MAGLLHammett
LOWELL UNDERWOOD HAMMETT 1931-2011
Senior Grand Warden, 1990
BIOGRAPHY
From TROWEL, Spring 1990, Page 3:
R. W. Lowell Underwood Hammett was seated Senior Warden, the second highest elective office in Grand Lodge. Elected without opposition, it is a traditional act of reward to a man who has served faithfully as Grand Marshal for three pars. A member of Norumbega and Brookline Lodge of Newtonville, he as a Past D. D. G. M. of the Brighton 5th and was the Grand Sword Bearer during the administration of R. W. David B. Richardson.
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page 2018-232:
Lowell U. Hammett, a Past Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, died in Worcester, Massachusetts in June 2011. The following memorial is provided as a supplement to the 2018 Proceedings of the Grand Lodge. His necrology appears on Page 92 of the 2011 Proceedings.
Freemasonry takes good men and makes them better, and seems to take busy men and make them busier. Such was the case with R. W. Brother Lowell Underwood Hammett, who was busy through his long civic life and Masonic career.
Brother Hammett was born on July 2, 1931 in Tisbury, on Martha’s Vineyard. He was trained in the banking industry, and become an officer in several banks, including Newton Savings Bank and Suffolk Franklin Savings Bank, beginning as a loan officer and retiring as a senior Vice President. In August 1952 he married Jean Helen Brown; together they had two sons, Christopher and Steven.
He was raised in 1969 in Norumbega Lodge of Newtonville, and served as Master in 1976 and 1977; he was recognized by the Grand Lodge and was appointed as District Deputy Grand Master for the Brighton 5th Masonic District for the years 1980 and 1981 by Most Wor. J. Philip Berquist, Grand Master. Brother Berquist’s successor, Most Wor. David Richardson, chose him to be Grand Sword Bearer from 1984 to 1986; Most Wor. Albert T. Ames subsequently appointed him as Grand Marshal for the years 1987 to 1989, during which time he was extremely active (as evidenced by the records found in those years’ Proceedings.) As was customary, he was chosen as Senior Grand Warden in 1990.
Brother Hammett was a member of St. Andrew’s Chapter, R. A. M., receiving his degrees in 1981, serving as High Priest in 1984. He was a member of Cryptic Council, R. & S. M. from 1981, and of St. Bernard’s Commandery #12, K. T., from 1981, serving as Commander in 1993.
In the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, he completed his degrees in 1978; he was an active worker in Rose Croix, serving as Most Wise Master of Mount Olivet Chapter in the Valley of Boston from 1997 to 1999. He was created a Sovereign Grand Inspector General, 33°, in September 1998.
Through his long life and long career in Masonry, Brother Hammett was a devoted worker, an inspirational leader, and a trusted friend of many, from the highest councils of Grand Lodge to the Brethren of his mother Lodge. He was an important participant in the negotiations between his lodge and Brookline Lodge prior to their consolidation in 1984.
In all his doings in Masonry, he walked steadily and uprightly, leading by example.
