Difference between revisions of "Marine"

Revision as of 19:37, 16 November 2014

MARINE LODGE

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Location: Falmouth

Chartered By: Josiah Bartlett

Charter Date: 03/13/1798 II-126

Precedence Date: 03/13/1798

Current Status: Active

NOTES

• Charter restored 1821; returned to Grand Lodge 1832 or 1833, per 175th Anniversary History, Page 1973-199.

MEMBER LIST, 1802

From Vocal Companion and Masonic Register, Boston, 1802, Part II, Page 27:

• R. W. Elijah Swift, M.
• W. Timothy Crocker, S. W.
• W. Stephen Swift, J. W.
• Franck Wicks, P. M., Tr.
• Lewis Parker, Sec.

No. of Members, 18.

• Prince Hatch
• Thomas Lawrence
• Major Hatch
• Thomas Gifford

PAST MASTERS

Need living PMs

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition for Charter: 1797 (Granted 1798)
• Constitution of Lodge: 1805
• Surrender of Charter: 1810
• Restoration of Charter: 1856

ANNIVERSARIES

• 1924 (125th Anniversary)
• 1948 (150th Anniversary)
• 1973 (175th Anniversary)
• 1998 (200th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1873 (Nickerson)
• 1886 (Howland; installation)
• 1923 (Ferrell; 125th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1932 (Chipman; Past Masters' Night)
• 1935 (Allen; Falmouth cornerstone laying; Special Communication)
• 1936 (Allen; Falmouth hall dedication; Special Communication)
• 1948 (Keith; 150th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1967 (Booth; Sojourners' Night)
• 1973 (Vose; 175th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1981 (Berquist)
• 1983 (Berquist)
• 1986 (Richardson)
• 1989 (Ames)
• 1990 (Darling)
• 1993 (Lovering; 2 visits, including installation)
• 1994 (Lovering; 2 visits, including installation)
• 1995 (Lovering; installation)
• 1996 (A. Johnson; reception for Senior Grand Warden E. Joel Peterson
• 1998 (A. Johnson; 200th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 2005 (Hodgdon)
• 2006 (Hodgdon)
• 2008 (Pageau)
• 2009 (Pageau)
• 2012 (Stewart)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1859 1877 1889 1899 1912 1914 1916 1918 1921 1946 1954 1957 1961 1968 1970 1974 1975 1978 1985 1988 1996 2003 2006 2009 2010 2011 2012

HISTORY

• 1923 (125th Anniversary History, 1923-292)
• 1948 (150th Anniversary History, 1948-95)
• 1973 (175th Anniversary History, 1973-197)
• 1998 (200th Anniversary History, 1998-33)

125TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JUNE 1923

From Proceedings, Page 1923-292:

By R. W. William H. Hewins.

On a petition to the M.W. Grand Lodge, and signed by Frank Wicks, Joseph Webb, Robinson Dimmick, Isaac Parker, Prince Hatch, Davis Swift, John P. Caswell, Hugh Donaldson, Timothy Crocker, Richard Bunker, James Wing and Lewis Parker, praying that a charter be granted to constitute a Masonic Lodge in Falmouth, to be known as Marine Lodge, A. F. & A. M. (Note: The Swift and Donaldson families have been represented in the Lodge for four successive generations.)

The petition was duly presented and was granted on the date of March 13, 1798. It was signed by the following Grand Officers: Josiah Bartlett, M. W. Grand Master; Samuel Dunn, R. W. Deputy Grand Master; Joseph Laughton, R. W. Senior Grand Warden; William Little, R. W. Junior Grand Warden; Daniel Oliver, Grand Secretary.

The first meeting, dated March 26, 1798, was at the house of Stephen Swift, being the old house next east of the Town Farm. At this time the following officers were chosen:

• Frank Wicks, Worshipful Master
• Hugh Donaldson, Senior Warden
• Richard Bunker, Junior Warden
• Frank Wicks, Treasurer pro tem.
• Hugh Donaldson, Secretary pro tem.
• James Wing, Tyler.

During this meeting the following vote was passed: "Voted that every visiting brother should be allowed to make one visit free of expenses, but every other visit he should pay 25 cents, unless otherwise determined by vote. They continued to meet at Brother Swift's until sickness in his family compelled them to meet elsewhere.

They next met at the house of Samuel Shiverick, in the southwest upper chamber. Brother Shiverick's house is the old house next west to the Post Office in Falmouth Village.

They continued to meet in dwelling houses in various parts of the village until the new building was completed in 1801.

A meeting of the subscribers for the new building was held September, 1798.

"We the subscribers jointly and severally agree and engage to pay the sums annexed to our names by us subscribed into the hands of the committee who may be appointed to carry on the building of a School-house where the old one now stands.
"Which is divided into eighty shares, in company with the Masonic Society if they choose to join us, also the town so far as they may agree for the benefit of a town house.
A list of subscribers for building a School House in the town of Falmouth and what number of shares each one has and money paid one whole share being $7.42.

• Timothy Crocker, 2
• Frank Wicks, 2
• Elijah Swift, 2
• Weston Jenkins, 2
• Ichabod Hatch, 2
• Thomas Shiverick, 1
• Zimri Tobey, 2
• Timothy Parker, 2
• Lot Price, 2
• Samuel Lewis, 2
• Thomas Jones, 2
• Samuel Shiverick, 2
• Parnel Butler, 1
• Paul Price, 2
• Silas Lawrence, 2
• Shubael Hatch, Jr., 2
• Thomas Bourne, 2
• Joseph Snow, 1
• Robinson Dimmick, 1
• Joseph Crocker, 2
• Joseph Hatch, 2
• Zimri Bourne, 1
• Joseph Mayhew, 1
• William Nye, 1
• Joseph Crocker, 1
• Timothy Crocker, Jr., 2
• David Swift, 2
• Hugh G. Donaldson, 2
• Consider Hatch, 2
• Braddock Dimmick, 2
• Major Hatch, 1
• Temperance Palmer, 1
• Thatcher Lewis, 1
• Job Parker, 1
• Prince Dimmick, 2
• Joseph Palmer, Jr., 1
• Benjamin Palmer, Jr., 1
• Ebenezer Weeks, 1
• Nathaniel Lewis, 2
• Joseph Bourne, 2
• Stephen Swift, 1
• Richard Lake, 1
• Henry Lincoln Warren, 2
• Gifford Benjamin Butler, 2
• Moses Hatch, 1
• Matthew Price, 2
• David Wood, 2
• Ephraim Parker, 1
• Joseph Parker, Jr., 1

Eighty Shares, Total $592.80. The Proprietors of the Schoolhouse met at the house of Shubael Hatch, Innholder in Falmouth, on Tuesday, October 1, 1799, and passed the following votes:

• "Voted, that the Proprietors of the Schoolhouse and the Masonic Society complete the outside of the building and lay the floors equally between them.
• "Voted, One half of the money be paid down, and the other half when the outside of said house is completed.
  • Elijah Swift's proposal being the lowest he was awarded the contract, it being for $675.
• "Voted, that Capt. Timothy Crocker receive the money and pay it over to Elijah Swift, and sign the agreement with the said Swift for completing the building agreeable to contract."

At a Proprietors' meeting, held at the Inn of Shubael Hatch, August 19, 1800, it was voted that the sum of $15 that the old building sold for, be paid to Elijah Swift for two feet in addition to the width of the new Schoolhouse. On completion of the new building the Town occupied the lower rooms for school purposes.

The Lodge occupied the upper room, and continued to occupy it until about 1810, and then for some reason not given, they returned their Charter to the Grand Lodge, where it remained until 1820. ("A communication was received from the officers and members of Marine Lodge, at Falmouth, representing the situation of that Lodge; requesting leave to return their Charter to the parent Grand Lodge, and offering as reason for so doing, the impoverished state of their finances, the absence of many of their Brethren, and other inabilities which prevented their meeting at present and discharging their regular dues. The members of Marine Lodge were mostly seafaring men." — F. W. H. September 10, 1810; I Mass. 442.

Then it was again returned to the Lodge and they continued to meet until about 1832 or 1833. Then the Charter, working tools, and jewels were again returned to the Grand Lodge and remained there until 1857.

After giving up their Charter the building was sold to Thomas Swift who rented the lower rooms for store purposes, and the upper hall for a school room. It was so occupied until a new Schoolhouse was built.

In 1857 a petition was drawn up by the old members of the Lodge and forwarded to the Grand Lodge asking that their Charter and records be returned and permission given to reorganize once more. The petition was granted and a new Lodge was formed under the old Charter. The first meeting of the Lodge after the Charter had been returned was held at the house of Bro. Albert Nye, opened on the first degree. His house was the one now owned by Harry V. Lawrence. Applications having been received from James T. Dillingham, Thomas L. Swift and Solomon II. Baxter, wishing to become members, they were balloted for and accepted, and came forward and received the Entered Apprentice degree.

A dispensation having been granted for sufficient reasons by the District Deputy Grand Master, who was present, the above named persons were Passed and Raised to the sublime degree of Master Masons. The officers chosen were regularly installed by the District Deputy Grand Master; George W. Swift, Worshipful Master; Benj. F. Tucker, Senior Warden; George W. Donaldson, Junior Warden; William Hewins, Treasurer; Frederick Davis, Secretary; James P. Garvin, Senior Deacon; Thomas L. Swift, Junior Deacon; Solomon H. Baxter, Tyler. Visiting Brothers present: B. S. Pope, District Deputy Grand Master; George Marston; Major S. B. Phinney of Barnstable; Silas J. Bourne; Ferdinand G. Kelley; Bro. Childs; Bro. Hallett; Bro. Bearse; Bro. Simmons; Bro. Baker; all from James Otis Lodge, Barnstable.

Brother Nye was very active in getting the Charter returned and after the first few meetings at his house the Lodge hired and fitted the rooms over what is now the Falmouth Coal Office. They remained there a few years, when they bought this present building, the same that they had occupied in 1801.

Marine Lodge has now the original Charter granted by the Grand Lodge, dated 1798.

• It owns the building it now occupies.
• It has a Charity Fund of a few thousand dollars.
• It has one hundred and eighty-six members.
• It has sixteen Past Masters, and two Past District Deputy Grand Masters living at the present time.

OTHER

• 1924 (Participation in Hyannis cornerstone laying, 1924-371)

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• Sidney L. Bearon, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 2000, 2001
• Howard R. DeLano, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1971, 1972; SN
• Arne Grepstad, DDGM, District 20, 2006, 2007
• Joseph R. Hall, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1951, 1952; N
• Charles F. Holden, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1941, 1942; N
• Rawson C. Jenkins, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1927, 1928; N
• Frederick F. Jones, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1984, 1985; N
• Sumner I. Lawrence, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1931, 1932; SN
• Sean E. LeBlanc, DDGM, District 20, 2014
• Asa L. Pattee, DDGM, District 31 (Nantucket), 1913; SN
• E. Joel Peterson, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1990, 1991; Grand Marshal 1993-1995; Senior Grand Warden 1996
• Milton E. Williamson, DDGM, District 32 (Hyannis), 1961, 1962; SN

DISTRICTS

1803: District 3 (South Shore and Cape Cod)

1821: District 11

1856: District 8

1867: District 14 (New Bedford)

1883: District 27 (Nantucket)

1911: District 31 (Nantucket)

1927: District 32 (Hyannis)

2003: District 20

LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges