Harris

HARRIS LODGE

Location: Athol; Gerry (1811); Templeton (1813)

Charter Date: 09/13/1802 II-202

Precedence Date: 06/14/1802

Current Status: unknown

NOTES

In Grand Master Heard's address in December 1857 (Page 1857-36 in the original Proceedings), this lodge was described as having "had but a nominal existence for many years." He also noted that "the records of Harris Lodge are obtained, but its Charter cannot be found. The Lodge funds were divided among its members in 1834."

PAST MASTERS

Ezekiel Bascom, 1802-1804
James Thompson, 1805
James Humphreys, after 1805
James Fisk Robbins, before 1817; SN
Charles W. Wilder, 1824

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

Petition For Charter: 1802

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

1803 (Thomas; consitution of lodge)

OTHER

1811 (Petition to remove to Gerry, II-506)
1813 (Petition to remove to Templeton, II-577)
1814 (Note regarding removal to Templeton, II-584)
1816 (Dispute with Morning Star Lodge, III-36)
1820 (Note regarding delinquency, III-281)
1829 (Note regarding delinquency, IV-170)

Unclear when the charter was surrendered; a survey of District 6 in the early 1850s reported the lodge as dormant, but it might or might not be on the rolls.

HISTORY

1934 (Notes in History of Early Masonic Activity in Orange and Vicinity, part of the 75th Anniversary of Orange Lodge, 1934-141)
1934 (Notes in 75th Anniversary history of Star Lodge, 1939-350)
1963 (Notes in History of Freemasonry in the Brookfields, part of the centenary of Hayden Lodge, 1963-233)

NOTES AT 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF ORANGE LODGE, SEPTEMBER 1934

Soon after Harris Lodge received its Charter it joined with Harmony and Republican Lodges in celebrating St. John's Day in your town June 24, 1803. This was undoubtedly the first Masonic demonstration ever held in Orange.

Harris Lodge removed to Gerry in 1811, then followed three years of war. As soon as this most unpopular conflict was over the local Brethren became active for a Lodge nearer home.

FROM 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF STAR LODGE, OCTOBER 1939

From Proceedings, Page 1939-350:

In 1796 Harmony Lodge was opened at Northfield and, being some fifteen miles nearer our town, our Masonically-minded citizens soon sought affiliation there.

In the next five years 13 Athol men were proposed in that Lodge, two of them having started their Masonic career at Worcester. So in all we know of 19 Athol men who had Masonic connections and frequently attended meetings from 19 to 35 miles away over roads improved since the pioneer days but still hardly useable except on horseback. Recognizing the zeal of these far distant Brothers, Harmony Lodge celebrated the Feast of St. John the Baptist at Crosby's tavern in Athol, June 24, 1801. Mt. Zion Lodge, then of Hardwick, and Republican Lodge, of Greenfield, joined in this celebration. The Brethren gathered at Crosby's tavern, 834 Pleasant Street, and preceded by a "band of musick" marched to the meeting house on the upper common where Rev. Bro. Ezekiel L. Bascom, of Gerry (Phillipston), delivered the oration. This paved the way for a Masonic Lodge here.

Morning Star, Mt. Zion, and Republican Lodges assented to the proposal which was favorably considered by Grand Lodge and a Charter issued to Harris Lodge of Athol, September 12, 1802. The Lodge was duly constituted October 13, 1803, 136 years ago last Friday, by Isaiah Thomas, Grand Master. The records of this Lodge were taken to Boston in 1857, deposited in the Grand Lodge and burned when the Masonic Temple was destroyed in 1864, but the Treasurer's book is still extant and still in use as a part of the financial records of the town of Templeton. Hence we have only scant information about this Lodge.

We know that it met at Crosby's tavern (834 Pleasant Street) until 1807 when it moved to Brother Thomas Lord's tavern near the upper common. Late in 1811 it moved to Gould's tavern in Gerry (the large house still standing at the northwest corner of Phillipston common). December 30, 1813 it moved to French's tavern in Templeton where it continued until it disbanded following the Morgan excitement.

Rev. E. L. Bascom was its first Master and the second was Rev. James Thompson, of Barre. In all we know of some 24 Athol men who were members of this Lodge, a majority of these having previously joined either the Worcester or Northfield Lodges.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

Ezekiel L. Bascom, DDGM, District 6, 1806-1808, 1814-1816; Grand Chaplain, 1805-07, 1809, 1817, 1825
James Fisk Robbins, DDGM, District 6 (Central Mass., Worcester), 1817, 1818, 1819, 1820; SN