Athelstan

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ATHELSTAN LODGE

Location: Worcester

Chartered By: Charles C. Dame

Charter Date: 06/13/1866 V-264

Precedence Date: 05/12/1865

Current Status: merged with Montacute Lodge to form Guiding Lights Lodge, 08/23/2003.

PAST MASTERS

need living PMs

  • Henry L. Goddard, 1865, 1866, 1879, 1880
  • Samuel T. Bigelow, 1867, 1868
  • James J. Russ, 1869, 1870
  • N. G. Tucker, 1871, 1872
  • E. P. Knight, 1873, 1874
  • Charles S. Day, 1875, 1876
  • Charles E. Davis, 1877, 1878, 1882
  • George L. Allen, 1881
  • William F. Knowlton, 1883
  • Daniel B. Starr, 1884, 1885
  • Horace F. Ball, 1886, 1887
  • James E. Dennis, 1888
  • Francis A. Harrington, 1889
  • Alfred S. Pinkerton, 1890
  • Arthur H. Burton, 1891, 1892; SN
  • Cyrus Stickney, 1893
  • Henry Walker, 1894
  • John A. Sears, 1895
  • John T. Wheeler, 1896
  • Harry S. Green, 1897
  • William W. Macomber, 1898
  • Arthur W. Macomber, 1899
  • Frank E. Sessions, 1900
  • Charles A. Harrington, 1901; N
  • George A. Cheever, 1902
  • Henry A. Knight, 1903
  • Matthew Gault, 1904
  • Frank C. Harrington, 1905; N
  • Fred Webber, 1906
  • Henry A. MacGowan, 1907
  • William Davis Chase, 1908
  • William Turner, 1909
  • William H. Pratt, 1910
  • George Gardner, 1911, 1912
  • Sylvanus L. Ricker, 1913
  • George C. Halcott, 1914
  • William C. Mellish, 1915, 1916
  • William C. Howe, 1917
  • Herbert M. Sawyer, 1918
  • Edmund A. Garland, 1919
  • Alfred E. Rankin, 1920; N
  • Willis E. Cary, 1921
  • William J. Conlon, 1922
  • Charles E. Disney, 1923
  • Arthur H. Bellows, 1924
  • Harry C. Midgley, 1925; N
  • Philip L. Wilder, 1926
  • Leonard A. Burton, 1927
  • Harold B. Ellis, 1928
  • William H. McCormick, 1929
  • Daniel N. Pickering, 1930
  • Henry W. Guy, 1931
  • Percy H.G. Harris, 1932; SN
  • Robert P. Hallock, 1933
  • Donald D. Pierce, 1934
  • Arthur H. Whitehead, 1935
  • Frank A. Fairbanks, 1936
  • Walter D. Allen, 1937
  • Herman B. Adams, 1938
  • Alfred D. Clark, 1939
  • Walter D. Pierce, 1940
  • William A. Bennett, 1941
  • Clayton W. Adams, 1942
  • Thomas W. Harris, 1943
  • Raymond L. Divoll, 1944
  • Kenneth A. Mossman, 1945
  • Roger B. Howe, 1946
  • Don D. Swain, 1947
  • Charles B. Hardy, 1948
  • Malcolm P. Gould, 1949; N
  • Clifford A. Peterson, 1950
  • Samuel S. Spence, 1951
  • Lewis A. Long, 1952
  • Arthur J. Carlson, 1953
  • James F. Ormrod, Jr., 1954
  • Clarence W. Crane, 1955
  • Frank R. Heath, Jr., 1956
  • Edgar E. Sampson, Jr., 1957
  • Benjamin B. Rice, 1958
  • Raymond G. Warner, Jr., 1959
  • Ernest F. Walker, 1960
  • Frank B. Tattersall, 1961
  • Lawrence S. Peterson, 1962
  • Walter L. Mason, 1963
  • Anthony E. Morse, 1964
  • Alfred D. Fleming, 1965
  • Wesley A. Estabrook, 1966
  • Sture D. Bengston, 1967
  • Henry B. Rand, 1968
  • Russell D. Miller, 1969
  • Gordon H. Davidson, 1970
  • Everett A. Hultquist, 1971
  • Eric H. Schedin, 1972
  • George B. Piltzecker, Jr., 1973
  • Richard J. Stewart, 1974, 1975; Grand Master
  • Thomas R. Platts, Jr., 1976
  • Carl R. Bohn, 1977; N
  • Anthony J. Barsamian, 1978
  • Arthur A. Larson, 1979
  • Abraham Sivazlian, 1980
  • Edward L. Buck, 1981
  • Donald F. Leombruno, 1982
  • Robert J. Leach, 1983
  • Horace A. Ames, Jr., 1984
  • 1985?
  • John J. Durkin, Jr., 1986
  • Ronald G. Degon, 1987
  • Bror W. Norberg, 1988
  • Keith L. Rushlow, 1989; PDDGM
  • Jon H. Skoglund, 1990
  • Jon R. Johnson, 1991
  • Brian G. Lageux, 1992
  • Herbert C. Atchue, 1993, 1994, 2000
  • Kevin T. Jones, 1995, 1996
  • James David VanDerAa, 1997, 1998
  • John Cornelious Cox, 1999
  • Wilfred J. Gamache, 2001-2003

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

  • Petition for Dispensation: 1865
  • Petition for Charter: 1866
  • Consolidation Petition (with Montacute Lodge): 2003

ANNIVERSARIES

  • 1916 (50th Anniversary)
  • 1940 (75th Anniversary)
  • 1965 (Centenary)
  • 1990 (125th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

BY-LAW CHANGES

1869 1870 1878 1889 1896 1905 1911 1918 1921 1927 1928 1933 1939 1946 1952 1966 1976 1980 1982 1985 1986 1992

HISTORY

  • 1940 (75th Anniversary History, 1940-136; see below)
  • 1965 (Centenary History, 1965-249)
  • 1990 (Brief 125th Anniversary History, 1990-29)

75TH ANNIVERSARY HISTORY, MAY 1940

From Proceedings, Page 1940-134:

by Wor. William Davis Chase:

I am not going to attempt to give you a history of Athelstan Lodge, but I am going to recall some of the events that have happened during my forty years of membership. In this little personal touch I will try to avoid saying "I" as much as possible.

May 12, 1865, Athelstan Lodge was born in Worcester. In a month lacking a day, June 11, 1865, I was born in the town of Webster, only sixteen miles from Worcester, so that you see our birthdays are close together, and this anniversary, May 22, is about as near my birthday as that of the Lodge.

When about ten years of age I saw my first Masonic Funeral, held in the Methodist Church in Webster. As the Brethren formed a procession to march to the cemetery, which was the custom at the time, I was so impressed by the caliber of the men in line that I decided that I wanted if possible to sometime become a member of the organization.

Twenty-five years later, June 27, 1900, I was raised, signed the By-Laws and became a member of this Lodge. In December of that year, I was installed in my first office as Marshal, and in December 1907 as Wor. Master. During my years of membership I have been privileged to be present at every one of the Annual Meetings, every Official Visitation as well as every Installation of the Lodge.

One thing I shall always remember was the first Installation Ceremony, which was in charge of Rt. Wor. Henry Goddard, the first Master of the Lodge, and it was the last time that he ever performed that duty. As we go past and see his picture on the wall, all he did and was comes back to those of us who knew him. At the time I became a member there were living seventeen Past Masters; only one of the number is now living, Wor. Arthur W. Macomber, who is present with us tonight. I was personally acquainted with all of them and can say to our members that we have every reason to be grateful to them for the wonderful work they did in carying on the affairs of the Lodge, at a time when there was not much money to work with, and plenty of hard work was necessary to make such plans as it was possible for them to do, to make the future of the Lodge a success. When I joined in June 1900, the membership was about three hundred and fifty. On Sept. 1, 1939, the membership was about one thousand and eight.

The fee for Degrees in 1900 was Fifty Dollars; it is now One Hundred and Ten Dollars, which we divide as follows:

  • Reserve Fund for Temple $10.00
  • Charity Fund 25.00
  • Temple Fund 25.00
  • Permanent Fund 11.00
  • Grand Lodge 5.00
  • Masonic Home 5.00

Lodge dues in 1900 were $3.00; then $5.00 and now $8.00. Life membership in 1900 was $30.00; then $50.00, $75.00 and $100.00. It is now $120.00 or fifteen times the Annual Dues, eligible after the payment of five Annual Dues.

The interest from all funds is paid into the current funds for the purpose of carrying on the work of the Lodge. Through careful and efficient management, the finances are such as to enable the Lodge to take care of its own charities, and doing things to make it interesting for the Brethren; also to take care of the Service work which is now a matter of considerable expense.

SOME FACTS ABOUT ATHELSTAN LODGE

  • Dispensation granted to institute lodge-May 12, 1865 by Grand Master William Parkman.
  • Charter granted by Grand Lodge of Massachusetts in June 1856.
  • Lodge constituted and consecrated under charter, July 6,1866.
  • Received its name Athelstan from King Athelstan of ancient Britain, born in 895; died in 941; founder of York charter and

father of York Rite Masonry.

  • First Worshipful Master - Henry Goddard, Past Master of Morning Star Lodge and charter member of Montacute Lodge, served in 1866.
  • Present Worshipful Master-Walter D. Pierce.
  • First meeting under dispensation in Montacute Hall, Foster Street, May 24, 1865, in building now occupied County Electric Company.
  • First Master elected by Lodge under its charter - Samuel Bigelow, May 31, 1866.
  • Senior Past Master - Arthur W. Macomber.
  • First Lodge to hold regular meeting in new Temple on Ionic Avenue.
  • Members who have served Worcester as Mayor:
    • Samuel Winslow
    • Francis A. Harrington
    • George M. Wright
    • Pehr G. Holmes
    • present Master William A. Bennett
  • Members on whom has been conferred the 33d degree of Scottish Rite Masonry:
    • George B. Buckingham
    • Francis A. Harrington
    • Arthur H. Burton
    • Charles E. Davis
    • Charles A. Harrington
    • Frank C. Harrington
    • William C. Mellish
  • District Deputies since 1900:
    • Arthur H. Burton
    • Charles A. Harrington
    • Frank C. Harrington
    • Harry C. Midgley
    • Alfred E. Rankin
    • Ernest F. Maynard, Past Master of Matthew J. Whittall Lodge, made a Mason in Athelstan Lodge May 28, 1919, and elected an Honorary Past Master.
  • 1939. Two Past Masters have served two years each as Master of the Sixth Lodge of Instruction, William D. Chase and Henry

W. Guy.

  • Sept. 12, 1913, the Lodge took part in the laying of the cornerstone of the new Temple and also in the ceremonies of dedication
  • Sept.3, 1914. Athelstan was the last Lodge to confer a degree in the Pearl Street apartments. There were present at the fiftieth anniversary about 250 members. The membership at that time was about 500.

Athelstan also had the honor of having one of its own members, the late Wor. Bro. Halcott, design and superintend the construction of the Temple which will always remain a tribute to his skill and ability. He was also the first Master to serve the Lodge in that position in the new Temple.

As I look back over my forty years of membership, one of the outstanding things to me is the wonderful support given the officers at all times by the members and Past Masters. I am sure that no Lodge anywhere ever had a more loyal lot to work with than has Athelstan. Harmony, which is the strength and support of all organizations, has been an outstanding feature in the Lodge, for during my forty years of membership nothing has happened to cause any trouble that would mar that harmony.

Our charity fund provides for our charities which are taken care of with understanding and sympathy. Our service department looks after all cases as soon as we hear about them. Flowers or fruit are always sent to the sick as well as to those in sorrow or in trouble. At Thanksgiving and Christmas members needing assistance or something to cheer them up and to help make the day pleasant, are sent a basket containing a turkey and fruit. As chairman of the committee, I know by personal contact that they do much good. Regular calls are also made on the sick and shut-ins at home or in hospitals. The Lodge has several times, at the request of the Grand Lodge, performed funeral services for Brothers from other states who died here or who were brought here for burial. We feel that we have done our part in carrying on the Lodge of Instruction, for during the few years of its existence two of our Past Masters have served four years as Master, as well as taking part in the duties in connection with the work.

In the work of the Ritual, we aim to keep it at a high standard that_will always satisfy the Brothers and merit the approval of the Grand Lecturer.

As I look back over the years I find that the social life has made much progress. We try to give our members entertainments and social life that is clean and enjoyable: pitch parties after our regulars for members of the Fraternity, and entertainments usually after the F.C. degree. Twice a year we entertain the ladies; once with a Ladies Night, Banquet, Entertainment, Souvenirs and Dancing for which a reasonable price is charged; and a members' night which is about the same with the exception of the banquet which is free, a member being entitled to two tickets.

During my forty years of membership the Lodge has grown greatly in membership, having had many successful years, and like the Fraternity everywhere making large gains after the World War. We are not sure that large numbers are for the best interests of Masonry. Perhaps a normai growth is better.

During these years which have past, we have lost many of those whom rn'e loved and respectet, as Wor. Bro. Frank E. Sessions, Treasurer for 27 years, who more than any one person laid out the plans that have enabled the Lodge to attain its present financial standing. It was Wor. Bro. Sessions who raised me in 1900. Bro. Fred Knight, who was Secretary for 42 years; a fine and faithful Brother who loved to serve Athelstan Lodge; and those others whose devotion helped to make the Lodge what it is today. We will not forget Henry Flint who so faithfully served all the Lodges for over 45 years.

I could talk with you a long time about what has happened in Athelstan during my forty years of membership, having been installed in office twenty-seven times and having served at least ten years in other positions, but I fear I may have already tired you and so will keep the rest for the centennial anniversary.

OTHER

  • 1913 (Masonic hall Cornerstone laying)
  • 1931 (Gift of equipment)

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

DISTRICTS

1865: District 6

1867: District 11 (Worcester)

1883: District 18 (Worcester)

1911: District 21 (Worcester)

1927: District 21 (Worcester)

1931: District 22 (Worcester)

LINKS

Massachusetts Lodges

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