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THE TYRIAN LODGE

Location: Gloucester

Chartered By: Joseph Warren

Charter Date: 03/02/1770 I-228

Precedence Date: 03/02/1770

Current Status: merged with Acacia Lodge to form The Tyrian-Acacia Lodge, 10/23/2003.

NOTES

CORRESPONDENCE, OCTOBER 1859

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XIX, No. 1, October 1859, Page 17:

We noticed last month the complaint of the Grand Lodge of California in relation to the initiation by Tyrian Lodge, at Gloucester, in this State, of a resident of the former State, contrary to the regulations of our own Grand Lodge, and of that comity which ought ever to mark the intercourse of Masonic bodies with each other. We have great satisfaction now inlaying before our readers the following explanation of the matter by the Master of Tyrian Lodge, and do not doubt that it will be favorably received by our Brethren in California:—

Gloucester, Oct. 14th, 1850.

Joseph S. Friend is a native of Gloucester, descended from a highly respectable family, and has always maintained an honorable reputation, which would entitle him to the honors of Masonry, whether conferred in this State or in any other State of the Union. He left Gloucester about seven years ago; since which time actual personal correspondence with those who have seen him and know him well, has been maintained. He has through his father, since he has been absent, paid taxes upon his real estate in Gloucester. To each and every member of Tyrian Lodge he was well known and respected. He returned from California to Gloucester last summer; he made his application at Tyrian Lodge as a resident of Gloucester, doubtless without knowledge on his part as to the regulations of the Craft. And with full knowledge as to the character and position of the man, violating perhaps the letter but not the spirit of the law, which, if I understand it, means, that a man should be made where he is best known,* Tyrian Lodge accepted his application and conferred the degrees of Masonry upon him. If this was an error it was done in good faith, because Tyrian Lodge knows too much of the kindness of the Lodges of California to doubt for one instant the fraternal feeling that exists among the brotherhood there.

We have to day in Gloucester what was once a poor forlorn and destitute orphan, who has been returned toils friends from California by the influence of Masonic charity. With this and other exhibitions of the true Masonic charity which has ever characterized the Lodges of California, it would be wrong in me for one moment to distrust the criticism of the Grand Lodge ot California, and I would therefore say, that Tyrian Lodge if it has committed an error in this respect is willing to tender to the Grand Lodge of California all fees received for the initiation, crafting, and raising, of J. S. Friend, and can cordially recommend him to the Craft, from actual and personal knowledge, as a man worthy of any honors which Masonry can confer upon him.

Yours, truly,
Fitz J. Babson, W. M. of Tyrian Lodge.

CORRESPONDENCE, MARCH 1863

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXII, No. 7, May 1863, Page 215:

Gloucester, Mass., March 23, 1863.

Br. Moore — Brother De Vries was shipwrecked on the coast of West Australia, in the Summer of last year, and as a slight appreciation of our gratitude toward the Brethren of Lodge of St John, No. 712, of Perth, West Australia, the following Resolutions were forwarded, and answer received. By a vote of Tyrian Lodge I am requested to forward them to you for publication in your Magazine.

Yours, Fraternally, Francis Proctor, Sec.

We, the undersigned, a Committee appointed by Tyrian Lodge of A. F. and A. Masons, at a meeting held at Gloucester, State of Massachusetts, U. S. A., on Tuesday evening, Aug. 15th, 1862, for the purpose of expressing the grateful appreciation of this Lodge for the important services rendered by the Master, Wardens and Brethren of Lodge of St. John, No. 712, West Australia, to our Brother Jacob De Vries, at the time of his shipwreck on a foreign shore, be it therefore

• Resolved, That the thanks of this Lodge be, and are hereby tendered to the Master, Wardens and Brethren of the Lodge of St. John, No, 712, West Australia, for the charitable disposition and warm hearted benevolence bestowed on Brother Jacob De Vries, immediately after being shipwrecked (some months since) on the coast of Australia.
• Resolved, That the excellent qualities which .adorn the Officers and Brethren of the Lodge of St. John, as men and as Masons, they sre endeared to us, and we shall ever hold them in grateful remembrance.
• Resolved, That a copy of these Resolutions, signed by the Master and Wardens, under the seal of this Lodge, be transmitted to the Officers and Brethren of the Lodge of St. John, No. 712, of West Australia.

Signed,
John S. Webber,
S. S. Day,
Joseph Dane
Committee.

The foregoing Resolutions, signed by A. J. Center, W. M., John Loyd, S. W, Joseph Dann, J. W., and signed under seal by Francis Proctor, Secretary of Tyrian Lodge, were duly forwarded to Lodge of St. John, Perth, W. Australia, and the following acknowledgment of them has been received:—

Perth, West Australia,
24th Nov., A. L. 5862.

To the Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren of Tyrian Lodge, Gloucester, State of Mass., United States of America—

W. Master and Brethren — I am directed by the Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren of the Lodge of St. John, No. 712, to acknowledge the receipt of the Resolutions adopted by Tyrian Lodge on the 18th of August last, conveying the thanks of the Lodge for the assistance rendered to. Brother De Vries on the occasion of his being shipwrecked on our coast last year.

It Is with feelings of pleasure, that our Lodge and our Masonic Brethren in the Colony notice your appreciation of those services rendered to Bro. De Vries, and we thank you for the expressions of your remembrance of our assistance to oar Brother, conveyed in those Resolutions.

Although we deeply sympathized with the misfortunes of Bro. De Vries, we were but too happy in exemplifying the distinguishing characteristics of a Freemason's heart, "Charity to the poor and penniless," and it will ever be to us a source of grateful remembrance, that we, in a slight measure, contributed to the relief of a distressed Brother.

Your Resolutions hare been duly recorded on our books, and wishing your Lodge, and yourselves individually, every prosperity, believe me, Tours, Fraternally,

I F. Stone, Sec. of Lodge of St. John, No. 712.

HISTORICAL INFORMATION, OCTOBER 1865

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXIV, No. 12, October, 1865, Page 366:

Tyrian Lodge, of Gloucester, is one of the oldest Lodges of Freemasons in the county, having been instituted, May 9th, 1770. Its Charter bears the signature of General Joseph Warren, of Bunker Hill fame, then Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Continent of America, and was granted to the following petitioners:—Philip Marnett, Andrew F. Phillips, Andrew Giddings, David Parker, John Fletcher, George Brown, Barnett Harkin, Epes Sargent, Jr. The first meeting of this Lodge was held at the dwelling house of the Widow Sargent, when its organization was perfected. The first list of officers was as follows : —

• Barnett Harkin, W. M.
• George Brown, S. W.
• John Fletcher, J. W.
• Eben Parsons, Treas.
• Epes Sargent, Jr., Secy.

List of Masters; added to section below

During the earlier years of the Lodge its meetings were held at private dwelling houses. Thus, it met at the house of James Prentice from 1770 to 79; house of Andrew Sargent, 1779—81; house of David Plummer, 1781—4; house of Philemon Haskell, 1784—90; house of Nath'l Sargent, 1790—4. In 1794 and 1795, it held its meetings at the Proprietors' School House, (still standing on School street, and occupied as a tenement house,) for which it paid a rental of £3 12s per annum; from 1795 to 1800 it met again at the house of Nathaniel Sargent, and from 1800 to 1805 at the hall of Jonathan Low. In 1805 and 1806 the meetings were again held in Proprietors' School House, and from 1806 to 1834 in Roger's Hall, occupying the present site of James' stable. In 1834, during the great Morgan excitement, the meetings were discontinued, and by vote of the Lodge the Charter was surrendered, but in 1843 it was restored to the Lodge, together with its Records and other property. Its meetings in 1843 and 1844, were held at the Engine house on Church street, afterwards at the Orthodox vestry, again at the Proprietors' School House, and then at Franklin Hall on Front street. From here it moved to Stacy's (since Odd Fellows') Hall, where the meetings were held until it moved into the handsome hall fitted up in Burnham's Building, which was burned in the great fire of 1864. It then met at Odd Fellows' Hall again until the completion of its present elegant hall. The Lodge has numbered among its members many of the prominent men of the town, aud is still a flourishing organization. Since its institution over four hundred persons have been made Masons, or raised, most of whom have been members of the Lodge, and thirty-six persons made members in other Lodges have been admitted to membership. As we have before intimated the influence of the war has been to increase the number of Masons, and this Lodge has apprenticed and raised sixty-six persons since the first of January, 1861.

Tyrian Lodge now numbers one hundred and twenty members. The following is a list of its present officers:—

• John Lloyd, W. M.
• Henry Center, S. W.
• Cyrus Story, J. W.
• S. S. Day, Treas.
• Robert R. Fears, Secy.
• George B. Honnors, S. D.
• E. L. Rowe, J. D.
• John P. Honnors, Tyler.

— Gloucester Telegraph

PRESENTATION, DECEMBER 1867

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXVII, No. 5, March 1868, Page 159:

Tyrian Lodge. — Presentation. — We learn from the Gloucester Advertiser that, on the evening of the 31st Dec, the Brethren of Tyrian Lodge, Gloucester, presented their excellent W. Master, Bro. Wm. Babson, with a rich and elegant silver TEA Service. The presentation was made by W. M. Fitz J. Babson, of Acacia Lodge, who briefly stated that the gift was purchased with funds contributed by the brethren, as a testimonial of their esteem and appreciation of the assiduity with which the Worshipful Master had performed the duties incumbent upon the office. The affair had been kept a profound secret by the donors, and the recipient was taken completely by surprise — so much so that he could scarcely control his emotions. In words befitting the time and occasion, he accepted the beautiful testimonial, remarking that he should ever consider it the proudest moment of his life, and trusted that he would ever merit the confidence of the Craft. At the conclusion of the meeting, the brethren adjourned to Logan & Co.'s saloon, where an Oyster supper was partaken of, and an hour spent in a most social and truly fraternal manner.

PAST MASTERS

YEARS

1770 1771 1772 1773 1774 1775 1776 1777 1778 1779 1780 1781 1782 1783 1784 1785 1786 1787 1788 1789 1790 1791 1795 1797 1804 1814 1819 1820 1821 1834 1835

charter vacated 1834; restored 1843 In the Pringle History in 1920 Proceedings, the Lodge was reported as returning the Charter to Grand Lodge "for safekeeping" on February 13, 1834.

1843 1844 1865 1881 1884 1886 1891 1892 1895 1901 1907 1909 1910 1911 1912 1913 1916 1918 1919 1920 1921 1926 1927 1930 1935 1942 1945 1956 1957 1959 1960 1970 1975 1976 1980 1982 1985 1986 1988 1989 1991 1992 1996 2003

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• William Babson, Senior Grand Warden 1882
• M. Don Betts, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1962, 1963; SN
• Addison G. Brooks, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1926; District 9 (Gloucester), 1927; Senior Grand Warden 1933
• William Ferson, DDGM, District 2, 1850-1851; Senior Grand Warden 1852
• Weston U. Friend, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1950, 1951; N
• Ronald J. Gerring, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1986, 1987
• John S. Johnson, DDGM, District 2, 1853-1856; SN
• Stephen E. Linsky, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 2002; District 10, 2003
• Harold S. Maddocks, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1938, 1939; N
• William Emerson Parsons, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1916, 1917; Memorial
• William H. Rider, DDGM, District 9 (Newburyport), 1903, 1904; Grand Chaplain 1902-1909; Deputy Grand Master 1910
• Sumner G. Ropper, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1974, 1975; N
• Isaac A.S. Steele, DDGM, District 9 (Newburyport), 1895; Memorial
• Herbert C. Taft, DDGM, District 9 (Newburyport), 1890, 1891; Memorial

DISTRICTS

1803: District 2 (Newburyport and North Shore)

1821: District 2

1835: District 2

1849: District 2

1867: District 5 (Salem)

1883: District 9 (Newburyport)

1911: District 9 (Gloucester)

1927: District 9 (Gloucester)

2003: District 10

LINKS

Tyrian-Ashler-Acacia Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges