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CALEB BUTLER LODGE

Originally named Excelsior Lodge.

Location: South Groton; Ayer (1871)

Chartered By: Winslow Lewis

Charter Date: 03/14/1860 VI-300

Precedence Date: 03/28/1859

Current Status: Active

PAST MASTERS

need list of living PMs

REFERENCES IN GRAND LODGE PROCEEDINGS

• Petition for Dispensation: 1859
• Petition for Charter: 1860

ANNIVERSARIES

• 1910 (50th Anniversary)
• 1934 (75th Anniversary)
• 1960 (Centenary)
• 1985 (125th Anniversary)
• 2009 (150th Anniversary)

VISITS BY GRAND MASTER

• 1860 (Deputy Grand Master James V. C. Smith; Constitution of Lodge and installation; see below)
• 1873 (Nickerson; Hall dedication)
• 1882 (Lawrence)
• 1898 (Deputy Grand Master Albert L. Harwood; Corner-stone laying for Bank and Middlesex District Court Building)
• 1899 (Hutchinson; Hall dedication)
• 1903 (Sanford)
• 1910 (Flanders; 50th Anniversary)
• 1918 (L. Abbott)
• 1925 (Ferrell; 2 visits, including installation)
• 1928 (Simpson; corner stone laying in Lowell)
• 1934 (Chipman; 75th Anniversary)
• 1960 (Eaton; Centenary)
• 1985 (Richardson; 125th Anniversary)
• 1990 (Darling; Hall dedication)
• 1999 (Bauer; Hall dedication)
• 2008 (Pageau; 75th Masonic anniversary of Rt. Wor. H. Arnold Wilder)
• 2009 (Pageau; 150th Anniversary)
• 2011 (Stewart)
• 2012 (Stewart)

BY-LAW CHANGES

1873 1886 1906 1912 1914 1921 1924 1951 1952 1955 1961 1967 1978 1982 1984 1988 1993 1995 2003 2004 2007 2010

HISTORY

• 1910 (50th Anniversary Historical Address, 1909-115)
• 1934 (75th Anniversary History, 1934-98)
• 1960 (Centenary History, 1960-125)
• 1985 (125th Anniversary History, 1985-105)
• 1999 (History at hall dedication, 1999-125)

HISTORY AT HALL DEDICATION, DECEMBER 1999

From Proceedings, Page 1999-125:

HISTORY OF CALEB BUTLER, A. F. & A. M. AYER, MASSACHUSETTS 1860-1999

Caleb Butler, Grand Master of Masons in Massachusetts 1841-1842 was born in Pelham, New Hampshire on 13 September 1776. Graduated Dartmouth College in 1800 and in 1802 became preceptor of the Groton School of Groton, Massachusetts, where he taught for eleven years. During those years, he studied civil engineering and the law and was admitted to the bar in 1814. He resided in Groton until his death 7 October 1854. He entered St. Paul Lodge and St. John R. A. C. of Groton, Massachusetts. He served as its Master in 1833, District Deputy Grand Master from 1814 to 1817. His civic duties in Groton includes serving as Town Clerk, Selectman, Postmaster and Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners.

On 17 March 1859 a group of Masons met at E. Dana Bancroft home in South Groton (Ayer, MA) to form a new lodge - Lodge Excelsior, with E. Dana Bancroft as its first Master. Its first Regular Communication was held on 18 April 1859, at a place called "Break O Day" where Moores/Nashoba Travel now stands. The Lodge changed its name to Caleb Butler Lodge and a Charter was granted on 14 March 1860.

Sometime in August 1860, the Lodge moved into new quarters on the "Phelps and Harrow Building" and remained there until the Great Fire of 1872. During this period, fourteen brethren served with the Union Army. Brother Leander G. King, a Captain with Co. C-16 Regiment, was killed at the Battle of Gettysburg.

On 18 April 1870, Caleb Butler and Saint Paul Lodge began sharing quarters in Groton Junction. The Toast at Caleb Butler 1874 Installation Banquet was proposed "To Saint Paul Lodge, at once our sister and mother Lodge. We were nursed into existence by some of her most prominent members."

From 1872 to July 1873 after the Great Fire which destroyed most of Main Street in Ayer, they then met at various places including the Irish Benevolent Society Hall located in the Harvey-Woods building now the quarters of the North Middlesex Bank.

On 6 October 1873, both Lodges moved to their new Masonic apartments, Page Building, Ayer. Most Worshipful Sereno D. Nickerson dedicated the quarters and Wor. Henry A. Brown served as Master of Caleb Butler Lodge.

On 13 December 1887, the Lodge moved to the Savings Bank Building (now North Middlesex Bank, Main Street, Ayer). The dedication and laying of the cornerstone on 7 May 1898 by Deputy Grand Master, Right Worshipful Albert L. Harwood, who tried by jewel to be square, level and plumb and anointed with corn, wine and oil while the Chaplain invoked the blessing of God.

The 50th Anniversary was held on 14 March 1910. Most Worshipful Dana J. Flanders, Grand Master of Masons of Massachusetts, attended the ceremonies.

During the First World War, Caleb Butler Lodge experienced its largest membership growth from 134 members in 1918 to 516 by 1925. By the end of WWI, several hundred members had served with honor with only one death, Lt. Brother Richmond Young, who was killed in France.

The 75th Anniversary was held on 18 June 1934, with Most Worshipful Curtis Chipman, Grand Master of Masons in attendance.

During the Second World War, meetings were held in the Federated Church, Ayer, due to the lack of heat. During this period, Caleb Butler had another mass increase in membership with over 700 total membership.

The 100th Anniversary was held on 3 June 1960 with Most Worshipful Laurence E. Eaton in attendance. The exercises were held at the Page Street School.

On 24 August 1975, a new gravestone was placed on Most Worshipful Caleb Butler's grave by Most Worshipful Stanley F. Maxwell, presiding Grand Master.

On 10 June 1984, Caleb Butler Lodge celebrated Saint John Sunday at Saint Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Shirley, Massachusetts.

History was made. "A Polish priest is assigned to French parish and the Masons are welcomed here today to worship with us". The Worshipful Master was Wor. Eugene C. Wixom, who is the Master builder of our present quarters The Masonic Building, Sculley Road, Ayer, Massachusetts.

In May 1990, after 91 years the two Lodges moved to new apartments "the Pleasant Street School". The newly renovated quarters was the creation of our Master Architect, Worshipful David J. Daiken with the help of the members of both Caleb Butler and Saint Paul Lodge.In September 1998, Saint Paul Lodge moved to Ashby, Massachusetts.

On 7 May 1999, the Lodge participated in removal of the copper box from the cornerstone in the North Middlesex Bank Building and the insertion of the new time capsule. During this period an opportunity arose and the Calvary Baptist Church was sold to the Ayer Masonic Association. Thus, the Brethren of the Lodge, with Wor. Eugene Wixom as its Master Architect, started renovation in the spring of 1999. Caleb Butler Lodge had its first Communication in its present new quarters in September 1999, with Wor. Rafael P. Quinones as Master. The Building to be dedicated on 20 November 1999 by the presiding Grand Master, Most Worshipful Fred K. Bauer and the presiding Master Worshipful Charles H. Jones.

History prepared by: Wor. Anthony R.M. Caprio.

OTHER

• 1871 (Definition of jurisdiction; also dispensation to meet in Ayer)
• 1918 (Address by Bro. and Maj. Reginald Barlow on Camp Devens)

EVENTS

DISPENSATION, APRIL 1859

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XVIII, No. 6, April 1859, Page 192:

A dispensation has been issued for a new Lodge at South Groton, in this State, under the name of Excelsior Lodge, and will, we understand, go into immediate operation under favorable auspices. We could have preferred a different name, — one more suggestive.

CONSTITUTION OF LODGE, MARCH 1860

From Moore's Freemason's Monthly, Vol. XIX, No. 6, April 1860, Page 185:

This new Lodge which has been working the past year under Dispensation at South Groton, by the name of Excelsior Lodge, was constituted and its officers were installed on the evening of the 26th ult. The ceremonies of Constitution and Consecration were performed by the Dep. Grand Master, Dr. J. V. C. Smith, and the installation by R. W. Bro. Wm. D. Coolidge, J. G. Warden, to the great acceptance of the Brethren present. The following are the officers for the current year:—

• O. N. Wing, W. M.
• B. F. Taft, S. W.
• A. Dicke, J. W.
• A. Fenner, Treas.
• W. F. Goulding, Sec.
• J. N. Roberts, S. D.
• G. H. Champney, J. D.
• Leander Ring, Marshal.
• J. Q. A. McColIister, Chaplain.
• Danl. Ring, S. S.
• John Gleason, J. S.
• H. P. Nichols, Tyler.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies the Brethren sat down to an elegant and excellent supper, provided at the new hotel in the village. There an hour was spent in a very agreeable manner.

The Lodge has a convenient hall and the prospect before it most encouraging. Its officers are competent and zealous, and the members interested in its success.

GRAND LODGE OFFICERS

• Ernest A. Bean, DDGM, District 14, 2006, 2007
• John L. Bemis, DDGM, District 13 (Fitchburg), 1973, 1974; N
• Albert A. Fillebrown, DDGM, District 11 (Lowell), 1904, 1905; Memorial
• Benjamin H. Hartwell, DDGM, District 11 (Lowell), 1887, 1888, 1889; SN
• Geoffrey Kromer, DDGM, District 14, 2011, 2012
• Herbert B. Priest, DDGM, District 11 (Lowell), 1925, 1926; SN
• H. Arnold Wilder, DDGM, District 13 (Fitchburg), 1949, 1950; SN
• William A. Wilkins, DDGM, District 13 (Fitchburg), 1983, 1984; SN

DISTRICTS

1859: District 3

1867: District 7 (Lowell)

1883: District 11 (Lowell)

1911: District 12 (Lowell)

1927: District 13 (Fitchburg)

2003: District 14

LINKS

Lodge web site

Massachusetts Lodges