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Revision as of 19:03, 8 July 2012

LEON MARTIN ABBOTT 1867-1932

LeonMAbbott1917.jpg

Senior Grand Warden, 1913
Grand Master, 1917-1919


TERM

1917 1918 1919

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1932-203:

Brother Abbott was born in Richmond, N. H., August 28, 1867, and died at his home in Brookline, October 10, 1932.

He received his education at the Keene, N. H., High School, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard College, and the Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1891 and continued the active practice of his profession until his death, with great success and distinction.

He became a member of Columbian Lodge in 1894 and. was its Master in 1906. He was District Deputy Grand Master for the First Masonic District in 1908 and 1909 by appointment of M. W. J. Albert Blake and M. W. Dana J. Flanders. He was Senior Grand Warden in 1913, and Grand Master in 1917, 1918, and 1919. As Grand Master during the years of our participation in the World War, he was faced by many difficulties and many unusual problems, all of which he met with unfailing energy, tact, and discretion.

He was a Charter member of Shawmut Lodge in 1913, West Roxbury Lodge in 1920, and Brookline Lodge in 1921, and affiliated with Beth-Horon Lodge in 1914. The high esteem in which he was held by the Fraternity is shown by the fact that he was an honorary member of twenty-three Lodges at the time of his death.

He was a Past High Priest of Saint Paul's Royal Arch Chapter, and Past Grand King of the Grand Chapter, and a member of Boston Council of Royal and Select Masters and of Boston Commandery of Knights Templar.

Brother Abbott took the Scottish Rite degrees in Boston in 1896 and was Thrice Potent Master of Boston-Lafayette Lodge of Perfection in 1904, 1905, and 1906. He became an Honorary Member of the Supreme Council, Thirty-third Degree, in 1906, and an Active Member in 1909. In 1911 he was elected Lieutenant Grand Commander and in 7921 was elected Sovereign Grand Commander, holding that office for the remainder of his life. As the head of the Northern Jurisdiction of the Scottish Rite he became a great international figure in Scottish Rite Masonry and acquired a tremendous influence in the Rite, an influence which was always exercised for the furtherance of sound and wise Masonry.

A great leader, a wise counsellor, a good friend has gone from our midst, and the whole Masonic world is the poorer for his going.

From Proceedings, Page 1932-290:

Born at Richmond, N. H., August 28, 1867 Died at Brookline, Mass., October 10, 1932

On the morning of the day of his death, Brother Abbott rose as usual but within a short time became sufficiently indisposed to induce him to defer his usual trip to his office; the physician who was called discovered no alarming symptoms and it was expected that his discomfort would disappear in a short time. A few hours later, without warning, "in the twinkling of an eye," Brother Abbott passed out of this life into the great unseen beyond. What a blow, what a shock this news was to his thousands of friends and associates, is testified by the number of messages received from all over the world, expressing the profound grief of all.

Funeral services were held at the Chapel of Mount Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, which proved all too limited to accommodate the friends who wished to pay their tribute to his memory. Floral tributes were in the greatest profusion. The service was conducted by Rt. Wor. Frederick W. Hamilton, long time friend and associate; the ceremonies were beautiful in their simplicity and the touchingly adequate words spoken by Brother Hamilton gave such comfort as was possible to those overwhelmed by sorrow. Burial was at Keene, New Hampshire, in the family lot, where as the late afternoon sun was sinking into the West, Brother Abbott was laid at rest beside his ancestors. Commitment prayers were offered by Rev. Brother John Matteson, Chaplain of Columbian Lodge, Brother Abbott's Mother Lodge. Distinguished men and Masons, from distant parts of the country were present in great numbers to express their love and respect for him who had passed on.

Brother Abbott was born in Richmond, N. H., August 28, 1867. He attended the public schools at Keene, N. H., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard College and Harvard Law School and was admitted to the Massachusetts Bar in 1B91. His advance to eminence in his chosen profession was rapid and his success led to many offers of appointments to official position, all of which were declined. He was a member of the American, Massachusetts, and Boston Bar Associations; also a member of the following Clubs; Square and Compass, Algonquin, University, and Charles River Country Club. He was a Trustee of the Massachusetts Savings Bank and of many estates. He is survived by his widow, to whom he was married on April 19, 1894.

His Masonic record is long, varied and useful in every group with which he associated himself.

  • Raised in Columbian Lodge, of Boston, June 7th, 1894.
    • Worshipful Master in 1905-07.
  • Trustee, Life and Honorary Member at the time of his death. District Deputy Grand Master for the First District, 1908-09.
  • Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge in 1913.
  • Most Worshipful Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts in 1917-18-19.
  • Director of the Grand Lodge from 1920 to 1923.
  • Trustee of the Masonic Education and Charity Trust since 1925.

His service as Grand Master was of an outstanding character; coming as it did during the years that our country was engaged in the Great War, it gave opportunity for the expression of his great and sympathetic heart. Due to his efforts, a recreation building was erected at Camp Devens for the use of all the soldiers encamped there.

Resisting the demands for Army Lodges abroad, he conceived the better service of appointing Special Deputies among the troops abroad and in the various camps in this country and by this means kept close contact with our members who were in service. By his suggestion and leadership, our Lodges kept intimate touch with those of the Brethren who were in service and particularly the wounded and prisoners. His sympathetic thought of those who might be bereft by the war and those who might suffer permanent injury, inspired his successful effort to establish the Relief Fund, which before it was closed contained the contributions of every Lodge in our jurisdiction to the total amount of about $170,000.00. His wisdom in this effort has been proved many times since then by the desperate needs which have been solaced by the proceeds of this Fund. He retired at the end of the traditional term of three years, with a reputation for Masonic service which has constantly grown with the passing years and with a love and esteem of the Craft which has seldom been equalled and never exceeded. His reputation is safe as one of the Great Ones among our long list of Past Grand Masters.

  • He was made a Royal Arch Mason in St. Paul's Chapter in 1894 and was its High Priest in 1907.
  • He was elected Grand King of the Grand Royal Chapter in 1921.
  • Received the Cryptic Degrees in Boston Council in 1896.
  • Knighted in Boston Commandery in 1895 and served as a Trustee for many years.
  • Received the Degrees of the A.A.S.R. in Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection, Giles F. Yates Council, Mt. Olivet Chapter, and Massachusetts Consistory, in 1896, presiding over the Lodge of Perfection in 1904-06.
  • He was crowned as Honorary Member of the Supreme Council of the Thirty-third Degree in 1906; was elected as Active Member in 1909. Was Deputy for Massachusetts from 1909 until he was elected Lieutenant Grand Commander in 1911. He was elected Grand Commander in 1921.
  • He served as Chairman of the delegation to the International Conference of Supreme Councils at Lausanne in 1922 and also at Paris in 1929, on both of these occasions he was instrusted with important duties which he accomplished to the admiration of all.
  • He was Honorary Member of innumerable Supreme Councils and subordinate bodies of the Rite.

Among his many accomplishments as Grand Commander, perhaps the outstanding ones were the erection of the Sojourners Club at the Government Hospital at Fort Bayard, N. M.; the establishment of the Supreme Council Educational Foundation and above all the splendid harmonious success of the Supreme Council under his leadership.

As Freemasons of every degree, we are grateful that such a man found in our Order the outlet for the expression of his kindly and sympathetic nature.

"Some must be great; Great offices will have
Great talents. And God gives to every man
The virtue, temper, understanding, taste
That lifts him into life, and lets him fall
Just in the niche he was ordained to fill."
(Cowper)

Our Fraternity has been dealt a shocking blow in the passing of this great leader who found in Freemasonry his great opportunity for the practical expression pf his heart's desire; to be of service to his fellow creatures.

Seemingly in the enjoyment of vigorous health, he was struck down in an instant, justifying in an impressive way the common saying that "Death loves a shining mark" for that he was, standing in the public eye as one of the great leaders of a national group of earnest men and occupying in our hearts a position rarely attained by any man.

Entering the Fraternity in 1894, he at once found in it the avenue for the best practice of his lofty ideals. His devotion to Masonic principles led to his rapid advancement to positions of responsibility and leadership in all of the Masonic Branches and as each task was accomplished another and greater one fell to his lot. His stature grew to meet each succeeding burden and the measure of his efforts increased with each added responsibility until it seemed as if no more laurels could be added to his crown of exalted service.

It was said by a great Dutch painter that "the end of the day is the proof of the picture." One might exhaust language in testimony of his character, but is it not better for us to feel in our hearts what he has meant to us. His victories are on record but to each one who enjoyed his friendship there is something that belongs only to us. Let us keep and cherish that which is most dear in our memories of him, secure in the knowledge that the sum total of those memories gives a complete picture of a noble character and a useful life.

"Nothing can cover his high fame but Heaven,
No pyramids set of his memories
But the eternal substance of his greatness,
To which I leave him."

Arthur D. Prince
Dana J. Flanders
Herbert W. Dean
Committee

NOTES

CHARTERS GRANTED

RULINGS




Grand Masters