Liberty

LIBERTY LODGE

Location: Beverly

Chartered By: John Abbot

Charter Date: 06/19/1824 III-484

Precedence Date: 06/19/1824

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

Jesse Sheldon, 1824-1826, 1830, 1831 ©
Samuel D. Turner, 1827-1829, 1833, 1839
Benjamin Pierce, 1832 ©
Jonathan Towne, 1834
Amos Sheldon, 1835
John Bell, 1845
Thomas Remmonds, 1846-1849
John B. Hill, 1850-1860, 1863; © SN
S. Lothrop Thorndike, 1861, 1862; ©
David S. Shattuck, 1864-68
Hervey Lunt, 1869-71; ©
Samuel A. Endicott, 1872; ©
Isaac H. Edgett, 1873-1875, 1878, 1881; ©
Charles Woodberry, 1876, 1877; ©
William R. Driver, 1879; ©
George E. Norris, 1880
Charles W. Marshall, 1882, 1883
Albert A. May, 1884, 1885; ©
Augustus Stevens, 1886; ©
John F. Hill, 1887-1889; ©
George A. Galloupe, 1890, 1891; ©
Fred C. Dodge, 1892, 1893; ©
John W. Carter, 1894, 1895; ©
Stephen W. Abbott, 1896, 1897
Charles Greenough, 1898-99; ©
Luther S. Herrick, 1900, 1901; © SN
William A. Lee, 1902, 1903
William R. Brooks, 1904, 1905; ©
Walter H. Smith, 1906, 1907; ©; Mem
William Galloupe, 1908
Frank S. Cleaves, 1909, 1910; ©
John H. Harris, 1911, 1912; ©
William H. Parker, 1913, 1914; © SN
Harland E. Cate, 1915, 1916; ©
Howard K. Preston, 1917
Hollis L. Cameron, 1918; ©
H. Franklin Murray, 1919, 1920; ©
Harold C. Childs, 1921
Harry M. Grout, 1922
George A. Sinnicks, 1923; © N
William H. Black, 1924; ©
Jesse A. Dutelle, 1925; ©
Clarence Edwards, 1926; ©
Charles H. Barter, 1927; ©
Edmund G. Haskell, 1928; © N
William E. Alcock, 1929; ©
Alexander Black, 1930; ©
Carl E. Herrick, 1931; ©
Russell C. Tirrell, 1932; © N
Winthrop P. Porter, 1933; ©
Harry C. Smith, 1934; ©
John D. Martyn, 1935; ©
John A. Miller, 1936; ©
Richard Winchester, 1937; ©
Fred E. Sherman, 1938; ©
John B. Hill, 1939; ©
Ernest L. Newhall, 1940; ©
Alexander W. D. Black, 1941; ©
George W. Jeffs, 1942, 1943
Clarence L. Brierley, 1944
William L. Moody, 1945
W. Kimball Hayes, Jr., 1946, 1947
Joseph E. White, 1948, 1949; ©
W. Whitney Lundgren, Jr., 1950; ©
Robert W. Ireland, 1951; ©
Ellis M. Purinton, 1952; ©
George H. Gray, 1953; ©
Edward H. Ober, 1954; ©
George R. Spear, 1955; ©
Samuel E. Tappan, 1956; ©
Robert O. Lunn, 1957; ©
Frederick W. Allen, 1958; © SN
Albert G. Patard, 1959; ©
Lawrence H. Carlson, 1960; ©
Gilbert A. Prescott, 1961; ©
David L. Twiss, 1962; ©
James R. Maguire, 1963; ©
Douglas S. Littlehale, 1964; ©
Albert H. Nash, 1965; ©
Albert C. Phillips, 1966; ©
Paul W. Lunn, 1967, 1985; ©
Rodney W. Preston, 1968; © N
Owen H. Curtis, 1969; ©
Kenneth C. Pendleton, 1970; ©
George E. Manson 1971, 1998-2000; ©
Bryant B. Besse, 1972; ©
J. Gregory A. Hill, 1973; © PDDGM
Donald S. Kenney, 1974, 1978; ©
Alan B. Ayers, 1975; N
Daniel W. Hall, 1976
Walter L. Sargent, 1977
Robert S. Randall 1979
Thomas S. Meldrum, 1980, 1986
Charles M. Lewis, 1981
Richard B. Boucher, 1982
Todd R. Sargent, 1983
Theodore L. Scott, 1984
David M. Petto 1987, 2001
Clarence N. Trepanier, 1988
George K. Haile, 1989, 1995-1997, 2002-2007
Mark Meldrum, 1990
John H. Lyman, 1991
Carl F. Kersting, 1992
Thomas J. Ferguson 1993, 1994
Thomas C. Pawlyk, 2008
John J. Maihos, 2009; PDDGM
Robert A. Monahan 2010-11
K. Michael Bent, 2012

PICTURES FROM THE 1974 HISTORY

The following pictures appear in the 150th Anniversary History of the Lodge published in 1974. Past Masters with pictures below are marked with a © above. (As more pictures are available, they can be added here.)

William Alcock, Frederick Allen, Charles Barter, Bryant Besse

Alexander Black, Alexander W.D. Black, William Black, William Brooks

Hollis Cameron, Lawrence Carlson, John Carter, Harland Cate

Frank Cleaves, Owen Curtis, Fred Dodge, William Driver

Jesse Dutelle, Isaac Edgett, Clarence Edwards, Samuel Endicott

William Galloupe, George Gray, Charles Greenough, Harry Grout

John Harris, Edwin Haskell, Kimball Hayes, Carl Herrick

Luther Herrick, John B. Hill, John B. Hill (1939), John F. Hill

J. Gregory Hill, Robert Ireland, George Jeffs, Donald Kenney

Douglas Littlehale, Whitney Lundgren, Paul Lunn, Robert Lunn

Hervey Lunt, James Maguire, George Manson, John Martyn

Albert May, John Miller, William Moody, Franklin Murray

Albert Nash, Ernest Newhall, Edward Ober, William Parker

Albert Patard, Kenneth Pendleton, Albert Phillips, Benjamin Pierce

Winthrop Porter, Gilbert Prescott, Rodney Preston, Ellis Purinton

Jesse Sheldon, Fred Sherman, George Sinnicks, Harry Smith

Walter Smith, George Spear, Augustus Stevens, Samuel Tappan

S. Lothrop Thorndike, Russell Tirrell, David Twiss, Richard Winchester

Charles Woodberry

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

Petition for Charter: 1824
Constitution of Lodge: 1824 (by Rt. Wor. Joseph G. Sprague, District Deputy Grand Master)

ANNIVERSARIES

1924 (Centenary)
1949 (125th Anniversary)
1974 (150th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

1867 (Dame; Corner stone laying; not in Proceedings; see below)
1868 (Dame; Dedication of hall and installation)
1882 (Lawrence; 2 visits)
1883 (Lawrence)
1891 (Wells; Washington's Birthday)
1900 (Gallagher)
1905 (Sanford; commemoration of the birth of George Washington; Earl of Londsborough present)
1906 (Blake)
1908 (Blake; Annual Festival)
1910 (Flanders; Washington's Birthday)
1911 (Flanders; Washington's Birthday)
1912 (Benton; President Taft in attendance)
1916 (M. Johnson)
1918 (L. Abbott; Washington's Birthday)
1924 (Ferrell; Centenary; Special Communication)
1929 (By Junior Grand Warden Harry P. Jackson; Washington's Birthday)
1930 (By Senior Grand Warden George R. Winsor; Washington's Birthday)
1945 (Wragg; Washington's Birthday)
1949 (Keith; 125th Anniversary; Special Communication)
1953 (Roy; 2 visits: Washington's Birthday and reception for Junior Grand Warden Edmund G. Haskell)
1953 (W. Johnson; 2 visits: Washington's Birthday and visit by Washington-Alexandria Lodge #22)
1956 (W. Johnson; Hall dedication; Special Communication)
1974 (Vose; 150th Anniversary; Special Communication)
1976 (Maxwell)
1987 (Ames; Washington's Birthday)
1998 (A. Johnson)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1870 1871 1873 1879 1883 1884 1885 1892 1895 1898 1905 1906 1912 1913 1914 1917 1918 1919 1921 1923 1925 1927 1928 1931 1937 1945 1948 1949 1950 1951 1953 1970 1973 1975 1977 1978 1984 2006 2009 2011

HISTORY

1924 (History of Masonry in Beverly, 1779-1824, 1924-196)
1949 (125th Anniversary History, 1949-117)
1974 (150th Anniversary History 1924-1974, 1974-84) Note: an anniversary volume was prepared for this anniversary; pictures from this book appear above.

OTHER

1900 (Memorial on behalf of the lodge for the Earl of Londesborough, Past Senior Grand Warden of the U.G.L.E.; presented in Grand Lodge, 1900-101)
1911 (Cornerstone laying in Beverly; 1911-31)
1919 (Appeal of Jurisdiction dispute with John T. Heard Lodge, 1919-197)

EVENTS

OFFICER LIST, JANUARY 1831

From Boston Masonic Mirror, New Series, Vol. 2, No. 33, February 12, 1831, Page 260:

R. W. Jesse Sheldon, Master
W. Benjamin Pierce, S. W.
John Webb, J. W
Abraham Edwards, Treas.
Francis Lamson, jun., Sec'y
Samuel D. Turner, S. D.
Stephen Roundy, J. D.
Stevens Baker, M.
Robinson, C; W. Thissell, David Amable, Stewards
Benjamin S. Lunt, Tyler.

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS, JANUARY 1864

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXIII, No. 4, February 1864, Page 113:

The officers of this Lodge were publicly installed by the M. W. Grand Master, assisted by his officers, on the 14th January. The ceremonies took place in the First Baptist Church, in the presence of a large audience, consisting of the members of the Lodge, their ladies and citizens generally. The house was filled to its utmost capacity, and the ceremonies were witnessed with marked interest. A fine choir contributed much to their effectiveness. At the conclusion of the ceremonies the Grand Master briefly addressed the officers and members of the Lodge in appropriate terms, and introduced the Rev. Brother W. S. Studley, of Boston, as the orator of the evening. The subject of the address was the Life and Works of King Solomon, and the subject was handled with great ability and eloquence. The description of the Temple was precise, clear and beautiful, and was received with great favor.

At the conclusion of the address, a procession was formed and proceeded to the Town Hall, where the company sat down to a bountiful supper, and where brief speeches were made by several Brethren.

The officers for the year are as follows:—

D. S. Shattuck, W. M.
John Macon, S. W.
Samuel T. Plnmmer, J. W.
J. H. Kendall, Sec.
Samuel Porter, Treas.
John Nichols, Chaplain
Harvey Lunt, S. D.
Charles Odell, J. D.
J. W. Wallace, S. Stew.
Horace L. Walker, J. Stew.
F. F. Porter, Marshal
Augustus Giles, Tyler.

CORNER STONE LAYING, AUGUST 1867

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly Magazine, Vol. XXVI, No. 11, September 1867, Page 331:

The corner-stone of the new Masonic Hall about to be erected by Liberty Lodge, at Beverly, was laid with public ceremonies on Thursday, August 8, by the Grand Lodge of this Commonwealth. The occasion was quite an event, and excited the sympathies and interest of the entire population of the beautiful and pleasant town in which it took place. Nearly every place of business was closed (we quote from the "Boston Journal"), and the citizens almost unanimously either witnessed or took part in the ceremonies. Large numbers of the people were present from Salem and neighboring cities and towns, and the streets presented an unusually bustling and crowded appearance. The day was as lovely as could have been desired, a cool sea breeze relieving the heat to a delightful degree. The exercises from beginning to end passed off in the happiest possible manner, and nothing occurred to mar the festivities.

THE LODGE.

Liberty Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was organized in 1824, and its officers installed by Rev. Brother Bartlett, D.D.G.M., of Marblehead, assisted by the Grand Lodge of the State and delegations from Jordan Lodge, Danvers, Essex Lodge, Salem, and Philanthropic Lodge, Marblehead. The meetings were held in the upper story of Brother Abram Edwards's house, Edwards street, for a number of years after the Lodge was organized. The petitioners for a charter were Amos Shelden, John P. Webber, Jesse Shelden, Stephens Baker, Benjamin S. Lunt, Stephen Roundy, Jr., Andrew T. Leach, George Brown, William Gallop, Benjamin Webber, Samuel D. Turner, Emery Norris, and Simeon Smith.

The first officers were Jesse Sheldon, W. Master; John P. Webber, S. Warden; Samuel D. Turner, J. Warden; Daniel Poor, Chaplain; Amos Shelden, Treasurer; Stephens Baker, Secretary; Francis Lamson, S. Deacon; Emery Norris, J. Deacon; Simeon Smith, S. Steward; Benjamin S. Lunt, J. Steward; George Brown, Marshal; Joseph Hill, Tyler. All these are dead with the exception of Jesse Sheldon, the first W.M., and Stephens Baker, the first Secretary, who-is the oldest Mason in Beverly, having been initiated in St. John's Lodge, Wilmington, N.C., in 1816.

The Lodge at this date has one hundred and fifty members. Many have received the degrees in this Lodge who have passed from life, — more than double the present number. The Lodge is in a prosperous condition. The following brothers have held the office of W.M. since its organization: Jesse Sheldon, S. D. Turner, Benjamin Pierce, Amos Sheldon, Jonathan Towne, John Bell, Thomas Remmonds, John B. Hill, S. L. Thorndike, D. S. Shattuck. Br. John B. Hill held the office for thirteen years, and the others from one to six years. The present officers are D. S. Shattuck, W.M.; Hervey Lunt, S.W.; Samuel A. Endicott, J.W.; James H. Kendall, Secretary ; Joseph A. Boyden, Treasurer; Francis E. Porter, Marshal; Isaac H. Edgett, S.D.; William A. Webber, J.D.; Joseph V. Porter, S.S.; Samuel K. Poulan, J. S.; Augustus Giles, Tyler.

THE PROCESSION. The procession was formed on Thorndike street, with the right resting on Cabot street, in the following order: —

Chief Marshal, Col. E. E. Porter.
Salem Brass Band.
Winslow Lewis Encampment of Knights Templars, Salem.
Starr King Lodge, Salem.
Danvers Brass Band.
Amity Lodge, Danvers.
John T. Heard Lodge, Ipswich.
Essex Lodge, Salem.
Burnham's Cornet Band, Beverly.
Liberty Lodge, Beverly.
Carriage containing aged members of Liberty Lodge.
Carriage containing Officers of the Grand Lodge.

Winslow Lewis Encampment made a fine appearance, turning out about sixty members, and carrying their elegant new banner. They were officered as follows: Gen. William Sutton, M.E. Grand Commander; George H. Peirson, Generalissimo; David S. Shattuck, Captain-General; H. A. Brown, Recorder ; Thomas Hunt, Treasurer; William Kimball, Senior Warden; H. A. Joselin, Junior Warden; George Tapley, Sword-Bearer; Charles H. Norris, Warder.

Starr King Lodge appeared with about forty men under command of Dana Z. Smith, W.M., and bearing their new and elegant banner, upon which was a superb portrait of the lamented Rev. Thomas Starr King. Amity Lodge was under command of R. R. Tibbetts, W.M., and appeared with about fifty men. John T. Heard Lodge had about forty men, and were under command of John J. Baker, W.M. Essex Lodge, was under command of Thomas J Hutchinson, W.M., and appeared with about thirty men.

Liberty Lodge turned out about eighty men, under command of D. S. Shattuck, W.M., and made a fine appearance. The carriage which followed contained the following aged members of Liberty Lodge: Mr. Jesse Sheldon, the first Master of the Lodge; Col. Abraham Edwards, in whose house the first meeting of the Lodge was held; James Kendall, Secretary of the Lodge, and Stevens Baker, the oldest member of the Masonic Order in Beverly.

The carriages which completed the procession contained the following representatives of the Grand Lodge of the State of Massachusetts : Charles C. Dame, M.W. Grand Master; Dr. Winslow Lewis, R.W. Past Grand Master; Charles W. Moore, as R.W. Deputy Grand Master; John McClellan, R.W. Grand Treasurer; W. D. Stratton, W. Grand Marshal; Rev. J. W. Dadmun, W. Grand Chaplain; Edward Stearns, as R.W. Senior Grand Warden; H. P. Perkins, as R.W. Junior Grand Warden; H. H. F. Whittemore, W. Senior Grand Deacon; J. Edward Everett, W. Junior Grand Deacon ; and Eben F. Gay, Grand Tyler.

The whole procession was imposing and its march pleasing and inspiriting. About half-past one o'clock it took up its line of passage through the following streets, taking in the Grand Lodge at Masonic Hall: Cabot to Elliot, countermarch to Dane, Dane to Hale, Hale to Abbott, Abbott to Thorndike, Thorndike to Lovett, Lovett to Central, Central to Cabot, Cabot to Davis, Davis to Stone, Stone to Bartlctt, Bartlett to Cabot, Cabot to Railroad Avenue, Railroad Avenue to Rantoul, Rantoul to Bow, Bow to Cabot, Cabot to the site of the new building.

The streets through which the procession passed were well filled with spectators, who witnessed it with pride and pleasure. Although the heat was considerable and the route of the procession about two miles and a half long, its members went through the march with a devotion and resignation which was praiseworthy. A fresh breeze was blowing nearly the whole time and relieved to a great extent the oppressiveness of the heat, which otherwise might have been unfortunate in its effects.

THE DEDICATORY EXERCISES.

The procession reached the site of the new Masonic Hall about three o'clock, around which had assembled a large crowd of spectators who were anxious to witness the interesting and unusual ceremonies. After a slight delay in enabling the Lodges to get in their proper position to witness the exercises, and the members of the Grand Lodge to take their position upon the platform, over the foundations of the structure, in a semi-circle, near the corner-stone, the exercises were opened with a voluntary by the band, followed by a prayer by Rev. J. W. Dadmun, Grand Chaplain, after which, by direction of the Grand Master, the Grand Secretary read the contents of the box deposited beneath the corner-stone.

The Grand Master then ordered the box to be deposited in its proper place, which was done by the Grand Treasurer, the band in the meantime playing vive la America. A Dedicatory Hymn was then sung by a double quartette of male voices to the tune of " Come Thou Almighty King, " after which the square, the plumb, and the level, were given to their respective officers and the stone was lowered to its place, after which the several officers applied the " Jewels of their office " to the stone and replied that they found the work of the builders well done. The Grand Master then finished the work with a brief address, after rapping three times upon the stone. The ceremonies throughout were almost an exact copy of those at the dedication of the New Masonic Temple in this city. At the conclusion of the remarks of the Grand Master the dedicatory prayer was offered by the Grand Chaplain, and the corn, wine, and oil, were poured upon the stone by the various officers, during which the choir sung the usual dedicatory verses. The following original hymn, written by Miss Lucy Larcom, was then sung : —

One only foundation, —
Love unto God and man,
Holdeth house and nation,
Safe in th' Eternal plan;
Bring all to this testing,
Base of our Father's throne,
Fixed rock for our resting,
Be this our corner-stone.

Strong walls now ascending,
Sacred to Love and Truth,—
Peace and charity blending,
Shelter of age and youth.
Faith firm at the center,
Hope from our torchlight shone;
Here may true men enter,— Here lay our corner-stone.

Warm human endeavor,
Throbbing in every heart;
Life's drear storms shall never
Rend our clasped hands apart.
Rise archway and portal,
Rise ye for truth alone,
Deep in trust immortal,
We lay our corner-stone.

The exercises were then closed with the benediction, and the members of the procession proceeded to the Town Hall, where it was reformed and the line of march taken up in the same order as previously, for the large tent on Washington Street, where the dinner was served.

THE DINNER.

The spot chosen for the serving of the dinner of the day was one of the most delightful which it is the good fortune of the city people now and then to put their feet upon. Upon the bluff at the foot of Washington street, upon a large green, a large tent had been pitched, in which a refreshing dinner, prepared by the members of Liberty Lodge and designed for about six hundred people, was waiting upon the tables. The spot overlooked the harbor, with a fine sea view and a most delightful sea breeze fanning the heat from the tent and refreshing everybody. The procession marched in about four o'clock, and in a few minutes the seats were all taken with members of the Masonic Order and their lady and gentlemen friends. Hon. John I. Baker then called upon the Grand Chaplain, Rev. J. W. Dadmun, to offer prayer. After the grace, about an hour was spent in enjoying the good things on the table. Beverly's far-famed dish occupied a conspicuous place, and offered a contrast to ice cream and cakes. A bevy of pretty and attentive young ladies of the town volunteered their services to assist in seeing that all had what they wanted, and were zealous and faithful until some looked distressingly rosy. The eating time passed pleasantly and was finally interrupted by the chairman, who made a few remarks, and called out brief speeches from M.W. Grand Master Dame, R.W. Deputy Grand Master Charles W. Moore, R.W. Grand Chaplain J. W. Dadmun, Dr. George B. Loring, Gen. William Sutton, and others. The speeches were well received, and the exercises at the table, pleasantly interspersed with music by the Bev erly Band, passed off delightfully, and closed reluctantly at about six o'clock in the evening by the singing of " Auld Lang Syne."

GENERAL REMARKS.

With the exercises in the tent closed the festivities of the day, which were apparently enjoyed by everybody. A large number of decorations, more generous in quantity than usual, was to be seen, evincing the interest which the celebration had among a large proportion of the citizens. At a number of points over the streets through which the procession passed, flags were suspended, and many private residences bore patriotic and appropriate decorations. Among those whose stores or residences were thus adorned, we noticed the following: C. L. Burnham, Cabot Street; H. R. Lovett, Cabot Street; John Macom, Ab bott Street; Captain Thomas E. Smith, Thorndike Street; John B. Hill, Wash ington Street; Captain Nathan W. Towne, Washington Street; S. D. Herricks,  Cabot Street; Captain Thomas Bates, Cabot Street; Captain Warren Strick land, Washington Street.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

Frederick W. Allen, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1964, 1965; SN
Alan B. Ayers, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1988, 1989; N
Edmund G. Haskell, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1940, 1941; Junior Grand Warden 1953; N
Luther S. Herrick, DDGM, District 8 (Salem), 1903, 1904; SN
John B. Hill, DDGM, District 5 (Salem), 1879, 1880;
J. Gregory A. Hill, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1996, 1997; SN
John J. Maihos, DDGM, District 10, 2010, 2011
William H. Parker, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1928, 1929; SN
Rodney W. Preston, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1976, 1977; N
George A. Sinnicks, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1948, 1949; N
Walter H. Smith, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1913, 1914; Memorial
S. Lothrop Thorndike; Deputy Grand Master 1895
Russell C. Tirrell, DDGM, District 9 (Gloucester), 1952, 1953; N