PortlandM

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PORTLAND (FALMOUTH) LODGE (MAINE)

Location: Portland

Chartered By: John Rowe

Charter Date: 03/20/1762 I-165

Precedence Date: 03/20/1762

Current Status: Chartered as Falmouth Lodge (now Portland), by St. John's Grand Lodge. Endorsed by Grand Master Paul Revere in June 1796. Under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Maine as Triangle #1.

NOTES

Note that William Tyng is listed as the first Master of this Lodge.

RENEWAL OF PETITION, 1769

From Proceedings, Page I-165, 01/27/1769:

A Petition was read, from Sundry Brethren living at Falmouth in Casco Bay, Praying for a renewal of the Deputation formerly granted to Alexander Ross Esqr. now deceased, on which Account they recommend William Tyng Esqr High Sherriff of the County of Cumberland for their Master; After a proper enquiry into the Circumstances of the Petitioners it was agreed that the Prayer of said Petition be granted.

It was Moved and Voted that the Petitioners aforesaid be excused paying the customary three Guineas for their Constitution, provided they will make it appear that their former Constitution was paid for; and that they send up a Cop}' of said Constitution to the Grand Secretary forthwith to be Recorded.

Petition

To the Right Worshipful John Rowe Esqr. Provincial Grand Master of Masons for North America.

The Petition of the Subscribers, humbly Sheweth. That we your Petitioners have this day met to celebrate the Festival of St. John: We have hitherto been destitute of a Lodge in this Town. Upon an application made some years ago, our late Rt. Worshipful Grand Master, granted a Deputation to our lately deceased Brother, Alexander Ross Esqr but his business being great, and his infirmities greater, prevented his opening a Lodge. We now humbly beg that a new Deputation may be granted. The principle Motive of our meeting together this day is to unite in this Petition. We also beg leave to recommend our Brother William Tyng Esqr. as a suitable person to preside over us as Master.

We shall always contribute according to our Abilities to the Support of the Grand Lodge, and we shall endeavour to make a true and perfect Lodge, by shewing Mankind we live in Brotherly Love.

We heartily congratulate our Brethren upon the happy choice, our Right Worshipful Grand Master of England, has been pleased to make, in appointing you Provincial Grand Master of America, and felicitate ourselves with the prospect of your continuing in that important Station for many Years to come. That it may be the Case, Your Petitioners as in duty bound shall ever Pray, &c.:

  • RICHARD CODMAN.
  • JEDIDIAH PREBLE.
  • JOHN LOWTHER.
  • WILLIAM CAMPBELL.
  • JOHN ROSS.
  • THOMAS OXNARD.
  • SAMUEL MOODY.
  • JOHN GREENWOOD.
  • ARTHUR HOWELL.
  • JOSHUA MOODY.
  • JOHN PERKINS.

ORIGINAL DEPUTATION, 1762

From Proceedings, Page I-164, 01/27/1769:

Copy of their former Deputation:

Jer. Gridley G. M.

To all and Every Our Right Worshipful and loving Brethren, Free and Accepted Masons, now residing, or that may hereafter reside in Falmouth in the County of Cumberland, within the Province of Massachusetts Bay. The Right Worshipful Jeremy Gridley Esqr Provincial Grand Master of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons in North America,-

SENDETH GREETING.

Whereas, Application hath been made unto us by several Brethren of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons, now residing at Falmouth aforesaid, that we would be pleased to Constitute them into a Regular Lodge that Masonry may encrease and Florish in those Parts,

Now THEREFORE KNOW YE. That We have nominated, Ordained Constituted and appointed, our Right Worshipful and well beloved Brother Alexander Ross Esqr to be the first Master of the Lodge at Falmouth aforesaid, and do hereby impower him to Congregate the Brethren together, and Form them into a Regular Lodge: He taking special Care in choosing two Wardens and other Officers necessary for the due regulation thereof, for one Year, at the end whereof, the Lodge shall have Power to choose and appoint their Master and other Officers, and so Annually, the Master and Wardens for the Time being, taking Special Care that all and every Member admitted into said Lodge from Time to Time, have been or shall be made Regular Masons, and that they do cause all and every Regulations contained in the Printed Book of Constitutions, (except such as have been or may be Repealed at any Quarterly Communication or other General Meeting in London) to be kept and Observed, as also all such other Rules and Instructions, as shall be from Time to Time Transmitted to them by Us, or our Deputy, or the Grand Master or his Deputy for the Time being, and that they do Annually send an Account in Writing to us or our Deputy, or the Grand Master or his Deputy for the Time being, of the Names of the Members of said Lodge, and their Place of abode, with the days and Place of Meeting, with any other things which they may think proper to communicate for the Benefit of their Lodge, and that they do send Two Guineas for their Constitution to be paid into the Stock of the Grand Lodge in Boston, and further that they do Annually keep or cause to be kept, the Feast of St. John the Baptist and Dine together on that Day, or near that Day as shall be judged most convenient, and lastly that they do regularly Communicate with the Grand Lodge in Boston, by sending to the Quarterly Communication, such Charity as their Lodge shall think fit, for the relief of poor Brethren, as also three Guineas to be remitted to the Grand Lodge in London.

Given under our Hand and Seal this 20th day of March, A.D. 1762, and of Masonry 5762.

By the Grand Master's Command

NEW DEPUTATION, 1769

From Proceedings, Page I-168, 03/30/1769:

John Rowe G. M.

To all and every our Right Worshipful, Worshipful, and loving Brethren, Free and Accepted Masons, now residing, or that may hereafter reside in Falmouth in the County of Cumberland, within the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New England: We John Rowe Esqr. Provincial Grand Master of the Antient and Honourable Society of Free and Accepted Masons for all North America, where no other Grand Master is Appointed, SENDETH GREETING.

Whereas, Application hath been made unto us by several Brethren Free and Accepted Masons now residing at Falmouth aforesaid; Setting forth that a Deputation was granted by the late Right Worshipfull Jeremy Gridley Esqr. Grand Master of North America, to the late Alexander Ross Esqr. for Congregating all Free and Accepted Masons in Falmouth aforesaid, and to form them into a Regular Lodge; but said Deputation never taking Effect by reason of the many Avocations and Infirmities of the said Alexander Ross Esqr.; Therefore, Praying that a new Deputation may be granted by us, to Constitute them into a Regular Lodge, and to appoint William Tyng Esqr to be their first Master:

Now THEREFORE KNOW YE, That We of the great Trust, Power and Authority reposed in us by his Grace, the Right Worshipful Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort &c.: Grand Master of Masons, have Nominated and Appointed our Right Worshipful and well beloved Brother, William Tyng Esqr to be the first Master of the Lodge at Falmouth aforesaid, and do hereby impower him to Congregate the Brethren together. and form them into a Regular Lodge, he taking special Care that all and every Member thereof, and all Transcient Persons admitted therein, have been, or shall be Regular made Masons:

And that he appoint two Wardens and other Officers to a Lodge Appertaining, for the due Regulation thereof, for one Year, at the end of which, said Lodge shall have Power to choose and appoint a new Master, who shall Nominate the Wardens and other Officers &c: for the ensuing Year, and so Annually: And, We do hereby give to said Lodge all the Privelidges and Authority of Stated Lodges; Requiring them to observe all and every of the Regulations, contained in the Printed Book of Constitutions (except such as have been or may be Repealed at a Quarterly Communication or other General Meeting of the Grand Lodge in London) to be kept and observed, as also all such other Rules and Instructions, as shall be from Time to Time transmitted to them by us or our Deputy, or the Grand Master or his Deputy for the Time being, and that they do Annually send an Account in Writing to us or our Deputy or either of our Successors, of the Names of the Members of said Lodge, and their Place of Abode, with the Days and Place of Meeting, with any other Things they may think proper to Communicate for the benefit of their Lodge, and that they do send three Guineas for their Constitution to be paid to the Grand Secretary in Boston, in Order that they may be enroll'd in the List of Lodges in the Grand Lodge in London, and further that they do Annually keep the Feast of St. John the Baptist or St. John the Evangelist or both, and Dine together on said Day or Days, or as near either of them as shall be most convenient, and lastly that they do regularly Communicate with the Grand Lodge in Boston, by sending to the Quarterly Communication such Charity as their Lodge shall think fit for the Relief of Poor Brethren, with the Names of those that Contributed the same, that in case any such may come to Want Relief, they may have the Preference to others.

Given under our Hand, and Seal of Masonry, at Boston this thirtieth Day of March, Anno Domini, One thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Nine: and of Masonry Five thousand Seven hundred and Sixty Nine.

By the Grand Master's Command,

  • RICHARD GRIDLEY, D. G. M.
  • ARCHD. McNEILL, S. G. W.
  • JNO. CUTLER, J. G. W.
  • ARRM. SAVAGE Gr. Secy.

PAST MASTERS

  • Alexander Ross, 1762
  • William Tyng, 1769-1772, 1775
  • Jeremiah Pote, 1773, 1774
  • Simeon Mayo, 1776-1780
  • Thomas Sanford, 1781-1785
  • Ebenezer Davis, 1786-1795
  • Edward Oxnard, 1796
  • Woodbury Storer, 1797-1802; SN
  • William Symmes, 1803, 1804
  • Matthew Cobb, 1804-1806
  • James D. Hopkins, 1807; SN
  • In recess 1808-1810
  • Charles Fox, 1811-1813
  • William Swan, 1814-1818; SN
  • Samuel Baker, 1819, 1820

YEARS

1762 1763 1764 1765 1766 1767 1768 1769 1770 1771 1772 1773 1774 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791

1796 1804 1806 1807 1808 1811 1815


HISTORY

EXCERPTS FROM CENTENNIAL HISTORY, 1862

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXI, No. 10, July, 1862, Page 297:

HISTORICAL ADDRESS. (By W. Brother Moses Dodge, Master of the celebrating Lodge.]

Brother Masons —The time, the occasion and the circumstances connected with it, have conspired to bring me before you as one of the speakers on this memorable day. The principles, the teaching, the design and the mission of Freemasonry, you are not to learn from me. It is my province simply to give you in the few mo-meats allotted me room of the historical facts and chronological dates connected with the introduction of Masonry into what is now the State of Maine, and its progress and prosperity here. In doing so I must of necessity bring to your notice Old Portland Lodge, No. 1, formerly the "Lodge at Falmouth" or "Falmouth Lodge," as a representative of which I have the honor of appearing before this august assemblage.

Ancient Falmouth, the seat of the first chartered Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in Maine (then a part of the old Commonwealth of Massachusetts) originally included the city of Portland and the towns of Cape Elisabeth, Falmouth and Westbrook. The population of Falmouth in 1762 I am not able to ascertain. A note written on part of the back of a letter by Parson Smith, Sept. 27, 1759, states that on the neck, now Portland proper, there were "136 bouses and 22 double families, in all 165 families." From this data, the historian of Portland, Hon. Mr. Willis, fixes the population of the Neck at that period at 900. In 1704 the population of Falmouth, by a census taken that year, was 3770, and that of the Province of Maine 54,020.

The year 1762 — between these dates — occupies a prominent position in our minds to-day, but I am not able to find any historical fact connected with our Order during that year.

The records of the Falmouth Lodge show that on the 20th day of March, 1762, and of Masonry 5762, the Right Worshipful Jeremiah Gridley, Esq., Grand Master of the Ancient and Honorable Society of Free and Accepted Masons in North America, granted to several Brethren of the society residing in Falmouth, in the county of Cumberland, within the Province of Massachusetts Bay, in order that "Masonry might increase and flourish in those parts," a Warrant or Constitution, nominating, ordaining, constituting and appointing our R. W. and well beloved Br. Alexander Ross, Esq., to be the first Master of the Lodge at Falmouth, and empowering him to congregate the Brethren together, form them into a regular Lodge, choose their Wardens and other officers, and at the end of one year to choose their Master and other officers, and so annually, to receive members and exercise all the prerogatives of a chartered Lodge.

This Deputation, as it is termed in the language of that day, having been in "abeyance" by reason of the "business of Br. Alexander Ross, Esq., being great, and his infirmities greater," in December, 1768, petition was forwarded to the R. W. John Rowe, Esq., Grand Master of Masons for North America, for a renewal of the Deputation, and on March 30, 1769, and of Masonry, 5769, "R. W. John Rowe, Esq., Provincial Grand Master of the Ancient and Honorable Society of F. and A. Masons for all North America, where no other Grand Master is appointed," "by virtue of the great trust, power and authority reposed in him by his Grace the R. W. Henry Somerset, Duke of Beaufort and G. M. of Masons," did renew the Deputation to congregate the Brethren of Falmouth, form them into a regular Lodge, with Wm. Tyng, Esq., as their first Master, and empowered them to exercise all the powers and prerogatives of a chartered Lodge.

It is a matter of regret that the names of the first petitioners for a deputation or constitution are not on record. There were eleven names signed to the petition for the renewal of it in 1768; seven of these were present, together with four members of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, (of whom the only surviving one is Brother Andrew Peirce of Dover, N. H., and whom I am glad to say Is in our city to-day,) with R. W. Brother Wm. Tyng, Master, and one other Brother, not a petitioner, at a meeting held May 8, 1769, at which time the subordinate offices were filled, a committee on by-laws appointed, &c.

This, then, is the early history of the introduction of Masonry into Maine, and the present year completes one century since a deputation or charter was granted for a Lodge within its present jurisdiction.

I presume I shall be pardoned If in this connection, I add a few brief statistics of this Lodge, which changed its title to Portland Lodge when Falmouth Neck was named Portland. It kept up its organization from this early date, with the exception of an interregnum from December, 1807, to March, 1811, when its charter remained in the archives of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, through the early days of the Revolutionary war and the still darker days of the Morgan Anti-Masonic political crusade.

It has had 38 Masters, and has initiated more than 675 candidates into the mysteries of Freemasonry, and although it has contributed its quota of members for two other flourishing Lodges in our city, it returned to the Grand Lodge the present year 209 members.

Masonry in Maine, from its first introduction, has made a healthy progress, and notwithstanding that many of our Lodges were located in towns with a small population, and the bitter and unrelenting persecution they suffered a few years since, I believe 1 am correct in stating that all of the Lodges chartered previous to 1830 have resumed work and are in active operation, with four exceptions.

We have five Lodges in the State whose charters date in the 18th century — all in active operation — Portland, Warren, Lincoln, Hancock and Kennebec.

All Lodges chartered previous to 1820 were under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. On the first day of June, 1820, consent of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts having been obtained for organization of an independent Grand Lodge in the State of Maine, formerly a Province of Massachusetts, and for a just division of the charity and other funds of the Institution, Representatives from 34 Lodges met and proceeded to organize said Grand Lodge, and M. W. Hon. William King, Esq., first Governor of the State, was elected its first Grind Master. On the day following, June 3, M. W. William King was introduced into the hall, received and sainted in due form, and on taking the chair delivered an address, which I cannot forbear incorporating into these brief remarks, as being, in my opinion, a model address.

The address was as follows:

"R. W. and W. Officers and Members of this Grand Lodge: In the circumstances under which I hive appeared before you to enter upon the office to which you have been pleased to elevate me, I can do little more, at this time, than express my acceptance of the trust, and say to you that according to the best of my ability I will endeavor to discharge its duties. It would hive been much more agreeable to me, at least for the present, to have appeared in the Grand Lodge only as a private Brother; but as Masonry teaches us to regard the duties we owe to God and the community as paramount to all others, I will endeavor to perform them by attending to the wishes of my Brethren rather than gratify my own."

Such was the address of our first G. M. in this State. Since that date we have bad twenty Grand Masters, many of them well beloved — many of them gone to the Grand Lodge above — but among them all, none, perhaps, whose memory is more highly cherished than that of William King.

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXI, No. 11, August, 1862, Page 330:

Dear Sir

I regret that my remarks, at published in your Magazine for August, should contain the same error in regard to Bro. Pierce, as to age, as was made in the Boston Journal. I stated that "seven of the petitioners for the renewal of Charter in 1798, with R. W. Wm. Tyng, and one other Brother, not a petitioner, were present at a mooting of the Lodge, March, 1769."

I learned on the day previous to the Anniversary, that Br. Pierce, the only survivor of the four acting Officers of the Grand Lodge of New Hampshire, who assisted in the Constitution of the Grand Lodge of Maine, in 1820, was in our city, and announced that fact in connection with that date (1820.) It was not included in the written notes, and hence, probably, the chronological error of the reporter.

The error was corrected in a note published in the Journal, June 28.

Fraternally yours, Moses Dodge.


EVENTS

OFFICER LIST, 1802

From Vocal Companion and Masonic Register, Boston, 1802, Part II, Page 9:

  • R. W. Woodbury Storer, M.
  • W. William Symmes, S. W.
  • W. Isaac Gage, J. W.
  • J. D. Hopkins, S. D.
  • Seth Brid, J. D.
  • Robert Boyd, Tr.
  • Joseph Swift, Sec.

Number of Members 51.

OFFICER LIST, JANUARY 1818

From New England Galaxy, Vol. I, No. 13, 01/09/1817, Page 3:

Officers in Portland Lodge, Portland:

  • R. W. William Swan, Esq., Master
  • W. Samuel Baker, S. W.
  • W. Nelson Rackleyft, J. W.
  • William Lord, Treasurer.
  • Cornelius D. Maynard, Secretary.
  • Seth Clark, S. D.
  • John Powell, J. D.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

OTHER BROTHERS


DISTRICTS

1803: District 9 (Southern Maine)

1820 and after: Grand Lodge of Maine.


LINKS

Triangle #1 web site

Triangle #1

Massachusetts Lodges