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=== MEMORIAL === | === MEMORIAL === | ||
| − | + | ''From Proceedings, Page V-510:'' | |
''Resolved''. That we have received, with profound grief, intelligence of the sudden death of the R. W. and Hon. | ''Resolved''. That we have received, with profound grief, intelligence of the sudden death of the R. W. and Hon. | ||
Revision as of 18:03, 29 October 2012
JOHN ABBOT (1776-1854)
Junior Grand Warden, 1813
Senior Grand Warden, 1814
Grand Master, 1824-1826; 1834.
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page V-510:
Resolved. That we have received, with profound grief, intelligence of the sudden death of the R. W. and Hon. John Abbot, Past Grand Master of this Grand Lodge. He died at his residence in Westford, on Sunday the 30th, of April last, after an illness of about two hours, in the 78th year of his age. Thus, another link connecting the past with the present generation has been broken. Thus another star, ever diffusing a mild and cheering radiance, has sunk below the horizon to rise again no more.
Resolved. That we will cherish the memory of our departed Brother for the many virtues which adorned his life and character; as a friend he was true and trusty — as a counsellor safe and wise, and as a christian, may we not apply to him the language of the poet:
"Calmly he looked on either life, and here
Saw nothing to regret, or there to fear."
As a Freemason, the services which he rendered to the Fraternity were many and various. As Grand Master, as a Trustee of the Grand Charity Fund from its establishment to the close of his life, and as an officer in many other Masonic institutions, he devoted his time and his talents for the benefit of the poor, the unfortunate, the widow and the orphan. He discharged the duties of the numerous offices in which he was placed, with great ability, courtsey[sic] and fidelity. When the cloud of antimasonry arose and seemed to portend a storm, and it was deemed desirable to place at the helm a pilot of tried skill, integrity, firmness, and discretion, all eyes were turned to our departed friend, and although he had previously occupied the Chair for the regular term of three years, he was, again elected Grand Master, as it were by acclamation.
Resolved. That while he sustained the office of Grand Master an event occurred which will be forever memoriable in the annals of the Craft; we allude to the ceremony of laying, in Masonic form, the corner-stone of Bunker Hill Monument on the 17th. June 1825.
That grand and beautiful ceremony was performed by him, assisted by officers of the Grand Lodge, in the presence of six thousand Masons and tens of thousands of other citizens. We were honored on that occasion by the presence of a Masonic Brother ardently attached to the Order, known and distinguished throughout the civilized world, and beloved and revered by the whole people of America; we refer to the veteran General, La Fayette. He visited the Grand Lodge on the morning of that day; and on Bunker Hill, robed in Masonic regalia, he accompanied the Grand Master to the place where the stone was to be laid, and stood by the side of him during the ceremony. That day was full of interest to other classes of the community as well as Masons, The reappearance of La Fayette after an absence of more than forty years - the presence of a large number of revolutionary soldiers, his companions in arms—the oration by Webster— the Masonic and military display — the gigantic procession, — all these presented a cluster of attractions and made the occasion one of unsurpassed brillancy [sic] and grandeur.
Resolved. That our departed Brother by his virtues and talents had secured the confidence and respect of those classes of society whose good opinion is of any value. He was often elected by his fellow-citizens to places of public trust and responsibility, and had been called by them to a seat in the higher branch of the Legislature of this Commonwealth.
Resolved. That as a token of our high respect for the memory of the deceased, the altar and jewels of the Grand Lodge be dressed in mourning for the term of three months.
Resolved. That a copy of these resolutions be transmitted to the son of the deceased, he being the only surviving member of the family."
From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XIII, No. 8, June 1854, p. 234:
It becomes our painful duty to record the death of another of the aged Past Grand Masters of the G. Lodge of this Commonwealth. The Hon. John Abbot died at his residence, in Westford, on Saturday the 29th April last, aged 77 years. The deceased held the office of Senior Grand Warden in 1813, and in 1823, was elected Grand Master, which office he held for the Constitutional period of three years. During this term he officiated at the laying of the Corner Stone of the Bunker-Hill Monument, in the presence of Gen. Lafayette, a numerous assemblage of the distinguished men of the country, and about six thousand Masons. The oration, by Mr. Webster, and the imposing ceremonies of that occasion, are still fresh in the memories of all who had the good fortune to hear the first and witness the latter. It was a day and an occasion to be remembered.
Soon after this event, the antimasonic persecution began, and raged with mad violence for ten years. During the whole of this period Brother Abbot stood as a faithful sentinel on the outer walls of the citadel. He was always present where duty called. In 1834, when the storm had reached the height of its fury, he was again elected Grand Master, and assumed the direction of the affairs of the Craft, then in a depressed and embarrassing condition; but which, through an indomitable firmness that nothing could shake, and an energy which nothing could tire, he restored to a degree of order, and placed on a footing, the good effects of which were soon manifest in the revival and renewed prosperity of the Lodges throughout the jurisdiction. He resigned the office at the expiration of the year for which he was elected, but continued his regular attendance on the Grand Lodge, and to watch over its interests, and aid in its government by his counsels, and his services, when required. The Masonic Fra ternity of Massachusetts owe him a large debt of gratitude. He was an able, true and faithful Brother,—a wise counsellor, and a safe leader. He was one of the trustees of the Grand Charity Fund at the time of his decease,—a place which, we believe, he had held since 18r6, when the fund was established by act of incorporation.
The deceased was in 1816, Secretary of the Gen. Grand Chapter of the United States, and G. High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts. As a man he was universally beloved by all who had the happiness to know him intimately. He was a member of the Middlesex Bar, and had been in the Senate of the State.
TERM
NOTES
CHARTERS GRANTED
1824-1826:
- 06/19/1824 Liberty, Beverly
- 06/19/1824 United Brethren, Marlborough
- 09/08/1824 Freedom, Woburn
- 09/08/1824 Eden, Ware
- 09/08/1824 Carmel, Warren
- 12/08/1824 Mount Hope, Fall River
- 06/08/1825 Orphan's Hope, Weymouth
- 06/08/1825 Orange, Orange
- 06/08/1825 Morning Sun, Ashfield
- 09/14/1825 Plymouth, Plymouth
- 09/14/1825 Bethel, Enfield
- 12/14/1825 Oxford, Oxford
- 12/14/1825 Grecian, Methuen
- 03/08/1826 Mount Ararat, Petersham
- 06/14/1826 Doric, Southbridge
- 06/14/1826 Clinton, Billerica
- 09/13/1826 Phoenix, Hanover
- 09/13/1826 Farmers, Sterling
1834:
None.
See the Attendance Summary page for information on charters surrendered in June 1834.
RULINGS
