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MOUNT HOREB LODGE (Woburn)

Location: Woburn

Chartered By: Winslow Lewis

Charter Date: 12/10/1856 VI-64

Precedence Date: 12/10/1855

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition for Dispensation: 1855
• Petition for Charter: 1856

ANNIVERSARIES

• 1924 (Centenary of Freemasonry in Woburn)
• 1905 (50th Anniversary)
• 1929 (75th Anniversary)
• 1955 (Centenary)
• 2006 (150th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1856 (Lewis; Constitution of Lodge and installation)
• 1881 (Lawrence)
• 1886 (Howland; 2 visits, including installation)
• 1891 (Wells)
• 1896 (Holmes)
• 1899 (Hutchinson)
• 1905 (Sanford; 50th Anniversary)
• 1908 (Blake)
• 1910 (Flanders)
• 1911 (Flanders)
• 1916 (M. Johnson)
• 1924 (Ferrell; Centenary of Freemasonry in Woburn; Special Communication)
• 1929 (H. Dean; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1955 (W. Johnson; Centenary; Special Communication)
• 1976 (Maxwell; 2 visits; Corner stone laying and hall dedication; Special Communications)
• 1979 (Melanson)
• 1992 (Darling)
• 1994 (Lovering)
• 2006 (Hodgdon; 150th Anniversary)
• 2011 (Stewart)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1869 1874 1885 1887 1890 1892 1909 1912 1918 1923 1929 1939 1945 1949 1956 1960 1961 1971 1976 1996

HISTORY

• 1924 ('"A Brief Sketch of Masonry in Woburn 1824 to 1924"', 1924-380)
• 1929 (75th Anniversary History, 1929-188)
• 1955 (Centenary History, 1955-297)

OTHER

• 1889 (Proposal to amend Grand Constitutions; 1889-31)

EVENTS

CONSTITUTION AND DEDICATION, DECEMBER 1856

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XVI, No. 3, December 1856, Page 82:

This is a new Lodge, located at Woburn, in Middlesex County. The Dispensation under which it has been working the past year, was granted in December 1855. During the year it has been eminently successful, both in the number and character of its initiates; and has wisely improved the time of its probation in fitting up for its future accommodation one of the neatest halls in the jurisdiction. It is not large, though probably of sufficient capacity for all the purposes for which it will be required ; but that which particularly commends it to the visitor, is the excellent good taste displayed in its furniture and fittings. In this important respect it has but few if any superiors in the Commonwealth.

The Lodge having worked its year under Dispensation, and its work having been such as to meet with the approval of the Grand Lodge, received its Charter on the 10th ultimo; and on the evening of the 15th, it was Consecrated, its new hall Dedicated, and its officers Installed, by the M. W. Grand Lodge, in "due and ancient form," in the presence of a large number of Brethren from the neighboring Lodges — the M. W. Grand Master, Dr. Lewis, officiating in person, assisted by the chief officers of the Grand Lodge. At the close of the services he addressed the Lodge in his usual happy manner, — giving the Brethren such counsel and advice as the occasion seemed to authorize.

After the completion of the services at the hall, the Brethren, including the Grand Lodge and invited guests, were invited to the Central House, where a bountiful entertainment was elegantly spread for their refreshment. Here an hour was most agreeably, and it is believed, not unprofitably spent — whether physically or intellectually regarded. The company broke up at an early hour, and the Grand Lodge returned to the city, highly gratified, not more with the cordial reception they had met with, than by the excellent character and efficiency of the promising Lodge to which they had given legal form and permanency.

The following neat and peculiarly appropriate poem was spoken on the occasion, for a copy of which we are indebted to the politeness of the author:—

AN ORIGINAL POEM,
Delivered by Bro. C. W. Stevens, at the Dedication of Mount Horeb Lodge, in Woburn, Mass.,
Monday Evening, Dee. 15th, 1856, A. L. 5856.

Ages on ages long have passed away
Since first our earth in silent chaos lay;
When through the darkness of eternal night
Proclaimed that solemn Voice, "Let there be Light."
See in the East the glorious Sun arise,
And spread its radiance to the Western Skies:
Before the All-seeing-Eye the stars unfold,
And deck the orient of the new-born world:
Rocks, hills, and mountains, rise in vast array
To crown the glories of the second day.

Trace we the progress of a thousand years,
Nature asserts her sway and art appears;
Raised by our first Most Royal Master's hands,
The lofty temple, now completed, stands
A living witness of the Master's will,
Of Craftsmen's labor, and Masonic skill:
The lapse of time, the invader's ruthless hand,
In waste has laid, what human wisdom plann'd :
Its walls of granite, raised without a sound,
Are strewn in ruins on the sacred ground.
Unharmed by time, Freemasonry survives;
A lasting monument to admiring eyes:
The attentive ear receives the instructive sound,
And faithful breasts the myst'ries keep profound,
Transmitted unimpaired, from age to age,
Without a blot to mar our mystic page:
Proof of my song, assembled here to-night
See social joys and intercourse unite
To strengthen more and more that union strong,
Defend the right, and deprecate the wrong.

See old and young assembled round our board,
What skill we have, what minds with wisdom stor'd!
Had threatening clouds obscured our rising sun
The Wind's-low breeze had safely borne us on:
And as the future opens on our sight,
One voice we hear, which still is Heard to-night.
May we but follow, as that voice shall lead.
So plainly spoken, " he that runs may read." In
social brotherhood we've met again,
To add one link to our still lengthening chain;
One that shall add new lustre to our fame,
And long, unstained, perpetuate the name.

And while our ancient craft thus wide expands;
We Hail with joy, warm hearts, and willing hands.
We feel our Tenets safe with such as these;
We know your Work, we know your power to please;
We wish you every blessing earth can give;
In Wisdom, Strength, and Beauty may you live;
May no Rough Ashlers strew your path of life,
But peace and concord bear you through the strife;
And when your earthly Lodge is closed at last,
And from these scenes, terrestrial, you are rais'd,
May you be raised to that sublime abode,
And join the Supreme Architect, your God.

The following officers, who had been chosen for the ensuing year, were installed : Wm. D. Stratton, Master; William T. Grammer, S. W.; J. Franklin Bates, J. W.; George Butler, Treasurer; Horace Collamore, Secretary.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• William F. Davis, DDGM, District 6 (Somerville), 1891, 1892; Senior Grand Warden 1905
• William T. Grammer, DDGM, District 17 (Woburn), 1872; Senior Grand Warden 1874
• Charles Kimball, DDGM, District 7 (Lowell), 1867, 1868; Senior Grand Warden 1872
• Hugh W. McKee, DDGM, District 6 (Arlington), 1963, 1964; N
• Charles E. Myers, DDGM, District 6 (Arlington), 1983, 1984
• Donovan J. Pihlaja, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 2000, 2001
• Robert J. Scott, DDGM, District 6 (Arlington), 1947, 1948; N
• William D. Stratton, Grand Marshal 1862-1868; SN
• William W. Wade, DDGM, District 6 (Arlington), 1927, 1928; N
• Lane E. Wheaton, DDGM, District 6 (Arlington), 1957, 1958; N

DISTRICTS

1855: District 3

1867: District 7 (Lowell)

1872: District 17 (Woburn)

1883: District 6 (Somerville)

1911: District 6 (Somerville)

1927: District 6 (Arlington)

2003: District 13

LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges

The curator for this page is Brother Frank J. Kautz II. Please direct informational updates and questions to him.