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SAINT PAUL'S LODGE (SOUTH BOSTON / BOSTON / BRAINTREE)

Location: South Boston; Boston (1949); Braintree (1959)

Chartered By: Simon W. Robinson

Charter Date: 03/10/1847 V-130

Precedence Date: 06/10/1846

Current Status: merged with Algonquin Lodge to form St. Paul's-Algonquin Lodge, 05/28/1988.

PAST MASTERS

  • E.M.P. Wells, 1846
  • Jacob Page, 1847, 1848 died in office
  • Charles H. White, 1849-1854, 1865, 1866
  • Steven Lovell, 1855, 1856
  • Thomas Hill, Jr., 1857, 1858
  • Goward H. Brainard, 1859-1861
  • Nicholas A. Appolonio, 1862-1864
  • David Armstrong, 1867
  • Parker C. Burbank, 1868
  • Alfred Smith, 1869
  • Frederick G. Walbridge, 1870, 1871
  • William H.H. Soule, 1872, 1873
  • George S. Worcester, 1874, 1875
  • Hollis R. Gray, 1876
  • James L. Wilson, 1877
  • Charles T. Gallagher, 1878, 1879
  • Samuel P. Wallis, 1880, 1881
  • Charles J. Vaughn, 1882, 1883
  • William B. Reid, 1884, 1885
  • John A. Abraham, 1886, 1887
  • William P. Stone, Jr., 1888, 1889
  • Henry B. Chandler, 1890, 1891; Mem
  • George F. W. Richmond, 1892, 1893
  • Benjamin O. Dana, 1894
  • Alpheus Hill, 1895, 1896
  • Horace M. Bickford, 1897, 1898
  • Frederick D. Pierce, 1899
  • Frank T. Taylor, 1900-1902
  • Alden B. Johnson, 1903, 1904
  • Arthur L. Foster, 1905, 1906
  • Clement G. Lewis, 1907, 1908
  • John H. Abraham, 1909, 1910
  • William E. Harmon, 1911
  • George L. Whitehouse, 1912
  • Frank S. Littlefield, 1913, 1914
  • James L. Belser, 1915
  • William G. Irwin, 1916
  • Frank E. Howard, 1917
  • Frederick G. Hartwell, 1918
  • William Hiltz, 1919
  • Ralph B. Hilton, 1920
  • John E. Bernhard, 1921
  • Harold F. Wilkinson, 1922
  • Walter F. Johnson, 1923; Mem
  • J. Foster Cole, 1924
  • Andrew Thompson, 1925
  • Henry M. MacLeod, 1926
  • Herbert A. Milk, 1927
  • Harold A. Batten, 1928
  • Harold R. Howard, 1929
  • James L. Reid, 1930, 1954; N
  • Walter H. Watson, 1931
  • Edward C. Fowler, 1932
  • Albert K. Blaydow, 1933
  • M. Clayton Gould, 1934
  • Cyril G. Hyland, 1935
  • Peter A. Day, 1936; N
  • LeRoy C. Berry, 1937
  • Alton E. Ferguson, 1938
  • Arthur O. Odegard, 1939
  • Edwin A. Smith, 1940
  • Harold E. Young, 1941
  • M. Clayton Gould, 1942
  • Charles H. Silver, 1943
  • Fredrick W. Clausen, 1944; SN
  • Abbott G. Allbee, 1945
  • Ashton Hardy, 1946
  • George H. Roberts, 1947
  • Marcus Dirks, 1948
  • Robert A. Johnson, 1949
  • Thomas M. MacDougall, 1950
  • William B. Ackerly, 1951
  • Minot F. Smith, 1952
  • Perley E. Lord, 1953
  • Melvin F. Hill, 1955, 1981, 1982
  • Frank E. Nelson, 1956, 1957; N
  • Frank L. Mason, 1958
  • William A. Anderson, 1959
  • Gerald R. Coats, 1960
  • Berge A. Sjostrom, 1961
  • Edward E. Sjostrom, 1962
  • Malcolm M. Kent, 1963
  • I. Warren Thompson, 1964
  • John P. Bruce, 1965
  • William A. Wood, 1966-1968
  • Paul E. Boyle, 1969
  • Vernon S. Bowers, 1970, 1972; N
  • Earl H. Wise, 1971
  • Gerald N. Coats, 1973
  • Robert A. MacDougall, 1974; PDDGM
  • Stephen N. Roberts, 1975, 1977
  • Malcolm M. Kent, 1976
  • Ronald O. Preble, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1983; N
  • Joseph H. Hilchey, 1984-1986
  • Bradford B. Hill, 1987
  • Jonathan F. Hill, 1988

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1846
  • Petition for Charter: 1847
  • Consolidation Petition (with Algonquin Lodge): 1988

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1897 (50th Anniversary)
  • 1946 (Centenary)
  • 1971 (125th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1858 1864 1870 1871 1878 1879 1889 1908 1909 1913 1914 1919 1921 1923 1925 1927 1930 1932 1938 1944 1949 1950 1952 1956 1959 1967 1969 1971 1976 1979 1982

HISTORY

  • 1946 (Centenary History, 1946-105; see below)
  • 1971 (125th Anniversary History, 1971-94)

CENTENARY HISTORY, APRIL 1946

From Proceedings, Page 1946-105:

The first fifty years written by Worshipful Arthur O. Odegard.
The last fifty years by Worshipful Frank E. Howard.

Saint Paul's Lodge had its inception at a very favorable time. The anti-Masonic period, 1826 to 1845, had come to a close. Fanaticism had spent its force and failed. During this twenty-year period, only two Lodges had been chartered in Massachusetts. Saint Paul's Lodge was the third to be chartered following this unfortunate situation.

The country as a whole, and South Boston in particular, was on the threshold of great industrial developments. Great inventions were soon to come, such as the sewing machine, the first steam railroads, the Gold Rush in California; these to be followed by typewriter, telephone and electric lights. South Boston in 1846 was commercially well established and its citizens were of the more substantial type.

Brother Charles Henry White is the one individual responsible for Saint Paul's Lodge. Receiving encouragement from several of his intimates, he approached the Reverend Eleazer M. P. Wells, the Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and a prominent Episcopal minister. At his suggestion, a meeting was held in South Boston of those interested, at which a petition was signed by Brother Wells and eight others and presented to the Grand Lodge. In answer to this request, a dispensation was granted on March 10, 1846, and from the date of dispensation, the age of a Lodge is established.

At the first regular meeting under dispensation, the following officers were elected: Rev. Eleazer M. P. Wells, Worshipful Master, Lemuel M. Barker, Senior Warden and Jacob Page, Junior Warden.

Brother Charles White had previously suggested that the Lodge be named Saint Paul's, and this was incorporated in the dispensation.

The first Tuesday of the month was chosen for the regular meetings, and this date has been retained to this day.

Charles Henry White was the first candidate raised in the Lodge, and was for thirty-six years its outstanding character. As Master of the Lodge, he served longer than any Master in its history. For eighteen years he installed its officers. He was a leading figure in the various Masonic bodies and one of our four thirty-third degree Masons.

The early meetings of the Lodge were held in Brooks Hall, Broadway, between D and E Streets, where, under flickering oil lamps, our early candidates were received. Then for six years we met in Mt. Washington Hall at lower Broadway. Here our Charter was received.

During this decade our sister Lodges came into being; Gate of the Temple in 1855, Adelphi in 1866 and Rabboni in 1870; also St. Matthew's Chapter in 1864 and St. Omer Commandery in 1865.

With these growing organizations, it was found necessary in 1866 to again move and this time to Lyceum Hall, Broadway at E Street. This building was soon thereafter purchased by the South Boston Savings Bank and completely remodelled, becoming our present apartments. Here we have met continuously for seventy-four years.

We had now seen the end of the Civil War of 1861-65. Little is found in our records as to the War's effect on the Lodge. We do know that one member, Albert H. Heselton, was lost in action and it is recorded "that the dues of members in the Army and Navy be remitted."

In our recording of the several meeting places of the Lodge, mention should have been made of an ambitious effort to own a building of our own. Subscriptions were received and sufficient funds raised to purchase the old building of St. Matthew's Church on Broadway, but difficulties were encountered in disposing of the bodies of those buried under the Church, and the whole project was abandoned in 1866.

After some years' discussion, it was voted in 1893 that on receiving his degrees a candidate would become a member on signing the by-laws. Previously a candidate was admitted to membership only on a further application and acceptance by the Lodge. Early Masonic practice was only the conferring of degrees on candidates who often were never affiliated with a Lodge.

The year of 1900 became memorable because of the elevation to the high office of Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts of one of Saint Paul's most distinguished Past Masters — Charles T. Gallagher. During his life he remained a faithful and devoted member. His honors were many — as a thirty-third degree Mason; as a leader of the Massachusetts Bar; Legislator and Trustee of the Benjamin Franklin Fund. His portrait has ever since adorned our lodge-room — its duplicate, by the same artist, hanging in the Grand Lodge.

From 1894 to 1904, a period of ten years, the Lodge had the misfortune to lose by death three of its presiding Masters — Wor. Benjamin O. Dana in 1894, Wor. Frederick D. Pierce in 1899 and Wor. Alden B. Johnson in 1904.

At the opening of the Masonic Home at Charlton, the Lodge showed its interest by substantial contributions and in the furnishing of a room.

In February 1916, the Lodge instituted an annual memorial service to George Washington, the Mason. These affairs attracted large gatherings of Masons and local residents and continued for ten or more years. On several occasions, regular Masonic processions were formed and marched from lodge-room to church — a demonstration rarely witnessed in these days. These meetings were addressed by several of our Grand Masters, Grand Chaplains and other notable members of the Craft.

The outbreak of World War I deeply affected the life of Saint Paul's. For a considerable period before the war the Lodge had drawn from the U. S. Navy for candidates, so from the beginning, its effect on its membership was evident.

During hostilities, the Lodge lost one member and one of its candidates. We now recall that the Lodge met on that memor- able day when the drawing was made of the first nation-wide draft. Our Service men returned to us, in several instances as highly decorated veterans.

In these days of financial drives, it is worthy of note that Saint Paul's Lodge during World War I contributed through its members the sum of $2081.00 for Masonic War relief.

The birth of Masonry was not forgotten, for June 24, 1917, by a general request of the Grand Lodge, Saint Paul's Lodge gathered at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in South Boston, where a suitable address was given by Rev. Ralph M. Davis.

Perhaps the only recorded omission of a regular meeting occurred during World War I when our October meeting was omitted by request of the authorities and of the Grand Lodge, on account of the terrible epidemic of influenza that caused the death of thousands.

During the years of 1919 to 1925, the Lodge reached its peak in membership. In 1925, we reached the total of 453 members. In number raised during single years, we find that in 1864 there were 43 candidates; in 1919, 36; and in 1921, 39. Most interesting to note is a statement of the Master in 1928, that out of a membership of 443, 145 were born on foreign soil, as follows:

  • Albania 2
  • Armenia 3
  • Austria 1
  • British 51
  • Canada 48
  • Finland 1
  • Germany 2
  • Greece 3
  • Holland 1
  • Lithuania 1
  • Norway 4
  • Russia 3
  • So. Africa 1
  • Sweden 23
  • Syria 1

Another statement by Worshipful Arthur O. Odegard in 1939 is also of interest concerning the residential distribution of the membership. Out of a membership of 309, 45 lived in Dorchester; 26 in South Boston; 22 in Boston proper and the remainder in surrounding suburbs and distant localities.

On April 1, 1930, Worshipful Wm. P. Stone, one of our consistently faithful Past Masters, was presented his fifty year Veteran's Medal. In response, he presented the Lodge a copy of a Lodge notice issued by him in 1888 (42 years previous) and signed by Brother Frank S. Pierce as Secretary. Brother Pierce was then escorted to the East and received an ovation. In the midst of our present festivities and outward signs of prosperity we can look back with a sense of relief from the troubled years of a depression that made the whole world tremble and organized societies to fight for existence. Saint Paul's Lodge lost scores of its members, and in one year alone, 55 members asked to have their dues remitted. Since then, we have re-established our position and have whole-heartedly entered upon the real duties expected of a Masonic Lodge. If we succeed in the future, we must acknowledge much to the faithfulness, sacrifice and patience of those who appear to us now as outstanding examples of true Masons.

Many honors have come to our members, namely:

Also honored are our living fifty-year members, all wearing the Grand Lodge Medal.

  • Frank S. Pierce (56 years and Secretary 1887-1892)
  • Frank W. Parsons
  • Robert A. Neale
  • William H. Rule
  • Cyrus K. Small
  • George W. Symes
  • George W. Smith

We anticipate the pleasure of greeting most of these at this anniversary.

And what of other anniversaries? On March 29, 1872, the Lodge observed its Quarter Centennial by a banquet at the Old American House, when 223 attended. The event cost $1400.00, of which $813 was raised by subscription. After the dinner, they took carriages to the Masonic Temple on Tremont Street, near Park Street, then recently dedicated. There the general ceremonies took place.

The Fiftieth observance in 1897 was also a gala occasion. The event was celebrated in the Lodge apartments. Most Worshipful Charles C. Hutchinson, with the Grand Secretary, Right Worshipful Sereno D. Nickerson, were in attendance. Addresses were made by the Most Worshipful Grand Master and Right Worshipful W. H. H. Soule, as well as by the Grand Lodge representatives. A full record of this anniversary observance was published in book form and has become a part of our records.

A public installation of officers was held in September, 1929, the first in twenty-five years, and since that date, that custom has become established. During the first fifty years, public installations were frequently held, but gradually the practice was dropped. Most Worshipful Melvin M. Johnson visited the Lodge in September, 1933, and installed Worshipful Clayton M. Gould, the interesting feature being the fact that he was the first DeMolay boy to be made a Master of a Lodge in Massachusetts. In looking back through the years, we are thankful for the generous gifts that have been bestowed on us.

Our earliest donor was Brother George Smith, who left a bequest of $5,000 for the benefit of members' widows and orphans, and this fund is now known as the George Smith Fund, from which thousands of dollars through the years have been expended in worthy cases.

Our other outstanding gift was made by Brother Edward H. Delano, who left us about $9,000.

We must not forget a less spectacular gift, but one that has become a valued relic. We refer to our Bible that since it was presented to the Lodge by Brother George E. Tyler, a Charter Member, on March 3, 1846, has been in constant use for a century. World War II has not as yet become history, for we have members still to return. It is notable that fourteen per cent of our membership has served under the colors, there being 33 on our Honor Roll. In addition, there have been 38 of our sons in whom we have been proudly interested. It is with sorrow that we record that one has made the supreme sacrifice. In common with other Lodges, Saint Paul's has shown itself helpful to our transient service men and has sponsored a service men's Masonic Club for instruction and social purposes.

We are now assembled within these walls, hallowed by 74 years of Masonic usage, and as we think of the hundreds of Masons who have entered through these same doors, we pause in awe of the responsibility put upon us and our successors. We realize that all history is but the actions of the moment as they affect the future.

So may our lives and actions ever be acceptable in the sight of God and our successors in Saint Paul's Lodge.

OTHER

  • 1959 (Petition to remove to Braintree granted, 1959-178)

EVENTS

INSTALLATION, DECEMBER 1872

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXXII, No. 1, January 1873, Page 32:

St. Paul's Lodge, South Boston.— This Lodge held its annual communication at the new Masonic Hall, Broadway, on Friday, the 27th, when its officers for the current year were elected and installed. The ceremonies of installation were performed by Worshipful Fast Master Charles H. White, in his usual happy and impressive manner, assisted by Brother John M. Clark as Marshal. After the ceremonies, the brethren repaired to the banquet hall, and spent a social hour in partaking of the bountiful repast set before them. The occasion was one of pleasure to all present.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

DISTRICTS

1846: District 1

1849: District 1

1867: District 3 (Boston Highlands)

1883: District 4 (South Boston)

1911: District 4 (South Boston)

1927: District 4 (South Boston)

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges

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