Mountain

From MasonicGenealogy
Revision as of 14:29, 25 November 2014 by Hotc1733 (Talk | contribs)

Jump to: navigation, search

MOUNTAIN LODGE

Location: Rowe; Colerain (1818); Shelburne Falls (1856)

Chartered By: Francis J. Oliver

Charter Date: 12/09/1818 III-165

Precedence Date: 06/09/1806; original petition, page II-329.

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

  • Robert L. McClellan, 1818, 1819, 1823
  • George Winslow, 1820, 1821, 1826, 1830
  • Benjamin Henry, 1822
  • David Fox, 1824, 1825, 1827, 1829
  • Christopher Dean, 1828
  • Samuel Coolidge, 1831
  • James Anderson, 1832-1855
  • S. N. Babbet, 1856
  • Frank J. Pratt, 1857, 1858
  • William S. Severance, 1859, 1860
  • Ozro Miller, 1861
  • Jonas K. Patch, 1862-1863, 1873-1874; SN
  • Joseph H. Wilder, 1864, 1865
  • Josiah A. Richmond, 1866, 1867
  • Henry S. Shepardson, 1868, 1869
  • Hiram O. Smith, 1870, 1871, 1875
  • Charles E. Severance, 1872
  • James Halligan, 1876, 1877
  • Norman Root, 1878
  • Edwin Baker, 1879-1881, 1888; SN
  • George R. Pierce, 1882, 1883
  • John Austin Halligan, 1884, 1889, 1905
  • Fayette G. Mitchell, 1885, 1886
  • Joseph C. Perry, 1887
  • George D. Eldridge, 1890, 1893
  • Frank H. Oakman, 1891, 1892; SN
  • George H. Wilkins, 1894, 1895
  • George W. Halligan, 1896, 1897; SN
  • Arthur J. Rowland, 1898
  • William A. Johnson, 1899, 1900
  • Francis Ducharme, 1901, 1902
  • Merton Z. Woodward, 1903, 1904
  • Clarence W. Ward, 1906
  • Francis E. Wilder, 1907, 1908
  • Arthur B. Smith, 1909
  • Frank S. Field, 1910, 1911
  • Charles D. Spencer, 1912, 1913
  • Henry W. Ware, 1914
  • Lewis H. Johnson, 1915, 1916
  • Carl P. Mitchell, 1917, 1918; N
  • John F. Manning, 1919
  • Herbert P. Ware, 1920
  • Stanley W. Cummings, 1921
  • Charles J. Carpenter, 1922
  • Allen F. Smith, 1923
  • James W. Vose, 1924
  • Roy S. Turton, 1925
  • William Hunter, 1926, 1927; N
  • Hugh F. Ward, 1928
  • Henry F. Cook, 1929
  • Howard C. Carpenter, 1930
  • Frank J. Wells, 1931
  • Deane H. Jones, 1932
  • Philip G. Vincent, 1933
  • Carlton P. Davenport, 1934
  • Robert E. Williams, 1935
  • Ralph E. Plympton, 1936
  • George D. Mirick, 1937
  • Floyd O. Mathews, 1938
  • Wilfred E. Miller, 1939; N
  • William T. Turner, 1940
  • Robert A. Lillpopp, 1941
  • Marvin O. Anderson, 1942
  • Leon H. Turner, 1943
  • Syril G. Gould, 1944
  • Frederick G. Clark, 1945, 1946; N
  • Donald E. Peon, 1947
  • George A. Newman, 1948
  • Harry L. Purinton, 1949
  • Paul K. Mead, Jr., 1950
  • John F. Wells, 1951
  • Howard E. Stockwell, 1952
  • C. Stanley Brewer, 1953
  • Arthur A. Donelson, 1954
  • John B. Jacobs, 1955
  • Raymond E. Nicholls, 1956
  • Richard R. Hollien, 1957
  • Sherwood C. Haskins, 1958
  • Sanford L. Jenks, 1959
  • Donald T. Upton, 1960
  • William Roberts, 1961
  • John R. Davenport, 1962, 1963
  • Clifton W. Shippee, 1964
  • Gene E. Washer, 1965
  • Erving S. Kendrick, 1966, 1967
  • Roy E. M. Reid, 1968
  • Phillips B. Hunt, 1969
  • Clinton W. Stafford, 1970
  • Kenneth B. Bonney, 1971, 1977; N
  • Herbert S. Merritt, 1972
  • John R. Davenport, 1973
  • John H. Shippee, Jr., 1974
  • Joseph P. Davenport, 1975
  • Arnold C. Purinton, 1976
  • Edward A. Walsh, 1978, 1981; PDDGM
  • Melvin L. Cass, 1979
  • Stefan G. Racz, 1980
  • Arthur H. Phillips, 1982, 1983
  • Richard W. Newton, 1984, 1985
  • Garrell A. Tawney, 1986
  • Frank W. Newton, 1987
  • Gregg A. Gilmore, 1988, 1989
  • Aubrey J. Crocker, 1990
  • William L. Underwood, 1991, 1992
  • Armond J. LaBelle, Jr., 1993; N
  • Harvey A. Chandler, 1994
  • Edward W. Pepyne, 1995, 1996
  • Larry David Call, Jr., 1997
  • Paul J. Monohon, Jr., 1998
  • John L. Mattis, 1999
  • Mark E. Pichette, 2000, 2009
  • Leonard Roberts, 2001
  • John A. White, 2002, 2012; PDDGM
  • Jonathan F. George, 2003
  • John W. Gilman, 2004
  • Donald J. Tower, 2005, 2006, 2010, 2011
  • Scott L. Gagnon, 2007
  • Malcolm J. Corse, 2008

NOTES

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Charter (in Rowe): 1806
  • Petition for Charter (in Colerain): 1818 original charter requested 1817
  • Petition for Restoration of Charter: 1856

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1906 (Centenary)
  • 1931 (125th Anniversary)
  • 1956 (150th Anniversary)
  • 1981 (175th Anniversary)
  • 2006 (200th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1870 1891 1921 1928 1931 1951 1952 1967 1976 1997 1999 2008 2010

HISTORY

  • 1931 (125th Anniversary History, 1931-210; see below)
  • 1956 (150th Anniversary History, 1956-191)
  • 1981 (175th Anniversary History, 1981-110; see below)

125TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, SEPTEMBER 1931

From Proceedings, Page 1931-210:

By Wor. John P. Manning.

The task of preparing a history of Mountain Lodge for this occasion has been rendered comparatively easy for me by the labors of others in the past. In 1893, at the time of the removal of the Lodge-rooms from the National Bank Building to the Vice Block, Worshipful Brother J. A. Richmond read a most interesting history of the Lodge up to that time, and at the Centennial Celebration in 1906 the Historical Address of Right Worshipful Edwin Baker presented the results of an exhaustive study in a way that I cannot hope even to approach. However, as only a few of you here today heard Worshipful Brother Richmond's talk and most of us were not privileged to hear Right Worshipful Brother Baker's Address, I am going to review briefly the entire history of Mountain Lodge.

On the ninth of June, 1806, a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts, praying for the establishment of a subordinate Lodge in the town of Rowe to be known as Mountain Lodge, and was signed by John Wells, Pardon Haynes, Zebediah White, Selah Munson, Joel Hall, Zebulon Benton, Jonathan White, Alfred Olds, Francis Porter, and Caleb Blakeslee, and whatever other monuments may have been erected to these men none can be greater than this.

However, it seems that the high hills of Rowe were not adapted to the growth and prosperity of Masonry and so a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge praying for the removal of Mountain Lodge from Rowe to Colrain. This petition was granted on the tenth day of December, 1818, and the first meeting in Colrain was held December 14, in a hall in the house next to the Congregational Church. At this first meeting a committee on membership was chosen, consisting of one member from each of five towns, viz: Colrain, Shelburne, Rowe, Charlemont, and Halifax, Vt. At the next meeting a set of By-Laws was adopted providing for a regular meeting once a month on the Wednesday on or before the full of the moon at two o 'clock in the afternoon ; notice of the meeting to be given by publication in the Franklin Herald, a newspaper published in Greenfield, two weeks before the time of meeting; that a ballot be required for admission and also before the conferring of each degree; that the cost of membership should be five dollars with the application, ten dollars for initiation, two dollars For the second degree, and three dollars for the third. At one of the first meetings a committee was appointed to secure the services of a "Lecture Master."

September 23, 1819, was the time set for the dedication of the Hall, but as the services were held in the North River Meeting House, which was situated above the village of Colrain on the road to Jacksonville, it seems a little uncertain which was dedicated. But after the services the Brethren assembled at the Tavern and as the bill for refreshments amounted to $40, we may presume that everybody was satisfied. During the year following the dedication twenty new members were raised and the next year fourteen, so we can see that the change of location was a wise move. In .spite of the fact that the Lodge seems to 'have had hard sledding financially, this was not allowed to interfere with the relief work and a great deal was done to aid distressed Brothers and to pay the funeral expenses and erect monuments for deceased Brothers.

Masonry in that part of the country soon fell upon troublesome times. The Anti-Masonic agitation, starting about 1826 or 7 which swept through here made it practically impossible for a Lodge even to meet. Perhaps the following vote taken at the regular meeting in January, 1830. will best show the bitter feeling which existed against Masonry at that time. Voted:—"That a committee of vigilance, safety and correspondence, with unlimited powers, be chosen for the ensuing year." Following this only three more meetings were held in Colrain, one in June, 1830, one in .January, 1831, and one in January, 1852.

This Anti-Masonic agitation, which was really the result of the bigotry and narrow-mindedness of the times, was fanned to a flame by the Morgan affair. As most of ns here have very little idea what this affair was I will quote the most interesting account given of it by Worshipful Brother Richmond in his Historical Record, lie says, "William Morgan was born in Virginia in 1775 or 6, an operative mason by trade, and at the time of which I write was living in Batavia, N. Y. He was, of course, a member of the Fraternity. For some reason, either fancied wrongs or the hope of money gains, he undertook to disclose the secrets of .Masonry. He associated with one David Miller, a printer. (Not a Mason, I believe.) Morgan was to write on the first three degrees, Miller was to print them in pamphlet form. This was in 1826. Morgan never got out his book, but was missing about the 17th of September, 1826. He was last heard of at Fort Niagara, and was never seen after that by his family or townsmen. Some said thai his throat was cut from ear to ear, his body buried below low water mark in an eddy where two rivers meet.

At all events he was seen no more at Batavia. The question has often been asked by Masons, what do you suppose became of Morgan? Now let me tell you confidentially what became of Morgan. A committee of Masons tried to persuade him to give up his hellish purpose but without avail. They combined threats and bribery, telling him what might be the consequences if he persisted in his purpose and offering him a large sum of money if he would desist and take himself off out of the reach of Miller never to return to Batavia. Partly through fear and partly, perhaps, for want of money he accepted the offer and went down the river to a certain town infested by rough boatmen and gamblers, drank heavily, bragged of and displayed his money, was robbed and murdered. You ask how I know this? I do not know that it is so, but I had the account direct from the lips of one of the brightest Masons in the country. He had spent much time investigating the matter on the ground where the affair happened and this was the result of his investigations." As Worshipful Brother Richmond was born in 1828 and raised in 1858 we see that he was very close to the events of that dark period of Masonry.

Now, in the opinion of its enemies, Free Masonry was dead. But as "truth crushed to earth shall rise again," so do the principles of our order live and appeal to thinking men in spite of the persecution of bigotry. So we find that on March 24, 1856, a petition was presented to the Grand Lodge asking for permission to reorganize Mountain Lodge and hold its meetings at Shelburne Falls.

The prime movers in this reorganization seem to have been a group of young men from Shelburne Falls who had recently been raised in Republican Lodge at Greenfield and felt the need of a Lodge nearer home. During all this time the Charter and records had been carefully preserved by the Worshipful Master, James Anderson, and at the first meeting at Shelburne Falls the following officers were elected to assist him: Frank J. Pratt, S. W., Dr. Wm. S. Severance, J. W., James Sargent, J. W. Gardner, II. S. Greenleaf, D. P. Foster, and C. F. Mitchell.

The first hall occupied by the Lodge was on the third floor of the building at the corner of Bridge and Main Streets. This hall was the meeting place for about two and one half years, or until the removal to the hall over the Shelburne Falls National Bank in November, 1858.

In 1861 the Civil War brought many additional burdens and duties upon the Fraternity and Mountain Lodge was not found wanting in the doing of its share. Not the least of these duties was the bringing back home of the bodies of two of the Brothers who fell in battle. I think that the best picture that could be drawn at this time of the spirit which saved the whole Fraternity during those years of strife is to quote the words of Right Worshipful Brother Baker in his address delivered twenty-five years ago. He said, "It was the manifestation of this sympathy and interest among the members of the Masonic Fraternity while the writer was in the service of his country, that arrested his attention and led him to resolve to become a member of the order himself, if possible."

By lH9;i the Lodge had grown to such size that the securing of new quarters was imperative. The building of the Vice Block solved the problem and the entire third floor was hired and fitted up in a manner befitting the size and dignity of the Lodge. One of the outstanding events in the history of .Mountain Lodge was the observance of Hie one hundredth anniversary, held September 26, 1906. This consisted of the reception of the Grand Officers, followed by a meeting in Memorial Hall, which was reached by a Sight of winding stairs from the window of the Banquet Boom through a window of Memorial Hall. Reverend E. A. Horton, Grand Chaplain, delivered the principal address and Bight Worshipful Edwin Baker gave the Historical Address. This was followed by a clam bake served in a large tent on the Old Academy grounds, where the house of H. E. Crosier now stands, at which 330 were fed, and closed with a Ball held in Memorial Hall in the evening.

The idea that the Lodge should own its own home was growing in the minds of many of the Brethren and when the owner of the quarters we occupied mentioned more rent it brought the matter to the front, and in April, 1911, a committee was appointed to investigate. At that time three propositions were considered:— The purchase of the Vice Block, the purchase of the Universalist Church property, or building in some convenient location. None of these were considered practical at that time and the matter was dropped until December, 191:?. when another committee was appointed. This committee looked with special favor on the purchase of the Universalist Church property, but considered thai the price asked and the cost of alterations made it impossible at that time. In December, 1916. the matter was again brought up and on January 31, 1917, it was voted, "That the committee be authorized to take an option on the Universalist Church, provided thai it can be purchased for two thousand dollars.

March 21, 1917, a special meeting was held at which, after much discussion, it was voted:— That the Worshipful .Master appoint a committee of fifteen with full power In purchase the Universalist Church property, make such alterations, additions, and changes thereto as may he necessary to make the same suitable and convenient for Masonic use and raise money therefor by subscription and by mortgage of the property. The deed of such property to be taken in the name of three trustees and held by them for I he benefit of Mountain Lodge. Provided thai five thousand dollars shall be received in good pledges by .Mountain Lodge before any contracts are made by the Building Committee. Also provided thai the total expense of the purchase price and repairs shall not exceed nine thousand dollars.

On May 2, 1917, Worshipful H. W. Ware. Chairman of the Building Committee, reported that the Universalist Church property had been transferred to Trustees for Mountain Lodge on April 25, 1917. Worshipful G. W. Halligan, Treasurer of the Committee, reported at the same time that pledges of five thousand dollars had been received.

Work on the building was started at once and on September 2(i, 1917, we held our first meeting in the new building. October 4, 1917, the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Leon M. Abbott, attended by a full suite of Grand Lodge Officers, dedicated the building to Masonic use.

During the early part of 1923 someone, I think it was Right Worshipful Brother George W. Halligan, conceived the idea that a Masonic banquet at the Sweetheart Tea House would be an enjoyable affair. Such a banquet was held on May 3 of that year and proved so successful that it has now become an annual affair eagerly looked forward to by all Masons in this District, and the sale of tickets is only limited by the capacity of the Tea House.

May 27, 1929, we very nearly lost our building by fire. A kettle of tar, being heated in the rear of the building, boiled over and set fire to the east end of the building, but fortunately the fire was confined to the east wall, but damage from smoke and water necessitated redecoration inside. All repairs were made and the building ready for our use when meetings were resumed after the summer recess.

When Mountain Lodge was reorganized at Shelburne Falls only seven members were left from those who had been raised in Colrain. The next fifty years saw this membership increased to one hundred and thirty, and the past twenty-five years have doubled this and we now have a membership of over two hundred and sixty.

Some mention of the men who have made Mountain Lodge what it is should be made at this time but the list is too long and the day too short. But there are two lines or families whose names and deeds crop up continually through the history of Mountain Lodge. One of those active in the reorganization of Mountain Lodge in 1856 was Gilbert P. Mitchell and he was elected the first Tyler, an office which he held for the next twenty-three years. He was followed into the Lodge by his son, Fayette G. Mitchell, a man who devoted a long Masonic life to the interests of Mountain Lodge. Fayette G. Mitchell raised his son, Carl P. Mitchell, who shows the same untiring zeal and has also brought honor to Mountain Lodge by being appointed District Deputy Grand Master for two years.

One of the first candidates raised in Shelburne Falls was James S. Halligan, who brought four sons into Mountain Lodge, later to be followed by two grandsons and one great grandson. And during all this time whenever the Lodge has shown its usual unsurpassed knowledge of the ritual you have found a Halligan sitting and directing the work.

We cannot review the history of Mountain Lodge without a feeling of pride, but it also gives a feeling that a great responsibility rests upon us. May we be able to pass on without shame the wonderful heritage we have received.

175TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, SEPTEMBER 1981

From Proceedings, Page 1981-110: 1956-1981 By Brother Walter M. Taylor

(For a comprehensive history of Mountain Lodge covering the earlier periods please refer to 1931 Mass. 210-219 and 1956 Mass. 191-200)

The Lodge history presented in 1956, was written for the 150th Anniversary Celebration by Wor. Deane H. Jones, who is considered to be the Lodge Historian. In tribute to his exhaustive research, his not only beautiful, but interesting composition, and his gracious reference to the writers who preceded him, namely Worshipful Brother J.A. Richmond who presented a history in 1893, and R. W. Edwin Baker, who gave the historical address at the 100th Anniversary in 1906, I will therefore try to continue as best I can where he concluded in 1956.

In the two World Wars and two so called police action, Korea and Vietnam, the members of Mountain Lodge have shared with their fellow citizens in the heartaches and sorrows that war always brings. Many of our members were in the Armed Forces during all of these actions and we owe them a great debt of gratitude.

Five times in recent years we have been honored by having deserving brothers of our Lodge raised to the position of District Deputy Grand Master. Right Worshipful George W. Halligan, Right Worshipful Carl P. Mitchell, Right Worshipful William Hunter, Right Worshipful Wilfred Miller, and Right Worshipful Frederick G. Clark. Both Brother Miller and Brother Clark later served in the Office of Chaplain of our Lodge and spent many hours in directing and guiding us in our ritual work, with untiring patience and skill, and we are indeed fortunate to have available the talents of Brother Clark, whose quiet diplomacy gently points the way to brotherly love and affection.

The years of the 1960's and 1070's in our country's history, may well be remembered as not only the years of internal turbulence, but also as the years of great discoveries in outer space, for our men of science have made it possible for man to walk on the moon and to explore the far reaches of outer space through unmanned satellites, and we as witnesses can sit in our living rooms and view all these happenings through the magic of television. Truly these are awe inspiring times, but let us pray that this great knowledge will be used for the betterment and not for the destruction of mankind.

I should not fail to mention four of our brethren who have served our Lodge well in past years, clearly exemplifying the Masonic way of life, and who are ever willing to give of themselves, as health will permit, to the betterment and understanding of Masonry. Worshipful Howard C. Carpenter, our oldest living Past Master in years of service, formerly of Colrain and who has recently moved from Shelburne Falls to Greenfield. Worshipful Frank J. Wells of Charlemont, who just fifty years ago served as Master. Worshipful Deane H. Jones of Shelburne Falls, who in 1978 was presented the Joseph Warren Medal for Distinguished Service for outstanding service to his Lodge, his Church and his Community. Brother Robert E. Scott of Shelburne Falls, who served outstandingly as Treasurer of the Lodge for thirty years. There are many others who are worthy of mention, and I feel sure that future historians will make their efforts in the years to come.

No history of Mountain Lodge would be complete without mention of Most Worshipful Joseph Earl Perry, Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts from 1938-1940, and who this year is serving as Honorary Chairman of our 175th Anniversary General Committee as he did 25 years ago at the 150th celebration. Most Worshipful Brother Perry while being a member of Belmont Lodge in Belmont, at the time of his election to our highest Masonic office, has always maintained a dual membership in Mountain Lodge where he was Raised, and where his father was one of our most respected Worshipful Masters. Often Most Worshipful Brother Perry has returned to our Lodge and his visits with us are truly high spots in our Masonic life. Recently while reading the published works of this learned Brother, entitled The Masonic Way of Life, I was struck by the words in a speech he gave at the Golden Jubilee of the Grand Lodge of North Dakota on June 20, 1939. With your indulgence, I will quote a portion of these words for they are as true today as they were in 1939. "From time immemorial groups of people have sought to learn the Art of Living and to pass their discoveries along to others. So Freemasonry in its rituals and its traditions seeks to instruct its members in the Art of Living.

"One of its fundamental lessons is that of friendly, tolerant brotherhood. Is there a more needed lesson in this present day of internal and international strife? Can peace and good will ever prevail if men stand aloof in mutual hate and distrust? Can hatred and suspicion ever be overcome until there be some place or some auspices in which men can meet in mutual confidence? Is there today any single need greater than to afford some means whereby men of opposing views as to economic, political and other issues can meet in an atmosphere of mutual trust and brotherly love? Is there today any single human institution - religious, secular, public or private - that offers such a meeting place? Freemasonry does. In its universality and its tolerance, it is the greatest if not, indeed, the only human institution that offers such a meeting place for men of good will regardless of race or creed or political or economic beliefs."

In looking back over one hundred and seventy-five years of the Lodge's history one is filled with a sense of wonder, at the steady and unbroken line of worthy men who have been admitted into membership in our ancient institution. We remember with admiration those members who for generations have undertaken the task with the hope of but little honor and praise, of learning the ritual and working up through the various offices to that of Worshipful Master.

We view the history of Mountain Lodge with a feeling of pride, but with our sense of pride a great responsibility rests upon us. May we in the years to come never forget to hold and cherish our inheritance and pass it on untarnished to those who will follow us.

OTHER

  • 1821 (Notice of delinquency, III-341)

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

DISTRICTS

1806: District 7 (North Central Massachusetts)

1821: District 7

1867: District 8 (Greenfield)

1883: District 14 (North Adams)

1901: District 13 (Greenfield)

1911: District 14 (Greenfield)

1927: District 14 (Greenfield)

2003: District 26

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges

Retrieved from "http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Mountain&oldid=52132"