MassachusettsHamiltonHistoryCh21

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CHAPTER 21: RECONSTRUCTION (PART 2)

Evidences now began to multiply that a new era of prosperity was beginning. In 1843 a Dispensation was issued for the Star of Bethlehem Lodge in Chelsea, the first new Lodge to be formed since 1827. In 1826 and 1827 six new Lodges had been formed, only one of which was in existence in 1843.

Lodges began to petition for restoration of Charters. Some of these oases were attended with difficulties. Occasionally, as in the case of Morning Star Lodge, already described, the Charters were lost. In other cases the members had divided the Lodge funds. In these oases attempts were made to recover the money with varying degrees of success. A few persons were expelled for refusal to restore or properly account for moneys thus taken.

At the Annual Communication of 1843, Peabody was unanimously reelected. The important business of the year all had to do with unfinished matters and has been fully described in the preceding pages.

At the Annual Communication of 1844, Peabody was again re-elected Grand Master. The improved position of the Grand Lodge appears to have made the Grand Offices look more desirable. Peabody was elected on the first ballot, but with only four votes to spare. It took four ballots to elect the Senior Grand Warden and three to elect the Junior Grand Warden. The minority candidate for Grand Master was Daniel L. Gibbens and he had one vote for Senior Grand Warden and one for Junior Grand Warden, Although he lived until 1853 we hear no more of him in Grand Lodge. Glbbens was a successful Boston merchant and a prominent citizen. He sat in both city and state governments, and was Colonel of the Second Regiment and Captain of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company. Born in 1786 he became a member of the Massachusetts Lodge in 1812 and had served as its Master. He was Grand Pursuivant in 1815 and Junior Grand Steward in 1816 by appointment by Benjamin Russell. After that he held no office in Grand Lodge, but had been active in the Grand Chapter, being a Past High Priest of St, Andrew's Chapter and a Past Grand High Priest.

At the June Quarterly Charles W. Moore moved that Rev. Bro. William James Carver be commissioned as Representative of the Grand Lodge near the Grand Lodge of England, and a letter was received from the Grand Lodge of Texas proposing an exchange of Representatives. Both matters were referred to a committee consisting of Thomas Tolman, Thomas Power, and Winslow Lewis, Jr. The committee presented two reports at the September Quarterly, both of which were accepted. On the Texas communication the committee reported that no action was desirable. The Grand Lodge had decided not to accept the recommendation of the Baltimore Convention that the Representative system be established generally. No reason appeared why the Grand Lodge should reverse that decision. The system was yet in its infancy, only three or four Grand Lodges having adopted it, and it was too early to judge its utility. As then practiced the Grand Lodges furnished each Representative with an elaborate outfit consisting of sash, apron, collar, Jewel, and banner of the Grand Lodge, and costing perhaps fifty dollars. This expense alone was a serious objection. Moore's resolution had been referred with power. The committee held that our relation to the Grand Lodge of England was quite different from that in which we stood to the American Grand Lodges. From England we have derived our Masonry, with its ritual and law. The wide spread extent and influence of the Grand Lodge of England made it "the most august Masonic body in the world," For these reasons the committee had appointed Rev. Bro. William James Carver to be our Representative near the Grand Lodge of England. This was not to be considered a precedent to be cited in favor of similar action regarding the American Grand Lodges. It may be noted that when Carver's mission terminated no successor was appointed. His appointment remained unique until the adoption of the Representative system in 1928. In the intervening years the representative system came up for consideration several times, but the Grand Lodge always refused to adopt it.

On June 24, 1845, the Grand Lodge and other Grand Masonic Bodies joined King Solomon's Lodge in the dedication of its Joseph Warren monument. It will be remembered that King Solomon's Lodge had erected on the Bunker Hill battle field a wooden monument to Warren, and arrangements had been made with the Bunker Hill Monument Association for the proper recognition of that fact when the Bunker Hill monument should be completed. A marble copy of the wooden monument had been made and placed in the niche in the entrance hall of the Bunker Hill monument, where it may now be seen. This was the monument which the Grand Lodge and King Solomon's now dedicated in a very elaborate ceremony.

At the September Quarterly of 1845 an amendment to the Grand Constitutions was proposed: "Brethren who have rendered important service to the Craft may, by a vote of the Grand Lodge duly confirmed,be constituted members of this Grand Lodge with such rank and distinction as in the vote constituting them members shall be designated."

Acting under this authorization the Grand Lodge on December 27 bestowed membership on Rev. George Oliver, D. D., with the rank of Past Deputy Grand Master and on Robert Thomas Crucefix, M. D., LL. D., with the rank of Past Senior Grand Warden. The precedent was not followed. Honorary Past Grand Rank was never again voted to anybody outside the state. In two cases the honor was voted to Brethren inside the jurisdiction. On December 10, 1873, Charles W. Moore was elected Honorary Past Grand Master in richly deserved recognition of the long and uniquely valuable service which he had rendered to the Grand Lodge, On December 11, 1935, Frederick W. Hamilton, Grand Secretary since March, 1915, was elected Honorary Past Grand Master. Oliver and Crucefix were unquestionably the foremost English Masons of the time.

Oliver (1782-1867) was a great Masonic publicist. Officially he never held high rank. He had been Provincial Grand Steward, Provincial Grand Chaplain, and Provincial Deputy Grand Master, all of the Province of Lincolnshire, but had resigned his Deputyship in 1840. He was, however, a voluminous and very influential author. Besides some ten volumes on non-masonic subjects (history and archeology) he wrote more than twenty books on Masonry besides numerous short articles and prepared several editions of the works of other authors. His work covers the entire range of Masonic history, law, symbolism, and ritual. He may justly be considered the founder of the literary school of Freemasonry. His work has great excellencies and, from the modern point of view, grave defects. His research was profound and extensive and the range of his information was vast, but he had little or no critical faculty. This resulted in a too easy credulity and a too free use of imagination. He should not, however, be too much blamed for this, as the modern methods of historical criticism had not then been developed. His work, moreover, was deeply colored by his theological prepossessions, and while hp recognized as Masonic a principle of wide toleration he believed and taught that Freemasonry was essentially Trinitarian Christian. While his work contains much that is stimulating and suggestive to the advanced Masonic student, the general Masonic reader would probably be misled and confused by it and would do well to leave it unread.

The service of Crucefix (1797-1850) was along different lines. He served as Junior Grand Deacon in 1836 and held many offices in Masonic bodies of various sorts. He was especially active in the Scottish Rite. He founded the Freemason's Quarterly Review in 1836 and edited it for some years, contributing important articles. His great service was in the establishment and promotion of Masonic charities, especially for the aged and infirm.

The perennial proposal for a General Grand Lodge came up again in 1845, this time from Maryland, and again Massachusetts declined to concur.

At the Annual Communication of 1845 Simon W. Robinson was unanimously elected Grand Master.

Robinson was born in New Hampton, N. H., February 19, 1792. On the outbreak of the War of 1812 he entered the army and was stationed at Portsmouth throughout the war with the rank of Adjutant. After the war Robinson settled in Boston and entered mercantile life. He was very successful and retired with a competence about the time he became Grand Master. His later years were spent in Lexington where he died October 16, 1868. He served one year in the state legislature, but with that exception avoided politics.

He took his degrees in Mount Lebanon Lodge in 1819 and was its Master in 1824-1825 and again in 1845. He was its Treasurer from 1828 to 1843. In the Grand Lodge he was a Grand Steward in 1834, District Deputy Grand Master for the First Masonic District in 1835 and 1836, Junior Grand harden in 1837, Senior Grand Warden in 1838, 1839, and 1840, Deputy Grand Master in 1841, 1842, and 1843. He then served on the Committee on Charity until he was elected Grand Master. Throughout his service in Grand Lodge we find him very active in Committee work as well as in his official duties. As we have seen, he was Acting Grand Master during the greater part of the administration of Caleb Butler. His activity in Grand Lodge continued throughout his life.

His Masonic activities ware extensive. He was a member and Past High Priest of St. Paul's Royal Arch Chapter and Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter, a member and officer of Boston Council, Royal and Select Masters, a member of Boston Encampment and a Charter Member of De Molay Encampment, Knights Templar and Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He became a member of the Scottish Rite in 1842 and an Active Member of the Supreme Council in 1851. Later, in common with his close friend and successor in the Grand Mastership, Edward A. Raymond, he became involved in the unfortunate quarrel which rent the Supreme Council from I860 to 1867, but lived to take part in the reconciliation. That episode, however, is not part of this history.

Throughout his long life he maintained a spotless character and an honored name. He was even and pleasant in disposition, and always frank and truthful without giving offense, winning the sincere attachment of a large circle of friends.

Amicable Lodge had surrendered its Charter and in 1845 some of the former members petitioned for its return. The committee appointed to consider the case reported December 27, 1845. The report of the committee gives a vivid picture of what happened to one of the stronger Lodges during the persecution. Doubtless the story, in substance, was typical of what happened to many Lodges.

Gd. Lodge, Dec.27, 1845.

The Com. to whom was referred the petition of the members of the late Amicable Lodge, Cambridgeport, praying for the restoration of the Charter, have attentively considered the same, and beg leave to report.

The Com. have had two sittings, and have endeavored to obtain such information, upon the subject, as would.enable them to act understandingly, and arrive at correct conclusions. At the first meeting Br. Norris appeared in behalf of the petitioners, who stated that they were desirous of an immediate return of their Charter as they had a reasonable prospect of work, He also alleged that the surrender of the Charter was an unauthorized act of one or two individuals, without the knowledge or consent of the Lodge, and consequently the G. Lodge is not rightfully in possession of it. How far these allegations are sustained by the facts in the case, which are substantially as follows, the G. Lodge will determine.

Some years since when Br. Nurse was D. D. G. Mas. he addressed a note to their late Master, Wm. J. Whipple, Esq., advising him of intention to visit Amicable Lodge officially and received for answer that the Lodge held no meetings and was virtually extinct, and that an attempt to resuscitate it or to call the members together would probably end in disappointment. In pursuance from instructions from the G. Lodge "to demand the Charter of all decayed Lodge,." the D. D. G. Master next applied to their late Treasurer W.H. Odiorne, who unhesitatingly surrendered the Charter remarking at the same time, "that they had no use for it — and as he was about to remove to a distant town in the country, did not wish to carry it with him, and was desirous that it should be placed where it would not be improperly used."

This is the way and manner that the G, Lodge came in possession of the Charter, but whether surreptitiously as alleged by the petitioners, or not, is a question for the G. Lodge to decide.

Your Com. also find on inquiry that Amicable Lodge, previous to the late Anti-Masonic excitement, was considered one of the best in the commonwealth - its funds were sufficient for all useful purposes, and it had a goodly number of active, intelligent and respectable members, but during the prevalence of that moral pestilence, some few of its leading members, fearing it might operate to the prejudice of their political prospects, and hoping thereby to conciliate their opponent, insidiously attempted to dissolve the Institution. As a preparatory measure they proposed (and so far succeeded as to obtain a vote of the Lodge in favor of the project) to place their funds in the hands of the selectmen of the town, on condition that the principal should never be alienated and the interest accruing thereon should be distributed among the families of poor and indigent masons. This proposition however was declined, and the Lodge subsequently loaned seven hundred dollars to Wm. J. Whipple, whom the petitioners say is unable to pay and which will probably prove a total loss. About four hundred dollars was left in the hands of their late Treasurer, which amount it is presumed may be recovered by the Lodge. For a considerable length of time after the transaction above narrated the Lodge held Annual meetings for choice of Officers, but at last the members finding it inconvenient to attend, and laboring under many discouragements, one after another failed in their attendance, and the meetings were wholly discontinued.

Although the proceedings of the Lodge, were in some instances irregular and unmasonic, yet it is believed the blame attaches to a few only of its leading members, who hesitated at nothing that seemed to promise a better prospect of political elevation. The great majority of the members did not participate in these transactions, some were absent and others were induced to acquiesce, through the influence and cunning management of those who had an interest in its overthrow. It is true the evils complained of might have been avoided by a punctual and constant attendance of the members; but these omissions can hardly be regarded as positive wrongs. Like many others in those dark and trying times, their courage failed them and they sought security in retirement.

Justice to their petition required it to be distinctly stated, that the Com. have entire confidence in their masonic integrity, and believe that the interest and prosperity of the Craft, would be promoted by the return of their Charter, and would therefore recommend that the Charter of Amicable Lodge, be restored to the petitioners they paying to the G. Sec. his usual fee for endorsement.

All of which is respectfully submitted

  • S. W. Robinson, Chairman.
  • James A. Dickson.

The recommendation was adopted and the Charter restored. Amicable Lodge then and since has fully justified the confidence shown in the action of the Grand Lodge.

At the March Quarterly Grand Master Robinson delivered a brief address to the Grand Lodge. He reported that "the Lodges under this jurisdiction are in a healthy state, and exhibit a degree of activity but rarely equaled. Many of them which a few years since were lifeless and regarded as useless branches have been revived and are now among the most active and prosperous of any in the Commonwealth." Masonry "has worked its way to popular favor and is no longer regarded as useless or of doubtful utility, but its influence for good and its claims to universal respect and confidence are generally felt and acknowledged."

The Grand Master reminded Grand Lodge of the approaching date of the second triennial Convention of delegates from the Grand Lodges. The Grand Lodge authorized the Grand Master to appoint a delegate "if, on inquires, he shall find that the Convention shall be held". As always, Massachusetts was ready and eager to co-operate in any general movement except for the formation of a General Grand Lodge. The Convention was not held.

The Grand Master called attention to the fact that the revenues of Grand Lodge were not sufficient to meet its expenses. These revenues come mainly from initiates fees and had been materially reduced under the pressure of the persecution. He recommended that the Grand Lodge consider raising the fees. In consequence of this recommendation the fees of initiates were raised from $3.50 to $5.00 and the annual Lodge fee raised from $4.00 to $6.00.

At the September Quarterly of 1846 Grand Master Robinson laid a curious report before the Grand Lodge. Within a few days he had received information that there was a clandestine Lodge in Boston known as "United Brethren." The members claimed to be regularly organized under the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and had conferred the degrees on a number of unsuspecting candidates. Two of the members had begun to suspect something wrong -ind had communicated with the Grand Secretary to ascertain the facts. After consultation with leading members of Grand Lodge Robinson decided that prompt and drastic action was called for. Accordingly accompanied by some Grand Officers he went to the meeting place of the Lodge on West Cedar Street. He there found "some ten or fifteen colored men who conducted themselves with great propriety and afforded us every facility in their power in accomplishing his purpose." They produced what purported to be a Dispensation from Grand Lodge dated September, 1845, and their records, which they willingly surrendered to Robinson. There appeared to be no doubt that these men were honest in their intentions and sincerely believed that the dispensation was genuine. They said that the papers had been given them by one Benjamin F. Leonard who assured them that the papers were genuine and that they would receive a Charter in a year.

Leonard, aided by a colored man, had devised the scheme, prepared the forged Dispensation, conferred the degrees upon the first members, and pocketed the greater part of their fees. Robinson told the victims, some twenty in all, that they had been robbed. They could not be recognized by Grand Lodge and their only redress financially lay through the Grand Jury. Leonard was, after the necessary formalities had been complied with, expelled from Masonry. The members of the clandestine Lodge petitioned to be healed and recognized as a regular Lodge. This petition was referred to the Grand Master, R. W. Winslow Lewis, Jr., the Deputy Grand Master, R. W. Edward A. Raymond, the Senior Grand Warden, R. W. John R. Bradford, the Junior Grand Warden, and R. W. Augustus Peabody, the Immediate Past Grand Master.

At the December quarterly the committee presented the report which follows and the report was adopted.

"Grand Lodge, Boston, Dec. 9, 1846.

The Com. to whom was referred the petition of Messers. Hayden, Thomas and other persons of color, praying to be Masonically legalized have attentively considered the subject, and respectfully ask leave to report.

Your Com. have had several meetings and have given the petitioners a patient hearing. They all expressed high regard for the Institution and a sincere desire to be recognized by the G. Lodge and placed under its jurisdiction. And it is due to them to say, that they conducted themselves with commendable propriety and behaved like good masons. But still, it appeared to your Com. and not to them alone, but to such of our aged and experienced brethren, as have been consulted on the subject, that there were insuperable objections to granting the petition which it is not necessary to mention, especially as it is understood they have concluded (and ere this, have probably carried it into effect) to obtain a Charter from the African Lodge in Pennsylvania. In view of all the facts your Com. are unanimously of opinion that no further proceedings in the premises should be had, and recommended that the petitioners have leave to withdraw:

for the Com.
S.W. Robinson."

This closed the incident.

By applying to the African body in Pennsylvania the petitioners extricated the committee from an embarrassing position. The "insuperable objections" boil down to the color of the petitioners. The Grand Lodge did not wish to charter a Negro Lodge. To have done so would have seriously affected the relations of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts with many,perhaps all of the American Grand Lodges. Many of them would certainly have broken off fraternal relations. On the other hand Grand Lodge did not care to refuse the petition of persons who had been so highly spoken of as individuals on the ground of color. It was not an agreeable position.

At the Annual Meeting December 9, 1846 Robinson was unanimously
 re-elected. . At this meeting a committee headed by Raymond reported adversely on a petition from seven members of the dormant Montgomery Lodge, then located at Medway, to have their Charter returned. The report was very severe. The committee reported that in 1829 the Lodge had a fund of $2,322. Of this amount $370 had been divided among the members and the rest lost through mismanagement. The committee was "adverse to granting the prayer of the petitioners, or in any way encouraging their reorganization into a Lodge of Masons.*' They recommended "that the Grand Secretary be directed to demand the Charter and such other property as may have escaped the general wreck.

The petitioners, nothing daunted, came back with a new request, which was referred to a new committee with power. The petitioners were given a hearing and at the September quarterly the committee reported that they had been satisfied as to the good faith of the petitioners and had returned the Charter.

At the March Quarterly of 1847 Grand Master Robinson again addressed the Grand Lodge with heartening words as to conditions and prospects. He said "At no period since the introduction of Freemasonry into this country has it held a higher place in public estimation, or have its prospects been more gratifying and encouraging than at the present moment." This was not only true in Massachusetts, but there was a notable revival of activity in Maine, New Hampshire and even in Vermont "where all seemed lost and trampled in the dust."

The Grand Master called attention to the fact that it was proposed to call a Convention at Baltimore in the coming September for the purpose of forming a General Grand Lodge and asked the Grand Lodge to take the matter under consideration. There is a pretty strong hint that he favored the idea.

The matter of a General Grand Lodge was referred to a committee. The committee reported in June to the effect that it was not expedient to form a General Grand Lodge and not expedient to send a delegate to the Convention. Augustus Peabody, the chairman, attached a memorandum to his signature. He had signed in the interest of harmony. He was, however, inclined to believe that a General Grand Lodge "with limited and strictly defined powers" might be a good thing, and he thought Massachusetts ought to be represented at the Convention in any event. There was a good deal of discussion and the question was divided. That we did not want a General Grand Lodge was voted with very little opposition. That we would not be represented was voted by a rather close division.

This was the nearest Massachusetts ever came to sanctioning the General Grand Lodge idea. Even the influence of such acknowledged leaders as Robinson and Peabody could not move the Grand Lodge from its settled position. The Convention was duly held, however, and the proceedings sent to this Grand Lodge. They were referred to committee which tersely reported that Grand Lodge had passed on the matter and there was no reason to re-open it. It would not stay closed. In December, 1849, Rhode Island sent a draft for a constitution for a General Grand Lodge. As usual this was referred to a committee. The matter was before Grand Lodge for nearly two years, and a committee report (not now in existence) was made on the subject. Finally the Grand Lodge, in utter weariness laid the whole thing on the table. Once more in September of 1853 a partial Convention was held in Lexington, Kentucky, attended by Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York whose proceedings were were in due time communicated to Massachusetts. The usual committee was appointed and on its report Grand Lodge voted in June, 1854 to take no action. So far as Massachusetts is concerned this definitely closes the General Grand Lodge question. Attempts to organize persisted elsewhere down to 1859 after which the Civil War prevented further effort and the project was never formally revived. Some favorable sentiment was developed during and immediately after the World War, but it was perfectly evident that a General Grand Lodge was impossible.

An interesting result of the persecution is seen in action taken at the March Quarterly of 1847. Union Lodge, of Nantucket, had been dormant and now sought revival. It petitioned the Grand Lodge and the committee to which the petition was referred reported a curious state of affairs. The Lodge owned a building valued at about two thousand dollars which was held by Trustees. The number of trustees became reduced to two and there seemed danger that the Lodge might have to disband. The Lodge decided to convey the property to the Coffin School Corporation, and did so. The Corporation was to pay three quarters of the income to the Lodge, retaining the other quarter in consideration of the privilege of admission to the school of the orphan children of deceased Masons on the same terms as the children of the Coffin family. There are several recorded cases where Lodges put their funds into the hands of outside corporations with proper safeguards for the Masonic use. Union Lodge, however, made the mistake of providing in the conveyance that if the Lodge should disband the School Corporation should have the property without limitation as to its use. The committee pointed out that this placed the property forever beyond the reach of the Grand Lodge and administered a sharp rebuke to the Lodge for exceeding its Masonic and moral rights. The committee thought, however, that the Lodge had acted in good faith, not at all realizing the impropriety of their action, and not being familiar with the Grand Constitutions as they stood at the time (1835). In any event very little could be done about it. They therefore recommended that the Lodge be allowed to retain its Charter and it was so voted.

The school in question was endowed in 1827 by Admiral Sir Isaac Coffin, Coffin was born in Boston in 1759. He entered the English navy young, rose to the full rank of Admiral, was made a Baronet for his services, and sat for some years in Parliament. He was descended from Tristram Coffyn who came to America in 1642 and settled in Nantucket in 1660. The Admiral was always keenly interested in America and being possessed of large wealth endowed the school which was to be open free to all descendants of Tristram Coffyn. Later the school was opened to all Nantucket children. It is still in active operation as the Coffin High School.

During the summer of 1847 President James K. Polk made a short visit to Boston. As he was a member of the Fraternity he was invited to visit a Special Communication of Grand Lodge to be called to receive him. He declined the invitation on the ground that the brevity of his stay in Boston made it impossible for him to find the necessary time.

At the Annual Communication of 1847 Robinson was re-elected Grand Master.

At the June Quarterly an invitation was received from the Grand Master of the District of Columbia to unite with his Grand Lodge and other Grand Lodges in laying the corner stone of the National Washington Monument in Washington on the fourth of July. The invitation was unanimously accepted and the Grand Master was requested to attend with such other Grand Officers as could conveniently do so. The delegation which attended was made up of Edward A. Raymond, Charles W. Moore, Winslow Lewis, Jr., and Albert H. Kelsey. Kelsey was not a member of Grand Lodge, but was a member of St. Andrew's.

At the September Quarterly the Grand Lodge exhibited its usual magnanimity in dealing with the case of one Thomas H. Rice. It appeared that just before the Morgan excitement Rice had joined Farmers Lodge in Sterling. That Lodge was very new. It had been chartered only in September 13, 1826, and did not survive the persecution. Shortly after his initiation Rice was put under much pressure from two friends, on one of whom he was largely dependent for employment, to renounce Masonry. He was very poor and feeling that he must not lose his employment, he did renounce. He later realized that he had done wrong and this was emphasized by the fact that while temporarily living in Ohio he had been very ill and was most kindly attended by the Masons around him in spite of what he had done. On his return he sought healing. The committee to which the petition was referred was a very strong one, every member having lived as a Mason through the persecution. In its report the committee recited the condition of Rice's renunciation and expressed every sympathy with those who had similarly renounced under pressure. They said "If indeed any such persons do now deeply and earnestly repent, there seems no good reason why they should not be restored to fellowship." "The policy of such restoration we think quite as evident as the kindness." They recommended that Rice be restored, and it was so voted.

In the summer of 1848 a petition for a Lodge was received from certain Brethren in Honolulu, Instead of exercising his power of dispensation the Grand Master, feeling the need of advice, referred the matter to a committee. The committee reported at the September Quarterly that they had made inquiries as to the character and standing of the petitioners, some of whom were personally known to members of the committee, and recommended that a Dispensation be issued in the usual form. The report was accepted and the Dispensation was probably issued, but no Charter was ever issued.

At the same Quarterly the Grand Lodge passed a very sensible vote. Some papers had come from France to St. John's Lodge and were by it referred to Grand Lodge. The usual committee was appointed and submitted the report which follows:-

"Boston, Sept. 13, 1848.-

The Com. appointed at the last communication, to consider the propriety of sending an address of congratulation to the G. Lodge of France, upon the late events which have relieved the Fraternity in that country from many vexations and onerous restrictions of the late Government, which Com. was appointed in consequence of certain papers received from St. John's Lodge, have attended to the duty assigned them and ask leave to report.

That under present circumstances they consider it inexpedient for this G. Lodge to take any order on the subject.

All of which is respectfully submitted.
Signed.

  • Geo. G. Smith,
  • John R. Bradford,
  • Wm. Eaton,

Com.

The report was adopted.

The Revolution of 1848 had just cast out Louis Phillippe and set up the precarious and short-lived Second Republic in France. During the reign just ended the French Lodges had dabbled in politics and had been placed under police control. It was hoped that the new government, which contained several Masons, would be more friendly to the Fraternity. French Masonry, however, was in a very bad condition. A bitter contest was being waged between the Grand Orient and the Supreme Council. What the attitude of the new government would be toward either or both rivals was uncertain. Between doubt and dissent the Fraternity was in a condition of extreme depression. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was wise in its decision to keep entirely aloof.

During the whole of this administration the Grand Lodge was busy at the task of reconstruction. Only two new Lodges were chartered it is true, but there was a steady stream of reissues and renewals. Many of these cases, some of which we have looked at, presented problems which taxed the wisdom and patience of the Grand Lodge. Many blunders had been committed and some wrongs had been done, though not by Grand Lodge. During the twenty years since the persecution began the Lodges had suffered much harm. The leaders of the older time were dead or growing old. The new men who were taking their places were eager and enthusiastic, but inexperience and not infrequently ill-informed. We shall see abundant evidence of this a little later when the number of new Lodges increased and Grand Lodge committees had to deal with the by-laws, sometimes crude and ignorant of Masonic fundamentals which they submitted for approval. The wisdom and patience of the Grand Lodge never failed. Reconstruction brought its problems, different indeed from those of persecution, but hardy less difficult. In paying due honor to those heroic souls who guided our Craft through the persecution, we must not forget the praise and gratitude we owe to their immediate successors.

At the Annual Communication of 1848 Edward A. Raymond was elected Grand Master, receiving 86 out of 90 votes cast.

Raymond was born in Holden February 6, 1791. While he was a boy the family moved to Shrewsbury, where he was brought up on a farm. After spending some time in Richmond, Virginia, with an older brother, he returned to Massachusetts and took a position in Cambridge. His next step was a grocery business in Boston. He later engaged extensively and very profitably in real estate operations. He was for a considerable time an appraiser at the Boston Custom House. He died very suddenly on August 4, 1864 at his home in Brookline.

Raymond's Masonic record is a very peculiar one. He was initiated in Amicable Lodge in 1816, but did not take membership. He affiliated with St. John's Lodge in 1838, dimitted in 1841, affiliated with The Massachusetts Lodge in 1843 and dimitted in 1853. It thus appears that during a Masonic life of about fifty years he was a Lodge member for only about thirteen years. He was Grand Marshal in 1833,1834, and 1835, Senior Grand Deacon in 1845, Senior Grand Warden in 1846, 1847, and 1848 and Grand Master in 1849, 1850, and 1851. He was never Master of a Lodge. He was curiously insensitive to the importance of Lodge membership although active and interested in Grand Lodge matters. In 1842 he presented an organ to the Boston Temple. As a Past Grand Master, though unaffiliated, he was frequent in attendance at Grand Lodge and served as a member and Secretary of the Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund and a Trustee of the Temple property.

His chief interest was in the so-called higher degrees. He was Grand High Priest of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter, Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal find Select Masters, Grand Master (as it was then called) of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and General Grand Treasurer of both the General Grand Chapter^ and the General Grand Encampment. He became an Active Member of the Supreme Council in 1844 and its Sovereign Grand Commander in 1857. In this capacity he became the leading figure in an unfortunate controversy, which is not a part of this story, which rent the Supreme Council in twain in 1860 and was not settled until 1867.

This election was far from being a harmonious one. While Raymond had all but four of the votes cast for Grand Master, a sharp contest developed over the Senior Grand Wardenship. The leading candidate was Gilbert Nourse, and his nearest competitor was Thomas M. Vinson. On the first ballot, with four candidates, Nourse led by four votes. On the second ballot, with three in the field, Vinson led by one vote, while on the third, with only two candidates, Nourse led by one vote. As there seemed to be no chance that either could get the required two thirds a recess of five minutes was taken and then, on motion of Winslow Lewis, Jr. the Grand Lodge took the unprecedented step of appointing a nominating committee. The committee nominated J. J. Loring for Senior Grand Warden, and Vinson for Junior Grand Warden, and they were elected. Loring was Grand Treasurer and had held the office for twenty-two years. Vinson was elected Senior Grand Warden the next year. Nourse disappeared as a candidate finally, although he lived to be a very old man. Moore was re-elected Recording Grand Secretary on the first ballot, but with only four votes to spare.

The determined effort to elect Nourse, who had held several offices in Grand Lodge, and the drive against Moore would indicate a considerable feeling of opposition to the administration. It had no serious consequences however, as Vinson's election as Senior Grand Warden the next year was practically unopposed and Moore's re-election was unanimous.

At the same meeting the Kentucky college again appeared as a suppliant for aid. The College was finding hard going financially and the Grand Lodge had sent out the President, Rev. Dr. Lecock to solicit funds. Lecock was given a sympathetic hearing by the Grand Lodge and his appeal was referred to a committee. The committee's report praised the college highly but declared the inability of the Grand Lodge to make any donation "of an amount proportionate to its importance." They recommended it to the members of the Fraternity for their individual donations. They recommended to the Lodges annual scholarships of $100 which would entitle the beneficiary to tuition, board, fuel, lights, use of the library and lectures, and clothing if under twelve years of age (the college had a junior department). They also recommended subscriptions of $450. to be paid in five annual installments, with interest in advance each year, which would enable the Lodge or Lodges so subscribing to send one student to the college, with tuition and use of the library and lectures without further payment forever.

The report was accepted, but we have no further information as to the success of the appeal. Probably very little money was raised, if any. The report is interesting for the light it throws on the condition of learning and living at the Kentucky college.

In his inaugural address the Grand Master called attention to the differences of opinion among the Lodges in respect to ritual. Confusion in this regard was a very natural, indeed inevitable consequence of the condition which had prevailed for the last twenty years. The Moore Trestle Board had greatly improved conditions, but much remained to be done. Upon the Grand Master's recommendation it was voted "that he be authorized and requested to summon the Lodge to send one delegate each to meet the Permanent Members in a Convention on February 1849 for the purpose of comparing, considering, determining, and adopting a uniform system of work and lectures for all the Lodges throughout this Commonwealth.

The Convention met at the appointed time and held five sessions,
covering two days and one evening. Besides a considerable number of
 Permanent Members, there were delegates from 47 Lodges "being a little
 more than two thirds of all the Lodges in the Commonwealth and about
 five sixths of all that are in active operation." Two Brethren were
 appointed to exemplify the work and lectures as recommended by the 
Baltimore Convention, and two to exemplify the work and lectures as used
 before the Convention sat. Each section was considered, discussed, and 
adopted separately, and the whole was then adopted by a practically unanimous vote. It was voted to present the ritual to the Grand Lodge with a recommendation for adoption. Two brethren, one of those who had exemplified the pre-Baltimore work and one of those who had exemplified the post-Baltimore work, were commissioned to present the ritual adopted by the Convention to the Grand Lodge. This was to be done at the March Quarterly of 1849. This they did and after discussion and amendment, the work of the Convention was formally adopted as the ritual authorized and directed to be used by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. This is the ritual now in use.

At the March quarterly of 1849 the Grand Secretary presented communications from two bodies, each claiming to be the Grand Lodge of New York. That Grand Lodge was again in hot water. The Atwood schism of 1838 was not yet healed and now another and worse even had broken out. There had previously been a split in 1826, but this had been soon healed by a compact made in 1827. The Atwood schism has already been described. The new one arose over a constitutional question. According to the Grand Constitutions all Past Masters were members of the Grand Lodge. The meetings of the Grand Lodge were held in New York City. The June meeting was the annual and was usually well attended by representatives from all over the state. The other Quarterlies were attended by a much smaller number, usually mainly from the near-by Lodges. Amendments to the Grand Constitutions could be made in either of two ways (a) by adoption at two successive June Quarterlies or (b) by adoption at one June Quarterly and acceptance by a majority of the Lodges in the state. At the June Quarterly of 1848 an amendment was proposed restricting the right of Past Masters to vote in Grand Lodge to Immediate Past Masters only. The amendment was accepted by a nearly unanimous vote and sent to the Lodge for ratification. A majority promptly ratified and so reported to the Grand Secretary.

At the March Quarterly of 1849, with the usual small attendance present, eighteen of the twenty-four New York City Lodges were represented, and no Lodges outside the city were represented; one Isaac Phillips, a disappointed candidate for office in Grand Lodge, presented a preamble and resolution to the effect that it was not in the power of a portion of the Grand Lodge to disfranchise another portion of the Grand Lodge, that the pending amendment was unconstitutional and revolutionary, and that any action tending to the consummation of action under it would be void and of no force or effect. The Deputy Grand Master who was presiding, declined to put the motion on the ground that he did not consider it constitutional for one of the quarterly Communications to act on any matter which affected the whole jurisdiction. On appeal the Acting Grand Master's ruling was reversed and the motion was carried.

When the June Quarterly was opened a large number of the opponents of the amendment crowded into the Lodge room and behaved in a disorderly, even riotous manner. The Grand Master was unable to control them, and when he declared the amendment regularly adopted,Phillips sprang up and declared the Grand Lodge dissolved, although Grand Master Willard was in the Chair in full regalia and had opened Grand Lodge in ample form. Phillips then called upon his partisans to organize a Grand Lodge and by voice vote they elected Phillips Grand Master and filled the other elective officers. The rioters took possession of a cash box in the custody of the Grand Secretary containing about $4,000.00 of Grand Lodge money and got access to his office and seized the records and other property. The Grand Treasurer, the only one of the Grand Officers to do so, joined Phillips and took with him about $1,000.00 of the Grand Lodge money. The Permanent Fund of the Grand Lodge was in the hands of Trustees and was not endangered. The Phillips group was made up almost entirely from the New York City Lodges, whose Past Masters resented being deprived of a privilege which, owing to the fact that this Grand Lodge met always in New York City, had given them practically control of the affairs.

Both the bodies claiming to be Grand Lodge circularized the Grand Lodges and it was these papers which came before this Grand Lodge. The papers were referred to a committee consisting of George M. Randall, Paul Dean, Augustus Peabody, Simon W. Robinson, and George G. Smith.

At the September Quarterly the committee brought in a detailed report-setting forth the facts of the case and showing conclusively that there was no merit whatever in the contention of the Phillips Grand Lodge. While expressing deep regret at the unfortunate situation and a hope that better counsels might prevail and harmony restored, they presented a resolution to the effect that the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts recognized without reserve the regular standing of the Grand Lodge of New York of which John D. Willard was Grand Master and would continue to hold fraternal communication with that Grand Lodge and that alone.

The report was accepted and ordered printed and sent to the Lodges, the Officers of the Grand Lodge, and to all the Grand Lodges with which we were in relations.

The Phillips Grand Lodge managed to keep afloat for nine years, after which it was reunited to the Grand Lodge of New York.

We get our last glimpse of the Masonic trouble of New York in a report submitted to and adopted by our Grand Lodge at the December Quarterly of 1853. It appeared to have become necessary to take action governing the admission of visitors who claimed to be New York Masons. From this report it appears that there were then five different classes of Lodges in New York.

  1. The Grand Lodge of the State of New York, of which Reuben H. Walworth was Grand Master in succession to Willard.
  2. The Phillips Grand Lodge.
  3. The St. John's Grand Lodge. Atwood had just revived this schismatic body already described and it had three Lodges in obedience.
  4. Two Lodges acting under Warrants from the Grand Lodge of Hamburg.
  5. Two clandestine Scottish Rite Lodges. These were acting under the authority of an utterly spurious Supreme Council started by our old acquaintance, the unspeakable Atwood.

The Grand Lodge voted that no visitor should be received who claimed to be a New York Mason unless he showed a certificate or diploma properly signed and sealed, showing his standing as a member of a Lodge in the obedience of the Grand Lodge of New York (Walworth's). Fortunately this state of confusion did not last very long.

At the June quarterly of 1849 a petition had been received from the Masters and Wardens of three Lodges asking that the fees payable to Grand Lodge be reduced. The matter was referred to a committee which reported at the September Quarterly. The fees then stood at what we should now consider the very modest sum of six dollars a year from each Lodge and five dollars for each initiate.

Reading between the lines of the report it is evident that the three Lodges did not stand alone, but were spokesmen for a considerable and very dangerous feeling that the fees were excessive.

The committee dealt with the whole matter patiently, considerately, and thoroughly. They showed that the demands of the Grand Lodge had always been moderate, that they had been voluntarily reduced during the lean years, and they had only been raised again when prosperity had returned to the Craft, and then only to a point which insured the amount necessary to provide for the bare necessities of the Grand Lodge. The proposed reduction "would reduce it to the unenviable alternative of starvation or begging." The report contained a moving appeal to the better nature of the Brethren for the adequate but modest support of the Grand Lodge. The report closed with a recommendation that no change be made in the fees and that the petitioners have leave to withdraw their petition.

The report and recommendation were adopted.

The matter was revived at the September Quarterly of 1852 by the introduction of an amendment to the Grand Constitutions reducing the fees. The committee to which the proposed amendment was referred reported that it would reduce the resources of the Grand Lodge by more than thirty per cent, referred to the fact that the matter had recently been considered in Grand Lodge and reported against adoption, and the report was accepted.

As usual when the Brethren were made acquainted with the facts and fairly appealed to they responded in good spirit. We hear no more of agitation to reduce Grand Lodge fees.

At the March quarterly of 1850 the Grand Lodge, in response to a request from the Secretary of the Washington Monument Association voted to furnish to the Association a stone of Quincy Granite four feet long and two feet high to be inscribed "Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons Massachusetts, A. L. 5733." The stone was in due time prepared and sent to Washington. They also voted to commend the monument project to the favorable consideration of the Fraternity in the Commonwealth. The Monument Association was having hard going financially, as it was dependent upon private subscription for its funds, The Virginia Masons felt that there ought to be a Masonic memorial to Washington and in 1852 sent a representative to Boston to solicit funds for a Masonic monument to be built at Fredericksburg. The Grand Lodge voted a hundred dollars and circularized the Lodges asking each to contribute from its funds and collect subscriptions from its members. The result was not encouraging and when a representative of the Virginians came around the next year he was rather coldly informed that the Grand Lodge had done all it could and would take no further action.

In the meanwhile the Washington Monument Association had sent in a supply of circulars to be distributed around the Lodges in the effort to convert the Enterprise into a Masonic one. Grand Lodge refused to have anything to do with it. The report, which was accepted by Grand Lodge, set forth that as contributions had been made to the Fredericksburg Masonic monument, further "the National Monument proposed to be erected is not peculiarly a Masonic work but belongs to the nation at large . . . it might seem invidious if this Grand Lodge or if even the Fraternity of Masons of the United States should assume the management of the work or claim the credit of the performance."

The sources of financial support for the Washington National Monument ran dry and work was halted until 1877 when Congress took it in hand and it was finished by government appropriation.

The Fredericksburg project got as far as the carving of a life size statue of Washington in Masonic regalia by the famous Hiram Powers, sculptor of the well known "Greek Slave." This statue was stored for a time in Fredericksburg, but was removed to Richmond in 1863 for supposed greater safety. It was unfortunately destroyed in the disastrous conflagration which swept Richmond after its evacuation by the Confederate army. Many years were to pass before the George Washington Masonic National Memorial was built at Alexandria.

In 1850 a committee recommended that definite seats should be assigned to Permanent Members and District Deputy Grand Masters, on the right and left respectively of the Grand Master. This established the seating arrangement still in use. They recommended a jewel (a square suspended in a circle) for Proxies and a regulation that neither Proxies nor Permanent Members should be allowed to vote in Grand Lodge unless wearing their jewels except by vote of the Grand Lodge. These recommendations were not carried into effect.

In March 1850 the Office of Grand Chorister was erected. He was to be appointed by the Grand Master and was to be solely responsible for the music in Grand Lodge. This office continued for a considerable number of years, but was finally allowed to lapse. At the same Communication the library question came up again. As so often before it was started from the beginning with the appointment of a committee "to consider the expediency of forming a Masonic Library for the use of the Grand Lodge." The report as usual favored the project, but was more constructive than its predecessors. It recommended a standing committee on Library, and an appropriation of $100.00 for the purchase of books, together with other measures looking to the permanency of the work. The recommendations were adopted and in due course a constitutional amendment was adopted providing for a standing Committee on Library. From this time forward the Library is a vital and essential part of the Grand Lodge activity. It was to suffer a disaster some years later in the burning of the Winthrop House and its contents, but was never again to be suffered to lapse entirely.

It appeared that the work of the Committee of 1849 which, with the final acceptance by Grand Lodge, standardized the ritual throughout the state stood in need of supplementary work. It was accordingly voted at the December Quarterly of 1851 that in addition to the constitutional two Grand Lecturers a District Grand Lecturer should be appointed for each Masonic District. These District Grand Lecturers were to meet the regular Grand Lecturers annually at the December Quarterly, compare their ritual, correct errors and bring the whole into uniformity, so as to secure absolute agreement in ritual throughout the state. This was done until a degree of uniformity had been secured which could be safely left in care of the Grand Lecturers.

The approach of the centennial anniversary of George Washington's initiation moved the Grand Lodge of Mississippi to circularize the Grand Lodges, proposing a general observance on November 4, 1852. The Grand Lodge concurred and appointed a committee to arrange the celebration. There was a procession, oration, and dinner on the anniversary day. On Washington's birthday, February 22, 1853, a public meeting was held in the Temple and an oration was delivered by Rev. Bro. William R. Alger.

Alger (1822-1905) was one of the leading Unitarian ministers of the time. At this time he was a member of Washington Lodge. He served as Grand Chaplain for seven years and for some years was Chaplain of the House of Representatives. He later removed to New York and took a dimit from his Massachusetts Lodge. He was much in demand as a public speaker and was the author of many books of a theological and historical character.

At the September Quarterly of 1850 a communication was received from the Grand Lodge of Louisiana, reciting that a body had been set up in that state calling itself a Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of the United States and assuming to constitute Symbolic Lodges. The Grand Lodge promptly put itself on record in no uncertain terms. It considered "such arrogation of authority as deserving the reprobation of every member of the Fraternity who desire the harmony, efficiency, and perpetuity of our Ancient Institutions." "No body of Masons has any right to constitute Symbolic Lodges except the Grand Lodge of the state. All Lodges constituted by any other authority are clandestine; Massachusetts will hold no Masonic communication with such Lodges no matter by what name they are called; Massachusetts Lodges are forbidden to hold any Masonic communication with any such Lodges or their members, or with any Masons who acknowledge any such spurious authority as that under which the said clandestine are held." This action, together with that taken on the New York situation, shows that the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was determined to keep itself unspotted by any taint of clandestinism. It would have nothing to do with it directly or indirectly.

At the September Quarterly of 1851 a committee was received from the Grand Lodge of California which has much interest. The Grand Lodge of California had been formed in April, 1850. The prevailing conditions were peculiar and difficult. The gold rush of 1849 had brought hordes of people, among them many Masons,to California. Many of these people had come inadequately prepared to care for themselves. Ordinary sickness was rife. There had been an epidemic of Asiatic cholera in 1850. There had been a disastrous flood in the Sacramento Valley. The Masons and Odd Fellows of Sacramento had joined in establishing a hospital to care for their Brethren. They had exhausted their resources and incurred a debt of some $14,000 which they were unable to meet. The Grand Lodge of California did what it could and voted to send out an appeal to the other Grand Lodges for aid.

Our Grand Lodge expressed their highest commendation of the conduct of the California Brethren and declared that they had earned the undying respect and gratitude of the Craft everywhere. Grand Lodge appropriated $100.00 regretting inability to do more, and appealed to the. Lodges for contributions. The Lodges contributed $240.00. The appeal brought in to the Grand Lodge of California something more than $4,000.


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