Difference between revisions of "MassachusettsYear1866"

Latest revision as of 14:04, 6 September 2017

1866

CHARLES C. DAME, Grand Master

Sereno D. Nickerson, Deputy Grand Master
William Sutton, Senior Grand Warden
Wyzeman Marshall, Junior Grand Warden

QUARTERLY COMMUNICATIONS

Held at Freemasons' Hall, 10 Summer St., Boston)

• 03/14: VII-62;
• 06/13: VII-78;
• 09/12: VII-93;
• 12/13: VII-98; (Annual Communication)

03/14 Agenda

• VII-68: Order on the positions of officers in the Grand Lodge not already established.
  • 12/13: VII-100; extensive committee report.
• VII-69: Report on complaint of jurisdiction between Day Spring and Thomas Lodges.
• VII-72: Complaint by Norfolk Union Lodge against Corner Stone and Fraternal Lodges regarding jurisdiction.
  • 06/13: VII-88; extended committee report.
• VII-73; Report of Charity Committee.
• VII-74: Resolution of congratulations on the 50th anniversary of G.M. Prince Frederic of the Netherlands.

06/13 Agenda

• VII-87: Communication from St. Alban's Lodge regarding difficulties with St. James Lodge; referred to Grand Master.

09/12 Agenda

• VII-96: Resolution for the Grand Secretary to include any proposals for amendment to Grand Constitutions be noted in communications with lodges.
  • 12/13: VII-126; resolution adopted.

12/13 Agenda

• VII-100: Reception of Rt. Wor. Bro. Amos E. Cobb, Senior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge of Connecticut.
• VII-100: Committee on Charters appointed.
• VII-105; Report of Regalia Committee.
• VII-122: Report of Auditing Committee.
• VII-124: Re-election of Grand Master Dame, and other Grand Lodge officers.
• VII-128; Report of Charity Committee.
• VII-129: Report of Library Committee.
• VII-130: Presentation of a collar and apron to the first Master of Ancient Landmark Lodge, Shanghai. Remarks by Grand Master Dame, given below from Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXVI, No. 3, Page 83:

At the conclusion of the regular business of the Grand Lodge of this Commonwealth at its late session, the M. W. Grand Master, Charles C. Dame, announced that he had been commissioned by Ancient Landmark Lodge, at Shanghai, in China— a lodge under this jurisdiction, — to present to W. Br. Charles E. Hill, the first Master and founder of said Lodge, a Past Master's Jewel with a collar and apron appropriate to such an officer. Br. Hill was accordingly introduced and addressed by the Grand Master as follows: —

W. Br. Charles E. Hill,— It gives me great satisfaction to inform you that I have been deputed, as Grand Master of this Grand Lodge, to present to you certain tokens of the esteem in which you are held by the brethren of Ancient Landmark Lodge of Shanghai, China, — a Lodge chartered under the jurisdiction of this Grand Lodge.

In the performance of our duty to aid in extending the blessings and benefits of Freemasonry among the worthy of all nations, and to secure them to those of the Craft who have pitched their tents in distant lands, where the rite we profess has not yet received the local organization requisite for self-government, this Grand Lodge, on due petition, granted during the official career of my predecessor, first a Dispensation, and then a Charter to certain American brethren of the Craft, resident at Shanghai, in the Empire of China, authorizing them to form the Ancient Landmark Lodge, with full powers to practise the usages and institutions of Ancient York Masonry, under the protection and according to the Constitutions of this Grand Lodge.

You, worshipful brother, had the honor to be their first Master, and nursed by your care, fortified by your bright example in masonic virtues, trained by your consummate knowledge of the mysteries of the Craft, and guided by your prudence and wisdom, the Ancient Landmark Lodge has attained high excellence in Freemasonry, and enjoyed a prosperity which has given fame to them and to yourself.

This Grand Lodge looks with no small degree of pride to the success of the first American Lodge in the great regions of Asia, lying East of the Cape of Good Hope. Coming from the West, you have planted the banners of light and truth in that Oriental and flowery Empire, where, under God's grace, they shall be a landmark in all future time.

The brethren of Ancient Landmark Lodge feel more indebted to you, my brother, than they can well express in language. Under their directions this jewel and this regalia have been prepared by cunning artists and graven with inscriptions of their gratitude. This Past Master's Jewel, made of Oriental (gold, in the similitude of those worn by our Past Masters, and blazing with (diamonds which might adorn the tiara of a king, they present to you as the jnsignium of your rank. This collar and this apron, regalia of your degree, finished in the best style of decorative art known to the workers in embroidery pf modern days, they also present, and entreat you to wear on all fitting occasions for their sakes, that you may feel that they are with you in spirit, and tied to you in the bonds of masonic friendship and gratitude.

Receive my congratulations, my brother, on the splendor of this present. I Let your future aspirations for a perfect knowledge of all the great truths of Masonry pervade your soul as the rays of light pervade this diamond, and so continue in your masonic career that your actions shall always, like this pure gold, embellish your masonic life, and testify in the end, before the Supreme Architect of the Universe, for your exceeding great reward.

At the conclusion of this address, W. Br. Hill acknowledged, in'! appropriate terms, the handsome compliment thus publicly and gracefully bestowed on him. He briefly referred to his early connection with the Lodge in China, and the interest he had taken and should always feel in its prosperity. He spoke feelingly of the kind consideration in which he had ever been held by the brethren composing it, and of the sincere regret with which he parted from them. He also thanked the M. W. Grand Master for the fraternal manner in which the rich and beautiful present had been conveyed to him, and concluded with this assurance that the occasion would be treasured up in his heart, as one of the most pleasing and grateful incidents of his life. The jewel was of fine gold and richly studded with diamonds. The collar and apron were of heavy silk, richly and beautifully wrought with silver lace, and bordered with deep fringe of the same material. Taken together it was probably the richest and most expensive regalia of the kind ever manufactured in this country. The jewel was manufactured by Messrs. Guild & Delano of this city, and the collar aiid apron were designed by and wrought under the direction of Br. L. L. Tarbell, we need hardly add, also of this city.

Grand Constitutions Amendment Proposals

• 03/14: VII-67; Amendments to the Grand Constitutions to revise fees and charges.
  • 03/14: VII-68; Resolution to refer the subject of fees to a committee to report at the next quarterly communication.
  • 06/13: VII-79; extended report and adoption of resolutions.
    • Part 4, Article 1, Section 10
    • Part 4, Article 3, Section 8

Grand Master's Address

• 03/14: VII-63; Report on Grand Master's Address of 12/27/1865.
• 12/27: VII-139; Grand Master's Address.

Lodge By-Law Changes

None.

Necrologies and Memorials

• 03/14: VII-75; Death of Rt. Wor. Lemuel Gay, Past DDGM, 5th District, and staunch opponent of the anti-Masonic movement; memorial presented by Rt. Wor. William Coolidge.

Petitions for Charters

• 06/13: VII-83; Petition for Lafayette U.D., Roxbury, granted.

• 09/12: VII-94; Petition for Charles W. Moore U.D., Fitchburg, granted.

• 09/12: VII-95; Petition for Artisan U.D., Winchendon, granted.

• 09/12: VII-95; Petition for James Otis U.D., Barnstable, granted.

• 09/12: VII-95; Petition for Adelphi U.D., South Boston, granted.

• 12/13: VII-109; Petition for Hyde Park U.D., Hyde Park, granted, with minor by-law revisions. (Dispensation 02/01)

• 12/13: VII-111; Petition for King Philip U.D., Fall River, granted, with minor by-law revisions. (Dispensation 01/16)

• 12/13: VII-112; Petition for Alfred Baylies U.D., Taunton, granted, with extensive by-law revisions. (Dispensation 01/12)

• 12/13: VII-109; Petition for Adams U.D., Wellfleet; granted, with extensive by-law revisions.

Petitions for Dispensation for Lodges

• Mentioned in Grand Master's Address, beginning on Page VII-138:
  • Alfred Baylies, Taunton (01/12)
  • King Philip, Fall River (01/16; constituted and installed 12/18)
  • Hyde Park, Hyde Park (02/01; constituted and installed 12/21)
  • J. L. Hutchinson, Arica, Peru (02/21)
  • Excelsior, Franklin (03/15)
  • Kilwinning, Lowell (04/23)
  • Eliot, Jamaica Plain (05/14)
  • Siloam, Westborough (06/04)
  • Oriental, Edgartown (07/16)
  • William Sutton, Saugus (10/25)
  • Huntington, Huntington (11/13)

Petitions for Restoration of Charter

None.

SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS

None.

FEAST OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST

(held at Freemasons Hall, Boston, 12/27/1866); VII-135.

• VII-136: Installation of Grand Master Dame and other Grand Lodge officers.
• VII-138: Report of the Grand Master for the preceding year:
  • Constitutions and Installations:
    • Saggahew, Haverhill (01/12)
    • Installation of Mount Lebanon Lodge, Boston (01/08)
    • Mount Hollis, Holliston (01/30; description)
    • Konohassett, Cohasset (06/27); dedication of new hall; description
    • Lafayette, Roxbury (07/02)
    • Athelstan, Worcester (07/06)
    • Acacia, Gloucester (07/09)
    • James Otis, Barnstable (09/21)
    • Adelphi, South Boston (10/04)
    • Charles W. Moore, Fitchburg (10/09)
    • Artisan, Winchendon (10/19)
  • Hall Dedications, Installations:
    • Hall at Cambridge; installation of Amicable Lodge (01/04)
    • Permission granted to Wyoming Lodge to meet in Malden due to fire in Melrose (02/12); a new corner stone was laid in Melrose on 06/25.
    • Randolph (05/03)
    • South Boston (05/30; description)
    • Framingham (06/18; description)
    • North Adams (06/20; description)
    • Mansfield; installation of St. James Lodge (07/24)
    • Taunton (09/25)
• VII-142: Annual Feast celebrated.

LIST OF LODGES BY DISTRICT: 1866

Note: There were 12 Districts in 1866, plus special areas for Chile, China and Peru.

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