Difference between revisions of "MassachusettsYear1912"

Revision as of 12:45, 31 October 2011

1912

EVERETT CHAMBERLIN BENTON, Grand Master

Albert F. Dow, Deputy Grand Master
Harry P. Ballard, Senior Grand Warden
Herbert F. French, Junior Grand Warden

A portrait of Recording Secretary Thomas W. Davis appears on the Frontispiece.

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATIONS

(held at Masonic Temple, Boston)

• 03/13: 1912-11;
• 06/12: 1912-84;
• 09/11: 1912-115;
• 12/11: 1912-160; (Annual Communication)

03/13 Agenda

• 1912-23: Installation of Grand Lodge officers not present at the 1911 Feast of St. John.
• 1912-36; Report of committee on the jurisdiction of Hyde Park Lodge. The difficulty arose due to the annexation of Hyde Park to the city of Boston in 1912. It was concluded that Hyde Park Lodge retained its former jurisdiction, and that the various Boston Lodges did not have jurisdiction within Hyde Park.
• 1912-47ff: Report of the Board of Masonic Relief. List of contributing lodges (and the activities of the Women's Auxiliary, specifying the names of the ladies who contributed; the wife of the Grand Master was an active chair of this organization.
• 1912-57: Report on recognition of the Grand Lodge of Italy, originally requested in March 1910; committee advised against it because "it is well known that there are rival grand bodies existing in the Kingdom of Italy, each claiming to be supreme and each holding that the other is illegal and is not worthy of recognition."

06/12 Agenda

• 1912-93: Exchange of greetings with the Grand Lodge of Vermont, then in session.
• 1912-100: Report of Grand Charity Fund, with a vote to add accrued income to the principal of the fund.
• 1912-104ff: Address by Past Grand Master Charles T. Gallagher on John Paul Jones.
  • A facsimile of Jones' application for the degrees appears opposite Page 1912-106; a picture of the statue of Jones in Potomac Park in Washington, D.C. appears opposite Page 1912-110; his arms are reproduced opposite Page 1912-112.

09/11 Agenda

• 1912-129: Informal report of the Board of Masonic Relief.
• 1912-130: Correspondence from Past Master Gallagher, regarding an unusual find in Boston:

"Yesterday the workmen engaged in excavating for the foundation fo the extension of the City Hall on Court Street in this city found at the northeast corner . . . the corner-stone . . . with the metal box placed therein at the time it was laid in 1833. . . At the time of the demolition of the old building some months ago, Mayor Fitzgerald inquired of me concerning the location and circumstances of laying the corner-stone, as the newspapers of the time stated it had been laid with Masonic ceremonies. I examined our Grand Lodge records . . . but found no written record of any organization for the purpose . . the date of the ceremony was September 28, 1833." Though there is no record in the Proceedings, the letter details the Masonic membership of nearly every person named on the plate found in the corner-stone.

12/11 Agenda

President and Brother William Howard Taft

• Recorded in Grand Master Benton's address, beginning on page 1912-178:
  • Anniversaries:
    • Converse, Malden (01/11; 25th Anniversary)
    • Tuscan, Lawrence (03/02; 50th Anniversary)
    • St. John's #4, Hartford, CT (03/20; 150th Anniversary; lodge received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts)
    • Portland #1, Portland, ME (03/21; 150th Anniversary; lodge received its charter from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts)
    • Winthrop, Winthrop (03/29; 25th Anniversary; held in Boston)
    • Jerusalem, Northampton (05/14; 150th Anniversary)
  • Corner-stone Layings and Hall Dedications:
    • Chelsea, corner-stone of a Masonic Temple (01/18; Special Communication)
    • Nahant; corner-stone laying for Town Hall (04/18; Special Communication)
    • Melrose; corner-stone laying for Soldiers' and Sailors' Building (05/30; Special Communication)
    • Pittsfield; corner-stone of a Masonic Temple (10/10; Special Communication)
    • Medford; corner-stone laying of Methodist Church. (11/10; Special Communication)
  • Lodges constituted, officers installed:
    • Indian Orchard, Springfield (05/23)
    • Shawmut, Boston (09/26)
  • Visits:
    • Mount Lebanon, Boston (12/29/1911)
    • Essex, Salem (01/02)
    • Belmont, Belmont (01/04)
    • Amicable, Cambridge (01/04)
    • Columbian, Boston (01/04; Ladies' Night)
    • Germania, Boston (01/22; Ladies' Night)
    • St. John's (Boston) (01/29; Ladies' Night)
    • Joseph Warren, Boston (02/27; Ladies' Night)
    • Hiram, Arlington (02/29)
    • The Tyrian, Gloucester (03/02)
    • Fraternity, Newtonville (03/15)
    • Aberdour, Boston (03/15)
    • Washington, Roxbury (03/18)
    • Hampden, Springfield (03/19)
    • Joseph Webb, Boston (03/22)
    • Lafayette (Roxbury) (04/10; Ladies' Night)
    • Soley, Somerville (04/15)
    • Meridian, Natick (04/19)
    • Sylvan Grove #275, New York City; Grand Master of New York present (04/25)
    • Paul Revere, Brockton (04/30)
    • United Brethren, Marlborough (05/01)
    • Bethesda (Brighton) (05/07)
    • Pythagorean, Marion (05/17)
    • Henry Price, Charlestown (05/22)
    • Robert Lash, Chelsea (05/22)
    • Wyoming, Melrose (05/30)
    • Occidental, Stockbridge (06/08)
    • Evening Star, Lee (06/08)
    • Wisdom, West Stockbridge (06/08)
    • Cincinnatus, Great Barrington (06/08)
    • King Solomon's, Somerville (06/14)
    • Corinthian, Concord (06/24)
    • Alpha, South Framingham (06/26)
    • Pioneer, Somerset (07/17)
    • Noquochoke, Westport (07/17)
    • Liberty, Beverly (09/30; with President Taft in attendance)
    • Mystic, Pittsfield (10/10)
    • Crescent, Pittsfield (10/10)
    • Paul Dean, North Easton (10/30)
    • Union (Dorchester) (11/12; installation; 50th installation of Bro. Benjamin C. Bird as Tyler)
    • Dorchester U.D., Dorchester (12/05)
    • Mount Lebanon, Boston (12/09)
• 1912-213: Report of Auditing Committee.
• 1912-214: Re-election of Grand Master Benton. Election of other Grand Officers.
• 1912-216: Report of committee on jurisdiction of Meridian Lodge, in conflict with Norfolk Lodge, over a candidate from Wellesley (separated from Needham in June 1911). Recommended that a committee be created to investigate, report and recommend on the jurisdiction of lodges, particularly due to the dispensation granted for a lodge in Wellesley.
• 1912-220: Report of the Board of Masonic Relief, including a tabular presentation of the Masonic Home Maintenance Fund, beginning on Page 1912-226 and the Women's Auxiliary.
• 1912-245: Aid to lodges in Salonika voted.

Grand Constitutions Amendment Proposals

• 03/13: 1912-59; Proposed amendment to Part 4, Article 1, Section 10 to require a $5 contribution from each initiate for the support and maintenance of the Masonic Home. Referred.
  • 06/12: 1912-103; approved 198-85; a roll-call of lodges was ordered, and the amendment was approved 351-153.

• 06/12: 1912-113; Proposed amendment to Part 1, Article 8, Section 11, to increase the number of Grand Chaplains from 2 to 4. Referred.
  • 09/11: 1912-126; Adopted.

Grand Master's Address

• 03/13: 1912-23; Opening remarks; necrology; greetings to and correspondence with the Duke of Connaught, Grand Master of England, then visiting in Canada.

• 06/12: 1912-95; Opening remarks; necrology.

• 09/11: 1912-122; Opening remarks; dispensations; charter for Shawmut Lodge; new DDGM for the 19th District; Masonic Home; necrology.

• 12/11: 1912-173; Opening remarks. "Our Fraternity in this Commonwealth renders the ritual with commendable accuracy, adds yearly to its membership, and maintains an honored position in the great Masonic family. But I long to see a greater enthusiasm in the exemplification of its principles, a more exact conformity to its professed virtues, and a greater desire to extend the beneficent aims of our Institition." Necrology; visits; dispensations; growth of the membership (now in excess of 63,000, and expansion into the Canal Zone); Temple improvements; ciphers again forbidden; Masonic Home; report of the Board of Directors; Charity; visit of the President to Liberty Lodge; visit to the senior Past Grand Master; Chile and China; foreign relations; request by lodges in Turkey for assistance; correspondence with the Grand Master of England and the visit of a delegation to Canada; conclusion.
  • 12/11: 1912-249; Parts of the address concerning China and Chile to be referred to a committee.

Lodge By-Law Changes

• 03/13: 1912-55;
  • Full Codes : Brigham, Mechanic's, Mount Holyoke; approved with changes.
  • Amendments: Boylston, Essex, Ionic (Taunton), Joseph Webb, The Massachusetts, Morning Sun, Mount Tom, Oriental, Pacific, Philanthropic, Putnam, Rabboni, St. Alban's, Union (Dorchester), William Whiting; approved.

"The Committee desire to call the attention of the Masters and Secretaries of Lodges to the following and request that the same be fully observed:

"By-Laws submitted to the Grand Lodge for approval should be accompanied by a certificate from the Secretary of the Lodge, under seal, that the regulations relating to the adoption of By-Laws have been complied with and further that no By-Law should be entered in the Book of By-Laws before being submitted for approval."

• 06/12: 1912-101;
  • Full Codes : Bethesda (Brighton), Rising Star; approved with changes.
  • Amendments: Bay State, Belcher, Charity, George H. Taber, Golden Fleece, Hampden, Howard, Huntington, Jerusalem, The Massachusetts, Orient, Soley, William Whiting, approved without change; Converse, Orient, Orphan's Hope, approved with changes.

• 09/11: 1912-127;
  • Full Codes : Delta, Mount Lebanon; approved.
  • Amendments: Brigham, Caleb Butler, Eureka, Golden Fleece, Golden Rule, Howard, King Hiram's, The Massachusetts, Montgomery, Mount Moriah, Mount Tabor, Mount Tom, Narragansett, Orange, Pilgrim, Pioneer, Saggahew, Thomas Talbot, Unity, Warren; approved without change; Charles A. Welch, Mount Hope, Orient, Pacific, St. James, Union (Dorchester), Wilder, approved with changes.

• 12/11: 1912-245;
  • Full Codes : Cochichewick, Fraternal, Sojourners; approved with necessary changes.
  • Amendments: Acacia, Ancient York, Aurora, Bay State, Charles River, Charles W. Moore, Chicopee, Constellation, Corinthian, Damascus, Day Spring, Eliot, Esoteric, Fellowship, Fraternity, Friendship, George H. Taber, Germania, Grecian, Henry Price, Hiram, Hope, Ionic (Easthampton), John Abbot, Joseph Webb, Konohassett, Lafayette (Roxbury), Liberty, Marine, The Massachusetts, Merrimack, Mizpah, Monitor, Mount Carmel, Mount Hollis, Mount Horeb (West Harwich), Mount Horeb (Woburn), Mount Moriah, Mystic, Norfolk, Occidental, Olive Branch, Orphan's Hope, Paul Revere, Pentucket, Philanthropic, Plymouth, Quinsigamond, St. Alban's, St. John's (Newburyport), St. Matthew's, Satucket, Siloam, Solomon's Temple, Springfield, Star in the East, Temple, The Tyrian, William North, William Parkman; approved; Adelphi, Artisan, Bethel, Blackstone River, Good Samaritan, Rabboni; approved with changes.

Necrologies and Memorials

• 03/13: 1912-24; Death of Rt. Wor. Franklin E. Snow, Past Junior Grand Warden; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.
  • 03/13: 1912-32; Memorial, presented by Rt. Wor. George W. Bishop, for the committee.

• 03/13: 1912-24; Death of Rt. Wor. James Downs, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.

• 03/13: 1912-24; Death of Wor. Herbert F. Morse, Past Grand Commander; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.

• 03/13: 1912-24; Death of Rt. Wor. Horace G. Hudson, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.

• 03/13: 1912-25; Death of Wor. Theodore C. Bates, Past Recording Grand Secretary, a "captain of industry" and past state legislator; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.

• 03/13: 1912-26; Death of Rt. Wor. George H. Munroe, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.

• 06/12: 1912-96; Death of Rt. Wor. Edward C. Martin, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.

• 06/12: 1912-98; Memorial for Rt. Wor. Edward F. Smith, Past Senior Grand Warden; presented by committee.

• 09/11: 1912-123; Death of Rt. Wor. Thomas S. Spurr, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.

• 09/11: 1912-124; Death of Bro. Howard M. Dow, former Grand Lodge Organist; mentioned in the Grand Master's Address.

• 12/11: 1912-175; Death of Rt. Wor. Edward J. Sartelle, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in the Grand Masters Address.

• 12/11: 1912-176; Death of Rt. Wor. Charles W. Bunker, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in the Grand Masters Address.

• 12/11: 1912-177; Death of Rt. Wor. Albert W. Danforth, Past District Deputy Grand Master for China; mentioned in the Grand Masters Address.

Petitions for Charters

• 03/13: 1912-56; Indian Orchard U.D., Springfield; granted.
• 12/11: 1912-249; Sojourners, Cristobal, Canal Zone; granted.

• 09/11: 1912-129; Shawmut U.D., Boston; granted.

Petition for Dispensation for Lodges

• 09/11: 1911-122; Recorded in Grand Master Benton's address:
  • Sojourners, Cristobal, Canal Zone (02/07)
  • Mount Sugar Loaf, South Deerfield (08/26)

• 12/11: 1911-183; Recorded in Grand Master Benton's address:
  • Rufus Putnam, Rutland (05/04)
  • Wellesley, Wellesley (05/28)
  • Dorchester, Dorchester (06/06)
  • Somerville, West Somerville (12/07)

SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS

• 01/18: 1912-1. Chelsea. Dedication of a Masonic Hall.
  • 1912-2: Opening of Grand Lodge (by Deputy Grand Master Albert F. Dow prior to the arrival of the Grand Master.)
  • 1912-3: Reception of Grand Lodge by members of Star of Bethlehem and Robert Lash Lodges.
  • 1912-3: Order of Exercises.
  • 1912-3: Dedication of the Temple to Freemasonry, Virtue and Universal Benevolence.
  • 1912-4: Presentation of the Colors by Rt. Wor. Charles A. Estey, District Deputy Grand Master.
  • 1912-4: Address by Wor. and Rev. R. Perry Bush.
  • 1912-10: An "excellent repast" in the Banquet Hall, followed by remarks by the Grand Master and various Brothers.

• 04/18: 1912-62. Nahant. Laying of a corner-stone of the Town Hall.
  • 1912-63: Opening of Grand Lodge in the old town hall. Procession to building site with the escort of Mount Carmel, Golden Fleece and Damascus Lodges.
  • 1912-63: Order of exercises. Corner-stone ceremony.
  • 1912-65: Address by Rt. Wor. Thomas W. Davis, Recording Grand Secretary.
  • 1912-69: Contents of corner-stone box.

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Hotel Kimball, Springfield

• 05/23: 1912-71. Springfield. Constitution of Indian Orchard Lodge.
  • 1912-72. Opening of Grand Lodge.
  • 1912-72: Procession into the Lodge room "where the Brethren of the new Lodge and upwards of one hundred visitors" were present.
  • 1912-73: Constitution ceremony and installation of officers. The Grand Master presented the incoming Master, Wor. George W. Miller, with a gavel made from a cedar of Mount Lebanon. The Revere Charge was read.
  • 1912-74: Supper at the Hotel Kimball; the conveyance to Indian Orchard was by rail, in the special car "Rockrimmon".
  • 1912-74: Organization of lodge for 1912.

• 05/30: 1912-76. Melrose. Laying of the corner-stone of a Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Building.
  • 1912-77: Opening of Grand Lodge at the Masonic Temple; welcome by a committee from Wyoming Lodge and its Master, Wor. Frederick T. Grant.
  • 1912-77: Procession to building site, escorted by members of Hugh de Payens Commandery "in full Templar uniform", and other bodies.
  • 1912-78: Order of Exercises.
  • 1912-82: Contents of corner-stone box.

• 09/26: 1912-135. Boston. Constitution of Shawmut Lodge.
  • 1912-136. Opening of Grand Lodge.
  • 1912-72: Procession into Corinthian Hall, where the Brethren of the new lodge were present.
  • 1912-73: Constitution ceremony and installation of officers. The Revere Charge was read.

• 10/10: 1912-139. Pittsfield. Laying of corner-stone for a Masonic Temple.
  • 1912-139: Opening of Grand Lodge at the Masonic Apartments in Central Block.
  • 1912-140: Procession with the escort of Mystic and Crescent Lodges to the site of the new building.
  • 1912-140: Order of Exercises.
  • 1912-141: Address by Rt. Wor. Clarence A. Brodeur.
  • 1912-150: Contents of corner-stone box.

• 04/18: 1912-153. Medford. Laying of a corner-stone of the Methodist Church on Medford Hillside.
  • 1912-154: Opening of Grand Lodge at the residence of Bro. Frank B. Gilman. Procession with the escort of Mount Hermon Lodge to the building site.
  • 1912-154: Order of exercises. Corner-stone ceremony.
  • 1912-158: Contents of corner-stone box.

FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

(held at Masonic Temple, Boston, 12/27/1912)

• 1912-251: Opening and roll call.
• 1912-253: Resolution of sympathy for the illness of Senior Past Grand Master Henry Endicott.
• 1912-254: Installation of Grand Master Everett C. Benton. Installation of other Grand Lodge officers.
• 1912-260: Report of Recording Grand Secretary: 2,980 Master Mason diplomas issued in 1912.
• 1912-261: List of lodges not represented in Grand Lodge in 1912, as well as the past 2 years.
• 1912-263: Feast of St. John, listing toasts and names of speakers:
  • 1912-263: Brief remarks by Most Wor. Justin Holden, Grand Master of Connecticut, who was forced to retire in order to catch a train.
  • 1912-264: Grand Master Benton. Remarks on lodges in Panama, and his intention to visit that lodge and the lodges in Chile.
  • 1912-268: Past Grand Master Flanders.
  • 1912-274: Past Senior Grand Warden Oliver A. Roberts; visit to Past Grand Master Endicott. (He was confined to a wheelchair, and at that time 88 years of age.)
  • 1912-278: Grand Chaplain, Rev. and Bro. Frank W. Merrick.
  • 1912-284: Recording Grand Secretary Rt. Wor. Thomas W. Davis; remarks on the beginnings of Masonry in Chile.
  • 1912-291: Grand Chaplain, Rt. Rev. and Bro. John W. Hamilton.
  • 1912-296: Senior Grand Warden Leon M. Abbott; remarks on "the toleration of Freemasonry."
  • 1912-304: Grand Chaplain, Rev. and Wor. R. Perry Bush.
  • 1912-310: Most Wor. Eugene S. Weston, Grand Master of Masons in Vermont.
  • 1912-317: Grand Chaplain, Rev. and Wor. Edward A. Horton.

LIST OF LODGES IN MASSACHUSETTS BY DISTRICT: 1912

There were 32 districts in Massachusetts in 1912, as well as districts for Chile and China.

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