MassachusettsYear1939

1939

Edwin O. Childs, Deputy Grand Master
George E. White, Senior Grand Warden
Rufus L. Titus, Junior Grand Warden

A picture of Rt. Wor. Henry S. Rowe appeared in the Frontispiece.

1939-59: Introduction of Guests. They were presented and made addresses on Page 1939-105. Grand Master Barrows presented the Grand Master with the Rhode Island distinguished service medal. The Grand Master decorated Most Wor. Duncan McLellan, Grand Master of Quebec, with the Henry Price Medal.
1939-60: Report of the Committee on Records.
1939-100: Report of Committee on Declaration of Principles.
1939-106: Recognition of the National Grand Lodge of Palestine declined (there are conflicts of jurisdiction in Palestine between various constitutions, including England, Scotland, France and Egypt).
1939-108: Recognition of the Grand Lodges at Barranquilla and Cartegena, Colombia, to replace the "Grand Lodge Occidental".
1939-111: Address by Rt. Wor. Ernst Klatscher, former Grand Secretary of the now-dissolved Grand Lodge Lessing of the Three Rings of Czechoslovakia.

06/14 Agenda

1939-196: Introduction of Guests. They were presented and made addresses on Page 1939-254.
1939-196: Report of the Committee on Records.
1939-201: Radio address by Most Wor. Frederick W. Hamilton on "The Masonic Fraternity".
1939-203: Radio address by Grand Master Perry on "Freemasonry and Good Citizenship".
1939-246: Motion to amend the Charter under the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, adding statements regarding the purposes of the corporation. Referred.
1939-247: Chile earthquake relief report, and correspondence regarding the conditions in St. John's (Concepción). Also, a contribution for the effort from Sinim Lodge.
1939-252: Reduction of fees authorized for Samuel D. Sherwood Lodge; declined for Macedonian, Milton, St. John's (Newburyport), St. Mark's ("The fees proposed are very substantial reductions from the present fees and are lower than those charged by any Lodge in these districts at the present time.")

09/13 Agenda

1939-287: Reception of Most Wor. N.S. Turnbull, Jr., Grand Master of Masons in Virginia.
1939-287: Report of the Committee on Records.
1939-318: Budget for 1940.
1939-327: Reduction of fees authorized for Milton Lodge.
1939-335: Remarks by guests.

12/13 Agenda

1939-372: Introduction of Guests. They made remarks on Page 1939-459.
1939-372: Report of the Committee on Records.
Recorded in Grand Master Perry's address, beginning on Page 1939-407:
- Anniversaries:
  - Hope, Gardner (02/16; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
  - Belmont, Belmont (03/02; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
  - Wayfarers, Swampscott (03/06; 25th Anniversary; Special Communication)
  - Tahattawan, Littleton (03/27; 10th Anniversary; Special Communication)
  - Sagamore, West Medford (04/17; 25th Anniversary; Special Communication)
  - William Parkman, Winchester (05/16; 75th Anniversary)
  - North Star, Ashland (06/19; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
  - John T. Heard, Ipswich (09/06; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
  - Star, Athol (10/18; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
- Hall Dedications and corner-stone layings:
  - Belmont. Dedication of Belmont Methodist Episcopal Church (03/05)
  - Franklin (05/20; Special Communication)
  - Winchester (10/24; Special Communication)
- Lodges visited:
  - Caracas, Venezuela. Grand Lodge Masonic Holiday (01/04)
  - Cristobal, Canal Zone. District Grand Lodge (01/09)
  - Cristobal, Canal Zone. Sojourners and Sibert (01/10)
  - Balboa, Canal Zone. Army, Chagres, Darien (01/12)
  - Balboa, Canal Zone. Reception of the Grand Lodge of Panama (01/12; Special Communication)
  - Ancon, Canal Zone. Isthmian and Canal Zone (01/13)
  - Panama City, Panama. Grand Lodge of Panama (01/14; Special Communication)
  - Grand Lodge of Connecticut (01/31-02/01)
  - Philanthropic, Marblehead (02/07; reception for Junior Grand Warden Rufus L. Titus)
  - Major General Henry Knox, Boston (03/22; Joint District Meeting; Deputy Grand Master presiding)
  - Fraternity, Newtonville (03/31; reception for Deputy Grand Master Edwin O. Childs)
  - Middlesex, Framingham (04/11; 24th District Meeting)
  - Greylock, North Adams (04/15; 15th District Meeting)
  - Montacute, Worcester (04/24; Joint District Meeting)
  - Norfolk Union, Randolph (04/28; reception for Senior Grand Warden George E. White; held in Quincy)
  - Springfield. 150th Anniversary of George Washington's Inauguration (04/30; Special Communication)
  - Grand Lodge of Maine (05/01)
  - Grand Lodge of New York (05/03)
  - Amity, Danvers (05/05; Ladies' Night)
  - Abraham H. Howland Jr., New Bedford (05/09; 30th District Meeting)
  - Grand Lodge of Rhode Island (05/15)
  - Richard C. MacLaurin, Cambridge (05/17; raising of the Grand Master's son)
  - Mount Tom, Holyoke (05/26; Joint District Meeting)
  - Grand Lodge of North Dakota (06/20)
  - Grand Lodge of England (07/19; installation of H.R.H. the Duke of Kent)
  - Canada Lodge #3527 (07/20)
  - Holyoke. Consolidation of Mount Nonotuck and William Whiting Lodges (09/16; Special Communication)
  - Lafayette and Greylock, North Adams (10/03; Special Financial Meeting)
  - Occidental, Stockbridge (10/06)
  - Mountain, Shelburne Falls (10/07)
  - Grand Lodge of Connecticut (10/14)
  - Ware. Consolidation of Bethel and Eden Lodges (10/27; Special Communication)
  - Belmont, Belmont (11/02; Ladies Night)
  - Lodge of St. Andrew, Boston (11/09; installation)
  - St. Matthew's, Andover (11/20; 11th District Meeting)
  - Grand Lodge of Rhode Island (11/20; by Senior Grand Warden)
  - Grand Lodge of Maryland (11/21)
  - Kilwinning, Lowell (12/01; Feast of St. Andrew)
  - Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania (12/06)
  - Belmont, Belmont (12/07; installation)
  - The Harvard, Cambridge (12/21; installation)
1939-427: Report of the Board of Masonic Relief.
1939-444: Report of the Committee on Cipher.

"Massachusetts has been among the conservative Grand Lodges . . . it has always forbidden the publication in cipher or in any other form of all parts of the ritual not included in the Monitor. . . In contradistinction, Grand Lodges like England and Scotland freely permit the publication of almost the entire ritual. The only parts thereof not printed openly and in full are small parts of the obligations, the means of recognition, and an occasional keyword. Neither the English nor the Scottish Grand Lodge has officially adopted or published these printed rituals but their use is, nevertheless, encouraged.

"We are not prepared to go so far because it is not in accord with the prevailing sentiment of the Fraternity in this country. In this respect we ought to consider and not do violence to the feelings of our other American Grand Lodges.

"We do recommend unanimously that the Grand Master be authorized and requested to cause a suitable cipher ritual to be printed and to be made available to the Craft at such price and under such conditions and restrictions as he shall deem advisable."

1939-446: Report of the Committee on Ritual; explanation of the symbolic penalties to be incorporated into the ritual.
1939-447: Resolution regarding War Service; Grand Lodge to support the Masonic Service Association.
1939-449: Re-election of Grand Master Joseph Earl Perry. Election of other Grand Lodge officers.
1939-453: Reduction of fees authorized for the following Lodges: Esoteric, Hampden, Macedonian, Wollaston.

Grand Constitutions Amendment Proposals

12/13: 1939-454; Amendment to Section 808, regarding medals for Past Masters of Lodges of Instruction; referred.

Grand Master's Address

03/08: 1939-68; opening remarks; necrology; trip to Central and South America; Canal Zone; Grand Masters' Conference including the Declaration of Principles; Social Security Act; Chile earthquake relief; portrait of Jeremy Gridley; George Washington memorial services (150th anniversary of Washington's inauguration); on games of chance; trip to the Canal Zone.

06/14: 1939-198; opening remarks; necrology; radio addresses on "Freemasonry and Good Citizenship" and "The Masonic Fraternity";Home and Hospital; expenditures; Lodges of Instruction; visits to other jurisdictions; New York Medal presented to Rt. Wor. Roscoe Pound; raising of the Grand Master's son at Richard C. MacLaurin Lodge; consolidations.
- 1939-220: Lodge Finances, with various graphs and tables.

09/13: 1939-289; opening remarks; necrology.
- 1939-295: Freemasonry In a World At War: objectives; budget; District Grand Lodges (China headquarters moved to Shanghai; resignation of Rt. Wor. Vergil Bradfield and promotion of Rt. Wor. Nelson F. Lurton to District Grand Master); North Dakota golden jubilee; pilgrimage to Great Britain, including a description of the installation ceremony in England; "a nation on the verge of war."

12/13: 1939-374; opening remarks; necrology; admissions; year in review; trip to Canal Zone and South America; Declaration of Principles; George Washington sesquicentennial; radio broadcast; overseas districts; England; Scottish Rite convention; consolidation; personnel; publication fund; visits to other jurisdictions; business affairs of the Grand Lodge; finances; relief; education; war activity; ruling on interruption of a degree; Grand Secretary's addresses; peace; conclusion "and a program" (a description of the Grand Master's "Program for 1940", beginning on Page 1939-398, with excerpts from the Plan Book); overseas districts reprised; membership (1,498 initiates through 08/31/1939); visits; Henry Price and Distinguished Service Medals; Financial Reports.
- 1939-376: The Tide Has Turned.

Lodge By-Law Changes

03/09: 1939-79;
- Full Codes : Bethany, International; approved with changes.
- Amendments: Algonquin, Ancient Landmark, Athelstan, Constellation, The Lodge of Eleusis, Huelen (with changes), Orphan's Hope (with changes), Prospect (with changes), Rose of Sharon (with changes), Sagamore (with changes), Star in the East (with changes), Temple, Union (Dorchester) (with changes); approved.

06/14: 1939-250;
- Full Codes : Day Spring, Orient (with changes); approved with changes.
- Amendments: Bethesda (Valparaiso), Brigham, Charles C. Spellman (with changes), Converse, Fourth Estate, Germania (with changes), Hope, Hykes Memorial, Kilwinning (with changes), Milton (with changes), Montacute, Orient (with changes), Oriental, Orphan's Hope (with changes), Sagamore, Starr King, Winslow Lewis; approved.

09/13: 1939-325;
- Full Codes : none.
- Amendments: Acacia, Faith, Jordan, Macedonian, Meridian (with changes), Mount Vernon, Palestine, Philanthropic (with changes), Richard C. MacLaurin, St. Alban's, Webster, William North (with changes); approved.

12/13: 1939-325;
- Full Codes : none.
- Amendments: Acacia, Athol (with changes), Dorchester, Eliot (with changes), Essex, Fourth Estate, Macedonian, Mariners' (with changes), Mount Horeb (Woburn), Pacific, Roswell Lee (with changes), United Brethren (with changes); approved.

Necrologies and Memorials

Tatsch, Ridings, Randall

03/08: 1939-68; Death of Rt. Wor. Alden Brooks Hefler, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
03/08: 1939-69; Death of Rt. Wor. Albert G. Brock, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
03/08: 1939-70; Death of Rt. Wor. Clarence C. Pierce, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
03/08: 1939-70; Death of Rt. Wor. Edward L. Shinn, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
03/08: 1939-71; Death of Rt. Wor. Robert N. Hathaway, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
03/08: 1939-71: Death of Rt. Wor. Edward Frank Wallis, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
06/14: 1939-198; Death of Rt. Wor. Owen B. Murray, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
06/14: 1939-199; Death of Rt. Wor. Fred H. Richards, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
06/14: 1939-198; Death of Rt. Wor. Edward J. Ellis, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
09/13: 1939-289; Death of Wor. J. Hugo Tatsch, Director of Education and Grand Lodge Librarian; mentioned in Grand Master's Address. A picture of Bro. Tatsch appear opposite Page 1939-289.
09/13: 1939-291; Death of Rt. Wor. William Ridings, Past Junior Grand Warden; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
- 09/13: 1939-328; Memorial, presented by Most Wor. Arthur D. Prince, for the committee. A picture of Bro. Ridings appears opposite Page 1939-328.
09/13: 1939-292; Death of Rt. Wor. H. Greeley Randall, Past Junior Grand Warden; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
- 09/13: 1939-331; Memorial, presented by Rt. Wor. Gurdon W. Gordon, for the committee. A picture of Bro. Randall appears opposite Page 1939-331.
09/13: 1939-293; Death of Rt. Wor. Lester S. Couch, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
09/13: 1939-293; Death of Rt. Wor. Francis E. Folger, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
09/13: 1939-294; Death of Rt. Wor. Roy F. Allen, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
09/13: 1939-293; Death of Rt. Wor. William L. Walker, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.

Henry Rowe

12/13: 1939-375; Death of Rt. Wor. Henry S. Rowe, Past Junior Grand Warden; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
- 12/13: 1939-455; Memorial, presented by Rt. Wor. H. LeRoy Billings, for the committee. A picture of Bro. Rowe appears in the Frontispiece.
12/13: 1939-375; Death of Rt. Wor. John W. Withington, Past Senior Grand Warden; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.
12/13: 1939-294; Death of Rt. Wor. George R. Hall, Past District Deputy Grand Master; mentioned in Grand Master's Address.

Petitions for Charters

Enfield in 1938, showing Masonic Hall

1939-242: Petition for consolidation of Bethel and Eden Lodges, with Eden's charter to take precedence. Note: this was the first merger to take place in Massachusetts since 1859. It was occasioned by the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir, which submerged the town of Enfield. Approved.

1939-244: Petition for consolidation of Mount Nonotuck and William Whiting Lodges, with William Whiting's charter to take precedence. Approved.

SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS

Canal Zone visit, January 1939
From the collection of the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts

At Masonic Temple 01/13/1939:
Grand Master David C. Robles of Panama; Grand Master Perry; District Grand Master Lewis B. Bates

01/12: 1939-1. Balboa, Canal Zone. Reception for the Grand Lodge of Panama and official visits.
- 1939-2: Official reception of the Grand Lodge of Panama.
- 1939-3: Degree work by Army, Darien and Chagres Lodges.
- 1939-3: "Appropriate addresses" by Grand Master Perry and Grand Master Robles of Panama.

01/14: 1939-4. Panama City, Panama. Reception by the Grand Lodge of Panama.
- 1939-5: Grand Lodge opened and proceeded under escort to the lodge-room, where Most Wor. David C. Robles, Grand Master, received the Grand Master and his officers.
- 1939-6: Address by Wor. German Arroyo, Grand Orator of Panama, and Grand Master Perry (both reproduced in full).

02/16: 1939-12. Gardner. 75th Anniversary of Hope Lodge.
- 1939-12: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Robert M. Crouch, Master of Hope Lodge.
- 1939-13: An "interesting and inspiring" address by the Grand Master. Remarks by other Brothers.
- 1939-13ff: History of Hope Lodge by Wor. Fordyce D. Reynolds. Notes on the locations of lodge-rooms in Gardner.

03/02: 1939-29. Belmont. 75th Anniversary of Belmont Lodge.
- 1939-29: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Stanley G. Russell, Master of Belmont Lodge.
- 1939-30: An address "full of inspiration and information" by the Grand Master. Remarks by other Brothers. Wor. Horace Parker, the Senior Past Master of the Lodge, came from Southern California to be at this meeting.
- 1939-31ff: History of Belmont Lodge by Bro. Edwin A. Cheney.
- 1939-403ff: Address by Most Wor. Frederick W. Hamilton: What Can I Do, reproduced in full.

03/06: 1939-43. Swampscott. 25th Anniversary of Wayfarers Lodge.
- 1939-43: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Herbert P. Hollnagel, Master of Wayfarers Lodge.
- 1939-44: Grand Master addressed the Brethren "interestingly and inspiringly." Remarks by other Brothers.
- 1939-44: A presentation of Carl Claudy's play "The Greatest of These".
- 1939-45ff: History of Wayfarers Lodge.

03/21: 1939-117. Middleboro. 75th Anniversary of May Flower Lodge. Most Wor. Frederick W. Hamilton presiding in a Deputy Grand Lodge.
- 1939-117: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Robert A. Clark, Master of May Flower Lodge.
- 1939-118: Exercises at Central Congregational Church, with Wor. Clark as Toastmaster. 19 Brethren from the 50th Anniversary celebration were present, and 4 Brethren from the 25th Anniversary celebration were also present. The acting Deputy Grand Master and other Brethren made remarks.
- 1939-119ff: History of May Flower Lodge by Rt. Wor. Frederick S. Weston.

03/27: 1939-130. Littleton. 10th Anniversary of Tahattawan Lodge. Junior Grand Warden Rufus L. Titus presiding.
- 1939-130: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Paul R. Selfridge, Master of Tahattawan Lodge.
- 1938-131: The Acting Grand Master and other Grand Lodge officers made remarks.
- 1938-131: Presentation of a Distinguished Service medal to Wor. Arthur H. Frost, the first Master of the Lodge.
- 1938-131ff: History of Tahattawan Lodge, by Wor. Chester T. Dolan.

04/17: 1939-139. West Medford. 25th Anniversary of Sagamore Lodge.
- 1939-139: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Lewis W. Ellis, Master of Sagamore Lodge.
- 1939-140: Grand Master's Address "in his best and most inspiring vein." Remarks by other Brothers.
- 1939-141ff: History of Sagamore Lodge.

04/30: 1939-172. Springfield. The sesquicentennial of Washington's inauguration.
- 1939-172: Grand Lodge opened in the Chapel of Christ Church Cathedral and proceeded into the audience room.
- 1939-173: Service by Very Rev. Percy T. Edrop, Dean of the Cathedral and Rev. Marshall E. Mott, Grand Chaplains.
- 1939-173: Address by the Grand Master, "George Washington: A Great Mason in a Great Crisis", reproduced in full, along with the Declaration of Principles. The address was broadcast from radio station WMAS.

Franklin Temple

05/20: 1939-182. Franklin. Dedication of a Masonic Temple.
- 1939-183: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Basil M. Parsons, Master of Excelsior Lodge.
- 1939-183: Dedication performed "with full ceremony".
- 1939-183: Grand Master's Address "in his most helpful and inspiring vein," reproduced in full on Page 1939-185. Addresses by other Brothers.
- 1939-184: Concert by Brockton Masonic Orchestra; a "bountiful dinner"; and an address by Most Wor. Melvin M. Johnson on "the work of Freemasonry in establishing the principle of toleration."

06/19: 1939-256. Ashland. 75th Anniversary of North Star Lodge. Deputy Grand Master Edwin O. Childs presiding.
- 1939-256: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Charles A. Bussell, Master of North Star Lodge.
- 1939-257: A "timely and inspiring" address by the Acting Grand Master. Remarks by other Brothers.
- 1939-257: (06/18) Commemmorative service at the Ashland Federated Church, sermon by Rev. Dr. Eugene Dinsmore Dolloff.
- 1939-258ff: History of North Star Lodge by Wor. Charles A. Dearborn.

09/06: 1939-273. Ipswich. 75th Anniversary of John T. Heard Lodge.
- 1939-273: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Harry S. Merson, Master of John T. Heard Lodge.
- 1939-274: Address by the Grand Master in "his usual happy manner." Remarks by other Brothers.
- 1939-274: (09/07) Ladies' Night at the Town Hall; (09/10) commemorative church service at Methodist Episcopal Church, with a sermon by Rev. Daniel A. Thurston.
- 1939-275ff: History of John T. Heard Lodge by Wor. Charles R. Damon.

09/16: 1939-336. Holyoke. Consolidation of Mount Nonotuck and William Whiting Lodges.
- 1939-337: Grand Lodge opened and was received by the Masters of both Lodges.
- 1939-338: Consolidation ceremonies, described in detail.
- 1939-342: Address by Grand Master Perry, reproduced in full.

10/18: 1939-347. Athol. 75th Anniversary of Star Lodge.
- 1939-347: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Arthur E. Williams, Master of Star Lodge.
- 1939-348: Address by the Grand Master "full of interest and information and was warmly received by the Brethren." Remarks by other Brothers.
- 1939-348ff: History of Star Lodge by Wor. Charles R. Damon.

10/24: 1939-360. Winchester. Dedication of apartments and installation of officers of William Parkman Lodge.
- 1939-360: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. W. Allan White, Master of William Parkman Lodge.
- 1939-361: Apartments dedicated "with full form and ceremony."
- 1939-361: Installation of officers. Grand Master's Address "in his usual interesting and stimulating manner." Remarks by other Brothers. Presentation of a Joseph Warren Medal to Bro. Ernest R. Eustis, the Secretary of the Lodge.

Letter commemorating the last meeting of Bethel Lodge

10/27: 1939-362. Ware. Consolidation of Bethel and Eden Lodges.
- 1939-362: Grand Lodge opened and was received by Wor. Donald S. Dinsmore, Master of Eden Lodge.
- 1939-363: Consolidation ceremonies ("in accordance with the ritual given above on pages 336 et. seq.).
- 1939-363: Address by the Grand Master, "most helpful and stimulating to thought."

FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

(held at Masonic Temple, Boston, 12/27/1939)

1939-461: Opening and roll call.
1939-465: Reception of guests, including neighboring Grand Masters.
1939-466: Report of Grand Secretary; 1,531 Diplomas issued through 08/31/1939. Two lodges not represented in 1939.
1939-467: Installation of Joseph Earl Perry as Grand Master. Installation of other Grand Lodge officers.
1939-475: Addresses by guests. Presentation of the Josiah Hayden Drummond Medal by the Grand Master of Maine to Grand Master Perry. Presentation of Henry Price Medals to Maine Brothers.
1939-477: Feast of St. John, listing toasts and names of speakers.
- 1939-478: The Grand Master. Short biography of Grand Master Paul Dean.
- 1939-481: Deputy Grand Master Samuel H. Wragg.
- 1939-483: Most Wor. John E. Allen, Grand Master of North Carolina.
- 1939-488: Most Wor. Herschel H. Rose, Past Grand Master of Virginia.
- 1939-496: Wor. Frank L. Eversull, Grand Orator of North Dakota: The Debt Eternal.