Bethel
Contents
BETHEL LODGE
Location: Enfield
Chartered By: John Abbot
Charter Date: 09/14/1825 III-554
Precedence Date: 09/14/1825
Current Status: in Grand Lodge Vault; merged into Eden Lodge, 10/27/1939. Charter may have been surrendered some time between 1826 and 1858; restored 1858.
NOTES
RESTORATION OF CHARTER, MARCH 1858
From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XVII, No. 6, April 1858, Page 164:
Among other matters of much local interest which came before the Grand Lodge of this Commonwealth at its late Quarterly Communication, was the following interesting Report from the Committee to whom at the previous meeting, had been referred the subject of restoring to the petitioners the Charter of Bethel Lodge, at Enfield, which, during the antimasonic persecution, had been surrendered to the Grand Lodge : —
To the M. W. Grand Matter, Grand Wardens and Brethren of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts —
"The Committee to whom was referred, with full powers, the application for the restoration of the Charter of Bethel Lodge, of Enfield, were waited upon by a com mittee of the petitioners, consisting of Brothers J. B. Woods and Ichabod Pope, who gave them such information as induced your Committee to decide unanimously in favor of the application. The Charter has accordingly been restored. The seven petitioners all reside in Enfield. There are in all sixteen members of the Lodge now surviving. Enfield itself is a town of about eleven hundred inhabitants. There were, prior to the antimasonic invasion, Lodges in Belchertown, five miles, and in Ware, seven miles, distant. The nearest Lodge now, is at Palmer Depot, distant twelve miles. There are two others — one at Northampton, and one at Barre — distant eighteen and seventeen miles.
"In the days of its prosperity, Bethel Lodge built a Hall, which was purchased, and is now owned by Brothers J. B. and Leonard Woods — two of the petitioners.
"Nowhere were our Brethren more accrimoniously persecuted during the dark ages, than at Enfield Their Lodge room was broken open, and their jewels stolen and divided among the thieves, as a reward for their virtuous and valorous attacks upon their peaceful and law abiding neighbors.
"The Records and seal were preserved ; and the more bulky furniture, but little injured, now remains the property of the Lodge.
"Since that time, now a quarter of a century, the Lodge room has remained as it was left, awaiting the time when the sound of the gavel should again call order oat of chaos ; and the Brethren to renew their peaceful labors.
"The Brethren to whom the Charter has been restored, are among the most wor thy and wealthy of the town. They are full of Masonic zeal — and rejoice in the restoration of a Charter identified with their early Masonic years ; that, in their old Hall and in their ancient seats, with a large and bountiful field before them, and with the mysteries of Masonry safely deposited in their faithful breasts, they may rebuild the Lodge of their youth in Wisdom, Strength and Beauty.
"Truth, though crushed to earth shall rise again."
Benjamin Dean, William W. Baker, William C. Martin, Committee.
PAST MASTERS
- Henry Fobes, 1825-1828; Mem
- Aaron Woods, Jr., 1829-1857
- Josiah B. Woods, 1858
- John Crosby, 1859-1863
- Cyrus F. woods, 1864-1866
- William S. Douglas, 1867, 1871, 1872; SN
- George S. Dixon, 1868, 1869
- Henry E. Brown, 1870
- William B. Kimball, 1873, 1874
- James G. Ford, 1875-1877, 1881-1884, 1890, 1891
- John W. Felton, 1878-1880
- Fred N. Pierce, 1885-1888, 1892-1894
- Eugene C. Lamson, 1889
- Lewis D. Sloane, 1895, 1896
- Henry Bittner, 1897, 1898, 1904, 1905
- William Milsop, 1899, 1900, 1902
- William F. Howe, 1901
- William Lisk, 1903, 1918-1920
- Frank Johnston, 1906, 1907
- Stewart Twible, 1908, 1909
- Thomas Hickland, 1910, 1911
- Edwin H. Howe, 1912
- James R. Lisk, 1913
- Charles W. Felton, 1914
- Herbert A. Coolbeth, 1915
- Edward B. Downing, 1916, 1917
- H. Morgan Ryther, 1921-1923; N
- J. Frederick Zappey, 1924, 1925; SN
- Hartwell J. Hill, 1926
- Elliott E. Harwood, 1927
- Charles D. Walker, 1928
- Albert E. Richardson, 1929
- Merton C. Pike, 1930
- William Metcalf, 1931
- Lester E. Hall, 1932, 1936
- Jerome L. Spurr, 1933
- Preston M. Putnam, 1934
- Charles A. Fitts, 1935
- Homer B. Briggs, 1937
- Oliver Russell Snow, 1938, 1939
LIST OF MEMBERS OF BETHEL LODGE
First Line of Officers in May 1825:
- W.M. Henry Fobes (was the first Master, however his signature is not found in the original By Law Book)
- S.W. Aaron Woods, Jr.
- J.W. James Magoon
- Treas. William Stone
- Secy. Eliphas Jones
- S.D. Abner Pepper
- J.D. Amory Fisk
- S.S. Jonathan Russell
- J.S. Daniel Howard
- Tyler. Nathan Weeks
List is in order of signatures recorded in the Lodge By Laws.
- Prince Ford
- Alden Lathrop
- Leonard Woods, August 17, 1825
- Daniel Ford, August 30, 1825
- Josiah B. Woods, August 30, 1825
- Ambrose Packard, August 30, 1825
- Jonah Crofs, August 30, 1825
- Tertius Walker, August 30, 1825
- Elijah Cutter Jr., November 30, 1825
- Joseph Doane Jr., November 30, 1825
- John N. Hastings, Dec. 27, 1825
- Jason Abbott, Jan. 24, 1826
- William Collins Jr., Feb, 28, 1826
- Alonzo Cutler, Feb. 18, 1826
- Charles T. Little, Feb, 28, 1826
- Royal Keith, Mar. 28, 1826
- John Crosley, Mar 28, 1826
- Ansel Fobes, Mar. 28, 1826
- Rev. Joshua Crosley, Apr. 25, 1826
- Rev. Joseph Blodget, Apr. 28, 1826
- Timothy Brainard, May. 23, 1826
- Ichabod Pope, May. 23, 1826
- William Douglas, Aug. 22, 1826
- Elijah Mills, Aug. 22, 1826
- William Josslyn, Jan. 16, 1827
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
BY-LAW CHANGES
HISTORY
HISTORICAL NOTES IN THE CENTENARY HISTORY OF EDEN LODGE, JUNE 1964
From Proceedings, Page 1964-192:
Beginning about 1930, the State of Massachusetts began the huge project of the building of the Quabbin Reservoir. The reservoir area was then occupied by several towns which had to be vacated. One such town was Enfield, which for many years had a flourishing Masonic Lodge called Bethel Lodge. The membership was made up not only of Brethren who were residents of Enfield, but of other towns in the Valley which also were to be inundated. Eden Lodge extended its hospitality to the members of Bethel Lodge to use our Lodge Rooms during the upheaval. In 1938, Bethel Lodge voted to affiliate with us, and on May 1, 1939, a petition, requesting such affiliation, was sent to the Grand Lodge for its approval. Approval was granted. On October 27, 1939, both Lodges met for the formal Affiliation. The meeting was held in the Unitarian Church, and was attended by the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Joseph Earl Perry, and his suite. Worshipful Donald S. Dinsmore was Master of our Lodge, and Worshipful O. Russell Snow was Master of Bethel Lodge. About 200 Masons were in attendance. Bethel Lodge surrendered its charter to the Grand Master for preservation and transferred its records and funds to Eden Lodge. Seventhy-six Bethren of Bethel Lodge were brought into our fellowship and care.
OTHER
- 1829 (report on delinquency)
- 1857 (petition for restoration)
- 1858 (restoration granted)
- 1938 (in Grand Master's address: last meeting due to creation of Quabbin Reservoir)
EVENTS
OFFICER LIST, FEBRUARY 1864
From Masonic Monthly, Vol. I, No. 4, February 1864, Page 190:
The officers of Bethel Lodge, Enfield, Mass., for the current term, are as follows :—
- John Crosby, W. M.;
- C. F. Woods, S. W.;
- A. L. Doak, J. W.;
- Augustus Moody, Treas.;
- Charles Richards, Sec.;
- W. S. Douglass, S. D.;
- M. H. Gross, J. D.;
- R. D. Bussey, S. S.;
- W. A. Trask, J. S.;
- Ozias Randall, T.
GRAND LODGE OFFICERS
- William S. Douglas, DDGM, District 17 (Palmer), 1886, 1887, 1888; SN
- H. Morgan Ryther, DDGM, District 19 (Palmer), 1926; District 19 (Palmer), 1927; N
- J. Frederick Zappey, DDGM, District 19 (Palmer), 1936, 1937; SN
OTHER BROTHERS
- Henry Fobes, Memorial