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EDEN LODGE

Location: Ware

Chartered By: William Parkman

Charter Date: 06/08/1864 III-506

Precedence Date: 06/11/1863

Current Status: Active.

Bethel Lodge merged into this Lodge, 10/27/1939.


PAST MASTERS

  • George Robinson, 1864-1867; SN
  • John W. Robinson, 1868-1872
  • William O. Gould, 1873-1875
  • Henry F. Barnes, 1876, 1877
  • George S. Marsh, 1878, 1879, 1882, 1888, 1889; SN
  • Jerome Gates, 1880
  • Walter P. Sutliff, 1881, 1885
  • Charles F. Merrill, 1883
  • Elgin R. Foster, 1884, 1890
  • Jasper L. Fairbanks, 1886
  • Henry C. Davis, 1891
  • William A. Newcomb, 1892, 1893
  • Alfred A. Green, 1894, 1895
  • Hubert M. Coney, 1896-1899; SN
  • John D. Smith, 1900, 1901
  • Arthur B. Howard, 1902, 1903
  • Herbert W. Sibley, 1904
  • Paul R. Bridgman, 1905; Mem
  • Minot C. Wood, 1906
  • Charles B. Wetherby, 1907
  • James E. Allen, 1908, 1909
  • Guy A. Cummings, 1910
  • David Wooley, 1912
  • Waldo C. Lincoln, 1913
  • John H. Schoonmaker, 1914; N
  • George W. Dunham, 1915
  • Bernard Southworth, 1916
  • Willie A. Green, 1917
  • Charles M. Lindsey, 1918
  • Philip W. Robinson, 1919
  • Herbert H. Ward, 1920
  • Robert S. Greenwood, 1921
  • Herbert W. Bryan, 1922
  • D. Thomson Hastings, 1923, 1933; N
  • Carl E. Williams, 1924
  • Robert A. Stanford, 1925
  • Arthur Besser, 1926
  • Merrill S. Howard, 1927
  • Myron E. Richardson, 1928; N
  • Howard S. Neff, 1929
  • Roger B. Estey, 1930
  • J. Cutler Paige, 1931
  • George W. Cox, 1932
  • Donald Wood, 1934
  • W. Howard Sibley, 1935
  • Richard R. Bradbury, 1936
  • Fred S. Conkey, 1937
  • George G. Petrie, 1938; N
  • Donald Dinsmore, 1939
  • Leonard B. Campbell, 1940; N
  • George Goodwin, 1941
  • A. Richmond Walker, 1942
  • Walter G. Irving, 1943, 1944
  • Austin H. Carroll, 1945
  • Thomas D. Bruce, 1946
  • Charles L. Aldrich, 1947
  • Gardner Davis, 1948
  • Franz E. Baker, 1949
  • William A. Towlson, 1950
  • Arthur Farr, 1951
  • John W. Davis, 1952
  • Wilmer F. Kallock, 1953
  • Walter V. Dunham, 1954
  • Thomas H. Kulke, 1955
  • Ralph E. Turner, 1956
  • Horatio Bisbee, 1957; N
  • Kenneth R. Dorman, 1958
  • Joseph E. Rabschnook, 1959
  • Richard A. Winslow, 1960
  • William E. Gould, 1961
  • Harlon W. Fulton, 1962
  • Constant Southworth, 1963
  • Edwin H. Belcher, 1964
  • William M. Verbeck, 1965
  • Edward J. Kress, 1966; N
  • Matthew Kierys, 1967
  • Merle G. Brigham, 1968
  • Maurice A. Renaud, 1969
  • Wayne G. Goddard, 1970
  • Donald M. Giguere, 1971
  • Robert G. Goodfield, 1972, 1981; PDDGM
  • John L. Dowell, 1973
  • Kenneth F. Simmons, 1974
  • Edward D. DellaPenna, 1975
  • Neil A. Noble, 1976, 1979; PDDGM
  • John H. Campbell, 1977
  • Richard A. Walker, 1978, 1980; N
  • Robert L. Greenwood, 1982
  • Robert J. Bready, 1983
  • Arthur G. Rossi, 1984, 1985
  • William M. Verbeck, 1986
  • David A. Deschamps, 1987, 1988
  • John L. Dowell, 1989, 1991
  • David A. Stebbins, 1990
  • Brian M. St. Onge, 1992, 1993
  • Douglas J. Fry, 1994; PDDGM
  • Peter B. Markert, 1995; PDDGM
  • Richard S. Zebrowski, 1996
  • Charles L. Lowell, 1997, 2002
  • Erik W. Erikson, 1998
  • Richard H. Maynard, 1999
  • Wayne A. Lobley, 2000
  • John W. Drawec, 2001
  • James D. Hodgen, 2003
  • Edward F. Bock, 2005, 2006
  • Thomas E. Cooke, 2007
  • Scott R. Rae, 2008
  • Scott J. Chapman, 2009, 2010
  • Michael J. Beaupre, 2011
  • Jeffery A. Haughey, 2012

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1863
  • Petition for Charter: 1864
  • Consolidation Petition (with Bethel Lodge): 1939

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1938 (75th Anniversary)
  • 1964 (Centenary)
  • 1988 (125th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1911 1924 1927 1953 1957 1962 1976 1983 1992 2006

HISTORY

  • 1938 (75th Anniversary History, 1938-425; see below)
  • 1964 (Centenary History, 1964-186)

75TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, NOVEMBER 1938

From Proceedings, Page 1938-425:

History of Eden Lodge, By Rev. Bro. K. A. Handanian

On this occasion of the 75th anniversary of Eden Lodge, all records and available data have been consulted for a history of the Lodge from the beginning.

In June 1863, according to the late Right Worshipful Hubert M. Coney, several Brethren, members of Quaboag Lodge, of Warren, met at the office of Brother F. D. Richards, of Ware, to consider the advisability of organizing a Masonic Lodge in Ware. Following this conference, a Dispensation was requested of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, and, having been granted, the first regular meeting of Eden Lodge was held in the Lodge-room in the old Sanford Block, then standing on the site of our present hall. The first Master was Brother George Robinson.

On June 20, 1864, within a year of the organization of the Lodge, the old Sanford Block was destroyed by fire, and the Lodge suffered serious loss. After the fire, meetings were held in quarters on the second floor of the John W. Robinson building. It was there that on June 20, 1864, the Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts visited Eden Lodge. After due examination of the records and work, he presented Eden Lodge with its Charter. The following ofEcers were then elected and installed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master:

  • Worshipful Master: George Robinson
  • Senior Warden: S. H. Phelps
  • Junior Warden: –
  • Treasurer: D. W. Miner
  • Secretary: E. E. Parker
  • Senior Deacon: H. S. Parsons
  • Junior Deacon: C. S. Robinson

While this is the story of Eden Lodge organized under its present Charter, there was another Lodge by the same name that preceded it under a Charter, and which functioned under that Charter until 1848. That Lodge had its beginnings in 1824, and its first meeting was held in the "school house in Ware Factory Village." The Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts issued a Charter to the then Eden Lodge on September 20, 1824. The first Master of that Lodge was Anthony Olney. During the first four years of its active existence, as many as 60 joined the Lodge and signed its By-Laws. The meetings were continued in the same school house, and then a year later the members met in the "hall of Samuel Newhall's Building."

The Lodge ran into financial difficulties, so that in January 1826, it had a sizable debt amounting to $250. After strenuous efforts, the members raised the money and paid the debt in full. But after November 1827, for reasons not available, the Lodge ceased to function.

There was then a lapse of twenty-one years. On January 18, 1848, Eden Lodge convened once more, holding its first meeting in Odd Fellow's Hall. Unable to continue its meetings there, the members secured the "Attic" of a building called "The Arcade" which they furnished as a Lodge-room, and for which they paid an annual rental of $25. There were about fifteen members in this newly revived Lodge. Within a year, however, fire destroyed the building where they were meeting. And so, in November 1848, two months after the fire, the Brethren met sadly, reviewed the situation, assessed the members three dollars each to discharge the debts of the Lodge, and apparently the Lodge ceased to function.

It was fifteen years after that, in 1863, that a third attempt was made, this time successfully, to organize Masonry in Ware, and Eden Lodge has continued actively ever since. Eden Lodge held its meetings for a short time in the Robinson Building following the fire in the old Sanford Block. Then the Lodge moved from the Robinson Building to quarters on the third floor of the Guild Block. It held meetings there until 1870. In that year, the Lodge moved to its present quarters in the rebuilt Sanford Block.

The dedication of the new Lodge Rooms was an elaborate event; it took place on St. John's Sunday, June 24, 1870. Brethren from the lodges in Palmer, Monson, Belchertown, andAmherst came to Ware in a special train. Other Brethren came from Barre and Enfield. They were met at the railroad station by Eden Lodge members, and the entire company formed a procession. Palmer Brethren came with a brass band. Under the escort of the Palmer Brass Band and the Ware Cornet Band, the Brethren marched to the new Lodge-room where dedicatory exercises were held. Then followed a service in the East Congregational Church, and later a dinner in the Unitarian Church to which the ladies had been invited.

During the next thirty-five years, the Lodge-room was furnished and refurnished as necessity required. The introduction of gas, elecricity, and steam heat was each marked with elaborate discussions at Lodge meetings.

The most significant change in the appearance and furnishings of the Lodge-room occured in 1908 while Worshipful Brother James E. Allen was Master of Eden Lodge. Under the direction of a committee of three Brethren, Bro. H. O. Robinson, Wor. Minot C. Wood, and the late Wor. H. W. Sibley, the Lodge expended about $1,500 for the redecoration and furnishings of the Hall as we now have it. In addition, gifts were presented as follows:

  • Three solid mahogany gavels by Meekins, Packard and Wheat Co. of Springfield.
  • The Worshipful Master's chair by the Past Masters of Eden Lodge.
  • Three station draperies, three emblems, and letter "G" by Bro. H. O. Robinson, Bro. H. W. Sibley, Wor. C. B. Wetherby, Wor. M. C. Wood.
  • The two middle chamber pillars by the then officers of Eden Lodge.
  • The front row of settees by Wor. C. B. Wetherby and Wor. Minot C. Wood.

Several years later, in 1972, Mr. A. H. Dowling presented and installed the Masonic elecric sign on the exterior of the Hall. ln 1924, the Lodge added the Grand Army Hall to its rented quarters.

I am not able to find out how many members were in the Lodge in its early days, but it is certain that the Lodge enjoyed a steady growth for fully seventy years. In 1894, the membership was 132; in 1917, it had increased to 289. From 1917 to 1925, the growth was rapid, and the membership figures reached a peak of 350 in the year 1925. It maintained that figure for two years from 1925 to 1927. ln 1927, the membership figures began dropping to the present figure of 263. In numbers, we are back to the membership figures in 1915.

The distinction of being the oldest member of Eden Lodge, in age, but not membership, belongs to Bro. Antoine Moise Morin, born 94 years ago in 1844. About ten years ago, Bro. Morin presented the Lodge with a beautiful tapestry that hangs on the wall in the Lodge-room in the North. The distinction of being the youngest member in age belongs at present to Bro. Charles Leroy McCormick, born 22 years ago in 1916. The average age of our members is 56.

The distinction of being the oldest member of Eden Lodge, - oldest in point of membership, but not of age - belongs to two Brethren who joined Eden Lodge at the same time. They are Bro. Joseph A. Sanford and Bro. Henry O. Robinson, who both joined in November 1881. Others in immediate succession are Bro. Herbert W. Reed, Bro. James Leitch, Bro. Charles W. Howard, Bro. George H. Milner, and Rt. Worshipful John H. Schoonmaker. All of these Brethren joined Eden Lodge in 1890 or before. We have several other Brethren, members of our Lodge, who have been Masons for an equally long period of years, although they began their membership in other Lodges. The first in that list are Bro. Joseph H. Walker and Bro. John W. Sherbrooks, both of whom became Masons in 1880. The others in succession are Bro. James Brennan and Wor. George W. Cox.

During the seventy-five years of its history forty-seven Brethren have served as Masters of the Lodge. One brother, Wor. George S. Marsh served eight terms as Master; Right Wor. Hubert M. Coney served four termsl eight Brethren have served two terms each.

It is worthy of note, also, to mention the Brethren who have served the Lodge over many years in a single office.

  • Bro. D. W. Ainsworth was Treasurer of the Lodge nineteen years, 1883-1902.
  • Bro. William Kennedy was Chaplain of the Lodge thirty years, 1874-1904.
  • Rt. Wor. John H. Schoonmaker was Secretary for twenty years, 1895-1913.
  • Wor. David Woolley was Treasurer 1903-1907, and again assumed office in 1928, and continues to the present time.
  • Wor. George W. Cox served as Chaplain for twenty-four years, from 1905-1929.
  • Bro. Lyman Taylor was Tyler ten years; 1876-1886.
  • Bro. D. O. Holden was Tyler thirty years, 1892-1922.
  • Bro. Willard A. Conkey sixteen years, from 1922-1938, although he was Tyler three or four years longer when he substituted for Bro. Holden.
  • Bro. Willard A. Conkey holds the distinction of having served the Lodge in some chair or office continuously for thirty-eight years, since 1900, and only recently retired.
  • The oldest living Past Master now is Worshipful John D. Smith. The others in succession are Wor. Minot C. Wood, Wor. Charles B. Wetherby, Wor. James E. Allen, Wor. Guy Cummings, and Wor. David Woolley.

Financially, the Lodge has had an interesting history. In its early days, it met its obligations, but had only small balances in the treasury. One year, the balance was as low as $6.43, but even that was better than the previous year when there was a deficit of $30. In those days, it was a common practice to "pass the hat" to collect funds to meet the needs of a distressed Brother. After a few years, the finances of the Lodge improved, and progress was being registered with slowly growing balances when suddenly the Lodge ran into financial difficulties due to the carelessness of the financial officers of the Lodge. The situation was quite embarrassing, since there was no money to pay Grand Lodge dues. But the members were equal to the situation. They redoubled their efforts, borrowed money to pay the Grand Lodge dues, assumed assessments of $13 each to pay the loan, and, finally saved the Lodge from its embarrassment. Every obligation, however, was honorably discharged. Within a few years, the treasury again showed a modest balance, and the situation has been normal ever since.

The Lodge has spent relatively large sums for charity and relief. A rough estimate of the relief figures indicates that the Lodge has spent during its history a sum in excess of $9000 for relief, and its contributions to charities of other kinds make up an additional large amount. In the early years, the requirements for relief were modest, being as low as $5 in some years. But in more recent times, the requirements have been larger, and on several occasions have exceeded a thousand dollars a year.

The Lodge has been honored on several occasions by the selection of its members as District Deputy Grand Masters. The first so appointed was Right Wor. George Robinson in 1878. The second was the late R.W. George A. Marsh. The third was the late R.W. Hubert M. Coney, 1900. The fourth was the late R.W. Paul R. Bridgman, 1911. The fifth was R.W. John H. Schoonmaker, 1915; and the sixth was R.W. D. Thomson Hastings, 1928.

During its seventy-five years of history fully 600 men have been raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason in Eden Lodge. The distinction of raising the largest number in a single term goes to R.W. D. Thomson Hastings who raised nineteen Master Masons in one of the two years he was Master. The second largest number was raised by Wor. Philip W. Robinson who is credited with eighteen. Other figures are as follows:

  • R.W. George A. Marsh raised thirty-three in eight years
  • R.W. Hubert M. Coney raised thirty-six in four years
  • Wor. Guy Cummings raised twenty-seven in two years
  • Wor. James E. Allen raised twenty-two in two years
  • Wor. Bros. C. B. Wetherby and R. A. Greenwood raised thirteen each in their single terms
  • Wor. Bros. W. A. Green and Carl Williams raised twelve each in their single terms
  • Rt. Wor. Paul R. Bridgman, Wor. Herbert Byam, and Wor. H. H. Ward raised eleven each in their single terms.

The last visit of a Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts was the visit of the Most Worshipful Herbert W. Dean on May 15, 1929, at which time he presented the Veteran's Medal to three Brethren. Two years before that, the Most Worshipful Grand Master Frank L. Simpson of the Grand Lodge visited us, and in an elaborate ceremony presented Veteran's Medals to eight Brethren whose membership in Masonry added up to 444 years.

During the years, the Lodge has promoted fellowship among the Brethren in various ways, notably through sociables, outings, Field Days, and Balls. The first reference to a Masonic Ball is found in the records of the year 1889 when Bro. H. O. Robinson "brought up the subject of a Masonic Ball asking the opinion of the members of the Lodge." Consequently a Ball was held with expenses amounting to $189. But there was a deficit on that occasion amounting to $40 which the committee members generously offered to pay personally. But the Lodge relieved the Brethren of the burden, and assumed the deficit itself. For several years nothing is recorded about Masonic Balls, but later it appears again, and several such events were held, though not regularly. But in 1909, the Masonic Ball was made an annual social function, and continued untll 1929 with the exception of the two war years. Since 1929, no Masonic Balls have been held.

The social life of the members of Eden Lodge also found expression through the Ware Masonic Club, an organization entirely dissociated from the Lodge, but whose membership was restricted to Master Masons. The Ware Masonic Club was organized on May 5, 1896, with separate By-Laws and a separate list of officers. Its purpose was "to establish and maintain a library, a reading, and assembly rooms, and to promote social intercourse among its members." The Club met in rooms on the second floor of the Sanford Block, and was well equipped with chairs, couches, pool and billiard tables, card tables, a library, and a piano. The first President of the organization was the late Bro. Andrew Bryson, who continued his active interest in the Club for more than thirty-five years, serving much of the time as a Director and Librarian.

The Masonic Club rendered valuable service to the Lodge by promoting fellowship among Master Masons who congregated there every day of the week in large numbers. Through this organization, many men were brought to a favorable understanding and appreciation of the Spirit of Masonry, with the result that the Lodge benefited by ever-increasing membership. The Masonic Club promoted special events such as Pool and Billiard Tournaments, Whist Parties, Minstrel Shows, Election Night Parties, Balls, Suppers, and the like. Financially, it was a self-supporting institution.

In 1924, however, the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge disapproved the use of the name "Masonic" in connection with social clubs of this type, and therefore, on April 23, 1924, the name was changed to "The Ware Doric Club," a name that was proposed by Bro. Andrew Bryson. The new club continued, at the same place, with the same membership and equipment. But a few years later, interest waned with the changing of the name and as a result of the action of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge. The membership list shrank, and the financial burden bore heavily on the organization. In 1934, the Ware Doric Club voted to disband, after provision had been made by generous members to discharge the financial debts of the Club. The equipment and furnishings of the Club were sold and otherwise disposed. And finally, the rooms used as a social center for the Masons of Ware for thirty-eight years were vacated.

The tradition of attending divine services in churches on St. John's Sunday dates back many years. The first of the continuous series of such services was held on St. John's Sunday in June l9t2.in the East Congregational Church, and was attended by one hundred and forty-two Master Masons of Eden Lodge and twenty Master Masons from Bethel Lodge, of Enfield. The Church, apparently, was beautifully decorated by Bro. Fred Zeissig, as it was done by him on subsequent occasions. The Secretary, in writing about the service, says: "The front of the altar was profuse with magnificent roses, the perfume from which wafted their fragrance to the members, gratifying the sense of smell, while at the same time the Masonic spirit of each Brother was being watered and nourished by the appropriate words of the minister," etc. Editorially, I cannot resist the comment that I am surprised that a Secretary in a profession as prosaic as the law, could rise to such heights of poetical eloquence. But we all know that our Brother Right Worshipful John H. Schoonmaker has brilliant talents both in legal and poetical utterance.

There are many other matters one might speak about in such a history, but the final reference will be to the Lodge's relations to the Masonic Home in Charlton. The Lodge has had a keen interest in the home from its inception. At least five Masons of Eden Lodge, or their widows, have found shelter in that home. Eden Lodge made substantial contributions to the Home from Lodge funds when the Home was organized, and later a contribution of $1,285 was made by the members in one dollar payments per member over a period of five years. Within a year, one of our members, Bro. Andrew Bryson, left the sum of $3,000 to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in his will, and directed its use for the benefit of the Home.

The Masons of Eden Lodge appreciate with profound gratitude. the interest of all our visiting Brethren who have come here this evening to celebrate our Seventy-Fifth anniversary, and especially do they appreciate the presence of the Most Worshipful Grand Master and the Grand officers.

We cannot keep out of our thoughts to-night the moral degradation that is sweeping through other countries. that are ruled by dictators who have lifted their hands against God and their fellows, and who have compelled such organizations as ours to disband. Against such a powerful tide of nationalism and class hatred that is pushing its way through the world, Masons in America stand as a resisting bulwark. Masonry believes that respect for God and human personality is the hope of a continuing and prosperous civilization. The hope of the future does not rest in dictators but in free institutions that place human personalty above physical and military power. In this spirit we would instruct and encourage one another. For the plans of the Great Architect of the Universe provide service for men who have in their hearts not hatred but love, not cruelty but charity, not pride but humility, not paganism but religion and faith in God.

We cherish America because she exalts such ideals, and we cherish Masonry because it promotes and celebrates these ideals.

On this seventy-fifth anniversary, the Masons of Eden Lodge greet their Brethren with a confident hope of a glorious and victorious future.


OTHER

  • 1864 (In charter petition report, information on a disastrous fire in 1863; VI-503)
  • 1881 (Election declared invalid; 1881-165)
  • 1979 (Presentation of a 75-year member award, 1979-143)

EVENTS

CONSTITUTION OF LODGE, JUNE 1864

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXIII, No. 9, July 1864, Page 288:

Eden Lodge, at Ware, in the County of Hampshire, was constituted by the M. W. Grand Lodge on the 20th of June, in due Masonic form. This Lodge has been working a year under Dispensation, and has met with good success. It had the misfortune to lose its Hall by fire a few months since, but we are happy to learn that it is in contemplation to erect another especially designed - for its accommodation. Ware is a thriving manufacturing village, and the future success of the Lodge, under proper and efficient management, cannot be doubted.


GRAND LODGE OFFICERS


DISTRICTS

1863: District 6

1867: District 10 (Springfield)

1883: District 17 (Palmer)

1911: District 19 (Palmer)

1927: District 19 (Palmer)

2003: District 25


LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges