Quittacus1

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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 Superseded by Quittacus Lodge (1991).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

  • 1946 (25th Anniversary)
  • 1971 (50th Anniversary)

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

1923 1927 1929 1938 1940 1959 1965 1990 1991

HISTORY

  • 1946 (25th Anniversary History, 1946-41; see below)
  • 1971 (50th Anniversary History, 1971-472)
  • 2008 (Notes in 150th Anniversary History of Quittacus Lodge, 2008-67; see below)

25TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JANUARY 1946

From Proceedings, Page 1946-41:

In the summer of 1920 a number of Past Masters and other Brethren deciding there was room for another Masonic Lodge in the City, prepared a petition asking the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge in Boston to grant them a dispensation to start a Lodge.

A number of the signers to that petition met in the Masonic Hall in Pleasant Street August 26, 1920, and organized to form a Lodge. Worshipful Henry W. Mason was elected Chairman and Worshipful Charles S. Coombs, Secretary. It was decided to name the Lodge "Universal," and that the first three officers under dispensation would be Past Masters George E. Allen, Master; William Bliss, Senior Warden; and L. Theodore Woolfenden, Junior Warden.

It was also voted that a meeting be held August 31, 1920, at the same place at eight o'clock, at which time the District Deputy Grand Master for the 30th Masonic District would be contacted. It was further voted that the Secretary should notify signers to the petition for a dispensation who were not present at that meeting. Those present were Past Masters Gerard W. Bragg, Henry W. Mason, Edward C. Mosher, Lauchlan W. Murray, Frederick W. Brightman, John L. G. Jason, Peleg W. Sherman, Daniel W. Cory, George E. Allen, L. Theodore Woolfenden, William H. Waterman, Henry T. Phillips, William Bliss and Charles S. Coombs. Of the fourteen who were present at the first meeting, eleven since died. At the meeting August 31, 1920, Wor. George E. n presided and R. W. Henry W. Ashworth, District Deputy Grand Master of the 30th District, was present. It was voted at least fifty signers be obtained on the petition for the new Lodge. Frank E. Habicht was elected Treasurer and Charles S. Coombs, Secretary. R. W. Brother Ashworth stated that there another "Universal" Lodge in the State and it would be better to select some other name. On motion of Wor. Charles S. Coombs, it was voted to call it Quittacus, named from the large ponds from which New Bedford receives its excellent drinking water.

On January 24, 1921, the proposed officers for the new Lodge met in Masonic Hall and drew up a set of motions to be acted on at the next meeting. This was called for January 27, 1921. There were present thirty-five signers of the petition for the new Lodge. At 8:10 p.m., R. W. Stephen H. Taylor, District Deputy Grand Master for the 30th District, accompanied by Wor. Elton S. Wilde as his Marshal, assumed the East and read the dispensation, which had been granted the petitioners by Most Worshipful Arthur D. Prince, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts, giving authority to the petitioners to hold a Lodge in New Bedford under the name of "Quittacus" and to make Freemasons therein, according to the Ancient Customs.

The dispensation bore the date of January 15, 1921. The District Deputy Grand Master directed the District Grand Marshal to conduct the Worshipful Master and Wardens to their respective stations. He then asked the Worshipful Master to name the appointed officers and they, with the Treasurer and Secretary, assumed their stations. The Grand Marshal made the official proclamation and Quittacus Lodge U. D. was ready to do business. The first officers were as follows:

  • Wor. George E. Allen, Master
  • Wor. William Bliss, Senior Warden
  • Wor. L. Theodore Woolfenden, Junior Warden
  • Wor. Lauchlan W. Murray, Marshal
  • Wor. Frederick W. Brightman, Chaplain
  • Bro. Harry A. Chace, Senior Deacon
  • Bro. A. Martin P. Habicht, Junior Deacon
  • Bro. Walter P. Morton, Senior Steward
  • Bro. Robert F. Reid, Junior Steward
  • Bro. Harold M. Davis, Inside Sentinel
  • Bro. George E. Gregson, Organist
  • Bro. James Slater, Tyler

The Lodge was opened on the Third Degree in due form. It was voted that the initiation fee would be $75.00, $15.00 to accompany the petition and $20.00 for each degree. It was also voted that each Charter Member would be assessed $10.00, to include the first year's dues of $4.00.

It was voted that the Treasurer be paid $25.00 and the Secretary $100.00 for their services for the first year. The Organist was to be paid the same as other Lodges were paying. $25.00 was appropriated to pay for the dispensation. Thirteen petitions for the degrees were received and referred. The District Deputy called attention to the Washington Memorial Fund and hoped the Lodge would pay $1.00 each for its members, making 100%, which it has done.

The second regular communication of Quittacus Lodge U.D. was held February 24, 1921. All officers were present- with 20 members and 13 visitors. At this meeting, nine petitions were received and referred. Worshipful Edward W. Bragg was elected Proxy to the Grand Lodge. It was also voted that the Worshipful Master and Wardens buy such regalia as they deemed necessary and proper for the Lodge. The Lodge was then called to labor on the First Degree and the following were separately introduced and initiated Entered Apprentices: Edwin Franklin Tripp, Shirley Bancroft Allen, Ermon Packard Bragg, Edward Everett Clarke and James Wentworth Tripp.

At the regular communication April 28, 1921, it was voted that the three first officers of this Lodge, with the Brother holding the position as Hall Committee, shall be and are hereby appointed to serve with the corresponding officers of the other Masonic organizations as an Advisory Committee in the selection of a location for and the planning and erection of a contemplated Masonic Temple to be built by an Association composed of Free and Accepted Masons of New Bedford. Quittacus Lodge agreed to hold all its communications in said Temple as soon after its completion as suitable arrangements could be made, and also agreed to pay its proportional part of the running expenses and maintenance of said Temple, provided that all the Masonic Bodies now under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts and other Grand Bodies recognized by said Grand Lodge, should vote to be bound by a like agreement. It was voted to appropriate $500.00 toward the new Masonic Temple.

At the regular communication September 22, 1921, a letter was read from the clerk of the New Bedford Masonic Temple Corporation, stating that $8,000.00 was needed to complete the purchase of the land for the proposed Temple. On motion, it was voted unanimously to appropriate $500.00.

At the special communication October 26, 1921, at the close of the work, R. W. Stephen H. Taylor, District Deputy Grand Master, presented a certificate from the George Washington Memorial Association certifying that Quittacus Lodge U .D. had paid One Dollar per member toward the Memorial Fund. He expressed his pleasure at witnessing the work of the Lodge officers and said he brought the best wishes of the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Arthur D. Prince. Five candidates had been initiated and two passed. On January 19, 1922, at 4:15 p.m., the officers of Quittacus Lodge U. D. assembled to meet the Most Worshipful Grand Master, Arthur D. Prince, and other members of the Grand Lodge who were to perform the Constitution Ceremonies in the evening. They were met at the depot on the arrival of the 5:19 train from Boston and taken by auto to the Masonic apartments on Pleasant Street. They, with all the Brothers who had been worked in Quittacus Lodge while under dispensation, together with invited guests to the number of 165, sat down to a splendid dinner. After the dinner, M.W. Grand Master Prince and these officers assumed the chairs and performed the beautiful and impressive Constitution Ceremonies. These Grand Lodge Officers were:

At the conclusion of the ceremonies, the Grand Secretary read the names of the Charter Members from the new Charter and all took positions at the west of the Altar. All officers who had served Quittacus Lodge U. D. were duly installed, with one exception — Brother Mark F. Lammond was installed Marshal in place of Wor. Lauchlan W. Murray.

The Grand Chaplain read the charge to the officers and members of the Lodge, which the M. W. Grand Master stated were charges prepared by Paul Revere, and all of the ceremonies were in accordance with the Ancient Customs and Usages of the Grand Lodge. The Grand Marshal made the official proclamation and Quittacus Lodge became the baby Lodge in Massachusetts. The Most Worshipful Grand Master made a very impressive and informing address and then retired with the Grand Officers.

After the Grand Officers retired, the Lodge was happily surprised by Worshipful Daniel Stephenson, Master of Eureka Lodge, who presented Quittacus Lodge with a beautiful set of Working Tools; Worshipful Clarence P. Jenney, Master of Star in the East Lodge, presented a set of black and white rods; Worshipful Alfred P. Wilbur, Master of Paskamansett Lodge, presented a finely bound edition of the Bible; Worshipful Charles R. Gidley, Master of Abraham H. Howland Lodge, presented a fine Gavel, suitably inscribed. These gifts were presented in a gracious manner and showed the goodwill of the Lodges toward the new Lodge.

The Worshipful Master of Quittacus Lodge thanked them for the useful gifts on behalf of the officers and members, and assured them that the members of these Lodges would always be welcome to visit Quittacus Lodge. He called for a rising vote of thanks, which was given with a hearty good will.

Thus Quittacus Lodge began her first twenty-five year voyage. While under dispensation, it held twelve regular and thirty-five special communications, sometimes working candidates after the regular business was finished. So many candidates were accepted that it was necessary to work five each time, and often two degrees were worked in one evening. Fifty-two were made Master Masons and twenty others received the First or Second Degrees. For the seventy-two initiated, a sum of $360.00 was paid the Grand Lodge. Thirty-seven petitions for the degrees were rejected.

The first report to the Grand Lodge since the Lodge was chartered showed a membership of 162.

During Worshipful L. Theodore Woolfenden's term as Master, the Worshipful Master and officers of Mayflower Lodge of Middleboro made a visit to Quittacus Lodge and worked the Master Mason Degree on four candidates, with forty-eight members of their Lodge being present. They were cordially received by Worshipful Brother Woolfenden and Worshipful Brother Thomas responded very graciously and said he had arranged for the officers and members of Quittacus Lodge to come to Mayflower Lodge on May 20th and work the same degree on their candidates. His offer was accepted with much applause, and it has been an annual event, looked forward to each year since, and a splendid fellowship between these two Lodges has existed to this day.

On April 11, 1927, Quittacus Lodge opened without form in a room adjacent to Doric Hall in the new Temple on County Street, then joined with the other Lodges and witnessed the ceremonies of dedication of the new Temple by Most Worshipful Frank L. Simpson, Grand Master, assisted by the Grand Lodge Officers.

On April 14, 1927, Quittacus Lodge held a special communication in the new Temple and worked five candidates on the E .A. Degree.

So Quittacus Lodge has gone forward until it is now celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary. It has been a very popular Lodge, as shown by the large attendance of its members and the large numbers of visiting Brethren at almost every communication. It has had twenty-five Worshipful Masters, each serving one term, except Worshipful George E. Allen, who served one year under dispensation and eight months and one day under Charter. Past Master John W. Ruggles served two years as District Deputy Grand Master of the (New Bedford) 30th District.

In the second World War, Quittacus Lodge had twenty-eight members on the Roll of Honor, one being killed in action.

During the twenty-five years, four Past Masters have been removed by death, the most recent being our Secretary, who was about to serve Quittacus Lodge for his fifteenth term— Worshipful Brother A. Martin P. Habicht, who died December 7, 1945. Worshipful L. Robert Yaeger appointed Worshipful Harry A. Chace as Acting Secretary during Worshipful Brother Habicht's illness. He was most happy to help out in a most trying situation and is doing a most commendable job.

Quittacus Lodge had a membership of 323, as per the report to Grand Lodge August 31, 1945.

The officers of Quittacus Lodge have been very loyal in filling their stations; also the members on the side line. The work of the officers has been excellent, which I believe is due to the many visits to other Lodges. This is very beneficial to officers to see others perform, as it keeps them on their toes, for all like to do their best before a visiting Lodge. The visits also create a fine fellowship in Masonry. May we have more of these visits between the Lodges in our district and nearby towns.

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


DISTRICTS

1921: District 30 (Fall River)

1927: District 30 (New Bedford)


LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges