RIBarneyMerry29
Contents
BARNEY MERRY LODGE #29
Location: X
Chartered By: X
Dispensation Date: date
Charter Date: date
Current Status: status
PAST MASTERS
NOTES
Meeting date: Third Tuesday
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
ANNIVERSARIES
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
BY-LAW CHANGES
HISTORY
Early in the year 1872 a number of Masonic brethren belonging to Union Lodge No. 10, Pawtucket, consulted in regard to the expediency of starting a new Lodge in Pawtucket. After considering the matter in all its bearings, it was deemed proper to undertake such a movement. Union Lodge at that time had a very large membership and some of the conditions incident to so numerous a membership seemed somewhat prejudicial to the furtherance of Masonic principals and to the brethren. It was accordingly decided that the best thing which could be done under the circumstances was to establish a new Masonic Lodge.
In the initial discussion of pertinent matters, it was understood by the movers for the new Lodge that before any petitions for the degrees should be presented in the new organization, the name of each applicant should be communicated to every brother of the Lodge, and if any one of the brethren expressed the slightest objections to the receiving of the petition, proper measures would be taken to avoid its presentation in open Lodge. It was thought that by pursuing such a course some of the difficulties which had manifested themselves in the older Lodges would be avoided. It was also felt that in taking such a course an applicant would be left free to apply to any other Lodge without prejudice to himself.
The promoters of the movement also desired to make the new Lodge a social body. It was not expected, nor desired that a large membership should be gathered, but rather to have a moderate-sized Lodge consisting of intimate, genial, and social members who should be friends and brothers in a very real sense.
At a meeting held May 15, 1873, it was voted to apply for a Charter and at the same meeting a code of by-laws was adopted. On June 26, 1873, the newly chartered Lodge was constituted by services held under the direction of M.W. Br. Nicholas Van Slyck, Grand Master. The officers-elect were duly installed by R.W. Bro. E.L. Freeman, District Deputy Grand Master, to whose care the Lodge was assigned. Barney Merry Lodge entered upon its organic life, taking in name from a very eminent and prominent craftsman in the jurisdiction, namely, Barney Merry who was Grand Master of Masons in Rhode Island during the years 1829-30 and also in the years 1840-41.
The present condition of Barney Merry lodge is alike gratifying and encouraging. The unwritten law, approved at the outset in relation to the accepting of petitions, has become a dead letter; yet the good judgment exercised in the careful scrutiny of petitions has prevented unworthy applicants from being admitted. A hearty and cordial feeling between the members has been maintained from the beginning to the present time. Some differences have occasionally arisen between the Mother Lodge and its child but those differences have been mainly obliterated. The kindliest feeling now prevails between the two bodies and between the membership of both organizations. The Lodge has before it a prospect of still wider and more important usefulness.
