Quittacus1
Contents
QUITTACUS LODGE
Location: New Bedford
Chartered By: Arthur D. Prince
Charter Date: 12/14/1921 1921-448
Precedence Date: 01/13/1921
Current Status: unknown; merged with Eureka Lodge, 05/23/1991, and Eureka Lodge’s charter has precedence. Superseded by Quittacus Lodge (1991).
PAST MASTERS
- George E. Allen, 1921, 1922
- L. Theodore Woolfenden, 1923, 1924; N
- Harry A. Chace, 1925
- A. Martin P. Habicht, 1926
- Walter P. Morton, 1927
- Harold M. Davis, 1928
- Mark F. Lamond, 1929
- Edwin H. Macy, 1930
- Oscar G. Fricker, 1931
- Albert M. Chace, 1932
- James H. Nelson, 1933
- Rae K. Taber, 1934
- Frank E. England, 1935
- Wendell M. Hardy, 1936
- John W. Ruggles, 1937; SN
- Ambrose Peters, 1938
- Andrew P. Lonergan, 1939
- William C. Vander, 1940
- William S. Holmes, Jr., 1941
- Paul G. Covill, 1942
- Joseph Dawson, Jr., 1943
- Charles F. Bennett, 1944
- George L. Wheeler, 1945
- L. Robert Yaeger, 1946
- Ernest B. Mello, 1947
- Albert Barber, 1948
- Edward S. Glica, 1949
- Charles B. Bickerstaff, 1950
- Everett C. Bates, 1951
- Harold C. Cunningham, 1952, 1953
- Thomas J. Taft, 1954
- Walter Ibbotson, Jr., 1955
- Harvey Cardinal, 1956
- Robert Porter, Jr., 1957
- John Rowand, 1958
- Robert W. Cook, 1959
- Hugh Green, 1960
- John Cassidy, 1961
- James J. Tripp, 1962
- James P. Warbasse, Jr., 1963; SN
- Eugene J. Krenmayer, 1964, 1965
- Eugene W. Chadwick, 1966
- 'Frederick C. Sylvia, Jr., 1967
- Ernest Campos, Jr., 1968
- David G. Hughes, 1969, 1970
- Harold L. Gerard, 1971
- Earle W. Cooper', 1972, 1973
- Lawrence D. Crocker, 1974, 1976; SN
- Thomas H. Dugan, 1975
- Harry C. Rogers, 1977-1979
- Harold C. Cunningham, Jr., 1980
- John E. Cottrill, 1981-1985, 1988, 1989; PDDGM
- Mark E. White, 1986
- William R. Turner, 1987
- Gerald F. Huston, Sr., 1990, 1991
REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS
- Petition for Dispensation: 1921
- Petition for Charter: 1921
- Consolidation Petition (with Eureka Lodge): 1990
ANNIVERSARIES
VISITS BY GRAND MASTER
- 1922 (Prince; Constitution of Lodge and installation; Special Communication)
- 1946 (Wragg; 25th Anniversary; Special Communication)
- 1966 (Booth; installation)
- 1971 (Jaynes; 50th Anniversary; Special Communication)
- 1991 (Darling; Consolidation; Special Communication)
BY-LAW CHANGES
HISTORY
- 1946 (25th Anniversary History, 1946-41)
- 1971 (50th Anniversary History, 1971-472)
- 2008 (Notes in 150th Anniversary History of Quittacus Lodge, 2008-67)
NOTES AT 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF QUITTACUS LODGE, JUNE 2008
From Proceedings, Page 2008-67, address of Rt. Wor. David R. Price, Sr.:
New Bedford continued to grow. Whaling, which earlier had brought acclaim and eminence to the city, gave way to the burgeoning cotton industry. Thirty-eight years passed before Abraham H. Howland Jr., Lodge came into being in 1915, followed five years later in 1920 by Paskamansett Lodge. World War I was over, the economy was settling down to a peaceful period, and the veterans were returning home to seek new fields of endeavor.
It was felt by some that there was now room in the area as well as the need, for the formation of still another Masonic Lodge. Initiating the move, Wor. George E. Allen, of Star in the East Lodge, met with several other Past Masters in the summer of 1920.
"A meeting of signers to a petition for a new Masonic Lodge in New Bedford was held and it was voted that the new Lodge be called Universal Lodge". The District Deputy Grand Master stated that, as there already was another Lodge in the State called Universal, it would be better not to call the proposed new Lodge by that name. It was therefore voted, at the suggestion of Charles S. Coombs, the Secretary, to name the proposed new Lodge, "Quittacus". The name "Quittacus" is derived from that of the pond at the head of the Mattapoisett River. The original Indian name was "Aqua-tuck-essett". Aqua, meaning head or source; Tuck, meaning stream or river; and Esset, meaning at or near. Thus a free translation of "Quittacus Pond" would be: The pond at the head of the river. Later, Aquatuckesset became Aquittacus, as on some of the early deeds, and in modern times, Quittacus.
Earlier in 1922, the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Arthur D. Prince, performed the Constitution Ceremonies.
The Grand Chaplain having read the charges to the Officers and members of the Lodge, the Grand Master pointed out that Paul Revere had prepared those charges, and that all of the ceremonies were in accordance with the ancient customs and usages of the Grand Lodge since its inception in the State. Presentation ensued of much needed, as well as most appreciated, gifts from other Lodges in the city. Presented by Eureka Lodge, a beautiful set of working tools; by Star in the East Lodge, a set of black and white rods; of Paskamansett Lodge, a finely bound edition of the revised Bible; Abraham H. Howland, Jr., Lodge, a handsome gavel, suitably inscribed.
The first Past Masters' Night was held on March 27, 1924. It has been an annual feature ever since.
Another annual feature was initiated on April 30, 1924 by Wor. L. Theodore Woolfenden, the then presiding Master of Quittacus Lodge, and Wor Albert A. Thomas, Master of May Flower Lodge in Middleboro. Accompanied by 48 other Officers and members, as well as by 51 visitors, Wor. Brother Thomas came to Quittacus Lodge. He and his Officers did the work of the evening, then the following month, the Officers of Quittacus Lodge reciprocated at May Flower Lodge. Thus arose, and has continued through the years, a spirit of fraternity and fellowship between the two Lodges.
GRAND LODGE OFFICERS
- George J. P. Breault, DDGM, District 30 (New Bedford), 1999, 2000
- August R. Cote, DDGM, District 30 (New Bedford), 2001, 2002
- Lawrence D. Crocker, DDGM, District 30 (New Bedford), 1985, 1986; SN
- John W. Ruggles, DDGM, District 30 (New Bedford), 1943, 1944; SN
- James P. Warbasse, Jr., DDGM, District 30 (New Bedford), 1971, 1972; SN
- L. Theodore Woolfenden, DDGM, District 30 (New Bedford), 1947, 1948; N
DISTRICTS
1921: District 30 (Fall River)
1927: District 30 (New Bedford)
