Temple.Many manhours were donated by the brethren of the Lodge, and without their efforts we would not be meeting here today. The building of the Temple gave the members of May Flower Lodge a unity which has not been enjoyed for many years.

This article does not allow room to name all those who either donated time or money, but two names should be mentioned. First, Brother F. Lawton Barrows, Jr., who make it possible for us to have his home at this time for our new Lodge quarters, and Worshipful Joseph W. MacAllister, without whose leadership, persistence, time and devotion, this building would not have been started nor completed.

We are proud to be present today to witness the dedication of this new Masonic Temple in Middleborough. During the 115 years of May Flower Lodge's existence, this is the first Temple that we have owned; may it and the Lodge prosper in years to come.

OTHER

1927 (Participation in corner stone laying, 1927-187)
1929 (Participation in corner stone laying, 1929-181)

EVENTS

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXIV, No. 5, April 1865, p. 190:

MAY FLOWER LODGE. This is the very pretty name of a new Lodge just established at Middleboro in the county of Plymouth. The Charter was granted at the last communication of the Grand Lodge, and the Lodge was constituted by the M. W. Grand Master on the 21st ultimo. It has done a very prosperous business the past year, and being located in a pleasant and thriving village, its prospects for the future are highly encouraging. It has a good roll of able and active officers and members, who are fully competent to manage its affairs in a proper manner, and to insure its success. The officers for the year are as follows:-