RisingStates

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RISING STATES LODGE

Location: Boston

Chartered By: Grand Lodge of Scotland

Charter Date: 11/30/1756

Precedence Date: 11/30/1756

Current Status: location of charter unknown.


NOTES

This lodge was originally chartered as a split from the Lodge of St. Andrew and claimed its precedence in Massachusetts Grand Lodge and the united Grand Lodge; the charter was resigned 12/10/1810 (Page II-448).

See account of misuse of the Charter, while Benjamin Russell was Master, is found in the autobiography of Henry Fowle.

LIST OF MEMBERS, 1802

From Vocal Companion and Masonic Register, Boston, 1802, Part II, Page 8:

  • W. Edmund Bowman, M.
  • W. Jonathan Willington, S. W.
  • W. Samuel Adams, J. W.
  • Amos Lincoln, Tr.
  • Alexander Orrick, S. D.
  • Ephraim Beaman, J. D.
  • William Fennymore, Steward.
  • Eli Bliss, Steward.
  • John Green, Tiler.
  • Right Worshipful Benjamin Russell, Past Master
  • John Palmer
  • John Sweet
  • Frederick Wm. Major
  • Stephen Marson
  • William Lamb
  • Josiah Willard
  • Pliney Clap
  • Joseph Allen
  • Addington Davenport
  • Edward Hodgson
  • George Whitney
  • Abraham Fitton
  • Michael Duggaus
  • Peter Balade
  • William B. Eaton
  • Joseph Clark
  • Oliver Houghton
  • John Collins
  • Enoch Baldwin
  • William Ratchford
  • Stephen Francis
  • Nathan Loring
  • Darius Bellows
  • Thomas Simmons
  • Rasmus Thomson
  • Peter Wales
  • Peter Smith
  • Eleazer Morse
  • Martin Connig
  • David Johnston
  • George Wheelwright
  • William Crosby
  • Rufus Graves
  • William Mitchel
  • John Perkin
  • William Whittington
  • John F. Jenison
  • Michael Heane
  • Zebina Eastman
  • John Raymond
  • Ichabod Frost
  • John Clark
  • Joseph Hudson
  • Benjamin Seward
  • David Green
  • Seth Webber
  • Henry Brazer
  • Daniel Gowing
  • Francis Baxter
  • John Prother
  • Elisha Brown
  • James Pitts
  • John D. Howard
  • Jesse Cox
  • Abel Wheelock
  • Thomas Simmons
  • William Champney
  • Obadiah Whiston
  • Andrew Lopeus
  • James Ralston
  • Bela Clapp
  • James Whelan, Jr.
  • Jonathan Osgood
  • Archelaus Godard
  • James Cawte

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE, 1811

Report of the Committee of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge on the Subject of the Late Rising States Lodge.

The Committee appointed to take into consideration the late conduct of Rising States Lodge, to trace the causes that led to its unprecedented dissolution, and to report what measures would be most advisable for the Grand Lodge to adopt on this important occasion, have attended to the duty assigned them, and respectfully submit the following, as the result of their investigation.

From an examination of the records of the Lodge, it appears that, in the year 5785, their funds amounted to 3600 dollars in Loan Office certificates; in the year 5788, to 692 dollars 79 cents, consolidated Loan Office certificates, and £1707 18/- old continental; in the year 5797, they amounted to 1779 dollars 25 cents, and, from that period to the year 5803, the amount varied from 1846 dollars to 2354 dollars; from the year 5803 to 5810, it gradually decreased to 1339 80 cents, 1300 dollars of which had been vested in Union Bank Stock, and was sold in December 5810 at an advance of 17 1-2 per cent, making an amount of 1527 dollars 50 cents; this fund, together with the proceeds of the regalia, furniture, &c. of the Lodge, were divided among the nominal members thereof.

That, on the question of dissolving the Lodge, the following persons are recorded, as having voted:

  • YeasAmos Lincoln, Paul Revere Jr., Joseph Clark, Percival Hall, John Tuckerman, John D. Howard, Stephen Francis, David Green, Peter Balade, Enoch Baldwin and John Brazer – 11.
  • NaysEphraim Beaman, Benjamin Russell, Wm. Whall, Jr., John Collins, Josiah Willard, Simeon Dow, Joseph Batson, Fred W. Major and Joseph Allen – 9. Whole number, twenty.

That, after the question of dissolution was decided, brother Joseph Batson proposed, that when the Charter shall be returned to the Grand Lodge, it be accompanied by all the stock, regalia, jewels, &c. The stock to be under the direction of the Grand Lodge for charitable purposes. On this important question, five only voted in the affirmative, viz. Benj. Russell, William Whall, Jr., John Collins, Joseph Batson, and Ephraim Beaman.

It further appears, by the official returns to the Grand Lodge dated November 29, 1810, that the Lodge consisted of nineteen members only, and that the list did not include the names of John Brazer, Benjm. Coolidge, Enoch Baldwin, Paul Revere and the Rev. John Murray, who, in the division of the funds, were considered as members, and received a dividend. The three former were apparently admitted for the sole purpose of effecting the object in view, and upon the question of dissolving the Lodge, Brazer and Baldwin voted in the affirmative. Coolidge was not present.

It also appears from the records, that the following brethren received a dividend of the stock, viz., Paul Refere, Amos Lincoln, Benjm. Coolidge, Paul Revere, Jr., John Brazer, Benjm. Russell, Joseph Clark, Percival Hall, John Tuckerman, Enoch Baldwin, William Whall, Jr., John Collins, Joseph Allen, Josiah Willard, Ephraim Beaman, John D. Howard, Stephen Francis, Fred. Wm. Major, David Green, Seth Webber, Jeremiah Gardner, Joseph Batson, Peter Balade, Simeon Dow, and Revd. John Murray; thirteen of whom were admitted members since the year 1797, at which period the funds were greater, by several hundred dollars, than at the time when the division of monies, to which they had not contributed one cent, was effected.

Having ascertained these facts, your Committee caused a special notice to be served upon each individual of the late Rising States Lodge, stating that a meeting of the Committee of the Grand Lodge would be held, at Masons Hall, on Monday April 15, 1811, to enquire into the causes which led to the unhappy occurrences, and requesting his presence at the time. In consequence of this notification, there appeared the following persons, viz. Amos Lincoln, Percival Hall, John Collins, John Tuckerman, Paul Revere, Jr., David Green, John D. Howard, Simeon Dow, Josiah Willard, Fred. W. Major, Joseph Allen, Joseph Batson and Ephraim Beaman, being thirteen of the twenty members who voted on the question of dissolving the Lodge.

The above named persons were severally questioned and examined by the Committee, as to the general situation of the late Rising Lodge, for several years past, the causes of dissatisfaction which had existed, and the reasons for dissolving their union.

From this examination, your Committee were perfectly satisfied, that discord and uneasiness had found admittance into the Lodge some time prior to the report of the Grand Lodge upon the petition of St. Andrew's Lodge to be received under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, which report had, before, been assigned by several members of the late Rising States Lodge, as the only cause of the dissolution of said Lodge.

Several Members testified that there were great and increasing difficulties in the Lodge for five years past, and before the question of rank was agitated. In the opinion of some, they were caused by the appointment and conduct of the Grand Lecturer; others attributed them to the disappointment of certain characters in not be elected to the first offices of the Lodge. It appeared that during this period, members were generally at variance with each other; that great opposition was made to the admission of candidates; in consequence of which, there was an accession of very few members; and that applications for charity, even from members, were seldom attended to; and that when relief was granted to a distressed brother, it was with a very sparing hand. One of the oldest members (Tuckerman) declared, that that great disunion had existed in the Lodge from the time brother Russell left the chair, that applications for charity were seldom allowed, that there was a general disposition not to admit new members, and, that such was the state of the Lodge, he conceived it to be for the best interests of Masonry, that it should be dissolved; for the sole object of effecting which, he consented to accept the office of Junior Warden at the last election.

Your Committee would here observed, to the honour of the Member mentioned, that he quite publicly declared that the chief reason which operated on his mind and finally determined him to exert himself to obtain a to obtain a vote to return the Charter of the Lodge, was a conviction that, in consequence of the multiplied rejections of the claims for charity, the funds of the Lodge could, in no other way, be appropriated to the grand objects for which they were raised; and that, to keep his conscience clear, he had sacredly reserved the portion assigned him for the relief of distressed brethren, to which noble purpose one half the sum he received had already been applied.

Acting under this impression and from these motives, your Committee consider this worthy Member free from any intentional offence, with which his coadjutors may be justly chargeable. – From the preceding state of facts, collected from the record of the late Rising States Lodge, and from the testimony of a majority of its Members, your Committee are irrestistably impelled to believe that a spirit of disorganization manifested itself in the Lodge many years since, and prior to the now pretended cause of dissolution.

That the admission of St. Andrew's Lodge under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge, taking rank from the date of its Charter, gave some offence to Rising States Lodge, is very apparent; but why their resentments should be more particularly excited is difficult for your Committee to determine, unless they admit the existence of old animosities and internal dissentions; for every other Lodge, except St. John's, were equally superceded. The Members of Rising States Lodge must have been aware that it is a primary duty of Masons quietly to acquiesce in the opinions of the majority, and submit to some individual deprivations to promote general harmony and prosperity.

Your Committee are of opinion that the principal advantage derived to society from the Masonic Institution is the encouragement and extension of its benevolent and charitable principles; and when these cease to be the governing object of its Members, the institution is disrobed of its greatest ornament.

Animated by this sentiment, it has ever been the first and most important duty of every Lodge to establish a fund for the relief of the unfortunate. These funds are created and enlarged by various means. Many individuals of the fraternity, who have been blessed with prosperity, and feel under a moral obligation to become useful Members, have made considerable donations for this purpose, with the hope that they leave in their successors a disposition to apply the sacred deposit to the proper objects of charity. It is a regulation in many Lodges to appropriate the initiating fees to a charity fund. This appropriation is founded on correct Masonic principles; for in the opinion of your Committee all monies received for initiations, excepting the regular sums required by the Grand Lodge, exclusively belong to this fund; because every initiate thereby equally contributes to that stock from which he is entitled to relief in the day of adversity; and every well regulated Lodge is, in duty, bound to establish such quarterages and make such assessments as are adequate to its ordinary support and festive inclinations.

A fund thus raised and sacredly devoted becomes the exclusive property of the poor and needy; and is deposited with the several Lodges as their Trustees, who, under the all-seeing eye of God, are, with a careful and discriminating hand, to apply it to their several necessities: to divert it from this sacred and noble object, by applying it to the purposes of festivity, or the aggrandizement of a Lodge, is removing the ancient landmarks of the institution and destroying its usefulness: to divide it among the Members of a Lodge, whenever they may think proper to dissolve their union, is making the funds an object of speculation, and thereby encouraging such dissolution: it is treating the noble example of departed donors with contempt, and devoting their sacred deposit to individual emolument; it is absolving those, who are charitably disposed, from all obligation to contribute their aid in the establishment of such funds; it is presenting to those of the rising generation, the sad example of "reaping where they have not sown, and gathering where they have not strewed": it is taking bread from the hungry; it is multiplying the tears of the widow and the fatherless.

That assuming the right to divide these funds is an alarming and dangerous innovation, and must effectually undermine the foundation of the institutions that every Mason is solemnly obliged to support. That, unless the inviolability of funds can be firmly established, it will become necessary for the Grand Lodge to adopt measures to prevent Lodges accumulating property, which may excite into action the rapacious desires of designing and unprincipled men.

Impressed with the importance of these sentiments, your Committee view with the most serious apprehensions the conduct of the late Rising States Lodge: they consider it an alarming precedent, tending to excite a spirit of disorganization, inducing the Lodges to take offence on the slightest occasion, that they might have a plausible pretext to obtain possession of the funds. These apprehensions are greatly increased from observing those measures countenanced and supported by men of respectable and influential standing in society, whom we have been in the habits of esteeming, and who have held high and responsible stations in the Masonic family.

The preservation of the Institution, under the guardianship of the Grand Lodge, imperiously demands the expression of its most signal disapprobation of such conduct, and an exhibition of its fatal tendency. It appears, however, that the late members of Rising States Lodge were actuated by very different motives in voting for the dissolution and division which took place; some to put a stop to the waste and disorder, which had become apparent, and thereby secure the remnant of their funds for charitable objects.

In order, therefore, to afford the Members of the late Rising States Lodge an opportunity of manifesting the purity of their principles and the sincerity of their actions, and to exhibit to the fraternity that spirit of forbearance and reconciliation which has ever characterized the conduct of the Grand Lodge, your Committee recommend that they be allowed until the next quarterly communication to shew that the dividend, which they received of the funds of said Lodge, has been bestowed upon individual objects of charity; and that such part of said dividend which has not been thus bestowed should, in the interim, be paid over to the Grand Treasurer, to be deposited in the Grand Charity fund; or that they should exhibit testimonials of their having devoted it to the Charity Fund of some Lodge under this jurisdiction.

Your Committee further recommend that the Grand Lodge make the tenour of this report known to the late Members of Rising States Lodge, and appoint a Committee to receive communications from them, witness the fulfilment of the recommendations herein contained, and report at the next quarterly communication.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

John Soley,
Shubael Bell,
Francis J. Oliver,
John Dixwell,
Timothy Whiting†,
Committee

The Right Worshipful Brother Whiting, from his remote residence, was unable to meet the Committee; but has expressed the fullest approbation of the Report in Grand Lodge, and authorized the Committee to affix his signature.

Vote of the Grand Lodge.

Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, in Quarterly Communication, Sept. 9th, A. L. 5811.

On motion, voted unanimously, That the Report of the Committee on the concerns of the late Rising States Lodge, which has now be read and accepted, be printed under the superintendance of the same Committee, and distributed to the several Members of the late Rising States Lodge, and to all the Lodges under this jurisdiction; that the same Committee be empowered to communicate with the Members of the late Rising States Lodge, and generally to fulfil and complete the purport of the said Report.

Attest,
Jno. Proctor, Gd. Sec'y.

FOLLOW UP REPORT, JUNE 1812

From Proceedings, II-535:

Report of the Committee on the Concerns of the Late Rising States Lodge.

The committee appointed to fulfill and complete the purport of the recommendation contained in the report upon the conduct of the late Rising States Lodge, beg leave to state,

That the more effectually to fulfill the object of their commission they have caused three several notices to be served upon the late members of the Rising States Lodge, of the times when the committee would be in session at Masons Hall to receive communications on the subjects committed to them; that in consequence of their notifications the following named Brethren have appeared and declared to the truth of the statements by them made, vizt:

  • R. W. Paul Revere, who stated that the money received by him, as his proportion of the stock, had been all faithfully applied to the relief of the distressed members of the Masonic family,
  • Bro. John D. Howard has made a similar declaration.
  • R. W. Bro. E. Beaman has stated in writing that thirteen dollars of the money received was paid into the hands of Massachusetts Lodge; fourteen dollars bestowed upon sundry indigent and poor friends; twenty dollars vested in the regalia of the late Rising States Lodge, and ten dollars to be paid to your committee, to be applied to the Charity Fund of the Grand Lodge. He also stated, that he is ready to deposit with the Grand Lodge

the regalia of the late Rising States Lodge, purchased by him, to be disposed of as they may think proper.

  • R. W. John Tuckerman stated in writing the names of sundry widows, and of Masons, to whose relief he has appropriated fifty-two dollars of the dividend received by him; the balance of which being five dollars, he has paid into the hands of your committee for the use of the Charity Fund of the Grand Lodge,
  • R. W. Bro. Benj. Russell stated that he had given to the relief of distressed objects of the Masonic family, $__; paid into the funds of St. John's Lodge $__, and the balance of the dividend received by him, being forty-two dollars, he was ready to pay over to the use of the Charity Fund of the Grand Lodge.
  • Bro. Josiah Willard stated in writing that he had disposed of every cent of the money received by him to the relief of distressed Masons, Mason's wives and orphans, within fourteen days after he had received it.
  • Brother Wm. Whall, Jr., stated in writing that he had expended the whole amount of the dividend received by him towards the support of aged and infirm people, except ten dollars, which he is ready to pay over to the use of the Charity Fund of the Grand Lodge, and for which he has given his note of hand.
  • Brother Joseph Allen stated in writing that his situation was such that he had been obliged to devote the money received by him to the relief of the necessities of his own family, humbly conceiving that the objects for which the funds of the late Rising States Lodge were raised, have, in this instance or appropriation, been answered,
  • Bro. Frederick Wm. Major made a similar statement.
  • Bro. Peter Ballard stated that he had acted with the majority of the late Rising States Lodge, under the impression that his conduct was correct, but that since reading the printed report of your committee he was fully convinced that he had done wrong. The dividend he had received had been expended for his own uses, but now satisfied that it could never have been intended that the funds of a Lodge should be divided, as had been those of the late Rising States Lodge, he was disposed to pay the whole amount to the Grand Lodge for the use of the Charity Fund, in such sums and at such times as he might be enabled to. His situation was such that it was impossible for him to pay over the whole at once.
  • Brother Enoch Baldwin said that he had not appropriated the amount of the dividend received by him, that he should do it at a convenient time; that none of it should go to the Grand Lodge and that he considered it as money in trust and not belonging to him.
  • Bro. John Collins, being sick, informed the committee, by Bro. Beaman, that he had disposed of part of his dividend to charitable objects and intended to do the same with the remainder.
  • Brother Jos. Batson stated in writing that he had paid thirteen dollars of the dividend received by him into the funds of Massachusetts Lodge; and the balance of forty-four dollars had been paid to the relief of distressed Masons and Masons' widows, named in his communication.
  • Brother Joseph Clark sent a written communication, stating that the recent loss of a child had so filled his mind with grief that he was then incapable of attending on the committee.
  • Bro. Jos'h Willard also stated that that part of the printed report of your committee, which was founded upon the records of the Rising States Lodge, is with them erroneous; for that he actually requested Bro. Batson to propose that the funds and regalia of said Lodge should be passed over to the Grand Lodge, for the use of the Charity Fund; and that upon the question being taken, he, with the five Brethren named in the printed

report, did vote in the affirmative. This fact is here introduced by your committee in justice to Brother Willard.

Your committee having thus named all the members of the late Rising States Lodge from whom they have received communications, leave the final decision of the subject to the wisdom of the Grand Lodge, respectfully suggesting the expediency of granting one other opportunity to the non-conforming members to embrace the proffered hand of reconciliation before the infliction of that penalty which will be alike painful to the Grand Lodge and to the objects of it.

All which is respectfully submitted.

JOHN SOLEY,
SHUBAEL BELL,
FRANCIS J, OLIVER,
JOHN DIXWELL,
Committee.

BOSTON, 9th March, A,L, 5812.

The foregoing report was read and unanimously accepted. On motion. Voted, That a committee be raised, by nomination from the Chair, to report what measures ought to be adopted by this Grand Lodge, consistent with its dignity and the welfare of the Masonic family, in regard to those members of the late Rising States Lodge who have refused to comply with the recommendations of this Most Worshipful Grand Lodge as expressed by the acceptance of the report of their committee at the Quarterly Communication, September 9th, A.L. 5811.


PAST MASTERS


YEARS

1792 1794 1803 1810

After resignation of charter:

1811 1812 1813 1815

1955 1956


GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

  • Thomas Edwards, Junior Grand Warden 1787, 1788, Senior Grand Warden 1791, Mass. Independent Grand Lodge
  • Benjamin Russell, Grand Sword Bearer 1792-1795; Grand Marshal 1796-1810; Junior Grand Warden 1811-1812; Senior Grand Warden 1813; Grand Master 1814-1816

OTHER BROTHERS


DISTRICTS

1803: District 1 (Boston)


LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges