Difference between revisions of "Euclid"

Latest revision as of 13:54, 9 December 2020

EUCLID LODGE

Location: Boston; Stoughton

Chartered By: Melvin M. Johnson

Charter Date: 12/13/1916 1916-677

Precedence Date: 02/09/1916

Current Status: Active

NOTES

HISTORICAL NOTES, 1988

From TROWEL, Summer 1988, Page 31:

In the Beginning, God said, "Let there be light." In 1935 R. W. Charles F. Denee said "Hey, let there be a daylight Lodge." And there was one. They called it Euclid, and the light and Lodge continue to shine.

Euclid Lodge of Boston was born out of a dinner club of Master Masons from the New England Conservatory of Music. Their professional engagements were at night, preventing them from attending Lodge meetings. Yet they felt the need for meeting as Masons. The name Euclid was suggested by Wor. Homer C. Humphrey and chosen because of the attachment of its members to the arts and sciences.

Instituted Feb. 23, 1916, at the first communication held at the Roxbury Masonic Temple, Euclid Lodge received applications for degrees and approved a set of bylaws. It was constituted by M. W. Melvin Maynard Johnson and Grand Lodge officers on Dec. 19, 1916. It proved to be Bro. Johnson's last official act before leaving office.

Degree work has been beautified by violins, string ensembles, chamber music, instrumental and vocal soloists, and orchestral arrangements. Music festivals were conducted by Bro. Daniel Kuntz. New membership came from the Fourth Estate — newsmen, motion picture and theatrical personnel, and stage and television personalities; and from the world of opera the renowned star John Charles Thomas. Wor. Norman L. Crosby 33° was Master in 1962. (See TROWEL, Winter 1984.) Euclid is now known as "the entertainers" Lodge.

The Lodge meets in Boston Masonic Temple on the third Thursday afternoon of each month. Attendance in Ionic Hall, fifth floor, is not what it once was and/or what it could be. Brethren find reasons and time to do many things but neglect the communion they really need to prove their Brotherly love and affection which is the reason they first banded together.

While it is apparent that many Brothers have forgotten — or perhaps never knew — that there is a daylight Lodge, there is still a need for such a Lodge just as when Euclid was constituted. With more and more men retiring earlier than they did 70 years ago and unwilling to attend late evening Lodge meetings, the opportunity a daylight Lodge offers should make Euclid appealing to our senior citizens.

Euclid is the Boston daylight Lodge. Its members will tell you stories of the good old days and will join with you in a song for old time's sake. Its latchstring is always ready for you to pull when you are traveling through and stopping in Boston. Remember: Euclid, the daylight Lodge, meets on the third Thursday of the month at 3 p.m.

Contributed by Wor. John J. Domurad, Master of Euclid Lodge.

PAST MASTERS

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition for Dispensation: 1916 (no page listing)
• Petition for Charter: 1916

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1916 (M. Johnson; Constitution of Lodge and installation)
• 1918 (L. Abbott)
• 1919 (L. Abbott)
• 1922 (Prince)
• 1924 (Ferrell)
• 1933 (Chipman)
• 1934 (Chipman)
• 1937 (Allen; 2 visits)
• 1938 (Perry; installation)
• 1942 (Schaefer; installation)
• 1943 (Schaefer; installation)
• 1944 (A. Coolidge; installation)
• 1963 (Osgood)
• 1965 (Osgood)
• 1977 (Maxwell)
• 1996 (A. Johnson)
• 1998 (A. Johnson)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1917 1920 1926 1929 1930 1931 1940 1944 1950 1954 1956 1966 1971 1987 2001 2007 2009

EVENTS

ORGANIZATION OF LODGE, FEBRUARY 1916

From New England Craftsman, Vol. XI, No. 6, March 1916, Page 205:

A daylight lodge has been launched in Massachusetts to be called Euclid Lodge. It is expected to meet the wants of professional men.

The dispensation was read before the brethren interested Tuesday, February 23, in Masonic Temple, Roxbury. Forty-three names are on the application for Dispensation. Rt. Wor. Robert G. Wilson, District Deputy Grand Master of the 2nd Masonic District, who read the dispensation announced that the first three officers named by the head of the craft were Walter B. Tripp (PM of Mt. Lebanon Lodge), WM; Charles F. Dennee, SW, and H. C. Humphrey, JW. As the first named was not present, Deputy Grand Master Vogel assumed the chair and announced that the absence of the Master was due to his mother's illness and sympathy was expressed for him in his affliction. (Mrs. Tripp has since passed on to the other life). The preliminary officers are: Walter B. Tripp, WM; Charles F. Dennee, SW; Homer C. Humphrey, JW; Alfred de Voto, T Charles W. Kidder, S; Augusto Vaninni, M; Loyal J. Crowl, SD; Frank S. Mason, JD Ralph L. Harlow, SS; Charles H. Bennett, JS; Jacob Schaffer, Tyler.

CONSTITUTION OF LODGE, DECEMBER 1916

From New England Craftsman, Vol. XII, No. 4, January 1917, Page 136:

Euclid Lodge, a new daylight lodge, which was instituted February 23, 1916, was constituted Tuesday, December 19, 1916, by Grand Master Melvin M. Johnson, assisted by other officers of the Grand Lodge. The lodge was formed for professional men and others who may prefer to attend lodge by daylight. The lodge was started with 40 on the charter roll, and that has been increased by six. Past District Deputy Grand Master Walter B. Tripp was the Master under dispensation, and his services have been retained now that the lodge has attained its position among the chartered lodges of Massachusetts.

After the entrance of the officers of the Grand Lodge, Worshipful Master Tripp made the request to have the lodge constituted. Grand Chaplain Horton offered prayer and then the ritual as laid down in Grand Lodge regulations was carried out, Grand Secretary Hamilton read the charter, calling the names of those affixed to it. Walter B. Tripp was introduced as the choice for Master, and the installation exercises were conducted by the Grand Master and other Grand Lodge officials.

Euclid's officers are: Right Worshipful Walter B. Tripp, W. M.; Charles Dennee, S. W.; Homer C. Humphrey, J. W.; Alfred De Voto, T.; Charles W. Kidder (P. M.), S.; Frederick W. Klemm (P. M.), C.; Alfred Holy, M.; Stuart Mason, S. D.; Ralph L. Harlow, J. D.; Augusto Vannini, S. S.; Charles H. Bennett, J. S.; Wilfred A. French, I. S.; Guillermo Urquidi, Organist; Jacob Schaffer, Tyler.

Two odes composed by Senior Warden Dennee and one by Junior Warden Humphrey were sung during the ceremony with Charles P. Scott as accompanist.

There was a high-class vocal and instrumental concert in honor of the guests, the participants being all members of the lodge and including Messrs. Harlow, Bennett, Kuntz, Fiumara, Loud, Webster, De Voto, Holy, Traupe, Van Vliet and Gebhard. Charles Dennee was director. The closing event was a dinner.

LODGE VISIT, JUNE 1926

From New England Craftsman, Vol. XXI, No. 7, May 1926, Page 226:

To conclude a day of joint festivity, members of the Euclid Lodge of Masons, of Boston, with their guests for the day, some thirty members of St. Cecile Lodge of New York attended the Pops at Symphony Hall Thursday, June 10. The occasion was also ladies' night of the Boston lodge and the party numbered nearly 200.

At the concert, for which a special program had been arranged in their honor, members of both lodges were among friends, for many of the players, including the conductor. Agide Jacchia, and the harpist. Alfred Holy, soloist of the evening, are members of Euclid. The masonic insignia and the lodge name were set in blue electric lights above the organ.

St. Cecile and Euclid are sister daylight lodges, whose memberships are largely drawn from the theatrical and musical professions. Visits are exchanged every year between the two. The New York Masons arrived in the morning and. after breakfast at the Art Club, the party visited the Euclid Lodge for degree work and formal greetings. The New York lodge, through Colonel Henry C. Jacobs, presented its sister lodge with a silk American flag. Worshipful Master Harry K. Pearson of Euclid responded. Other speakers were Worshipful Win-field C. Jerry. Right Worshipful William R. Wilson, Right Worshipful George E. Walden and Secretary William Boyd Tyndall.

Luncheon and an afternoon of sports was held at Pemberton. A peanut race and a baseball game between the lodges, in charge of Senior Warden Robert Chase, resulted in prizes to St. Cecile. At four o'clock a New England clambake was served, following which the party returned to Boston in time for the Pops.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• Brown, Benson, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 1992, 1993; N
• Robert S. Chase, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 1931, 1932; N
• Willard Bryant Cookson, DDGM, District 4 (South Boston), 1993, 1994; N
• Herbert L. Corwin, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 1974, 1975; N
• Richard S. Holiver, DDGM, District 26 (Quincy), 1987, 1988; N
• James Krigman, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 1946, 1947; Junior Grand Warden 1969; N
• Joseph M. Kurey, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 2002; DDGM, District 7, 2003
• Timothy S. MacGavin, DDGM, District 8, 2014, 2015
• Ernest A. Pearlstein, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 1988, 1989; Junior Grand Warden 2005
• Benjamin H. Rodwogin, Grand Chaplain, 1982, 1983
• Nathan N. Rosenhek, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 1998, 1999; N
• Frank W. Ryan, DDGM, District 2 (Boston), 1962, 1963; N
• John W. Sutterley, DDGM, District 28 (Taunton), 2002; District 8, 2003
• Walter B. Tripp, DDGM, District 1 (Boston), 1913; Memorial

OTHER BROTHERS

• Lester M. Bartlett, Memorial
• Norm(an) Lawrence Crosby, Biography
• Arthur S. Fisher, Memorial
• Charles W. Kidder, Memorial
• Leon Van Vliet, Memorial

DISTRICTS

1916: District 2 (Cambridge)

1927: District 2 (Boston)

2003: District 8

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges