Difference between revisions of "Universal"

Revision as of 15:24, 30 November 2013

UNIVERSAL LODGE

Location: Orleans

Chartered By: Leon M. Abbott

Charter Date: 06/13/1918 1918-117

Precedence Date: 08/31/1917

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition for Dispensation: 1917
• Petition for Charter: 1918

ANNIVERSARIES

• 1932 (15th Anniversary)
• 1942 (25th Anniversary)
• 1967 (50th Anniversary)
• 1992 (75th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1918 (L. Abbott; Constitution of Lodge and installation; Special Communication)
• 1923 (Ferrell; Hall dedication; Special Communication)
• 1932 (Chipman; 15th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1935 (Allen; reception for Junior Grand Warden John Kenrick)
• 1942 (Schaefer; 25th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1945 (Allen; reception for Senior Grand Warden Cyril W. Downs)
• 1954 (W. Johnson; Capewide Visitors' Night)
• 1967 (Booth; 50th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1974 (Booth; Hall dedication; Special Communication)
• 1975 (Maxwell; installation)
• 1978 (Melanson; Mortgage burning; Special Communication)
• 1984 (Richardson; 10th Anniversary of Building Dedication)
• 1992 (Darling; 75th Anniversary; Special Communication)
• 1994 (Lovering)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1926 1927 1932 1949 1958 1965 1972 1976 1979 1980 1981 1982 1985 1986 1989 1992 1994 1995 1998 2003 2008

HISTORY

• 1932 (15th Anniversary History, 1932-84)
• 1942 (History 1932-1942, 1942-109; see below)
• 1967 (50th Anniversary History, 1967-403)
• 1974 (History at hall dedication, 1974-216)

HISTORY 1932-1942, MAY 1942

From Proceedings, Page 1942-109:

By Right Worshipful Cyril W. Downs

Webster tells us that a historian is "one who searches into history for facts," and in that sense, I am not a historian tonight, for I do not have to search for things that have happened in Universal Lodge during the past ten years. They have been an integral part of my very life, so I am just going to relate briefly a few of the outstanding occurrences.

A historian, in preparing the history of a Lodge, usually experiences great difficulty in learning the real facts about the formation and organization of his Lodge, but here Universal Lodge is most fortunate, for on the occasion of our fifteenth anniversary ten years ago, our esteemed Brother, R.W. John Kenrick, in faultless English and with complete accuracy, wrote a most comprehensive and detailed history of our Lodge, telling of its conception, its formation and of its accomplishments during its first fifteen years. This history was given by Brother Kenrick on May 27, 1932, when we were honored by the presence of the then Grand Master, the late M.W. Curtis Chip-man, and suite, when we celebrated our fifteenth anniversary. An account of this is spread upon our records, as well as in the records of the Grand Lodge, and I commend this document to all the Brethren of Universal Lodge as one well worth studying.

So I can pass over the first fifteen years which found us a growing Lodge, located in our own home, our mortgage burned, and with no financial Worries — receiving many applications for degrees, and leading a very busy existence. This I know, as it was my privilege to be its presiding Master during 1932 and 1933.

Perhaps the outstanding feature of the year 1933 was our trip to the Masonic Home at Charlton on Saturday, April 8th, when thirty-one members of Universal Lodge motored there and that evening conferred the Fellowcraft Degree on two Brothers from our Lodge, Brother Lloyd Coggeshall and Brother Charles Ellis. M. W. Curtis Chipman, Grand Master, paid Universal Lodge a fraternal visit at the Home in Charlton that night. We stayed overnight near by, returning to the Home Sunday morning, where Brother John Kenrick, in a style all his own, conducted a most impressive religious service in the chapel, which was enjoyed by all the guests at the Home, both men and women. Sunday afternoon we visited the Hospital at Shrewsbury and then journeyed home.

Worshipful Brother Roy S. Rogers succeeded to the East in 1934 and continued as its leader through 1935, and under his guidance, we continued to be very active. Early in the year 1934, our Lodge proposed the name of R.W. John Kenrick as a candidate for Junior Grand Warden of the Grand Lodge at the Annual Communication in December. The District gladly and wholeheartedly endorsed our Brother and an announcement of the candidacy was mailed to all members of Grand Lodge. It was with a great deal of satisfaction and pleasure to us and to our District that R.W. Brother Kenrick was elected on the first ballot. We all remember the party at the Hotel Statler afterwards, when all the Cape members joined Brother Kenrick to help celebrate his election. He served the Grand Lodge with distinction, traveling the length and breadth of our Jurisdiction to be present at all Grand Lodge functions. He succeeded in keeping our then Grand Master, M.W. Claude L. Allen, fooled in regard to his ability as a speaker, and begged off from speaking until the Grand Master and his suite paid Universal Lodge a fraternal visit May 24, 1935, to participate in the reception being tendered to R.W. Brother Kenrick. At this time, Brother Kenrick, after being presented with a.Junior Grand Warden jewel from our Lodge and a Henry Price Medal from the Grand Master, responded with his masterful possession of the English language. Grand Master Allen was taken by complete surprise and realized that he had been underestimating Brother Kenrick's ability. During the balance of the year, however, Brother Kenrick paid dearly for having concealed his talents. It was my happy experience to serve the Grand Lodge this same year as a Grand Pursuivant, by the appointment of M.W. Brother Allen.

Worshipful Brother Thomas Crowell succeeded to the East in 1936 and broke a precedent in our Lodge, as he was only able to serve one year. This year brought more applications and the customary problems, the latter being dealt with in a most efficient manner. Among the outstanding things that Brother Crowell had to contend with that year was the appointment of a District Deputy Grand Master for the Provincetown 32nd District from our Lodge, one who was continually wanting something. It was my happy privilege to serve as Deputy for our District by appointment of M.W. Brother Allen, and I was happy to have associated with me Worshipful Brother Elnathan E. Eldredge as Marshal, Worshipful Brother Roy S. Rogers as Secretary and Right Worshipful John Kenrick as Chaplain. I do not need to read our records to recall the happy experiences of those two years. Among them, and outstanding in my memory, are the reception tendered us by Adams and Universal Lodges in Orleans in May, 1935, our trips each year by the District to the Masonic Home and Hospital, and the climax of a happy administration when I, as Deputy, paid my final official visitation to my home Lodge, Universal, in November, 1937. To quote from the Secretary's records, which will not sound so vain, it was "an outstanding Visitation, over forty Lodges in the Jurisdiction represented, a suite of seventy-five, including many District Deputy Grand Masters from other Districts, and many visitors as well as members. Truly an outpouring of brothers on a night that literally poured rain from the heavens." There are several present tonight in the Grand Master's suite who were present on that occasion.

The years 1937 and 1938 record a splendid administration of Worshipful Brother Roger F. Smith, when many candidates knocked at our door for admission. Worshipful Brother Albert Nelson, having retired as Secretary after many years of fine service to our Lodge was succeeded by Worshipful Brother Roy S. Rogers. It was during Brother Smith's administration that the Committee, headed by Brother Arthur Young, raised money to place individual seats for members in our Lodge. Also, our records tell of a fraternal visit by M.W. Claude L. Allen, Past Grand Master, on May 13, 1938, to "his" Lodge, he having been elected to Honorary Membership in 1935.

In 1939, Worshipful Brother Herbert B. Mitchell succeeded to the East, serving the customary two year term. His administration was another busy and successful one, raising many to the sublime degree of Master Mason, and serving our Lodge in a most dignified manner. In October, 1940, during Brother Mitchell's administration, our Lodge sponsored a birthday card shower for Right Worshipful Brother John Kenrick on the occasion of his 83rd birthday. Grand Lodge members joined us in this token of respect, and the memory of it is one of Brother Kenrick's choicest possessions.

Worshipful Brother John H. Walsh is now completing his second term as Master, and being a railroad man, he was installed as Master of our Lodge by Right Worshipful Brother Henry A. Snow and a suite of railroad men from the District. He, too, has had a busy and effective administration. Brother Walsh came to the East from the South, as Brother Lloyd Ellis who had served the Lodge as an officer since 1934, working up through the Chairs, felt that because of personal business, he must relinquish his Chair — a fact that was regretted very much by the Lodge.

Universal Lodge has continued to receive many gifts and this past year we received our organ, presented to us by Miss Gertrude Belcher, through the courtesy of our Brother John Hagan.

In concluding, I want to record this happy evening, our twenty-fifth anniversary, and the presence of our Most Worshipful Grand Master, Albert A. Schaefer, who is now a member of Universal Lodge, and his suite. Our Lodge is honored by the membership of all the Grand Masters who have visited Universal Lodge officially.

May He who in His wisdom gave the founders of our Lodge foresight and courage at a time when the world was at war, give us strength and courage to carry on, taking advantage of the opportunities presented us, and handing on to posterity our institution, not only unimpaired, but rather improved by its having been in our possession for a little while.

OTHER

• 1924 (Participation in Hyannis temple dedication, 1924-371)

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• Cyril W. Downs, DDGM, District 32 (Provincetown), 1936, 1937; Senior Grand Warden 1945; N
• Truman Henson, Jr., DDGM, District 32 (Provincetown), 2001, 2002
• John Kenrick, DDGM, District 32 (Provincetown), 1924, 1925; Junior Grand Warden 1935
• Herbert B. Kinney, DDGM, District 32 (Provincetown), 1997, 1998
• William Darin Krum, DDGM, District 21, 2009
• Lawrence R. Leonard, DDGM, District 32 (Provincetown), 1973, 1974; N
• David A. Schofield, DDGM, District 32 (Provincetown), 1987, 1988
• Roger F. Smith, DDGM, District 32 (Provincetown), 1947, 1948; N
• Herbert F. Wilcox, DDGM, District 32 (Provincetown), 1959, 1960; N

DISTRICTS

1917: District 32 (Provincetown)

1927: District 32 (Provincetown)

2003: District 21

LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges