MAGLSHutchinson
SAMUEL KNOX HUTCHINSON 1804-1877
Junior Grand Warden, 1855
MEMORIAL
From Proceedings, Page 1877-210:
"The committee appointed to prepare some suitable notice of the death of R.W. Samuel Knox Hutchinson, Past Grand Warden of this Grand Lodge, and present the same at this Communication, have attended to that duty, and hereby submit the following report: —
"Once more has the invincible enemy invaded our ranks and smitten one whose long life of integrity, enriched by domestic endearments, and adorned by virtues incident to a continuous, faithful Masonic service, affords an instructive example of the priceless value of character formed by a strict adherence to the principles of truth, honor, and brotherly love. Another brave and untiring spirit, zealous to the last in the interests of our noble Order, has yielded to the celestial summons, leaving an additional vacancy in the list of heroes who not only earnestly loved and carefully guarded the principles of this Institution in the earlier days of its prosperity, but also in the days of its adversity, guided by conscience and unyielding loyalty, continued true to their profession, faithful among the faithless found.
"Samuel Knox Hutchinson was born in Pembroke, N. H., Oct. 23, 1804, and died in Lowell, Mass., Aug. 1, 1877, aged seventy two years, nine months, and eight days. The period of time thus represented covers the life of a citizen and a Mason who was greatly loved and highly respected by all with whom, in the varied discharge of duty, he became associated. He was by profession a contractor and builder. In 1822, at the age of eighteen he came to Lowell, and was employed in the erection of several of the oldest public buildings in that city, among which may be mentioned the mills of the Merrimack Manufacturing Company, and St. Anne's Church. He afterwards went to Andover, where he was employed in erecting a portion of the seminary buildings.
"On the 22d of December, 1825, he was proposed for initiation into the rites of Free and Accepted Masonry in Pentucket Lodge, and was raised to the degree of Master Mason in that Lodge on the 26th of January, 1826. Leaving Andover in 1835, he resided in Maine until 1844, when he returned to Lowell with the intention of making that city his home. During this time his zeal for Masonry had increased with his years and strength, so that on his return he was elected a member of Pentucket Lodge, Feb. 5, 1846, and on the following October was appointed to the office of Marshal. At this period he was employed by the Massachusetts Cotton Mills Company in enlarging their works, and in building the mills of the Prescott Company.
"In 1848 he went to Holyoke for the purpose of constructing important works for the Hadley Falls Company. While there he connected himself with Mount Tom Lodge, and on the 9th of Jan., 1851, was installed its Worshipful Master. He soon after returned to Lowell. In 1852, while Ancient York Lodge was acting under Dispensation, he held the office of Junior Warden. He became a Charter Member of this Lodge on the 9th of June, 1853, was elected Junior Warden on the 22d of the same month, and on the 7th of March 1854, was elected Worshipful Master. In the long list of names of those who have presided in the East, of this old and prosperous Lodge, there is none more worthy than his of remaining in grateful remembrance for efficiency of work and unabated zeal. On the 13th of Dec, 1854, he was elected Junior Grand Warden of the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, and was installed as such on the 27th of the same month, R.W. Winslow Lewis, noraen magnum et venerabile, being then the occupant of the Oriental chair.
"In 1855 he was appointed by Governor Clifford one of the commissioners for rebuilding the State House, and subsequently he was employed by the manufacturing companies of Lowell in enlarging, rebuilding, and generally improving their mill property, his services in this capacity being considered of special value. In 1860 and '61 he had charge of constructing several manufacturing establishments in Lewiston, Me.; and in 1864 he was appointed, by the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, supervising agent of the constructing of the Masonic Temple in Boston. After the completion of the Temple he was less actively engaged in business. His health became somewhat impaired; consequently he was compelled, in a great degree, to slacken his industry, although he continued more or less busy in designing and erecting public and private buildings in Lowell, some of which are prominent among the public ornaments of that city.
"He was connected with Mount Horeb Royal Arch Chapter, having received the Royal Arch Degree in this Chapter, Dec. 20, 1847. Between Oct. 10, 1853, and Oct. 22, 1855, he was three times elected High Priest, and in 1855 he was elected Deputy Grand High Priest of the Grand Chapter of Massachusetts. He was a member of Ahasuerus Council of Royal and Select Masters, having received the Royal and Super Excellent Master's degrees Jan. 26, 1857. He was elected Most Illustrious Master Sept. 23, 1861, and was annually elected to this office until Sept. 16, 1867. About the year 1854 he received the orders of Knighthood in Boston Commandery of Knights Templars, Boston, Mass. In 1855, Oct. 10, he became a Charter Member of Pilgrim Commandery, Lowell, having served as Generalissimo while this Commandery was acting urtder Dispensation, and on the 31st of the same month was elected Eminent Commander of this Body. He was retained in this position by election during the three following years, commanding universal respect by his ability and knightly bearing.
"He received the degrees of the A. and A. Scottish Rite in Lowell Lodge of Perfection Nov. 27th, 1861. On the same date the degrees from the 14th to the 3 2d inclusive were given him by communication. He received the 33d degree May 22, 1863, in Boston. He held the office of Commander in Chief of the Massachusetts Consistory from Dec. 18, 1867, until the time of the union, Feb. 15, 1871, when the Massachusetts Consistory wras removed from Lowell to Boston. He was elected an honorary member of Pentucket Lodge Nov. 11, 1875, of Ancient York Lodge Dec. 10, 1867, of Kilwinning Lodge May 17th, 1867, of Mt. Horeb R.A. Chapter Nov. 11, 1867, of Ahasuerus Council Oct. 10, 1870, and of Pilgrim Commandery May 18, 1870. Such are some of the outlines of a well-spent, earnest life. At the age of more than threescore years and ten he has laid aside the working-tools and passed to the rewards which are promised to the faithful. He was buried at Lowell, Aug. 4, 1877, with Masonic honors, under the supervision of Ancient York Lodge, Bro. Arthur G. Pollard, Worshipful Master, officiating. Delegates in their official capacity were present from the Grand Lodge and from the Massachusetts Consistory. In life beloved and highly respected, in death honored and lamented, our Brother has left behind the record of an ardent, loyal Mason, and an estimable Christian gentleman. As a tribute to his memory, inadequate though it may seem, your committee desire to present the following preamble and resolutions: —
"Whereas, By the death of R.W. Samuel K. Hutchinson we are called to mourn the loss of one of the oldest and most respected Masons in the Commonwealth; and
"Whereas, It is eminently proper that this Grand Lodge should place upon record some expression of its sense of the great loss thereby sustained by the Fraternity; therefore
"Resolved, That we will with gratitude revere the memory of our honored Brother for the courage manifested in remaining true to the principles of our Institution during the dark and troublesome times when men assailed and reviled it, and ignominy, violence, and persecution were the portion of those, who guided by conscience, were faithful to the interests committed to their charge.
"Resolved, That by his long and industrious life, unsullied and without reproach, his generosity and courtesy, his life long devotion to the cause of Freemasonry, his keen and profound appreciation of the dignity of character which should belong to the just and upright Mason, our Brother has reflected honor upon the Order, become entitled to the grateful remembrance of the Brethren, and presented an example worthy of imitation by all the members of the Craft.
"Resolved, That the Grand Lodge does most respectfully and tenderly sympathize with the family of our deceased Brother in their great bereavement, and that the Recording Grand Secretary be requested to transmit to them a copy of these resolutions."
SOLON W. STEVENS,
WILLIAM F. SALMON,
ARTHUR G. POLLARD,
Committee.
