MassachusettsHamiltonHistoryCh33
CHAPTER 33: WAR AND PEACE
Leon M. Abbott was elected Grand Master at the 1916 Annual Communication.
Leon Martin Abbott was born in Richmond, N.H. August 28, 1867. He was educated in the schools of Keene, N.H. and at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard College and the Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1891 and practiced law in Boston until his death in 1932.
Bro. Abbott never would accept any public office, elective or appointive. He was a Trustee of the Massachusetts Savings Bank and of many estates. He was a member of the American, Massachusetts and Boston Bar Associations and of several of the best social clubs.
M. W. Bro. Abbott was raised in Columbian Lodge in 1894 and was elected its Master in 1905. He served the Grand Lodge as District Deputy Grand Master for the First Masonic District in 1908 and 1909, and as Senior Grand Warden in 1913. He was Director of the Grand Lodge from 1920 to 1923 and a Trustee of the Masonic Education and Charity Trust from 1925 until his death.
In the collateral branches of Masonry he was a member and Past High Priest of St. Paul's Royal Arch Chapter and served as Grand King in the Grand Chapter. He was a member of Boston Council and Boston Commandery. His career in the Scottish Rite was a distinguished one. A member of the Boston Bodies of the Rite, he was Thrice Potent Master of Boston-Lafayette Lodge of Perfection and was made an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council in 1906 and an Active Member in 1909, Deputy for Massachusetts in 1909 until his election as Lieutenant Grand Commander in 1911 he became Grand Commander in 1921 end held that office at the time of his death.
M.W. Bro. Abbott was a man of fine appearance and engaging personality. He was a very attractive speaker and the skillful user of an unusually fine voice. He had a sense of humor, and often used it to light up what he was saying. His death was very sudden and came as a shock to his many friends and admirers.
One of Grand Master Abbott's first acts was to send a mission of momentous importance to the Canal Zone. We had then three Lodges on the Canal Zone and a petition for a Dispensation for a fourth. A Grand Lodge of Panama had been organized and had requested recognition. Our own affairs on the Zone needed to be better organized. The question of recognition of the Grand Lodge of Panama needed careful examination, and the problem of the relations of our Canal Zone Masonry with the Panamanian Grand Lodge if and when recognized needed careful study. Grand Master Johnson had not succeeded in finding Grand Lodge members of sufficient rank to be given such a mission and the matter was in abeyance.
Grand Master Abbott arranged with M. W. Melvin M. Johnson to go to the Zone as a Special Deputy, accompanied by R. W. William H.L. Odell, who had been Deputy Grand Master in 1908. M. W. Bro. Johnson's Commission gave him very wide powers and unlimited discretion in their use. He was empowered:
- To open a Deputy Grand Lodge for the purpose of the appointment and installation of a District Grand Master for the Canal Zone.
- To deliver a Dispensation to certain Brethren in Paraiso (Pedro Miguel), Canal Zone, who have petitioned to be formed into a Lodge.
- To hold one or more Lodges of Instruction, or Exemplification of the work and ritual.
- To make inquiry concerning the newly organized Grand Lodge of Panama and report to the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts upon the advisability of recognizing the said Grand Lodge of Panama.
- To negotiate the terms of a Treaty and execute a Protocol with the said Grand Lodge of Panama regarding the relations of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts with the said Grand Lodge of Panama, such Treaty to have no force or effect until the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts shall extend Masonic recognition to the Grand Lodge of Panama and shall ratify such Treaty. Said Protocol may establish such relations temporarily and until such Treaty .^hall he ratified by both Grand Lodges or shall be rejected by either of them.
- To do and perform all such acts for the good of the Graft in the Canal Zone as the Grand Master would himself have power to do if personally present.
- In all these matters to act or refrain from action in the exercise of the Special Deputy's discretion.
The embassy was successful in every particular. A District Grand Master was appointed and installed, the Dispensation was delivered, a Lodge of Instruction was held, and a Treaty and Protocol were drawn up. M. W. Bro. Johnson reported in full to the March Quarterly, The embassy reported at length on the Grand Lodge of Panama and recommended recognition. The Treaty was presented to the Grand Lodge with a recommendation that it be ratified. Both recommendations were unanimously adopted.
The Treaty ceded to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts full Masonic sovereignty over the Canal Zone. To all intents and purposes the Canal Zone is Masonically as much a part of Massachusetts as the city of Boston. The Treaty was ratified by the Grand Lodge of Panama February 15, 1917.
The reception accorded to the embassy by the Grand Lodge of Panama was most cordial and fraternal. These Panamanian hosts vied with each other in the warmest possible expressions of.personal and fraternal regard. The sincerity of their expressions is shown by the fact that from that day onward the closest and warmest relations have existed between the Grand Lodge of Panama and the Grand Lodge of the Canal Zone, as well as the distant Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
The District Grand Lodge of the Canal Zone has become a most important outpost of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. It has been the custom of every Grand Master to make an official visit to the Canal Zone. On such occasions the Grand Lodge of Panama always exerts Itself to show every possible honor to our Grand Masters. Whenever any officers or members of our Grand Lodge visit the Canal Zone unofficially courtesies are always extended to them by officers of the Grand Lodge of Panama. This fraternal relation is most delightful and helpful to all concerned.
In February, 1917, the State Tax Commissioners made formal rulings that under the provisions of a recent Income Tax Law, our Lodges were required to file returns and pay taxes on income from taxable securities and interest on bank or trust company balances. There was doubt whether the legislature intended to tax these properties but the language of the statute left the Tax Commissioners no option. Grand Master Abbott secured an extension of time for filing returns and at once arranged for the introduction of an exempting statute. There was considerable legislative opposition but an act was finally passed exempting from taxation income and personal property of fraternal societies, orders, and associations. This applied to taxes levied for 1916 end 1917. Meanwhile considerable confusion arose. Demands for statements and payment continued to come from local collectors, and some Lodges paid. The Grand Master reported in December that the matter was finally settled. Demands were to be met by statements of exemption. There had been some disinclination on the part of the Tax Commissioner's office to accept the new law as applying to Masonic oodles, A ruling by the Attorney-General settled the question in favor of the Masonic bodies and taxes already paid were abated.
On April 17, 1917, the United States entered the World War. Of the causes of the War and of the reasons for our entrance it is not necessary to speak here, From that time until the end of the War, its echoes are heard in all the proceedings of this Grand Lodge. The War hung over us like a dark cloud. We shall hear constantly the reverberations of its thunder.
In June, 1917 came the bicentenary of the United Grand Lodge of England. The War prevented the English Grand Lodge from holding the elaborate celebration which would have taken place in normal times. This Grand Lodge observed the bicentenary at the Quarterly on June 12, 1917. M. W. Charles T. Gallagher presented a very interesting and valuable paper on the formation of the Grand Lodge of England, tracing the development of operative into speculative Masonry, the early history of the Grand Lodge of England and the somewhat later division into the "Ancients" and "Moderns,' united in 1813. A very Interesting address was also made by Very Worshipful and Reverend F.J. Foakes-Jackson,D. D., Canon of Peterboro and Past Grand Chaplain of the United Grand Lodge of England.
A decision was made at the June Quarterly which is of considerable value as a precedent. Eleven members of St, Johr^s Lodge, of Newburyport, protested the action of the Master in balloting on a certain candidate. The protest was referred to a Committee which reported Its findings and recommendations at the June Quarterly, The Committee found that the names of several candidates for the ballot were borne upon the notice of a meeting to be hold February 1, 1917. Among them was an applicant who had been once rejected. While the By-laws had no provision covering the order of business, it was the custom to ballot before the degree work was taken up. When the name of the previously rejected candidate was reached the Secretary reported that only one member of the investigating committee had sent in a report. The Master explained the constitutional requirements as to balloting and closed by saying "and no action can be taken at this time," This was interpreted by those present as meaning that no ballot would be taken at that meeting and several left before the meeting was closed. The Master, meanwhile, had proceeded to confer the Entered Apprentice degree upon five candidates. Between the sections of the degree there was a recess for dinner. Before the degree work was finished the two missing reports were handed to the Secretary. After the degree work was finished the Master opened the Lodge on the third degree and proceeded to ballot, at about eleven o'clock in the evening, and the ballot was clear. The protest claimed that members of the Lodge were by this procedure deprived of their votes. The Committee found that while there had been no intention on the part of the Master to deprive any member of the vote, the somewhat ambiguous remark of the Master, coupled with the custom of the Lodge, did in fact mislead the members and caused some who wished to vote to lose the chance to do so.
The Committee recommended that the ballot be declared void and another ballot be taken at the next regular meeting. The recommendations were adopted by the Grand Lodge. By so doing the Grand Lodge demonstrated its disposition to do substantial justice even by disregarding technicalities. It served clear notice that every precaution must always be taken to secure to every Mason the right to cast his ballot on applicants, and that his right must not be abridged by balloting at unusual and unexpected hours.
At the June Quarterly M. W. Charles T. Gallagher presented a memorial regarding the Grand Lodge of France. After reciting the action of the Grand Lodge in refusing recognition to the Grand Lodge of France and citing the reasons therefor, he spoke of the relations now existing between our two countries and said that he had reason to believe that the Grand Lodge of France was ready, if it had not already done so, to take measures which would bring their ritual within the requirements of the English speaking Grand Lodges and so remove tie barrier to recognition, The memorial closed as follows: "let us extend to the Brethren of the Grand Lodge of France our expressions of good will, and by sending a copy of this memorial, say to than that whenever they can adopt in their Grand Lodge the spirit herein expressed as a part of their Masonic principles, and embody in their Constitutions a belief in Deity or a recognition of the Supreme Being in all their obligations, we shall hail with delight the opportunity to be the first to extend to them the right hand of fellowshlp, and enter into fraternal and official relations with them as one of the Masonic powers of the world."
The memorial was received and the Grand Secretary was directed to send a copy to the Grand Lodge of France and to request an answer stating the action of the Grand Lodge and the form in which such action would appear in their Constitutions. This the Grand Secretary promptly did. At the December Quarterly Grand Master Abbott referred to the matter at some length. Before the memorial and vote could be sent to France a communication had been received from the Grand Lodge of France soliciting the opening of fraternal relations. No answer having been received from the Grand Lodge of Franc, the Grand Master had directed the Grand Secretary to send a duplicate of his former communication. This was done, but no answer was received then or ever. Grand Master Abbott referred to the matter again at the June Quarterly of 1918, and said that under the circumstances he had no option but to continue our altitude of non-recognition.
The question of Army Lodges was raised shortly after our entrance into the War. Grand Master Abbott did not wish to warrant any, although several Grand Masters in other states did so, and none were warranted by Massachusetts. In order that Massachusetts Masons might not be neglected he appointed Special Deputies in places where there were considerable numbers of our members. Nine were so appointed, seven with the army and two in the navy. These Deputies did excellent work, organizing Masonic clubs, looking after the interests of individual Masons, and in general making our Brethren feel that they were not forgotten at home. The war brought about a very great increase in Masonic activity. It was early foreseen that many interjurisdictional questions would arise. The differences in the laws of Grand Lodges were liable to cause friction unless a definite policy could be adopted. Grand Master Abbott adopted the policy of recognizing as regular whatever was regular where it was done. This liberal and sensible policy has been followed consistently . ever since and has worked to harmonize the relations between this and our sister Grand Lodges. Seeing clearly that the War would bring calls for relief of our Brethren in the service and their dependents which would exceed the resources of our charity funds Grand Master Abbott at the September Quarterly af 1917 set in motion the machinery to raise a War Relief Fund. The Lodges responded loyally and when the lists wore closed after the armistice $165,754.90 had been paid in. The expense of collecting was $1,112.72, almost entirely printing and postage. A theatre was built at Camp Devens as a recreation center at a cost of about $3,500. $250. was granted to the Lodge at Ayer to help them to keep their apartments continuously open, and $5,000. was sent to the American Masonic Mission In Paris, France. All other expenditures were for the direct relief of individuals. The War Relief Fund has been kept segregated and available, principle and interest for the purpose for which it was raised. The demands upon it are likely to increase as the ex-soldiers grow old and feeble and their dependents come into need. At present, however, the relief extended by governmental agencies so far exceeds expectation at the time the fund was raised that the interest is not being spent and the fund is accumulating. At the close of the fiscal in 1938 the assets of the fund exceeds the original contributions by nearly $23,000.
At the September Quarterly of 1917 a Committee was appointed to prepare a general revision of the Grand Constitutions. We were still using the code of 1843. There has been many editions and some revisions, but none of a thoroughgoing character. A very great number of amendments had been made and much need existed for a thorough revision and codification.
The Committee presented a full revised code which was adopted at the December Quarterly of 1918. The code of 1843 was still the basis of our legislation. The matter was rearranged and the sections numbered on a new system which made references much easier. The Constitutions as they stood were clearly stated and each section was provided with marginal references which make it easy to trace the development of legislation on each subject. These notes cover amendments, Grand Lodge votes, and Grand Masters' decisions. The revision of 1918 was a great accomplishment. By far the greatest part of the creo.it for it belongs to M. W. Melvin M. Johnson, the Chairman of the Committee. He brought to it his great legal and Masonic knowledge and ho personally performed the great labor or preparing the marginal references.
Before the end of 1917 the necessity for food preservation became pressing. Grand Lodge co-operated loyally with the government throughout the war At the December Quarterly of 1917 the following rules, suggested by the Federal Food Commission for Massachusetts were read by the Grand Master and compliance was pledged by him.
- Lunches, suppers, collations, and banquets should be so arranged as to take the place of a regular meal of the members, and not constitute a fourth meal. (This excellent custom has been generally followed ever since, to the great benefit of the health of our members.)
- On Tuesdays and Fridays no meat of any sort (including poultry) was to be served. On other days no beef, mutton, or pork was to be served. No bread, rolls, or crackers made wholly of white flour w«n» to be used at any time. The amount of sugar to be used in cake or for any other purpose was to be strictly limited (later the sale of sugar was narrowly defined.)
Of course conditions caused countless parades and demonstrations of one sort and another. Masonic Lodges were often asked to participate. At the December Quarterly of 1917 Grand Master Abbott stated that he had refused all requests for permission to participate in such parades and should continue to do so. He said, "It is one of the oldest principles of our conduct that we participate publicly in nothing that is not strictly Masonic." He cited especially the Grand Lodge's refusal of Masonic participation in the commemorative procession at the death of George Washington. Surely if there was an occasion on which the Masonic rule might be expected to be relaxed, this was it, it is worth noting that Josiah Bartlett, then Grand Master had served in the Revolutionary Army and Navy for more than half a dozen years.
Early in December of 1917, the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, suffered a terrible disaster. A French steamer carrying three thousand tons of T. N. T. collided In the harbor with a Norwegian steamer on its way to Belgium with a relief cargo and blew up. About one tenth of the area of the city was devastated with a loss of near fifteen hundred lives an d thirty millions of dollars in property. On hearing of the disaster, Grand Master Abbott at once arranged with the Masonic Education and Charity Trust to appropriate a thousand dollars for relief and telegraphed to the Grand Master of Nova Scotia authority to draw on the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts for that amount. The contribution was gratefully received and tie promptness of our action made it doubly welcome.
Early in 1918 another question of taxation arose. Section 701 of the War Revenue Law imposed a ten per cent tax on "any amount paid as dues or membership fees (including initiation foes) to any social, athletic, or sporting club or organization." Did the law apply to Masonic Lodges as "social" organizations. There was much confusion on that point in the minds of the officials of the Internal Revenue Department. Some Grand Lodges had been told that the law did apply, and some that it did not. The same confusion existed with some contradictory rulings regarding subordinate Masonic bodies. Grand Master Abbott took the matter up with the local officials, end, with the assistance of R. W. Allen T. Treadway, a Member of Congress from Massachusetts, with the authorities in Washington. The result was a ruling from Commissioner Roper which exempted Masonic bodies from the operation of the law. In referring to the matter at the March Quarterly, Grand Master Abbott said; "l am much less troubled about the danger of being required to pay a tax, vexatious and unjust as I believe it would be, than I am to have our time-honored institution put into the class with social, athletic, and sporting clubs. In a national government designation. Such regulation will be resented by every true Craftsman."
The Grand Master made an important ruling at the March Quarterly of 1918. The Grand Constitutions contained, and still contain, a provision, running back to the Anderson Constitutions of 1723, that "No Brother shall be elected Master of a Lodge who has not served at least one year in the office of Warden." Could a Brother who had only served one year as Warden in a Lodge Under Dispensation be elected Master? The Grand Master, after some discussion of the matter, ruled that service for a year in a Lodge Under Dispensation qualified for election as Master.
At the same March Quarterly of 1918 the Grand Master issued an important warning against proselyting. The War was bringing in a great Influx of new members and there were some signs of slight demoralization. The Grand Master issued the warning because impressed by the need of it and especially because of a recent transgression of this exclusive precept of Freemasonry which had come to his knowledge.
At the same Quarterly the Grand Master called attention to the unsatisfactory ritual for funerals which had been in use for many years and announced the appointment of a Committee consisting of R. W. Bro. Edmund S. Young, Frederick W. Hamilton, Frank E. Sawin, Herbert W. Chase, and Wor. and Rev. Francis L. Beal to prepare a revision. The Committee brought in the result of its labor at the June Quarterly, It was voted, on motion of the Chairman of the Committee, that consideration of the ritual be deferred until the September Quarterly and that in ore meantime it be printed and sent to the Lodges, This was done and the ritual was adopted at the September Quarterly. The ritual is still in use and has proved generally satisfactory. It is so arranged that it is a complete and sufficient service if used by itself, but with certain indicated omissions it may be used fittingly in connection with a regular religious service.
On May 9 and 10, 1918 Grand Master Abbott attended a conference of Grand Masters called by the Grand Master if New York for the purpose of considering what action, if any, could be taken by Grand Lodges which would be helpful to members in the military and naval services. Thirteen Grand Lodges were personally represented and a large number of others sent letters expressing sympathy with the purpose of the conference and regretting that personal attendance had not been possible.
The situation was a difficult one. All the Grand Lodges were desirous of serving Masons in the service. The Red Cross, the Y. M. C. A., the Salvation Army and the Knights of Columbus, being national organizations were recognized as relief agencies by the War Department and had definite lines of work. The organization of the Masonic Fraternity, having no central authority with which the War Department could deal, rendered such recognition and co-operation impossible. Obviously the War Department could not deal with forty-nine independent units. Even its existence of a National Grand Lodge would not have helped the situation unless such an organization had authority and control over all the Grand Lodges. Such an organization has always been quite impossible.
M. W. Townsend Scudder, Past Grand Master of New York, took a leading part in the movement. He and others had waited on the War Department and learned that there was great need of peaces to which Masons could go and enjoy, to some extent at least, club facilities in European cities to which the soldiers were permitted to go on furlough. These cities were spoken of as recreational centers. There ought to be in those centers places where American soldiers could go for advice, and for direction to lodgings and proper amusement, and where they could write letters, spend their time, and center their activities generally.
The result was a scheme of co-operation with the Y. M. C. A., many of whose workers were Masons, through the American Masonic Mission was opened in Paris, and some sixty centers such as have been described were opened in different places behind the lines. It was much less comprehensive than we would have liked, but the system worked well and did an immense amount of good.
The War brought a great increase of work to our Lodges, particularly to those in Ayer and Cambridge, In both places the usual summer vacations were omitted and many special meetings were held. in addition to the applicants received by the Lodges a great amount of courtesy work was done for other jurisdictions, all without cost to the jurisdictions so helped. At Ayer, owing to the immediate proximity of Camp Devens, the Masonic Apartments were kept open continuously. By far the greater part of the work, however, fell upon Caleb Butler Lodge. St. Paul Lodge had always met by day light and was unwilling to change the custom of a century and a quarter. The soldiers, however, were not permitted to leave camp until evening, and so were unable to make much use of St. Paul Lodge. In Cambridge there was a Radio School and an Aeronautical School, resulting in a great concentration of young men. Many were Masons and many wished to be. The Cambridge Lodges not only served these young men Masonically, but arranged excursions, social functions and many other provisions for their happiness. Officers and members of the Lodges alike gave themselves wholeheartedly to the work and earned great credit for their efforts.
The financial condltion of the Grand Lodge had been a cause of anxiety for some time. The increasing calls for expenditure and the need of establishing now services for the benefit of the Craft showed clearly that the regular resources of the Grand Lodge were not sufficient for its needs. There was a. flat tax of ten dollars a year on all Lodges. At the September Quarterly of 1918 an amendment to the Grand Constitutions Was passed adjusting this ho the membership of the Lodges. An additional tax was levied of ten dollars for each one hundred members or fraction thereof in excess of two hundred. This wan a small measure of relief. The very great increase of initiation brought further additional revenue and the situation was temporarily eased. Later as we shall see the condition had to be met in more comprehensive fashion.
The birthday of Lafayette fell on September 6. Grand Master Abbott was desirous of having the event noted in Grand Lodge, as requested by the President of the United States, By the Grand Master's direction the September Quarterly was devoted in part to a recognition of the birthday and the Grand Secretary presented a biographical paper on Lafayette, dealing largely with his military and political activities in France his return from his American service.
At the March Quarterly of 1919 Grand Master Abbott Issued an important ruling on the subject of Wardens. His ruling was that "a Warden has no right to raise a candidate or occupy the Master's chair except in his own Lodge." The ruling stands on the laws of this jurisdiction.
At the June Quarterly the Grand Master reported that a plan for the Masonic Service Association of the United States had been adopted at a largely attended conference of Grand Masters held in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, during November of 1918. Its object was stated to be "the service of mankind through education, enlightenment, financial relief, and Masonic visitation, particularly in times of disaster and distress, whether caused by war, pestilence, famine, fire, flood, earthquake, or other calamity." It was especially emphasized that it was not desired in any way to bring about a National Grand Lodge. The Grand Master gave his personal approval and said that he believed the Massachusetts ought to be a member. The matter was referred to the Grand Master with full power. At the September Quarterly the Grand Master reported that he had not taken action, not because of lack of approval, but because there seemed to be no urging and because he thought that in so important a matter there ought to be a direct vote of the Grand Lodge. The plan of organization was read in full and the Grand Lodge voted to assume membership in the Association.
The War had ended with the Armistice on November 11, 1918. The United Grand Lodge of England held a Peace Jubilee in London June 23 to 30, 1919. Invitations wore sent to tie Grand Master and the Grand Secretary to attend as the representatives of Massachusetts. The invitations were accepted, and arrangements, including steamship reservations, were made for the trip. At the very last moment the exigencies of very important litigation in which the Grand Master figured importantly compelled him to cancel his arrangements. The Grand Secretary was, therefore, the sole representative of Massachusetts, being provided with a special Commission to represent the Grand Master and the Grand Lodge.
The representative of Massachusetts was accorded all the consideration due to the senior Grand Lodge in the Western hemisphere. On all occasions he was assigned precedence next after Ireland and Scotland and was one of the three delegates from overseas to speak at tie central meeting of the week, the great Jubilee Communication of the Grand Lodge in Albert Hall. The Jubilee was a great success. There were represented the Grand Lodge of Ireland and Scotland, sixteen Grand Lodges from the United States, and fifteen Grand Lodges and District Grand Lodges from , the British Dominions.
It had been supposed that this great gathering would be used for a conference upon matters of Masonic moment. All this was car fully avoided. It was just a happy gathering of Masonic Brethren happy in the associations formed and rejoicing in each others welfare. As such its benefits to the Craft, though intangible, were if incalculable value. It was the first of several such international gatherings which have perhaps been the most powerful agencies in uniting Freemasonry and establishing a firm sense of its abiding unity, Massachusetts was very fortunate in participating In the really epoch making event, and has lost no opportunity to participate in similar events which have followed. A full and complete report was rendered to the Grand Lodge at the September Quarterly.
On September 9, 1919, occurred the famous police strike, or more properly; mutiny, in the city of Boston. Practically the entire police force refused duty when the change was made from the day to the night shift. The city being left without protection the night which followed was marked by rioting, looting, and all forms of disorder. The Quarterly Communication of the Grand Lodge fell on the next day. The resolutions which follow were offered in Grand Lodge, received with enthusiasm and adopted by unanimous rising vote.
Resolutions Regarding Liberty Under Law.
R. W. Frederick W. Hamilton, Grand Secretary, read the following resolutions and moved their passage.
Whereas, The City of Boston was last night the scene of an exhibition of violence and lawlessness such as must bring shame and indignation to 8very true American, and
Whereas, This occurrence was made possible because the sworn defenders of the peace of the community, refusing to submit their cause to the decision of the courts, deserted their posts of duty in the effort to settle by coercion the question at issue between themselves and their lawful commanding officers, and
Whereas, This disregard for the law on the part of its sworn officers not only opened the way for an outbreak on the part of the lawless and criminal elements of a great city, but by example encouraged it; be it therefore
Resolved, That the Freemasons of Massachusetts in Grand Lodge assembled express their unalterable attachment to the principles which have been fundamental to organized Freemasonry for more than two hundred years, namely, that the liberty of every citizen is the highest aim of the state; that such liberty is to be sought under a government of laws, not of men; that such liberty is possible only when all obey the laws which all have made that without such obedience to law on the part of all citizens free democracies are impossible; and be it further
Resolved, That Americans today face no more important task than that of asserting and maintaining the supremacy of the law of the land and resisting any and all efforts by whomsoever to undermine and destroy that law-abiding spirit and habit which is the foundation-stone of our liberties; and be it further
Resolved, That this Grand Lodge request the Grand Master to communicate these resolution to His Excellency the Governor of the Commonwealth and to His Honor the Mayor of Boston with the assurance that the eighty thousand citizens here represented offer full sympathy end whatever aid may be possible in their efforts to assert and maintain the supremacy of the law and to protect the peace of the community.
At the December Quarterly of 1919, the following amendment to the Grand Constitutions was adopted.
"An application which has been received in Lodge may not be withdrawn but must go to ballot. If the ballot is favorable, the application may then be withdrawn with the consent of the Lodge, in which case the status of the applicant is the same as before the application was presented."
The election resulted in the choice of Arthur D. Prince, of Lowell, to be Grand Master.
Arthur Dow Prince was born in Lawrence, July 5, 1867, but in boyhood removed to Lowell where he was educated in the public schools. He took up business pursuits and has always been motive in business life. He was much interested in the National Guard and commanded a company for ten years, 1886 to 1896.
He took his degrees in William North Lodge in 1891 and was its Master in 1904. He was Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts in 1920, 1921, and 1922 and has served the Grand Lodge as Relief Commissioner since 19e| . He was elected a Director of the Grand Lodge in 1982 and has held that office ever since. After serving as District Deputy Grand Master and in other positions in the Grand Lodge he became Grand Master at trio Annual Communication in 1919, as already stated.
He has been very active in the collateral Masonic bodies. He was High Priest of Mount Horeb Chapter and Grand High Priest. Master of Ahasuerus Council and Grand Master of the Grand Council. He held Office for a time in the General Grand Council, but resigned in 1916. He is a Past Commander of Pilgrim Commandery, A member of the Scottish Rite bodies in Lowell and of Massachusetts Consistory, he is a Past Most Wise Master of Mount Calvary Chapter of Rose Croix. He became an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council in 1917 and was crowned an Active Member in 1930.
Grand Master Prince brought to the service of the Grand Lodge a wide and varied experience in business end Masonic affairs. Endowed with tireless energy, he was calm and noised, kindly, sympathetic, and genial, yet inflexibly firm when necessary. As Grand Master and as Relief Commissioner his work has been of outstanding excellence.
At the March Quarterly in 1920 Grand Master Prince called attention to the danger of the admission to the Fraternity of unfit persons through careless and imperfect investigation, and said that cases had been reported where this danger had been realized. The great number of candidates knocking at our doors was making this danger, always present, more than usually acute. He had therefore had prepared questionnaires to be answered by applicants and by members of investigating committees and urged their use by all Lodges. These questionnaires soon came into general use and have ever since been used. to the grant advantage of the Fraternity.
At the June Quarterly the Grand Master spoke of the number of requests being received from foreign Grand Lodges for recognition. He reminded the Grand Lodge that some years previously a Committee had been appointed to deal with the questions, but owing to the confusion incident to the World War the Committee had felt unable to act intelligently and, at its own request, had been discharged. The time had now come for a new consideration of the question and he appointed a new Committee, consisting of M. W. Melvin M. Johnson, R. W. Roscoe Pound, and R. W. Frederick W. Hamilton, to take the matter in charge.
The Committee made a report of progress at the December Quarterly. It reported a resolution calling upon the Masonic Service Association to make a study of the subject and report the result of their investigations to the member Grand Lodges. The resolution was adopted, but there were no satisfactory results.
At the Quarterly Communication in September, 1922, the Committee, now increased by the addition Of M. W. Leon M. Abbott and Wor. William M. James, reported introducing an Amendment to the Grand Constitutions (Section 714) setting forth definitely the conditions required for recognition of a foreign Grand Lodge. The amendment was accepted at the December Quarterly. With one slight change the law still-stands and has been of great value. When a request for recognition is received and referred to a Committee, the Committee has only to pass upon the fact involved and report accordingly. This is a great improvement over the somewhat hap-hazard investigations formerly made. Our rules for determining these cases has since been adopted by several very important Grand Lodges.
The death of R.W. David Urquhart, District Grand Master for Chile, in 1919, raised the question of the contlnued administration of our Chilean Lodges. Our three Lodges in that country are so widely scattered that the functioning of a District Grand Lodge was very difficult, if not impossible. It had been our hope and that of our English Brethren in South America that it might be possible to conclude a treaty with Chile under which we might operate amicably but Independently in Chile among Americans and British, but not among Chileans. That did not appear possible. There was even a certain restlveness among the Chileans over the existence of e foreign Grand Lodge in their territory. For these reasons Grand Master Prince announced at the June Quarterly of 1920 that he had dissolved the District Grand Lodge of Chile, and reinstated the Chile Masonic District with a District Deputy Grand Master in charge. This arrangement still stands and seems likely to be permanent.
In June of 1920 a divisional meeting of the Masonic Service Association was held in Boston at which were presented the new and definite objective of the Association. Originally organized under the stress of war conditions the general objective of the Association was the unifying of the resources of the Fraternity for aid in case of war, flood, pestilence, or other calamity calling for Masonic relief on a large scale. This objective has never been lost sight of and invaluable service has been rendered in several emergencies. But emergencies are only occasional and it was felt that some service must be offered of a permanent and continuous sort as the Association would die of inanition.
Under the wise and able leadership of M. W, George L. Schoonover, Past Grand Master of Iowa, the Mesonic Service Association adopted Masonic education as its permanent objective. The purpose was to spread information which would make clear the fundamental principles of Freemasonry and to develop and interpret those principles in a way to make plain to every Mason his duty toward his God, his country, sad his fellow men, translating the ideal into terms of practical civic duty. The means were to be by developing a bureau of volunteer speakers in every state who would be ready to serve the Fraternity by giving a portion of his time to preaching this gospel of Freemasonry in the Lodges of the state. The Association undertook to prepare material for the use of these speakers.
The proposition was enthusiastically received by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. The work began at once and at the December Quarterly the Grand Master was able to report that the names of over two hundred Brethren who were willing to undertake this service had been listed and card-indexed in the office of the Grand Secretary, At the June and December Quarterlies of 19'1 the Grand Master spoke of the success of the lecture system in Massachusetts and elsewhere and urged its wider use upon the Masters of the Lodges,
At the December Quarterly the Grand Master reported that he had received from the Masonic Secretaries' Association a paper too long to be read to the Grand Lodge at that meeting. The Secretaries realized the fundamental weakness of the system In use. It was aimed at the instruction and inspiration of the Master Masons. Only a few of the great number of our members could be reached in this way. The interest was liable to flag after the novelty had worn off, and this, indeed, was what happened. The Secretaries suggested that instruction of a non-ritualistic character should be given to the candidate during his advancement through the degrees in addition to the usual instruction in the work and lectures of the degrees. The Grand Master thought consideration should be given the preparation of a small printed booklet containing in concise and readable form the salient facts and ambitions of Freemasonry to be pieced in the hands of each initiate soon after the acceptance of his application. We were making greet numbers of Masons, but they were in too many cases merely drifting through, asking the light and willing to work, but unable to obtain the necessary knowledge. He said "facing the fact that a large percentage of our present membership is not five years old in Masonry, we must attend to these things with great core if we expect our Institution to continue to exist as it is at present constituted. If we do not, we may expect to see a great change in the conduct of our organization, with a strong tendency toward the extreme progressive type of thought and action."
This overture of the Masonic Secretaries' Association was the precursor of the most important development in our Masonic methods in many years.
During 1922 the state was definitely organized to carry on the Masonic Service Education program. R. W. Charles B. Burleigh was appointed State Chairman in charge of the work and the District Deputy Grand Masters were to serve as District Chairmen.
At the March Quarterly of 1923 Grand Master Ferrell said: "During the year the Masonic Service Association meetings have begun and continued in many of our Lodges and Districts, and while it is true that results are not all that could be desired, yet no one will deny that the profit obtained hie more than repaid for the effort made. If there are any who may be prone to pronounce the effort a failure, we would ask them to suspend judgment." He said that a definite program must be provided and accredited speakers furnished and this material must be used universally. For lack of these things "Lodges become the recipients of certain emphasized ideas which have no place in the Masonic Lodges of Massachusetts and are worse than valueless as factors in our Masonic education."
At the June Quarterly the Grand Master said,"We are becoming more and more impressed with the necessity of making all possible provisions in our order that our membership not only may but shall become cognizant of and fully understand what Masonry is, what its purposes are and when it may or may not speak with en authority that is recognized."
Two things are quite clear: the need for Masonic education was being felt more and more acutely: the system presented by the Masonic Service Association was showing its inherent weakness. The Association was publishing very helpful material, including fin excellent monthly magazine, The Master Mason, and much good was really being accomplished, but the vast task of educating the great body of Master Mesons was becoming more and more evidently hopeless.
At the December Quarterly of 1924 the Grand Master announced that he had appointed a Committee, consisting of M. W. Melvin M. Johnson, R. W. Frederick W. Hamilton, and Wor. John A. Avery to prepare plans for Masonic Education «nd report to the Directors. The plan reported and adopted by the Directors called for extra-ritualistic instruction by means of printed matter and through the use of qualified lecturers who should explain the construction, operation, government, and meaning or Masonry. A portion of this instruction was to be given to the candidate as he advanced, while a portion was for Master Masons. This plan combined the Masonic Service Association idea with that which had been urged by the Secretaries' Association.
In 1928 further advance was made by the enlarging of the Committee on Education and giving it an entirely new membership representation of the different sections of the state. A Department of Eduction was organized and a Director was put in charge. The definite plan for setting up the machinery for carrying the plans for Masonic education into effect came from the keen mind of Wor. T. Rutherford Edwards, a Certified Public Accountant, who was a Past Master of Revere Lodge. The plan was to take Masonic education out of the Lodges and put it into the hands of separate organizations to be known as Lodges of Instruction. The Lodges and their Masters in each Masonic District were to be organized into Lodges of Instruction, warranted by the Grand Master. The Lodges of Instruction were to meet regularly in some convenient place in the District, not necessarily always the same place, and e«ch constituent Lodge was to send its candidates there for instruction. This was to be a part of the "suitable proficiency" required for advancement, and candidates could not be advanced or permitted to sign the by-laws until the instruction had been received. The instruction was to be purely extra-ritualistic and nothing relating to ritual was to be allowed in the instruction. The first Lodge of Instruction was Warranted in the First Masonic District on May 27, 1927.
Membership in the Lodge of Instruction was entirely voluntary; it was hoped that they would rapidly increase and they did so. There was, however at first considerable opposition, caused mainly by the apprehensions of the Lodges and Masters. There was, of course, the general distrust of novelties in Masonry which is one of the most deep seated, and one of the healthiest characteristics of the Fraternity. There was fear that some of the rights and prerogatives of Lodges and Masters would be abridged by the new bodies. There were a few who did not believe in the idea anyway. The Grand Lodge, with its usual wisdom, made no effort to force the pace. Every effort was made to commend the idea to the Lodges and it gradually gained ground.
By December 1935 all the Lodges in the state except three were enrolled in Lodges of Instruction. The time was not ripe for constitutional action. There had been constitutional provisions for Lodges of Instruction since 1843, and several had functioned. These Lodges of Instruction had taught ritual only. The need for them had ceased to exist. Adequate systems of Instruction in the ritual within the Lodges, supplemented by the annual exemplification accomplished all that was necessary along ritualistic lines. At the December Quarterly of 1933 the old provisions were repealed. A new set of regulations was adopted without opposition placing the sanction of law behind the actual practice. All Lodges were required to be members of Lodges of Instruction, but membership of the Lodges of Instruction might be changed from time to time at the discretion of the. Grand Master. The other provisions simply matched current usage into law.
All candidates are required to take the instruction and plans are made to check and report their attendance.
Each Lodge of Instruction has a list of officers, elected at an annual meeting. The Lodge hay an executive committee consisting of the Masters and Wardens of all the constituent Lodges. The committee has general charge of the work of the Lodge and of the preparation ol urograms and the choice of instructors and speakers. The Lodges are under the general charge of the Director of Education, and all of course, under the direction of the Grand Master.
The programs, including lists of speakers and topics for that part of the meeting which is open to Master Masons and candidates alike, are published for a year in advance and circulated among the constituent Lodges. The attendance of Master Masons at the Lodges of Instruction is gratifyingly large and tends to increase.
The great influx of candidates during Grand Master Prince's term celled attention to the size of our Lodges, some of which had arrived to unwieldy proportions. A Committee had been appointed in 1919 to consider and report on the matter. M. W. Melvin M. Johnson was the Chairman and the Committee studied this matter very carefully. At the June Quarterly of 1920 it presented a very detailed report, running to twelve pages in the printed Proceedings. The Committee presented an amendment to the Grand Constitutions limiting the number of candidates which Lodges might receive annually. The amendment was referred to a Committee, of which M. W. Leon M. Abbott was Chairman. The Committee reported at the March Quarterly of 1921, The Committee held a hearing in Boston, notice of which was sent to all the Lodges in the state. Many Brethren appeared and many more sent letters to the Committee. As a result of the investigation the Committee recommended that the amendment be not adopted and it was so voted.
The matter, however was by no means dead. Agitation was resumed in 1929 and at the March Quarterly of 1931 another amendment was proposed limiting the amount of work which might be done by Lodges. it was referred to a Committee of which M. W. Melvin M. Johnson was Chairman. The Committee reported at the Quarterly in June that it had invited expressions of opinion from all Grand Lodge officers and Lodge Representatives and had held a hearing. The Committee thought that there should be further conferences and discussion before presenting the amendment to the Grand Lodge for action. The report ends: "In order that the matter be kept before Grand Lodge until such time as the next administration may deem it advisable to bring it to vote, the Committee recommends that the proposed amendment be laid on the table and the present Committee discharged." In the meantime the financial crash of the fall of 1929 had inaugurated a long period of depression which seriously affected the Craft. Initiations fell off to a point where they were far below losses. Membership readily dwindled. There ceased to be any question of limiting work and the problem of growth gave place to the problem of existence. The Fraternity faced the condition bravely. No Charters were surrendered, and the Grand Lodge carried on without Incurring any financial deficits, but the proposed amendment slumbered peacefully on the table.
At the March Quarterly of 1921 Grand Master Prince made an important ruling in elucidation of Section 405 of the Grand Constitutions. The Section reads: "While in active service any merchant-marine, or any soldier, sailor, or employee of government whose duties under official orders in ordinary course require his absence for indefinite to extended periods from his legal residence, whose application has never been rejected and who (at the time of application) has not actually resided continuously for six months within the jurisdiction of some particular Lodge, may apply to any Lodge having jurisdiction over a port, post, or station where he is officially commorant."
The question was whether the Section gives the Lodges referred to the same jurisdiction as Lodges ordinarily have over persons resident within their territory, and can such jurisdiction as conferred be waived.
The reply was in the negative. The regulation was not primarily for the purpose of securing to the Lodges control of materiel within a certain area but rather to make it possible for certain enumerated persons to become members of the Fraternity, which under the general regulations would be impossible on account of the conditions of their life. No jurisdiction is conferred by the Section which can be waived.
In February of 1921 Grand Master Prince made an official visit to the Canal Zone District. Grand Master Benton had personally constituted Sojourners Lodge, but this was the first official visit made by a presiding Grand Master since the creation of the District Grand Lodge of the Canal Zone, The visit was of the greatest value in inspiring the Lodges on the Zone and in confirming the friendship between the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts end the Grand Lodge of Panama. It was considered so important that every succeeding Grand Master, with a single exception has made an official visit to the Canal Zone District.
At the June Quarterly of 1921 the Grand Master called attention to the large attendance at Grand Lodge meetings especially the Annual and the resulting confusion in voting at the election of officers. It was difficult for the Proxies to know whether the Lodge representatives were present or not and consequently whether or not they were entitled to vote. He reccomended the erection of a Committee to consider the matter. A Committee was appointed with M. W. Leon M. Abbott as Chairman.
The Committee reported in March, 1922. It was emphasized that the Grand Master did not mean to imply that there was any fraudulent voting, even in contested elections; any mistakes which might have been made were purely innocent. An examination of the record covering many years showed that in no case, even of a contended election, had the number of votes actually cast been within a hundred of the votes that might have been cast. The habit of casting a single vote by each attendant was so firmly established that there was little or no reason to think that the number of votes allowed each Lodge, had been often, if ever exceeded, though possibly the vote might not have been cast by the right persons. The attendance of all these Representatives and the Proxy was very uncommon. The Committee had carefully studied the subject and considered a number of suggestions of other methods of voting, but had not been able to find a better one. The Committee therefore recommended that legislation was not advisable, stating that the Grand Master had seen their proposed report and concurred in their finding. The report of the Committee was accepted and adopted.
During 1921 an Important legal question arose end its settlement created a valuable precedent. Fraternal Lodge, of Hyannis, had for nearly or quite a century owned and ocoupled a Masonic Temple. A favorable opportunity had presented itself for the sole of the property and the Lodge desired to sell. An examination of the title showed that it stood in the name of Fraternal Lodge, This meant that every member of the Lodge and all the heirs of deceased members, had a legal interest in the property. To receive a release from all these persons was manifestly impossible. The Grand Lodge filed a petition in the Land Court making claim, under the provisions of Section 305 of the Grand Constitutions, that the fee of the property rested in the Grand Lodge. The petition was duly filed and after a hearing the Land Court handed down a decision allowing the claim and registering the title to the property in the name of the Grand Lodge. The Directors then sold the property and turned over the proceeds to Fraternal Lodge. The decision set an important precedent and also emphasized the importance of having Lodge property held by a corporation or a board of trustees.
Another important legal matter come up this year in connection with the estate of William H. Williams. In 1904 the executor of Bro. Williams' estate paid over to the Grand Lodge approximately $1S5,000.00 under a provision of the will which made the Grand Lodge residuary legatee. The money received was to be held until it amounted to $500,000.00 and then it was to be used "for the establishment and maintenance of a home for needy and indigent Masons in Boston and vicinity, to be known as the Williams Masonic Home."
In 1921 the money had increased to over $527,500.00. What was to be done with it? When Bro. Williams died the Grand Lodge had no Masonic Home. It now had one well established. It seemed a wasteful and unnecessary duplication to establish a second one in Boston. It was decided to petition the Supreme Court for a decree asking that the Grand Lodge be allowed to use the money for the building and maintenance of a building in connection with the home at Charlton, to be known as the Williams Masonic Home or by some other appropriate distinguishing title. After several hearings the desired decree was Issued by the Court and a brick building was added to the Home, now known as the "Williams Building." This decree was issued under what is known as the cy pres ,a doctrine whereby in cases when literal compliance with the provisions of a will is difficult or impossible the bequest may be used for a similar purpose not in literal compliance with the prescribed conditions. It is a moral though not a literal fulfillment of the wishes of the testator.
George Washington was initiated November 4, 1752 in the Lodge in Fredericksburg, Virginia, a Lodge supposed to have been working under a Warrant from Thomas Oxnard, the Provincial Grand Master at Boston. There is some doubt about Oxnard's authority, but the evidence favors it strongly. It seemed to Grand Master Prince that existing conditions were such as to make some particular attention to the life and services of Washington highly desirable. He accordingly took the matter up with the District Deputies and also directly with Lodges. Letters were sent out to be read in all Lodges. The Lodges were urged to devote at least a part of the meeting nearest to November to an observance of Washington's Masonic birthday and to use every effort to secure the attendance of as many as possible of those Masons who were younger in their membership. The response was very gratifying. A number of District meetings were held and the occasion was very generally observed in the Lodges. Special emphasis was laid upon Washington's strict adherence to Masonic principles in all the affairs of his life.
At the March Quarterly of 1922 the Grand Constitutions were amended to provide for College Lodges. The provision added to Section 319 is as follows: "If, however, the jurisdictions named in the Charter, shall be a college, university, or other institution, of like character and standing, such jurisdiction shall be limited to, and include only the following viz., concurrent jurisdictions, with the Lodge or Lodges having regular territorial jurisdiction over any candidate who, at the time of application is an officer, instructor, student, or employee in, and who, in addition to having a Masonic residence in Massachusetts, shall have been on the rolls of such college, university, or institution, for six months continuously preceding the date of his application. The special jurisdiction conferred by this section shall not be subject to waiver on the part of the Lodge enjoying it."
Two Lodges are operating under this Section, one in Harvard University and one with Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
At this time occurred an intense revival of activity on the pert of the Ku Klux Klan. One of the features of this activity was an attempt to connect the Klan with Freemasonry and to persuade the public, both Masonic and non-Masonic, that the aims of the two organizations, and to a large extent their membership were identical. Upon this basis efforts were made to persuade Masons to join the Klan. These efforts were extended quite extensively into Massachusetts. While Freemasonry carefully abstains from interference with the affairs of any other organization, this action seemed to call for official notice, Grand Master Prince therefore issued the letter which follows:
Ordered by the Most Worshipful Grand Master to be Read in All Lodges.
To all Worshipful Masters:
Dear Worshipful Brethren:
Every member of this Fraternity knows that one of the great fundamentals of Freemasonry is obedience to and respect for the majesty of the law.
When our Fathers wrote Masonic precepts into the Constitutional law of this Republic, they declared that every man was guaranteed "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." They also declared that every man was entitled to the protection of the law and could not be punished for crime except after due trial by a jury of his peers under duly constituted authority. They also declared that men could worship as they pleased, without interference.
Freemasonry believes that any organization which does not uphold these principles is un-American and un-Masonic.
Within recent months, we have heard a good deal about an organization called the Ku Klux Klan, the principles and financial foundations of were which were thoroughly aired in a congressional investigation from which we learn that the objects of the Klan are political, sectarian, and racial.
As a Grand Lodge, we would take no Interest in this organization but for the claim made by Its officers and organizers that Its membership is largely Masonic and that it has Masonic approval and support. This statement is absolutely false, as the Klan has no connection with and neither does it have the support of any Masonic Jurisdiction; to the contrary, in Jurisdictions where the Klan has been active Grand Masters have repudiated its claims in the strongest terms and some have issued edicts warning their members against the Klan under penalty of Masonic discipline.
It was not supposed that an organization with such principles could gain a foothold to this Commonwealth, but from information I have received, the organization is beginning activities here, making the same false claims of Masonic sympathy.
You have placed in the hands of the Grand Master the honor and reputation of the Masonic Fraternity in Massachusetts and I should fail in my duty if I did not, without fear or favor, warn our membership against a movement which, if not thwarted in its inception, will prove derogatory to the reputation of the Craft in a dangerous degree.
Without hesitation, I declare the Ku Klux Klan an un-Masonic organization, utterly without Masonic support or sympathy.
Its avowed principles violate Masonic law at every point and it would be impossible for me to conceive of a Mason who could so far forget his Masonic teachings as to affiliate with an organization which advocates taking the law into its own hands, condemning men and women in secret trials, and imposing the punishment of the whip, the tar bucket, or unlawful banishment.
How long will It be before the law-abiding people of this Commonwealth visit dire punishment upon those who forget or flout the sovereignty of the law?
This is not an edict against the Ku Klux Klan. We cannot prevent misguided men from joining it and the arm of the law will soon reach those who join in its overt acts, But we must protect the fair reputation of Freemasonry from being spotted by any connection, official or otherwise, with such an organization. No Masonic Temple or Apartments must be used for their purposes, and let every Mason who is tempted to join the Klan consider well if he can harmonize his obligations as a Mason with the principles of the Klan.
Fraternally yours,
Arthur D. Prince,
Grand Master.
At the June Quarterly Grand Master Prince reports as to the letter:
"The reports so far received have been most satisfactory in approval of the position taken and it is felt that whatever success the Klan may have in their Massachusetts work the blame for their acts will not be laid at the door of Massachusetts Masonry.
Since this letter was prepared the opportunity has been offered me for looking over the printed matter of the Klan, setting forth their aims and ideals. They insist that their membership shall be American born - white, of the protestant faith, Perhaps there can be no serious objection to an association with such a platform, although it is much narrower than that of Masonry, The outstanding objection is to the methods which they employ to bring about their desired objects. These methods are indicated in my letter and are a matter of common knowledge."
The Grand Master's action appears to have been entirely successful. There were ho further attempts to connect the Klan with Masonry in Massachusetts.
In 1922 occurred on interesting case of clandestinism. About 1907 one Matthew MoBlain Thompson set up what he called "The American Masonic Federation" in Salt Lake City end began organizing bodies of all degrees in both the York and Scottish Rites. Working through paid agents he established bodies very extensively, some of them in Massachusetts. He set up a very pretentious "chain of authority," all fraudulent, but calculated to deceive anyone not versed in Masonic law and history. He claimed at least ten thousand members and claimed that his dupes could enter any Masonic bodies in the world. Some of his agents were arrested for obtaining money under false pretenses, but it was difficult to obtain conviction owing to local ignorance of Masonic matter.
Finally the Post Office authorities took up the matter and put an investigator on the case who worked at it for two years, going pretty much all over the United States and visiting Scotland and France.whence Thompson claimed to have derived some of his authority. Finally Thompson and his Grand Secretary, Small and Grand Treasurer General were indicted in the United States District Court in Salt Lake City. The presiding Justice of that Court was a Mason and a Justice was brought from Iowa, who was a Catholic, to try the case. By agreement of counsel no regular Masons and no members of Thompson's body were allowed to sit on the Jury. This secured jury of Mormons, who were not friendly to any form of Masonry. Witnesses for the government were brought from Scotland and a number were summoned, several as Masonic experts, from various parts of the United States. Among these was Grand Secretary Hamilton, but he and most of the other American experts called were not put on the stand.
The presiding Justice conducted the trial with most exemplary impartiality. Nothing in his face or voice ever gave the slightest clue to the impression made upon him by the proceedings. Tho jury brought in a verdict of guilty and then, in pronouncing sentence the justice delivered a scorching denouncement of the defendants, Thompson was old and somewhat infirm and the prison sentence imposed was not a long one. In fairness the terms of the other two were made the same. They were sentenced to two years in the Federal penitentiary and fines of $5,000,00 each. The fines were paid and the sentences were served. That was the end of the American Me sonic Federation. The victims were left with nothing to show for the money they had spent.
In 1922 an urgent call came for the Grand Master to visit the China District. The Grand Lodge of Massachusetts began work in China in 1860. Occasionally in more recent years Brethren from China had visited Boston and even sat in Grand Lodge, but no officer of the Grand Lodge had ever officially visited China. Yielding to these urgent requests Grand Master Prince made an official visit to China in the fall of 1922. The visit was a highly successful one. Grand Master Prince was received with the greatest courtesy, not only by our own Brethren and the members of the English and Scottish District Grand Lodge but by important civil authorities. These courtesies included a dinner given him and Mrs. Prince by Hon. and Mrs. J. G. Schurman, American Minister to China and a reception by the President of the Republic of China. While in Peking the Grand Master personally conferred the Master Mason degree upon Dr. Wang Chung-hui, the Chinese Prime Minister. Another incident of the journey was the Constitution by the Grand Master of Hykes Memorial Lodge at Tientsin.
All in all the visit was of the greatest value in encouraging our own Lodges, in strengthening our friendly relations with other Grand Lodges working in Chine, and in enhancing the position of Massachusetts Masonry in the eyes of the community.
The active and important administration of Grand Master Prince cams to a close with 1922. His three years were years of great material prosperity, but prosperity has its problems and pitfalls perhaps as great as those which attend adversity. Grand Master Prince, with great wisdom and foresight, solved the one and avoided the other and left a strong and united organization to his successor.
In the three years the membership grew from 82,410 to 110,018. Thirty-four new Lodges were Constituted or given Dispensations. The amount expended for relief grew from $94,597.30 to $133,600.08. Thirty-five thousand dollars was paid on the Temple debt. In other directions similar advances were marked.
