CalebButler

CALEB BUTLER LODGE

Originally named Excelsior Lodge.

Location: South Groton; Ayer (1871)

Chartered By: Winslow Lewis

Charter Date: 03/14/1860 VI-300

Precedence Date: 03/28/1859

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

need list of living PMs

Edmund D. Bancroft, 1859 (U.D.)
Oliver N. Wing (U.D.), 1860
Benjamin F. Taft, 1861, 1862
John N. Roberts, 1863
Charles C. Bennett, 1864
Henry A. Brown, 1865, 1866, 1868, 1869, 1873, 1880
Charles E. Morrison, 1867
George V. Barrtett, 1870, 1871
John Q. A. McCollister, 1872
Ezra C. Chapin, 1874
Benjamin H. Hartwell, 1875, 1876; SN
Arthur Fenner, 1877, 1878
John E. Parsons, 1879
Leonard A. Buck, 1881
Frederick Whitney, 1882, 1883
Jason Cole, 1894
Frederick Whitney, 1895, 1896
Elson H. Bigelow, 1887
Ellixia D. Martell, 1888
Robert Hume, 1889, 1891
Albert A. Fillebrown, 1890; Mem
Edward Lawton, 1892
Oliver K. Pierce, 1893
George H. Bixby, 1894, 1895
Ruben L. Fillebrown, 1896
Frank S. Pierce, 1897
Ruben C. Parker, 1898
William N. Cowles, 1899
Philip A. Carlton, 1900
Benjamin Taft, 1901
George A. Sanderson, 1902
Ira G. Dwinell, 1903
Alan A. Claflin, 1904
Walter F. Dickson, 1905
Charles F. Johnson, 1906
Edward A. Richardson, 1907
Elisha D. Stone, 1908
Clarence H. Kenney, 1909
Robert H. Irwin, 1910
George O. Fillebrown, 1911
Warren L. Preble, 1912
Warren H. Fairbanks, 1913
Bertrand H. Hopkins, 1914
Philip E. Andrews, 1915
Harrison E. Evans, 1916
Charles E. Perrin, 1917
Ellis B. Harlow, 1918
Kimball W. Martin, 1919
Herbert H. Proctor, 1920
Timothy Cleary, 1921
Herbert B. Priest, 1922; SN
Theophilus G. Smith, Jr., 1923
Frank A. Cash, 1924
Frank B. Crandall, 1925; N
Kendall V. Pierce, 1926
Walter A. MacNulty, 1927, 1928
Everette J. Fowler, 1929
Richard Drew, 1930
Philip R. Andrew, 1931
Lyman C. Sprague, 1932
Frank C. Harmon, 1933
Thomas A. Manktelow, 1934
Harvey Q. McCollester, 1935
Edwin F. O’Brien, 1936
Herman T. Allen, 1937
Edgar W. Harrod, 1938
Anthony Perina, 1939
John G. Strachan, 1940
Ralph B. Bowmar, 1941
Howard H. Ferguson, 1942
John G. Strachan, 1943
Philip R. Andrew, 1944
H. Arnold Wilder, 1945; SN
William G. Bogg, 1946
Frederick H. Brown, 1947
Morrill E. Stephenson, 1948
Leslie N. Athorn, 1949
Chester B. Wheeler, 1950
Willard K. Noddin, 1951
Carl A. Black, 1952
Hugh H. Thompson, 1953
Wellman Ernest Parker, 1954
Clarence F. Dobson, 1955
Henry Harris Dennis, 1956
Clifford W. McNulty, 1957
W. Howard Pike, 1958
George C. Saul, 1959
Clark Weston Paige, 1960
John Leslie Bemis, 1961; N
Chester V. Lloyd, 1962
William E. Wilkins, 1963; SN
Ernest Arthur Cregar, Jr., 1964
Eldon Morton Strickland, Jr., 1965, 1988
Robert A. Hippler, 1966
Alf B. Montgomery, 1967
Kenneth A. Young, 1968, 1969
R. Howard Wylie, Jr., 1970
Bertrand E. Cote, Sr., 1971
Walter F. Dickson, 1972
Milton Lane, 1973
Charles Stillman Fitch, 1974
Milton E. Starr, 1975
John Robert Oliverson, 1976
Ronald C. Strickland, 1977
John Marshea Hamilton, 1978
Robert D. Barclay, 1979
Robert Frank Hippler, 1980
Anthony Ralph Mario Caprio, 1981
David Joy Dakin, 1982, 1992
Raymond E. Waterman, 1983
Eugene Clayton Wixom, 1984
Frederick J. Butler, 1985
Timothy Gilbert Bemis, 1986, 1993
James Edward Farr, 1987
Ronald Clyde Strickland, 1989
Robert Vernon Stafford, 1990, 1994
Wilbur Horr, 1991
Stephen Andrew Reynolds, 1995
Kenneth Edward Lewis, 1996
Paul Alfred Poirier, 1997
Walter Ernest Gerstenlauer, 1998
Rafael Ponce Quinones, 1999
Charles Howard Jones, 2000, 2005
Kurt Daniel Staven, 2001
Richard Wayne Skoczylas, 2002
Thomas James Stapleton, 2003
Michael James Chambers, 2004
Dennis John Rinki, 2006
Geoffrey Kromer, 2007; PDDGM
David C. Winters, 2008
Ernest A. Bean, 2009; PDDGM
Harold H. Sargent, Jr., 2010
Walter F. Dickson, Jr., 2011
Joshua E. Garfinkle, 2012

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

Petition for Dispensation: 1859
Petition for Charter: 1860

ANNIVERSARIES

1910 (50th Anniversary)
1934 (75th Anniversary)
1960 (Centenary)
1985 (125th Anniversary)
2009 (150th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

1860 (Deputy Grand Master James V. C. Smith; Constitution of Lodge and installation; see below)
1873 (Nickerson; Hall dedication)
1882 (Lawrence)
1898 (Deputy Grand Master Albert L. Harwood; Corner-stone laying for Bank and Middlesex District Court Building)
1899 (Hutchinson; Hall dedication)
1903 (Sanford)
1910 (Flanders; 50th Anniversary)
1918 (L. Abbott)
1925 (Ferrell; 2 visits, including installation)
1928 (Simpson; corner stone laying in Lowell)
1934 (Chipman; 75th Anniversary)
1960 (Eaton; Centenary)
1985 (Richardson; 125th Anniversary)
1990 (Darling; Hall dedication)
1999 (Bauer; Hall dedication)
2008 (Pageau; 75th Masonic anniversary of Rt. Wor. H. Arnold Wilder)
2009 (Pageau; 150th Anniversary)
2011 (Stewart)
2012 (Stewart)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1873 1886 1906 1912 1914 1921 1924 1951 1952 1955 1961 1967 1978 1982 1984 1988 1993 1995 2003 2004 2007 2010

HISTORY

1910 (50th Anniversary Historical Address, 1909-115)
1934 (75th Anniversary History, 1934-98; see below)
1960 (Centenary History, 1960-125)
1985 (125th Anniversary History, 1985-105)
1999 (History at hall dedication, 1999-125; see below)

75TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JUNE 1934

From Proceedings, Page 1934-98:

By Wor. Kimball W. Martin.

In looking over the records of Caleb Butler Lodge, that cover the past seventy-five years, I find very much interesting material, much more than I can bring before you in the time allowed for this purpose this evening. However, what I have to offer are a few of the highlights concerning the doings of this Lodge, from its beginning under Dispensation in 1859 to the present time.

On the first page of the first record book, I find the following: "To keep a fair and impartial record of the proceedings of each meeting receive all Monies, pay them to the Treasurer, taking his receipt therefor. At the right (sic) of the Worshipful Master." Of course this was the old style wording of the Secretary's duties. This was possibly put here that the Secretary might not waver in the line of his duty. And yet possibly it was put here as a ready reference in case the Secretary forgot his lines.

In 1859 the small community located here was known as South Groton. There were several Master Masons living here, nearly all of them being members of St. Paul Lodge, then holding their meetings in Groton. For some time there had been a desire among these Masons to form a new Lodge in South Groton. So far as we know now that feeling did not result in any action being taken until March 17, 1859. Then several Masons met at the home of Bro. E. Dana Bancroft. The following is a copy of the records of that evening:

"At a meeting of Master Masons, held at the house of Brother E. Dana Bancroft, South Groton, Mass., March 17, 1859.

For a choice of Officers and to adopt measures whereby a Lodge of Master Masons may be empowered to work, under a Dispensation. Bro. E. Dana Bancroft was chosen Chairman and Bro. Arthur Fenner Secretary.

Voted that the name of the Lodge be Excelsior.

That our regular communications be held on the first Monday evening, after the full moon, in each month.

To proceed to the election of Officers. The following were elected:

E. Dana Bancroft, Worshipful Master

Oliver N. Wing, Senior Warden

Augustus Dike, Junior Warden

Arthur Fenner , Treasurer

William F. Goulding, Secretary

Voted that the following brothers be responsible, for the sum of fifteen Dollars to be used for the purpose of procuring a Dispensation to work, from the Grand Master:

J. Q. A. McCollester

Henry P. Nichols

B. F. Taft

W. F. Goulding

John Gleason

George W. Shattuck

E. Dana Bancroft

George F. Woodbury

Wayles A. Heywood

Arthur Fenner

Adjourned to meet at the call of the Master. Arthur Fenner, Secretary."

A meeting was called and the records read as follows:

"At a special meeting of the petitioners for a Dispensation, for a Lodge at South Groton, held at the home of Bro. E. Dana Bancroft, on the evening of March 28, 1859. The meeting was opened by the Master, by reading the Dispensation granted by the Grand Master. After which it was voted to proceed with the election of the remaining Officers, for the new Lodge. The following were elected:

John N. Roberts, Senior Deacon

George F. Woodbury, Junior Deacon

George H. Champney, Senior Steward

George W. Shattuck, Junior Steward

Leander G. King, Marshal

J. Q. A. McCollester, Chaplain

Daniel L. King , Tyler

A Ways and Means committee was appointed and then they adjourned to meet at the regular Communication at the Lodge-room.

Signed William F. Goulding, Secretary."

The grandson of Brother John Quincy Adams McCollester, who was one of the founders of this Lodge, is at present sitting in the West: our "pillar of Strength" Brother Harvey Quincy McCollester.

The first Lodge-room was located in a building locally known as the "Break of Day" and stood where the old Globe Hotel was. These quarters were occupied a little over a year.

At the first regular communication of Excelsior Lodge, held April 18, 1859, it received its first application from George S. Evans.

During the first year under Dispensation fifty-one meetings were held and thirteen candidates Raised to Master Masons. Here we see the Lodge well started, with prospects for a successful future. Many of the Brethren were not satisfied with the name of Excelsior for the Lodge. It therefore was decided to call it Caleb Butler Lodge, honoring Most Worshipful Bro. Caleb Butler, who was a Past Master of St. Paul Lodge 1833—1836. He was also Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts 1841-1842. Caleb Butler was a man highly respected by all. The Brethren felt that in the selection of this name, for the Lodge, they would have something more appropriate.

A Charter was granted Caleb Butler Lodge, by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, March 14, 1860. The Lodge was Constituted by Grand Lodge Officers March 26, 1860. And from the records we learn that a very impressive service was rendered.

From the records of a special communication, held January 14, 1861. I find at the close of the work of the Fellow Craft Degree, the following:

"Caleb Butler Lodge was formed on this occasion, situated so far north of the Ecliptic, that the Sun with its cheerful rays, was unable to warm it, And the brethren found themselves in the dark and very cold. But the light from the Blazing Star in the East and the warmth of fraternal love, soon changed our Lodge-room into a warm and cheerful retreat. Signed William F. Goulding, Secretary."

I rather suspect that the Secretary's desk might have been located some distance from the stove.

About this time the Lodge moved to new quarters, to a building on the site where Carley's Block now stands. And after the disastrous fire of 1872, in which the Lodge lost everything except the Charter and records, they took quarters in the Harvey Woods Building that stood on the site of our present quarters. Three Officers' Jewels were recovered after the fire. They may be seen in a frame in the Tyler's room.

The records of an early meeting show that the Lodge was visited by the D. D. G. M. and suite. After the work of the evening they adjourned to the Refreshment room at the Railway Station. After enjoying the speeches and good things they went home in good season and in good condition.

The Lodge remained on this location until Page's Block was built. On October 6, 1873, the new quarters in Page's Block were dedicated by the Grand Lodge. The record is very complete and covers twenty-five pages of our record book.

At this time St. Paul Lodge moved from Groton and shared these quarters with us.

In 1899 the Lodge moved from Page's Block to our present quarters, the first communication being held January 30, 1899. On April 19, 1899, these Apartments were dedicated by the Grand Lodge. Previous to the dedication ceremony, a banquet was served in Page's Hall. A rather amusing incident occurred at this time, It happened that the Ladies Temperance Society, were holding an Ice Cream and Cake sale that evening in Page's Hall. The Caterer, wishing to help them, donated the cream he had left from the Masonic banquet. The Ladies were very thankful, The cream was in great demand. Later, to their consternation, they learned that they had been serving "Rum Pudding."

I find complete records of fourteen Brothers who served in the difficulty between the North and the South.

Brother Leander G. King, home on a furlough, visited Caleb Butler Lodge January 20, 1862. He was Captain of Company C, 16th Rgt. He was also Master of Army Lodge No. 2. He told of the difficulties in holding their meetings in tents and said he had learned from prisoners who had been at Richmond, that those who were Masons were sought out by the Southern Brothers and rendered many favors. The next we hear from Bro. King was that he was killed in the battle of Gettysburg, July 2, 1863. Past Master O. N. Wing was delegated to go to Gettysburg and procure the remains, which he did. On July 22, 1863, he was buried with Masonic Honors, Caleb Butler Lodge officiating.

After the Lodge had continued forty years, the membership in 1900 was 144 members. In 1910, 240 members, 1920, 663 members, 1925, 791 members. Present membership 604. Our largest gain was made between 1917 and 1925, which was a gain of 516 members in eight years. This was due to applications coming from soldiers at Camp Devens. Not only did we make these members for our own Lodge, but worked degrees on as many more as a courtesy to other Lodges.

We had the honor of raising one Candidate who had been passed in Texas and initiated in South Dakota.

Lodge meetings at this time were very interesting as Brothers came here from all parts of the Country.

At one meeting there were twenty-eight different jurisdictions represented. It was the custom during that period to work three or four nights each week. From July 5th to July 12th, 1918, inclusive, degrees were worked on each date. On July 7, 1918, Sunday morning at 10.30, the Master Mason degree was worked here. The Officers being—

Ellis B. Harlow, Master
Kimball W. Martin, Senior Warden
Elson H. Bigelow, Secretary
Philip R. Andrew, Marshal
Eli W. Carley, Tyler

Candidates raised were Arthur U. Johnson and Robert Clifford Bailey. This was necessary as the 76th Division was moving overseas, and our candidates were members of this Division.

Our By-Laws contain the names of nearly seven hundred Brothers who served in the World War.

Out of all these members who served in this War, only one met death in battle. Lt. Bro. Richmond Young was killed in France October 10, 1918. He received the Degrees in Caleb Butler Lodge and became a member May 24, 1918.

My history of this Lodge would be incomplete, if I failed to mention the names of Worshipful Bro. Henry A. Brown, Rt. Worshipful Bro. Augustus A. Fillebrown, and Worshipful Bro. Timothy Cleary. These Brothers as well as many others, gave to this Lodge their time and unlimited service, Worshipful Bro. Bigelow having served as Secretary for twenty-eight years.

Our Great Light tells us that the span of a man's life is three score years and ten. I infer that the life of a Lodge may go on forever. In closing I desire to pay tribute to all those Brothers who have worked so hard to make this Lodge the success that it is today.

My toast to the Lodge is: That it may continue to carry the high standard of Masonry on down the years, until time shall be no more.

HISTORY AT HALL DEDICATION, DECEMBER 1999

From Proceedings, Page 1999-125:

HISTORY OF CALEB BUTLER, A. F. & A. M. AYER, MASSACHUSETTS 1860-1999

Caleb Butler, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts 1841-1842 was born in Pelham, New Hampshire on 13 September 1776. Graduated Dartmouth College in 1800 and in 1802 became preceptor of the Groton School of Groton, Massachusetts, where he taught for eleven years. During those years, he studied civil engineering and the law and was admitted to the bar in 1814. He resided in Groton until his death 7 October 1854. He entered St. Paul Lodge and St. John R. A. C. of Groton, Massachusetts. He served as its Master in 1833, District Deputy Grand Master from 1814 to 1817. His civic duties in Groton includes serving as Town Clerk, Selectman, Postmaster and Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.

On 17 March 1859 a group of Masons met at E. Dana Bancroft home in South Groton (Ayer, MA) to form a new lodge - Lodge Excelsior, with E. Dana Bancroft as its first Master. Its first Regular Communication was held on 18 April 1859, at a place called "Break O Day" where Moores/Nashoba Travel now stands. The Lodge changed its name to Caleb Butler Lodge and a Charter was granted on 14 March 1860.

Sometime in August 1860, the Lodge moved into new quarters on the "Phelps and Harrow Building" and remained there until the Great Fire of 1872. During this period, fourteen brethren served with the Union Army. Brother Leander G. King, a Captain with Co. C-16 Regiment, was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg.

On 18 April 1870, Caleb Butler and Saint Paul Lodge began sharing quarters in Groton Junction. The Toast at Caleb Butler 1874 Installation Banquet was proposed "To Saint Paul Lodge, at once our sister and mother Lodge. We were nursed into existence by some of her most prominent members."

From 1872 to July 1873 after the Great Fire which destroyed most of Main Street in Ayer, they then met at various places including the Irish Benevolent Society Hall located in the Harvey-Woods building now the quarters of the North Middlesex Bank.

On 6 October 1873, both Lodges moved to their new Masonic apartments, Page Building, Ayer. Most Worshipful Sereno D. Nickerson dedicated the quarters and Wor. Henry A. Brown served as Master of Caleb Butler Lodge.

On 13 December 1887, the Lodge moved to the Savings Bank Building (now North Middlesex Bank, Main Street, Ayer). The dedication and laying of the cornerstone on 7 May 1898 by Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Albert L. Harwood, who tried by jewel to be square, level and plumb and anointed with corn, wine and oil while the Chaplain invoked the blessing of God.

The 50th Anniversary was held on 14 March 1910. Most Worshipful Dana J. Flanders, Grand Master of Masons of Massachusetts, attended the ceremonies.

During the First World War, Caleb Butler Lodge experienced its largest membership growth from 134 members in 1918 to 516 by 1925. By the end of WWI, several hundred members had served with honor with only one death, Lt. Brother Richmond Young, who was killed in France.

The 75th Anniversary was held on 18 June 1934, with Most Worshipful Curtis Chipman, Grand Master of Masons in attendance.

During the Second World War, meetings were held in the Federated Church, Ayer, due to the lack of heat. During this period, Caleb Butler had another mass increase in membership with over 700 total membership.

The 100th Anniversary was held on 3 June 1960 with Most Worshipful Laurence E. Eaton in attendance. The exercises were held at the Page Street School.

On 24 August 1975, a new gravestone was placed on Most Worshipful Caleb Butler's grave by Most Worshipful Stanley F. Maxwell, presiding Grand Master.

On 10 June 1984, Caleb Butler Lodge celebrated Saint John Sunday at Saint Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Shirley, Massachusetts.

History was made. "A Polish priest is assigned to French parish and the Masons are welcomed here today to worship with us". The Worshipful Master was Wor. Eugene C. Wixom, who is the Master builder of our present quarters The Masonic Building, Sculley Road, Ayer, Massachusetts.

In May 1990, after 91 years the two Lodges moved to new apartments "the Pleasant Street School". The newly renovated quarters was the creation of our Master Architect, Worshipful David J. Daiken with the help of the members of both Caleb Butler and Saint Paul Lodge.In September 1998, Saint Paul Lodge moved to Ashby, Massachusetts.

On 7 May 1999, the Lodge participated in removal of the copper box from the cornerstone in the North Middlesex Bank Building and the insertion of the new time capsule. During this period an opportunity arose and the Calvary Baptist Church was sold to the Ayer Masonic Association. Thus, the Brethren of the Lodge, with Wor. Eugene Wixom as its Master Architect, started renovation in the spring of 1999. Caleb Butler Lodge had its first Communication in its present new quarters in September 1999, with Wor. Rafael P. Quinones as Master. The Building to be dedicated on 20 November 1999 by the presiding Grand Master, Most Worshipful Fred K. Bauer and the presiding Master Worshipful Charles H. Jones.

History prepared by: Wor. Anthony R.M. Caprio.

OTHER

1871 (Definition of jurisdiction; also dispensation to meet in Ayer)
1918 (Address by Bro. and Maj. Reginald Barlow on Camp Devens)

EVENTS

DISPENSATION, APRIL 1859

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XVIII, No. 6, April 1859, Page 192:

A dispensation has been issued for a new Lodge at South Groton, in this State, under the name of Excelsior Lodge, and will, we understand, go into immediate operation under favorable auspices. We could have preferred a different name, — one more suggestive.

CONSTITUTION OF LODGE, MARCH 1860

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XIX, No. 6, April 1860, Page 185:

This new Lodge which has been working the past year under Dispensation at South Groton, by the name of Excelsior Lodge, was constituted and its officers were installed on the evening of the 26th ult. The ceremonies of Constitution and Consecration were performed by the Dep. Grand Master, Dr. J. V. C. Smith, and the installation by R. W. Bro. Wm. D. Coolidge, J. G. Warden, to the great acceptance of the Brethren present. The following are the officers for the current year:—

O. N. Wing, W. M.
B. F. Taft, S. W.
A. Dicke, J. W.
A. Fenner, Treas.
W. F. Goulding, Sec.
J. N. Roberts, S. D.
G. H. Champney, J. D.
Leander Ring, Marshal.
J. Q. A. McColIister, Chaplain.
Danl. Ring, S. S.
John Gleason, J. S.
H. P. Nichols, Tyler.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies the Brethren sat down to an elegant and excellent supper, provided at the new hotel in the village. There an hour was spent in a very agreeable manner.

The Lodge has a convenient hall and the prospect before it most encouraging. Its officers are competent and zealous, and the members interested in its success.