MAGLORoberts

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OLIVER AYER ROBERTS 1838-1922

[OliverRoberts1922.jpg

Junior Grand Warden, 1908

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1922-429:

Oliver A. Roberts was Junior Grand Warden of this Grand Lodge in 1908 and for long years he was our Librarian. He had a genius for detail and many of the plans that he devised have been of large practical value to the Grand Lodge and to the Craft in general. He had an interest in his department which amounted almost to that of a concept of a personal possession.

He was always present and will be greatly missed from his accustomed place and work, but he was five and eighty years of age and was able to be with us up to a few days before the end, which came very suddenly on December 4th.

From Proceedings, Page 1922-565:

Brother Roberts was born in Haverhill, Mass., March 17, 1838, and he graduated from the High School of that town in 1857, spent one year at Yale College, and graduated from Antioch College, Ohio, in 1868.

In 1862 he enlisted in the 50th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and was appointed Sergeant Major, and at the expiration of his term of service re-enlisted in the 110th Ohio Regiment and was discharged June 25th, 1865, at the close of the war. After an experience as publisher and as a teacher, he was ordained to the ministry and held pastorates in the Christian Church at Le Grand, Iowa, New Bedford, Mass. and Salisbury, Mass.

He accepted a position at our Masonic Temple in 1886, and at the time of his death had been in the employ of the Grand Lodge for thirty-seven consecutive years and had served under fifteen Grand Masters.

Brother Roberts was raised in Merrimack Lodge, of Haverhill, in 1862. In 1864 he dimitted and joined Springfield Lodge, of Springfield, Ohio, dimitted from that Lodge in 1868 and became a charter member and first Senior Warden of Yellow Springs Lodge, Yellow Springs, Ohio; dimitted from there in 1869, and joined Polar Star Lodge of Le Grand, Iowa; dimitted from there in 18?2 and joined Star in the East Lodge, of New Bedford, and was its Chaplain for seven years. He joined Warren Lodge of Amesbury, Mass., in 1882, and was elected Master the same year, serving one term. He was District Deputy Grand Master for the Ninth District for three years from 1884 to 1886, and was Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge in 1908. He was an Honorary Member of Hiram Lodge, of Arlington, St. Mark's Lodge, of Newburyport, and Warren Lodge, of Amesbury.

He received the Chapter Degrees in Springfield, Ohio, in 1867, dimitted in 1872 and united with Adoniram Royal Arch Chapter, of New Bedford, and was Chaplain for several years and in 1886 was appointed Grand Chaplain of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts. He was an Honorary Member of King Cyrus Chapter, of Newburyport. He received the Council Degrees in Springfield Council, of Springfield, Ohio, and was an Honorary Member of Melrose Council, of Malden, Mass. Brother Roberts received the Order of the Temple in Sutton Commandery, of New Bedford, in 1872, dimitted and joined Newburyport Commandery and was its Eminent Commander in 1881. He was Associate Member of Hugh de Payens Commandery of Melrose and was its Prelate for several years. He received the Scottish Rite Degrees in the four bodies of Boston in 1874 and 1875, and was Prior of the Council of Deliberation for twenty-six years and for several years Grand Prior of Massachusetts Consistory.

Brother Roberts was intensely patriotic and he was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic at New Bedford and later of Buckholder Post of Yellow Springs, Ohio, and he was in demand as a speaker on Memorial Days. He was always public spirited and served. the city of New Bedford as School Committeeman from 1876 to 1878. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Public Library in the same city for three years and City Auditor for two years. In Melrose he was a member of the School Committee from 1896 to 1898. In 1882 he was a member of the House of Representatives, representing Amesbury and West Newbury.

Brother Roberts was a lover of Masonry and the copy of the old records from 1733 to 1792 which he prepared, as well as his collection of newspaper reports of important Masonic events, and his card catalogue of the Brethren in Massachusetts, hear testimony of his painstaking interest in the department so long entrusted to his charge. Brother Roberts married in March 11, 1864, Miss Emily W. Botsford, in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Two sons were born to them: Oliver Brewster Roberts and Stephen Henry Roberts. Mrs. Roberts died on May 9th, 1914, and on June 5th, 1917, Brother Roberts married Sallie I. Hunt of Boston, who survives him.

Brother Roberts died on December 4th, at his home in Boston. His was a long and useful life and he will be gratefully remembered. for his contribution to this Grand Lodge and the welfare of the Massachusetts Brethren.

William M. Belcher,
Charles I. Pettingell,
John A. Wilson, Jr.,
Committee.

EVENTS

50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY, MARCH 1912

From New England Craftsman, Vol. VII, No. 7, April 1912, Page 244:

There was a notable gathering; of Masons at Haverhill, Mass., Wednesday, March 20th, to greet Rt. Wor. Oliver L. Roberts in honor of his completion of a half century as a Mason. The ceremonies were in charge of Merrimack Lodge which held a special communication that was attended by upwards of 300 members of the craft, representing 43 different lodges throughout the country. Among the number were 70 masters and past masters of Merrimack and Saggahew lodges of Haverhill and the neighboring lodges of the cities and towns in Essex counly and southern New Hampshire. A banc|Uet was served at 6.30 o'clock. A reception followed, when those present were given an opportunity of meeting the distinguished guest, who expressed himself as greatly pleased to meet those of the younger generation of the craft who have followed in his footsteps.

A feature of the evening was the presentation to Mr. Roberts by Worshipful Master Albert H. Hale of Merrimack lodge of a parchment bearing a sketch of the old South Church, of which Mr. Roberts' father was the pastor and under which he maintained a general store. The parchment was suitably inscribed. Mr. Roberts in turn presented the lodge through Worshipful Master Hale with a large photograph of himself and also a Masonic volume of which he is the author.

Mr. Roberts celebrated his 74th birthday on Sunday, March 17. He was born in Haverhill in 1838. He attended the primary and grammar schools and entered the High School in 1851, graduating in 1857. After spending one year at Yale, in 1859 he entered Antioch College in Yellow Springs, O. When the rebellion broke out the college closed, the students having enlisted in the United States service, Mr. Roberts returned home and enlisted in the 50th regiment of Massachusetts volunteers. He was appointed sergeant-major and served as such until the expiration of his term of enlistment. Returning west, he re-enlisted in the 110th regiment of Ohio volunteers.

In 1870 he became pastor of the First Christian church in New Bedford and served as such for eight years. In 1877 he resigned and made an extensive tour of Europe, Asia and Africa. In 1880 he became pastor of the Christian church of Salisbury and after eight years' service resigned. In 1886 he began his labor in the office of the grand lodge, A. F. and A. M., of Massachusetts in Boston, in which he has been engaged for 26 years.

During this time he has written and published "The Pilgrimage of Boston Commandery, K. T., to San Francisco and Return," a volume of 460 pages, and a history of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery company in four volumes of 500 pages each; sermons delivered at Windsor Hotel, Montreal, and Profile House in the White Mountains, besides numerous articles for magazines and newspapers.

Mr Roberts delivered addresses at the Masonic centennial anniversary of King Cyrus chapter, R. A. M., in Newburyport in 1890; the centennial anniversary of Hiram Lodge of Arlington in 1897; the centennial anniversary of St. Mark's Lodge of Newburyport in 1903, besides others on various occasions.

Mr. Roberts received his first three degrees in Masonry in Merrimack Lodge on March 2, April 2, and May 7, 1862. He was admitted in 1868 and became a charter member of Yellow Springs Lodge of Ohio and was its first Senior Warden. On his return to Massachusetts he joined Star in the East lodge of New Bedford and was its chaplain for several years. On his removal to Salisbury he united with Warren Lodge and became its master in 1882. He was district deputy grand master of the Ninth Masonic District in 1884, 1885 and 1886. In 1905 he was appointed Deputy Grand Master by Most Worshipful John Albert Blake, but declined the appointment, and in 1907 was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. He has acted as Grand Chaplain of the Grand Lodge, and has filled other minor offices and is chairman of the committee on curiosities of the craft.

Mr. Roberts was Grand Chaplain of the Grand Royal Arch Chapter of Massachusetts for several years, errand Primate of the Massachusetts consistory, 32°, for nine years and Grand Prior of the Council of Deliberation for 27 years.

He was married on his birthday, March 17, 1864, to Miss Emily Wilbor Botsford of Yellow Springs, O., and now makes his home in Melrose. They have two sons, Oliver Brewster, sub-master of the Allen School, Newton, and Stephen Herbert Roberts, manager of the safe deposit vaults of the State Street Trust Company, Boston.


Distinguished Brothers