WilliamParkman

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WILLIAM PARKMAN LODGE

Location: Winchester; Woburn

Chartered By: William Parkman

Charter Date: 06/14/1865 VII-13

Precedence Date: 05/09/1864

Current Status: Active


PAST MASTERS

  • Albion K. P. Joy, 1864-1867
  • Josiah F. Stone, 1868-1869
  • Edwin A. Wadleigh, 1869, 1870
  • Chorles H. Moseley, 1871, 1872
  • Alfred W. Quimby, 1873, 1874
  • Charles E. Follansbee, 1875, 1876
  • George W. Spurr, 1877, 1878
  • Thomas S. Spurr, 1878, 1879; Mem
  • N. Frank Marble, 1880
  • George S. Littlefield, 1881, 1882
  • John D. Twombly, 1883, 1884, 1888
  • J. Herbert Dwinell, 1885, 1886
  • Walter V. Smalley, 1887
  • William S. Walbridge, 1889, 1890
  • Charles E. Corey, 1891, 1892; Mem
  • John H. Winchenbach, 1893, 1894
  • Chorles A. Lane, 1895, 1896
  • William M. Belcher, 1897, 1898
  • Frederick E. Belcher, 1899, 1900
  • Edwin A. Symmes, 1901
  • Benjamin T. Morgan, 1902, 1903
  • Edgar W. Metcalf, 1904, 1905
  • Frederick M. Symmes, 1906, 1907
  • Frank F. Carpenter, 1908
  • George F. Edgett, 1909, 1910
  • Percy W. Witherell, 1911, 1912; N
  • Ernest W Hatch, 1913, 1914
  • Wilbur Sargent Locke, 1915
  • Jay B. Benton, 1916, 1917
  • George B. Hayward, 1918, 1919
  • William M. Little, 1920
  • Raymond Merrill, 1921
  • Percival B. Metcalf, 1922, 1923
  • Harris S. Richardson, 1924, 1925
  • Preston E. Corey, 1926, 1927
  • Edward B. Smalley, 1927
  • J. Henry Miley, 1928, 1929
  • John Hart Taylor, 1930
  • Vincent P. Clarke, 1931, 1932; N
  • Harry N. Squires, Jr., 1933, 1934
  • John R. Wallace, 1935, 1936
  • Kingman P. Cass, 1937
  • W. Allan Wilde, 1938-1940
  • Leroy M. Jordan, 1941
  • Harold E. Gile, 1942
  • Theodore Elliott, 1943
  • Leslie J. Scott, 1944
  • A. Allen Kimball, 1945, 1946
  • Clarence W. Russell, 1947, 1948
  • Aram T. Mouradian, 1949
  • John D. McLean, 1950
  • Ralph L. Purrington, 1951
  • Edward D. Duncan, 1952
  • Herbert T. Wadsworth, 1953
  • George H. Gowdy, 1954
  • Austin E. Nanry, 1955
  • Perry E. Fisher, 1956
  • Robert E. Gardner, 1957
  • Joseph C. Gray, 1958
  • Milton H. Anderson, 1959
  • Walter Y. Josephson, 1960
  • Robert L. Polleys, 1961
  • R. Ashley Lewis, 1962
  • Richard L. Greaves, 1963
  • Francis D. Thayer, 1964
  • Sherman R. Josephson, 1965
  • Paul R. Buttenworth, 1966
  • Edgar J. Hammond, Jr., 1967
  • Richard F. Norris, 1968; PDDGM
  • Robert L. Murphy, 1969
  • John M. Wallace, 1970
  • George P. Elliott, 1971
  • William S. Saurman, 1972, 2004
  • Charles A. Koch, 1973
  • Robert N. Krusell, 1974
  • Paul F. Gleason, 1975
  • Robert P. Adams, 1976
  • Lyle C. Crawford, 1977
  • Byron I. Graves, 1978
  • William A. Rabe, 1979
  • David F. Beaber, 1980, 1981, 1996-1998
  • George Geraniotis, 1982, 1983
  • Richard G. Allison, 1984-1986, 1993, 1999, 2000
  • Wesley B. Swanson, 1987
  • Harold G. Richardson, 1988, 1989
  • Thomas Arakel, 1990, 1991
  • Walter W. Johnson, 1992
  • Euan T. Blanch, 1994, 1995
  • Gerald B. O'Grady III, 2001
  • Kamel Oussayef, 2002-2004
  • Richard Maggio, 2005; PDDGM
  • Robert C. Crockett, 2006 PDDGM
  • Paul J. DeLuca, 2007
  • James C. LeClair, 2008
  • Peter C. Grimm, 2009, 2010, 2012
  • David A. Risgin, 2011

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1864
  • Petition for Charter: 1865

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1914 (50th Anniversary)
  • 1939 (75th Anniversary)
  • 1959 (Centenary)
  • 2009 (150th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1871 1872 1877 1880 1881 1884 1886 1897 1902 1903 1904 1909 1910 1911 1912 1920 1926 1938 1956 1960 1967 1974 1976 1979 1987 2006 2008 2012

HISTORY

  • 1914 (50th Anniversary Historical Sketch, 1914-134)
  • 1964 (Centenary History, 1964-141; see below)

CENTENARY HISTORY, MAY 1964

From Proceedings, Page 1964-141:

By Worshipful Kingman P. Cass.

Tonight is a happy and inspiring event, the One Hundredth Birthday Celebration of William Parkman Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; but the rich heritage bequeathed to us carries a solemn and continuing challenge as we commence another century.

May I briefly review some prominent milestones in the history of our Lodge, made possible by that small group of sincere and earnest Masons whom we honor tonight as founders.

WILLIAM PARKMAN LODGE, ANCIENT FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS, had its beginning on a winter's evening in January of 1864, when Brother Abijah Thompson, III, owner of the tannery on what is now Manchester Field, invited Dr. William Ingalls, David Skillings, Josiah Stone and Albion Joy to his home on Walnut Street to discuss the formation of a Lodge in Winchester by several who were already members of the Craft.

They were joined at their next meeting by Brothers Oliver Wellington, Cephas Church, Matthew Oliver and Samuel Bartlett, all Master Masons, and by Edward Boon, Albert Lane and Henry Whitten, initiated elsewhere, but wishing to complete their degrees in the proposed new Lodge.

This was in February, and with great enthusiasm and prior approval of Most Worshipful William Parkman, Esquire, presiding Grand Master at the time, the Committee voted to procure rooms and negotiate a lease for five years in the Lyceum Building on Mount Vernon Street across from our present Apartments. The available second floor assembly-room was small, but whenever inadequate for large meetings, Lyceum Hall could be used on the third floor.

In due course a petition was drawn up and submitted to the Most Worshipful Grand Master, bearing approval of the District Deputy; and under date of May 9, 1864, a Dispensation was issued over the signature of Most Worshipful William Parkman as Grand Master.

Albion K. P. Joy was appointed First Master, and Josiah Stone and Abijah Thompson, III, became the First Wardens. The Lodge held its first formal meeting with a complete line of officers in Lyceum Hall on May 10, 1864.

Many donations of furniture and funds were gratefully received, and one treasured gift which was promptly installed was a Masonic and symbolic chandelier for lighting the center of the new Lodge assembly-room, a token of the friendship and good wishes of Mt. Horeb Lodge in Woburn, which has been previously founded in 1855. As most of you know, the Town of Winchester for many years before its Incorporation in 1850 was known as South Woburn. Our Brother Frederick O. Prince was Chairman of the Town Committee which finally chose the new corporate name of Winchester.

An examination of our Petition, Dispensation and Charter records brings to light many well-known Winchester names, founders of our Town in business, political, social and religious life. These names have been perpetuated by Town landmarks, such as Skillings Road (our First Chaplain), Thompson Street (our First Junior Warden), and Prince Avenue (Brother Prince was a Charter Member who later moved to Boston and became Mayor of that City.) The former Wadleigh School was named for our first elected Secretary, Brother Edwin A. Wadleigh; Samuel Symmes, Charter Member, was of the Symmes family of Symmes Corner, whose name was given to the adjoining Symmes Road.

Records of the Secretary during Dispensation refer to the newly formed Lodge as "Parkman Lodge", but the Most Worshipful Grand Master seemed in accord with the eventual idea of giving it his full name, as requested by the petitioners. In fact, he took time to come out to Winchester and witness a Master Mason Degree on October 10, 1864, just before the busy ceremonies of laying the corner-stone for the new Grand Lodge Temple.

We are very grateful to Brother Donald Houston Rice of Seal Beach, California, third generation of William Parkman members in the Houston-Rice family, for his gift of a diploma in hand-carved frame, issued to his grandfather James Houston dated February 12, 1865, and bearing the signatures of Most Worshipful William Parkman and our first three appointed Officers. History relates that Brother Houston pastured the family cow daily on Winchester Common, but we fear that such practice if pursued today would land Brother Houston in Woburn Court, and not even our Junior Steward (of the Board of Health) could save him.

If you have not already seen Brother Houston's framed diploma of 1865, you will find it on the left wall as you leave the Lodge Room across the entrance from the Tyler's desk.

Also there are two photostats of the Winchester Star describing our 50th Anniversary. We have the original copy, bearing the imprint of Judge Littlefield, a former Secretary, but the newsprint paper has become so fragile that we have had these photostats made through the courtesy of Winchester Town Library and Microfilm at Waltham.

The records of Brother William F. Fitch, pro tern Secretary in the years 1880-81 are in the maroon leather binding on the long lounge table, and were hand-written in scroll and illuminated by him. The illuminated headings are symbolic, and beautifully done, thanks to Brother Fitch's artistic talent.

One other memento is of special note, namely, the two photograph albums of our founders and early members.

Finally, on June 14, 1865 our Charter was granted by the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge, and the Constitution, Dedication, and Installation of Officers took place in Lyceum Hall on June 22, 1865. Most Worshipful William Parkman, his Officers and Distinguished Guests came out from Boston by special train, and with visiting Masons from Woburn, Medford and other nearby communities, over three hundred Masons were assembled. Brother Wadleigh, our Secretary, wrote that "the halls and stairways were decorated with evergreen, and choice bouquets of flowers shed their sweet fragrance in great abundance". After the ceremonies, the record states that all repaired to the Banquet rooms, where sumptuous and adequate "provision was made for their inner wants". The Most Worshipful presented the hand-wrought silver Officers' jewels which are in use to this day.

In 1880 it was felt that the Lodge had outgrown its facilities in the Lyceum Building, and plans were made to move across the street to our present location at 1 Mt. Vernon Street. This building was then known as the Brown and Stanton Block, and a series of entertainments and donations large and small enabled the moving plans to materialize.

So on January 14, 1881 another special train was chartered from Boston. This seems to have been the elegant mode of travel in those days. Our staunch friend, Most Worshipful William Parkman, headed a party of Masons, stopping at Medford for the presiding Grand Master, Most Worshipful Samuel Crocker Lawrence, who officiated at the dedication of our present Lodge rooms. All enjoyed a wonderful time, and (difficult to believe in these waning days of the Boston and Maine), the Boston and Lowell Railroad donated the train ride and gave us a receipted bill, and this is so recorded by our Secretary.

No particular note seems to have been taken on the 25th Anniversary in 1889, but in that year the Lodge lost a very earnest and enthusiastic member, Brother Frederic Winsor, M.D., who passed away in Bermuda, and was buried there with unusual honors. He was widely known and respected in Winchester, and very active in Town affairs. In the Civil War he was Surgeon of the 49th Massachusetts Regiment, and after the War, gave his Army Officer's sword to our Lodge, and it was used for years by the Tyler. His son Robert later presented a finely engraved sword to take its place, and was gratefully given his father's sword in return. The second Winsor sword is the one presently in use by our Tyler.

The next twenty-five years from 1889 to 1914 showed continuous and healthy progress. Membership almost tripled from 99 to 295. On May 26, 1914 an elaborate Banquet and Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration was held in the Town Hall. Most of the space in the "Winchester Star", our local newspaper, that week was given over to a detailed account of that event, and pictures of the Masonic notables who attended. The late Wor. Ernest W. Hatch was Master, and was assisted by Brother J. Churchill Hindes, presently a Life Member of this Lodge, as Master of Ceremonies. His Excellency, Governor and Brother Samuel W. McCall, was on the Committee of Arrangements.

1920 saw the founding of Mystic Valley Lodge, whose first presiding Master was R. W. William M. Belcher, Master of William Parkman Lodge in 1897-98. Then the Chapter was organized, and the Eastern Star, Rainbow Girls and DeMolay rounded out our Masonic group at 1 Mt. Vernon Street.

In 1925 Wor. William Walbridge gave us the beautiful glass bell which you see here tonight, modelled in the shape of the Liberty Bell at Philadelphia, and used in our Master Mason Degree at the hour of twelve.

In 1937-38, looking forward to the 75th Anniversary and the opportunity to expand and modernize with a change of building ownership, we moved our Banquet Hall and kitchen to the second floor. The former dining area became our present Lounge. On May 16, 1939, the late Wor. W. Allan Wilde as Master and Wor. Kingman P. Cass as Anniversary Chairman greeted Most Worshipful Joseph Earl Perry and Guests at a Banquet and Dance in Metcalf Hall of the Unitarian Church, once again a milestone in the progress of the Lodge.

So here we are, at our 100th Birthday Celebration. All honor to Most Worshipful William Parkman, who for twenty years continued his lively interest and encouragement in all our activities. In closing I would like to read a few verses from a special poem he wrote on the occasion of installing our Officers January 9, 1883, as recorded by Secretary William F. Fitch.

In eighteen hundred and sixty-four
Some faithful Brethren met
To form a Lodge and thus secure
Principles they should not forget
Joy and Stone and Spurr and Wilder
Quimby, Wadleigh and Pratt
Brown, G.P. and Twombly, Sam
Last but not least came Knapp.
So at a meeting duly called
They all in conclave met
To find a name that suited all
If Charter they could get.
Good Brother Joy, a legal man
Who loves his Brother P.
Said, name it Parkman, if we can —
Said William, I will see.
The Dispensation came about
And after twelve months trial
A Charter granted, was made out,
And no man made denial.
Good seed was sown, and good Work done
And happiest hours were spent
While new recruits came trooping in
On mystic work intent
The nineteen pleasant years now passed
Bring us not one regret
We've had the pleasures which we asked
And none of them forget.

Here indeed was the heartfelt expression of friendship from our energetic sponsor, that wonderful Masonic gentleman, MOST WORSHIPFUL WILLIAM PARKMAN.


EVENTS

CONSTITUTION OF WILLIAM PARKMAN LODGE, JUNE, 1865

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XXIV, No. 9, July, 1865, Page 273:

WILLIAM PARKMAN LODGE. This is a new Lodge, located in the pleasant village of Winchester, in Middlesex County. It having worked the past year under Dispensation, a Charter was granted to it by the Grand Lodge on the 14th of June, and on the evening of the 22d it was duly Constituted, its Hall Dedicted, and its officers Installed by the M. W. Grand Master, assisted by a full delegation of the officers of the Grand Lodge. The Constitution and Consecration were in private. At the Dedication and Installation of officers the ladies were admitted, wh were present in large numbers. For their better accommodation the latter ceremony took place in the Lyceum Hall, which was beautifully and emblematically decorated with flags and other devices. In the East was a rich Canopy, bearing on the face of the arch, in gilt letters, the words WILLIAM PARKMAN LODGE, and on its base, the word WELCOME. In the West was also a Canopy bearing the words Faith, Hope, Charity, and the other portions of the Hall were decorated to correspond, The whole design was in good taste and well carried out. The artist was Mr. Beal of this city.

The Masonic Hall is one of the prettiest in the State, - neat in all respects, and admirably adapted and furnished for the purposes for which it is to be used. The ante-rooms are small but convenient, and fitted up in the same good taste that characterizes the main room.

At the conclusion of the Masonic ceremonies the large Hall was given up to the ladies, and soon converted into a Fairy scene, with tables spread with the luxuries of the season, and decorated with the choicest flowers. The magic hand of beauty was visible everywhere, and bright eyes and joyous faces ruled the hour. It was an occasion to be treasured up among the pleasant memories of the past.

As a finale, short speeches were made by the Grand Master and some other Brethren; at the conclusion of which the company dispersed, all apparently gratified and happy.

The Lodge has done a good business the past year, and starts off on its new career under the most encouraging prospects. It is in most excellent and reliable hands, and its future can hardly fail of eminent and enduring success.

The officers for the year are as follows:-

  • Albion K. P. Joy, W.M.
  • Josiah F. Stone, S.W.
  • Abijah Thompson, III, J.W.
  • Cephas Church, Treas.
  • Edwin A. Wadleigh, Sec.
  • William Pratt, S. D.
  • A. H. Field, J.D.
  • S. P. Bartlett, Marshal
  • Salem Wilder, Chaplain
  • Albert G. Lane, S. S.
  • Henry C. Whitten, J.S.
  • J. C. Johnson, Organist
  • Alfred W. Quimby, I.S.
  • Matthew Oliver, Tyler.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS


DISTRICTS

1864: District 11

1867: District 7 (Lowell)

1872: District 17 (Woburn)

1883: District 6 (Somerville)

1927: District 6 (Somerville)

1927: District 6 (Arlington)

2003 : District 13


LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges


The curator for this page is Brother Frank J. Kautz II. Please direct informational updates and questions to him.