AtholMemorial1912

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ATHOL MEMORIAL DEDICATION, 1912

From New England Craftsman, Vol. VII, No. 11, August 1912, Page 353:

AtholMemorial1912.jpg

MASONIC CELEBRATION
Athol, Mass., June 16, 1912

The first lodge of Freemasons at Athol, Mass., was established in 1802. This event was commemorated by the Masonic brethren of that town, Sunday, June 16 by the unveiling of a memorial Tablet.

There are two lodges in Athol, namely, Star and Athol and both joined in the ceremony of unveiling |he tablet. The event was an auspicious beginning of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the town which was observed during the following days of the week.

The brethren of the two lodges about two hundred in number assembled at the lodge room of Athol lodge in the afternoon of Sunday, June 16th and formed a procession headed by the Athol Band. Under the direction of James B. Sisson, Worshipful Master of Star Lodge, and Charles W. Hood, Worshipful Master of Athol Lodge, the procession proceeded to the spot which is situated about one mile from the center of the town where the exercises were held. They consisted of an invocation by the chaplain and several selections by the Masonic Quartet of Greenfield. The principal guests of the lodge were Rt. Wor. C. Willis Bennett, district deputy grand master of the thirteenth district, and Professor W. Scott Wade the orator of the occasion who spoke as follows:

We are met today to commemorate the beginning of Free Masonry in Athol and to unveil this memorial stone which stands near the spot where the first lodge of Free and Accepted Masons in this town was instituted more than one hundred years ago.

In the year of 1802 a petition was received by the Grand Lodge of Masons of Massachusetts for the establishment of a subordinate lodge in the town of Athol. After waiting the customary time of one year, the petition was granted and on October 13, 1803, Isaiah Thomas, the Patriot Printer of Revolutionary times, Most Worshipful Grand Master, accompanied by an imposing suite, rode up to the tavern or inn near this spot in a magnificent coach drawn by a pair of black horses. This sight so impressed the mind of the children who gazed with wonder and admiration, that they have handed down to their children the oral tradition of the great event.

Here was formed the impressive procession which solemnly marched to the church on the common and listened to an eloquent and instructive sermon from the lips of Rev. Bro. Richard Eliot of Watertown, after which they marched back and enjoyed a banquet. Then Harris Lodge, F. & A. M., was instituted with due ceremonies, after ejecting from the hall two mischievious boys who had hoped to hide and, when everything was at its height, make their appearance to the consternation of the brethren. This lodge lived and prospered here until 1811, or for eight years. At the end of that time the town of Athol not increasing, and the town of Gerry or Phillipston as it is now called, being not so slow and having more active brethren presented a petition for the removal of the lodge to that town to the hall of Bro. Elijah Gould.

Its stay in Gerry was not quite two years when, upon a second petition, it was removed to the larger town of Templeton. Here it remained until it surrendered its records and its jewels in 1857. The last recorded meeting was held in 1834. The money of the lodge was given to the town of Templeton to help care for its poor.

During its life in Templeton it fell upon troublous times. A period of persecution and ostracization set in and Masons were accused of every crime in the calendar by those who were ignorant of its purposes, jealous of its influence, and incited by personal animosities. Out of this fire of opposition Free Masonry came to new life and new power. Some under stress of family and church gave up, but others remained firm and endured until the madness was forgotten.

We who are acquainted with the principles and practices of Freemasonry are at a loss to understand why such passionate feelings were stirred up against it, and yet history record; that no good thing goes on its way unchallenged. The progress of the race has been accomplished only after the expenditure of treasure and blood. The Christian church of all sects and creeds has suffered at the hands of the heathen and bigot, and out of ii has come a purified and broadened belief and a tolerance which shows forth real love of God. It is good for our brethren here together in the presence of each other and of these guests to recall what it was and is that could call forth the devotion and sacrifice of our ancient brethren. The principles which are the corner stones of our order are broad enough to take in all mankind of every sect, creed, color or race: namely, the Fatherhood of God and its logical sequence, the Brotherhood of man. These are abiding and basal, upon them has been built no flimsy, wavering, weak structure, but a permanent, lasting, ever increasing temple.

Masonry has many aims; three of the chief ones are: To make of its members better men, better social beings, better citizens. The tools and materials of the craft are taken to teach great moral lessons and turned to higher uses.

The great cardinal virtues which make a man a kind father, a loving husband. a faithful friend, an honorable man arc enjoined upon him continually. He is never allowed to lose sight of them except by absenting himself continually from the company of his brethren. He is impressed with the fact that the all-seeing eye is continually over him to guard him, guide him, help him. The certainty of cleat h and the surety of immortality should and does tend to wider vision and a loftier purpose. These virtues, these thoughts, these ideals affect the character of the individual and produce a well-rounded manhood.

Masonry does not forget that a man of the social whole cannot shirk his responsibility for the happiness and welfare of his fellows. We are taught never to sit down contented while our fellow-creatures are in want especially when it is in our power to relieve them. It might have pleased the Great Creator of heaven and earth to have made man independent; but as dependence is one of the strongest bonds of society, mankind were dependent on each other for protection and security, as they thereby enjoy better opportunities of fulfilling the duties of reciprocal love and friendship. Thus was man formed for social and active life, the noblest part of the work of God and he who will so demean himself, as ■not to be endeavoring to add to the common stock of knowledge and understanding, may be deemed a drone in the hive of nature, a useless member of society.

But Masons are more than individuals or social beings, they are citizens owing allegiance to their country and seeking to maintain its honor and integrity. A masonic lodge is the essence of democracy. It regards no man for his worldly wealth or outward appearance. Political influence and churchly office are of no avail here. We meet upon the level and part upon the square. Think what such an organization has accomplished for freedom of speech and freedom of press; how tyrants have feared its lessons of equality; how it has brought men of every country, of every trade and profession, of differing political opinion and opposing religious belief to respect each other. What a power for peace and harmony, political, social, industrial! Is it any wonder that governments have fostered and protected it? Brethren, this is a goodly heritage which our ancient brethren have handed down to us; let us transmit it to those who come after us, unimpaired. As we revere the names of Washington Franklin, Lafayette as patriots, we also enshrine them in our memory as Masons. One of the severest tests of any institution is the test of time. Freemasonry has stood this test and proudly raises its head in this first decade of a new century. It is fitting that we dedicate this tablet to the memory of the craftsman of the former century that the passers-by may read, and, reading, reflect that no word we speak, no deed we do but is a seed cast into time to grow through all eternity.