MassachusettsYear1846
1846
SIMON W. ROBINSON, Grand Master
Winslow Lewis, Deputy Grand Master
Edward M. Raymond , Senior Grand Warden
John R. Bradford, Junior Grand Warden
Contents
NOTES
QUARTERLY COMMUNICATIONS
Held at Masonic Temple, Boston
- 03/11: V-68;
- 06/10: V-77;
- 09/09: V-86;
- 12/09: V-104; (Annual Communication)
03/11 Agenda
- V-71: Report by Trustees of the Temple regarding alterations to the Temple. Referred to committee for consultation with other Masonic bodies.
- 06/10: V-82; report by committee that $300 had been appropriated as the Grand Lodge's share in fitting up the rooms.
- V-72: A delegate to be appointed to attend the General Convention of Freemasons in Virginia in May.
- V-75: Grand Lodge to attend the Feast of St. John the Baptist with Aurora Lodge, Fitchburg, on 06/24/1846.
06/10 Agenda
- V-79: Committee report on members of the former Constellation Lodge. The three Brothers were expelled from Masonry.
- V-83: Correspondence from Bros. Oliver and Crucefix, elected Honorary Members in December 1845.
- V-85: Committee appointed to dedicate the new Hall.
09/09 Agenda
- V-89ff: Report on United Brethren clandestine Lodge, initiating Negro men in Boston. A committee of these men sought "healing" to be made Masons. A summons was made to Bro. Benjamin F. Leonard, who had undertaken this action. (See 09/29, 10/14 Special Communications below.)
- 12/09: V-105; Negro brethren admitted, but their petition to be regularly admitted and "healed" was denied.
- V-93: Petition by Morning Star Lodge to hold a procession on 06/24/1846, inviting the Grand Lodge; accepted.
12/09 Agenda
- V-106: Report of the Committee of Finance.
- V-108: Report of the Committee on Charity.
- V-109: Report of the Trustees of the Temple.
- V-112: Report of the Trustees of the Grand Charity Fund.
- V-113: Re-election of Simon W. Robinson as Grand Master (58 ballots), and other Grand Lodge officers.
Grand Constitutions Amendment Proposals
- 09/09: V-87; Part 4, Article 1, Section 10 to be amended to substitute "$6" for "$4" (annual fee for members), and "$5" for "$3.50" (fee for initiates); adopted.
Grand Master's Address
- 03/11: V-69; Address by Grand Master Robinson. Recommendations on Grand Lodge fees referred to committee.
- 09/09: V-87; Committee reported recommendation to increase fees.
Necrologies and Memorials
- 03/11: V-13; Memorial to Henry Purkitt, Past Junior Grand Warden, given by Rt. Wor. Winslow Lewis, Jr.
Petitions for Charters
- 12/09: V-107; Petition by Mount Tabor Lodge U.D., East Boston, for a charter (dispensation date 12/18/1845, not recorded in Proceedings); granted.
Petitions for Dispensation for Lodges
- 06/10: V-78; Petition for St. Paul's Lodge, South Boston.
Petitions for Restoration of Charter
- 06/10: V-78; Petition by Washington Lodge, Roxbury; referred.
- 09/09: V-89; Petition granted.
- 09/09: V-93; Petition by Union Lodge, Nantucket, to replace the original charter destroyed by a recent fire; referred.
- 09/09: V-94; recommended for acceptance.
- 12/09: V-110; Presentation of "sundry papers and petitions" from King Hiram's Lodge, Provincetown, to replace one lost during "Anti-Masonic excitement‚" granted, dues remitted.
- 12/28: V-121; Petition by Montgomery Lodge, Medway; committee adverse to granting the petition, as some of the funds had been distributed in 1829, the rest lost through mismanagement.
SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS
- 09/29: V-95; Proceedings against Bro. Benjamin Leonard. Appearing before Grand Lodge, Bro. Leonard asked for a postponement that he might obtain counsel.
- 10/14: V-98; Proceedings against Bro. Benjamin Leonard. He did not appear; unanimously found guilty, he was expelled.
- 11/11: V-101: Dedication of the new Masonic Hall. Ceremonies conducted "in accordance with ancient [M]asonic form and usage" Wor. and Rev. Albert Case "delivered an able, interesting and appropriate address." see description below
FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST
(held at Masonic Temple, Boston, 12/28/1846)
- V-116: Instruction session.
- V-122: Invitation to attend the installation of The Massachusetts Lodge on 01/29/1847; accepted.
- V-122: Installation of Grand Master Robinson and other Grand Lodge officers.
- V-122: Address by Past Grand Master Peabody "on the character, history and prospects of the Institution."
- V-123: A further "appropriate and practical" address was given by Rev. Bro. George M. Randall.
LIST OF LODGES BY DISTRICT: 1846
Note: This is extremely conjectural, and based in part on the locations of the appointed Deputies.
DISTRICT 1
Addison Searle (Chelsea), District Deputy Grand Master; 12 Lodges + 1 U.D.
- St. John's (Boston, 1733)
- Lodge of St. Andrew, (Boston, 1756)
- The Massachusetts (Boston, 1770)
- Columbian (Boston, 1796)
- Union (Dorchester, 1796)
- Meridian (Watertown, 1797)
- Mount Lebanon (Boston, 1801)
- Amicable (Cambridge, 1805)
- Bethesda (Brighton, 1819)
- Monitor (Waltham, 1820) charter restored
- Star of Bethlehem (Chelsea, 1844)
- Mount Tabor (East Boston, 1845)
- St. Paul's (South Boston, U.D.)
DISTRICT 2
Samuel Bowden (Marblehead), District Deputy Grand Master; 6 Lodges
- Philanthropic (Marblehead, 1760) restored charter
- The Tyrian (Gloucester, 1770)
- St. Mark's (Newburyport, 1803)
- Mount Carmel (Lynn, 1805)
- Warren (Amesbury, 1822)
- Liberty (Beverly, 1824)
DISTRICT 3
Nathan Ordway (Fitchburg), District Deputy Grand Master; 8 Lodges
- King Solomon's (Charlestown, 1783)
- St. Paul's (Groton, 1797)
- Corinthian (Concord, 1797)
- Hiram (West Cambridge, 1797)
- Pentucket (Lowell, 1807)
- Jordan (Danvers, 1808)
- Good Samaritan (Reading, 1816)
- St. Matthew's (Andover, 1822)
DISTRICT 4
Jonathan Greenwood (Framingham), District Deputy Grand Master; 6 Lodges
- Middlesex (Framingham, 1795)
- Olive Branch (Sutton, 1797)
- Constellation (Dedham, 1801)
- Solomon's Temple (Uxbridge, 1818)
- Oxford (Oxford, 1825)
- Doric (Southbridge, 1826)
DISTRICT 5
Samuel Chandler (Canton), District Deputy Grand Master; 3 Lodges
- Fellowship (Bridgewater, 1797)
- King David (Taunton, 1798)
- Rising Star (Stoughton, 1799)
- Corner Stone (Duxbury, 1801)
DISTRICT 6
Pliny Slocomb (Sutton), District Deputy Grand Master; 7 Lodges
- Morning Star (Worcester, 1793)
- Meridian Sun (Brookfield, 1797)
- Mount Zion (Hardwick, 1800)
- Aurora (Fitchburg, 1801)
- Harris (Templeton, 1802)
- Eden (Ware, 1824)
- Bethel (Enfield, 1825)
DISTRICT 7
Lucien B. Keith (New Bedford), District Deputy Grand Master; 3 Lodges
- Fraternal (Barnstable, 1801)
- Star in the East (New Bedford, 1823)
- Mount Hope (Fall River, 1824)
DISTRICT 8
Samuel H. Jenks (Nantucket), District Deputy Grand Master; 2 Lodges
- Union (Nantucket, 1771)
- King Hiram's (Provincetown, 1795)
DISTRICT 9
, District Deputy Grand Master; 4 Lodges
- Cincinnatus (Great Barrington, 1795)
- Harmony (Northfield, 1796)
- Jerusalem (Northampton, 1797)
- Hampden (Springfield, 1817)