GMBooth
Contents
THOMAS A. BOOTH 1902-1986
Deputy Grand Master, 1961
Grand Master, 1966-1968
TERM
BIOGRAPHY
From Proceedings, Page 2008-70, from the address by David Price, Sr.:
He was a member of Eureka Lodge, being raised in 1924 at New Bedford and was Worshipful Master in 1933, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge from 1966 to 1968.
He served the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island as Grand Commander in 1956-1957.
He was my father's boss at Revere Copper and Brass. Not only did he sponsor my dad in Eureka Lodge but he raised him as well as installed him Master.
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page 1986-72:
Most Worshipful Thomas Arnold Booth was born in New Bedford, on August 14, 1902, the son of John and Nancy (Parkinson) Booth.
Most Worshipful Brother Booth was a 1920 graduate of New Bedford High School and attended night courses at the New Bedford Vocational School as well as Herricks Institute and Swains School of Design. He also took extension courses at Brown University and the University of Massachusetts. He was employed as a production manager for Revere Copper and Brass Inc., and had served that organization for 47 1/2 years prior to his retirement.
He was a member, and former Deacon, of the First Congregational Church of Fairhaven, Massachusetts.
He was' a member of Eureka Lodge, being raised in 1924 at New Bedford and was Worshipful Master in 1934; Deputy Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts in 1961 and served the Craft as Most worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge from 1966 to 1968. He later served as a Director of the Grand Lodge from 1969 to 1986. He was a Grand Representative of the Grand Lodge of England near this Grand Lodge and an honorary member of eight other Masonic lodges as well as the Grand Lodge of chile. He was the recipient of the Henry price Medal and the 50 Year Veteran's Medal of our Grand Lodge.
In the York Rite, Brother Booth was exalted in Adoniram Chapter, New Bedford, March 2, 1927 and served his chapter as High priest in 1939-1940. He received the order of High Priesthood in 1956 and was the Grand Representative of the Grand Chapter of Oregon near the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts. In our Grand Chapter he had served as District Deputy Grand High priest in 1960-1961 and as Deputy Grand High Priest in 1964. He was the recipient of the Paul Revere Medal. He was greeted in New Bedford council of Royal and select Masters on May 7, 1929 and served that council as Illustrious Master in 1946-1947 and served the Grand Council of Massachusetts as Grand Principal Conductor of the Work in 1948. He was the Grand Representative of the Grand Council of South Carolina. He was knighted in Sutton Commandery No. 16, New Bedford on March 5, 1936 and served as Eminent commander in 194o-1941. He served the Grand Commandery of Massachusetts and Rhode Island as Grand Commander in 1956-1957 and was the Grand Representative of the Grand Commandery of Minnesota.
Most worshipful Brother Booth was a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Fall River, having joined in 1946 and a member of Massachusetts Consistory as well as holding plural membership in Old Colony Consistory. He received the Thirty-Third Degree of the Scottish Rite in 1957.
Most Worshipful Brother Booth also held membership in many other affiliated Bodies, including the Red Cross of Constantine; Knight York Cross of Honor; Royal Order of Scotland; Societas Rosicruciana; Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests; The Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees; Knight Masons, Grand College of Rites; Gifford Chapter No. 105, Order of the Eastern Star, serving as Worthy Patron in 1935; White Shrine of Jerusalem and Palestine Shrine No. 9 of New Bedford as well as Aleppo Temple A.A.O.N.M.S. He also served for many years as a member of the Grand Lodge Board of Relief and more recently as a member of the Board of Managers of our Masonic Home. He was an Honorary Member of the Legion of Honor of the Order of DeMolay.
On September 13, 1930 Brother Booth was united in marriage to Katherine Crawford Fleming at Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Mrs. Booth preceded him in death. One daughter, Nancy Anne Kocher of Lexington, survives as well as two grandchildren, Thomas D. Kocher of Boulder, Colorado and Sara Louise Kocher of Lexington. Also surviving are two sisters, Nellie Zawalski, of New Bedford and Dorothy Howland of Pennsylvania.
Respectfully submitted,
Stanley F. Maxwell
Charles E. Katsanos
Harvey Crook, Jr.
Committee
SPEECHES
FEAST OF ST. JOHN, DECEMBER 1960
From Proceedings, Page 1960-327:
Most Worshipful Grand Master, Distinguished Guests and Brethren:
I don't suppose you have been wondering what I have been thinking about while 1 was sitting down and eating this delicious dinner, but I will let you in on it. I was thinking how would it ever be possible for a little fellow from the Whaling City of New Bedford to get to Boston to receive this high honor I have received today. I want to tell you sincerely and from the bottom of my heart that 1 appreciate it very much and I will say that in all my years in Masonry 1 have always heard and have preached it a little bit too that the Grand Master can do no wrong. Now he has given me one year to prove it. (Laughter)
During the course of the afternoon while I was out in the corridors talking with a few of the boys I mentioned something about my predecessors and wondered whether 1 would ever be able to match their performances and somebody made the remark "You ought not to ever look back but forward." That is something like that new frontier we have heard so much about. (Laughter) But I have been interested somewhat in Colonial Masonry. I never got a chance to study it very much because I have been busy on other things, but I am quite interested in it, particularly Paul Revere, because my company happens to bear his name, but when I think of Henry Price and Joe Warren and Paul Revere and George Washington — and we all revere those names I am sure because they were great Masons — but then I think what made them great Masons. They were great Masons because they believed in the philosophy of Masonry and practiced it in their everyday life. And they were good men and great patriots, not necessarily because they were Masons, but they were Masons because they were just what they were. So I do look back on those colonial days and perhaps some more recent, and I feel that we can and perhaps should, look back to the old days for the inspiration to carry on and try to even do better if possible. I don't see how it would be possible, in my case, but at least we can try. That is my intention this year, to do the best I possibly can.
I want to thank the Grand Master for the confidence he has seen fit to place in me and to assure him that in every possible way 1 will do my best to carry on the work he has given me. Thank you. (Applause)
AT 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF DARIEN LODGE, JANUARY 1967
From Proceedings, Page 1967-5:
Brethren:
Greetings from the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts.
It is a great pleasure and privilege to be with you tonight and participate in the celebration of your Fiftieth Anniversary. When we look back fifty years we might wonder whence came the vision, the foresight, the courage, the determination of the founders of this lodge. There can be no doubt that they were imbued with the spirit of brotherly love, a desire for fraternal communion, a desire to share their Masonry with one another.
For fifty years Darien Lodge has been a haven of fraternal fellowship and brotherly love in this community. It is the dream of the past come true, the crown and climax of the faithful aspiring and consecrated labors of the members of this Lodge in years gone by.
The heritage which they have given us convinces our hearts that there have been more hands engaged in the work of Darien Lodge than the mortal eye can see. The mortar of brotherly love and affection which made them a society of friends and brothers likewise formed the link by which we are in duty bound to them. We are indebted to those who are gone as we are to those who will follow us, to make ourselves men whose lives are built upon the foundation of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.
Our challenge then is to make our Masonry great. Let it fill our hearts and minds. Let it overflow in our daily contacts at work and play that the world may know that it is the humble practice of its precepts and virtues that give us the comfort of permanence in the midst of change and transition.
Brethren, it is a great challenge. Let the Masonry in Darien Lodge be the symbol of the Temple of Life we build by our thoughts, words and actions every day. May we have the faith of our fathers that Masonry existing through the members of Darien Lodge will live on to an even greater future.
NOTES
CHARTERS GRANTED
- 12/27/1966: Caribbean Naval, Guantánamo, Cuba
RULINGS
