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JOHN R. BRADFORD 1790-1865

Junior Grand Warden, 1846-1848.

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, 1865, Page VII-7:

"Whereas it has pleased Divine Providence to remove from us by sudden death our highly esteemed late Bro. John R. Bradford, a past Officer of this G. Lodge, therefore

Resolved. That we cannot part with our deceased Bro. without some expression of our grateful attachment and respect for his person and of our high estimate of his character both as a Mason and as a Man.

Resolved. That his long and unfaltering devotion to the principles and interests of our beloved Order, a devotion signalized for over half a century by a multitude of valuable services, calls for our most thankful recognition.

Resolved, That his example is a model of firmness, industry, benevolence, temperance, purity, and energetic integrity, worthy of reverence and imitation on the part of all.

Resolved. That his memory is most dear to us, and That in the circumstances of his departure, taken directly from his tasks to his reward, without suffering or fear, we own the merciful hand of the heavenly Father, and feel that his family and friends are comforted in the assurance that they now have this precious additional treasure laid up in Heaven.

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXIV, p. 167:

The following sketch of the Masonic life and services of this esteemed Brother, with the accompanying Resolutions, were offered by R. W. Br. Moore in St. Andrew's Lodge, and adopted by that Bordy, on the 9th of March last.

Since our last meeting, a strong pillar in our Israel has fallen! - Death has been among us! He has waled silently through our little Lodge, and has taken from us our elder Brother! One whom we loved, and whom, had it pleased our Heavenly Father, we would have kept, and cherished. But God's will be done! The number of his days were accomplished: his work was finished; and he has gone where

From that Fount, forever pouring,
Flows the tide of Bliss above,
Where the hosts of Heaven adoring,
Shout forever, "God is Love!"

Bro. John Rufus Bradford was born in Boston on the 19th day of September, 1790, and he died at his residence, in his native city, on the 27th day of February, 1865.

He was educated in the public schools of Boston, and, at the usual age, was apprenticed to the grocery business, which he followed until the year 1827, when he was appointed by the City Government one of the Public Weighers. And so faithfully and acceptably did he perform the responsible duties of this important trust, that he was annually re-elected to the place for the long term of thirty-eight successive years! This simple and significant fact says all that need or can be said of his honesty, of his faithfulness to duty, and of the high integrity and character as a business man. One of the most philosophical of the English Poets has said that

"An honest man is the noblest work of God.

We accept the definition, and hang it as an imperishable wreath around the memory of our departed Brother!

But it is as a Mason that we would especially remember him.

He was initiated into Masonry in Mount Lebanon Lodge of this city, on the 2d day of March, 1813, and it is a remarkable and interesting coincidence, that the day of his burial should have fallen on the fifty-second anniversary of his initiation. For the long period of fifty-two years, he has labored faithfully, zealously, earnestly, in the Mystic World of Masonry, when, on the anniversary of his Masonic Birth, God, in His wisdom and in His own inscrutable way, saw fit to translate him to those Greater Mysteries, over which He Himself presides, and where the rage of passion is lulled, the poignancy of sorrow is not felt, and "pleasures flow upon the soul as the honied breeze flows upon the flowers" of the earth.

Our Brother was admitted a member of Mount Lebanon Lodge in the July following his initiation, and was soon after engaged in its active duties. In 1820 he was elected Junior Warden, and in the following year he filled the office of Senior Warden. In 1826, he withdrew his membership, and did not connect himself with any other Lodge until 1836, when he was admitted a member of St. Andrew's Lodge. He was not, however, either remiss or indifferent to his Masonic duties in other departments of the Order, where his services were in constant requisition.

In 1815, he received the degrees of Royal Arch Masonry in St. Andrew's Chapter of this city, and was admitted to membership the following year. Having filled most of its subordinate offices, in 1823 he was elected its High Priest, which office he held for three years, discharging the duties with credit to himself and to the acceptance of his Companions. In 1832, he was again elected to the same responsible and honorable office, and served another term of three years.

He was also for many years an original and efficient member of the Boston Council of Royal and Select Masters, which was organized in 1817: and he subsequently presided over its proceedings from 1829 to 1839, a period of ten years.

In 1830 he received the Orders of Knighthood in the Boston Encampment, and was soon after admitted a member. Having filled most of its inferior offices, he was finally elected its M. E. Grand Commander, which office he held for several years.

In 1848, he was elected Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and presided over that Body for two consecutive years.

In 1845, he was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, in which office he served three years.

As already stated, he was admitted a member of St. Andrew's Lodge in 1836. He early became active in its duties and zealous in the advancement of its welfare. During the long period of his connection with the Lodge, he was rarely absent from its meetings. As there was no more punctual, so there was no more active member on its roll. As he was competent and able as a Ritualist to teach, so he was always ready and happy to give instruction to the younger and less informed of his Brethren; nor were his services in this respect confined to the Lodge. They were in equal demand throughout all the various grades and departments of the Order. In the Chapter, the Council and the Encampment, he was of the highest authority, and among the most reliable of teachers. He was always ready, in season and out of season, to answer the calls of his Brethren for instruction, whether from among his friends at home, or strangers from abroad. It was enough for him to know that they were worthy Masons, and that by aiding them he could best subserve the great cause he so dearly loved. And it is due to his memory to say in this connection, that he was no mercenary lecturer. What he had freely received, that he freely gave.

In our own Lodge he was almost always constantly in office, and always engaged in active duties. At two difficult periods he was, by the unanimous voice of his Brethren, called to fill the chair of W. Maser. How well and ably he discharged the duties of that responsible place, the records of the Lodge fully attest. On the death of the late lamented Brother Thos. W. Phillips, he was elected Treasurer of the Lodge, the duties of which office he continued to discharge with his accustomed fidelity and accuracy until his death.

Such is a very brief and imperfect sketch of the more obvious points in the Masonic life and character of our deceased Brother. It is sufficient however to show his great activity and the extent of his valuable labors in Masonry. For these and for his unwavering fidelity to its interests in the day of trial as well as in the hour of joy, the Masonic Institution in Massachusetts, at least, will honor his memory with grateful recollections.

The following resolutions are respectfully offered for the records of the Lodge.

Resolved. That in the sudden death of our late Treasurer and Past Master, Brother John R. Bradford, we humbly and devoutly recognize the hand of that All-Wise and Gracious Providence, who doeth all things well.

Resolved. That we thank God that our Brother was permitted to continue with us, even to the fruition and fulfillment of the Scriptural promise, "Thou shalt come to thy grave in a full age, like a shock of corn cometh in his season."

Resolved. That in the decease of our esteemed Brother, we feel that our Lodge has lost a faithful and upright officer, an active and zealous member, a bright and accomplished Mason, and a tried and trusty friend, whose memory must ever be associated in the minds of his surviving Brethren, with the honor due to official integrity, manly worth, and Masonic virtue.

Resolved. That we feel it to be an act of justice to refer to the faithful and honorable manner in which, through a long series of years, our departed Brother discharged the duties both of a municipal officer of this community and of a private citizen; showing himself in both capacities and characters, to be firm, faithful and true.

Resolved. That while we offer to his family the expression of sincere sympathy and condolence, under the loss and sorrow with which it has pleased our Heavenly Father to visit them, we feel that one of their most solid sources of consolation will be found by them, in the loving memory of the constant care and conscientious kindness, with which he ever sought to provide for their happiness and welfare.

Distinguished Brothers