Rural

From MasonicGenealogy
Revision as of 14:31, 9 February 2015 by Hotc1733 (Talk | contribs)

Jump to: navigation, search

RURAL LODGE

Location: Randolph; Quincy (1803)

Chartered By: Samuel Dunn

Charter Date: 06/08/1801 II-185

Precedence Date: 06/08/1801

Current Status: Active

NOTES

MEMBER LIST, 1802

From Vocal Companion and Masonic Register, Boston, 1802, Part II, Page 34:

  • R. W. William P. Whiting, M.
  • W. Joshua Niles, S. W.
  • W. Eleazer Beale, J. W.
  • Jacob Niles, Tr.
  • Eleazer Beale, Jr., Sec.
  • Thomas Whiting, Jr., S. D.
  • Samuel Wales, J. D.
  • Ranslee James, Steward.
  • Theophilus Thayer, Steward.
  • Robert S. Holbrook, Tiler.

No. of Members, 17.

PAST MASTERS

  • William P. Whiting†, 1801, 1802
  • Joshua Niles†, 1803
  • Jonathan Wates, Jr., 1803-1805
  • Lemuel Brackett, 1806, 1807
  • Samuel Savit, 1808-1810, 1817-1819
  • Elisha Marsh, 1811-1816, 1820-1823
  • Jonathan Marsh†, 1824, 1825, 1830
  • Elisha Turner†, 1826
  • John Whitney, 1827, 1828
  • Josiah J. Brigham†, 1829
  • John Sayil, 1831-1834
  • DARK 1834-1853
  • Lemuel Dwelle, 1853-1855
  • Charles Breck, 1856-1858
  • Benjamin Merservey, 1859, 1860
  • Henry M. Saville, 1861, 1862
  • Edwin S. Bradford, 1863
  • Nathaniel H. Hunt, 1864, 1865
  • Levi Stearns, Jr., 1866, 1867
  • Stephen S. Bradford, 1868, 1869
  • Henry T. Horne, 1870-1872
  • E. W. H. Bass, 1873-1875
  • William G. Sheen, 1876-1878
  • Fred L. Jones, 1879-1881
  • Albert A. Brackett, 1882, 1883
  • George S. Paterson, 1884, 1885
  • Henry O. Fairbanks, 1886, 1887; SN
  • Charles A. Pitkin, 1888, 1889
  • Emery L. Crane, 1890
  • Charles L. Hammond, 1891, 1892
  • Charles W. Hollis, 1893, 1894
  • Joseph L. Whiton, 1896
  • Henry L. Kincaide, 1897, 1898
  • William H. Whitney, 1899
  • Frank W. Brett, 1900, 1901
  • Herbert F. Pierce, 1902, 1903
  • Joseph P. Prout, 1904, 1905
  • Albert M. Parker, 1906, 1907
  • Charles Sampson, 1908
  • Hartley L. White, 1909, 1910; SN
  • Frank A. Reed, 1911, 1912
  • H. Everett Crane, 1913, 1914; SN
  • Frederic E. Tupper, 1915
  • Henry P. Hayward, 1916, 1917
  • Walter E. Piper, 1918, 1919
  • Albert E. Sargent, 1920, 1921
  • Samuel T. MacQuarrie, 1922; N
  • W. N. Stetson, Jr., 1923
  • Edward P. Smith, 1924
  • Roy Prout, 1925; N
  • William Cantley, 1926
  • Edward L. Mitchell, Jr., 1927
  • Philip H. Martin, 1928
  • C. Abbott Johnson, 1929
  • Charles A. Hales, 1930, 1931
  • Charles F. Sargent, 1932
  • Charles W. Moreton, 1933
  • Raymond C. Warmington, 1934; N
  • Ralph W. Lakin, 1935
  • Walter E. Simmons, 1936
  • John E. Walsh, 1937
  • George B. Greer, 1938
  • William J. Owens, 1939
  • Frederick G. Spencer, 1940
  • Arthur C. Porter, 1941
  • Gordon S. Troupe, 1942
  • Irvin B. Gifford, 1943; N
  • Carl G. Viden, 1944
  • Albert R. Pearson, 1945
  • Allan W. Cole, 1946
  • Toivo Tuori, 1947
  • Carroll L. Cheverie, 1948
  • Charles D. Hervey, 1949
  • Clarence P. Hobson, 1950
  • O. Wendell Rogers, 1951
  • Joseph H. Littlewood, 1952
  • Howard S. Willard, 1953
  • William Rowe, 1954
  • Kendall F. Mills, 1955
  • Herbert A. Hutchins, 1956
  • Arthur S. Hall, 1957
  • H. Kenneth Hudson, 1958
  • Samuel Cowling, 1959
  • Kenneth B. Howe, 1960
  • John H. Grant, 1961
  • Wallace R. McPhee, 1962
  • R. D. Morrison, Jr., 1963
  • Walter E. H. Ebersteen, 1964
  • Sulo W. Tuori, 1965
  • H. Paul Vickers, 1966
  • Herbert D. Bell, 1967
  • Aldo Cugini, 1968, 1988
  • William J. Souden, 1969
  • C. Murray Pendleton, 1970, 1985; N
  • Robert A. Gentry, 1971
  • William C. Edwards, Jr., 1972
  • Douglas S. Gordon, 1973
  • Robert D. Parry, 1974
  • William E. Scott, 1975
  • Carl O. Widman, 1976
  • Walter E. Martinson, 1977, 1978
  • Robert W. Stark, Sr., 1979, 1983; N
  • John E. Johnson, 1980
  • John J. Mullaney, Jr., 1981 died in office
  • John W. Sutterley, 1982, 2001; PDDGM
  • Curtis M. Gifford, 1984; SN
  • Richmond P. Carlson, 1986, 1993; PDDGM
  • Chester W. French, Jr., 1987, 1994
  • Harry A. Johnson, 1989, 1996
  • Roy O. Widman, 1990
  • David H. Smith, 1991, 1992, 1995, 2003, 2005
  • H. Alan Johnson, 1997
  • Donald R. Mallett, 1998, 1999
  • Robert L. Scott, 2000
  • Richard A. Burke, Sr., 2002
  • David S. Elsner, 2004
  • Ronald L. McKim, 2006
  • Stephen D. Whitmore, 2007
  • Darrell P. Rhodes, 2008
  • William S. McFadden, 2009
  • H. Robert Huke, IV, 2010, 2012
  • Matthew P. Piper, 2011
  • Stephen E. Beatty, 2012
  • Jacob T. Yanovich, 2013

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Charter: 1801
  • Petition for Restoration of Charter: 1853
  • Consolidation Petition (with Wollaston Lodge): 2003

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1901 (Centenary)
  • 1926 (125th Anniversary)
  • 1951 (150th Anniversary)
  • 1976 (175th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1874 1882 1887 1888 1891 1904 1907 1908 1922 1925 1929 1936 1941 1942 1943 1945 1950 1954 1957 1965 1971 1980 1983 2007 2012

HISTORY

  • 1926 (125th Anniversary History, 1926-279; see below)
  • 1951 (150th Anniversary History, 1951-148)
  • 1976 (175th Anniversary History, 1976-206)
  • 2001 (200th Anniversary History, 2001-37; see below)

125TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JUNE 1926

From Proceedings, Page 1926-279:

By Wor. Roy Prout.

In the year of Masonry 5801 a few of the residents of
 Randolph and vicinity who had received the honors of
 Masonry in different Lodges petitioned the Grand Lo
dge for a Charter.The petition was granted the eighth of June the same year, and a Charter was received in due form. So anxious were the Brethren to begin (heir work thai they assembled on the same evening that their Charter was dated and temporarily organized by the choice of their officers. A committee was then chosen to buy Jewels and other necessaries for the Lodge.

Soon after the organization, the building of a hall be came a subject of controversy between the members, which resulted in the building of a hall and the withdrawal (January, 1802) of a majority of the most influential members, thus leaving the Lodge with but seven or eight members.

Four new members wow admitted during the year, when the Lodge was again embarrassed by the unmasonic conduct of the Master, who was expelled January 31, 1803. With the removal of the Master new life was infused into the Lodge. A new code of By-Laws was adopted; the members who withdrew the previous year rejoined, and another election of officers was held, who continued in office until the next April, when the election was held in Quincy. In November, 1803, it was voted to join with a number of Brethren at Quincy to petition the Grand Lodge to remove the Charter to Quincy.

On the 26th of December, 1803, the Lodge assembled for the first time in Quincy, at Baxter's Hall, on School Street. This hall was in the house so long the residence of Daniel Baxter. It was used as a Lodge-room until January, 1825, when Wor. Bro. Samuel Savil fitted up a hall in his residence on Hancock Street, nearly opposite the present Masonic halL This room the Lodge occupied until its dissolution in 1834.

Nothing of importance occurred outside the usual Lodge work until November, 1834, when Rural Lodge surrendered its Charter, on account of the Morgan disturbance. The money in the treasury was voted to various members, for services rendered, and the balance, $2.46, to the Grand Lodge. Lodge effects not returned to the Grand Lodge were given to Wor. Bro. Savil us compensation for his claims against the Lodge.

In the year 1853, a few of the members of Rural Lodge, with other Brethren who had settled in this town since the Lodge was dissolved, being anxious again to practice the Masonic rites, and observing thai the tide of public opinion, which had been so strong against them, had ebbed, and a feeling was gradually growing in favor of Freemasonry, presented a petition to the Grand Lodge on the 14th of September for the return of their Charter. The prayer of the petitioners was granted and the Charter restored, A meeting of the petitioners was held on the evening of September 29, at Abercrombie's Hall, situated on Washington, near the corner of Canal Street.

The next event of importance was disastrous to the Lodge. On Thursday, August 26, 1875, at one o'clock A. M., the building in which the Lodge-room was situated was discovered to be on fire, and in an hour was a mass of ruins: the only Lodge property saved was the Charter, book of accounts, and the later records. Saint Paul's Lodge No. 37, K. of P., offered the Lodge the use of their rooms, which offer was gratefully accepted.

November, 1876, the Lodge moved into nm quarters in Robertson Block, corner of Hancock and Granite Streets, with considerable ceremony. The Grand Master and other Grand Officers were present. They had a parade, a band, banquet, speeches and entertainment that lasted until the "wee sma' hours."

February 22, 1881, Wor. Master Fred L. Jones laid the Corner Stone of the Thomas Crane Public Library, and the building wax dedicated May 30, 1882. The Grand Lodge Officers were present, and another procession took place, and after the Dedication the Officers of the Lodge took the keys of the Library to the Unitarian Church and delivered them to the Town. Rural Lodge never forgot the inner man, for we are told the procession kept on to Faxon Hall where a sumptuous banquet was served.

The first Masonic fair held in Quincy by Rural Lodge 
took place in the Robertson House from December 18 to
 23, 1883, after elaborate preparations by an extensive 
committee. Although the weather during the week was unpropitious, both snowing and extremely cold, the fair
 was a complete success, and the Charity Fund of Rural Lodge was started with $2,000 proflt from the fair. A Board of Trustees for the Charity Fund was elected al the following meetinf in January, 1884.

November 3, 1898, Rural Lodge approved a petition to form a new Lodge in Wollaston. May 3. 1900, the Lodge approved a petition of Delta Lodge to move from Weymouth to Braintree.

Such is a sketch of Rural Lodge up to the present time, when we have 1,000 members, and are about to build a new Temple to put them in.

150TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JUNE 1951

From Proceedings, Page 1951-148:

By Worshipful Irvin B. Gifford.

The history of Rural Lodge, written in detail by capable hands, has been published many times. The following is a brief summary of what are considered the important highlights of the existence of our Lodge, which is so revered and means so much to its members.

The records now in possession of the Lodge go back to the year 1861, and from that date back, it is necessary to depend on the manuscripts now in our possession for the information that is desired for our present purpose. It has always been the hope that the records prior to 1861, which were believed to have been returned to the Lodge in 1853 following the reestablish-ment of the Lodge activities, would eventually appear, but unfortunately, such has not been the case. The records of Rural Lodge from the year 1861 to the present time are in its possession, and are being well preserved so that a similar condition will be prevented.

Let us go back and review how our Lodge came into existence, and at the same time, review how our city, which has always been closely related to Rural Lodge, progressed. According to the manuscripts mentioned above, we must start with the Town of Braintree, incorporated in the year 1640. What is now Quincy, then termed the "Mount," was originally a part of Braintree and the reference "Mount" refers to Mount Wollaston. The Town of Braintree grew with the Colony, and in less than a hundred years, there were three distinct villages, known as the North (North Quincy), Middle (Braintree), and South (Randolph) precincts. In 1792 a division occurred and the Town of Quincy came into existence, setting off the South district as Randolph.

The first mention of Masonry in these towns was in the year 1799, when a petition for a charter to hold a Masonic Lodge in the Town of Randolph was presented to the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts — this petition being presented only a few days before the death of our first President, George Washington. The petition received due consideration, and on June 8, 1801, the Committee on Charters and By-Laws reported in favor of Rural Lodge and the petition was granted. In keeping with the enthusiasm of the petitioners, the first meeting of the Lodge was held on the evening of the same day, with Bro. William P. Whiting as its first Master. We cannot continue without pausing here to pay our respects to this worthy Brother and his associates for being responsible for giving us the Lodge we have and love today.

The growth of Rural Lodge from the beginning was very slow and discouraging. Two years later, under date of December 12, 1803, permission was granted to Rural Lodge to move from Randolph to Quincy, where it has held meetings to the present time — the first meeting in Quincy being held on December 26, 1803.

It is interesting to note that up to this time Rural Lodge, although having its charter, had not been consecrated by the Grand Lodge. For some reason, this was not done until September 19, 1804, when the Grand Lodge visited Quincy for the consecration of the Lodge and installation of its officers under the direction of Most Worshipful Isaiah Thomas, the then Grand Master, at which event John Adams and other distinguished citizens of Quincy were present.

The growth of Rural Lodge since its first meeting in Quincy has been steady, with its membership at the present time approaching four figures. This growth, as well as the growth of four other Lodges now in existence in the towns which once constituted the area described in the beginning of this summary, is definite proof of the continuance of the efforts and courage of our beloved Brothers who have given us what we have today in Masonry. We are thankful to them for what they have done for us, and we, as Masons, shall continue to display tjie same courage and fortitude in our future Masonry as they did in the past.

The building situation seems to have always provoked Rural Lodge, because previous histories mention several times the removal of the Lodge from one building to another, due to fires and ether conditions beyond its control, but at this particular time, we are determined to carry out our present project as regards this building with the same courage and fortitude as our Masonic forebears built our Lodges that we have today.

200TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, JUNE 2001

From Proceedings, Page 2001-37:

Prior to 1792, the Town of Braintree was divided into three parts: the North, which is now Quincy; the Middle, which is now Braintree, and the South, which is now Randolph.

In 1792 and 1793, the Town was divided into three towns. Hancock Street was the Plymouth Road, Washington Street was not yet in existence, the bridge across the Neponset River opened in 1803, the railroad came 45-years later, and the horsecar, much later.

Thomas Crane, a member of Rural Lodge, used to walk to Boston to worship as he pleased. These were some of the conditions which existed when a petition praying for a Charter on December 17, 1799, was filed with the Grand Lodge. This was only a few days before the death of Most Worshipful George Washington.

John Adams, second President of the United States, had just completed his presidency a few days before when the Charter was granted on June 8, 1801, in the Town of Randolph. Only 33 other Lodges existed in Massachusetts. Two years later, the Charter was transferred to Quincy.

The first meeting was held in Baxter's Hall on School Street, near what is now the railroad bridge. In 1825, the quarters were moved to the corner of Hancock and Saville Streets.

On September 19, 1804, Rural Lodge was consecrated by the Grand Lodge and Installation of Officers was held under the direction of Most Worshipful Isaiah Thomas, Grand Master. After the Masonic business was taken care of, a procession was formed and a public consecration and Installation ceremony was performed in the Meeting House of the First Parish Church, Quincy. In attendance were former President John Adams, future President John Quincy Adams, and other municipal officers of the Town.

In 1853, the Lodge met in Abercrombie Hall on Washington Street, near the Canal. In 1867, it met in a hall at the comer of Hancock and Granite Streets, which was occupied until the building was totally destroyed by fire on August 26, 1875, resulting in the loss of all Lodge property. With the exception of the Charter and any property in the possession of the Secretary, all the early records were destroyed.

In roughly 1890, Bro. Bill Edmondston proposed to build a comfort station near the fountain and horse trough in Quincy Square. The hilarious debate was intensified by the wit and humor of the Chairman, Wor. Emery Crane, who closed the meeting with the droll exclamation, "We'll help Bro. Bill build an 8-holer in Quincy Square". It didn't happen.

In 1881, the Lodge assisted in the laying of the cornerstone of the Thomas Crane Library. Rural Lodge, with the Grand Lodge as its guest, had a hand in the dedication of the Library on May 30, 1882.

In 1926, the cornerstone of the present building was laid. The dedication, which brought together 832 members of the Craft, was under the leadership of Most Worshipful Frank L. Simpson, Grand Master.

From 1804 to 2001, no less than 18 presiding Grand Masters have visited Rural Lodge, four Past Grand Masters of other jurisdictions have visited, the latest being Most Worshipful Roger Read, Grand Master of Connecticut who was voted an honorary member of the Lodge.

In 1923, three Past Masters were appointed a committee to form Old Colony DeMolay, which was instituted on March 1, 1924.

Rural Lodge has supported the Grand Lodge Blood Program by donating over 100 pints of blood a year, many times.

Past Masters of Rural Lodge have supported the 22nd Lodge of Instruction, eight of whom have served as Master. There has been one President of the Masonic Forum which replaced the Lodge of Instruction.

Eleven members of the Lodge have served the Craft as District Deputy Grand Master.

The Lodge has topped the 1,000 membership mark five times; the last time it lasted for eight years. Only two other Lodges in the entire State, Athelstan and Morning Star, both in Worcester, have topped this mark.

Rural Lodge has been a traveling Lodge: annual visits to Delta Lodge since 1934; Union Lodge at Nantucket, 1935; Deering Lodge, Portland, Maine, 1938; several visits to Eliot Lodge when their meeting place was in Jamaica Plain; Washington Alexandria Lodge #22, at the George Washington National Masonic Shrine in Alexandria, Virginia, in 1969; several visits to Azure Lodge #129, Cranford, New Jersey; and in May of 1975, a visit to Atlantic Phoenix Lodge in Hamilton, Bermuda.

Through the years, there have been many outstanding members, such as Brother Walter E. Simmons, Secretary for 44 years, R. W. Roy Prout, Secretary for 16 years, R. W. Ray Warmington, Past Deputy Grand Master; R. W. Irving Gifford, 42 years as Secretary. Brother Everett Clark, a 55 year member and Wor. Arthur Hall, were both 33rd Degree members of the Lodge. And, Wor. John Sutterley served as Grand Commander of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, October 1999 to October 2000.

This is pan of the proud heritage of Rural Lodge. May the future officers and members contribute as much to the Craft and the community as the past and present members have.

OTHER

  • 1803 (Permission to remove to Quincy granted, II-231)
  • 1854 (Lodge granted a "note of hand" by Grand Lodge, V-507)

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS


DISTRICTS

1803: District 1 (Boston)

1821: District 1

1853: District 5

1867: District 16 (Plymouth)

1878: District 19 (Taunton)

1880: District 3 (Boston Highlands)

1883: District 24 (Brockton)

1911: District 26 (Quincy)

1927: District 26 (Quincy)

2003: District 8

LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges

Retrieved from "http://www.masonicgenealogy.com/MediaWiki/index.php?title=Rural&oldid=53824"