RoseSharon

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ROSE OF SHARON LODGE

Location: Worcester; Charlton (1993)

Chartered By: Frank L. Simpson

Charter Date: 09/12/1928 1928-250
Restored as of 04/17/1993; Reported on 06/09/1993: 1993-52.

Precedence Date: 12/12/1927

Current Status: merged with Morning Star Lodge, 07/15/1974; restored and active at the Masonic Home.


PAST MASTERS

  • Rolland R. Greenwood, 1928
  • George D. Robertson, 1929
  • John Clayton, 1930
  • W. H. Smiley Kingsbury, 1931; Mem
  • Arthur E. Fairbanks, 1932; N
  • Harold H. MacGilpin, 1933
  • Arthur C. Glass, 1934
  • Donald G. Mix, 1935
  • Fred E. Churchill, 1936
  • John A. Jewell, 1937; N
  • Albert H. Woodward, 1938
  • Arthur D. Hatch, 1939
  • Amos P. Clarkson, 1940
  • Joseph B. Shaw, 1941
  • Herbert P. Sawtell, 1942
  • C. Warren Page, 1943
  • George E. Mosher, 1944
  • Will A. Gray, 1945; N
  • Myron F. Converse, 1946
  • J. William Shaw, 1947
  • John W. Fellows, 1948
  • Leslie B. Goff, 1949
  • Welcome G. Burbank, 1950
  • Edward A. Sawtell, 1951
  • Francis H. Jones, 1952
  • Frederick J. Underwood, 1953
  • Arnold R. Shaw, 1954; N; Mem
  • Paul H. Marshall, 1955
  • Kenneth K. Williams, 1956
  • Ralph E. Quimby, 1957, 1958; N
  • Melvin T. Rafuse, 1959, 1972
  • Walter H. Gibbs, 1960
  • William D. Dugard, 1961
  • Laurie L. Palmer, 1962
  • James B. Denholm, 1963
  • Richard S. Mosher, 1964
  • William G. Lowe, 1965
  • James D. Graham, 1966, 1967
  • Bruce Edwin Neilson, 1968
  • G. Edwin Mosher, Jr., 1969, 1971
  • Tore S. Groening, 1970
  • Clifton B. Curtis, 1973
  • Alden R. Tilander, 1974

After Restoration of Charter


REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1927
  • Petition for Charter: 1928
  • Consolidation Petition (with Morning Star Lodge): 1974
  • Petition for Restoration of Charter: 1993

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1952 (25th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1928 1938 1939 1952 1953 1961 1996 2000 2006 2010


HISTORY

  • 1943 (Notes on the lodge's founding in the 1943 history of Morning Star Lodge, 1943-139; see below)

NOTES ON FOUNDING, JANUARY 1943

From the Morning Star lodge history, Page 1943-39:

An event of special interest to Morning Star Lodge was the constitution of Rose of Sharon Lodge by Most Worshipful Frank L. Simpson on October 20, 1928. I am indebted to Right Worshipful W. H. Smiley Kingsbury and Right Worshipful Harold L. Fenner for the following excerpts from the records of Rose of Sharon Lodge:

During the Spring of 1927 a small group of Past Masters of Morning Star Lodge, influenced undoubtedly by certain ideas voiced by the administration of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts, and convinced of the soundness of these ideas, frequently discussed, informally, the possibility of the formation of a new Lodge.

Right Wor. Harold Luther Fenner, D.D.G.M. of the Brookfield 21st Masonic District, was particularly interested in this movement and bent his efforts toward the development of the plan. Associated with him from the first were Right Wor. Herbert P. Bagley, Past Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, Wor. E. Arthur Denny, Wor. W. H. Smiley Kingsbury, at the time Grand Standard Bearer of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, and Wor. Rolland R. Greenwood.

On December 6, 1927 a meeting of such Past Masters of Morning Star Lodge as were interested was held, and the choice of Brethren to be Charter Members was limited to members of Morning Star Lodge and Brethren residing in Worcester, but not members of any other Lodge in Worcester.

The name of the new Lodge, "Rose of Sharon," was suggested by Wor. Walter S. Young, a Past Master of Morning Star Lodge, as Biblically synonymous with the "Bright and Morning Star." The purpose of the new Lodge as resolved in discussion was that it would be in a marked degree the outgrowth of Morning Star Lodge, conceived under, and working for, those ideals for which Morning Star Lodge has ever steadfastly stood, where each man may know his brother well and where there may be the unbroken spirit of unity, fostered by the cement of brotherly love and affection.

Right Worshipful George D. Robertson was the first Master of Rose of Sharon Lodge and by far the greater number of Charter members were members of Morning Star Lodge.

NOTES ON RESTORATION, 2008

From TROWEL, Fall 2008, Page 22:

RoseSharon2008.jpg

When the Overlook independent living community opened its doors in 2006, an abundance of vibrant, active seniors arrived eager to get involved and make their mark. By successfully revitalizing Rose of Sharon Lodge they have certainly made their presence felt.

“Since the Overlook is Masonically sponsored, it’s vitally important that, as our seniors grow older, they have direct access to a lodge so they can continue to participate as they always have,” said Bro. Win Bigelow, an independent living resident and a member of Rose of Sharon Lodge since 1952. “Having the lodge on campus affirms that Masons value the wisdom and history their senior brothers contribute.”

Rose of Sharon has a long history in Central Massachusetts, opening in Worcester as a Saturday night lodge in 1927. To accommodate the lifestyle of brothers with growing families, who found it difficult to get away on a weekend evening, it transformed into a daylight lodge. Over the years, members recognized the need for a lodge at the Masonic Home in Charlton, as older Masons, with limited mobility, could not travel long distances to participate in the meetings and activities of their mother lodges. The decision was made to move Rose of Sharon Lodge to the Charlton campus and welcome all the retired Masons living in the Masonic Home as members.

By virtue of its location, Rose of Sharon membership became predominantly seniors living in the “rest home” and then residents in what is now the Overlook Masonic Health Center — a combination of the enhanced living and skilled nursing facilities.

When the independent living population arrived on campus, Bro. Bigelow immediately mobilized an effort to get brothers moving to the Overlook interested in participating in Rose of Sharon Lodge. In conjunction with Christine Chiasson, Overlook’s program director, he set up a series of presentations to generate interest in the lodge. He targeted not only active Masons, but also “rusty brothers” who had not been involved for years, as well as men who knew little about the brotherhood and wanted to explore becoming Masons.

“Before the Overlook opened, attendance at Rose of Sharon Lodge meetings was very sparse,” said Bro. Bigelow. “We were happy to get a dozen brothers attending. With the addition of the independent living residents, regular turnout more than doubled; we recently had a lodge meeting with approximately 55 people in attendance.”

A once dwindling lodge has been revived and is now a wonderful mix of the very best qualities of old and new. Most lodge members (approximately 75%) are residents of the Overlook Life Care Community. Turnout has been so spectacular that the old location in the Overlook Hotel has been replaced by newly refurbished space in what was once the auditorium (above). This beautiful new location serves as the perfect spot for lodge meetings, ceremonies and other functions.

“I’ll tell you what impacted me significantly—Ernie Goldberg becoming inspired enough to become a Mason even before moving to Overlook because of what he saw on campus,” said Bro. Bigelow. “Since Ernie’s membership, we have had three additional independent living residents become Master Masons and 15 more have affiliated.”

In a touching act of brotherhood, the more active residents volunteer to transport brethren living in the skilled nursing center to regular lodge meetings. The revitalization of Rose of Sharon Lodge is evidence of what is possible when new life and energy is combined with the best of what is tried and true. As Overlook resident and recently raised Brother Goldberg said, “The Overlook campus and Rose of Sharon Lodge are living examples of what brotherhood can be.”


GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

OTHER BROTHERS

DISTRICTS

1927: District 21 (Brookfield)

1993: District 21 (Brookfield)

2003: District 24


LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges