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THOMAS W. DAVIS

Junior Grand Steward, 1875
Junior Grand Deacon, 1876
Junior Grand Warden, 1883
Recording Grand Secretary

MEMORIAL

From Proceedings, Page 1915-54:

Brother Davis was one of the best Masonic jurists in this country, having seen service for many years as an officer and permanent member of the Grand Lodge, and serving on almost countless committees. Considering constitutional amendments and other matters, he became thoroughly acquainted with the laws and practices of the Fraternity. His advice on all such questions was equally sought by Grand Masters and all others seeking information on such subjects.

He was also distinguished along literary lines, being the author of many monographs and articles pertaining to the Craft, a striking example of which is the poem which appeared in the first number of the first volume of Nickerson's New England Freemason in January, 1874. This has been made a part of this address.

SIT LUX Let there be light! the great Creator spoke,
And at the summons slumbering Nature woke,
While from the East the primal morning broke.
Back rolled the curtains of the night,
AnrI Earth rejoiced to see the light.

Let there be light! through boundless realms of space
Beneath its touch arise new forms of grace;
Warmth, life, and beauty with its beam's keep pace.
Where'er it shines, with fresh delight
All things reflect the genial light.

Let there be light! the Master's lips proclaim,
And heart and hand unite in glad acclaim
To hail th' enrolment of a Brother's name.
While he beholds with ravished sight
The glories of the Perfect light.

Let there he light ! and let the Bible's glow
Pervade our thoughts-through all our actions show -
Around our hearts its warming influence throw.
So shall our steps be led aright,
If guided by that holy light.

Let there be light! though we see dimly here,
The shining gates are ever drawing near,
And send their glory down our pathway drear.
Beyond - shall Heaven our eyes requite
With its divine, transcendant light.

Thomas White Davis was born in Michigan City, Indiana, November 1, 1844, but came of an old central Massachusetts family. His father was Rev. Elnathan Davis, of Holden, Mass., and his mother was Mary A. (White) Davis, also of Holden. A great-grandfather was Captain James Davis, of Holden, and a great-grandmother was Mrs. Joseph Avery, of Holden, a niece of Samuel Adams. While Brother Davis was a boy his father's pastorate changed and the family came back to Massachusetts, where he attended the Fitchburg High School, afterwards went to Oberlin preparatory school, and from there to Williams College, from which he was graduated in 1866. For a short time he was an insurance agent and bookkeeper and in 1868 he went to Washington, taking a position in the War Department. The following year he worked in the Washington city postoffice.

In 1870 Brother Davis came to Belmont as principal of the High School. He held that place for a year and then entered the Cambridge Schools, being master of the Putnam and Harvard Schools in that city from 1871 until 1908, in which year he was elected Recording Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge. He was a trustee of the BeImont Public Library from 1877 to 1895, was a selectman from 1895 to 1899, and from 1901 to 1907. He was an assessor from 1883 until the present, being chairman of the present board. He was also a trustee of the Massachusetts School for Feeble-minded, president of the Waverley Cooperative Bank, and clerk and trustee of the Belmont Savings Bank.

Brother Davis's Masonic career began the year after he was graduated from college. He was raised in Charles W. Moore Lodge, of Fitchburg, April 2, 1867, and became Master of that Lodge in 1871, serving until 1873. In 1877 he joined Belmont Lodge and served as its secretary In 1875 he became Junior Grand Steward. of Grand Lodge and rose steadily through the grades of Junior Grand Deacon, District Deputy Grand Master (Fourth Masonic District), and Junior Grand Warden, which last named office he held in 1883. He had also served the Grand Lodge on the committee on by-laws, first as a trial commissioner. He was an honorary member of Charles W. Moore, Belmont, and Friendship Lodges' the last named. being located in Wilmington.

He joined, Thomas Royal Arch Chapter of Fitchburg, and had held subordinate offices in that and in Waltham Chapter. He was a member of Adoniram Council of WaItham and of Cambridge Council of Cambridge, being Past Master of Cambridge Council. He entered Templar Masonry in 1871, when he joined Jerusalem Commandery of Fitchburg. Shortly thereafter he affiliated with St. Bernard Commandery of Boston, of which he was Eminent Commander in 1890 and 1891. He was Recorder from 1885 to 18$8, and from 1901 to 1911. He was also a member of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Association of Past Commanders. In the Scottish Rite he was a member of Boston Lafayette Lodge of Perfection, Giles F. Yates Council of Princes of Jerusalem, Mount Olivet Chapter of Rose Croix, and Massachusetts Consistory, attaining the thirty-third degree September 17, 1907.

About two years ago Brother Davis accompanied the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge on a visit to the Panama Canal Zone and assisted in the constitution of Sojourners Lodge at Christobal and paid an official visit to Canal Zone Lodge at Ancon, both of which are under Massachusetts jurisdiction.

On July 22, 1872, Brother Davis married Amelia F. Sylvester, daughter of John Sylvester, formerly of Hanover, Mass. He is survived by his wife and two children, Ralph S. Davis, Harvard '98, and Miss Etta L. Davis, Bryn Mawr '99.

The funeral services were held at the Waverley Congregational Church on Wednesday afternoon. A short service of prayer for the family and immediate relatives was conducted at the residence by Rev. Francis L. Beal, rector of the Church of the Ascension, in Cambridge. As the remains. were borne to the church the bells were tolled.

Within the edifice were gathered representatives of all the Grand and many Subordinate Bodies in Masonry with which Brother Davis had been identified, together with fellow townsmen, former pupils, and all his friends who loved him so well. This Grand Lodge was represented at the funeral by the Grand Master, accompanied by many other officers. Rev. and Wor. E. A. Horton, Grand Chaplain, conducted the services assisted by Rev. Francis L. Beal. Past Grand Masters Blake, Flanders, and Benton; Past Deputy Grand Master Fletcher and Past Grand Warden Soule were among the bearers.

While the services were in progress the stores of the town were closed; the flags on the public buildings were at half staff in silent tribute as the body was borne to its final resting-place in Belmont Cemetery.

"To tell the story of a well-spent life
The Mason true builds his own monument
But not of bronze, and yet of marble white,
These soon are gone.

A higher life is then his monument
Which through the ages grander will become,
As it more fully breathes his spirit, and is spent,
To help bless mankind."

Fraternally submitted,
Everett C. Benton
Elbert L. Brigham, W.M. Charles W. Moore Lodge
Frederic S. Pry, W.M. Belmont Lodge
Committee

Distinguished Brothers