Oxford1

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OXFORD LODGE

Location: Oxford

Chartered By: John Abbot

Charter Date: 12/14/1825 III-563

Precedence Date: 12/14/1825

Current Status: unknown; no record after 1825; charter surrendered 1854; historical note 1959-224.


PAST MASTERS

  • Samuel Harris, 1825
  • Alexander DeWitt, 1826-1828
  • Ira Barton, 1829, 1830
  • Sumner Barstow, 1831 and after

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Charter: 1825 note that original petition was refused
  • Surrender of Charter: 1854 (in Grand Master's Address, Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XIV, No. 4, February 1855, Page 109)

HISTORY

  • 1959 (Notes in Centenary history of Oxford Lodge, 1959-222)

FROM HISTORY OF OXFORD, 1892

From Daniels' History of Oxford, 1892:

The second organization was the Oxford Lodge, instituted 4 Dec., 1825, on petition of John Wetherell and others. The first meeting was in the Butler Tavern hall, 25 Dec.; present: Samuel Harris, John Field, Elihu Harwood, Jr., Thomas Warner, Stephen Learned, John Wetherell, Stephen Barton, Peter Butler, John Mellish, Richard Olney, Samuel C. Butler, Artemas G. Metcalf, Jonathan A. Pope, Jonathan Harris, Rufus Moore. Samuel Harris was chosen Worthy Master; John Field, Senior Warden; Elihu Harwood, Jr., Junior Warden, and Jonathan A. Pope, Secretary. An installation of officers took place in the old meeting house on the 27th of September 1826, at which the Rev. David Holman of Douglas gave an address. About 20 officials from the Grand Lodge and from towns near Oxford were present, and a dinner was provided by Samuel C. Butler at his Tavern. On the 27th of October 1828 it was voted to remove the place of meeting to the Tavern on the Plain. Regular meetings were kept up until 1831, at which date the records end. An officer of the Mass. Grand Lodge at Boston writes: 'It {the Lodge} probably died of the Anti-Masonic scare about 1831.'

NOTES IN CENTENARY HISTORY OF OXFORD LODGE, SEPTEMBER 1959

From Proceedings, Page 1959-224:

. . . the "Oxford Lodge," instituted the 4th of December 1825, on petition of John Wetherell and others. The first meeting was in the Butler Tavern, held the 25th of December 1825. This said Tavern will be razed to make room for the new Methodist Church. Those present:

  • Samuel Harris
  • Stephen Barton
  • Richard Olney
  • Jonathan A. Pope
  • John Field
  • Peter Butler
  • Samuel C. Butler
  • Jonathan Harris
  • John Wetherell
  • John Melish
  • Artemas G. Metcalf
  • Rufus Moore

Samuel Harris was chosen Worshipful Master, John Field, Senior Warden, Elihu Harwood, Jr., Junior Warden and Jonathan Pope, Secretary. An installation of officers took place in the old meeting house on the 27th of September 1826, at which the Rev. David Holman of Douglas gave an address. About 20 officials from the Grand Lodge and from towns near Oxford were present, and a dinner was provided by Samuel C. Butler at his Tavern. On the 27th of October 1828 it was voted to remove the place of meeting to the Tavern on the Plain.

Regular meetings were kept up to 1831, at which date the records end. One officer of the Grand Lodge of Boston writes: It (the Lodge) probably died of the anti-Masonic scare about 1831. Besides Samuel Harris, the Worshipful Masters were Alexander DeWitt, Ira Barton and Sumner Barstow, the last one elected but not installed.

OTHER

  • 1826 (Constitution of Lodge, IV-26)

EVENTS

OFFICER LIST, JUNE 1826

From Masonic Mirror and Mechanics' Intelligencer, Vol. II, No. 30, July 1826, Page 233:

At the annual communication of Oxford Lodge, held at Oxford June 15, 5826, the following officers were elected for the year ensuing:

  • R. W. Samuel Harris, M.
  • Wor. Alexander Witt, S. W.
  • Wor. Thomas Warner, J. W.
  • Bro. Stephen Barton, T.
  • Bro. Jonathan A. Pope, Sec.
  • Bro. Stephen Larned, S. D.
  • Bro. John Mellish, J. D.
  • Bro. John Weatherell, S. S.
  • Bro. Artemas G. Metcalf, J. S.
  • Bro. William Sigourney, Mar.
  • Bro. Ebenezer Newhall, Chaplain.
  • Bro. Rufus Moore, Tyler.

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, JUNE 1829

From Masonic Mirror, New Series, Vol. I, No. 2, July 1829, Page 11:

The anniversary of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist was celebrated at Oxford, Mass., On the 24th ult. The Oxford Lodge were joined on the occasion by a large and respectable concourse of their brethren from Sutton, Dudley, Southbridge, Charlton, Leicester, and other towns in the vicinity. The procession was formed with great order and beauty by the Marshals, Capt. William Sigourney and Col. Alexander DeWitt, and moved from the Hall to the meeting-house at precisely 11 o'clock, A. M. the exercises in the meetinghouse or prayer by the Rev. Mr. Maynard, a sermon by the Rev. Mr. Turner, and an address by Linus Child, Esq. they were listened to by a large audience with unmingled delight. The Sermon by Mr. Turner was highly creditable to the taste and good sense of that unassuming scholar and worthy man. The sentiments of his discourse was, "add to brotherly kindness, Charity." The duties of charity were delineated in a felicitous manner, and the utility of associations for the purpose of insuring the effectual practice of those duties, were strikingly illustrated. This was followed by the simple but affecting appeal whether, in an enlightened community like ours, where the rights of all are secured by a written constitution, and permanent laws, Freemasons shall not be permitted peaceably to associate together for the purpose of charity, and in so doing, prescribed the mode of their own peculiar social organization, and select the objects of their own charitable bounty.

The address of Mr. Child was in every way worthy of the rising reputation of this young man. – It contained a plain but eloquent exposition of the nature, origin, and design of the institution of Freemasonry; and met, with candor and fair argument the objections that have been urged against it. We could wish that every candid and considerate (for we doubt not there are such) anti-Masons in our community, could have listened to the performances of the occasion. They might have failed to convince the understanding, but certainly we are but every feeling of hostility to the Masonic order must have been appeased. But it be remembered however, that to anti-Masons, as a party, Masons have nothing to say. With them, time will prove the best logician. The ground on which they would attempt to build up a party, is altogether fictitious and temporary; and, under a Government like ours can never be recognized, as a legitimate ground of party distinction.

After the exercises of the meeting–house, the procession repaired to a beautiful bower prepared for their reception by Mr. Town, where about 200 set down in his generous board.

The following sentiments were announced by Col. Alexander DeWitt, and repeated by Mr. John Mellish.

  • Freemasonry – Most revered by those best acquainted with the principles it inculcates.
  • Washington – The illustrious patron of Masonry. Here his language – "the great object of masonry is to promote the happiness of the human race. I shall always be happy to advance the interest of the society and to be considered by them as a deserving brother."
  • The memory of Warren – the first Grand Master of the first Grand Lodge in America, a name consecrated by patriotism and philanthropy.
  • Religion and Freemasonry – the one teachers us how to live, the other how to live and die.
  • The Ladies – if they do not preside in our Lodges, they preside in the hearts of those who do.

The last sentiment drew from the ladies the following response.

  • To the Gentlemen – if our empire be the empire of Masons' hearts, we hope it will not prove to be an Utopian empire.

Several volunteer sentiments were offered, evincing equally the good sense and feeling of the company. The festivities of the day were chastened and enlivened for the presence of over fifty ladies at the table.


DISTRICTS

1825: District 6


LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges