RIManchester12
Contents
MANCHESTER LODGE #12
Location: X
Chartered By: X
Dispensation Date: date
Charter Date: date
Current Status: status
HISTORY
Meeting Date: Friday on or before the full moon.
PAST MASTERS
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
ANNIVERSARIES
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
BY-LAW CHANGES
HISTORY
At a quarterly session of the Grand Lodge of the State of Rhode Island, on November 28, 1808, a petition was presented from a number of Master Masons residing in the town of Coventry, praying for a letter of dispensation to authorize them to form and open a Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons in that town. The petition was accompanied by two certificates signed by the respective Secretaries of St. John’s Lodge No. 1, and Harmony Lodge No. 9, signifying that their lodges had voted their recommending that the prayer thereof be granted. It was then resolved “that the Deputy Grand Master be and he is hereby authorized and requested to give a letter of dispensation accordingly.” The officers named in the Dispensation were Richard Anthony, Worshipful Master; Joseph Rice, Senior Warden; and William Anthony, Junior Warden.
On December 2, 1808, the first meeting was held at the residence of William Anthony. It is not known whether the meeting was held in his home or some suitable building located on his property. The names of Sylvester Knight, John Greene, and Resolved Slack were proposed for the first degree in Masonry. A special meeting was held on December 9th, at which time the above-named were balloted for and were initiated into the first degree of Masonry. They were passed to the degree of Fellow Craft on December 23rd, at which time Brother Sylvester Knight was elected Secretary. On January 6, 1809, it was voted that the regular meetings be held on Friday evenings on or before the full moon, which is still the practice of the Lodge. On February 24, 1809, a meeting of Master Masons was held, at which time the first three candidates, together with fourteen others, were raised to the sublime degree in Masonry. The fees at this time were these: EA degree, seven dollars; FC degree, three dollars; Masters Degree, seven dollars; and membership, seven dollars.
It was the custom in all well-governed Lodges to “propound” the candidates for each degree and for membership in the Lodge. This meant that the brethren had to ballot on the candidate for each degree as he climbed the ladder of the Fraternity.
In 1812, war broke out and brought prosperity to New England, despite cries of poverty by many wealthy and influential politicians. In 1807, there were only fifteen cotton mills, with eight thousand spindles, in the United States. By 1810, there were eighty-seven with over eighty thousand spindles; three-quarters of them located within thirty miles of Providence, and all operated by water power By the end of the war of 1812 there were over half a million spindles in operation. Yet, in the circle of such economic prosperity, there is not one entry made which refers in any way whatsoever to the war or the prosperity it brought to this area of Rhode Island.
The quarters occupied by the Lodge were not entirely finished by Brother Fish, as was the custom of the times. For on October 19, 1812, a committee was appointed to have the “west room” plastered. The size of the room is not stated but the total cost of material and labor was $3.00.
On December 18, 1812, Worshipful Master Richard Anthony was appointed a committee of one to procure a suitable seal for the use of the Lodge. The Master presented the seal to the Lodge at a meeting held on April 9, 1813.
During the time between 1834 and 1851, the brethren met for Masonic fellowship and for encouraging each other in the hard road that was ahead. Some of the years saw only a few meetings held, but members gathered nevertheless. The smallest number of meetings held in any one year was four. Tradition states that many were the times that the brethren met under the cover of darkness. In fact, at some of the annual meetings, no one was present from the Grand Lodge to install the officers. Therefore, the brethren voted that the same officers were to hold their office until the next year.
The Confederates bombed Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, and triggered the War between the States, which plunged the nation into strife and bitterness. Colorful volunteer groups from all over New England set out with high hopes and aspirations, only to find themselves plunged into a bitter blood bath. It is unusual that the records do not mention this bitter war. The only entry which can be tied to this horrible conflict appears September, 1862. At that time, Job Kenyon petitioned to receive the degrees of Masonry in Manchester Lodge. The Worshipful Master stated that Mr. Kenyon was soon to leave for service in the Army and would have to receive his degrees within the week. The Master then appealed to Grand Lodge, which granted a dispensation and gave Manchester Lodge the right to confer the several degrees of Masonry on Mr. Kenyon with in the week. At a special meeting held on the evening of September 10th, all three degrees were conferred on Mr. Kenyon in due and ancient form.
On November 15, 1918, the Lodge held a special celebration victory of the Allied Forces in Europe and successful completion of the War that would end all wars. Special speakers delivered orations about the Utopia that was now ours. Brother George W. Gardner, of Washington Lodge No. 5 gave an interesting account of his recent visit to the front lines and related some of the experiences of the men in the trenches.
Throughout its many years, Manchester Lodge has made innumerable contributions to many social and benevolent organizations, both through its Masonic Service Board and directly. It has also contributed to many medical research organizations and foundations.
Traditionally, the Lodge has held family gatherings and parties for the children of its members, in order to establish fellowship among its families, as well as among its members.
In the spirit of brotherly love, the traditions of our great fraternity have been handed down from generation to generation through the Lodge, and each generation has lived up to the honor of the last. May the Eternal God grant to Manchester Lodge the continuance of His blessing and the joy of fraternal fellowship. May the diligent seeking after the great moral and ethical principles upon which the whole Creation rests lead the brethren of Manchester Lodge into the great Eternal Light which no man can extinguish.
