Difference between revisions of "MassachusettsYear1883"

Latest revision as of 13:58, 9 February 2012

1883

SAMUEL CROCKER LAWRENCE, Grand Master

Note: A fine portrait of Grand Master Lawrence while in office appears following page 1883-207, and above.

Edwin Wright, Deputy Grand Master
Charles Avery, Senior Grand Warden
Thomas W. Davis, Junior Grand Warden

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATIONS

(Held at Masonic Temple, Boston)

• 03/14: 1883-1;
• 06/13: 1883-33;
• 09/12: 1883-120;
• 12/12: 1883-209; (Annual Communication)

03/14 Agenda

• 1883-10: Communication from the "Grand Lodge of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Grand Lodge of Peru‚" requesting recognition; referred.
• 1883-15: Dispute between Bay State and Harmony Lodges resolved; committee discharged.
• 1883-19: Presentation of portrait of Grand Master Bartlett, painted by Carpenter from an original by Gilbert Stuart. Extensive biography of Josiah Bartlett.
• 1883-23: Presentation of portrait of Grand Master Hays, from The Massachusetts Lodge. A biography of Moses Michael Hays.
• 1883-25: Funds appropriated for binding of pamphlets and paper.
• 1883-26: Petition by Good Samaritan Lodge of Reading; referred.
• 1883-29: Assorted appointments by the Grand Master.
• 1883-30: Authorization to produce a new Charter for St. John's (Boston), to replace the lost one from the Winthrop House fire; the current replacement "did not correctly describe the precedence of that Lodge"; this was the lodge's 150th anniversary year.

06/13 Agenda

• 1883-42: Communications from "The Independent Symbolic Grand Lodge of Mexico"; referred.
• 1883-42: Response to the petition by Union (Dorchester), regarding jurisdiction; committee reported that it had "all the immunities and privileges of Lodges located in Boston" by vote of the Grand Lodge in June 1872.
  • 12/12: 1883-281: Petition to assign Dorchester to Union Lodge; referred.

09/12 Agenda

• 1883-126: Reception of M.W. Grand Master Laurie of Nova Scotia, and R.W. Frelon J. Babcock, Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Oregon. Laurie gave a short speech.
• 1883-138: Report of the Committee on Charity.
• 1883-140: Action of the Grand Lodge against Spurious Rites and Degrees; a pamphlet was being circulated to inform the Brethren. The Grand Master "advised that no steps should be taken which might have even the appearance of being the enforcement of an ex post facto law . . . He recommended that sufficient time be allowed all erring Brethren to repent and cease from their evil deeds."

12/12 Agenda

• Recorded in Grand Master Lawrence's address, beginning on page 1883-232:
  • Lodges constituted, officers installed:
    • Satucket, East Bridgewater, held in Boston (05/01)
  • Lodges visited:
    • Joseph Webb, Boston (02/02, address by Past Grand Master Morris of Kentucky)
    • Zetland, Boston (03/16; 15th Anniversary)
    • Hyde Park, Hyde Park (03/27; memorial service for Rt. Wor. Timothy Phelps)
    • Joseph Warren, Boston (03/27)
    • Henry Price, Charlestown (04/11)
    • Lodge of St. Andrew, Boston (04/12)
    • Washington, Roxbury (04/13)
    • Artisan, Winchendon (04/16)
    • Mount Hermon, Medford (05/03)
    • Good Samaritan, Reading (06/13)
    • Montgomery, Lakeville, CT (06/20, by Rt. Wor. Edwin Wright, DGM)
    • King Solomon's, Charlestown (09/11; Special Communication)
    • St. John's (Boston) (10/01; Special Communication, 150th Anniversary)
    • Huntington, Huntington (10/16; "the journey of 238 miles, going and returning, which, however, I did not begrudge.")
    • Mount Hermon, Medford (11/01)
    • Social Harmony, Wareham (11/09)
    • Corner Stone, Duxbury (11/10)
    • North Star, Ashland (11/12)
    • St. James, Mansfield (11/13, remarks on commutation)
    • Huntington, Huntington (11/14; remarks on commutation)
    • Liberty, Beverly (11/19)
    • Charles W. Moore, Fitchburg (11/20, remarks on commutation)
    • Social Harmony, Wareham (11/23; remarks on commutation)
    • Mount Hermon, Medford (12/06)
  • Hall and Building Dedications and Cornerstone Layings:
    • North Star, Ashland (09/20; Special Communication)
    • John Warren, Hopkinton (10/12; Special Communication)
• 1883-250: As part of Grand Master Lawrence's report, the list of lodges and districts that have commuted the capitation tax.
• 1883-262: Petitions by Palestine Lodge in Everett and Mount Vernon Lodge in Malden to define jurisdiction; referred.
• 1883-271: Mount Vernon given Malden; Palestine given Everett.
• 1883-262: Auditing Committee Report.
• 1883-266: Election of Rt. Wor. Abraham H. Howland, Jr., as Grand Master, and other Grand Lodge officers. Remarks by Grand Master Lawrence and Grand Master-elect Howland.
• 1883-273: Presentation of portraits of Grand Master Joshua B. Flint and Grand Master William T. Coolidge; biography of Grand Master Flint.
• 1883-282: Uncommuted Lodges to have their commutation fee reduced by the number of lost members; approved.

Grand Constitutions Amendment Proposals

• 03/14: 1883-13: Proposed amendment to extend the deadline to commute, with interest after a certain date; laid over from December; adopted over the objection of the proxy from King Hiram's Lodge, Provincetown.

• 03/14: 1883-18: Proposal to amend the Miscellaneous Regulations of the Grand Constitutions regarding the sale of Masonic degrees; referred.

• 03/14: 1883-28: Proposal to amend the Grand Constitutions, Part 5, Section 22, regarding prior notice of changes to the Grand Constitutions.
  • 09/12: 1883-128: approved.

• 06/13: 1883-43ff: Proposal to define legitimate Masonic bodies as part of the Grand Constitutions, Part 5, Sections 24 and 25; extensive committee report, including historical notes on "Recognitions or Refusals by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts" beginning on page 1883-50. The committee recommended adoption, which was duly voted.

• 06/13: 1883-70: Proposal to alter the candidate fee to Grand Lodge in Part 4, Article 1, Section 10; referred.
  • 09/12: 1883-130: tabled until the December communication.
  • 12/12: 1883-280: rejected.

• 12/12: 1883-277: Proposal to alter Standing Regulation regarding honorary membership; referred.

• 12/12: 1883-278: Proposal to alter Part 2, Article 1, with a new section on the Grand Charity Fund, and the disposal of the former Grand Charity Fund. Referred

Grand Master's Address

• 03/14: 1883-10; Report on Grand Master's Annual Address of 12/13/1882; referred.

• 12/12: 1883-223: Grand Master's Address; regarding the 150th anniversary of Massachusetts Masonry; the surplus of the "Pensacola Fund"; fire protection; annual returns (1,214 diplomas in 1883); expense reports and commutation; a list of lodges and districts that had commuted the capitation tax; remarks on lodge finances and life membership; the Grand Charity fund; and Grand Lecturers; referred to committee 1883-283.

Lodge By-Law Changes

• 03/14: 1883-9;
  • Full Codes : Morning Sun, Star of Bethlehem.
    • 1883-27: Star of Bethlehem approved; further time requested for Morning Sun.
  • Amendments: Ancient Landmark, Fraternity, Golden Fleece, John T. Heard, Norfolk Union, Palestine, Pilgrim, Warren, Webster.
    • 1883-27: approved, with slight corrections for Warren.

• 06/13: 1883-41;
  • Full Codes : Jordan, Morning Sun, Social Harmony, Starr King.
    • 1883-69: approved with slight changes to each code.
  • Amendments: Beth-Horon, Crescent, King David, Liberty, North Star, Orange, Pacific, St. John's (Boston), Temple, Tuscan.
    • 1883-69: approved.

• 09/12: 1883-126;
  • Full Codes : Hiram, John Warren, Star.
    • 1883-139: approved (Hiram and Star with slight changes).
  • Amendments: Columbian, John Hancock, Mechanic's, Vernon, Warren.
    • 1883-139: approved, with slight changes for John Hancock.

• 12/12: 1883-223;
  • Full Codes : Rabboni.
    • 1883-280: approved.
  • Amendments: Aurora, Dalhousie, Mosaic, Pentucket, St. Alban's, St. John's (Boston), Wilder.
    • 1883-280: approved.

Necrologies and Memorials

• 06/13: 1883-71: Memorial to R.W. G. Washington Warren; remarks given by several Brothers; referred to committee.
  • 1883-132: Memorial presented by Rt. Wor. Francis Childs, for the committee.

• 12/12: 1883-226: Memorials to Bro. Charles R. Vickery, Timothy Phelps, Bartlett Ellis, Stephen B. Ives, Frazier Carlton, William Leavitt, Stephens Baker, Seth Dewing, John Bryant Atwell, Joseph C. Stevens, mentioned in Grand Master's address.

Petitions for Charters

• 09/12: 1883-138; Martha's Vineyard Lodge, Vineyard Haven; on account of fire, a new Charter was granted.
  • 12/12: 1883-283: Thanks from the lodge noted.

• 12/12: 1883-282; United Brethren Lodge, Marlborough, on account of fire, a new Charter was granted.

SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS

• 09/11/1883: 1883-73; Charlestown, Centennial of King Solomon's Lodge.
  • 1883-75: Reception of Grand Master Lawrence and other Grand Lodge officers.
  • 1883-75: Address by Wor. Galen M. Bowditch, Master.
  • 1883-77: Presentation of portrait of Josiah Bartlett, the first Master, and a biographical sketch of Bartlett.
  • 1883-82ff: Address by Rt. Wor. Edwin Wright, Deputy Grand Master, giving a history of the earliest days of King Solomon's Lodge, and short biographies of Bartlett, Eliphalet Newell, Benjamin Frothingham, Joseph Cordis, Major William Calder, Edward Goodwin, David Goodwin and Caleb Swan, the eight original petitioners, as well as several others.
  • 1883-114: Feast of celebration, with an address by Grand Master Lawrence, and remarks by others including the Grand Master of Nova Scotia, Maj. Gen. John Wilborn Laurie.

• 09/20/1883: 1883-142; Ashland. Dedication of the hall of North Star Lodge.
  • 1883-143: Procession by Grand Lodge into hall; welcome by Master of North Star Lodge.
  • 1883-143: Dedication of hall. Address by Grand Master Lawrence.

• 10/01/1883: 1883-146; Boston. 150th Anniversary of the organization of St. John's Lodge.
  • 1883-147: Procession by Grand Lodge into hall; welcome by Master of St. John's Lodge.
  • 1883-148: Address by Wor. Samuel W. Clifford, Jr., Master.
  • 1883-150ff: Very thorough historical address by Rt. Wor. Sereno D. Nickerson.
  • 1883-194: Address by Grand Master Lawrence, and presentation of replacement charter.
  • 1883-197: Presentation of the Bunch of Grapes‚ and a letter from Bro. Enoch Paige.
  • 1883-199: Remarks by Bro. Curtis Guild, President of the Bostonian Society, regarding Masonry in Boston and the Bunch of Grapes symbol.

• 10/12/1883: 1883-204; Hopkinton. Dedication of the hall of John Warren Lodge.
  • 1883-205: Procession by Grand Lodge into hall; welcome by Master of John Warren Lodge.
  • 1883-206: Address by Grand Master Lawrence.

FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

(held at Masonic Temple, Boston, 12/27/1883)

• 1883-285: Opening and roll call.
• 1883-287: Reception of Grand Master Robert Bingham of North Carolina, Past Grand Master Lucius C. Butler of Vermont.
• 1883-288: Grand Master Lawrence's remarks, indicating that the balance of the mortgage debt on the Temple had been paid.
• 1883-289: Installation of Grand Master Howland. Grand Chaplain's prayer; extensive description of ceremonies and words, and other Grand Officers.
• 1883-298: Auditing Committee report.
• 1883-299: Report of Committee on Charity.
• 1883-301: List of lodges not represented in Grand Lodge in 1883, as well as the past 2-7 years.
• 1883-302: List of Grand Lodge Proceedings received.
• 1883-303: List of Diplomas issued (1,317 in 1883).
• 1883-304: Committee on Masonic memorial medal to commemorate the 150th anniversary.
• 1883-304: Feast of St. John, listing toasts and names of speakers.

LIST OF LODGES IN MASSACHUSETTS BY DISTRICT: 1883

There were 28 districts in Massachusetts in 1883, as well as districts for Chile and China. The Grand Master ordered reorganization at the end of 1882.

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