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NORFOLK UNION LODGE

Location: Randolph; Quincy ()

Chartered By: Francis J. Oliver

Charter Date: 06/07/1819 III-205

Precedence Date: 06/07/1819

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition for Charter: 1819
• Petition for Restoration of Charter: 1854

ANNIVERSARIES

• 1919 (Centenary)

• 2009 (150th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1866 (Dame; Hall dedication; not in Proceedings, but see below)
• 1880 (Welch; Hall dedication; Special Communication)
• 1881
• 1895 Hall Dedication; Special Communication)
• 1896 reception for Deputy Grand Master Henry A. Belcher)
• 1906 (Blake)
• 1907 (Blake)
• '1911 (Flanders; Hall Dedication; Special Communication)
• 1919 (L. Abbott; Centenary; Special Communication)
• 1939 (Perry; reception for Senior Grand Warden George E. White)
• 1944 (A. Coolidge; 125th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1969 (Jaynes; 150th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1979 (Melanson)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1871 1872 1876 1883 1887 1894 1895 1902 1920 1926 1930 1934 1942 1950 1951 1958 1965 1969 1976 1994 1998 2004 2006 2011

HISTORY

• 1919 (Centennial historical address, 1919-143)
• 1944 (125th Anniversary History, 1944-84)
• 1969 (150th Anniversary History, 1969-179)

OTHER

• 1866 (Jurisdictional dispute, VII-66)
• 1972 (Participation in Holbrook cornerstone re-laying, 1972-215)

EVENTS

INSTALLATION OF OFFICERS, JUNE 1830

From Boston Masonic Mirror, New Series, Vol. 2, No. 3, July 17, 1830, Page 19:

At the Annual Meeting of Norfolk Union Lodge holden at Randolph Mass. the following officers were elected for the current year.

• John Wales, M.
• Robert Shankland, S.W.
• Alexander Edson DuBois, J. W.
• Jacob Niles, T.
• Loring Thayer, S.
• Appollas Wales, S. D.
• Joshua Thayer, J. D.
• Jonathan W. Belcher, S. S.
• Henry Thayer, J. S.
• Rev. Benjamin Putnam, C.
• Joseph Tower, Jun., M.
• Reuel Packard, T.

HALL DEDICATION, MAY 1866

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXV, No. 8, June 1866, p. 231:

Norfolk Union Lodge at Randolph having recently leased and fitted up an elegant and convenient hall for its future accommodation, the same was formally dedicated by the M. W. Grand Lodge on the evening of the 3d of May last, in the presence of a large assemblage of brethren and their ladies. The occasion was one of more than ordinary interest, inasmuch as the ceremony was new to many of those who were present, and especially to the ladies, who had taken a deep interest and an active part in furnishing the hall and in the general arrangements. The ceremonies were performed by Grand Master Charles C. Dame in an effective and impressive manner, the. interest of which was enhanced by the singing of an excellent quartette choir.

At the conclusion of the services, the party were escorted to the banqueting-hall, and partook of an elegant entertainment prepared by the ladies; after which the company returned to the Lodge room, where short and appropriate speeches were made by the Grand Master and other brethren.

We are happy to know that the Lodge is in a prosperous condition, and that its future prospects are highly encouraging.

MEMORIALS

ROBERT SHANKWELL, 1829-1857

Cannot find Grand Lodge record card for this Brother

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XVII, No. 3, January 1858, Page 91:

Brother Moore, — Yesterday, acting under a Dispensation which the Grand Master was kind enough to grant for the purpose, Norfolk Union Lodge buried Brother Robert Shankwell, with the Masonic honors. His age was twentyeight years. Between forty and fifty Brethren, clothed with white aprons and gloves, appeared in the procession, viz. : — Twentyfive members of Norfolk Union Lodge, some twelve or fourteen from Rising Star Lodge, and six or seven from Paul Revere Lodge. Among the Brethren present, there were seven whose respective ages were more than three score years and ten — two more than four score, and only fifteen, out of fortyfive, whose ages were less than fifty years ! — and these fifteen— all of them — have been made Masons within five years! The procession commanded the highest respect of the large concourse of persons present, as it was entitled to do. I do not ask whether it was the fifteen young men, or the thirty venerable Brethren with their grey hairs, who gave dignity to the occasion. It ought to have been neither, but the fact that three generations of respectable men, from twentytwo to eighty four years of age, in a snow ttorm, were not ashamed

" To Aprons put on,
To make themselves one,
With a free and accepted Mason."

This it was that gave respectability and dignity to the solemn ceremonies. And I have spoken of the old and young in this connection from no disrespect to either. In Freemasonry all stand upon a common level. The old and young — religion, politics, countr)', profession — all, all are alike, — none has the preference over the other, — and any other principle avowed or acted upon, is, masonically, high treason. Still, I venerate old age ; and I am happy to say, that I never had, or for a moment entertained, any other sentiment than profound respect for the aged. On no subject am I more sensitive than when I hear the young speak with disrespect of their seniors, because of their frosted locks, — and this arises not from the fact that I am daily walking in that direction ; but the sentiment was instilled into me in my early infancy. I can't remember the time, so remote in the past, that I did not hold in profound veneration, the " old men" of the day. And how much reason have we, as Masons, to respect and venerate our older Brethren ! The character of our Institution to-day, as always, is estimated, outside of its walls at least, by the charac ter of its " old men." They were our pillar of strength in the day of our greatest trial ; and had it not been for such venerable Brethren as Russell, Harris, Abbot, Soley, and others of like age and character, the condition of our Institution to-day might have presented a very different aspect fmm that in which we now behold it. But I did not intend to write an essay on old or ynung men, but simply to record the rare and gratifying fact, evidenced on the occasion of the funeral of our lamented Brother, that we have still living among us here, where anti-masonry run riot, so large a number of old and venerable Brethren, actively engaged in their Masonic duties.

Truly and fraternally yours, *.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• Henry A. Belcher, DDGM, District 24 (Brockton), 1891, 1892; Deputy Grand Master 1896
• Asa P. French, DDGM, District 24 (Brockton), 1897; SN
• Herbert F. French, DDGM, District 24 (Brockton), 1908, 1909; Junior Grand Warden 1912
• Richard S. Holiver, DDGM, District 26 (Quincy), 1987, 1988
• Richard F. Jope, DDGM, District 8, 2012, 2013
• Craig S. MacPherson, DDGM, District 26 (Quincy), 1999, 2000
• Frank Morton, DDGM, District 19 (Taunton), 1878, 1879; SN
• Warren G. Osgood, DDGM, District 26 (Quincy), 1947, 1948; N
• Aaron Prescott, DDGM, District 3, 1834; District 4, 1835; SN
• Benjamin Putnam, Grand Chaplain 1829-1833
• John B. Thayer, DDGM, District 19 (Taunton), 1880, 1881; SN
• Royal Turner, DDGM, District 3, 1831, 1832; SN
• Bradford L. Wales, DDGM, District 5, 1859; Senior Grand Warden 1857
• Albert Watmough, DDGM, District 26 (Quincy), 1965, 1966; N
• George E. White, DDGM, District 26 (Quincy), 1926; District 26 (Quincy), 1927; Senior Grand Warden 1939

DISTRICTS

1819: District 4 (Southeast)

1821: District 3

1835: District 4

1854: District 5

1867: District 16 (Plymouth)

1878: District 19 (Taunton)

1883: District 24 (Brockton)

1911: District 26 (Quincy)

1927: District 26 (Quincy)

2003: District 8

LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges